So Long Stippled Blossoms

The list of Stampin' Up! retiring items is out! Each year I have favorite items on the list that I had hoped wouldn't be there. This year I am so sad to see one of my all time favorite stamp sets...Stippled Blossoms on the list. I made a few cards with it just the other day and I had a feeling it might be retiring. Here's my creation using Stippled Blossoms along with the retiring In Colors.

I have really enjoyed this set of pretty pastel colors...especially for spring time creations. Of course we already knew that the In Colors from 2013-15 would be retiring. Each year the card stock and re-inkers for the In Colors are usually the first thing to sell out from the list. So, if you have not purchased them yet, I would highly recommend doing so as soon as possible so you are not disappointed.

This week I will be sharing some of my favorite projects that I've created using items that will soon be retiring, so make sure to visit again soon. It's almost impossible to make a card that isn't pretty using this stamp set...here are a few of my favorites I've created with the beautiful Stippled Blossoms...

This one uses the 2014-16 In Colors and the retiring Fancy Fan Embossing Folder. You can see more on this card in this post.

I created my own DSP for this card. You can read more about it here.

The blossoms looked beautiful in Baja Breeze...still one of my all time favorite SU! colors. I was so sad when they retired that color...and I'm still hoarding some in my stash. Read more about this card here.

This card uses several soon to be retired items...the Window Frames Framelits and Beautifully Baroque EF are favorites of mine. Read more about this card in this post.

A lot of the framelits and punches are going to be retiring...including the Labels Collection & Modern Label Punch used above. I hope that means there are going to be a whole bunch of great new punches & framelits to take the place of what will be retiring! If you want more info on this pretty purple creation, click here.

Check out the Retiring List and make sure to get your favorites before they are gone!

Stippled Blackberry Birthday Blossoms

I cannot get enough of the gorgeous new In Colors! Here's a make & take card that my local customers got to create at my recent catalog pick up event. It uses each and every one of the five new colors.

The biggest blossom was stamped in Blackberry Bliss (stamped off the first time and full strength for the detailed image) the smaller flowers in Hello Honey and Tangelo Twist, the leaves in Mossy Meadow and then the edges were sponged with Lost Lagoon. The make & take card was pretty and detailed just as shown above, but if you want to make it even more special you could step it up with some added details like this...

Embossing the Blackberry Bliss layer with the Fancy Fan EF and adding some piercing along the edges adds more detail with not a whole lot more effort. I made this card for a dear "old" friend who turned the big 5-0 on Monday. So I used the Endless Birthday setto stamp a background of dots and words to describe the excitement of turning 50. ;-) Yes...I'm being a little sarcastic here...I can share my friends "enthusiasm" & "excitement" over turning 50...because today is my 50th. I still cannot believe we're 50...we are way too young too be that "old"!

Here's a look at both cards...

To celebrate my milestone birthday, my hubby and I took a road trip. We are with family in NC now, but on way down from Michigan we stopped at whatever caught our (my) ;-) interest. Here's a photo of us on top of Natural Bridge in Kentucky.

As you can see, the view was amazing! Here's to the next 50...

Stippled Birthday Blossoms

It was my Mom's birthday a couple days ago, so a special card was in order. Her favorite colors include shades of purple, yellow and green. I don't have any DSP with those colors, so I decided to make my own using Stippled Blossoms and Creative Elements.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 11 piece of Whisper White card stock and stamped my design using:

• Wisteria Wonder
• Elegant Eggplant
• So Saffron
• Crushed Curry
• Pistachio Pudding
• Wild Wasabi
• Pool Party

When I started, I wasn't sure what kind of card I was going to create, but wanted to be sure I had enough "DSP". I used about 1/2 of my decorative paper for this gate fold card...so that means I can make 1 or 2 other projects using the rest of my hand stamped paper. Here's a closer look at the layered Deco Label focal point.

The left half of this label is adhered to the left panel of front of card. The bow kind of holds it in place on the right, but it easily flips open to reveal the inside of the card...

A pretty Tea Lace Paper Doily mats the sentiment on the inside.

Stippled Blossom Get Well

I think that perhaps it may be nearly impossible to create something that isn't pretty using the Stippled Blossom set. I just love the beautiful 2-step rose and the coordinating images! I think that it has an old-fashioned quality to it especially when using soft muted colors like I used here.

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Creative Elements, Papillion Potpourri, En Francias & Thoughts & Prayers (sentiment)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding & Wild Wasabi
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe & Pool Party
Accessories: Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder, Victoria Crochet Trim, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Apothecary Accents & Window Frames Framelits, Word Window & Bitty Butterfly Punches, Basic Pearls & Stamp-a-ma-jig

The little butterfly stamped from the Papillion Potpourri set and punched out with the Bitty Butterfly Punch makes a cute accent on this card, don't you agree? What, you don't have these items yet? Well, now is the time to get them! During the month of September they are on sale for 15% off! Find out all the details here.

As you can see, I also decorated my envelope. I like to use the frame from Creative Elements as a spot to write my return address. Another way to make your envelopes special is with the new SU! Envelope Punch Board. This tool looks pretty cool...but I don't have it yet. You can make any sized envelope...and the size chart is printed right on it to make it easy.

Envelope Punch Board: Item	133774	Price $19.95

Want to see this in action? Check out this video.

Have a great weekend!

Bright Stippled Blossoms

On my last post I shared a card with you using the Stippled Blossoms set and promised to share another card I created using the same layout & stamps but in a totally different color scheme. Well here it is...

This one uses Daffodil Delight & Primrose Petals along with Brights Collection DSP (I actually used Regal Rose striped DSP since I don't have the In Color pack) I also swapped out the Lacy Brocade Embossing folder for the Vintage Wallpaper one instead.

Here's a look at both, side by side...

See how a simple thing like just changing the colors scheme can make such a difference?  I like them both, but  if I had to choose my favorite, shades of purple always win with me! What about you?

Wisteria Blossoms

Today I'd like to share a creation that combines one of my favorite stamp sets - Stippled Blossoms and my favorite color...purple! Two beautiful shades of purple to be exact...Wisteria Wonder & Elegant Eggplant.

I inked the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder with Elegant Eggplant Ink before running through the Big Shot. I just love how this makes the pretty embossed pattern stand out even more. I used Pool Party as an accent color and Certainly Celery with Wild Wasabi for the leaves.

The Victoria Crochet Trim is layered with Pool Party 1/4" Satin Ribbon (FREE during Sale-a-Bration) and the bow was tied using Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon.

I used the same stamp set, layout, etc...but changed the color scheme to create another card that has a totally different look/feel to it. Check back to see that card in my next post.

Stippled Blossom Blues

One of my absolute favorite sets right now has to be Stippled Blossoms. It looks lovely in so many different color combos I've tried, and one of my favorites are these pretty blossoms inked in Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy.

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms & You Are Loved
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery & Wild Wasabi
Card stock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla
Accessories: Window Frames Framelits, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls & Stamp-a-ma-jig

I've been having fun playing with this set, so stop by again soon to see more...

Cherry Stippled Blossoms

I had been eyeing the Stippled Blossoms set since it first came out in the new catalog in June...I really, really tried to resist since I have so many floral stamps in my collection already...BUT, as you can see my resistance was futile! I'm sooo weak! Anyways... here is my first creation using this beautiful set.

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Blooming With Kindness & En Francais
Card stock: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Old Olive & Always Artichoke
Accessories: Window Frames Framelits, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon & Victoria Crochet Trim

I got all my holiday decorating done over the weekend and the house feels so festive...it really put me in the Christmas spirit! Today I will be working on Christmas cards. Have a great day!