Get em while you can!

Hi stampers!  Popping in for a quick announcement!  The retiring accessories list came out on Wends-day and stuff is going FAST!  Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier but it's been a crazy couple of days at work and home and I had a wicked headache last night!  You can click that link to the right there to see the stamp list and you can visit my online store to see the accessories that are going and be warned....it's a long list!  That's ok though because it's in order to make room for NEW fabulous goodies!  Sorry I don't have a button for the accessories.  The site I use for my buttons doesn't seem to have one just yet!

And don't freak out about the ink pads!  Yes, they are all "retiring" but not really because SU is giving is our same colors back in a new and improved pad.  It will be a "firm foam" pad and is supposed to give a much better inked image!  And no more bowing in the middle, fraying edges (someone on SCS called the frayed edges a beard, I cracked up, lol) and no more lines on images from the linen pad!  Wooo-hooo!

So fear not stampers!  Great stuff is coming!  And you can get some the outgoing stuff at great prices too! But hurry, things are selling out quickly...especially the "older" in color items!  As always, you can place an order through my online store via the button over there------>

ANY questions at all, please email me!  I'd be happy to help!!!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of pretty projects that contain retiring items:-)

Happy stamping!

HSS 115

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  It's time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a theme challenge and it's all about spring!

I sort of forgot about spring with the summer like temperatures we were having early on here but spring is here this week! Brrrr!!!  It's been up in the 70's and even 80's so it makes this week's 50's and 60's seem cooooold:-)

With the warmer temperatures we had though everything is getting really green which is my favorite part of spring!   I love it when the grass greens up and when the leaves on the trees come out!  It just transforms everything from the dim of winter and just makes me happy:-)  Kind of like this card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Season of friendship, apothecary art
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, blushing bride, subtles DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, blushing bride, wild wasabi
Accessories:  3 inch circle die, scallop circle duo die, blushing bride pleated satin ribbon, basic rhinestones, large pearls, twitterpatted buttons, crochet thread

I just had to pull out this set for my spring tree!  I haven't used it in a while but thought I'd give it a go since it's retiring!  I'm going to TRY to do more projects with my retiring stamps for the next month or so. 

Now head on over to the HSS site and see what other fabulous spring creations await and then play along with us!!!

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - Squared

Hi stampers!  I've been slacking over here haven't I?  I realized today I haven't done a mailable Monday post in a while!  Shame on me!  I gotta say I'm not enjoying the new blogger interface though...why do they have to change things when they work just fine????

Anyway I really like the color challenge over at Colour Q this week!  And it was perfect for a masculine card which we all know I don't make often given my girly tendencies and obsession with pink:-)

I also took some inspiration from the shapes in the photo and went for a geometrical kind of layout.  I punched out some squares of paper and used my corner rounder on two of the corners.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfect words (hostess)
Paper:  Whisper white, more mustard and dusty durango (retired) textured, neutrals DSP stack
Ink:  Basic gray
Accessories:  Square punch, corner rounder punch

This was a very fun card to put together and I think I need to make more cards with geometrical shapes!  I think I'm going to use this as a Father's Day card this year!  It's perfect for dads with the color combo and the sentiment of course!  I need to pull out my perfect words set more often before it retires soon!  Hope you have a wonderful week!

Happy stamping!

ETA:  Looks like I missed the deadline AGAIN!  Ugh!  Why does it end on Sunday if a new challenge isn't until Tuesday????  Darn it!  I'm sure this card would have been a winner too, right???  LOL!!!!

Fresh grief

Hi stampers!  This card has made me sad all over again about the retiring stamp list!  I never in a million years would have bought the set best friends forever but I got it free at convention...which I just signed up for this summer....don't get me started on that...I'm so excited....anyway.....back to the topic at hand:-)

I got it free and found out that ohmygosh I really liked it (the same goes for raining flowers too...I wonder what we'll get in our bags this year?  We know the names of the sets but NO idea what they look like yet)!  I love the scrolly stamp and the leaf stamp so much for backgrounds and accents.  Sometimes you just need a little something on a card....not a whole background but just something with a little kick.  Take the card I made for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge (which I loved by the way) for example.

 I should have taken a before and after picture of the card without and with the leaves.  It was so blah blank and looks just right with them.  It also didn't look good with a background over the whole card base...there may or may not be a background on the back of one of these cards, hehe;-)

I really am going to miss that one stamp in particular:(  And in an attempt to use some of the TONS of DSP I have laying around, I tried to use some of the twitterpatted which has been severely underused in my stamp room!  I have what, half a month to use up all the DSP I got from the mini and then not much time with the remaining couple of tons from the annual catalog:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Raining flowers, best friends forever, it's your day
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, blushing bride, twitterpatted DSP
Ink:  Pool party, island indigo
Accessories:  In color polka dot brads, riding hood red satin pleated ribbon, basic pearls, labels collection framelits

I did take a bit of creative liberty here with the sketch which I normally don't do.  I'm usually pretty black and white and stick to it like glue...maybe the artisan award winner in me is coming out?  Right?  A girl can dream, lol! 

Too bad the challenge wasn't to use as many convention sets as possible because I used THREE on this one card, lol!  I will really miss this little sentiment too....I mean who doesn't love to make and get cards "just because"???? :-)

Time to get back to work...and to work I mean working on my AA entries!  Or at least sitting at my desk thinking about them;-)

Happy stamping!

Edited to add:  So somehow I did the old sketch from last week at FMS....I think I need a vacation!  LOL!  Oh well!

AA Reject

Hi stampers!  I have a reject card for you today!  Doesn't mean it's bad but it's just not good enough for the SU Artisan Award contest.  I've never entered the contest before but they have made some changes including the winners being on a special design team and getting free stuff!  I'll enter about anything if I can win free stuff, lol!  They also extended the deadline so I decided to just go for it!  It's pushing me to be more creative and I'm really loving that.  I got on a roll Saturday after I decided to enter but sadly due to work and everything I haent' had much time or inspiration this week!  Hoping to work hard again this weekend though!

You have to enter a total of 10 projects (2 3D's, 5 cards, and 3 scrap pages).  Strangely enough, I have my ideas for the 3D items and the cards, which I make most often are giving me the most trouble:-)  I keep coming up with things but then after I get them on paper I don't think they are winners!  Oh well, just means I'll have a lot to share, right?  So, here is what will probably be a long list of AA rejects:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Artistic etchings
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic gray, poppy parade, attic boutique DSP, first edition DSP
Ink:  Basic gray, daffodil delight, poppy parade, black craft
Accessories:  crochet trim, antique and in color glimmer brads, oval punch, clear embossing powder

I don't dislike the card but it's just not what I pictured in my head...which happens all the time around here;-)  I'm trying to make a variety of sizes and styles and this one I was going for vintage but I don't think it's vintage enough. I think I should have left of the glimmer brad too but in the quest for a WOW card I was trying to throw everything on it I could, ha!

Anyway, I have two cards down and three to go plus all the other items so I better get busy...especially since there are also a number of fun challenges I want to enter this week.  Can you tell I'm a competitive person???  LOL! 

Happy stamping!

HSS 114

Hi stampers!   It's Tuesday and time for another challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a technique challenge that I'd never tried!  I was pleased to find out it was really quite easy!  I'm a lazy stamper...I don't like to do a bunch of work (which is probably why there is a pile of laundry to do and my stamp room is a disaster, lol). :-)

Now, be nice to me...I didn't have any colored pencils and I didn't want to buy any just for this card so I tried to use what I had and work with my water color wonder crayons.  It sort of worked....I think:-)  Now, coloring with those suckers was not real easy and they aren't very precise...so don't look TOO hard at my coloring.  I had fun with my white gel pen though:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fresh vintage (SAB - now retired), loving thoughts
Ink:  Basic black, white craft
Paper:  Basic black, melon mambo, old olive
Accessories:  Watercolor wonder crayons, white gel pen, basic rhinestones, daffodil delight seam binding, labels collection framelits, vintage wall paper embossing folder

I went with BRIGHT colors to contrast with the black and white.  And I used old olive instead of my new fave lucky limeade!  My friend old olive was very happy:-)

Now head on over the to challenge site and see what the awesome design team has come up with!  And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

Going...going....

GONE!  Hey stampers!  Important news today!  The retired stamp set list came out at 1am central last night.....and yes, I stayed up, lol!  And I think I've been running behind all day long!  Ha!  Anyway you can use the button to the right to check out what's going.  They are doing it a bit different this year and the accessories list will be out on the 25th.  Yes, I'll probably stay up for that one too.

And a word of warning...there is a LOT retiring this year with the new set up of the catalogs.  Yes it's scary but it's also awesome!  That means lots of FRESH, FUN, new designs!  As far as stamp sets, they will be available until May 31.  SU manufactures their own stamps so they will fill all orders.  Accessories will be while supplies last.  Remember, the older in-colors (2010-2012) in colors will all be retiring and they sell out fast so it's best to get them soon if you need to stock up!

And alas, I don't have a new project to share.  I DID stamp yesterday but I decided to enter the SU Artisan Award contest.  It's kind of a big deal and it takes a lot of work.  I have to submit FIVE cards, THREE scrap pages, and TWO 3D items.  So, my efforts were focused there yesterday.  I probably will have some reject projects to share soon though, lol! Not that they will be bad...but just not good enough to make the cut;-)

In closing I'll leave you with a few cards that feature retiring stamps!

 Medallion

 Clearly for you

 Falling leaves & grateful greetings

 Best friends forever

 Grunge rock

Ornate blossom

Hope you enjoyed the look back.  I bid some of my favorite stamps farewell!

Happy stamping!

Retro

Hi stampers!  I played along with the color challenge this week over at the Colour Q and whoa, was that one bright combo!!!!  It's really funky and retro!  And can I just take a moment to say how much I'm going to miss poppy parade!  I got on the poppy train a little late...I didn't love the color the first year it was out...but now I'm addicted!  I'm going to have a bit of a pitty party May 31 when we have to say goodbye:(  Speaking of saying goodbye...the retired stamp list will be out EARLY this year on April 15th!  Accessories will show up later on the 25th!  I'm VERY nervous to lose some of my favorites and SU has said to be ready...with the new catalog strategy the lists will be quite long!  GLUP!!!!!  So, be ready!!!!  Anyway, on to something fun!

The bright colors immediately had me thinking of the summer smooches suite since it's funky and bright!  And I have NOT used the stamp set enough since I bought it!  So I came up with this fun card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Bright blossoms, sweetly said, distressed dots
Paper:  Whisper white, basic black, pumpkin pie, lucky limeade, poppy parade (smooth & textured)
Ink:  Lucky limeade, poppy parade
Accessories:  Circle and scalloped circle punches, labels collection framelits, basic black polka dot scalloped ribbon, basic rhinestones

So, I guess even if I am a little sad about losing some things the NEW fun stuff will make up for it!  I have this set to look forward to sticking around and after seeing a few more sneak peeks this morning in our demo-only magazine I'm WAY excited!  I should have some sneak peeks for you on May 2 since I'll be next day airing my pre-order and took the 2nd off work, lol!  So be sure to check back!!!

Happy stamping!

Starting simple....

Hi stampers!  I haven't stamped too much lately.  I just cant seem to come up with any ideas....my mojo must be hiding somewhere.  I haven't even been inspired by many challenges lately either:-(  It's been a stressful couple of weeks and busy too around here so hopefully things will come around soon! 

I did sit down the other night and MADE myself come up with something!  I kept it pretty simple for obvious reasons and I think it worked somewhat!  I was able to stamp last night too!  So, I need to remember the next time I'm stuck to just do something simple!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Friendly phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, calypso coral, pool party, domestic goddess DSP
Ink:  Calypso coral
Accessories:  Decorative label punch, itty bitty punch pack, calypso coral ruffled ribbon, basic pearls

I just LOVE this print in the domestic goddess DSP!  It's so cute and fun!  I bought the paper to do a project and most of it just sits there!  So, I keep reminding myself I like it and need to pull it out more often!  The next print I want to use out of it is the cute gray sheet with little yellow flowers...anyway....

The punched flowers are fun too!  The way to get them to fold up like that is SUPER easy!  I simply punched them out and then laid them on top of my mat pack.  Then, I took my stylus from the simply scored and used one end to press down in the middle of the flower....and viola!  They fold up with perfect little petals!!!!

I'll be back tomorrow with a challenge card I managed to make! 

Happy stamping!

HSS 113

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  Time for another fun challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is all about mom!  It's never too early to start thinking about Mother's Day!  I already have a present for my mom and an idea for my mother-in-law:-)  I'm ahead of the game...for once!  And I have to say I love my momma!  We used to fight like cats and dogs when I was a teenager but I really do love her!  She's my mom AND one of my best friends...even though we DO drive each other nuts!  (Could that be because we are so ALIKE????  Haha)

So, for my project I took the theme quite literally and made a card that I thought my momma would like.  She LOVES bright colors and is especially fond of purples and blues like island indigo!  I tend to wear a lot of gray and neutrals in my wardrobe and it used to drive her nuts when she bought my clothes...she'd say "you need COLOR", lol!  So, when I bought a pair of bright turquoise pants last week I had to text her right away!  Haha!  She was so proud:-)  Now, don't ask what my husband thought of them...but what does he know about fashion, right? :-)  I knew the summer smooches suite would be right up her alley with all the fun and bright colors!

Anyway, I need to get this one in the mail because now that she moved away I like to send her cards and I haven't sent her one in a while! 

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Bright blossoms, family reunion

Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, rich razzleberry, island indigo, summer smooches DSP

Ink:  Island indigo, lucky limeade

Accessories:  Decorative label and circle punches, summer smooches fabric brads

Now, don't look at my little stamped leaf too close.  I think I have a faulty stamp and the image doesn't stamp real well.  I should probably call SU about that.  I have to say they are great about fixing any problems! 

My mom is a pretty simple person so I kept this card simple...but bright!  I know she'll like it!

How head on over and see what else the design team has come up with and meet our NEW members!  I'm so excited to have each and every one on board and see what they come up with each week!

And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

Shabby thanks

Hi stampers!  I hope you had a happy and blessed Easter!  We did...aside from too much food:-)  But what's new I guess, right?  At least we got in a run early this morning even though I was sore from step class yesterday and slow!  It might not have been the best idea to add a second set of risers to my step when I haven't done that in a while, lol!  Ouch!!!  It was so pretty out all day long though...even when it was chilly on our run!

I haven't done much stamping...just can't seem to come up with many good ideas lately!  Add in the holiday weekend and I didn't have much time either.  I did manage to get one cute card done though.  I'm trying to use more of my DSP from the occasions mini since this is it's last month.  Anyway, here's the card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Apothecary art, creative elements, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Very vanilla, pool party, poppy parade (textured), attic boutique DSP
Ink:  Staz-on, crumb cake, poppy parade, pool party, daffodil delight
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, basic pearls

I stamped off all of the elements on the label first and I'm thinking I could have done it twice with the poppy parade!   I also did a lot of sponging to make it a bit softer.

I also wanted to say a quick thanks to all my blog followers and those who leave comments:-)  I read each one and they really brighten my day!

Happy stamping!

Popping in

Hi stampers!  I've hoped to have more to share with you but it's just not happened:-)  While some of my time has gone missing (hehe, funny how that happens,no), my mojo has taken a hike as well.  I sit down at my desk but just can't get much to come about...even with sketches and challenges and what not!  So frustrating.  I HATE when what is supposed be my fun hobby and a stress RELIEF becomes a source of stress and frustration, ha!  Good thing I was able to channel my frustration with stamping and some other things into a hard 4 mile run Wednesday night and a tough turbokick class yesterday (oh my poor students, lol)!  I've been slacking in my workouts for the past few months too so it felt good to hit it hard two days in a row...now can I keep it up?:-) 

I did find a new challenge website the other day called Try Stampin On Tuesday and I really liked the sketch but I couldn't really get anything going with it.  But, even though the challenge was well over, I came back to it the other night and inspiration struck!  It totally sneaks up on me now and then:-)  I've also been having a lot of guilt over not using the majority of my DSP so I was determined to pull out my twitterpatted DSP!  We have less than a month left with all the fabulous papers from the occasions mini....I need to get my stamps in gear!!!!!  In fact, I've started a LIST of DSP that I must use, haha!  So, here's the card I came up with:

Stamps:  Raining flowers, loving thoughts
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, blushing bride, pool party, island indigo, 2011-2013 in color DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, blushing bride, pool party, island indigo
Accessories:  Blossom punch, itty bitty punch pack, triple blossom punch, edgelits and embossing folders, basic pearls, large pearls, in color printed brads
I'm really happy about how it turned out...which was surprising because I really didn't think I liked it all that much in the process!  I think it's a fun sketch and a happy little card!

Now, lets talk about the future a little.  Remember that the new catalog is coming out a month early this year!  So, for customers that's June 1.  For demos it's May 1 which means I'll have my hot little hands on new goodies on May 2:-D  I'm sad that one of my very favorite colors which I've used on this card is retiring.  Blushing bride will be no more after May:-(  However, I'm excited to see the five new colors!  I'm also hoping for more printed brads like the one used above!  I hope that blossom punch shows up too!  I bought it late in the season because I thought it would look cute with the summer smooches stuff!  Don't forget you can get that suite EARLY in the month of April!  The promo button is up and to the right!

I hope the large pearls come back as well.  Lots of things to be excited about!  What do YOU want to see or are scared of loosing?  Let me know in the comments!  It's fun to see people's thoughts and predictions!  I'm getting excited!!!!!

Happy stamping!

HSS 112

Hi stampers and happy Tuesday!  This week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a pretty color challenge for you!  I think color challenges are my favorite of  all the things we do!  I really like when I have to pair colors together that I normally wouldn't or when I find one that I really like!!!!

Take this challenge for example, I would probably never have paired up these color if left to my own devices but they are so pretty together!!!!

I kind of wanted to do another baby card with these (I know...I have baby fever) but thought I should probably give that a rest until we have news, lol!  We'll see how long THAT lasts:-)  I wasn't sure what kind of card this would end up being until I was done but I decided that field flowers would go good with the colors.  I HAD to have this set when the new catalog came out but I've only used it hand full of times if that.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Field flowers, petite pairs, parlor prints background
Paper:  Crumb cake, very vanilla, rich razzleberry, early espresso
Ink:  Crumb cake, early espresso, rich razzleberry, pretty in pink
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, linen embossing folder, pretty in pink taffeta ribbon

I think I should have stamped off the pink flower first as it seemed a bit bright but the purple toned it down a bit.  Lots of sponging here too and I'm kind of on a roll with parlor prints.  That's another one I got and then didn't use much!

Now head on over to HSS and check out the rest of the teams creations!

Happy stamping!

April fools......

.....a day late, ha!  Hi stampers!  I found something I had made with the summer smooches suite!  I totally forgot I had made this cute little purse using the petite purse die.  And I forgot to mention yesterday that this die is also part of the pre-order!  It's SOOOO cute!  I think this will make a cute little Easter favor this weekend!

Stampin' Supplies:
Paper:  Lucky limeade, daffodil delight, summer smooches DSP
Accessories:  Petite purse die, triple blossom punch, basic rhinestones, white gel pen, daffodil delight seam binding

I used a bit of the ribbon because scarves are all the rage on purses now, aren't they?  :-)  The seam binding is also part of the pre-order and it's SOOOO PRETTY!  And I have to say that my favorite thing to do with the little purse is faux stitching with the gel pen.  That tiny little detail adds so much pizazz to the purse!!!

Now I really do have to go come up with more ideas because this is the only one I had laying around:-)

Happy stamping!

Summer Smooches

Hi stampers!  It felt like summer today!  It was in the upper 80's here today!  And the warm weather was a great way to kick off the latest Stampin' Up! promotion.....SUMMER SMOOCHES.

You've seen a few projects here with the products and I'm sad to say I don't have anything to share today.  I was at my mom's for a baby shower so I didn't have any stampy time:-)  But I wanted to let you know that you can get these special pre-order products NOW!  All month long, you can get your hands on this suite which will be in the upcoming catalog!!!!! 

Now, the brads and the stencil are a limited time thing, available ONLY for the pre-order.  And the brads are fantastic!  Like a brocade type fabric!  And remember, this promo is only for the month of April.  If you miss out you'll have to wait until June to get your hands on the summer smooches stuff again (when the new catalog comes out...remember it's a month early this year....June)  You can see everything by clicking on the little button over there to the right and I'll leave you with a pretty picture of some of the goodies!  And I'll try to get some more projects done to post:-)

Happy stamping!