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

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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%.

 

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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

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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

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Easy Party Decor with Sweet Stack

By | April 30, 2016
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SweetStackC

Sweet Stack Project Kit

It doesn’t get much easier than a kit to create perfect decorations for a party and that’s exactly what Sweet Stack is. The sad news is it’s on The List, the list that includes every stamp, paper, ink, embellishment, tool and kit that will not appear in the new Stampin’ Up! catalog come June.

In spite of that sad news, there’s lots of happy news: Sweet Stack is on sale (it’s a STEAL!), there’s a coordinating stamp set to doll the kit up, and there are coordinating framelits to create more cakes, candles and bows when the kit pieces are gone.

Step-By-Step How To

Here’s a look at how easy it is to create.

It made the perfect favors for Stampo! on Friday night. I filled with treats, embellishments and prizes so every player could go home with a slice. So easy.

Retirement List

Remember, items on The List are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t delay, many items are already sold out. Click on the images below to check out the lists.

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Sweet Stack Versatility

Sweet Stack makes C-U-T-E party decorations –I’m thinkin’ baby/bridal showers, mother’s day tea–any excuse for a party. With the framelits, you can choose any color, any pattern to coordinate all the decorations.

 

Sweet Stack Celebration Cake

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Watercoloring with Beautiful Ride

By | April 24, 2016
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Beautiful Ride

Go | See | Do

It’s a great sentiment for lots of occasions that come along this time every year. Graduations. Retirements. Vacations. The card features three things close to my heart, too: the canine companion, the Volkswagen Beetle, and travel.

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Once again I took my liberties with a great sketch from MojoMonday, Sketch 444. Three narrow panels and one focal image with two banners work for a quick and easy card.

Warning: Beautiful Ride, Project Life Let’s Get Away, Going Places DSP and Typeset Specialty Paper are all on The List, the retirement list. See the entire list here.

BeautifulRideB

Just Stamp Tips

  • I love the watercolor technique, but I’m not an artist. Watercolor Paper and Aqua Painters rush to my aide to boost my skills.
  • I stamped the Beetle using Archival Basic Black, watercolored with Mint Macaron and Basic Black, then I hand-snipped. The luggage was stamped and snipped separately.
  • For a small pop of color, I watercolored a pond and river on the street map using Soft Sky.
  • The sentiment was stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed using white powder.
  • To create the banners, I used two punches: the Banner Triple and Banner.

Supply List

Click on any image to hop to the Stampin’ Up! store to get more info or to purchase.

 

 

Heat Embossing with Retiring Cups & Kettle

By | April 21, 2016
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Cups and Kettles KSstyle

A Nice Cuppa and Cups & Kettle Are Retiring

I saw the The Retirement List released by Stampin’ Up! earlier this week. The bad news is A Nice Cuppa and the coordinating framelits dies Cups & Kettle are retiring. The good news is I own it! If you don’t, there’s still time to order.

It’s a versatile set. Some days  I enjoy creating the English cottage look with it; today I was inspired by one of my fav fashion houses, Kate Spade.

 

Cups and KettleKSIBC

 

Creating on a basic black card base, or any dark color base, calls for lining the interior with Whisper White or Very Vanilla. I chose Very Vanilla to suit the bold black stripes from the Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper.

 

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Just Stamp Tips

  • To create the glossy tea cup, first ink with Calypso Coral ink. Next, apply VersaMark by pressing the pad directly on the stamped image. Finally sprinkle clear embossing powder and heat set.
  • The Cups & Kettle Framelits Dies includes the knife, fork and spoon cutlery, which are nice accents to the cups, kettle and mug. I coordinated the sentiment, the spoon and the large circle in gold to create an elegant look.
  • A hand-made card deserves a matching lined envelope to make an entrance. Warning: the Envelope Liners Framelits are on The List.

Retirement List

Don’t miss out. The list includes the stamps, papers, inks and tools. Check it carefully — many products are marked down. Check the list here.

Shopping List

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Five Stamping Favorites For One Card

By | April 17, 2016
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An Elegant Cuppa

It’s the Little Things

Here’s a Kate Spade inspired card sporting five of my favorites for papercrafting.

  • the little bow in classic black
  • the wide black and white stripes from the Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper
  • the classic style gold tone bow paper clip embellishment
  • large polka dots softly impressed in Blushing Bride card stock
  • gold heat embossing

Together they add up to an elegant card expressing an endearing sentiment: coffee and time spent with friends.

Just Stamp Tips

Stamps

Too many favorites, too little time: The Occasions Catalog is packed with stamp sets, papers, embellishments and tools that will soon be unavailable. If you’re a hot beverage fan, be it coffee or tea, there’re no better stamp sets than Balloon Celebration and A Nice Cuppa.  I borrowed from both, and tossed in a wee sentiment from Hello Life.

Paper

Timeless Elegance offers Victorian style roses, vintage lace, mod graphics, bold stripes and elegant dots. All in neutral black and Very Vanilla. Love.

Embellishments

The Bow Paper clips are stylishly functional. Back them with card stock cut to fit and they add an accessorized style. 24 clips for just 5.50. Deal!

Tools

Cups and Kettle Framelits dies coordinate with A Nice Cuppa, and offer some bonuses: the coffee mug and the cutlery. The Bow Builder punch creates a classic bow in two clicks. Easy peasy perfection.

Retiring List

On Monday at 1 pm Stampin’ Up! will release the list of products that will be removed from the current catalog to make way for new products coming in June. Click here to see the list.

Suggestion: If you spot items you want, order on-line right away. Items will sell out quickly.

Shopping List

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Heat Embossing: VersaMark + Powder = Wow!

By | April 13, 2016
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ShineOnStarburstBirthday

My first experience with heat embossing and an embossed image is still fresh in my mind. Way back when, my rubberstamping dealer showed me a folk art style doll image that had been stamped and embossed in black (circa 1994). It was a lone, unfinished project but I was in awe! I was swooning.

Then my mentor showed me “how to.” OMG! I was beside myself as the embossing powder melted with the heat gun and the image appeared almost magically. Wowie, wow, wow!

I smile because most newbies have the same experience. That’s just the nature of the heat embossing technique. One technique can deliver a great punch.

In fact, today’s project wears only ONE stamped word. But it’s no shrinking violet layered above the equally impressive thinlit-cut “happy.” This happy birthday card screams joy, and it’s very simple to produce.

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Project Stars

Paper

Lots of awesome products produced the card. The Shine On Specialty Designer Paper with the silver elements shout “Bam!” This paper, found in the Occasions Catalog that runs through May 31, has six double-sided designs. On one side, silver foil designs shine for a brilliant effect. On the other side, there are neon bright shapes and patterns. Hence, it needs to be mounted on solid card stock—in my opinion. I layered the cloud pattern on Kraft cardstock, and also grabbed the thin diagonal line pattern for the whacked-up sunburst. It’s layered on a silver foil sunburst that’s been rotated just a smidge to peek out. I added three silver balloons.

Stamps

The embossed “birthday” is one of the 33 stamps in the Crazy About You stamp set. Yes. Thirty-three stamps. Even more exciting is that it is part of a bundle that includes the “happy” thinlit, plus three others. This is a DEAL!

Tools

Framelits, thinlits, punch. No more needs to be said.

Embellishments

One lone strand of white twine is attached to the biggest balloon floating off to finishing off the project.

One Last Thing

The layout is my loose interpretation of Mojo443.

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Whoops! One More Last Thing!

Check out the FINAL offering of Weekly Deals. You will find the selection here.

To find out more about the project products, click on any image below.