Keep Calm & Wish Big - Masculine Birthday Card

I made this card for my Dad's birthday earlier this week using the new 'carry on' hostess set coming out in the June 1 catalog.  I also used a couple of the new in colors:  gumball green and midnight muse.  I felt that this color combination had almost a sporting feel...and I combined the 'keep calm' sentiment with a stamp from the  'word play' stampset which carries over to the new catalog, 'wish big'.  I think it worked well.  Both of these images are stamped in versamark and embossed in white.  The stamps on white (crown & the word 'and') were stamped in midnight muse using one of the new style stamp pads, which as I've said are wonderful to work with!

Less than 2 days left yet to order from the catalog which ends on May 31.  Be sure to click 'shop now' on my right sidebar to place your order before your retiring favourites are gone!

AND that also means less than 2 days left until you can see the new catalog.  Be sure to check back to my blog June 1 to see a link to the new catalog and a new project with goodies from the new catty.

If you want a copy of your own, just contact me, you can earn one for free by hosting a workshop or joining my fall club.  Or you can order one with me.

More Layered Labels

Another card made with some new products coming out June 1.  The card base is crumbcake and embossed with the stripes embossing folder and the dsp is first edition and the neutrals pack, so, not new, and the ribbon is victoria lace and the thanks is from 'kindness matters'...also, not new, but the frame is from the layered labels set and the coordinating apothecary accent framelit which is NEW and it is stamped in primrose petals...so pretty and, yes, NEW!

New Ink Pads!

As I've mentioned in my sneak peek posts, in the new catalog coming out on June 1st are new reformulated ink pads.  Here is a video about the new ink pads.  I am loving them!  You would have to work much harder with the old style pads to get as beautiful of a stamped image as you get with these new pads.  You can still use your old pads upon conversion and the reinkers are interchangeable except for the five reformulated colours mentioned in the video below.

Layered Labels

Another little sneak peek for you of what's coming in the new catty on June 1.  The stampset I used for this card is 'layered labels' and it coordinates with a whole new set of framelits called 'apothecary accents'.  And that's not the only new thing on this card!  Just look at the colours!  The card base is midnight muse, new in color, and the flourish is midnight muse stamped on a piece of primrose petals cardstock, also a new in color.  All stamping on this card was done with the new ink pads that are coming too and they are wonderful!:))

Oh and that dusting effect at the top of the card is actually much prettier in person...it's vanilla smooch spritz which carries over to the new catalog:)

Keep Calm and Carry On

Today I'm giving you a sneak peek into the new catalog which comes out June 1.  I made today's canvas with a new hostess set featured in the new catty, "Carry On" which you can earn for free by hosting a workshop after June 1st.

The base of the project is a 6 x 6 artists canvas which I mounted a piece of basic grey on (which was stamped with flourishes from the Established Elegance stampset in the diagonal corners).  None of these products are new, but the rest are!!

I embossed in white the Keep Calm image onto a piece of raspberry ribbon cardstock, one of the NEW in colors and then I matted that piece (with stampin dimensionals) to a piece of primrose petals which I had background stampsed with the En Francais stamp.  Primrose petals is also a new in color and I stamped it with raspberry ripple ink using one of our new and improved ink pads...oh how I love them!!

This project was finished off by stamping the crown (and the word 'and') on whisper white in island indigo (one of the in colors carrying over from last year).  I love that little crown so much the I added a rhinestone jewel too to make it pop!

The new catalog comes out June 1st!

Timeless Portrait Box

I made this little gift box with the timeless portrait dsp that is retiring at the end of the month.  The roses are just rolled circle spirals, and the curly q's are from the swirls sizzlet that also retires at the end of the month.  (Sigh) I'm going to miss timeless portrait!

Perk Up - Mocha Morning

I made this little set of notecards using the mocha morning specialty paper which is retiring at the end of the month.  Isn't it perfect for the coffee cup shaped notecards?!!  And I finished it off with a heart punch from the heart to heart punch which also retires at the end of the month (will be sad to see it go too!)  AND it is no coincidence the shade of green I used for the heart (you all know I love my Starbucks!:)  The tiny tag is stamped with images from the Morning Cup stamp set:)

I also decorated the coordinating envelope flaps with mocha morning paper and I made a little gift box out of acetate/window sheets and some glue dots.

Established Elegance - Well Worn

I made this card for a friend's birthday last month.  It uses the Established Elegance stamp set which is being carried over to the new catalog, however, not everything on this card is...  The 'well worn' dsp I've used in the background will retire at the end of the month as will the lace ribbon border punch that I used to do the border near the bottom in soft suede.

Make & Take # 3 - BONUS

We did a bonus make & take at Saturday's workshop because it was a small group and I decided to forgo doing a demonstration as the workshop was a celebration of products retiring.  So in true fashion, most of the items on this treat holder are retiring.  It is made from 2 boxes cut from the box #2 die for the big shot which is retiring.  The boxes are covered with mocha morning dsp, also retiring, and the stamps are from oval all and i (heart) hearts (also retiring).  Oh and the ribbon is the chocolate satin ribbon...all satin ribbon is also retiring and the chocolate is on for 40% off (while quantities last!)

Make & Take #2 from Retirement Workshop

This was make & take #2 from this weekend's retirement party/workshop.  We made this card using 2 all time favourite retiring stampsets:  baroque motifs and notably ornate (which you probably having been seeing a lot around here).  We also used the well worn dsp which is also reitirng.  Only a little over a week left and then they are no longer available.

Clearly for You Matchbook

I made this little post it note holder using 2 retiring stamp sets:  clearly for you and elizabeth.  It's finished off with some beau chateau fabric and paper and the eyelet border punch which are also all retiring.  This was make & take #1 for yesterday's retirement party/workshop.

Matchbox - Quotebox

I made this little quote box using the matchbox die which will retire on May 31st.  This has been one of my all-time favourite dies and was probably the die that inspired me to buy my big shot in the first place!  I have used it to make nugget and treat holders.  I've used it to make little storage drawers...stacked like a file cabinet etc.  I've used it to make a mini albumn...and probably a bunch more different things.

Today I've used it to make a little quote box with some of my favourite quotes inside about creating:))

I used a bunch of retiring products on this project.  I used the 5-petal flower punch which retires May 31, and the moch morning specialty dsp.  I also used the charmed stampset which I'm going to miss terrible when it too retires at the end of the month AND the adorable filigree brads (which I used in the centre of the flowers).

If you want any of these items that are retiring, hurry and place your order before May 31st.  Retiring accessories are only available while quantities laast and may sell out early.  I have an order going in at my workshop tomorrow or you can always place an online order by clicking 'shop now' on the right sidebar:)

Just Because - Notably Ornate is Retiring

Notably Ornate is one of my all time favourite stamp sets AND it is retiring May 31, 2012.  Which means that after May 31st it will no longer be available.

I've been making a lot of cards with this stamp set lately probably because I don't want to see it go...well, I won't, I own it, but I know that as a demonstrator I'll probably get to use it less once it is retired because I try to use current products mostly, but this is a stamp set I wouldn't want to part with.  It's images are so beautiful and versatile and vintage:)

To finish off this card I used a couple more products that will be retiring too.  The heart is cut out of 'deck the halls' fabric which retires May 31 (I cut it out with my heart framelits on my big shot) and the library clip that attaches the heart will also be retiring.

If you haven't placed your order for retiring items yet, you can do so by clicking 'shop now' on my right sidebar bar or call or email me by Saturday as I am holding my retirement workshop then and will have an order going in that night!

Flirtatious Mixed Bunch...

Happy Mother's Day to all the special mom's out there.  This was one of my mother's day cards this year.  I apologize the picture is a bit dark...I guess it was the angel it was taken at.

I was once again playing with the Mixed Bunch stampset and coordinating Blossoms punch and I pulled out my Designer Subtles Collection of buttons for the centres of the flowers along with my Pearl Jewels.  The card base and ink are both Wisteria Wonder and the ribbon is the Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon.

You can also see the gift bag slightly peeking out in the background too.  I love to repurpose bags (this one was originally a la senza bag, but add at little dsp, a stamped image, a punch and a pearl and voila it becomes a coordinating gift bag:).

I used 2 products on this project which will be retiring May 31st:


- the snowburst embossing folder (see the whisper white background piece).  I'm so sad that this is retiring, it is so intricate and versatile!
- the lace ribbon border punch (see under the 'heartfelt' greeting, which by the way comes from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set)

Remember to contact me to place your order from the retirement lists before the end of May.  I will have an order going in next weekend in conjunction with my Retirement Party/ Workshop on May 19th.  There is still one or two spots left for the workshop if you want to come but you need to let me know by end of day Sunday!  OR you can always place an order online by clicking here.

Baroque Blossom...

This card was made with 2 stampsets:

- baroque motifs (see the watermark background of swirls & curls stamped in versamark) and the sentiment.  This is one of my all-time favourite sets that I have used as a standard on so many projects, particularly that background stamp.  Sadly it is retiring May 31st!!
- mixed bunch (see the flower image and it's centre) - this is one of my new favourite sets which was introduced in the occasions mini and being carried over into the new catalogue!  AND it had a coordinating 'blossoms' punch!

I used the 2011-2013 In Colors on this card (wisteria wonder, island indigo and pool party).  These colours will be 'in' for one more year  AND on June 1 a new set of in colours will be announced with a 2 year term (I've now seen a peek & I *love* them!:)  The 2010-2012 In Colors will retire May 31st (that is poppy parade, pear pizzaz, peach parfait, concord crush and blushing bride)

I also used 3 more of my favourite products which will also be retiring May 31st:
- the lace ribbon border (see island indigo trim behind patterned piece)
- the blossom bouquet triple layer punch (see centre of the flower)
- the flirtatious specialty paper

If you don't already have these punches, the baroque motif stampset or the flirtatious paper, there's still time.  You can place an order online by clicking here, or you can call or email me or you can come to my retirement party/workshop on May 19th at 2pm (register today to hold your spot by emailing or calling me!)

Beau Chateau Suite and Side Notes!

The Beau Chateau Suite of products will be retiring with the current catalog May 31st - and with them not only the designer series paper, but also the Beau Chateau Side Notes.  I have loved these Side Notes for various projects from cards to scrapbooks to alternate projects like this mini album/memory journal.

To make it, I simply stacked some of my favourite sidenotes, a few petite pockets (which I cut with my big shot, some out of cardstock and some out of dsp), some chipboard top notes (again cut with the big shot) and some tags.   I attached them with a ring which I embellished with the beau chateau fabric.  I love how elements of this project peek out every which way:)  I used the beau chateau dsp along with some soft suede to cover the chipboard.  I also cut some butterflies with the beautiful wings embosslit.  I stamped throughout using the established elegance stampset (which luckily isn't retiring;)

If you haven't gotten your Side Notes yet, you'll want to order them before the end of the month - and they are only available while quantities last AND they are discounted by 20%:

pg 190   item #122379   Beau Château Side Notes   price:$7.50   discount:25%  your cost:$5.63


Here's a link to the retiring accessories list again so you can see what is still available.

Also, don't forget to RSVP for my Catalog Retirement Workshop - see details here:)

Retirement Party/Workshop - May 19th

I still cant' get over that they are retiring the 'notably ornate' stampset, so you will probably see me pulling it out even more often.  Here I was playing with notably ornate AND the soon to be retiring mocha morning specialty paper.  I'm not sure I like the introduction of the red, but I wanted to use my pleated satin...there is something a little off though in the lighting of the picture because the card looks sweeter in person.  It'shard to see the flocking on the paper or even the pearl accent on the sentiment, but they are there!;)
______________________

If you are in the Saskatoon area you are invited to my Catalog Retirement Party/Workshop!

When:  Saturday May 19th, 2012
Where:  My Home
RSVP by:  May 11, 2011

What:  There will be 2 FREE make & takes using retiring stampsets and a chance for you to order retiring stamps and accessories before the current catalog ends on May 31st!  There will also be 2 BIG doorprizes (one a retiring stampset and one a retiring accessory) - so you won't want to miss it!

You can RSVP or register for this event, by commenting on this post (leave your email if I don't already have it), emailing me or calling me:)

Carry Over List from Occasions Mini

Surprisingly the twitterpated dsp is being carried over!  But also surprisingly some of the stampsets that coordinate with punches and dies being carried over are not being.  Below is the carryover list from the Occasions Mini which ended April 30th.

Carry Over List