April's Paper Pumpkin is Here!

The April Paper Pumpkin was really a wonderful kit, and I missed out!  😞  Due to my move, I didn't want my bright orange box of Stampin' goodness to come to my old address if I wasn't here, but my new home isn't yet ready for us.  So I had to put it on hold for a month (did you know you can do that?)

But, it is a beautiful kit.  Take a look:




And did you know that you can use your kit contents to do more than just follow the directions that come in the box?  Each month, talented Stampin' UP! demonstrators share their alternative creations. Here are a few for the April kit:

Not yet a Paper Pumpkin subscriber?  Well, you don't want to delay another minute.  Because the May box is going to be extra special (like you can improve on the April one????).   Shelli Gardner, co-founder of Stampin' UP! collaborated with Paper Pumpkin to offer a gorgeous kit.  Take a look:

And here's just one of the cards that will be included:

Want to get in on the fun?  Click here to subscribe; or place an online order, using the following codes.

1-Month - 137858     $19.00
3-Month - 137859     $57.00
6-Month - 137860     $108.00 (save $1 per month)
12-Month - 137861   $209.00 (buy 11 months and get one month FREE)

But be sure to sign up by May 10th!  That's the last day for the May box, and you'd hate to miss that!

Check Out Bouquet Blooms

How did I miss this?  Bouquet Blooms is in the current Stampin' UP! Annual Catalog, and will be retiring June 3rd.  And somehow, it completely escaped my attention.  But fortunately, before it's gone,  I saw this video, and need to share it with you:




Like what you see?  Be sure to get your Bouquet Blooms Bundle (#148403) before it retires and is gone forever!

Shop here.

Don't Miss THIS Paper Pumpkin!

At OnStage last weekend, I got the privilege of seeing a sneak peek of May's Paper Pumpkin.  This one was designed with input and inspiration from Shelly Gardner, Cofounder and Board Chair of Stampin' UP!  It's the first time Shelly has collaborated on Paper Pumpkin, and after seeing the sample (wait for it!) I wish she would design more often.

First of all, let's see a video of Shelly introducing her kit:





And now, would you like to see one of the included cards?  I got to make one!  And what a beauty it is:

True to Shelly's style, this gorgeous, vintage-inspired card is going to be a huge hit.  And there are three other card designs included in the specially-designed box.  What a great month for Paper Pumpkin subscribers!

Not a subscriber?  You still have time!  Click here, and begin your subscription today.  Be sure to sign up by May 10th!

Monthly kits can also be ordered on a customer order.  Use the following codes to place your order:

1-Month - 137858     $19.00
3-Month - 137859     $57.00
6-Month - 137860     $108.00 (save $1 per month)
12-Month - 137861   $209.00 (buy 11 months and get one month FREE)

Here's the link to my on-line store; be sure to order by May 10th!

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Wanna see something new?  I just got back from OnStage in Salt Lake City, where Stampin' UP! introduced the upcoming Annual Catalog.

Oooh, it's always SO exciting to see this!

And although I'm in the midst of a big move to another state, I had to find a little time to play.  So here's a simple card, using something new...can you spy the new product(s)?

I needed a quick thank you card for the Davis firefighters, who invited my husband and me to dinner tonight.  We've known several of them for years (my husband worked for the City, and was in charge of the budgets for Police and Fire) and they wanted to say goodbye.  So we went to the station, where they had prepared a lovely tri-tip and chicken dinner (complete with baked potatoes, asparagus and salad!) and we ate between their calls.  It took us nearly 3 hours to finish dinner, as they had to run out on 3 different emergency calls!  But it was so lovely of them to invite us.

So...back to my card.  What do you see that is new?  Let me give you a hint - it's NOT the "Thank You" or the Pinewood Planks embossing folder (on the Soft Suede panel).  And it's not the Rectangle Stitched Framelits; they've been around a few months now.

Ding, ding, ding!  It's the gorgeous new paper - Mosaic Mood.  It's a beautiful, heavy-weight designer paper, with shiny accents.  And I used two of the patterns for the background and the sentiment panels.

I also used retiring paper, Wood Textures, to cut my letters using the Thank You dies (thankfully NOT retiring!).

I liked this card so much that I decided I needed to make a second one, but with a more feminine feel:

Isn't it amazing how two cards can look so different, even when using the same layout?  This time I added an extra Mint Macaron panel (embossed with the Layered Leaves embossing folder) and cut the words three times (in Garden Green, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla) and stacked them slightly offset.

And look at this ribbon!  It's a new Scalloped Lace Trim, coming in June.  So pretty, and ties into a perfect bow!

I'm already loving this new paper, and can't wait for more of my new products to arrive tomorrow.  Except that my craft room is getting packed, so I probably won't be able to play for another week or two!  Yikes!  However will I survive?  😕

Stay tuned for more samples from OnStage; I'll be showcasing them over the next several days.  

And be sure to grab the items on the retiring list that are on your wish list!  They won't be around for long!

Annual Catalog Retiring List here

Occasions Catalog Retiring List here

Product List

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[102584]

$8.50

Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[115318]

$8.50

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

$9.75

Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[138337]

$8.50

Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack

[144177]

$11.00

Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies

[148551]

$35.00

Thank You Thinlits Die

[146832]

$18.00

Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[143708]

$10.00

Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[143704]

$9.00

Big Shot

[143263]

$110.00

Wednesday's "What's On the Desk?"

I'm still in the midst of a big move to a new state.  And my home is still in the midst of a gigantic mess!

So to save my sanity, I retreat for breaks into my craft room, which is in the throes of being taken apart bit by bit but still giving me a little area to create.

Last week I shared a card that I made from the bits and pieces on my desk (see it here), and today I'll show you another card I made from that same mess of scraps.

Reminder of what I started with:

But here is how I created a new card.

I had this "collar" card sitting in my scrap pile; the designer series paper is an old one, so this has been sitting around for awhile.  But I didn't have the heart to throw it away back then, so couldn't toss it now.

Taking some of the bits and pieces on my desk, I added a Stitched Shapes circle, and cut out a smaller circle of Daffodil Delight and the Layering Circles framelits.  And as I was also creating a thank you card for some firefighters (last week's card) I had an extra "thanks", happily in Bermuda Bay, to match this card base.

Let's get started:

I glued down the 4-1/4" x 11" card base to the "collar" (for directions on making a "collar card" see my video here).

I stamped the words from Well Said in Bermuda Bay,

to add to my circle.

But it still needs something:

That's it - a little pop of color (Pumpkin Pie) behind the main image.

Let's put it together:

Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets make adhering the words SO easy!

And here's the finished product:

And that was what was on my desk!

Please note:  my photos are pretty lousy these few weeks during my move.  I had to dismantle my photo station; please bear with me until my new craft room is completed in early May.

Product List

Well Said Cling Stamp Set

[148796]

$45.00

Well Said Cling Bundle

[150609]

$76.50

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[147096]

$7.50

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131197]

$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

$9.75

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[119683]

$8.50

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[105117]

$8.50

Well Written Framelits Dies

[148534]

$40.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

$30.00

Layering Circle Framelits Dies

[141705]

$35.00

Big Shot

[143263]

$110.00

Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets

[144106]

$10.00

2" Circle Punch

[133782]

$18.00

Breaking Up is Hard to Do!

Tis the season of good-byes for me.  And it's getting harder.  I am moving away from the home where I have lived for 25 years, and we are in our final week in this house.  So the farewells are becoming reality, and it's not easy.

My last weekend has been a whirlwind of activity.  I flew to Salt Lake City on Friday to attend Stampin' UP!'s On Stage event.  This was a fun introduction to new products coming in June when the new Annual Catalog is released.  Hang onto your wallets!  There is going to be an incredible catalog of fabulous products!

When I got home Sunday, my two besties, Bonnie and Tani, met me for a quick "download" of On Stage.  It's the last time I'll see them for awhile 😥

And then it was off to our neighborhood Farewell Party, where my wonderful neighbors came to say good-bye (and we introduced the new owners of our home).  It was a great send off, and I'm so grateful for this great group of long-time homeowners.

So can I stand one more good-bye?

It's time for Stampin' UP!'s annual Retirement List!  Yes, every year at this time we are given a list of the retiring items from the current Occasions and Annual catalogs.  It's a great time to complete your wish list but you need to do it quickly!  Once these items are gone, they are gone for good.

So, on to the list:

The list is quite lengthy, so I am posting links to both lists.  Just click on the link, and you will be taken to the page of items that are retiring.

Then be sure to place your orders so you don't miss out!

I want to point out that it LOOKS like ALL the stamp sets are retiring.  Don't panic!  Please note the asterisks*; these stamps will be offered in the new catalog, but will be in the CLING format.  All stamps in the new catalog will either be CLING red rubber or Photopolymer (clear).  There are no longer any "clear mount" or wood mount rubber stamps.

Saying good-bye is hard.  But looking forward to what is to come is exciting!  And right now, my Stampin' UP! world AND my "home" world will be getting a revamp, and I'm getting excited!

Retiring list for the Annual Catalog
Retiring list for the Occasions Catalog

How Did I Miss This?

Do you ever scroll through your pictures and realize that you haven't shared them with someone?  You took them for a reason, and then, somehow, got distracted and forgot to share?

Well today I have a card that I made as the Occasions Catalog went live, along with Sale-a-Bration, now (sadly) history.  But don't despair - although the Foil Sheets I used are no longer available, and the dies are on backorder, you can make a similar card with other Foil and punches.  Take a look:

Isn't it amazing?  As I noted, these dies are currently on backorder.  And it's too bad, as they are beautiful, cutting out the "background" image and the top layer.  

But instead of focusing on what you can't get right now, let's talk about other ways to make this card. First of all, the card base is Basic Black, and there's a teeny strip of foil along one side.  This just sets the stage for the foil images on the front of the card.  With Gold, Silver, Copper and Champagne Foil Sheets available, you could make many different versions, and your cards could all look different.

And look at that Tufted background?  I ran Basic Gray through the Big Shot with the Tufted embossing folder - can you say "Gorgeous"?  It makes me feel like I'm creating a pillow!

And the word "amazing" - so many of us have the Celebrate You Thinlits dies (and they are still available through the Annual Catalog).  This lovely die, cut from foil sheets, makes a card look so elegant!

Now those butterflies...yes, the die is fabulous.  And if you were lucky enough to purchase it when the catalog went live, then you can make this card.  But there are a few other dies and punches that would give you the same feel for your card:  Detailed Dragonfly or Springtime Impressions Thinlits would certainly do the trick.  And how about the Butterfly Duet punch?  You'd need to punch out more than three (they are smaller) but you could still have a great spring feel in foil.

And finish it off with a few pearls, nestled in the tufts...what could be more beautiful?

Grab your foil and get creating!  So lovely!

Product List

Champagne Foil Sheets

[144748]

$4.00

Copper Foil Sheets

[142020]

$4.00

Gold Foil Sheets

[132622]

$4.00

Silver Foil Sheets

[132178]

$4.00

Grapefruit Grove & Lovely Lipstick Foil Sheets

[149712]

$0.00

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121044]

$8.50

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121045]

$8.50

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

[146840]

$23.00

Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies

[148536]

$39.00

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies

[142749]

$31.00

Springtime Impressions Thinlits Dies

[146326]

$29.00

Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[146335]

$9.00

Big Shot

[143263]

$110.00

Butterfly Duet Punch

[148523]

$18.00

Pearl Basic Jewels

[144219]

$5.00

Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets

[144106]

$10.00