Blooming with Kindness Retires for As You See It Challenges

Whenever I would introduce stamping to someone who had never done it before, my go-to stamp set was always Blooming with Kindness. The beautiful dahlia image would never fail to really impress a newbie, no matter what colour you stamped it in, and those elegant sentiments were always my favourites. So, it is with a sad heart, that I say so long to Blooming with Kindness, as it retires June 2. I did, however, want to give it a good send-off, and what better way to do that, than to use it in an As You See It Challenge like the new one this week:

With another genius sketch from Amanda Turner this week, it turns out that Blooming with Kindness is perfect for this Design Team sample. The great thing about the flower image is that you can crop it in layers and end up with a 3 dimensional image when you layer it using Stampin' Dimensionals.

• There are some other retiring products showcased by this card. The Moonlight Designer Series Paper stacks will be retiring along with almost all of the Designer Series Paper, with the exception of Typeset DSP, and the Moonlight Paper Stack is 50% off. This pattern was a perfect backdrop for a little grunge happening with the Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay ink. And the Crushed Curry 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is also retiring and on sale for 50% off as well!!
• I stamped two images of the flower in Crushed Curry and cut both of them down by hand using the Paper Snips, then layered on on top of the other using Stampin' Dimensionals. I did the same, only with three images stamped in Bermuda Bay ink. I curled the edges of the flowers using my bone folder so that it would create even more dimension.
• I used a couple of the images from Gorgeous Grunge with the Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay ink to add a little grunge interest to the back panel. Both colours work well with the Smoky Slate card base.
• Different sized Rhinestone Basic Jewels add a little bling to the grunge!

Don't forget to check the Retiring List for things you might want to pick up before they are gone for good.  There are some amazing deals on Embellishments and Tools - many great ones at 50% off!! For example, the Window Frames Collection and the Labels Collection Framelits are on sale for $16.48 each - 50% off! The Fancy Fan,  Argyle, and Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folders are retiring and on sale for $4.98 each - again 50% off! All the 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon is retiring and on sale for 50% off and this is just a small portion of great deals you could get. 

One staple of my craft room is retiring, and although it is not on sale, you might want to get it if you don't have it. It's the Top Note Bigz Die. I use it for all my card insides and I don't know what I'm going to do without it! Don't wait too long, as all these Accessories are only available while supplies last! Email me or visit my On-Line Store, available 24/7.

Thanks for visiting my blog this week. I'll be back on Monday with more Retiring Product features.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the Stampin' Up! products used to make this card today!

Product List

*Blooming With Kindness Clear Stamp Set [126422]	*Blooming With Kindness Wood Stamp Set [131961]	Gorgeous Grunge Wood Stamp Set [130514]	Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set [130517]	*Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack [133701]
Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131202]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171]	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173]	*Crushed Curry 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon [134555]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Glue Dots [103683]	Fuse Fast Adhesive [129026]

*Retiring

Dynamic Duos Meets Mojo Monday

It's Black Tie week over at Dynamic Duos this week, with a dessert option of a shaped card, but I also wanted to complete the Mojo Monday sketch this week because I really like all the elements of it, so a compromise - Dynamic Duos meet Mojo Monday!!

Here's the Dynamic Duos Challenge #90:

And here's Mojo Monday Challenge #333 sketch:

And when you put them together, here's what I came up with:

• I love the bold statement, these two colours make, but they also make me immediately think of bees. That brought to mind the Hexagon Hive Thinlits die, new in the Occasions Catalogue, so you can see where my mind went from there. 
• It was a good opportunity to use some of my less frequently used Design Series Paper from the Modern Medley collection and the Quatrefancy Specialty DSP on the back panel and underneath the Hexagon Hive.  I was able to repeat the quatrefoil design in each paper.
• I needed a bold flower design that would look great in black and yellow and the flower from Blooming with Kindness stamp set was ideal because you are actually stamping the shadows and leaving the highlights unstamped.  When I inked it up in Jet Black StazOn ink and stamped it on Daffodil Delight cardstock, the results were just what I had hoped. I punched it out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch and created a matte for it with the Circles Collection Framelits.

• The little bee from Springtime Hello in the Occasions catalogue would have been fun to use but it was too small scale for this card and the black and yellow wouldn't have been as obvious, so I went to Backyard Basics for this bee, and the great thing is, there are framelits to match so I didn't have to cut it out by hand.  Perfect fit!
• I didn't use the full Hexagon Hive framelit die cut and so there were some unattached ends, but when I mounted the Quatrefancy DSP on a matte of Basic Black cardstock, the ends blended in with the matte and everything looked nicely framed and finished.
• Instead of a ribbon, I stamped the birthday wishes sentiment from Blooming with Kindness on Very Vanilla (to match the vanilla on the Modern Medley paper) and used one of the framelits from Chalk Talk to die cut it.  It was rather long with the bracket only on one end, so I used the framelit to die cut a longer piece but kept the bracket close to the beginning of the sentiment.  Then I flipped the framelit and positioned it close to the end of the sentiment and die cut a second time with the Big Shot.  

Check the Clearance Rack

Just a reminder to check out the Clearance Rack, which has been restocked and there are some great deals to be had while supplies last.  You can order on-line, or contact me and I will put in an order for you.

Thanks for popping by today and come visit again tomorrow for a star-struck card for The Paper Players.

To purchase any of the products listed below used to make this project, simply click on the links which will take you directly to my On-Line Stampin' Up!  Store, where you can view the products and make a purchase if you like.  You can have it delivered right to your door!

• Blooming With Kindness
• Blooming With Kindness Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Backyard Basics Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Backyard Basics Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Modern Medley Designer Series Paper
• Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Jet Black StazOn Pad
• Backyard Basics Framelits Dies
• Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die
• Circles Collection Framelits Dies
• 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• Chalk Talk Framelits Dies

Design 101 Part Three

Tuesday night was the last in a series of three Design 101 classes here.  By now the attendees should be comfortable designing their own layouts, picking their own colours and knowing what embellishments would work well on their designs.  I say "should" because only one person was able to attend all three classes, however, I think everyone who attended even one class came away with enough information to help them do more of their own designing.  At least I got them trying it, which should give them more confidence to try it at home.

Here are some of the results:

Teri Coady is my newest recruit and she has had lots of experience designing layouts for scrapbooks and it shows in her design abilities.  Teri says she likes the bright colours and fun designs.  

I like the ribbon treatments she used and the cheerful designs.  Everything is well-balanced and eye-pleasing. She makes good use of colours, patterns and textures.

The next samples are from another one of my downline, Rebecca Hendricks, who has attended all three classes and has really done well with her designing skills.  Rebecca loves clean and simple and doesn't use a lot of embellishments, and with her designs, she doesn't need to.

I like the combinations of blues and greys she used in this card and her choice of DSP for the layout.

Here you see Rebecca's Clean and Simple style at it's best, with the Magnificent Maple along with the sentiment from Blessings From Heaven.  Her only embellishment is some linen thread.

Planning and presenting this class for the first time was challenging for me, but the results have been well worth it.  If you want to take your card making and stamping to the next level, let me know of your interest and I will plan another set of Design classes in the new year.

Today is Thank You Thursday again!!

Here are the deals for today - one day only.  

I must receive your order before 10 pm so as to make the deadline.  Call or email  me or head over to my on-line store and submit your own order.  Just remember to do it before 10 pm.

Thanks for dropping by today!  Won't you leave a comment for my Design 101 students and give them the encouragement they deserve?

Blast from the Past

When you see a blogger repost old material, you know something's happening in their life that makes it hard to post.  And now I'm committing the same sin!  In the midst of preparing for a class and trying to complete a gazillion ( well, okay, just 50, but when you see them you'll know why they felt like a gazillion!) swaps for Convention, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson stopped by for an unexpected visit.  I knew they were coming for a quick overnight stop on their way to the Island, but they came a day early and are planning to spend an extra day here!  Hooray!  But ohhhhhh!  When am I going to get all the million things (okay, another exaggeration - maybe 50 things) I need to do done?

So I missed doing a post yesterday, and I didn't want to leave you without anything over the weekend and all convention week, so I decided the next best thing would be to post some photos of the best of last July!  These were made right around this time last year:

Click on the caption under each photo to take you to the original post:

Blooming with Kindness birthday card

Affection Collection

Everything Eleanor and Trust God

I hope you enjoyed this little flashback and stay tuned next week for some highlights from the 2013 Stampin' Up Convention in Salt Lake City and some views of my swap cards!  Have a great weekend!!

A Chill in the Air

I don't know about you, but the older I get, the faster time flies.  Which is a sobering concept, because we all know where it's headed - my time, that is.  Someone postulated that the reason for this phenomena could be the length of a day in relation to the amount of time you've been alive.  For a toddler, a day seems like an enormous amount of time, because he is comparing it to his short lifespan up to that point.  For a senior, a day is like a flash in the pan in comparison to the time already spent on this planet.

Whatever the reason, I can't believe how fast the summer has blown by.  I am already planning my fall classes and (Dare I say it?) my Christmas Stamper's Dozen classes.  (I have added a new page to my blog with all my classes listed. Check it out!)

With fall classes in mind, my September Technique nights will be focusing on Techniques for Backgrounds.  I created a card featuring the layering technique for the background.

This card was made using the French Foliage stamp set, which has been around for awhile, but I just recently acquired it.  I'm so glad I did, and I have been eagerly awaiting that chill in the air that signals autumn is on the way so that I could use more than just the water marks stamp.


.The card base is Early Espresso and the Cajun Craze back panel was embossed using the Stripes embossing folder.   On the layered panel, I stamped the French script in Early Espresso, stamping off once to make sure it wasn't too dark.  I then stamped all the different leaves from the set in different colours, also stamped off once.  I used Crumb Cake ink for the water marks and added them  over top of the other stamps.  Next, I inked up the Paris Postal stamp in VersaMark ink and stamped in two places, then covered the images with Pewter embossing powder and heat set it.   Finally, I added the sentiment from the French Foliage set in Early Espresso at the bottom.  On the bottom of this panel, I added some Early Espresso, cut with the Finishing Touches Edgelits.

On the main leaf image, I used a Rock-and-Roll technique with Summer Starfruit and Pumpkin Pie.  The sentiment, from the Blooming with Kindness stamp set, is heat embossed with Pewter embossing powder.

I used some 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso to add a finishing touch.

This will be one of the cards we make at our Technique Nights in September.  Hope you can make it to that!  Don't put off exploring your creative nature, because, as we all find out, Time really does Fly!

Stamps:  French Foliage (w120845; c121166); Blooming with Kindness (w126420; c126422)
Paper: Early Espresso (119686); Cajun Craze (119684); Crumb Cake (120953); Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Early Espresso (126974); Crumb Cake (126975); River Rock (126977); Summer Starfruit (126991); Pumpkin Pie (126945); Chocolate Chip (126979); VersaMark Ink Pad (102283)
Accessories: 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso (119959); Pewter Embossing Powder (124114)
Tools: Stripes embossing folder (123128); Finishing Touches Edgelits (127010); Big Shot (113439)

French Foliage

Finishing Touches Edgelits

1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Early Espresso

Pewter Embossing Powder

The "Eyes" Have It!

I am suffering right now!  Not exactly in pain, no illness, no heartbreak, but my right eye is so irritated that it is constantly watering!  There's nothing in there, but it feels like there is.  I didn't scratch my cornea and I don't have allergies - at least none that have been discovered, but MAN, I feel for those of you who do, because this is uber-annoying.  The pharmacist suggested a natural tear solution for dry eye, and I've used two doses of it to no avail.  What's next?

By the way, there is still time to enter to win some blog candy - a free stamp set.  Find out how on my last post.

Anyway, between sniffling, snivelling and rubbing my eye, (I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.) I made a card for the MOJO Monday challenge this week.  It's also for a friend's birthday, and this friend is also going in for surgery this week, so I wanted it to be special.  I looked at my photos of her and the colours I chose are colours she often wears.  Here's the card:

I used the MOJO Monday #248 sketch by Carole Burrage this week:

 

I'm still trying out new stamp sets from the 2012-13 Idea Book and Catalogue and today I used the set, Blooming with Kindness for the sentiment and for the stamped off flower image behind it.  I really like this set for the fonts and for the 'shadow' stamping of the image, for want of a better description.  I used Papillon Potpourri again for the butterflies, stamping them in StazOn jet black ink and watercolouring using Blender Pens and ink from either a Classic Stampin' Pad or a Stampin' Write marker.  The DSP is in Midnight Muse from the In Colour Designer Series Paper Stack.  To get the scalloped edge on the backing for the DSP panel I used an Adorning Accents Edgelit.  And I added some Pearl Basic Jewels to embellish it.

And if anyone has a remedy to stop my incessant, involuntary weeping, I will be indebted to you forever!  

Stamps:  Blooming with Kindness (c 126422; set of 6; $20.95); Papillon Potpourri (c 123759; set of 7; $17.95)
Paper: Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise; Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White cardstock; 2012-14 In Colour Paper Stack (126910; 40 sheets; 12 x 12; $26.95)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black (101406;$10.50); Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952); Lucky Limeade (126984); Midnight Muse (126860); Pool Party (126982); Summer Starfruit (126991); all $7.25; Stampin' Write markers in the same colours (order as a whole collection)
Accessories: Pearls Basic Jewels (119247; 150; $6.50); 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847; 10 yds; $12.25)
Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526; $21.95); Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595; $11.95); Labels Collection Framelits (125598; $32.95)