Occasions Mini stamp sets are still available!

If you love the sets in the Occasions Mini Catalog, you are in luck! Because of the short time period between the end of the Occasions Mini Catalog and the launch of the 2012-2013 annual catalog, Stampin' Up! has decided to make the carryover stamp sets available early--starting today!

The following stamp sets are available for purchase. I hope you will enjoy this extra little sneak peak to the annual catalog. You can view the carryover items when you click on the Occasions Mini graphic in my right-hand column. You may email me with your order at ericandterry@comcast.net, or place an Online Order through my store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. If you go that route, don't forget Clearance Rack items too!!!

Stamp Set Name	Item Number
	Wood-Mount	Clear-Mount
Baby Prints	125470	125472
Love & Laughter	125475	125477
Bordering on Romance	125480	125482
Apothecary Art	125525	125527
Mixed Bunch	125535	125537
Tea Shoppe	125545	125547
Mouthwatering	125675	125677
Loving Thoughts	125843	125845
Salon de thé	125934	125936
Etiquetas florales	--	125941
Art floral	125964	125966

Elegant Bird card with Twitterpated dsp

I used the notebook cover in the Occasions Mini Catalog as inspiration for this Elegant Bird card. It uses the Bordering on Romance stamp set, along with the Twitterpated dsp and buttons. I think the hardest part was threading the buttons with Baker's Twine!

Button Buddies valentine for Monkey Challenge #95

My A La Card Monkey blog is closing in on 100 challenges. Come and see what it's all about! This week it's Monkey Challenge #95: Sweet + Sketch. I think the Button Buddies pig with googly eyes is pretty sweet. I'm really diggin' the Pool Party and Poppy Parade colors. I also used the Stripes Embossing Folder on the Poppy Parade layer, sanding it a bit to make the stripes stand out.

Stamps: Button Buddies, Take it to Heart, Loving Thoughts

Ink: Basic Black, Poppy Parade;

Paper: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Everyday Enchantment dsp;

Accessories: Stripes Embossing Folder, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, dimensionals, Big Shot, Hearts framelits, Circles 2 die, Scallop Circle punch, Brights buttons.

Mouthwatering ice cream cone embossed with scented powder? Yum!

I wasn't quite sure what to think of the scented embossing powders in the Occasions Mini Catalog until I tried them. Wow! They smell great. For my clubs last month, I used Sweet Shop dsp, lots of rhinestones, and markers to ink the Mouthwatering ice cream stamp. I covered the entire image with VersaMark ink, then sprinkled on the Cherry-scented embossing powder. Mmmmm. It smells delicious! I cut out the image and adhered it to the card with dimensionals. Oh, and did you notice the tiny scallops on the scalloped bottom of the card front? That's what the new edgelit does. Fun stuff!

Take It to Heart with Monkey Challenge 93: Love!

Love is in the air! I love this image from the Take It to Heart stamp set in the Occasions Mini. I stamped it in Calypso Coral ink, sponged it with Pool Party ink, and punched it out with the 1-1/4" circle punch, layering it on a 1-3/8" circle of Early Espresso, which is then layered on two Blossom punched flowers.

I'm crazy about the Everyday Enchantment dsp in the Sale-a-Bration Mini Catalog. This is just one of the fabulous patterned pieces, and best of all, you may choose it for FREE with a $50 order! Free is always the right price!!! I love those little Calypso Coral Baker's Twine bows too.

This close-up shows the embossed little hearts on the pennants, which were punched. Aren't they cute?

Here's the sketch I used. I love that little kitty's face! It's the best.

Stamps: Take It to Heart, Fabulous Phrases;

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Early Espresso;

Paper: Everyday Enchantment dsp, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Whisper White card stocks;

Accessories: Blossom punch, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches, Pennant punch, Adorning Edges, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Oval Scallop punch, dimensionals, Big Shot.

Occasions Mini items highlight of swaps

All of the demonstrators in my American Ink group seem to be enjoying the great new products in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Below, are a few swaps and make & takes. More will be posted in the next couple of days, so come back soon!

Cindy's swap

Frankie's make & take

Frankie's swap with Take It to Heart stamp set

Kim's Tea Shoppe make & take

Mouthwatering cherries with Sweet Shop Specialty dsp

Have you smelled the new embossing powders in the Occasions Mini Catalog? There's cherry, melon and vanilla,and they complement the Mouthwatering stamp set. Of course the cherry stamp on the card was embossed with the cherry-scented powder. I first inked the stamp with markers and stamped it on Whisper White, then punched it with the 2" circle punch. I used a VersaMark pad to ink up the entire circle, then poured the Cherry-scented embossing powder on it, tapping off the excess before heating. It smelled great!

Stamps: Mouthwatering, Perfect Words;

Ink: Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, VersaMark;

Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Sweet Shop Specialty dsp;

Accessories: Cherry-scented embossing powder, Modern Label Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Tasteful Trim die for the Big Shot, pearls, dimensionals, heat gun, sponge dauber.

You're My Type: Get Twitterpated!



My club members will be making this card this month. It uses the new You're My Type stamp set, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon, and Twitterpated dsp and button. All of these products are available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I hosted an American Ink gathering yesterday. There were some fabulous swaps and make & takes. I'll be posting those this coming week!

It's nothing but love for Monkey Challenge #91

I think these words just about say it all! I am loving the new P.S. I Love You stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. There are so many terrific stamps in it.

Here's the full card, which uses Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds in Cherry Cobbler, and a new label framelit. I think my hubby will love this for Valentine's Day! This card is for an A La Card Monkey Challenge #91: Bundle of Love + Sketch.

Stamps: P.S. I Love You;

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso;

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Everyday Enchantment;

Accessories: Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, wide oval punch, dimensionals, label framelit, Dazzling Diamonds - Cherry Cobbler, Vintage Trinkets, 1" and 1-3/8" circle punches, hobby blade, Tasteful Trim die and Big Shot, full heart punch.

Gnome Sweet Gnome sprinkling happiness card



It was fun to paper piece this little gnome's hat and apron with Cheery Treat dsp (hostess paper). The watering can, bunch of flowers, gnome and sentiment are all in the Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set, featured in the Occasions Mini Catalog. This was one of the four cards I made for a class last week. I used an aqua painter and ink pads to color the images.
Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome;
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo;
Paper: Whisper White, Cheery Treat dsp, Melon Mambo;
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, aqua painter, Stampin' Dimensionals; Everyday Enchantment brad (SAB item); Old Olive Dotted Scallop Ribbon

Take It to Heart on Designer Cuts card

I love this image from the Take It to Heart stamp set, so I paired that with other products from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

The design on the bottom front of the card is laser-cut (there are eight cards total, four each of two designs in each Designer Cuts Cards & Envelopes Set). Blushing Bride envelopes are included in the set.

I created this card for a class featuring Occasions Mini products. Each one uses at least 3 things! Also on this card, I added a strip of Blushing Bride inside the card so that when it's closed, the color peeks through the holes. We used sticky strip to hold on the ribbon; hand-cut the first heart, then used the hearts framelit for the larger Regal Rose heart. There are a couple of new 8mm pearls on the card, as well. I finished it with a Tiny Tags saying and Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine.

I thought this card would be perfect for The Paper Players challenge, which is all about love. I think the boy and girl on the bike are so sweet!

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Love & Laughter for Monkey Challenge #90: New to You

If you have something new you haven't used yet, pull it out for the A La Card Monkey Challenge #90: New to You + Sketch. I mounted this new Love & Laughter set from the Occasions Mini Catalog to use with new Attic Boutique dsp, also in the mini. There's some new Blushing Bride 3/8" pleated satin ribbon on the card too. I love this stuff! And it comes in three other colors - Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red, and Baja Breeze.

Oh my, I love this happy bunny. He makes my heart sing! I keep hoping for snow, but for now we have fits of rain with mostly blue skies. See what an easy sketch it is? So you try it! Upload your card to http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com and I'll leave you some nice comments!

Stamps: Love & Laughter;
Ink: Soft Suede, Regal Rose;
Paper: Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Attic Boutique dsp, Very Vanilla;
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon; 3-1/2" Circle Die for the Big Shot; dimensionals

New Occasions Mini products featured on thank-you cards

I love receiving cards in the mail. That's part of why we do what we do, right? Anyway, this week I received a couple of thank-you cards from my downline that use lots of great products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

Do you see what's new? There's a Labels Collection framelit, Mixed Bunch stamp set, and the Blossom Punch. There are also a couple of items from the upcoming Sale-a-Bration Mini, including the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack.

P.S. I Love You gets me all Twitterpated for Monkey Challenge 89

I love how this P.S. I Love You stamp set looks with the Twitterpated dsp. Both products are from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog. I used the sketch from the A La Card Monkey Challenge #89: A Fresh Start + Sketch. I went with "a new love" theme. Actually, this card will be perfect for my hubby for Valentine's Day - that's why I held off on any bling! lol

Ink up your stamps and submit a card at http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com. I'm offering BLOG CANDY this week!

Stamps: P.S. I Love You;

Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red;

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Twitterpated dsp;

Accessories: 1/8" Baja Breeze taffeta, Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, both sizes scallop circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Elephant Elebration stamp for Monkey Challenge #88

Wisteria Wonder is a wonderful color! And now we have little purple hearts on brads. Well, we will in the new Occasions Mini that goes "live" in a couple of weeks. There are four designs of brads in the Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads.

Now that I've made plenty of Christmas cards, I saw this little elephant begging to be inked. It's a single stamp called Elebration. The polka-dotted Wisteria Wonder paper is from the Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper, also in the Occasions Mini. This particular pattern feels thicker with embossed dots.

I followed the sketch at A La Card Monkey:

Is that baby monkey adorable or what?

Stamps: Elebration;

Ink: Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery;

Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Sweet Shop Specialty DSP;

Accessories: Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, aqua painter, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Sweet Cake card for Monkey blog birthday challenge

It's been a full - and productive - week for me. I had a stamp club, 10-card class, made a couple of homemade items for gifts, and put together gifts for the teachers and bus driver. I even got a bunch of things wrapped. That's a huge accomplishment for me, considering I am usually wrapping things on the eve of Christmas Eve!

As Stampin' Up! demonstrators, we get to see and order the next mini catalog items before everyone else. The next one is called the Occasions Mini Catalog, and it starts January 4. It's got a wide variety of products, but for this card, I focused on the Sweet Cake stamp set and Sweet Shop Specialty dsp.

Here's a close-up of the cupcake stamp, which comes with three different greetings - the birthday one on the card, Be My Valentine, and You're So Sweet.

This photo shows the Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I used the Early Espresso ink pad to ink up the entire stamp, then used a blender pen to wipe the brown ink off of the heart and cherry, and added color with a marker.

This card is for my niece, Erika, who has a birthday in January. I used the sketch provided on my A La Card Monkey blog:

Isn't that little piglet adorable in the red, rubber boots? It's a clean and simple sketch. Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Sweet Cake;

Ink: Early Espresso, Calypso Coral;

Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Sweet Shop Specialty dsp;

Accessories: Designer In Color Brads, paper piercer and mat pack, dimensionals, 5/8" Whisper White satin ribbon.