A Fun Fold for Dad and a Blog Hop

Happy Friday!! I hope you've had a good week. This weekend is typically the unofficial start of summer here in Southern Ontario, as we celebrate Victoria Day with a long weekend and fireworks; however it would seem Covid-19 and Mother Nature have other plans. While some businesses are beginning to open up (which is GREAT news!) there will be no fireworks and the weather is most definitely UN-summer-like with cold temperatures and rain in the forecast. It sure would be nice if we could catch a some warmth and sunshine sometime before June! I can't remember the last time it was THIS cold on Victoria Day long weekend! Perfect weather to stay inside and craft, right? Well, my Stamping Symphony team has some inspiration to get your mojo working...it's time for our monthly Blog Hop!

Among the good news announced today is that golf courses will be allowed to open this weekend. I know that is cause for celebration for many...not only for the golfers among us, but also for the spouses of golfers who can't wait to get them out of the house for a few hours ;) Here is a golf-themed fun-fold featuring the Country Club Designer Series Paper...

Now, I am not a golfer and no one in my family really is into it either, so I didn't purchase the other products from the Country Club Suite, but even with just the Designer Paper, it is possible to create a fun golf-themed project! One of the patterns in the DSP features beautiful line-art images of golf scenes. They are sized to cut perfectly in to 12 3"x 4" pieces from each sheet. I used one of the Stitched Rectangle dies to give mine a decorative border and it is absolutely perfect, even without adding a stitch of colour.

Now, can you spot the sneak peek of a new product from the upcoming catalogue? Check out those die-cut labels! They are from the new Tasteful Labels dies and the are AWSOME! Each new catalogue I seem to gravitate to one new die set and for this cataloge, these label dies are it! They are a great size for larger images and sentiments and have lovely detail on the borders. Here I die-cut one from Garden Green card stock and one from the same Designer Series Paper I used for the base of my fun fold.  I used the Well Written stamp set and coordinating Word Wishes dies to create my sentiment.

What I love about this fold is that it holds a little secret pocket for a gift card! Check this out...

I love when I can sneak a little treat in my cards that I send out. What dad wouldn't love a Timmie's gift card in his Father's Day card??

This fold is super-easy to make and uses up that gorgeous DSP you've been hoarding! It's time to cut it to make room for all of the NEW, beautiful papers in the upcoming catalogue. Believe me, you'll thank me for easing your guilt about buying the new papers ;)

To learn how to make this card and two others that feature beautiful Designer Paper, check out the video below. Then, while you're on my YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a thing!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to hop on over to the other blogs in our hop to see what amazing things our talented team has come up with:

1. Leena (You are here)

2. Sandy

3. Barb

4. Jennifer

5. Leigh

Have a great weekend!

Product List

Well Said Cling Bundle [150609] $103.50	Country Club Designer Series Paper [151314] $15.75	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584] $12.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $12.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] $10.25	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $48.00	3/8" (1 Cm) Denim Ribbon [149590] $9.50
Designer Elements [149586] $9.50

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

Under my Umbrella

I don't know about the weather where you live, but here in Southern Ontario, we are experiencing some serious April showers! Now, I know they are supposed to bring May flowers, but the gloomy skies, pouring rain and chilly temperatures sure make it hard to believe warm sunny days are ahead. Maybe it's a bit of cabin fever as a result of social distancing, but I am so craving warm sunshine-filled days! I decided this would be a good week to focus on the Under my Umbrella bundle and the retiring In-Colors. The retiring products list posts tomorrow, and when it does, all of the out-going In-Color products will sell out fast. If you haven't yet snagged your reinkers, card stock and DSP pack yet you may want to do so today while they are still available. Check out my webstore now, before you forget!

Because I am craving sunshine I made a bright sunny card to share with you today...

Now, how's THAT for a happy card? I opted to create a rainbow with the five out-going In-Colors using the gingham pattern from the 6" x 6" DSP pack. I cut the strips 3/4" wide and adhered them to a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card base. I added little punched flowers in the coordinating card stock for a little extra happy. I curled them a little by burnishing the centres with my stylus and added an epoxy dot for some sparkle.

The umbrella is stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink and is coloured using Dark Pineapple Punch, Dark Call my Clover and Dark Lovely Lipstick Blends. I made the sun by punching a 2" circle and a Starburst from Pineapple Punch card stock and layering them. Before doing so I sponged the edges lightly with ink of the same shade for a bit of a shadow.

On the inside I simply stamped another sentiment from the Under my Umbrella set in black ink.

I'll be demonstrating this card and two others using the Under my Umbrella bundle in today's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook page. I hope you'll join me for the live broadcast, but if you miss me you can catch it shortly afterwards on my YouTube channel.

Thank for stopping by today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for all the scoop on retiring products and the Last Chance Promotion! Till then, be well and stay safe!

Product List

Under My Umbrella Bundle (English) [153786] $39.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $11.25
Lovely Lipstick 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146970] $12.00	Grapefruit Grove 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146972] $12.00	Pineapple Punch 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146971] $12.00	Call Me Clover 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146969] $11.50
Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146968] $11.50	2018-2020 In Color 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [149618] $15.75	Pineapple Punch Classic Stampin' Pad [147141] $10.25	Pineapple Punch Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [147030] $6.00
Lovely Lipstick Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [147028] $6.00	Call Me Clover Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [147024] $6.00	Stitched Nested Labels Dies [149638] $48.00	Starburst Punch [143717] $24.00
2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch [133782] $24.00	Small Bloom Punch [152316] $0.00	Frosted & Clear Epoxy Droplets [147801] $12.25