Introducing 2016-18 In Colors

By | May 28, 2016
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Five New Colors Debut

I love them all. Each year Stampin’ Up! introduces five trendy colors to add to the color collection. They’re called the In Colors to differentiate them from the 40 core colors that are available year-to-year.

In Colors are well researched by the Stampin’ Up! gurus. You’ll spot them whenever you shop fashions or home decor. Because they are trendy, In Colors are available for only two years.

Some years, I love some, like some. Some years, it takes a few months for me to warm up to any of them. This year: LOVE them. All of them. Take a look.

Dapper Denim

Intro Dapper Denim

 

Emerald Envy

Intro Emerald Envy

 

Sweet Sugarplum

Intro Sweet Sugarplum

 

Flirty Flamingo

Intro Flirty Flamingo

 

Peekaboo Peach

Intro Peekaboo Peach

These colors will be spotted in Stampin’ Up! projects for the next two years: ink, markers, paper, ribbon, embellishments and more. Of the many things I love about Stampin’ Up!, color coordination ranks in the top three. It makes designing easy for us all.

Starting June 1, you can get your inky paws on these beauties.

Want More Stamps AND a Discount?

Purchase the Starter Kit in June and you will receive two FREE stamp sets for only $99. With the launch of the new catalog, now’s the best time to join Stampin’ Up! Want more information? Click here.

Scottie Dog and Happy Birthday Wishes

By | May 24, 2016
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Hot Diggity Dog Birthday

 

Final Days to Collect Rare Dog Set

Alerting all dog peeps. The current canine set that includes not only a Scottie, but also a pug, dachshund and poodle is nearing its final days of availability. “Hot Diggity Dog!” is adorable.

Not a dog person.  “You Little Furball” is the comparable feline set.

#imbringingbirthdaysback

Man’s best friend is one of the best messengers to convey heartfelt greetings, especially birthday wishes. Today’s card is just right for men, women and children. Always a good card to have on hand.

Hot Diggity Dog

Just Stamp Tips

  • Paper piecing creates a warm Cherry Cobbler sweater for Scottie. Stamp the canine body twice; once on the thick Whisper White card base and once on the Cherry Cobbler DSP in the Merry Moments collection. Hand-snip just the sweater and adhere with a mini-glue dot.
  • Stamp, hand-snip and adhere the Scottie head using Dimensionals for a 3-D effect.
  • Watercolor paper creates a substantial “happy.”
  • Use Gold Wink of Stella three ways:
  1. Add sheen to the “happy” thinlit by painting
  2. Add allover splatter for more celebratory glitz.
  3. Give Scottie a gold collar and tag.

Don’t Delay! Retirement is Near!

Click on the links to see all retiring stamps and everything else. Order now; supplies are first-come, first-serve.

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Using DSP with Diagonal Template

By | May 21, 2016
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Going Places Owl

Simple Cut Frames Short and Sweet Sentiments

No more hoarding beautiful papers! Open the package of pretty papers; it will look even prettier on a card that will produce smiles.

This quick and easy template works perfectly with almost any patterned paper to create cards. The patterned paper I chose is the Going Places paper stack. It includes lots of awesome patterns like the subtle pattern I chose. It looks like a wood plank.

Today I also chose to give some love to a punch that hasn’t been (wo)man-handled in light years. So sad. The Owl Builder deserves more respect. Along with a sentiment from the Grateful Bunch stamp set, it helped produce a sweet thank you card.

Just Stamp How To Tips

  • Cut the DSP to measure 4 x 4 1/4″
  • Place the DSP on the paper trimmer at an angle. No need for precision. I started one side at about 1 1/4″ and angled up to about 2″.
  • Split the DSP to create a frame for the sentiment. To add depth, use Dimensionals to adhere to the card base.
  • Stamp the forest trees using Mossy Meadow card stock and ink.
  • Cut the trees using the Perfect Pines Framelits Dies.
  • Add Clear Wink of Stella for detail on trees and owl.
  • Dress the Crumb Cake envelope with Going Places Mossy Meadow grid pattern.

Going Places Owl2

Going, Going, Gone

Get these favorites before they’re gone.

  • Mossy Meadow is a beautiful foresty green. It is an In Color that will vanish on June 1.
  • Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack is loaded with awesome cartographic/topographic designs.
  • Envelope Liner Framelits help dress a naked envelope to complete the hand-made card ensemble.

Find everything that is retiring using the links below.

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MyPaperPumpkin May Sneak Peek

By | May 16, 2016
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MyPaperPumpkin Has Arrived!

It’s time to celebrate your favorite brother, grandpa, dad, friend, son, and uncle! The Many Manly Occasions kit from MyPaperPumpkin is perfect for Father’s Day, birthdays, or every day occasions.

Have a look at the May PaperPumpkin Kit by clicking below.

It’s one of the highlights of the month. About this time every month, MyPaperPumpkin arrives in my snail mailbox and I’m always eager to see what’s in the box. It’s exciting because the contents seem to get better and better. This month’s kit is perfect for the manly cards I’ll need in June.

If you haven’t heard the details, MyPaperPumpkin is Creativity in a Box. Each month a complete project arrives in the easy-to-spot box. Inside are stamps, ink and paper–everything you need to create. You can choose to subscribe month-to-month for just 19.95 per month (shipping is already included). Or you can purchase a prepaid subscription for 1 to 12 months–you save when you commit to 6 or 12 months.

Add PaperPumpkin to Your Monthly Calendar

MyPaperPumpkin is a great way to de-stress and knock out some special hand-made greetings. Make a plan to schedule some fun and easy crafting for every month. Click HERE if you’d like to join the fun.

 

Father’s Day Thank You Card

By | May 15, 2016
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Fathers Day Thank You

Huge Thanks for Dad with Another Thank You

Father’s Day is June 19. It’s not too soon to start thinking about a hand-made card.

Dads deserve the most humongous “thank you” you can get your hands on. For me, that “thank you” comes from the retiring Stampin’ Up! set called Another Thank You. Those magic words pretty much sum up the sentiment needed for a simply, no-frills Father’s Day card.

Like the colored stripes? They were created with the new In Color named Dapper Denim. I love it! I loved it before it was an In Color because I’ve had my eye on this color shopping in the dress and shoes departments of my favorite stores. It’s a beautiful, casual blue that pairs awesomely with loads of colors.

I paired it with Cherry Cobbler, Kraft and a hint of gold.

Fathers Day Thank You2

Just Stamp Tips

  • To create the background, I layered 5/8″ x 5 1/4″ strips of Dapper Denim and Very Vanilla on a
    4 x 5″ piece of Very Vanilla. Once the Very Vanilla base was covered in stripes, I trimmed it down to 3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″. Although it may seem redundant to add the Very Vanilla strips, the huge Thank You stamp needs a smooth, flat surface for a well-inked image.
  • VersaMark and Cherry Cobbler embossing powder were combined to create the raised, bold and shiny sentiment that is the focus of this design.
  • The striped art was layered on a piece of 4″ x 5 1/4″ Very Vanilla card stock.
  • The “DAD” banner was created with Little Letter Thinlits (retiring) and Corrugated Kraft paper, my favorite textured paper.
  • More texture was added by wrapping fibers pulled from White 1 1/4″ Jute ribbon.
  • Stars were cut using the Stars Framelits and a retired Star punch.

Here are the links to retiring stamps and everything else. Many items are still available, and many items are even on sale. Don’t miss out!

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Stamping Away with Retiring Stamps and Tools

By | May 11, 2016
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Apple Thank You

 

It’s such a shame Apple of My Eye, with all the sweets of summer, is retiring. I love the fresh and fruity 16-piece set. It’s perfect for this first grade teacher needing loads of thank you cards for the volunteers that made life a little less hectic this year. When this beauty retires, there will be a new fruity set in the 2016-17 catalog, but it’s not the SAME.

Retiring Items Still Available; Some Not

The stamp set isn’t the only favorite of mine counting down its final days to the end of the month; the versatile Typeset Specialty designer paper that’s the perfect weight for layering is also retiring. There’s more! The sweet lil 7/8″ Scallop Circle punch taking a bite out of the fruit is on the chopping block too. Good news, though. These items are still available in the Stampin’ Up! store. The bad news: the Greetings Thinlits that’s the sentiment on this notecard is no longer available.

 

Apple of My Eye Bite

Just Stamp Tips

  • The base of the card is cut from Whisper White Thick Card Stock. The black and white Typeset Specialty DSP is cut to 5 1/4″ x 4″. The Whisper White card stock layered above it is cut to 4 3/4″ x 3 1/2″, allowing for a generous contrasting border.
  • The apples were inked first in VersaMark, then in Real Red so they could be heat embossed with clear EP. The technique creates a textured, wet-looking image.
  • The Fine-Tip Glue Pen is the perfect adhesive for the Greetings thinlit.
  • Both apples were hand-snipped, as were the leaves. Since the images are simple shapes, no whining was needed. It was a quick and easy chore.

Shopping List

Click on any image to shop.

Embellishing with Ribbon and Candy Dots

By | May 8, 2016
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Botanical Blooms

From Simple to Stepped Up

Stepping up a simple card to the next level is sometimes just a matter of embellishing with ribbon and candy dots. These are two basic accessories that won’t add excessive dimension to a card, which can sometimes call for extra postage.

Today’s card features a cheerful sentiment from the Tin of Cards stamp set of 20. I paired it with a favorite floral set that made its debut in the Occasions Catalog, Botanical Blooms. The card is cheery, simple and required little time to design and create thanks to tools and basic embellishments.

Embellishments

To take this simple card to the next step, I chose one of my favorite ribbons, 1 1/4″ Burlap Ribbon and Candy Dots. Both are on The Retirement List, but the ribbon also happens to be discounted by 30%.

 

Botanical Blooms B

Just Stamp Tips

  • One of the things I love about the burlap ribbon is its width. It’s a generous 1 1/4″ wide. I also love fraying the ends to achieve a natural style. Just snip the seams off and pull off one row of thread until you like the results. I save the frays to add whimsy around the pretty blooms.
  • Candy Dots come with adhesive on the back, making it so simple to use a tool to lift one dot off the sheet and transfer to a project. Each collection of dots include 100 pieces in 10 different colors.
  • To pop the sentiment, I stamped with VersaMark and added white embossing powder.
  • A pretty cards deserves the finishing accessory: a coordinating, lined envelope. Be warned: the Envelope Liner Framelits are on The List.

Botanical Blooms Project

Bundle and Save

The Botanical Blooms stamp set has helped me create loads of cards this season The good news is this set will continue to be available after the Occasions Catalog expires on May 31. However, there is bad news. If you love bundles and saving 15%, now is the time to purchase the Botanical Blooms suite that includes not only the stamp set and framelits, but also the Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper. Once this Occasions Catalog ends, the bundle will no longer be available at its special pricing. Two of the components of the bundle, however, will still available. Buy now to save.

Supply List

Click on any image below to skip over to the Stampin’ Up! store.

 

 

 

 

Birthday Celebrations with Balloons, Banners and Cake

By | May 2, 2016
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BalloonCelebrations


And Ice Cream, Too!

All the decorations and treats that a birthday celebration demands are laid out neatly in today’s Mojo Monday sketch 446. The icing on the cake is the use of tasty colors like Mint Macaron and Watermelon Wonder. The color scheme leaps straight out of the Birthday Bouquet DSP.

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It’s a great sketch suitable for showcasing sentiments, shapes and details.

Just Stamp Tips

  • The Happy Birthday sentiment stacked like a two layer cake is one of the two thinlets in the Party Pop Up Dies. As the product name implies, the thinlets are designed to pop up at the recipient when the standard card is opened, but the images make fun elements on the card exterior, too.
  • To add realism and color, I cut the Happy Birthday cake in three colors: Soft Suede, Watermelon Wonder and Whisper White. I hand-colored the Whisper White candle flames using Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie. Each Whisper white candle and flame was adhered to the Soft Suede cake. After snipping the flame, I adhered the Watermelon candles as the topmost layer.
  • Balloons were two-step stamped using Pool Party and Mint Macaron. To complete in a snap, the Balloon Bouquet punch makes perfect balloons in two sizes.
  • Multi-colored banners were punched with the retiring Banner punch. A delicate Doily touch is layerd over the scrummy colors.
  • The geometric bow was cut using the Cutie Pie Thinlet Dies. Slits in the bow make assembly easy. I put the bone folder to work to stretch the card stock before forming the bow loops.
  • Three medium-sized jewels add the bling to finish.

Balloon Celebrations B

To shop for any stamps, tools and materials, click on any image below. You’ll transport directly to my Stampin’ Up! store.