Southern Caribbean: Here we come!

Now, in your best "Chicken of the Sea" jingle voice, sing: Ask any mermaid, you happen to see, where are Kim & Terry? On the Adventures of the Sea!

We thank you for your support this past year. Thanks to wonderful, loyal, and generous customers like you, we've each earned the Stampin' Up! trip for two to the Southern Caribbean in April 2010. Our hubbies are thrilled.

Here's a photo of the Royal Caribbean ship, Adventures of the Sea. It's huge! And yes, those three dolphins will be making the journey with us.

The word is out: We'll start working toward a free trip for two to Alaska (on a cruise!) tomorrow, July 1. No time to let the ink dry on our fingers....

Thanks again! We love you.

Font of You Summer Spectacular...

I'm hosting a class today featuring the Font of You stamp set. It will be available to order in the new Stampin' Up! year, which starts July 1, though it's not pictured in the new catalog.

Individual photos with descriptions are below. There are three regular cards, a matchbox, and a pop-up gift card holder.

Have a wonderful Sunday! Thanks for visiting.

Font of You Look Here card...

Make that special person feel even more special with a pop-up card using the new Look Here die for the Big Shot (available July 1).

First, decorate the front of the card. I used Riding Hood Red for the base, with layered of Sweet Slumber specialty paper and Baja Breeze. The mug image from Font of You was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Baja Breeze, sponged around and layered on Whisper White.

I attached a silver library clip at the top and adhered a knot of white taffeta with a mini glue dot.

For the inside, I ran a 6" x 8-1/2" piece of Baja Breeze through the Look Here die, popping out the half circles, one arrow and two other garbage pieces. I adhered the arrow to some Sweet Slumber paper and cut it out, adhering it over the hole it popped out of with a dimensional.

I used a 3-7/8" x 5" piece of Close to Cocoa card stock I stamped with mugs in the same ink to layer behind the top part of the diecut piece. There's an actual Starbuck's gift card in the photo.

For the front arrow, I stamped and cut out the mug and adhered it with dimensionals over the arrow.

All that's needed is a hand-written note to your friend!

Font of You matchbox goody...

The matchbox die for the Big Shot is the perfect size to give a friend a little something from time to time.

Here, the body of the box is Kiwi Kiss, with some Rockabilly specialty paper for the sleeve. I punched a large oval from the top and adhered a rectangle of clear acrylic behind it for a window.

For my class today, everyone is getting chocolate covered coffee beans, but I wanted something in the box for this photo, so I went with peanut M&Ms... my hubby's favorite.

This sentiment from Font of You was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and punched out with the Word Window punch. It was then layered on a tag that is part of the matchbox die, then knotted with natural hemp onto a piece of 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain.

Font of You vase card...

The crazy flowers are this card are made with letters. I think I love this Font of You stamp set so much because I was a journalist in my former life. The idea of making images out of letters fascinates me.

Anyway, the card itself is Whisper White, with layers of Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise. The designer paper is from the Flock Together pack, which will be in the new catalog starting July 1.

I stamped the vase in turquoise on Certainly Celery card stock, cut it out and adhered it with dimensionals. I finished the card with three silver brads.

Font of You coffee card...

This Kraft card features the hot mug and sentiment that goes with the stamp from the Font of You set.

What I really like about the mug is that it can be for anybody's favorite hot drink - hot chocolate, tea, coffee....

The specialty paper is from the Parisian Breeze pack. It's distressed around the edges with the cutter kit, as well as the Chocolate Chip card stock layer behind it.

The mug was stamped in Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla card stock, layered on Chocolate Chip (both layers distressed again). I used the horizontal slot punch to make the hole for the knot of 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain.

The sentiment was punched out with the Word Window punch, then I added a Vintage Brad and adhered whole thing with mini glue dots.

Font of You umbrella card...

Some specialty card stock with a cloud pattern laid the foundation for this Baja Breeze umbrella card. The card stock is from the Sweet Slumber pack.

The umbrella stamp and saying are from the Font of You stamp set. I punched two 1/8" holes on either side of the umbrella handle for the white taffeta ribbon.

The Confetti White card stock is layered on Basic Gray. There's even a strip of Basic Gray behind the top two layers that's been punched with the scallop edge punch.

Under the Stars tri-shutter card...

Who can resist the bear from Under the Stars? I can't.

I paired up that stamp set with To The Nines specialty paper to make this adorable card. It fits in a medium envelope (regular size for a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card) and is definitely a WOW for the recipient.

I used a 5 1/2" x 12" piece of Always Artichoke card stock, scored at 2", 4", 8" and 10". Then I cut 1-1/2" from each long side between the 2" and 10" score lines. Trust me, it's much easier than it sounds!

I used the Really Retro word stamp set for the front, and On Your Birthday for the words on the rest of the card. All of the other stamps are from the Under the Stars stamp set.

From there, it's just using whatever embellishments you want (jumbo eyelet, punched out stars adhered with dimensionals, mini library clip, corduroy button and brads).

I took a photo of the top of the card. You may have to fold it a couple of times to get it where it looks like this when the recipient opens it, but that just takes a minute.

I hope you'll try your hand at this kind of card and share what you come up with!

Big birthday cupcake...

Kim made this birthday cupcake card awhile ago... and I never put it on our blog!

Anyway, the top part is Sweet Always designer paper with a Real Red cherry. The bottom part is Regal Rose card stock with the sentiment from Happy Everything.

The big cupcake is the Simple Birthday Thanks stamp.

Retreat swaps...

I had a wonderful time at our American Ink group stampin' retreat last Friday thru Sunday. We stamped, scrapbooked, ate, chatted, made make & takes and swapped.

If you'd like to join us at our next retreat, join my American Ink group today! Just visit http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net and click on JOIN. My recruiter password: Terry Blais.

At top is a textured Whisper White card with Ever After stamps inked in Basic Black from Frankie. I love the simple elegance of this card and plan to use it at an upcoming event.

Next, is a fun punch card swap by Heather using the Under the Stars stamp set. She CASE'd the idea, which happened to be perfect for our Hawaiian theme.

My favorite part of the card is the adorable grass skirt on the bear.

Bea made her swap with the Polka Dot background stamp and Petal Pizzazz. She even decorated the inside of the card. The sentiment is from the Great Friend stamp set, and there's a knot of Chocolate Chip grosgrain too.

The 6" x 6" page is Heather's swap, using Under the Stars again. I had a photo in mind - and on hand - when I received this. It's one of my son and his friends on a field trip to a place called Pioneer Farms.

The page features cut-out stars adhered with dimensionals, double-stitched Chocolate Chip ribbon, and a Not Quite Navy photo mat.

Tea Party teacher card...

A mom in my daughter's class asked me to make a card for the end-of-the-year basket parents were chipping in on for the teacher. The teacher loves the color purple, and tea.

There were 24 kids in the class, and the mom and I thought it'd be great to include a little something from each child in the card. I cut Whisper White squares so each kid could write and/or draw their favorite thing in 2nd grade or what they liked best about their teacher.

To include all 24 squares in a single card, I went with two stacks, accordion-folded, with the squares adhered on each side of the card stock. Each stack was adhered at the base with sticky strip to Tea Party paper and then to the card itself. I used some ribbon originals to hold both stacks closed with bows. Mugs from the Sip by Sip stamp set are stamped in Almost Amethyst ink below the stacks.

I added Lovely Lilac card stock, run through the Big Shot with the Scallop Die - but only part of the way. White organza ribbon is adhered under the designer paper and one stack, then run through a hole in a large white grommet. A large metal circle tag was stamped with the "thank you" image from Eight Great Greetings after being inked with markers. I punched an 1/8" hole at the top of the tag and tied it onto the organza ribbon with silver cord.

The stack of teacups on the front flap is from an old Stampin' Up! tea set. The teacher loved the card! It was well worth the effort.

Just Beachy birthday card...

I forgot to post this birthday card I received from another of my talented downline, Sherry, when I added the others.

This Pacific Point card uses Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper, along with the Top Note die for the Big Shot.

With school officially out now, I'm ready to hit the beach!

Sip by Sip...

If you love the retro look, coffee or tea or hot chocolate, you'll love the Sip by Sip stamp set.

I bought the set to make a tea card for my daughter's teacher for an end-of-the-year basket filled with tea and miscellaneous tea items all the parents chipped in on. She loved it. I'll show a photo of that tomorrow.

Here is a simple card using Basic Gray ink and some Washington Apple designer paper. It's a Bashful Blue card with striped Bashful Blue ribbon knotted in front.

Wanted: In motion...

By stamping an item like an animal or a vehicle several times without reinking it, you can create motion, which is the technique shown on this card.

The horse stamp from the Wanted set was stamped in Close To Cocoa on Very Vanilla card stock, and layered on Really Rust. There's a 2" strip of To The Nines (in the new catalog too) speciality paper at the bottom with a paisley design, and then a knot of Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon.

I used the big photo corner with a 5/16" chocolate brad and adhered it with dimensionals. The paisley stamp was inked in Always Artichoke and cut out and adhered with dimensionals.

The "happy birthday" comes from the All Holidays stamp set.

Spring Flower die & Candy Lane dsp...

There's nothing like a pot of flowers to brighten one's day.

I CASE'd this idea from Stephanie Luman. It's a flower pot pocket card.

The flowers were all die cut using the Spring Flower die for the Big Shot. The middles of the flowers are 3/4" circles, and the middle flower also has a clear round button adhered to it.

This Close to Cocoa card features the Eyelet Border Punch, as well as the Wide Oval Punch with the sentiment from Sincere Salutations.

Pick a Petal...

My friend Dani made this birthday card for me.

The wings of the butterfly are made with a Pick a Petal stamp embossed in silver.
I love the hat pen and beads (from the Pretties Kit), and the clear rhinestone brad for the head/antennae.

I also love the white organza ribbon! Thanks Dani!!!

Party Hearty card with cupcakes

One of my downline made this cute card for my birthday this past week. It uses the Party Hearty stamp set.

The cupcakes have glitter and beads on them. Love it!

Cheep Talk Tea Party...

This Certainly Celery card features the Cheep Talk stamp set and Tea Party designer paper, which will be in the new catalog.

I CASE'd this card off of Dawn Easton's blog. Markers were used to ink the little bird, which is layered on an Almost Amethyst scallop circle with pierced scallops. There's also piercing along three sides of the top Whisper White layer.

Other designer paper carrying over into the new catalog: Flock Together, Jackpot, Bella Bleu, To the Nines, and Pink Flamingo.

And for those of us who are big Good Friend and Cheep Talk fans - there's a new Simply Scrappin' Sunny Day kit with those birds and bright colors (Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive).

Just Beachy monochromatic card...

The Just Beachy stamp set is so fun to play with. I came up with this card in minutes. It's a Whisper White card with a 4" x 4" piece of Tangerine Tango prints paper.

I stamped the flip-flops from the same set in the Tangerine Tango ink pad and layered them on Tangerine Tango.

The greeting is from the Family Phrases stamp set.

And Many Mower golf card...

With Father's Day just around the corner, it's easy to carve out a few minutes to make a simple card like this one.

The golfer and words are in the Occasions Mini stamp set And Many Mower, which is only available till the end of the month.

It's a Bashful Blue card with a strip of To The Nines (in the new catty!). I folded up the corner and used a crop-a-dile to add a jumbo eyelet for a little man hardware.

The images were stamped in Basic Gray and colored in with Stampin' Write markers.

Oval All...

This Tempting Turquoise card uses some bright Rainbow Sherbet designer paper (sorry, it's all gone!), 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and the oval scallop punch with the Oval All stamp set.

The good news is the stamp set is in the new catalog, which is available July 1. So is the punch. On this card, the oval scallop is in Pumpkin Pie and adhered to the card with dimensionals.

Have a wonderful day!

Cute & Curly...

I used this simple card for a stamp-a-stack recently. It uses textured Pacific Point card stock with some Walk in the Park designer paper. Below, the same card uses the reverse side of the paper, with a different color Felt Fusion flower and rhinestone brad.

The Curly Label punch bundle is sold with the Cute & Curly stamp set through the end of this month, or until supplies last.

Side 2: Cute & Curly...

It takes but a minute or two to make a thank-you card. And everyone appreciates receiving one.

This 3" x 6" textured Pacific Point card has a strip of Walk in the Park designer paper on it. The "thank you" stamp from Cute & Curly was stamped in Pacific Point ink and punched out with the Curly Label punch.

Lastly, a Flower Fusion chocolate felt flower was adhered with a dimensional after adding a rhinestone brad.

Branch Out...

Have you stamped on the Sweet Slumber speciality paper? It adds a lot of texture to your card, as seen here with the Branch Out stamp set.

Kim used the ticket corner punch on the top three layers, distressing the edges with the cutter kit. Her customers loved this card - especially with the white taffeta ribbon knot through the Riding Hood Red button.

Sweet Slumber paper is retiring at the end of June, so if you want some, order it now! You can order from our websites - listed at right - anytime day or night.

And Many Mower...

This card perfectly fits my dad. I'm thinking of giving it to him for Father's Day.

Kim made this using Parisian Breeze specialty card stock (notice the sponging around the back layer). The And Many Mower stamp set will only be available till the end of June, and then it's gone (it's not in the new catalog- sniff, sniff).

An aqua painter was used with the Baja Breeze pad to color in some of the main image, but my favorite part is the library clip on the top corner with some striped Baja Breeze ribbon knotted around it. Cute!

Man's Best Friend...

Animal lovers will love the new catalog - there are a few new dog and cat stamps in it. But Man's Best Friend has the best variety of dogs.

Kim put some Jackpot designer paper at the bottom, stamped the saying in Riding Hood Red on Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with the designer label punch. The vanilla hardware is held on with just the brads after adhering the vanilla piece first to the front of the card.

The big dog is stamped in More Mustard, and the chihuahua is stamped in Close to Cocoa. A Chocolate Chip layer is behind the vanilla one.

Good Friend...

Awhile back Kim and I did stamp camps with the Good Friend set, Good Morning Sunshine designer paper, and Whisper White square cards. They were a hit!

But what a difference a build-a-brad makes. Kim brought this card as a make & take at the Heirloom Show in Puyallup. It was popular, to say the least.

In addition to the knot of Pacific Point striped ribbon, the stem was cut from Old Olive card stock, while the two leaves are two petals from a punched 5-petal flower.

See the little bluebird in the build-a-brad? Kim had everyone punch a little bird with a 1/2" circle punch, adhere it to the base of the brad, then fix the clear bubble over the top. The brad was punched through the cut out Summer Sun flower, which was adhered with a dimensional.

I'm so glad this stamp set is hanging around for another year!

Cheep Talk...

This Cheep Talk stamp set is so freakin' cute! You can't go wrong with it. This set, along with it's "mama" (Good Friend), and the So Tweet chipboard will all be in the new catalog.

Here, Kim used the Pacific Point ink pad to ink up the bird, then wiped off the beak and colored it with a marker. The image is punched with the 1-1/4" circle punch, then layered on Pacific Point card stock with the 1-3/8" circle punch. A knot of Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon is knotted at the top of the circles, which are adhered to the front of the card with dimensionals.

The yellowish designer paper is from the Good Morning Sunshine package, which is retiring June 30.

For a list of retiring accessories and stamp sets, please visit our Stampin' Up! websites, listed to the right. Thanks!

Tea Party Great Friend...

You'll be happy to know that the Great Friend stamp set is in the new catalog (start date: July 1), along with this Tea Party designer paper.

Kim took a square piece from some paper and used 2-way glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter to make it shiny. She used the ticket corner punch on all of the corners, then layered it on Almost Amethyst card stock.

I like the way she used the scallop edge punch along the Whisper White card front, then added a strip of designer paper to the inside. It jazzes it up when you write your message inside!

Totally Tools...

Any man would be proud to receive this manly card.

This Riding Hood Red card uses the Top Note die for the Big Shot with a Texturz plate on Close to Cocoa card stock. Add a couple of brads, a watercolored saw that's been cut out, and a nice clip with some linen thread and this card rocks!

The greeting is from the All Holidays stamp set. Kim used the spiral punch down the left side, which adds a lot of visual interest.

Rainbow Sherbet designer paper...

This fun, bright Rainbow Sherbet designer paper is a perfect background for some zany orange ribbon and this Big Shot die, circle and rhinestone brad.

The birthday greeting is from the stamp set On Your Birthday.

Card games - King for a Day...

Kim's Red Hat ladies enjoyed making this card recently. They loved the "King for a Day" sentiment for birthday and Father's Day cards.

This Jackpot designer paper will continue to be available in the new catalog July 1, so you'll have another entire year to enjoy it!