Doily Triple Layer Punch

This card is made with a couple of our great punches, including one which is retiring called the Doily Triple Layer Punch (#122465) and is on sale for 40% off while supplies last! The other punch used is the wide oval punch. The tree tops are punched using 2 different settings on the Doily Punch and the trunks are created with the wide oval punch. To make the trunks, simply cut 3 rectangles of Early Espresso cardstock and punch a half of the wide oval out of each side of each piece of cardstock and voila, you have tree trunks! They are then mounted on pieces of white cardstock which have been run through the BigShot using the Square Lattice embossing folder and then have been attached to a piece of Marina Mist cardstock. The tree tops are popped up with Dimensionals and I have added a gem to the center of each. The greeting is from the set called Bring On The Cake and is stamped in Lucky Limeade.

Retiring Accessories List

There are so many changes happening as can be seen on the retired accessories list!

When you look at the retired accessories list, you'll note that all of our Stampin' Pads are listed. This is for two reasons: (1) Craft Stampin' Pads will now only be available in black and white; and (2) we are introducing a new Firm Foam pad in our Classic Stampin' Pads with the 2012-2013 annual catalog.
The Firm Foam pads offer better ink coverage and, in turn, better stamped images. They will be available for customer order on June 1.


In addition, please note the following changes in the new catalog, which explain some of the products appearing on the retired list:


Only select Stampin' Write Markers will be available individually (Stampin' Write Markers in color collections will continue to be offered)


12" x 12" Textured Card Stock will no longer be offered.


12" x 12" Smooth Card Stock will only be available in select individual colors and color collections.


Any item with an asterisk next to it is being reconfigured. An example of this could be repackaging, as in the example above of the markers.


Craft Ink Pads (other than black or white per above) and Craft Refills will no longer be offered.


Classic Ink Refills (other than the retiring 2010-2012 In Colors) will still be available.


Stampin' Spots are being discontinued. Stampin' Up! may possibly reconfigure & sell some of the Classic Ink Spots.


Other than the retiring 2010-2012 In Colors, the Stampin' Up! colors are NOT retiring.

Retiring Accessories List

Stampin'Up! has published their list of accessories that are retiring and some of them are discounted up to 70%! Retiring accessories are only available while supplies last or until May 31st, but often sell out quickly so place your orders today for anything you just have to have! You can order online from my store by clicking here or email me at lpalisek@rogers.com

RETIRING ACCESSORIES pdf


PLEASE NOTE: You will see all of the ink pads on the list.. we will no longer be carrying the craft ink pads (other than in black and white) and the classic pads will be replaced with a new "firm foam pad" for a better stamping experience. More news to come on these exciting new pads!

FUNKY FOUR CARD

For the next little while I am going to be sharing cards with you that use some of my favorite stamp sets that are retiring as of May 31st. Here is a quick fun card that uses one of the really fun sets that is retiring called Funky Four.

Stamp Sets: Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink: Basic Black, VersaMark
Cardstock: Textured Melon Mambo, Basic Black
Misc: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Glimmer Brad

My stamping sponges have been on my table since class Friday night and I just keep using them over and over. The grass and hill effect was created using a sponge with just garden green ink and some torn copy paper to mask for the "hills". I used Funky Four for the tree, the owl is from Fox & Friends and the greeting is from On Your Birthday. All three of these sets are retiring as of May 31st and will be missed!

Retiring Stamps List

It is hard to believe that it is time already but with the new StampinUp Catalogue due to be released on June 1st this year, it is time to say goodbye to some favorite stamp sets to make room for all the new exciting ones! To see the list of sets leaving us as of May 31st, click on the picture above.

Stamping With Sponges

While preparing for my Fun With Sponges! Class I was reminded of so many different ways to use our stamping sponges. To achieve this soft effect with the colors in the medallion stamp on this card, I simply added the ink to the stamp by tapping lightly with inked sponges. The colors I used were Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, and Melon Mambo. I then cut my image into 3 even pieces, mounted it on Pear Pizzazz and then onto a white card. Stuck a jewel in the center for a bit of bling and added a greeting and I was happy with the card.

Another MDS Share

Here are two more pages I made recently with My Digital Studio. If you have never seen a creature like this before, it is called a Skinny Pig and is a mostly hairless Guinea Pig.

Today's share is a scrapbook page I recently created using the My Digital Studio package. I am trying to bring some of my scrapbooks up to date and, of course, a lot of my pages include my dogs! On this page I also used a picture taken in my backyard as my background paper and just changed the Opacity setting to soften it. I love the flexibilty of My Digital Studio!

Can't you see this adorable little basket sitting at each place setting at your dinner table this Easter? They are so easy and quick to make and can hold little Easter treats. I deliberately kept mine really simple so that when dinner is only a couple of hours away I can still whip up a few of them!

Instructions:
Using the BigShot and the Clear BigZ Scallop Square Die cut one square from Designer Paper (I used the Calypso Coral from the In Color Designer Pack). Score in 1 1/2" on all four sides and then score again from where the lines intersect to the outer corners on all four corners (the diagonal plate for the Scoring Tool makes this really simple to do!). Punch a hole in each of the four corner and then push corners into the center by folding along score lines. Thread ribbon through each hole and tie a bow or two and you are done! How easy is that??

SUMMER SMOOCHES ARE HERE!

TODAY is the first day of a brand new Sneak Peak promotion running throughout April called Summer Smooches!

Summer Smooches features a new suite of products that will be in the new 2012-2013 Catalogue coming June 1st (yes, I said June 1st this year!) and during the month of April YOU get to purchase them early!!!
They are never before seen products including a FABULOUS brand new Purse die that you can use to make the most beautiful favors & treats. This card uses the beautiful new stamp set as well as the coordinating Designer Paper.
Click HERE to download the 2 page flyer showing all of the beautiful Summer Smooches products!