Good-bye Old Friends

Today is the final day to order from the catalog.  The 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog goes live tomorrow at noon Mountain time!!  I'm excited but also sad to see some of the older stamps being retired.  My final retirement share for you today is from a Level Two Hostess set - Long Fellows.  I have not used this set very much but I will be hanging on to it.  I think it is great and has a variety of uses from birthdays to friendship.

I thought this card was appropriate for today!

 I used a variety of old and new products on this card.  Some of the cardstock is new - Island Indigo - one of the new In Colors.  The punches are old - the Spiral Punch is being retired and the smaller Star punch is already retired.  (The large Star punch is being retired this time.)

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Long Fellows
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Island Indigo, White
Access:  Small Star Punch, Spiral Punch, dimensionals, (non-SU) ribbon, Copic markers

I'll be drawing tomorrow for the winners of the card give-aways for this month!  Comments are appreciated!

A Sad Goodbye

 
It's time to say good bye to some old favorites .... stamps, accessories and Definately Decorative Accents.  Here are the lists of all the items going bye-bye!

STAMPS


ACCESSORIES


DECORATIVE ACCENTS


So get out your catalog and high-lighter and start marking which ones you can't live without.  Then run - don't walk - to your computer or phone and give me a holler to order your goodies.  The stamps should last a while but the Accessories will be on a first come, first serve basis.  When they are gone, they're GONE.  I will be updating the lists periodically for availability.

You can also click on my SIDEBAR for an updated list any time.   That link takes you to my online store where you can place your order also.

I will keep this post at the top for June with the updates so make sure you scan down to read my posts this month.

Monday Mailers for June

 I have been so busy with the retiring stamps that I haven't taken the time to share my Monday Mailers this month.  We also used the theme of retiring stamp sets so some of the cards I shared with you, I used for my Monday Mailers also.  But I received some great Monday Mailers from Laurie, a new member of our NC Demos group.

This last one I received today and it is by far my favorite!  I will be CASE-ing this one for sure.  The Brilliant Blue card stock is retired but I think the new in-color, Island Indigo will work well.  She used the Scallop Hearts Border Punch along the side and ran the vellum through the Big Shot with the Dotted embossing folder.  Thinking of You is stamped on the vellum.  The flowers are from Fresh Cuts which is retiring.

Tomorrow I will be posting the final Retirement set.  If you want to win, leave a comment!!

Last Chance to Party Hearty!

I only had time to make one card today.  I had a pretty busy day.  I met a group for lunch at a new restaurant in town and had a nice lunch and visit with my friends.  Then it was off to pick up everything I need for my big Southern Living Luncheon at my house on Thursday.  I am having 14 ladies for lunch.  Thankfully, I don't have to prepare the food - only the beverages.  Everyone brings a dish from a recent Southern Living Magazine and we critique the dishes.  It's a great way to taste some things you wouldn't ordinarily make for your family.  I am making Strawberry Margaritas and Sweet Tea Lemonade from the May issue.  I needed a new pitcher and went all over town looking for one today - Ross, TJ Max, Target, Pier One, World Market, Bed, Bath and Beyond!  I finally found one I liked at Bed and Bath but by that time I was sooo hot and exhausted.  The thermometer in my car was registering 100 degrees!  Then I had to make a stop at the grocery store and the liquor store.  Whew!!  Now tomorrow I have to dust and mop - yuck!!  (My least favorite thing to do.)

But I did take a little time out this evening to make a card with the retiring set, Party Hearty.  Pennants are going to be a big thing this fall.  Stampin' Up has a pennant die and punch in the new catalog!  So I decided to make a pennant using the hats in the stamp set.  I thought they turned out cute.  I used all In Colors too!  

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Party Hearty

Paper:  retired DSP, Pear Pizazz, Island Indigo (sneak peek), Calypso Coral (sneak peek)

Ink:  for pennants - Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral

Access:  Bakers Twine, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

IF YOU WANT A CHANCE IN THE DRAWING FOR THIS CARD AND ALL THE CARDS I HAVE MADE THIS MONTH, LEAVE ME A COMMENT!  I WILL DRAW ON FRIDAY.

Three More Days!

Just three more days and the new catalog will be up and running!  Make sure you have placed your orders for the retiring items before Friday!!

Today I am spotlighting Tart and Tangy along with Cheep Talk.  These are two really great stamp sets.

This is a really simple card to make but it looks so refreshing!

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Tart & Tangy, Heard From the Heart
Paper:  White, Black, Retired SU DSP
Ink:  Pear Pizazz, Kiwi Kiss, Daffodil Delight, Black

I used the 5-Petal Punch and my crimper (found at the very back of my drawer!) to make the flower out of some retired DSP.  Adds just the right touch, don't you think?

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Cheep Talk
Paper:  Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, White
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Espresso, Garden Green, Dusty Durango
Access:  5-Petal Punch, Dusty Durango Dotted Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I am going out to lunch  - trying out a new restaurant in Mooresville with the Out to Lunch Bunch.  Should be fun .... plus, an easy dinner tonight!!

Countdown has begun for Ashley!  If all goes as planned (with the Army???), she has 24 more days!

Ireland Scrapbook Pages

I took some time tonight to work on my scrapbook from Ireland.  At the rate I'm going, I may be finished with it next year this time!!  I actually haven't done any pages in a month or more which explains why I'm not even finished with our first week there!!  Oh well, it's fun to do anyway.

I hope you enjoy these pages I created in My Digital Studio.

Getting Buggy

One of my favorite stamps for children's birthday cards is Bugs and Kisses.  This set makes the cutest cards.  So, today I decided to go in a different way to make a couple of cards with this set.  One is just cute and the other one is just elegant.  So take a second look at all stamp sets and decide what you can do with them that is out of the norm.

 I've seen a few of these magnifying glass cards on different sites so I decided to try one of my own!  I punched the circles out with the Nesties and popped the top black ring up with dimensional tape.  The circle with the grasshopper in it is stamped with the Canvas background stamp and then it is covered with a transparency circle.  (click on the picture to see it better)

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Bugs and Kisses, Canvas Background (retired)
Paper:  Old Olive, Black, White, Greenhouse Gala DSP, transparency
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red, Basic Black
Access:  Nestabilities (circles), Taffeta Ribbon, Label Punch, Dimensionals, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

 

 

With a touch of glitter and pearls, this card is quite different from the normal Bugs & Kisses cards.

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Bugs and Kisses, Dreams du Jour
Paper:  White, Blushing Bride,
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Black
Access:  Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Scallop Border Punch, Pearls

Notes .... Fun and Fast!

Here is another great set that has been around for a long time - Fun and Fast Notes.  It is a great over all set to do note cards for any and all occasions.  There is going to be a new set in the 2011-12 Idea Book that will be a good replacement for Fun and Fast Notes though.  But, if you are interested in getting Fun & Fast Notes, you better act fast!!

Here are a few cards I did with this set for you:

For the fence, I used the Jewelry Tag Punch.  This is the main reason I bought this punch  - to make fences.  It makes it so easy! I paper pieced the flowers.  I started out coloring them but didn't like the color so I just stamped them onto a scrap of Melon Mambo and cut them out.  I found this piece of ribbon in my ribbon jar and thought it matched pretty well.

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Fast & Fun Notes
Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, YoYo Yellow & Green Galore (both retired)
Access:  Jewelry Tag Punch, Markers, Corner Rounder Punch, non SU ribbon, Crop-a-dile Punch, Rhinestones

 

This is an unusual style for me.  I have a hard time mixing pattern paper and on this card, I mixed 3 different ones!!  It's easy when they all come in a stack though.  Even though this stack is a hostess item, you can order a 12x12 stack (page 175) now.  These stacks will also be in the new catalog (but at a slightly higher price!)

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Fast & Fun Notes

Paper:  Night of Navy, White, DSP from the Level 1 Hostess Pack

Access:  Ticket Corner, Corner Rounder, Navy Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack and Paper Piercer, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Button, Twine, Poppy Marker, Crystal Effects, Stickles, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Using stickers from a Simply Scrappin' kit makes doing this card a snap!!   I am using 2 retiring stamps with this card.

RECIPE:

Stamp Set:  Fast and Fun Note, Party Hearty(sentiment)

Paper:  Blue Brocade (retired), Real Red

Access:  Stickers from Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired), Elegant Lines embossing folder, Stickles, markers

Just Buzzin By to Say Hi!!!

I've been trying to get this posted all day!  I made the first card this morning right after breakfast.  Ashley called just as I was finishing it so we chatted for a while.  She's back at Maraz now!  Next the exterminator came for our quarterly inspection.  When he left, I started on the second card while Sonny drove to town to get gas for the boat.   I had it finished and was trying to do my post before I left but Blogger wouldn't let me download the pictures.  By that time, Sonny was home and ready to go boating.  We were meeting friends for lunch at the Landing which takes us about 45 minutes to get there (by boat).  We can drive there in 10 minutes!!  When we got home around 3:30, I got the cards to upload and was about to write the recipes for them when Marianne arrived.  We have decided to meet every afternoon when she gets off work and work out in our community swimming pool.  We decided this a couple of weeks ago, but yesterday was the first day she was able to get here.  So, down to the pool we went.  It is a good way to exercise and to visit with each other.  And with the temperatures as high as they have been, it is an excellent way to cool off!  OK - now back to my original post that I have been trying to write all day!

I'm Just Buzzin' By to tell you to have a honey of a day!  Isn't that a great saying?  If you want it in a stamp set, better call me quick!  It's the set, Just Buzzin' By and it will be buzzin' away at the end of the month.  It is one of the retirement sets.  I haven't used it in a while but it is so cute.  So I pulled it out this morning and created a couple of cheery cards with it.   

Don't forgot to leave your comments if you want a chance to win this card along with a bunch of others.

Not only is this stamp set retiring, but the ribbon is also.  I used the Triple Layer Punch on the 1st setting for the scallops at the bottom.

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Just Buzzin' By
Paper:  Only Orange, Black, non SU pattern paper
Accessories:  White Gel Pen, Triple Layer Blossom Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Markers

 

I'm loving this card!  I think it's the colors that I really like.  I found the paper (DSP) in a stash and then matched the other paper up to it.  Also, I love square cards although I don't usually make them since they require extra postage.

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Just Buzzin' By

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Ballet Blue (retired), Whisper White, non SU DSP

Access:  Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Circle Nestabilities, Sponge Daubers, non SU sequins, Crystal Effects

Swap Cards

I played a new game yesterday - well, sorta new to me anyway.  It was Duplicate Bridge.  A friend asked me to "sub" at her house and I didn't realize that was what they were going to play.  But, it was ok.  Duplicate Bridge is played just like regular bridge for the most part.  The scoring is different.  It was fun - you play a set hand and then the other table also plays the same hand so you can see how others win or lose the hand.  I was the third highest score so not so bad!

I have been working on swap cards for Convention.  I have signed up for 2 organized swaps and then I want to have other cards to randomly swap during the convention. 

 This is the card for the Fun Fold Swap.  When you pull on the Melon Mambo strip at the top, the inside card comes out like this:

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Flower Fest, Upsy Daisy (sentiment inside)
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Beyond the Garden DSP
Ink:  Black, Melon Mambo
Access:  White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Crop-a-dile

 This is for a swap that you have to use a new stamp set.  This one was available to demonstrators for a sneak peek.  It is the only one I bought but it is the cutest!!  Love the snowman!  The little border sticking out at the top and bottom of the snowman is from the Triple Layer Doily Punch.  I cut it in half and am going to put a pearl in the center (forgot to before I took the picture!).  I have to admit I used two colors that are not my favorites - Garden Green and Poppy Parade.  They look good together but I just don't ever use these two which is why I picked them for this swap!

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Snow Much Fun
Paper:  Garden Green, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Access:  Markers, Black Ink, Poppy Parade Stitched Poly Ribbon, Northern Flurries Embossing Folder

I have done several of these cards to give out for general swaps.  There is a Vellum overlay over a white card.  I stamped the leaves from Fabulous Florets on the white card and stamped the flowers on the Vellum.  To hold the vellum to the white, I strategically placed glue dots on the back of the vellum on the flower centers.  And then the ribbon held it all together.

RECIPE: 
Stamp:  Fabulous Florets, Tiny Tags
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Vellum, Whisper White
Ink:  Old Olive, Cajun Craze
Access:  Always Artichoke Ribbon Binding, Jewelry Tag Punch

AND .... I have a retiring stamp set for my monthly give-a-way.  Don't forget to leave a comment if you want a chance to win the cards I am featuring this month!!

 RECIPE:
Stamp:  Forest Friends, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)
Paper:  Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Retired DSP
Ink:  Espresso, Garden Green
Access:  (non-SU) Ribbon, Small & Medium Oval Punches, Oval Nestabilities

I just finished talking to Ashley on Skype and she is leaving her temporary base tomorrow via helicopter and returning to Maraz where she has at least 3 packages waiting for her!  She needs to start packing up for her return home!!!!  So excited!

Happy Father's Day!

Hope all the Dads out there had a wonderful and restful day.  My hubby did.  He started out talking to Ashley this morning as she wished him a Happy Father's Day.  Of course, no word from our son.  We had an off and on rainy day today so he wasn't able to go out on the boat.  So, he sat downstairs in his chair and watched TV, played games on the computer and read.  Not much more exciting than that, huh?  We are going to go out tonight but don't know if he's decided on that yet or not.  Our options are to go to a Beatles tribute concert at Davidson College or go out to eat with Marianne and her family.  I'm afraid the weather is going to prevent us from going to the concert though.  Here is the card I made for him:

 RECIPE:
Stamp:  Sail Away (Summer Mini)
Paper:  Night of Navy,Red Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Nautical DSP from Summer Mini
Ink:  Night of Navy
Access:  Large & Small Star Punch, Circle Nestibilities, 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

inside of the card using the retiring All Holidays stamp.

I also made a card today using a retired stamp - not retiring - but retired as in last year!  I pulled it out by mistake.  But I also wanted to showcase the Triple Layer Snowflake Punch!

A Tree for All Seasons

Christmas in .... June!

Back to the retiring sets.  I took a bit of a break this week with the cards that I will be offering in the drawing at the end of the month.  (See this post)  I was busy doing things for Newcomer's Bingo and for Stamp Club but now I am back to working for YOU!  And today we are showcasing Christmas!  I love the set, Big on Christmas.  It is really easy to use - stamp it, color it in and mat it. 

 I stamped the image with Espresso ink and colored it in with my white gel pen.  I colored the tree with a Copic pen.  I did faux stitching around the edge.  (Use paper piercer and pierce all around the edges; then use a white gel pen to "connect the dots".)   The DSP is retired as is the Taken With Teal that I matted the image with!  But who cares?  Not the person who will receive the card at Christmas time, I'm sure!

OK - Ignore the black dots on this card.  I had it sitting on my desk yesterday when I reinked my black stamp pads!  Guess a couple of drops eeked out onto the card.  I didn't even notice it until after I took the picture - thought it was something on my camera lens until I took a second look at the card!  There's a sneak peek on this card though so I had to share it.  The lighter colored purple is one of the new In Colors!  It is called Wisteria Wonder. 

I used a thin oval wooden frame that I got from m's to layer with my embossing folder to create the un-embossed oval in the center.

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Big on Christmas
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant
Ink:  Black, Wisteria Wonder Marker
Access:  Snowflake Brads (non SU), Stickles Glitter, SU Markers, Snowflake Embossing Folder

I got even better news from Ashley yesterday!  She now thinks she will be returning another week earlier!  Looks like she may be leaving there around the 21st of July.  Not giving us much time to find a good flight but maybe we'll consider driving instead.  We just need to wait for her to return to her base where she can find more details.  She had hoped to be leaving her temporary post last Wednesday and go to a medical conference in Baghdad.  But that didn't work out and she will probably be at the temporary base until next week.  You can believe she is counting down the days.  I don't think she has seen one patient all week!  She read all the books she took with her and was going to the library on base and getting 5-10 books at a time to read.  She reads 1-2 books a day.  Yesterday she went to the library to return her books and get another stack and to her horror, the shelves were EMPTY!  Because the base will be closing, they had thrown away all the books a couple of days ago.  If you are a reader, doesn't this make you cringe?  She has her Kindle with her and it has a couple of books on it plus the Bible.  So, she said she guess she will be reading the Bible for the next few days from cover to cover!  The internet connection is bad there and it would take her too long to download more books on to the Kindle.  So let's hope the PA that she is replacing comes back soon!

Stamp Club Cards for June

Well, I don't know that I made a lot of friends today at Mahjong!  I ended up winning every game except for 2!  We take $2 to play with .... I came home with almost $8!!  I know there is luck in playing the game but it is also a game of skill.  We have a special card with a description of all the legal hands you can go for.  The card changes each year.  The tiles all have Chinese symbols on them.  Here is what the game looks like -  It is really a lot of fun!

I spent the evening getting ready for Stamp Club tomorrow.  We will be making 4 cards with retiring stamp sets.  We will do 2 cards using Pick A Petal that I have already shared with you.  The other two cards are below:

 This card uses Fresh Cuts with watercolor crayons.  I like the vintage-y look of this card.

RECIPE:

Stamps:  Fresh Cuts

Cardstock:  Watercolor Paper; Espresso; Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz

Ink:  Espresso

Accessories:  Marina Mist ribbon, Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Brush, small Oval Punch (retiring), Pearl, Ribbon Punch

Another great card using Fresh Cuts with the Fresh Cuts Note Cards is this one:

I wanted to do this one in class but I didn't have enough note cards for everyone.  So, I will just be sharing it with them.  But if you like it, these note cards will be retiring so you should order them now!

I decided to let this great designer paper do most of the work in this card.  I'm going to miss this paper.

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Priceless, All Holidays
Ink:  Marina Mist
Cardstock  Crumb Cake, Elegant Soiree DSP
Access:  Marina Mist Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1" & 3/4" Circle Punches, Nestabilities Oval

June Monday Mailers

I have been super busy lately and don't see a break until at least Friday!  I played Mahjong last Friday, Saturday Sonny & I took a drive over to Concord Mills; Sunday we met Marianne for a delicious lunch buffet and then went cruising on the lake.  Monday, I played bridge.  This morning I was up really early (for me!!) and was in charge at the Soup Kitchen.  We served 125 people chicken salad, tuna salad and fruit salad - a great meal for a hot day!  When I got home, I made more chicken salad (I was on a roll!) to take to our Newcomers Bingo for Charity tonight.  My family - mom, 2 sisters and hubby - joined me for a great meal and fun Bingo games.  We weren't lucky at the Bingo games .... until the last one (played 12 games) when my sister, Angela won the "cover the card" grand prize.  She got a $75 gift certificate to The Chop House in downtown Mooresville.  After that, they raffled off the remaining bingo prizes.  Our group did pretty good.  My mom won first and picked out a necklace that she gave to me.  I won next and picked a bottle of Chocolate Wine.  (I've heard it's pretty yummy - I'll let you know.)  Next Sonny won but gave his ticket to Marianne.  There wasn't much left to choose from by that time so she picked a pair of earrings and gave them to me!  So, I did pretty good with bringing home the loot.  Tomorrow I play mahjong and then on Thursday, I have Stamp Club.  Whew!  I have got to find some time to work on my swaps for Convention!!

I've been so busy that I forgot to mail my Monday Mailer on Monday.  I used a retiring stamp - Cheep Talk and made a cute birthday card.  What do you think?

I was also trying to use up some of the retiring DSP.  This paper is from the Hostess 6"x6" stack (In Colors).

RECIPE

Stamps:  Cheep Talk, Party Hearty

Cardstock:  White; In Color Hostess Stack

Ink:  Concord Crush, Brushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Signa White Gel Pen, Poppy Parade Ribbon, Corner Rounder

This is the Monday Mailer I received last week from Laurie.  It uses the Sail Away set.  I'm so in love with this stamp set!!  And, I love the way she did the birthday sentiment using eyelets and the Bakers Twine!