HUGE news!!!! and BLOG HOP WEDNESDAY!!

Well...in my world anyways!! ;) I finally stepped up my Stamping and Scrapbooking "game" and applied for a Royal Stamping Maid/WIS sister position at the fantastic Queen Kat Designs stamp company!!

I figured I was WAY out of my league to be attempting such a feat but needed a "something" to give me a kick back into what I love...creating. And her call for Designers was just the thing that I needed.

Instead of going on and on as to WHY I wanted to join, I will give you the reasons that I gave this awesome company.

This is directly out of my application:

"Art runs in my blood. I have been doing fine art, crafting, sewing, knitting, collaging and photography for as long as I remember. For my Mother was a lover of the fine arts, particularly oil painting. I vividly remember making book report covers in elementary school (with a little help from her) using charcoal to make etchings and then shading them in with colored pastel chalks!!! No crayons for this kid! ;) I used to sneak into the living room and pour over the coffee table books on Van Gogh, Cassatt, Manet, Degas, Monet, and Renoir (can you tell she love the Impressionism period??). As the years went on my styles changed constantly. In college I seriously studied Fine Art, Art History, and Costume History along with Fine Art restoration and preservation. I am now a 36 year old Mother of 2 super, extra delicious, fantastic children ages 4.5 and 3 respectively; I have a loving and supportive husband of 13 years along with 2 awesome dogs. I have always loved making things with my hands. As you’ll see in my answers below I have been scrapbooking on and off for about 13 years but it wasn’t until I was (and I know everyone says this!) invited to a Stampin’ Up party that I was unequivocally hooked and then some on the art of stamping. I find, specifically with cards and alterable projects that having a smaller “canvas” to work with is much less intimidating than having a huge piece of stretched art canvas standing on an easel in front of you…which is why I never had tremendous luck in the art of oil painting. I’ve also ALWAYS been drawn to mixed media, probably another reason why straight up painting didn’t contain my interest. For my 35^th birthday my Darling Husband remodeled our spare bedroom into a studio for me. Before I had this space I was just roaming all over the house with bits of stamping stuff everywhere which made my progress nightmarish…to say the least. He did all the work himself. He consulted with me on little and I was FLOORED at the amazing turn out. He is a true magician with utilizing small spaces and I have storage for everything. I breathe a quiet and content sigh every evening after I put my babies to bed when I sit down in my favorite purple desk chair to set to create something beautiful. I truly hope that I have given you a small glimpse into my world and that you consider me as an option to be on one of your Design Teams."

I sent those reasonings as well as 2 samples of my work. To my FABULOUS and TREMENDOUS surprise I was accepted!!! I am beyond excited that I am officially a RSM or a Royal Stamping Maid working for Queen Kat!!! WAH HOO!!!

Everything was JUST finalized but I really wanted to jump on this week's Wednesday Blog Hop!!

I am presently waiting on a huge order from QKD as I only had 3 in my stash. My choice this week is one of my first and favorite purchases The Rocker Bird! which is right now, on sale for 30%!!! I can totally tell this is going to be one of my snappy go-to's when I need something extra funky and fabulous!

BTW!!!! When you fall in love with all of the images...just know that the clearance items are 55% off right now and all of the acrylic stamps are now 30% off!! Seriously...that's fantastic savings on such awesome stamps!!

Here is my creation for this evening!!! Along with details:

"QKD rocks!" card

Envelope: 5 3/4 x 5 3/4

Card Base: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 - Martha Stewart brand cardstock in Geranium

L1: 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 - Basic Grey - Obsure in "Apart" - edge distressed with my Tim Holtz distressing tool.

L2: 5 X 5 - PTI cardstock in Plum Pudding - stitched together with L1 twice using a zig zag stitch once with black thread once with olive green.

L3: 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 - Basic Grey - Obsure in "Clouded" - with 3 JoAnn's house brand star brads. The brads were dipped in The Essential Glue Pad and dipped again into Doodlebug Designs Inc brand glitter in Beetle Black.

L4: 4 3/4 x 3/4 - Martha Stewart brand cardstock in Feldspar

L5: 3 1/2 x 3 1/4 - SU! Basic Black - edges distressed

L6: 3 1/4 x 3 - Basic Grey - Obsure in "Amplify" - edges lightly distressed as I did not want to distract from the main image in L7

L7: 3 x 2 3/4 - SU! Shimmery White

STAMP: QKD- ROCKER BIRD!! - I am so super impressed with how these amazing stamps ink!!! I got it right on the first try!! (that doesn't usually happen for me! ;) The lines are clear and crisp.

INK: Archival Brilliance Pigment Ink in Graphite Black - heat set with Judi-Kins clear embossing powder.

EMBELLISHMENTS: I added Silver Stickles to the "pearls" on her necklace...what can I say? The girl needed some bling!! I then dusted the Stickles with what I call "old school" glitter that I "borrowed" from my children's stash!!! I purchased it at Michael's in the kid's art supply area.

The red, gothic type style stickers that I added are from Reminisce in "flirt" - self adhesive die cut stickers. The word "rocks" stickers are from EK Success - "Tag Types".

L5 - L7 are popped up on adhesive foam squares.

The ribbon is as follows:

Black grosgrain - SU! Basic Black

Black Gingham and Black with White Ticking are both misc house brands from Michael's.

I truly hope that you enjoyed visiting and celebrating with me!!! Now besides the news you MUST head over to Linda's blog to see her gorgeous creation!!!

Thanks so much for passing the love on!!!

XOXOXO-