Operation #stophoardingpaper

Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a good weekend and, for those celebrating, a happy Mother's Day. Here it felt more like Christmas than Mother's Day as we had record cold and SNOW! My poor daffodils and tulips were NOT impressed...and neither was I! My family, though, made it a lovely day with a huge, yummy breakfast and thoughtful gift. You'll see the benefit of my gift in the photos below...courtesy of my new iPhone 11 Pro! I have to say, the camera(s) in that phone are incredible! I'm so loving the quality of photos I'm able to take!

As we wind down one annual catalogue and gear up for a brand new one I am always faced with the dilemma of having WAY too much beautiful Designer Series Paper sitting around. Can you relate? Do you feel guilty buying the pretty new papers when you have shelves full of perfectly lovely papers from past catalogues? Well, today is THE DAY we stop hoarding and finally start USING that beautiful paper. Check out these projects...

When I first saw my friend Patty Bennett post this ingenious fold, I knew I HAD to try it! Believe it or not, each of these three designs starts with the same basic cutting and scoring...and it's SUPER easy! You start with a piece of Designer Series Paper that is 5-1/4" x 11-3/4" and then score with the long side at the top at: 1-3/4", 4-3/4" and 7-3/4"....that's it! Then it's just a matter of adhering various sections to create the different looks...here's a closer look at each one...

This one is the most basic and involves simply adhering the scored and folded Designer Paper to a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card stock base...super simple!

This next one is a step up and requires adhering the front panel to the middle one...

This last one involves turning the design horizontally and creating pockets by adhering the edges of each panel. The back pocket contains a slide-out card for a message and the front pocket will accommodate a gift card...

For all of these designs I used the GORGEOUS Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper and coordinating Floral Essence stamp set and coordinating Perennial Flower Punch. I also used some new items from the upcoming 2020/21 Annual Catalogue, including the Tasteful Labels, Ornate Borders, and Ornate Layers Dies. I love it when I can combine products I have had for a while with new ones!

Now, several of the products I used here are retiring, so if you haven't already done so, you'll want to scoop them up before they disappear forever. These include the Perennial Essence Designer Paper and the Floral Essence Bundle. 

I'll be demonstrating this versatile fold in today's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook Business page. I hope you'll join me live, but if you miss me, you can catch the replay over on my YouTube channel shortly afterwards. 

Thanks for stopping by today...have a super week and be sure to stop by on Friday for our monthly Stamping Symphony Blog Hop!

Product List

Floral Essence Bundle [151055] $41.25	Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper [149100] $15.75	Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133675] $12.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [147092] $10.25	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $10.25	Ornate Layers Dies [152726] $50.00	Ornate Borders Dies [152724] $46.00
Old Olive/Pretty Peacock 3/8" (1 Cm) Reversible Ribbon [149496] $10.25	Clear Faceted Gems [144142] $6.75	Leaf Punch [144667] $22.00

Flowers for Mom

Happy Tuesday...and happy May! I sure wish I could say the weather here feels like May, but it is still COLD! Come on spring...bring on the warm temperatures and sunshine! 

With Mother's Day approaching, I thought I'd share an easy fun-fold card I designed to show Mom just how much I appreciate her...

I used some of the pretty Best Dressed DSP, both to create the background and from which to cut my flowers. I love the colours in this paper...so pretty and spring-like!

The sentiment I chose is from the Strong and Beautiful stamp set and is stamped in Basic Gray ink. I used the Stitched Nested Labels dies to die-cut my label and then added fussy-cut flowers to decorate it.

The best thing about this easy fun-fold is that it folds completely flat and fits in a standard envelope for mailing. Now, this particular design doesn't allow much room for a hand-written message, so I would suggest adding a Whisper White panel to the back side of the card base. That way there will be lots of space to write a heartfelt tribute to the woman who raised you.

I will be demonstrating this card in today's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook business page. Check it out for the complete how-to, include measurements and scoring information. If you miss the live broadcast, you can catch the replay shortly after on my YouTube channel. While you're there, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a single video!

Thanks for stopping by...have a great week!

Product List

Strong & Beautiful Cling Stamp Set [148732] $34.00	Dressed To Impress Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [151666] $23.00	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $10.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25
Lovely Lipstick 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146970] $12.00	Best Dressed 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [151319] $15.75	Stitched Nested Labels Dies [149638] $48.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $34.00
Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon [146912] $10.25

Honey Bee Tricorn Card

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are keeping safe and well in these days of social isolation and quarantines. It sure is a different world than is was just a couple of months ago! I am doing something I never imagined I would do...teach instrumental music (band class) online! It has been a HUGE adjustment, with tons of time spent recording instructional videos for my kiddos, but so far it has been going fairly well. I am fortunate that I have lots of experience with online tools from my Stampin' Up! business...it is making my learning curve much smoother than some of my colleagues'. As a result of the change in my work status, I am going to be posting here, weekly, on Tuesdays instead of Mondays for as long as I am working from home. My Mondays are all about posting assignments and answering questions from my students at school these days!

Last week, Stampin' Up! announced the list of retiring products from both the Jan - June Mini and 2019/20 Annual Catalogues. There are SO many favourites on there that I will miss terribly, so I am going to focus for the next several weeks on some of the ones I will miss the most. Keep in mind that any products I featured are available while supplies last and that, at the time I write my blog post, are still available for ordering. To check out the full list of retiring products, click the image below:

One of the big surprises on this list is the Honey Bee bundle from the Jan-June Mini Catalogue. This item was HUGELY popular and was on back order for quite some time. However, it is now back in stock and is available to order while supplies last...

Check out this cool fun-fold I made using this bundle...

This fold is called a tricorn (I suppose because it looks like a tricorn hat) and is actually much easier than it looks. The best part is that it folds flat for mailing in a standard envelope!

Now, the details of how to create this fold are too complicated to explain here, but I will be demonstrating it in today's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook business page today at 5:00 ET. If you can't make the live, I will post the video here once I am done. It will be the first of three projects I'm demonstrating, so you'll want to watch right to the end to catch the other two!

I can, however, tell you what colours and products I used. The base of the card is Coastal Cabana card stock. The striped Daffodil Delight Designer Paper is from the Best Dressed pack. I stamped the bee hive in Daffodil Delight ink and die-cut it using the Detailed Bee dies. The sentiment, bee and flowers are stamped in Basic Gray ink and then coloured using Dark Daffodil Delight and Light Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends.

The honey comb is cut from Champagne foil using the Detailed Bee dies. The layered circles are cut from Whisper White and Coastal Cabana card stock, using the Stitched Shapes and Layering Circles dies respectively.

There is even space on the back to write a message! 

I really love this fold and have to admit it is a little bit addictive! I will post more ideas using it on my Instagram feed and Facebook Business page this week. If you aren't already following me on social media, you're missing out! I post project ideas daily, so be sure to like and follow me so you don't miss a single thing.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you are staying safe and staying home...be well!

Product List

Honey Bee Bundle [153792] $55.75	Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131297] $12.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Best Dressed 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [151319] $15.75
Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $6.75	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $10.25	Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144585] $6.00	Bermuda Bay Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144580] $6.00
Daffodil Delight 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Ruched Ribbon [151311] $10.25	Paper Trimmer [152392] $34.00

Music From the Heart

Happy Tuesday! It's starting to look like Tuesday posts are going to be my new normal while I am working from home. I hope you are finding your new normal as we all do our part to stop the spread of this crazy virus. The best thing about staying at home is more time to craft, am I right?

This week I am all about the Music From the Heart stamp set....

Now, as a music teacher, this set holds a special place in my heart. Music is a HUGE part of both my life at school and my Stampin' Up! business. I mean, there's a reason my awesome community of stampers is called the Stamping Symphony! I have used this set A TON to make cards for my team and for colleagues at school as well. The best part is that this set works for ANYONE... not just the musicians in your life. Check out this fun birthday card...

In addition to the fun music notation images, my favourite thing about this card is the bright colour scheme. I used Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay and Gorgeous Grape...pretty much the entire Brights Collection! I love the way these colours work together...so fun and cheerful. Here's a closer look...

I used the Brick and Mortar embossing folder to emboss the Bermuda Bay background panel...I really love that pattern and need to use it more often! I kept the sentiment super-simple and fussy cut out each word...no special tools required.

On the inside I added a Whisper White panel on which I stamped more of the music notes and another fun sentiment.

Here's a link to my video in which I demonstrate this card and two others using the Music From my Heart stamp set...

Thanks so much for stopping by this week. I hope you are keeping well and staying safe. Keep calm and stamp on!

Product List

Music From The Heart Photopolymer Stamp Set [151674] $22.00	Sending You Thoughts Cling Stamp Set (English) [152297] $0.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197] $12.00
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987] $12.00	Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper [151313] $15.75	Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990] $12.00	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $10.25
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [147050] $10.25	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $10.25	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [147096] $10.25	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099] $10.25
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25	Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder [149643] $14.00	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $48.00	Heart Punch Pack [151292] $46.00
Metallic Baker’S Twine & Sequins Combo Pack [152314] $0.00