June, where have you gone???

I've been a very bad blogger this month! Not sure where the time has gone, except maybe to the gardens, the kids, the house, the grocery shopping--you know how that is!

I have been working in my stamp room! We had a catalog retirement party this week, and made this Father's Day card:

It's based on a card in the Stampin Success magazine for demonstrators, but (of course) I put my own spin on it! It uses the set The Open Sea from the Summer Mini, along with the coordinating Nautical Expedition DSP. I used the retiring Build-a-Brad with a punched wheel from the DSP.

Have a wonderful Father's Day weekend!

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Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Nautical Expedition DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Versamark
Accessories: 1/2" circle punch, Build-a-Brad, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Silver EP, Cutter Kit

It's your last chance

It's time to say goodbye! Hundreds of products from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and Definitely Decorative brochures are retiring, and now is the time for your customers to get them before they're gone on June 30 (or before!). Retiring stamp sets are *usually* available till June 30, but accessories go quickly, and when they are gone, they are gone! 


Check out the Last Chance merchandise on my website here http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryID=736


Or look at the lists as follows: 


Retiring Stamps http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-US/LastChanceStamps_0611_US.pdf
Retiring Accessories http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-US/Availability_en-US.pdf
Retiring Definitely Decorative Vinyl http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-US/Def_Decorative_US.pdf

More Strength and Hope

Don't forget about Stampin' Up's Strength and Hope Campaign! For every Strength and Hope set or Digital Kit purchased, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to Breast Cancer Research.

Blossom Friends

This card was my club swap for May--our theme was Hot Pink! I used the First Edition Specialty DSP (still available to order) and both my new Triple Layer punches. After adhering the DSP to Basic Black cs and adding the punchouts, I ran the whole thing through my Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Then I added a little more Melon Mambo with the swirl stamp from Elements of Style--stamped off once. The sentiment is from Just Believe, stamped on Very Vanilla with Basic Black ink. I used the Word Window and Modern Label punches for it, with a bit of 1/8" black taffeta for an accent.

Flower Garden just for you

The new embossing folder, Flower Garden, in the Summer Mini catalog has so many possibilities! For this card, I outlined the edges of the embossing with the Pink Pirouette marker, then used my Aquapainter and the Blushing Bride Watercolor Wonder Crayon to add a little color to the petals. The centers are Daffodil Delight marker, and the stems are Pear Pizzazz marker and Watercolor Wonder Crayon.

Of course, you could do the same thing with any color scheme! I'm hoping to get around to a Poppy Parade version, since I have sadly neglected that color. :-)

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Stamps: Just Believe (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride
Ink: Blushing Bride, Markers in Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Shot, Flower Garden embossing folder, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter

Triple Layer Blossom--no calories

Triple Layer should be followed by something decadent and likely chocolate, but this is a great calorie free version! Stampin' Up! has released a new style punch in the Summer Mini catalog, which allows 3 (or more) separate images to be punched from the same punch! How's that for bang-for-your-buck???

We made this 3x6 card at Club Tuesday night and used the Triple Layer Blossom Bouquet Punch (page 6) to create the flowers. These punches are very easy to use! And of course, I had to sneak in the adorable kitty from Touch of Kindness (page 25). We stamped him in Black Craft ink and then used clear embossing powder. That's my trick to keep from watercoloring like I'm in second grade. We used the Brights Watercolor Wonder Crayons (my favorite!!) to color him in. The stem stamp is also from Touch of Kindness, and the grass is sketched in with the Pear Pizzazz marker.

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Stamps: Touch of Kindness (123203, Mini 25)
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Black Craft, Pear Pizzazz Classic, Pear Pizzazz Marker
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestones (119246, 188), Brads—Brights (119740, 187), Paper Piercer, dimensionals, Aquapainters (103954, 195), Watercolor Wonder Crayons—Brights (119804, 194)

It's Club night!

Tonite we'll be making this card at our Hostess Club! It features the brand new Flower Garden Embossing Folder from the Summer Mini, as well as this fabulous bow-tying technique from Mary Brown!  


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Stamps: Friendly Words Wheel (114696, 138)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Ink: White Craft (101731, 169), Rich Razzleberry classic
Accessories: Big Shot, Flower Garden Embossing Folder (123113, Mini 24), Sponge Daubers (102892, 195), Rich Razzleberry 3/8” Taffeta ribbon (119966, 191), Antique Brads (117273, 187), dimensionals

Happy Mother's Day

My mom is amazing. She taught me how to be strong and true, and she taught me how to make a family and home. She is always studying and learning and trying to improve herself--she taught all of us the great joy in learning. She is an amazing pianist--I'm sure she would have been a concert pianist if she hadn't had all of us kids! She still plays wonderfully, and it's a joy to watch her perform and share her music. She teaches piano and accompanies the grandchildren (and many others!) as they sing and play instruments. She has been a widow for almost 14 years, but she holds the whole family together. She taught us to let go of hurt feelings and disagreements, because family is what matters most. She taught us to cook and sew and clean and shop frugally. She taught us to grow a vegetable garden to feed our stomachs and a flower garden to feed our souls. She taught us faith in God and how to endure well.

She made me who I am, and I hope I can pass on as much my own children. Love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!