My Creative Impressions

Today is the day we have been waiting so patiently for. The Retired Stamps List from Stampin' Up has arrived!!! There are so many of them. Stampin' Up is making some changes to their Idea Book & Catalog this year. It will be slightly smaller than before, & it will be on lighter weight paper to keep the cost down. The catalog will be about half of the previous $9.95 cost!!! YEAH!!!

The retired list of stamp will be availabe until the end of May. The new Idea Book & Catalog will be out on June 1st starting this year, In the past it has been July 1st. This will allow the 2 mini catalogs to have their own time & not crowd into the space allowed for other Stampin' Up events....like the holiday mini coming out so soon after the IB&C release. These are all really good changes that will become more apparent as the year progresses. The list is long (approx. 300 items total. Each language that a stamp set is in counts as an item).

To shop the retired list just click on the shop now button and go to retire list on the left side of the page.

Pals Love Is In the Air Blog Hop & PPA 126

Love is in the air as the Stampin' Pretty Pals share the love with cards and projects for today's Pals Blog Hop!

You've probably hopped over from Leslie Davis at http://lesliesellalicious.blogspot.com/.

 I'm stop number 30 of 31 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for love themed paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track

Today I have two cards today for the Pals Blog Hop. The first card I am also going to submit for the PPA 126 Color Challenge.  The colors for this Challenge are Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy & Very Vanilla. My card base is Baja Breeze cardstock (111352). I used a really great stamp set from the Holiday Mini called You Are Loved (123779). I hope you got this when it was available! It is still available for My Digital Studio (118108) as You Are Loved Digital Download (129331). I stamped the floral heart 3 times & Love label once using a great technique. I do not have the Craft ink in Not Quite Navy, and I wanted to heat emboss these images. I inked the stamps with Versamark (102283), and then Not Quite Navy Classic Stamp Pad (103008) before stamping the images on Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650). Then I was able to use my embossing powder & heat emboss the images with my Heat Tool (100005). I mixed a bit of the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930) with Clear Embossing Powder (109130) for a really nice touch. I punched the label out with the Decorative Label Punch (120907). The 3 Heart images I ran through the Big Shot (113439) using the NEW Hearts Collection Framelits Dies (125599) to cut them out. I then used Sponge Daubers (102892) and Baja Breeze Ink (111833) to add a bit of color to the edges of the 3 hearts. I then scored the hearts gently from the back side from the dip to the point of the hearts, using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334), & the Simply Scored Stylus (125624). I folded the 3 hearts with the printed sides together. I then glued ½ of a heart to ½ of the next heart. Then the other ½ of heart 2 to ½ of heart 3. Set the hearts aside for the moment. I used a scrap of Not Quite Navy cardstock (101722) & used the next larger die from the new set of dies. I cut out a heart in the center of my paper scrap & trimmed the paper to square it up. I rounded the edges with my Corner Rounder Punch (119871) & then attached the piece to the card base with Snail Adhesive (104332). I then attached the hearts with Snail also. I cut a strip of Very Vanilla cardstock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch (119275), & cut it in half lengthwise. I cut a piece of Baja Breeze pleated Satin Ribbon (125571) to fit across the card (4 ¼ inches). Adhere with adhesive of your choice. Then with Snail Adhesive attach the pieces of punched Very Vanilla pieces above & below the ribbon. You can tuck in under the edges of the ribbon slightly. I then embellished with lots of pearls (119247)!!! I hope you enjoy this project as much as I did!

 

 Every so often I have to make a Spring card with one of Lynn Pratt’s bluebirds. She has a wonderful tutorial on making these & other birds made with the Bird Builder Punch (117191). You can find the tutorials here   http://stampndesignstore.blogspot.com/2010/03/birds-of-feather-three-card-class.html.

I went Big Shot crazy on this card, using the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die (117332), Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809), the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976) & Little Leaves Sizzlit Die (114511).WOW is that a record or what!!! I also used the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), the Small Heart Punch (117193), The Modern Label Punch (119849) & the Word Window Punch (119857). I sponged the clouds with Sponge Daubers & Tempting Turquoise Inkpad. Notice the little bird & butterfly stamps? These are from the upcoming Sale-A-Bration Catalog! Aren’t they great? Accessorize with pearls! Contact me if you need more info on this one or any of my posts.

Please leave comments! I LOVE Comments!!! All items on both projects are Stampin’ Up & can be purchased right here at the red SHOP NOW button. The Sale-A-Bration items will not be available until January 24^th. One item will then be FREE with each $50 purchase! It doesn’t get any better than FREE!!!

I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas  from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

Hope you enjoy today’s Hop. Come back soon!!!

                                     Joan!!!

 

 Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com/

Maggie Mata at http://www.maggiemadecards.com/

Kim Luitle at http://www.kimsstampin.blogspot.com/

Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com/

Dawn Tidd at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/tiddbits/blog

Maxine Conrad at http://www.stamptothemax.com/

Sudan Lankford at http://stampincraftycorner.blogspot.com/

Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/

Kim Czenszak at http://www.livelovestamp.com/

Cindy Hall at http://prettyimpact.com/

Frenchiee Hum at http://frenchieesspot.blogspot.com/

Kylie Nicolosi at http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Takacs at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jenntakacs/blog

Angie Blake at http://www.angiesmusings.com/

Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/

Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com/

Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/

Amanda Cramer at http://mrscwithstyle.blogspot.com/

Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.blogspot.com/

Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog

Sue Bendinsky at http://www.mycolorcreations.com/

Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahsstampincorner.com/

Patti MacLeith at http://www.papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com/

Diane Roberts at http://scoreatfourandaquarter.blogspot.com/

Emily Steggell at http://stampingwithemily.com/

Julie Trevett-Smith at http://www.thestampinaffair.com/

Beth Beard at http://www.mylittlecraftblog.com/

Jessica Ying at http://www.yoyostamping.com/

Leslie Davis at http://lesliesellalicious.blogspot.com/

Joan Norris at http://www.mycreativeimpressions.com/

Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com. 

Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peek

To start out the New Year I spent some well deserved time in my craft room. I made 2 cards and will post one now and the other one later on.

Today’s card gives you a peek at some of the Sale-A-Bration DSP. They are gorgeous!!! I have also used some items from the Occassions Mini Catalog.  I have used all Stampin’ Up products on this card. My card base is Riding Hood Red cardstock (111348). I have used Everyday Enchantment DSP (126154) from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog that will start on January 24^th. I placed 2 pieces of this DSP on my card base. I then ran the card through the Big Shot (113439) using the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809). I sponged on some Crumb Cake Ink (121030) with a Sponge Dauber (102892). I stamped my flower from the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set (125537) with Real Red Ink (103133) on Calypso Coral cardstock (122925), and then punched it out with the Blossom Punch (125603). I stamped the center of the flower on Very Vanilla cardstock (101650) with Calypso Coral Ink (122939). Next I used the distressing tool (106958) on the flower center, & sponged the edge with Crumb Cake Ink. I placed a Large Pearl (125577) in the center. I also sponged the tips of the flower with Crumb Cake. I cut the pieces behind the flower in Calypso Coral (2 1/2x3 ½) and Very Vanilla (2 1/4x 3 ¼) The sentiment, as well as the bird & butterfly stamps are also from a Sale-A-Bration set called Elementary Elegance (127105). I used Baja Breeze (111833) & Calypso Coral Inks. My leaves are punched from Old Olive cardstock (100702) with the Blossom Petals Builder Punch (121808). I folded each leaf in half and ran it through the crimper (101618). I cut a strip of Baja Breeze cardstock (111352) with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275). I cut this in half lengthwise and place one above & one below the Riding Hood Red Pleated Satin Ribbon (125569). All was assembled with Snail Adhesive (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430) & Sticky Strip (104249).

I hope you enjoy today’s project. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think! All of the items used in this project can be purchased right here. Just press the red SHOP NOW button.

PPA 119 Fashion Inspiration – Holiday

I am delighted to be today’s guest artist for the PPA Challenge. I must say when I saw the inspiration photo, I knew it was going to be a challenge.

 I had several ideas fly through my head & then decided to sleep on it. I woke up Saturday morning knowing what I wanted to do. I wanted to finger paint with embossing powder! You will have to read to the end of this post to see what it is! I love doing mosaic cards. I used Scor Tape, a double sided heat safe tape to put my mosaic pieces on. I placed the tape on a piece of cardstock, and then placed my mosaics, just bits & pieces of various cardstocks cut randomly. . I pulled the cardstock colors from the inspiration photo. I used Real Red (102482), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Riding Hood Red (111348), Cajun Craze (119684), Basic Black (121045), Brushed Gold (102935) & Rose Red (102544). I used My Digital Studio (118108) to print some Holly Berry Boutique DSP (127773) on Whisper White Cardstock (100730) to use for the mosaics also.Wish I had some of the red glimmer paper for mosaics! I left small spaces between the mosaics. Then I used SU Gold Embossing Powder (109129) to fill in the spaces on the tape between the mosaics. I hit it with a Heat Tool (100005) & watched the embossing powder melt. Man I love watching that! When I was finished embossing I trimmed the edges with my paper cutter & placed it on the front of my card. I used my Big Shot Machine (113439) with the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die (121812) to cut out my flower. I used Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430) & Snail Adhesive (104332) to put it all together. My sentiment is from the stamp set Word Play (120308), & was punched out with the Decorative Label Punch (120907).

Before I made this card I decided to add some bling to my cardstock. I rubbed each piece of cardstock with a bit of gold embossing powder and heated it from the underneath side with the heat gun. The flower, mosaics & sentiment were all done this way. I have never seen this before. Don’t know if I invented it, but I am calling it finger painting with embossing powder. Look at the close up picture and you can see the results.

 I think it is kind of cool! Tell me what you think of it! Almost all of these items can be purchased right here. Just press the SHOP NOW button. Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.

                                                      Joan!!!

PPA118-Celebrity Color Challenge

 

Today’s challenge is a color challenge. Here are the colors that we are working with today.

  

I was preparing for my Monday Card Club, and had the Day of Gratitude Stamp Set out. I just decided I was going to make this challenge card instead! My products are all Stampin’ Up. I cut a card base with Soft Suede Cardstock (115318). I stamped my image on River Rock Cardstock (108640) using the Rock & Roll technique, with Early Espresso (119670) & Soft Suede (115657) Inks. My sentiment was stamped with Versamark (102283) and heat embossed the SU gold Embossing Powder (109129). I used one of the Designer Frames embossing folders (123130)& my Big Shot around my sentiment after heat embossing it. I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649) on the Early Espresso Cardstock (119686). I then cut a piece of Early Espresso Cardstock slightly larger than my stamped medallion from the Days of Gratitude Set (121148). I placed this piece behind the stamped piece and attached it with Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430). I also used dimensionals to attach the medallion to the card after placing an Antique Brad (117273) in the center. I love the way this card turned out. I did have trouble getting a picture that showed the gold embossing well.

I love comments! Please tell me what you think of it! All of these items are available right here from Stampin’ Up. Just press the SHOP NOW button! Thanks for stopping by.

                                                                          Joan!!!

 “Hopping Just for the Fun of it”- Halloween/Fall Happenings Hop

 Thank you for hopping with us today at “Hopping Just for the Fun of it”.  Today’s theme is Halloween / Fall Happenings. Plan on hopping with us each month. Our hops are the first Saturday of each month, making our next one Nov 5.  You probably came here from Stop # 1  Pretty Inky.  I am Stop #2 this month. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a great time making my projects this month! I love making Halloween goodies!!!My card base is SU Basic Black Cardstock, and a mat of retired Lovely Lilac. Doesn’t that make the image POP! I printed my image with My Digital Studio onto SU Glossy White Cardstock. This image is from the Nite Owl Digital Kit - Digital Download (122174) For those who have never used a glossy paper, they are great to sponge on, drag inkpads over or use sponge daubers on. There is no doubt in my mind that Stampin’ Up makes the best Glossy White paper either. It is by far shinier than any other I have ever used. After my image was printed,  I used a 1” circle punch to mask where I wanted the moon. I held it in place with a mini glue dot. I used sponge daubers with my SU classic inkpads in a variety of colors to color my background.  After sponging, I removed the circle & glue dot & colored the area that had been masked with a Stampin’ Write Marker.  I put it all together with Snail Adhesive.

 I did use sponge daubers with Opalite ink in a green on the tree & a purple on the sky to get the spooky shimmer of reflective color you can see a little of in the 2^nd picture. It is much better in person though.

I filled the 1x8” Cellophane Bags(124134) from the Holiday Mini Catalog with Halloween colored M&M’s that I ordered from M&M’s online. My toppers were again printed with My Digital Studio. I sponged the edges & used my Stampin’ Write Markers to color them I attached them to the bags with a couple of SU Mini Glue dots.

 I also have a Fall project today. I just love the French Foliage Stampset (121166). I ordered some nice Cajun Craze Ink (119671) & Cardstock (119684) for this project, but they did not arrive in time. I have replaced them with the retired Dusty Durango. I have also used More Mustard Ink (103162) & Cardstock (100946), Early Espresso Ink (119670) & Cardstock (119686), Lucky Limeade Ink (122935), Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650), Confetti Cream Cardstock (102835) & Crumb Cake Ink (121030). I used a retired SU Sentiment stamp, but do not know what set it came from.  I put it all together with Snail Adhesive (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), & Sticky Strip (104294). I added some raffia and a retired SU corduroy button.

I hope you enjoy my  projects. Check back often for more fun ideas!!!

Thanks, Joan!!!

 Don’t forget we love comments!!! Most of these items can be purchased right here from Stampin’ Up. Just click on the SHOP NOW button. To continue the hop, go to Stop #3  Stamping with Janice.  I am sure you will enjoy her project this month too.  If you should get lost anywhere along the way, you can go to the main blog, Hopping Just for the Fun of it, or click anyplace on the list below to get started again.  Thanks for hopping with us.

Start            Hopping Just for the Fun of it

01                        Pretty Inky

02                        jnorris1019

03                        Stamping with Janice

04                        Krafting With Karen

05                        Scrappy Stamps and Ink

06                        My Little Patch of Dirt

07                        Stampin ' At Dawn

08                        inkedx2

09                        Paper Fairy

10                         Stamp With Jane

11                          Life Is...

12                         RaissaStamps

13                         Life with a Wiener Dog

14                         Bluegrass Stamper Studio

15 end                 The Love of Stamping

September Pals Blog Hop- Fall & Halloween

Welcome to the September Pals Hop! This month we're featuring Fall and Halloween inspired projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.

I'm stop number 1 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Fall and Halloween paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

Hi,

Today I have made a card using the French Foliage Stamp set (121166). I used Crumb Cake (120953), More Mustard (100946), Very Vanilla (101650) & Retired Dusty Durango Cardstocks. I had ordered Cajun Craze to use, but it will not be arriving until this afternoon. Had to go with Plan B…. so I used a retired color. I stamped my leaves on the Very Vanilla cardstock with Early Espresso Ink (119670). I used Sponge Daubers (102892) to apply Soft Suede (115657) & Dusty Durango Inks. I think they look great! The sentiment is from the Day of Gratitude Stamp set (121148). I used the Decorative Label Punch (120907) for my sentiment, & sponged on Early Espresso Ink. I used the Big Shot (113439) with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976) for some texture. I added an Antique Brad (117273) to finish it off. Snail Adhesive (104332) & Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430) put it all together. Tell me what you think! By the way all of these products can be purchased right here from Stampin’ Up. Just push the SHOP NOW button. Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.

                                                  Jeanne

 

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Patti MacLeith at http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com,

  stop number 2 on the September Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

 

Jeanne Norris at http://www.mycreativeimpressions.com

Patt MacLeith at http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com

Melanie Collines at http://oopsadaisy.typepad.com

Ann Schach at http://www.stampinchic.com

Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahobrien.com

Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com

Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com

Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com

Mike Funke at http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style

Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog

Joan Norris at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/clearlycreative/blog

Barbara Chatzkel at http://takeoutpaperarts.com

Kylie Nicolosi at http://kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com

Cindy Hall at http://www.prettyimpact.com

Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com

Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.com

Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com

Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com

Debbie Pierce at http://www.stampinsunshine.com

Camila McManus at http://www.obxscrapbook.wordpress.com

Jason Casper at http://www.stampindad.com 

Hopping Just for the Fun of it

Welcome To our first Hopping Just For Fun Blog Hop! I am #14 of 19 on today’s hop. What a great turnout. Our theme today is All Holiday’s.  For today’s blog Hop I have a card for Thanksgiving. I used the SU set called Day of Gratitude. This was my first Stampset from Stampin’ Up and one of my favorites. It was in my demo kit almost a year ago. How time flies! I used Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Cajun Craze & Naturals White cardstock. My inks are Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait, Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Old Olive & Soft Suede. I used Stampin’ Write markers as well as Classic stamp pads. I also used Sponge Daubers & my Color Spritzing Tool. I used the 1 3/8 inch Square Punch, & the Decorative Label Punch. I used the Big Shot Machine with the Little Leaves Sizzlit Die. I colored several Rosettes with my markers and put it all together with Snail Adhesive,  Stampin’ Dimensionals & Sticky Strip. All items are Stampin’ Up. Hope you enjoy it. Please come back soon. You can make my day by leaving me a comment. If you want more details on this or any other project please email me! Thanks for hopping!

1                  Bluegrass Stamper Studio 

2                  Life with a Wiener Dog

3                  Stamper Shirley

4                  The Creative Stamptuary

5                  Stampin' and Scrappin' News

6                  Stamin Ldyglfr62

7                  RaissaStamps

8                  Stampin' Fevre

9                  My Little Patch of Dirt

10                InkPaperStamps

11                Scrappy Stamps and Ink    

12                Stamping with Janice

13                Technostamper

14                My Creative Impressions                 

15                Pretty Inky                    

16                Artful Imagination        

17                The Love of Stamping    

18                     Stamping Trails        

 19                 A Touch of SOL

PPA 109 A Color Challenge

Today’s Challenge is a color challenge using Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray & Calypso Coral.

I have made a card with Vintage stamp set (118598) This is one of my favorite sets. This is the perfect card for any combo of three colors. My cardstocks are Basic Gray (121044), Riding Hood Red (111348), and Very Vanilla (101650). The inks I used are Calypso Coral (122939), Riding Hood Red (111836) & Basic Gray (109120). I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities set Labels 1, the smaller piece in Very Vanilla and the larger piece in Basic Gray. I cut a 1 ½ by 5 ½ strip of Very Vanilla, a 2 ½ by 5 ½ strip Basic Gray & a 4 by 5 ¼ piece of Very Vanilla. I punched both edges of the Gray cardstock with the Pinking Hearts border punch (117649). On the narrow Vanilla strip, I stamped the large flowers in Riding Hood Red. I filled in the extra spaces with the small flower in Calypso Coral, and the leaves were stamped in Basic Gray. I also stamped a piece to put inside the card. The friends stamp was stamped in the center of the pre-cut Vanilla piece, then I stamped the edges with the leaf and vine stamp in Basic Gray. I stamped the friends stamp on another piece of Very Vanilla cardstock & cut it out. I attached it to the other piece that was stamped with this image with Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430). I ran the Riding Hood Red card base through the Big Shot (113439) with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (117335). I used Snail Adhesive(104332) & Stampin’ Dimensionals to put it all together and then added several Rhinestones to the centers of the large flowers. I hope you enjoy my project. All of these items can be purchased right here from Stampin' Up. Just click on Shop Now. Leave me a comment & make my day! Thanks for stopping by.

              Joan!!!

PPA 107 Sketch Challenge & HSS 80

Today I actually managed to get into my craft room for a bit. I made a card for the following sketch.

I downloaded the Convention Package (127361) for My Digital Studio (118108) a couple of weeks ago. I just love the colors. I was not able to go to Convention this year, but maybe next year if all of you place an order here! This is my first year as a Demonstrator and I just love it.  I really like that I am working with my daughter now too. Well on to my project for today! I printed two of the Convention Papers, one with polka dots and one with flowers & circles. Love the Pool Party & Island Indigo colors. My card base is Island Indigo Cardstock (122923). I stamped my images on Vellum Cardstock (101856), with Island Indigo Ink (122937). I used Nature Walk (122977), Just Believe (120453) & French Foliage (121166) Stampsets. I used the water spot stamp from French Foliage & stamped the images with Crumb Cake Ink (121030). The Color Spritzer Tool (107066) did a great job with my Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973), adding just the right touch. I used Crumb Cake Ink with a Sponge Dauber (102892) on the edges of my Designer Series Paper. Next, it was time for some stitching. I also used a piece of wide Jutland Ribbon by Morex Corp. It really ties in with the Brown Cardstock (identity unknown) that I placed under my images. Before adhering all of the pieces together I decided I wanted a lighter color under the images. I punched out my images and the Naturals Ivory Cardstock (101849) with the 1 3/8 inch Square Punch (119877). Then I used Snail Adhesive (104332) to put everything together. It was still not quite right until I added a stamped tag and an Antique Brad (117273). Now it looks finished! I have a formula that I use to help me decide when my cards are “finished.” They need texture, color, technique, sentiment & embellishment. I try to use as many as possible in my cards.

Well, let me know what you think of today’s project. I love feedback, positive or negative. Tell me what you want to see next, whether it is a color combo, stampset, or technique. I love challenges, so challenge me! Almost all of these items can be purchased right here from Stampin’ Up. Just click on the button that says SHOP NOW! Thanks for stopping by.

                  Joan!!!