Happy Graduation, Cousin Patrick!

My youngest cousin is graduating from high school this June. To celebrate, my aunt Tracy designed this banner to hang up at his graduation party. She did such an amazing job creating this banner that I wanted to share it with you!

Tracy made this banner to match her son's school colors. Pacific Point and Whisper White coordinated fantastically with her son's school colors. 

Tracy started by determining the size of her banner pennants. She has the Layered Alphabet stamp set, the Yay Birthday stamp set, and the 2-1/2" circle punch. To fit the 2-1/2" circle punch, Tracy determined that the top edge of the banner's width should be 5" and that the length of the banner should be 7.5". She found this size by punching out a 2-1/2" circle and cutting out a few test banners to get the spacing she desired.

I created a template using a word processing program by inputting various widths and lengths of isosceles triangles until we had the perfect size. You can download the template here. I printed the template directly onto cardstock. Check your printer to see if it can also print directly onto cardstock. If it cannot, print on regular computer paper, cut out the template, and trace onto cardstock.

Tracy wanted the banner to say Congratulations 2016 with a pennant on each end and one between congratulations and 2016. This is a total of 22 banner pennants - 19 banner pennants for the letters and the numbers plus three banner pennants for spacing. She cut out all of her banner pennants from Pacific Point Cardstock. Next, she punched nineteen 2-1/2" circle from Whisper White Cardstock. For the top of each pennant Tracy cut twenty-two 1" x 5" strip of Schoolhouse DSP.

Once the pieces were ready, it was time to start stamping! Tracy stamped the 2-1/2" circles with one letter or one number each to spell her sentiment.

While the letters and numbers dried completely, she adhered the Schoolhouse DSP strips to the top edge of each pennant. Once the glue had dried, she flipped the pennant over and trimmed the excess DSP. Cutting the DSP after makes a nice, clean edge without the hassle of trying to cut the perfect angle on your Paper Trimmer!

You can make this banner to coordinate with your school colors too! Or, make this banner for a retirement, job promotion, or even a baby shower! Switch the DSP to match your celebration. You could also emboss the pennants with a TIEF (Texturized Impressions Embossing Folder). How would decorate and embellish a banner? I would love to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

Graduation Banner Project Supply List
Stamps	Birthday Yay Layered Letters
Paper	Schoolhouse DSP Pacific Point Cardstock Whisper White Cardstock
Ink	Pacific Point Ink Pad
Embellishments	Whisper White Baker’s Twine
Tools	Stampin’ Trimmer Bone Folder Clear Acrylic Blocks B & C Grid Paper Stampin’ Mist Cleaner Stampin’ Scrub Stampin’ Pierce Mat Multipurpose Liquid Glue Glue Stick Paper Snips
Click here to start shopping!

 

Flower Frenzy Corsage Update

We finished the Flower Frenzy Corsages for the senior citizen prom. They look gorgeous! I love the two-toned effect some of the corsages have! I am so excited for the ladies to receive and wear the flowers!

These corsages were quick and easy to put together. Give them a try today. I would love to see what you create!

The Retiring List has been updated with the latest inventory status. The Cups and Kettles Thinlits Dies, individual markers, Greetings Thinlits Dies, Word Window Punch, Crumb Cake ribbon, and Crystal Effects are now sold out.

If you missed Crystal Effects, I have three bottles available for purchase in my Cash and Carry Cart. I also have glue sticks and two-way glue pens.

I am sad that so many of my favorite products are retiring this year, especially the Zoo Babies stamp set, the banner punch, and the Bigz Dies!

But, I know you will love the new products coming out in June! I wish you could have seen me looking through the new Annual Catalog at On Stage. I spent all evening pouring over each page. I am amazed at the talent and creativity Stampin' Up! designers have!

I am working on samples to share!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

On Stage 2016: Sneak Peek and Make & Takes

I had an amazing time at On Stage 2016! As a demonstrator I was able to see and create with many of the new products in the 2016-2017 Annual Catalog! I am so excited to share some sneak peeks with you!

The 2016-2017 Annual Catalog starts on June 1st, 2016. If you have ordered from me this year, I have placed an order to automatically send a 2016-2017 Annual Catalog directly to you. It should ship around May 16th. If you don't receive your catalog by May 30th, please contact me to get your 2016-2017 Annual Catalog.

We previewed many stamp and punch sets during the convention! I am truly excited for the catalog release on June 1st! I know you are going to love all of the new products! I have already started my wish list!

Here are the samples we made using some of the new stamp sets.

I love this product suite! It's called Affectionately Yours. It includes a gorgeous floral stamp set, two embossing folders, washi tape, and stunning DSP! I am really looking forward to putting a class together with the Affectionately Yours product suite. I ordered all of the product suite products during the premiere purchase order! I have seven ideas already!

This heart tri-fold card comes from an all inclusive kit called Oh, Happy Day! The kit comes with all of the embellishments, card bases, and stamps to create 20 different, gorgeous cards! I ordered this kit too!

Check out this little card of awesomeness! That's right! It is a shaker card! Stampin' Up! is bringing back adhesive foam in strips! No more trying to make your own cardboard templates or fussing with dimensionals! Hooray! We made this confetti birthday shaker card using the new adhesive foam strips, the new confetti punch, and the new stamp set! I have tons of ideas for shaker cards using this new stamp set as well as a few others! You bet I ordered the adhesive foam strips, the confetti punch, and the stamp set!

Here is the news you have been waiting for! Here are the 2016-2018 In Colors!

We made this handy chart showing the cardstock, ink pad, and markers in each of the five new In Colors. The new colors are called Dapper Denim, Flirty Flamingo, Emerald Envy, Peekaboo Peach, and Sweet Sugarplum. They remind me of happy, beachy, summertime colors. They also remind me of tropical flowers and fruity cocktails! I am excited to start using these new colors! I think Flirty Flamingo and Dapper Denim are my favorites right now, but I know all of them will become my favorites! I ordered the ink pads, the cardstock sampler pack, the markers, and the ink refills.

Which new In Color is your favorite?

Yes, I totally ordered all of the products demonstrators could order from the On Stage premiere purchase! This is just a sampling!

I am working on scheduling some classes for the Affectionately Yours product suite and for the shaker cards. Please contact me today to let me know what dates are convenient for you.

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

April's Monthly Meeting

Thursday was our monthly demonstrator's meeting with my amazing upline Colleen Magness. This month's card swap theme was sympathy, get well, and thinking of you. These types of cards can be hard to design. It is hard to know what to say and how much to say even for the closest of family and friends.

Here are the swaps our group made.

 

 

What sympathy, get well, and thinking of you cards have you made?  What stamp sets and colors appeal most to you for these occasions? I would love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beth

Mini Birthday Banners

You know my mom and I love banners! So, it should be no surprise that we made mini birthday banners for many of our family member's upcoming birthdays!

 
We thought the colors and patterns in the It's My Party DSP Stack was perfect for both the ladies and the guys in our family. There are neutral colors mixed with greens, yellows, and pinks, making it a fantastic balance for everyone.

 First we determined which patterns from the It's My Party DSP Stack would work as the background to the letters. Then we punched the banner pennants and stamped one letter on each banner pennant to spell Happy Birthday.

The Back to Basics Alphabet is the perfect size and font for the banner punch. It is not too big or too small. The font is clear and not too fussy. I can see making banners for graduation, retirement, and inside cards for a pop up banner!

Next we added coordinating patterned banners between Happy and Birthday and on each end for more embellishment. Finally, we glued the banner pennants to a length of Basic Black Baker's Twine, placing glue only on the top of the back of each pennant.

On the banner photographed above, we added a Melon Mambo cupcake to the center banner pennant. So adorable!

 
My husband still has his banner up even though his birthday was in the middle of March! He said that his banner was a fun surprise to show him how much I cared. He won't let me take it down. He got very sentimental! He is too sweet!

Out of all of the products retiring this year, my mom, my aunts, and I are the most sad about the banner punch, Back to Basics Alphabet stamp set, and the It's My Party Suite. Luckily, we all have these banner making goodies!

If you like our banners and would like to make your own, I suggest ordering soon so you don't miss out! I would love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

Mini Birthday Banners Project Supply List
Stamps	Back to Basics Alphabet Party Wishes
Paper	It’s My Party DSP Stack
Ink	Archival Basic Black Ink Pad Melon Mambo Ink Pad Daffodil Delight Ink Pad Mint Macaron Ink Pad
Embellishments	Basic Black Baker’s Twine
Tools	Clear Acrylic Block A Grid Paper Stampin’ Mist Cleaner Stampin’ Scrub Multipurpose Liquid Glue Two-way Glue Pen Banner Punch Party Pack Punch Set Paper Snips
Click here to start shopping!

 

Tie Dye Ribbon Gift Box

I've created this sweet gift box to continue practicing my gift packaging goal. I cut a 8" square piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and used the gift box punch board to make a medium sizedbox.

The tag is punched from the Tag Punch that is retiring. The flowers are from the Itty Bitty Accents Flower Punch. The leaves are from the Bird Builder Punch. I am sad to see that a lot of punches are retiring this year!

The sentiment is from the March 2016 Paper Pumpkin Kit.

The ribbon is a 24" piece of Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon sponged randomly with Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, and Melon Mambo. I started by daubing Melon Mambo along the length of the ribbon every inch or so. I next filled in the what was still white with Daffodil Delight. Then I sponged Tempting Turquoise over the top of the Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight.

Next time, I may add white embossing to the sides of the box or even the Decorative Dots TIEF. I would love to see how you would decorate your gift boxes!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

Backstage 2016 Make and Takes

I attended Backstage 2016 hosted by Janet Baker and Susan Adams last Tuesday. It was amazing! The entire suite was decorated with a movie theater theme complete with film strip wall decor, popcorn machine, stars hanging decor, and candy bar. It was so much fun! We had four make and take projects and one take home project featuring products from the current catalogs.

The first project we made was a cute gift bag sponged with white craft ink and adorned with a friendship tag and Bermuda Bay sequins. The stamp set is Friendly Wish and is staying in the Annual Catalog. The dots were made using the Dots & Stripes Mask, which is retiring this year. I love this mask. I have used it on many gift and treat bags. I am really sad this mask is retiring. It is such a great tool and only $3!

The second project we made was a card featuring Clear Wink of Stella, Timeless Textures stamp set, and the Birthday Blooms stamp set. I love this stamp set and color combination! All three are staying in the Annual Catalog. The Venetian Trim is retiring.

This is my favorite project we made! It is a variation on a cascading fold card. I love the It's My Party DSP and Happy Birthday die!

The inside reveals a sweet sentiment and more festive balloons!

The middles opens to hold a gift card. How much fun is this card?!?!

The last project we made was a clever mini photo album with the 2015-2017 In Color DSP stack and ID badge holders. Inside has four pages to put photos of your loved ones.

The take home project was a little goodie basket made using the Berry Basket Bigz Die and the Birthday Bouquet DSP (both are retiring).

This mini basket is a sweet way to give a little present or candy. I love the bow on top of the handle!

If you would like to make these projects too, please contact to set up a stamping session!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth

April 2016 Paper Pumpkin Lovely Little Wreath

April's Paper Pumpkin arrived in my mailbox while I was at On Stage. Although I have not completed the project yet, I did see completed kits on display at On Stage. I think the wreaths are adorable! I LOVE wreaths! I have all of the wreath stamp sets and wreaths all over my house! This month's Lovely Little Wreath will be a perfect addition to my home decor! I cannot wait to put it together!

I think this wreath could be used for more than springtime and using more than just the yellow flowers included in the kit. I can see using this wreath in the summer and in the winter too. How about using the Garden in Bloom stamps, the Spiral Flower Die, or even little Real Red circles for holly berries? What about adding snowflakes or a poinsettia? The flowers from the bonus stamp set All About Everything? The possibilities are endless! I would love to see what you create!

In the meantime, check out this great video from Paper Pumpkin!

The bonus thank you stamp set is called All About Everything. It includes fantastic sentiments, flowers, leaves, and stems. This photograph from the Paper Pumpkin website features examples using the All About Everything stamp set. Stunning!

At On Stage, not only were we able to get a sneak peek of the May 2016 Kit, we even made one of the projects! Alisha from Paper Pumpkin said we could share a photo of the May 2016 Kit! You are going to love next month's kit too! I do! I love love love the triangular die cut, the colors, the stars, and the fonts!

To get this project and others sign up before May 10th to receive May's Kit seen above. Sign up in my store today.

I would love to see what you create with your April 2016 Lovely Little Wreath Kit and All About Everything stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by!
Beth