Farewell to For All You Do

Back from my wonderful girls' weekend.  We had the best time laughing and crying together and just hanging out.  Now I feel better equipped to deal with my everyday life too.

Today's project features the retiring stamp set, For All You Do.  I have loved this stamp set since it first premiered in 2009.

Colors: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade.  Stamps: For All You Do (r).  Big Shot: Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder.  Accessories: Rhinestone Jewels, Melon Mambo Dotted Scallop Ribbon.

I made this card for my technique club last week.  It features the rock and roll technique and the kissing technique -- both easy and fun ways to add a little something extra to your project.  My other hostess club will also get a chance to make it this week as well.

Don't miss out on your chance to get this fun stamp set.  Head on over to my online store and order it before it's too late. :)

Sneak Peek: Layered Label

I have another sneak peek for you today. Thanks to my wonderful customers and all their support during Sale-A-Bration, I earned two free stamp sets of my choice. After pouring through the catalog, I decided to go ahead and get this set from the preview as one of them.  It's called Layered Labels and it coordinates with the new Framelits that I've already shown you a couple of times.  It has a vintage feel and it's just beautiful. 

Colors: Primrose Petal, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Layered Labels.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embosslits.  Accessories: Pearl Jewels, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Markers.

I came up with the color scheme because of some random scraps I had on the table.  I loved the look of Lucky Limeade with the new Primrose Petal.  And Crumb Cake and Vanilla seemed a natural compliment to these dusty colors. 

To make the focal point image, I stamped the Heartfelt stamp twice, once on Primrose Petal in the same ink and then again on Very Vanilla with Early Espresso ink.  Then I cut out the Primrose Petal image with the coordinating Framelit.  I added a bit of color to the one on Very Vanilla with my marker and then cut the center oval out of it to layer on top of the Primrose Petal piece. 

It was just a happy coincidence that I happened to have the Lucky Limeade piece already cut from a previous project that didn't quite turn out the way I wanted.  It cut it with the Adorning Accents Edgelit on both sides and then ran it back through the Big Shot with the Adorning Accents Embosslit folders.  I love how it perfectly frames the Apothecary Accent shape.  I am so happy that the Adorning Accents collection carried over from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  They add just the right touch to projects.

Today I'm off to a girls weekend at Lake Tahoe with my Ya-Ya's -- you know those friends you've known forever and know where the bodies are buried.  Totally kidding about the bodies, but you know what I mean.   I've known them since I was 10 and I'm so excited because it's been a long time since we were all together. We get a whole weekend without kids and husbands and responsibilities in one of my favorite places on the planet.  I hope you all have your own Ya Ya's and that you get see them again soon too.

Farewell to Berry Blossoms

I've had this pack of Berry Blossom Designer Series Paper since Stampin' Up! offered a special on it last fall.  It is really cute, but I haven't used it enough and I don't think I've ever featured it on my blog.  A month or so, I finally bought the stamp set that went with it.

A friend of mine asked me to make her some drink mix packet holders.  I knew this was the perfect time to break out this retiring paper and put it to a good use:

Colors: Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Early Espresso, Whisper White, and Calypso Coral.  Stamps: Fruit & Flowers, Fabulous Phrases.  Punches: 1-3/8" and Scallop Circle.  Accessories: Brads and Berry Blossom Designer series paper. 

 

 

I have made these before but it's been a long time so I had to go out on the good old reliable internet to find measurements.  These are 7-3/4" x 2-1/4" scored 2" from each side.  She didn't need me to provide the drink mix or the water bottle, but I wanted to show how cute it is when you just wrap a little big of the matching paper around the water bottle too.  Wouldn't that be fun for a party?

She wanted 12 of them, so here they all are.  (Sorry this picture didn't turn out as well). This cute stamp set is not retiring, just the paper.

Just a reminder that May is winding down quickly so don't wait too long to get the items on your wish list that are retiring.  Some of the items are marked down up to 70%!  Just click shop now and place your order before the items you want are sold out.  Friday, I'll have another sneak peek for you of a different stamp set so be sure to come back.

Sneak Peek: New In Colors

I was just wondering what happened to April when I realized May is half over!  Sorry I missed Friday's post.  Life is busy for everyone this time of year with end-of-school activities and spring sports.  We are no exception.  I promised another sneak peek and here it is:

Colors: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit and Primrose Petals. Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms, Perfectly Penned.   Big Shot: Apothecary Accent Framelits and Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Brads

This card features three of the four new In Colors.  While I don't love them as much as the 2011-2013 In Colors, the more I use them, the more I like them.  The Midnight Muse and Primrose Petal remind me of my wedding colors so I guess it's true what they say: everything comes back into style if you wait long enough. :)

I also promised to tell you more about the new firm foam stamp pads.  Stampin' Up! retired all of the classic ink pads to introduce this new redesign.  I can see a lot of advantages to them.  With the old stamp pads, it wasn't unusual for the edges to curl up as the stamp pad dried out.  This will not be a problem with the firm foam.  It is easier to get even coverage on a large solid stamp because the stamp pad stays level also just because the texture of the pad.  But they do have a little bit of a learning curve.  Since the pads are made of foam (kind of like the Craft pads but not as soft) it is easier to catch the edges of the stamp.  A light touch is best. But over all, once you get used to them, I am confident you will love them.

Over the next week or so, I promise to show you more new products as well as features some projects with retiring stuff on them as well. After all, I'm still sad we are losing some favorites and don't want you to miss out on them either.

Sneak Peek: Betsy's Blossoms

Yesterday afternoon, my preorder finally arrived.  I say finally because as a demonstrator, I could have ordered select items from the new catalog starting May 1.  But because our first order on May 7 would include the new 2012-2013 Catalog, I waited until this past Monday to place my order.  I love living one shipping day from Stampin' Up!

But being a grownup, I made myself finish up all the left over cards from my last Stampin' Buffet before I allowed myself to play.  Well, I really only finished most of them. I still have a few to go.  Since I promised a sneak peek today, this morning I did make one card to show you:

Colors: Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, and Whisper White.  Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms, Loving Thoughts.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Floral District Designer Series Paper, Brads

Can you spot all the new stuff on here?  First of all, new colors: Summer Starfruit and Raspberry Ripple.  Someone described Summer Starfruit as Kiwi Kiss (remember that color?) with a squeeze of lemon in it.  I've seen lots of women wearing the color this past year so it's right on trend.  Raspberry Ripple kind of reminds me of Purely Pomegranate, only a bit lighter.  The Floral District Designer Series Paper featured here is actually Rose Red (I didn't look it up until after I made the card) so you can see how the two colors compare.

Betsy's Blossoms is the only new stamp set I preordered so far. It is a fun set with flowers and leaves, a branch and that bird.  Since it doesn't come with a greeting, I added one from Loving Thoughts that was in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I am so happy to that this stamp set is still available and is in the new catalog!

Did you notice the Apothecary Accent Framelits?  Unlike the Framelits that were offered in the Occasions Mini Catalog (which are also in the new catalog), this set isn't designed just to layer on top of each other.  It includes four distinct shapes (I have featured three of them here) that I can see myself using over and over and over again.  I just love that label I used for the greeting.  So cute!

Come back on Friday when I will have another sneak peak for you featuring some of the other new In Colors.  I will also talk about the new Firm Foam Stamp Pads that Stampin' Up will now be selling.  See you then!

Happy Monday!

One more project to share with you from the Stampin' Addict Retiring Blog Hop.  And it was the most popular one judging from the comments and the pins on Pinterest:

Colors: Whisper White, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie.  Stamps: Borderlines (r), Heard from the Heart (r). Accessories: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Rose Red1/4" grosgrain ribbon (r)

Here are a few more close up picture of some of the cards and envelopes:

What else to say about these?  They were very fast and simple to put together and I love that the borderline stamps are long enough to go the full length of an envelope.  I stamped it higher on the envelope thinking you could put the return address above and the main address below and it wouldn't interfere with the bar coding the post office puts on them.

So why is it a Happy Monday?  I had the chance to see the new 2012-2013 Catalog this morning.  I can't share much, but it has a cleaner, simpler feel to it.  You will not be disappointed.  I also placed an order for the new In Colors and a few preview items.  I hope to have something new to show you on Wednesday so be sure to check back.

Just For You Box

If you missed the Stampin' Addicts' Retiring Stamps Blog Hop, all the blogs are hard linked together so you can still see all the fabulous projects everyone made. Today I'm sharing the details of the box I featured on the hop.

Colors: Blushing Bride (r), Basic Gray, Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Borderlines (r), Tagtastic (r).  Big Shot: Box #2 (r), Label Framelits.  Punches: Decorative Label, Extra Large Oval.  Accessories: Basic Gray 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (r).

I am very sad about the Box #2 die retiring.  It's such a practical box for small gifts and treats.  The Borderline stamp set adds just the right touch to the box.  I tied it up with 1-1/4" Striped Ribbon which is also all retiring.  I love this ribbon for tying up packages and adding just the right touch to other projects as well. 

I've had a sneak peek that the new 2012-2014 In Colors and they are fabulous!  I'll have them in my hands next week and will show them to you here.  But in the mean time, it's not too late to still enjoy Blushing Bride.  When this color first came out, I admit I wasn't sure we needed another pink.  But I have enjoyed having it in the line up the past couple of years and will miss it. Stampin' Up! has already sold out of several of the retiring accessories, but it isn't too late to get your hands on some of them so click the shop now button and get them before they are gone!

Get Your Scrap On! Contest

May is National Scrapbook Month and to celebrate I'm holding my first ever contest on my Facebook page. If you are already a fan on my Facebook page, entering as easy as uploading a scrapbook project made with Stampin' Up! products to the contest page.  Then tell your friends to come vote for your project. The one with the most votes wins.  If you aren't a fan, then become one and follow the above steps.

Projects can be created either traditionally or digitally and must incorporate at least one photo.  They can be a scrapbook page 6x6 or larger, a mini album or any 3D project that has a photo on it.

All traditional projects must use at least three different Stampin' Up! products (current or retired). All stamps and inks used must be Stampin' Up!. You may use other company's papers or embellishments as long as you meet the above criteria. All Digital projects must be created using My Digital Studio.  I reserve the right to disqualify and delete any entry that does not meet the requirements.

The winner will receive his/her choice of a digital prize pack (includes the My Digital Studio Express Booster Pack and the One Big Sale-A-Bration content DVDs) or a traditional scrapbook package that contains the Tickets and Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit and matching embellishments.

Don't have a large stash of Stampin' Up! product to use?  Download your free 30 day trial of My Digital Studio and get creating!  You must be a resident of the US to enter and be at least 18 years old.  I can't wait to see what everyone creates!

I also promised the details on my scrapbook page from this weekend's blog hop today:

Colors: Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Old Olive and Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Boarderlines (r), Falling Leaves (r), Fabulous Phrases.  Punches: Round Tab(r).  Accessories: Very Vanilla 1/4 grosgrain ribbon (r).