Autumn Harvest

This will conclude my retiring showcase of stamps so I can start showing my Sneak Peeks! As usual, the ending of a catalog brings mixed emotions but hey, after using so many retiring sets, I am ready to move on! This one is Autumn Harvest and as hot as it has been here in ATL I cannot begin to think of Fall yet. But, this one has been water colored and looks cool and refreshing.

A Masculine Birthday Card

Here is a nice masculine birthday card I made using the retiring set, Birthday Bliss. I used the DSP from the Play Date and cut my own candles using Tempting Turquoise. Take a look at the flames for the candles, look familiar? I will give you a hint, I used the wing from the 2 step bird punch for my flames. And look, no bows!

Cheap Talk

This is a really different card for me. I used the large scalloped circle die cut and my Big Shot to make the base of this card. I then cut the white using the 3 1/2" circle die cut. I next used my Circle Scissors Plus to make the 3 3/4" layer. I sponged the background colors and used my black Stazon to do the stamping.

Forest Friends

Another cute little set with only 4 stamps in it and they are all small so they practically shout LAYERS! I used lots of layers for this card and I hand colored the stamp and stamped it on the So Saffron layer. I also colored and cut the owl and used dimensionals to pop him up.

Home for Christmas

Ok, I tried my hand at water coloring again. I can never make it look like I wanted but it will do! The card is Cherry Cobbler, layered with Very Vanilla and the DSP is from the Holly Jolly pack. The cute little button is from the brights collection. I like this card but would never attempt to mail out 75 or more of this one!

Priceless

I again made a very simple card using this set. I used Whisper White, Early Expresso and So Saffron. The background is stamped using the So Saffron ink and the big swirly stamp along with the tiny flower. The butterflies were made using the butterfly embosslit. Hope you like it!

A Sneak Peek

Ok, so I got my first order from June and my new catalog was in it! As you can guess, I have been flipping through it non-stop while awake. I also got a few new things from the preview that demonstrators can order. One of the items is this Pennant punch. I am using it with retiring papers and accessories so it sort of counts as retiring AND a sneak peek. The sentiment is from the level 1 set in the current mini called Swirls and Curls verses. Isn't it cute? I actually made this card as a challenge for the U Stamp with Dawn and Friends Blog Hop. She said to make anything that this photo made you think of.

Things I Love

This card was made using Things I Love. I used Whisper White, Real Red and some DSP from last years SAB (front) and the red piece is from Play Date. (I am trying to use up retiring or retired DSP and accessories so I can get more!) This is a fun card because who doesn't love new shoes, chocolate and shopping???

Teddy and Train

I am a sucker for the "antique" looking sets and this one is very vintage with its images and it makes a great baby card. I water colored the teddy and cut him out of the water color paper. The card is Basic Black layered with Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and So Saffron. Very soft ans sweet!

Big on Christmas

Another great set! This one has big images that totally make the card. I don't know if you can see it but I glittered the ornaments red and add dazzling diamonds to the star. The DSP is Jolly Holly also going away on June 30.

Be on the watch for my annual Christmas in July stamp-a-stack. I am planning it to be on July 30.

2 Posts in 1Day!

My timing will be off if I don't post twice and I wanted to add another card to the CCMC Sum 4 challenge so here it is. I used all Stampin' Up! supplies but the Fright Night stamp is not available any more except when it goes for sale during my retiring stamps sale. I hung on to it in case it made the 'A La Carte stamps but alas, it did not. However, it fits the design challenge(seen on the 12th) and it IS retiring so...

Animal Stories and Occasional Quotes

Sniff, sniff. More retiring sets. I always hate to lose the great word sets and this hostess set ranks as one of the great ones for me. It is so versatile. Today I made a card that I copied from the catalog. I made a couple of changes but the idea is the same. I used the Regals DSP stack and Baja Breeze. Aren't the owls cute? I used my white gel pen to put the dots on the hearts to match the owls tummy.

A Wish for Peace

As I say farewell to a Christmas set, I attempted to CASE the box in the catalog. My rendition is a little different than the one in the catty but it is a close facsimile.  I used Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Confetti White card stock with Always Artichoke, Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler inks. It turned out cute and would be fun to hang on the tree with little treats in it. Oh, the box is the Box #2 die cut for the Big Shot.

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Challenge Week 4

OK, the gauntlet has been thrown out and I am determined to meet it. This week is a sketch and they are the simplest for me because you have the layout you just need to add stamps and colors. Here is the sketch...

Now, here is my attempt at their sketch. In keeping with my retiring stamp sets I am again using Always. I love that set and am so glad that Nature Walk is in the big catalog to lessen the blow!

Here are the supplies I used for this card...Early Expresso, Sahara  Sand, Very Vanilla and Baja Breeze card stock with a little strip of Elegant Soiree DSP. I also used my Big Shot for the Oval and and frame. The other punches are the Pinking Hearts Border and the Curly Label.  Thanks for looking!

Sense of Time

Well, as I continue saying "Good-Bye" to some favorite stamp sets I have to add this masculine set to the list. I used this one to make a simple card using the Sense of Time set and the Elegant Soiree DSP. Sniff, I hate to see it go. Hurry, you can only get these departing sets until June 30th. You can order on my website here.

Create with Connie and May CCMC Sum03

Another week, another challenge. This one was a Color Challenge, sometimes very challenging for me. The colors are Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight. Not three I would probably just put together but they are very pretty!

Now, here is my take on the color challenge. As I was cleaning my room I found some things I had not seen in quite a while. One was these little frames that can be fun to play with. So, I used the frame for my project. As you can see, I used 2 retiring sets for this project: Bella Toile and Freinds 24-7.

Play Date Rub-Ons

Well, as you can see the retiring lists are quite long! And, as usual I have been hit hard. But this year I am only losing 30 sets from the Big catalog. Now, what will be in the new catalog waits to be seen. So, as we say good-bye to some favorite stamp sets and accessories, I am planning to showcase many of the retiring sets over the month of June. Just a little temptation to get them while they are HOT!

Today I am showing the Play Date rub-ons and Play Date designer paper. This was a quick and easy no stamp card that anyone can do with the rub-ons.

Tart and Tangy

This is a card I did with my Technique Class a couple of years ago using this stamp set. It does feature only Stampin' Up! products but the papers and colors happen to be retired now. This card shows faux stitching.

Create with Connie and May CCMC Sum02

Behold, another challenge from Connie and Mary. You see, for subscribers, every card/project you submit you get a chance to win either a free subscription to their next classes OR $75 in free merchandise from Stampin' Up! It is a win-win either way. I won the $75 last time so I hope I am still able to win again!!! Of course, either prize would be great. I am loving their tutorials and you get full-color instructions for all their projects.
Following with my idea of featuring retiring sets, I am using Always for this card. I decided to turn it sideways to better use the images in this set.