Today I am previewing for you one of the new hostess sets from the 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! catalog. This set is called Simply Sketched and includes 6 stamps including a bird, a flower and leaves with berries. It also includes three greetings – Thanks, Birthday and Sympathy.  This set is available to hostesses and customers who have orders of $200 or more. If you place a qualifying order from the new catalogue on May 31st, I recommend getting this set as one of your free items.

I heat embossed the flower with Basic Black embossing powder and then coloured the image with an aqua painter and Bermuda Bay and Pear Pizzazz inks. I also stamped and heat embossed the greeting before punching it out with the oval punch.

Next I created a frame for the flower by using the new Modern Mosaic embossing folder and the 2-1/2" circle punch. 

Finally I assembled the card using stampin’ dimensionals between layers.  

Are you excited to see Bermuda Bay and Pear Pizzazz return? I love the vibrancy of both these colours.

A close up view of the watercolored flower from the Simply Sketched Hostess Set.

I think it’s a poppy but I really wanted to use my new Bermuda Bay ink.

My kids getting the catalogues packets assembled.

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Here are the first batch of 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! Canada Catalogues ready to mail. 

My Sister-in-law Cathy called yesterday and wants to make 30 birthday invitations for an ladies event at her church.  Rather than using a floral stamp set, I suggested using the Pinwheel Sizzlet die from the Spring Catalogue. This die is only available until May 31st as is the co-ordinating stamp set, Wishes Your Way (wood 129153, Clear 129156).

For only $5.95, I believe every Big Shot owner needs to have this die. And it is easy to use – see the video below for my instructions.

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My Top 5 Must Have Stamp sets from the Spring 2013 Catalogue:

• Essentials (wood 126370, $8.95, set of 2) – I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I love this little stamp set!

• Wishes Your Way (wood 129153 $21.95, Clear 129156 $16.95. set of 6) – these greetings work so well with the Pinwheel Sizzlet that you really should buy both

• Collage Curios (wood 129099 $25.95, Clear 129102 $19.95, set of 9) – when you are stocking up on the retiring Soda Pop Tops, be sure to order this matching stamp set

• Ciao, Baby (wood 129645 $21.95, Clear 129648 $16.95, set of 7) – if you have either of the punches that match this set – 7/8" Scallop Circle or Petite Curly Label (from Sale-A-Bration) – invest in this stamp set as well

• Dapper Dad (wood 129195 $22.95, clear 129198 $17.95, set of 3) - I so often hear that customers are looking for masculine stamp sets so don‘t overlook this one or Beyond Plaid (wood 129201, clear 129204).

Watch the video: 

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 The Pinwheel Sizzlet die works well for a full card here in Island Indigo. 

 Inside the card it says "blowing wishes your way" from the Wishes Your Way stamp set.

I covered both side of the inside of the card with Whisper White card stock so the brads wouldn’t show.

One of my stamping pet peeves is stuff showing inside the card so I always cover it up or else it’s uggggly!

A close up of the 3" x 3" mini card in Real Red.  

Inside I reversed the greetings from the other card.

I am so excited to share the new 2013-2014 Stampin’ up! annual catalogue with you. I know you will love it!  The first group are in the mail and you should be receiving them any day now.

But to make room for the new, we have to say goodbye to some old friends. The Spring Catalogue ends on May 31st and I am going to miss some accessories that have quickly become favourites. 

My list of must haves is below. I also wanted to share a card with you today that I made with one of my must haves, the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit. This kit includes an exclusive "just for you" wood mounted stamp. To the kit, I added a layer of Honeycomb embossing folder embossed Daffodil Delight card stock as well as a bow of 1/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon (also retiring and on sale for $6.19). The ink used with the greeting is Early Espresso. 

To Order Stampin’ Up Products in Canada, Click Here
 

My Top 5 Must Have Accessories from the Spring Catalogue:

Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit $15.95 #131395 – an exclusive "just for you " stamp., 9 tags, 9 fabric brads, supplies for 9 flowers plus twine. 

Flower Trim $9.50 #126869 – vintage dimensionals flowers in vanilla that can be colored with inks, 5/8" wide, 2 yards (about 100 flowers).

Cloudy Day Embossing Folder $9.95 #127022 – you can never go wrong with a whimsical and fun embossing folder.

Soda Pop Tops $4.95 #129388 – add stamped and punched circles to these retro accents. Use them as is or flatten them down.

Artisan Embellishment Kit $11.95 #129328 – think what you can create with 26 embellishments including tags, ticket stubs, scalloped lace, cotton lace, oval lace, seam binding, buttons,  doilies, paper flowers and resin hearts and flowers. Whew! 

This card is so bright and cheery thanks to the color provided by the Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper. The colors on this background include Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Slush and Whisper White.

I cut the designer series paper diagonally and then added layers of Daffodil Delight and Island Indigo card stocks. The Mosaic Madness stamp set was used for the images. I stamped in VersaMark and then added Whisper White embossing powder and heat embossed.

The Mosaic punch was then used to punch out the images and I adhered them to the card with dimensionals. The Quartrefancy paper, Mosaic Madness stamp set and Mosaic punch will all be available in the next catalogue on May 31st.

The greeting is from the Spring Catalogue – a stamp set called Essentials.  This set is a must have! I use it on everything. The greetings include "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "THANK YOU" which are the two greetings I seem to use the most in my stamping. This is a wood mounted set of 2 stamps for $8.95, #126370. Make sure you order this set by May 31st so you don’t miss out.

I am now taking pre-orders for the upcoming 2013-2014 catalogue. To request your copy, please click here.  Catalogues ordered today are scheduled to arrive by May 31st.

I have been stamping up a storm for the last two days plus working on videos and mailing the new catalogue.

This picture shows my kitchen table as of right now. I guess it’s take out tonight!

It’s okay to scribble, really! In school, we were told to be neat and stay within the lines. But I am telling you that this Scribble Technique throws the rules out the window and allows us to just scribble. And it feels good!

I stamped the Pleasant Poppies background stamp (wood 126480, clear 129499) in Basic Black ink and then used the side of the thicker brush tip of an In Color 2011-2013 marker to scribble. I colored the stems with Lucky Limeade and the flowers with Calypso Coral. A simple add of 3/8" Ruffled Calypso Coral Ribbon and a Designer Printed Brad finishes the card. 

If you find time to do any stamping this Victoria Day long weekend, give the Scribble Technique a try. 

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