Clearance Rack Update

I just got word that the Clearance Rack will be updated again on July 10th.  What exciting news!!!

So don't miss out, mark this date on your calendar, and come back Thursday to check out what's new. 

Penny
Happy Stamping!

Let's Go To The Beach - Paper Players Challenge #203

This week the Paper Players are featuring Theme Challenge PP#203 called "Let's Go to the Beach" by Nance.  I decided to play along with this challenge and hopefully get my mojo back after a month's absence from blogging.  

For me a day at the beach is all about walking in the sand and tidal pools, so I decided that my Wetlands stamp set would be perfect for my card.  

Wetlands Stamp Set this six piece stamp set comes in clear mount, wood block and is also available on MDS as a brush stroke set. 

Here's my entry:

I used the Label Card Thinlets Die Cut to cut my card base in Whisper White.  I've stamped the sand pipers and reeds from the Wetlands Stamp Set and added some texture with Gorgeous Grunge speckles.  I used Early Espresso Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, So Saffron and Coastal Cabana inks.

Label Card Thinlet Die comes with a total of 9 die cuts to add a whole new dimension to your card making.

  

Here's a view of the inside of the card.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Bring on the Cake, Stampin' Up Stamp Set.  The oval is from Coastal Cabana card stock.  I carried the reeds and grass theme from the card front right through to the back and left white space at the top for writing wishes. 

This is a very fast card to make. So fast in fact, that I made several of the ovals at one time so I could make card sets. 

Happy Stamping and check out the rest of the entries on this weeks' challenge at the Paper Players

Blendabilities Now Available

Happy July 1st!  The wait is over! Stampin' Up! has  officially released one of their most exciting new products, Stampin' Blendabilities Markers! These exclusive, alcohol-based marker sets come in a 3-pack of light, medium and dark shades (of the same colour), and provide your projects a more saturated look with blended colours.  Check out this flyer for some details:  

Available In These 3-Colour Packs:
Cherry Cobbler   (Item #130995 - $15.95)
Coastal Cabana  (Item #131000 - $15.95)
Daffodil Delight   (Item #130998 - $15.95)
Old Olive   (Item #130999 - $15.95)
Pumpkin Pie  (Item #130997 - $15.95)
Rich Razzleberry  (Item #131003 - $15.95)
Skin Tone Assortment (Item #129370 - $31.95)

Additional Supplies Available:
Because Blendabilities are alcohol-based markers, they don't work the same as our regular markers.  DO NOT USE Basic Black Classic Ink or STAZ ON inks with Blendabilities...........you'll have a mess.  You need to use an ink pad that allows the Blendabilites to work without smearing.  Memento Inks fit that bill.  They are also awesome for watercolouring and embossing.  

Memento Ink Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (Item 132708 - $7.95)
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black Ink Refill (Item 133456 - $6.95)
Colour Lifter  (Item 129369 - $6.95)

Also Recommended:
Stampin' Up! recommends using Stampin' Up! Whisper White Cardstock with your Stampin' Up! Blendabilities, but choosing any one of Stampin' Up!s beautiful card stocks will add a unique look to your project. 

And, because traditional alcohol markers require a bit of training, Stampin' Up! has developed a few videos to ensure that Blendabilities are easy-to-use for everyone! 

It's Tuesday again, and that means it's time for the Weekly Deals.

There are some awesome deals this week on the Weekly Deals post so don't miss out, especially if you have "frame lits" on your Wish List.

Check it out on my Weekly Deals Promo link above. Weekly Deals Promos.

These specially price promotions are only available from June 24th through 30th, so don't miss out by waiting too long!  

New 2014-2015 Catalogue Goes Live Today!!

Today is such a stampin special day!  

Want to know why I'm happy and I'm celebrating today?  

Well it's the day I've been waiting for and I'm pretty sure you have been too!  It's finally here and at noon today you can order from the brand new 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue.

What's New:
This catalogue has lots of new and exciting features:

• Start simple card kits for new stampers pgs 196 to 203
• Project Life Memory Keeping pgs 188 to 189
• Case: Copy and Share Everything information
• Step It Up - Make it Completely You 
• New Colour Collections - Ink, Paper, Markers, Embellishments
• Blendabilities* (see note about availability)
• Do It Your Way with MDS Studio visit MyDigital Studio.net/try to get started today - pg 5
• Better organization to assist you in finding the perfect projects and products
• Host a Party and Get Free Stamps - pgs 236 - 240
• How to Join Stampin Up as a Business Adventure or as a Hobbyist pg 241
• Stamp Index to help you find stamp sets by name or by section with a host of handy icons
• Greeting and Alphabet Stamp Set Index pg 245 - 247
• Accessory Index pg 248
• Ronald McDonald House Charity - Buy the Flamingo Lingo Stamp Set and Stampin' Up! will donate $3.00 to RMHC.
•  

*Stampin' Up! is targeting a release date of late June or early July for the much anticipated Blendability products. The reason for this late release is so that Stampin' Up! can avoid the problem of back orders and make sure they have enough on hand to meet demand.  In that way all SU customers will be able to enjoy Blendabilities.  I'll let you know as soon as they are ready for ordering.  In the meantime I'll be able to order some on a pre-order and share with you.  Come and test them out soon.
 

English Version:

 Click here for Annual Catalogue PDF version:

Click here for Annual Catalogue Supplies List: 

Click here for Holiday Carry-Over List:

 (note these items will be available until January 2015......yeah!!!)

French Version:

Click here for Annual Catalogue PDF Version:

Click here for Annual Catalogue Supplies List:

Click here for Holiday Carryover List:

These icons and links will be located on my side bar for your future shopping convenience.

If you have placed an order of $25.00 or more with me since January 2014 you will receive your hard copy version of the catalogue in the mail. 

Place an order with me in June and you will get a FREE copy of your own!   Contact me today, you don't want to miss this catalogue. If you are a new customer and would like to receive a copy of the catalogue contact me to see how you can receive one.

Penny
Inspire, Create, Share

Tick Tock................Times Running Out

Just a reminder the new catalogue becomes available tomorrow but Stampin' Up! is still saying goodbye to hundreds of retiring products from the 2013-2014 annual catalogue. 

You might still be able to get your favourite retiring products before they're gone for good!  Check out the weekly deals and the clearance items, because there are still some hot items available.

 
ALL products are only available while supplies last.  From now until June 4, 2014, Stampin' Up! is offering a 25%-50% discount on many of the retiring products. Get them before they're gone!

Retiring Lists

• Retiring Stamps (Available April 21-June 4, 2014, or while supplies last)
  • PDF
  • Excel file
• Retiring Accessories (Available April 21-June 4, 2014, or while supplies last)
  • PDF
  • Excel file
  •  

Modern Medley and Scalloped Tag Topper Punch Birthday Cards

A friend recently asked me to make some birthday cards for her with the following specifications:

• both in black and white only
• one must include musical notes 
• one must have a bird  or two

 I designed the following cards to meet her criteria and I'm very pleased with the outcome.  Sometimes it really helps to have specifics, they work like a great sketch to plant the seed for creativity. 

Here are my cards: 

I really enjoy making cards with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.  They always have that little "wow" factor going for them.  These cards were no exception.  Sadly, I didn't have any designer paper in black and white so I had to fall back on "winter white" by using Very Vanilla cardstock matched up with Modern Medley DSP.   

For the bird card I used Basic Black for the card base and Very Vanilla for the layers and then I reversed out for the second card using Very Vanilla for the base and basic black for the layers.  The designer paper is from Modern Medley* one of this year's very popular designer paper series. 

The little bird and leaf on this card were punched out of basic black cardstock with the Bird Builder Punch.  I added an extra wing and feathered both with my small scissors, just along the wing edge.  A basic rhinestone was used for the bird's eye.  The closure is made with 3/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, one of my absolute all time favourites.  It ties so beautifully, holds it shape and rarely frays.  The "happy BIG day" label is from the Chalk Talk stamp set and was die cut with the coordinating Chalk Talk framelit dies.  I popped it up on the face of the card with dimensionals. 

For the inside of the card I chose the sentiment "Warmest Wishes on your birthday" from the Blooming With Kindness stamp set.  I love this script, it's so beautiful. The three flowers image is from the Punch Potpourri stamp set (a retired hostess set). 

For the Musical Notes card I used Very Vanilla for the card base and then added a piece of designer series paper from the Modern Medley series. 

When I was finished this very quick to assemble card, it took my breath away.  It's clean, simple and yet very elegant and has a definite "wow" factor. 

I stamped the sentiment from the Chalk Talk set in Momento Black on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used the next size up framelit in the Chalk Talk set to die cut a piece from basic black cardstock to mount the sentiment on.  To tie in the musical notes and take away the plainness of the card front I added three small basic pearls on either side of the label.  It's mounted to the card front with dimensionals.  

I just love the inside of this card.   It's clean and simple.  The basic black layer adds a rich look.   To make sure that the sentiment was hidden behind the ribbon when the ribbon is tied in a bow, I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment between the two tag punch pieces.   It worked beautifully!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Chalk Talk, Blooming with Kindness, and Punch Potpourri
Ink:  Momento Basic Black, 
Card stock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper:  Modern Medley* DSP
Accessories:  a 10" piece of Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, a 10" piece of Gros Grain Black ribbon, basic pearls, basic rhinestones, Bird Builder Punch, Chalk Talk Framelits, Tag Topper Punch

*The Modern Medley DSP is retiring and will no longer be available past May 31st, 2014.  It is currently reduced in price, so if you want it you'll have to order it today or tomorrow.  Don't be disappointed.  


Measurements can be found in my tutorial here:

I hope you enjoyed today's post and will leave me a comment as to which card you like the best.  I love hearing from you, it simply makes my day and encourages me to keep creating.  

Penny
Happy Stamping!