It's Friday, May 31!

Wow!  For the first time ever, THREE CATALOGUES will be current for a few hours only.  Yes, today is the last day to order from the Spring Mini Catalogue.  The 2012/13 Idea Book and Catalogue is good until June 3, for accessories, only while supplies last.  The 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue is going live one day earlier than usual, so that it doesn't fall on a weekend when Stampin' Up offices are closed.  How cool is that?

Here is the link for the new 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue:  (Just click on the Catalogue Cover.)

There are some seriously amazing new stamp sets and accessories in there!  Go ahead and drool!  I know you will be!

My first priority when I order?  The Big Shot Magnetic platform that holds your framelits and edgelits in place!  How cool is that?

Here's a card design made from new products!  I think I'm in love with Strawberry Slush and Smoky Slate as a colour palette!  Tell me what you think! (I'm overdosing on exclamation marks in this post!!! Can't help it, I'm so stoked!!)

• The new stamp set, Happy Day, just makes you want to smile doesn't it?
• The Chevron embossing folder never looked better than teamed up with this delicious colour duo.
• I had to hand cut the medallion from Happy Day, because I couldn't get it to line up with any Scallop Circle punches, but it wasn't that hard to do!
• We will be doing this card as a Make and Take at my Catalogue Launch Party tomorrow afternoon.
• Check out those Very Vintage Designer Buttons - two great designs.

AND, in other news, the Winner of the Mystery Hostess Last Chance Party is Teri Coady!  Teri wins $90 in free Stampin' Up products and one item at 50% off!  Thanks for all your entries, and we'll have another Mystery Hostess before long.

If you want those free Hostess benefits for yourself, it's as easy as calling together 5 or 6 friends for a Private Class!  You can even have it at my house and I'll do the cleaning and baking so you don't have to!  What have you got to lose?  Give me a call to book one.  June is rapidly filling up!

Stamps:  Happy Day (w130294; c130297); Hearts a Flutter (w131922; c129252)

Paper: Strawberry Slush (131295), Smoky Slate (131202) and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Strawberry Slush (131178) and Smoky Slate (131179)

Accessories:  Very Vintage Designer Buttons (129327); Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262)

Tools:  Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127749); Hearts a Flutter Framelits (130159)

Victorian Retirement Etchings

I think that the late 1800's and early 1900's must have been an incredible and fascinating time to live.  Well, especially if you were a man. (If you were a woman, not so much!)  So many changes took place in that era. Authors had great imaginations and modern technology was in it's infancy.  The combustion engine, the camera, the telephone and telegraph, the airplane.  Modern medicine as well.  I realize that my mother, had she lived, would have been 97 years old this year and so would have seen many of these changes as they happened.

What would it have been like to go from the horse and buggy to airplanes and automobiles within a few short years?  I can't imagine.



My last nostalgic card celebrating the retiring Stampin' Up stamp sets this year reminds me of the photograph above and that time in history.

I love all the images in the stamp set Artistic Etchings and this is one set that I'm going to have a hard time retiring.  They are just so.....VINTAGE!  I wanted to celebrate some of this past catalogue's Designer Series Papers as well, particularly Fan Fair, First Edition and World Spectacular shown here.

I was also intrigued with the sketch LeAnne provided for The Paper Players Challenge #147 this week.

Great for using up scraps of DSP or for showcasing it and I loved the cards the Design Team came up with. I just didn't want to miss this opportunity!

• The upper right panel is actually an image cut right out of the Fan Fair DSP and it perfectly fits my theme, don't you think?
• I love the rich colours in the balloons from the World Spectacular Design Series Paper.
• First Edition Specialty paper is retiring, but I notice in the new catalogue that many of the new series have newprint in them, so I was comforted by that thought.
• Sponging the edges in Soft Suede added to the vintage look of the card.
• I love the little touch of the Victoria Crochet Trim and the Antique Brad, as well as the trio of Vintage Trinket brads on the bottom right.

Tomorrow, I plan on showing you a card using new products from the 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue.  If you haven't received yours yet, please let me know and I will be happy to send one to you.  

REMEMBER..... Today is the last day to give me your orders for retiring products to take advantage of my Last Chance Mystery Hostess On-Line Party.  Email or call (250-768-7379) me with your orders by 9:00 pm, Thursday, May 30 to be eligible to be entered in a draw to win the free Hostess benefits from Stampin' Up.  All orders receive one entry and every $40 you spend will get you an extra chance.  The orders are really coming in, so it will be worth your while!

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings (w118517; c120573)*

Paper:  First Edition Specialty paper (121878)**; Fan Fair Designer Series Paper (126918)*; World Spectacular Designer Series Paper (126897)*; Soft Suede (115318) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Soft Suede (126978); StazOn Jet Black (101406)

Accessories: Victorian Crochet Trim (118481); Antique Brads (117273); Vintage Trinkets (118764)

Tools:  Paper Piercing Tool (126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199); Stamping Sponges (101610);

Tabletop Paper Cutter (106959)*

*Retiring Product available until June 3

**Retiring Product available until June 3 while supplies last

***Retiring Product now sold out

Artistic Etchings*

Fan Fair DSP

Paper Piercing Tool

Stampin' Pierce Mat

Tabletop Cutter*

A Walk to Remember

Okay, I admit it!  I'm a sucker for sappy movies!  I'll cry at the drop of a hat.  Heck, I even cried during "Babe" - a pig for heaven's sake!  One of the sappiest I've watched was "A Walk to Remember" with Mandy Moore!  Maybe mostly for this song, "My Only Hope".

It used to bother my kids no end, and they took to turning to look at me whenever the plot got a bit syrupy!  But lately, they've been way more emotional themselves, probably due to having babies, and now the tables are turned!! Ha! Ha! Ha!





Today's card reminded me of this movie, A Walk to Remember, because the stamp set I used is called Nature Walk, and we're going to have to remember it because it is one of the retiring sets this year.

• The colours I picked for this card, Pool Party and Summer Starfruit are just gorgeous and work so much better together than I would have ever thought.  
• I threw a bit of Certainly Celery in there as well for the leaves and the butterfly.
• The DSP is from Birds of a Feather and will be retiring June 3 as well.
• I inked up the flower stalk stamp with Stampin' Write Markers to get the two colours in there.
• The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen, which will be around for another year at least, and thank goodness, because it is such a wonderful sentiment set.

• I used Pool Party Core'dinations card stock, embossed with the Honeycomb embossing folder and sanded to reveal the lighter core.  The great news is that we will be able to order Core'dinations card stock in every colour once the new catalogue is in effect!

If you want to get your hands on Nature Walk before it is gone, just like Jamie in "A Walk to Remember",  you need to order it from me before June 3, 2013.  If you email or phone me to order before Thursday night, May 30,  you will be entered in my Mystery Hostess Last Chance contest to win free product from the Hostess benefits that Stampin' Up offers. 

 Each order will be given an entry and if your order (before shipping and tax) is $40 or more you will get another entry for each $40 you spend.  If you prefer to shop on-line, just use this Hostess Code (6XRSSFD6) when you place your order and I will enter you in the draw as well.

Don't be THAT PERSON, who waited too long to order and was disappointed!

Stamps:  Nature Walk (w121925; c121997)*; Delightful Dozen (w122650; c122652)

Paper:  Birds of a Feather DSP (126899)*; Pool Party Core'dinations card stock (129321); Summer Starfruit (126839) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock

Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers in Pool Party (123002 as part of the In Colour 2011 - 13 bundle), Summer Starfruit (126856 as part of the In Colour 2012 - 14 bundle ) and Certainly Celery (105106)*; Classic Stampin' Pad in Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Summer Starfruit (126846)

Tools:  Ovals Collection Framelits (129381); Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (129378); Stampin' Sanding Block (129367)
*Retiring June 3, 2013

Nature Walk Stamp Set

Basic Rhinestones

Delightful Dozen Stamp Set

Retiring MOJO and Perfectly Preserved

As I read this title over I thought, "Yes, it would be nice to retire and remain Perfectly Preserved!"  Instead, I keep noticing little hints of deterioration here and there!  But I guess getting old is better than the alternative!

I had two goals today.  One was to make a MOJO Monday Challenge #295 entry and one was to create a card highlighting some of the retiring products.  I believe I managed to do both here:

I created a round card using the Scallop Circle Bigz die and the Big Shot.  

• I cut out one complete circle from Crumb Cake card stock.
• Then I took more Crumb Cake and folded it in half and cut out another circle except I had the top of the die lined up above the fold so it wouldn't be cut through and it becomes the hinge.  
• I stamped the complete scallop circle with the Distressed Dots background stamp (which is retiring) in VersaMark ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  

I used a partial scallop circle in Lucky Limeade (retiring) for the bottom panel with a partial 3 1/2" Circle Originals die cut with some DSP from another retiring set: Sunshine and Sprinkles.  You can see the layout for the challenge from the diagrams below:

  

For the main panel, I got out my Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set from last fall's Holiday Mini.  It is also a retiring stamp set, but it was one I got a lot of use out of in the fall.  Sad to see it go because the mason jar is SO versatile.  I've seen it used in dozens of applications.  

• I stamped mine on a Window Sheet and used the coordinating framelits to cut it out.  
• I stamped a pear on the Very Vanilla square in the middle and adhered the window sheet jar right over top of it.  
• I stamped the lid cover in More Mustard (a retiring colour) and die cut it with the framelits and added it to the top.  
• The sentiment and the naturals button finished off the look.

What is your favourite retiring product?  Leave me a comment and tell me how you're going to cope without it!

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved (w126690; c126692)*; Distressed Dots (w122815)*

Paper: Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP (126922)*; Window Sheets (114323); Crumb Cake (120953), Lucky Limeade(122926)*, More Mustard (100946)** and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock

Ink:  VersaMark (102283); StazOn Jet Black (101406); Classic Stampin' Pads in Early Espresso (126974), Lucky Limeade (126984) and More Mustard (126964)

Accessories:  Stampin' Emboss Powder Clear (109130); Naturals Designer Buttons (127554); Linen Thread (104199)

Tools:  Cannery Set Framelits (127822); Scallop Circle Bigz Die (113468); 3 1/2" Circle Originals Die (121811); Bitty Banners Framelits (129267); Heat Tool (129053)

*Retiring Item

**Retiring and sold out

Cannery Set Framelits

Linen Thread

Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set

Distressed Dots Background Stamp

Naturals Designer Buttons

Scallop Circle Bigz Die

Retirement Has Its Benefits - Mystery Hostess Contest!

I can say that from experience!  I've been retired from teaching for three years now and I have to say I like it!  What I like best is not having to get up early every workday morning, because I'm a night owl!  I like a leisurely breakfast with some reading material or a crossword!  But, after two years of doing whatever I wanted, I got a bit bored and that's when I decided to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator!  Life has not been boring since! (And that's an understatement!)

But retirement of another sort has its benefits as well.  That's right, this is the last week to order those stamps and accessories on the retirement list!  And to add a little excitement to the last week, we will be having a

Last Chance Party!

Yes, place an order through me or online at my online store any time from now until Thursday night, May 30th and use the Hostess Code 6XRSSFD6 and you will be entered to be the Mystery Hostess and if we get enough orders, there may be more than one winner so we can spread the love (and free Stampin' Up Products) around!  Every order regardless of price will have one chance to win, but orders of $40 or more will receive extra entries for every $40 spent!  You will have an excellent chance of winning! 

This is your last opportunity to order items on the Retiring lists.  Here, once more are the links to those lists:

Retiring Stamp Set List

Retiring Accessories List

To order, use this link to my On-Line Store, making sure you see my name in the upper right hand corner, and enter the Hostess Code in the box on the first page.  Then order your products.  Or call me at 250-768-7379 or Email me with your order.

This week I will be featuring some of the stamp sets and accessories that are retiring, so that you may get some idea of how to use these sets.  My first one is a masculine card featuring the stamp set, Daring Adventure, which has a very cool sentiment - a quote from Helen Keller.

I used a Dynamic Duos Challenge #54 colour combination of Midnight Muse and Bashful Blue.  Bashful Blue is a retiring colour and the card stock is already sold out, although you can still get the stamp pad.  I don't know if I've ever put these two colours together, but I really like the crisp look, especially paired with Whisper White.  I've used one element of another retiring stamp set as well.  See the water drops on the sentiments.  That is a stamp from French Foliage, one I'm really sad to let go of.

I've used the layout from the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #159. 

The two sentiments are actually from one stamp.  I was able to make it into two sentiments by inking the parts of the stamp I wanted with a Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Marker, stamping, cleaning and then reinking the other part with the same marker.  I used Bashful Blue ink for the backgrounds, stamping off once (stamping once lightly on scrap paper before stamping on your panel) for the typed script.

The Midnight Muse panel is from the Print Poetry Paper Stacks from the Spring Mini Catalogue - again, only available until May 31st - a really good value at $8.50 for 48  4 1/2" x 6 1/2" sheets!

So don't waste any time!  Place an order this week and earn some chances at FREE Stampin' Up product!

Stamps:  Daring Adventure (w122600; c122602)*; French Foliage (w120845;c121166)*

Paper:  Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stacks (129312)*; Bashful Blue (105120)** and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Bashful Blue (126961)* and Midnight Muse (126860); Stampin' Write Marker in Midnight Muse (126856 as part of the 2012/13 In Colour Bundle)

Accessories:  3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847); 3/16" Metallic Brads (119741)***

Tools:  Paper Piercing Tool (126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199); Tabletop Cutter (106959)*

*Retiring item

**Retiring but sold out

***Retiring and on sale for 25% off

French Foliage Stamp Set

Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack

3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse

Daring Adventure

Tabletop Paper Cutter

Family Visits

Although my daughters weren't able to be with us for Mother's Day, my youngest daughter and her family were able to visit last weekend instead.  They brought my oldest grandson with them, 16 month old Parker, and I remember much more vividly the energy it takes to look after a busy little guy like he is.  We had some delightful times, however, including dancing together to the demo track on our electronic piano.  Parker seemed to love that and he would just snuggle up close and enjoy being twirled and whirled to the music.  When the demo track was winding down, he would signal "More!" and away we would go again.

We paid a visit to Kangaroo Creek Farm as well and enjoyed learning about kangaroos and being close to them and petting them.  Parker, however, was way more enamoured with the many gates at the farm - not quite what we had in mind!

Jaimie, my youngest, brought me a Mother's Day card she had made and I wanted to share it with you.

The stamp image is a retired set from the 2011/12 Catalogue called Oval All, but I love Jaimie's layout and colour choices, inspired by the flag of Patio Party DSP which will no longer be available after June 3. (So better stock up now!)  Her card base is Crumb Cake topped with a layer of Summer Starfruit card stock and the hand cut flags, the other from Primrose Petals card stock.

The Pool Party layered behind the Whisper White sentiment panel is the perfect colour choice and is echoed in the DSP as well. 

Parker brought me a really cute card as well, but I suspect he had a little help with his!  He did write in it, though! 

He knows his Grandma loves cats!  This beauty is from the stamp set Storybook Friends and it was watercoloured.  The DSP is an old friend from the Fall Holiday catalogue.  It was good to see it again.

Thanks for dropping by today, and enjoy your weekend!

Stamps:  Oval All (retired); Storybook Friends (w126735; c126737)

Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Summer Starfruit (126839), Primrose Petals (126841), Midnight Muse (126843), Whisper White (100730) and Pool Party (122924) card stock; Patio Party DSP (126916)*; Orchard Harvest DSP (retired)

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Midnight Muse (126860) and Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories:  Linen Thread (104199)

Big Shot Club

I am so excited because my Big Shot Club is starting today!  I have five crafters eager to get a Big Shot, plus me.  I don't really need a Big Shot, but maybe I can bless someone with it.

What the heck is a Big Shot, you ask?  Well, it's just the most indispensable piece of equipment a card maker or scrapbooker could have!  It die cuts and it embosses and with it, you can create such professional looking cards and scrapbook pages.






If you are a papercrafter and you don't have one, believe me, it will take your craft to a whole new level!  Big Shots are $122.95 in Canada and with tax and shipping it comes to $151.50.  If you divide that into 6 payments, it comes to $25.25 a month.  So each person in the club puts that amount into the kitty each month and we use it to buy one person's Big Shot.  At the end of 6 months, everyone has one!

Each month we get together and do a couple of Big Shot projects and tomorrow is our first meeting.  Here are the two projects we are going to do.  The first project was cased from a make and take my upline, Desiree Spenst had for us on Diva Day (a rewards day for people in Desiree's downline who meet certain business criteria).  The second was from Pinterest, created by Debra Burgin from www.heartfeltinkspiration.com.  They both require heavy Big Shotting (yes, it's a verb!)!

• This card features the Dress Up Framelits from the Spring Mini Catalogue, which will still be available in the new Idea Book and Catalogue!  
• It also uses the Top Note Die and the Oval Collection Framelits. 
• I love how you can use the Flower Trim to create a wedding dress!
• The sentiment is from a retiring set (No-o-o-o!) called Word Play!  Better snatch that one up before it's gone for good June 3!
• The card base is Soft Sky card stock embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  This is one of the new Subtle Colours, taking the place of Bashful Blue.  I love this colour!

Each club meeting, I want to do one project that is not a card!  For this first meeting, I chose a tag.

• I created the shape for the large tag by creating a corner template using the 1 3/8" Square Punch (which is also retiring June 3) and then cutting the tag down at the top.
• The crumb cake tag is created using the Two Tags Bigz Die, which is another retiree!  It was embossed using the Fancy Fan embossing folder.
• I cut out the sentiment label using the second smallest Labels Collection Framelit and then embossed it using the Designer Frames Oval Folder.
• The sentiment is from the Trust God Stamp Set.
• The beautiful two-step stamping flowers are from the Stippled Blossoms Set.  

Now if you'd like to make these projects and you would like a Big Shot, you could take my place in the club!  But you have to let me know right away.  Email  me.  You won't regret it!

Stamps:  Word Play (w120308; c120651)**; Trust God (w126700; c126702); Stippled Blossoms (w126745; c126747)

Paper:  Soft Sky(131203)*, Basic Gray (121044), Very Vanilla (101650), Soft Suede (115318), and Crumb Cake (120953) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Soft Suede (126978),  Crumb Cake (126975), and Basic Gray (126981)

Accessories:   Artisan Embellishments Kit (129328)***, 5/8" Flower Trim (126869)*** Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Antique Brads (117273); 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Crumb Cake (122332)

Tools:  Ovals Collection Framelits (129381); Dress Up Framelits (130101), Labels Collection Framelits (125598); Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127751); Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335); Designer Frames Embossing Folders (123130):  Extra-Large Oval Punch (119859), 1 3/8" Square Punch (119877)**

*Available in the new 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue May 31, 2013

**Retires as of June 3, 2013

***Retires as of May 31, 2013

Artisan Embellishments Kit

1/2" Seam Binding Tape in Crumb Cake

Labels Collection Framelits

Stippled Blossoms

Word Play

Dress Up Framelits