Stampin’ Up

Special Farewell to the Adorable Forest Friends

I had big plans for the Happy Forest Friends Suite when I purchased it in March. Unfortunately, I forgot to account for the possibility that it would retire at the end of April!

The “out-with-the-old” phase of the new catalogue is always a difficult time for me. Not only because I lose the use of some of my favourite products for my business, but also because it can be difficult to navigate what is still available for my customers to purchase, what to feature in my classes, and the awkwardness of having to let customers know that the product they want has sold out.

It can be frustrating, to say the least.

The only thing that makes it all okay is knowing that the “in-with-the-new” phase is just around the corner!! Change can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly exciting!! I look forward to playing with the new colours, discovering my new favourite products, and the security of knowing that a new annual catalogue ensures that these items will be around for an entire year!! THIS is the time for me to make grand plans with a product suite!

I still have big plans for the suite. The designer series paper, the stamp set and dies, and the ribbon will all play a part in making mini baby albums that I can sell or give as gifts. My original plan was to offer a class so others could make albums with me. I’ll simply have to create an album class with a different, and equally amazing, suite of products from Stampin’ Up!©️

Forest Friends Baby Card

The first thing I made with the Happier Than Happy stamp set and the coordinating dies was this sweet little baby card.

Forest Friends Baby card

This design features a simple acrylic block stamping technique. To accomplish this, you apply ink to the acrylic block (for this card, I used Mint Macaron, Soft Suede, and Crushed Curry), then spritz the block with a water and rubbing alcohol solution using the Stampin’ Up! Spritzer. Adding alcohol to the water helps it to dry more quicky on the Basic White cardstock.

Spritz two or three times onto the block until the ink begins to puddle. Then press the ink side of the block to your Basic White cardstock. Voila! You have a funky background!

I let it dry a little bit before stamping the little trees with Shaded Spruce ink. The bear is stamped with Soft Suede ink. Sweet Sorbet ink and Crumb Cake ink are used for the mushroom.

Mint Macaron delicately frames the stamped Basic White layer. This combo is then wrapped a couple times with Linen Thread that ties in a whimsical little bow.

(Have I told you lately how very much I LOVE Linen Thread?)

The layers are attached to the Mint Macaron cardbase with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally, the sentiment is stamped on Basic Black cardstock with Versamark ink, then heat embossed with White Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool. This, along with the bear and the top of the mushroom, is attached to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

It’s so freakin’ CUTE!

If you like this card and want to see it being made, go to my Facebook Page and find the live video. Feel free to skip ahead to the best parts!

Sadly, Mint Macaron and Soft Suede are both retiring colours. Make sure you check out my ONLINE STORE for the most up-to-date availability of retiring products and get ’em before they’re gone!

Moving on to Better Days

Well, friends, it’s been a while since I shared anything with you here on my blog. I’m working on getting back into a regular flow and routine again after being out of sorts for a while. The past couple years have been tough. Instead of getting into all the boring details, let me just sum it all up to “health issues”. I am finally feeling more like myself again in the last month or so. I’m moving on to better days!

I haven’t been completely absent. You can check out the many Facebook Live videos I’ve shared on my Inking on the Fly Facebook page and the sporadic posts on Instagram. You may have even attended some of my Stampin’ Up! events since the start of this year. My monthly technique classes are up and running and I co-hosted a fantastic retreat weekend in March.

I’m excited to be at the beginning of a re-boot. There’s so much I want to create, so many people I want to connect with, and a lot of planning to do! It’s going to be AWESOME!

I’m back, Baby!

Simple Encouragement

Today, I’m sharing this simple and beautiful card design with you. The sentiment is encouraging and positive. I love that!

The card base is a clean Thick Basic White cardstock, on which I layered 3/8″ strips and a couple die-cut pieces of the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!. I used the stitched circle from the Stylish Shapes dies and the hexagon from the Beautiful Shapes dies. The sentiment from the Greatest Journey stamp set is stamped with Versamark Ink, then heat embossed with Black Embossing Power before adhering it to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Orange twine from the Three Twine Combo Pack is tied in a large bow and adhered with a Glue Dot just under the hexagon shape. Finally, the Enamel Sticker Icon element was coloured with a Pumpkin Pie Blends Marker before adhering it to the card.

Some of these products are being retired this month! They might already be sold out or they might still be available. The best way to know is to go to the online store for the most up-to-date availability.

Life is good today and it will be better in the days to come.

Say Hello

I’ve been playing around with the Ice Cream Corner Suite for my Stamp Camp event and am enjoying the cheerful colours in the Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper.

I used a Thick Basic White card base and added a 1″ strip of designer series paper to the left of the card. The Rich Razzleberry cardstock on the right side was embossed in the Cut & Emboss Machine using the Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder and attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Fabulous texture! The polka dot piece of patterned paper from the Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper was cut with the 2 1/4″ Circle Punch from Stampin’ Up! and adhered directly to the Razzleberry layer.

The true delight is in the loops of black and white baker’s twine from the Playful Pets Trim Combo Pack, combined with the bright Magenta Madness 1/4″ Twill Ribbon tied in a bow and the black label with the White Embossed sentiment. The label and sentiment come from the Many Messages Bundle. The big background stamp has a wonderful collection of sentiments and the die cuts them all out at once! It’s brilliant!

You can find all these products on my online store with Stampin’ Up!

The next Stamp Camp event will be May 15th! If you’re in Canada, then be sure to save the date and watch for registration info!