Sympathy Card - Very Versatile

A friend of mine from small group at church had a death in her family so I created this sympathy card for her & her husband. I knew that I wanted something a bit trendier so I immediately went for the kraft colored, retro circle & stripe patterned patterned paper from our Holiday Lounge paper pack. From there, I stamped the floral image from the (retired) Very Versatile stamp set that was featured in last summer's mini catalog in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and Whisper White Craft Ink. I embossed the Whisper White ink using our white embossing powder. Once it was cooled, I brayered over it with Bermuda Bay and then wiped any excess ink off the embossed part. I love how the card turned out...I was thinking it might have been just as lovely to use a heathery blue, such as Bordering Blue, in place of the turquoise. Happy stamping my friends!

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Ink:
Whisper White Craft Ink - #101731
Chocolate Chip Classic Ink - #100908
Bermuda Bay Classic Ink -#115655

Cardstock:
Whisper White - #100730 (for 8.5"x11") or #106529 (for 12"x12")
Chocolate Chip - #102128 (for 8.5"x11") or #107102 (for 12"x12")

Paper: Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper - #115675

Tools:
Heat Tool - #10005
Brayer - #102395

Other:
White Embossing Powder - #109132

Earth Day Challenge

My demonstrators group weekly challenge was to create something inspired by Earth Day. I don't know about you, but in my neck of the woods the red bud and dogwood trees are just gorgeous in full bloom, so that is my inspiration for my Earth Day card. I'm always looking for an excuse to use this stamp set. It's called "Season of Friendship" and comes with everything you need to decorate the tree for any season, plus a nice quote about friendship. You've probably noticed a trend with me: that I love layers and dimensions, so the front "hill" of grass and the flowers are adhered with our foam adhesive, called "Stampin' Dimensionals". The clouds were created by sponging bashful blue onto whisper white cardstock, using a scallop circle punch to mask off areas of white. The card was still missing something, so I tied it off with a piece of satin ribbon. Happy (belated) Earth Day!

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Ink:
Bashful Blue (sky) - #105209
Certainly Celery (leaves) - #105217
Chocolate Chip (tree) - #100908
Old Olive (leaves) - #102277
So Saffron (flowers) -#105213
Brilliant Blue (bird) -#100691

Cardstock:
Whisper White - #100730 for 8.5"x11" or #106529 for 12"x12"
Chocolate Chip - #102128 for 8.5"x11" or #107102 for 12"x12"

Stamps: Season of Friendship - #111776

Tools:
Scallop Circle Punch - #109043
Paper Snips -#103579
Stamp-a-ma-jig (for easy placement of leaves & bird on tree) - #101049
Sponge - #101610
Crop-a-dile (to punch holes for ribbon) - #108362

Others: 5/8" Certainly Celery satin ribbon - #117288

LAST CHANCE - Chocolate Bunny Stamp!

I promised another card using the Chocolate Bunny single stamp available in the current mini catalog and so here it is!

This one involved more paper crafting than stamping but was oh-so-fun to make! To create the Easter basket, I die cut the Top Note die twice on More Mustard Cardstock. Then I swiped Chocolate Chip ink across the die cuts to create a wood grain effect, and cut the die cuts into strips and wove them together. The basket was then created by cutting the die cut in half the short way. I decorated it with eggs (small oval punched through random scraps of patterned paper), Easter grass (used paper snips to cut fringes on a strip of Old Olive cardstock), scallop trim border punch and a butterfly from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. I created the cloudy background, perfect for a springy day, by sponging Bashful Blue around a scallop circle punch. I stamped the Chocolate Bunny on Close to Cocoa cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink and then cut him out with my paper snips. To give the card some lift, and I adhered the bunny and some of the eggs with Stampin' Dimensionals. To give it some sturdiness, I adhered the whole basket down with Sticky Strip.

Happy Crafting!

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Ink:

Chocolate Chip Classic - #100908

Bashful Blue Classic - #105209

Cardstock:

Whisper White - #100730 for 8.5"x11" or #106529 for 12"x12"

More Mustard - #100946 for 8.5"x11" or #106542 for 12"x12"

Chocolate Chip - #102128 for 8.5"x11" or #107102 for 12"x12"

Old Olive - #100702 for 8.5"x11" or #106544 for 12"x12"

Patterned Paper:

miscellaneous scraps from retired Designer Series Papers and also from Sweet Pea, available in the current mini catalog - #117161

Adhesive:

Stampin' Dimensionals - #104430

Sticky Strip - #104294

Tools:

Paper Snips - #103579

Top Note Die - #113463

Big Shot - #113439

Scallop Circle Punch - #109043

Beautiful Wings Die - #118138

Small Oval Puch - #107304

Scallop Trim Punch - retired, but we have other beautiful border punches that would work just as well. Check out the Scallop Edge #112091 or the Eyelet Border #113692.

Last Chance! Chocolate Bunny Stamp

My how time flies when you love the mini catalog products! The end of April is just around the corner which means the end of our spring mini catalog. Therefore, I will be trying to showcase some of my personal favorites from that catalog until the end of the month, so check back often. And be sure to order something if you LOVE it, because the 30th will be here before you know it!

The first one is the Chocolate Bunny stamp. This single stamp is easy to use and also easy on the checkbook! This was a card we made in my demonstrators group and I love how it turned out. Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip make a wonderful color palette, but I also think Chocolate Chip looks wonderful with Certainly Celery or Bashful Blue. This card also uses the patterned paper from our Shades of Spring line which will also be retiring April 30th.

It's never to soon to think about cards for next year, especially since this stamp set won't be around then! Come back tomorrow for another example using this stamp.

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Paper: Shades for Spring Designer Series Paper - #117160

Cardstock:

Very Vanilla (#101650 for 8.5"x11"' or #106530 for 12"x12")

So Saffron (#105118 for 8.5"x11" or #107088 for 12"x12")

Close to Cocoa (#101341 for 8.5"x11" or #107101 for 12"x12")

Chocolate Chip (#102128 for 8.5"x11" or #107102 for 12"x12")

Stamps:

Chocolate Bunny stamp - #116980

Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set - #115370

Tools:

Paper Snips (for cutting out the bunny) - #103579

Small Oval Punch - #107304

Large Oval Punch - #107305

Scallop Trip border punch (retired - but any border punch would do & we have some great ones to choose from)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic - #100908

Other: Flat-backed pearl from Pretties Kit - #109114
Adhesives:

Snail Adhesive - #104332 (refills #104331)

Sticky Strip (to adhere pearl) - #104294

Designer Series Paper Challenge

My demonstrators group decided this week's challenge should be use any of Stampin' Up!'s yummy designer series paper. I chose Razzleberry Lemonade, which features three of our current In Colors (rich razzleberry, crushed curry, and melon mambo). Here is the card I made...it would be so easy for you to adapt to your own patterned papers and even better...in the spirit of Earth Day this week, it would easy to use up your scraps with this layout and get a different look everytime! Happy Stamping!

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade (#115675)

Cardstock:
Melon Mambo textured cardstock {available in combo packs of 8.5"x11" (#115719) or 12"x12" (#115538)}
Rich Razzleberry cardstock (#115316 for 8.5"x11")

Stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts - this is a hostess set, yours free for hosting a party of $300 or more...it's easy, ask me how! But hurry, this set is only available till the end of June.

Ink: Rich Razzleberry classic (#115658)

Other: 1/4" white grosgrain ribbon (#109025)

Exciting New About Color Renovation

Did you hear the news? Stampin' Up! has decided to do some renovations to their color families. Based on demonstrator and customer feedback, as well as research into the latest trends, we will be unveiling a new color collection in the new catalog, to be released to customers on July 1st. If you're like me, you're excited to try new things...here's a sneak peek at what the new families will be:

download: Color Renovation: New Color Collections flyer

You might be wondering, well, what does that mean to me? First, you will have some fresh, on trend colors to start playing with this summer. You may have noticed that some of the colors are familiar...that is because we are carrying over many of the favorites from our old color families. In addition, we are bringing back 10 of our past In Colors. To round out these color families and freshen them up, Stampin' Up has developed 5 new colors as well. As a demonstrator, one of the perks is that I got to see the new colors first hand and you are going to LOVE them! They are so rich and will be very versatile. Definitely a good addition to the Stampin' Up color lineup.

It also means that we are going to have to say a fond farewell to some of the other colors that have found their way into our stamping palettes over the past years. Undoubtedly, some of these have become favorites for you, so now is the time to stock up on any cardstock, designer series paper, ink pads, ink refills, markers, etc. Any orders placed in April and May will definitely be filled; orders placed in June will be filled only if the product is still available, so if any of your favorites are on this list, stock up now! I know I will be replenishing my stock of Ruby Red and Tempting Turquoise.

And, as if that weren't enough...we will be getting five new In Colors this summer, and they will last for two years, instead of one like in the past. And then next summer, we'll get five more In Colors, which will last for two years, so we will have 10 In Colors at one time, starting next summer. This is going to be such a fun way to keep our collections fresh and on trend. Watch for a sneak peek of the first five In Colors in June.

You might be asking how do I get my hands on these new colors? They will be available for purchase starting July 1st. You will have the option, just like in the past to purchase individual ink pads, markers, ink pad refills, cardstock, etc. in any color we offer. Additionally, for those of you who "just gotta have it all"...we will be offering "new color" kits for Stampin' Write Markers, Stampin' Pastels and Watercolor Wonder Crayons. This way you can add-to your already existing collection by only adding the new colors or get a great start on a collection with the latest colors.

Another thing to be on the lookout for: an awesome NEW Color Coach tool that you won't want to be without! This is designed to not only show you all of our awesome colors, but also to help you plan your cards, scrapbook pages, and altered items.

Stampin' Up! has thought of everything! So keep your eyes peeled for more information as we get closer to the date!

Vintage Vogue Congratulations Card

I created this card for my boss's anniversary with the company, but it could easily be adapted to fit other occasions (feminine birthdays, Mother's Day, thank you, thinking of you....) with a different greeting. It's actually a lot easier than it looks! So start, I stamped the foliage/filigree stamp from the Vintage Vogue set in Old Olive on two opposite corners of whisper white cardstock. Next, I punched out ten Chocolate Chip tags using the Medium Jewelry Punch. I adhered the first row of tags so that the bottom of the tag lined up with the bottom of the white panel. Then I lined up the second row of tags on top of the first, covering up the round top part of the bottom tags. Next I cut a strip of cardstock the same width as the tags, and laid that across as my horizontal part of the fence. Now for the fun of embellishing! I stamped the small flowers from the Vintage Vogue set onto Whisper White cardstock with Dusty Durango and So Saffron ink and then cut them out using our small snips. I adhered those to the stamped white panel, making sure to adhere a few with Stampin' Dimensionals to give them a little lift. I embellished them with pearls from my stash. I also used the Embosslits Beautiful Wings die to cut out a butterfly to adhere to the fence. I finished it up with a piece of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and stamped greeting (I used the Well Scripted set).

Cardstock:

Whisper White (#100730 for 8.5"x11"' or #106529 for 12"x12")
So Saffron (#105118 for 8.5"x11" or #107088 for 12"x12")
Old Olive (#100702 for 8.5"x11"or #106544 for 12"x12")
Dusty Durango (#115321 for 8.5"x11")

Chocolate Chip (#102128 for 8.5"x11" or #107102 for 12"x12")

Adhesives:
Stampin' Dimensionals (double-sided foam dots) - #104430
Snail Adhesive - #104332 (refills #104331)

Sticky Strip (for adhering ribbon) - #104294

Tools:Paper Snips - #103579
Beautiful Wings Embosslits - #118138
Big Shot Machine - #113439
Medium Jewelry Punch - #117190

Ink:
Old Olive Classic - #102277
Dusty Durango Classic - #115654
So Saffron Classic - #105213

Stamp Sets:Vintage Vogue (hurry! this set is only available till April 30th) - #117690 for wood mounted; #118598 for cling mounted

Well Scripted (hurry! this set is only available till April 30th) - #117072 for wood mounted; #118601 for cling mounted

Other:

1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Old Olive - #109031
adhesive pearls from my stash

Inspiration Challenge

My upline challenged our group of blogging demonstrators to use this photograph as inspiration for our stamping this past week. I was drawn immediately to the color scheme - so springlike and fresh! I also liked the texture of the quilt, the femininity of the flower wall-hanging and polka-dot pattern on the bedspread. The card above is what I came up with.

To get texture on this card, I ran a small piece of whisper white cardstock through the Big Shot in our exclusive polka dot textured impressions embossing folder. Then I left the paper in the folder, opened the folder up, and brayered So Saffron ink onto the back side of the embossed paper. By leaving it in the folder, it prevents the brayer from pushing the dots back in. Then I stamped the flower in Rose Red craft ink, sprinkled it with the embossing powder and heat set it. Next I put the strip of Pumpkin Pie cardstock down and stamped by sentiment on it. Then I wrapped my ribbon around it all and mounted it on the Tempting Turquoise base.

Please click HERE to order 24/7!!! Supplies used on this card:

Cardstock:

Whisper White (#100730 for 8.5"x11"' or #106529 for 12"x12")

Pumpkin Pie (#105117 for 8.5"x11" or #107100 for 12"x12")

Tempting Turquoise (#102067 for 8.5"x11" or #107103 for 12"x12")

Stamps:

Of the Earth Hostess set - #115336 (that's right, you can earn this set free by hostessing a workshop totalling $150 or more!)

Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set - #115370

Tools:

Brayer - #102395

Big Shot - #113439

Embossing Folder

Heat Tool - #100005

Powder Pals - #102197

Stamp-a-ma-jig - #101049

Inks:

So Saffron classic (polka dotted paper) - #105213

Rose Red craft (flower) - #101545

Old Olive classic (sentiment) - #102277

Other:

5/8" Old Olive satin ribbon - #117292

Clear Embossing Powder - #109130

Adhesives:

Snail Adhesive - #104332 (refills #104331)

Sticky Strip (I find this works really well on ribbon) - #104294

Stampin' Up Clearance Sale! Check it out...you won't want to miss this...

You better hurry before they're gone! There are some fabulous Clearance Item Deals going on in my STAMPIN' UP! ONLINE STORE! Get up to 60% off on amazing Stampin' Up! products - only while supplies last! (and only available online!) SHOP NOW

I have to say, some of my favorite things are the Designer Series Papers. So many great color options that would be great for spring- or summer-themed cards, scrapbook pages, invitations, and altered projects. Pictured below are "Georgia Peach" and "Haiku"...both are oh-so-yummy! Thank you for supporting my Stampin' Up! business! - Michelle Hamilton