MDS Monday Challenge #2

This is another page I did for the MDS Monday challenge this week.  I had a hard time deciding between the two so I think I will submit them both!

When we visited Ireland a few years ago, we went to the Aran Islands on the west coast.   We took the ferry to the largest island, Inishmore, which is only 9 miles of land but the island has such a weather beaten charm to it that it captured my heart.  The tiny island consists of a maze of stone fences. There are only about 1,200 people on all three of the islands. What fascinated me the most was listening to them speak.  Most of them speak Irish Gaelic and it is impossible to understand!  There is a ferry system to get you to and from the mainland but it is passenger only.  This view from a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean shows remnants of crosses and chapels dating from the 8th to the 11th centuries.

The elements I used for this page are:

Background Paper - DSP Distressed Crushed Curty

Embellishments - Burlap Ribbon recolored, Top Notch Woodcuts

Stamps - Natural Composition Overlay #9

Punches:  1.25 Square punch filled w/DSP Etcetera #6, Smitten Alphabet Punches

Photo Box filled w/Amped Up Ampersands #2 DSP

MDS Monday Sketch

I've been working on my page for this week's MDS Monday challenge.  For some reason, I was really stumped this time!  In fact, I made three pages trying to decide.  But I think I like the last one I did the best so that is what I am submitting for the challenge.

I love the greens in the picture.  I made my background color to match the green in the flowers.  I used an overlay (love overlays!!) from Decorative Overlays - actually, I used two of them - one colored in white and one in green.  I really like the hazy look of the background.  I purchased about $65 in MDS downloads yesterday with my club order and had to use some of them on this page.

Embellishments used -

• Hello World Chalk Dots Overlay (recolored Pear Pizzaz)
• Everyday Enchantment Ribbon - Lucky Limeade (recolored to match)

Stamps used

• Decorative Overlays Flowers 
• Simple Snapshots - "the beauty of life" colored in white and green

Paper used:

• Whisper White background
• Hi There DSP #2

The font is a new one I just discovered also called EPIDEMIA.



There were new items added to the Clearance List today.  There are a couple of cute stamps from the Holiday Catalog that you might like!

If you decide to order from the Clearance .... or even some of the retired items, please use my Hostess Code 4CFDVMMK.

I also want to let you know that if you are tired of trying to read the teeny tiny print of the Retiring Stamps and Accessories List, if you will click above "SHOP ONLINE" and click on "SHOP NOW" button and then RETIRING PRODUCTS, the list will open with a picture, price, item code, etc. - everything you need to make your choice.

Have fun shopping and don't forget to use the Hostess Code please!

Paper Craft Crew Challenge 141

Well, today was a little crazy with the Retired list going live.  Many demonstrators get up at 5 - 6 a.m. to check it out and put their orders in.  (I'm not an early morning person so that was not me!)  Stampin' Up's website crashed and was down for a couple of hours I think.  By 11:00 a.m. (maybe earlier), several items had sold out already including all the reinkers for the In Colors that are retiring. Those colors were so popular.  I am hoping that Stampin' Up will bring a couple of them back sometime in the future.  You never know!

Not only were the stamps and accessories retired, but also all MDS items were offered at 305 off.  If you have My Digital Studio, now is the time to grab these retiring items.  Here is a link to them.

MDS

Here is the card I made for this week's Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge using My Digital Studio.

Time to say GOOD BYE

It's that time of year.  I went through my catalog last night crossing out the retired items.  It's sad for some of the things (Top Note die ....) but it also gets me excited to know what new items will be offered to us in the new catalog.

Some items really go fast so if you have your eye on something, I'd suggest ordering it now  - like some of the retiring In Colors (Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana).  I will be putting in an order today Tuesday, 4/21) and would be glad to include your order with mine.  OR you can click "Order Online" above and input your order there.

The good news is that many of these items are at a discounted price so you will be getting a good deal.  Click HERE to see the retired list.

I know the print is tiny but there is a plus or minus in the corner that you can click on to make it larger. 

Also, there are the Weekly Deals for this week here:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Stamp Club Cards

These are the cards we made this month for Stamp Club.

This one uses the Faux Tile technique.  Every one did a different color and chose the stamped image on the side from Everything Eleanor, Butterfly Basics or Thoughts and Prayers.



Faux Tile

This next card uses a fun fold that I found on-line.  The flowers are from Flower Shop and I used DSP from Back to Black.

open

This card was so much fun!  It fits into a business sized envelope.  I used the DSP from Sale-a-Bration, Irrestibly Yours.  I cut the balloon images with the Balloons Framelits and sponged them with In Colors.  I used the Little Letters Thinlets to cut HAPPY out of the balloons.  One of the gals punched her son's name out of the balloons instead.

I love the single stamp, Vivid Vases.  These are the two cards I made using them.  One of them uses DSP for the vases and the other uses markers.

Sonny and I had a relaxing weekend in the mountains.  My good friend, Judy, lent us the use of her cabin for the weekend so we enjoyed a delayed anniversary get-away.  The log cabin was so comfy with a creek running through the back of the property.  The weather was perfect.  It started raining on Sunday but we were packing up and heading home anyway.

Stampin' Up Specials and Deals

This Friday - April 17th - Stampin' Up is expecting the new shipment of the Butterfly Thinlits - the ones everyone is waiting for!

and to celebrate - there is a little special!!

15% off the BUTTERFLIES THINLITS DIES (#137360)  ($21.20)

AND

Buy any of the Butterflies Thinlits Bundles - already @ 15% off and choose one three

FREE Sale-a-Bration items (while supplies last)

#138633 - Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper

#138634 - Best Year Ever Accessory Pack

#138635 - Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Paper

MY DIGITAL STUDIO - On Sale - 30% OFF
April 21 - June 2nd...
a great time to top up your digital program with the latest or the oldest downloads before they are gone for good....The last day that Stampin UP will have MDS available for sale is May 31st

Retired Stamp List - Will be posted April 21st
- your last chance to order these retiring items - and many are while supplies last - so check the list early....

Last but not least are this week's Weekly Deals -

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Paper Craft Crew Challenge MDS Card

It is time for the Paper Craft Crew challenge.  This is my card for this week.

Of course, I used My Digital Studio to make this card.  I used the Freeform Tool to color the flower and love how it turned out.

The sentiment is a good one.  If we all treated ourselves better, we would feel better, don't you think?

My Digital Studio Update: I actually have a few bits of GOOD news concerning My Digital Studio this morning.  Stampin’ Up! made the following announcements on it’s Demonstrator website this morning: While Stampin’ Up! previously announced that the MDS product line would be unavailable after Sunday, May 31, 2015, it is excited to let you know that all of its MDS items will be included in the upcoming Retired List promotion from April 21-June 2, 2015.  Digital downloads, software, and print products will all be discounted by 30 percent and are guaranteed to be available through the end of the promotion (MDS software discs are available while supplies last). Click here to see a list of products, including promotional prices for each item. New Dates Stampin’ Up! has extended the availability date for MyDigitalStudio.net, the digital download manager, and its MDS YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest pages through midnight, June 9, 2015. Demonstrators and customers may call Demonstrator Support for assistance with MDS until Demonstrator Support closes at 7:00 PM (MT) on Tuesday, June 9. Project Life The Let’s Get Away Digital Project Life Card Collection by Stampin’ Up! from the occasions catalog was posted on the ProjectLife.com website yesterday and is currently available for 20 percent off.  For the foreseeable future, all Digital Project Life card collections will be made available through the ProjectLife.com store.  (There are both Project Life by Stampin’ Up! and Project Life digital downloads at that site.)  I’ve never tried to download something from this site, but I plan on buying the Let’s Get Away download, so I’ll let you know what I find out.  I did notice that the download only includes the card collection, no stamp brushes.  However, there are other Project Life by Stampin’ Up! stamp brushes on that site, so it looks promising for an ongoing resource for digital downloads! Future Updates While Stampin’ Up! will not sell MDS after June 2, 2015 or offer support for MDS after June 9, 2015, it is working on a solution for you to continue to be able to use your digital downloads and order print products. Stay tuned for updates. Stampin’ Up! hopes you enjoy the Retired List promotion—and that the extended deadlines will be helpful to both demonstrators and customers as it phases out the MDS product line. So, that’s a little encouraging!  I’ll keep you updated as I learn more information.

MDS Monday Disney Style

This is my layout for this week's MDS Monday sketch.  It's a fun linear layout featuring lots of photo and background papers.  Epcot was really fun and I especially enjoyed the International Flower and Gardens Festival.  The topiaries of the Disney characters were really fun! 

I had a hard time deciding on what to do with the boxes without pictures.  I put different patterns in them but really didn't like that.  So I went through most of my stamps on MDS and found several different stamps that I thought fit with the layout.  It's funny.  With MDS, I seem to use the images in the Designer Kit Embellishments and don't take the time to look at all the different stamps I have.  I learned a lesson today to look at my stamps more often.

Make sure you check out the other great layouts on the MDS Monday Blog.

Anniversary Cards

Sonny went on his usual Tuesday skeet shooting last week on our anniversary but I woke up to a beautiful card waiting for me.  He always seems to find just the right card - not too mushy (because that is not who he is) but just the right sentiment for us.  The card I made him is a different sort - kind of to the point but .... does he love me more than chocolate?  He sure loves chocolate!!

 It's hard to tell, but the card is made using Soft Sky cardstock.  I used the Designer Vellum as an overlay.  The banner embossed with hearts is Pear Pizazz and I stamped the feather lightly with Pear Pizazz.  I gold embossed the sentiment and tied it all together with Soft Sky twine.  Pretty simple but I love that sentiment!  It's what sold me on the stamp set.

 
I was so touched to find out that the layout I did of my wedding photos for MDS Monday last week was chosen as the winner.  Check out that post HERE.

By the way, how do you like my new blog heading?  I made it with My Digital Studio.

Sketch for Paper Craft Crew AND New Zealand layouts

This is my card for Paper Craft Crew challenge this week.  I used My Digital Studio to create it.







Check out the rest of the design team's cards HERE.

I've been so bummed about Stampin' Up discontinuing MDS.  I've been wanting to get my New Zealand scrapbook published and finished it last week.  It was going to be over $100 with Stampin' Up and I just couldn't justify that!  The book was 53 pages which is why the price was so high.  Today I checked with Shutterfly and was able to send my pages there PLUS I found a promotion code that took 50% off the order if it was $100+ and another code for Free Shipping!  So what was to be $122 turned out to be only $65. .. much more manageable!!

Here are a couple of the pages from the book:

I scanned our boarding passes to include on the page.

Another scan - the pass for the Hop on/Hop off bus.