Honorable Mentions

It is always interesting to see which stamp sets get the most submissions during any particular Guest Star Stamper Contest.  We had three sets we were accepting entries for this go around; My Punny Valentine, Sweet Love & Limitless Labels.  Sweet Love had the most entries by a landslide!  These submissions actually help us to gage what types of set might be popular in th e future, so we found this conclusion fascinating!!!

Because there were three sets in question this month, there are three winners!  Let me introduce the talented artists behind the designs!

My Punny Valentine

Charlene Austin had the winning entry for My Punny Valentine.  She made an adorable card using several elements from this set (you can go HERE to see the project in our gallery).  One of my favorite details of her project was the way she incorporated a heart rhinestone into the embossing at the bottom of her focal point.  Since the rhinestone is the same color as the project, it doesn't steal the show from the squirrel.  But at the same time that touch of sparkle really adds a special look to her project.  I also love the way she added pops of color by utilizing the grass and varied hearts from the set.  Way to go, Charlene!!!

Sweet Love

Julie-Ann Wells created an amazing ensemble using Sweet Love (you can go HERE to see her winning entry).  The aspect that caught my attention the most was the fact that she put five treat-size candy bars in the nugget tin!  And they way she decorated those bars just made my head spin.  She repeated a text stamp from the set in black ink to create patterned paper. Then she added the same sentiment in red in the center of the wrapper.  So graphic, modern classy & unique all at the same time!  She also made oval shaped cards and tent packaging for additional chocolate.  Everything came together so beautifully!  You should be so proud, Julie-Ann!

Limitless Labels

Margie Meyers really wowed me with her innovative use of Limitless Labels.  She altered cigar box to welcome a new baby boy to the world, complete with "cigars" that feature bands made with the stamp set.  The particular shades of blue & yellow she chose for her project just set the tone so nicely.  Any new parents wouldn't be anything but thrilled to receive something like this as a gift! (You can get view the project for yourself HERE!) A standing ovation for Margie!!!

Now onto the Honorable Mentions!

I thought we would do something a little different this month!  How about we offer up a

Stamper's Choice Award

Vote for your favorite project included in the honorable mentions below by posting your choice in the comments section.  Whomever gets the most votes wins a FREE stamp set of their choice from Papertrey Ink!  The final tally will conclude at 10am (EST) Friday, 01/18/08.  The winner will be announced here soon after. Best of luck to the talented ladies below!

(By the way, did you know that always I archive previous Honorable Mentions to the left under the heading "Passion for Papertrey"?  Go check it out!)

First up is Elizebeth Neumann.  She created this "pie charm" & recipe box ensemble using the pie image from My Punny Valentine.  I just adored the patterned paper she created to cover the recipe box.  Such a fun color scheme!  Notice the little recipe cards she created to tuck inside the box that coordinate.I thought this was a wonderful gift idea for a new neighbor or a newly married bride!

Jennifer Kirk made this adorable baby brag book.  She die-cut the body of the sheep from felt to give it an element of reality.  I am sure the texture is amazing in real life!  I loved the pretty paper she picked to compliment her baby boy theme.  A very simple project that cold be easily replicated as a special gift for a new mom!

  Jackie Ohlmann made this adorable card with our punny squirrel image.  I thought that the way she added flock to his belly & tail was so clever.  Imagine the delight a child would feel receiving a card like this!  She incorporated the squirrel with the branch from our Take a Bough set.  The two images made a perfect pair!

  Charmaine Ikach really looked outside the box to create the focal image for this project.  You will never guess!  She inverted the pie crust and pie plate to create a terracotta plate garden.  It reminds me of the wheat grass that everyone loves to decorate with!  What a fun card for a gardening enthusiast!

  Lexi Daly was really able to create a coordinated package with her use of My Punny Valentine & Limitless Labels together.  I fell in love with her color scheme.  The soft caramel color paired with the pastel pink and then followed by the pop of red just really appealed to me.  Lexi was also able to echo the red polka dot ribbon on her nugget labels with the polka dot band stamp that is in the set.  Just fantastic!  Be sure to check out this additional project on Lexi's blog.  She created the sheep with a unique point of view and I just LOVE it!

Barb Schram created this creative key card with Sweet Love.  Shaped cards always get a lot of attentions since they are outside the norm.  She specially sized the key to coordinate with oval label stamp.  The ribbon & key charm added to the end really bring this project to the next level!

Dana Vitek created this festive earrings for the upcoming holiday using polyshrink.  These particular images shrink down to such an appropriate earring size.  They are a subtle way to show someone that you care!  What a fabulous use for these stamps!

I loved the simplicity of Kacey Elliott's project.  The three hearts hanging from hemp twine almost has a homespun feel rather than the elegance that is portrayed in many other projects that we received.  Her project embodies what I always try to achieve when I create my images.  The ability to give you, the artist, control of the style emulated by the stamps, by keeping the images neutral enough to suit your purpose.  Way to go, Kacey!

I loved this entry from Niki Estes.  The bold contrast of baby pink & black is always so striking.  I loved the custom patterned paper she created with a unique combination of images found in the Sweet Love set.  The heart paired with the pretty pink stitched band really finished everything off nicely!

  Becky Oehlers found a unique use for the boxes our stamp sets arrive in!  She paired a few choice Valentine images with the alteration of the box to create a festive gift presentation!  I love how she covered the Dove Chocolate Hearts with our scrolled heart image.  And to think that most people just throw their boxes away!

Mary Ashby made this beautiful Valentine.  I loved the way she used the scrolled label stamp as a background to her heart charm.  (you can click on the photo for a larger view)  It really helps to draw your eye to that main focal point.  I also loved the way she stamped her sentiment on the ribbon.  It just says "boutique" to me!!!

Barb Schram was at it again!  She made these ADORABLE airplanes using Smarties, life savers & sticks of gum paired with a rubber band to hold it all together.  The label images from Limitless Labels fit perfectly on the gum.  This project would be something adorable to do for your little guy's classmates.  I am sure he would even love to help construct them!

Bridget Dickinson created this adorable basket purely from paper.  She created small wrappers for Strawberry Creme Savers by pairing Limitless Labels with the small strawberry from My Punny Valentine.  It made for such an adorable presentation.  It would be something wonderful to create to display in your own home or use as a special gift!

So there you have it!  Now, don't forget that the next round of Guest Star Stamper is underway!  We are now accepting entries using either of our latest stamp sets, Out on a Limb or Mixed Messages. I look forward to seeing all of your entries!

Comments

[sandie994]

I vote for the little airplanes made with gum and smarties by Barb Schram. They are adorable!!

[Elizabeth]

Wow! These are all such awesome projects, and it's very difficult to pick my favorite, but I think I have to go with the key card by Barb Schram. I love it!

[Kimberly]

They are all beautiful!

My fave is the key card ...

[paula]

I have a few favs, but I will vote for the key project!

[Amy Hoogstad]

I vote for Charmaine's card, although they are all impressive!

[tylersmum05]

I vote for Kacey Elliott's Three Hearts Card. I lvoe it. Best of Luck. - Molly B

[Karen Rose B]

Oh my gosh Nichole ... how do you EVER choose the guest star stamper?!?! They are all wonderful and are all winners but I guess I have to pick just one ... Elizibeth's recipe box and pie charm ... thanks for showing them all. I hope your gallery gets easier to use on the new server and hope to see these entries over there. Thanks! Karen

[Melissa]

I vote for Nikki Estes!

[Bee]

Waow. I have to say -sorry if I hurt anyone's feeling in the process!- that I love the runner-ups better than some of the guest stampers of the month. This just goes to show that it is really a question of personal preference...
I LOVE the runner-ups and it is super hard to choose!!...
I vote for the recipe box and pie-charm from Elizebeth Neumann, (but also love especially the key card, the squirrel with a fuzzy belly and the cute little lamb brag book, to only name a few!!!....)

[Ally Warner]

I vote for the creative key card!!! SO dang cute!

[cheryl]

I too vote for Kasey Elliott's three hearts card - True Love Forever. Stands out from the others to me.

[Amy]

Gosh, I like them all, but I have to say my favorite is Charmaine Ikach's adorable dish garden!

Amy

[Jen]

I love Kasey's 3 hearts card!

[Karen (stampin3)]

All great projects - my vote goes to Kasey's simple yet stunning card!! very nice!!

[Mandy]

They are all so beautiful, but I have to say that brag book by jennifer Kirk is awesome, I just LOVE it!

[Shannan Teubner]

WOWEE this is hard!! I vote for Charmaine's different point of view of the pie. So creative!

[Jackie Ohlmann]

Congratulations to the winners! A hello as well to Charlene Austin who one a spot as the Guest Star Stamper!!! Hello Char! I am so honored to be counted among the Honorable Mentions this month. I seriously don't know how Nichole chooses each month among the amazing entries she recieves. Great job ladies!! I think my favorite out of the whole bunch has to be Barbara Schram's key project. It's so cool and beautiful!

[Amy G.]

I really like Jackie Ohlmann's card with the fun flock on the tail and belly, it's just so sweet!

[Brenda H.]

Great projects girls! My favorite is Barb Schram's creative key card...too cute!

[Sandy Kay]

They are all great, but if I must choose a favorite, it would be the cute smartie airplanes by Barb Schram!

[HeidiQ]

Barb Schram - hands down for the little airplanes........such a cute, cute idea :) i'm definitely going to be CASE-ing this!!

[Geny]

Oh my, they are all fantastic! If I have to choose one I think I will go with Jennifer Kirk's baby boy album, it is so so cute! Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful projects Nichole!

[Jessica]

They are all great! It's hard to choose with such a variety of themes.I however, vote for Kacey Elliot's Card. I love the earthy, simple look.
Good luck! Ladies

[Jan W.]

I really like the airplanes. All are so neat.

[Shannon T]

I love the key made by Barb Schram!