Today’s card was made with the Eastern Blooms stamp set and the "for you" greeting from All Holidays. Both of these stamp sets are retiring and will no longer be available after June 30th.

I did a workshop for a group of ladies last year and as I often do, I asked them to name their favorite stamp set. Almost every one answered with "Eastern Blooms". I have to admit I was surprised by the answer but I use this set alot more often now. Because of the different sizes and styles of flowers as well as the floral branch, there are lots of different looks that can be created with just this set.

To make this card, I stamped the largest flower from the Eastern Blooms stamp set in Whisper White Craft ink and then used a sponge dauber to apply Marina Mist ink to the center. The greeting was also stamped in Marina Mist ink and punched out with the 1-3/8" x 5/8" oval punch (retiring). I layered the punched oval onto a larger 1-3/4" x 7/8" punched oval of Marina Mist cardstock.

I added Marina Mist 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (retiring – on sale for $7.13) topped with Whisper White 1/8" taffeta ribbon (retiring) along the bottom of the card before adhering the punched ovals.

If you are looking for a versatile stamp set, order Eastern Blooms today!
 

My Special: Order 2 or more retiring stamp sets and/or accessories and receive 10% off your total order.

PLUS place any order in June and receive the new catalogue before anyone else mailed right to your door.   

Today was one of those days.

I was trying to make a card with multiple levels of embossing in different colours over the Presto Patterns specialty paper.  I could see the card very clearly in my mind. The problem was that I kept messing up the different layers. I either didn’t wait long enough for the layers to dry or messed up the steps. So I’ll save that card for another day and share this one instead. 

I was determined to create something by heat embossing over the Presto Patterns specialty paper. This paper is retring and is now on sale for $11.21, #117175 (was $14.95).

This paper has a white background with different glossy white designs. You can use the paper as is or add colour to the design as I did. Adding colour creates an emboss resist look that I took a step farther here by stamping a flower from the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set with Whisper White craft ink and heat embossing with white embossing powder first. Next, I sponged on Night of Navy ink and added pearls to the center of the stamped flowers to finish.

Several of the retiring Last Chance accessories (priced at up to 40% off) have sold out. Place your order today.  

My Special: Order 2 or more retiring stamp sets and/or accessories and receive 10% off your total order.

PLUS place any order in June and receive the new catalogue before anyone else mailed right to your door.   

It’s a Tie!

With 7 correct guesses, Selina and Rhonda each receive a $30 gift certficiate.

Thanks to everyone who played.

To make room for new stamps and accessories in the upcoming 2011-2012 Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalogue, Stampin’ Up! is retiring some current products.

Save up to 40% on select accessories. Retiring accessories are available only while supplies last so order today so you aren’t disappointed. 

Don’t think it, ink it!
 

Isn’t this card fun?

I needed a card for my nephew’s birthday this week and in my stash of many, many cards there wasn’t a single one that was quite right for a teenage boy. 

At our last Dreaming About Rubber Stamps team meeting, one of my downline, Tracy Raymond, shared a t-shirt card pattern with us. And I knew right away that this template would work for the card I needed.

Want to learn new techniques and patterns? Join today and be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for only $150.50.  

Keep reading this post to see how to make a t shirt card. You won’t believe how easy it is!

I used the Extreme Surfboard stamp for this card with Wild Wasabi embossing powder and paper.

Do you think the Extreme Surfboard stamp will be retiring next week? Click to enter the Crystal Ball contest with your guesses and you could win!   

For the sleeves, I cut a 2" square of cardstock and adhered it to the card at an angle as shown.

Before adhering the sleeve to the card, I trimmed it with a 3/8" wide piece of paper at the bottom that matches the embossed image.

 The collar is a punched 2" x 1-3/8" oval of the same paper that was cut in half and added along the fold of the card.

On top of the paper, I added a narrow punched oval of Basic Black cardstock.

To Order Stampin’ Up! Products in Canada, Click Here

Stamps: Extreme Surfboard (115173) 

Inks: VersaMark (102283)

Paper: Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (117152), Basic Black (121045)

Punches: 2" x 1-3/8" Oval (119859)

Other: Wild Wasabi Embossing Powder (123224)

 Wild Wasabi Embossing Powder

$5.95, #123224

Page 23 of the Summer Mini Catalogue

Want to receive a free Summer Mini catalogue in you mailbox? Click here to request your copy. Canadians only, please. 

Don’t think it, ink it!
 

Is your Crystal Ball polished and ready to go?

I hope so because it’s time for my annual contest to see who can guess correctly the most retiring stamps sets.

I have so many favourite stamp sets but Growing Green always tops the list. 

To make this card, I stamped the stem and leaves in black StazOn ink and coloured them in with Certainly Celery and Old Olive inks and a blender pen. Next, I stamped the flower twice onto Poppy Parade cardstock and cut out one complete flower and the center of the second flower. These I layered with a dimensional.

After corner rounding the two layered cardstocks I added a strip of Scallop Trim Border punched Basic Black cardstock.

To finish, I added three black brads from the Neutrals Brads to each corner.

If you are looking for a stamp set to make consistently good cards and projects, the Growing Green stamp set is it. Because the leaf stamp fills up so much of the page, it is easy to use by simply adding a flower or flowers to the rest of the card. And by including different flowers in different combinations, each card is still unique.

Don’t own this stamp set yet? Order it today. I highly recommend it!    

To Order Stampin’ Up! Products in Canada, Click Here

Want to receive a free Summer Mini catalogue in you mailbox? Click here to request your copy. Canadians only, please. 

Don’t think it, ink it!

I needed a fast card using the On the Grow stamp set for a class.

Since I am somewhat colouring challenged – even my  Kindergarten report card so many years ago mentioned my poor ability to colour within the lines – I wanted to add colour to the stamped flowers without having to colour in the image. 

And I thought of simple paper piecing. For this card, I stamped the image twice, once onto Whisper White cardstock and once onto Wild Wasabi cardstock with Pacific Point ink. I cut out selected pieces of the stamped Wild Wasabi image and added it to the card with dimensionals. To finish, I added tiny pearls from the Basic Pearls to each flower. 

Don’t miss the Summer Mini Launch Party tonight! Attend in person or long distance by clicking here to register.

To Order Stampin’ Up! Products in Canada, Click Here

Stamps: On the Grow (Wood 123075, Clear 123077) 

Inks: Pacific Point (111837) 

Paper: Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper (122342), Pacific Point (111350), Wild Wasabi (108641), Whisper White (100730)

Other: Basic Pearls (119247), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

On the Grow Stamp Set

Set of 4

Wood $19.95, #123075

Clear $14.95, #123077

Want to receive a free Summer Mini catalogue in your mailbox? Click here to request your copy. Canadians only, please. 

Don’t think it, ink it!

I have been wanting to make this card since the Fabulous Florets stamp set appeared on my doorstep. Unfortunately, after weeks of looking I had to finally accept the fact that my VersaMarker had walked away and order a replacement.

So, here now is the card that has been swimming in my head waiting to be made. I’m really happy with how it turned out and I hope you think it was worth the wait.

This was a very simple card to make and a few embellishments really made a difference. 

I stamped the two different flowers from the Fabulous Florets stamp set (W123025, C123027) onto Crumb Cake cardstock (120953) with Whisper White Craft ink (101731). Next, I heat embossed the stamped images with White embossing powder (109132) before colouring them in the VersaMarker (100901).

The ‘Thank You" from the Curly Cute stamp set (W117014, C120510) was stamped with Real Red Craft ink (119178 Craft Spots). I added Real Red Glimmer Brads (121006) to the center of each of the large flowers and finished the card by adding Stampin’ dimensionals (104430) between the card and the layered piece.

A quick and easy card to get the weekend stamping started! 

To Order Stampin’ Up! Products in Canada, Click Here

Fabulous Florets Stamp Set

Set of 6

Wood $28.95, #123025

Clear $21.95, #123027