Last Chance List - updated with even more discounts!

Newsflash! For the first (and probably last) time ever, Stampin' Up! have added an extra discount on a select number of last-chance items.

In case you haven't heard already, we have a new SU! catty coming out on 1 October and today we can announce which products are retiring (lucky them!).

Click HERE to get to the full list of 8 pages (at full size, honest!) then click the back button on your browser to return here.

This Last Chance List shows the products that will not be moving over to the new Idea Book and Catalogue (although one or two of them are being "reconfigured" ie. manufactured/packaged a little differently). If you've had your eye on any of these, then now is the time to snap them up especially as some of them have 25% or even 50% off. They'll only be available while stocks last or until September 30 at the latest.

Now I've seen the new catty and there are some brilliant new stamps and other products on their way. I can't share them with you online yet, (though if you have a workshop this month I may be able to show you a sample or two) but I can forewarn you that, as with everywhere else at the moment, prices have gone up a bit. So if you're wanting to stock up on items that are staying, then now is also a good time to order. Just email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com and let me know what you want.

This post will remain at the top throughout September and I'll keep you updated on sell-outs.

Sell outs

Darling Dots

Out of the Box

Old Fashioned Christmas

A Tree for all Seasons

Close to Cocoa Cardstock

Creamy Caramel Cardstock

Blush Blossom Cardstock

Sage Shadow Cardstock

Kraft cardstock (12" x 12")

Very Vanilla cardstock (12" x 12")

Bridesmaid Specialty Paper

Playground Designer Buttons

Studio Sketches

Autumn Meadows DSP

Please scroll down to see newer posts.

A snowflake gatefold card for Christmas

As we're so close now to the launch of the new catty I've made sure that today's card is made from items that are carrying forward to the new catty.

This is a christmas card that I started making a while ago at one of the Saturday St Saviour's get togethers, to demonstrate the heat and stick powder. I only recently got around to finishing it off though (blushes).

Recipe

Stamp sets: Serene Snowflakes, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark, Rich Razzleberry

Punch: Large Oval

Other: Gold EP, Gold Brads, Heat & Stick Powder, Fine Cosmo Glitter

I started with an A6 portrait gatefold blank of Rich Razzleberry and stamped with the two smaller stamps over the front in Versamark. I added Heat & Stick Powder and heated until it had just melted and then added my Rose Pink glitter from the Fine Cosmo set and heated (very briefly) again just to set the glitter. The second largest snowflake was stamped in Versamark on a Rich Razzleberry mat and heat embossed with Gold EP. A Large Oval was punched out below it and used as a template to pencil in the oval onto the Very Vanilla mat below before using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry ink (the pencil marks were then erased). Gold brads were added to the corners of the top mat and the centre of the snowflake before popping it up on dimensionals on the Very Vanilla layer and then the front of the card. You may just be able to see in the pic above that I also added a Very Vanilla insert with the snowflake trio stamped in Rick Razzleberry at the bottom.

I'm loving this stamp set and can't wait to show you some of the cards that I've made with it in the new colours.

Not many more sleeps now, lol!

Sara xx

A mini scrapbook album for wedding photos

Here is the mini scrapbook album that I made for my newlywed friends. I followed Helen's excellent instructions over at All Things Stampy here, for a sweet little album that just keeps on unfolding.

Recipe

Punch: Scallop Edge

Taffeta Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Other: Love Stories Simply Scrappin' Kit

I really had to add very little to the supplies from the kit to make this album, just a little ribbon for the closure. The base of the album is the very lush textured cardstock from the kit and I've layered it with the co-ordinating DSP for the inner pages. The kit comes with die-cut edging in Pretty in Pink and to keep the bulk of the pages down, I added my own Close to Cocoa edging by using the Scallop Edge punch on some off-cuts of the DSP. Layers of DSP and more textured card hide the ribbon ties and the album front is finished with more die-cuts. And there's plenty of kit left over for more scapbooking projects or cardmaking. This kit will be available in the new catty while stocks last but the taffeta ribbon will be retiring.

Here's how the album unfolds:

All ready for Laetitia and her hubby to add their own photos, journalling and any personal embellishments if they want to.

I wish them much happiness in their new life together.

Sara xx

Little lovebirds for a wedding card

I mentioned on my last post about my crafting friend that had moved to start a new job and married life. Today's card is the wedding card I sent to her and her hubby. Laetitia made her own wedding stationery and used SU stamps to do so (that's how we met). Her stationery was absolutely gorgeous and you'll be able to see examples of it on her blog if you pop over there. Her colour scheme was closer to Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip but I don't think I've strayed too far from it here.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Mr & Mrs, Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

DSP: Bridesmaid Specialty

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Versamark

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Extra Large Two-step Bird, 3/4" Circle

Satin Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Other: Clear EP, Brads (Soft Subtles)

The card blank is a 5" square of Close to Cocoa card. Both designs of the Bridesmaid Specialty paper were brayered with Close to Cocoa ink. The top and bottom corners were punched out with the edge of the 3/4" Circle and the papers matted direct to Close To Cocoa card. Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon was wrapped around the centre to cover the join of the two designs and flat bow added to the centre with glue dots. This card front was matted direct to Pretty in Pink card and Pretty in Pink Brads added to the exposed Close to Cocoa corners. These layers were popped up on dimensionals on the card front. I stamped the large flourish from the Baroque Motifs set in Versamark on Pretty in Pink card and heat embossed with Clear EP. I then punched out the two birds from this handmade card. The branches were punched from plain Pretty in Pink card and adhered with Tombow. The birds were popped up on dimensionals. Finally the sentiment was stamped in Close to Cocoa ink on Very Vanilla card and punched out with the Large Oval. This was matted direct to a Scallop Oval of Pretty in Pink card and the whole was popped up on dimensionals.

I also made a little scrapbook album for them to complete with their wedding photos so please stop back soon to see that.

Sara xx

Just moved ... a little while ago

This a card I made recently (before all the Creamy Caramel cardstock sold out) to celebrate with a lovely crafting friend who moved away from the area to start a new job and new married life.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Good Neighbors, Loads of Love Accessories (sentiment)

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Stampin' Write Markers, Stampin' Pastels

Punches: Scallop Square, Large Oval

I stamped the little row of houses onto Whisper White card using the stamp-a-ma-jig for alignment. The idea was to spotlight one of the houses by stamping the main row in black and white and the spotlighted house in colour (I used markers to colour direct to stamp) but somehow it doesn't stand out quite as much as I thought it would. I used the Stampin' Pastels to chalk in the top and bottom of the image again keeping the black and white and colour theme. The main image was matted direct to Ruby Red card and then direct to the Creamy Caramel card blank. The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Creamy Caramel card and punched out with the Large Oval. A Ruby Red Scallop Square was punched out and one of the scallops trimmed from opposite corners to create a different shape. The sentiment was popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

All stamp sets and main colours used have retired/are retiring (the punches are carrying forward).

Are you getting excited about the new catalogue launch yet? I just can't wait to show you some of the new products and while I'm going to miss so many of the retiring colours, the new ones are really lush. I've spotted a few new favourites already, lol.

Sara xx

An altered nightlight holder using rub-ons

A change of pace today with an altered object.

Recipe

Other: Cherished Memories Rub-ons

Non-SU: Glass night light holder, Battery powered night light, Glass beads

I cut the rub-ons I wanted to use from the main sheet, together with their backing paper. Removing the backing paper, I held the design in place against the glass holder and rubbed the design down with the lollipop stick, rolling along the curve of the glass, a small area at a time. After carefully removing the paper, leaving the rub-on in place, I re-covered with the backing paper and burnished with my finger, just to ensure the rub-on was properly adhered.

Not all the rub-ons did adhere fully. The bold areas were fine but some wispy areas tore just a little. I think this was mainly due to trying to place them on a curved surface (I'd recommend a straight sided glass holder instead). I covered the tears by adding another small design over any gap (see the circle flowers in the pic below).

A very easy way to fancy up a cheap and cheerful glass holder.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Happy Birthday Dad

Today's my Dad's Birthday and so this is a special size card for such a special person. I tend to use A6 most days now but this one's an A5 gatefold. I've already used the SU masculine stamps on cards for my Dad (it's amazing how many you get through in a year - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Wedding Anniversary and that's just for starters) so I've opted for a non-SU set today that reflects one of his favourite pastimes - fishing. It was SU all the way though for everything else about the card.

Recipe

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Whisper White

DSP: To The Nines Specialty

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Other: Stampin' Pastels, Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen, Clips Assortment

Non-SU: Daisy and Dandelion stamp set

The main image and the sentiment were stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White card. I then used Watercolour Wonder Crayons to colour with and smoothed the colour out without losing any intensity by using the Blender Pen. The main image and sentiment were matted direct to Handsome Hunter card and popped up on dimensionals onto To The Nines Specialty DSP matted direct again to Handsome Hunter. Panels of To The Nines Specialty DSP were matted direct to either side of the Handsome Hunter A5 gatefold card blank. The main image was popped up on dimensionals on the left hand panel and the sentiment had a Clip added and was popped up on dimensionals on the right hand panel. I used Sahara Sand card for the insert to tone with the DSP.

Here's the card folded flat.

My Dad doesn't really pay much attention to my cardmaking but this one raised a smile from him, so I must be doing something right.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

An invitation to my Open House on 2nd and 3rd October

Today's card is the real life invite that I've sent to all my hostesses to invite them to a special hostess appreciation event.

But it's also an invite to all of you to come along to my Open House. You're very welcome to drop in and join me:

any time between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October

I'll be demonstrating cards, boxes and tags made with the new stamp sets in the new colours. There'll be make and takes for you all to have a go yourself. I'll have a little treat for everyone who stops by and there'll be refreshments and a prize draw. There'll also be some retired goods available at a special price to those ordering from the new catalogue. And a chance to see all the lusciousness of the new catalogue of course!

Just drop me a quick email if you'd like to come along and I'll send you directions (I'm just outside Sheffield, to the north) and set aside a treat and make and take pack, just for you.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Vogue, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Mellow Moss

Punch: Eyelet Border

Taffeta Ribbon: Mellow Moss

Other: Rhinestone Brad, Stampin' Pastels

I started by chalking an oval with Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac Stampin' Pastels on Whisper White card and then punched the edge with the Eyelet Border. The leafy border and the leafy flourish from the Vintage Vogue set were both stamped in Mellow Moss. For the small flowers (direct to card) and the layered flower (stamped, cut out and shaped) I inked first with Almost Amethyst ink and then used the rock 'n' roll technique to roll the edges of the stamp on the Lovely Lilac ink pad before stamping out. The sentiment was stamped direct to the card front with Lovely Lilac ink. A strip of Lovely Lilac card was punched with the Eyelet Border and adhered behind the right edge of the card front. Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon was wrapped around the card front and a Mellow Moss bow added on a glue dot. The card front was adhered direct to a landscape A6 blank of Almost Amethyst. The layered flower was secured with a rhinestone brad and popped up on a dimensional.

The stamp sets, punch and rhinestone brads are all continuing through to the new catalogue.

The Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac inks and card are retiring and the Mellow Moss ink and ribbon is retiring as well, so you'll need to get 'em while we've got 'em.

Hope to see you at my Open House.

Sara xx

Stampers Club reminder - 3 places left

Just a short reminder that I'm starting a new Stampers Club very soon and there are just 3 places left on the first one (though if there is a lot of interest then I'll start a second/third group).

Do you want to earn exclusive free stamp sets and stash from the new catalogue without having to host a workshop in your home?

As the new catalogue is just around the corner I'm about to start a new Stampers Club. Join me now to build your stash and get your hostess benefits through my "virtual" workshop.

Here's how it works:

• there are 6 members to each club (you don't need to find them, I organise that, but if you have any friends who may be interested then please get them to contact me)
• each club runs for just 6 months (you have no commitment after 6 months but if you want to join another of my stampers clubs then you'll be very welcome)
• each member agrees to place a minimum order of £25 per month plus p&p
• each month a different club member gets to be the virtual hostess and gets all the free benefits that come with that

Here's what you get:

• a minimum level 1 hostess stamp set
• a minimum £15.00 worth of free spend in the catalogue
• a free Stampin' Up catalogue (worth £4.95)
• a copy of any mini catalogue that comes out while the club is running
• a little something extra from me to you every so often (eg. cardstock samples, project sheet)

... and of course your package of goodies each month!

Email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com to book your place now ready for the club to start in October.

Sara xx

Handcrafted background paper is a beautiful thing

For today's card I'm finally getting around to using a background that I created a few weeks ago.

You may remember this card that I made using my own custom inkpad created with baby wipes and reinkers:

Well, ever the canny crafter I didn't want to just bin the inky baby wipes when I'd done stamping with them, so I used them to hand colour a resist technique background paper.

Recipe

Stamp set: A Beautiful Thing

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Ruby Red, Versamark

Reinkers: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

DSP: Pumpkin Pie Patterns

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Edge

Other: Clear EP, Crop-a-dile

To make the background paper - The detail flower was stamped out first in Ruby Red ink on Whisper White card. Using the stamp-a-ma-jig for placement I then stamped the bold flower over the top with Versamark and heat embossed with Clear EP. Next I dabbed all over the top of the card with the used baby wipes. A dabbing/pouncing motion keeps the colours seperated a little better than sweeping which can muddy them - experiment to get an effect that you like (I lost a bit of the So Saffron underneath the Pumpkin and Ruby). Wipe any excess ink from the glossy flowers with some kitchen towel to expose the uncoloured areas where the embossing has resisted the ink.

To make up this card - I started with a landscape A6 card blank of Ruby Red and stamped a row of small flowers in Ruby Red ink along the bottom, using the stamp-a-ma-jig to extend the line. The centre of each flower was punched out using the large hole on the Crop-a-dile. Strips of Pumpkin Pie DSP were punched with the Scallop Edge and adhered behind the background paper which was then adhered direct to the card front. The sentiment was stamped in Ruby Red onto Whisper White card, punched with the Large Oval and matted onto a Scallop Oval punched from Ruby Red card. This was popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

For the inside I stamped a (retired) sentiment and the dinky heart from the I {heart} Hearts stamp set and adhered a strip of the Pumpkin Pie DSP along the bottom to show through the flower centres.

... and I've still got some background paper and stamped trees left over to use. Not only great value paper and toppers but also guaranteed to match your other supplies.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A thumping good corner bookmark

I've just had a really fun afternoon with a group of lovely ladies who kept me laughing the whole time. We did a One Sheet Wonder class that I adapted from the Stamp With Us online classes for my own Christmas variation. Everyone ended up with 8 cards completed in just over 2 hours! Not bad. I can't share pix yet because we used one of the new colours that I'm not allowed to post until 1 Oct. Thanks for a great afternoon ladies, looking forward to seeing you at the workshop on 2 Oct.

Then I got a bit distracted watching the Strictly Come Dancing line-up. There are some interesting pairings this year, lol.

Finally I'm back to finishing today's post and for now I thought I'd share one of the projects that Jan and I made at our Stampette's training on thursday night. This is a bookmark card that mixes Jenny's great bookmark project over at Stamping Moments, with a technique we practised, called thumping. Perhaps crafting should be considered a contact sport given all the stamping and thumping and punching that goes on?

Recipe

Stamp set: Lovely as a Tree

Cardstock: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla

DSP: Pumpkin Pie Patterns

Ink: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: More Mustard

See Jenny's tutorial here for the instructions for the bookmark. I kept the offcut corner from the base bookmark and matted it onto a 5" square card blank of More Mustard that had half the front cut off diagonally. Another of the DSP triangles was adhered over the mat. The tree was "thumped" onto Very Vanilla card then matted onto squares of Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust card.

For the thumping technique you simply ink your stamp in the base colour (here - More Mustard) and the use the flat edge of your pen nib to tap more colours direct to the stamp before huffing and stamping. We added Ruby Red, Really Rust and Pumpkin Pie which you can see a bit better in the close up here.

The bookmark is a handy little gift to hang on to after the card is done with.

Lovely as a Tree will be available in the new catalogue, as will Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard.

Really Rust and Ruby Red are both retiring though so if you're wanting any supplies in these colours, you'll need to order them now before they're gone forever.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Now that's what I call stamping!

I can't believe how quickly our Last Chance stock is selling out and so I thought today that I'd do a quick "best of" compilation (hence the blog title). Below are some of your favourites (based on comments) that I've made using the retiring, discounted stamp sets.

Loads of Love (25% off - £14.21)

and Loads of Love Accessories (50% off - £7.98)

Full details of the card can be found here.

For more examples using the Loads of Love and Loads of Love Accessories click here.

True Friend (50% off - £10.98)

Full details of the card can be found here.

For more examples using the True Friend stamp set click here.

Paisley (25% off - £11.21)

Full details of the card can be found here.

For more examples using the Paisley background stamp click here.

Say it with Scallops (25% off - £11.21)

Full details of the card can be found here.

For more examples using the Say it with Scallops stamp set click here.

Spotlight on Christmas (25% off - £14.21)

Full details of the card can be found here.

For more examples using the Spotlight on Christmas stamp set click here.

Of course there are other retiring sets that are also discounted that I haven't had chance to play with and also retiring sets that I do have but which aren't discounted - check out the post at the top to get to the full list and email me if you'd like to order yours before they sell out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

No stamping required for this Christmas card

I really love to pair Taken with Teal with Basic Black as I think it's a really classy colour combo but I was looking for another retiring colour to put with it instead and decided on Close to Cocoa - only problem is that we've now run out of Close to Cocoa cardstock! Check out the sell-outs list above to make sure that what you want is still available.

So I apologise that you can't order all the supplies for this card but here it is anyway. And this is one of my rather rare "no stamping" cards. It's just cardstock, a border punch, rub-ons and a bit of ribbon. All products are retiring/have retired.

Recipe

Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa

Punch: Eyelet Border

Satin Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Other: Icicle Rub-ons (Silver)

The row of snowflakes were rubbed-on direct to the Taken with Teal card blank. The bird and a variety of other shaped snowflakes were also added to a mat of Taken with Teal. A slightly larger mat of Close to Cocoa was punched at one end with the Eyelet Border and the Taken with Teal mat adhered direct to it. A strip of Taken with Teal was adhered direct to the left side of the Close to Cocoa mat and Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon was wrapped around and secured behind the mat. A small piece of the same ribbon was knotted on and the mat was popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

Right sorry I can't stop and chat but I'm rushing off now because my preorder goodies arrived today (squeals of delight) and I just can't wait to have a play. Sorry though - I won't be able to show you what I've made until 1 October.

Getting your hands on the new products the month before launch is just one of the many benefits of becoming a demo and if you sign up in September then you'll be able to substitute new card stock, Stampin’ Pads and stamp sets from our Sneak Peak preorder list into your Starter Kit. Take a look here for more information.

Back soon.

Sara xx

Today is our blog hop retirement party

Hello and welcome to our blog hop retirement party! Hi to all of you who've joined me from Caroline's blog (if you haven't, then don't worry you'll end up there on your way back around the hop). I hope you loved what she created as much as I did. Her card sets are gorgeous but that bag is just to die for! Got to have a go at casing that.

Our aim today is to inspire you with a few ideas for using retiring stamp sets and colours. If you'd like to get hold of any of these, then just check out the Last Chance List and email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com.

My projects for you today are a quick and simple thank you card and a little Christmas set perfect to gift to a friend before the holidays.

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: Green Galore, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

Punches: 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Brads (Bold Brights)

This month True Friend has a 50% discount and costs just £10.98 (while stocks last). The base card is an A6 portrait card in Green Galore. Using Pink Passion ink I stamped the True Friend sentiment direct to the Pixie Pink card front and added a border all round with the Nat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool. Each of the other stamps in the set were inked direct to stamp with Pink Passion and Pixie Pink markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. These were punched out with the 1-1/4" Circle and matted onto Green Galore card punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle. The circles were popped up on dimensionals and the card was finished with brads.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas

Textured Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Plain Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red

Punches: 5-Petal Flower

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: Brads (Soft Subtles)

Spotlight on Christmas currently has a 25% discount and is just £14.21 (again while stocks last). I've used it for all elements of the gift set, the box and each of the four cards. The card box was made following Joanne's tutorial over at In Love With Stamping, using Handsome Hunter textured card. Using Handsome Hunter ink, the oval sentiment was stamped onto Whisper White card and the number added with the journaling end of a matching marker. Swirls were added around the edges with Sage Shadow ink. This was matted direct to textured Sage Shadow card and popped up on dimensionals on the front of the box base. The poinsettia was stamped in Ruby Red and again in Handsome Hunter onto Whisper White card and punched out with the 5-Petal Flower punch. The two flowers were layered together and secured with Apricot Appeal brads from the Soft Subtle collection and popped up on dimensionals. The box closure is Whisper White ribbon.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Punch: Small Tag

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Each little card is made in the same way, just varying the colours and punch shapes (recipes for each are given below). The card base is a 3.5" square of Creamy Caramel. A 3" square Close to Cocoa mat was punched with the Small Tag and adhered centrally direct to the card base. The Small Tag was punched again through the existing aperture (the punches can manage one sheet of card at a time). The sentiment on the Christmas Punches Three stamp was inked direct to stamp with the Close to Cocoa marker, stamped onto Whisper White card and punched out with the Small Tag. The edges were sponged lightly with Creamy Caramel ink and the Tag popped up on a dimensional in the opposite corner to the aperture. A Whisper White insert was added and the December 25 image stamped in Close to Cocoa ink through the aperture and again onto the envelope. Whisper White taffeta ribbon was coloured with a Creamy Caramel marker, tied into a bow and added to the card front with a glue dot.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue

Punch: Large Star

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Punch: 1-1/4" Circle

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White

Ink: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral

Punch: 5-Petal Flower

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Now I'll pass you on to next step of the blog hop which is the super talented Kim. She's got some gorgeous birds on a branch to show you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

A masked flower thats bloomin beautiful

So, if you've been following along the last few days, I've managed two out of three correct for my predictions of retiring stamp sets.

Today's is the final one. The challenge is masking and I used Bloomin' with Beauty.

Recipe

Stamp set: Bloomin' with Beauty

Cardstock: Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers (Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss, Glorious Green)

Taffeta Ribbon: Mellow Moss

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Blender Pen

The flower was stamped in Black Stazon in the centre of the Whisper White layer and then onto a Post-it note. The Post-it flower was cut out and placed over the original stamped image. I used a stamp-a-ma-jig to position and stamp the flower twice more, one to each side of the original image and the removed the Post-it note mask (I store this in the lid of my stamp set to use again, while ever the sticky still works). The flowers were coloured with markers and a blender pen. The Bloom sentiment was stamped in Cameo Coral. I used the paper piercing tool with the mat pack to decorate the corners. A small hole was punched each side of the flower stems and Mellow Moss threaded through and tied in a bow. Cameo Coral was matted direct to a layer of Ruby Red and popped up on the Blush Blossom card blank with dimensionals. The card front was added also popped up on dimensionals.

... and this set is retiring too. Such as shame, I love this set.

So I managed to predict 3 out of 4 correct.

Please pop back tomorrow when we're having a blog hop of retiring stamp sets and colours. Whether you need a few inspirational ideas for how to use what you've already got or what to purchase from the Last Chance List before they're gone forever, we'll have something for you all.

Off now to St Saviours so please come and join us if you're in the area (High Green, Sheffield), we'd love to see you.

Sara xx

A rose is a rose in shades of yellow

Ok so the score is one out of two so far, for my predictions of retiring stamps ... and on to the next challenge over at In Love With Stamping, which is:

Tone on tone - a light and dark tone of a colour, but your choice of colour.

I chose yellows for my Rose is a Rose card:

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Rose is a Rose, Sincere Salutations (sentiment)

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Summer Sun, Whisper White

Ink: Barely Banana, Summer Sun

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool

I started with a 5" square card blank in Barely Banana. Using the small detail flower stamp with Summer Sun ink I stamped a random pattern onto Summer Sun card to use as a background layer. The top layer of Barely Banana was paper pierced around all edges with the mat pack and faux stitching added with the fine end of a Summer Sun marker. I added the sentiment in Summer Sun ink. The base roses are stamped in Barely Banana ink onto Whisper White card and then overstamped with Summer Sun using a stamp-a-ma-jig for alignment. They were cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

... and A Rose is a Rose is retiring ... and as Meatloaf famously sang, two out of three ain't bad!

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

Join my Stampers 6 club to receive exclusive hostess benefits

Do you want to earn exclusive free stamp sets and stash from the new catalogue without having to host a workshop in your home?

As the new catalogue is just around the corner I'm about to start a new Stampers Club. Join me now to build your stash and get your hostess benefits through my "virtual" workshop.

Here's how it works:

• there are 6 members to each club (you don't need to find them, I organise that, but if you have any friends who may be interested then please get them to contact me)
• each club runs for just 6 months (you have no commitment after 6 months but if you want to join another of my stampers clubs then you'll be very welcome)
• each member agrees to place a minimum order of £25 per month plus p&p
• each month a different club member gets to be the virtual hostess and gets all the free benefits that come with that

Here's what you get:

• a minimum level 1 hostess stamp set
• a minimum £15.00 worth of free spend in the catalogue
• a free Stampin' Up catalogue (worth £4.95)
• a copy of any mini catalogue that comes out while the club is runnin
• a little something extra from me to you every so often (eg. cardstock samples, project sheet)

... and of course your package of goodies each month!

Email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com to book your place now ready for the club to start in October.

Sara xx

A spinner card for a kid's birthday party invitation

Ok so I'm one for one so far, on guessing the retiring stamp sets. My next prediction was Garden Whimsy which I used to create a kid's birthday party invitation for the challenge over at In Love With Stamping.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Garden Whimsy, Sincere Salutations (sentiment), Pocket Silhouettes (sentiment)

Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Glorious Green, Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Stampin' Pastels

Punches: Word Window, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Circle

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Fine Cosmo (Orchid)

The tulips were inked direct to stamp with markers and stamped twice for each inking to get the stronger and paler colours. Using scrap paper punched with the Scallop Circle as a template I chalked around with Bashful Blue to create some clouds. The base of the tulips was chalked with Glorious Green. I created a channel for the spinner by punching along a pencilled line with the Word Window. This window was then pencilled onto a strip of Whisper White and a stamp-a-ma-jig used to place the text before erasing the pencilled lines. This sentiment strip was adhered in place direct to the A6 Pixie Pink card blank. The butterfly was inked with Almost Amethyst, "thumped" with Lovely Lilac, stamped onto Whisper White card and cut out leaving a reasonable margin. Dazzling Diamonds and Orchid glitters were added to the butterfly with Tombow and left to dry. All corners of a dimensional were snipped off to round it and ensure that it fit easily in the spinner channel. This was then sandwiched between two pennies, one on each side of the card front aperture. The card front was popped up on the base card with dimensionals stacked in twos (this allows sufficient clearance for the spinner). The butterfly was popped onto the front penny on a dimensional. The sentiment was stamped in Pink Passion on Whisper White card, punched out with the Large Oval and matted onto a Scallop Oval of Pixie Pink. This was popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

... and Garden Whimsy ... will be carried forward to the new catalogue, so I got that one wrong, lol. 50% success rate though so far.

How were your own predictions? Are you beating me?

Sara xx

A Scandinavian tree for the ILWS sketch challenge

Each month over at In Love With Stamping we have a set of challenges that run for the full month, with all entries posted in the gallery. As a member of the DT, I prepare a set of samples for these challenges and this month I tried to use stamp sets that I thought might be retiring. The Last Chance List was only published this morning so how close were my predictions?

Well the first one was for this sketch challenge:

And I used Scandinavian season:

Recipe

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Platinum Shimmer Paint, SU Markers, Almost Amethyst

DSP: Tea Party

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Elegant Eggplant

Other: Silver EP, Silver Brads, Rhinestone Brad, Dazzling Diamonds

I adhered a panel of Tea Party DSP to a layer of Lovely Lilac card and wrapped Elegant Eggplant Ribbon around the top and secured Silver Brads in the bottom right corner. This was matted onto an Almost Amethyst card blank. An Elegant Eggplant bow was added to the ribbon with a glue dot. Snowflakes were stamped with Platinum Shimmer Paint onto Elegant Eggplant card and this was matted to the card front. The tree was stamped in Versamark on Whisper White card and heat embossed with Silver EP. Segments were coloured with Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac markers, then Tombow and Dazzling Diamonds were added. The edges were sponged with Almost Amethyst ink and a Rhinestone Brad was added to the centre of the flower. This layer was popped up on dimensionals.

... and Scandinavian Season is retiring, so I'm one for one so far ...

Sara xx