Designer Paper Not Only For Scrapbooks!

While catching up on my scrapping, I came across a pack of retired SU Designer paper, Sweet Always. I cut the lower left-hand section of one of the papers as I thought this little bird would make an awfully cute card. I matted that on Cherry Cobbler cardstock and adhered to the Pink Pirouette card base. In anticipation of the new rhinestone and pearl embellishments from SU, I used rhinestones and pearls that I had purchased at Michaels a while back. This is a great all-occasion card and a great way to use up scraps of any patterned paper you may have. THIS IS A SIDE NOTE TO ANY FORMER SU! DEMOS: Beginning July 1st, former demos can rejoin SU for $35. The starter kit will include business supplies, such as catalogs, order forms, etc., but no stamp supplies. The great thing about this offer is that you will get that 30% off your first order. What a way to stock up on the new cardstock, ink, stamps and embellishments. Enjoy your day!

Giveaway!

To celebrate their new Fall releases, Denami Designs is having a great giveaway! Head over to www.denami.blogspot.com to read all about it.

The new catalog begins on July 1st and as I was going thru it--again--I realized that I have many SU products that I have hardly used. Even though there are a number of items I want in the new catalog, I have decided that for now, I am going to focus on the new colors and embellishments before adding to my stamp collection. That being said, in this post I want to share a card I made for a special customer and friend in Texas. This card was created using all SU products starting with the card base which is one of the new In Colors, Pear Pizzaz. The stamp set is Asian Artistry, a hostess set that will be retiring in just 2 days. I inked it using my markers: Pear Pizzaz, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue and Peach Parfait. The sentiment is from a new Level 1 hostess set, Because I Care--which was a gift from SU. I used my Scallop Trim Border Punch, a texture plate and ribbon to complete it. Earlier I mentioned that I would be focusing on new colors and embellishments. Well, my first order from the new cattie is going to be In color ink pads and the new rhinestone jewels and half-back pearls. Add these items to the new cardstock and markers I was already able to preorder and receive, my cards will look brand new--regardless of the fact that I will be using carry-over stamp sets. Have a great day!

My Birthday!

Today was a wonderful day spent with my husband, children, son-in-law and granddaughter. We all met for late lunch/early dinner at Maggiano's, a favorite restaurant of mine. Needless to say, Sydney needed to sit between her grandpa and "the birthday girl"! She is just so cute--if you knew her, you would agree. We then went to our daughter and son-in-law's house in Schaumburg where Jen and Syd decorated the dining room with balloons and streamers. And we had cupcakes! Not just any cupcakes, but cupcakes from Whole Foods. Whole Foods recently opened near their house and Jen and I went to the grand opening to check it out. I love cupcakes--all kinds of cupcakes. So while we were at Whole Foods, I just had to buy and eat some and then mentioned they were the best I ever had. Well, Sydney couldn't be more excited that they surprised me with the best cupcakes ever from Whole Foods as my birthday cake--yummy! My hubby gave me a FLIP!!! I have been wanting one for a while and now that I have it, one of these days I just might post a video here on my blog--well, I first have to learn to use the FLIP and then I have to learn video skills! So it might be a while! The card I posted is the one my daughter, Jen, made for me. The stamp set is from CTMH and the ink and cardstock from SU! The detail is beautiful as is my daughter. I am such a blessed person! I have a wonderful family and I am so proud of all of them. On days like my birthday, I really wish my mom and brothers lived closer. But they all called this morning and of course my brothers had to remind me that I was REALLY pushing 60 now, so I had better enjoy this year. And on that note, I will say good night.

Happy Birthday Card

Once again I am using a Quickutz die--the only one I own--for this card. The black pattern paper I purchased from a local scrapbook store a few weeks back. I happened to stop at the store to do a little window shopping and this paper jumped out at me. The minute I saw it, I thought to myself, "This would be so pretty with Pink Pirouette and the new Cherry Cobbler SU cardstock." And sure enough, I love the color combination. Next time I will use the Cherry Cobbler. Due to the thickness of the bow, this card will definitely require extra postage, but it will be well worth it. Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time.

Denami Challenge

Mention tropical and you get my attention! When I read that the newest Denami challenge was to make a project with a tropical or summer theme, I got right on it. I used Denami's Palm Tree silhouette stamp and Watermelon Sampler paper to create my two page 12x12 layout. I then used my Cricut and the Life's A Beach cartridge to make the palm trees on the second page of the layout.

Once completed, it still needed a little something. So using matching ink I stamped on the solid background cardstock using Denami's small palm tree stamp. That added a little texture that is a definite plus here. Maybe this will be a winner!

Red, White & Blue

The Cricut girls were here on Sunday and at last month's meeting we decided that we would have a challenge. We did not have to participate, but four of us did. The challenge was to create a red, white & blue layout with a 4th of July theme. With a little help from my Cricut, I was able to create this two-page layout. I did not win the challenge, but I am very pleased with the way it all came together. Now I just need some 4th of July photos and it will be perfect! Happy Friday!

Wedding Card

We will be attending a wedding tomorrow evening and here's the card for the bride and groom. I used the Blissful Bride stamp set from the summer mini catalog together with Elegant Eggplant card stock and ink & shimmery white cardstock. The texture plate I used on the shimmery white adds elegance. I added a couple of little half pearls on the flowers after coloring in the sash with the Elegant Eggplant marker. For some reason, this set just called my name each time I looked thru the mini, so I did purchase it. Don't know how much I will really use it, but it is a beautiful stamp set. Does anyone need a stamped wedding dress image? Enjoy the day.

Denami Product Challenge

In order to participate in this challenge, we were able to download a Denami favor template of our choice and go with it. I chose the gift card purse and then for a week I wondered what I was going to do with it! Well, the challenge ends tomorrow, so I put my plan into action. Actually, it is totally different from my original plan, but that's okay. I think the Watermelon Sampler Paper and the party hat from the Party Time stamp set is adorable. I cut two little scallop circles using my Cricut, stamped the little party hat and added white Sparklets. For the purse handle I braided pink and green grosgrain ribbon and my entry was complete. I'll let you all know if I win!

Where's My Color Chart?

I was going over previous posts on my blog and I must have mistakenly deleted the post that had the color chart I created. When I received my new SU products and started playing with my new things, I was mixing up Certainly Celery with Pear Pizazz and Tangerine Tango with Pumpkin Pie. I made this reference chart to keep on my island to avoid confusion while working with both old and new colors included in the new Color Renovation. I love Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler and Peach Parfait. What are your favorites?

Such A Nice Day!

I had such a nice day today! My daughter, my friend and I took a class at Archivers and then had a relaxing lunch at the Creperie in Algonquin. The class was the Colorful Creations Card Workshop, a class that when we first read about it last month, my daughter and I talked about attending. My friend, Regina, had sent me an email about the class and I told her that Jen and I were going and asked if she wanted to join us. So we all met at the store this morning and got to work. The class revolved around Glimmer Mist, which is a spray that leaves a shimmery look to whatever you spray with it--including the table! When the workshop started and I was spraying the Glimmer Mist, I was not very impressed. It was puddling on the cardstock, making splotches and generally not something I would want to use again. Well, once I got the hang of it and we were given a bottle of Glimmer Mist that sprayed properly, we were able to make 4 pretty cards. The "thinking of you" card was my favorite of the 4 we created and was made using Lily Pad & Turquoise Blue Glimmer Paint, Versa Mark and clear embossing powder. This "Thanks" card I made when I got home using SU supplies. I used a shimmer spray that I made by combining SU's White Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol. I achieved the multi-colored background by sponging Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery on white cardstock and then spraying that with my homemade Shimmer Mist. I then inked up the stamp from Upsy Daisy using the same two colors and after stamping the image, I sprayed that with my Shimmer Mist. The next time I try this technique, I will add a couple of drops of reinkers to the rubbing alcohol and Shimmer Paint mixture. I think that by doing that, I will get the deep color that was achieved using the Glimmer Mist on the first card. The background on that first card was almost saturated using the Glimmer Mist and then set aside to dry. Now that I am home and have tried to make a couple of cards using some of the techniques we used at Archivers, I sure wish I would have invested in a couple of bottles of the Glimmer Mist. Oh well, next time I am up that way, I will be adding to my stamping supplies!

Tangerine Tango

Happy Friday! I was sorting my stamp sets, keeping current sets within easy reach and came across Asian Artistry. Asian Artistry is a Level 2 hostess set in the current catalog, so I wanted to create and post a card before adding it to my "retired" collection. Tangerine Tango and Summer Sun cardstock makes for a "summery" combination and the new Daffodil Delight ribbon adds a little something to it. I am looking forward to being able to purchase other Daffodil Delight ribbon when the new catalog goes live on July 1st--and there will be quite a few ribbon styles in Daffodil Delight to choose from. As a matter of fact, there will be many ribbons to choose from in all the new colors. And I love ribbon! Have a great day.

Another SU Update

If anyone is ordering carry-over colors, just want you to be aware that as the current configurations of cardstock packs deplete, the colors might be on back order or you will be able to get that color in the new configurations. For example, now that the old configuration of Basic Black cardstock is depleted, if you wanted to stock up on Basic Black cardstock which was packed 40 sheets to a pack for $7.50, you will instead be ordering and receiving 24 sheets to a pack at the new price of $6.95. If you were ordering smooth Basic Black cardstock in 12x12 size for $7.50, you will now be ordering and receiving 12 sheets of cardstock--6 smooth and 6 textured at the new price of $6.95. This was just posted and I feel that you should know, too.

50 Years!

We have been invited to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of friends of ours. I wanted to make a special card for this couple and here is a photo of it. I used Shimmery White & Brushed Gold cardstock, together with the Hearts embosslit die, heart punch and texture plates. The "50" was cut with my Cricut. I have not used the Heart Embosslit for a while and when I did, I again was thinking that purchasing this particular die is definitely a purchase I do not regret. This and the Beautiful Wings embosslit are two very versatile diecuts. The good news~~they are both in the new catalog! Have a great day and find yourself a little scrappin' or stampin' time.

I wanted to participate in a challenge at Amuse, but since I have very few Amuse stamps, I am once again using my cute little skunk and greeting stamps. The challenge was to not have layers. Using one of my Nestie dies and Big Shot to create a window on the front of the card, I then stamped the skunk and saying in the center of the window--of course with a little help from my Stamp-a-ma-jig. I stamped on the card front using one of my flower stamps from Stampin' Up, added a round paper clip with a couple of bows tied on it and there you have it--my entry for the challenge. AND, it is not blue!

Shades of Blue

As I continue to play with my new SU stuff, I found myself using the color blue--again! Using a circle from the Circle Circus stamp set (also in the new IB&C), I first embossed it with black embossing powder and then colored it in using Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze and Pacific Point. (As I was coloring it, I was reminded me of art that my sister and I used to do. We would draw an abstract form on a sheet of paper and then color in each section in a different color.) Using varying punches, I matted the "stained glass" circle on Pacific Blue, Bashful Blue and then a Marina Mist scallop circle. I popped an eyelet in the center of the circle and adhered it to Bashful Blue cardstock. I matted that with Pacific Point and Whisper White, using my scallop border punch on the bottom of the white. The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations, which is being carried over into the new catalog. And I am very happy about that as I use this particular stamp set very often. The next card I post, will not have any blue in it! Time to move on to a different color. Have a wonderful Sunday.

I have been playing with my new cardstock and have a couple of favorites: favorite new "core color" is Marina Mist; favorite new "In color" is Peach Parfait. As a demonstrator, I was able to purchase the new In color markers, but the stamp pads were not yet available. I wanted to make a card using new cardstock colors and ink, so I chose a stamp set that would be easy to color using the new markers. In addition to my two new favorite colors, I used Pear Pizazz, another new In color. The color combination is so pretty. The new Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon was the finishing touch. As disappointed as I am with the cardstock price increases and reconfigurations of cardstock packaging, I will say that the new Idea Book and Catalog is very pretty. The project samples in the cattie are gorgeous and there are some new stamp sets that I am eyeing. Check back for more projects I make using "new stuff".

New SU Idea Book & Catalog

I am waiting for the arrival of the UPS man. Today I should be receiving my new cattie together with some of the new cardstock and markers I was able to preorder. With a new catalog comes many new and exciting things, but there is also change. At this point, I am suggesting to all who read my blog that you might want to place an order for your favorite cardstock (8.5x11 and 12x12)in the colors that will carry over to the new IB&C prior to June 30th. If you have a demonstrator, contact her for details. If not, you can always contact me or use the SU demonstrator locator to find a demo in your area. Have a great day!

Thinking of You

Yesterday I placed an order for cardstock and markers in the new Stampin' Up colors that you will be able to purchase come July 1st when the new catalog goes live. I ordered only one stamp set and that is from the Summer Mini Catalog and not one that will be in the new catalog--at least I don't think it will be. As soon as my order arrives, I will use new cardstock and the new stamp set for a card that I will post here. While I wait for my new toys and my copy of the new catalog, I decided to make a card using Marina Mist and an old and retired SU stamp set. The Marina Mist is a very pretty shade of blue that I will be using often. Happy stampin!

Retired Stampin' Up Lists!

It is that time of the year again. Some products will be retiring to make way for the new! Click the following link, which will take you to the home page of my SU website, to see if any of the favorite SU! items you wanted but never bought will soon be retired! Click on "Products", then "Shop Now" and then "Last Chance Products". Please remember that many of the products are while supplies last.