Blossom Builders Card

Perhaps you, like me, blew right past the "Designer Printed Kit", Blossom Builders, on page 18 when you first flipped through the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog.  But this kit really deserves a second and third look!  These blossoms are "bloomin'" wonderful, not to mention quick and easy to create with!

I got the inspiration for this card from one made by my friend Jann McCollom.  I didn't have the measurements for her card so I came up with my own.  I cut my card stock at 4-1/4" x 11" and scored it from the left at 3-1/2" and 7-1/4".  I then made a mark 2" above the bottom on the left side and made a diagonal cut from there to the fold between the middle and back panels.  This gave me a "S" fold card with a slanted top edge.

I began the fun of choosing and combining blossoms from the two sheets of double-sided die-cut flowers printed on textured paper to decorate my card.  There are two duplicate sheets in the Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit (#125410, $9.95), and each sheet has twenty-seven blossoms, eight colored circles for centers, and six flags or banners such as I used on my card above.  In addition, 60 pink Rhinestones are included, 30 each of two different sizes!  A great value!   Just adhere them to your card with your adhesive and/or Stampin' Dimensionals, and viola!  a lovely creation!!  I only used fifteen blossoms on this card, which is just a tiny bit over half a sheet!!

Above is the card unfolded.  You can tell where I cut the slant on the card.  The card itself is 3-3/4" wide by 4-1/4" tall so the flowers can extend past the card and the card will still fit into a standard A2 envelope.  The only actual stamping here is the "Happiness" (from the Loving Thoughts set, #125845) on the banner plus what greeting I will stamp inside before giving it away.

These blossoms are so quick, easy and fun to use!  and versatile too!!  They are great for cards, scrapbook pages, 3-D projects, eye-catching gift wrappings, framed art and even home decor like garlands and wreaths!  Whatever your imagination can come up with!!

The Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit (#125410, $9.95) is in the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog which expires on April 30; you must order quickly in order to get yours!  You may order any current Stampin' Up! products from  my secure online Stampin' Up! website HERE and they will be delivered directly from Stampin' Up! to your door via UPS.

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you enjoyed the card!

Margaret

Margaret Raburn

Loved Ones Masculine Card

It seems that cards for the guys in our lives are usually in the shortest supply in our card stashes... I hear this a lot, don't you?  The Loved Ones set in the Occasions Mini (that ends on April 30!!) can be a great help in meeting this need.  Here is a Make 'n Take card for the guys we did at a recent workshop:

Crumb Cake (aka Kraft) usually a good choice for a masculine card, is the card base here.  I used the retiring  Grunge Rock stamp set (for the first time, arghhh!! but still love it!) and stamped these great and appropriate stamps in the same CC ink onto the card for a tone-on-tone look.  A delightful find for this card was this print from the Pocketful of Posies Designer Series Paper package (that sounds not-so-promising but ended up great for a masculine card, doesn't it, lol!)  I like the geometric pattern as well as the colors of Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze used, which all work well for our purpose.  Starting from the left is a panel of this print, then a swath of Early Espresso cardstock with a Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon tie. 

"For my" and "Dad" are two separate stamps in the Loved Ones (#125465 {w}, #125467 {c}) set; the ladies were also given the choice of using the "Brother" or the "Son" stamp in this useful set of 12.  (p.s. The Curly Label ExLg Punch {#119851} was the perfect size for the "Son" stamp).  These were stamped in Early Espresso onto Baja Breeze cardstock then punched out with the Decorative Label Extra Large Punch (#120907).  This piece was then sponged with the same Baja Breeze ink and adhered to the front with Stampin' Dimensionals.    My colors look a little off in the photo but in real life they look just right together (mea culpa on the photog skills...sorry).

 REMEMBER these important dates:

• April 25:  Retiring Accessories List announced by Stampin' Up!
• April 30:  Last day to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog
• April 30:  Last day to order from the Summer Smooches April Promotion; the adorable Summer Smooches Fabric Brads and Summer Smooches Decor Stencil will not be available in the new catalog; they are an April only item!
• May 31:  Last day to order from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog
• June 1:  NEW Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog in effect!! 

You may order at any time, day or night, in your pjs, 24/7, etc. by clicking HERE and going to my secure online Stampin' Up! website.  Your order will be delivered directly to your doorstep by UPS!! 


Thanks for visiting!  Have a wonderful weekend and hope you get to do something that you enjoy!


Margaret

Summer Smooches and Flowers

The onset of spring is filled with budding trees and plants and flowers everywhere.  Now that the storms and rain have abated, we are having beautiful weather here and lots of sunshine.  Perfect!  So when I was making this card with bright spring-y colors, the stamp  "Live in the sunshine" quickly came to mind.

"Summer Smooches" is a new product suite that will be in the upcoming Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog, which debuts on June 1st.  However, Stampin' Up! is giving us the opportunity to purchase these items this month to break out of the winter blahs and into the spring sunshine with these fun products.  I love Daffodil Delight and this suite brings us the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper featuring not only Daffodil Delight but also Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade and Baja Breeze!

 The flower is punched from the Designer Paper using the Fancy Flower punch, centered with a Daffodil Flower punched with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch; this is attached over a Tangerine Tango Scallop Circle punchout.  Can you help but notice the beautiful Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brad in Tangerine Tango that centers the flower?  These are NOT in the new Catalog but available only the month of April!  A length of the new Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon sets off the flower.

An Island Indigo banner cut from more Summer Smooches DSP is the backdrop for the single flower.  The background is Baja Breeze cardstock layered over a Daffodil Delight card.  The quote was stamped with Island Indigo Ink onto Daffodil Delight and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch. A strip of the designer paper was added to the bottom inside of the card.

The Summer Smooches Special is available ONLY this month of April.  You can order it from your demonstrator if you have one, or through my online Stampin' Up! website HERE and it will be shipped right to your doorstep!  

Thanks for visiting today!  Happy stamping!

Margaret

Stampin' Up! Stamp Set Retirement List Announced!

The Retirement List of sets retiring from the current Stampin' Up! Catalog has been announced by Stampin' Up!

There are many sets on this list as Stampin' Up! is modifying its catalog program!  These sets will only be available for purchase until the last of May.  There are many wonderful sets on this list (sniff, sniff) so if you want to order one or more, please order before the end of May.  After that, they will no longer be available! 

Here's the link to the list:  RETIRING STAMP SETS 2012

Time to make your list and check it twice to be sure you get what you want before it's gone!!

Thanks!

Margaret

Concord Crush and Cheerful Treat

Have you noticed the Cheerful Treat Designer Paper that is available in the current catalog as a Hostess selection?  I love the colors of Concord Crush, Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Positively Pink and Lucky Limeade in it!  Sadly, Concord Crush will be leaving us soon... I will miss it greatly! 

The card features "flag" strips of the Cheerful Treat Designer Paper topped with a flower. 

 I layered a punched flower from another print layered over a Melon Mambo flower; both were punched out with the popular Blossom Punch in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.  The flower is centered with two smaller flowers punched with the useful BoHo Blossoms Punch and a pink Flower Brad.  I colored a rhinestone from Stampin' Up!'s Rhinestone pack with a purple Sharpie Marker and added it to the center of the flowers brad for some sparkle.

 The Concord Crush background layer was dry embossed with the Big Shot and the Flourish Texture Plate.  This was layered onto a Bashful Blue card.  I made this card for a swap with my demo group last Saturday;  I love these colors and was happy with how it turned out.

Thanks for visiting!  I'm finishing this up before the storm gets here tonight.  We've already had tornadoes just south of Oklahoma City in Norman today and stronger storms are forecast for tomorrow!  Yikes! 

Don't forget to check your supplies of Stampin' Up's 2010-2012 In Colors:  Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade and Concord Crush, then order what you want as soon as possible.  After April 25, items in these colors will be available only as long as supplies last!  and then no more...  

 

Happy Stampin' and stay safe!

Margaret

Beau Chateau with Side Notes CCMC196

One of the beautiful product suites in the catalog is the classic and vintage Beau Chateau!  Such beautiful papers and accessories, oh my!!   Create with Connie and Mary have a lovely sketch this week CCMC196 and I used it for this card made with products from this suite.

The color scheme is strictly from the Beau Chateau Designer Paper; the card base is Pink Pirouette overlaid with two different patterns from the designer paper package.

 Where the two pieces of Designer Paper came together I added Sticky Strip then slightly gathered the Victorian Crochet Ribbon onto it.  Over that I added some of the gorgeous Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon and it blended perfectly with the color scheme.  Across the stitching on the pleated ribbon, I added the strip of Basic Pearls for an elegant touch!

The package of Beau Chateau Side Notes are pre-printed and pre-cut so all one has to do is embellish, if desired, and adhere it to your design!  Simple, simple!  I love this particular one; I added touches of Marina Mist to coordinate with the paper, then I added Basic Pearls on the bee and below the words to dress it up a bit.

I sponged the edge of the Side Note with Soft Suede before I adhered it with Dimensionals.

Here is Connie and Mary's sketch 196: 

Gee, all these frills and pearls I've used today make me feel like a little girl playing dress-up!  It's been fun and so easy because these Beau Chateau Side Notes are already ready to go and feature great designs!!

Thanks for coming by!  Hope to see you again soon

Margaret