Saying good-bye

Hey there, stampers!
I thought it might be fun to show you some cards from the past, featuring, of course, stamp sets that are being retired.  If you see something you love that you don't own, you have until the end of May to purchase them.  Stamps are guaranteed to be available until May 26th, but everything else such as dies for the Big Shot, embossing folders, ribbon, and other accessories are on a "while supplies last" basis.  

OK, so here we go...

Stippled Blossoms.  Goodbye, beautiful!

Baby, We've Grown.  So long, cute owls!

Kind and Cozy.  See ya later!

Polka Dot Pieces... adios!

Tea Party stamp set and Heart Framelits... bye-bye!

Regarding Dahlias... so sorry to bid you adieu!

Too Kind.  I'll miss you!

Pleasant Poppies.  Farewell!

Cycle Celebration.  Riding off into the sunset on this bicycle!

Hope you've enjoyed a look at some of the sets that are retiring!  
Have a great Wednesday!
Hugs,
Susan

Butterfly Basics Stampin'Up!

Hi there stampers and happy Monday!

Do you really think we'll hit 81 degrees this afternoon, like the weather report says?  I'm hoping that we do, but I'm not holding my breath.  How was your weekend?  Did you go somewhere interesting or have friends over?  Did you cook a new dish or see a great movie?  Or did you relax with a good book?  Whatever you did, I hope your spirit was refreshed and that you are ready to take on a new week!  I think you can probably guess what I did... yes, I held two stamping events.  First there was Betty Ann and Kippe's party on Saturday and then I had my One-Sheet Wonder class yesterday afternoon.  I always enjoy being around stampers... some of the nicest and most creative people ever!

Now that the Butterfly Bundle is available for ordering again, I feel like I can mention this great stamp set.  Today's card was created by Mary Peterson, one of the creative stampers in my downline.  I love how Mary used the stamps in this set!  There are lots of other images in Butterfly Basics other than butterflies and that's just what Mary did.  She left the butterfly in the box and came up with this beautiful card...

The fun little gingham background was created with the stripe image in the Painted Petals stamp set (page 19 of the Occasions catalog).  It was stamped in Smoky Slate.  Then the flower image from Butterfly Basics (page 26 of the Occasions catalog) was stamped over it in Jet Black Staz-On ink.  The flower is colored with markers in Hello Honey, Pear Pizzazz, and one tiny dot of Tangerine Tango.  The striped satin ribbon in Hello Honey is the perfect finishing touch for this great card.  Thanks, Mary, for allowing me to share your talent with my readers!

Later on today I'm going to be meeting with my SOS (Stamp Out Stress) group at Symposium Coffee in Old Town Sherwood.  We meet the last Monday of each month at 1 pm for coffee, cards, and camaraderie.  You are more than welcome to join us!  The cost for 2 cards/envelopes is just $5.  Be sure to RSVP to me at sjrstamps@gmail.com so I'll be prepared with enough paper and supplies. We meet upstairs in the conference room, so if stairs are a "no-no" for you, I'm sorry.  

Make it a great week, everyone!
Hugs,
Susan

Adventure Awaits Stampin'Up!

Helloooo Stampers!
It's finally Friday and I'm looking forward to the weekend, as there'll be a "whole lotta stampin' goin' on" around here.  I think I've got all of my ducks in a row, so to speak.  The paper is cut, the stamps are mounted on clear blocks, the boxes are packed with the correct stamp pads and accessories, BUT there always seems to be something I've forgotten.  Thank goodness I can just go upstairs and get what is missing!

Today I'm continuing with the masculine theme that was chosen for our Stamp2gether that was held on Wednesday.  This was my shoebox swap (everything needed to make the card is in a shoebox and the shoeboxes circulate around the table so each of us can take a turn making the card).

Check it out...

This very masculine card uses two new products from the Occasions catalog... the Adventure Awaits stamp set (page 41) and 
the Adventure Bound Designer Series Paper Stack (page 40).  These two products come in a bundle for 27.95, or each one can be ordered separately.  
I used Crumb Cake card stock for my card base, then layered some Early Espresso over it.  The DSP is cut in strips that are 3 3/4 by 1 1/2 inches.  
I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso on Crumb Cake, then cut it out with one of the Circle framelit dies for the big shot.  I sponged around the circle with Early Espresso to give definition to the shape.  I used the Natural 5/8 inch Chevron Ribbon (page 207 of the annual catalog), but turned it over so the plain side is showing.  It has a nice natural homespun look that is great for masculine cards.
This would be a great card for a guy graduating from high school and going off to college, or for a college grad starting his first job, or even for an older male who might be starting a new job or a new venture.  It's good advice for any stage of life.
May the weekend ahead bring you whatever you need most... rest, relaxation, time with family and friends, or just time to catch up with everything you didn't get done during the week.  Whatever the weekend holds, enjoy!
Hugs to all,
Susan

Moon Lake Stampin'Up!

Hey there stampers!  
What is on your agenda for Wednesday?  Have you seen the retiring stamps and accessories list?  Whoa!  It is seriously looong!
That means you'd better check it over and see if there are any stamp sets on the list that you've been meaning to add to your collection, but just haven't purchased yet.  Stamps are guaranteed to be available through May 26th, but the accessories are on a "while supplies last" basis.  The In-color ink refills are already sold out... happens every year! 

I'm going to be having a fun time tonight at our monthly Stamp2gether, which is a gathering of Stampin'Up! demonstrators in my downline, plus one demo who's a "sideline."  We meet on the  fourth Wednesday of each month for dinner, stamping, and swapping.  Of course we share business ideas too.  If you've ever thought about being a Stampin'Up! demonstrator, I'd love for you to come to one of our meetings. 

Each month there's a different theme for our swaps and this month our theme was masculine cards.  With Father's Day coming up fairly soon, I thought I'd make a Father's Day card to swap and here it is.

I wanted something a bit different, so I decided to make an easel card.  They are super-easy to make, but fun to display on a desk, counter, or mantel.  The stamp set is called Moon Lake ( page 21 of the Occasions catalog).  The card stock colors are Soft Suede for the card base, Early Espresso and Lost Lagoon for the mats, and Very Vanilla for the focal panel.  The "moon" was sponged through a mask in Soft Sky and then the bird was stamped over it in Early Espresso.  The saying comes from Guy Greetings ( page 41 of the Occasions catalog).  

This card folds flat so you can easily slide it into an envelope for mailing and there are no lumps and bumps to cause problems for the post office.  You can find a tutorial for making an easel card by typing "easel card" into the Google search box.  You can choose the Splitcoast Stampers tutorial or there are some YouTube videos as well.  
Thanks for visiting with me today!
Hugs,
Susan

Petal Potpourri Stampin'Up!

Zippety do dah, zippety ay!  Wasn't Sunday a wonderful day? Plenty of sunshine, heading our way, zippety do dah, zippety ay!

What a gorgeous weekend we enjoyed, and it looks like more of the same for this sunny Monday!  When I wake up to sunshine, I feel so much more energy.  How about you?  Do sunshine and warmer temperatures put a smile on your face and extra bounce in your step?  I hope this is true for you, as it's always good to start a new work week feeling optimistic and energetic.

Have you looked ahead a month or two in your calendar?  If you have, you know that Mother's Day is coming right up (Sunday, May 10th), then we've got Father's Day on June 21st.  Also coming up in June are graduations and weddings.  In fact, June through September seems to be wedding time in the Northwest, no doubt because that's when outdoor ceremonies can be held without too much chance of rain.  Oh, and there are bound to be some baby showers and new arrivals this spring as well.

My new class... The Gifts of Spring... is planned to help you navigate all these gift-giving occasions with ease.  Today I'm going to show you my gift card holder for Mother's Day.  Take a peek...

This is made with the Top Note die for the Big Shot.  Inside there's a little pocket for the cash, check, or gift card to slip into.
The colors are Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, So Saffron (center of the flower) and Whisper White.  The stamp set is Petal Potpourri (page 23 of the Occasions catalog).  The flower is punched out with the matching Flower Medallion Punch, also on page 23.  The saying "best mother ever" is from the stamp set "And many more" on page 20 of the annual catalog.  Notice that it doesn't say "happy mother's day" anywhere.   If you want, you could stamp that saying on the inside.  
You might think that you don't need a Mother's Day card if your mom is no longer living, but there are other moms around that need celebrating on this special day.  If you have daughters that are moms, if you have daughters-in-law that are moms, or even if you've got a niece, aunt, or mother-in-law that are great moms, why not send them a little gift on Mother's Day.  It doesn't even have to be a monetary gift.  How about a little handwritten certificate for some babysitting or a home-cooked meal?  What overworked, under-played mom wouldn't love a gift like that?

I hope you'll sign up to come to my Gifts of Spring class on Saturday, May 2nd at 1 pm where you'll make this gift card holder and 6 other gift card/money holders.  You'll go home with all the  instructions and measurements so you can make many more.

Hope your Monday is off to a great start!  
Susan

B.Y.O.P. (Buy Your Own Present) Stampin'Up!

Hello again, stamping friends.
It's my favorite weekday... Friday!  On Friday, the weekend stretches ahead and seems full of promise.  On Friday, everyone seems more relaxed.  On Friday, it's easier to overlook the little annoyances that we might find quite disturbing on a Monday morning.  Yes, there's a lot to love about Friday!  Oh and the fact that we'll be enjoying a sunny weekend doesn't hurt!

There's a lot to love about the stamp set I'm going to showcase today too!  It's called BYOP (buy your own present,  page 33 of the Occasions catalog) and it features sentiments for graduation, new babies, weddings, birthdays, and thank yous.  This set is designed specifically for those of us who put off buying a present for so long that, at the last minute, we end up writing a check or buying a gift card.  With this stamp set in your collection, you'll be able to jazz up that check or gift card and make it more personal and definitely more fun to open.  

Here's a fun money folder I made for a graduating guy, but with a change of designer paper and colors, it could be easily transformed into a girly money folder.  Or, if you happen to know the high school or college colors, you could color-coordinate your gift.
Check it out...

Here's the outside and when you open it up...

here's the inside...

The colors I used are Hello Honey and Night of Navy.  Somewhere I'm sure there's a school whose colors are Navy and Gold.  The striped designer paper on the front is from Lullaby collection on page 187 of the annual catalog.  I stamped the "Congratulations, Grad!" in Night of Navy ink on a panel of Whisper White card stock and cut it out with one of the dies in the Apothecary Accents collection.  Then I punched a hole in each end of the die-cut shape and threaded the Night of Navy Seam Binding through the holes.  This clean and simple look is perfect for a guy and it will easily go through the mail as there are no knots (or bows or bling) to make lumps and bumps in the envelope.  Note: that's "play" money in the pocket and it's quite a bit smaller that a real twenty dollar bill.  

If you'd like to learn how to make the money folder I've shown you today, be sure to sign up for my Gifts of Spring class on May 2nd, when we'll be using this stamp set, among others, to create 6 fun money/check folders and gift card holders for all sorts of occasions (graduation, wedding, baby, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and birthday).  Soon you'll be known for your mad paper-crafting skills!

Have a great Friday, everyone! And may the weekend ahead be as wonderful as your Friday dreams.
Susan

Stampin'Up! Mini Treat Bag

Hey there Stampers!  

I'm excited that we are supposed to get some sunshine today!  How about you?  Are you just itching to get out the sandals and capris like I am?  I cannot wait for better weather!  I'm often disappointed when the weather forecast gets revised at the last minute, so, although I'm hoping the weather guy is correct, I'm trying to "keep calm and carry on," just in case the sun and warmer temperatures don't materialize.  

I've got something fun to show you today... the Mini Treat Bag. it's one of the newest dies for the Big Shot and I was thrilled to find that it is super-simple to assemble.  Check out my cute bag...

One of the best features of this little bag is that it fits inside a regular envelope.  So not only can it be a treat bag, it can also be a card.  I cut this one out of some bright and cheery Birthday Bash Designer Paper (page 12 of the Occasions catalog).  I stamped the sentiment in Calypso Coral ink on Whisper White card stock.  The stamp set is called Starburst Sayings and it's on page 117 of the annual catalog.  I used the Starburst Framelits (p. 231) to cut it out and then layered it over some Striped Grosgrain ribbon in Crushed Curry.  
The best part of this little treat is hiding inside.  When you pull up on the Calypso Coral seam binding, you discover a panel with a little pocket at the bottom that holds a gift card (or cash, or check)!  Who wouldn't like getting a gift like this.  And while a gift card or money can seem a bit impersonal, a fun package like this lets the recipient know that you cared enough to send the very best... a hand-stamped gift from the heart.
Thanks for visiting The Classic Card today! Let's get out there and enjoy the sunshine that we've been told is on the way!
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Susan

Celebrate Today Stampin'Up!

Hello stampin' friends!

Wow.... that weekend sure zipped by, didn't it?  I had a full house of stampers for lunch on Saturday, followed by the Four Seasons of Thanks class.  Then yesterday I did the Beautiful Butterflies class for Yoko and her friends, so it was a big stampin' weekend for me.  How about you??? Did you manage to get out some stamps, ink, and paper and create something pretty?  I sure hope so!

I don't know whether you've noticed, but my blog titles from here on are going to be the name of the stamp set followed by Stampin'Up!  This is supposed to make my blog posts easier to find.  I'm willing to do this to be able to get more readers for my blog. Besides, it will save me time because I'll no longer need to dream up a clever (or not-so-clever) title each time                                                                                                                                      
OK, enough chit chat!  Let's get to the card, shall we?

I've had this fun stamp set called Celebrate Today (page 11 of the Occasions catalog) and the matching framelits for months, and just recently got them out and started using them.  I love the pastel colors on this card, taken directly from the Flowerpot collection of designer papers (at the top of page 186 in the annual catalog).  I used So Saffron and Blushing Bride ink to stamp the balloons onto Whisper White card stock, then cut them out with the framelits.  I matted the designer paper with a panel of Blushing Bride, then added a So Saffron panel that I sent through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.
Wouldn't this be perfect birthday card for a girl or woman?  And to make a masculine version, pick some designer paper such as Maritime, Flashback, or Confetti Celebration and pull two colors from the paper for the balloons.  Hope you like my card as much as I do!
May your Monday and week be off to a smooth start!                        Hugs all around!
Susan      

Last Day for Free Shipping!

Hi there, stamping friends!
Happy Friday!

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day for free shipping.  Did you order your retiring In-Color refills yet?  These are the colors you need to get soon:

Coastal Cabana
Baked Brown Sugar
Crisp Cantaloupe
Strawberry Slush
Pistachio Pudding

Check your supply of card stock in these colors too.  Once they are sold out, which will happen before the end of April, you will be out of luck.  

OK... let's move on to today's card, shall we?

This pretty card was designed by Kathy Milano and we made it at our last Stamp2gether, a monthly meeting of demonstrators.  This stamp set, Butterfly Basics, is currently available, but the bundled version, which includes the matching thinlits, is not orderable at the moment. The thinlits are scheduled to arrive in the Stampin'Up! warehouse by April 13th, so soon there will be lots of happy stampers when the thinlets can be ordered. The colors used are Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, and Pistachio Pudding... all colors that will be going away at the end of May.  The paper is one we all overlook... Naturals Ivory (page 193 of the annual catalog).  It's a nice cream color with tons of little flecks of brown and beige. 

I've got lots of stamping on tap this weekend, back to back classes on Saturday and Sunday.  What fun things do you have planned?  Whatever your weekend brings, may you make some time for relaxing and recharging before the start of another busy week. Hopefully you'll be able to carve out a bit of time to be creative.
Happy weekending, everyone!
Susan

Crazy About You Stampin'Up!

Hey there Stampers!

There's good news today... not only are we enjoying free shipping until Friday, but the previously un-orderable Crazy About You Bundle (page 31 of the Occasions catalog) is now available for ordering again!  

I know many of my customers who weren't able to get it will be happy to hear the news!  

Let me show you a new card made with this awesome stamp set and coordinating thinlit dies...

I no longer have my mom, but that doesn't mean I'm not sending Mother's Day cards.  I've got two daughters who are Super Moms and I'll bet a lot of my customers have either daughters or daughters-in-law who deserve to get a lovely card (and a nice gift!) on Mother's Day, coming right up on May 10th.  Many of you probably have nieces, aunts, and friends who are moms as well, so it's time to start thinking about the pretty cards you're going to make and send to mark this special day.

Here are a few more cards made with this extremely versatile set...

With the large number of words in this set, your options for creating greetings are almost unlimited.  Check out all the possibilities on page 31 of the Occasions catalog, then order a bundle for yourself!  The best thing is, you won't pay even a penny for shipping!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Hope your week is humming along smoothly and uneventfully!
Susan

Big News... FREE shipping April 6-10

Hi there stampers!
It's a happy, happy Monday in Stamping Land!

Check this out....

Yippee!  Free shipping applies to any size order, no minimum purchase required!

So order away!  What a great opportunity to order those retiring In-Color refills... Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, and Pistachio Pudding.  If you've got the card stock, the ink pads, and the refills, you can continue creating in these awesome colors on into the future.  Why not order the matching Thick Baker's Twine as well? You can find the baker's twine at the top of page 207 in the annual catalog.  

I mentioned on Friday that I'd have another Sheltering Tree card for you, made without the tree image, so here it is...

What a pretty spring meadow of wildflowers!  This is another one of Shannon Carrier's Sheltering Tree cards, minus the tree.  She used the swoosh of color from Work of Art for the green "grass,"  then used the flower stems and flowers from Sheltering Tree.  The "just for you" sentiment is also from Work of Art.  If you're not familiar with this fabulous stamp set, look it up on page 165 of the annual catalog.  You can do so many wonderful things with this stamp set.  To see the amazing variety of cards created with this set, just google "Work of Art Stampin'Up" and you'll be inspired to start creating your own works of art!

Shannon used a couple of the retiring In-Colors on this springy card... Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush.  The Thick Baker's Twine in Pistachio Pudding is the perfect finishing touch for this fresh and simple card.

Hope your Monday is off to a great start!  

Happy shopping!

Susan

A Guy-cyle for Spring...

Hello again and happy Friday to all!

As I mentioned on Wednesday, I'm going to be showing off the work of some of my fellow demonstrators.  Today's card is by Shannon Carrier, who isn't part of my downline, but a talented stamper nevertheless.  

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the Sheltering Tree stamp set (page 22 of the Occasions catalog).  It's the great stamp set with the tree, leaves, and accessories that you can use to make a spring, summer, fall, or winter card.  One of the little accessory stamps is a bicycle, and Shannon used the bicycle as her focal point for this fun masculine card.  I hadn't really noticed before, but when I was looking at the bike, I suddenly realized that it's a boys' bike... hence my blog title "guy-cycle" instead of bicycle.  Don't know what that artist was thinking of when they made this a boys' bike instead of one for girls.  Maybe they thought we needed more masculine stamps.  Let's get a look at the card...

Shannon used the artistic "swoosh" stamp in that set to suggest grass, then added some of the flower stems to look like individual blades of grass.  I think using the bicycle was a great idea, but one I may not have thought of.  Every card I've seen with this set has the tree front and center, so I appreciate this different approach.  I hope you'll try using this stamp set without the tree.  It's really quite a versatile stamp set, with or without the tree! I have another card made with this set that doesn't use the tree, but I'll save that one for another day.
Thanks for stopping by today!  I'm sure you've got a lot on your "to-do" list?  Have you dyed the eggs yet?  Stuffed the Easter baskets?  Whatever you do to celebrate Easter, may you have a wonderful day!
Hugs and happiness,
Susan

Moving On....

Hi Stamping Friends!
Happy April Fool's Day!
Thanks for coming back for a visit!  Are you sad that Sale-a-bration is over for another year?  While it's always great fun to get free stampin' stuff, I'm ready to move forward. I've been so busy with parties that I haven't had time to ink up some of my new stamp sets. They've been sitting untouched and unloved on my counter, but that will be changing soon.  As much as I love stamping, I have to say that I'm kind of relieved that Sale-a-bration is over.  And with Easter coming up this weekend, I plan to spend some time away from my stamp room, where I have practically lived for the past three months.  But before we leave this topic, please accept my heart-felt thanks for one of the best Sale-a-brations ever!  Thank you to all my wonderful hostesses and customers.  I couldn't do what I love and be a demonstrator without all of you!  You are the best!

For the next several days, I'm going to be showing some of the work of my wonderful downline members, who are so creative that I just have to share their cards with you.  Check out this great card by Janet Jones...

I have to admit that I'm in a rut when it comes to picking colors.  I wouldn't have thought of using a Night of Navy background for a springy card, but this works!  That cute designer paper is called  Flowerpot and can be seen at the top of page 186 in the annual catalog.  The Flower was stamped in Daffodil Delight with the Petal Potpourri set on page 23 of the Occasions catalog, then punched out with the Flower Medallion punch on the same page.  Unfortunately, the Hello You Thinlet Dies that Janet used to cut the word "you" are currently unavailable.  I'm hoping that Stampin'Up! will receive a new shipment soon.  Meanwhile, they've turned off the order number so as not to have a huge list of backorders, which are frustrating for everyone.  Thanks, Janet, for letting me share your card!

Hope your Wednesday is a happy one!  If it isn't going so well, try to make time to stamp a little.  You deserve a break from your usual routine, and I guarantee that you'll feel better after you've stamped out your stress!  Here's one of my favorite quotes to end this post... "We tend to seek happiness, when happiness is actually a choice."
Please come back on Friday for more stamping inspiration!
Hugs,
Susan