I'm afraid I'm going to have to eat my words!  When I was first introduced to the brand new In Colors for 2010-12, I took one look at Concord Grape and said, "Well, I'll NEVER use that color!"  Here I am – designing one of my first cards with the new colors and look what I chose!  It just works so well with all the other colors in the new palette!  The other colors are also brand new – Pear Pizzazz is another new In Color and Daffodil Delight, a new Core Color in the Bolds Collection.  So you may have caught that the In Colors are now going to be with us for two years instead of one!  Such a great change!  Let's take a look at how I made this card.  The card base measures 5-1/4"x5-1/4".  I used a piece of Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper and dyed it with a Daffodil Delight Classic Stamp Pad.  Next I inked up this pretty little flower stamp from Charming stamp set with my Stampin' Write Markers (there are markers in the new In Colors!) and stamped three times on Whisper White card stock cut to 1-1/4" squares quickly and efficiently with my 1-1/4" Square Punch then backed them with Pear Pizzazz card stock cut just a smidge bigger.  "From the Heart" is a stamp from Watercolor Trio and I'm especially fond of it because my team is called From the Heart Stampers!  It's so easy to punch out with the Designer Label Punch and slip it into a frame from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware using a Two-Way Glue Pen.  I added some Whisper White Organza Ribbon and a punched border using Pear Pizzazz card stock with the Border Scallop Trim Punch.  Don't forget to add a little envelope art! 

Add a white liner to the inside of dark card stock and while you're at it, decorate the inside just a bit, too.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116519 Charming $19.95
Item No. 117175 Presto Patterns Specialty DSP $11.95
Item No. 120084 Watercolor Trio clear mount $16.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95
Item No. 114319 Whisper White Organza Ribbon $5.95
Item No. Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware Kit $29.95
Item No. 107590 Designer Label Punch $15.95
Item No. 104400 1-1/4" Square Punch $15.95

Don't Forget!. 

• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.
• To sign up for the Stampin' Summer Bash!  Click HERE for more info!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

If you're ever stumped for a color combination, grab a package of Stampin' Up! designer paper!  It's the perfect place to start!  While the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper in the Summer MIni Catalog has lots of bright, bold designs, I chose to use the quieter tones in that packet that include Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and a touch of So Saffron.  The designer paper did all the work for me — I just added a strip of Tempting Turquoise card stock punched with the Border Scallop Trim Punch and three Tempting Turquoise Brads that I lined up easily using the Mat Pack and Grid and Paper Piercing Tool.  The main image is an oval cut with the Big Shot using the Ovals Originals Die and stamped using Watercolor Trio from the Summer Mini Catalog inked direct to rubber with Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers.  A tiny butterfly is a snap to add using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die with the Big Shot.  Honestly, I don't think it's possible for me to create a card without the Big Shot anymore!  It's become my No. 1 crafting tool!  Don't forget to add "envelope art"!  In this case, I replicated the same flower image on the envelope to tie it together.

But wait!  That's not all!  I had a little extra time which is a rarity lately and decided to take it a step further.

Decorating the inside of the card can be so much fun!  Here I just kept the theme going with more designer paper and butterflies and even dressed up the envelope by lining it as well.  It's this extra care that can really make your hand-stamped project beautifully coordinated.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117050 Watercolor Trio wood mount $22.95 OR
Item No. 120084 Watercolor Trio clear mount $16.95
Item No. 111634 Fresh Cuts $21.95
Item No. 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 118138 Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 114525 Ovals Originals Die $15.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cut Machine $99.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95
Item No. 106957 Bolds Brights Brads $8.95
Item No. 105825 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper Piercing Tool $3.50

Don't Forget!. 

• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

I'm just lovin' the new Level 2 hostess-exclusive stamp set called Punched Posies found in the Summer Mini Catalog.  The four main images line up with Stampin' Up! punches for quick, easy stamping!  My color combo is Real Red, Old Olive, and Pacific Point!  Yes, this fabulous blue is making a comeback in the Color Renovation and will be available for purchase again on July 1st!  I stamped the flower image three times in all three colors then used the 1" Circle Punch and the 3/4" Circle Punch to layer the center, adding a Real Red Brad and adhering with Dimensionals.  The background piece of Pacific Point card stock is jazzed up a bit by running it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder.  The Border Scallop Trim Punch that was such a hit during Sale-A-Bration is now back and will be included in the new Idea Book & Catalog.  If you didn't have a chance to earn it for free, you'll be able to purchase it.  Before I layered on the Old Olive card stock strip, I punched it with the Modern Label Punch to create a window in which to place my sentiment which is from Short & Sweet.

We'd love to have you join our next Team Time!  And with the $99 Mini Starter Kit, you'll be able to get started making your own card swaps!  Our long-distance team members simply mail in their swaps and we mail their selection back to them!  I'd love to chat with you — read more HERE and contact me!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 120030 Punched Posies Level 2 Hostess
Item No. 115060 Short & Sweet $17.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95
Item No. 107217 3/4" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 109046 1" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 117335 Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder $7.95
Item No. 116630 Modern Label Punch $15.95
 

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the June Scrapbooking class!  Click HERE for details. 
  
• To purchase all of the retiring color products you need!  They're going fast!  Click HERE to order.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

I know I promised you scrapbook pages this month, and what do I do?  Yet another card!  I was getting ready for our Heartfelt Stampers once a month Team Time tomorrow night, and I was really in the card-making zone!  Do you remember when this stamp set Animal Stories and coordinating Tall Tales Designer Series Paper came out, and that's all you saw everyone using?  Well, my 3-year-old grandson wanted to make a card yesterday, and this is his "go to" stamp set.  It happened to be still on my crafting table, and I haven't used the designer paper in months, so here we go!

We sure do go in waves with what we use to craft with, don't we?  I hope I can stop using the new Square Lattice Impressions Embossing Folder for great backgrounds sometime in the future!  Right now, I grab it for every single card!  My color scheme is taken from the designer paper — So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Rose Red and Brilliant Blue.  I stamped the giraffe from Animal Stories in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and mounted it with Dimensionals.  The little "4 you" sentiment is from Tiny Tags and is stamped in Rose Red Classic Ink, punched out with the 3/4" Circle Punch and backed with the 1" Circle Punch with Old Olive card stock then slipped underneath the main image.  I used my new Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack from the Summer Mini Catalog to create the three tiny flowers and added Gold Brads to the centers of each.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116716 Animal Stories $15.95
Item No. 115678 Tall Tales DSP $9.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack $16.95
Item No. 119976 Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 118091 Tiny Tags wood mount $22.95 OR
Item No. 118592 Tiny Tags clear mount $16.95
Item No. 107217 3/4" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 109045 1" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 104337 Gold Brads $6.95

Don't Forget!

To sign up for this month's Scrapbooking Class!  May 6th is the last day to register! Click HERE for details.
To sign up for the Dots & Designs Card Kit Class!  Click HERE for details.
To purchase your May Card Kit of the Month!  Click HERE for details. 

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

I stumbled upon this color combination quite accidentally, and I love it!  I wasn't sure at first that the Bermuda Bay and Old Olive worked together, but after I was all finished, I decided I liked it quite a bit!  The background is Soft Suede card stock run through the Big Shot using the Texturz Plates Kit #4.  Next came Cameo Coral card stock, then the Bermuda Bay.  I cut out a 2" circle of Whisper White card stock using my Big Shot and Circles #2 Originals Die (honestly, I can't make a card without the Big Shot anymore!), and the ribbon is run through a slit in the Bermuda Bay card stock and tied in front.  It's Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.  The flowers are stamped from Vintage Vogue in Cameo Coral Classic Ink then cut out; two are on Dimensionals.  I stamped the leaf images in Old Olive Classic Ink directly on the Whisper White circle.  To add the centers to the flowers, I stamped another flower, this time in Soft Suede Classic Ink, then used circle punches to punch them out.  The sentiment is from Chit Chat Rub Ons, the perfect crisp white lettering that this card needed!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118598 Vintage Vogue clear-mount $17.95
Item No. 114531 Texturz Plates Kit #4 $9.95
Item No. 114526 Circles #2 Originals Die
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die Cut Machine $99.95
Item No. 109054 Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon $7.95
Item No. 111804 Chit Chat Rub Ons $10.95

Don't Forget!

• To take advantage of Sale-A-Bration by making a $50 purchase and receiving a FREE product!  Click HERE for more details.  This promotion ends March 31st!
  
• To join the Stampin' Up! family and save 15% off the Starter Kit, plus take an additional free stamp set valued at up to $47.95!  Click HERE for more details, or email me at krisshuels@gmail.com!  This promotion ends March 31st! 
• To sign up for the Spring Song Scrapbooking class. Click HERE for more details and to register.  Registration ends April 1st!

The base of the card began with Rich Razzleberry card stock, layered with a beautiful tone-on-tone print from Cottage Wall.  A strip of Rich Razzleberry card stock was dressed up using the Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder.  Next came another beautiful printed paper from Cottage Wall, bordered with Old Olive card stock that was punched down the right-hand side with the Scallop Trim Border Punch, free with a $50 purchase through the end of the month.  I added Silver Brads down the side with a Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool.  The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White card stock with Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad using Short & Sweet stamp set, then punched out with the Modern Label Punch and adhered to the card with Dimensionals.  The main image began with Orchid Opulence card stock cut out with the Big Shot and the Scallop Circles #2 Die, then paper pierced at each scallop.  I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock with the largest circle on the Circles #2 Die and the Big Shot.  Then for the fun!  I used the Extra large Two-Step Bird Punch and three different papers — the Old Olive and the Orchid Opulence prints came from Cottage Wall, and the bird itself is Rich Razzleberry card stock.  The wing is popped up with Dimensionals, as is the entire image.

Here's a closer look:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 115060 Short & Sweet $17.95
Item No. 113469 Scallop Circle #2 Die $19.95
Item No. 114526 Circles #2 Die $15.95
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper Piercing Tool $3.50
Item No. 104336 Silver Brads $6.95
Item No. 117191 Extra Large Two-Step Bird $15.95
Item No. 117336 Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder $7.95
Item No. 115671 Cottage Wall Designer Paper $9.95
Item No. 116630 Modern Label Punch $15.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch FREE with $50 purchase!
 

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details and to register!  Registration ends March 26th!
  
• To take advantage of Sale-A-Bration by making a $50 purchase and receiving a FREE product!  Click HERE for more details.
  

Here's the first one:

Sometimes I'm happier with my cards than other days, and today, I'm just feeling really good about this card!  I began with a Splitcoast Sketch Challenge of the day which is always a great place to start.  I noticed that the main focal image was just the right size for a stamp set I haven't had a chance to use yet — it's a Level 2 Hostess Exclusive stamp set called Wings of Friendship.  You can earn this stamp set FREE when you host a workshop totaling at least $400.  AND if you were to host a workshop with a $400 total, you'd also earn an additional product from the Sale-A-Bration catalog FREE.  Check out the Sale-A-Bration promotion HERE.

I began with Basic Gray as the base of my card, then added blocks in Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Pale Plum.  The stamp set offered several choices of images that I could incorporate in the first two blocks, and the sentiment comes from Thank You Kindly, which you can earn FREE with a $50 purchase.

I stamped the main image on Very Vanilla card stock 4 different times — the first on the piece of card stock I used for the card, and the next three times on scrap card stock in three different colors.  I cut out the two flowers and bird, added a Gold Brad to one of the flowers, and adhered them with Dimensionals.  I paper pierced across the top with my Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool and added a piece of Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Gosgrain Ribbon.  Underneath the main image is a strip of Basic Gray punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch, another item you can earn FREE with a $50 purchase.

Here's a close-up of all the dimension I was able to achieve on this card with one simple, inexpensive product — Stampin' Dimensionals.

Doesn't it sound like you should book a workshop with me this month?  Contact me today–there are still dates available!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 114308 Wings of Friendship Level 2 Hostess stamp set
Item No. 111700 Thank You Kindly   $$13.95 or
Item No. 120248 Thank You Kindly   FREE with $50 purchase
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack   $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper Piercing Tool   $3.50
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch   FREE with $50 purchase
Item No. 115613 Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon   $9.95
Item No. 104337 Gold Brads   $6.95

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details and to register!
  
• To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.
  
• To sign up for the Sweet Pea Scrapbooking Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register — only TWO days left!
  
• To sign up for the March Card Kit!  Click HERE for more details and to purchase!
  

This card is the first I've made that is a larger greeting card size.  I folded a piece of 8-1/2"x11" Pink Passion card stock in half to create a card that measures 5-1/2"x8-1/2".  I wanted my color scheme to be bright, fun and little girl-friendly, so my palette also included Green Galore, Lovely Lilac, Pumpkin Pie and a piece of designer paper (Chocolate Chip and white polka dot) from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack.  I used the embosslits called Cherry Blossom to die cut the flowers using my Big Shot, and the centers of the flowers contain Green Bead Duo beads held in place with Crystal Effects.  The sentiment is from Wellness Wishes stamp set, which you can earn for free during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 purchase.  Click HERE for more details on that promotion.  I used the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch from the new Occasions Mini Catalog to make the leaves.  What, you say?  There are no leaves that look like that on the punch?  I just used the bird's wing to make my leaves! 

Here's a close-up:  

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 114516 Cherry Blossom Embosslits Die  $11.95
Item No. 117191 Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch   $15.95
Item No. 117161 Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack   $24.95
Item No. 115356 Wellness Wishes stamp set   $14.95
Item No. 101055 Crystal Effects   $6.25
Item No. 110754 Green Bead Duo   $9.95

Now here's my card combining these two ideas:

I decided to turn the ducks on the Dooney bag into hearts for a Valentine's Day card.  I looked around for an outline heart stamp and didn't have one — but I did have the Full Heart Punch!  I punched out a template and used Stampin' Write Markers in the colors they showed in the bag to trace around the heart, creating the background.  Then a quick punch of three of the colors for the solid images.  The clear mount Well Scripted stamp set came in very handy again, since there wasn't any room to spare as I stamped on the Yoyo Yellow heart with Brilliant Blue.  I was able to get it lined up perfectly!  I popped that heart up on Dimensionals, added a piece of Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and layered it on a background of Sahara Sand to replicate the handles and trim of the bag.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118601 Well Scripted stamp set   $14.95
Item No. 113693 Full Heart punch   $15.95
Item No. 105541 Many Marvelous Markers   $125.95, or individual markers at $3.25 each
Item No. 109038 Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Don't Forget!

• To contact me about registering for the Syracuse, NY Regional Seminar – details are HERE!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!

Don't you just LOVE these colors together for Christmas!  I started out using a base card stock of Rich Razzleberry and stamped it with the same color ink with the Sanded background stamp.  Next came my Circle Scissors Plus, and I cut one circle from Barely Banana card stock and the other a bit smaller from the pretty pine print from Merry Moments Designer Series Paper.  The Circle Scissors Plus makes layering circles as easy as can be!  I mounted that on Dimensionals and added a Jumbo Paper Clip from the Assorted Clips packet tied with Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon and Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon.  Next came my main image, stamped from Bearing Gifts.  This is a single stamp in the Holiday Mini Catalog and sells for just $8.95.  I stamped the image in VersaMark, then sprinkled on Black Embossing Powder and used my Heat Tool to set it.  I colored the images in with a Blender Pen and my stamp pads in Rich Razzleberry, Barely Banana, Old Oive and Close to Cocoa.  The image has a "To" and "From" where I stamped "Merry Christmas", so I just covered those words with a Post-It Note before inking my stamp.  Just remember to remove the mask before stamping on the paper!  Then the "Merry Christmas" is stamped in Close to Cocoa Classic ink to match the bear.  It comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  That's mounted on Old Olive card stock and then adhered with Dimensionals.

Here's a close-up of the embossing and coloring.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 116531 Bearing Gifts   $8.95
Item No. 109294 Sanded background stamp   $17.95
Item No. 115370 Teeny Tiny Wishes   $36.95
Item No. 112530 Circle Scissors Plus   $29.95
Item No. 102283 VersaMark Pad   $7.50
Item No. 100005 Heat Tool   $29.95
Item No. 109133 Black Stampin' Emboss Powder   $4.75
Item No. 115612 Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon   $9.95
Item No. 109054 Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon   $7.95
Item No. 112580 Clips Assortment   $6.95
Item No. 102845 Blender Pens   $9.95