Welcome Baby Abigail!

Well, we finally got a baby!  Abigail Lane made her first appearance at 1:20 pm on Tuesday 5/5 and weighed 7 lbs 2 oz.  Morgan ended up having a C Section.  Marianne and Greg are officially Mimi and Poppy and I am a Great Aunt!  Can't wait to see her and hold her in my arms although I know that will be a while with the panademic going on.

I just put this card in the mail to welcome Abigail!

I don't have many baby stamps but found this one (thanks to Evernote for organizing my stamps!)  I think it was in stamp set called Feathered Friends.  I don't have any of the other stamps in the set though.  I colored the image with my Blends.  The pink cardstock and DSP are non Stampin' Up.  I used Stitched Rectangle Dies.

This is the Mother's Day card I made for the new mommy!

This stamp set is also an oldie but a goodie.  I used the retired Jar of  Love with matching dies to create this card.  I love that jar.  I stamped it on watercolor paper and water colored a little bit of Pool Party for the water in the jar.  Interesting enough is that in the new catalog coming out in June there is a stamp set called Jar of Flowers and it is bundled with a Jar Punch. 

Share Sunshine for COVID-19

I'm on baby watch!  My nephew and his wife are at the hospital waiting for their baby girl to arrive!  

They checked into the hospital Sunday night anticipating the baby would be born on Monday.  They are big Star War fans and were excited that their baby would be born on "may the fourth be with you."  But no such luck!  They are still waiting.  Guess the baby will have to be a Cinco de Mayo girl!  The last I heard is she got an epidural this morning (after getting pitocin to induce yesterday) and now is going to have a C-Section.  Poor Marianne - she is on pins and needles waiting on her first grandbaby.  Every time my phone rings, I think it's her with the news!  Maybe I'll get the call before I finish this post!

I've really been going to town on these Corona Virus cards.  I just love the SHARE SUNSHINE PDF from Stampin' Up!  (You can read about it in my previous post HERE.) Since the launch of the PDF last week, Stampin' Up! has raised over $123,000 USD to the support organizations that are helping COVID-19 frontline responders and communities vulnerable to the pandemic.  Isn't that awesome?  If you would like to support this cause AND get 15 pages of great images and words, you can order the PDF HERE.

Here are a few of the cards I have made this week thanks to Tami White and her great video.

Tami White has instructions on her video for making the masks.

One of these cards is going to my awesome doctor.

I put one of these cards in my mailbox for our mail carrier.

Alternative My Wonderful Family

How do you like the colors in the strips of paper in my blog heading?  They are (as close as I could match them) the new IN COLORS!  I don't know what my favorite is yet but I'm leaning toward the Magenta Madness and Just Jade!  As a demonstrator, we will be able to put a pre-order in next week.  For sure I'll be getting the In Color cardstock and inks!

On the subject of being a demonstrator, I got this in today's mail!

Hard to believe I've been a demonstrator for 15 years!  It's funny because I never worked anywhere for 15 years!  The most I worked was for Coppell High School for 10 years.

I made several alternatives for the April My Wonderful Family Paper Pumpkin Kit.

This was a fun one to make.  I cut strips from Pear Pizzazz, Shaded Spruce, Soft Sea Foam and some green glitter paper from my stash and glued them down onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  The important thing to do with this technique is make sure the first piece you glue down is straight on the page.  All the rest then will line up leaving a small gap in between.  After getting all the pieces glued down, cut the piece to 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to the Mint Macaron card base. 

This one is really simple.  I inked the little leaves with Pear Pizzazz and using my dauber, put a little bit of Shaded Spruce on them.

I used one of the squares from Layering Squares Dies.  The tree is stamped on the base card with the frame adhered on top with dimensionals.  I inked the tree image with Pear Pizzazz and like the card above daubed a little Shaded Spruce on the stamp.  I sponged a little Balmy Blue on the tree.

I used the negative of the leaf punch out and sponged Pear Pizzazz and Shaded Spruce on the card.  I learned a new trick on this card.  I used the Tombow liquid glue and using my finger, spread the glue onto the negative leaf.  Let it dry -10-20 minutes and it will be a sticky template you can use.   

April Paper Pumpkin - My Wonderful Family

Wednesday night Sonny and I had a night out!  We packed the cooler and went upstairs to my craft room to play virtual Music Bingo via Zoom! (My desktop computer has a bigger screen.) That has become our weekly outing!  We play music bingo on Saturday and Wednesday nights at 7 pm.  Ashley also dials in so we get to see her twice a week!  So funny!  Next week they are going to try and set the Zoom app up to play trivia.  If anyone is interested in joining, let me know and I'll send you the details.

This month's Paper Pumpkin Kit is My Wonderful Family.  There are stamps for daughter, son, mom, dad, sister, brother ....  It is a good one for Father's Day and Mother's Day.  Here are a few cards I have made from this kit.

This is the card that is in the instructions.  It opens with a "Z" fold.

This is the second card that is in the instructions.  The green flap opens down and the white piece with the tree opens up.

This is one of the alternative cards I made.  I stamped the top and bottom background with the large leaf part of the tree.  I used the negative from the leaf punch out and sponged leaves with Mellow Moss ink and my dauber.  I didn't want to cover up the verse.  I punched the green leaf sprig out of Mint Macaron and the flowers from Rococo Rose.  The butterfly is a punch out from the PP kit.

I stamped the large leaf part of the tree on Whisper White cardstock in Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape, Mango and Melon Mambo.  Then I used the Circles Dies to cut out 9 circles.  Once I adhered them to my white cardstock, I ran it through the Quilt embossing folder.  I die cut "friend" from Lovely Words thinlits and stamped Happy Birthday from Well Said - all in Emerald Envy

I love this one!  Hopefully you are quarantined with someone you can stand to be with 24/7!!   No matter how much you love someone, being with them 24/7 can be tricky!  We have it worked out  here - Sonny goes to the golf course with his buddies 3-4 days a week; I take walks and hang out in my craft room most of the day before we meet up to fix dinner and watch tv at night.

COVID-19 Giveback!

 

Just a quick post today.  Stampin' Up is an awesome company!  They are committed to making a difference and caring about people.  As part of their Making a Difference program, they are offering a product give-back opportunity to support organizations that are helping COVID-19 frontline responders and communities vulnerable to the pandemic.  You can purchase the Share Sunshine PDF Download and Stampin Up! will donate 100% of the proceeds to COVID-19 efforts!  This is a digital stamp set that's packed with both lighthearted and heartfelt sentiments and imagery relevant to the unique situation we're currently experiencing. You simply print the imagery on cardstock and cut out using your paper trimmer, punches or dies.  Since we are physically distanced from each other, now is a perfect time to share sunshine with our friends and family by sending cards!

 You can purchase the download here - SHARE SUNSHINE PDF

Believe me, you will be getting your money's worth!  It is a 15 page PDF plus SU includes an info sheet listing the coordinating colors and products that can be used with the digital stamps.



Here are a few cards I made today after I downloaded the PDF.

April and May Paper Pumpkin Info

I got my April Paper Pumpkin last week and will be sharing my cards with you in the days to come!

About the April Kit

• Kit contains supplies for 8 cards and envelopes
• Card size: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ (10.8 x 14 cm)
• Envelope size: 4-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (11.4 x 14.6 cm)

Coordinating color for April Kit:

Crushed Curry

Early Espresso

Melon Mambo

Mint Macaron

Pear Pizzazz

Soft Sea Foam

Shaded Spruce

May Paper Pumpkin

Subscribe April 11 – May 10

The Paper Pumpkin team loves planning fun surprises, so they’ve been VERY excited to let us know what they have in store for the month of May: a fabulous kit featuring 2020–2022 In Colors, plus Purple Posy, an In Color from the 2019–2021 collection. This means that as Paper Pumpkin subscribers we will be first to get our hands on new In Color products.  

About the May Kit

• Kit contains supplies for 12 cards and envelopes
• 8 cards are traditional size
  • Card size: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ (10.8 x 14 cm)
  • Envelope size: 4-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (11.4 x 14.6 cm)
• 4 cards are note card size
  • Notecard size: 5″ x 3-1/2″ (12.7 x 8.9 cm)
  • Envelope size: 5-1/8″ x 3-5/8″ (13 x 9.2 cm)

Coordinating Colors: Four NEW In Colors plus Purple Posy from the 2019–2021 In Color collection. (The new In Colors were introduced on April 24.)

Pretty New In Colors!

How do you like the new In Colors???  I love them!!




I'm excited to share the NEW In Colors with you!  I know you are going to love them!



Bumblebee looks like it's warmer than Daffodil Delight but not quite as rich as Crushed Curry - in between the two colors.

Cinnamon Cider seems like a new brown with copper mixed in.

Just Jade is more aqua - put it between Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana.

Magenta is a bright pink - between Melon Mango and Flirty Flamingo.  Can't wait to pair it with the Just Jade!

Misty Moonlight looks like it's a softer blue - not as rich as Pacific Point and Night of Navy.

Remember .... if you love these colors like I do, you'll want to make sure you sign up for the May Paper Pumpkin Kit!  It will include four of the new In Colors and this will be your first chance to get these colors in your hand!

Boo Hoo - Retiring!

Can you even believe April is almost over .... and we spent most of it in our lounge attire at home!!  I'll have to fess up that this "stay-at-home" order has not bothered me too much.  I've stayed busy crafting and doing things around the house that have needed done for a long time.  I get out of the house about once a week to go to Mooresville to the grocery store and get lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants (eating in my car or taking it home.)  The NC governor just extended our "stay at home" order through May 8.  He plans to lift restrictions in three phases.  Right now, the decision to stay at home is based on public health data and White House guidance.  NC needs more time to slow the spread of this virus before beginning to lift restrictions.  This makes me happy.  I have been concerned that they would lift restrictions too early.   There have been protests all over the state against staying at home.  I know that this pandemic has made life difficult for many people but they just need to hang in there.

Have you had a chance to look at the retired list yet?  Well, did you use a magnifying glass to be able to read it?  Between the font being microscopic and my printer not working properly, I had a frustrating time.  I finally found an easier to read list on someone else's blog. 

ANNUAL CATALOG RETIRING LIST

 MINI CATALOG RETIRING LIST

I had guessed at how many of my stamps were going to retire and was pretty accurate.  I lost 19 sets and have 23 current sets that will be in the upcoming catalog!  Oh well, it happens every year.  Since I still use my retired sets, I don't stress over it.  I got a sneak peek of the new catalog and there are some good ones in there!  Over the next few days, I'll be sharing some of the retired stamp sets that I have used to make pretty cards.

I'm happy that this set below - Meant to Be - isn't going to retire!  It is one of my favorite stamp sets plus it has matching dies - Stitched Be Mine.  

Love those bright colors!!  I used Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

inside

RETIRING LIST IS ONLINE!

Here is a link to the STAMPIN' UP RETIRING LIST.               RETIRING

If you notice, all the SU Blends are on sale.  They are not going away.  Stampin' Up is going to sell them as a Combo Item instead of single.  So, if you need to order the singles, do it now!  I have a few that need replacing so I will ordering them right away!

Retiring List 2019-2020

Do you have your Stampin' Up list ready?  Today at 3 pm ET Stampin' Up will announce all the retiring items.  Just remember, if you see that a bundle is retiring that does not necessarily mean that the stamp set and/or dies are retiring - just the bundle.  Once the retiring list goes live, products are on a "while stock lasts" basis.  Already,  the 2018-2020 In Color DSP (6x6) and Brights DSP (6x6) along with the Basketweave 3D Embossing Folder have sold out.  The In Color products are always the first to sell out.

If you are in love with any of these In Colors, get them ASAP!  Retiring In Color products sell out very quickly .... especially the re-inkers for the In Color Pads.  Once they are sold out, it is forever.

Stampin' Up has recently let us know that card kits, stamp cases, and background stamps will see a price increase in this year’s catalog.

Here are a few other items that have been in back-order but are now available!

Grace’s Garden Bundle 153789 / Garden Gateway Dies 151512
Honey Bee Bundle 153792 / Detailed Bee Dies 151526
Bonanza Buddies Bundle 153815 / Bonanza Dies 151566
Peaceful Moments Bundle 153824 / Poppy Moments Dies 151594
Painted Poppies Bundle 153827 / Painted Labels Dies 151605

Another item you might want to consider getting is the Ornate Garden Suite - all of it or just the stamp set, DSP, dies, etc.  I have that on my list.  I have seen some gorgeous cards made with the dies and stamps and DSP.  You won't find this suite in any of our current catalogs since it was an early release product.

Check out the suite here - ORNATE GARDEN SUITE and then go to Pinterest and look at some of the samples made with this suite.  (Demonstrators were able to purchase this item in advance.)

Have you been making .... and mailing ... or at least giving them away .... cards to those you care about?  If not, please do.  It really brightens up the day.  Saturday Sonny and I went to BJ's, Aldi's, and Harris Teeter.  I had several cards I had made with me and I handed them out to the cashiers when I checked out.  The first card I handed out went to an older lady working at BJ's who stands at the door handing out hand wipes to everyone and also a wipe for your cart.  Oh, if you could have seen the look of joy on her face.  She wanted to hug me but of course could not.  She told me she had been having a bad day and this really made a difference to her.  She almost had me crying!  I thought Sonny would "poo-poo" me for giving out cards, but the lady at BJs put a smile on his face too!

We've had a bit of bad news this week.  One of Ashley's friend's father died a few weeks ago from the coronavirus and now her mother is in ICU.  And Monday night Ashley told us that one of her best friends from medical school, who is an ER Doc in Houston tested positive for the virus.  So far, she hasn't shown any symptoms.  She has two young boys.  Please say a prayer for Julie.  I pray every day to keep my family safe from this terrible disease!