Wednesday, June 30, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Final Day}

I have the song, "Final Countdown" playing in my head right now (you know, the 80s rock version)... Today's the final day on which we can order from the 2009-10 Idea Book and Catalog. Please get in touch with me as soon as possible if there's still something from the retiring lists that you need.

Tomorrow at noon is when the *new* catty goes live! Need to preorder one? You can do it (with free Priority shipping) for $9.95 or earn one with a workshop or $150 merchandise order...
Today I'm highlighting the retiring set, Enjoy Every Moment. Here are the deets:

  • I used Pixie Pink Classic Ink for the main focal point (with the Pretty in Pink 1/4-inch grosgrain). I punched it out with my 1 3/4-inch Circle punch.

  • There's a peek-a-boo element to this card. I used my 1/2-inch Circle punch and punched out the 'o' in "Enjoy". Using my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, I lined up the little flower directly inside.

  • "Enjoy" is stamped on the Gable Green card stock in, well, Gable Green Classic ink! Both are retiring this June 30.

  • Finally, the grosgrain bow is held firmly in place on the flower using a Mini Glue Dot.
Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment

Paper: Gable Green and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Pixie Pink and Gable Green Classics

Accessories: 1 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch Circle punches, Pretty in Pink 1/4-inch grosgrain ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Retirees: Enjoy Every Moment stamp set, Gable Green and Pixie Pink card stocks and inks

Thanks for the visit! Hope your June was a good one!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Day Two}

July 1 is fast upon us and we've got two more Catalog Countdowns to go, starting with this one! This sweet card was made using the You and Moi set, which will be unavailable after June 30. While displayed among the holiday stamps for Valentine's Day, I've used this card for anniversaries, birthdays and a simple notecard, like this one!

Studio Step-by-Step:
  • Yoyo Yellow and Brilliant Blue are among the retiring colors as Stampin' Up! unveils its Color Renovation
  • The word "love" is stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink. The word is part of the stem of a flower in the You and Moi set. Super easy!
  • Once the word "love" was stamped on the card stock, I punched it with the retiring Trio Flower punch
  • A strip of Whisper White Organza ribbon makes for a classy touch behind the squares...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: You and Moi

Paper: Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Brilliant Blue and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Yoyo Yellow and Brilliant Blue Classics and Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Whisper White Organza ribbon, Trio Flower punch

Retirees:
You and Moi stamp set, Brilliant Blue and Yoyo Yellow card stocks and inks, Trio Flower punch
Hope you enjoyed your visit! Stick around for a final day of Catalog Countdown tomorrow and then it's new stuff from the new catty! Hope your day's a great one!

Monday, June 28, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Day Three}

We're getting closer! As much as I love each catalog, I'm completely giddy, waiting for the new one to debut on July1. That is certainly the case this year! I'm super-excited about this catty because of the fun stuff offered with the Color Renovation, the new punch design and the introduction of Clear Mount stamps. Fun, fun!


Preorder your new catty today for just $9.95 (free Priority shipping) or earn it for free with a $150 merchandise order or workshop!


I created this card to bid adieu to Boho Backgrounds. The Almost Amethyst is also retiring as part of the Color Renovation.


Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps: Boho Backgrounds


Paper: Almost Amethyst, Very Vanilla and Always Artichoke card stocks


Inks: Almost Amethyst, Always Artichoke


Accessories: 1/4-inch Very Vanilla grosgrain, Linen Thread, Distressing Tool

Retirees: Boho Backgrounds and Almost Amethyst


Thanks for your visit! We've got two more days of Catalog Countdown ahead and then it's the big unveiling! Contact me today to preorder your copy of the new catty!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Day Four}

Hello, there! It's a busy week here in the Studio, as the current catalog retires on Wednesday, June 30 and the *NEW* catty goes live at noon (MDT) on Thursday, July 1! If you're going to place an order from the retiring catty, please do so as soon as you can to assure that your order goes in glitch-free! In honor of our retirees this year, here's another card...

  • Best Wishes and More is the set used here (would you believe that I made the tag from the snowflake in that set?!). The images are versatile and fun and I love the sentiments!

  • Bermuda Bay was one of this year's In Colors and sadly, it won't be stickin' around as part of the Color Renovation (I used card stock, and Classic ink in Bermuda Bay here)

  • See that coordinating ribbon? Believe it or not, it's the polka dot grosgrain in Bermuda Bay. Flip over the ribbon and make a couple twists as you're tying and you can go dot-free, Baby!

  • Cameo Coral is the juicy color that I used in the flower and on the paper charm. Sadly, that color is retiring, too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Best Wishes and More

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery card stocks

Inks: Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede Classics

Accessories: 1 1/4-, 1-, 3/4-, and 1/16-inch Circle Punches, Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Retirees: Best Wishes and More stamp set, Bermuda Bay (09-10 In Color), Cameo Coral

I'm so glad you popped by! Please contact me if I can be of further assistance!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Day Five} All Sara

Welcome to another day of our Catalog Countdown! This card was created for a recent challenge in which we were to make a card that truly represented who we were as stampers. So here's what would be "All Sara":
  • I *LOVE*, *LOVE*, *LOVE* blue,

  • I am a big fan of sweet little song birds,

  • I'm not a fussy person,

  • Sometimes I'm pretty rumpled, and

  • My style is pretty casual. If I could decorate in any manner (other than Fischer-Price), it would be English country (with a little French flair thrown in).
This is another card for which I wanted to use my retiring items: Spring Song stamp set and Bordering Blue (sniff!) card stock and Classic ink. The Kraft card stock that makes up the base of this card will be doing a bit of "The Artist Formerly Known As...", as its new name will be Crumb Cake. The exciting tidbit associated with the name change is that Crumb Cake now comes with coordinating ink and accessories! Happy dance! The Twill Tape will also be repackaged and will only be offered in a 3/8-inch width.

The songbird pops up from the card, as it's been heat-embossed, giving it a simple, sharp emphasis...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Spring Song, Tiny Tags

Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Night of Navy and Bordering Blue Classics and VersaMark

Accessories: Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Twill Tape, Linen Thread, Jewelry Tag Medium and 1/16-inch Circle Punches
Retirees: Spring Song, Bordering Blue card stock and inks

Thanks for your visit to the Studio today! Stay with me all week for more Retirees! June 30 is the last day on which to order (and it's a busy day for my family). Get your last order to me as soon as possible so that we can assure inventory of your items!

Contact me to preorder your new catty, too! I'm lovin' my advance copy!

Friday, June 25, 2010

{Catalog Countdown: Day Six}

Welcome to the Studio! It's been a nuthouse around here, lately, as I prep for the launch of the new catalog... I wanted to spend the next few days sharing some projects created with retiring stamp sets and colors.

Here are the details:
  • Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper is retiring this year and I used one-inch squares ("inches") to jazz up this card. What a great way to eat up scraps!

  • Holiday Blitz is one of my g0-to sets and I'm sad to see it go (though there's a cute new set with lots of pint-sized images which will fit the bill). The flip-flops stamp is going to have its rubber worn bare, I use it so much!

  • Gable Green, Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange and Pixie Pink are also retiring as Stampin' Up! introduced its Color Renovation...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Holiday Blitz

Paper: Tempting Turquoise card stock and Kaleidoscope DSP

Inks: Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Tempting Turquoise 1/4-inch grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, paper trimmer, white embroidery floss,

Retirees: Holiday Blitz Stamp Set, Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper, Yoyo Yellow, Pixie Pink, Gable Green and Only Orange card stocks

Stay tuned all week for more Catalog Countdown posts. I'll be highlighting stamp sets, accessories and colors which are retiring as of June 30 (less than a week away!)...

Contact me now to preorder your copy of the 2010-11 Idea Book and Catalog! Cost is $9.95 (with free shipping -- Priority -- saving you $4.90). Get it for free by placing a merchandise order for $150 or for hosting a workshop (or catalog party)!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Father's Day Cards, Part Un

Father's Day is this Sunday (and the kids and I are busy getting cards and gifts in the mail). Part of our celebration is a BBQ at our house and here's the invitation!

I went online to learn how to tie a Windsor Knot tie. I used the Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry, which are retiring at the end of the month. Also joining retirement is the Holiday Blitz set, which gave me the image of the tie. "Party" comes from Fundamental Phrases (a set you can find in the new catty).

Need a new catty? My shipment's on its way! Email me for a copy...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Holiday Blitz, Fundamental Phrases

Paper: Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry

Inks: Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry Classics

Accessories: Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon, 1-inch Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Graduates: Holiday Blitz, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry



Monday, June 14, 2010

{Monday: Mise en Place (Organization)} -- Getting Scrappy

And we're back... After a necessary hiatus from the studio, I'm back! We're finished with school for the year, my daughter's Girl Scout troop is on summer break and I completed my teaching job. Phew! Now it's time to get back on-track!


To start, I thought I'd use up some of my scraps of soon-to-be retired Designer Series Paper (DSP). For this card, I chose to use Kaleidoscope. Doesn't take much DSP to make a "chic" statement, does it? I love this set, Chic Boutique. Most of what I've created lately has used a retiring set, but I'm happy to report that I broke from that trend to make this card. Chic Boutique is in the next catalog!

Speaking of the next catalog, mine arrived last week and woo-wee! What fun! I'm lovin' it!



Now for the deets on this project:


--Get scrappy with your DSP, ribbon and card stock! I used little strips of
DSP, two-inch pieces of ribbon and a morsel of card stock for the flower (under
the pearl). I didn't even have to use a piece large enough for the entire Modern
Label Punch (with "merci!")!

--Retiring items = "graduating". Our "graduates" are: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper, Pretties Kit (pearls), and Pixie Pink card stock.


Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Chic Boutique


Paper: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (graduating!), Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla and Pixie Pink (graduating!) card stock


Ink: Tempting Turquoise Classic


Accessories: Scallop Edge Border, Modern Label, Word Slot and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Pretties Kit pearl (graduating!), Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink 1/4-inch Grosgrain and Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dot
Graduating Class: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper, Pixie Pink card stock (ink, and etc), Pretties Kit

"Merci!" for joining me today! It's SO good to be back!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Stampin' Up! Last Chance Lists, more Color Renovation and We Need Sun!

Whew! Busy day! First, I want to show you what the Seattle area's soggy weekend inspired me to make:
With my hubby gone fishin' with his brother and parents and nonstop rain since Thursday, I was aching for some sun (which we finally got on Monday afternoon). The kids had cabin fever, I had claustrophobia and I knew just what to do for the 365 Sketchy Sunday sketch challenge for Sunday, May 23.

I just love the simple elegance of the Medallion stamp. I laid it face-up on my desk and inked the inside with Summer Sun (a retiring color). Next, I applied the ink pad to the outer "rays" using Ruby Red (another retiree). By cutting my design in fourths, I now have enough of this quick and simple design to make four cards!

**Stamper beware: Thoroughly clean this baby before inking again (esp. with a lighter color, such as Summer Sun).**

My Big Shot and Naturally Serif die helped me create the words (and my Cricut cut out the brackets to fit the letters). All of the pieces are mounted on Crumb Cake (formerly known as "Kraft").

Now on to big doings at Stampin' Up! First, it's the Last Chance Lists... Here's the link to the stamp set list: http://204.228.150.61/2010lastchancelist/LastChanceStamps_0510_US.pdf
These stamps will be available until June 30.

As for the accessories, they're only available *while supplies last*. If there's something you can't live without, order it now, before it disappears... Here's the list, which includes retiring colors:
http://204.228.150.61/2010lastchancelist/Retiredaccessories-USENG.pdf

Finally, if you've got questions about Stampin' Up!'s Color Renovation, here are the deets: http://204.228.150.61/color_revamp2010/USENG/Fond_Farewell_Colors_US_0310.pdf

http://204.228.150.61/color_revamp2010/USENG/New_Colors_US_0310.pdf

While you know I hate pressure, I feel obligated to warn you that Stampin' Up! has had some unforeseen demand for its retiring colors. As it stands now, Sage Shadow card stock (in packages of 8 1/2 X 11 and 12 x 12) has sold out. I'm not sure if it's available in assortments, but that might be your only way to secure some. The same is true for Close to Cocoa in the 8 1/2 x 11-inch package. If you've got an absolute favorite that has found its way to its retirement, please don't hesitate to order it (be it card stock, ink or embellishments). Stampin' Up! isn't guaranteeing its stock in any of the accessories (or colors) on the Last Chance List.

Phew! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions. The Summer Mini is out and I've got a hard copy that I can send you. Contact me if you need one! Remember; I pride myself on no-pressure service!