Flowerbug's Inkspot

Important Dates!

Occasions Mini Catalog:
I am so glad that Stampin Up! is extending the dates the Summer/Occasions Mini Catalog through June.  It is an awesome little catalog packed full of great products, I needed more time to use & show everything to you.  And I've heard lots of comments that you needed more time to purchase everything you wanted.

Spring Summer Collection 2008
And if you haven't heard yet, the current Catalog is good through August 10th. 
Stampin' Up! is waiting to put out the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog until they can hand it to the Demonstrators who attend Convention in August.  Jane is going with me this year, so it should be a fantastic time in Salt Lake! 

NEW Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog:
Be sure to let me know if you want to reserve your copy if you want one right away in August.  I'll be pre-ordering on July 20th. 
****Those who pre-order will be given first priority to my stash of brand new catties! 
All of my current Club Members will receive a FREE copy.  Those who plan to sign up for my Scrapbook Clubs in the Fall should also let me know they want their own copy ordered too.

Retired Stamp Set List
June 15th - that is the date we will know which sets will retire for good in the current Spring/Summer Collection.  I will post a list here on my Blog as soon as I know.

Retired Accessory List
July 21st - this is when we will know which accessories will retire for good.  Any of the current punches, ribbon, papers, tools, scrapbooking items & wheels will be on this list if retiring.
These items are only available as supplies last, so contact me ASAP if you want any of them. 

In Color items:
Stampin Up! has said that all of the current In Color items will retire.  This includes:

• Purely Pomegranate
• Wild Wasabi
• Soft Sky
• Groovy Guava
• River Rock
• Blue Bayou

If you love any of these 6 In Colors be sure to stock up on them.  And if you have any of the ink pads, be sure to order the Ink Refill so you can keep your ink pad moist for a long time.  And then you'll want to have a supply of card stock on hand to go with your favorite ink, right??
The stitched ribbons that match so well will be retiring as well as any papers or Simply Scrappin' kits that have any In Colors in them too.
*****Any of these items will only be available as supplies last after July 21st, so order the before that date if you really want them! 

'Manly-Man' Card Club Swaps

The most difficult of cards for most of us are Masculine - we gals just love our flowers & girlie stamps!  But my gals met this challenge & did a fantastic job at it too.
Here are the cards for their monthly themed Card Swaps.  Each one is special on it's own, so try to look closely at all the little details.  Neat layouts &check out their use of cool hardware on each one too.  The coloring on many of these is just amazing!


Only my Club members are able to join this swap & we limit it to just 16 each month.  Next month's theme is 'In the Garden' - should be a fun one!


Thanks girls - another fantastic group of cards.  I know it was a struggle for some of you to keep them geared to the men - so I really appreciate the effort you all made. 

Ways to Use Ribbon Class

I've been playing with my stash of ribbons lately & found some new, fun ways to use it. 
I thought you would like to make some of them too, so I will include this class at my Summer Days at the Vegas event on June 22nd.
We'll be making 4 cards for just $10, each using ribbons in a new & different way.  Here are two of the cards we'll be doing.  The other two (maybe 3) will be a surprise!


Please RSVP with payment by June 12th to reserve your spot.
This event runs from 11 am - 7 pm at the Vegas Hotel - come anytime to make your cards.

You are also welcome to come just to do your own thing - scrapping or stamping.  It is FREE if you will order at least $5 in food to help defray the cost of renting the room.  Please let me know if you'd like to reserve Table Space. 

Ribbon Tying Tutorials

Many people seem to struggle with tying a knot or bow in ribbons, so I thought I would post a link to some great ribbon tying tutorials.  Check them out, they're great!

Ribbon Tying Tutorials

Casing Jimmi

Jimmi is the featured stamper on our Great Swaps Girls blog this time.  Her gallery is so full of wonderful cards I had a hard time picking one, but here is the one I finally settled on.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/851828?cat=500&ppuser=71474

Here's my case.  I didn't have the Die Cut Blooms to use like she did (can you believe I don't have everything SU sells?!), so I used the Key Tab Punch to make the 'petals' on my flower.  I also don't have the cuttlebug 'yet' so I used my Dotted Background stamp.

By the way, the definition of 'case'  is to 'Copy And Share Everything'.  But many people try to change at least 2 things from the original in a challenge. 
Thanks for looking!

















I used Pretty in Pink, Wasabi & Shimmer White on this card. 
The stamps are from Garden Whimsy.

3 Pocket Note Card Gift-Folio

OK, here is the project we were working on during the 'Power Outage'.  The perfect little hand-made stamped gift folio!
It is a little 3 pocket folder that holds 4 note-cards & a sheet of Postage stamps.  I used Pomegranate Textured cardstock for the main piece & Berry Bliss Designer Paper for the rest.  We know this paper will retire in August, since it has the popular Pomegranate In color included on some of the papers. 















Here are the directions:

The base is 6" X 12", scored at 4 1/4" & 8 3/4".  I used Pomegranate textured CS.
For the pockets, cut 3 pieces from Designer Paper (Berry Bliss here).

• 2 pieces at 2 1/4" X 6"
• 1 piece at 1 1/2" X 6" for the postage stamps

Use either Sticky strip or Tombo Multi Adhesive on just the very outer edges to secure these above the scored lines, leaving plenty of room in the pockets for filling.












I used Stampin' Up!'s Note cards with matching envelopes to fill the pockets.  If you're interested in ordering these, the package come with 20 of each for $5.95.
I used a few different stamp sets to embellish these cards.  I wanted them to be simple, non-gender & versatile. 
Stamp sets - It's Your Birthday, Happy Everything, Simply Said & Bursting with Joy & Think Happy Thoughts.   We stamped the envelopes to match. 
Ink - Pomegranate, Close to Cocoa & Pretty in Pink. 
Punches - small & large Star, 3.4", 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circles & the 5 Petal punch
















We made a belly band for the outside from a strip of Berry Bliss paper, cut at 1 1/2" X 10 1/2".  Added a length of Stitched Pomegranate ribbon secured with a few mini glue dots & a stamped & punched medallion. 



















It's a very easy & quick gift idea, perfect for those people you have no idea what to give to.  Think of graduates, baby or wedding thank you's & the elderly who have no need for more 'stuff'. 
There you have it!  Our stamping in the dark, Power Outage project.  You can see why we couldn't quit before we're done!

Power Outage!

Well now there's evidence - I am just a bit obsessed.  But so is Jane, so I am in good company. 

Mary, Jane & I got together to do some stamping on Saturday & 8 hours later, after Mary left, the power went out.  We were in the middle of a cool project (soon to be posted!) & just couldn't quit!  So my son & husband got us some lanterns & held flashlights over us so we could finish.  Thanks guys!! 
Of course my husband had to take a picture so he could prove this little fact to others - there is no stopping us stampers!


 

May's Card Clubs

Just thought I'd post what we did for May's Card Clubs this month.  

We used the new Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set to make these gorgeous cards.  The color combo is way out of my norm, so it was fun to do.  We used Shimmer White, Sage Shadow, Sahara Sand & Orchid Opulence.  It  features watercoloring with blender pens & both watercolor pencils & ink.  We used the soon retiring Hodgepodge Hardware & Crystal Effects on the flowers.  They could add a little bit of sponging & distressing if they wanted to.

The Bugs & Kisses shaker card was easy for them too.  Step by step we get 'em done!
We made a frame from thick double stick tape on the back of the stamped & punched front image, after we added the transparency piece behind it!  Add some ants on the white piece behind it on the large black layer & add green microbeads & your done!  Really simple once you do one.  I think everyone had fun & planned to try some more at home.


 I do have two openings in my Tuesday night Card Club if you're interested.  We meet once a month making WOW cards that are a bit beyond the average card - usually with a fancy fold or a technique like the shaker card. 

NEW - Fresh Cuts!

Oooh, these are the neatest thing I've played with for awhile now!  Stampin' Up! is giving us an opportunity to get one of the brand new Stamps in the Fall/Winter Idea Book coming out in August. 

During the month of June, when you purchase the Fresh Cuts stamp set (which is Die-Cut by the way!), an elegant floral set with a sophisticated French-inspired flair, you receive the coordinating Fresh Cut Notes at a special price of just $5. These notes are Whisper White laser-cut scored note cards with a gorgeous open-work flower in the front, and their unique size of 4x4 inches makes them fun to work with.  Square cards are the hot, new shape.

****If you prefer to order just the Fresh Cut Notes & not the Stamp Set they are $8.95 for 15.  The stamp set will sell separately for $21.95 during June. 

Another neat thing about the Notes is that SU's 5 Petal Punch matches the center of the Laser Cut perfectly!  (Check out the Pink & Olive Card below - the pink punch is underneath the die-cut area).  Stampin' Up! is so smart to coordinate their products this way.
$$ Saving Offer!  For those who purchase the bundle or register for the class described below, I am offering the coordinating 5 Petal Punch for only $13.

 
I'll be offering a Fresh Cuts Class on Wednesday, July 2nd that includes the Pre-ordered Fresh Cuts Stamp set & the Notes for only $36.  Choose from either 3 pm or 6:30 pm class time.  Both the stamp set & notes would cost you $32 so you are getting the class for only $4!  RSVP with payment by June 20th please.
 
LONG DISTANCE CUSTOMERS:  If you'd like to take this class, but do not live close to me, just add $3 & I will ship the class to you.  You'll receive step by step instructions with photos along with all of the pre-cut card stock, ribbon & accessories needed to complete the projects. You will need some of your own ink & punches to complete them exactly as I have.  I will post a supply list soon. 




I've shown a few of the cards I made today while I was playing. We'll be making cards similar to these at the class - at least 4-5 projects.