It's a Stampin' Up! Color Refresh! Colors Discontinued, Old Favorites Out of Retirement!

It's that time again...  Stampin' Up! has reintroduced old favorites, such as Soft Sky and Blushing Bride, while retiring colors like Pretty in Pink, Baja Breeze and More Mustard.  See the chart below for the new colors in the 2013 Color Refresh:

Just in the Color Renovation a few years ago, the Discontinue Colors (at the bottom of the above chart) will only be available as supplies last...  This applies to card stock, ribbon, reinkers, ink pads, etc.

Here's a {video} from the lovely Carrie Cudney telling us all about it...  Hooray!

Apothecary Art {Clean and Simple}

Ah, summer has arrived!  While we're in the throes of enjoying a softball All-Star tournament and swim lessons, we've finally arrived at the end of the school year.  It was a terrific one and now we're ready for a fun and restful summer.

This card was made for two challenges.  First, I entered it in the 365 Cards "Word of the Day:  Round" challenge and the Freshly Made Sketches (#40) challenge.  The 365 Cards challenge asked us to include round things (I love the new Labels Collection Framelits and thought they were just "round" enough).

The pearl and the mini silver brads "rounded out" the project...

Once again, I used the corner of my square punch to make the pennant flag shape in the sentiment (from Fabulous Phrases).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Apothecary Art (W125525, C125527), Fabulous Phrases (W117002, C120501)

Papers:  Sahara Sand (121043), Not Quite Navy (101722), Rose Red (102544)

Inks:  Rose Red (126954) and Not Quite Navy (126971) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Whisper White Taffeta (109070),   Mini Silver Brads (122941), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577), Glue Dots (103683)

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Paris: Artistic Etchings {à la français}

 Here's a French twist on a Mojo Monday entry...  I also entered it in the 365 Cards Color Combo challenge last week (Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy).

The Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon is so simple to work with; it's very compliant ribbon! 

The 1-3/4" Circle and 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punches work well together...   

I *love* my Modern Label Punch...  I simply punched a scrap of Chocolate Chip with it and adhered it behind the stamped Sahara Sand.  Attaching the two just left of the edge of Not Quite Navy makes the tag stand out a bit more.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings (W118517, C120573), Fabulous Phrases (W117002, C120501)

Papers:  Sahara Sand (121043), Chocolate Chip (102128), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Not Quite Navy (101722)

Inks:  Chocolate Chip (102128), Cherry Cobbler (126966), Not Quite Navy (126971)

Accessories:  2-3/8" Scallop Circle (118874), 1-3/4" Circle (119850), Modern Label (119849) and Scallop Edge Border (119882) Punches, Cherry Cobbler 1/2-inch Seam Binding Ribbon (120992), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) and Paper Snips (103579)

Happy Birthday, Mom with Stampin' Up! Occasions Tea Shoppe

First of all, I want to wish my sweet mom a "Happy, happy birthday!"  Sending you hugs!!

This is the card I made for her birthday.  Mom and I love tea and all things British, so I knew this was the set for her!

I also entered this card a couple of weeks ago in a 365 Cards Challenge for stamping one's background.  You can see that I did that with the flower image from Tea Shoppe in both Regal Rose and Not Quite Navy.  That blossom is also stamped on the envelope (No Naked Envelopes!).

This sweet bow is made with the taffeta ribbon (I used my Paper Snips to trim around the tea cup and then I tied the ribbon around the handle).  You'll notice that I also ran the large piece of Not Quite Navy through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  It adds such a sophisticated texture to the project!  The big scalloped circle is Scallop Circle #2, a die that I used with my Big Shot, as well.

The sentiment was inked on Very Vanilla, using my Regal Rose and Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Markers and punched using the Scallop Oval.

Finally, I used the Modern Label punch and added a crinkled blossom to make the sentiment...  They're popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Tea Shoppe, found in the Occasions Mini Catalog, available until April 30, 2012 (W125545, C125547) 

Papers:  Regal Rose (105130), Not Quite Navy (101722) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Regal Rose (105211) and Not Quite Navy (103008) Classic Ink Pads and Regal Rose (105108), Not Quite Navy (100059) Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Taffeta Ribbon (Very Vanilla is retired in this width, but it's available in 1/8-inch (119960), Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Scallop Circle #2 die (113469), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Modern Label Punch (119849), Paper Snips (103579), and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

{Tuesday: Technique Video (Distressing)}

Today's topic is distressing. I mean to say that the technique we'll be discussing is the practice of distressing, not that the very discussion of it will be distressing...

I've got another video for you! No jammies, promise! Below the link you'll find pictures of each of the projects I discussed in the video. Unfortunately, the video camera's resolution isn't that great, so the best way to see them is here, in still-life...

Here are some of the cards I shared...

Herb Expressions with Torn Edges:

Fruit and Nut Catalog Inspiration Challenge with Sueded and Crumpled Card Stock:

Dreams Du Jour with Sueded Paper and Distressed Edges:

Sense of Time with Crumpled Paper (or the smooth side of a Sueded piece):

and up close:

Wanted with Mellow Moss Sueded piece:

Wings of Friendship with a flower stamped on the smooth side of Sueded Paper:

Baroque Motifs with a Sueded piece of Barely Banana:

Deets on the first card (created in the video):

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Garden from the Heart and Thank You Kindly sets

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Basic Brown Classic, Whisper White Craft and VersaMark (Not Quite Navy and Ruby Red Classic Inks for watercoloring)

Accessories: Distressing tool from Cutters Kit, Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Modern Label Punch, Blender Pen

Thanks again for your visit! The teacher in me thrills at the idea of making these tutorials. Please let me know if there's something specific you'd like me to cover! Have a great day!

Stop! Thief! Scraplifted...

Hello and Happy Saturday! Today's project was created for the final week of 365 Cards' first year's challenges. All week long, we've been focussing on each 365 Card designer, examining her style and then scraplifting an element of a card she's shared. This card was created by scraplifting a bit of Gloria's vintage style.

Here's her card:

Here are the elements of Gloria's style that I chose to include in my project:

• ephemera,
• lots of layers and
• a more masculine color palette.

I love Gloria's use of ephemera! I love to include items like ticket stubs, newspaper or other media in my scrapbook pages. I found it a bit of a challenge to find items that meshed together for a card, however. I searched through my stamp sets and decided that I'd start with the Sense of Time set (I used the clock face and the gears). I also love the look of the oak tree (or is that an elm?) from Lovely as a Tree. To mimic Gloria's ephemeral look, I masked the clock face and sponged So Saffron Classic ink around the outside. I also crumpled the piece of card stock stamped with the gears (I stamped the gears in So Saffron Classic ink).

**Studio Suggestion: Creamy Caramel Classic Ink is among my go-to tools when I'm looking for a vintage look. After stamping the gears in So Saffron, I crumpled the piece of Whisper White card stock and then sponged over it with the Creamy Caramel. That color brings out the wrinkles in a subtle, worn way.**

Gloria's included lots of fun touches and I sought to mimic that with my Build-a-Brad. I stamped the gear image in Not Quite Navy on Sage Shadow card stock and punched a gear out using my 1/2-inch Circle Punch.

I also used a bit of Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain ribbon (which I colored using my Creamy Caramel and Bordering Blue Classic Inks) and a paper clip to add to the ephemeral feel.

Finally, since I am Color Challenged, I relied on my Color Coach to help me pick a palette of colors that would support my fave for vintage projects, Bordering Blue. In the end, I think the palette is one for both men and women. I used Sage Shadow, So Saffron and Not Quite Navy to complement the Bordering Blue. I also used Whisper White (for a "clean", crisp look) and paired it with the Very Vanilla grosgrain to further stress the idea of vintage...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Sense of Time and Lovely as a Tree

Papers: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Bordering Blue, So Saffron and Not Quite Navy

Inks: Not Quite Navy, So Saffron and Creamy Caramel Classics

Accessories: 1/2-inch Circle, 1/16-inch Handheld and Corner Rounder Punch, Build-a-Brad, and Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks so much for visiting me today! I hope you have a restful and fun weekend!