Let's Hear It for the Girls!

Hello again! I had my annual feminine card class yesterday and wanted to share the cards we made with you. I was really happy with the cards and my guests seemed to like them a lot too. I hope you will as well! We made five different designs yesterday, but I am only sharing four of them today. The fifth one I am saving to share during the May edition of the Stylin' Stampin' Squad Blog Hop, which is coming up on Thursday, May 3rd. Be sure to check back then to see the fifth card!

The first card is a birthday pinwheel card. I have been seeing these cards pretty often, but I thought they looked complicated and was afraid to give one a try, but then I saw this video made by Dawn Olchefske, and I realized that they aren't difficult at all. This is a copy of her card. It uses the Sweet Shop DSP that is available in the Occasions mini until April 30th. It is awesome paper for making birthday cards. If you want this paper, don't wait! It is only available for a few more days.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Paper: Soft Suede CS, Pool Party CS, Calypso Coral CS, Whisper White CS, Sweet Shop DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Adorning Accents EF, Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Everyday Enchantment brads (SAB-retired)
Technique: Faux Pinwheel
My inspiration: this card made by Dawn Olchefske

The next card uses the Bright Blossoms stamp set and the coordinating Summer Smooches DSP. These products will be in the new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up Catalog, but they are available during the month of April as a preview. For more information, click on the Summer Smooches button in the left sidebar. I love the bright colors featured in this suite of products! I designed this card myself using this old sketch on the Freshly Made Sketches challenge blog.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Friendly Phrases
Paper: Rich Razzleberry CS, Tempting Turquoise CS, Real Red CS, Daffodil Delight CS, Whisper White CS, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, Bright Buttons, Basic pearls

This card uses the Precious Butterflies stamp set, which will be retiring on May 31st. This is another card that was inspired by a sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. I love this challenge blog, and while I don't play along every week, I often look at past sketches for inspiration.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Precious Butterflies (hostess)
Paper: Daffodil Delight CS, Perfect Plum CS, Marina Mist CS, Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press EF, Daffodil Delight seam binding (Summer Smooches promotion), 1 3/8" Circle punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch

This final card was inspired by a card that I found on Splitcoast that was made by Tessa Wise. I wanted to feature some of our retiring sets and this one uses two. The vines in the background were made with the Vintage Vogue set and the main image is made using the Awash with Flowers set. Both of these sets will be retiring on May 31st. If you would like to order either of them, please be sure to do so before that date! The color combination (Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Old Olive) that I used on this card came from the Color Coach. As I am attempting to make my more of my own cards (or at least adding my own touches to CASEd cards like this one), the color coach has been an awesome tool. I really love using it!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Awash with Flowers, Petite Pairs
Paper: Soft Suede CS, Very Vanilla CS, Paisley Petals DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, sponge
Technique: sponging
My inspiration: this card made by Tessa Wise

I hope you liked the cards! Please check back soon. I plan to feature more of our retiring sets in the next few weeks. To see the retiring stamp set list, please click on the button in the left sidebar. The retiring accessories list will post this Tuesday, April 25th. Those items are while supplies last, so if you see something that you want, please don't hesitate to order it before it's gone!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marla Pin It

Going, Going, Gone!

Stampin' Up released the list of stamp sets that be retiring with the current catalog on May 31st. Click on the box below to see the full list. The list is quite long this year and some of my favorites are retiring, but I know that there will be many awesome new things to come and can't wait to see them!

The sets listed will be available only until May 31st, so if there is something you want, please be sure to order it by then!

Here is a look back at some previous blog posts of projects using stamp sets that will be retiring. If you would like more information on the cards shown, click on the name of the stamp set above each picture and it will take you to the original blog post. Enjoy!

Vintage Vogue

Awash with Flowers

Totally Tool

For All You Do

Fifth Avenue Floral

Friends Never Fade

Welcome Christmas

Serene Snowflakes

 

Dasher

Inspired by Nature

Pendant Park

I hope you enjoyed this look back at some of the wonderful stamp sets that are retiring this year! If you would like to place an order, you can do so by clicking on the button in the right sidebar. Please leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marla 

Pin It

April Blog Hop!

Welcome back for another edition of the Stylin' Stampin' Squad's monthly blog hop! This month the themes are wedding, flowers, and spring. I have a different project for each theme. I hope you like them!

My first project is a wedding card. I used the emboss resist technique and the Hello Doily stamp to make this very sparkly (although the picture doesn't show the sparkles very well), elegant card. I love the way it turned out and am really excited to say that I designed this one completely on my own. I just sat down and started to play and this was the result. I love it when it works out like that! If you have never tried the emboss resist technique, head on over to Splitcoast and take a look at the awesome tutorial (complete with a video) they have posted.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Hello Doily, Petite Pairs
Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Ink: VersaMark, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press EF, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Eyelet Border punch, Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Very Vanilla seam binding, Baja Breeze seam binding, basic pearls, sponge
Technique: emboss resist

My 3D project this month is an Easter/Spring decorative picture. It was inspired by this card made by Glenda Mollet that I found on Pinterest. I love the daffodils made from the Fun Flowers die. They were so easy to make! I added some pearls to the centers and scored the petals of the flowers and layered everything with dimensionals. The sky and grass in the background is sponged using Old Olive and Baja Breeze Ink. Easy peasy! I planned to add a "Happy Easter" sentiment, but decided that if I didn't, it could be a spring decoration rather than just Easter.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: none
Paper: Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Old Olive, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Simply Scored, basic pearls, dimensionals, sponge, 5x7 frame (non-SU)
Technique: sponging


My final project is a birthday card that I made for my little sister. Today is her 26th birthday! Happy Birthday, Marcy! (I hope she doesn't see this posting before she gets her card at her birthday dinner tonight!) I used this month's blog hop challenge as my inspiration for this card. The challenge is to use the Vintage Vogue stamp set and the colors Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, and Elegant Eggplant. A challenge to use purple and green? Yep, I had to play along! I also decided to try another fun fold card. I have seen lots of center step cards and think they are beautiful, but I had never tried one myself. I was surprised at how easy it was to make. They are great because they are lovely cards that also make amazing display pieces. If you have never tried a center step card, check out the tutorial (complete with video) over on Splitcoast.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Petite Pairs
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Scallop Trim Border punch, paper snips, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, large pearls, basic pearls, dimensionals


Well, I hope you enjoyed the projects that I made this month. Thank you so much for stopping by. Please continue through the blog hop (Darcy is next!) and take a minute to leave a few comments. We love to read your feedback. The complete list of bloggers is at the bottom of this post just in case you get lost along the way. Happy Hoppin'!

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Shellie G. of Creative Electica
2. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
3. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
4. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps a Lot
5. Anji C. of Altered Scraps Blog
6. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
7. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
8. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
9. Patricia T. of Sunnyone Stampin'
10. Heather W. of Heather's Stampin' Blog
11. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
12. Linda O. of Stamp at Linda's
13. Marla R. of Marla's Stampin' Spot
14. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
15. Nicole B. of Creations by Mommy
16. Pam S. of Sunny Girl Scraps
17. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim

Pin It

Quick Easter Card!

Can you believe that Easter is next Sunday? Wow! The winter just flew by (probably because we never really had winter weather)! Spring is upon us and I am so excited because that means that my most favorite season (Summer) will be here soon!

I have a sweet, quick, and simple Easter card to share today. We made this a a workshop last week and everyone really liked it. I will admit that I don't often send out Easter cards, but when I saw this post on Lee Ann Greff's blog, I had to CASE (copy) her lily Easter card. I may even send a few cards out this year!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Delightful Dozen
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black Staz On, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Shot, Framelits Labels Collection, Simply Scored, Diagonal Plate, White Gel Pen, Basic Pearls, sponge

I love this image from Fifth Avenue Floral. I love lillies! In fact, Tiger Lillies are my very favorite flower. I love driving along a country road (or any road really) on an early summer day and seeing the vibrant orange of the tiger lillies growing everywhere. They also bloom close to my birthday every year, so that only adds to my love of them. I will have to plan to redo this card in orange!

Anyway, back to the card... although it is a fairly simple design, this card uses a lot of Stampin' Up's awesome new products. It made for a perfect workshop card. Do you see the faint score lines in the background? I made them with the brand new Diagonal Plate for the Simply Scored tool. It is a really cool addition to the Simply Scored and it makes quick and easy work of a fun background. You can also use it to make your own envelopes! Contact me for more information on ordering the Diagonal Plate (or any other products).

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the last few hours of your weekend! Be sure to stop back by this Thursday, April 5th for the April edition of the Stylin' Stampin' Squad Blog Hop! Pin It