Control Freaks Tour - New In-Colors Birthday Card Set

You're in for a real treat because on today's Control Freaks Tour we are giving you a SNEAK PEEK from the new 2015-2016 Catalog! If you've already been hopping along then you just came from the inspiring Wendy's blog at Wickedly Wonderful Creations.

As a demonstrator we have the ability to pre-order some products from the new catalog including a select number of stamp sets, in-color inks, in-color accessories, and more! I definitely wanted to take advantage of getting a hold of all of the 2015-2017 In-Colors a little early and so that is what I focused on to share today. I created one layout and made five cards in each new in-color. Each card is a 4-1/4" square and will still fit perfectly into a regular sized envelope.

The stamp set I used is an upcoming host set called Happy Birthday, Everyone. You can earn this set with Stampin' Rewards by being a host. It comes with the beautiful "Happy Birthday" greeting you see here (love the font) and then 6 smaller greetings. The "confetti" on the top of each card are from the Dotty Angles stamp set and will be a carry-over item from the current catalog. Yay! I stamped off each color when I added the dots, so it is a lighter shade on each card. I really just wanted to keep each of the cards simple, so I only added a few pearl accents in different places for a little something extra.

{Introducing the new 2015-2017 In-Colors}

Tip Top Taupe

I am so glad to be back hopping with the Control Freaks after a break last month! My creative juices haven't been flowing as freely as I have wanted (and needed) them to, but hopefully with the change of weather (we're seeing sunny days here in Oregon!) I can turn my inspiration into production again while the bright light shines through my window! We are so excited to CELEBRATE with you all for this month's tour as we showcase cards and projects meant for celebrating...birthdays, graduation, Mother's Day, and m

 Mint Macaron

Watermelon Wonder

Cucumber Crush

Delightful Dijon

I haven't yet decided which in-color is my favorite, but right now I am leaning towards Watermelon Wonder. I actually really like the Tip Top Taupe/Watermelon Wonder combo. I'm sure it will change often as I continue to play with the colors together.

Now the question is...

WHICH NEW IN-COLOR IS YOUR FAVORITE?

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Next up to help get us excited about the new catalog is Deb Currier at Artfelt Impressions. All non-demonstrators can begin ordering on June 2nd. Do you have a list started yet?

Creation Station Blog Hop - New Catalog Sneak Peek!

One of my most favorite times of the year as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is when I get to see the new catalog and look through it page by page. Not only do we get to have a first look at the catalog, but we can also pre-order some of the new in-colors and accessories, as well as choose from a select number of stamp sets and other products! For all of our customers, the catalog will be live to order from on June 2nd, but in the meantime...let us whet your appetite with some sneak peeks as The Creation Station is ready to share with you some fun, new products you're sure to love!

This month's theme is a Sneak Peek Free For All! You might have just hopped over from Jen Arkfeld's blog, but if you're starting here then get ready for some inspiration as you hop along with us today! We have some new members that have joined our team recently, so we would like to offer a big welcome to Martha Inchley, Dena Rekow and Sarah Klass. These are some amazingly talented ladies and we are excited to have them join us!

First up uses the ADORABLE new 6x6 DSP stack called Cherry on Top. These patterns in this paper stack are so bright and cheery!! It includes a few of the new 2015-2017 In-Colors called Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder, and Cucumber Crush, along with some originals like Crushed Curry, Soft Sky, and Bermuda Bay. I used the new Watermelon Wonder for the card base. The stamp set I used is also new and it's called Sprinkles of Life. This set you can find on the very last page of the catalog and with each purchase of this stamp set $3 will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. It's such a cute set ~ and you can even purchase a coordinating punch to help punch out many of the little pieces. To top it off there are so many cute sentiments in this set and the one I used on this card is one of my favorites! It might

Not sure if you could see it as well in the first picture, so I zoomed in to show you the new 2015-2017 In Color Ribbon. I just have it sneaking through on the bottom of the card, but it's actually 1" wide Dotted Lace Trim. It comes in all of the 5 new In-Colors.

The second card I am sharing today also uses a splash of the new Cherry on Top DSP pairs with a Crushed Curry card base. The tiny little banners on the bottom right are die-cut from the Bitty Banners Framelits. The focal point of the card is the new Build a Birthday stamp set. I love it! There are so many possibilities on creating a fun cake perfect for a birthday card. I also added a little Soft Sky Cotton Twine bow (from the 2015 Occasions Catalog). As you can see I don't have the greeting on the outside of the card, so you could really use this card for any sort of occasion meant to celebrate if you wanted to.

Or...you could add a birthday greeting on the inside! I wanted to spruce it up a little, so I added a piece of Whisper White and took a strip of the same Cherry on Top DSP I used on the front and placed it on the bottom then stamped my greeting in the middle.

Thanks for coming by today to take a look at some of the new goodies that are coming soon! This catalog is such a fun one and there are really some great new stamps to choose from! Continue on the hop to visit Jennifer Frost or if you're hopping backwards you can visit Jen Arkfeld next.

Friday Favorites - For the Birds

Today is Friday Favorites at the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog where we are showcasing retiring products for each Friday in May. I have a lot of favorites that we will soon be saying goodbye to, but I will especially miss the cute For the Birds stamp set. I love these darling little images that you can color in using our Blender Pens and Stampin' Write Markers.

I created this card design for a recent card making night. The layout was simple enough that the ladies could focus on the coloring. I heard many of them say, "I haven't colored like this since I was little." It was cute to watch them transform a black and white image into a colorful masterpiece. As you can see in the three samples below I had a variety of flower DSP for them to choose from and they could use the markers that matched the paper color. 

Are you wondering how I was able to use the image without the attached sentiment? 

Step 1: Place a strip of masking tape over the sentiment. 

Step 2: Ink up the stamp and then remove the masking tape (that's important!)

Step 3: Stamp image. Easy peasy!

Stamp Sets	For the Birds, And Many More (sentiments)
Ink	Black Stazon, markers - to coordinate with paper
Paper	Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Strawberry Slush, Lost Lagoon, Flowerpot DSP, All Abloom DSP Stack
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Doilies, Candy Dots (misc. colors)
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Circle Framelits, Bitty Banner Framelits

SSINK Blog Hop - Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung! The flowers and trees are budding everywhere and I am loving this Spring weather we are having (well, minus the days of downpour, but flowers need the rain, I suppose!) For this month's blog hop we are sharing all things Spring!

As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 7 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Donna at Organized Chaos. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

I have been trying really hard to work with as many of my retiring stamp sets as I possibly can, so that I can squeeze every last use out of them. As demonstrators, it's typical for us to go with the philosophy "out with the old, in the with the new" when a new catalog comes out. I am excited to play with my toys (that just arrived today!), but I also want to take some extra time to use some of my favorite retiring products one last time!

I created this card awhile back, but decided to revamp it up with some different colors, ribbon, and sentiment. I used this card for a card making night last week and although many of the stampers weren't so sure about all of the fussy cutting, they all agreed this card was a WOW card! We were joking that many of them weren't sure if they were going to actually give this card to anyone because of all of the hard work it took! ;)

To create the background, I stamped the image first using White Stazon. After that I ran it through the Texture Boutique with the coordinating embossing folder to make it POP!

Stamp Sets	Wildflower Meadow, Four You
Ink	White Stazon, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Calypso Coral
Paper	Whisper White, Soft Suede, Pool Party
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, 1/2" Calypso Coral Seam Binding, Pearl Accents
Tools	Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder, Decorative Label Punch

Both of these coordinating products are on the retired list...
and both of them have been reduced!

Wildflower Meadow Wood Mount - $13.46 (reg. $17.95)

Wildflower Meadow Clear Mount - $10.46 (reg. $13.95)

Wildflower Meadow Textured Embossing Folder - $3.98 (reg. $7.95)

To continue your Spring inspiration, head on over to The Stamp Doc to see what Melissa has in store for us today! Click on the next below.

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Melissa at Stamp Doc
2. Jennifer G. at Jenny G Paper Crafts
3. Cynthia at Ink-A-Doodle Creations
4. Jennifer C. at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
5. Bree at Craft-Somnia Momma
6. Kim at Stamping with Kim
7. Donna at Organized Chaos
8. Heidi at Stuck on Stampin'

URGENT!! 24-HOUR ONLY DEAL FOR NEW PAPER PUMPKIN SUBSCRIBERS!

We just got word that Stampin' Up! is offering a 24-hour only deal for any NEW Paper Pumpkin subscribers who want to sign up in the next 24 hours (ends at 6:50 MT). Your FIRST MONTH is only $5 (shipping included!). These kits come straight to your mailbox full of everything you need for a crafting oasis. Each month the kit is a surprise, but they gave us a sneak peek tonight of the May kit. It is super cute and comes with the most adorable birthday stamp set. The ink and stamp set alone are worth it! Click HERE to find out more about Paper Pumpkin and to see what you will be getting in your $5 kit (they show the kit about 6 minutes into the video).

Go to PaperPumpkin.com and enter promo code 24HOURS. Hurry! This offer expires tomorrow night at 6:50 PM (MT)...which will be 5:50 PM our time. This is the best time to join EVER! Seriously...the best deal so far in offering Paper Pumpkin has been $10 (which is half price), so for those who have been wanting to try Paper Pumpkin ~ now is the time! There is no obligation to continue AT ALL. You get to be in control of when you stop your subscription (or even put it on pause). You can continue your subscription for $19.95/month or cancel anytime.

You do NOT want to miss this deal! Let me know if you have any questions or need help signing up! Hurry...you only have 22 hours left! ;)

Friday Favorites - Retiring Products

I think I'm having a flashback! Just last Friday I was shocked that another week had come and gone! I feel the same about this week, too! How can it already be May?!

All month long I hope to showcase some of my favorite retiring products because beginning June 2nd we'll have a new catalog to drool over! Yes, I am sad to see some great products go...but honestly, I am over-the-moon excited to see what's new! (Which, by the way...I got a sneak peek of the new catalog yesterday! YOU WILL LOVE IT!)

I hope to use many of my retiring stamp sets in my stash for my two card nights this month, as well as *maybe* getting to play with my stamps in my "free time" (ha! we'll see if that one will happen!)

A handful of the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration designers are sharing their favorite retiring items with you today in our Friday Favorites segment on our blog! Come over for a visit to see what others will be sad to see go!

I created this quick and easy card for my Stampin' Up! Team Meeting last Wednesday. We create swaps for one another and this time around our suggested theme was to play with some of the retiring stamp sets. I chose Starburst Sayings. I have to be honest here and say that mostly I am just going to miss the large image from this set, but nonetheless...I'll be sad to see the set go! (psssst...did you know this set is on sale right now? 15% off clear mount and 25% off wood mount!)

The Moonlight DSP Stack I used for the front two panels of each card will not be available in the new catalog, either, but all of the 2014-2016 In-Colors will! My samples use Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss, and Hello Honey. I'll keep these colors around for another year. ;)

One of the fun things about this card is that the belly band just slips right off to open the card. Use this "Oh, Happy Day" sentiment for anything...congratulations, birthday, exciting news, etc!

Stamp Sets	Starburst Sayings
Ink	Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss
Paper	Hello Honey, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Moonlight DSP Stack
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Rhinestone Accents
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Starburst Framelits

Have you checked out the retiring list yet?

{click on picture below}

It's easy online ordering at heidiboos.stampinup.net

Friday Favorites - Flower Patch

It's Friday! Say what?! I guess that week went by in a flash!

Some of the designers are sharing their favorites over at the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog, so come on over to take a peek at what we're loving right now!

My favorite to share with you today is the Flower Patch stamp set...and of course the coordinating framelits! I will honestly admit that this stamp set has taken awhile to "grow" on me, but after I realized that I can be as simple as I want with it...I am beginning to like it (a lot)! I haven't really played with this set much (here is the only other card I've made with it), but I am happy to see that it will be rolling over into the new catalog so I'll have more opportunities to play! I have definitely seen some beautiful inspiration with it!

This was one of the cards we made at April's Card Making Night. It was simple enough for all of my guests to create without too many steps. They had to do some die-cutting with all the flower pieces, but I let them off the hook with the leaves and pre-cut all of those for them! I love, love, love the Flower Pot DSP and how much the paper coordinates with the set.

Here are the two versions I had on display as samples...

Stamp Sets	Flower Patch
Ink	Garden Green, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry
Paper	Garden Green, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Flower Pot DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Rhinestone Accents
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Flower Fair Framelits

Have you checked out the retiring list yet?

{click on picture below}

Easy online ordering at heidiboos.stampinup.net

Control Freaks Tour - Let's Celebrate

I am so glad to be back hopping with the Control Freaks after a break last month! My creative juices haven't been flowing as freely as I have wanted (and needed) them to, but hopefully with the change of weather (we're seeing sunny days here in Oregon!) I can turn my inspiration into production again while the bright light shines through my window! We are so excited to CELEBRATE with you all for this month's tour as we showcase cards and projects meant for celebrating...birthdays, graduation, Mother's Day, and more!

If you've already been hopping along then you just came from the wonderful Melissa Davies' blog. If this is your first stop, then welcome, sit back, and enjoy!

I wanted to share with you a Mother's Day card I created using the Circle Card Thinlits. I love how this simple thinlit creates such a fun and unique card design lickety-split with the creases made for you and everything. With this card I wanted to go a step above and create an extended part of the card (on the right side). I'll show you a quick "how to" for that below. This is definitely not my own idea! I am so thankful for other stampers who encourage me to do things differently!

Here is the card closed (sorry, don't mind my fingers...ha! ha!)

I wanted to take a picture of the card at a different angle, so this is what it looks like propped up. You can see the middle circle start to swing open.

And this is what the card looks like when you open the flap on the right. It reveals the rest of the stamped sentiment! There is also a place for you to write a little message...or at least write who it's from! If you were to pull the left part of the card all the way open the circle in the middle swings all the way open revealing the back side of the circle and then it can lay flat.

Stamp Sets	Mother's Love
Ink	Garden Green
Paper	Pistachio Pudding, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Gold Soiree Specialty DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pearl Accents, Rhinestone Accents, Candy Dots (Regals)
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Circle Card Thinlits, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch

Start with a piece of cardstock that is 8-1/2" x 5-7/16" (this is just shy of 5-1/2"). This way the left side of the paper can fit just right under the left part of the thinlit and then you can slip it through the thinlit so it goes on the top on the right side. I hope that helps!

It will look like this when cut out.

Fold the left creases...

Fold the right crease...

Now design your card to your heart's content!

Thanks for stopping by today! Continue on the tour for more great ideas to help CELEBRATE all of the wonderful people in our lives! Next up is the inspiring Debbie Henderson.

Work of Art Thank You

It was my monthly card night last night - SO. MUCH. FUN. Seriously! Each month just keeps getting better and better...and bigger! Last night there were 18 ladies who came to join in the fun!

I CASEd this card from Jen Arkfeld at Stamped Silly. I originally saw her card posted on Facebook and loved the design! As most cards I CASE I did change it up a little to work with what I had, but the idea was definitely Jen's...most importantly the color combo of Lost Lagoon, Night of Navy, and Crumb Cake.

The guests at my card night could choose whichever sentiment they wanted. Here is a sample card using the Love & Sympathy stamp set. I also reversed the order of the blues from dark to light.

Stamp Sets	Work of Art, Mother's Love, Lovely Amazing You
Ink	Lost Lagoon, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake
Paper	Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Night of Navy, Fresh Prints DSP Stack (retired)
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Lost Lagoon 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon
Tools	N/A

Click on the picture below to see more thank you card inspiration!

SSINK Card Sketch - April

Last Tuesday was one of my monthly card nights and I had some cards to plan, so I needed a little bit of inspiration. For one of the cards I used the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration April Card Sketch to help me put together a card that the ladies would love (I know many of them love purple and butterflies!)

{Join in the fun by linking up YOUR creation using this sketch!}

And this is what came to life...

Stamp Sets	Work of Art, Papillon Potpourri, Six Sided Sampler, Hardwood Background Stamp
Ink	Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey
Paper	Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss, Rich Razzleberry, In-Color DSP Stack (Hello Honey in polka dots)
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pearls, Paper Doilies, Hello Honey 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Circle Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch