The Last Hurrah

Today is the last day for the retiring 2017 Annual Catalog and the retiring 2017 Occasions Catalog!!! If you haven't grabbed the things on your wish list by now, you MIGHT still be able to get them, but today is the very last day to do so (if they aren't already sold out).

Today's card is a "something old, something new" one, using the retiring Crazy About You stamp set retiring Hello You Thinlits, and retiring Flower Medallion Punch with the new In Colors. I've never CASEd a card in the catalog before, so this was a first for me! This was my take of the card on page 70 in the old catalog.

Instead of the twine bow, I thought an adorable little felt bow from the Bitty Bows Embellishments would be a sweet addition. Aren't they just the cutest?! They even have an adhesive dot on the back already, so they are all set to go.

I don't know about you, but I am READY for the new catalog to start tomorrow!  Ordering begins at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time, and I have my list made out!

Product List

Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Powder Pink Classic Stampin' Pad

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

Big Shot

Hello You Thinlits Dies

Flower Medallion Punch

2017-2019 In Color Bitty Bows

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

Stampin' Dimensionals

Something Old, Something New

When I saw the names of the new 2017-2019 In Colors, I felt kind of iffy about "Lemon Lime Twist", since I'm not much of a fan of bright yellow-green. But once I got my hands on it, and realized the possibilities, I've become a convert!

This thank you card combines Crazy About You, a retiring stamp set, and the retiring coordinating Flower Medallion Punch with two of the new In Colors, Fresh Fig and the aforementioned Lemon Lime Twist. A light sponging of LLT behind the flowers and greeting really makes them pop, don't you agree?

The large flower was punched and the two smaller flowers (stamped off once) were fussy cut, along with the popped-up leaves. The flower centers are Crushed Curry from the Regals Enamel Shapes which, I am happy to say, IS carrying over!

The list below is what is current and/or retiring.....no new things to link yet! Retiring items are in red.

Product List

Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Versamark Pad

Heat Tool

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Embossing Buddy

Flower Medallion Punch

Regals Enamel Shapes

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stamping Sponges

Crazy About You

Are you scrambling here at the last minute for a Valentine? Here is a quick and easy way to let the love of your life know exactly how you feel about them! All you need is the Bloomin' Heart Thinlits Die, some glimmer paper, and a greeting. I used the Sweet Sugarplum glimmer paper from SAB, but I think the red glimmer paper, or even gold or silver would look great, too. The black striped background behind the heart is from the Color Me Irresistible DSP, now retired.

So super easy, and lots of WOW! Here's a little hint: When using a detailed Thinlits die with glimmer paper, you really need the Precision Base Plate to ensure it cuts through the plastic-y backing of the paper. I run it through Mr. Big twice just to make sure. Nothing irks me more than wasting that lovely, shiny, glittery cardstock with a bad die-cut!

Product List

Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set

[137137]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121045]

Color Me Irresistible Specialty Designer Series Paper

[138439]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Big Shot

[143263]

Precision Base Plate

[139684]

Bloomin' Heart Thinlits Dies

[140621]

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119247]

Mother's Day One Percent

I love Stampin' Up! products, and 99% of the time that's all I use. But sometimes I stray and commit what my friend JanTink calls "rubbadultery." This is one of those times. This is the one percent.

I was just dying to play with a Penny Black stamp I ordered last month, and with Mother's Day right round the corner I figured this was the perfect opportunity. Mom had just been here visiting a couple weeks ago, and we colored a bunch of dog and cat images for me to use on some cards that will be donated to our local animal shelter. The coloring got me going with my Copic markers again, and that is what I used to color the flowers for this card. Thanks, Mom!

Here's the "How To"
Image panel: Whisper White 3" x 4"
Mat behind image: Watermelon Wonder 3-1/4" x 4-1/4"
DSP: Everyday Chic 4" x 5-1/4" and 2-1/4" x 4"
Card base: Watermelon Wonder 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. Stamp flowers on Whisper White and color with your choice of coloring media. (Copics used are noted below.) Use a mask over the larger blooms (cut from a sticky note) when stamping the smaller flowers.
2. Adhere image to Watermelon Wonder mat.
3. Adhere smaller DSP panel to bottom of larger DSP panel, then adhere both to card base.
4. Use Tear & Tape adhesive to fasten lace behind bottom of image and trim edges even with mat.
5. Adhere image to card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.
6. Add Pearls Basic Jewels to centers of smaller flowers.

STAMPS: Blooming Garden (from Penny Black), Crazy About You (greeting)
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Everyday Chic DSP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics R08, R24, R46, Y19, Y35, YR09, YG17, YG67, YG99, E99, W3
ACCESSORIES: Watermelon Wonder Dotted Lace Trim, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tear & Tape adhesive

Downline Project

This was the project we made in last week's stamping team meeting. I really like the Timeless Love stamp set, and used this sketch from Swirlydoos as my inspiration. The flower fit nearly perfectly in the 1-3/4" punch - just a bit of one leaf was nipped off to leave room for the "Hello". The image was colored with a Mint Macaron marker, and then the larger flower and leaves were re-colored to darken them.

I had originally used a Mint Macaron In Color Blossom Accent, but Lily (one of my team members) used a Watermelon Wonder one and I really loved how it just made the card pop!

Recipe:
5-1/2 x 8-1/2" Whisper White Thick Cardstock, scored at 4-1/4" for card base (LOVE this stuff!)
4" x 5-1/4" Basic Black (use the 1-7/8" Circle Framelit to cut circle in center before matting Color Me Irresistible layer on top)
2-1/4" x 4-1/4 Whisper White
5/8" x 3" and 5/8" x 4" Mint Macaron strip for swirls
Scrap of Mint Macaron to stamp image and punch with 1-3/4" Circle Punch
Scrap of Silver Foil Sheet to punch leaf from Bird Builder Punch

STAMPS: Timeless Love (flower), Crazy About You (greeting), Everything Eleanor (swirl)
INK: Jet black StazOn (flower), Memento Tuxedo Black (greeting), VersaMark (swirl), Mint Macaron Marker
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick Cardstock, Whisper White, Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Color Me Irrisistible DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Circles Framelits, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Mint Macaron Dotted Lace Trim, In Color Blossom Accents

Amazingly Blessed

I am blessed beyond measure with the most awesome friends! My hubby has to work so much overtime, he hasn't had much time for working on the "honey-do" list. And I hate to ask him to do things on his precious one or two days off per month. So my sweet friend Selena's husband is here this weekend, installing the flooring in the dining room and kitchen. I am paying, of course, but for Brent to give up his weekend just for us is beyond words for me. I just can't thank them enough!

So, I fed him a big breakfast, stocked the fridge with his favorite beer, and plan on feeding him lunch and supper, too.

This is the card I'll be giving him with the payment inside. I used the Adventure Bound DSP stack for the rocks and the background. If you want it, there's only three days left to order it!

Things are moving along on our Tennessee house. I think the last major hurdle (getting insurance) has been cleared; at least I hope that's the last one! It's been an adventure, with some unpleasant surprises, but we are in the home stretch. Wednesday is the final walk-through, and with any luck, there won't be any more problems revealed then. Say a prayer and wish us luck!

STAMP: Crazy About You
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Glimmer, Adventure Bound DSP Stack
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Hello You Thinlits Dies, Banner Punch, Handheld Stapler, Stampin' Dimensionals