May Scrapbooking Special

May is National Scrapbooking Month and in hour of that.  Stampin' Up! has chosen some great sets they think will add to your scrapbook layouts.  When you purchase one of these sets, you can choose a set of designer brads for FREE. This is for each stamp set from the list that you purchase.  How fun to add to your pages with both ink and metal!   Call me to order before the 31st!


Stamp sets

Page	Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
81	Extreme Elements	115181	$26.95	---	---
119	Framed with Love**	114389	$27.95	---	---
128	Certified**	113706	$27.95	---	---
129	Circle Circus	115778	$28.95	---	---
12*	Elements of Style	118611	$27.95	120045	$19.95
13*	Mementos	119910	$27.95	120105	$19.95
13*	Elements de style	119900	$27.95	120099	$19.95
14*	Rough Type	118659	$26.95	120072	$18.95
22*	Sentimental Journey	118513	$23.95	120075	$17.95
25*	First Day	118521	$23.95	120051	$17.95
25*	Camino a la Escuela	120152	$23.95	120154	$17.95

*From Summer Mini Catalog
**Last Chance stamp set!My Digital Studio software

Page	Description	Item	Price
32*	My Digital Studio	118108	$79.95

*From Summer Mini Catalog

Designer brads

Page	Description	Item	Retail Price	Price with Qualifying Purchase
179	Flower Designer brads	112579	$5.95	FREE
179	Filigree Designer brads	112577	$5.95	FREE
179	Circle Designer brads	112571	$5.95	FREE
179	Star Designer brads	112572	$5.95	FREE

Eastern Blooms Birthday Card

I had this ready to post a week ago, but then my computer started giving me fits and of course it was on my tower, not my laptop.  Hopefully it is all taken care of, but only time will tell.  

This  is a card I made for my friend's birthday.  I pulled out a set that I have that hasn't seen much ink, Eastern Blooms.  I also used a piece of retiring designer paper, Storybook Specialty and two returning in-colors, Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango.  I can't wait by the way!

Sets: Eastern Blooms, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun, Pacific Point, Basic Brown

Cardstock: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point

Accessories:  Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper, Chocolate 5/8" Grosgrain, Silver Brads, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Epoxy Brads (only available until Friday), Paper-Piercing Tool, and Mat Pack

Also new this weekend is the puppy that their dad promised my girls.  We named him Ridley and he seems to be a great puppy with enough personality, but also so sweet and cuddly,  but boy are they a lot of work! 

Occasions Mini Catalog Products Still Available...

Although I knew several products would be carried over to the new Idea Book and Catalog in July, I thought I would have to wait to see (and wait to use what I had gotten until then) which of the items would show up in July.  Stampin' Up! has been incredible about sharing some of the carry over items and they are now allowing us to purchase them even after the mini has expired.  Here is a list of what is still availble and will be available in July.

Item #	Description	Price
116519	Charming STMP	$19.95
117690	Vintage Vogue WM	$23.95
118598	Vintage Vogue CM	$17.95
118882	Vague vinatge WM	$23.95
119109	Vague vinatge CM	$17.95
118091	Tiny Tags WM	$22.95
118592	Tiny Tags CM	$16.95
117535	DÉCOR ELEMENTS F IS FOR FOX CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117536	DÉCOR ELEMENTS G IS FOR GIRAFFE CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117529	DÉCOR ELEMENTS IS FOR BLACK	$1.95
117541	DÉCOR ELEMENTS L IS FOR LION CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117542	DÉCOR ELEMENTS M IS FOR MONKEY CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117544	DÉCOR ELEMENTS O IS FOR OWL CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117528	DÉCOR ELEMENTS SCALLOP FRAME BLACK	$6.95
117549	DÉCOR ELEMENTS T IS FOR TURTLE CHOCOLATE	$4.95
117552	DÉCOR ELEMENTS W IS FOR WHALE CHOCOLATE	$4.95
118072	PNCH CRNR PINKING HEARTS	$9.95
118870	PNCH CRNR SCALLOP TRIM	$9.95
117191	PNCH LG 2 STEP BIRD	$15.95
118073	PNCH LG FANCY FLOWER	$15.95
117649	PNCH MD BRDR PINKING HEARTS	$15.95
117190	PNCH MD JEWELRY TAG	$10.95
117193	PNCH SM SMALL HEART	$5.95
117310	SZX BIGZ L MINI MILK CARTON	$32.95
118138	SZX EMBSLTS BEAUTIFUL WINGS	$11.95
117332	SZX EMBSLTS SCALLOPED HEART OF HEARTS	$11.95
117335	SZX TI PERFECT POLKA DOTS	$7.95
120435	HEART TREAT CUPS	$2.95

Sorry for not posting. I even had a project to post and my computer took a dump. I am hoping to pick it up tomorrow. Right now I have to use my laptop, but I don't have anything on it to share.  I am just glad to have email access for a bit!

Thanks for checking in.

Flower's for My Grandma

I found this fun card with these really cool flowers on it on Tiffany Bauer's blog.  I really wanted to try them and thought I would practice on my Grandma's card.  I don't think they look bad and I know she won't mind that I practiced on her.   You make them by punching a 1 3/4" circle and cut it in a spiral.  Twist and glue with Crystal Effects.  I punched the hole for the brad and used Crystal Effects to adhere them to the card as well.  

                                                                                                                                                                    I needed a lot of inspiration today so I used this color combo from The Color Throwdown from a couple of weeks ago. I didn't go with the latest color combo on their site because I knew I was making a card for my Grandma and she isn't a pink gal usually.  I also used the layout from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch (and flipped it sideways). So with all of that, are you ready for what I made?

Sets: Kind & Caring Thoughts (Level 3 Hostess), Upsy Daisy

Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Yo Yo Yellow (will be retiring the end of June)

Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive

Accessories:  1 3/4 Circle Punch, 5/8" Neutral Brads, Soft Suede Designer Series Paper, Big Shot,    Stampin' Up! Texturz Plates Backgrounds 1, Impressions Pad, Rubber Silicone Pad, Crystal Effects, Distresser from the Cutter Kit, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack

A Little Nouveau Chic

It sounded good didn't it? I didn't really know what either of the title words meant so I went to the online dictionary and came to the conclusion that it means current and sophisticated new art. What a great name for this designer series paper. This is a bonus post because I not only have one card for you, but two. I do apologize that my last few posts have been dark. I have been using my scanner and it doesn't do the cards as much justice. I need to figure out a light box to use. Natural light is out as it is cloudy and yucky here.

The first is an anniversary card that I made. We don't sell black jumbo brads so I made my own with vanilla brads, black craft ink, black embossing powder, and my heat gun. (My new heat gun! I had to get a replacement for mine as my husband uses it at the shop quite a bit actually and when my daughter was helping him, they dropped it from the cab of the tractor. Needless to say it did not survive the fall.)


Sets: Medallion Background Stamp, All Holidays
Ink: Basic Black Craft Ink Cardstock: Basic Gray, Basic Black
Accessories: Nouveau Chic Designer Series Paper, 5/8" Jumbo Brads (vanilla), Black Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Embossing Buddy, Powder Pals

My second card uses the same concept and is a thank you card.


Sets: Medallion Background Stamp, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Black Stazon
Cardstock: Sage Shadow (retiring in June), Basic Black, Basic Gray
Accessories: Nouveau Chic Designer Series Paper, Black Embossing Powder, Powder Pals, Embossing Buddy, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Silver Brads

I am hoping to stamp again during naptime, who really needs to do housework, right? But I might be getting way ahead of myself. Have a wonderful day!

A Belated Birthday

Well, I finally stamped yesterday and am able to post it today! I of course was not on time with the card, but a belated birthday wish just makes the special day last longer, right?

I have lost most of my creativity and because my husband's aunt loves horses, I pulled out my trusty Wanted set. I then had to look for an idea to do with it and found one on Splitcoaststampers done by catrules. I was going to CASE (copy and steal everything) the entire card, but my eye did not measure correctly so I modified my design. I still really like it and I know that his aunt will too.

Naptime is still going on, so I am off to try again, maybe a challenge this time?Sets: Wanted, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Brown
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Hemp Twine, Scallop Edge Punch, Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Cutter Kit (distressing tool), Sponge, Paper Piercer, Word Window Punch

What Have I Been Up to...

and what has Stampin' Up! been up to?
(Hold on, it is going to be a long post!)

Well, let's start with myself. What have I been up to?
Obviously not much stamping! Over two months have passed since my last post and I honestly did not do anything during that time to post! I have been busy with family, kids, well just life and trying to find that creative motivation once again. I think that with Stampin' Up!'s announcement that might have started my motivation again. But hold on, I am getting ahead of myself.
I am tossing around some dates for some classes: a stamp-a-stack, a card organizer class, maybe a retired colors class.

What you ask, retired colors?!

Yes, Stampin' Up! announced a Color Renovation for the July 2010 catalog and I am VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT! I am excited by the color chart with the four new color collections. I couldn't help myself and rearranged my ink pads and cardstock and I LOVE the look of them. Stampin' Up! is on trend with the paper craft market and best of all, they are bringing back some of those In Colors from years past.


Click here to download the Color Renovations Chart

The new Color Collections include:

Brights Collection:
Regal Rose, Melon Mambo (current In Color), Rich Razzleberry (current In Color), Pacific Point (former In Color), Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight (new!), Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango (former In Color), Real Red

Neutrals Collection:
River Rock (former In Color), Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (new!), Crumb Cake (formerly called Kraft), Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black

Regals Collection:
Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Garden Green, More Mustard, Cajun Craze (new!), Riding Hood Red (former In Color), Cherry Cobbler (new!), Bravo Burgundy

Subtles Collection:
Pink Pirouette (former In Color), Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Marina Mist (new!), Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze (former In Color), Wild Wasabi (former In Color), Certainly Celery, So Saffron


To be retired on July 1:
Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence. Lovely Lilac. Lavender Lace, Almost Amethyst, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue, Taken with Teal, Glorious Green, Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Mellow Moss, Green Galore, Gable Green, Barely Banana, Yoyo Yellow, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Going Gray Be sure to start stocking up on ink, paper, and accessories now! After June these colors will no longer be available!

Click here to download the Fond Farewell Retiring Colors Chart

Things to remember-

• You'll notice that Neutrals has been added as a color collection and Earth Elements has been eliminated and many of the colors from all collections/families have been reorganized into different collections.

• Kraft has been renamed Crumb Cake. This also means that this color will not only be available in card stock as before, but you will also be able to purchase the ink pad and marker! (YEAH! I love this color!)
  

• Stampin' Up! will continue offering brand-new In Colors! This year we can expect 5 new colors and they will last 2 years, instead of one! This means that after this first year we will have 10 new In Colors at a time.

• Don't stress if you have items that come in a set like the markers, watercolor crayons, pastels, etc. Stampin' Up! will be coming out with Color Kits to fill in those items with the new colors as well as some more new fun products!

A lot of the colors on the retiring list I do not use, nor have I in a while. This has revamped my stamping enthusiasm because I love the In Colors and now I can pull out my stash and stamp with them again!

I also place my Summer Mini order today and will be looking forward to playing with the few new goodies I ordered. I am planning on participating in a group swap on May 15th. Want to join us? Join Stampin' Up! today and receive two great bonus technique DVD's.

I will share my card I finally stamped in a separate post.