Say goodbye ...

... to some of our old favourites as the 2011-12 Ideas Book & Catalogue makes way for the new 2012-13 Annual Catalogue.

(just a quick note - I have set this post to appear at the top of my page all through August ... don't forget to scroll down to see what I've been doing this month!)

As always, we have to lose stamps and accessories to make way for awesome new goodies, so here are links to both the Retiring Stamps and Retiring Accessories lists.  I have put these on Google Docs so I can update availability as I hear that items are out of stock.

Remember that the retiring products are only available as stocks last - so when they're gone, that's it.  If you see anything on the list that you have been wanting to buy, now is the time!  Contact me today to place your order.
**Breaking News** 3/8/12:  Some items are already sold out!

A note on the number of inkpads on the list - as you may have heard, Stampin' Up! are reconfiguring their inkpads to a new foam surface rather than the existing felt.  The cases of the pads will be the same, the colours will be the same and the ink will be the same (with the exception of five colours which apparently don't play well with foam).  All the core colours will still be available.

Let's Swing :-)

I have been meaning to use my Framelits to make a swing card (apparently sometimes known as a flip-flop card) for some time, and finally got around to it last weekend.  Turns out it's really, really easy, and pretty quick as well once you have the measurements.

I found this video on YouTube, with very clear instructions, and whipped this up.  Then, because it was looking a little bare and needed dressing up, I trimmed the ends with my Adorning Accents Edgelits and used the matching Adorning Accents Embossing Folders to add the embossed detail.

And the colours?  Well, yes, they are new :-)  What you see here are two of the new 2012-14 In Colors - Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit.  Primrose Petals is a dusky pink, which works beautifully with navy blue (should have used it here...) and Summer Starfruit is a colour I would almost call chartreuse - a kind of greeny-yellow which is nicer than it sounds.

And if you look closely at the flower, you will see that the tips of the petals are a slightly darker pink - this is Raspberry Ripple, another new colour - not sure yet, but it might just be my favourite of the new 2012-14 batch :-)

 

Supplies used: 
Stamp(s): Button Buddies
Ink: Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple
 Cardstock: Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White
Other: Labels Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, Simply Scored

Celebrate!

Here's a kind of sneak peek ... can I call it a sneak peek when the stamp set in question has already been available (in the Summer Mini Catalogue earlier this year)?  Probably not.  But it will be available again come September 1, when the new 2012-13 Annual Catalogue makes its debut (can't wait).

So here's just a card I made last night.  For a wonder, this was one card that actually looks a lot like the idea I had before I started, and I'm pretty darned happy about it too :-)

It was surprisingly quick to put together as well, once I'd worked out my colours.

The Melon Mambo strip has been scored at 1/4" intervals using the Simply Scored - just another way of adding a subtle texture to your papercrafts.  And above that, a row of embossed scallops using the Adorning Accents Folders.

Supplies used: 
Stamp(s): Topsy-Turvy Celebration
Ink: Melon Mambo, Midnight Muse
Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight
Other: Labels Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Folders, Simply Scored

Goodbye Post #8

I am finding myself a little emotional as I look back over the past few years of this blog ... I had no idea just how many cards I had made and shared!

Today we're looking at Trendy Trees - a cute (and inexpensive) little set.  This one was a lot of fun to play around with, as being a two-step stamp set, you can really get creative with the images you build.

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired

Goodbye Post #7

It's nearly crunch time ... if you want to buy any of the stamp sets I've featured over the past few weeks, your time is running out!  As of August 31 these will no longer be available ... and if they're sold out beforehand, that means you've missed out, so contact me to place your order before it's too late.

Today I am revisiting another particular favourite of mine over the past few years.  I have been kind of neglecting it of late, mostly because I have a short attention span and am easily distracted by new thi.... oh look, something shiny!

Vintage Vogue reflects the old world style of collage stamping, which I have always enjoyed.  You can dress up a stamp set like this with muted colours or make a bold statement with something bright and sassy.  I have loved using this set, and know you would too.

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Goodbye Post #6

Another farewell to retiring favourites!  It's been fun, but time to move on ... and today's tribute goes to Fifth Avenue Floral - such a beautiful stamp set *sigh*.  Fortunately we can still bask in a little of its glory with the Manhattan Flower Textured Embossing Folder :-)

Here's a few cards I've made in the past with this lovely set ... enjoy!

(and the more I look at my blog, the more stamp sets I see that need to be revisited ... keep an eye out for more Goodbye Posts)

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Goodbye Post #5

Today's featured stamp set is I {Heart} Hearts, along with the coordinating retiring punch Heart to Heart.

I know it's cliche, but I just love hearts in all shapes and forms, and this set certainly delivered in that area.  And with the Heart to Heart punch taking care of a lot of the fiddly cutting for some of the hearts, well - that was just a bonus to me :-)

As always, remember the featured stamp sets and/or accessories are only available while stocks last, so get your order in quick!

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Goodbye Post #4

Yet another retiring stamps farewell.

This time around I'm highlighting Butterfly Prints, and the coordinating Butterfly Punch.  I have found myself shamefully neglecting these two since I got my hands on the Big Shot butterfly dies, but looking back I remember just how sweet this set and punch are together.

And as a bonus, if you were after the Butterfly Punch, now is the best time to buy, as it's on special for $25.46, a 25% saving on the original price!  But of course, this is only while stocks last, and I have absolutely no idea how many are still available, so if you want it, you had better contact me to place your order as quick as you can :-)

(yes, I know that last one was just featured the other day ... but look at the cute butterfly!)


If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Goodbye Post #3

Another farewell post *sniff* this is getting me a little emotional.  I have loved these sets, and will miss being able to share the love with others.  Of course, I will still have them, but won't be using them nearly as much now that I can't sell them as well :-)

Today, Inspired by Nature.  What a gorgeous set - one large stamp with daisies (or whatever they are - I'm no botanist), and another grass.  Sounds odd and not very pretty, but honestly, they are!  The grass in particular has been well used, as it comes in handy for the background of many nature inspired cards.

My personal favourites:

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Goodbye Post #2

Here I am again with another tribute to retiring stamp sets.

This time around it's Pocket Silhouettes ... oh, how I have loved this little set!  It is surprisingly inexpensive, and while you might just look at it and see just four little stamps with weeds on them :-) in reality they could be anything.

Here's a couple of my favourites:

 

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Blues and Browns

The colour combination of the moment seems to be blue and brown, and who am I to argue?

Here's a little card I put together recently to show someone how easy it is to colour the white Paper Daisies (although I admit that the ones you see here are actually old ones from my stash, but they are the same sort of thing).

The colouring process is simplicity itself - simply put a few drops of any classic ink reinker in a small container, add a little water (maybe a teaspoon or so), swirl to mix and drop your flower in.  Retrieve it straight away (this is where tweezers are you friends) and set aside on some paper towel to dry.  You can blast it with your heat gun, just be careful it doesn't blow away.

The flowers here were dyed with Baja Breeze, to match the blue layer, and had a nice little pearl added in the middle because - well, it needed something :-)

Images © 1990-2012 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: 
Stamp(s): Creative Elements
Ink:Crumb Cake
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Other: Paper flowers from my stash, Basic Pearls, Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Elegants Lines, Vintage Wallpaper, Elegant Bouquet

Heartfelt Stampin' Event Melbourne 2012

Today I was lucky enough to attend the first Heartfelt Stampin' Event in Australia - a new take on the Regional seminars that have been held in previous years.

Usually, everyone sits at tables to watch demonstrations and listen to speakers, with a bit of make & taking thrown in.  It's informative but not very tactile.


This year, we did get the make & take session (and I actually finished one of the four projects!  I know!  I never do that!) (the others will be completed, I swear).

But there was so much more.  Yes, there were awesome demonstrations where we sat and watched four talented ladies take us through such topics as Decorations, Cards, Packing and Wrapping, and Handmade Gifts (such beautiful projects they made!).

But there were also the hands-on workstations where attendees could wander around and try their hand at different products, many of which are not yet available to the Australian market (well, until September 1).  A couple of  stands were set up where more involved products and projects were demonstrated - here's Felicity, before the rush:

She felt like she was on a cooking show :-)

There was even some tables where the guests could make Christmas decorations to hang on the Stampin' tree - and of course, I forgot to photograph that *darnit*.

Here's a picture of some happy people working their way through the make & take projects.  From left, Pauline, Jo, Nicky, Heather and Judy:

I didn't take nearly as many photos as I had intended *sigh* - too much to do, too little time. All in all, a fun day, lots to do and see, and of course there was lots of catching up with friends.

Oh, and we got a copy of the new catalogue,  Just thought I'd throw that out there - and I can tell you you're going to LOVE it!  Seriously, it's the best yet!

Boxes Made Easy

I love me a gadget, I really do.  So when Stampin' Up! released the Simply Scored board, with coordinating Metric Plate, I had to have it.  So far I haven't really explored all the possibilities with this tool, but when I lashed out and also purchased the matching Diagonal Plate I figured I had everything I needed to make all those fancy folds and boxes and envelopes I see everywhere.

Now all I need is time *sigh*.

However, I did manage to whip this little beauty up the other night, when DD13 was due at a birthday party the next day and needed a little presentation box to fill with Skittles (her friend's favourite lolly).  Mum to the rescue!

I scouted around the net until I found a pattern to use as a guide, and made a quick little box.  Oops.  Way too small.  Out with the ruler, piece of paper and a pencil to work out the proper dimensions needed to fit in a large sized pack of Skittles (removed from their original packaging and put into a nice little cellophane bag).

And of course, now the box is in its new home and I didn't make a note of the measurements for future reference.  All I can remember is it was 1-1/2 inches high.

The box is constructed using Sticky Strip (this stuff is awesome for boxes because it really lives up to its name!) - the ribbon was wrapped around the box and stuck down with more Sticky Strip before the top and bottom decorative die cuts were added.

It was well received (as was the card) and I loved the little pink scallop flower I made for the top - too much fun!

Closeup of the scallop punch flower with the Rhinestone Brad centre.

Extreme closeup of the scallop punch flower with the Rhinestone Brad centre (because I really like this photo, and you can see the sparkle from the Shimmer Paint mist I spritzed on the flower).

Images © 1990-2012 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: 
Stamp(s): Memorable Moments (sneak preview from 2012-13 Catalogue), Creative Elements
Ink: Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Other: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Top Note Die, Rhinestone Brads Square Fire, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Labels Collection Framelits Dies (not currently available), ribbon

Goodbye post #1

I was going to try to make a few last cards with stamp sets that are retiring this month, but I'm afraid Real Life is getting in the way a little, with work and birthdays and other things, so instead I'm going to do what they do on television when the writers are having a break - a Clip Show!

Every so often I will revisit some old favourites - and first up is a stamp set I have loved to bits over the past couple of years:  Baroque Motifs

If you search on the tag for this set, you'll find a whopping 27 posts - it may be I have been a little fond of it.  No, really.

Here are a few of my favourites...

If you click on the pictures you will be taken to the original post which should outline the materials used on each card.  Keep in mind that some of these are several years old and as such, quite a bit of the Stampin' Up! product used has long since retired.

Enjoy the trip down memory lane, and I will be highlighting another retiring stamp set soon!

Going, going .... gone!

Just popping in really quickly to post a link to the 2012 Retiring List ... it's that time of the year when a whole bunch of products are dropped from the Stampin' Up! line to make way for awesome new goodies.

Much as we'd love to keep these around forever, there just isn't space in the warehouse!  I encourage you to take a look at the list to see if there's anything there you've had your eye on but not quite got around to purchasing just yet.

Remember that the items on the linked list is only available while stocks last - you need to be quick to place your order or you might miss out.

(And a quick note ... if you do take a look at the list you will see that ALL the inkpads are "retiring" - fear not!  The inkpads are being reconfigured - the colours will still be available, but in a new "foam" pad which we're told is superior to the current fabric style.  The cases and colours will remain the same).

I will make a proper post with all the information you need in the next day or so - see you then!