Farewell Hop

Welcome to the Stampin' Pretty Pals June hop! This month, we're bidding a "Fond Farewell" to some of our old friends, the 30 retiring colors of Stampin' Up!'s Color Renovation!

If you've hopped over from Melanie's blog, Oops a Daisy, I'm stop number 8 on the PALS HOP and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find inspirational ideas for papercrafted creations from Mary Fish's Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the PALS HOP LINE-UP below and you'll be back on track!

In honor of the retiring colors, we're offering BLOG CANDY at each stop on the hop! Visit each of the 17 Stampin' Pretty Pals and leave a comment to their specific posted question and you'll have not one, but 17 chances to WIN some great Stampin' Up! goodies!

FOND FAREWELL HOP LINE-UP
1. Liz Hughes (DIY Paper Creations)
2. Gina Shaw(Cards by Gina)
3. Barbara Furlong(The Love of Stamping)
4. Nina Dee(Deesigns by Nina Dee)
5. Debbie Pierce(Stampin' Sunshine)
6. Ann Schach(The Stampin' Shach)
7. Melanie Collins(Oops a Daisy)
8. Me :) (You are Here)
9. Mike Funke(Stampin-Style)
10. Regina Mangum(The Stampin' Bean)
11. Linda Callahan(Stampin Seasons)
12. Anne Eicher(Creative Cards by Anne Marie)
13. Mary Fish(Stampin' Pretty)
14. Carla Bazhenow(Carla's Scraps)
15. Joanna Munster(Inspired by Stampin)
16. Margaret Moody(Margaret Moody)
17. Martha Stewart(Seasons of Stamping)


June tends to be a busy month, doesn't it? For me, my oldest has a birthday (today in fact), my twin nieces have a birthday too and then there are the dads and sometimes even some grads :) So here are a few kreations with them all in mind using our Fond Farewell Colors.

Along with our Fond Farewell Colors, we'll also be bidding a farewell to many Designer Papers too. One of my favorites, this year, has been the Cottage Wall paper. This Double Gate Fold card uses Orchid Opulence and Pale Plum coordinating with the Cottage Wall paper and this soon to be retired set, A Kind Word. Having two little girls of my own and a lined image stamp that I could color/watercolor, this was a must have for me!
Added a little Vanilla Smooch to the DSP to give it a subtle shimmer that I know will get that gasp of 'oh so pretty, mommy' from my daughter. And of course a few fluttering butterflies, from Beautiful Wings Embosslit (still available to order), in Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence and Apricot Appeal. Who doesn't love a butterfly? Happy 6th Birthday Kayla!!!

For the dads... this is another vest card, using Amy Celona's wonderful template, making this one even more schnazzy :)
* Vest kreated with Creamy Caramel. Swiped my Close to Cocoa ink pad over one side of the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and ran it through the Big Shot. Makes the vest look like a 'tweed' type of fabric - so cool, right?
* Choc Chip Corduroy buttons and a nifty Crushed Curry polka dot hanky (crushed curry ribbon) tucked into a Tag punched pocket make this a very handsome vest :)
* My 'chambray' pin striped shirt was kreated with Brocade Blue cardstock, a ruler and my Signo White Gel Pen
* A Crushed Curry tie and clear rhinestone 'tie-tack' finish off the ensemble


For the grads...gift cards and money seem to be the easiest. But its all in the presentation. How about this grad cap gift card holder?? Follow this template to get the wow before they even reach the gift!!!

* A Going Gray cap with edges distressed in Basic Gray to give it some dimension
* A momentus year capped off in Go Go Boots numbers run through the Big Shot with Crushed Curry
* Make your tassle of ribbon, twine, hemp, or cording and place it around a brad.
* Simple inside, (really could have used the Happy Grad stamp in the new Summer MIni (only $8.95!)) reveals a message inked in VersaMark and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and of course a place to tuck your gift!


I hope you enjoyed your stop and were inspired by my kreations. NOW...

BLOG CANDY time.
For your chance to win all the above goodies, please leave me a comment along with an answer to the following question at the end of this post by 3:00 PM CST, Friday, June 11th, at which time I'll choose a random winner. Shipping to US only. Do you prefer Stampin' Up!'s wood mount stamps or do you prefer clear mount?
I'm lovin' the clear mount option for so many reasons, easier storage, versatility (placing/stamping with more than one image on a block), seeing exactly where you are stamping,... now, let me hear your thoughts!

Here's what the winner will receive:
* NEW package of Soft Subtles cardstock
* 40 piece assortment of brads, grommets and buttons
* 2 yards of current in-color polka dot grosgrain ribbon (reversible!)

I'll announce the winner of my blog candy package here on my blog on Sunday, June 13th, 2010. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me after their name is announced.

More inspiring ideas and another great blog candy package awaits you over at Stampin-Style with Mike Funke, stop number 9 on the "Fond Farewell" PALS HOP! Hop over and see Mike's wonderfully creative ideas! Thanks for "hopping" by!

Any questions on any of my kreations or techniques, please feel free to contact me anytime.

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders. Don't forget, supplies are running out quickly, so make sure to stock up asap!!! View sidebar for link to daily updated Last Chance Lists!

Graduating Groom

Here is another card, from my last class, using the Groom Specialty paper. The Groom Specialty and Bride Specialty paper (sold separately) are so pretty, classy, elegant, they take care of themself. Simplicity is all you need with this gorgeous paper. Click here if you'd like to see my previous wedding card post.
A few graduation celebrations may be just on the horizon for some of you.
* Cardbase using the Groom Specialty Paper cut at 4x12 folded to 4x6 (make 3 of these out of one sheet of Groom paper)
* Brushed Silver cardstock used to cut out a square for the hat base. (If you have 'graduating' square punches, this will be a cinch) Guess what new punch I'll be owning soon :) Then the inner square cut out of Shimmery White cardstock.
* Using my Piercing Tool, I pierced the center of my hat to add my silver brad and Gray Taffeta Ribbon. Tip: To fray the edges, simply make a slight vertical cut into your ribbon and gently pull at the fibers until it begins to fray. Keep going until you get the amount of 'fray' you want
* Pop my cap up on dimensionals
* A small strip of copy paper was used to roll up my diploma and tie it off with some silver cording and adhere with a Glue Dot
* A strip of Brushed Silver kreates a horizontal panel to layer a punched Curly Label in Shimmery White, then a Basic Black Modern Label and my sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes popped out with the Word Window punch. FYI: Teeny Tiny Wishes is an EXCELLENT set to have on hand - it has sentiments for MANY different occasions

Using the Bride Specialty paper would look great for a female graduating too! Love this paper!! FYI: Did you know, you can take any of the Bride Specialty paper and make it whatever color you'd like!!!??? How you ask? Ink up your brayer and roll it over your Bride paper. The shiny embossed portions of the paper will resist the ink and stay white while the rest of the paper will turn the color you brayered on. COOL right?!

Any questions about any of my cards or techniques, feel free to email me anytime! Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts, love it when ya do ;) Happy Stamping...

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders. Don't forget your Sale-a-bration FREEBIES with orders of $50+ (before shipping and tax)



Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Paper: Groom Specialty Paper(116478), Brushed Silver(100712), Shimmery White(101910), Basic Black(102851)
Ink: Stazon Black(101406)
Accessories: Gray Taffeta Ribbon(109064), Silver Brads(104336), Curly Label Punch(112208), Modern Label Punch(116630), Word Window Punch(105090)

A Time to Celebrate

'Tis the season of graduation. The hostess at my last party had a request for some graduation ideas. She is a brand new stamper with limited supplies, so this card could be replicated with ease and minimal supplies. I did use my Big Shot w/ the Texturz Background Plates on the Very Vanilla base (I just love using my Big Shot for the extra detail), but this step could easily be omitted and still be a cute card. I used the 1-3/8" Square Punch to kreate the first Basic Black square. I don't have any larger square punches, so easy enough to use my paper cutter to kreate 2 larger squares (cutting about 1/8" larger) in Brushed Silver and Basic Black. Layer them together and used a Silver Brad to pierce through the center. Before piercing your brad through, you'll want to tuck your little ribbon under the brad too. Tip: Use a paper piercer or crafting needle to pierce through your 3 layers of cardstock and ribbon and then slip your brad through - much to thick to try and push your brad through without some help. I frayed the edges of my ribbon easily by cutting the ribbon straight across and it usually begins on its own with a 'stray' thread. Continue to pull pieces of thread until you get your desired amount of 'fray'. Now you've got your little grad cap, pop it up on a dimensional and its a very cute 3-D accent. Diploma: easy peesy - took a strip of copy paper, rolled it and tied it off. Attached it next to my cap with a small Glue Dot. Can you believe I don't have a single stamp that says 'congratulations'? With all the sets I own, I couldn't believe it!! But this sentiment from A Little Birthday Cheer, I think fits perfectly. Stamped in Basic Black once on the Very Vanilla base and then again on a piece of Very Vanilla scrap with VersaMark and then sprinkled with Black Embossing Powder. Tip: You will need to use either Craft Ink or VersaMark for your powder to stick to and once heated up with your Heat Tool, you will achieve a glossy raised image. I love embossing, such a great effect!
After the embossed image cools a bit, I popped out the sentiment with my Word Window Punch and then 'fed' it through the punch again to get just the 'you' portion. Popped that up on a dimensional and the card was done.

A great option would be to use some Designer Series Paper as your background too. And now is the time to stock up. Buy 3 get 1 FREE. Check out the details of May promotions!.

Shop Online Now for all your favorite Stampin' Up! products.

Happy Kreating



Supplies:
Stamps: A Little Birthday Cheer (115018)
Paper: Very Vanilla(101650), Basic Black(102851), Brushed Silver(100712)
Ink: Basic Black(101179), VersaMark (102283)
Accessories: 1-3/8" Square Punch, Word Window(105090), Black Embossing Powder(109133),Heat Tool(100005), Big Shot(113439), Texturz Background Plates(114512), Silver Brads(109109), Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon(109064)