2007 Was a Very Good Year!

Steve and I have some very good friends with whom
we attend monthly wine tasting classes.
When we were recently unable to attend one of the classes,
they graciously bought us a bottle of one of the
featured wines they thought we would like.
WE DID!
To thank them I cased a card made by Robin Owen,
who had cased one of my cards, (May 15th post).
I liked her idea of embedding those grapes.

I also think it is fun to put the sentiment in a surprising spot,
as I did here on the ribbon.

The name of the wine, by the way, is
Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.

Retiring Tart & Tangy Plus the Spiral Punch

Still walking down memory lane,
visiting some of my favorites that have found themselves
on the soon to be Retired List.
These are samples of projects made from the
Tart & Tangy stamp set.

The sample above uses the Spiral Punch as well,
which is included on that list!

This stamp set has been a favorite for a long time.
If you have been considering it,
get it before the end of the month!
It won't be available after that.
:o(

This Star Will Go Far!

Another oldie but goody -
the Star Punch is included on the Last Chance List.
I am sad to see it go.
It has so many uses for so many occasions -
Birthdays - Christmas - Fourth of July - Baby
and the occasion shown here - Graduation.
This is a good go-to punch
you definitely want in your collection!

Say it isn't so, Batman!

I just can't believe the Bitty Bat Punch is on the Say Goodbye List!
If you don't have this little guy,
next Halloween you are going to wish you had ordered him
when you had the chance.
That chance is NOW!
That little bat wants to be included in your collection!

Oldies But Goodies - Cheers To You

Next stop on our walk down memory lane -
Cheers To You.
It too is on the retiring list!
How much fun can you have with this set?
Don't wait to order it, or it will be
Goodbye to You!

Oldies But Goodies - A Flower For All Seasons

For the next few days we are going to walk down memory lane.
So many great stamps are on the Last Chance List.
The cards above were made with one of those sets,
A Flower For All Seasons.
It's so cute and versatile.
Don't let it get away!

Pieces of Heart June Demo Challenge

Time for our monthly Pieces of Heart dinner out and Demo Challenge.
The challenge this time was to alter a little clipboard
and was brought to us by Jayne Singleton.

This is Jayne's clipboard.
I love that little detail at the top using the
Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border.

Judy Sumner's idea was very clever.
She had a list of all the Stampin' Up colors
in ink, markers and card stock on a chart.
Over the top is a clear sheet of plastic.
She can keep track of what she might need to order, wipe it clean
and next month start all over!

Adding all those little flowers must have taken Donna Althoff forever,
but the results are so worth it!

Don't know if you can see it, but Mary Ellen Cope even covered the 'clip'
with her pretty designer paper, called Beyond The Garden.

This is my entry.
I have a pocket on the back that holds the numbers.
Each one is attached with Velcro.

Patty Schnell's customers can use this at her Stamp Camps
when they are filling out their orders!
Who's YOUR Demonstrator?

Once again, our mascot,
Don,
came through for us!
He's just so clever, and helps us use our imagination
in ways we may not have before!
He used our punches in several places on this clipboard.
Thanks, Don, for keeping us on our toes!

Our challenge next month is from Donna, and should be a real doozie!
Come back and see how the ladies AND Don tackle it!

Hodgepodge Hardware Bookmarks

It's always a bit sad when a Stampin' Up! favorite is retired.
That's the way I feel about the Hodgepodge Hardware
metal accents in Styled Vanilla.
Using the 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (which is also on the retiring list),
and 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon,
you can put together a sweet bookmark for someone special.
I used the Lovely Letters Alphabet stamp set to personalize a few
for the awesome ladies on my Pieces of Heart team.

Check that list to see if there is something that you might need.
Now is the time to grab them!
By July 1, it could be
G-O-N-E!

Dawn Olchefske

Happy Birthday, Hunter!

My nephew, Hunter, just turned....18!
Yikes!
I'm too young to have an 18 year old nephew!
Anyway, hope you had a great day, Hunter.
This is the card I mailed him.
He drives a new black Mustang,
so I wanted his card to reflect that cooooool car.
The stamp set is called To A Classic and I love it.
It's so retro which is popular now.
And it's on the retiring list of Stampin' Up! stamp sets,
soon to be gone forever!
So grab it while you can for that Classic in your life!

To see the retiring items on the list,
just click the box on the upper, right-hand side of my blog.

IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO SOME FAVORITES

The much anticipated list of retiring stamps, accessories,
and home decor is finally here!
To see those items, click the 'Say Goodbye' box
on the right-hand side of this blog,
or the picture above.
It will take you to my Stampin' Up! website where you will be able to find the lists.
If you see something you might want,
GRAB IT NOW!
Traditionally, popular items sell out fast.
And, when they are gone.....
they are
GONE!

The new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog is available July 1.
If you would like one, get your name on my catalog list
and you will have it in your hot little hands that day!

Last Day to Take Advantage of National Scrapbooking Month Promotion!

May is coming to an end.
And, unfortunately, so is the National Scrapbooking Month Promotion.
But if you act quickly, you can still get 30% off select scrapbooking stamp sets.
One of those sets is Party Hearty used on the card above.
The pennants on that Baker's Twine are actually party hats turned upside down!
Cute huh?
Click the Scrapbooking promotion box on the right-hand side
of my blog for more details and sets included in the promotion.
Get your set at 30% off!
But do it TODAY!

Punch Art BBQ Grill

Very sweet friends invited Steve and I over for dinner.
This friend is known for his expertise on the BBQ grill.
And he did not disappoint! It was wonderful.
To thank them, I wanted to send a fun card
and was inspired by Diane Burns punch art grill.
The only stamped part is the thank you on the cloud.
The rest of the card is made from punches and Scribble & Swirls Sizzlets die.
Can't ya just smell that smoke?

A very special thank you to all who have served in the military and their families.
Happy Memorial Day!

A Classic!

Oh my gosh!
Where do I begin with this card?
It has so many fun elements.
I love it!
The stamp sets used were To a Classic from the big catalog
and Travel Log from the Summer Mini.
It also uses the Big Shot with the Scallop Square Duo
and the Ovals dies.

My favorite is that little Trinket Key.
How cute it that?
The whole feel is kind of retro or.......
Classic!

Heather Summers

Happy Birthday Kimberly Anne!

Happy Birthday little Bunny.
Hope your day is everything you wish it to be.
Dad and I miss you and love you so very much.
Can't wait to see you soon.
~Mom~

Spinner/Compass

You will never lose your way when you have a compass.
(Okay, I probably would. I need landmarks.
I don't have a clue where north, south, east and west are!)
The stamp set is called Sail Away and the compass is from The Open Sea.
Both from the new Summer Mini Catalog.
The designer paper is called Nautical Expedition.

The compass was stamped twice and
punched with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch and the 3/4" Circle Punch.
I added one of our carryover Spinners and popped it up with
Dimensionals to give it that realistic look.
Ahoy!

Lovely As A Tree

Although the focus of my Masculine May Stamp Camp was for the guys,
this card would be perfect for anyone.
It uses a very popular stamp set called Lovely As A Tree.
If you don't have this set in your collection, you might want to consider getting it!
It is a very versatile set.
The sentiment below is from All Holidays...
another must-have set!

Emma Fewkes

H B With Flair!

The carryover designer paper called First Edition,
was used for this masculine birthday card.
The stamp set is Engraved Greetings,
and was punched using the 2 1/2" Circle Punch
on Very Vanilla Card Stock.

The Wide Grosgrain Ribbon in Basic Black
is gathered just a bit to give it such a nice flair!

Robin Merriman

The Open Sea

This card can be found in the Summer Mini Catalog in a 3 x 3 size.
I liked it so much that I made it into a standard size.
The stamp set is called The Open Sea,
and the designer paper is Nautical Expedition.
There is also a bit of our new Baker's Twine in Early Espresso and White.
The card stock is Textured Not Quite Navy.

The stamp set for the sentiment inside comes from Wonderful Favorites,
a great set when you want to personalize for family.
Very softly stamped below it is the ship from The Open Sea.
Such a manly card.

Best Dad Ever

At my recent Masculine May Stamp Camp,
we made nothing but cards for the guys.
This sample is from a new stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog,
called Best Dad Ever.

We used Black Embossing Powder on the ties.
Then added a Pearl 'tie-tack'.
The newsprint behind is from the carryover designer paper called First Edition.
All for the BEST DAD EVER!

Gift Card Set

I just love a little compact gift that gives that WOW factor!
I first saw this at the Branson Regional.
I wanted to give a sweet lady something special as a thank you,
and thought this would work perfect.
It contains four cards plus envelopes,
all in a little folder no bigger than 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"!
I used card stock and retired designer paper called Botanical Gazette.
Perfect use of leftover designer papers.
I just love that little bee.