Tuesday Tip--Retiring 2020-2022 In-Colors

I started posting Tuesday Tips last year on Facebook, but quickly got behind once I started school. I got smart and made a year's worth in advance. But, in case you don't , you can still enjoy them every third Tuesday of the month.

Today's tip reads: Tuesday Tip! A new year is a great time to stock up on retiring In-Color paper, ink and ribbon (and earn Sale-A-Bration rewards too!).

This year we're saying good-bye to 2020-2022 In-Colors Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider, Just Jade, Magenta Madness, and Misty Moonlight. Aw! I really liked this set with the exception of Magenta Madness.

Until next time...

It's 2022--Time to Sale-A-Brate!

Here to brighten winter blues is the Stampin' Up! January-July Mini Catalogue along with Sale-A-Bration! It's that time again receive free bonus products with a qualifying order. As a demonstrator, it's often hard for me to sit on all this fun stuff until the release date. So, don't hesitate and hop on over to Stampin' Up's website to check it out or contact me for a catalogue.

2021 Stampin' Up! Christmas Cards from Your Friend, Christine

Oh my goodness, the ol' blog was getting dusty! I took some more classes this year and unlike last year, they were in-person. No more rolling out of bed at 7:30 to fire up the tablet for an 8:30 start. Now it was get up at 6:15am, actually get dressed like a human being, and run out to catch the bus like it was 2019 or something :-D

All this back and forth on top of work took up creative energy. It's important, especially at this busy time of year, to remember that there are several different kinds of rest. We might be getting plenty of sleep, but still remain tired. If that's the case, it's possible mental rest is required. And goodness knows, I took in too much screen time, oof.

I'll be sending out more New Year's cards than Christmas cards this year, even though I started early, I couldn't find the energy to keep the festive train going. Ah well! As a friend said, "The people who love you will understand and when your ready to send cards they will be happy to receive them." Aw! With that beautiful thought, here are the two designs which may show up in friends' mailboxes next year :-)

Tis the Season works on so many layers and works on many layers too! I started with a Crumbcake base and stamped, also in Crumbcake, using the big Birch background stamp. Layers of diecuts in Evening Evergreen and Early Espresso set the festive mood using Christmas Pinecone dies. A matching set of labels from Seasonal Labels and a sentiment from Christmas to Remember builds the scene. I don't know about you, but Christmas sentiments always get a free pass! Some gold foil paper scraps and the Deer Builder Punch brings the bling! There's a tiny dot for Rudolph's nose which is perfect for the extra highlights.

Now, the other card, Happy Christmas, is much simpler, but also eye-catching. I like to design cards for everyone to make--something for those who like a challenge or those new to cardmaking. I really hope maybe by 2023 an in-person stamp camp will be possible. Not only do I miss my crafty pals and stamping sisters, but I miss teaching. This card shows off embossing, sponging and die-cutting, three super essential cardmaking skills, IMHO! It's also super thrifty when it comes to cardstock. Simply cut and score a bunch of bases. Cut rectangles about 5x4" from aother colour (or DSP). Sponge the rectangle with your choice of ink--in this case, Night of Navy and some silver on Misty Moonlight cardstock--and run through an embossing folder with a slight textured background. I used the discontinued Subtle embossing folder, but Merry Melody or Bark would also work. Carefully rip one edge of the rectangle, just enough to make a fancy edge and leave room for a sentiment. Apply your favourite diecuts--it doesn't have to be snowflakes--and your flashy card is done!

Hopefully my next post won't be so long in-between--until then, have a safe, happy and festive Christmas and see you in the new year!

July's Stamping Project--Sweet As A Peach

Here’s a project where putting in the effort really pays off. It may seem like it has a lot of fussy steps, but you’ll definitely refine your sponging technique to create some beautiful cards! In case you're wondering, the sketch for this card is from the bottom right corner of July's Sunday Sketches.

Materials

• 6 sheets of 8.5x11” Crumbcake cardstock
• 5 8.5x11” cardstock or 4 12x12” sheets of Very Vanilla
• Scrap pieces of Very Vanilla for tags and blossoms
• Sponge daubers or Stampin’ Sponges
• Yellow-green pencil crayon
• Crushed Curry ink
• Mango Medly ink
• Daffodil Delight ink
• Soft Succulent ink
• Balmy Blue ink
• Pale Papaya ink
• Early Espresso ink
• Evening Evergreen ink
• Sweet As a Peach dies and stamps
• Embossing and die cutting machine
• Birch background stamp
• Scalloped Contours dies
• White acrylic paint and brush
• Scrap paper with a straight edge for a sponging mask
• Glue, tear tape or your favourite adhesive

Instructions

1. Score 8.5x11” sheets of Crumbcake and cut in half to make 12 4.25x5.5” bases.
2. Before folding card bases, stamp all over the front side in Crumbcake with the spotty stamp from Color & Contour (or any kind of spotty stamp you have on hand).
3. Stamp the front edges of the card with the Birch background stamp in Crumbcake ink next.
4. Cut 12 3.25x4.75" Very Vanilla pieces and die cut with second largest scalloped die from the Scalloped Contours set.
5. Get ready to sponge! Sponge Balmy Blue ink  onto the scalloped Very Vanilla fronts using the straight edge of a piece of scrap paper to cover the scallops. Of course, you don’t have to do this—-make it your own and sponge all over the place! Work from the outside in.
6. Stamp 24 single large peaches on Very Vanilla cardstock and die cut.
7. Stamp 24 branches on Very Vanilla cardstock in Soft Succulent and die cut.
8. Stamp 12 two leaf leaves on Very Vanilla cardstock in Soft Succulent and die cut.
9. Sponge a little bit of Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry and Mango Medley ink on the large peaches to give them some dimension and colour.
10. With the light yellow-green pencil crayon, colour lightly on top of the Soft Succulent leaves to add some warmth and dimension to the leaves.
11. Cut 12 0.75x2.25” Very Vanilla tags for sentiments. You can make them longer if you want to extend them across the front of the card. I used Early Espresso and Evening Evergreen ink for the sentiments.
12. Stamp 12 sets of large blossoms on Very Vanilla cardstock and brush white acrylic paint onto each petal.
13. Time to assemble!
14. Affix the Very Vanilla fronts to the Crumbcake bases.
15. Divide the peaches into two piles. One peach will be the front peach and one will be the rear peach.
16. Glue a two leaf die cut to the top of the front peaches.
17. Glue a peach to each of the branches and let dry.
18. Glue the top peach branch to the rear peach branch. You can arrange them as you like. If you want to position them all the same, glue one set together for a model and then place a piece of wax paper over top and match each successive set together.
19. Add blossoms where a gap in the branch shows or wherever you feel like it!
20. Affix the sentiment and you’re done!

If you’re not completely tired of sponging by now, you can sponge a little Crumbcake ink around the edges of the card—I bet even a little gold would look great too!

The Sweet As A Peach set is a great bargain too. Not only do you get a nice number of nature images, you get plenty of sentiments for any occasion too!

July's Sunday Sketches

Every weekend has been pretty lazy so far this summer. We're still working from home and sometimes I think we just work so hard on the weekend that our hobbies are suffering during the days off. Or, you know, it could be the blistering heat waves or wildfire smoke that's sapping our energy lately.

I sketched out four ideas tonight and I'm not sure which ones will become a reality--stay tuned!

May Stamping Project - All Occasion Tulips

I’m a little behind sharing this project, but it’s still kind of springy where I live—cherry and apple trees are blooming! When the new In Colors were revealed, I instantly thought of card using Timeless Tulips and the co-ordinating Tulip Builder punch!

The fun part of this project is that you can stamp and punch oodles of tulips to mix and match. Try stamping with a matching colour or a bold combo like Magenta and Pale Papaya. The results may be surprisingly and pleasing.

Here are the supplies I used to make ten cards:

• Basic White cardstock
• Variety of 8.x5x11” pastel cardstock like So Saffron, Petal Pink or Soft Seafoam
• Simply Scored score board
• Scissor Snips
• Dimensionals
• 2021-2023 In-Color inks
• Timeless Tulips stamp set
• Tulip Builder Punch
• 2021-2023 In-Colour cardstock variety pack
• Paper Trimmer
• Grey pencil crayon

Instructions

1. Score, cut and fold a variety of bases from pastel cardstock bases.
2. Stamp and punch rows of tulip blossoms on one sheet each of Pale Papaya, Polished Pink and Fresh Freesia.
3. Stamp and punch rows of tulip leaves on one half sheet each of Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen. Save scrap bits for tulip stems.
4. Cut 2.5x5” pieces of Basic White to make the fence pieces.
5. Cut 1x5” pieces of Basic White to make the front white strip for sentiments.
6. Score the fence pieces in 0.5” increments with the Simply Scored score board. You only need to do a few markings on each side as the tulips will cover the middle area.
7. Use the flat side of a grey pencil crayon to add some dimension around the score lines.
8. Cut three notches for pickets on either side of the fence piece. Again, the tulips will cover up the middle, so don’t do work you don’t have to :-)
9. Time to assemble! Affix the fence to the front of each base.
10. Arrange four of the tulip blossoms as you like. You can attach them all together and then attach the stems, or you can add the stems first. You can pop up some of the tulip blossoms with dimensions—it’s up to you!
11. Add the stems next—align them to the bottom of the card. Don’t worry if they overlap or look funny—they will be covered by the front white piece.

Ta-da! You have your own miniature spring garden on a card to give for all those April and May occasions like birthday, Easter and Mother’s Day. You can stamp a sentiment on the front Basic White strip or leave it blank for a punched sentiment later on.

There are tons of fun possibilities with this idea. You’d could make an exploding card with scored fences or use the fence idea for the inside part of a Z-fold card, or simply decorate the outside of a pencil cup or centrepiece. Remember, I just provide the ideas and know how—you make it special!

What Happened to Whisper White?

Now that you've had a chance to peruse the new catalogue, you may have noticed a little product name change. Whisper White has been replaced by Basic White. Unfortunately the paper mill that produced Whisper White cardstock closed down last year. Whisper White has always been a favourite for its smooth surface and crisp stamping, but don't fear, Stampin' Up! found a similar replacement. As 2020 taught us, some things are beyond our control--even if you are a large craft company! Here's a video explaining the difference (embedded below).



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