Off to Convention!!

I can't believe it's Convention time already!!! I leave this afternoon for 5 days of stamping bliss with thousands of other Stampin' Up! demonstrators. This will be the first time since I've been a demo that there will only be one session of convention. It's gonna be HUGE!!!!


My roomie, Jenn, is bringing her laptop with her. So, I will try to post a few times while I am there. We will have to see how much downtime we have. Last time we went to SLC, Jenn was VERY pregnant. So, we didn't get to sightsee too much. I told her to pack her comfy shoes so we can see the sights this time!!!


Tomorrow we get to check-in and get our bags. Our bags will contain the new Fall & Winter Idea Book and Catalog!!! Yee haw!!!! Can't wait to see all the new stamp sets and accessories!!! We also get three stamp sets to use during our make-n-takes. Of course, since the catty is debuting at convention, we don't have a clue what the stamp sets look like. Ohhhhhhhh, the anticipation is driving me nuts!!!!


Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Blogger's Challenge #57

This week's Bloggers Challenge was to create a Christmas card. Can you believe it is only 5 months until Christmas? Wow...this year has flown!!!

Now, I've been busy making all my swaps for Convention next week. This is one of my swaps I will be trading next week. I really like the way this came out. It uses the brand new In Color Baja Breeze and two brand new stamp sets: Deer Friend (a brand new level 2 hostess set) and Heard from the Heart.

Don't forget to check out all the other ladies who participate in the Bloggers Challenge each week. You can access their blogs by clicking on the Bloggers Challenge icon on the right sidebar of my blog.

recipe:

stamp sets: Deer Friend, Heard from the Heart, Bold Snowflakes jumbo wheel

paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery

ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze

accessories: Whisper White narrow grosgrain, circle punches (1 1/4", 1 3/8" and scallop circle), Photo Corner punch, Not Quite Navy marker

P.S. I do not mind anyone CASEing my work (as long as credit is given), but please do not copy this design if you intend to swap it at Convention. Thanks!!!

Taking a Break from Swaps

I can't believe that Stampin' Up! Convention is next week!!! I've been busy making swaps, but I REALLY needed to take a break from that. If you haven't been with me for long, I'm gonna confess a secret about myself.........I really DO NOT LIKE making the same card over and over. So, needless to say, making swaps is not one of my favorite things to do. It's not as bad as ironing, but it ranks pretty close to it....LOL!!!!


So, I pushed my swap stuff aside and made this adorable card!! It uses a brand new stamp set. It's called Deer Friend, and it will be a level 2 Hostess set in the brand new catalog. It's just like Batty for You....but Christmas-themed. This card also uses two of the new In Colors: Pirouette Pink and Riding Hood Red.




Can I tell you how much I LOVE this new pink? It's truly the color of cotton candy. It's light and delicate. I've been hoping for the release of this color for years!!!!



Here is a comparison of Pirouette Pink (on the left) and Pretty and Pink (on the right). They look so pretty together as well. I will make a card for you to show you just how pretty they look together!!!

recipe:


stamp sets: Deer Friend (brand new Level 2 Hostess Set), Wonderful Favorites, Classic Stars jumbo wheel


paper: Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White


ink: Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink, Basic Brown


accessories: Stampin' Write markers, Soft Subtle brads, Pink gingham ribbon, circle punches (1 1/4" and 1 3/8")

The Retiring Accessories List is Here!!!

It's crazy time!!! It's crazy time!!!

The retiring accessories list has been announced. These items are available for purchase until August 10th WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!! The items marked with an asterisk are on sale for 25% off (as per the list I posted the other day).

I will be accepting credit card orders only for these items to ensure prompt order processing!!!

If you wish to place an order, click HERE to send me an email!!!

Here's the retiring list.........

109200
Accents & Elements Build A Flower

110718
Accents & Elements Lucky Star

110719
Accents & Elements Messenger

103158
Acrylic Graph & Grid

108638
Card Stock 12 X 12 In Color

108642
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Blue Bayou

108643
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Groovy Guava

108637
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 In Color

108640
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 River Rock

108639
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Soft Sky

108641
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Wild Wasabi

108644
Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Purely Pomegranate

103975
Card Stock Brushed Copper

108694
Card Stock Textured 12 X 12 In Color

107312
Cards & Envelopes Gift Whisper White

107292
Cards & Envelopes Greeting Whisper White

109116
Notes & Envelopes Long Notes

109118
Notes & Envelopes Love Notes

109117
Notes & Envelopes Pocket Notes*

110729
Notes & Envelopes Scallop Notes

109119
Notes & Envelopes Gift Notes

109018
Classic Stampin' Ink Blue Bayou

109019
Classic Stampin' Ink Groovy Guava

109017
Classic Stampin' Ink Purely Pomegranate

109016
Classic Stampin' Ink River Rock

109015
Classic Stampin' Ink Soft Sky

109020
Classic Stampin' Ink Wild Wasabi

109013
Classic Stampin' Pad Blue Bayou

109012
Classic Stampin' Pad Groovy Guava

109011
Classic Stampin' Pad Purely Pomegranate

109010
Classic Stampin' Pad River Rock

109009
Classic Stampin' Pad Soft Sky

109014
Classic Stampin' Pad Wild Wasabi

110751
Designer Series Paper Azure*

110749
Designer Series Paper Berry Bliss

109154
Designer Series Paper Cutie Pie

110699
Designer Series Paper East Coast Prep*

109160
Designer Series Paper Fall Flowers

109159
Designer Series Paper Flowers For You*

110697
Designer Series Paper Ginger Blossom

110479
Designer Series Paper Jersey Shore*

109151
Designer Series Paper Le Jardin

110748
Designer Series Paper Notebook*

110750
Designer Series Paper Olive Press

109153
Designer Series Paper Porcelain Prints*

109175
Designer Series Paper Prints Almost Amethyst*

109177
Designer Series Paper Prints Always Artichoke

110696
Designer Series Paper Prints Bali Breeze

109173
Designer Series Paper Prints Blue Bayou

109174
Designer Series Paper Prints Brilliant Blue

109178
Designer Series Paper Prints Certainly Celery

109169
Designer Series Paper Prints Close to Cocoa*

109168
Designer Series Paper Prints Groovy Guava*

109171
Designer Series Paper Prints Lovely Lilac

109172
Designer Series Paper Prints More Mustard

109176
Designer Series Paper Prints Old Olive

109170
Designer Series Paper Prints Pumpkin Pie

109164
Designer Series Paper Prints River Rock*

109167
Designer Series Paper Prints Rose Red

109166
Designer Series Paper Prints So Saffron

109165
Designer Series Paper Prints Soft Sky

109163
Designer Series Paper Prints Tempting Turquoise

110698
Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Break

110273
Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Fling*

110271
Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Silhouettes

110272
Designer Series Paper Prints Western Sky

107299
Envelope Confetti Cream Medium

105320
Eyelets Basic

100375
Eyelets Bold Brights

100381
Eyelets Earth Elements

107233
Eyelets Fresh Favorites I

107234
Eyelets Fresh Favorites II

105316
Eyelets Rich Regals

100378
Eyelets Soft Subtles

105515
Hodgepodge Hardware Pewter - SOLD OUT

105531
Hodgepodge Hardware Antique Brass

105532
Hodgepodge Hardware Aged Copper

101120
Metallic Art Pencils

107307
On Board Accents

109181
On Board Blossoms & Basic

109179
On Board Ginormous Pieces

107306
On Board Simon Lower

102678
Paper Mulberry White

109227
Punch Box Three For You

102686
Punch Handheld Rectangle

100271
Pure Color Pencils

109060
Ribbon Double-Stitched Blue Bayou - SOLD OUT

109063
Ribbon Double-Stitched Groovy Guava

109061
Ribbon Double-Stitched Purely Pomegranate - SOLD OUT

109062
Ribbon Double-Stitched River Rock*

109059
Ribbon Double-Stitched Soft Sky

109058
Ribbon Double-Stitched Wild Wasabi

109189
Ribbon Originals Beachfront*

109187
Ribbon Originals District*

109188
Ribbon Originals Fairy Tale

109185
Ribbon Originals Jersey*

109184
Ribbon Originals Sherbert

109186
Ribbon Originals Theater

110716
Ribbon Striped Grosgrain Wild Wasabi*

110281
Rub-Ons Cherished Memories*

110284
Rub-Ons Eastern Elegance*

110285
Rub-Ons Urban West*

110557
Simply Scrappin' Boho Blend

109610
Simply Scrappin' Confetti

110572
Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Boy

110567
Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Girl

109597
Simply Scrappin' Home Again

110562
Simply Scrappin' Rose Cottage

109648
Simply Scrappin' Special Delivery Boy

109627
Simply Scrappin' Special Delivery Girl

110587
Simply Scrappin' Summer Days

110577
Simply Scrappin' Tie The Knot

111184
Simply Sent Friendly Notes

109228
Simply Sent Simple Delights - SOLD OUT

109229
Simply Sent Three Thoughts - SOLD OUT

106662
Stampin'Around Wheel Daisy Field

107561
Stampin'Around Wheel Garden Annuals

109681
Stampin'Around Wheel Good Dog

109678
Stampin'Around Wheel Kisses

107482
Stampin'Around Wheel Lily Pad

109680
Stampin'Around Wheel Meow

109677
Stampin'Around Wheel Mistletoe

106610
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Basics Outline

107467
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Birthday

109571
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Baby

109570
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Friends

109569
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Party

108423
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Leaves A La Carte

107468
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Nature Hike

108980
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Petals

107464
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Rough Texture

111261
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Spunky Spots

109554
Stampin' Color Index Labels

109553
Stampin' Color Index Labels (French)

106694
Stampin' Kids Markers

101399
Stipple Brushes

102673
Zig Painty

Selected Retiring Accessories 25% Off

Stampin' Up! is just chock full of exciting new announcements lately. Today they announced that some of the retiring accessories will be marked 25% off.

The list of the discounted accessories can be found HERE.

Please note that all orders will need to be placed with a credit card so I can process your orders promptly.

All items on the list are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

I will send out the full retired accessories list when it is published on Monday morning.

If you would like to purchase anything on the discounted accessories list, please send me your order over the weekend. I will place your order first thing Monday morning when the sales prices are reflected in the Stampin' Up! order system (around 8am Central Time).

I look forward to hearing from you!!!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Bloggers Challenge #56

Wow! This challenge was a doozy!!! This week it was a color challenge. The colors are: Mellow Moss, Really Rust, Sahara Sand, Blue Bayou and Regal Rose. I know what you're thinking.....Whoa! That's a lot of color....that don't necessarily look all that great together!!!

I knew I had to watercolor this one......I knew I needed a stamp with a lot of detail to handle that much color.....I grabbed "Summer By the Sea". This stamp set is still available for purchase. It's been on the dormant list for the past two catalogs. It hasn't been listed on the dormant list for the new catty so it should be in the Fall & Winter 2008 Idea Book and Catalog. Yeah!!! It's an oldie but goodie!!!

Now, let's get to the card. Since there is so much going on in the focal image, I wanted to keep the Mellow Moss base card on the plain side. I added a strip of Sahara Sand wheeled with the Rough Texture jumbo wheel to add some texture. I used the direct-to-paper technique to apply more Sahara Sand ink to the edges of the strip.

The focal image is where I placed all my required colors. The Really Rust was the toughest one for me. It's too orange for a hair color. So, I decided to use that color on a beach blanket. I did add some colors for the hair (combinations of So Saffron and Close to Cocoa).

I also added some Basic Black to ground the card. It needed something to pull it all together. A neutral like Basic Black does just that!!!

The sentiments are from two different stamp sets. The "Wishing You Happiness" comes from Summer by the Sea. The "today and always" comes from the brand new "Heard from the Heart" stamp set premiering in the Fall & Winter catty. Actually, the sentiment says "Wishing you happiness today and always". I just inked up the part I needed with a Basic Black marker.

I finished up the card with some Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain (now SOLD OUT.....boo hoo!!!) and some dot work with my Basic Black marker.

Whew! How dare the powers-that-be put a strain on my stamping brain like that when I just get back from vacation???? LOL!!! I still have to catch up on the two challenges that I missed while on vacation. That will have to wait until all my Convention swaps are done.

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

The Craziness Begins

Although the retired accessories list won't be announced until July 21st, Stampin' Up! has announced that the Blue Bayou and Purely Pomegranate Double-Stitched Grosgrain ribbon has SOLD OUT!!!!


I will post the retired accessory list on my blog as well as send an email notice to all my newsletter subscribers as soon as I receive it from SU.


Please note that all items are on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE basis. Once an item is sold out, it is gone forever!!!!


If you are interested in purchasing any of the retired accessories, please send me your order ASAP. I will be asking for credit card as payment as that is the quickest payment route possible to ensure you will get all the goodies you want without them selling out.


I am heading to my Stampin' Studio now to take inventory of my favorite In Colors. I don't know if I can stamp without my River Rock (an incredible neutral), Soft Sky and Blue Bayou cardstock!!! Don't forget to order your reinkers to keep your ink pads nice and juicy in the future. Last year's reinkers are going for a ridiculous amount of money on Ebay.


I've been designing my swaps for Convention. Sorry for being MIA!!!!

We're Home....Finally!

Whew!!! We are back from vacation. We went back to New York and Pennsylvania to visit our dear family and friends. We were supposed to be back yesterday, but our connecting flight in Atlanta got cancelled due to bad storms. So, we spent 9 hours in the airport trying to get our luggage before going to the hotel. We never got it....went to the hotel.....back in the same clothes today (ewwwwwwwwww). Turns out the luggage arrived in MN before we did!!! Ugh!!!!!


I will post pics from the trip and hopefully a new project tomorrow!!!


Glad to be back home......hope you're still sticking with me after 12 days away!!!!!


Happy Stamping everyone!!

All New Sets will be Die Cut

Holy Schmoly!!!! I am SO excited about this one. Stampin' Up! has announced that all new stamp sets in the Fall & Winter 2008 Idea Book and Catalog will be die cut. That's right....no more trimming!!!! Stamp assembly can't be simpler.....pop out the image from the rubber sheet.....attach to wood block......put on the sticker.....and STAMP!!!!


Please note that stamp sets introduced prior to this catalog will still need to be trimmed.


So how do you know if a stamp set will be die cut? Just look for the die cut icon to determine which stamp sets are die cut. Easy peasy!!!!


I will be taking pre-orders for the new catalog soon!!!! Look for an announcement in the coming weeks!!!!