Stampin' Up! Blendabilities Now Available, Buy 3, Get 1 Free DSP, and New Weekly Deals!

Whew!  It's a busy morning at Stampin' Up! headquarters, I'm sure! Grab a cuppa or glass of something cool and settle in...

Starting today, customers may order the following color sets of Blendabilities as of today:

• Cherry Cobbler   (Item #130995 - $11.95)
• Coastal Cabana  (Item #131000 - $11.95)
• Daffodil Delight   (Item #130998 - $11.95)
• Old Olive   (Item #130999 - $11.95)
• Pumpkin Pie  (Item #130997 - $11.95)
• Rich Razzleberry  (Item #131003 - $11.95)
• Skin Tone Assortment (Item #129370 - $22.95)

The following inks and Color Lifter are also available:

• Memento Ink Pad (Item 132708 - $5.95 )
• Memento Ink Refill (Item 133456 - $4.95 )
• Color Lifter  (Item 129369 - $4.95 )

Here's a helpful techniques video from the experts at Stampin' Up!:

There are other videos that Stampin' Up! has produced in which a project is completed and the "expert" walks you through his/her process.  

Here's what I learned from Angie:

• Go from the lightest to darkest marker in the color set.
• Use a light touch with the marker.

From Teri, I learned that she:

• Fully color one petal or area at a time.
• Start with the lightest marker and then add the darkest to what would be the shaded area. Use the medium marker to blend them.

Studio Suggestions:

• Don't forget to use the Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (132708) to avoid smearing your stamped image.
• You'll notice that the experts lined their work surfaces with Grid Paper (130148).

MORE NEWS!  Is there Designer Series Paper ("DSP") on your wish list?  It's on sale this month -- buy three packages of the $10.95 sets and receive an equal-value package for *FREE*!

Ready for more?  How about the new Weekly Deals...

7/8-inch Scallop Circle Punch, #129404, originally $12.95, but on sale this week for $9.71!

2013-15 In Color Stampin' Write Markers, #131260, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for 11.21!

Gold Sequin Trim, #132983, originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Label Bracket Punch, #132153, originally $15.95, but on sale this week for $11.96!

Neutrals Designer Buttons, #130031, originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Silver Baker's Twine, #132976, originally $3.50, but on sale this week for $2.63!

Silver Fancy Foil Vellum, #133364, originally $10.95, but on sale this week for $8.21!

Summer Home Digital Download, MDS, #118464, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for $8.97!

Whew!  What a post!  I hope July has gotten off to a good start for you!

Another Deal-icious Tuesday!

I just love the things Stampin' Up! is offering to us with each Weekly Deal!

Click {HERE} to shop!

Fun Flowers Bigz Die (#121812) Regularly $32.95, but on sale for $24.71!

Hearts Collection Framelits Die (#125599) Regularly $26.95, but on sale for $20.21!

Paper Doily Sizzlits Die (#125592) Regularly $21.95, but on sale for $16.46!

Merry Minis Punch Pack (#126882) Regularly $16.95, but on sale for $12.71!

1-1/4 Inch Scallop Circle Punch (#127811) Regularly $15.95, but on sale for $11.96!

Think Back Photobook Template; My Digital Studio Download (#133021) Regularly $19.95, but on sale for $11.97!

Wisteria Wonder 3/4-inch Chevron Ribbon (#130017) Regularly $8.95, but on sale for $6.71!

I'm busy working on a new video to highlight a gift-giving marvel...  It'll be my next {12 Weeks of Christmas} post!

Please let me know how I can be of service to you!

Cheers to You! Water Bottle Tag

Welcome to the Studio!  This project was created for a friend who is undergoing medical treatment that requires her to increase her consumption of water.  It's a reusable water bottle and I've included some drink mixes.  I hope this makes the treatment easier for her -- she's a gem and I'm sad that she's burdened with this...

The body of the card was made with Pink Pirouette.  The other color is Baja Breeze.  These are the colors featured this week in the Dynamic Duos Challenge #11.  This card is also based upon the sketch for the 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday challenge.

I stamped the glass and straw in Baja Breeze and then stamped the contents of the glass a second time on another piece of Whisper White (this time in Pink Pirouette), used my Paper Snips to cut it out and mounted it with Stampin' Dimensionals to make it pop.  The flagged ends of the Baja Breeze piece were achieved with a square punch (click *here* for a post including a quick video tutorial).

I also punched a circle of Baja Breeze with my 2 3/8-inch Scallop Circle punch to jazz up the spot where the neck of the water bottle is...  I punched a 1 3/4-inch Circle through the Pink Pirouette piece, placed the scalloped circle over it and punched again from behind (wasn't sure I'd have the hand-strength to punch two layers of card stock).

The drink pouches were placed in a "pocket" made from a Decorative Label punch, popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Happy Hour (W126640, C126642)

Papers:  Baja Breeze (111352), Pink Pirouette (111351), and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  Baja Breeze (126960) and Pink Pirouette (126956) Classics

Accessories:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon (122331), Decorative Label (120907), 1-1/4" Square (119865), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (118874) and 1-3/4" Circle ( 119850) Punches, Paper Snips (103579), and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)  

A Whole Lotta Punches "For the Birds" Cute Card Thursday

One of my new goodies from the 2012-2013 Annual Catalog is the set, For the Birds.  I love this sweet set and its simple line illustrations (I'm a sucker for feathered friends).

I used my Owl Builder punch to punch out this little heart in Summer Starfruit (a heart is part of the "thought bubble").  My Blender Pen and a bit of Summer Starfruit Classic ink fill in the bird with a bit of color...  The sweet heart DSP is from the Patio Party Designer Series Paper, whose color scheme is seen throughout this card.

My sentiment is inked with a Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Marker and then punched from the Whisper White using the Word Window punch.  I've mounted it on Primrose Petals cut with the Modern Label punch (one of my *FAVE* sentiment combos) and added a couple of Boho Blossoms in Summer Starfruit with a Midnight Muse center (from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack).  Whew!  Stampin' Dimensionals pop it up a bit.

I entered this sweet card in last week's 365 Cards Color Scheme Challenge and the Cute Card Thursday Challenge (following 

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  For the Birds (W126405, C 126407)

Papers:  Patio Party Designer Series Paper (126916), and Baja Breeze (111352), Midnight Muse (126843), Summer Starfruit (126839), Primrose Petals (126841) and Whisper White (100730) Card Stocks

Inks:  Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Marker (Set of 2012 In Colors:  126856), Midnight Muse (126860) and Summer Starfruit (126991) Classics

Accessories:  Modern Label (119849), Word Window (119857), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (118874) and 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (119854) and 1-3/4" Circle (119850), Boho Blossoms (119858),Itty Bitty Shapes (118309) and Owl Builder (118074) Punches, Blender Pen (102845) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

A Graduation Card in {Gumball Green}

I created this card for a couple of young women graduating this spring.  I also entered it in the 365 Super Sketchy Sunday challenge and the Cute Card Thursday "Water, Water Everywhere" challenge.

This fun, eye-catching color combination is made up of two new In-Colors:  Gumball Green and Midnight Muse. 

The pennant flag is achieved using my square punch (just about any size will do!).

I popped my Gumball Green piece through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and then added three silver brads...  What a snap!  

I colored the image using my Blender Pen and a bit of Midnight Muse Classic Ink.  Whisper White Organza "ties it all together" (wink, wink).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Kidoodles (W122865, C122867)

Papers:  Gumball Green (126840), Midnight Muse (126843), and Whisper White (100730)

Inks:  Gumball Green (126861), Midnight Muse (126860), and Basic Black (126980)

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), 1-1/4" Square Punch (119865), Mini Silver Brads (122941), Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319), Blender Pens (102845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

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)

Stampin' Up! Nature Walk for Easter...

Easter is upon us!  Here's an Easter Card I made for the "Super Sketchy Sunday" challenge at 365 Cards.I am so inspired by the sketches there!

I love the earthy feel of the eggs from the Nature Walk set...

I used my Scallop Edge Border punch to create the border along the Marina Mist and that always produces a slim scrap.  You can see I added it behind the Round Tab punch with "Happy Easter."

The Scallop Trim Border punch adds further interest...

I've been busy enjoying my kids' Spring Break and sewing the girls' Easter dresses.  I'll be posting the rest of the week's projects soon!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Nature Walk (W121925, C121997), Teeny TIny Wishes (W115370)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Marina Mist (119682), Bashful Blue (105120) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Marina Mist (119668), Bashful Blue (105209), and Crumb Cake (121030) Classics

Accessories:  Round Tab (119864), Scallop Trim Border (118402), Scallop Edge Border (119882) and Scallop Circle (119854) punches, and Paper Snips (103579)

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 9 -- Belly Band Gift Idea

O, the Belly Band!  How I love thee!  There are so many fun ways to use a Belly Band. In today's {12 Weeks of Christmas} post, I wanted to share a gift idea with you...

This funky origami project is actually a gift card holder!  It's so very simple, uses supplies which are readily on-hand and quick to make with a great WOW factor.

Start with a 4-1/4 by 10-3/4" piece of Always Artichoke card stock.  I scored it (using my FABULOUS Simply Scored tool) at 2-1/4, 3, 3-3/4, and 7-1/4 inches.  I made a careful slit in the 3-inch cut, being sure not to cut all the way across the piece (you're making a slit for the gift card here--note in the picture below that a scant 1/2-inch is left on either side, uncut).  You can easily use your paper trimmer to make this slit.  Add adhesive to the "inside" of the gift card holder part at those uncut places so that it stands up when opened.

Once folded closed, I added a 3-1/4 by 4-inch piece of So Saffron card stock, which I'd run through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I made the sentiment tag using a scrap of Whisper White card stock and the Modern Label punch (do you see how much I love to lop off a side of that punch?  I use it all of the time). 

Finally, the Belly Band...  I created it starting with a piece of Always Artichoke card stock (measuring 9-1/2 by 1-1/2 inches), run through the Big Shot with my new Snow Burst (Holiday Mini) Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Oh, how I love those snowflakes!  I scored it at 2-3/4 inches and 7-1/2 inches and adhered the flaps to make the band.  

It is adorned with an image from Sweet Season, which I colored with my Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Markers.  It's punched with the 1-3/4-inch Scallop Circle and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on a piece of Cajun Craze, which I punched with the larger, 2-3/4-inch Scallop Circle.  This piece is adhered to the Belly Band in an off-set manner to give visual interest.  A strand of white Baker's Twine completes the look.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Sweet Season (#116471) and Short and Sweet (#115060)

Paper:  Always Artichoke (105119), Cajun Craze (119684), So Saffron (#105118) and Whisper White (#100730) card stocks

Ink:  Always Artichoke Classic (#105219) and Stampin' Write Marker (#105113), and Cajun Craze Classic (#119671) and Stampin' Write Marker (#119678)

Accessories:  Big Shot (#113439), Snow Burst (#124096) and Perfect Polka Dots (#117335) Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Simply Scored Scoring Tool (#122334), 1-3/4" (#119854) and 2-3/8" (#118874) Scallop Circle and Modern Label (#119849) Punches, Baker's Twine (#124262), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) and Stamping Sponges (#101610)

We're closing in on Christmas -- I hope you're able to find time to slow down and enjoy the festive spirit.  Stay tuned for a corresponding video and more {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Season of Joy: Day 4

"JOY!" is right! I have been meaning to write and publish this post for a few days now, but as luck would have it, I've been busy out with the kids, playing in the *snow*! It's a rare treat for us in the Pacific Northwest to get enough snow to sled and play in... With two snow days from school, this feels like a mini Christmas Vacation!

This card was made for another sketch challenge... I used my Color Coach for the color guidance; not a traditional combination of colors, but I really like it! We've got Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze and Rose Red at work here...An easy way to add oomph to a card is with a bit of texture. I used the Perfect Details Texturz Plate with my Big Shot on the Baja Breeze here...To achieve the two-tone stamping here, you can use the masked inking technique that I demonstrated in this post: http://www.studio-sara.com/2010/04/technique-video-masked-inking.html .

The sparkly brad comes from the Holiday Mini Catalog. It and four other colors can be found in the Glimmer Subtles pack.
Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Season of Joy

Papers: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red and Baja Breeze Classics

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle and Scallop Edge punches, Rose Red stitched ribbon (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for visiting!