Blended Bloom Goodbye and Clearance Rack Specials

Today I dove back into my stash to create this commissioned card.

I started with a Thick Whisper White matte. Using the long retired Blended Bloom stamp, I used Versamark to stamp all over the matte and then heat embossed it using White Stampin' Emboss Powder.

Taking a sponge, I sponged on Bermuda Bay, concentrating the color more at the middle of each bloom. I stamped, embossed and sponged one more bloom on a separate piece of card stock. I used my scissors to fussy cut this bloom.

On a strip of vellum, I stamped the sentiment from the now retiring Greatest Greetings stamp set and heat embossed it with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder. I folded this around the sponged matte and taped it at the back. The matte was then adhered to a Bermuda Bay card base using Fast Fuse. Plain Whisper White mattes were adhered inside the card to give plenty of room for people to sign the card.

The fussy cut bloom was adhered to the card front using Dimensionals. A now retired Iced Rhinestone was added to the bloom's centre to complete the card.

Using a piece of Bermuda Bay card stock, I created a matching envelope using the Envelope Punch Board. To jazz up the envelope, I stamped the flower, using matching Bermuda Bay ink, on the envelope flap and three times on the front of the envelope.

This was so much fun to create–gotta love emboss resist!

My purchaser loved the card! She plans to buy future cards from me and may also have a class with some other friends.

Besides the Retiring Products at Stampin' Up!, today they added to the Clearance Rack with products up to 60% off! Of course, these products will not last long so shop now! Take a look below at what you can get for a song. Click directly on a product to go directly to my store.

Clearance Rack

Paper Pumpkin To The Rescue!

Are you a Paper Pumpkin subscriber? If you're not, you have missed out on a great kit this month, designed by none other than Stampin' Up's CEO, Sara Douglass!

My kit arrived just in the nick of time because I needed 12 thank you cards and the April Paper Pumpkin kit contained just what I needed! The kit packs a punch with its black and white color combo paired with some vibrant colors: Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry. As well, there are splashes of the new In Color, Lemon Lime Twist thrown in for good measure!

Before showing you my cards, I want to share a little bit about what Paper Pumpkin is all about.

Simply put, Paper Pumpkin is a monthly kit to which you can subscribe. You can subscribe on a month by month basis and you can choose to receive or suspend your subscription each month. Another way to enjoy Paper Pumpkin is via a Prepaid Subscription. You can purchase a subscription for one, three, six, or twelve months!

• Each kit comes with an exclusive stamp set to use with the kit and any other project you like!
• There is at least one Classic Stampin' Spot (a small ink pad) with every kit, with no colors repeating during a 12 month period.
• Every new subscriber receives a clear block with their first kit to help them get started.
• The kits are packed with supplies and may make projects like cards (at least 8 if not more), home decor, gift packaging, etc.
• Flexibility–you can suspend for a month or cancel at any time.
• The prep work has been done for you; all you have to do is put the pieces together!
• Each month you get a surprise!
• For support, each month Stampin' UP! shares a video to demonstrate how to assemble the kit.
• The kit may be assembled as shown or you may choose to change or embellish the project. You can find many Paper Pumpkin alternatives online.
• In addition, Paper Pumpkin subscribers have exclusive access to past kits. When a kit runs out, you can buy more or just buy a kit refill.
• All this for $27/month, shipping included!
• Ready to get started? Sign up for your subscription today!

So let's take a look at what comes in this month's kit.

Each kit has an illustrated instruction booklet and this month's came in complete color. This kit came with a Basic Black Stampin' Spot, the four little watercolor pencils and the lovely stamp set which covers many occasions. In addition, twelve envelopes with liners and labels, and all the other pieces needed to make 12 cards.

This time round I did not stretch myself past the instructions but certainly your creativity can be easily stoked by these Paper Pumpkin kits!

Here are three of my finished cards.

The card in the top left was kind of a "freehand" watercolor design. You scribbled with the watercolor pencils on a piece of watercolor paper and then painted over the coloring with a paintbrush (included in the kit) to blend the colors. Once dried, you added some of the grungy dots with a stamp as well as stamped the sentiment on the flagged piece.

The card was easily put together with the included sticker paper, adhesive spots and Dimensionals. There was even a white matte for inside the card.

The card on the top right utilized a piece of watercolor that had been clear embossed. The pencils filled in the open areas and then the paintbrush softened the coloring. Dots and the sentiment were added and leaf stickers, plastic flowers and washi acted as embellishments.

The final card utiliized another clear embossed piece of watercolor paper. Two pencils were used to create an ombré effect and then again softened with the water. Dots and the sentiment were added to a strip of card stock and then embellished with washi. The card stock was attached to the card front along with the heart and the leaves and flowers added.

Such quick and easy cards but ones that definitely pack a punch! Watch Sara's Paper Pumpkin video on how to make these cards to see how easily they come together.

Ready to give Paper Pumpkin a try? Sign up here and receive your own special surprise each month!

Dragonfly Thank You

Today my card share uses the retiring Watermelon Wonder–I'm going to miss it!

I started by embossing a matte of Watermelon Wonder using the Petal Burst Embossing Folder. Turning it to the debossed side, I sponged Cherry Cobbler ink all over the matte, concentrating on the edges.

The sentiment, from the now retired Another Thank You stamp set, was stamped using the MISTI to allow it to be stamped first with Basic Black and then with Versamark. It was heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder. After die cutting with an oval from the Stitched Shapes Framelits, it was also sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink.

An scalloped oval from the Layering Ovals Framelits was used to die cut an oval from Basic Black. It was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder to make it shiny. The sentiment was then adhered to it using liquid adhesive.

The Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits were used to die cut a dragonfly from Basic Black and it was heat embossed like the scalloped oval.

The embossed matte was adhered to a thin Watermelon Wonder matte and then to a Basic Black card base. The dragonfly was adhered to the card front with Glue Dots and the sentiment with Dimensionals. Rhinestones were added for a little bling.

A Whisper White matte was stamped with a dragonfly in Watermelon Wonder and then adhered inside the card to complete it.

Unfortunately, the pictures of this card do not do this card justice. The combination of of Cherry Cobbler and Watermelon Wonder gives a stunning play of light and shadow, enhanced by the shiny black of the dragonfly and embellished sentiment.

If you would still like to order Watermelon Wonder, you can order the remaining products from my online store.

Not convinced yet that you need more Watermelon Wonder? Check out more of my creations that use Watermelon Wonder by visiting the links below (can you tell that I love this color?):

• Painted Rose For Global Design Project
• Something Old, Something New
• Balloon Congratulations For Global Design Project
• Spring Butterfly
• Picture Perfect Practice
• Fancy Fold Botanicals For Stampin' Royalty
• Thoughtful Branches With Layering Squares
• Mini Treat Bag Cutlery Holders

Mini Egg Carton Easter Treats

I was one of the lucky ones who ordered and received the mini egg cartons early into the Occasions Catalog. Today I got to use them and I'm so sorry I didn't buy more even though they are being retired!

Besides being just overly cute in their "mini-ness" they are so much fun to color using the Stampin' Spritzers!

I started by filling a Stampin' Spritzer almost to the top with 70% alcohol and then added 40 drops of Night of Navy reinker (I wanted this color to be really dark rather than muted) and shook it up.

Placing an egg carton in my "spray booth" (an old shoebox) I proceeded to spray the outside of the box. I was surprised by how well it turned out! Spraying the outside of the egg carton took about 2/3 of the mixture.

I labelled the spritzer and then mixed up another one, this time using Sweet Sugarplum and using only 20 drops of reinker. After spraying, I mixed one more batch using Tempting Turquoise, again using 20 drops of reinker. This carton took pretty much the whole batch of color but since I couldn't seem to get all the color out of the Stampin' Spritzer, I labelled it and set it aside for another time.

The cartons dried quite quickly on their own while I cut up paper to embellish the boxes.

For the Night of Navy box I created a belly band using some of the new Eastern Elegance DSP. I also wound some Night of Navy Baker's Twine around the belly band, securing it with a little Fast Fuse Adhesive. I die cut a stitched square from some of the new Thick Very Vanilla using the Stitched Shapes Framelits and a scalloped square from Night of Navy using a die from the Layering Squares Framelits. These were adhered together using liquid adhesive.

The Basket Builder Framelits were used to cut the basket from Night of Navy and the flowers from the DSP. The basket was assembled using liquid adhesive and the flowers were shaped using a stylus from my Heartfelt Creations Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit.

The basket was adhered to the Very Vanilla square using Dimensionals and the flowers with Glue Dots. Rhinestones were added to the flower centres. The completed square was added to the belly band using Dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped on a strip of Thick Very Vanilla using Night of Navy and then the ends flagged using the Banner Triple Punch. It was adhered to the egg carton using Foam Adhesive Strips. I used Fringe Scissors on Night of Navy card stock to create my own fill for the egg carton.

For the Sweet Sugarplum egg carton, I started by stamping flowers on Watercolor paper using Basic Black Archival ink. After heat setting, I used my Watercolor Pencils and Clear Wink of Stella to color in the flowers, die cutting them using the Basket Builder Framelits.

The basket pieces were die cut from Tip Top Taupe and Early Espresso and assembled using liquid adhesive. The stitched square was die cut from the Succulent Garden DSP and the scalloped square from Mint Macaron. After adhering them with liquid adhesive, the basket was adhered with Dimensionals and the flowers with Glue Dots. Rhinestones were added to the centres.

Lace doily halves were added to the back of the scalloped square and then a length of the now retired Glitter Ribbon Combo was tied around the egg carton, anchoring the ribbon with a glue dot on top of the box. The squares were then adhered to the top of the box using Dimensionals. A strip of Sweet Sugarplum had its ends flagged and the sentiment was stamped with Tip Top Taupe. It was adhered to the top using Foam Adhesive Strips and rhinestones added. Fringe scissors and Mint Macaron was used for fill.

Finally, the Tempting Turquoise egg carton was created. It was done in the same way as the previous carton but Festive Birthday DSP and Tempting Turquoise was used for the squares, Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie for the basket, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry and Emerald Envy for the eggs, Chocolate Chip for the bunny and Melon Mambo 3/8" Stitched Ribbon. The sentiment was stamped with Melon Mambo on Thick Whisper Whtie. Fill was created using Melon Mambo card stock and Fringe Scissors.

Here's a final look at all three projects, though it's hard to take a photo of all three together in my Foldio 2 setup!

I'm so pleased with how these all came together–I can't wait to give them to the recipients!

Eastern Palace Bundle With Numbered Thinlits

Today I bring you a sneak peek at the Eastern Palace Suite, one of the new product suites from the 2017-2018 Annual Catalog.

As a demonstrator, I am able to preorder before customers so I get to play with some of the new products! As a customer, you will be able to preorder from two of the bundles for yourself starting May 1!

My card today uses one of the new In Colors–Lemon Lime Twist–along with the stamps and Thinlits in the product line.

When first looking at the Eastern Palace Suite, you may find the dies of interest but find the stamp set a little lackluster. Let me assure you that it is not! The shapes in the stamp set are meant to be combined and repeated to create intricate designs that match up with the equally intricate detailed dies! My card uses only the bare bones of this bundle!

I started by numbering the dies with a permanent ultra fine point Sharpie–14 dies in total– to make it easier to talk about them in tutorials and so you will know which die to use if you want to replicate any of my projects. I intend to do this with several of my other sets of Framelits/Thinlits, especially the layering ones.

I started by using the #3 die on a piece of Dapper Denim. This was a learning experience because I was expecting it to cut out an intricate circle frame but the outer edge doesn't cut so the intricate part stays part of the paper from which it is cut! However, I wanted it cut out so I used one of the Layering Circles Framelits to do just that. At the same time, I decided to make the centre portion a little more elaborate so I inserted the #4 Thinlit and did both cuts at once.

Next I used one of the new Eastern Gold Vinyl Stickers to add further elegance to the die cut and then adhered the die cut to a Lemon Lime Twist square of Eastern Elegance DSP using Dimensionals. This was further layered onto a square of Dapper Denim.

Another patterned square of DSP was adhered to a Dapper Denim matte and then the two mattes were adhered together with more Dimensionals.

To further enrich the card, a piece of Gold Foil was embossed using the Festive Embossing Folder and then adhered to a 5.5 x 5.5" Dapper Denim card front using Fast Fuse Adhesive. The mattes were then adhered on top using Dimensionals.

For the inside, a Thick Whisper White matte was stamped repeatedly around the edges with two different circles and then a smaller, ornate stamp. Unfortunately, one of the ornate stamps did not stamp well so I hid it by making use of the #10 and #11 dies. Because the #10 dies is another one that does not cut out around itself, I used scissors to snip it completely from the DSP and then layered it on a Dapper Denim shape cut with  the #10 die. The card front does not contain a sentiment; I reserved that for the inside of the card, stamping with Basic Black. The stamped matte was matted with more DSP and then adhered inside the card to complete it.

I really love the Lemon Lime Twist color! It is so fresh and vibrant and reminds me of Spring! I can't wait to get some of the card stock.

I hope you will give the Eastern Palace Suite a try when it becomes available to you on May 1. So much fun to keep you busy until you can order from the rest of the new Annual Catalog!

For your future reference, here is a list of items from the Eastern Palace Bundle that were used on my card.

• Eastern Beauty #143675
• Eastern Elegance DSP #144147
• Eastern Gold Vinyl Stickers #144150
• Eastern Medallions Thinlits #143725
• Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad #144086

Three New In Colors and Retiring List of Products

Stampin' Up has shared three of the five new In Colors for 2017-19! Aren't they lively and fun? What colors do you think will fill the other two spots? What are you hoping to see?

Tune in tomorrow because I will share a card with you that uses one of the new In Colors.

All good things come to an end but it doesn't mean we have to be happy about it! That's how I feel generally about the Retiring Products List. . . there are always some of my favorites that appear on the list! :(

As well, the list of Retiring Products has been released. For a printable list, you can click here. You can view these products in my online store. There are three groups of products. Click on each image below to be taken to the appropriate page in my store:

Act quickly to get the products you need for before they disappear! Prices are in effect until May 31 or while supplies last. In past years, some products often sell out within a day or two!

Things to note:

• Promotion runs April 10-May 31, while supplies last.
• Stamps will still be produced until May 22; after that time, all retiring stamp sets will be available while supplies last.
• Depending on inventory levels, Stampin' Up! may add additional discounts to select products in May but these discounts will not be preannounced. If a product is bought and it is later discounted, Stampin' UP! will not refund the difference.

Items of Interest That Are Retiring:

• ALL 2014-2016 In Colors stamp pads, ink refills, markers, card stock and accessories. These go FAST! If you want these, get them NOW!
• Several punches that are favorites are leaving:

• Several Framelits/Thinlits are leaving:

• In addition, there are some coordinating stamps and thinlits/framelits/punches that will  carry over to the new 2017-18 Annual Catalog but not as bundles. Buy bundles now to save money!

In the next few weeks, I will share some of my creations using the retiring products.

Don't miss out! Shop the retiring products today!

Flourish Thinlits For Global Design Project #81

I often find that a color scheme can stir the mojo juices and inspire me to design a project. The Global Design Project #81 has a color challenge that did just that! The challenge was to combine Night of Navy, Whisper White, and any other color. Because Cucumber Crush will soon be retiring, I want to use it as much as I can before it is gone so I chose it for my additional color.

The one thing I knew was that I wanted to use the Brick Wall Embossing Folder for my background so I started by cutting a Night of Navy matte. Using my now retired brayer to ink up the top of the folder with Whisper White Craft Ink, I then placed my matte on the other side of the folder, closed it, and ran it through the Big Shot. This gave me some light "grout" lines on my brick-embossed card stock. After setting the ink with my heat tool, I adhered the matte to a Thick Whisper White card base using Foam Adhesive Strips.

I stamped the sentiment with Night of Navy on a scrap of Thick Whisper White and then die cut it using a circle from the Stitched Shapes Framelits. I used dies from the Flourish Thinlits to die cut leaves and flowers from Cucumber Crush and Thick Whisper White and then developed a pleasing design on my card front. After snapping a picture for reference, I took the design apart and then used liquid adhesive and Foam Adhesive Strips to adhere the die cuts and sentiment to the card front, adding White Perfect Accents for the flower centres.

Finally, to complete the card, I stamped the large flourish image on the inside of the card.

Do you like the color combo? You can pin the following image for future reference.

Don't forget to stock up on all things Cucumber Crush (and any of the other retiring In Colors) in my online store.

I will be entering this card in the Global Design Project #081. Won't you come and play too?

Floating Reinker and Watercolored Rose Wonder

For my daughter's birthday, I chose to work with a rose theme since she loves roses. Because of this, I chose to use the Rose Wonder stamp set and the Rose Garden Thinlits.

I started by stamping the rose image on Shimmery White card stock using Versamark. I also stamped the leaves, but did them separately because I knew I would be cutting them out separate from the rose. I heat embossed the images using White Stampin' Emboss Powder.

The Floating Reinker Technique seemed to be a nice fit for this card so I got out my Aqua Pen and added water to all the spaces in the rose, making sure that they weren't too wet or too dry but just right :) I then picked up Blushing Bride reinker on my Aqua Pen and touched it to the water in various spots on the rose. This caused the ink to fill the sections with color. After cleaning my pen, I repeated this process using Rose Red to fill the remaining sections.

In working with the leaves, I also used my Aqua Pen but this time I chose to paint with the Cucumber Crush reinker. Because of the nature of the paper, the ink dried quickly so I was able to paint over sections to intensify the color in places, making the leaves look more realistic. I zapped both the leaves and the rose with my heat tool to be sure they were completely dry before continuing.

My next step was to use the Rose Garden Thinlits to cut out the rose and leaves using the now retired 6 x 6" Glimmer paper in Sweet Sugarplum and Mint Macaron. I used Connie Stewart's method of adhering detailed die cuts to glue the die cuts to the rose and leaves. After I was sure they were well adhered, I fussy cut around them, snipping off any extra pieces that were not needed.

Two mattes were die cut, one Mint Macaron and one Blushing Bride. I used the Hexagons Dynamic Embossing Folder to emboss the Blushing Bride matte and then adhered it to the Mint Macaron one using liquid adhesive.

After determining the correct placement, I used Dimensionals for the leaves and Foam Adhesive Strips for the rose and adhered them to the embossed matte. I wrapped Thick Cucumber Crush Baker's Twine around the bottom of the matte, securing it to the back with Fast Fuse. The matte was then adhered to a Rose Red card front using Foam Adhesive Strips.

Using the MISTI, the sentiment from the Rose Wonder stamp set was stamped in Cucumber Crush on Mint Macaron and then stamped again with Versamark so that it could be heat embossed using Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder. An oval from the Stitched Shapes Framelits was used to die cut the sentiment. It was adhered to the card front using Foam Adhesive Strips.

A Thick Whisper White matte was cut for inside the card. The Rose Wonder stamp was used to stamp offset on the right side of the matte using Versamark. It was heat embossed using White Stampin' Emboss Powder. Blushing Bride and Mint Macaron inks were sponged over the embossing and then the matte was adhered inside to complete the card.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out and my daughter loved it! If you would like to use the color scheme from this project, feel free to save the following image.

I am definitely going to miss Cucumber Crush! I love its vibrancy and find that it works well, in small doses, with several of our Stampin' Up! colors. If you love it too, be sure to stock up on it before it's too late! Place an order today in my online store.