Timeless Tulips in Soft Pastels

Today's card features the Timeless Tulip Stamp set.

Its spring here in Wisconsin and while there's no flowers yet 

the leaves are beginning to peek through the ground.

Tulips come in a huge variety of colors, but for this card I chose soft pastels:

Highland Heather,    Blushing Bride     So Saffron    Mint Macaron

Tulips and flowers in general are nice, but the main reason for this post

is to talk about colors, specifically the Stampin'UP! color pallette.

Perhaps you've experienced this too?  I clearly remember years ago a card I was really excited about, but my supplies had been cobbled together from a variety of sources:  dollar store ink, big box store paper and garage sale ribbon. 

I spent a lot of time on that project and when it was finished it looked terrible. Everything was pink, but they were different pinks and the colors really clashed.

I now buy all my color product from Stampin'UP! Yes, they have pretty colors and a good variety of colors. But the important thing for me is that everything color coordinates!

Sets of colors blend nicely with each other
- - * - -
and everything in a single color is a perfect match
Inks, ribbons, paper, markers, embellishments, they all match.

The current catalog offers 2 choices of ribbon in Mint Macaron
Both are drop dead gorgeous and since I couldn't decide I just made both!

The card at the top of the post has the 1/8" ribbon
this one has the 1/4" ribbon.

I hope I've got you thinking about color and how you coordinate your projects.
If you need any supplies there are shopping links below
And if you want a little fun check out our INKcredible Crafters Facebook group
we've got a green color challenge going on right now.

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Click here to browse all the current product Product links for this project are below. When placing an on-line order please use this Host Code Be sure you do NOT check "no contact" If you choose that option  I will not be able to see your name and address  but I will also not be able to send you a thank-you card.

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Thanks for stopping by the blog today - I hope this gives you some ideas for playing with your supplies.  And please leave a comment below  to let me know what you think of this technique. 

Timeless Tulips Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [151534] - $18.00	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad [147103] - $7.50	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [147100] - $7.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [147109] - $7.50
	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [147106] - $7.50	Mint Macaron 1/4" Textile Ribbon [149480] - $7.00	Mint Macaron 1/8" Sheer Linen Ribbon [151321] - $6.00

Coordinated DSP and Die Cut Flowers

Do your Colors Match? Do you get all your papers from the same company?  I used to buy mine from whatever store was convenient.

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but  I'd get so frustrated when my pink paper from one store wasn't a perfect match for the pink ink I'd gotten at a different store.  

Then I discovered Stampin'UP! This is one of the benefits of buying colored product from a single manufacturer, and with Stampin'UP! I'm guaranteed that all my colored product matches.

This card is a good example of how the colored product matches. 

The color of the die cut flowers is a perfect match for the print on the designer paper.
The Crisp Cantaloupe card stock matches the Crisp Cantaloupe printed on the paper.

The pretty polkadot paper on this card is from the Stacked With Love paper stack. 

The combination of red and black ( and Crisp Cantaloupe) creates a really classy look.  

This paper pack is pretty versatile - with all the hearts its great for Valentines
 but will work equally well for wedding and anniversary cards and scrapbooks.

Stampin'UP! makes lots of  really pretty designer papers
and they're all 2-sided so you have even more choices.

 

If you're like me you're looking at all those gorgeous choices and having a hard time picking just one.

Thanks for stopping by
I hope you're inspired to design something with some designer paper

January thru March is Sale-a-bration

Each $50 purchase earns you a Free item from the Sale-a-bration Catalog

Check out what you can get free during Sale-a-bration 2015.
 

• Check out the new Occasions Catalog
• See the wonderful Sale-a-bration 2015 options
• Need any other stamping supplies? You can shop 24/7 in my OnLine Store
• Don't miss the Weekly Deals - new product each Tuesday 
• Find great savings on the Clearance Rack

I'll be happy to help you place your order 

If you're ordering on-line then use this Hostess Code 
 to be registered for my Customer Rewards Program
XG7ACGFP  (good thru Jan 22nd)

Coordinated Color with the "Stamping Off" Technique

Stamping Off? Are you familiar with this technique? You'd use this technique when you want a lighter image.

• Ink the stamp.
• Stamp once on scrap paper to lose some of the ink. this is the "stamping off" part
• then without re-inking, stamp on your project. You'll get a lighter image.

I used "stamping off" on yesterday's fall card because, while I did want the Rich Razzleberry color, the color would have been too intense if I'd left the stamp at full strength ink. See more examples of stamping off here.

 Here's the whole card again, you can see why it was important to stamp off to keep the splotches part of the background.  Full strength would have overwhelmed the card.

Color Coordination:  Even though the image has been stamped off, look how perfectly the colors match: the paper, the ink and the Washi Tape.

Color matching is one advantage of getting all your stamping supplies from one company. You're guaranteed that everything coordinates: papers, inks, ribbons, other embellishments like buttons, brads . . . everything is color coordinated. 

Check out Stampin'UP!'s color collections here 

and start planning your next project now.

I appreciate your business.  Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired

• Need any other stamping supplies? You can shop 24/7 in my OnLine Store
• Be sure to check the Clearance Rack for super deals on retired product.
• Don't miss the Weekly Deals - new product each Tuesday 

Vivid Vases with a Little Sparkle

I love how vivid these flower colors appear against the white vases. I reminds me of my Grandma's antique milk glass vases.

These colors are from the Brights Collection: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo. And then to really make the project sparkle - add a little Dazzling Details (Stampin'UP!'s Glitter Glue).

Stampin'UP! is well known for its coordination of color.

• The colors in each collection coordinate with each other
• And you are guaranteed that inks, paper, ribbon and other embellishments as well as the colors in designer print papers will all match!

Color coordination is one of the reasons I chose Stampin'UP!  I remember making a card once with pink paper and pink ribbon and afterwards hiding it away in a drawer because the colors absolutely did not go together.

Are you someone who takes pride in making a color coordinated project?
Check out Stampin'UP!'s Color Collections Here.

And now . . . during Sale-a-bration is the perfect time to stock up on your favorite colors. Each $50 purchase from now through the end of March earns you a FREE item from the Special Sale-a-bration brochure. Check out your options here.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired
 

QUICK LINKS:

• Reduced prices on Retired product  . . .  Check the Clearance Rack HERE
• Special Savings: Deal of the Week  . . . Click here to see The Deal of the Week 
  - New items post each Tuesday
• Sale-a-bration 2014: Jan28-Mar 31 . . . Read the Details HERE
  Download your Wish List and Start Sale-a-brating!
• View our Catalogs On-Line
  -The Annual Catalog (expires May 31) . . . also in Spanish
  -The Occasions Catalog (January - May)
  -The Sale-a-Bration Brochure (Jan 28-Mar 31)

Easy Fall Cards in Gorgeous Fall Colors

These are all three of the cards we made this month at the Community Center Classes.  They're all pretty simple to make . . . Selfishly I make 'em easy - so I don't have to transport too much "stuff". We strive for the easy "wow".

Here in southern Wisconsin our trees still have a few leaves. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year because of the combinations of rich warm colors.  

• The card on the upper left is a combination of Pear Pizzaz, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzelberry. 
• The card on the right is a strip of Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz. 
• The bottom card is Cherry Cobbler, leaf edges are sponged with Chocolate Chip

Fall is all about color! Right?

Color Coordination is really one of Stampin'UP!'s "claims to fame"

Stampin'UP! has coordinated color pallettes so you can get a set of products that are ALL COLOR MATCHED! Color coordinated paper, ink, ribbon, buttons . . . That was a HUGE factor for me when I discovered this company. Its so important that the ink and ribbon and paper and any other bling actually match. Do you have the catalog?  Have you had a chance to browse the color collections? They start on page 138.

If you haven't seen the Stampin'UP! catalogs then check out these links. If you want a copy of the current catalogs just give me a quick call and we'll arrange to have one sent to you. 608-220-3450

• Click HERE to see a PDF of the Annual Catalog good through the end of June
• Click HERE to see a PDF of the Holiday Catalog expires the end of December

Do you like what you see on my blog? You can get all the product to make these projects at my on-line store: Shop here

Thanks for shopping with me,
its what keeps me in business

Tip for Rounding Corners - Get the Most from Your Punches

I have a tip for you on how to get a little extra use from your circle punches. But first . . .

Have you been paying attention to Stampin'UP!'s Color Refresh for 2013?

Ten colors were retired and replaced with some of the more popular In Colors from past years. The colors you see on this project are:  Island Indigo  - -  Marina Mist  - - and Soft Sky If you are wondering what you have that is current, or just want to see the gorgeous new color palettes you can Check out all our current colors HERE Stampin'UP! sells papers in both the 8-1/2x11 size and 12x12 for scrapbooking. The standard card making size of 8-1/2 x 11comes as a package of 24 sheets for $6.95.  Or you can get an assortment package for each color collection.

Today's card is really simple to make. Each color starts as a 1" square. Our 1" square punch makes this so easy! To get the corners rounded you just stick opposite corners into a circle punch as shown here. The black brads add balance for the sentiment. Do you have your new catalog yet?  Contact me for your paper copy or you can download the PDF version here.

Happy Stamping
--Katie

The New 2012-2013 InColors

This card showcases the new 2012-2013 InColors. Its a very simple design: each piece started as a punched square and then we used a corner rounder punch to round opposite corners on the square.
* 1-3/8" Square Punch . . . #119877, $16.95
* 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch . . . #119871, $6.95

The little image that is stamped on 3 of the squares is from a stamp Set called Betsy's Blossoms. This is one of the new stamp sets just released in the new catalog. Do you have your new catalog yet?  If not, then contact me to see how we can get one to you. Its also available on-line.

The sentiment is from a different stamp set called Petite Pairs. I really like this set: I like the words in it and I like the font. By the way, inside the card is the rest of the sentiment - it says "for everything you are to me".

And ALL the stamps in this catalog (except the individual ala carte stamps) are available in either wood mount or clear mount.

I really appreciate the fact that Stampin'UP! carries rhinestones that are self-stick! Our package of rhinestones comes as a sheet with 3 different sizes and I used the small ones on this card. They are smaller than a glue dot and I can't imagine how I would have attached them if they weren't self-stick. What a great innovation! #119246, $4.95

Like I said, these are the new InColors. One of the signature features of Stampin'UP! products is the color palettes and the color coordination among palettes. We have 4 regular color collections and a 5th, more trendy set of colors that rotates on a 2-year cycle. So, the new 2012-2013 In Colors are:

*Midnight Muse

*Summer Starfruit

*Raspberry Ripple

*Primrose Petals and

*Gumball Green

REMEMBER:

• You can view the new catalog online as a PDF
• You can shop on-line here

And if you don't already have a paper catalog then contact me to discuss how we can get you one.

Happy Stamping
--Katie