Good-bye Catalog!

The count down is on. . . less than 2 days until we have a new catalog!  Make sure to check back June 1st for a link to the new catalog as well as a Stampin' Celebration challenge using some of the new product!  

Of course with a new catalog comes saying good-bye to some things.  The entire line of Simply Adorned product is being discontinued.  These make great gifts!  The charms come in a few different sizes, and all open so that you can change out what is inside.  You can easily coordinate with any outfit, holiday, etc.  Right now many of the charms and the chains are 40% off! 

The 'front view':  

You'll notice that I have some pearls on the image--the front of the charm has beveled edges and allow a little room inside for 3-D effects.  The stamp set I used here is Charming, and it is also retiring. 

And the back side of the charm:

Stamps:  Charming

Ink:  Rose Red, Old Olive, Sahara Sand

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Simply Adorned Charm (1 1/2" by 2"), Simply Adorned Chain (24"), Clear Crystal Bauble, Chantilly Crochet Trim Ribbon, pearls

To shop, see my online store by going to http://allison.stampinup.net and click "shop now" in the top right corner. 

Retired Stamp Set List: view the pdf

Retired Accessory List: view the pdf

To view everything in the online store click HERE

Loving the Hearts

Two weeks from today (June 1st) the brand new catalog goes live!  I'm so excited for lots of new products.  But "in with the new" means we have to say goodbye to some of our favorite products.  A reminder that the stamp sets on the retiring list are available until the end of the month, and the retiring accessories are available only while supplies last.  And, some of the accessories are  discounted--up to 70% off!  Both lists are LONG this year, so double check that you aren't missing out on something from your wish list.

Retired Stamp Set List: view the pdf

Retired Accessory List: view the pdf

To view everything in the online store click HERE

This card is one that I made with a group of ladies from my church around Valentine's Day.  I think this card could be used for an anniversary or wedding as well.  It also happens to showcase several of the accessories that are being discontinued: the Heart to Heart punch, Chantilly Crochet Trim Ribbon, and the Cutter Kit.  I'm definitely sad that the Cutter Kit is being discontinued as I use it ALL the time. . . good thing I already have two.  :-) 

After we made up the cards, I used leftover pieces to make some tags that I added to cookies to give as teacher gifts for Valentine's Day.  The tag is from the Two Tags Bigz Die.  On all the big hearts (from the Full Heart Punch) I scrunched the paper to give a little more texture.  Also, sponging, distressing, and even a little Color Spritzer tool on the card adds more texture and variety.  I also used Hemp Twine on the tag--another accessory that is retiring that I will really miss!  It also happens to be 50% off--while supplies last!  I've already stocked up.  :-)  

Have a great weekend!  

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Ridding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, First Edition Specialty DSP

Accessories:  Small Heart Punch, Full Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Hemp Twine, Riding Hood Red ribbon (discontinued), medium cello bag, Two Tags Bigz Die, Big Shot, Color Spritzer Tool, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Chantilly Crochet Trim ribbon, Cutter Kit, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration #54

This month I missed designing for the May Stampin' Celebration challenge since my wonderful hubby and I were out of the country celebrating out 10th anniversary!  We had an absolutely wonderful trip, although it is good to be back home with the kids. 

Anyway, I still wanted to play along with the challenge this month, so here is my submission.  I used the bright colors from the fun inspiration piece, and several items that will be no longer available after the end of the month.  The layout is simple and could easily be changed up for a variety of different occasions.  I thought this birthday card could easily be used for a child's birthday, teen birthday, or even adult birthday. 

I used a couple strips of the Big Top Birthday Designer Paper (great way to use up those little scraps that are laying around!), some Daffodil Delight and Real Red 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, and silver brads.  The sentiment is from the On Your Birthday stamp set which will be discontinued. 

And just a reminder to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration! You have until May 25th to create a card, 3D item, digital item, scrapbook layout, etc. using the inspiration piece above. Link your creation to the Stampin' Celebration blog so we can see your project. We will choose the "Pick of the Party" at the end of the month. We can't wait to see what Stampin' Celebration inspires you to create!

If you missed the original Blog Hop of the Design Team, you can see it here:

Candace Lawlor - cj lawlor designs

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Krystal De Leeuw - Krystal's Cards

Marlene Peters - Hands On

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Retired List!

 

With the new catalog just around the corner (June 1st!), it's time to bid farewell to some of our favorite stamp sets in order to make room for all of the new ones coming soon.  It's a particularly long retiring list this year, so take a look and make sure that some of those sets you've been meaning to get aren't on that list.  After May 31st they will no longer be available! 

Retired List: view the pdf

To view all of the Retiring Stamp Sets in the online store click HERE.

Contact me today if you'd like to purchase any of the Last Chance items. Or, you can shop in my online store. Click HERE and then on "shop now" in the top right corner.

And just a reminder to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration!  You have until April 25th to create a card, 3D item, digital item, scrapbook layout, etc. using the inspiration piece above. Link your creation to the Stampin' Celebration blog so we can see your project. We will choose the "Pick of the Party" at the end of the month. We can't wait to see what Stampin' Celebration inspires you to create!

If you missed the original Blog Hop of the Design Team, you can see it here: 

Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)
Candace Lawlor - cj lawlor designs
Cori Kozak - Creative Chat
Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs
Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style
Krystal De Leeuw - Krystal's Cards
Marlene Peters - Hands On
Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Stampin Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Have a great day! 

Rockin' Tween Birthday

Back today with another one of the cards I've designed for my 'sending cards to family' goal!  (For more back story, see this post.)  For me, the second hardest category of cards is the teen/tween age.  I don't have any kids that age, so I have a hard time knowing what's 'cool' and what's not.  :-) 

Anyway, this was my try at a female tween card.  I inked up the Grunge Rock stamp set using Blushing Bride and went to work.  Note: The Fleur de Lis image is actually from the (coordinating) Extreme Elements stamp set.  I used the same layout as this card.  I used the Wonderfully Worn background stamp to add the 'splotchy' look, and inked the edges of the Whisper White layer.  Both the Whisper Whiter layer and the larger Blushing Bride layer are distressed with the Cutter Kit. 

A little bit of Blushing Bride Stitched Poly-Ribbon and a silver Glimmer Brad finish it off.  I hand cut the banner, and although you can't see it from the photo, I put double-stacked half dimensionals under the middle of the banner (about where the 'B' is) to give the banner a little bit of a waving-in-the-wind look. 

Have a great weekend! 

Stamps:  Grunge Rock, Extreme Elements, Wonderfully Worn
Ink:  Blushing Bride, Basic Gray
Paper:  Blushing Bride, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Accessories:  Blushing Bride Stitched Poly-Ribbon, Basics Glimmer Brads, Cutter Kit, dimensionals

Captain America Birthday

This year I made a goal to send birthday cards to all of our family members.  Grandparents, parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews.  I'm happy to say that so far I'm still on track!  A few of the cards have been a little late :-) but I don't think I've missed anyone yet.  During a year this adds up to just over 40 people, or about 3 or 4 cards per month.  Not really too much to ask a 'card maker' to do when it comes down to it! 

I'm not necessarily sending a unique card to each person, but I am trying to get a good variety and at the very least not send the same card to two people in the same immediate family.  :-)  The hardest cards to design are the ones that are for the brothers and brother-in-laws.  Fortunately this year my husband came up with a great idea!  I showed him THIS card and asked what he thought.  "Sure, but can you change the colors to make it look more like Captain America?"  (He and his brothers are all huge comic book fans--even before the recent Hollywood revival.)  So I asked him to show me a picture of what the Captain America shield looks like and created then the card as closely to that as possible.  Hopefully the guys will notice and appreciate!  :-)

The Pacific Point (blue) layer and the Whisper White circle are up on dimensionals.  The larger Real Red circle is actually the card base showing through the 'window' on the Pacific Point layer.  The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with White embossing powder.  I distressed the edges of the Pacific Point layer using my Cutter Kit. 

Have a great day!

Stamps:  All Holidays (discontinued)
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories:  1" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Star Punch (random from my kids' collection), Big Shot, Circles #2 Die (for the white circle--2nd largest circle on the die), embossing buddy, heat tool, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Cutter Kit, dimensionals