New Catalog Time!

The new annual catalog is available now for your viewing and shopping!  Wahoo! Just in time for the weekend. So put your feet up, do a little browsing and start working on your wish list.  Click the link on the left side of my blog to peek at all the new products now. If you prefer a paper version, please email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com to request your copy today.

Quatrefancy Suite

Here are a couple of items from the new Quatrefancy Suite from Stampin' Up!  Starting with Daffodil Delight Card stock. I used the new Modern Mosaic embossing folder. Then I used the Mosaic punch to cut out shapes from the Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper.  Colors in this new paper series are Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Slush, and Whisper White.  The sentiment comes from an sneak peek release for the new catalog called Around Array.  If you missed it here is the set. 

 

It was an Spring Surprise for us and bundled with the coordinating 7/8" Scallop Punch.  I hope you are enjoying the sneak peeks at new products. Don't forget to RSVP for the Open House on June 8. Click on my events page for more details and to sign up. 

The new annual catalog will go live Friday, May 31 at noon, so get your wish list ready and start shopping! 

Lucky Duck is Coming to Town!

Not only is Lucky Duck coming to town on Saturday for The Ducktona Dash, and he has invited all of his friends!  Please join me Saturday at Frank Liske Park in Concord, NC from 10am to 2pm.  This is a wonderful and important fundraiser for Cabarrus Meals on Wheels. 

There will be arts and crafts vendors, kids games, a bouncy house provided by the YMCA, food, fun, and the great duck race!  The duck race starts at noon. They will let the rubber ducks loose in the pond and everyone cheers them on to the finish line. If yours is first to cross the line, you can win $750 in cash! There are a lot more prizes for the other top finishers as well.  How do you get a duck? Well you can adopt them for $5 each or get a Quack Pack of five ducks for just $20. You can adopt your ducks that morning at the park. 

Mighty Oak Stampers will have a table at the Ducktona Dash. Above are the candy tube toppers getting ready to go. All proceeds from the candy tubes will be going directly to Cabarrus Meals on Wheels. Please come out and help me support this organization.  Want to learn more about how to help them, check out their website at http://www.cabarrusmow.org/

Thank you and I hope to see you on Saturday!

Mini Composition Books

I love the little note pads or composition books that you can slip into a bag or purse.  Though they do have store bought ones now that are a bit cuter than they used to be.... I still like to make my own.  Pursuit of Happiness is one of my favorite stamps sets for this type of project. How awesome to go to jot a note down and have a wonderful uplifting message right there in your face? Here is a copy of the entire stamp set.

This one is retiring June 3, so if you like it grab it now!  The retiring products will only be available until they run out or until June 3.  Shop my site www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net to get some great deals while they last. 

Swallowtail AND Best of Butterflies

It's a butterfly bonanza! Yes, I had to say it.  This was a new one for me. I was making a card for a friend, but this was to be signed by everyone she worked with as well. So I went with a larger card using a full sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 Basic Black card stock.  On the background layer of Wisteria Wonder, I have embossed the Swallowtail stamp using Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. It is kind of hard to capture on film, but I tried.

It is funny how looking at the card, the Swallowtail butterflies manage to stay in the background but also POP at the same time depending on the light. To that I layered square of Basic Black and Wisteria Wonder and stamped those with a Best of Butterflies stamp. That was the April release for the Best of 25 series that Stampin' Up is offering this year.  You can find it in the online store under Special Offers. 

Sneak Peek Soho Subway

Here is a sneak peek at some new products coming out soon.  Just love the colors in the Soho Subway Designer Series Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, and Very Vanilla.  I stamped directly on to the 7/8" Cotton Ribbon using a new set called Mosaic Madness.  The words come from a set called Really Good Greetings, I am loving it! 

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks of new things to come. However, don't forget the sale going on for all the retiring products too.  Don't have a catalog yet? Email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com to request your catalog today.

Family Reunion This Summer?

 

Do you have a family reunion planned for this summer? Let Stampin' Up! and My Digital Studio make it easy for youThis is a great way to make everything you need without running around from store to store. Make your invitations, family recipe books, even t-shirts and tote bags. The  Family Spotlight Ensemble includes all the above in a digital download. If you haven't tried My Digital Studio, it's a great time to try the 30 day free trial. 

Once you  have your reunion, don't forget to download the Family Spotlight Photobook template. Just add your photos for the perfect album. You can even have multiples printed to share with the rest of the family. (plan ahead and you have Christmas presents ready!).


So go try My Digital Studio - you will love it! Shop www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net

Baja Breeze Just Believe

Bye Bye Baja Breeze... along with Not Quite Navy and Bravo Burgundy.  All three colors will be retiring June 3.  The stamp set used here, Just Believe, will also be retiring.  Even the 1/2" Baja Breeze Seam Binding will be going away. There are a lot of things that will be disappearing this June, but you can be getting them now at great discounts too! Have you shopped the lists yet? Visit my site at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net to get some great deals. 

Shadowed Just Believe

This was one of the cards from the Two on Tuesday Techniques class.  I love the shadowy effect of the Just Believe stamp here. The background is Island Indigo. A layer of Lucky Limeade on a Pool Party card base complete the colors. I am so happy Stampin' Up! is keeping most of the 2011-2013 In Colors.  Only Lucky Limeade will be retiring in June. The rest of the colors will be moving into new color collections. Yeah!  The card is finished off by adding Thank You to a Modern Label punch.

Want to find out how to do some cool inking tricks like this? Don't forget to sign up for the next Techniques class in June!  You can sign up via my website or my Facebook page on the events section.  You can also email me at MightOakStampers@yahoo.com

Kindness Matters

Here is another retiring set called Kindness Matters. I love the butterflies in this set. There is so much detail in each wing!  Here I have stamped it on layers of Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant. The card base is in Lucky Limeade.

Remember you only have until the end of the month to order the retiring sets. I know that some of the papers and accessories are selling out, so if you like something, grab it while you can!

Moving Forward Daffodil Delight

How bright and cheery this card is!  That would be a nice addition to a birthday celebration.  The Moving Forward stamp set is the 2012-2013 Ronald McDonald House Charities set. For every set purchased, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the charity. To date, more than $95,000 have been donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  How awesome is that! 

Here I have used the Labels Framelits for the Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry layers.  To the Daffodil Delight card base, I added a strip of Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper and Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon. The card is finished with the words from the Curly Cute stamp set. 

This is another stamp set that won't be around much longer, so order yours today!

Serene Silhouettes Embossed

Here is another great card to have handy, just leave the words off until you know what type of card you need. It would also make a great Father's Day card.  The trees are from the Serene Silhouettes Stamp set. Here they are embossed with Wild Wasabi Embossing Powder.  I really makes the trees stand out against the Early Espresso card stock.  I have layered it with Wild Wasabi and Baja Breeze.  The words come from the Especially For You stamp set which is retiring June 3. 

Simple works

I love the simplicity of this card. I created this fun texture-pattern on the layered piece and did not want to cover it up.  The layered piece is cut out using the Top Note Die cut. I use that for just about everything! It is great to make candy bag toppers too.  The flower and base card are Primrose Petals. The flower and stem were created using the Secret Garden bundle which includes the stamp set and the framelits.  The stamp "Live in the Sunshine" is from one of my favorite sets called Pursuit of Happiness. 

This set will be retiring June 3, so if you are interested in getting it, scoop it up now! Shop my site www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net

 

Make A Monster is Retiring

If you have kids and you haven't purchased this stamp set yet, get it NOW! Okay, you don't really need kids (grown ups like monsters too), but they are a good excuse for getting the set.  I love the Make A Monster stamp set. You can use monsters for just about any occasion. Add presents for birthdays, add hearts for Valentines, add ornaments for Christmas, you get the idea. And because you can mix and match all the monster parts, every single monster can be a one-of-a-kind just for you card.  Here is what you get in the set.

 

Stampin' Up! will be retiring this set at the end of the month, so if you want to play, order it today. The item number is 120606 for the clear stamps, priced at $17.95.  Click my shop now button on my blog to start shopping.

Last Chance Stamp A Stack

Say goodbye to some of our Stampin' Up! stamp sets and papers.  It is retirement time for some, so we are having a party to bid them farewell. Join me Friday from 9-11am for a Stamp-A-Stack. We will be making 12 cards, 3 each of 4 designs.  Please RSVP by tomorrow, March 15 if you plan to attend.  Sign up through my events page or email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com I hope to see you there!

Moving Forward - In a Blimp!

Here is a quick gift card made from the Moving Forward Stamp set. I kind of like the dappled look of the stamp against the sharp bright crisp edges on this card. I was playing with coloring and this is how it turned out. Another fun accident!  The colors used are Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie. 

Every year Stampin' Up! creates one set to be dedicated to raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House. This was the stamp set for the 2012-2013 annual catalog. It is a great all around set. I will be using the bicycle set in the Stamp-A-Stack scheduled for Friday. For every purchase of this set, Stampin' Up donates $3 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. There is still time for you to get this year's set - order today item 126322 priced at $14.95. 

Shop at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net

Happy Flowers

Stampin' Up! is not just for card making! I have wanted to try this for quite a while. While I was making the Teacher Appreciation bouquet, I kept telling myself that this would be my next 3-D project. I could see it in my head and it HAD to be made. You understand, right?  The flowers and crayons are actually attached to a regular canvas so it can go right on the wall. The flowers are made with Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie using the Blossom Punch.  The stems were made by heating the crayons and letting them melt a little bit. 

I have had a lot of fun playing with these flowers, and am thinking of offering a workshop for flowers. It would be a class where we might not make cards, but just make different flowers out of paper.  If you would like to see a "Just Flowers" class in the future, please email me or make a comment below.

The Open Sea - Stormy Weather

Some days are not filled with smooth sailing. But as Louisa May Alcott said, "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship"  The Open Sea is one of my favorite stamp sets. Though I may not use it as often as some of my others, I always love the finished result.  Here I have paired it with Not Quite Navy and Crumb Cake ink and card stock.  A little Linen Thread adds a bit more texture as well.

The background for the ship was created by coloring my block with my Not Quite Navy Marker. I just zipped back and forth and then pressed the block on to Whisper White card stock. I ended up with the perfect backdrop for my ship.  Go ahead, do a little experimenting with your blocks and see what happens! 

Want to learn more techniques? Remember to sign up for the class this Tuesday evening from 7-9.  You can RSVP on my website, my Facebook page or by emailing me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com  I hope to see you then!

Mother's Day Blossom card

Here's a cute little card to whip up for Mother's Day. Or just swap out the sentiment and have it handy for birthday's or thank you notes.  Starting with Whisper White card stock, I added a layer of Wisteria Wonder. To give it a little more texture, I used the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder.  A bit of 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon runs across the bottom. The stamp is from the Delightful Dozen set and then punched out with the Scallop Oval punch.  The flower is from the Mixed Punch stamp set and then cut out using the Blossom Punch.  Yes, that is the same punch that I used to create the flowers for the teacher appreciation gift!

Two on Tuesday Techniques Class

Are you ready to learn something new? On Tuesday night I am offering a Techniques Class for only $5.  Each class we will learn and practice two new ways to play with your stamps and inks.  You will get to take home instruction cards with your sample and make a card using the methods you learned.  Want to learn how I made the green textured paper above? Or perhaps wondering how I stamped the image on the right? Sign up now by clicking on the events page and clicking on the RSVP.  You can also email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com to RSVP or if you have questions.  I hope to see you Tuesday evening.

Kraft Gift Boxes

It's a butterfly explosion!  The Kraft Gift Boxes are a great size for a little gift for that special someone.  The neutral background is the perfect canvas for your favorite stamps. You can even cover it in some of the Designer Series Paper. Here I have used Primrose Petals and a stamp from the Best of Butterflies set to decorate the outside of the box. They arrive flat so are easily stamped, then they fold right up for you.  I added the label using two of the Labels Framelits.  The words come from the Delightful Dozen stamp set. Another butterfly from the Best of Butterflies set was stamped and then cut out using the Elegant Butterfly punch. To match the tag, 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Raspberry Ripple was added to finish the packaging. 

There are so many options to dress up the boxes - gift tags, ribbons, add some paper flowers to the top! To order your boxes, they are item 124106. For only $2.95 you get four boxes. The dimensions are 3 1/2"x3 1/2"x2 1/2"   You can shop for them at my site www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net today.

25% Off Select Digital

 

So you STILL haven't tried MDS the digital version of Stampin' Up? Really? Well, maybe this will help tempt you. From May 1 until June 15, 2013, you can get 25% off select Digital cent and Print Products.  Digital content includes: ALL ensemble, calendar, photobook, and swatchbook digital content. Print products include: ALL photobooks, swatchbooks, cards, tags, individual pages, and calendars. 

 

Visit here to see the print pricing http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/MDSnet/MDSsale2013/MDSpricingList_MDSsale_May0113_US.pdf

 

To start shopping for the digital content, visit my site at this link http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryID=1162

The link above will take you directly to the page with the Digital Downloads for My Digital Studio.

 

If you have not tried it yet, you can also sign up for a 30 day free trial.  When you decide you are ready to get the software, it is only $19.95! The software comes pre-loaded with a ton of stamps and papers so you aren't starting from scratch. Then every week, Stampin' Up! releases new Digital Downloads. How cool is that? There is always fresh content.  Still not sure, contact me to set up a demonstration and I can share with you how much fun MDS is.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

So this was one of the items we made at the Mother's Day - Teacher Appreciation class today. What a cute way to say thank you to a wonderful teacher at the end of the school year.  The base is a candle votive with crayons attached.  The vase is finished with a little of the 7/16" Trim tied around it. A little Styrofoam and paper grass fill it up to stabilize the stems. The flowers were made using the Blossom punch. There are so many ways to make flowers with that punch! Definitely my favorite punch.   The flowers are in Regal Rose card stock. 

Stay tuned for the next couple of posts to see what else we made in class today!

Addicted to the Swallowtail Stamp...

I confess, I can't get enough of this stamp. I use it then put it away. But then I get another crazy idea and have to see what the idea actually looks like on paper. This one is having a harder time translating over to the photo version. Now looking at it, I am thinking I should add a little shimmer to it next time (which will also not show up in a photo!) perhaps just embossed in Clear embossing powder and hmmmm, a little Iridescent Ice mixed in?  You will have to check back in a few days to see if I shared that experiment.  So back to this card!  Here I used the Swallowtail stamp with my Very Vanilla Craft Stampin' Pad. I stamped on Very Vanilla card stock to get just a shadowy effect. I layered it on Crumb Cake card stock.  I left it without words for now, but you could easily use this for a birthday, thank you, or even a sympathy card. 

See what happens with cards - you start down one road, and then see something else, or get a new idea.... but creativity starts with creativity.... you have to make the time for it. Even five minutes of play time will make you feel better!  Keep stamping and keep creating.

May's Best of Brides and Babies

Yes, it is time for a new release in the "Best of" series to celebrate Stampin' Up!'s 25 year anniversary.  Perfect timing for this set as we head into the popular wedding season.  Remember that when you order six of the stamp sets in this series, you will be eligible to select one for free.  There is a card that comes with your stamp set, and an extra sticker on your stamp decal sheet to place on the card. Want to shop now, this set is item 133482 for $14.95. You can shop my site at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net