The Stamp Review Crew: By the Tide

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  This time we are hopping along with one of my favorite masculine sets, By the Tide.  Originally in the 2013 Spring Catalog, I immediately fell in love with this versatile set.  With a change of colors, you can go from a Northeast lobster card to a warm water snorkeling card.

If you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Ann's blog.  Ann always has such gorgeous, elegant and sophisticated projects!   Myself, I've used this set extensively in the past, so again the challenge is to come up with a new project.  I was prepping for the recent interactive card class, so I folded this set in for a shaker card.  I stayed mostly with the 2013-14 In Colors for a soft, Caribbean look.

I used a layout by the fabulous Amy O'Neill as the starting point of my card.  Using the Gorgeous Grunge splatter image to stamp Baked Brown Sugar card stock, followed by the Fringe Scissors, it is a quick and easy way to make fun sand confetti.  Add a few sequins for sparkle.  I love how both the sequins and the background embossing are reminiscent of air bubbles.

I reworked the second card a bit, brayering the background instead of sponging.  Which one do you like better?

Stamps: By the Tide, Four You, Gorgeous Grunge, Paper Pumpkin Hey There kit; Paper: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, Fresh Prints DSP; Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Daffodil Delight, Baked Brown Sugar, Black Stazon; Accessories: Gold baker's twine, Window Sheet, Banner punch, Boutique Details, Fringe Scissors, Aquapainter, Sponges, Brayer, Perfect Polka Dots EF, On Film framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

It is always fun to create a 3-D item.  How about a nautical-themed favor or little gift for Dad?  Maybe even a pillow gift for a Northeast trip this summer.  Here is a little treat pouch, filled with a bag of almond nuts.

The smallest Envelope Liners framelit resembled a suitcase, so I started there.  To create, run both ends of a 3 x 8-3/4" piece of card stock through the Big Shot with the smallest Envelope Liners framelit as shown below.

Tips for coloring and cutting the lobster:

• Stamp the lobster with Cajun Craze classic ink, followed immediately by Clear embossing powder, in order to keep the outline from bleeding during watercoloring.
• Watercolor with Cherry Cobbler classic ink and an Aquapainter for perfect shading.
• Make sure you have sharp Paper Snips (#103579) for careful and precise trimming.
• After trimming, make sure to color the edges with an Aquapainter for a polished look.

Stamps: By the Tide, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Ink: Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Natural Chevron ribbon, Linen thread, Silver Mini brads, Clear embossing powder, Large Oval punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Aquapainter, Square Lattice EF (retiring), Envelope Liners framelits, Big Shot.

A side note - our Stamp Review Crew group was chosen to create a display board for the Stampin' Up! Convention in July.  I'm so excited!  I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help, as we are traveling in June, but I know these ladies & gentleman will be great!

Now make sure you check out the next stop to see what our fearless leader and fabulous stamper Tanya at Tinkerin in Ink put together with the set.  If you get lost along the way, visit the Stamp Crew Review landing page for the entire hop list.

 

FM158 Stampin' Up! Blast Off Spinner

Holly has a fun Friday Mashup challenge, with bright colors for a child's project.

Photo Source

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project using the Colors "Turquoise, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi & Neutral of your choice".
2. Create a project for "a Child".
3. Or mash it up and create a project with the "Above Colors for a Child".

In need for an interactive card for class, I came up with a fancy fold card (a week late!) using retiring set Blast Off.

How cute did this come out?!  Ok, I shouldn't say that, but I love it!  The Venetian Romance paper works great for a molten rock surface of a star or planet, doesn't it?

Stamps: Blast Off (retiring), Gorgeous Grunge; Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Whisper White, Venetian Romance DSP; Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Crushed Curry marker; Accessories: White baker's twine, Circle punches, White acrylic paint, Circle Card thinlits die, Circle Collection framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Project Life is Available Today!

Keeping designs fresh and unique is important here at Stampin' Up!, and that's why we've partnered with the remarkable Becky Higgins to bring you her amazing Project Life products in exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors and designs!

Here’s a look at all the products available for purchase today:


There’s more on the way, so check back often for product updates, inspiration, project ideas, and more! Make documenting your life easier; order Project Life by Stampin’ Up! products today!

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Don't forget this week's Weekly Deals -

Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95 $3.71 Downtown Grunge Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $19.95 $11.97 Dress Up Framelits Dies Price: $24.95 $18.71 Early Espresso 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95 $3.71 Merry Minis Punch Pack Price: $16.95 $12.71 Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Price: $8.95 $6.71 Regals Core'dinations Price: $23.95 $17.96 Talking Tag Message Labels Price: $7.95 $5.96

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And there are some new items from the Holiday Catalog in the Clearance Rack too!

MDSM64 You're My Sunshine Again

Tami brings us this week's MDS Monday sketch, plus the challenge to use some silver or gold bling, such as sequins, glimmer paper, or baker's twine.

I have to admit, I cheated a little on this one.  I grabbed a page layout from my 2011 book and started editing from there.  That's the easy thing about digital; why reinvent the wheel?  ;)

I did a MDS sunshine card not too long ago, so I guess I could say sun rays and starburst layouts are some of my favorite design elements.  I'm sure this card would just make someone smile.

MDS Elements: You're My Sunshine, Calendar Kit, Simple Snapshots DSP, Sweet Shop DSP, Hello, Baby pennant punch, Sunny Day clouds, Sara's Sequins.

Stampin' Addicts Retiring Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts official good-bye party, the Retiring Blog Hop! Have you scoured through the retiring lists? I recommend you mark up your catalog with all the retiring sets, and by all means, grab those talking to you before they are gone! If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Mary's blog featuring the Off the Grid. Weren't her projects adorable?

Today I'm featuring a Sizzix Big Shot die, Peekaboo Frames.  This die is the starting point of lots of fun, interactive cards and projects.  Who doesn't want to open a door to see what is behind it?

I thought the circle peekaboo frame looks like a porthole.  Perfect time to play with the Hello, Sailor set from the Occasions catalog.

Stamps: Hello, Sailor, Woodgrain BG (retiring), Hardwood BG, Hello, Sailor MDS download; Paper: Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla, High Tide DSP; Ink: So Saffron, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Basic Gray; Accessories: Window Sheet, Natural Chevron ribbon, Gold baker's twine, Silver Mini brads, Gold embossing powder, Sponges, Circles Collection framelits, Peekaboo Frame die, Tasteful Trim die (retiring), Big Shot, Dimensionals.

I again pulled out the e-cutter and designed my own bee hive-shaped card for an interactive themed card.  Very fun!

I love the images from the Crazy, Mixed-Up Love set, which is also retiring.  The playful, cartoon images go perfectly with an interactive card.

Stamps: Crazy, Mixed-Up Love (retiring); Paper: So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Afternoon Tea DSP; Ink: Black Stazon, So Saffron marker; Accessories: Crushed Curry chevron ribbon, Linen thread, Dazzling Diamonds, Owl builder punch, Peekaboo Frames die, Big Shot, e-cutter, Dimensionals.

So the double frame looks like a barn door, doesn't it?  I could make a farm card, but I thought, "You know what, wouldn't these make a cute interactive book for a preschooler?"  My daughter is no longer a preschooler, but she will love it just the same.  :)

I built the page in a spiral notebook I had made in the past.  You could go crazy and make a whole interactive book for a little one (hint, hint, Tanya).

I used the print and cut feature for the animals from the Storytime Ensemble download.  They are sooo cute!  I could just go to town with them.  And the fringe scissors are so fun to use.  I also used them to create the hay bales in the loft that the rooster is perching on.

Stamps: Barnyard Buddies MDS download, Storytime Ensemble MDS download; Paper: So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Whisper White; Ink: Soft Sky, Marina Mist; Accessories: Linen thread, Cupcake builder punch, Fringed Scissors, Simply Scored Board, Sponges, Square Lattice EF (retiring), Peekaboo Frames die, Big Shot, e-cutter.

I hit four out of five die-cuts on this die... not bad!  Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Betty at Kitty Stamp put together using Road to Happiness. Her projects are always amazing.

 

FM157 Minnie Ears!

OMG... this is totes adorbs!  Cindy is bringing us a fancy fold Friday Mashup challenge with polka dots.

Photo Source 

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project with "Polka Dots".
2. Create a project with a "Fun Fold".
3. or Mash it Up! and create a "Fun Fold project with some Polka Dots"!

Well, I was drawing a complete blank.  I love polka dots, yet rarely use them.  They say party to me, bright colors, or a sunny day.  I just couldn't come up with a fun fold, combined with polka dots, that was floating my boat.  The perils of crafting by emotion, I guess.  What else could I think of that uses bold, bright polka dots?  Summer dresses... or... Minnie Mouse!

Ok, a shaped card isn't quite a fancy fold, but we'll just skip past that part.  ;)  I created a card base and mouse ears card front in My Digital Studio with circle and half circle punches.  The bow comes from the That's a Wrap download.  All items were traced and cut on the e-cutter.  Wouldn't this be the perfect card for a Minnie fan?

Paper: Basic Black, Polka Dot Parade DSP; Accessories: My Digital Studio punches, That's a Wrap MDS download, e-cutter.

Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscriptions & Weekly Deals

Prepaid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions are now available!  They can also be added your order workshop (or any) order.  Woohoo!  Want to try Paper Pumpkin and let your hostess get credit for the purchase?  Try it!

With  Mother's Day just around the corner, it's a great time to take advantage of these prepaid subscriptions that can be bought as gifts. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Item	Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscription	Price (Shipping Included)
137858	1 month	$19.95
137859	3 months	$59.85
137860	6 months	$113.70 -- save $1 per month
137861	12 months	$215.40 -- save $2 per month

How It Works

1. When you use the above code to place your order (online, workshop, etc.), you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to redeem the prepaid subscription.
2. Go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com and enter the redemption code.
3. Start enjoying their monthly Paper Pumpkin project kit the very next month!
4. Input your payment information when redeeming the prepaid subscription to continue receiving the monthly kit after the prepaid subscription ends (optional).

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Here are this week's Weekly Deals - and don't forget about FREE SHIPPING, which ends Friday.

2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations Price: $11.95 $8.96 5/8 Inch Crochet Trim Victoria Price: $6.95 $5.21 Afternoon Daydream Kit - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97 Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper Price: $10.95 $8.21 Large Pearl Basic Jewels Price: $4.95 $3.71 Naturals Designer Buttons Price: $4.95 $3.71 Pacific Point 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95 $3.71 Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95 $3.71