Using the New Colors

Oops, it's been over two weeks since I've posted. Got busy with life, I guess! :) But now I'm back to stamping - putting together another custom ELM Designs order (yay!!) and trying to make some samples with the NEW stuff.

I just put this together in a late night stamping frenzy. These are 3 of the 6 new colors that are now in our Core Collections: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist and Early Expresso. The more I use this Circle Circus set, the more I'm liking it. This particular flower one, is my favorite of the 10 stamps in the set! The words are taken from a set that is a Level 3 Hostess set in this 2010-2011 catalog.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Occasional Quotes

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Tools: 1" Circle punch, Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Word Window punch

Embellishments: 5/16" Jumbo Brads Neutrals in Whisper White

Coming & Going

First, this is sort of a "goodbye" to the current catalog. I like this Kind & Caring Thoughts stamp set - a current Hostess set that I am glad I preordered last summer when this catalog was coming out! Also, the paper and ribbon are Mellow Moss. Mellow Moss is a great green color that I never really used until now. I am working on an order for somewhat generic cards in greens, browns, white/ivory and purple. So I pulled out some of my unused greens and have come to like this one. I am a little disappointed there's no soft/elegant green to replace it. Oh well. (If YOU like this color or other colors on the retiring list you'd better act NOW.)

Supplies:

Stamps: Kind & Caring Thoughts

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

Ink: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

Embellishments: 3/8" Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon, Buttons Latte (Chocolate Chip), crochet thread

Tools: Scallop Edge punch

Next, we have a tribute to current and upcoming sets and colors. July 1st marks the date for ordering from the new catalog. This card used Wild Wasabi (green) which was a former In Color making a comeback and landing in our main color collections. Also, this showcases our purples that are hanging around - Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant. Perfect Plum is practically a perfect purple. :) However, some are quite disappointed to see the others: Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, Orchid Opulence, Pale Plum -- I think that's all of them -- head out the door never to return. (Again, you better order quickly if you want to stock up on these colors!) Anyway, I used 3 sets: Watercolor Trio (in our Summer Mini catalog) in the 1st and 3rd squares; Because I Care (a Level 1 Hostess set in the upcoming catalog) in the square furthest to the right); and the For All You Do butterfly. I love the texture on a background piece like this. It gives it some oomph in a simple, understated and easy way. The green square is from an old Patterns Pack. I love that it matches the images in the Texturz plate, but it can be switched out with a Wild Wasabi Designer Series Paper from the new catalog.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Watercolor Trio, For All You Do, Because I Care

Ink: Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Elegant Eggplant

Paper: Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi (cardstock and DSP), Whisper White

Embellishments: Brads Filigree

Tools: 1 1/4" Square punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plates: Backgrounds 4, butterfly was cut out with Paper Snips

Thanks for stopping at my blog today! Contact me by June 30th to place an order for the retiring items. Contact me after July 1st to order NEW stuff!

I just want to show some cards made with a few of the retiring sets - so you see what you'll be missing when they're gone!! There are a few other sets (which you could check out at splitcoaststampers) retiring that you might think twice about: Holly Jolly Christmas, Cute & Cuddly, Garden Whimsy, Four Square and Very Thankful. But different sets may stick out to you that I hardly glanced at. Just be sure to check the lists (see next post down) and claim you must-haves before they're unavailable!

Just Baseball, Sporting

A Little Birthday Cheer

A Little Birthday Cheer

Just Baseball, Sporting

Embrace Life

One of a Kind (flowers only)

Little Flowers

Bitty Birthday

Embrace Life

Embrace Life, One of a Kind

Little Flowers

Close as a Memory

Little Flowers

Just Baseball, Just Basketball, Just Football, Sporting

Just Football

I only titled with sets that are retiring. Other sets used are simply not noted!

Last Chance

It's June! In Stampin' Up! terms that means this is the month of last chances. Last chance stamps, last chance accessories and, this year, lots of last chance colors! Here are links to SU!'s website - way easier than listing and there's images! However, SU! online prices are higher **so read carefully regarding sale prices**...

LAST CHANCE STAMPS

LAST CHANCE PUNCHES - note that these 6 are retiring. They will be keeping all the other images, however ALL will be changed to the new punch style - a slimmer, easier to store punch as featured in the most recent mini catalogs.

LAST CHANCE PAPER - Sage Shadow cardstock is completely gone, except maybe some textured. Other colors are slipping away as well - Close to Cocoa, Only Orange, Lovely Lilac have either 12x12 or 8.5x11 out of stock already. If there is a color you really want, order quickly!!!

LAST CHANCE EMBELLISHMENTS

-------------------WHEELS

-------------------RIBBONS

-------------------SIZZIX Big Shot Items

Designer Series Paper at 25% off ----- $7.46

Cottage Wall

Merry Moments

Cast-a-Spell

Tall Tales

Razzleberry Lemonade

Tea Party

Ribbons and Embellishments at 25-50% off

Real Red 3/4" Polka Dot grosgrain-----------$4.48

Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain---$6.71

Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain-------$6.71

Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain--------------$5.96

Pretty in Pink 1/3" striped grosgrain--------$5.96

So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain-------------$5.96

Circle Designer brads----------$2.98

Star Designer brads------------$2.98

Flower Asst. Designer brads--$5.21

1/2" Library Clips --------------$3.48

Basic Jumbo Grommets--------$3.48

Basic Small grommets ---------$3.48

Antique Brass build-a-brad----$7.46

Basic Gray corduroy buttons-------$4.98

Chocolate Chip corduroy buttons--$4.98

Kraft corduroy buttons--------------$7.46

Pumpkin Pie corduroy buttons-----$7.46

Summer Sun corduroy buttons-----$7.46

Sherbet Designer buttons-----------$3.98

Playground Designer buttons-------$3.98

Button Latte Designer buttons-----$5.96

Sweet Sticky Cuts------$6.71

(find all the above listed SALE items here or here)

** Some current In Color items 25% - 50% off **

In Color Markers pack--------$13.46

In Color Cardstock 8.5x11----$5.96

In Color textured 12x12-------$8.96

In Color textured 8.5x11------$5.48

Bermuda Bay 8.5x11-----------$2.75

Crushed Curry 8.5x11----------$2.75

Dusty Durango 8.5x11---------$4.13

Bermuda Bay classic pad------$4.46

Bermuda Bay ink refill--------$2.21

Crushed Curry pad ------------$4.46

Dusty Durango pad------------$4.46

Party Kits 50% off - Princess and Pirate themes - $7.98

Punching my Way Back

Well, I've been a little busy lately. Aren't we all?! But, finally, I'm posting again.

This card uses "punch art." Making something out of punches. What could be more fitting for a little boy card than a piece of machinery? This is the punch art version of an excavator. Also, this is a regular card - the card front is the green and brown, the card back is the blue with the title. This is mostly computer printed. I put my full sheets of blue in the printer to put the party info on the right hand side; cut the card stock sheet in half length-wise; folded those in half; traced the hills onto the front and hand cut them, allowing the view of the title on the inside piece. The green and brown hills were also hand-cut and then adhered to the front. The piece along the bottom: also computer-printed "Here's the" several times onto one sheet of card stock. Then cut the sheet into strips according to the placement of the phrase; I had the words closer to the bottom of 1 1/4" strips so that when I punched the scalloped edge, it would almost be in the middle!

Supplies

Stamp Sets: Rough Type (clear mount)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper: Garden Green textured, Close to Cocoa smooth & textured, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Basic Black

Accessories:

Tools: Punches: Scallop Edge, Tag (cab), Word Window (tred), 1/4" square (windows), 5 Petal Flower, snipped (bucket) --the arm is simply small skinny strips of paper

elm Custom Cards

So, as some of you know, I've decided to expand my "business" into selling custom cards. A couple years ago I did custom Christmas party invitations for a friend at church and enjoyed it very much. Recently, the desire to do more of that has grown. So, I came up with a logo and already put together a custom order! 45 birthday party invitations for a coworker, pictured and described below. Spread the word - I have business cards or simply refer people to this website where one could email me by clicking on "Email Me" at the top! :)

Amber looked through my Splitcoast gallery -where ALL of my cards are posted- and found a layout similar to this where the Top Note was simply cut in half and adhered to the card front. She asked if they were like flaps that opened and I thought that was a great idea... The smaller piece in the picture is the size of a regular card, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". The chocolate colored pieces are cut from the Top Note die in the Big Shot and are folded over the sides. They open and the info is printed (via computer printer) on the pink piece. The larger one she requested to post at work on our board, as many do for events like this, rather than send each coworker an invitation.

After she gave me color preferences, this came together pretty easily. Although I have to thank a few close fellow stampers who let me trade them for the pink paper - it's not a color I really use so I don't keep it on-hand but I didn't have enough time to order it!

Stamps: Hugs & Wishes ("You're Invited"), Look Who's Turning (party hat)

Paper: Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Top Note die, Texturz plates Backgrounds #4, Big Shot, Modern Label punch, dimensionals, ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Happy May Day! Happy National Scrapbooking Day! May is National Scrapbooking month. Stampin' Up!, of course, has a special to help you celebrate appropriately. :)

If you've been eyeing any of these sets from the big catalog: Extreme Elements, Framed with Love, Certified or Circle Circus... If you've received the Summer Mini and any of these sets caught your eye: Elements of Style, Momentos, Rough Type (the alphabet set used with the M&M card below!), Sentimental Journey or First Day... NOW is the time to buy! When you purchase of any one of these sets, you receive a set of Designer brads FREE ($5.95 value).

I'll soon be posting pictures of projects with the Circle Circus and another with Rough Type so come back to see them if you're on the fence about one of those sets.

If you did not receive a Summer Mini and you want one - let me know, I'll do my best to get one to you OR click the link along the right hand side.