Weekend Away

I just returned from a fantastic weekend up in Lake Geneva, WI.  The weather was horrible, but that made for a great weekend to stay in and make cards.  Here are some of my creations.  You'll also notice the last  few include new stamp sets and new DSP.  A little sneak peak of new catalog items.

The view of the Lake from my Window! :(

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WOW!

Wow!  I just returned from Stampin Up On Stage Event.  There are so many new great products.  To make room for everything Stampin Up is retiring some old.

Pay close attention to the colors that are retiring.  Stamping up is having a color revamp!  That means not just a few new colors added or taken away, but SEVERAL.

Core Color Families:

There are still four color collections, each with ten colors. There is also a new color group called Basics.  The Basics Collection will include: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White

Click here to download a PDF with the full color list and the Hex Values for each color!

On May 31, 2018, thirteen core colors are retiring:

• Always Artichoke
• Chocolate Chip
• Elegant Eggplant
• Island Indigo
• Marina Mist
• Perfect Plum
• Pink Pirouette
• Rose Red
• Soft Sky
• Tangerine Tango
• Tempting Turquoise
• Wild Wasabi
• Wisteria Wonder

Four of the five 2016-2018 In Colors are retiring on May 31 as well:

• Dapper Denim
• Emerald Envy
• Peekaboo Peach
• Sweet Sugar Plum

Stampin’ Up! has announced all of the items that will be completely retired on May 30th!!

These are all while supplies last so get them while you can!

Go here: Last Chance Products Order online with Hostess Code:7EYFHGU4

So In Love

GDP #128

In the need of some Anniversary and Wedding cards.  I think this fits the bill.  I've been anxious to use some new products that were just delivered, this week.  I ordered Petal Passion memories and More card pack.  This was on back order for awhile.  I actually forgot the reason I ordered it, but I love it. I also placed an order to get items from the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog.  I received  the Blossoming Basket Stamp set, and Basket Weave folder set for free.

I'm using this design in The Global Design Project this week. Steffi Helmschrott is the guest designer and she created a beautiful card.  I took inspiration from the Business size card and was inspired by some of the other samples using the basketweave folder.

What I did: Stamps and Products: Petal passion Memories and more card pack (SU! 2018 Sale-A-Bration) Sentiment: So In Love (SU!) Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White(SU!) cut 8 x 8 1/2 scored at 4, Dark grey 3.75 x 8.25 adhering it to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals 2 x 5.25 strip of Velum, (SU!)
Ink: Momento- Tuxedo Black Basic Black ink(SU!)  Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips, Triple Banner Punch (SU!), Stitched Framelits (SU!)

Stamparatus Coming Soon!

I am so excited to try out the new Stampin' Up! Stamparatus.  I pre-ordered mine just received it.  I have loved my Misti- but since seeing this amazing tool's potential, I am looking forward to having this on my Stampin' Counter from now on.  Available in the New Stampin' Up! Catalog- coming soon!

Compatible with red rubber and photopolymer stamps
Easily create 2-step, 3-step, and 4-step stamped images using reversible plates
Two open sides so you can use larger paper

Make fewer mistakes, saving time and money
If you want a darker impression, apply more ink— no need to start over

 

Time for A 'Muse'ment

Muse #255

Taking time out of a very busy week to post a quick card for Muse challenge this week. I'm trying not to stick too literal to the Muse cards.  So I took inspiration from the spring flowers and the colors.  Check out Bunny Vance's Card below and hopefully you can see where I got my color scheme from.

What I did: Stamps and Products: Feathery Friends(SU! 2018 Hostess Special)
 Cardstock & Paper: Basic Black(SU!) cut 11x 4 1/4 scored 5 1/5, Crushed Curry 4 1/8 x 5 3/8, adhering it to the card base, and 5 x 3 3/4 Whisper White cardstock(SU!)
 Stampin' Blends (SU!): Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!)


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Time to 'D'-stress

GDP # 126

After seeing some beautiful entries into previous challenges I wanted to give Tim Holtz Distress inks a try. This week I am entering the GDP #126 Challenge.  The following card uses some of my new favorite colors. Being successful using Distress inks,  comes down to having good paper.  Although technique is important, it can be learned through practice and good Youtube videos.   I used the Stampin' Up! Stitched Framelit and stamped Versa-Mark and poured white embossing powder on it and heat set it.  I really love the colors Cracked
Pistachio and Broken China.  

Here is the sketch that Inspired this pretty card:

Before I made this card I took out several pieces of paper and applied Tim Holtz Distressed inks with sponge daubers and flicked with water.  The papers did curl a little as they dried, so I put them between some copy paper and ran through my Sizzix machine.  For some of the cards I stamped using Versa-mark and white embossing powder, first.  For the floral cards, I used the white embossing powder technique for the flowers before putting the Tim Holtz inks. After the paper dried and I flattened it, I stamped the sentiment using Versa-mark and white embossing powder. 

Dried out papers with just the ink

Finished cards mounted on 5.5 x 8.5 card stock, scored at 4.25 

For Aurora

Posting for two challenges this week.  This week GDP was a color challenge using the color palette below.  This week's Muse by Tracy has so many beautiful colors.  I tried and just don't have those in my stash.  More to order.  However, I took inspiration from the heart, and the Valentine-like theme and created a simple Anniversary card.  The colors look more pink than they show in real life.  Dark and light reds were used on Black cardstock.  The Thinly dies were from Sizzix called Celebrate.  Thank you Jennifer (my wonderful SIL).

Muse challenge #253

Kerstin Kreis from Germany is the New member of the team and came up with this color combo.
Once I pulled out these colors I wanted to make a few cards.

What I did: Stamps and Products: A Little Wild (SU! ) Sentiment: Vertical Greetings(SU!) Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White(SU!) cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4, Dapper Denim 4 1/8 x 5 3/8, adhering it to the card base with Tear tape. Whisper White and Melon Mambo scrap for the banner (SU!)  Medium stitched framelit Whisper White cardstock(SU!)
Ink: Momento- Tuxedo Black (SU!), Melon Mambo (SU!)  Stampin' Blends (SU!): Daffodil Delight Light and Dark
Brights Enamel Shapes
I cur the starburst out with my Cricut
Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips

It's been hard for me to scrap this week.  We lost a very important member of out family. Our lab, Aurora.  She was only 3 years old. I haven't been much in the mood to be creative.  Aurora died unexpectedly this week.  She was a 3 year old lab who was full of love and just the sweetest thing you've ever seen.  We don't know what happened- we may never know.  A few mornings ago, we let her outside with our other dog, my husband called them both in for breakfast a few minutes later and Aurora never came in. She was on the ground, not responding.  We rushed her to emergency and she was gone.  NO explanation!  We have had many dogs through the years and lucky to have all of them live full lives.  W have always been sad about the passing of a pet.  However, this has been different.  This has been many days of tears, pain, and sorrow for our family.  I missed a few challenges this week because I just 'wasn't in the mood'.  This weekend I pulled myself together and spent a few hours in my craft room.  
This is for Aurora:

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Therapeutic Crafting

It's been a hard week around here.  I haven't been much in the mood to be creative.  My puppy died unexpectedly this week.  She was a 3 year old lab who was full of love and just the sweetest thing you've ever seen.  We don't know what happened- we may never know.  A few mornings ago, we let her outside with our other dog, my husband called them both in for breakfast a few minutes later and Aurora never came in. She was on the ground, not responding.  We rushed her to emergency and she was gone.  NO explanation!  We have had many dogs through the years and lucky to have all of them live full lives.  W have always been sad about the passing of a pet.  However, this has been different.  This has been many days of tears, pain, and sorrow for our family.  I missed a few challenges this week because I just 'wasn't in the mood'.  This weekend I pulled myself together and spent a few hours in my craft room.  I have a few challenges i would like to share.  I've included a list of the stamp sets and colors I used below.

CAS(E) #259

First, from CAS(E) this Sketch I have a Congratulations card.  I chose to keep this pretty close to the sketch that was provided.  Stef Perry created this.  Lots of great ideas on her blog.  Take a look.

What I did: Stamps and Products: Simply Wonderful (SU! 2015 Sale-A-Bration) Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White(SU!) cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4, Cajun Craze 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, adhering it to the card base  Dapper Denim cardstock(SU!) cut 4 1/8 x 5 1/4 Second to Large stitched framelit out of Whisper White cardstock(SU!)
 Ink:  Cajun Craze (SU!)
Ribbon (SU! 2018 Sale-A-Bration)
 Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips, Banner Triple Punch

I am also submitting my next card for CAS(E) this Sketch and for Global Design Project Color Challenge.  Sometimes these color challenges are tough for me.  I've spent awhile thinking on this one and I came up with a few.  Since I was cutting the paper out anyway, I may as well use it all up.

CAS(E) #259 and GDP #125

GDP 

This week GDP was a color challenge using the Following palette:
Kerstin Kreis from Germany is the New member of the team and came up with this color combo.


What I did: Stamps and Products: A Little Wild (SU! ) Sentiment: Vertical Greetings(SU!) Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White(SU!) cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4, Dapper Denim 4 1/8 x 5 3/8, adhering it to the card base with Tear tape. Whisper White and Melon Mambo scrap for the banner (SU!)  Medium stitched framelit Whisper White cardstock(SU!)
Ink: Momento- Tuxedo Black (SU!), Melon Mambo (SU!)  Stampin' Blends (SU!): Daffodil Delight Light and Dark
Brights Enamel Shapes
I cur the starburst out with my Cricut
Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips

I have been wanting to create Shaker cards.  I'm still working on getting them to look clean.  This one isn't going to win any prizes, but I need to start somewhere. This Shaker card uses the colors from This week's Global Design Color Challenge.

GDP #125

What I did: Stamps and Products:We Must Celebrate (SU! ), Santa's Elves (My Favorite Things)
Sentiment: Teeny Tiny Wishes(SU!) Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White(SU!) cut 5 1/2 x  1/2 scored at 4 1/4. Basic Grey cut 5 1/2 x 4 1/4, Using Cricut, cut four windows out of Dapper Denim 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, adhering it to the card base with a lot Tear tape. Whisper White and Melon Mambo scrap for the banner  and to stamp (SU!)
Ink: Momento- Tuxedo Black (SU!)Stampin' Blends (SU!): Daffodil Delight Light and Dark.Night of Navy light, Melon Mambo Stampin' Pen
Iridescent Sequins
Foam Adhesive Strips I separated the four windows so that each window shakes independent of the other
Clear Window Sheet(SU!)
Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips
After stamping and coloring, I fussy cut everything and really put lots of adhesive on all the pieces.

Looking closer, you can see I stamped the background with the party designs that comes in the We Must Celebrate(SU!) Stamp set. I wanted to use white, but my white is dried out. I found a rose gold ink spot from Simon Says Stamp that worked with these colors.

I took inspiration from the following Video:

I absolutely love this set and these colors.  I may need to order these.

Thank you for visiting, and listening to me go on about my puppy.  I really do feel better after completing these cards:

From the Heart

GDC CASE this designer #124

 I just received my Stampin' Up Petal Palette Clear Mount Bundle.  I just love all the great things you can do with it!  I wanted to add this one to the Global Design Challenge, this week. We had a great designer Louise Sharp to get some Inspiration from.   I took inspiration from the wreath shape .

I also took some time to make a few other cards using the stamps and coordinating Thinlits.

What I did: Stamps and Products: Petal Palette Clear Mount Bundle  (SU! 2018 Occasions Catalog)  Cardstock & Paper: Very Vanilla (SU!) cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4, scrap Very Vanilla to stamp sentiment and cut out,
Large stitched circle framelit Very Vanilla cardstock(SU!)
Ink: Momento- Tuxedo Black (SU!) Stampin' Blends (SU!): Calypso Coral Dark and light
 Mini Dimensionals (SU!) Snail Adhesive(SU!) Tear & Tape (SU!) Simply Scored (SU!) Scissor snips, Big Shot
I adhered The large Vanilla circle to the card front.  I used The Vanilla Circle to guide my hand cut flowers into a wreath shape.

Very Vanilla

Calypso Coral

Petal Palette Bundle