Cheer Up, Buttercup for Freshly Made Sketches

 I'm madly trying to use up my DSP before it all retires.  June 4th will be the last day you can order any of the gorgeous Designer Series Paper from the 2013/14 Annual Catalogue.  If there's some you missed out on, now's the time to get your orders in!  I got into my Kaleidoscope DSP yesterday and decided to create something for Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #137:

This simple sketch, by Jen Mitchell, is based on rectangles and has lots of room for the creative muse to do her thing!  Here's my take on it:

•  I received the Geometrical Stamp Set for free at Leadership this year, but haven't used it a whole lot.  Time to get it out again!  It coordinates so perfectly with the Kaleidoscope Design Series Paper!
• My colour scheme follows the DSP colours, with a base and flag of Bermuda Bay, the sentiment in Melon Mambo and the little triangle in Crushed Curry.  This is such a striking colour combination that it catches your eye right away.
• I'm so glad that the Designer Buttons will still be around in the new catalogue, because they so often add that balancing element to a design.  This one is tied with some Whisper White Baker's Twine in a pert little bow that adds more playfulness to this already cheery card.

Don't forget about the bargains you can get for some of the stamps and accessories on the Retired List! Here are the links where you can check out the bargains!

Retired Stamp List with sale prices marked

Retired Accessories List with sale prices marked

You have until June 4th to take advantage of this sale, but only WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, so better to get your orders in sooner than later.

To order, you can call me or email me, or go to my On-Line store to order 24/7 and have it delivered right to your door.

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 products used to make this card today!

Product List

Geometrical [wood] [133158]	Geometrical [clear] [133161]	Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper [132995]	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]	Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]
Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [126948]	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173]	Brights Designer Buttons [130028]	White Baker's Twine [124262]

Optical Illusions

I love optical illusions under most circumstances!  They really make you question your reality.  What's up and what's down?  How does that go again??

Are they under or over?

                           Do you see vases or faces?

And here's our very own Stampin' Up Optical Illusion - our new Chevron Ribbon:

Doesn't it look like the left hand side is narrower than the right?  Well, it isn't, of course, but the chevron design causes it to look wider on the right.  Here's the proof that they are the same:

Fun, though!  I first noticed this when I was making a card today for Dynamic Duos Challenge #57, which was Pear Pizzazz and Basic Black with a dessert theme of plants.  It is also a sample for my All Occasion Stamper's Dozen class this weekend:

• The optical illusion of the Basic Black Chevron Ribbon is partially obscured by the snippet of Pear Pizzazz Ribbon I used just below it.  I still love the look of the ribbon though.  I did notice the effect was lessened when you used it vertically or when you tied a knot or a bow in it.
• Love the new Designer Series Paper Stacks with their new patterns.  The DSP in the third layer is from the Subtles collection - Pear Pizzazz.
• I used one of the Adorning Accents Edgelits to die cut the edge in the scallops.  To get them even I temporarily adhered the Whisper White and Basic Black panels together and die cut them at the same time, then moved the white panel up a bit before adhering them permanently.
• I inked up the tree image using Stampin' Write markers.  Make sure you "huff" on the stamp with your warm breath to remoisten the ink before you stamp.

• I also inked up the sentiment from the same set with a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker because I only wanted the top part of the sentiment.
• How cute are the new Designer Buttons, here from the Neutrals collection?

This is the challenge logo:

Just goes to show you can't always believe your own eyes!  Have a good one and thanks for dropping by today!

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers (w128751; c127805)

Paper:  Designer Series Paper Stacks - Subtles (130135); Pear Pizzazz (131201), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers in Pear Pizzazz (131266) and Basic Black (100082)

Accessories:  3/4" Chevron Ribbon in Basic Black (130010), 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz (retired); Neutrals Designer Buttons (130031)

Tools:  Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595)

Adorning Accents Edgelits

Basic Black Chevron Ribbon

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

Neutrals Collection Designer Buttons

Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker

Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stacks

Product Shares are Live!

I've posted product shares for the new catalogue!  They can always be found by clicking on Product Shares in the upper menu bar.

                                                       2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue

There are so many enticing new products in the new Catalogue that I'm sure your wish list is longer than your arm! Here's a way to get a taste of many of the papers, ribbons and embellishments for less money! Product shares! Here is what it available.

A. Chevron Ribbon Share - $38 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)

- 3/4" Chevron Ribbon - 2 yards in each of 12 colours








B.  Ruffle Stretch Trim Share -  $16 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)
 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim- 2 yards in each of 5 new In Colours

C. New Colours in Existing Styles of Ribbons Share - $11 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)
- 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon - 2 yards of Pear Pizzazz
- 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon - 2 yards each of Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo

- 1/2" Seam Binding - 2 yards of Soft Sky
- 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain - 2 yards of Blushing Bride



D. Embellishment Share - $44 each (includes tax and shipping)  4 people required

- Designer Buttons - 1 each of 3 designs in 24 colours (pg. 168)
- Very Vintage Buttons - 3 each of 3 designs (pg. 169)
- In Colour Boutique Details - 2 each of 5 new In Colours (pg. 169)
- Candy Dots - 5 each of 40 colours   (pg. 171)

E. Paper Share - $47 each (includes tax and shipping) 4 people required

- Quatrefancy Specialty - one  6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg.150)
- Soho Subway -one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs  (pg. 151)
- Afternoon Picnic - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 151)
- I Am Me - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 151)
- Gingham Garden - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Etcetera - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Birthday Basics - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Venetian Romance - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Eastern Elegance - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)
- Modern Medley - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)
- Epic Day This and That - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)

F. "I Want It All" Share - Save 15%  -  $145.00 each

- Includes A,B, C, D and E


G. Core'dinations Card Stock Share - $23.50 each (includes tax and shipping) 4 people required

- one 6" x 12" sheet of each of all 50 colours

Check off what you would like and fill in your contact information. When a share is full, I will send you a PayPal invoice for your share in the total. I will then order from Stampin' Up and package and deliver your share(s) to you, once I have received payment.  *Sorry, but I can only ship to locations in Canada.*

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