Convention Swaps & Sneak Peek: Santa's List

It's Christmas in July!  The sad thing is I've had my preorder from the Holiday Catalog for several weeks and this is the first thing I am sharing on my blog:

Colors: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Santa's List.  Big Shot: Deco Labels Circle Collection Framelits.  Accessories: Season of Style Designer Series Paper and Neutrals Candy Dots.

This was the first set from the Holiday Catalog I knew I had to have.  And I think it might be my very first Santa stamp ever.  Usually I pick the snowflakes, trees, and snowmen, but there was just something about this Santa and his list that caught my eye.  Maybe it was just that it's a line art stamp that doesn't have to be colored to look cute.  And in case you can't tell, these new Deco Label Framelits are my new favorite shape.  They just layer so well with so many other shapes that we have.

I made this card for a Christmas Card swap at convention.  It's the only swap I joined multiple groups of this year and I was not disappointed in the least.  Fabulous swaps Stampin' Addicts!

The Holiday Catalog goes live tomorrow, so if you haven't received your copy of it yet, please let me know so I can get one to you now. 

Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek!

July is almost over and I haven't even had a chance to show you any sneak peaks of any new products coming out in the Holiday Catalog that starts August 1.  So today, I'm sharing a card I made for the Stampin' Addicts Christmas Card swap.  It may seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but if you plan to send out handmade cards, it's NOT to early. :)

Colors: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Heart of Christmas.  Big Shot: Holiday Frame Textured Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits Collection, Heart Framelits Collection. Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations Card Stock, Stampin' Sanding Block, Pearl Jewels.

Do you notice all the new stuff on this card?  First is the fabulous Holiday Frame Textured Embossing Folder.  It is an oval wreath shape and has a lovely baroque feel to it.  Here I ran the new Core'dinations Card Stock through the Big Shot with this folder and then sanded it with the new Stampin' Sanding Block.  When you sand away this card stock, a monochromatic color is revealed.  Very fun!

The Heart of Christmas Stamp comes as a single image.  Here, I used markers to color right on the stamp to make the image multicolored.  And because the look and feel of the card is kind of vintage-y, I used Crumb Cake ink to distress everything on the card.  I love the way it turned out!

But you also might notice a major OOPS! on this card.  Swaps are always suppose to contain current product.  I just realized as I was posting this that the little heart stamp on here is RETIRED!!!  Yikes.  Substitute out that heart for another heart, please.

I promised to share more convention information with you each day this week too.  So today, I'm going to show you all the fun stuff you get for going to convention:

When you show up for convention, you pick up your bag and stamp sets for Make and Takes.  This year we received Your Amazing and Daydream Medallions from the main catalog and Affection Collection from the Holiday Catalog.  What isn't in the photo are the Make and Take projects because there wasn't room (and I haven't finished two of them).  Inside the bag is a convention book that contains all the schedules and other information you need and nice pen for taking notes of course. For attending the Make and Take sessions, we also received three different bonuses: Rhinestone Jewels, Primrose Petal Ribbon and the In Color Dahlias.  During one of the Main Stage presentations, I won the Friendship Preserves Stamp set with the matching Paper Piercing Templates and a new Paper Piercing Mat and Tool. In addition, everyone at the Closing Session received Moving Forward, the Ronald McDonald House Charity set for this year, and the Mixed Medley Hostess set from the Holiday Catalog.  And just for attending six different classes during convention, we got a really fun stamp set that goes along with theme of the convention.

Did I miss anything?  Oh ya, all the great idea and business tips.  They are kind of hard to show in a photo.  I seriously considered not going to convention this year but I am so glad that I did.  And look at all the fun stuff I have to show for it.

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.

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!

Summer Smooches: Take Three!

I have one more Summer Smooches preview ready to show you. It really is a cute set.  And the paper is full of bright colors that I don't use very often (Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil delight in addition to Rich Razzleberry, Real Red and Lucky Limeade which I do use more.)

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade.  Stamps: Bright Blossoms.  Punch: Circle Punch from Itty Bitty Shape Punch Pack. Accessories: Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper and Designer Fabric Brads. 

Those fun fabric covered brads will only be available during the month of April.  They will not carry over to the new catalog like most of the rest of the product line.  So you'll want to get your hands on them next month for sure.

My goal for today is to hit the stamp room hard so send any spare mojo you have my way.  I have club tomorrow and next week no projects ready for them.  And a swap due next week as well.  Wish me luck!

P.S. This was Stampin' Addict Sketch Challenge 126.  It's never to late to play along. Come join the fun!

Another Summer Smooches Sneak Peek

I haven't had a lot of time to stamp lately.  I'd blame it on March Madness (because basketball is my other passion) only it just started today.  But here is another card I made with the Summer Smooches Collection that will be available starting April 1.

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Rich Razzleberry.  Stamps: Bright Blossoms and Borderlines. Big Shot: Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  Punches: 2-1/2", 1-1/4", 1", 3/4" and circle from the Punch Trio.  Accessories: Mini Brads, Markers.

This was also Sketch Challenge 127 over at Stampin' Addicts.  We'd love for you to stop on by and play with us too.

Bright Blossoms is part of the Summer Smooches Collection.  However, Borderlines has been in the catalog this whole year.  A couple of weeks ago, I was combing the catalog looking for something else and noticed it for the first time ever. It was love at first sight.  How I had missed it for all these months is beyond me, but now it's my mission in life to point it out to every stamper I know.  It's on page 148 and it is three different long stamps (big enough to run the length of a card) and it looks like this:

You are going to want it once I get time to stamp and show you all the amazing things you can do with it. So contact me today and let's get it ordered for you.

Coming soon: Summer Smooches!

In January, Stampin' Up! announced changes to its catalog strategy.  Among other changes, there will be no Summer Mini Catalog this year.  But don't worry -- Stampin' Up! is not leaving us without the chance to get our hands on new stuff in April.  Starting April 1, customers will have the chance to purchase various items from the Summer Smooches Product Suite which will be featured in the new 2012-2013 Catalog when it debuts on June 1.

This line up contains a stamp set, Designer Series Paper and Fabric and much more. But I think my favorite item in the line up is the Big Shot Petite Purse Die that cuts these:

Colors: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Taken with Turquoise, Daffodil Delight. Big Shot: Petite Purse Bigz L Die.  Accessories: Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, Brights Collection Buttons, Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads, Rhinestone Brads.

They are so easy to cut out and assemble that you could easily make them for just about any reason.  Fill them with chocolates for the perfect little gift on the go.  I was thinking about an activity we did in church a few years back called, "You've got Purse-onality" where we had a whole evening of games and dinner with a purse theme.  I was really wishing we had this die to use on the favors for that night.

I will be showing more sneak peeks of this product line soon so be sure to check back.