Stampin' Up Betsy's Blossoms - new Stamp Set

Wow, I have been a bad blogger!  I just haven't had time and energy to do it.  I have lots of things to show you and will try to post them during the next few days.

This card was made with a Betsy's Blossoms, a sneak peek stamp set that will be in the new catalog that begins on Friday, June 1.  I also used 2 of the new 2012-2014 In Colors - Gumball Green, Raspberry Fizz - and the new stitched grosgrain ribbon which also will be available on Friday.

STAMP SETS:  Betsy's Blossoms, Blessings from Heaven

Card stock:  Gumball Green, Whisper White, Raspberry Fizz

Ink:  Raspberry Fizz, Primrose Petals (both are new 2012-2014 In Colors), Daffodil Delight, Versamark

Accessories:  Rhinestone, 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon - Daffodil Delight, White Embossing Powder,  Boho Blossoms Punch, Designer Series Paper Stack - Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight

I "fussy cut"  the biggest flower layer and the Raspberry Fizz Flower.  All the flower layers are attached with dimensionals, and all the layers are attached with dimensionals.

Have fun stampin'!

Phyllis Strickland

6x6 Punch Art Recipe Page - Banana Split

I was a member of the Stampin' Divas, a group of Stampin' Up! demos who do WOW swaps, for a few years, but then I got too busy and dropped out. I was invited to rejoin so you will be seeing some awesome swaps every month.  The theme this month was 6x6 Punch Art Recipe. Stampin' Up! told us the Retiring Accessories list would be very long this year due to the new catalog strategy, so I used a design that requires basic circles, ovals.  And, yay, none of them are retired!

So here is my Banana Split Punch Art:

Cardstock

Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

I cannot write straight, that's for sure!  I did my best, but a lot of those punches ended up in the trans can.  I guess I should have typed the words on labels and cut them down to size, but I didn't think of that at the time.

Well,  now,  I wish it weren't 2 AM so I could go somewhere for a banana split!  Or at least an ice cream cone, because my ice cream is gone! It never lasts long at my house, so I am almost always out of ice cream.

See you later,
Phyllis Strickland

New and Improved Inkpads from Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up is switching to new and improved Firm Foam Stampin' Pads!

With the introduction of the 2012-2013 annual catalog, Stampin' Up! has made a very big change to the Stampin' Pads.

Introducing. firm foam pads! They change your stamping experience for the better.

We know you're going to love these new Stampin' Pads-just look at all the exciting benefits listed below:

• Provide better ink coverage for your stamps!
• Light-tap stamping produces flawless images!
• Pad stays juicier for longer resulting in better ink pad longevity!

In addition, the new Stampin' Pads

• Have a crisply printed, glossy label on the top of the pad that is easier to read and that will not fade or chip off!
• Come with color name labels in all four languages (English, Spanish, French, and German)-just choose your language, peel it off the back, and add it to the side of the pad for easy identification!
• Use the same patented flip-top case design that stores the inking surface upside down, so the pad surface stays moist!
• Are available in all colors, including our exclusive In Colors!

Please note:
Five ink colors have undergone formula changes to improve functionality and color stability with the new firm foam pads. These colors are

• Basic Black
• Basic Gray
• Marina Mist
• Perfect Plum
• Tempting Turquoise

All five colors of the reformulated inks have been fully tested and approved. While using the new ink formula in the old Stampin' Pads is fine, we do not recommend using the old ink formula in the new firm foam pads. Any refills purchased after April 30, 2012, will contain the new formulated ink.*

* The new ink formula for Basic Gray, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise (for both Stampin' Ink Refills and firm foam Classic Stampin' Pads) will not be available until June 1. In addition, the Neutrals, Subtles, and Brights ink color collections will not contain the newly formulated ink for Basic Gray, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise until June 1.

Happy Stampin',
Phyllis Strickland

Stampin' Up! announced the Retiring Ink, Paper & Accessories and Decor Elements - get them before tthey are gone!

Say farewell to some of your favorite Stampin' Up Accessories and get some of them with a discount! 

The Retiring Ink, Paper & Accessories can be found HERE, the DISCOUNTED Retiring Products are HERE, and Retiring Decor Elements HERE.

Get your favorites today before they're gone!

Phyllis Strickland

Going, Going, Gone! Friends Never Fade

Over the next few weeks I will feature stamp sets that are retiring. One of my favorites is Friends Never Fade. 

This is a double flip card - when you pull the tab it opens the front of the card and a greeting pops up.

They are a little time consuming to make, but worth it for special occasions.   I made several of these for friends birthdays.

Stamp Set:  Friends Never Fade, Itty Bitty Bits

Cardstock:  Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry (retired),Wild Wasabi,  Whisper White

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals,  Punches - Scallop Trim Border, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Round Tab


Watch for more retired stamp sets, but I probably will sneak in a few from the current Occasions Mini, too!

Happy Stamping,
Phyllis Strickland

Stampin' Up! announced the Retiring Stamps - get them before they are gone forever!

Every year, Stampin' Up! bids a fond farewell to fabulous stamp sets.  Get your favorites before they are gone!

Follow the links in my sidebar to go to the store where you can see images of the stamp sets.  I also have links to a PDF list or a sortable Excel file.

Don't miss out on those stamp sets that are on your wish list but you never got around to buying them!

Phyllis Strickland

My Stampin' Up! Bright Blossoms card is featured on Stampin' Queens Blog Challenge!

This card that I posted yesterday is a Featured Spotlight Card for last Wednesday's sketch (SQSC31) at Stampin' Queens.

Thank you to Stampin' Queens for choosing my card!

Another challenge - Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge SQSC 31

Yes, it's me, again!, with another challenge.  This is the last Sneak Peek as I need to save the excitement for April 1st. I needed to make a card last week, and saw this Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge which was perfect for my design idea.  So here is my entry for SQCS 31!


Stamp Set:  Bright Blossoms

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Glossy White (for the fussy cut vase with flower to give it a glossy look)

Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers - Real Red, Garden Green, Basic Black

Accessories: Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Punches - Large Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" Circle, Scallop Trim Border

I have to work on my photography, or maybe white is more difficult, because it just isn't showing that I used Stampin' Dimensionals between the card base and the background, underneath the scallop circle and then the vase if affixed to the scallop piece with Stampin' Dimensionals.  It just looks so must better IRL!!!

Here is the sketch:

So head on over to Stampin Queens Sketch Challenge to see what the design team and other entrants did with this sketch.

Keep on stampin'!
Phyllis Strickland

Freshly Made Sketches #27 - Stampin' Up! Bright Blossoms

I haven't had time to participate in Freshly Made Sketches lately, even though the sketches are terrific. As soon as I saw this sketch, I knew it would be perfect for my Sneak Peek of the Stampin' Up! Summer Smooches promotion.  My order didn't arrive until a few days ago and I've been busy, but I manged to get one made just in time. This card is for Freshly Made Sketch #27.

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms, Petite Pairs (Greeting)


Card Stock:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Glossy White

Accessories:  Rhinestones; Designer Series Paper - Summer Smooches; Punches - Large Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" circle, 1-3/8" circle, 1-1/4" circle


The Bright Blossoms stamp set and Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper will be available as a Sneak Peek 4/1/12 -
4/31/12 and then in the new Stampin' Up catalog 6/1/12 - 5/31/13)

This photo could be better, but it will have to do for now.  I will replace it later when I have more time.
Phyllis Strickland

Stampin' Up! Mouthwatering and Scented Stampin' Emboss Powder

We made these cards at my Stampin' Up! upline's monthly meeting.  We used the Mouthwatering Stamp Set from the 2012 Occasion Mini Catalog (available until 4/30/2012).  We used a new product, Scented Stampin' Emboss Powder, on the stamped image.  It is available in delicious scents, Vanilla, Melon and Cherry.

Card stock:  Whisper White, Basic Black


Accessories:  1/8" Taffeta Ribbon - Basic Black; Designer Series Paper - Berry Blossoms

The stamps were colored with Stampin' Write Markers and stamped on the Whisper White cardstock.

When the ink was dry, we used a Versamarker to cover the "edible" part of the image so that the emboss powder would stick to it, and then sprinkled it with the Scented Stampin' Emboss Powder.  It was heat embossed with a heat gun.

The colored layer on this card is Calypso Coral cardstock.












Well it is time for some shut eye!  TTYL!

Phyllis Strickland