Ready for another sneak peek into the Summer mini?  Sure you are!   I am still working with the Fabulous Florets set and decided that I wanted to make more samples using this set and a similar color palette so my little card tree will have samples that all coordinate.  Fortuantely my  stand only has room for 5 cards so i only have 2 more to go!  These colors are not ones I usuallyi work with so it is also stretching me a bit. 

Here is the card closed.

If you are wondering if there is a 3 petal flower image in the set the answer is no.  I had to trim away some of the petals so that it would fit in the tiny area and keep the card open. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Fabuous Florets,  Happy Greetings (also from the Summer mini) and Three Little Words
Ink:  Black Craft pad
Paper:  Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Old Olive and Beyond the Garden DSP
Big Shot: Scallop Circle and Clear Circle dies
Punch: Word Window punch
Extras: Black Embossing powder

It is pretty hard to believe that I did not use any ribbon, glitter, pearls or rhinestones on this card.   That is a pretty rare occurence.  I am thinking this card will be one that I will feature in my upcoming card kit.   Hope you like today's card and please stop by again soon.

I still had the supplies out from the Fabulous Florets sample I posted here.  I wanted to share another idea with you using the rock and roll technique, the stamp set and the Beyond the Garden DSP.

I used Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds on the flower to give it more texture and glitz.  Sprinkle the Dazzling Diamonds glitter on to the wet Crystal Effects and it will stay put.  Crystal Effects is a dimensional adhseive so it will not flatten out unless you touch it while it is wet.

Here I captured a little of the shine and glitz of the flower.  The Crystal Effects requires drying time but worth the wait since it adds a lot of dimension and shine to the flower.   

Supplies
Stamps:  Fabulous Florets and You're a Gem
Ink:  Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade
Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, and Beyond the Garden DSP
Extras: Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamond glitter

Hope you enjoyed another sneak peek from the Summer mini catalog!  Don't forget to sign up for my mailing/newsletter list, just complete the information in the box in the upper right hand corner. 

What a mouthful of a title!  Are you wondering what the Blossom Bouquet layer punch is?  Well, it is a new punch that will be available in the Summer mini catalog.  The Summer mini begins in May and as demonstrators we are able to pre-order from the mini.  This new punch has a selector lever on it so you can choose 3 different layers to punch.   It is really a cool idea, you get more "punch" out of your punch. 

Isn't it a great looking flower?  I should have taken pictures of the other designs that get punched but I promise there will be more samples I will share using the different punch layers. 

Here's what the inside looks like.

Supplies:
Paper:  Red Glimmer paper, First Edition DSP, Basic Black, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Punches:  Blossom Bouquest Triple Layer punch, 3/4" circle, Dotted Scallop ribbon border
Bog Shot:  Naturally Serif strip die
Extras: Real Red satin ribbon, Glimmer Basic brads

Hard to believe there is no stamping on this card.  I was going to stamp "birthday"  but decided for now to leave it blank.   Have a happy one!

Welcome to another Flashback Friday!  Today we have a flashback to a technique called Rock and Roll and a Flash Forward with a sneak peek at a stamp set called Fabulous Florets.  Fabulous Florets will be making its official debut in the Summer mini catalog.  This set  works really  well with the Rock and Roll technique.  The layout used is very similar to  one shown in the  Summer mini catalog.

What is the Rock and Roll technique? 

This technique works best with solid images.  Pick at least two colors of ink.  Ink your image with the lighter color.  Now roll the edges of the stamp in the darker ink.  You are trying to hit  just around the edges of the image.  In the sample on the left I used Melon Mambo ink and Pacific Point ink. 

This sample uses Daffodil Delight, Tangerine              
Tango  and Poppy Parade ink.  The top  flower uses all 3 colors. 
 1. Ink stamp in Daffodil Delight

2. Using Tangerine Tango roll the edge of the stamp on the ink.  Since this is the 2nd color ink more than just the edge of the stamp but not the whole stamp.

3.  Roll the stamp in Poppy Parade and try and hit just the edges of the image.

The middle flower uses Tangerine tango and Poppy Parade.  Love how the colors blended!

Here's the full card.

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Whisper White, Tangerine Tango,  Daffodil DelightBeyond the Garden DSP
Big Shot:  Tasteful Trim and Flower Garden TIEF
Extras:  Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon and Chat Room (retired rub ons)

Hope you enjoyed today's Flashback Friday and your sneak peek at the Fabulous Florets stamp set, Beyond the Garden DSP and the new Flower Garden TIEF. 

Late last night or I should say early this morning I finished this Nature Walk card.  I could not get it out of my head so I decided I better just sit down and get it stamped.  It really came together easily.  If you are wondering how I did the coloring I used a cotton swab and picked up ink color directly from the ink pad.  A friend of mine (hi Gail!) found some swabs that had a point at one end which works really well for this kind of coloring. 

Stamps: Nature Walk and You're a Gem
Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Botanical Gazette DSP
Punches:  Itty Bitty Shapes pack
Extras:  Basic Pearls

I was thinking that this would have made a nice manly card minus the flower punches and pearls.  What do you think?  Do you think that the one floral image makes it too femme?  Is it too plain? Let me know what your think.

Today I finally got around to completing the Nature Walk  make and take projects from the SU Regional.   I changed the projects a little or a lot in some instances just to make them more my own. 

Stamps:  Nature Walk and Wonderfully Worn
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Naturals Vanilla. Not Quite Navy, Chery Cobblerand First Edition
Punches:  Itty Bitty Shapes pack
Extras: Distressing kit, Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon

This is a different look for me and I hope it is not too over done.  I crinkled, sponged, and distressed a lot.  You know it was kind of fun to do. 

The next project was a 3 x 3 note holder and notes.  I kept the basic holder the same but change the front cover.  I am really happy with how this turned out.  I am going to make a full size card with it and if it turns out i will share it with you.

Stamps:  Nature Walk and You're a Gem
Ink:  Early Espresso, Chery Cobbler, Marina Mist, More Mustard and Old Olive
Paper:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla and Botanical Gazette DSP
Extras:  Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, Itty Bitty Shapes pack . and Basic Pearls

Again I changed the cards.  It was fun to have the make and take packet as a starting point and then figure out how to make the cards mine.   Thanks for stopping by!  Remember the Nature Walk is from the Occasions mini catalog.  The Occasions mini ends at the end of April so you still have a little time to place your order.  If you would like to order any of the products please visit my online store at my SU website or click on the link on the right side of the blog.

I wanted to try and make an easel card that was a different shape than the regular A-2 card.  I had not used the large bird image in the Nature Walk set and thought he would look quite handsome standing among the flowers.  

Here  is the card closed.

Stamps: Nature Walk and Thanks for Caring
Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive & Marina Mist markers
Paper:  Marina Mist and Very Vanilla
Big Shot:  Scallop Circle die
Punches: Scallop Oval and Large Oval
Extras:  Old Olive Satin ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Aqua Painter and Coluzzle

I am giving this to a friend who is having back surgery on  Thursday.  She will have some pretty flowers and her very own bluebird of happiness.  Stamp something and send it to someone and brighten their day!

I am getting off my polka dot kick and on to stripes!  This striped DSP is from the DSP Patterns Stack Brights Collection.  I could not resist making a  striped spool of thread and a striped tomato pin cushion-it must be an heirloom variety!  I love the bright colors of Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo.  It has been rainy and gray for the past few days so I needed to get some color in somehow. 

Stamps:  Sew Suite
Ink:  Black Stazon
Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, DSP Patterns stack-Brights Collection
Big Shot:  Clear Circle,   Scallop Circle, and Perfect Polka Dot TIEF
Punches:  Scallop trim border and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
Embellies: Basic Pearls, 1/8"  Taffeta ribbon in Daffodil Delight  and Designer Big Buttons

Did you know that Stampin'Up has grab bags?   If you like surprises and  great deals you  will probably love these grab bags.  What are they? These grab bags come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.  These grab bags are only available while supplies last.  From what we've been told they are very popular.  How do you get one?  Go to my online store  at www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net.  While you are there make sure you check out the Clearance Rack.  There are all kinds of bargains to be had BUT they go FAST!  While we are talking about online orders I want to remind you that the best way to place an online order with me is to go through my website:  www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net.  If you go through my website you will qualify for the best price and Stampin Rewards too.  If you have any questions about this PLEASE contact me.  I hate to see you miss out on any benefits you are enttiled to. 

  Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Want a better look at the Four Frames stamp set and Paisley Petals DSP?  Click on the Spring is Blossoming icon on the right side of the blog.  You can also see samples featuring the Four Frames stamp set and Paisley Petals DSP here, here, here, here, and here. 

These products won't be available again until July 1! (no fooling)

Another sample using the Four Frames stamp set and Paisley Petals DSP. 

I am almost done with my paperwork.  Yippee!  So I should be able to get back to stamping this weekend.  No Flashback Friday (kind of a flashback to last friday huh?)  If you have a suggestion for a Flashback Friday feature send me an email or leave me a comment.