Friday, May 30, 2014

Stampin' Addicts New In Color Blog Hop: Blackberry Bliss

http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/general-stampin-talk/9516-new-color-blog-hop.html
Welcome to the Stampin' Addict's 2014-2016 In Color Blog Hop.  We are focusing on the five new colors that we get to play with for the next two years.  Technically, this is the first stop on the hop.  However, if you started in the middle, than you probably arrived from Debra Bergin's take on Blackberry Bliss.  She is very talented and I always enjoy the project she makes.  All the blogs are linked together in a circle, but if you get lost along the way, you can always go to Stampin' Addicts for a complete list of blogs on the hop.

I am also featuring Blackberry Bliss today.    My two favorite of the In Colors are Hello Honey and Lost Lagoon.  I keep reaching for them over and over.  But I wanted to force myself to work with a color I am not naturally drawn too, hence the Blackberry Bliss.  (Although you will see I still used a lot of Hello Honey in my projects).

First, a card featuring some new stamp sets: Work of Art and Bravo.   I had this idea in my head, put it on paper and then saw a similar card on Pinterest this week.  I suppose great minds think a like.

Colors: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Whisper White.  Stamps: Work of Art, and Bravo.  Accessories: Blackberry Bliss 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels. 
 Second, another card this time featuring the Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack and the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack:

Colors: Sahara Sand, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Whisper White.  Stamps: Perfect Pennants and Gorgeous Grunge.   Big Shot: Pennants Framelits.  Punches: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack.  Accessories: Blackberry Bliss 3/8" Stitched Ribbon, Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack.

 And last, a cute little treat pouch similar to the one that Donna Griffin featured at the New Catalog Kickoff Party.  Notice the purple Vintage Facet Button?  I colored it with the darkest of the Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities:


Colors: Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.  Stamps: Regarding Dahlias.  Big Shot: Pennant Framelits, and Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Punches: Hexagon and Scallop Edge. Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Whites Baker's Twine, Mini Metallic Clothespins.
Thanks for stopping by today.  If you liked what you saw, please leave a little blog love in the comment section below and/or pin the projects to Pinterest.  Next stop on the tour is Yapha Mason's take on Hello Honey.  Her projects are always fabulous!  See you next time!

http://yaphamason.com/blog/2014/05/30/stampin-addicts-new-in-color-blog-hop-featuring-hello-honey/

http://heartfeltinkspiration.com/2014/05/30/welcome-to-the-stampin-addicts-new-in-color-blog-hop/



Wednesday, May 28, 2014

More Blendabilties

I have been playing around with the Stampin' Blendabilities a little more over the past week or so and the more I play with them the more I love them.  Last week, we said goodbye to one of the people who have been helping us with our kids.  I used my Blendabilities to make this fun card in a box:

Colors: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay.  Stamps: Monstermaniacs (retired), Just Sayin'.  Big Shot: Word Bubble Dies. Accessories: Stampin' Blendabilities, Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (r), Brights Designer Series Paper Stack, Window Sheets.
It wasn't until I went to post this cute creation this morning that I realized that Monstermaniacs is no longer available to purchase.  I will miss sharing this set with my customers.  It is adorable and I think the Blendabilities just make it even better!  Here's another look:

I think I might make a couple more of these card in a boxes for my sons' teachers for their end of the year card.  (If I have time.  My oldest gets out of school this Friday!) So fun.  If you missed the other Card in a Boxes I've made, click on the keyword to see them.  The first one has a link to the measurements I use to make these fit in a regular envelope.

We had an update on the availability of Blendabilities yesterday.  It looks like Stampin' Up! is aiming to have them available for customers to order at the end of June or first part of July.  Watch for more information then. 

Friday is the Stampin' Addict New In Color Blog Hop.  Come back to see what I've created using the new purple color called Blackberry Bliss.  It is yummy!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Sneak Peek: Father's Day Card

Second Father's Day card of the week.  But this one includes a sneak peek look at the Something For Baby Stamp Set.  You maybe thinking, Something for Baby?  You said Father's Day card, not baby card.  And you would be right:

Colors: Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White and Basic Gray. Stamps: Something for Baby,  Father's Day greeting from May's Paper Pumpkin Kit.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents and Chalk Talk Framelits.  Punch: Banner.  Accessories: Candy Dots, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

When I first saw Something for Baby, I noticed this cute little tie stamp.  It's suppose to go on the onesie, but the first thing I thought of was a Father's Day card. Here I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line up the times and make them into the background for this card.  I also used Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey on this card with Basic Gray.  These are definitely my two favorite of the new in colors.

And notice how I used the greeting from May's Paper Pumpkin Kit? This isn't the first time I've pulled one of the cute stamps out of the Paper Pumpkin Kit to reuse over and over again.  That's what's so fun about getting these kits: you use them for the kit and then you can use them over and over again.

I hope you have a wonderful long Memorial Day weekend.  Like a lot of Americans, we will be spending it in the yard.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

May Paper Pumpkin Kit

I was so excited to get May's Paper Pumpkin Kit.  I don't know exactly why other than I actually had time to sit down and put it together.  So what came in the kit?  All the stamps, inks, embellishments, papers and sticky die cuts to make four standard 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" cards and two 3"x 3" cards, including envelopes.

First, I made one of each card according to the directions that came with the supplies:

All items May Paper Pumpkin Kit.
Next I took the supplies and made my own cards with all the parts and pieces:

All items May Paper Pumpkin Kit

All items May Paper Pumpkin Kit

All items May Paper Pumpkin Kit

All items May Paper Pumpkin Kit

Stampin' Up! Just keeps improving Paper Pumpkin.  Starting this month, all new Paper Pumpkin Subscribers will get the current month's kit with their free clear block (instead of the starter kit that new subscribers used to receive).   You can also prepay your subscription to Paper Pumpkin on any workshop or customer order so that it counts towards hostess benefits.  When you prepay 6 or 12 months, you even save $1-2 off each kit.   And if you are the hostess, you can even use one of your 50% off items to prepay up to one year of your subscription.

Another new perk for subscribers, you can purchase some old kits or refills for the kits so if you missed one you really wanted or want more of the consumables for a kit you have already received, you can now do it!

But the best thing: for the next two days, new subscribers can get the June kit 50% off.  Just use the promo code: SHELLIDEAL when you sign up. Now if you are ready to subscribe, head on over to the My Paper Pumpkin website to sign yourself up!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Retiring Big Shot Dies: Tyepset Alphabet

June will be here before we know it.  And that means Father's Day will too.  Here is the card I made for my recent class:

Colors: Baked Brown Sugar, Cajun Craze, Island Indigo, Early Espresso, and Naturals Ivory.  Stamps: Hardwood.  Big Shot: Typeset Alphabet Bigz Dies (r), Banner Framelits, Itty Bitty Banner Framelits (r), and Square Lattice Textured Impression Embossing Folder.  Punch: Banner.
I am sad to see the Typeset Alphabet Dies retiring.  I use these all the time.  But they are making way for a new set of alphabet dies that I'm sure I will love too.  I think I am even more sad about the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder retiring.  I love this folder for the inlaid embossing technique.  Just a reminder that the retiring products are only available through June 2.  So get your orders in now!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Oh Happy Day Pinspiration

No sneak peeks or retiring products to share with you today.  Instead, I'm sharing a card from my last class.  Everything on this card is available now and will continue to be after the new catalog comes out (and there isn't much from my last class I can say that about.)

However, I do need to credit Anne Keyes from the Pinspiration on this card.  I simplified mine to make it a little easier for my customers to make at a class (she used a fun technique for the background) but it was mostly her idea:

Colors: Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, and Crushed Curry.  Stamps: Chevron Background, Gorgeous Grunge, Starburst Sayings, February Paper Pumpkin Kit. Big Shot: Starburst Framelits.  Accessories: Rhinestone Jewels.
The great thing about this card is it is perfect for a Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Graduation, Congratulations or any other happy day worth celebrating. It would even work for a baby.  I love cards like that.  This was probably the most popular card at my class just for that reason.

Like Anne Keyes, I used the stamps from the February Paper Pumpkin kit on this card too.  They work perfectly with the Starburst Framelits, don't you think?

Friday, May 9, 2014

Sneak Peek: Stampin' Blendabilities

I rarely venture away from Stampin' Up! products.  I love the coordination and the ease of using Stampin' Up! and honestly, I don't have time to even really know what else is out there.  So when Stampin' Up! announced we were getting alcohol-based markers called Stampin' Blendabilities, I didn't really know what that meant.  I knew that there were alcohol markers out there on the market, but I didn't understand the appeal.  But I got my first six sets of these this week and I get it now.

Colors: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Coastal Cabana.  Stamps: So Very Grateful.  Accessories: Stampin' Blendabilities.
Blendabilites make it so easy to get that shaded look that everyone really wants to achieve.  I've never been very good at water coloring and getting that effect, but it is so easy with these markers.  Each set includes three different shades of the same color making it very easy to color coordinate with our main color families. There will eventually be 13 different sets of these markers, including a set of six flesh tones!! Demonstrators were allowed to order the first seven sets with their preorders last week.

Unfortunately, Stampin' Up! also let us know that these will likely not be available to customers when the catalog goes live on June 2 due to manufacturing constraints (they are trying to avoid a back order situation).  Stay tuned and I will let you know when they will be available to everyone. 

I also wanted to point out this stamp set: So Very Grateful.  It is in the Occasions Catalog and it is not carrying over into the new catalog.  I love the flowers in this set.  A friend of mine said they reminded her of a cross stitch pattern.  They remind me of the needle point my grandmother used to do.  This set is available to order until June 1 so don't miss out on it.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Sneak Peek: Something for Baby

Just as promised, I have a sneak peek project to share with you today:
Colors: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Lost Lagoon (n), Hello Honey (n).  Stamps: Something for Baby (n), Bravo (n), and Chevron.  Big Shot: Baby's First Framelits Set. Accessories: Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon, Brayer, and Versamark.
So much that's new on this card. First, the Something for Baby Stamps and the matching Baby's First Framelits.  And of course, they come in a bundle at a 15% off savings.  It's pretty much awesome and I can't wait to do more with it.

Second, the new colors.  Here I am featuring Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey, just two of the five new in colors. I think these are my favorite two of the set.  Hello Honey is a little brighter than Summer Starfruit and it reminds me of my alma matter's gold color.  Lost Lagoon is a color I just want to surround myself in.  It's so calm and soothing and I don't know if I can compare it to any color we've had before.  And did you see that ribbon?  It is super yummy and available in all the new in colors.

Third, the Bravo Stamp Set.  This is a great set to celebrate all the happy moments in life. And it is in photopolymer (read clear stamps).  Yep.  For the first time, Stampin' Up! is offering photopolymer stamps in the main catalog. 

Just going to mention that for the background on this card, I used the Versamark resist technique.  I inked up the Chevron Background stamp in Versamark and stamped it on Whisper White.  Then I brayered Smoky Slate ink over the top.  I actually did this awhile back and didn't end of using it like I planned, so it was a happy coincidence that it was sitting on my desk when I went to make this card. 

I hope to have another sneak peek to show you on Friday featuring the new Blendabilities that will be available to order from the new catalog.  See you then!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Retiring In Colors

Today is the day that my preorder for the new catalog is suppose to arrive.  So I sit here twiddling my thumbs, waiting, waiting, waiting.  Come on Mr. Brown!!!  I hope to have something brand new to show you on Wednesday.  But for today, I'm featuring another card with retiring colors on it:

Colors: Gumball Green (r), Midnight Muse (r), Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky, Whisper White.  Stamps: Tape It, and Really Good Greetings.  Big Shot: Chalk Talk Framelits.  Accessories: Mini Brads.
Gumball Green will be the retiring In Color I miss the most.  I do love Midnight Muse, but Night of Navy is close enough for me that I won't miss it too much.  Gumball Green is just such a fresh, fun shade of Green.  Richer than Wild Wasabi and not as drab as Garden Green.  And I love them together in a fun masculine card like this.

This is just one of the cards you can make at my Spring Fling Stampin' Buffet this Friday night.  Last day to RSVP is Wednesday, May 7.  This card would be perfect for a birthday, graduation or even Father's Day.  I hope to see you there!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Retiring Stamps: Field Flower, Delightful Dozen and En Francais

One of the new things about the retirement list this year is that stamps are only available while supplies last.  That means I didn't even get to show you this card before Field Flowers was sold out.  Fortunately, last time I checked, En Francais and Delightful Dozen are still available.  But if you want either of them, I wouldn't wait around to order it.  Get them NOW!  Also, this card features the retiring In Colors, most of which are already sold out too. (Sorry!) 

Colors: Crumb Cake, Primrose Petal (r), Raspberry Ripple (r), Summer Starfruit (r), Old Olive and Whisper White.  Stamps: Field Flowers (r), Delightful Dozen (r) and En Francais (r).  Big Shot: Oval Framelits.  Punch: Decorative Label.  Accessories: Pearl Jewels, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon (r).
This is a card that you can come make at my Spring Fling Stampin' Buffet.  I added one more class on Friday, May 9 (just in time for Mother's Day).  However, this card doesn't have to just be for Mother's Day.  Plenty of other greetings fit just fine inside that oval making this a great card for any one who loves flowers.  Just let me know by Wednesday if you'd like to come make one yourself.