Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL Die

Today I used the Sizzix Big Shot and the Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die to create this adorable 3-D basket, tag, and flowers!  All of the pieces were cut from a single 6"x12" strip of Shades of Spring Designer Series paper.  I used a Pretty in Pink Epoxy Brad in the center of the flower.
 

If you have this die, use Sticky Strip instead of tape adhesive to assemble your basket. Sticky Strip creates a stronger bond so your basket won't fall apart with the weight of the objects inside.

April 2010 Featured Project

This month's featured project is a hand-stamped journal.  Don't you think this would be a beautiful Mother's Day gift? 

Greenhouse Garden journal

Stamps

• Greenhouse Garden
• Hope Happens

Paper

• Chocolate Chip card stock
• Confetti White card stock
• Old Olive textured card stock
• On Board 5" x 5" Art Journal

Ink

• Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories

• Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon
• Linen thread
• Button Latte Designer buttons
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Bone folder
• Stamp-a-ma-jig

Video Tutorial: Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Watercolor Wonder Crayons are so much fun and blend so easily, allowing for an unlimited range of shades.  To get an instant watercolor image, try coloring directly onto your stamp, misting lightly with water, and stamping onto your paper. You can also take the pigment directly off the crayon with your Aqua Painter to color a stamped image. Or don't use any water at all and just use the crayons to color in your images!

These artist quality, highly pigmented crayons coordinate with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors and are available in color family assortments and a neutral pack (each sold separately).  To learn more, take a look at this video and be sure to contact me if you have any questions!

Bold Brights (set of 12, Item 106695, $19.95)

Earth Elements (set of 12, Item 106696, $19.95)
 
Soft Subtles (set of 12, Item 106697, $19.95)
 
Rich Regals (set of 12, Item 106698, $19.95)

Neutrals (set of 6, Item 106746, $9.95)

We also have 140-lb high quality Watercolor Paper (Item 105019, $6.95) that resists buckling when wet and is sized to layer perfectly onto your card front without having to trim or make adjustments.  You get twenty, 3-3/4" x 5" sheets per package!

Click here to place an online Stampin' Up! order.

Very Thankful

Stampin' Up!'s Making a Difference Program reflects the company's commitment to helping others.  When you purchase the Very Thankful stamp set (115338, $14.95) used in today's project, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  To date, nearly $800,000 has been contributed to this charity!

I *love* the little turtle in this card.  He is just so darn cute! 

Here is a photo of all four of the images that are included in the Very Thankful stamp set!  There is a lot of great variety, don't you think?

Have a creative day!

- Lisa

An Important Announcement Regarding Craft Stampin' Pads

Classic ink will be available in all 40 core colors mentioned in today's earlier post. However, starting in July, Craft Stampin’ Pads will only be available in Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White. Craft Stampin’ Spots and Craft Stampin’ Ink refills will still be available in all 40 core colors to use for embossing, coloring chipboard, and scrapbooking.  

A blank Craft pad will be released in a future mini catalog, which will allow you to create your own Craft pads using our Craft ink refills!  But if you prefer to work with full size pads instead of the 1" Stampin' Spots, consider getting the Craft Stampin' Pads in your favorite colors now while they are still available, since it's much more convenient than making your own!

Have a great day!

It's a Color Renovation!

Stampin' Up! made a huge product announcement yesterday that I am so excited to share with you!  We are getting 5 BRAND NEW COLORS when the new Idea Book and Catalog is released in July!  And it gets even better - they are bringing back 10 of the retired In Colors.  Isn't that fabulous?!

5 NEW COLORS!!!

Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

10 RETURNING IN COLORS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS!!!

Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, River Rock, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi

Here is how the new Color Collections will be organized! (Click on image to enlarge.)

There are 4 collections, each with 10 core colors, for a total of 40 core colors.  In addition to these 40 core colors, Stampin' Up! will release 5 new In Colors each year, and In Colors will have a lifespan of two years instead of one. That means after the first year, there will be 10 additional colors available, for a total of 50 colors (5 In Colors the first year for a total of 45 colors)!

Now that you've seen these new collections, you probably noticed that many of your old favorite colors did not make the cut.  Be sure to stock up on these colors before they are gone forever!  (Don't forget your ink refills!)  We will be bidding a fond farewell to the following colors at the end of June:

Bold Brights:

Glorious Green, Green Galore, Gable Green, Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Brilliant Blue

Earth Elements:

Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun

Rich Regals:

Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue, Taken With Teal, Handsome Hunter

Soft Subtles:

Pale Plum, Blush Blossom, Apricot Appeal, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Sage Shadow, Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace

Neutrals:

Basic Brown, Going Gray

2009-2010 In Colors:

Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay