Ooohhhh....Color Embossing Powder!

Hi guys! Just as I promised, I am back with a card that uses the new colored embossing powders. I am happy to say that if you like the 2 new colors I used today, there are SIX new colors to chose from on July 1st. Wanna see?

I took a close up of the new Postage Stamp punch and the "thanks" image from Pretty Postage too...

That fun flower is from the Summer Mini set called Touch of Kindness. I stamped the flower twice...once on Whisper White in Melon Mambo ink and then another time on Melon Mambo Brights Patterns DSP. The one on white CS is also embossed with Melon Mambo Stampin' Emboss Powder. I stamped the stem in Wild Wasabi and then embossed with the matching Stampin' Emboss powder. Both of these colors plus Tangerine Tango are offered in the current Summer Mini catalog.

My sentiment is from the Pretty Postage set. This is such a fun product combo. I love that all 4 images can be punched with the coordinating punch. I have played with it on other images too. It works well with small flowers or shapes and even as a background for lettering on scrapbook pages. So much fun!

I want to mention one last item before I take off for several appointments today. The ribbon I used on this card will soon be retired. This is 5/8" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon. All the 5/8" Grosgrains are retiring on June 30th so if this is a favorite of yours, you'll want to stock up. I promise you it is being replaced with fun ribbon products that you'll love just as much though!

That does it for me today. Have a great one!

How Beautiful a Day Can Be...

...when kindness touches it. This has long been one of my favorite quotes and now SU has gone and put it in a stamp set.Today's card uses a couple of stamp sets but only one of them has that lovely quote. I am having so much fun with my new goodies. This new catalog is my favorite EVER. I am a big fan of sweet, fun, cute, and simple when it comes to stamping. When I see a stamp for the first time, it either registers as "friendly" or "stiff." This catalog overall definitely checks in on the friendly side. I can't wait until it goes live on July 1st and I get to share it with you. Until then, how about a card using some new paper and colors?

And how about a close-up to see more of that gorgeous flower?

The flower is from the Summer Mini set called Flower Fest. I think SU! might have recycled that name but the images are all new. I punched the largest, back layer with the 2 3/8" Scalloped Circe punch and then hand trimmed the other 3 layers. This required that I stamp the flower 4 times, of course. I stamped it in Calypso Coral ink on the same color of CS and then embossed with clear embossing powder. The layers are then popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals to give texture and depth. I added 2 leaves which are made from the new color, Lucky Limeade, and punched with the Build A Blossom punch. You may remember this punch from the recent Occasions Mini catalog. Well, they brought it back for us in the new catalog and it will now be called the Blossom Petals Builder punch.

The lovely quote sentiment is from another Summer Mini set called Touch of Kindness. This is fun set with several sentiments as well as cute images that could be really fun to color if that is your thing.  I have another card that uses a great flower image from it coming up soon. I even used the brand new colored embossing powder on it too so check back soon.

I am off to my day. It is a busy one so I better hurry. Have a great day and stay cool!

Heard it's Your Birthday!

Hello everyone! I have card today that uses another new image. I paired it with some Celebrations DSP and the coordinating cardstock accents that will soon be retiring. Wanna see?
It is a really simple card because some of them just have to be and also, because I needed a quick card for my son's birthday tomorrow. The image is from the soon to be released Ain't Love Grand? and I colored it with my SU! markers. The outer Real Red border was punched with the 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle punch. I left the rest of the card pretty plain because I know my son doesn't care for a lot of froo froo and also, because I know he will rip it open tomorrow and barely pause to read it.

As I mentioned the Celebrations DSP and accents are retiring on June 30th so if you have been planning on getting either of these fun products, don't wait!

New Colors and an Old Favorite

Hi guys! I can't wait to show you today's card. It uses 3 of the new In Colors for 2011-2012. So without further fuss, here ya go...
And a detail shot...
I stamped the image (from the set called Just Believe which will be carried over to the 2011-2012 catalog) in Lucky Limeade onto Naturals White CS. Then, I stamped it again in Pool Party ink onto a scrap of Naturals CS so that the blossoms could be trimmed out. Once trimmed, I glued them over the Limeade image to make it a little more natural looking. The sentiment tag and butterfly are stamped on a bit of Pool Party CS. The embossed background panel in that yummy purple color is Wisteria Wonder. This color looks fabulous with Concord Crush for a monochromatic look or just as good with Daffodil Delight or even Real Red to go a little brighter. I just love this color!

The Crumb Cake card base was stamped with a background image from Confetti and Crumb Cake ink to give it some texture. I added a faux ribbon with a strip of Pool Party CS that I punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch. I do want to mention that the tiny butterfly I used is part of the SAB set called Bliss which is now retired. I think one of the small Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies die cuts would have been perfect here but alas, I don't own it. ;)

I think that does it for today. i hope you are enjoying seeing some of the new items from SU!

Ain't Love Grand? New Stamps!

Hello everyone! I have a new card today and it features more new catalog product. I am having so much fun using these new goodies. I can't wait for the new catalog to actually be active so we can order EVERYTHING. Until then, I will just play with what few things I have. Do you want to see a little something new?
And a close-up...
One of those few things I have for now is the brand new stamp set used above, called Aint' Love Grand? It is a 6pc Hostess set but before you despair that you will never own this set because you don't place orders large enough to get the larger sets, read a little further! The new Hostess Benefits system is all new starting July 1st. For qualifying workshop orders (at least $150 before shipping and tax), the hostess earns Hostess Dollars to spend on any of the specially priced hostess only products which will be listed in the front of your new catalogs. These exclusive items are priced to make your hostess rewards go further. For example, if your workshop total is $150 so you would earn $25 to spend on exclusive hostess products. Fun, huh?

Also, for orders that total at least $400 (before shipping and tax) you earn the privilege of buying full priced catalog items at 50% off. So, for example, your workshop order total is $400. You would earn $65 Hostess Dollars and you can buy 1 full priced item at 50% off. This great new system lets you get more of the fantastic products you love!

Enough about the new system...let me get back to my card for just a minute before I race off to start dinner. As I said, the image is from the new Ain't Love Grand. This adorable set includes 6 different images that are great for a variety of cards. I promise I will be back soon with more from this set. I paired the precious wedding couple with a little bit of Pear Pizazz DSP from the current hostess item, In Color Paper Pack. I really wanted to incorporate the new In Color called Lucky Limeade but I don't have anything but the solid CS just yet and I wanted a print here. The Basic Gray card base is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and my Big Shot. A length of the soon-to-be retired 5/8" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon and a Designer button finishes of my creation.

I can't wait to share all the fun new items with you so check back often!

NEW STUFF!!!!!

Alright ladies and maybe gents, I have new goodies from the very new July catalog and I made a card for you today. Without further ado...
And a detail shot...
I am in a super big hurry today so really quick:
*The print paper is brand new and it is called Just Add Cake. This DSP series coordinates with 7 colors!
*That gorgeous coral color is a new In-Color and it is Coral Calypso.
*The super cute pennants are stamped with a new set called Pennant Parade and then punched with the coordinating punch called Pennant Builder.
*All these great new toys will be available for purchase on July 1st along with the new catalog. Contact me if you would like to pre-order a catalog for your very own. If I get orders in time, you will get your catalog prior to the July 1st release.
*I have a whole box full of new treats so check back often for new projects using them. :)

Guess Who Loves You?

Hey guys! Today will be super quick because I am off to hold my baby girl's hand for surgery in a little while. I only wish I could hold her hand during surgery but what I really mean is that I will be holding her hand until they take her back. Ahhhhh!!!!! This is her first time "under the knife" and pretty much the first big procedure either of my kids have ever had. We have been very lucky and now I am a wreck. But enough of that. On to today's cards!

I have 2 cards to show you today. Both use the new Strength & Hope stamp set which is featured in the Summer Mini Catalog. SU! is donating $2 from every sale of this gorgeous set to the Breast cancer Research Fund. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. So, help SU! make a difference by purchasing this lovely stamp set!

Here is card #1...
That lovely text background behind the blossom is from Strength & Hope. I just stamped it repeatedly in Early Espresso ink onto a panel of Naturals White CS. I cut my flower using the Flower Fun Sizzix die and my Big Shot. This die was part of the Occasions Mini catalog but has been carried over for continued availability. I crumpled the Cherry Cobbler CS and then misted it with water. One more crumple and then it got cut. I love this look! It gives so much texture and depth to the paper.

The sentiment for this card is from the set called Happy Greetings which is in the Summer Mini. I embossed it with White Embossing Powder so that it really stands out.

My second card is pretty much an exact replica of the card you might have noticed in the Summer Mini Catalog photo featuring Strength & Hope. I just loved the look so i wanted to make a copy for myself. I made very few changes so they get all of the credit for the lovely design but I still wanted to share here. Here ya go...
Well folks, that is it for today. I will be back soon with several new cards using various Summer Mini treats. This catalog is just full of fun stuff so check back often. I will be using as many of the new toys as I can manage. Also, I will be posting the retiring list of stamps and accessories from SU! which debuts today. Since I am pre-posting this entry, it isn't published yet but I will share as soon as I can.