Best of Butterflies

Here's the next instalment in the 'Best of' series of stamp sets - butterflies. As before, some well loved stamps from older stamp sets, and one never-seen-before stamp.

Hooray!

New stamping goodies are in the building!! Quick post with a few cards I've not yet blogged, then off to play LOL!

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Wishes Your Way
• Ink: Basic Black
• Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
• Other: Brights Designer Paper stack, Cloudy Day embossing folder, Pinwheel Sizzlits die, Adorning Accents edgelit, Marina Mist 3/8” striped organdy ribbon, cocktail stick (non-SU!)

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Blooming with Kindness
• Ink: Midnight Muse
• Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit
• Other: Print Poetry Designer Paper stack, Honeycomb embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Extra Large Oval punch, Gumball Green 3/8” stitched satin ribbon, Pearl jewels, dimensionals.

Congratulations!

I really should be careful about my next few posts - my sister got engaged the day I posted my Love hearts card! No forewarning, and of course I had to make a completely different card once I knew the recipients!! I didn't get a picture of that card, but Congratulations to Suzanne and Chris on their engagement xxx

(Guess that means I'd better steer clear of baby cards for a while ;) )

New catalogue time

Hooray! You can now order from the new Stampin' Up! catalogue! As a demonstrator, I could order from a selection of new products before the catalogue went live, but unfortunately my car had other ideas. The repair bill meant that all I got on pre-order was the new in-colours :(  I'm happy to report that they are fabulous! - they remind me of retro ice cream parlours, with names to match. Here they are:
 

I've got a few cards to post, but haven't been able to get photos yet. That will be my job while I wait for Mr Brown to deliver my proper order of new goodies :)

Love hearts

I fell in love with the Artisan embellishments kit in the Spring catalogue and to my shame, have barely looked at it! Summer is wedding season so I thought I’d make a romantic card that could be used for a wedding, anniversary or any ‘love’ occasion.

I started with a crumb cake cardbase and a piece of the poetry print paper stack layered onto a vanilla cardstock mat. I pleated the pink (primrose?) seam binding from the kit across the designer paper then added some of the gorgeous vanilla flower trim. I gently sponged some primrose ink around the edges of a paper doily, and some crumb cake ink across the middle (to tie in with the DSP). I stamped the heart in primrose petals ink onto the corresponding cardstock, then cut it with the matching framelit. The smaller heart has been stamped in crumb cake onto vanilla cardstock before cutting. The love sentiment has been added in primrose ink, along with several pearls and a little crumb cake heart (cut using the owl punch)

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Hearts a Flutter, Pennant Parade
• Ink: Primrose Petals, Crumb Cake
• Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Primrose Petals
• Other: Print Poetry Designer Paper stack, Artisan embellishment kit (seam binding), Vanilla Flower trim, paper doily, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Owl builder punch, Pearl Jewels, dimensionals.

and another

Here’s a card I made for a friend’s birthday back in May. It’s a ‘stepped-up’ version of the card I posted yesterday, with various little additions. 

I’ve added a layer of celery cardstock underneath the designer paper, and used one of the adorning accents edgelits to create a fancy border on both layers. Pink and celery inks have been sponged around the flower image to make it ‘pop’, and a little pink flower button and several pearls added for further interest. There is a layer of pink taffeta ribbon underneath the black ribbon. The sentiment has been embossed in black on vanilla cardstock and added to a scallop oval of black cardstock, along with a little pink punched flower with pearl.

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Just Believe, Petite Pairs
• Ink: Versamark, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
• Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery
• Other: First Edition Designer paper, Black embossing powder, black 1/4” taffeta ribbon, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon (retired), Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Pretty in Pink button, Pearl Jewels, dimensionals.

Soon be gone

I found some pictures of cards that I haven’t blogged yet, so thought I’d better post them as some of the products used will be retiring at the end of the month. The first card features the Just Believe stamp set, which contains some fabulous silhouette images. I’m sad that this one is retiring as I haven’t used it half as much as it deserves.

A very CAS (clean and simple) card to get started, with a black cardbase and a layer of the first edition designer paper. This is also retiring this month so stock up while you can as it’s excellent value for money at £11.50 for 24 sheets of 12” x 12” paper. The flower image has then been embossed onto the designer paper using a versamark inkpad and black embossing powder. Even after years of seeing it, I still love the way the powder changes when it’s heated J 

The sentiment has also been embossed (this time onto vanilla cardstock), then cut with the scallop oval punch. A piece of thin taffeta with a simple knot adds another little focal point underneath the sentiment, which is popped up on dimensionals.

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Just Believe, Perfect Punches
• Ink: Versamark
• Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
• Other: First Edition Designer paper, Black embossing powder, black 1/4” taffeta ribbon, Scallop Oval punch, dimensionals.

The late (night) news!

Retirement lists

I've been a bit tardy in keeping you up to date with the news on planet Stampin' Up! First of all, we've got the lists of retiring products that will be available until July 1st, while stocks last.

The list of retiring stamps is available here and the retiring accessories here. 

Best of stamp sets

To celebrate 25 years in business, Stampin' Up! have produced a range of stamp sets highlighting some of the most popular stamps they have released over the years. There will be a set each month for 5 months, oddly named "Best of" (!), and each set will contain one new image. This month, it's the Best of Flowers:

Single stamps

There is also a selection of new single stamps, not available in any of the current catalogues. These are available until August 31st.

Please click on the pictures for a closer look at the flyers. As always, please get in touch if you would like further information or to place an order!

Ode to celery

Just when I finally get some photos taken of recent crafty creations, the monsters children start hogging the computer! They'll be back at school soon LOL! In light of the colour refresh, I decided to dust off an old favourite colour - certainly celery. I teamed it with an image I created ages ago, but hadn't found the right way to use it. Hopefully, this is it :)

Card base of celery cardstock, with a layer of matching designer paper mounted onto white cardstock to make it stand out. The 'precious baby' sentiment has been embossed in white on celery cardstock twice, then cut out with the ticket punch. These have been adhered to the card, along with white baker's twine and a celery button. The ark image has been stamped in black Stazon ink onto watercolour paper, then cut with one of the Labels collection framelits. I used an aquapainter and various colours of ink to colour the image.

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Two by Two, That's the Ticket
• Ink: Black Stazon, Versamark
• Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White
• Other: Labels Collection Framelits, Ticket Duo Builder punch, Certainly Celery designer paper and button (Subtles collections), White Baker's twine, White embossing powder, dimensionals.

Riding off into the sunset

With the colour refresh coming soon, I decided to use some of the colours that will be retiring soon. I don't think I've used Riding Hood red very often, I'm not sure why! It's a nice fresh red, not too dark. I've used it here as the base for my card, with layers of white and designer paper on top.

I needed a thank you card so let the sentiment take centre stage on a scalloped indigo layer over one of the paper doilies found in the Spring mini (top of page 5, they're easy to miss!) These are great value for money at £2.75 for 24 doilies, and give a bit of vintage texture to the card. I added a trim of pleated red ribbon (now retired) and some little pink flowers with pearls

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Curly Cute
• Ink: Riding Hood Red
• Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Pink Pirouette
• Other: Twitterpated designer paper, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, Itty Bitty punch, Paper doily, Riding Hood Red pleated ribbon (retired), dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! news

There are changes afoot in the world of Stampin' Up!

Colour Refresh

Back in 2010 when SU did a colour renovation, they announced plans to introduce smaller colour changes every 3-5 years to keep the colour collections fresh and up-to-date. The upcoming new annual catalogue, due to start on July 1st, will have the first of these colours refreshes. 

Some in-colours from the last 2 years have proved popular enough to warrant a place in the main collections (hooray for Pool Party!), and we will have several new colours. Obviously, some colours will have to retire to make space - retiring colour products will only be available while stocks last. So if there's a colour you love on the retiring list, stock up on your supplies before they sell out! There's a video from SU to explain the changes here.

Wood-mount stamp packaging

Also being introduced in the next annual catalogue will be new packaging for wood-mounted stamp sets. These are similar to the cases currently used for the clear-mount sets, but (obviously!) deeper. Empty cases will be available to buy if you want to convert your current sets to the new packaging, and there will even be a template to create your own inserts for the new boxes. Hooray! I love being able to see the stamp images on the spine of the box as a quick reminder :)

Click on the picture below to see the SU video about the new packaging (and is that a sneak peek of a new stamp set?!)

A male sketch challenge

Here's a card made for the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches here. I decided to go for a male-orientated card as it seems like most of my recent creations have been a bit girly!

Card base of marina mist, with a layer of spotty DSP from the print poetry stack. I love this stack, it's got a fab mix of patterns and colours - I'll be sad to see it go in the summer, but need to use it as I am drowning under the sea of gorgeous DSP I have hoarded over the years!! The rosette is stamped in midnight muse ink and cut out with the largest scallop circle punch. The happy birthday sentiment is stamped in summer starfruit ink on the corresponding cardstock, cut with the 1 3/8" circle punch and layered on the rosette with dimensionals. The ribbon tails are inked in midnight muse on crumb cake cardstock, trimmed and attached to the card.

Thinking of you is stamped in midnight muse on vanilla cardstock and attached to the bottom of the card. I used the happy whale die for the little stars on the left (summer starfruit, midnight muse and crumb cake cardstocks). I added a thin strip of midnight muse cardstock where the DSP and vanilla layers meet, just for extra definition.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Blue Ribbon, Curly Cute
• Ink: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit
• Cardstock: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit 
• Other: Print Poetry Designer Paper Stack, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Happy Whale clearlits die, dimensionals.

Oh whaley?

I think this cheery paper is the only thing keeping me going through our miserable weather at the moment :( We're lucky that we haven't had snow recently but it's been so cold. This time last year, I got sunburnt on a day out in Scarborough!
The layout was inspired by the Just Add Ink sketch challenge here, but as usual I missed the deadline LOL!

I started with a gray cardbase, covered with white cardstock which has been embossed with the cloudy day embossing folder. Can you see the cute little clouds? (Wish our clouds were like that, instead of a big gray blanket!!) I added a panel of the umbrella paper, and added the stripey paper to a piece of daffodil cardstock. The whale has been inked in Pacific Point ink, then cut using the matching clearlit die. These dies have a little window that allows you to line up the image exactly - fab idea! The sentiment is stamped in gray ink on white cardstock, punched with the word window punch and mounted onto a limeade label shape. A small disaster ensued - I left the components of my card on the dining room table whilst I cooked tea, and DS1 managed to get black paint on the edge of my card!!! The ribbons are a last minute addition to hide the little black splodge I couldn't get off :) 

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Oh, Whale!
• Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Gray
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
• Other: Happy Whale Clearlits die, Sunshine and Sprinkles designer paper, Cloudy Day embossing folder, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Striped Organdy ribbon, dimensionals.

Last day of Sale-a-Bration

This year's Sale-a-Bration promotion has been the best yet, with so many fabulous products to choose from. My SAB freebies have been sadly neglected, but here's a card I made using the Sycamore Street designer paper and buttons. I've sponged ink round the edges of the die-cuts for a little definition.

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Wacky Wishes (hostess)
• Ink: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party
• Other: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Sycamore Street designer paper, buttons and ribbons (SAB), Essentials Paper-Piercing pack, dimensionals.

The wanderer returns

Well hello, long time no see! Sorry it's been so long, but life threw me a massive curve ball and crafting, unfortunately, fell by the wayside. I was asked to make a card for a lady going on maternity leave, but not to emphasise the 'leaving' part as the lady was coming back to work. Another stipulation was plenty of room inside for co-workers to sign, so I decided on a larger A5 size card. It took quite a bit of fiddling/panicking/swearing after several months away from the craft cupboard, but here's the result. Sorry for the poor quality photo - I forgot to take a picture with the camera before I delivered it, so I had to attempt a picture with my new phone!

I started with an A5 card base of crumb cake cardstock, layered with whisper white cardstock. I used the baby tees wheel on several colours of designer paper, then cut out the individual onesies and attached to a washing line of linen thread using little wooden pegs. I punched squares of designer paper in the same colours and added buttons, ribbons and die-cut letters. The sentiment was computer generated, and cut using one of the Apothecary Accents framelits. I inked round the edges with pool party ink to provide a bit of definition. Simples!!

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Baby Tees wheel
• Ink: Basic Black, Pool Party
• Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
• Other: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Designer Paper stacks (Brights, Neutrals, In-colour s 2011-13), Sycamore Street buttons and ribbons (SAB), Brights designer buttons, Daffodil Delight 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/4" square punch,  linen thread, Timeless Type Junior alphabet dies (retired), wooden pegs (non-SU), dimensionals.