Coffee Parts

I'm very sad that the "Perfect Blend" stamp set is retiring. I think this set is cute and versatile and it's really inexpensive! It's a good "starter" set. But all good things must come to an end. And my empty stamp shelves just mean there's room for NEW stuff, come June 2nd!!! However, YOU CAN STILL BUY this stamp set through June 2nd. Get it while it's steaming hot! (See what I did there?)

The coffee cups on this card were made by another stamper (is it you?). They're "card parts" that I pulled off another card. I love the Moonlight Designer Series Paper that was used for the coffee cup cozies and the addition of the hearts from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. I particularly love the real coffee stirrers!! Such a genius idea! (Thanks, "Mystery Stamper!") The coffee cup elements were too cute to throw away and they sat on my desk waiting a long time for me to decide to re-create with them!

The original stamper had placed them on a Lost Lagoon card based stamped with Basic Gray blotches from the "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set. I recreated that here, but I used Basic Gray as a mat and mounted the whole assembly onto a Hello Honey card base for more of a pop of color. I also added a length of Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon. 

I stamped the sentiment from the "Perfect Blend" set in Basic Gray onto a Very Vanilla scrap and punched it with the Artisan Label Punch (retiring). I adhered the coffee cups and sentiment with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I'm glad I was able to give these totes adorbs coffee cups some new life!

tams# 3255

Product List

Perfect Blend Clear Stamp Set [131392] $10.95	Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set [130517] $17.95	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [126981] $5.95	Hello Honey 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133678] $6.95
Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133679] $6.95	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $8.50	Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack [133701] $6.95	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131202] $6.95
Hello Honey 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon [133671] $8.95	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack [133787] $16.95	Artisan Label Punch [130920] $15.95	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $3.95

Coffee With Friends

I still really love the "Perfect Blend" stamp set. It's a great go-to set when you want to make a quick card for a friend. And the price is perfect, too! Only $10.95 for the 3-piece clear mount set.

I thought this would be a great set to use for this week's Create with Connie & Mary color challenge.


I remembered that the Moonlight DSP pack had these colors in it, so I stamped on a scrap of this DSP and cut it out to make the coffee cup's jacket. I used the larger splotchy stamp from "Gorgeous Grunge" to make some coffee splashes for the background.The Word Bubbles Framelits are a cute way to cut out the sentiment. Add a bit of Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon, and there you go!

tams# 2395

Product List

Perfect Blend Clear Stamp Set [131392] $10.95	Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set [130517] $17.95	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [126981] $5.95	Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133679] $6.95
Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $6.95	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043] $6.95	Lost Lagoon 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon [133672] $8.95	Word Bubbles Framelits Die [132968] $24.95
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $3.95

Sugar, Spice & Pumpkin Spice Latte

I needed to make a quick card tonight because I have to get in bed early. We're catching the early bus to New York City and I have to get up way too early in the morning.

I pulled out my "Perfect Blend" stamp set because I haven't used it in a while...and I guess because I'm realizing that I'll need loads of coffee in the morning to get me going! I love this set--it's simply perfect and it's so inexpensive! I also love using this stamp set with Stampin' Up's fall designer series papers. This year's "Color Me Autumn" DSP is no exception. I think these colors and patterns are fabulous together with this set.

What do you think?

(Stamp Set: Perfect Blend; Ink: Cajun Craze; Card Stock: Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla; DSP: Color Me Autumn; Accessories: Oval and Word Bubbles Framelits Collection, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder)

Friday Fresh Sketch

Today I'm playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches design crew who have come up with a great clean and simple sketch. And their cards are so wonderful! You should check them out!

Here's this week's sketch.



And here's what I've come up with.

(Stamp Set: Perfect Blend; Ink: Baked Brown Sugar; Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla; DSP: Retro Fresh; Accessories: Ovals Framelits, Artisan Label Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Soft Suede Seam Binding, Designer Button, Gold Baker's Twine.

I've been saving a piece of Retro Fresh DSP to use one last time before it retires and this sketch just called on me to use it! When I added the fussy-cut coffee cup on top, it got a bit lost, so I added an oval frame. I originally didn't have a sentiment because I couldn't figure out where to put one. I finally figured that I could put it on the bottom left to ground the other elements, and I think it turned out pretty well.

Have a Cuppa CAS

The current Addicted to CAS challenge keyword is "coffee." Well, out came my Perfect Blend set. I adore this set--it's relatively inexpensive ($10.95 for the 3 stamp set in clear) and it actually is pretty versatile! I started with a scrap of Soho Subway DSP for the coffee cup sleeve and that gave me my color scheme. I embossed an Early Espresso (get it?) panel with the Arrows Embossing Folder 'cause you know I like texture. I had my first flash of brilliance when I added the Burlap Ribbon--which looks like a coffee bean sack, don't you think? Then I had my second flash of brilliance when I thought of using the thought bubble stamp (get it?) from the Timeless Talk set for the sentiment. I fussy cut the coffee cup, the sleeve, and the thought bubble and popped them all up on dimensionals.

I love it when everything comes together!

(Stamp Sets: Perfect Blend, Timeless Talk; Ink: Early Espresso; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; DSP: Soho Subway; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Burlap Ribbon)

Coffee Time!

I'm planning a stamp-a-stack for one of my dear customers who always hosts a stamp-a-stack during Sale-a-Bration. I feel like I'm "cheating" a little because I'm using cards I created this fall, so they're not "new." But they're new to Sara and her guests--unless they've been following my blog.

I decided to update one of the cards I made this fall. The previous card uses the Sweater Weather designer series paper from the Holiday mini catalog (which I still really LUV) and it uses "fall" colors. For the update, I used the same set and the same basic layout, but I used the Retro Fresh DSP from the new Occasions mini catalog, which uses "springier" colors. I still wanted to keep that coffee "flavor" (see what I did there?) so the card base is Baked Brown Sugar--reminds me of my daily caramel machiatto! I embossed the Calypso Coral strip with the Square Lattice embossing folder and added some Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim as a "skirt." I also embossed the Coastal Cabana "shadow" piece behind the greeting. The coffee cozies are paper-pieced using the Retro Fresh DSP.  I think I like this updated version a little better than the original. Which do you prefer?
 

(Stamp Set: Perfect Blend: Ink: Baked Brown Sugar; Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla; DSP: Retro Fresh: Accessories: Artisan Label Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim, Natural Trim)

Coffee for Two!

I have another confession to make:  I'm always a little overwhelmed when the new Stampin' Up catalog is out.  I know you'll find it hard to believe, but I turn the pages and think, "Meh. Seen it. Don't get it. There's nothing in here that I have to have."  And then the creative Stampin' Up community starts using the new product and making lovely cards and it's only then that I realize that I like and need just about everything in the catalog!

The "Perfect Blend" stamp set was one of those sets.  I liked it OK when I saw it in the catalog, but I started LOVING it when I saw all the great cards that were being swapped at Convention.  I received three cards made with this set and loved each one of them.  When I looked in the catalog, I saw what a great bargain this stamp set is!  The wood set (130745)--you know I loves me my wood stamps--is only $13.95 for a set of three.  And the clear set (131392) is a steal at $10.95!

Here's what I made with this set. I used the Sweater Weather DSP from the Holiday Mini to piece the cup cozy.  This card was a quick and easy to make...hmm, seems like a good make and take for a Stampin' Up workshop.  Who's in? Contact me now to schedule your workshop!!

(Stamp Set:  Perfect Blend; Ink:  Early Espresso; Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Naturals Ivory; DSP: Sweater Weather; Accessories:  Brights Candy Dots, Cotton and Flax 7/16" Natural Trim; Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Hexagon Punch)