Hello stampers! and welcome to my portion of our Stamp It Summer Lovin' Blog Hop.  You may have arrived here from Linda Cullen's blog (isn't her creation amazing!!) or you may have made this your first morning stop.  YAY!!  Well, let's get started.  But, first, I have to admit something REALLY horrible.  I had THE hardest time coming up with a card design, or even a smidgin' of a vision of what I could create for the hop.  Major creative head block, I tell ya!  When under the wire, and with just a few hours to spare, I finally came up with a pretty cute card...if I do say so myself.  One thing is for sure, I'll be drinking hot, skinny Mocha's with an extra shot of espresso for the rest of the day.  haha

So, what do you think? Pretty yummy, right?!!  You might say this is a Sneak Peek of a new stamp set that is coming out in the brand new 2015-2016 catalog....Sprinkles Of Life.  And, it has a coordinating Tree Builder punch to go with it.  LOVE the bundles offered in our catalogs...what a money saving idea!

I have also endulged in most of the new In colors...Watermelon Wonder, Delightful Dijon and Tip Top Taupe with a little Crushed Curry, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay to lighten things up a bit.  You can't see it very well in this picture, but each scoop of 'ice cream' was dabbed into my Versa Mark ink pad and clear embossed.  I used liquid glue to create the layers...snail wouldn't have held very well due to the clear embossing I had done.  I popped up the Tip Top Taupe ice cream cone and the layers of ice cream using Stampin' Dimensionals onto a layer of Whisper White cardstock that was stamped with a couple of images from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  The stamped images were inked with Crushed Curry, Pool Party and Watermelon Wonder, but were stamped off once on scrap paper before stamping lightly onto the Whisper White layer.

The patterned paper comes from a brand new 6"x6" Designer Series Paper Stack called Cherry On Top...available in the new catalog....YUMMY!  I had a small strip of the Watermelon Wonder cardstock that worked perfect to create a banner strip....it was the perfect addition to double as the sentiment, too.

I love adding little accents to my cards.  I added some Linen Thread to the ice cream cone to give it that little 'country' touch, and to balance out the card, I cut a small strip of 1-1/4" Crushed Curry Striped Ribbon, folded it in half, and added it to the focal panel using glue dots.  The Bermuda Bay focal panel was popped up using dimensionals and set into place.

TIP:  You can click on any of my images to see an enlarged view of the details that I try to describe for you.  Go ahead...give it a try!

Up next on the hop is Mary O'Neill Bush, she is another amazing card crafter...you don't want to miss stopping by to visit her. 

Free Stamps Offer!

Catalog Product Shares

   May God Bless You and Your Family!!

GOTTA HAVE IT?  Please click on the Stampin’ Up! product images below for more details and easy, on-line shopping.  A printable supply list is available as well!

It's that time of year, again.  The time when many young 17- and 18-year-olds reach the final day as a high school student...their last path through the classrooms that was filled with so much knowledge to be shared and learned.  The time of year to celebrate the many successes obtained and achieved to reach the grand finale...Graduation.  

This little gem is for a special young lady, Paige, whom we've known since birth; therefore, a special milestone in a young life deserves a special 'over the top' kind of graduation card. Let's check out the card deets:

• I was soooo happy to see the Class of 2015 single stamp offered in the Occasions Mini catalog.  Granted, it may appear that it is only usable for the year 2015, but that's not true.  Just simply die cut or stamp a different number and pop it up over the '5'.  Or, you can take a panel of coordinating cardstock to cover all of the numbers and add whatever...a sentiment such as "Class Of Hard Knocks", a whole new set of numbers, etc. Don't give up on this stamp set just yet.

• I love designing a special graduation card to the schools colors.  This schools colors were Red and Black.  The day of graduation, the graduates were dressed in equal number of Red, Black and White graduation robes.  So cool!  Especially, since I designed my card in those same colors!

• The Whisper White panel was dry embossed with the Stylish Stripes Embossing folder and the help of my trusty (and most fav-or-ite tool) Big Shot. My Big Shot got a 'big' workout...die cut On Film framelits, the Starburst framelits (on the Retirement list), and the Circles Collection framelits.  WHEW!  I love-love-love my Big Shot!

• The Designer Series 12 x 12 Paper Packs are so handy to add a simple pattern to a somewhat busy and intricate creation. The Neutrals Paper Pack is also on the Retirement list to make room for a new pack with all new patterns to fall in love with.  I decided to pair the patterned paper with a strip of Smoky Slate just to add a bit of subtleness.

• Now, about the single stamped image.  You can do so many things with this stamp to build pizzazz.  I chose to ink it up in the school colors...Memento Tuxedo Black and Real Red.  The '2015' Banner was inked with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and stamped onto a scrap piece, hand cut (or, what we call "fussy cutting), and then popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals onto the Circle die cut.

• There are other layers with Stampin' Dimensionals, too.  Those little 'foam elevators' (as one of my customers calls them) really add height and character to any creation.  Take a peek.

• Oh, and what card can leave your craft table without the inside all polished off and ready for your words of wisdom and lovely signature.  Not mine!  When I'm working with a darker cardstock base, it's worth it to add a layer of white or other very light colored cardstock so that your recipient can actually read your handwritten message.

• I dressed up the inside with some Whisper White and scrap strips of Basic Black and Real Red cardstock.  I just love the Tag Talk stamp set as it renders itself to variety of inking techniques, too.  Plus, there is a coordinating punch to make life quick and easy...the Label Bracket punch.  I'm so happy to see that this stamp set was voted to move onto the new catalog.  Whoop! :)

NOTE:  The stamp set, Class of 2015 and the Starburst Framelits will be retiring at the end of this annual catalog year.  I am really going to miss those framelits.  They add a lot of spunk and character when you feel you need that little sumthin'-sumthin'.  LOVE those framelits.

Thank you for Shopping with Lori

• RETIRING PRODUCTS: Some up to 50% off while supplies last or ending June 2
• SHOP | VIEW: 2015 Occasions Catalog 
• SHOP | VIEW: Stampin' Up! Annual 2014-15 Catalog online
• 50% OFF your first two months Paper Pumpkin Subscription (New Subscribers only...Use Promo Code SAVE50)
  
• Lori's Catalog Product Shares: to review your options Download CatalogProductShares-2015-2016
• Don't forget to check out this weeks 25% off Weekly Deals
• Visit the Clearance Rack - up to 80% off
• Orders of $30 or more receive Dreamers Loyalty Rewards Points, accumulate and redeem for free stamps...print your copy!
• Use Hostess Code ABUEPS2W to get a FREE GIFT from me when you order $50 or more.

   May God Bless You and Your Family!!

GOTTA HAVE IT?  Please click on the Stampin’ Up! product images below for more details and easy, on-line shopping.  A printable supply list is available as well!

YAY!!!  I am SUPER excited to share my 2015-2016 Annual Catalog Product Shares with you.  My customers have been asking for this, so I thought it was high time I got one put together.  Who am I to disappoint?  Not you, that's for sure!  So, if you are new to the paper crafting industry, you might be asking, "What the heck is a 'Product Share'"?  Follow me as I explain.

WHAT IS A PRODUCT SHARE?

As each new Stampin' Up! catalog comes to life, the excitement for all of the new products can be a bit overwhelming.  You COULD place a big order and purchase one of each one of the new Designer Series Paper packs and accessories in the catalog, but that could be a bit outside of the walls of our pocket book.  To share a small portion of these new products that we *NEED* to have, means that we bring in the purchasing power of our friends and purchase a smaller portion of everything for a smaller fraction of the price.  This is why product shares are so helpful.  When you sign up for a spot in one of my shares, you'll have "a little bit of everything" so that you can "sample the buffet" before fully investing in the products.

How to "save your spot" in Lori's Product Shares, please email me directly at [email protected]

Everyone within the U.S. is welcome to participate (current customers, new customers, and members of Lori's Dream Team).  Supplies for the first round of share groups will be ordered as soon as the catalog goes live on June 2nd.  In order to offer these shares, I have to collect EIGHT (8) signups; and per Stampin' Up! policy, I am not allowed to post a "Buy Now" button for product shares.  So, in order to get in on the first round..."save your spot" and email me the following information:

2015-2016 Annual Catalog Product Shares

So, what items from the new Stampin' Up! catalog am I sharing with you?  To make life super easy for you (and for me), I've included several options for you.  There are Designer Series, Specialty Paper and Color Collection Paper Stacks shares; New to the catalog Ribbon & Trim shares; and Updated and Returning Ribbon shares.  My All-time favorite is the "Whole Kit-n-Kaboodle" option.  Receive everything offered at a bundled price!  To view all of the selections up close and personal  Download CatalogProductShares-2015-2016 to review your options.

YAY!!  If you are here, you have traveled the path of a rainbow of One Stamp At a Time (OSAT) Blog Hoppers sharing their favorite Monochromatic designs.  My card is a pretty simple layout, but there is a really cool watercolor technique I can't wait to share with you.  I had a lot, I mean (A LOT) of fun putting together this card for you.

Truthfully, I think this is my very first Monochromatic design...and, hoping it won't be my last.  It was a bit of a challenge for me as I love to mix-n-match colors, and to think outside the box with my color schemes. I decided to use shades of '???'...more specifically, ?? and ??. Oops!!  Did I really not share my Monochromatic color shades with you?!!  Sorry, I'm in the teasing mood and couldn't resist.  LOL  But seriously, the Watercolor Paper really makes the shades pop and this card would work with various hues of any color! Ready to see the color I chose to use? Okay, enough teasing... here it is...

**squeal**  Isn't this soooo cool?!!  The card base is Strawberry Slush and houses a watercolor paper layer featuring a really neat watercolor technique and matted onto a piece of Pink Pirouette.  The background is suppose to mimic the Bokeh affect of a camera lens and started out looking like this:

How did you do that?  All I did was take my Strawberry Slush and Pink Pirouette Stampin' Write Markers and (using the big tipped marker) colored swatches of ink...covering the entire piece of Watercolor Paper.  This piece measures 3-5/8" x 4-7/8".

For the next step of this technique, you will need 2 stamps and a Stampin' Spritzer.  One stamp needs to be a large solid stamp and the other a speckled image.  The perfect images for this came from the Celebrate Today stamps....solid balloon and the speckled accent image.

Next, mist the solid balloon with plain water and 'stamp' onto the watercolor paper that I colored.  Keep misting/spritzing and stamping all over the paper until you get the paper pretty....definitely not damp, but not soaking and dripping in water, either.

Do this same thing with the speckled image.  Except, this time, add more pressure when stamping the speckled image.  And, spend time holding this stamp to the paper...do a little rocking, too.  Keep doing this until you have stamped all across the paper.  As you go, you will see the colors start to fade into each other.

Use your Heat Tool on low heat to dry the watercolor paper.  This will take a little bit.  Then, let the paper cool completely.  If you don't, then when you pour the Black embossing powder over the Versa Marked sentiment, the powder will stick to all areas that are still warm and you won't have a clean background.  I matted the watercolor paper layer to a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock, added Stampin' Dimensionals to the back and put in place on the card base.

The sweet sentiment is from the Big On You stamp set.  Such a fun set.  Please do tell....what sentiment stamp set is a must-have in your stash of rubber stamps?  I look forward to seeing all your comments on this. :)  To balance and add a little sumthin-sumthin....I added some Pink Pirouette 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon and a scattering of Rhinestone jewels.

For my 2nd project....I created a fun Mini Index Card pad to go along with the card (inspired by Becky Roberts).  I purchased some 4" x 6" index cards and cut them in 2" widths.  Punched them with the Scallop Tag Topper punch and created the cover using the same watercolor technique and topped with a piece of designer series paper from the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack (on the Retirement List).  Accented it with Pink Pirouette and Strawberry Slush flowers with the help of my Boho Blossoms punch (also, on the Retirement List).

Want to see some more monochromatic color combinations?  Then, hit 'Next" and travel along to Diane Squires' blog.  If you get lost along the way, come back here, click on the names of the hoppers, and you'll be right back on the rainbow road.  Enjoy!!

• Eva
• Justin
• Andrea
• Elizabeth Jeanne
• Debbie
• Maggie
• James
• Wynne
• Tina
• Megan
• Martie
• Holly
• Lori - You are HERE
• Diane
• Darla

LAST CHANCE STAMPIN’ UP! RETIRING PRODUCTS AND SAVINGS.  The Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products Lists are update daily.  As I said, the Boho Blossoms punch and All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack will not make it to the new Annual Catalog, so if you love this punch and lovely stack of designer paper, and don't have either of them, yet, be sure to add it to your next Stampin' Up! order.  Get your favorite stamps, dies, punches, designer series paper and embellishments while supplies last.  Select items up to 50% off!

When you see an “X” in the right column, that is an indication that the product has sold out. 

Click on the buttons below to view the list of stamps and accessories that will no longer be available as of June 2nd.  The stamp sets will continue to be made until May 26th, but the Accessories will only be available while supplies last.  Don't delay.

Thank you for Shopping with Lori

• RETIRING PRODUCTS: Some up to 50% off while supplies last or ending June 2
• SHOP | VIEW: 2015 Occasions Catalog 
• SHOP | VIEW: Stampin' Up! Annual 2014-15 Catalog online
• 50% OFF your first two months Paper Pumpkin Subscription (New Subscribers only...Use Promo Code SAVE50)
  
• Don't forget to check out this weeks 25% off Weekly Deals
• Visit the Clearance Rack - up to 80% off
• Orders of $30 or more receive Dreamers Loyalty Rewards Points, accumulate and redeem for free stamps...print your copy!
• Use Hostess Code 3AXX2SPA to get a FREE GIFT from me when you order $50 or more.

   May God Bless You and Your Family!!

GOTTA HAVE IT?  Please click on the Stampin’ Up! product images below for more details and easy, on-line shopping.  A printable supply list is available as well!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you!  Today, I am sharing the card I created and sent off to my Mom with a box of Dove Heart Chocolates and gift.  I don't want to spill too many beans because her package will not arrive in her mailbox until Monday.  Yes, I am traditionally late....no matter how many weeks or months I purchase a gift...in advance!  Eeeek!  I am so excited to share my card...let's take a peek.

Here are the fine details....

• I'm soooo happy that Stampin' Up! prints the colors featured in each of the Designer Series Paper packs....makes it so much easier to look for coordinating cardstocks, inks, embellishments, etc.  The color combination is partly inspired by the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack...Blushing Bride (card base) and Lost Lagoon (matted layer to Blushing Bride patterned paper).  I threw in Pear Pizzazz to ink up the leaves because it was a tad darker than Pistachio Pudding.

• I would have to say that 99% of my creations MUST have a texture or mix of media sprinkled throughout.  Even though I did not use my Big Shot (GASP!!), I added a little texture of distressing around the sentiment.  This piece is matted on a Lost Lagoon patterned piece from the All Abloom DSP Stack.

• The sentiment comes from the Mother's Love stamp set and was inked with Versa Mark ink, then heat embossed using Basic Black embossing powder and my heat tool.  The photo doesn't show off the embossing, but the raised texture really adds a beautiful WOW factor.  When in doubt about the appearance of any sentiment...heat emboss it.  :-)

• I would have to say that it has been FOREVER since I have fussy-cut anything.  The floral images in the Mother's Love stamp set are designed as a 2-step stamp system. I stamped the outline of the flower & stemp using Memento Black Ink, and then inked up the 'filler' of the flowers and leaves using Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz.  I layered the flowers and used Stampin Dimensionals to pop them up.

• To add character and balance, I used Linen Thread to tie around the flower stems...giving it the appearance of a flower bunch.  I took a 1/4 of a Tea Lace Doily, scrunched it and glued it to the back of the sentiment layer; and fussy cut the smaller flower of the group and popped up and placed in the corner.

• And, don't forget the bling!  Each flower was adorned with a Rhinestone jewel.

         

I love dressing up the inside of my cards, too.  I did warn you that this was a beauty, right?!!  I had sooo much fun creating this card for my wonderful Mom.  Now that I've shared, I am really anxious for her to get her package.  Giddy up, Pony Express!

NOTE:  The All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack is on the Accessories retirement list and discounted to 50% off.

LAST CHANCE STAMPIN’ UP! RETIRING PRODUCTS AND SAVINGS.  The Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products Lists are available!  Get your favorite stamps, dies, punches, designer series paper and embellishments while supplies last.  Select items up to 50% off!

An “X” in the right column indicates the product has sold out. 

Click on the buttons below to view the list of stamps and accessories that will no longer be available as of June 2nd.  The stamp sets will continue to be made until May 26th, but the Accessories will only be available while supplies last.  Don't delay.

Thank you for Shopping with Lori

• RETIRING PRODUCTS: Some up to 50% off while supplies last or ending June 2
• SHOP | VIEW: 2015 Occasions Catalog 
• SHOP | VIEW: Stampin' Up! Annual 2014-15 Catalog online
• Don't forget to check out this weeks 25% off Weekly Deals
• Visit the Clearance Rack - up to 80% off
• Orders of $30 or more receive Dreamers Loyalty Rewards Points, accumulate and redeem for free stamps...print your copy!
• Use Hostess Code 3AXX2SPA to get a FREE GIFT from me when you order $50 or more.

   May God Bless You and Your Family!!

GOTTA HAVE IT?  Please click on the Stampin’ Up! product images below for more details and easy, on-line shopping.  A printable supply list is available as well!

Stampin' Up! just announced an incredible deal on Paper Pumpkin!  They did a livestream tonight to show off the new May kit and then announced an incredible deal if you are new to Paper Pumpkin.

Here's what they shared:

MEGA deal alert! For 24 hours only, new subscribers can sign up for just $5 USD/$7 CAD (shipping included) for their first month! Go to my Paper Pumpkin store and enter promo code 24HOURS. Hurry--this offer expires in 24 hours at 6:50 PM (MT). Best time to join EVER! 

The May kit! That's right--we previewed this month's kit. It was uh-MAY-zing! You do NOT want to miss this one. Trust me.

 


There you have it! Two GREAT reasons to sign up for Paper Pumpkin in the next 24 hours! Now . . . time to get busy! Call your family. Text your friends. Shout it from the rooftops. I am looking for 6 new subscribers, so share my Paper Pumpkin link and the promo code 24HOURS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so no one feels left out.  Every new subscriber will receive a little extra gift from me.  **squeal**

LAST CHANCE STAMPIN’ UP! RETIRING PRODUCTS AND SAVINGS.  The Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products Lists are available!  Get your favorite stamps, dies, punches, designer series paper and embellishments while supplies last.  Select items up to 50% off!

An “X” in the right column indicates the product has sold out. 

Click on the buttons below to view the list of stamps and accessories that will no longer be available as of June 2nd.  The stamp sets will continue to be made until May 26th, but the Accessories will only be available while supplies last.  Don't delay.

Thank you for Shopping with Lori

• RETIRING PRODUCTS: Some up to 50% off while supplies last or ending June 2
• SHOP | VIEW: 2015 Occasions Catalog 
• SHOP | VIEW: Stampin' Up! Annual 2014-15 Catalog online
• Don't forget to check out this weeks 25% off Weekly Deals
• Visit the Clearance Rack - up to 80% off
• Orders of $30 or more receive Dreamers Loyalty Rewards Points, accumulate and redeem for free stamps...print your copy!
• Use Hostess Code 3AXX2SPA to get a FREE GIFT from me when you order $50 or more.

   May God Bless You and Your Family!!