A Charming Farewell

This adorable little set is on the retiring list and will no longer be available after May 31st.  Charming was originally marketed to coordinate with Stanpin' Up!'s Simply Adorned jewelry line.  However, it is a great set for adding little details to a scrapbook page or even being center stage on a card.

The patterned paper for the focal point is from the Beau Chateau DSP.  I stamped the script image from Charming in Early Espresso.  I didn't want it to be to dark or bold so I just barely touched it to the page.  The flower was colored with Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz markers.  The Pear Pizzazz mat behind the flower is from the 2010-2012 In-Color Patterns Designer Paper Hostess Pack, which is currently on the Clearance Rack (while supplies last).

All of the cardstock/paper pieces' edges were sponged with their respective ink colors.  The focal point was first sponged with Blushing Bride and then lightly sponged with Early Espresso.

I didn't want to use just a plain rectangle for the word Create, but I didn't have a punch that would make the right size decorative piece needed.  So I created my own...

Cut a strip of paper just a hair less than 5/8" of an inch wide.   Stamp the word or phrase of your choice.  Turn the Modern Label Punch upside down and place the strip of paper through the punch from the "top"

Like this...

Line up the paper, and then punch.

For the other side, place the strip of paper through the punch from the side making sure that the image is pointing up out of the punch.

Again, line up your paper and then punch.

Viola!

I added some small pearls and then popped it up on dimensionals.  You can use this same punching technique to make a longer label too.

Stamps: Charming (retiring)
Paper: Blushing Bride (retiring), Early Espresso Textured (textured cardstock is retiring), Pear Pizzazz Belle Chateau DSP (retiring), 2010-2012 In-Color Patterns Designer Paper Hostess Pack (retired, but currently in Clearance Rack) (retiring),
Ink: Blushing Bride Pad and Marker (retiring), Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz Pad and Marker (retiring)
Misc.: Modern Label Punch, Basic Pearls, Pear Pizzazz Pleated Ribbon (retiring), Dimensionals, Sponges

Have a great day!

Retirement Showcase

I don't know about you, but I tend to keep many of my stamp sets and supplies even after they retire.  Sometimes though, they do get shoved to the back of the shelves and not used very often.  So I thought I would show some love to the retiring sets and products this month for a little inspiration.

I am kicking myself  a bit over not purchasing this set sooner; I just purchased it from the retiring list. Although Awash with Flowers is not my typical style, I really like how this card turned out. This is a two-step stamping set and was really easy to use with the cling mount stamps.  You can use the Stamp-a-ma-jig if you have the wood mount to help with alignment.


All the stems and flower outlines were stamped in Basic Black.  I first stamped the stems for the larger flowers and the stem with the buds.  Next came the three large flowers.  I then filled in the space with the two smaller flowers along the bottom.  I drew in the stems for the flowers along the bottom with the Black Stampin' Write Marker.  Once the outlines were done, I simply went back in with the solid stamps and color.


"Hello" is stamped in Poppy Parade and is from Elementary Elegance (SAB set).  I used the small oval punch on it and also punched an oval in Daffodil Delight to mat it.  I raised the sentiment on dimensionals to give the card a little depth.

Stamps: Awash with Flowers (retiring), Elementary Elegance (SAB)
Paper: Poppy Parade (retiring), Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Poppy Parade (retiring)
Misc.: Small Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Wisteria is such a pretty color and it goes wonderfully with Concord Crush.  I love purples so I am sad that Concord Crush is retiring.  This was a very quick and easy card and could be given to either a female or male.  

I colored an image from Pocket Silhouettes (retiring) with Stampin' Write Markers in Wisteria Wonder and Pear Pizzazz and then matted that on Pear Pizzazz.  After attaching a tab with the sentiment, created using the Round Tab Punch (retiring), I mounted the entire piece on Concord Crush and used dimensionals to place it on the card.  The sentiment is also from Pocket Silhouettes; I used the Concord Crush marker to color just the word friend.


Only a few select colors of Stampin' Write Markers will be available for individual purchase in the new catalog June 1st. [We don't know which ones yet. :)]  However, all current SU colors of the markers will be available for purchase in color assortment packs.


Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (retiring)
Paper: Concord Crush (retiring), Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin' Write Markers in Concord Crush (retiring), Pear Pizzazz (retiring) and Wisteria Wonder.
Misc.: Round Tab Punch (retiring), Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon (retiring), Dimensionals

This wasn't where I was going with this card when I started and I am not sure that I totally love the layout;   but, I do like the flocal point of the pear from Faith in Nature.  It is a Hostess set that will be retiring at the end of this month.  You can earn it for free with a qualifying workshop or purchase.


I stamped the pear in Versamark on Crumb Cake and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Once that was cool I used a sponge to "rub in" the Pear Pizzazz ink around the image.  Once I had the coverage I wanted, I took a paper towel to wipe off any ink on the embossing.  I attached a Mini Library Clip (retiring) tied with Hemp Twine (retiring) and then mounted the image on alternating pieces of Crumb Cake and Not Quite Navy Textured card stock.  The 12 x 12 textured card stock is retiring, so if you like it as much as I do, stock up while it is still available.


Each of the mat pieces was torn at the bottom and then inked for some depth.  I used Pear Pizzazz on the Crumb Cake pieces to coordinate with the focal point.

Stamps: Faith in Nature
Paper: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy Textured (textured is retiring)
Ink: Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Not Quite Navy Craft (Craft inks are retiring), Versamark
Misc.: Mini Library Clips (retiring), Natural Hemp Twine (retiring), White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponges

You can see all the retiring stamp sets and accessories HERE.  Stamp sets are available to purchase through May 31st.  Retiring accessories are only available while supplies last, some are even discounted, so don't miss out!

Make it a great day!

Something Old, Something New........

Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

Nope, this isn't a wedding card, but the saying really fits.
The something old is the Bird w/Leaves Bigz Die that will be retiring as of July 1st. This die has wonderful little components that can be used together or individually. Although I haven't used it extensively, I'm kind of sad to see it go.

Something new would be the Marina Mist cardstock I used for the bird, the Early Espresso cardstock for the mats and the Presto Patterns paper that is available in the Summer Mini. There is also a little Sneak Peak...the sentiment is from the new Level 1 Hostess set, Because I Care.

The Presto Patterns paper is so cool! There are 6 different patterns that are begging to be colored. (You can also leave them white for a nice tone on tone effect.) Each of the patterns is embossed onto the paper, so when you apply color the patterns resist the color and stand out. I don't have any of the new ink colors yet, so I had to play around a bit. I was able to get pretty close to Marina Mist by first misting the paper lightly with water and then brayering with Bashful Blue and then Baja Breeze, which is a returning In-Color. By misting the paper, the colors blended nicely.

Something Borrowed? Well, that would be the pearls, I had to borrow them from an old sample, as I didn't have enough for this card. My order will hopefully be here next week. :) The pearls are included in the SU Pretties Kit. This kit is being reconfigured for the new catalog and some of the items in the kit will no longer be available. So if you want it the way it is, order now!

And of course the obvious, Something Blue, would be the bird and the color scheme for the Presto Patterns paper. I love the new Marina Mist color. I have a feeling that I will be using it almost as much as Razzleberry. :) I ran the bluebird through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder to give him a little more pizazz and then sponged some Baja Breeze over him.

Here is an older card I made using the Bird w/Leaves Die.

The card base is a transparency. The bird and individual components are adhered to the front of the card, while the cardstock is adhered on the inside front of the card to hide all the adhesive.


Enjoy!

Masculine Stars

This was one of the swaps I made for the Milwaukee Regional a couple of months ago. Yeah, I'm a bit behind on posting. :)

I don't make a lot of masculine cards, so I struggled with this a bit. I think this was like the 4th or 5th version of the card, but I like the way it turned out. I sponged all the layers and stars with coordinating inks. I even sponged the twill tape with some Sahara Sand.

One of the flowers in Little Flowers looks kind of like a star, so I colored that with the Artichoke and Chocolate Markers and then stamped it on Very Vanilla cardstock. I punched it out and added it to the build a brad and then put it through the large star and around the twill tape to help create a focal point.

Stamps: Little Flowers, Smarty Pants
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow (retiring), Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, To The Nines DSP (most likely retiring).
Ink: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip Markers
Accessories: Small and Large Star Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Twill Tape, Build-a-Brad, Sponges, Dimensionals


Enjoy!