Artisan Award Winner

I'm so excited and proud to be able to post the wonderful creations of Artisan Award Winner, Brenda Weaver. How exciting to be picked as a winner of such a wonderful award. Congratulations to Brenda! Once you see her creations, you'll know why she was choosen.

"Imagine" page: Spring Break DSP; Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Certainly Celery card stock; Vellum card stock; Classic Stars jumbo wheel; So Much stamp set; Not Quite Navy ink; Large star punch; star punch; Anchored and Eastern Elegance rub-ons.

"Wanted" page: Western Sky DSP; Blue Bayou, Soft Sky & River Rock card stock; Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, River Rock & Ruby Red ink; Wanted, Bronc Buster &Rough Edges mini Alphabet stamp sets; Scallop circle punch; star punch; Jumbo Eyelets; vintage brads; Sewing machine and thread; Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker



"Sweet" page: Kraft, Pink Passion, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Green Galore & whisper White card stock; Tart & Tangy & Big Deal Alphabet stamp sets; Dotted lines jumbo wheel; Creamy Caramel, Real Red & Wild Wasabi ink; Black Stampin' Write journaler; Note: The pink eyelets were taken off of this page for my Artisan Award entry because they are retired.



Altoid tin purse: Berry Bliss DSP; Whisper White card stock; One of a Kind stamp set; Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In pink, Close to Cocoa ink; Boho blossoms punch, Purely Pomegranate double-stitched ribbon; Jumbo eyelets; Fine Cosmo glitter; Pretties kit; hair bands; Earth Element & Neutrals buttons; micro beads











"MY Girl" record album: Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit; Amazing to Zany & Jumbo Outline Alphabet stamp sets; Basic Black ink; Versamarker; Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon; Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Pink Taffeta ribbon; Scallop Circle punch; Spiral punch; Black Stampin' Write journaler; Crop-a-dile; Carousel Notes




**Shown are the cover and last page. To view all pages, please check out Brenda's blog.






"Mr. & Mrs." card: Basic Gray, Soft Sky, Whisper White card stock; So Saffron Prints DSP; One of a Kind, All Holidays & paisley background stamp sets; Basic Gray, So Saffron, Soft Sky classic ink; Whisper White craft ink; Versamark pad; clear embossing powder; Build-a-brad; Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain; Silver Hodge Podge hardware



"Love" card; Groovy Guava, Whisper White & Basic Black card stock; From the Garden & Wonderful Words stamp sets; Basic Black ink; Watercolor markers; orange bead duos; half pearls from pretties kit; crystal effects





"Bug Day" card: Really Rust, Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Close To Cocoa & Certainly Celery card stock; Bugs and Wishes & Dots Are Hot stamp sets; Basic Black, Close To Cocoa, Bordering Blue, Really Rust ink; Scallop Circle punch; 1 3/8" circle punch; 1 1/4" circle punch; black stampin' write marker





"Baroque Motifs" card: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Purely Pomegranate & Whisper White card stock; Baroque Motifs stamp set; Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy & Purely Pomegranate ink; white gel pen; clear rhinestone brads








Gate fold card: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla card stock; Baroque Motifs & Floral background stamp sets; Dotted lines jumbo wheel; Soft Sky & Chocolate Chip ink; Jumbo eyelets; Corner rounder punch; Chocolate chip Satin ribbon; 1 3/8" circle punch; 1 1/4" circle punch; Coluzzle



I asked Brenda to tell us a little bit of what it was like to enter the contest. Here's what she had to say....

What was it like to enter the contest? Well, it was a lot of hard work! In January as soon as the new catalog came out I placed my order for all the supplies I would need. I got pretty busy with other things for a few months such as helping out at my sons' school, etc. and I didn't get to work on my projects as much as I would have liked. At the beginning of March I still had a lot to do and it was due by the end of the month. I was determined to get it done in time to not have to express mail it so I figured I'd need to get it done about two weeks prior to the deadline to get it there on time.I almost gave up. There were times when I'd look at all I had to do yet and think "Is it really worth it when I might not even win anyway?". I knew I was up against a whole lot of talented people but when I'd catch myself thinking those thoughts I'd remind myself that I would never know whether I could win or not if I didn't try and I knew I would have let myself down if I would have given up.Once my work was submitted all I could do then was wait. During the waiting time I would often doubt whether my projects really were good enough, but then I would sit down and look at the photos I took of all my projects and I would know in my heart that I did my very best and that was all I could do. My husband, wonderful guy that he is, told me from the start that he knew I would win. He's such an encouragement to me! He never doubted my abilities at all.The day finally came when the calls were to be made. I kept myself busy and tried not to think about it too much. Then the phone rang. I don't even remember what the sweet girl's name was that called. I forgot everything when she said she was calling from Stampin' Up! because I immediately knew why she was calling, even before she told me!!! I was sooo excited!!! It was one of the best feelings in the whole world! All my hard work had paid off. Of course the first person I told was my husband who happened to be at home at the time I got the call. Then I told everyone else who I thought would listen. LOL! For some time I had been questioning what God wanted me to do with the talents he had given me. Was this the way he wanted me to use them? To me this was a confirmation that I was where He wanted me to be and that is another reason it felt so good. It was like God was telling me that His blessing was on this and I was doing the right thing.I hope you all enjoy the projects I created and I hope that my story inspires some more of you to enter contests. Do the best work you can and give it your best shot. After all you never know if you don't try and the rewards are so worth it!

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Brenda. I'm so happy for you!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, restful weekend.

Alicia :)