Woohoo the NEW Catalog!

Wow, the month of June has come and gone (literally, at least, on my blog - two posts and the month of June is done!). Although the beginning of the month was busy with the end of the school year, the last two weeks were the Best! I had an awesome time in Italy! It was fun-filled, awesome sights, excellent food (and plenty of it!!), and just an unforgettable trip!!

It is good to be back home, I guess! At least to get back to my stamping stuff (cause it's fun!!), and I'm even motivated to attempt some scrapping of pictures of my trip! But, on to some exciting stamping stuff to look forward to...

The NEW Catalog and Idea Book is here! So, I have them here, and ordering starts tomorrow! I will be trying to get them out to you before the next class (which is the second Friday this month, because of the 4th of July holiday). But if you're anxious to see the new book before I get in touch with you, or you with me - you will be able to see it online tomorrow!

In the meantime, here's some new stuff you'll see in the new catalog! This card is all done in the New In Line color Rich Razzleberry. The grosgrain is the coordinating color - and awesome, with white polka dots on one side and solid on the other side. The set I used is new as well; it's called Razzle Dazzle! Love the saying in it - "It's good to dream." The saying is punched out with a new punch, Modern Label. It's layered on a new coordinating piece that goes with a Big Shot die - of course a perfect match! Anways, a pretty simple layout, with a monochromatic scheme to keep it classic!

I'll look forward to sharing more new stuff on future posts, but I hope you'll make it to my next class on the 10th where we'll use lots of new stuff!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

Sneak Peek for Friday's Class!

So here's one of the cards we'll be making this Friday at our First Friday Technique Class! I saw the original idea on another blog about a year ago and I'm finally getting around to making it for class! We're calling it a Mini Envelope Money Card. The cover is made with the "Last Chance" papers of Baja Breeze (I'm sad to see this color go!!), Riding Hood Red and Slumber Party DSP. Also the words are from a "Last Chance" Set, Hugs and Wishes. And the Wish-Blower flower (isn't that what those weeds are called?!) is a Printed Window Sheet from the current Mini Catalog (that is also ending this month). Sounds like there's going to be nothing left of Stampin' Up! if you look at this card - but not to worry, we'll be in for some awesome new stuff! Stampin' Up! always has fun surprises ahead!!

So here's the inside where the mini envelope hides the money!! The mini envelope just becomes one of the layers that makes up this card! As long as the layer over the mini evelope is larger than 3"x3", it hides it! But of course, at class I'll have the layers cut and measured for you!! Also the card is accented with a Baja Breeze Corduroy button and Baja Breeaze wide grosgrain (more "Last Chance" items because of the color).

Hope to see you at class on Friday,

Julie

P.S. Don't be too sad about all the Last Chance items, it also means that the new catalog is about to be released - Woohoo!! It starts July 1st!

Birthday Card Kept Easy!

I made this card for Alex's friend's birthday. It's always a bit challenging to make a card for a teenage boy - not too cutsey, not to frilly, the right colors...

Anyway, to me that just means to keep the colors simple and not too much stuff on the card! So, I kept it to a birthday word set, some coordinating Designer Series Papers, the star punches, and (I had to!) a little Tafetta ribbon (even if it is gray!)!

And this is the inside. Again, because it was for a teenage boy - who knows what to get them, and what's cool enough - I made a pocket inside. The gray edge is the edge of the pocket where we put money in it, the easiest gift, and probably appreciated!

The card was made with Pacific Point and Basic Gray, and the coordinating Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Papers in Pacific Point prints.

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Julie

Simple Note Card - And a Warning!!

Just a quick card I made to send a note! But while I was making it, I was thinking about the colors - Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss - and that they will be retiring at the end of June. The retiring lists will be released on June 1st (yep, even to me - no early scoop even for demonstrators!). But, we always know that the In Colors will retire. (Not even any scoop yet on the new colors?!) But just a reminder that if you have some of the In Colors, and know that you want to make them last well into their retirement, you might want to prioritize an order of re-inkers! Last year some of the colors actually sold out before the retirement sales ended.

Hope you have a great week!

Julie

Simple Flower Gift Note

Happy Mother's Day! Here I am finishing my Mother's Day stuff the morning of! My mom is coming over this afternoon for a barbeque and here I am finishing her gift. I LOVE thesse quick little Gift Notes! They are so great to have on hand for that last-minute gift card holder. You can always use the envelope and cardboard that comes on the usual gift cards, but isn't this a little (or a lot) better?

I added some Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper (just some scraps are all you need!) and a Simple Flower Embosslit, punched out of Regal Rose cardstock. The leaves are the Little Leaves Sizzlet, punched out of Kiwi Kiss cardstock. Then I added a white 5/16" brad, some white Tafetta and a white piece with MOM stamped from the Simple Serif Mini Alphabet set.

I hope you have a nice Mother's Day!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

Flower Pot Card (Don't Look Mom!)

I know my last post was a "Dad" project, and here I am back to "Mom," but this Weekend is Mother's Day! So, most of the time I'm planning for my next class -and I'm (sometimes) a month or so ahead of holidays! But this is the card I made my mom for Mother's Day!

I kept seeing these "Flower Pot" cards on Splitcoast, and couldn't resist making one. I think I could have used an easier flower, but I really like this Daisy die from the Big Shot. And I couldn't get much easier than running the cardstock through the Big Shot - no cutting out!! I used the Little Leaves Sizzlet to accent the flowers. The flower centers are 3/4" circle punched from Bella Rose Designer Series Papers with a Summer Sun Corduroy Button. I used the 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon around the pot, but I folded it in half cuz it seemed a little thick! I also used the saying "my mom" from Holiday Blitz - LOVE that set with everything in it - and so many punch options!

The little card that slips into the pocket is just 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". The flowers and leaves are all stuck (kinda randomly) on the top edge of it. The measurements for the card base (pot) is 3 1/2" x 9". You score the 9" side at 2" and then 5 1/2". Then the 2" flap is punched with the scallop edge punch. The pot isn't stuck together, just the ribbon around it keeps it together. Kinda Cool!! By the way, the pot is Really Rust!

Hope you're having a good week!

Julie

Sneak Peek!

Here's the Sneak Peek for tomorrow night's class! We'll be making this Criss Cross Box. The color is Sage Shadow, which I realized I haven't used in quite a while - and I Like it!! I always tend to gravitate toward Baja Breeze! I paired it up with some of the "To The Nines" Specialty Papers. (On another note, there's a super special for the month of May only with the Designer Series Papers and 12x12 Textured Papers! - I'll tell you more tomorrow!)

And, one of my favorite parts of this projects is the set, Holiday Blitz! That's where the 'dear dad' saying comes from. But those coming to the class don't have to make it a "dear dad' box because the Holiday Blitz has 27 other choices of stamps to put in the center of that circle! I love how you can create a layout and then change it so easily with the variety of stamps in that set! So, it can be a "my mom" box too! Anyway, with the fresh brownie bites in the cello bag they better be delivered to someone soon - or they'll be calling my name!!

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Julie

Finished Gift Bags

I did finish, and even deliver, the gift bags to my brother-in-law for his softball team. By the way, they're 7 and 8 year olds!

So, the stuff inside each bag is a wrapped jar of bubbles, a Lip balm folder with "Jello" flavored LipSmackers!, a covered notepad with side pen holder, a pull-out pouch with a pack of "strawberry banana" gum in it, and a wrapped Kudos bar. It seemed kind of funny to wrap Designer Series Papers around a Kudos bar and a jar of bubbles, but I just wanted it to look "together," if you know what I mean. I guess that's an anal-stamp person thing.

So, then I put their first initial on most of the projects, and their name on the topper. I hope they have a fun end of the season party. And, in a way, I'll be glad to not be there to see them get the bags. I know that sounds terrible! - but I'm sure there'll be lots of ripping and shredding to get to the goods underneath!! And sometimes that's hard to watch after all the work you put into it! But deep down I really hope they enjoy all the stuff! At least I did use up some of my retired Designer Series Paper - so I feel like I didn't splurge too much!

I hope you'll check back this week when I post some Sneak Peeks for Friday's Technique Class!

Julie

Just Beachy and What I've Been Doing All Week!

So, I wish I could say that what I was doing all week was "All Beachy" or least something to do with being at the beach - especially when it was so hot and nice earlier in the week. But here's the real scoop on my title above...

This card is from the Just Beachy set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I got this card from one of my swapping buddies, Mary. I love how it turned out. I love the colors, based around the Manchester Designer Series Papers, and the super-cool Woody Car from the Just Beachy set! I like how she stamped the little fishies on the argyles too!

And Part 2... Here's what I've been working on most of the week! I know it's probably hard to see - but I'm making some goodie bags for my brother-in-law's softball team. He called me early in the week and asked if I could put together some goodies for the team. He didn't have any have-to-have things in it - just something to give them for their end-of-the-season party. I LOVE doing this kind of stuff - although I know I always want to keep adding a little more, and the "Oh, that would be cute" stuff! It's all good, except time usually constrains some of the details I like to obsess over!!

Anyway, I finally made decisions on the ideas so I've been in the "work mode" in reproducing everything times 12 for the last couple evenings. I made one sample gift bag (except the topper with their names) with all the goodies, and now I'm factory-line asseblying everything.

I hope to finish it all by tomorrow (he needs them by next Saturday). When I do I'll post a close-up of one of the finished gift bags, with all it's goodies. It was fun because everything I made was pretty much from the Technique Cards from our Friday Technique Classes!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend,

Julie

Another "Limited Supplies" Card!

Sad to say... this was the last card I made, and even sadder... it was last week, when I was on vacation! Oh well, I guess that's the way things work huh? It seems like Spring Break was eons ago! This week back to work has only been 2 days, but crazy so far!!





Anyway, I brought this set, Branch Out, with me last week. I only had my Valet Ribbon Originals and some different cardstocks and inks - but I like the simplicity of the set! Oh, I did have the Slumber Specialty Papers - that's the Riding Hood Red polka dot piece. The black ribbon (from the Valet Ribbon Originals) is super cool - it's like corduroy!



Glad I got this set! I hope to show you some more ideas with it soon!





Hope you're having a good week!





Julie