Pot o' Gold and the Luck of the Irish

Feeling a bit of the luck o' the Irish with this card.  I was working on a few challenge entries and this fun note card just came together. 

First, I've been looking forward to playing with the "swipe" image from the Sheltering Tree set in the Occasions catalog.  For the Colour Me Card Challenge (CCMC62), we were to use Pear Pizzazz and Garden Green, so I thought I'd highlight those two colors with this simple stamp.  They form the background behind the Gold Satin Ribbon (which I just fell upon as I pawed through my ribbon stash -- my original plan was to go with Whisper White ribbon of some sort).  This card also fits the monochromatic scheme of the Friday Mashup celebratory 200th (choose your own) challenge, so I chose #6: FM200.

The layout was provided by the Mojo Monday MOJO388 challenge.

Next, I have the "lucky" sentiment punched and clipped from the And Many More set.  I masked off the "you" and inked the stamp with Versamark before embossing it with the Heat Tool and Gold Embossing Powder. I punched the tag with my trusty Modern Label punch and clipped off one end.  Whisper White Baker's Twine finishes the tag. Simple and sweet!

Finally, I used the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack to approximate my lucky clovers. Easy!

Hope you have a fun St. Patty's day and that you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

A View from My Current Studio and new Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!

Every summer, my husband and I take our children on a Great American Wild West Roadtrip.  My family lives in Colorado and Wyoming, so we normally include a visit to a new-to-us national park with our visits with them.  In years past, we've enjoyed Dinosaur, Mesa Verde National Park, Yellowstone and this year we spent some time with my husband's parents, fly fishing on the Blackfoot River in Montana.  

As we enjoy our time in Rocky Mountain National Park (where my mom lives), this is my current "studio."  Love it?!  While I'm not able to stamp right now, you'd better believe I've picked up one of this week's Deals (guess which below).  I'm able to take questions, though, and I'm currently filling my fall schedule with classes and private workshops.  Drop me an email -- the reception is spotty, depending on where I am, but I will get back to you ASAP when I'm in coverage.

And now for this week's Weekly Deals...  Shop {HERE} for some great inky and TIEF bargains (among others!).

Alphabet Press TIEF (130916), Originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Bermuda Bay Classic Ink (131171), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Delicate Designs TIEF (127023), Originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Hearts A Flutter (130159), Originally $24.95, but on sale this week for $18.71!

Oh Baby Photobook Digital Kit MDS (129350), Originally $17.95, but on sale this week for $10.77!

Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink (131180), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Smoky Slate Classic Ink (131179), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Travel Log Digital Kit MDS (126022), Originally $9.95, but on sale this week for $5.97!

Wisteria Wonder Chevron Ribbon (130017), Originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Oh, and when I get home, I'll be getting my 2014 Holiday Catalogs ready to send.  Are you a Studio-Sara Select Customer?  If not, drop me an email and I'll get you on my list...

New Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up! and a {Sneak Peek}

Happy Tuesday!  That means Stampin' Up! is rolling out a new week's worth of Weekly Deals! With the exception of the Burlap Ribbon, the other items are available as supplies last, as they are on the Retiring Accessories list.

Want an update version of the Retiring Accessories list?  Click {HERE}.  The updated Retiring Stamps list can be seen {HERE}.

Here are the new Weekly Deals:

Burlap Ribbon, 1.25 inches, (132140) -- Originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Basic Gray Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126879) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Blushing Bride Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (131209) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (119959) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

International Bazaar Photobook Digital Download MDS (130875) -- Originally $14.95, but on sale this week for $8.97!

Made from Scratch Recipes Digital Download MDS (129004) -- Originally $17.95, but on sale this week for $10.77!

Pear Pizzazz 3/8-inch Taffeta Ribbon (131208) -- Originally $6.95, but on sale this week for $5.21!

Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126877) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126873) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

And now for some sneak peeks at what I've been doing lately (aside from attending a bevy of my kids' baseball, softball and tee ball games!):

I'm mailing out the last of my customer's new 2014-14 Annual Catalogs.

On my list?  If you've been a Studio-Sara customer this year, you should be.  Want to check? Just drop me a line!

{Paper Pumpkin} and the Extra Bits for Mother's Day

**Need a last-minute Mother's Day gift?** You can pre-pay for a Paper Pumpkin subscription and give it as a gift!

My 13-year-old daughter and I are happy Paper Pumpkin subscribers.  I joined when the program first went live and Miss J joined me soon after.  We are so enjoying each month's delivery and were thrilled when Stampin' Up! offered refill supplies to subscribers. 

When the April kit arrived (see the video below), Miss J decided she wanted to make the project for each of her grandmothers, so an easy call was placed to Stampin' Up! and less than a week later, she was off and creating.

New to Paper Pumpkin?  Here's a video with the latest kit:

Interested in subscribing?  Please click {HERE}.  Please select me, Sara Smeby, as your demonstrator.

On to the cards...  I had some extra bits (a lot, actually) left over from this month's kit.  I thought I'd pair them with a few basic tools and supplies to make this card.

For this {Basic} Paper Pumpkin card, I used a half-sheet of Coastal Cabana card stock and the circle from my Itty Bitty Punch Pack (*retiring*, but still available as of right now).

This card is the {Stepped Up} version.  I used a variety of supplies in this card.  First, I used my Arrows TIEF and Big Shot to add texture to the Coastal Cabana card body.  I also used a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and my Chevron Border Punch.  Everything else comes in the kit!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Framed Love (from April Paper Pumpkin delivery)

Papers:  Tag, Heart and Newsprint Pennant from Framed Love; Coastal Cabana (131297) and Pear Pizzazz (111351) card stock

Inks:  Coastal Cabana and Pear Pizzazz Spots provided in Framed Love kit; Coastal Cabana Classic (131175) and Pear Pizzazz Classic (131180)

Artist's Flair:  Faceted Button, Linen Thread, Glue Dots and Stampin' Dimensionals provided in Framed Love kit; Chevron Border (132154) and *Retiring* Itty Bitty Punch Pack (118309), Arrows TIEF (132187) and Big Shot (113439).

See the ever-changing Retiring Stamp List {HERE} and Retiring Accessories List {HERE}! Remember, all items are only available as supplies last.

Want the new 2014-15 Catalog?  I'm sending them out next week.  Drop me a line and I'll add you to the list (click on the "email Sara" link to the left)!

Miss J and I wish all of the mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

Sale-A-Bration Freebie for MOJO and Colour Me Card Challenges

I had so much fun making this project!  It's my first entry in the Colour Me Card Challenge and I also used Mojo Monday's MOJO337 sketch to guide my design.  

With the Colour Me Card Challenge, we were given three colours plus a neutral.  We were asked to use Pear Pizzazz, Soft Sky and Coastal Cabana plus a neutral of our choice (I used Whisper White, obviously).

I used my super-fun Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (AC page 154, #130131) along with the Sale-A-Bration freebies, the Banner Blast stamp set (SAB page 13, W133551 C133554) and Banner Punch (SAB page 13, #133519).  

The sentiment comes from the fun sentiment set, Hello, Lovely (AC page 22, W130340, C130243).

Baker's Twine (AC Page 173, #124262) finishes the project...

Studio Suggestions:

• I used an odd number of flags (use items in groupings of 3 or 5 for max impact).

• I inked the star image in Coastal Cabana and then inked the outline in Pear Pizzazz.  It was easier to line up the outline around the star than vice versa.  Also, be sure to stamp first and then punch or run through your Big Shot second.  So much easier!

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!

*Final day for the Stampin' Up! 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog!*

Today is the final day to order from the retiring 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog.  Some things from the Accessories List are already unavailable, but there are still great finds and bargains to be discovered!  Any stamp on the Retiring Stamps List is available until the end of today.

The following projects were made with one of my favorite sets, Herb Expressions:

The Decorative Label punch is an easy tool to use to add visual interest to both the image and the sentiment.  I punched the image and sentiment after I stamped them on the card stock.

My Blender Pen makes coloring the rosemary leaves and blossoms a breeze; I used the Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder Classic ink.

Taffeta ribbon gives the card a soft finish...

I wanted a touch of texture without overwhelming the design of the card, so the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder was just the thing.

This card's color palette includes Pear Pizzazz, which retires with the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  It's made on a Cajun Craze base and includes Riding Hood Red.  The color combo is courtesy of my Color Coach! 

The cute edging along my Pear Pizzazz piece is from the soon-to-be-seen (again) Adorning Accents Edgelits (you might remember them from the last Occasions Mini Catalog).  The other piece of Pear Pizzazz is "sueded."  Click *here* for a video tutorial on distressing...

See the faint texture in the Riding Hood Red piece?  That's created using the Backgrounds I Texturz Plates with my Big Shot (the Backgrounds 1 plates retire with the 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog!).

Once again, I turned to my Blender Pen to color in the image of the basil.  Whisper White Organza Ribbon finishes off the project.

Stampin' Supplies:


Stamps:  Herb Expressions (W113224) *retiring!*

Paper:  Project 1:  Elegant Eggplant (105126), Wisteria Wonder (122922), Pink Pirouette (111351), Lucky Limeade (122926); Project #2:  Cajun Craze (119684), Riding Hood Red (111348) and Pear Pizzazz (119795 -- *retiring!*)

Ink:  Project 1:  Basic Black (101179), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Wisteria Wonder (122936), and Lucky Limeade (122935) Classics; Project #2:  Basic Black (101179) and Pear Pizzazz (119784 -- *retiring!*) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Blender Pen (102845)  Project 1:  Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809), 3/8-inch Taffeta, Decorative Label Punch (120907), Project #2: Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (114512 -- *retiring!*), Adorning Accents Edgelits (TBA in 2012-2013 Annual Catalog), Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319)

Today is also your last day to receive your Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalog for free with a $50 order!  You can also purchase it for a mere $5 (which includes shipping)!

Stampin' Up! Retired Accessories List is here!

The Retired Accessories List is now available {here}!  You know I hate to say it, but ORDER NOW -- SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED.  While you have until May 31 to order Retired Stamps, the Accessories fly off the warehouse shelves and once the stock is depleted, it is unavailable.  If a favorite is retiring (especially the 2010-2012 In Colors), order it now!

To recap, here are the Retiring 2010-2012 In Colors:

What surprised me most from the Retired Accessories List?  

1. Not all of the Stampin' Write Markers can be purchased individually in the new catalog.
2. 12 x 12 Textured Card Stock will no longer be available.
3. 12 x 12" Smooth Card Stock will be available in a limited number of individual colors and color families.
4. Grosgrain ribbon will no longer be offered (and you know how I *love* my grosgrain)!
5. Craft ink will only be available in black and white (no more Color Collections in Craft ink).

I'm formulating my order now, as there a few favorite items I don't want to miss out on.  If you're local and want to piggyback on my order, please let me know.

Click *HERE* to learn how to earn the 2012-2013 Annual Catalog for *FREE*!