Today's the Day!!!

It's here!!  The new 2013-14 Annual Catalogue goes live TODAY! 

Click here to view the catalogue online!

We'll be able to start placing orders as of 2:00 pm (EDT) today.  I have my order all ready to go, so the race will be on to see whose order gets shipped first...mine or yours! :)

I have a project to show you that uses more new products from this magnificent book.  Take a look:

Hello card featuring the Mosaic Madness and Happy Day stamp sets.

I thought this was an appropriate card for today, as we say HELLO to the new catty!   I used loads of new products on this one.  Here is a quick list, along with their product numbers just in case you want to add them to your wishlist!

Mosaic Madness stamp set (CM 130249, WM 130246)

Happy Day stamp set (CM 130297,130294)

Modern Medley DSP (126926)

Modern Mosaic TIEF (129984)

Mosaic Punch (131267)

Essentials Hardware Clips (129964)

Coastal Cabana card stock (131297)

If you are local to me and would like to see these products in person be sure to stop by my New Catalogue Open House tomorrow afternoon.  I'd love to see you and personally hand you your FREE copy of the catalogue!  If you can't make it drop me a quick email and I will send you a copy for free :)

Now just a reminder that today is also the LAST day you can order from the Spring Catalogue.  If there are items in there that you just love that are not in the new Annual catty, be sure to add them to your order before the end of the day today.  As of midnight, those fabulous items will be gone for good :(

Tomorrow's the day!!

I. Am. So. Excited!!!  Tomorrow is the day the new catty goes live!  I have my order all ready to go for 2:00 pm (EDT) when we can start placing orders.  Here is a card I made for my Open House on Saturday.  It is chock-full of new products:

Thank you card featuring the Mosaic Madness and Banner Greeting stamp sets

On this card I not only featured two new stamp sets, but I also showcased the new In-colours.  I used four of the five, as well as the new addition to the neutrals family:  Smoky Slate.  The In-colours are Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana.  Kinda makes you want to head for the tropics, no?  I also used the new Mosaic punch and TIEF as well as a bit of Quatrefancy Specialy DSP.  So many fabulous new products...its hard to know which to order first!!
Just a reminder to confirm your attendance by the end of the day today if you're planning to stop by my Open House and Retired Product Yard Sale on Saturday afternoon.  I am prepping the Make-n-Takes this evening, so I'll need to have an idea of numbers.  Be sure to drop me a quick email to let me know if you'll be stopping by.  Hope to see you on Saturday so I can personally hand you your copy of the new catalogue!

Two More Sleeps!!

Can you tell I'm just a wee bit excited about this new catalogue??  I'm also really pumped about my Open House on Saturday.  I can't wait to hear all my stamping friends' reactions when they get their first look at the catty...so much fun! 
Today I want to show you another project  we'll be doing on Saturday.  I designed it from this week's sketch over at The Paper Players.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

Masculine Birthday card for PP147 featuring the Epic Day DSP and Label Love stamp set.

I love this sketch because I allowed me to showcase this awesome DSP without using a ton of any one pattern. I used four different patterns, adhering it to a piece of Basic Gray card stock before running it through my Big Shot wth the Honeycomb TIEF.  I added some Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape, some silver mini brads an a bit of 7/16" Natural Ribbon Trim for more texture.  The sentiment is from the fabulous new stamp set called Label Love and is punched using the coordinating Artisan Label punch (extra bonus:  this duo is available as a discounted bundle in the new catty!!).
Don't forget to confirm your attendance at my Open House on Saturday...its going to be a TON of fun!

Three Days and Counting...

...till the new catty goes live!!  I can't wait to get my hands on the new products in there!  Today I have another taste of some of what you'll see when you open this fantastic new catalogue...

Thank you card featuring the Mosaic Madness stamp set with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

This card is one I'll be featuring as a Make-n-Take at my New Catalogue Open House coming up this Saturday.  It offers a chance to play with some of my favourite new items:  Mosaic Madness stamp set, Mosaic Punch, Quatrefancy Specialty DSP, and Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape.  What fun!  If you haven't already, be sure to confirm your attendance at this free event by Thursday.  If you're out of town, send me an email and I will mail you a catalogue free of charge.  You won't want to miss your chance to be among the first to get your hands on this fantastic new book!

Fashionably Late Sketch Inspiration

Well, there goes another weekend!  How is it that they just seem to fly by?!?  I had a To-do List a mile long and barely got through any of it.  Ah, well, there's always next weekend...
Check out this  card I made for a colleague who recently celebrated a birthday.  I was late getting it to her...what else is new??  I used this month's sketch for my layout.

The Sketch

Birthday card featuring the Best of Birthdays stamp set.

I have to say I really like this card!  I sure hope I get something similar on my big day in a few weeks.  I started with some texture Pool Party card stock I had sitting in my stash.  I paper-pierced the label shape using my piercing template...love those things!  I die cut the dress form from Early Espresso card stock and then stamped and heat embossed the flourish from the Creative Elements stamp set in Pool Party.  I used both Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon and some Victoria Lace Trim in behind the dress form to add a bit of a girlie touch (my colleague is definitely a girlie-girl).  I stamped the greeting in Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla card stock and then punched it out using my XL oval punch.  I stamped the same image again using Pool Party ink and then fussy cut out the banner, which I layered on the Crumb Cake image using dimensionals.  I added some bling and a flower from the Vanilla Flower trim (which I cut down to a smaller size) to the dress form.  I think this design will find it's way into a class in the not-to-distant future.  I love it!
On another note...there are just four more days until the brand new 2013-14 Annual Catalogue goes live!!  I am so excited to get my hands on all the fabulous new products in that amazing new book.  To celebrate I am holding my 3rd Annual New Catalogue Open House coming up this Saturday.  If you haven't already, be sure to confirm your attendance by Thursday.
Have a great week!!

Mosaic Thanks

Happy Friday!!  Thank goodness the weekend is here...I have so much to get done in so little time!  Check out this project:

Thank you card featuring the new Quatrefancy DSP with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

Lots of fun colour and pattern going on here!  I used three different patterns from the new Quatrefancy Specialty DSP pack and punched each one with my mosaic punch.  I love the way the little four-petal flower from the Itty Bitty shapes pack works so well with the mosaic shape!  I also really like the way the bright colours (Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Island Indigo) pop against the black background.  Here are a couple more shots of this fun card:

Inside view

For the inside I stamped one of the mosaic shapes from the Mosaic Madness stamp set in each of the three colours and then punched and popped them using dimensionals.  Of course, I couldn't resist adding a little bling :)

I hope you have great plans this weekend that include a little stamping time.  Enjoy!!

More Sneak Peek Madness!

As we count down to the release of the new Annual Catalogue I have a ton of fun projects to show you that use new products.  Check this one out:

Birthday Card featuring the Mosaic Madness stamp set with sentiment from the Banner Greetings Hostess set.

I just love the new Mosaic Madness stamp set and coordinating punch AND embossing folder!  How great is it that we have three coordinating products to make putting together projects like this super-fast and easy.  to make this card I simply stamped the three quatrefoil images in Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Island Indigo and then punched them out.  I embossed my background with the Modern Mosaic TIEF, wrapped and tied a bit of Tangerine Tango 1/4" satin ribbon I had leftover from Saleabration and then layered it on an Island Indigo card base.  I adhered the punched quatrefoils with dimensionals.  I stamped the banner from the new Banner Greetings set, hand cut it and then layered it on top of a banner cut from a sheet from the Quatrefancy DSP pack using my Hearts Aflutter Framelits.  This card was so quick and easy...less than 10 minutes from start to finish, thanks to fantastic coordinating products!  Stay tuned this week for more sneak peek fun!

In-Colour Sneak Peek Madness

 Wow!  I'm not sure what happened to the long weekend, but it's over already!!  It was a busy one full of gardening and deck-building!  Thankfully the weather was simply gorgeous and I made great progress on my gardens.  Still a little ways to go, but they are dramatically better than they were this time last week!
Today I have a card I designed to congratulate one of my Tri-City Stampers team members for her recent promotion.  I featured all five of the new In-Colours...they are yummy!!

Congratulations card featruing the new 2013-15 In-Colours and the Banner Greetings stamp set.

I love these colours...so warm and sunny and soft!  They all work beautifully together too.  The card base is the new Baked Brown Sugar...oh, so delish.  The flowers are, from top to bottom, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana.  I used the Floral Fusion Sizzlet to cut the flowers and then layered them with a dimensional in between each one for lots of pop.  The DSP is the from the new Quatrefancy pack...so many fantastic patterns and colours!  The sentiment is from the new Banner Greetings Hostess set (which I earned for free through an  incentive program for demonstrator...score!) and is held in place with two silver mini brads.  The finishing touch is the bling...it always makes good things better, don't you think?  Here is a quick shot of the inside of the card:

Inside view with sentiment from Friendly Phrases.

On the inside I stamped an image from the new Mosaic Madness stamp set using the same In-Colours I did on the front.  The sentiment is stamped in Baked Brown Sugar and then punched out with the Decorative Label punch and embellished with little flowers punched with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  So much fun!!

Mosaic Madness for Baby

 Baby Card featuring theMosaic Madness and Label Love stamp sets.

Time for another new catty spoiler!

The moment I laid eyes on the new In-Colours for 2013-15 I knew I had to make a baby card with them!  They are so soft and warm I couldn't wait to put together something adorable.  I am discovering that the new Mosaic Madness stamp set and coordinating punch are FAR more versatile than I had first thought.  I've done everything from babies to Christmas (more on that later) with this wonderful set! 
On this project I began with some Pool Party card stock and then overlayed the printed window sheets that come in the new Quatrefancy Specialty DSP pack.  Then I stamped the various quatrefoil images using the some of the new In-Colours:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding (don't they just make you hungry??). I punched each one out with the coordinating punch.  I stamped the label using Blushing Bride (a former In-Colour that is returning to the core colour families in the new catty), and punched it out with the new Artisan Label punch.  Since I don't yet have any new ribbon in Blushing Bride, I opted for some retired pleated satin, which is just the perfect touch on this adorable baby card. The card base is the new Baked Brown Sugar...a bit lighter than Soft Suede and oh, so yummy! 

Overall I am really happy with the way this card came together.  Who knew that a quatrefoil image would work for babies??

A Little This and That

Today I have another one of the cards we'll be doing at my TGIF class coming up this Friday.  Check it out:

Birthday Card featuring products from the This and That Collection with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

I simply love the products in our new This and That collection.  The DSP is to-die-for and the Washi tape is the best thing since the Big Shot!  On this card I featured the DSP in a big way, along with some Gumball Green Core'dinations card stock (which will be available in EVERY colour in the new catty!),  I embossed the card stock with the Honeycomb TIEF, sanded it to reveal the lighter core and then trimmed the honeycomb pattern to reveal some of the DSP underneath.  I created the little banner using my Bitty Banner framelits and some Linen Thread.  The sentiment is from the Sassy Salutations set and the little party hat is from Papaya Collage. 
If you haven't yet registered for Friday's class, hurry!  There are still a couple of spots left...call, click or email to reserve yours today!

More Sketch Inspiration and a Sneak Peek!

Today I have another sample for this month's sketch inspiration...but first a spoiler alert!  This card uses lots of products from the upcoming 2013-14 Annual Catalogue.  Firstly, the sketch:

...and today's project:

Birthday Card featuring the soon-to-be-released Label Love stamp set (which has a coordinating punch...yahoo!), as well as the new Soho Subway DSP.

Close up view...see the little flower?  I made that with the new Simply Pressed Clay and molds!!  SO AWESOME!!

I warned you there was a ton of new product on this one!  I started with the Soho Subway DSP...so many fantastic patterns and a wonderful fresh, vintage colour pallette.  The pallette includes one of my favourite returing In-colours in the Colour Refresh:  Blushing Bride.  I used the Honey Comb TIEF for the background, which I sponged with Crumb Cake.  I added some Washi Tape from the This and That collection...rapidly becoming addicted to that stuff...for the horizontal element.  The label is from the new Label Love stamp set, which I stamped in Early Espresso and punched out with the new Artisan Label punch.  My favourite new product is the Simply Pressed clay, which I used to make the little pink flower.  The clay comes plain white but is so easy to colour with Stampin' Write markers, once the clay has been molded and dried.  This card was one of the Make-n-Takes at my Tri-City Stampers meeting this month...and they all got to leave with some clay flowers.  So much fun....I love new catty time!

Something Old, Something New...

Father's Day card featuring the Open Sea and Daring Adventure stamp sets.

No, today's project isn't a wedding card, but it does use both products that are retiring at the end of the month as well as some that are returning in the new catalogue.  I used the Open Sea stamp set which, thankfully, will be back for another year, at least.  I also used the Daring Adventure set which is, sadly, leaving soon.  My colour pallette uses Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray and Not Quite Navy, the latter of which is a casualty of the Colour Refresh.   
This is one of three cards we'll be making at this month's TGIF class coming up this Friday.  There are still spots available, so call, click or email to reserve your place.  Have a great week!

The end of a Crazy Week!

TGIF!!  I am SOOO glad it is Friday!  This week has been nutso!  I've been out every night and worked during the day...which means no stamping fun and no projects to show you!  My new catty pre-order arrived last week and I've barely done more than take it out of the box!  I am so overdue for some stamping time. 
Today I want to show you a card I designed for a workshop I did last Sunday.  It features, once again, one of my favourite retiring stamp sets...have a look:

Any-occasion card featuring the Circle Circus and Papillon Potpouri stamp sets with sentiment from Petite Pairs

This is a super-simple card to put together...perfect for a workshop situation.  I started by embossing the scalloped edge pattern on the card base with my Needlepoint Border TIEF.  Then I stamped the various circles using the following colours:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight and Lucky Limeade.  On a scrap of Whisper White, I stamped the butterfly from Papillon Potpouri using Lucky Limeade ink and punched it out using the Bitty Butterfly punch.  I layered that on an Elegant Butterfly punch in Lucky Limeade.  On another bit of scrap I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink and punched it out with my 1-1/4" circle punch.  I layered it on a Melon Mambo 1-3/8" circle.  Both the sentiment and the butterfly are adhered to the card with dimensionals.  The last touch was to add some bling to the butterfly with a few rhinestone basic gems.  Easy-peasy but such a happy card! 
Here's a quick look at the inside:

Inside view

I hope you've got great plans for the weekend...and maybe something special in-store if you're a Mom or mom-to-be on Sunday.  Enjoy!

Up and Away and Good-bye

I had such fun creating the telescoping card I showed you yesterday that I decided to try again with another stamp set.  Check this out:

Birthday card featuring the soon-to-be-retired Up, Up and Away stamp set with sentiment from Itty Bitty Banners

This card was created in the say way yesterday's project was.  I wanted the focal image to stand out so I skipped the embellies and kept the design very CAS.  The only little touch was the tiny mini silver brads on the sentiment banner.  Going to keep playing with this technique...we're doing it at my techniques class this week!  I'll show you that project later...till then happy stamping!

Just Believe...it's time to say good-bye!

Today's project is another one I designed for my Retirement Party class last week.  It uses the very first stamp set I ever did a class with as a demonstrator:  Just Believe.  This set holds a special place in my heart, not only because it was my first class but also because it really is a beautiful set, full of lovely images and sentiments.  To properly send this set off I knew I had to do something special...

Any-occasion card featuring the Just Believe stamp set and using the Telescoping Framelits technique

Close-up detail of telescoping focal image.

 I saw a card on Pinterest recently that used this technique, creating a telescoping series of layers to give the image dimension.  I knew I had to try it with this stamp set.  It is such a cool technique and SO easy to do!  It will work with any set of framelits that has multiple sizes of the same shape.  I simply sponged my background using Certainly Celery and Baja Breeze ink (both of which are retiring), and then stamped the floral image using Basic Gray.  I then laid out my framelits on the image and ran them all through the Big Shot at once.  The result is a bunch of varying sizes of rings.  I then glued each ring onto a plain Whisper White oval of the same size and then layered them one on top of the other using dimensionals.  So easy and very effective!  The hardest part is getting the layers aligned exactly.  I used more retiring product with the Not Quite Navy background layer that I embossed with the Elegant Lines TIEF (both are retiring) and the Certainly Celery 3/8" taffeta ribbon.  The final touches were the butterfly from Papillon Potpourri, stamped on vellum with Basic Gray and punched out with the Bitty Butterfly punch, and the pearl basic jewels.  A perfect send-off to a much-loved stamp set!
Stop by tomorrow for another project that uses this technique!  Have a great Monday!

May Sketch Inspiration from an old favourite.

A new month means a new sketch to inspire your creativity.  Check this one out:

May's inpiration sketch

Thank you card featuring French Foliage stamp set with sentiment from Day of Gratitude

I chose to use lots of my favourite products from the retirement list on this one.  I used French Foliage, Day of Gratitude and the Vintage Wallpaper TIEF, all of which will be leaving the catalogue at the end of the month.  I also incorporated More Mustard into the colour scheme, which is a retiring colour.  The focal image also uses both Log Cabin and Gold Glow Smooch...both of which are retiring.  Did you know that even the little brads I used are also going away?  With all this great stuff leaving, aren't you just dying to know what's coming to replace it?  It won't be long now...just 4 more weeks!  In the meantime enjoy your Saturday...hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is here!

Another Retiring Favourite!

Circle Circus has long been one of my most-used stamp sets.  It is, in my humble opinion, the most versatile set in the current catalogue.  That said, I had a feeling it may be leaving this year, as it has been around for quite a while.  Even though I had my suspicions, when I saw it on the retirement I still was a wee bit sad!  I LOVE that set!  It is one that will most definitely stay in my private collection for many years to come!  I decided to send Circle Circus off in style by featuring it at my Retirement Party tonight.  Here is the card we'll be making:

Congratulations card featuring the Circle Circus stamp set with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

You'll likely also notice that I chose to use several retiring colours in this design.  My colour pallette included Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery , Bashful Blue and Sahara Sand.  Given that Subtles are not my preference when it comes to colour, I am actually quite surprised at how much I like this card!   I think the addition of the Sahara Sand really gives the colour scheme substance.  The sentiment is from the Sassy Salutations set which, thankfully, is sticking around.  I've really grown to love that font...and to think when I first saw it I hated it!  It just goes to show you how much working with a stamp set can change the way you view it.  I really love the way the funky font works with the circles...so fun and graphic!  This would make a great, non-babyish baby congrats card for the hip new mom in your life!

Farewell to a Favourite!

When the list of retiring stamp sets posted last week I have to admit I was a little bit sad.  Some of my very favourite stamp sets are going away :(  I know there will be fabulous new sets to take their place but I still will miss a few that are my go-to sets.  One such set is Artistic Etchings.  I love the images and how vesatile they are.  I decided to include it in my Retirement Party class, which is happening tomorrow night.  Here is the card we'll be making to bid Artistic Etchings a fond farwell...

Anniversary/Wedding card featuring the Artistic Etching stamp set

I chose to include one of the retiring colours in this design as well.  I used Ridinghood Red along with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  The background is stamped with the En Francais background stamp (thank goodness that one's staying!) and then embossed it with the Lacy Brocade TIEF (another one I'll miss!).  I added a bit of Soft Suede 3/8" taffeta ribbon and some Victoria Lace Trim as well as one of the bronze buttons I had leftover from the Holiday Catalogue.  *Sigh*...I will so miss this set!