Blossom Party CCMC254

What a lovely color scheme Create with Connie and Mary has today:  So Saffron, Pool Party and Island Indigo!  I'm not sure where my idea for this card came from... it just appeared in my head one evening and I'm happy with the way it turned out!

I had so much fun with the Blossom Party Die a couple of weeks ago that I decided to use it again, only this time, it is the smallest flower on the die, a 1-3/8" daisy-like flower.

I used a Whisper White card then embossed another white layer with the Delicate Designs scallop edge Embossing Folder on both the top and bottom edges.  That left an area in between for my flowers.  I diecut three of each color flower (it's easy to do because you can cut maybe five or six layers of Stampin' Up! quality cardstock at a time on this die) and attached them, rotating the layers.  The two outside flowers are centered  with an In Color Printed Brad and a small flower punched using the BoHo Blossoms Punch.

The center flower has a punch out then a So Saffron flower button from the Designer Subtles Collection, tied with Linen Thread.  Each flower is layered on a 1-5/8" colored cardstock square layered with a 1-1/2" Whisper White square that has been embossed with the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder.

The tag is stamped with "best" from the Fabulous Phrases set and punched out with the retiring Jewelry Tag Punch.

Here again are the colors for today's challenge from Create with Connie and Mary; aren't they pretty together?!

Now it's your turn to create!  Make your card using these colors and the guidelines on the Create with Connie and Mary website, then upload it to your blog or other public online location.  Then go back to the CCMC website and link your card there!

Be sure and check out what all the other CCMC designers have done with these colors!  They are super paper artists!

Thanks for visiting!  I appreciate it!

Margaret

Healing for the Heartland

Perhaps you've seen this quote from Tom Brokaw about Oklahoma, maybe not.  Having lived here most of my life, I agree that the people here are mostly good, kind and compassionate, which mainly comes from faith and brotherly love. 

I watched the "Healing for the Heartland" Concert tonight; did you?  I was so moved by the music and talent of the many artists who donated their time and talent to help others in need.  Thank you to each of the artists and those behind the scenes; you brought love and kindness to those who've suffered so much loss.  The tickets for this concert in downtown Oklahoma City sold out in five minutes!  I couldn't have gotten one if I'd have tried but was glad I could watch it on tv.  : )

We have again been under tornado watches in Central Oklahoma the past two days and these will continue again on Thursday and Friday.  Please remember the people in your prayers who are in areas under tornado watches and those here and in other states where tornados have caused damage, for continued healing and protection from these storms.  Thank you.

Thank you all for your prayers, support, donations and whatever you may have done to help the tornado victims everywhere.  Bless you!

Margaret

Up Up and Away!

This is a Make 'n Take we did at Elaine's party last week using the oh-so-cute Up Up and Away set!  Of course it is retiring (!) but there is still time to order it before the last day June 3!

 I was inspired by a similar card by Deb Currier but changed it somewhat to make it my own.  : )  I love the Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and it is just perfect with so many images, like birds, butterflies, airplanes, you name it!  But it too is retiring! 

 The "clean" color scheme is Whisper White, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party.

The basket of the balloon is stamped in Midnight Muse, as are the birds.  The banner and sentiment are stamped with Melon Mambo and the small Daffodil Delight flowers are punched with the flower in the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack then centered with a Rhinestone.

Up Up and Away, set of 14,  

#122755 wood, $26.95;  #122757 clear, $18.95.

 pg. 37, 2012-13 Annual Catalog

 The Order deadline for retiring sets and accessories that are still available:  Online:  Monday, June 3, 2013; 11:50 pm, MT.    Link to Online Ordering

Thanks for visiting today!  Hope you get to stamp soon!

Margaret

You Rule!

Such a fun set from the Spring Catalog is YOU RULE!  I finally ordered it not long before I received the NEW Catalog and sadly this set is not included!  : (  I have seen so many creative and cute cards with it online so I know I will still enjoy it anyway!   It's quite versatile and works for either men or women!

In searching for colors for a masculine card, I discovered that Bravo Burgundy looks quite good with Summer Starfruit!  I don't recall seeing this combo previously, but I really like it (oh yeah, now that Bravo  Burgundy is retiring, lol!)  I used a little Basic Gray as well, and like the combination.

The background DSP is a print in Summer Starfruit print from Comfort Cafe DSP pack wrapped with the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, also in Summer Starfruit.  The crown was stamped in the same color then diecut with one of the smaller Oval Framelits.  The Basic Gray was cut with the next larger Oval Framelit.

The greeting is one of four from the set; it was stamped in Basic Gray on a 1/2" Very Vanilla strip (a good way to use your scraps, too!), the ends fish-taled then adhered to the top layer and anchored with a Pewter Glimmer Brad (from the Basic Glimmer Brads, which is perfect with the Basic Gray!  

Did you notice that I placed a 1/4" smaller-that-the-card layer on the front, popping it up on Dimensionals?  This really gives a nice and more finished look to the card.  I've observed other cards like this; I like the look and have begun doing this often myself!
 
I left it pretty simple but jewels or brads or Dazzling Details could be added to the crown if one desired to bling it up! (definitely for a feminine card!)  It just depends on who you're sending it to as to how you want to accessorize it!  That's the beauty of stamping- we can personalize our cards!  This would be great for Father's Day, a masculine birthday or an event of occasion when someone was being honored or celebrated!

YOU RULE stamp set:   #129261 wood mount,  $17.95;   #129264 clear mount,  $13.95

Bravo Burgundy products are listed on page 155 of the current 2012-2013 Catalog and can be ordered through June 3, or as long as supplies last, whichever is first.

Order through my online store HERE

Thanks for visiting today!

Margaret                        

Holiday Carryover Stamp Sets!

Carryover Christmas/Hanukkah Stamp Sets

  Just a reminder:
With the release of the retired list and the NEW 2013-14 Catalog, some of you may be wondering which Christmas stamps will still be available. Don't cry or pout, we've gotcha covered! 

• Evergreen Stamp Set (also available in French)
• Greetings of the Season Stamp Set (also available in French)
• Jewish Celebrations Stamp Set
• More Merry Messages Stamp Set (also available in French)
• Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set
• Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set (also available in French and Spanish)

More good news!! These sets will still be available during the 2013-2014 catalog year. They will not be featured in the catalog, but  will be available in the Online Store HERE and also in Customer or Workshop orders through your demonstrator.

You may check the Retiring Stamps List to see specifically which sets are being retired. 

Retiring Lists

• Retiring Stamps (Available April 24-June 3, 2013)
  • PDF
  • Sortable Excel file
   
• Retiring Accessories (Available April 24-June 3, 2013, or while supplies last) 
  • PDF
  • Sortable Excel file

Order deadline for retiring sets and accessories that are still available:  Online:  Monday, June 3, 2013; 11:50 PM   Link to Online Ordering

Best wishes!

Margaret

Comfort Cafe CCMC253 Sketch Card

Pursuit of Happiness sentiment set is one I have used many times so I was really sad to see it on the Retirement List, but glad I do have it.  I especially like this verse I used on my card for this week's Create with Connie and Mary CCMC253 Sketch Challenge.

The Designer Series Papers are from the Comfort Cafe package.  These are great colors to create with:  Pool Party, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit.  I thought they would make a great masculine card with this sketch!

The card base is Summer Starfruit as is the 1" Circle punchout behind the Designer Naturals button.

I stamped a layer of Pool Party with the sentiment in Cajun Craze and then scored three sides with the Simply Scored Board.  Look closely and you can see that I scored the chevron paper on the vertical between each column of angles.  It is more apparent in person and gives it a little "puff".  : )

Midnight Muse Ribbon wraps around the top of the Pool Party layer and is topped with a Naturals Button tied with Linen Thread and layered over a circle of Summer Starfruit.

I hope you will chose to use this easy sketch to make a card yourself!  Just post it on your blog or other public site on the web then link up on the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge #253 post!


Thanks for visiting!  Hope you get to have some stamp time soon!

Margaret

Stippled Blossom Lattice CCMC252

I've seen so many pretty cards made with this set!  I finally ordered it and used it for the first time on this card for the Thursday Challenge 252 over at Create with Connie and Mary!

This week's challenge is to use a color scheme of So Saffron, Sahara Sand and Soft Suede.  Hmm, I had to think awhile on that and here's what I came up with.

The card base is Sahara Sand overlaid with Soft Suede textured with the Big Shot and the Woodgrain embossing folder.  Sahara Sand cardstock was diecut with the Big Shot and the Lattice Die then brushed lightly with the Sahara Sand ink pad. 

The blossoms were stamped with So Saffron ink onto the same color cardstock, the leaves in Sahara Sand ink on Sahara Sand cardstock and then hand cut out.    So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon was woven through the lattice on the left side  then the flowers, leaves and Victoria Crochet Trim were added.

Using the new Petite Butterfly Punch, I punched one out of an extra flower I had stamped so it had the same ink coloring as the flowers.  "K is for kindness" from the A Round Array set was stamped in Soft Suede onto Sahara Sand then applied using a Dimensional.  A number of Pearls were place to add some bling and dimension to the card then the card was spritzed with the Vanilla Shimmer Spray to give it a beautiful sheen and glimmer!


Again, the color challenge this week from Create with Connie and Mary:

Now it's your turn!  Pull out these colors and make your masterpiece, upload it somewhere on the web then go to the CWCM post HERE and link your photo!!  We would love to see what you come up with!

Thanks for visiting today!  I always appreciate hearing from you and hope you have some time to stamp soon!

Margaret

Bloomin' Bouquet Project Kit

Friend. Sister. Teacher appreciation. Get well. Just because. Say thank you with this no-maintenance bouquet. There's no watering, no weeding-just enjoying. This easy-to-assemble kit comes complete with the petals, stems, and buttons to create the flowers, as well as four different tags to make this the perfect gift for any occasion. All you need is some paper, ribbon or a vase to add the finishing touches to the bouquet. As if that weren't enough, the kit contains a "baker's dozen"! This means you can create and give (or keep) a dozen flowers, and have a bonus flower left over to pass along to someone new! Give it to someone you wouldn't normally think of: a teller at the bank, a grocery store clerk, or the librarian at your local library. Anyone you encounter on your way that you'd like to give a little "thank you" to! Kit contents:

• 2 sheets of preprinted and precut flowers on 12" X 12" cardstock; makes 13 flowers using Pool Party, Gumball Green, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry
• 13 Vintage Faceted Buttons
• 13 green floral wire stems

Adhesive not included. (Glue gun recommended.) Ideas/Tips:

• This kit makes a great gift, both assembled and unassembled. You may want to give it as a fun do-at-home project, or create it yourself to enjoy or give.
• This kit can appeal to both stampers and non-stampers; the ease of assembly means everyone can do it!
• Add your own finishing touch to the bouquet: place it in a vase, wrap it up in tissue paper, decorative ribbon, or twine.

Ordering information: Item 134542     $12.95 Available now, while supplies last. You may order this kit online through my Stampin' Up! store here or at our next stampin' party! Thanks for shopping, and Happy Stamping! Margaret  

Dolled Up Birthday Kit!

Now available from Stampin' Up!

We're excited to introduce our new Project kit:  the Dolled-Up Birthday Kit! which includes the following:

• Dolled-Up Birthday Photopolymer Stamp (1)
• 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Crumb Cake Cardstock (6 pieces)
• 2" x 4-1/4" Very Vanilla Cardstock (6 pieces)
• Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (6)
• Tea Lace Paper Doilies (6)
• Dress Up die-cuts (6)*
• Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot (1)
• Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (6 pieces)
• Sponge Dauber (1)

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 (item 133913)!**To assemble one card, follow the instructions below:

1. Place the stamp on clear-mount block D or H rubber side up and ink with the Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot.
2. Stamp "Happy Birthday" at the bottom of the card front.
3. Ink the Sponge Dauber with Soft Suede ink and gently antique the doily and the edges of the dress form.
4. Adhere the pieces to the card front in this order:
   • Doily
   • Very Vanilla Cardstock
   • Dress form
   • Flower

*Created using the Dress Up Framelits Die designed by Karen Burniston
**Adhesive and acrylic block not included

That's all there is to it!  Everything you need to make and mail six cards except the postage stamp!  This is great when you don't have much time or perhaps you are an inexperience stamper... it's all there and cut for you!  You can take care six of your girlfriend's birthdays with this kit!

You may order these through my Stampin' Up! store here or at our next stampin' party!  You may also email me your order!
Thanks, and Happy Stamping!

Margaret

Serene Silhouettes CAS

I've just recently gotten this Serene Silhouettes set and am enjoying the stamps in it.   This is the third image I've used;  I think these plants look similar to Queen Anne Lace...

I used the same acrylic block watercolor stamping technique for this background that I've used on several cards lately:  Just Believe, Serene Silhouettes 1 and Serene Silhouettes 2.  

The colors used for the block stamping are Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Soft Suede.  I love how the colors blend together so softly; however, I was rather surprised at the color that came out of the Soft Suede with this technique, but I like it with the other two colors!  The image was stamped with Early Espresso.

The only embellishment is three medium Pearls on the upper right side of the card.  I liked the clean simplicity of the image so much that I decided I would leave it as is for the time being and add the sentiment later before I send it.

I hope you enjoyed the card; thanks for visiting!

Margaret

The Open Sea CCMC251

It's Thursday!  Time for the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge #251 ... today it's a sketch!

I really like The Open Seas set and am so glad it didn't retire; it makes such wonderful masculine cards!  I found this handsome designer paper with a world map print in delicious colors of blues and greens in the current but retiring Fan Fair Designer Series Paper package .. layered on Very Vanilla it's perfect for my ship!   

I stamped the ship in Midnight Muse and added some subtle colors with Stampin' Write Markers and Blender Pens, cut it out and attached it to the focal rectangle with Dimensionals.

The card base is Crumb Cake.  I randomly stamped a layer of Island Indigo with the round global map, wrapped Island Indigo Bakers Twine around then attached the layer with Dimensionals.  "Happy Father's Day" was stamped in Midnight Muse onto Old Olive cardstock, punched with the Word Window Punch then attached with Dimensionals.

Here is the sketch for this week's Create with Connie and Mary  Challenge #251: 

There is so much you can do with this sketch, from masculine to feminine, kids to seniors, simple to vintage!  Why don't you try your hand at a card using this sketch, upload it somewhere on the 'net and then link it to the challenge #251 at Create with Connie and Mary this week?!  Having a sketch is such a great starting point for making a card!!  We'll be waiting to see yours!

Thanks for visiting!!  Hope you will drop by again soon!

Margaret

Serene Silhouettes Branches

I played some more with the acrylic block stamping technique; this time I used three colors:  Calypso Coral, So Saffron and Marina Mist.  

It came out with this cool look which I thought paired well with the clouds print in the Sunshine and Sprinkles Designer Series Paper.

I used the birds and branches stamp in Basic Gray over my background and layered that onto coral.  "For You" is from the A Round Array sneak peek stamp set.  The bundle of stamp set and 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch is still available (until May 30) at a pre-catalog savings of 15% off! 

That's it!  It is really fun to make these backgrounds and tie them in with designer papers or whatever color scheme you want to use!

Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes, A Round Array (click HERE for more info)
Inks:  Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Basic Gray
Papers:  Sunshine and Sprinkles Designer Series Paper (Spring catalog)
Accessories:  7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Serene Silhouettes stamp set

Spring Surprise Bundle:  A Round Array set + 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch!

To order any of these products, click HERE to go to my Stampin' Up! store!  Thanks!


For more samples with this technique, see here and here.

Thanks for visiting; Happy Stamping!

Margaret

So Long, Old Friends

It's that time of year when we have to say goodbye to some of our beloved "friends"... stamps, colors, accessories; oh, yes, you know, don't you!   I chose some for this card and used the acrylic block stamping technique for the background.

Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery (both retiring) and Wild Wasabi (current) are the colors in the background which are overstamped with the Just Believe stamp (retiring) in Elegant Eggplant ink.

The card base is Wild Wasabi cardstock.  "Happy Birthday", stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Certainly Celery cardstock (retiring), is from the Curly Cute set, a well-used favorite of mine, (you guessed it, retiring)!

A small Elegant Eggplant button, a touch of twine and some Basic Pearls are the finishing touches. 

I love the simplicity of this card, and the fresh greens and blue tones are clean and crisp.

Thanks for looking, everyone!  Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Margaret

p.s.  I'm not too sad... we will have lots of NEW "friends" to get acquainted with soon!  : )

To Die For Color Challenge CCM250

Well, Big Shot dies, really ... I used two different dies on this card for today's Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge, as well as two Sizzlets!   The challenge colors are Pool Party,  Calypso Coral and Basic Gray, and here's my card:

This is a fun color challenge using two of my favorite colors:  Pool Party and Calypso Coral!  I'm so glad they are returning to the Stampin' Up! color line-up as standard colors instead of being retired!  The Basic Gray provides good contrast for these light and bright colors!

I used the Blossom Party Originals Die and polka dot Tea for Two Designer Series Paper for the flowers  and Boho Blossoms Punch for the small Pool Party centers.  The leaves are cut with the Little Leaves Sizzlet, which is a a must-have for me!  The doily was diecut with the Large Delicate Doilies Sizzlet; the polka-dot scallops were diecut with the Tasteful Trim BigzXL Die.  The little polka-dot butterfly was punched with the Bitty Butterfly Punch. 

The Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper is the source for the striped Pool Party dsp and the greeting is from the retiring Pursuit of Happiness set; I've really used this set a lot and will miss it!   I love the flowers that are made with this Blossom Party Originals Die; I need to use this more!  Basic Pearls center both the flowers and butterfly.

Thanks for visiting today and I appreciate your comments.  Try this super color combination for a card yourself, post it somewhere online then add your card link to the challenge post at Create with Connie and Mary CCM250!

Have a stampin' good day!

Margaret

May Best of 25: Brides and Babies!

Every month during 2013, Stampin' Up! is combining some of our all-time-favorite stamps with a new, neverbefore-seen stamp to create a monthly “Best of” stamp set. Best of Brides and Babies is our May set, but don’t forget to check out the sets from previous months as well, found HERE. They’re available all year - shop the "Best of 25 Years"! 

Click here for the flyer with all the information for the Best of Brides and Babies set:

View Collector's Card & Details HERE!

As a special gift for collecting the "Best of" stamps:

• Starting in February we're including a collector's card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every "Best of" set.
• Collect six stickers
• Send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95! 
• Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

Shop for the "Best of 25 Years" stamps!

Thanks for dropping by!

Margaret