A Couple More Pages from Our London MDS Scrapbook - ABBEY ROAD!

Here are a couple more pages from the MDS scrapbook I posed about yesterday.  This time, our visit to Abbey Road Studios and walk across that famous crosswalk.  My husband is a huge Beatles fan and thought this was an absolute thrill!

My Digital Studio (MDS) is amazing for getting together your scrapbooks of trip quickly...and I love having the output of a hard cover book to keep my memories forever when I'm done!  Contact me if you want to learn more about MDS!:)

MDS - Another Completed Scrapbook!

I finished my scrapbook of our trip to London in MDS (My Digital Studio) and sent it off for printing & binding the other day...all 74 pages!  That is my favourite thing about MDS is how easy it is to create scrapbooks and photo books of your adventures and then get them bound and printed into a hard cover book that you can keep forever.  Scrapbooking the traditional way I would never be done this been yet, but it's submitted and soon I should receive the bound copy in my hands!

Above is just one of the simple pages.  I'm loved using the new Fan Fair Digital Suite in this book.  If you have MDS you should check it out, and if you don't have MDS yet, feel free to contact me and I can get you some more information!

Another Reason to Smile;)

Another card today made with the Reason to Smile stamp set that you can get for only $5 during the month of July with a minimum $60 order.  See details here:)

Stamp Camp Reminder & Sneak Peek;)

Just a reminder that the deadline for registering for my summer stamp camp is Thursday July 5th.  Stamp camp is on Saturday July 14th at 1 pm.  Details as to what we'll be making and cost information are at this link.  Above is a sneak peek at the mini album tin we'll be making.  Be sure to contact me if you are in the Saskatoon area and would like to attend!

Reason to Smile Card

See my post on July 1st for the details of this month's Reason to Smile Promotion...for the month of July only you can get the Reason to Smile stamp set for only $5 when you make a $60 purchase:)

Happy Canada Day!!

Happy Canada Day!  I truly believe it is a great privilege to be Canadian, and so I wanted to do something special for my crafting friends this Canada day.  Combine that with the fact that this year Stampin' Up is celebrating its 10th year in Canada and I thought...Canada...10...Canada...10...so here is what I have come up with...

On this Canada Day long weekend - ie. July 1st (and I've decided to do this on the 2nd too)...for these 2 days only, I will pay the standard 10% shipping any Stampin Up order you place with me...which is, of course, a 10% savings to you:)  (see ** for how to be eligible for this offer)

And you can combine this offer with the Reason to Smile promotion I mentioned in my last post...meaning if you place an order of $60 or more (b4 taxes) on July 1 or 2, you will get the Reason to Smile stampset for only $5 AND free shipping!

** Now to be eligible for this offer, you will need to live in Canada.  I will honour this offer on customer orders (placed in person, by telephone and by email) of any amount, and I will also honour it for any ONLINE orders if they are over $100 too.  The reason I say, over $100 for online orders is that minimum shipping on an individual order is $9.95 and then reverts to 10% once the order is over $100.  Orders placed with me via telephone and by email etc. can be grouped to achieve the 10%, but I can't do that on individual online orders.  If you place an online order over $100, I will contact you to arrange to reimburse you for the 10% shippiing that you automatically got charged on your online order.    This offer is only valid July 1 and 2, 2012.

Want a Reason to Smile? (July's SPECIAL:)

There are plenty of reasons to smile in July with the Reasons to Smile set - only $5 when you spend $60!  But don't wait to get yours, this exclusive set is only available during this special offer!!

I, for one, am loving playing with this beautiful *two-step stamping set...and the flower images are so summery...daisies and sunflowers always make me smile:)

• Spend $60 on any current Stampin' Up! products to get the exclusive Reason to Smile Set for just $5.
• Orders may be placed on any order type (customer, demonstrator, workshop, or online).
• There is a limit of one (1) set per customer.
• You will not be automatically prompted to enter the $5 Item Number for a qualifying purchase. Use the item codes in the table above. 
• The Reason to Smile Set is exclusive to this promotion and will not be available after July 31, 2012.

Trust

This is one of my favourite verses and it is found in the new Trust God stamp set on page 136 of the new catalog.    I made this card for someone who has been on my heart and in my prayers a great deal these days.  I love both this set and the Blessings from Heaven set on the same page.  I thinking of doing a 'faith-based' card class on August to make a set of cards with the sentiments in these two sets.  If that might interest you, be sure to let me know:)

For this card, I also used the Parlour Prints background stamp (again stamping in raspberry ripple on primrose pink as I described yesterday).  I also used the largest stamp in the Layered Labels samp set to get that gumball green border down the left side of the card.  The butterfly comes from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and it was punched with the coordinating punch.  The button accent is one of the new faceted buttons with an antique brad mounted in the middle, and the ribbon is the new raspberry ripple stitched satin and my favourite victoria lace.

Raspberry Ripple meets Postage Due

Another card I made this week while playing around with my new *favourite* stamp set, Postage Due.  I've been playing a lot, as you've probably noticed, with making cards with pattern but without patterned paper/dsp.  The large image from the Postage Due stampset is perfect for that...and here I stamped it in Raspberry Ripple onto Primrose Petals...I like the tonal effect of that...been stamping a lot lately in that combination.  This year's new in colours are the best I can remember and I'm having so much fun playing with them:)

A couple of other things made this card a snap to finish:  the postage stamp punch (coordinates perfectly with this stampset!), the apothecary accents framelits (I used this to matt the stamp after I ran it throught the big shot again with the stripes embossing folder), and, of course, some rhinestone jewels:)

Summer Starfruit meets Postage Due

Postage Due is my *favourite* new stamp set in the new catalog!!  And I just can't stop playing with it.  I also used the new builder wheels on this card:  Travel Journal and Viola's Lace...loving them too!  Page 108 is my favourite page in the catalog too (just in case you didn't know;)

Summer Stamp Camp!

Stamp camp will be  filled with projects using *new products from the new catalog!  You'll get to make:

- a card magazine style file and THREE coordinating cards using the *new Fan Fair Suite of Products including the Postage Due stamp set and Fan Fair DSP

- a treat holder using the *new From My Heart stamp set and SU's exclusive Framelits

- a mini album tin using the *new Everything Eleanor stamp set and the Comfort Cafe DSP

Cost:  $25 ...OR $10 with a minimum $75 order

Date of Event:  Saturday July 14, 2012 at 1 pm

RSVP by:  Thurs July 5, 2012

What to bring: paper snips, glue runner, *sticky strip

**Note that if you need any of the above, if you let me know by June 30th, I will order one for you in advance of the camp and you can add it to your stamp camp cost.   (SU paper snips are $14.95/$18 including s&h & taxes; SNAIL glue runner/adhesive is $9.75/$11.75 including s&h & taxes; SNAIL refills are $6.50/$7.75 including s&h & taxes; STICKY STRIP (10 yds; double the quantity what the craft store sells) is $8.50/$10.25 including s&h and taxes.

Birthday Cupcakes!

My husband made these delicious looking red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing for a little birthday gathering he is having for me tonight (my birthday was last week).  And I couldn't resist doing something a little self-indulgent to them...I made little eiffel tower toppers.  The toppers were easy-peasy...I just used the artitistic etchings stampset for the large one in the centre (and you probably can't see it from the distance, but it adorned with rhinestones too;).  I matted the centre one with one of the apothecary accents framelits.  For the surrounding cupcakes I made their toppers with the postage due stampset and coordinating punch.  I mounted each of the toppers (double sided) to a piece of raspberry ripple cardstock using some dimensionals...and the toothpicks I used to insert them to the cupcakes were glued on to the inner layer of the  raspberry ripple piece with crystal effects.  I suppose you're not supposed to 'help' with the making of your own birthday cake, but  this was just too much fun not try...getting to make the toppers was a bit of a gift to me:))  ...can hardly wait til I can have of one of those cupcakes tonight!;)

Papillon Potpourri Make & Take

Last night was my new catalog workshop and this was the 2nd make & take.  It's a petite pocket made using the XL die for the big shot and some raspberry ripple cardstock and it contains 2 bookmarks which were cutout using the the two tags die for the big shot as well.  It's a cute little gift idea and would fit well at the end of a row on your bookshelf so you always know where to find a bookmark when you need one.

We used a bunch of new products on this project including:
- the papillon potpourri stampset and coordinating butterfly punch...I'm loving playing with these
- the new builder wheels from page 108 of the catalog, the travel journal and the lace one (both used on the belly band on the pocket).
- gumball green stitched satin ribbon is gathered on the edge of the top of the pocket (and we used coordinating other incolors in ink including:  gumball green, primrose petals and raspberry ripple)

And you can't quite tell too clearly in the picture, but it gives a nice touch in person, the background of the bookmarks (which were cut from very vanilla) was created using the very vintage builder wheel and some versamark ink.

New Catalog Workshop Tonight!

This card is one of the make & takes for tonight's new catalog workshop.  It's made using the layered labels stampset, apothecary accents framelits and comfort cafe dsp....only we're switching the background up a bit on the version we're making tonight since my new argyle embossing folder arrived in time, I'm subbing it in for the dots;)

Postage Due

Postage Due is one of my favourite new stampsets from the new catalog...just got mine last week and I've already made a couple of cards and am working on a mini-album...this could turn into a class at this rate if you're interested;)  (...seriously, let me know:)

This card also used another new find...the argyle embossing folder:)  ...and, of course, some new in colors!:)

Happy Father's Day

This was the card I made this year for my husband for Father's Day!  He in turn treated me to a royal bday as they both landed on the same day this year:)  I was actually born on father's day.  My husband had to work the weekend, so our bday date will come toward the end of next week and we're having a little friend get together too.  I feel so spoiled, I mean it's his day, but we did some special things for him too today.

This card is made out of basic grey cardstock.  The paper pieced shape was cut with the apothecary accents framelits and the stamps come from the artistic etchings stampset.  The dsp is first edition.

Comfort Cafe *meets* Apothecary Accents

Still loving the Comfort Cafe dsp!  On this card I used it with the dies from the apothecary accents framelits and the coordinating layered labels stampset, but for the actual sentiment I switched it up and used 'wishes' from the fabulous phrases stampset (instead of 'create which comes on that particular label stamp).  Also, the background of the card is stamped in Creative elements.

Comfort Cafe...another way...

This card looks completely different than yesterdays, but the dsp is from the same Comfort Cafe set...love it!  The layout for this card was inspired by a card I saw on pinterest.  The butterfly in the centre is from my butterflies bigz die and the flowers in the centre of that are from the boho blossoms die and more of the comfort cafe dsp.  I finished it off with a neutrals button tied with some linen thread and then sentiment is from the tiny tags set, punched with the coordinating punch.

Comfort Cafe *meets* Creative Elements

Oh the Comfort Cafe dsp, it is so pretty in person.  I love the the textile-y nature of it.  Here I paired it with some flowers I stamped in summer starfruit with a stamp in the Creative Elements set.  I love layering those flowers for dimension.  The sentiment comes from the new layered labels set and the coordinating apothecary accents framelits set:)

Bundling Up the First Round of New Catty Shares:)

Oh the UPS man made my day...and just one of the reasons is that products arrived for the first round of new catalog shares, so I'm busy bundling them up to get them to their new homes!:)

Fan Fare Suite for MDS

I'm working on a digital scrapbook of our trip to London this past year.  I'm about 3/4 of the way through the pages though I do have to go back through and add the journalling.  This is just one of my pages.  I thought I'd share it with you today because it was made with the new Fan Fare Suite for My Digital Studio (MDS)...which I love.  It's basically pages 106 - 109 of the new catalog in digital form!!  There's a wonderful vintage feel to the brushes/stamps and the patterned papers etc.  I'm having so much fun creating my digital scrapbook!:)

And, digital scrapbookers, there is an updated version of MDS on the horizon with even more great features so be sure to stay tuned...and if you order MDS now, you will automatically get the upgrades when they come out for no additional charge!!

For those of you who already have MDS, be sure to go to the MDS site and get your free download of the new in colors from the brand new catalog!!:)

Happiest Birthday Layered Label

This birthday card was also made with the new layered labels set, but the greeting came from the apothecary art stampset which has been carried over to the new catalog from the occasions mini.  The background is midnight muse cardstock which has been stamped with the en francais background stamp.  The layered label images were stamped in midnight muse and raspberry ripple and cutout with the new apothecary accents framelits.  The edges were inked in soft suede and the strip of dsp is from the neutrals pack.

Don't you just love playing with new stuff!:))

Congratulations...layered labels

Today's card was again made with another image in the NEW layered labels stamp set and then cut out with the NEW apothecary accents framelits.  I combined a couple of the NEW in colors (raspberry ripple and midnight muse) with one of the returning in colors (wisteria wonder on this card).  I also used the polka dot embossing plate and some rhinestone jewels and a bit of ruffled ribbon to finish this one off.

CREATE

I love to 'create'!  The stamped image on this project comes from the new layered labels stampset (which you saw a peek of last night).  This stampset is in the new catalog and it was cutout with the apothecary accents framelits that are also new and coordinate.  I also used the 1 inch circle punch and some stampin dimensionals to put this project together.  The images are stamped in the new in colors (primrose petals, gumball green and midnight muse).  I simply love the new style stampads that are so easy to use and have such great color saturation!  I have had people look at some of my stamped images and they think the are punched pieces of patterned or designer series papers rather than stamped images...that is how good they are!

This is my doorprize draw pale for my new catalog workshop which will be on Thursday June 21st at 7pm.  Please RSVP that you would like to come by Thursday June 14th so I can prepare the supplies for everyone to make the 2 FREE make and takes.  Also I will have ONE doorprize drawn that night from those who attend for are brand new stamp pad (in the new style) and in one of the new in colors.

Also, if you can't wait til the 21st and want to order from the new catalog now, contact me as I should have an order going in in the next couple of days OR as always you can place your order online by clicking shop now on my right sidebar.

I hope you are enjoying the new catalog as much as I am!:))

Oh and don't forget to contact me if you are interested in the NEW PRODUCT SHARES...I posted these yesterday!:)

New *In Colors & NEW Product SHARES!!

With the NEW catalog, comes many new products and another set of NEW In Colors (pictured above and stamped with the NEW layered labels stampset and coordinating framelit dies!)  The NEW In colors for 2012-2014 are:
- raspberry ripple
- summer starfruit
- gumball green
- midnight muse
- primrose petals
AND the NEW stampads I stamped them in above are the cat's meow!!  Just amazing!!

AND with a NEW catalog and so many NEW items on our wish lists, I am offering the following PRODUCT SHARES to help my customers get more of what they want and still save enough room in their budget for stamps!  Please email me (see sidebar for address) if you are interested.  If you are in Canada (but not in Saskatoon), I will ship to you with an added cost of whatever Canada Post charges me for postage.  Saskatoon orders can be picked up when ready.  Note that I will order each round of these shares when all spots in a given share are filled.

2012 New Catalog Product Shares

*NEW 3/8” Stitched Satin Ribbon (ribbon shown on pg 172 of catty)

• in all 5 NEW in colours (midnight muse, primrose petals, gumball green, raspberry ripple and summer starfruit)
• receive 2' of each colour of this ribbon for a total of 10' of ribbon for the price of 12.25 (the cost of one spool) + s&h and taxes = $14.75

*NEW Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (ribbon shown on pg 173 of catty)

• in the following five colours: basic grey, early espresso, real red, rich razzleberry & pretty in pink
• receive 2' of each colour of this ribbon for a total of 10' of ribbon for the price of $6.75 (the cost of one spool) + s&h and taxes = $8.20

OR participate in BOTH of the above 2 ribbon shares for a price of $20

*NEW In Color Dahlia Flower Embellishments (dahlias shown on pg 152 of catty)

• receive 2 flowers in each of the five new in colors for a cost of $6 (including s&h and taxes)

* New Buttons Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons AND Naturals Designer Buttons (buttons shown on pg 176 of catty)

• receive 2 each of 3 different designs of vintage faceted buttons AND
• receive 2 each of 3 different designs of naturals buttons

for a total cost of $4.50 (including s&h and taxes)

OR particpate in BOTH of the above 2 accessory shares (the dahlias and the buttons) for a price of $10 total

*New In Color 8 ½ x 11” card stock (applies to 2012-14 in colors only; paper shown on pg 152)

• receive a half a package of this cardstock which will include 2 sheets of each of the 5 NEW in colors for a total of 10 sheets for a price of $5 (include s&h and taxes)

June HOSTESS Special!

That's $60 EXTRA in FREE stuff when you hostess a workshop with sales of $575 or more!! (Click on image above to see larger view and table of sliding scale FREE products earned!)

Contact me today to book your June or July workshop to get in this amazing special!!

**LINK to NEW CATALOG!!!

Here is a link to the NEW CATALOG released today...enjoy!

2012-13 Catalog

The New Catalog is HERE!!!

I'm so excited...today, June 1st, the new catalog goes live!!  You can check it out for yourself by clicking on my right sidebar on the link to my SU site...or click this link.

If you would like a hard copy of the catalog, please contact me (if you are in Canada) and I will get one to you.  I give catalogs free to all those who host a workshop or join my stampin' club.

The bookmark you see on the catalog is something I've been making for the ladies who have already signed up for this year's club.  I used the new hostess stamp set "Carry On" which you can earn for free by hosting a workshop of you own!:)  And the colours I've used, in addition to coordinating with the colours on the cover of the catty, feature new in colors...specifically:  raspberry ripple, primrose petals and summer starfruit.  Another new item I've used is the new apothecary accents framelits for the big shot...love them!

Enjoy your first peeks at the new catalog today...I know I sure did!:)

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!)