Archives for May 2010

Scrapbook Night!

Here is one of the layouts that will be available for Scrapbook night this Thursday at the community center. You can choose your own title and the eggs could be replaced with punched stars or flowers or another stamped image to suit your pictures. The cost for this layout is $8.50. This is a close up of the eggs, they are covered with micro-beads. Sparkly and pretty.

See two other available layouts here and here. I will be posting another layout this evening or in the morning. Hope you get to attend. Please RSVP if you haven’t already. Remember, you bring your own supplies and there is no structured class. I will bring the supplies for any of the kits if requested by 10:00 AM on Thursday.

Pedaling Past

pedaling past

 

Doesn’t this set just make you long to be outside with the wind in your hair? So nostalgic and fun. I think I owned this bike, except I think mine was blue, but that wouldn’t have worked with this fun color combo I had going! Love the border from this set and we turned the piece sideways to emboss just the upper part of the card stock. Easy and fun!

 

Stampin’ Stuff

 

Stamps:  Pedaling Past

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Going Gray and Rich Razzleberry classic inks and markers, Black StazOn Ink

Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Whisper White card stock

Fun Stuff:  Square Lattice textured impressions folder, Big Shot, Oval dies

 

Since we can’t ride bikes in the rain and tornadoes, go stamp something!

Totally Tools

Totally Tools

 

When I originally made this card, I had Father’s Day in mind. This weekend I realized it would work very well for another event. My nephew is getting married, and he and his lovely bride to be had a couples shower on Saturday. He was registered at Home Depot (they are building a new home). Perfect, right?! I have something more “girly” planned for her as a wedding gift, but for this event, I couldn’t resist. That is what I love about stamping, you can personalize anything and make  the perfect card for any event or situation that comes along!

 

Stampin’ Stuff
Stamps: Totally Tools
Ink: StazOn Ink, Going Gray Classic Ink and blender pen, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Markers
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock and Sweet Pea DSP
Fun Stuff: Photo Corners punch, pop dots, paper snips

 

 

13 days and 8 hours till I can download the Last Chance list and new catalog sneak peeks!!

Spring!

season of friendship

 

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful spring weekend! If the weather is a little dreary where you are, maybe this card will bring a little spring cheer.

 

Well, it is official! I am not talking about spring. I have been so busy, it’s a little late in coming, but I picked up my catalog the other day and thought about how close we were to seeing the retiring list. Then the flittering butterflies started in my stomach and that wave of New Catalog anticipation took over! Only two more weeks till we see the retiring list and a few catalog sneak peeks! Then the month long count down to the new catalog. I can’t wait to see all the new goodies…..I’ll just have to day dream till it gets here!

 

We made this card at stamp camp on Thursday. I love all the texture on this one, it just screams spring!

 

Stampin’ Stuff
Stamps: Season of Friendship
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Whisper White card stock
Fun Stuff: Trio Flower Punch, Polka Dot Textured impressions folder, Top Note Die and Big Shot, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Green bead duo

True Friend

true friend

 

Hello! Today’s card is another that is a work in progress from a challenge and workshop idea. I say a work in progress, because I keep wanting to do “a little more” with the sentiment. “A little more” is usually where I go wrong on a card, so you may or may not see another version of this card sometime! I used a fun little set called True Friend and the border from Pennant Park. I just love these border stamps!

 

Stampin’ Stuff
Stamps: True Friend and Pennant Park
Ink: Real Red and Tempting Turquoise classic inks
Paper: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White card stock
Fun Stuff: 1 1/4 Square Punch, 1 3/8 Square Punch, Large Oval Punch, Red Satin Ribbon

 

Have a great Stampin’ Day!

Dreams Du Jour

Dreams Du Jour

 

I was playing with a workshop idea and a couple of challenges with this card. My lack of photography skills are showing, I just can’t get a Kraft card to look right! By the way, if you are wondering where the Kraft card stock is on the new color charts, Kraft is now called Crumb Cake. So, it’s still there!

 

Stampin Stuff

Stamps:  Dreams Du Jour

Inks:   Real Red

Paper: Real Red, Kraft, Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip Card Stock

Fun Stuff:   1 1/4 Square Punch,1 3/8 Square Punch, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Sponge

 

 

I hope you get to stamp today!

 

Color Commotion

With the big color renovation coming in the new catalog, I thought I would post some information on the upcoming changes and then some color tips and ideas about color and inks in general.

 

new colors

 

Place your order for retiring colors as soon as possible!

First, some information about the transition to the new color groupings and deadlines to order. If you are planning on stocking up on specific colors before they retire, you should place your order as soon as possible. Stampin’ Up had intended to place the retiring colors on a first come, first served basis after May 31st, but demand for the retiring colors has been much higher than previous retirements and so the paper inventory could be depleted much sooner than expected. Ink refills can be back ordered and so those will be available till the end of May and then orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis as all other retiring, non stamp items will be. They will fill orders for paper as long as possible, substituting textured card stocks as colors run out. To order new inventories now, will interfere with the manufacturing of the new colors and so they have had to move up the out of stock deadline on the paper.

 

Updating your current color sets

Some of you may be wondering about how you will update your current color sets to the new color groups. Stampin’ Up! will be offering several kits that will update your existing color sets to the new color groupings. For instance, if you have the current Many Marvelous Marker set with all 48 colors, you will have the opportunity to purchase a kit that will include all of the new colors and returning In Colors as well as a new insert for your marker case. If you have the chalks or watercolor crayons, you will be able to purchase a kit that will have the new colors and new cases to contain them. All of our current color products will have update kits available for those who wish to update their color collections.

 

Some things to consider about the retiring colors

To stock up or not? On the one hand, you have already invested in pads and paper to match and now those colors will no longer be available. Should you stock up on everything or just use it up and replace it with the new colors eventually?

 

First, consider why we are making this renovation. Many of the colors were just not popular, at all and often there were many variations of one color and some were just never as popular as others. Many are very outdated. Take the Bold Bright collection, for instance. Most of those colors are going away, but there will still be a similar color, in an updated version. Originally, I thought I would stock up on these. I needed my Sesame Street Colors! But I soon realized that the colors replacing these will work very well, they are just more vibrant and current versions of those colors. Pacific Point is perfect for Cookie Monster and Daffodil delight will be closer for Big Bird (less neon)!

 

There are a couple of options here. You could purchase an ink refill and a couple of packs of paper, to make your investment last as long as possible or you could just use up your current supplies and replace them with the updated color when they run out. If you have a lot of paper, you may want to purchase a re-inker for your pad, so that you will have ink to match while you use it up.

 

In the instance where colors are very close in values, there is the option of using up the current color and then rinsing the pad thoroughly, letting it dry and inking it with the new color that is close to it. YoYo yellow could be transitioned  to the new Daffodil color for instance. Mellow Moss could be transitioned to Sahara Sand or River Rock.

 

If you love purples, in particular lighter variations, you probably would want to stock up on a re-inker and paper. For this catalog season anyway, there won’t be a light purple in the mix. You may also want to look at whether there is a color that remains that is similar to the color going away and transition to that. Also consider that your existing colors of pads may still co-ordinate with current papers, even if they do not match exactly.

 

Keep in mind that the new colors are gorgeous, and very up to date and trendy, so you will find plenty of new colors to fall in love with. But if a color is going away that you love, love, love, by all means pick up a re-inker and a couple of paper packs so you won’t be kicking yourself later.

 

My favorite color tips

  • Buy the Ink refill when you purchase the pad. There is nothing more frustrating than opening a pad you haven’t used in a while and realizing that it needs to be re-inked and now you have to place an order for 1 bottle of ink and wait for it to arrive.
  • As I mentioned earlier, don’t throw away retired pads. Re-ink them with a color that is similar.
  • Don’t feel you have to own all 40 colors! The new configuration co-ordinates better across all 4 groups, so choose the colors you love and make your own favorite groupings. Remember that we will have new In Colors introduced each year and those colors will be available for two years, so there will be plenty of opportunities to update your palette and keep it current and fresh.
  • Vary your color choices, invest in full size pads in colors you will use frequently and in spots or markers and re-inkers for those you use less often.
  • Use Ink refills to create your own pads (baby wipe technique), extend the life of your markers, water color images, etc.

 

Here is a sneak peek at the new colors!

It’s hard to get the exact colors in a photo, so I have shown a comparison to some of the other colors. I think you will see that the new colors are a gorgeous improvement and work so much better with  colors across the color groupings. Enjoy!

 

*returning In Colors

**retiring colors

 

cajun craze

 

early expresso

 

daffodil delight

 

cherry cobbler

 

marina mist

Medallion

Medallion

 

This is a fairly simple card that features the Medallion stamp set and the new Lattice impressions folder. I love these folders, such a wonderful way to add texture to your projects. This new folder has a neat design and I actually like it on both sides! I reversed it on this card so that the sentiment would show up a little better.

 

Stampin’ Stuff
Stamps: Medallion and Thoughts and Prayers
Inks: Basic Gray and Sahara Sand Classic Inks
Paper: Basic Gray, Sahara Sand and Whisper White card stock
Fun Stuff: Big Shot and Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder, Basic Gray satin ribbon, Pretties Kit