It's HERE, It's HERE!!!

July 1st has arrived, and that means The New 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!! :)

I've just updated the SU Catalog tab, and added a few links to my RH sidebar. Go ahead, take a look! :)

Ohhhh, I am soooo excited!!
Would you like to see what some of my faves are? ok. :)

Oh...I just realized something - pretty sure all the numbers listed for stamp sets are the clear mount numbers. If you were to order the wood mount, you need a different #.  You'll see it in the catalog under the item.

Pg    Item #    Name
10    122617   Happiest Birthday Wishes (H) --- you can never have too many birthday stamps!

16    122872   Turtle & Co.

35    122562   Snow Much Fun ---- love snowmen!

42    122685   Tidings of Joy

45    122682   Beautiful Season ---- ohhhhhh...gorgeous. Love this.

55    123087   Not So Seriously ---- finally, some funny quips!

57    123225   Easy Events  ---- reminds me of Pun Fun, Nice & Easy Notes, etc...

59    123592   It's A Wrap Occasions  ---- yay! How fun!

63    122757   Up, Up & Away ---- ditto

65    122512   Sweets for the Sweet  ---- ditto

71    122737   Button Buddies  ---- ditto

92    122542   Barnyard Buddies ---- we're dairy farmers...couldn't resist

93    122537   Dinoroar  ---- yes, we have girls. But sometimes I need boy cards! :)

93    122722   I Dig You  ---- ditto. ;-)

155  123432   Party Time

158  122862   Sweetly Said

161  123052   Blessings from Heaven ---- niiice. We need more of these type!

162  122612   Creatively Yours

164  122497   Petite Pairs

167  122652   Delightful Dozen

171  123598   Occasions Alphabet

194  125054   Denim Jean Ribbon (Artichoke)

194  125053   Denim Jean Ribbon (Blue)

198  122942   Mini Clothespins ---- this is SO going on my order

199  122941   Mini Brads ---- ditto!

218  123130   Designer Frames Embossing Set

218  123128   Stripes Embossing Folder

WHEW!!  Okay...just so you know...I have a LOT of work ahead of me to pare down this list to a manageable size. ;-)  I don't plan on getting all of these at once, lol!  These are just the things that jumped out at me.
 
Well...what about you?  Do you have any favorites?
 
Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

LAST DAY (and a peek)!

A friendly reminder...THIS IS THE LAST DAY YOU CAN ORDER RETIRING PRODUCTS FROM STAMPIN' UP's 2010-2011 catalog!!! :)

Yes, I'm yelling. ;-)  Hurry, RUN!! (click on SU logo in RH sidebar)

Here's a recent project I made using a set that's going to retire (Paradise):

It's a gift certificate holder...for a local nursery (plants). :)  I used the Lots of Tags die for the Big Shot for the label background...the wide oval punch for the label.

And what ARE those colors I'm using??? Anyone care to take a guess? Yup. One of them is already retired. ;-)  If you guessed Mellow Moss & Always Artichoke...you're correct. It's still one of my fave combos. ;-)





And now for the promised sneak peek project...
Actually no. I've just decided I'm going to show you TWO more projects today. As a thank you for sticking around even while I had to take a bloggy-vacation. Imagine that - THREE projects in one day! :)

I had some thank you cards to make...

So, here are two different cards using TWO sets from the current mini catalog (Summer Mini).....AND some new colors from the upcoming catalog! (Releases on 7/1/11) :)

This 4.25" square card features the On The Grow stamp set (Summer Mini) stamped with Black Stazon ink onto Watercolor cardstock, and colored in with the new colors Wisteria Wonder & Lucky Limeade. :)

The next card (which I love the CAS-ness of, btw) uses Swirls & Curls Verses. The Swirls & Curls is actually a Hostess stamp set you can earn from the mini catalog...don't worry...you still have until August 31 to get it and On The Grow - include them with your first purchase from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! :)

I inked up the stamp with the new color Lucky Limeade, took the ink off the flower with my blender pen, then colored the flower with my new Calypso Coral marker. Clear as mud? ;-)

 

Well, what do you think?  I'm glad to be back to share with you! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

One More

I'm here today with ONE MORE Graduation item. :)
This time...it's not necessarily a card.

It's a gift card holder!  Many people give gift cards for gifts, so I decided to make a one to sell on Etsy. Oh, and I'll share it with you here, too. ;-)

I used the same set as yesterday, Go Graduate!  I also used the Square Lattice embossing folder and same colors yet again (Black, Grey, White)! Also used the watercolor crayons and blender pen yet again! :)

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

It's A Bittersweet Thing...

...this last of the school year stuff.

This morning was the last time I sent my daughter off on the bus to 1st Grade. I'm a sentimental gal...so yes, I did get a little choked up this morning while praying at breakfast. Did pretty well though - I don't think my daughters had a clue.  ;-)

She loves school, so although we're DEFINITELY excited for Summer (ALL of us! )...we're a little sad too. She had a great teacher, a great time learning and playing with her friends, a great year.

Sooo...she's "graduating" to 2nd Grade. At least I'm pretty sure...I keep teasing her that we really don't technically know yet, and is she sure she's moving up to 2nd grade? Her answer? The drawn-out "Mo-om...." :)

In keeping with the graduation theme, I have another card for you today!

















I used (another) old set from last year's Summer Mini catalog, called Go, Graduate. I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder again, used same colors again (Basic Black, Basic Grey, White) too. Colored the gowns and feet with my Watercolor Crayons and Blender pens, then topped it off with a black satin ribbon, and Voila! :) (The coloring part actually took awhile, lol!)

FYI: This card (and others) can be purchased in my Etsy Shop! :)

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Graduation

It is that time of year again.

The time when young (yes, you're young) Senior Highschoolers everywhere are celebrating. I can still hear the notes of Pomp & Circumstance...dah, dah dah dah dahhhh, dahhhhhh....

Anywho...A cousin of mine is graduating from high school, and we were invited to a party to celebrate. I knew exactly what I wanted to do for his card. Then changed it. Lol!

It might look familiar if you've been following me long enough...see here

I decided to add a few more layers...and it became THIS:
















The texture on the card is from SU's Square Lattice embossing folder. The stamp is (sadly) retired...never made it to the big catalog (it's from last year's Summer Mini)...but I'm gonna use it anyways! :)

Did you notice the other texture in this picture? lol  Not my usual background, lol. What can I say, we were in a hurry to get out the door, and I was desperate to find something white for a backdrop, my usual wasn't nearby. My hubby says, "do you REALLY have to take a picture of every card you make?"

Ummmmm. YES. :)
Therefore the unfolded cheap white napkin. ;-)

Well, what do you think? Which version of this card do you prefer?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Back With A Butterfly

Hello out there to all my cyber-friends!  It's been awhile, I know. :)

I had to let at least one juggling ball drop...and so the "blog ball" was dropped. Believe me, I *wanted* to be here, but just couldn't. :)
   No time to stamp (except - oh, I need a card - quick!) :)
+ No time to take pic, edit pic, post pic, think of something clever to say, and hope *someone* out there thought it was fun and clever and might just leave me some love in comments. ;-)
 = No mojo

Anyways...I'm here!! :) Slowly creeping back into this...baby steps. :)  I have SO MUCH fun to show you, and I'm hoping to figure out a "new" summertime balance/schedule that includes time to stamp...cause stamping makes momma happy, and you know the saying..."if momma ain't happy..." :)

I *AM* going to share something with you today (other than rambling). :)

A good friend of mine recently had a birthday, and I've had her card in the works for awhile now. Started it long ago. At the time, I die cut two butterflies and stamped them. Made the card for one friend (hi J!), and got another one ready to go for the other friend I had in mind (hi B!). Had everything done except for coloring in the butterfly and adding the string body, then mounting onto the card.

Ya wanna know something funny?  The butterfly (Sizzix die) is borrowed from the 1st friend, the stamp set is borrowed from the second friend!  Both of those items borrowed to make THIS card for each of them! lol















Anyways, I think it's kind of funny. ;-)

I hand embossed the edges of this very vanilla cardbase. Nope, not with the easy peasy Big Shot (I wish!). This was old school - I moved a brass template from side to side, lining up & embossing by hand! :)

The stamp sets used were Wonderful Favorites and Elements of Style. Colored the flowers on the butterfly with my ink pad lids and aquapainter.

WHEW. It feels good to be back!

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Last Chance...Time To Say Goodbye

No, not goodbye to me. Well, it may feel like that around here lately, and I wouldn't blame you!  I've just been CRAZY busy and hoping things will change for the better once school is done - I wanna share some fun stuff with you! :)

In the meantime, click on the pic above to get to my website where the Last Chance Lists (retiring items) are updated every Mon-Fri at 4pm MT. You can also order from me at that link ANYTIME (24/7)!

The stamp sets are available until June 30, but the accessories/Decorative lists are while supplies last (and some items are 25-40% off!!!), so I'd move as quickly as you can and get both at the same time! :)

Whew!  Gooooo---- run!  Get them while you can!! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal