Yay! I'm finally back in town. . . . maybe now I'll be able to get my stamping room unpacked and set up. :-) Anyway, as I've been trying to do a little organizing I ran across these two cards. Both cards were made several years back, and they both use the set Wild About You. This is another one of my favorite stamp sets that will no longer be available after June 30. To see the full Last Chance list click HERE.

Creative notes for the giraffe card. . . . After I stamped the giraffe image, I took my 1/16"circle punch and my 1/8" circle punch to punch a few holes. That means those brown spots on the giraffe are actually just the paper underneath showing through.

Stamps: Wild About You, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/16" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, white grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals


This was a card I originally designed for my Mother-in-law. She loves elephants, so I knew I needed to use this stamp for her. The background was done with the Print Pattern Background stamp (previously discontinued) and then I took a white gel pen and traced along the pattern. I stamped the ear of the elephant again on a scrap paper, cut it out and then popped it up on a dimensionals. Also, there is glitter on the flower.

Stamps: Wild About You, Print Pattern BG
Ink: Sahara Sand, Pretty in Pink marker, Mellow Moss Marker
Paper: Sahara Sand, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/4" Pretty in Pink ribbon, pink gingham ribbon, organza ribbon, white gel pen, glitter, ticket corner punch, sponge, dimensionals

Last Chance!

The Last Chance List is here! This is the list of stamp sets and accessories that will be retired from the current Stampin Up catalog--which makes room for lots of new stamps and accessories due to arrive July 1!

The card above showcases one of the stamp sets that will be no longer available after June 30th--Big Birthday Candle. This is only one of the sets I will definitely miss! This card also uses Orange Bead Duo and Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. I adhered the beads with Mono Multi--my all time favorite adhesive. :-)


To see all of the Last Chance items, you can click HERE to see them in the online store.


HERE is the list of all the stamp sets that will no longer be available after June 30th.

HERE is the list of the Decor Elements that will no longer be available after June 30th. The Decor Elements on this list are also 25% off!

Select accessory items are 25-50% off! Check the online store to see. These items will go quickly as they are only available while supplies last, so act fast if you would like some! Please note that the promotional price for the discounted accessories will show up correctly after you add them to your shopping bag.

Also, courtesy of Stampin Up during the month of June if your order total (or party total) reaches $250 you receive an extra $20 in free hostess merchandise. If the total reaches $400, you receive and additional $40 in free hostess merchandise!

In additional to all of these exciting promotions from Stampin Up, I am also offering my own promotion for the month of June. With a $75 order, you can choose any Classic or Craft stamp pad for free (up to $7.50 value). With a $150 order, not only do you receive all the normal hostess benefits, and the free stamp pad, but I will also send you a free stamp set (up to $19.95 value) of your choice from the current catalog!! This offer applies to online orders as well as orders directly through me. If you order online, email me with your stamp pad/stamp set choice and I will mail them to you separately.

To purchase items, you can either contact me or go to the online store. Go to http://www.allison.stampinup.net/ and click on "shop now" in the top right hand corner. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Stamps: Big Birthday Candle

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Whisper White, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy

Accessories: Orange Bead Duo, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals

Making a Comeback. . . .

Hello again! Well, we finally made it to Texas. :-) We've been here for about a week and a half now, and our house is mostly unpacked. Unfortunately my stamps are all still in their boxes, but hopefully not for too much longer!

Anyway, I thought I would try to start posting again. . . . I did manage to snap a few pictures of some projects before I left LA, so I have a few things to show you until I actually get stamping again. This project shows off several new products found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

First, don't you just love this little matchbox? It is the new Matchbox Bigx Die for the Big Shot that you can find on page 16 of the Occasions Mini Catalog. I love being able to roll my paper through the Big Shot and having it come out the other end all cut, scored, and ready to fold. :-)

The bottom of the box uses Baja Breeze textured paper, and for the top I used the new Medium Window Sheets (ie acetate) from the Mini Catalog. The ribbon is the new 5/8" Satin Ribbon,and the tag is stamped with the new Matchbox Messages stamp set that coordinates with the Matchbox Die. Oh, and the chocolates were wrapped with the new Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper.

Below you can see the what the boxes look like 'closed', as well as a Kiwi Kiss version of the matchbox.

Stamps: Matchbox Messages
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pretty in Pink marker
Paper: Baja Breeze Textured Paper, Kiwi Kiss Textured Paper, Medium Window Sheets, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP
Accessories: 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, linen thread, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1/16" circle punch, Nuggets chocolates, dimensionals

Suede Ovals

Today I have a quick card to show you using some of the new product from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I'm very excited about the new Mini Catalog as there are a lot of fun new products! Even better, during the month of April, if you purchase $40 of merchandise from the Mini Catalog, you can choose one of the 'Under $10' items from the catalog for free! See the flyer HERE.

I started this card by stamping with Basic Gray ink using the new set Oval All. After punching out with the Large Oval Punch, I used a Cameo Coral marker to color the butterfly and then added Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. I used the new Scallop Oval Punch to layer the Cameo Coral scalloped oval. The oval is popped up on dimensionals.

The Baja Breeze layer shows the Faux Suede technique. The faux suede technique is actually pretty easy to do . . . . I'll explain it quickly and hope that it makes sense! Take the strip of paper (here the Baja Breeze) and a bone folder. Use the bone folder to pull it along the paper as if you were curling ribbon. "Curl" the paper every which way. The idea is that you are breaking down the fibers in the paper. Then go to a corner of the paper and carefully peel the paper apart into two halves lengthwise--as if you are peeling a sticker from the backing. So the faux suede part is actually just the inside of the paper. You'll have to try it to see how simple it really is. :-) It is nice because it adds a soft feel to the project.

To finish the card I used the Mat Pack to add the row of paper piercing. Finished card size is 4 1/4" by 4 1/4".

Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Oval All

Ink: Basic Gray, Cameo Coral marker

Paper: Basic Gray, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Bone Folder, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, dimensionals

What a great week!

Hello again everyone! I disappeared there for a week, but I promise I have a good excuse. ;-) Last week my husband and I went house hunting in Houston, TX. We were very fortunate to find a lovely house that we are so excited about! We are moving out of our apartment here in Los Angeles in just a couple weeks--and I'm sure the time will fly by!

And if that wasn't exciting enough for one week, I also came back and found out that my butterfly bag had been the Featured Upload project of the week over on Splitcoaststampers! It is such an honor to have my work chosen again! I've been featured previously over on Splitcoaststampers for my Hawaii Papaya stationary box (scroll down) and my Valentine card. Seriously, how lucky can a girl be? :-)

Anyway, enough about me! Next post will be a project!

Polka Dot Elegance

Today I have another Sale-A-Bration card to show you! Just a reminder that Sale-A-Bration ends March 31, so if you want to take advantage of earning free product with a $50 order, now is the time! You can see the brochure HERE.

Anyway, I don't often copy ideas exactly from other people, but this card was just so pretty that didn't want to change a thing! I first saw this card on the idea boards at the Stampin Up Leadership conference, and later found the creator. Dawn over at DOstamping with Dawn made this card for the leadership boards. You can see her card HERE.

You'll notice that I didn't change very much. The only minor modifications were that I used the new Taste of Textiles paper (the white pin stripe paper on the left) and the new Organza Ribbon on top of the Brushed Silver strip of paper.

Another quick note: I actually used Basic Black craft ink, and then embossed with the Silver Embossing Powder. As long as you work fairly quickly, the silver embossing powder does cover the Basic Black craft ink. I used the black ink because when I was stamping the hearts for the panel along the right side, I started using Versamark ink, and was having a hard time seeing where to stamp! I didn't have that problem with the black ink. :-)


I also made up a coordinating acetate box. This could be used as a wedding favor, bridal shower favor, or as part of a wedding gift. The box shows off how pretty the Organza Ribbon is! For directions on how to make the acetate box, THIS POST (Halloween acetate box) has a link and the modifications I made.

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Fundamental Phrases
Ink: Basic Black Craft Ink
Paper: Brushed Silver, Taste of Textiles, Whisper White, acetate
Accessories: Full Heart Punch, Pretties Kit (hat pin and beads), Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Organza Ribbon, embossing buddy, silver Stampin' Emboss powder, heat tool, sticky strip, dimensionals