Blog Hop - Let's Say Goodbye Together!

The Month of September brings with it mixed emotions for me.  It is sadly the time when we have to say goodbye to many products in the 2010/2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue.  But.......  it also means that the sparkly, shiny new 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue is just around the corner, released 1st October!

Today's mammoth blog hop celebrates all of those lovely retiring products..........

You have probably arrived here from Donna

I hope you enjoyed the creations she had for you.

I have my monthly card class today, and I based many of my cards on the retiring products, so here is what I've made.......... enjoy!

Joy Fold Card

For this little 4"x4" card I used some of the retiring DSP called Sunny Garden and also the stamp set A Flower For All Seasons.  This is just such a cute stamp set, and works great with the Aqua Painters, or just by colouring in with the Markers.  Colouring with Markers is exactly what I have done here.

I went with the autumn stamp that has sunflowers to compliment the Peach Parfait card I used along with Pear Pizzazz and, one of my favourites, Poppy Parade.

Thankfully the lovely In Colours are sticking around for another year.

The flower stopper that holds the card closed was punched with the Boho Blossom Punch and the centre is from one in the Itty Bitty Punch Pack, all held together with a Designer Brad.

Strength and Hope Card

I love this set and I didn't use it enough.  Buying this set also mean you are making a difference as £1 from each set goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

This set was in the mini and will not be available after 30th September, so get it while you can and help a great cause at the same time!

This time I have used Lap Of Luxury DSP for a background on which I stamped the gorgeous butterfly image.  I used the Rock n Roll technique with this one, inking it in Pretty in Pink and then Concord Crush.  The card base is also Pretty in Pink with the swirly image stamped in Concord Crush down the folded edge using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up.  The centre butterfly is popped up with Dimensionals and has a line of Basic Pearls added for it's body.

The sentiment is from the retiring Level 2 Hostess Set - Something to Celebrate.  I stamped it and then punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch.

Top Note Patchwork Card

Again, such beautiful DSP, this time Springtime Vintage from the mini catalogue.

I've assembled squares of the papers over the top of a Whisper White piece of card, glued them all down and then ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die.  I then ran it through again with the Lattice Square Embossing Folder which gives a great quilted effect.

I've simply mounted it onto Whisper White and used the Corner Rounder Punch before wrapping some Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon around and tieing a bow.  The sentiment is from Oval All stamp set, inked in Rose Red and mounted onto a Scalloped Oval of Rose Red.  I have used the Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack to add a hole to each of the scallops.

Everything was then mounted onto a Baja Breeze card base.

Plane and Simple - I'm going to miss this one so, so much!

This stamp set was just fabulous for those (what I think are harder to make) male cards!

I have grabbed some more DSP - it's all retiring you know - this time Elegant Soiree which is simply lovely.

I have made an Easel Card with Baja Breeze for the base again.  Strips of DSP have been added to the panels, then the plane image was stamped onto another piece of DSP in Early Espresso ink.  This was cut and mounted before being stuck down with Dimensionals.  The Silver Elastic Cord was threaded through the dimensionals behind the image and looped through the sentiment before being tied in a bow.  I'll miss this cord as tying it was a doddle as it was so stretchy and forgiving!  Sadly, it's already sold out, but you can still get the gold.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, inked in Early Espresso again and stamped onto Very Vanilla.  I cut this out into a banner freehand and mounted it onto DSP and cut again to create a border.

Finally I made the stopper for the card.  The diamonds image was stamped twice onto Very Vanilla in Baja Breeze ink and cut out.  I have added it to the card with Dimensionals (quick tip - when you finish with the Dimensionals, don't throw the sheet away, use all those odd little half bits around the edge by snipping them, they are great for smaller pieces of card you want to pop up!)

Well I hope you have enjoyed looking at the cards I made and you have been inspired to take a look at the retirement list and grab some of these great products before they are gone.......

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment as I love to know what people think of my creations.

From me you can now head on over to Elaine 

If you get stuck, lost or confused along the way, below is a list of all of the lovely crafty ladies taking part in the blog hop today.

1. AlisonP http://craftyalisoninlyon.blogspot.com/
2. Twintrouble (Erika) http://twintroublescreations.blogspot.com/
3. Lauralou http://airingcupboardstamping.blogspot.com/
4. Sarah (IOWhttp://www.stampinsarahiow.blogspot.com/
5. Theresa M http://my-next-chapter.blogspot.com/
6. Rozelle (LittleMoo6) http://thepapercraftsessions.blogspot.com/
7. Valerie (valmoody) http://stampingwithval.wordpress.com/
8. EmmaH http://emma-letsstamp.blogspot.com/
9. Donna (DonnaM) http://www.head-over-heels-by-dlm.blogspot.com/
10. Julie H (The Crafty Bug http://the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com/
11. Elaine (Sassy Stamper) http://www.thesassystampers.blogspot.com/
12. Sandra (Sarnie) http://www.kraftybiker.blogspot.com/
13. Natalie http://www.natalieoshea.co.uk/blog.html
14. Kimf http://kimfeecrafter.blogspot.com/
15. CarolineSkinner http://stampinupandbranchingout.blogspot.com/
16. VickyLou http://www.vickylouscorner.blogspot.com/
17. Michelle (ShellieStamps) http://michellescraftypaper.typepad.com/
18. allyf http://www.serendipitypapercuts.blogspot.com/
19. Maggiemae http://thefineartofstampin.blogspot.com/
20. Evy C http://www.evyscraftycreations.blogspot.com/
21. Niki http://www.mygroovystampinup.blogspot.com/
22. Sarah-Jane www.cardsandacuppa.blogspot.com
23. Tina( Tina Faghy) http://littlewhitehousecrafts.blogspot.com
24. Sally (Pink Sky) http://pinkskysu.blogspot.com

August Card Class - Pearly Owl

This is the final, and I think my favourite, card from my August Card Class.

There is only one small stamped image and the rest is all about punches!

The base is 4"x4" Certainly Celery card, layered with a piece of Whisper White and a piece of Pink Pirouette Designer Series Paper from the Subtles Stack.

The branches have been punched from Certainly Celery card with the 2-Step Bird Punch, and the flowers from Pink Pirouette card with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower.

We have obviously used the 2-Step Owl Punch here, with Soft Suede card, some Whisper White for the eyes, and the same DSP as before for the chest section.

The sentiment is from Plane and Simple stamp set in Soft Suede ink, punched with the Word Window Punch and layered onto Certainly Celery card punched with the Modern Label Punch.  This was stuck down with Dimensionals.

The flowers have had a tiny Basic Pearl added to the center.

Very simple and very cute!

If you have liked the cards I made for my August Card Class and would like to come to the next class, it is being held at my house on Saturday 10th September.  Click onto the Classes tab at the top of the page for all of the details.  I'd love to see you there!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Certainly Celery / Whisper White / Soft Suede / Pink Pirouette DSP Subtles Stack

Stamps / Ink - Plane and Simple / Soft Suede Marker

Embellishments - Basic Pearls

Tools - 2-Step Bird Punch / 2-Step Owl Punch / Word Window Punch / Modern Label Punch / Itty Bitty Punch Pack / Tombow / Dimensionals / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

Workshop Make and Take Number 1.........

Last night I had a wonderful evening with a lovely hostess.  She even invited me round early as I worked nearby, but lived a long way away, so I had dinner with her and her family.  Thank you so much Pat, the spag bol was delish :o)

So, our workshop ended up being a group of five lovely ladies, which was a perfect size.  

Everyone had a good time, and everything that was ordered has already been shipped by Stampin' Up!, so should be with us early next week - what a delivery service!

We did two make and take projects.  The first was using the French Foliage stamp set in the Mini Catalogue.  Now this was not a love at first sight set for me - but after seeing so many wonderful creations, and being convinced I had to have it by the lovely Elizabeth Shannon (Blog Here), I was lucky enough to get this set in the raffle at last weekends team training event - so I had to use it.

I made some samples of the first make and take - one in Peach Parfait and Cajun Craze, and the other in Always Artichoke and Pear Pizzazz.  I went with a simple design, doing a masked area and using a sponge dauber to add background colour, before going stamping crazy with the lovely leaves and other images in this set.  

It's a great set for over stamping images and just going mad with..............

I used Confetti Cream card stock as this has a lovely warmth to it, and the added flecks in it make really nice to use for a simple one layer card.

After unveiling the sponged and stamped area a sentiment was added with a stamp from the Plane and Simple set.

I loved the end result with these cards, and all of the ladies seemed to really have fun with it too.

Tomorrow I will show you the other card we made, this time making use of the Big Shot!!!!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Confetti Cream

Stamps / Ink - Always Artichoke / Cajun Craze / Pear Pizzazz / Peach Parfait / French Foliage / Plane and Simple

Embellishments - None

Tools - Stamp-a-ma-jig / Post-it Notes / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

Garden Green

Afternoon - another day whizzing by!

I'm not quite sure what happened to yesterday, but I did have quite a long lay-in after it taking 3 hours to get home from the Take That concert!  But.......  it was AMAZING...............

Our seats were pretty far back, but there were big screens up so we didn't miss a thing.  The set was brilliant, the play list covered everything from 4 man Take That, Robbie on his own, then all together doing new stuff and then they went back and did a load of songs from the old days.  A real mix that had everyone up on their feet singing and dancing along.  Hearing the whole of Wembley Stadium singing Angels while Robbie Williams just watched is something I'll not forget.  Pure magic!

Anyway - back to reality and a quick card I made.

After making cards to send to lots of the ladies I met over the weekend I had a few scraps left and thought I'd use them up.  I teamed some Garden Green card with Woodland Walk DSP and the Every Little Bit stamp set images which I coloured with my Aqua Painter and Markers.  Really simple layering with Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake circles, plus a Scallop Border Punched from Early Espresso.  The sentiment is from the very versatile Plane and Simple stamp set.

The layout is from last weeks Clean and Simple Stamping sketch which I think I just about have time to enter.

Right - off to see my mum and dad now, with maybe a trip to the garden centre for some plants as the back garden needs some brightening up.  I do hope the rain stops :o)

Enjoy your day xxx

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Garden Green / Very Vanilla / Crumb Cake Textured / Early Espresso / Woodland Walk DSP

Stamps / Ink - Every Little Bit / Plane and Simple / Early Espresso / So Saffron / Pumpkin Pie / Old Olive / Pink Pirouette

Embellishments -  None

Tools - Scallop Border Punch / 1" Circle Punch / 1 1/4" Circle Punch / Aqua Painter / Stamp-a-ma-jig / 2-way Glue Pen / Dimensionals / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

The Colour Coach Blog Hop.................

Hello and Welcome to my blog!

Today is a first for me - my first Blog Hop.........  I'm very excited to be sharing my Colour Coach Combo creations with you and I really hope you like what I have made and it gives you some inspiration.

I have four cards to share with you, based on my chosen colour combo of Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie.

Not my first choice of colours, but I struggled with picking so just asked my OH to pick one colour and decided I would go with whatever combination was on the back.  He went with Tempting Turquoise, and either of the two options on the back was going to provide me with a challenge!

Card One

This card is a Clean and Simple (CAS) One Layer card.
I used the Plane and Simple stamp set.  I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the diamonds and dashes working from the bottom of the card upward.  Finally I added the sentiment half way up the card in Rich Razzleberry.  
The Plane and Simple stamp set is really versatile and this card could be made in any colour combination.

I apologise for the fact I can't take a photograph straight!  :o)

The Details: 

Card / Paper -  Whisper White

Stamps / Ink - Plane and Simple / Tempting Turquoise / Rich Razzleberry / Pumpkin Pie

Embellishments - None

Tools - Stamp-a-ma-jig

Card Two

For this card I started with a Tempting Turquoise card base and stamped the leaf pattern from the Confetti stamp set all over the base in Versamark.  This ink gives a great watermark effect on the card.  It's really subtle.
I then got the Clearly For You stamp set and used the background image, inked in Pumpkin Pie and stamped off the page before stamping onto Whisper White.  This resulted in a faint image, which I then stamped over the top of with the berry image in Rich Razzleberry.
I used the decorative label punch the make a border in Pumpkin Pie for this image and then mounted onto the card base with Dimensionals.  The sentiment from Curly Cute is stamped directly onto the card base in Rich Razzleberry.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Temping Turquoise / Whisper White / Pumpkin Pie

Stamps / Ink - Clearly for You / Confetti / Curly Cute / Pumpkin Pie / Rich Razzleberry / Versamark

Embellishments - None

Tools - Decorative Label Punch / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Snail / Dimensionals

Card Three

Seeing as the sun was shining when I made these cards, I decided to use the Summer Splash stamp set.  I inked the surf boards image using the Markers so I could vary the colours.  I stamped the image across the piece of Whisper White.  I mounted this onto some Tempting Turquoise DSP and using my Scallop Border Punch I made some Ric-Rac from Tempting Turquoise card.  I thought this looked a bit like waves, so used it to border the surf boards image.  
I glues this onto a Pumpkin pie card base, near the top, so I could add the fish at the bottom, stamped in Pumpkin Pie.  
The sentiment, stamped in Rich Razzleberry, is again from the Plane and Simple stamp set.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Pumpkin Pie / Whisper White / Tempting Turquoise card and DSP

Stamps / Ink - Summer Splash / Plane and Simple / Tempting Turquoise / Rich Razzleberry / Pumpkin Pie

Embellishments -  None

Tools - Scallop Border Punch / Stamp-a-ma-jig / 2-Way Glue / Snail

Card Four

This last card is my favourite of the bunch.
The card base is Rich Razzleberry with a layer of Tempting Turquoise and then Pumpkin pie DSP.  I used the a la carte stamp All a Flutter, inked with markers and stamped over a square of Whisper White.  I don't think you can really see from the picture, but the central image was stamped over in Versamark and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.
I added 5/8" Pumpkin pie Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment is from Oval All stamp set, inked using markers and stamped onto Whisper White.  I punched it out with the 1 3/4" x 7/8"Oval Punch and mounted it on Scallop Oval Punched Rich Razzleberry.  I used the Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack to pierce each scallop.  This was added to the card with Dimensionals.

The Details: 

Card / Paper -  Rich Razzleberry / Tempting Turquoise / Whisper White / Pumpkin Pie DSP

Stamps / Ink - Oval All / All a Flutter / Versamark / Tempting Turquoise / Rich Razzleberry / Pumpkin Pie

Embellishments - 5/8" Pumpkin Pie Satin Ribbon

Tools - Paper Piercing Tool / Mat Pack / Dimensionals / Snail / Scallop Oval Punch / 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch / Clear Embossing Powder


And here are all the cards together

Thanks so much for stopping by.

From me you can hop along to Alison P

Here is a full list of all of the blog hop stops from Group 1 and also Group 2.

Try and check out every one as there are many wonderful creations.  Please leave a comment or two along the way as we all love to know what you think :o)

Group 1
1. Scrappydiva http://stampin-divas.blogspot.com/
2. The Crafty Bug http://the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com/
3. AlisonP http://www.craftyalisoninlyon.blogspot.com/
4. Daisydaye http://www.emma-daye.blogspot.com/
5. Frankiesue http://www.frankiesue.blogspot.com/
6. Glitter mum http://www.mygroovystampinup.blogspot.com/
7. Sarah-Jane http://www.cardsandacuppa.blogspot.com/
8.Cheshire Design http://www.cheshiredesignhouse.blogspot.com/
9. Linzim http://lindseyscards.blogspot.com/
10. Valmoody http://stampingwithval.wordpress.com/
11. Cupake http://pinkycardsandcreations.blogspot.com/
12. Laura http://airingcupboardstamping.blogspot.com/

13. Emily http://stampinmermaid.blogspot.com/
14. Teri http://teriscraftspot.blogspot.com/
15. Sara http://sarastamper.blogspot.com/
16. Sarah http://www.stampinsarahiow.blogspot.com/
17. Claire http://stampinupscrapper.blogspot.com/
18. Elaine http://www.thesassystampers.blogspot.com/
19. Donna http://www.head-over-heels-by-dlm.blogspot.com
20. Erika http://twintroublescreations.blogspot.com/
21. Karin http://www.teacupdesigns.com/
22. Vicky http://www.vickylouscorner.blogspot.com/
23. Jan http://jan-crippin.blogspot.com/

If you have enjoyed viewing my blog then why not add yourself as a follower so you will be updated whenever I post something new :o)

Monkey Madness!!!!

Hi everyone - I wanted to share with you a card I have made for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge this week.

I went a bit monkey mad and ended up stamping some Fox and Friends monkeys in Rose Red and cutting them out.  A little fiddly, but fairly quick to do.  It's just the tail that gets in the way a bit, but thankfully I didn't accidentally chop any off!  

I used Pear Pizazz DSP (level 1 hostess reward) for a leafy backdrop, and also stamped onto some Crumb Cake card with the leaves from the Confetti stamp set, in Versamark.  The branches are cut in Pear Pizazz from the 2-Step Bird Punch.

They are definitely some playful little monkeys, hanging out in the trees!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Rose Red / Crumb Cake / Whisper White / Pear Pizzazz DSP (L1 Hostess)

Stamps / Ink - Fox and Friends / Afterthoughts (L1 Hostess) / Plane and Simple / Confetti / Versamark / Rose Red

Embellishments -  1/2" Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon

Tools - 2-Step Bird Punch / 1 1/2" Scallop Square Punch / Sticky Strip / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Snail / Dimensionals

Weekend Catch Up.........

Oh my goodness!  Where did the week go?

Between visiting family, doing mid-week washing so my other half could pack for a work trip, and then feeling poorly yesterday, I've not had chance to get to my craft room.  I fully intend to make up for that today, so hopefully I won't be missing a day of posting in the coming week.

So, Saturday, it's a big challenge day with lots going on.

First I wanted to share with you a card I have made for my sister-in-law's Dad for his birthday in July.

She said he liked boats, so out came the a la carte stamp, Sail Away.

I also thought I'd give my brayer a go on a background scene.

I used Pearch Parfait and So Saffron for the sunset section and Not Quite Navy and Marina Mist for the sea.  I also daubed Whisper White across the sunset for some clouds and across the water to give some deepth.  

The boat is stamped in Basic Gray onto the brayered background, and also on some scrap Whisper White.  I cut the sails out of the scrap peice and glued them on which really made the whole scene come to life.

The sentiment and decoration at the bottom of the card is from the Plane and Simple stamp set.  This sin't one I ever thought I'd buy, but having seen a few creations on various blogs using this set, I had to get it.  It's fabulous for male card, but also so much more.

I'm entering this card into the Simply Stampin' Challenge this week.  It's entitled - You've Got Male!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Glossy White / Whisper White / Sahara Sand

Stamps / Ink - Sail Away / Plane and Simple / So Saffron / Peach Parfait / Not Quite Navy / Marina Mist / Basic Gray / Whisper White

Embellishments - None

Tools - White Gel Pen / Sponge Daubers / Brayer / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Snail / 2-way Glue / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

Having enjoyed using my brayer, I decided to keep it out and make full use of the Plane and Simple stamp set, but doing a scene with the plane from the set.

This time I brayered the sky in Bashful Blue, adding in Whisper White clouds with a dauber.  I also daubed the bottom of the glossy card in Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi to create a tree line.

The plane was stamped in Soft Suede.

 

I'm entering this card into the Sweet Stampin Challenge. This week it's entitled - Things With Wings!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Glossy White / Whisper White / Marina Mist

Stamps / Ink - Plane and Simple / Bashful Blue / Whisper White / Soft Suede / Pear Pizzazz / Wild Wasabi

Embellishments - None

Tools - White Gel Pen / Sponge Daubers / Brayer / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Snail / 2-way Glue / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist