Creative Circle May Blog Hop - Saying Goodbye To Retiring Favorites

Welcome to the Creative Circle Design Team's May Blog Hop.  If you're new to the crafting world or you're not familiar with our acronym "CCDT" it stands for "Creative Circle Design Team". We are a group of like minded Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who love paper crafting, Stampin' Up! products, SVG or electronic cutter patterns and participating in blog hops.  

Our CCDT hop is held on the first Thursday of each month and every 3rd month Liz Holloway, the leader of our group provides a pattern and challenge to create something using her 3D SVG and Silhouette formats.  

A big welcome to Lisa Eisner, the newest member of our Design Artists.  Lisa has been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for many years and brings a wealth of talent and skills to our group.  Nice to have you on board Lisa.

Stampin' Up! recently posted their retirement lists in anticipation of the transition to their new Annual Catalogue so our Hop today is appropriately named "Saying Goodbye" and is focused on our favourite retiring products.

This theme was really hard for me, because so many of my favourites will be gone forever as of May 31st.  I went back and forth through my supplies and have come up with a collection of items ranging from card stock to dies to share with you. I hope you enjoy my projects and are inspired to create some of your own.

Number of Years:
Since the Number of Years bundle arrived on the scene in 2016 I've been in love with it's versatility and usefulness for my card making projects. 

It definitely fits in the "one of my favourites" categories, for birthday and other special milestone events.  I've chosen to showcase both the stamp set and coordinating Large Number Dies in a Graduation card along with some other products that will be retiring too.

The inside of the card features a sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday.

Supplies:

Number of Years #140653 is a 29 piece Photopolymer Stamp Set that coordinates with the Large Number Framelit Dies.

Stamp Sets:  Number of Years, Picture Perfect Birthday
Card Stock:  Peekaboo Peach, Dapper Denim, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White
Ink:  Dapper Denim, Wild Wasabi, Peekaboo Peach 
Accessories:  Tassle from Celebrate Today Balloon Framelits, Oval Dies Nesting, Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Dimensionals, Mini Basic Pearls

This card uses Dapper Denim, Peekaboo Peach and Wild Wasabi inks and card stocks that also will be retiring.  I love the way these colours coordinate.

To make the Large Numbers pop off the page I've used a sponge dauber around the edges of each number in their matching ink colour and have mounted them with Dimensionals.  I added small basic pearls to the centers of the flowers and the tassel on the graduation cap.  

For the Graduation Cap I punched out a 1" square and a tassle from the Celebrate Birthday coordinating dies.  I again used the sponge dauber around the edges adhered the tassel with a Glue Dot and then popped it onto the card with Dimensionals. 

 

For the inside of the card I cut a 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of card stock and temporarily taped it to the center of the Whisper White Panel as a mask.  I randomly stamped the Number of Years floral images around the mask. I  sponged Peek A Boo Peach ink around the outside edges of the panel and over the floral stamping.  I removed the mask and stamped the sentiment from Perfect Birthday in Dapper Denim Ink.  This panel was layered onto Dapper Denim and adhered to the card base. 

Truly Tailored & Guy Greetings Twist & Turn Cards:
For these next two cards I'm showcasing a smaller style card called a Twist and Turn card.  It fits in a standard A2 envelope and uses an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" piece of card stock for its base.

My inspiration for making these cards is twofold.  I was preparing to enter a fancy fold challenge using the Twist and Turn design but I needed a template.  I found a tutorial by Dawn Griffith's Stampin' Studio blog from 2015 when she created a card using the Guy Greetings stamp set.  I loved her design so much I  decided to CASE it but with a few subtle changes of my own.

Guy Greetings Twist and Turn Card:
My first Twist and Turn card features the Guy Greeting Stamp Set.  My favourite image in this set is the vintage car.  It makes me think of Bonnie and Clyde and all those old black and white movies from the 40's.

For my card I combined Naturals Ivory and Basic Black card stocks with a map image paper from Going Places a retired Stampin' Up! DSP stack.  The edges of the DSP were sponged with Basic Black ink before they were layered onto the Basic Black layers.

I stamped the Vintage Car image on Naturals Ivory card stock with my Misti and then cut the image and mounted it on to the square with Dimensionals. 

I stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Guy Greetings in Versa Mark ink on a scrap of Natural Ivory and embossed it with Black Embossing Powder. I loved how this image turned out.  I punched the embossed sentiment out with the Tailored Tag Punch and then mounted the tag onto a scrap of Basic Black fussy cutting within an 1/8" around the edges. The tag was pasted directly to the designer series paper.

For the inside panel I stamped off the car image twice and then stamped it on the bottom right corner.  I inked up the "Hoping Your Birthday is as Grand As You" from Guy Greetings and stamped through the center of the car.  In retrospect I should have heat embossed this sentiment too as the Naturals Ivory card stock is grainy and doesn't take a stamped image as clearly as an embossed one.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Guy Greetings and Truly Tailored 
Card Stock: Natural Ivory (R), Basic Black
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Versa Mark Ink
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Tailored Tag Punch, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Detailed Scissors, Dimensionals, Tom Bow Glue.  

Guy Greetings #138828 Available in wood, clear and photopolymer in English and French.  One of Stampin Ups! best masculine stamp sets, ever! 

True Gentleman Twist and Turn Card My second Twist and Turn card features products from the True Gentleman bundle from the 2018 Occasions Catalogue.  Most of the products from this catalogue will be retired May 31st, 2018.
  

I started with a Dapper Denim card base followed by a layer of Tranquil Tide card stock. I'm going to miss these colours as they are so awesome for masculine cards.   I really love the crisp clean and beautiful designs in the True Gentleman DSP, and ordered an extra pack to keep in my stash.  

True Gentleman Designer Series Paper 

I embossed the sentiment "Happy Birthday" from Guy Greetings in Very Vanilla EP on a scrap of Dapper Denim card stock.  I cut the ends of the strip with my scissors and mounted this tag with Dimensionals.  

I stamped the sentiment "Wishing You a Dapper Day" in Tranquil Tide ink on the inside panel.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Truly Tailored 
Card Stock: Dapper Denim, Tranquil Tide
DSP:  True Gentleman Designer Series Paper 
Ink: Versak Mark, Tranquil Tide 
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Tailored Tag Punch, Dimensionals, Very Vanilla Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Tom Bow Glue 

Coffee Cafe Masculine Gift Card Holder:
For this next project I'm spotlighting the Coffee Break Designer Series Paper, a very special stamp called Stylized Birthday, and one of my favourite dies called Lots of Layers.  I'm sad to say these are all retiring.

This card has a Chocolate Chip card base and the first layer is Soft Sky.  Both of these colours are retiring in the Color Revamp the end of May.  I've added a chevron design paper from the Coffee Break DSP pack as a top layer.  Details on how to make this card are available in my WWC #168 Helen's Feminine Anything Goes challenge.   

I'm going to truly miss this Stylized Birthday sentiment when it's gone.  It's one of my larger birthday sentiments and has such a wonderful curly font.  The coffee pots and coffee cup are from the Coffee Break Designer paper.  There are many wonderful papers in this pack featuring coffee items.  I fussy cut the coffee pots but used the Coffee Cups Framelits Dies to cut out both paper cups.  I've added Dimensionals to mount these to the card front and inside of the card.  The swirl behind the sentiment is the coffee stain image from Timeless Textures stamp set. 

The inside of the card has layers of DSP completing the base layer and the half layer that forms the gift card holder.  I punched a half circle with the one inch circle punch in the center of the gift card holder for easy access.  I love the colourful polka dots and how they match up with the chevron paper so well.  Great colour combination.       

I'll be tucking in a Starbucks gift card when I send out this card, but I wanted something to write my birthday wishes on  so I cut a 3 1/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White card stock to go into the gift card holder portion of the card too.  I stamped some more of the coffee swirls in the corners with Early Espresso ink and stamped a two-toned sentiment from the Birthday Celebration stamp set that goes perfectly with this card.  I used Early Espresso for the "Come Let Us Sit Together and Drink" and the "Coffee" in Tranquil Tide. 

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Stylized Birthday, Timeless Textures, Birthday Celebrations (R)
Ink:  Tranquil Tide, Early Espresso
Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Whisper White and Coffee Break DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Oval Thinlet Dies, Ovals Thinlets, Coffee Cups Framelits Dies, Sizzix Scalloped Oval Die, Detailed Snips, Dimensionals, 1" Circle Punch

Coffee Break DSP 

Stylized Birthday 

Flying Home Birthday Wishes:
My final card for this hop is a birthday card stamped with the Flying Home stamp set from the Occasions Catalogue.

The card base is Tranquil Tide and the next two layers are in Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist that were dry embossed with the Berry Burst Embossing Folder.   

I had fun colouring these images from the Flying Home stamp set on Watercolour Paper.  I cut out the panel with the Lots of Layers Thinlet dies.  I only wanted a small margin of colour around the outer edge of the label so I glued it to some Tranquil Tide card stock and fussy cut within 1/8" around the outer edge.  Dimensionals were added to the back of the label.

The sentiment "With Many Wishes Just for You" is from the Birthday Wishes for You stamp set.  I stamped it on a scrap of Basic Black card stock with Versa Mark ink and embossed it with White Embossing Powder.  I hand cut around the banner and then adhered it to the front of the layered piece with Tom Bow Glue. 

I stamped the "Happy Birthday" from Stylized Birthday on the inside panel of this card in Momento Tuxedo Black ink.  A few little birds were added and some sequins to finish this panel.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Stylized Birthday, Flying Home, High Tide

Card Stock:  Tranquil Tide, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Very Vanilla and Watercolour Paper
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Bronze, Bemuda Bay, Rose Regal, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Tranquil Tide
Accessories: Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Dimensionals, Lots of Layers Thinlet Dies, Petal Burst Embossing Folder, Sequins, Tom Bow Glue, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Very Vanilla Embossing Powder, Scalloped Circle Punch, Sponge Daubers. 

I hope you enjoyed my projects today and will take the time to comment.  Did I show case any of the stamps or products that you are sad to see retired?  There are so many and it's so easy to get attached to different sets.  

I hope you'll visit the rest of the Creative Circle Design Team too and see what they've showcased.  Their projects are truly amazing.  You can use the links below. 

Until next time .......





Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Creative Circle CCDT February Blog Hop - Easter Eggstrordinary!

It's time once again for the CCDT - Creative Circle Design Team monthly blog hop.  The theme this month is Easter.  Yes, I know it's early to think about Easter but demos are always looking ahead.  

You won't see a project from me for this hop because I was unable to participate, however, I really want to give fellow CCDT artists a shout out for their hard work and inspiration.  

I hope you'll take some time to visit these blogs and check out the beautiful Easter Themed projects they've created.  Here are the links for this months hop:

Click on each link and checkout their creation! 

1.	Jay Soriano
2.	Liz Holloway
3.	Juana Ambida
4.	Laurence Lolascrap
5.	Lynn Streifert
6.	Kate Creasey

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot

Creative Circle Design Team Blog November Hop - "Thankful"

Welcome to the Creative Circle Design Team's November Blog Hop.  This fun hop, spear headed by Liz Holloway always takes place the first Thursday of every month.  Our theme this month is "Thankful", a word that has special meaning for so many of us this year, following a host of natural and man made disasters.

Although our Canadian Thanksgiving has just passed I will be celebrating with my American friends at the end of this month, so the "Thankful" theme for this month's hop is still relevant for me, in many ways.

Here's My Project:
I created an accordion fold "thankful" display for a mantle top using the Jar of Love Stamp, Painted Harvest and  Color Theory Paper Stack. This accordion style display is contained in a decorative fall themed belly band, that holds it all together until it goes on display.  Let me show you how it unfolds. 

This little bundle is about the size of a deck of cards.  I made a "belly band" to hold the folded card together when not in use. 

Side view of the accordion bundle.

The two green panels are the outside front and back panels of the accordion fold.

The Belly Band's off and this is a view from the top. 

I wish I could make this picture enlarge more, unfortunately that's as big as it gets.  The whole concertina measures 4" x 24".

Supplies:
Stamps: Jar of Love and Painted Harvest
Inks: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Crushed Curry
Designer Series Paper: Color Theory DSP Paper Stack and Color Theory Memories and More Card Pack, Gold Foil, Copper Glimmer Paper,
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Adhesive, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Stickles, Wink of Stella, Big Shot, Seasonal Layers Thinlet Dies, Everyday Jar Framelit Dies.
 
Let's Take a Closer Look:

1. Cut three 4" x 11" strips of Crumb Cake card stock.

2. Score these strips at 2 1/2", 5', 7 1/2" and 10. Cut off 1" piece at the end. Attach the first two strips with Tom Bow Glue and then attach the last one. Beginning on the left hand side begin folding at score lines starting with a valley fold, then a mountain fold, all the way to the end of the strip. You should have 10 sections in the strip.

3. Cut 12 pieces of Soft Suede measuring 2 1/4" x 3 3/4". Glue these strips to the inside 10 sections and to the two ends on the outside or back of the accordion strip.

4. From the Colour Theory Memories and More Pack choose the two cards with leaves and an Old Olive background. Cut the cards to measure 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" and adhere these pieces to the two end sections on the inside of the accordion strip.

5. Cut eight 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" pieces from the Old Olive and Crushed Curry Color Theory DSP paper. I chose the sheets with the Ombre look. You will need four of each colour. Sponge the edges with the appropriate ink and then glue to the Soft Suede panels.

6. Cut two more 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" pieces from the Color Theory Paper Pack. I chose the Old Olive cracked design paper and sponged the edges with Old Olive ink before gluing to the two panels on the back of the accordion strip.

7. Using the remaining Old Olive and Crushed Curry Ombre pieces of Color Theory DSP stamp the largest jar image in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. You should have 4 Old Olive and 4 Crushed Curry mason jars. Note: Stamp an extra mason jar in Crushed Curry for the Belly Band and set aside.

Cut the jars out with the Everyday Jar Framelits.  Sponge edges with appropriate inks. Beginning with a Crushed Curry and alternating with Old Olive jars, attach the jars with Dimensionals to the accordion panels.

8. Stamp 8 mason jar lids in Smokey Slate ink on Whisper White card stock and cut out with the matching framelit die. Attach with Dimensionals to the top of the Jar.

9. Using an alphabet framelit set (non SU) I cut the letters to spell "THANKFUL" from Soft Suede card stock. I sponged each letter with Soft Suede ink and then glued the letters to the centers of the mason jars. Note: I would have loved to have used Stampin' Ups! Large Letters Framelit Dies for this part of the project, but they are still on my WISH LIST.

10. Cut a variety of maple leaves from card stock, foil and glimmer papers using the thee sizes of leaf dies in the Seasonal Layers Thinlet Set. Use a sponge dauber and ink to sponge all the edges. Use these leaves to decorate the panels and the belly band.

11.  Stamp the acorn from the Painted Harvest stamp set in Soft Suede and Early Espresso inks on Whisper White card stock and fussy cut the finished acorns.    I stamped and coloured at least 20 acorns so they could be clustered together.I sponged the edges with Crushed Curry to give them a more realistic look.  I loved how they turned out..... such fun!

12. For the Belly Band cut a strip of Soft Suede card stock to measure 2" x 10 1/2". Score at 2 1/2", 4", 6 1/2", and 8". Crease on fold lines and adhere on backside. Decorate the front of the Belly Band with a the Crushed Curry Mason Jar. Attach leaves, gemstones, acorns and leaves. Stamp the sentiment from Painted Harvest, "gather together & give thanks" on a 3/4" x 3" strip of Whisper White card stock. Stamp it in Smokey Slate ink. Cut the ends into banner points. Sponge the edges of the strip with Old Olive ink. 

Here's a look at the individual panels. When I was finishing them I added some extra touches like diamond Stickles on the jar lids and acorns. I also added a few green gems to the belly band and the first and last panel. I added some Wink of Stella around the letters to make them sparkle a little and some ink splatters in Old Olive and Early Espresso inks.

 

Well that's it for my project. I hope you've enjoyed it. I'll be giving mine to the hostess of our Thanksgiving Day dinner at the end of this month and I'm pretty sure she'll enjoy adding it to her decorations for the occasion.

  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot