tea-drinking stamper

In my desire to use up my retiring colors and stamp sets, I've come up with some better designs than all the time I've had them before!  Anyway, being an avid tea-drinker, when the Morning Cup stamp set came out, it was the only one Stampin' Up! carried with the tea theme (although coffee is in there, too). So I used my Riding Hood Red with retiring Twitterpated designer series paper, some discontinued Riding Hood Red pleated ribbon and the Morning Cup stamp set and set to work. You'll notice I added a little bling with the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details on two of the cards and used my paper piercer to give the effect of water pouring from the teakettle. This is another stamp set I will be selling because it is retiring. I don't think I'm going to part with the Tea Shoppe stamp set, however, even though the new catalog has another very nice tea stamp set. [I don't know why this first card came through crookedly after scanning; I tried three different times

I've been stamping away in my little room, using things that will no longer be available after June 3rd.  These two cards use the Button Buddies stamp set as well as the buttons, both of which are, sadly, leaving us. Actually, we will still have buttons, but not in this design. No more flower shapes. This first card is a more formal and symmetrical design, but I enjoyed making it.  The pig card is just plain fun. I don't know if you see it as I intended, but there are mud splatters outside his puddle. The stamp to achieve the spattered effect was from the Welcome "issue" of My Paper Pumpkin. Anyone who subscribes will receive the same first set before resuming the subscription order. I've used Pretty in Pink, which is one of the colors leaving our color collection, along with Rose Red for the first card. I mixed it with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede on the second card. A scallop circle punch and an edgelit finished it off.

After marking up my catalog with everything that is going away, I just had to use a few of those items on a card and share it with you. All the Scallop Dots Ribbon is disappearing, as is the First Edition Specialty Designer Paper. I've also used the retiring More Mustard on this card, although it is being replaced, in a sense, with Crushed Curry, a former in color that I never cared for but apparently others loved it. And since the buttons have been redesigned, the button I've used here will also be unavailable after June 3rd. Products Used: Circle Circus stamp set (10), W 115778, $28.95; C 127784, $20.95 Create a Cupcake stamp set (12), W 121915, $22.95; C 121982, $16.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Cherry Cobbler 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119685, $6.95 First Edition 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Paper (24), 121878, $12.95 Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, 126966, $5.95 Night of Navy Classic Stampin

I am so surprised that Baja Breeze is leaving our color collections since it seemed that Stampin' Up! incorporated it into a lot of their designer series paper. The card below is a much overdue wedding card for which I used only Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla. I love the way it turned out. I fear both the ribbon and the lace are retired products, however. Products Used: Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (24), W 115317, $36.95; C 127802, $26.95 Baja Breeze 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 111352, $6.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 First Edition Specialty 12" x 12" designer series paper (24), 121878, $12.95 Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stack (40 sheets, 12" x 12"), 117152, $21.95 Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, 126960, $5.95 5/8" Flower Trim (2 yards), 126869 $6.95 Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 127819, $7.95

Amazing how a few changes, including a different stamp set, can significantly alter the appearance of a card. Compare this card to my post on April 10th, for example. To make this card, I used the other half of the Bashful Blue card stock, a matching strip of Riding Hood Red card stock and the same sized piece of Not Quite Navy dsp from the paper stack (Regals Collection). Remember, all these colors are being discontinued. Because of the color changes in the four collections, I am sure the paper stacks will be discontinued or at least redesigned. Products Used: The Open Sea stamp set (5), W $26.95; C 123032, $18.95 Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (24), W 115370, $36.95; C 127802, $26.95 Bashful Blue 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 105120, $6.95 Not Quite Navy 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 101722, $6.95 Riding Hood Red 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 111348, $6.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Designer Series Paper Stack (12&quo

As most Stampin' Up! customers know, redesigned ink pads became available with the current core catalog—almost one year ago now. As a result, I've been gradually replacing my older pads.  I have re-inked most of them. Anyway, I am no offering my old stamp pads for sale for just $2 each as opposed to $5.95 plus shipping and sales tax. Here is a list of the colors I currently have available: Subtles Collection: So Saffron Pink Pirouette Wild Wasabi Bashful Blue Neutrals Collection: Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake Basic Gray Sahara Sand Brights Collection: Real Red Daffodil Delight Tempting Turquoise Tangerine Tango Old Olive Regals Collection: Always Artichoke More Mustard Cajun Craze Riding Hood Red Bravo Burgundy 2011-2013 In Colors Pool Party Island Indigo I will soon have Wisteria Wonder and Calypso Coral available as well since they will be joining our core colors. I also have an old Basic Brown ink pad that I will sell for the same $2.

Are you curious about those new photopolymer stamps from Stampin' Up!? Take a few moments and watch this very short demonstration.

When I crafted this anniversary card for my sister-in-law and her husband, I decided to use the punched out pieces for another card. I think you can tell from the scan of this card that I lifted the dry embossed Whisper White card stock with Stampin' Dimensionals. The designer series paper shows through so nicely beneath the cutouts. By the way, it is necessary to use your framelits or dies before your textured impressions embossing folders or the embossing will be ironed out. Products Used: Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (24), W 115370, $36.95; C 127802, $26.95 Trust God stamp set (7), W 126700, $19.95; C 126702, $14.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Daffodil Delight 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119683, $6.95 Midnight Muse 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 126843, $6.95 Bashful Blue 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 105120, $6.95 [available through June 3] Floral District 12" x 12" designer series paper (12), 12

Another card using our soon-to-disappear Not Quite Navy, although I also pulled up some old but beautiful designer series paper to to complement it. Using stamps with a partly solid image is so much easier with the new design of our stamp pads! Products Used: Forever Young stamp set (5), W 122570, $25.95; C 122572, $18.95 Create a Cupcake stamp set (12), W 121915, $22.95; C 121982, $16.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Not Quite Navy 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 101722, $6.95 Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, 126971, $5.95 Bitty Banners Framelits (3), 129267, $14.95 I just checked the Stampin' Up! demonstrator's web site and discovered that the company has depleted their supply of Not Quite Navy card stock and it is no longer available. So sad.

Check out these great boxes Stampin' Up! is providing for us. Designed for your wood mount stamp sets, they are good for so-o-o much more!

I have been working on a special prayer journal for another leader in our local Community Bible Study.   Each member of the Leadership Council was given a specific person to journal for (no one knows who received her journal) and we were asked to "gift" this person with special things within it. So I have journaled thoughts and written prayers for her and any of her prayer requests. I've also inserted stamping things within its pages. Agreat place for me to use some of my retired products. Anyway, I left a page empty for an Easter project that I had in mind and just completed this morning. I love the way it turned out and just had to share. The Classic Stampin' pads I used were: So Saffron, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke, Wonder Wisteria and Concord Crush. Since Concord Crush is my absolute favorite color, I was really sad that Stampin' Up! didn't bring that color back into its color collections. Other Products Used:  Stippled Blossoms st

I seem to have skipped a few days, but life has been busy. Monday was my husband's birthday and I thought I would share with you the card I made for him.  There are two things about the design I wish to point out: (1) it is the same template as the card designed by Kriss Huells which I previously posted; (2) although the colors are current, they are three of the colors leaving our collections this year. My goal is to use a lot of those retiring colors before they're gone. I fear the ribbon is already gone. I also find I have a large supply of Bashful Blue ribbon, both this ¼" grosgrain ribbon and the 5/8" satin ribbon. Caution: if replicating this card, be sure to cut the large heart with your framelit before embossing. Products Used: Create a Cupcake stamp set (12), W 121915, $22.95; C 121982, $16.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Bashful Blue 8½"x 11" card stock (24), 105120, $6.95 Not Quite Navy 8½" x 11&quo

I'm going to share the two make & takes from our demonstrator team meeting last night. The first is a card designed by Kriss Huels using the Spring Surprise Bundle, which will be in the new core catalog but is being offered at a 15% discount now through May 30th. I just love the card's cheerful look! The luggage tag below was designed by Aly Schilling and uses the Sent With Love Bundle, another of our current specials. The stamping was done with the new photopylomer stamps. I failed to dry the "B" off after washing it with the "O" before using it again on my husband's name (he's a corporate pilot and will be receiving this with his birthday gift this weekend), which is why it smeared. Those stamps are great, by the way. One side of two sheets of designer series paper included in this bundle has all sorts of items which can easily be cut out (like the arrow on the above tag) and used in your designs. Or you can use the paper as a background

Stampin' Up! announced it's refreshed color families for the coming year and Blushing Bride, a former in color, is returning as a regular member of the Subtles Collection. I made this card from pieces sitting around before I learned of its return. I did use Poppy Parade ink as well as Blushing Bride and might have used Riding Hood Red instead (those are the two colors I always thought went well with Blushing Bride). Poppy Parade was part of the in color group along with Blushing Bride. Riding Hood Red is one of our Regal colors that is leaving our catalog in June. The stamp sets used on this card are Hearts a Flutter (8 stamps, Spring Catalog) and Create a Cupcake (12 stamps in set, core catalog). I also used the Hearts a Flutter Framelits and the Delicate Details Lace Tape from the Spring Catalog. The embossed hearts along the bottom were created with one of the Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (3 designs in package).

I've had this pile of cards sitting by my computer for at least a week now and am finally sharing them with you. I wanted to prepare the contents of my first box from My Paper Pumpkin subscription in more ways than just what was suggested to give you an idea of what you can do with it. If you like what you see, you have time to sign up before the next shipment (before April 10th to receive the April shipment). The box came with everything you need to make four cards, including the envelopes. I like the fact that the Basic Gray card base is white on in inside. Plus it came already scored for you. You need to provide your adhesive to attach the designer paper and glue dots for the button, but the other elements are stickers. The two stamps you receive are the words and the ink spots. Plus you receive a small Basic Gray ink pad (Stampin' Spot). This first card is made according to the instructions found in the box.  For this second card, I rearranged the elements and stamped

Just had to share photos of the Easter baskets I made for my grandkids along with the toppers for the candy fillers. The bunny toppers are punch art, while the baskets are made using the oval framelits (see previous post). I merely folded Whisper White card stock cut with the Top Note Bigz Die and used the following punches to assemble the face: 1¼" circle punch, 119861, $15.95 ½" circle punch, 119869, $5.95 Large oval punch, 119855, $15.95 Extra-large oval punch, 119859, $16.95 Small heart punch (teeth and nose), 117193, $5.95 Although I planned to use a gel pen for the "light" on the eyes, I realized I forgot to order another when mine went dry, so I used a blender pen and Whisper White Craft Ink. I actually stapled the folded Top Note to the cellophane bag (102757, $4.50 for 50 bags, 4" x 6") and then covered the staple with the Whisper White upside down small heart, to which I'd added a light gray line to separate the teeth.