Friday, May 29, 2020

C'est Magnifique!

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   I was so excited when I saw the Parisian Blossoms Suite in pages 14 through 17 in the January-to-June Mini Catalog. My daughter completed a semester abroad last year, culminating in a week in Paris. These products were perfect for putting together pages in her memory book (which is still on our to-do list). But even if she hadn't gone to Paris, I would still love this suite. The colors are so pretty and the accessories are magnifique! Je suis tellement triste (I'm so sad) that part of this suite is going to retire: the "Parisian Beauty" stamp set and coordinating Parisian Dies and the beau Parisian Blossoms Designer Series Papier. So I had to play with these one more time before I must bid them adieu. Here's my farewell card.

I stamped some images from the "Parisian Beauty" stamp set (retiring) in Gray Granite Ink onto a 3-3/4" by 5" piece of Pool Party Parisian Blossoms DSP (retiring) before adhering it to a 4" by 5-1/4" Petal Pink Card Stock mat. PROTIP: If you tilt the Eiffel Tower Die diagonally on the mat piece, you can cut it out of the mat, saving you some card stock--which is precisely what I did! Then, to give the card a vintage-y feel, I sponged Gray Granite Ink along the sides.

I used the Stitched Shapes Dies to cut a circle from Vellum Card Stock and an oval from a piece of the Parisian Blossoms DSP (retiring) and adhered them to the front of the card. Then I wrapped a length of Petal Pink Metallic-Edge Ribbon (retiring) around before adhering everything to a Gray Granite Card Stock card base.

I used a Sponge Dauber to apply Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to the die-cut Eiffel Tower. When it dried, I cut a strip along the edge of a sheet of Stampin' Dimensionals and used it to adhere the Tower to the card.


I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set in Gray Granite Ink onto a Petal Pink Card Stock scrap. Working quickly before the ink dried, I sprinkled on Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder and set it with my Heat Tool. I punched this out with the Classic Label Punch and snipped off the ends with my Paper Snips. To finish the card, I added some Champagne Rhinestones.

Remember:  the retiring items are only available while supplies last and only midnight EDT on June 2nd and then they retire. Oh! You can save 10% by ordering the stamp set and dies as a bundle.

Stay healthy! Stay safe!













Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Busy Bees

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   Oh my goodness! The Stampin' Up catalog year is quickly coming to a close. While I'm looking forward to playing with products from the new catalog and sharing them with you, I feel like I have to ink up some retiring stamps before they're gone. And I realized that I haven't played with the "Honey Bee" stamp set (retiring) hardly at all! I honestly don't understand why Stampin' Up is letting this bundle retire--it was so popular! If you want it, you'll need to act fast because the stamp set and matching Detailed Bee Dies (retiring) are only available while supplies last and will retire at midnight EDT on June 2nd. You can save 10% off their individual prices if you purchase the Honey Bee bundle. If you want these goodies, you can click on the thumbnails at the end of this post and you'll be sent to my online store where you can make your purchase.

So with all that out of the way, let's take a look at the card I made. I must say, I'm really pleased with how it turned out!


I used my Stamparatus to stamp the bee image in Soft Suede Ink onto Watercolor Paper. This allows me to stamp the image several times so that the ink gets into all the nooks and crannies. Then I used a slightly wet Aqua Painter (discontinued--but there will be a replacement!) to pick up the ink and color the bee's wings and stripes. Once that dried, I stamped the image again to fill in the details in the wings. I cut each bee out with the matching Detailed Bee Die (retiring).

I adhered a 3-3/4" by 5" piece of Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper (retiring) to a 4" by 5-1/4" Soft Suede Card Stock mat and then onto a Crumb Cake Card Stock card base. 

Next, I laid down a light Soft Suede Ink wash with my Aqua Painter onto a Watercolor Paper scrap and when it dried I stamped a sentiment from the "Honey Bee" set (retiring) in Soft Suede Ink. I cut this out with an oval Stitched Shapes Die and adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I also
adhered the bees to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Remember, you only have a few days to get these retiring products, so act quickly if you want them!

Stay safe! Stay healthy!













Product List
Stamparatus
[146276]
$49.00

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Painted Sympathy

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   The "Painted Glass" stamp set is retiring in a few days. I wanted to ink it up one last time before I put it away. I've always loved the bold font on the sentiments that I think pair so nicely with the other images in the stamp set. I've had the need to make a couple of sympathy cards this last week, so I pulled out the stamp set and coordinating Stained Glass Dies (retiring) and got to work. My card is based on this amazing card made by Stampin' Up Artisan Rochelle Blok.

I used embossing plates to emboss a piece of Pear Pizzazz Card Stock with the patterned semi-circle from the Stained Glass Dies (retiring). I ran it through the embossing machine twice, so that an embossed circle was formed. Then I used one of the Layering Circles Dies to cut out the circle. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere this piece to a larger Pear Pizzazz Card Stock circle that I cut with one of the Stitched Shapes Dies.

I embossed a 3-3/4" by 5" Whisper White Card Stock panel with the Subtle Embossing Folder and adhered it to a 4" by 5-1/4" Night of Navy Card Stock mat. Then I adhered everything to a thick Whisper White Card Stock card base. I adhered a length of Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon directly onto the card front and then a length of Old Olive Ornate Garden Ribbon (from the upcoming NEW catalog, but available now). I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the Pear Pizzazz circles to the card.

Next, I stamped a sentiment from the "Painted Glass" stamp set (retiring) in Versamark Ink onto a piece of Night of Navy Card Stock. I sprinkled on some White Stampin' Emboss Powder and set it with my Heat Tool. Then I punched it out with the Timeless Label Punch. I adhered this to the Pear Pizzazz circles with, you guessed it, Stampin' Dimensionals.

I stamped three roses from the "Painted Glass" set in Memento Tuxedo Black onto Whisper White Card Stock and colored them with Light and Dark Flirty Flamingo and Light and Dark Old Olive Stampin' Blends. I cut them out with their matching Stained Glass die (retiring) and adhered them to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Finally, I added three Champagne Rhinestones, for that perfect finishing touch of bling! 

Remember, the retiring items are only available while supplies last until June 2nd. So if you want them, you'll have to order them soon--just click on the thumbnails below and you'll go directly to my online store where you can place your order.

Stay healthy! Stay safe!













Product List

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Origami Surprise

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #ublueunwind2020   Yesterday I wrote about how much fun I had attending Lydia Fiedler's virtual Unwind Retreat over the weekend. While it would have been more fun to attend in person, I was grateful to join virtually. We had almost as much fun. I honestly laughed until I cried. It's been a while since I truly laughed like that. I also wrote about a challenge from the retreat, so go back a take a look at that, if you missed it. Today's project is from another challenge. We were to make "happy mail." That was the only parameter. Some made cards with envelopes or mailboxes. I decided to make an origami envelope with a surprise in the center. I found the instructions here. Try it! It's fun. Here's the outside of the project.

I used a full sheet of Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper (retiring) and folded it according to the instructions. I wrapped it with a belly band made from a length of Whisper White Flax ribbon (retiring).  When you open it up to the first level, you get this pinwheel effect.

When you open it all the way, you find a surprise message inside!

In the center, I placed a 3-7/8" square of Whisper White Card Stock onto which I stamped the birds image from the "Free As A Bird" stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black. I stamped a sentiment from the same set into the upper corner, also in Tuxedo Black. I colored the birds with a combination of Light Pool Party, Light Mint Macaron, and Light Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends. The birds' beaks are colored with Light Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends. The branch is colored with Light and Dark Crumb Cake Blends; the flowers with Light and Dark Petal Pink Blends; and the leaves with Light and Dark Old Olive Blends.


Isn't this a cute surprise? If you love the Bird Ballad DSP (and who doesn't?!) or the Whisper White Flax Ribbon you'll need to act fast. They're only available while supplies last and then they retires at midnight on June 2nd. Just click on the thumbnails below and you'll go directly to my online store where you can make your purchase.

Stay healthy! Stay safe!













Product List