The Wacky Watercooler Gang Welcomes the New Annual Catalog(ue)

Welcome to the Wacky Watercooler June Blog Hop!  This is so exciting--a brand new catalog (or catalogue if you are one of our Canadian viewers) and 13 participants!  Thanks for stopping by; as always we are linked to each other so by clicking on the links below you can get to each of our submissions.  If you just stopped by from Gail Allen (I always love her creations and she didn't disappoint this time!) thank you.  And if you just joined here, please continue around the "hop" and see what our creative artists have to show you.

A new catalog is always a treat--I get a little giddy and do silly things (like set my alarm and get up at 1:00 a.m. to place an order on the first day!  Yes I really did!).  But I LOVE new Stampin' UP! products and I think this year's catalog is really fun!  So let's take a look and see what I've been playing with:

Sweet and Simple:
My first card is so simple, but I love all the new toys I used to create it -

I used the fabulous new Whisper White Thick Cardstock (love!) as my base.  It was run through the Big Shot with the all-new Brick Wall Embossing Folder.  Then I stamped "Just for you", a sentiment from the Watercolor Wings stamp set, using Blackberry Bliss ink.

I stamped two butterflies, using the medium-sized stamps--this is a "three step" stamp (made really easy cuz it's photopolymer!).  The first layer is Daffodil Delight (stamped off once), then the edges of the wings are stamped using Tangelo Twist, and finally the middle is inked up in Blackberry Bliss and stamped off once.

One butterfly was cut out with the "solid" Butterfly Thinlits die; the second was cut using the detailed die from Bold Butterfly Framelits.  They are layered with a Glue Dot, and the top one was blinged out with Two Way Glue and Dazzling Diamonds.   I scrunched up some Gold Metallic Thread and adhered it to the back with a Dimensional; then my butterfly was added to the card with a few more Dimensionals.

A final touch was added with a few of the White Perfect Accents scattered on the "wall".  Lovely!

Next:
My next card didn't turn out ANYTHING like I had planned.  Ever have one of those days?  I got this great new single stamp, A World of Thanks, and inked it up using Pear Pizzazz ink.

Then I sat and stared at it for quite a while, not knowing quite what to do with it.  And I stared some more.  I started playing with some layers--Old Olive...Garden Green...Mossy Meadow--Yes!  That looked right.  But then what?

Eventually it morphed into this:

I pulled out a piece of the English Garden Designer Series Paper and a little magic happened.  I was trying to figure out how to layer my panel onto the paper, and suddenly was hit with a little inspiration--cut out part of one of the flowers, and slide the panel under it.  YES! YES!

But it still looked plain...more staring...

How about I use the new Greetings Thinlets and cut out a "thanks" in the middle of my stamped image?  Then when layered on the Mossy Meadow, it will be obvious in the center.

But wait!  I cut out the "thanks" but had this great stamped "thanks" sitting on my desk--why not layer it on two more "thanks" in Mossy Meadow, and nestle it back into the cut out area?  LOVE IT!

The very subtle popped up letters don't take away from the beauty of this card, yet definitely make a statement!

What else did I do?

Here's a bow, made from the White 1-1/4" Jute Ribbon; I gently pulled apart the threads to make it a little more ethereal looking.  And finally I popped out two flowers using a "vintage" flower punch and added a White Perfect Accent in the center of each.  I really love this card!  (By the way, it's a very unusual 5-3/4" x 6" card--I'll get busy making my own envelope with my new Neutrals Envelope Paper and my Envelope Punch Board!

The last word:
And speaking of the Envelope Punch Board, here's a little sample I made with it and the new Farmers Market Designer Series Paper:

This is SO stinkin' cute!  I started with a 6" x 6" piece of DSP.  Using the punch board I punched and scored around all four sides (I'll have directions on my blog next week).

None of the top pieces are scored, they just bend/curve over the top of the box.  In order to hold it closed, I inserted a Candy Dot Brad Base into one flap and punched a small hole (using my 1/4" Circle Punch)

 in the top flap (the photo is slightly blurry, but I think you can see the hole that fits over the brad).  Then I added a Very Vanilla Candy Dot.

Venetian Crochet Trim was added around the box (I used new Tear and Tape to hold it in place).  Then I stamped a small sign using Market Fresh in Blackberry Bliss, and cut it out using the coordinating Handpicked Framelits - it slipped right over my brad!  Adorbs!

And to finish it off:

A perfect bow - Blackberry Bliss cardstock punched using the Bow Builder Punch with a small strip of the Farmers Market DSP for the middle--and a Pearl Basic Jewel in the center!  Oh I made myself giddy with this ca-ute little box...now off to get some truffles for inside!

Well that does it for me!  I hope you enjoyed my projects and are getting excited about playing with your new goodies!   Won't you leave me a comment and let me know if I've inspired you?

Thanks for visiting; come back next week for directions on my little Punch Board Curvy Box.  And now it's on to the uber-creative Deb Smart - whoo-eee - Just wait til you see what she has in store for you!