LAST CHANCE for SEASIDE WISHES

Welcome to my April Last Dance/Last Chance series! I have to tell you, saying goodbye to Seaside Wishes is going to hurt a bit. It’s not leaving my craft room, but once it’s no longer available in the Online Store, I don’t usually share it in a blog post. Farewell, beautiful images!

  • Stamps: Seaside Wishes
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Summer Splash, Calypso Coral
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Seaside Wishes dies, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Linen Thread, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve made more than a few cards with these stamps – you can see some of them HERE and HERE and even a very simple one HERE. For this one, I tore the edge of the card stock. I used strips about 7 1/2″ long so that I could play with the angles on the card front, and I put a piece of Basic White torn card stock between the color layers to bring sea foam to mind. A couple of gems, a sentiment, and the “dits” from the stamp set finish this one off.

As I write this, the Seaside Wishes stamps are low inventory. There’s also a gorgeous Hybrid Embossing Folder that you won’t want to miss. I’ve said it all month: don’t wait!

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LAST CHANCE APRIL 2025!!

I’m always conflicted over the Last Chance List. There are things I am so sad to see leave our lineup. (There are a few I can legitimately wish Good Riddance!) But I know this makes room for new products, and who doesn’t love new?

There’s a lot here – I’ll share my thoughts about just a few.

Seaside Wishes. I hoped we would have it one more year. This goes into my FOREVAH stash, especially with that hybrid embossing folder. Don’t wait, this one is already on low inventory.

BOHO BLUE. 😱😱😱 I mean, it’s an In Color, I knew it, but still…

This is my absolute favorite light blue. It’s that perfect tone, perfect intensity, perfect color. I can only hope it will be back someday in a Color Refresh. But not this year.

The Greetings of the Season dies are perfect year round dies. The stamps are holiday stamps, but these dies are work-horses for every day. They even come with the puka (hole) for your Linen Thread. And they’re on sale.

If Stampin’ Up! ever retires Linen Thread I will tear out my hair.

What’s breaking your heart on the Last Chance list? Do you have it? Will you order it?

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SUMMER SPLASH SLICE & SLIDE

I definitely have my favorite colors and color combinations, and lately I’ve been trying to stretch myself a bit. Combining Summer Splash and Gorgeous Grape is absolutely a stretch, but I think it works! Please say you agree 😉

  • Stamps: With You in Mind
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Summer Splash, Gorgeous Grape
  • Accessories: 24-26 In Color DSP, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Gorgeous Grape is NOT a color I reach for. It has to be very intentional, and in this case, I really didn’t think these two would work. I was actually kind of pleased at how well they came together!

If you haven’t explored With You in Mind, I recommend it. The sentiments are big and bold with a modern font, and I love the script/block font combination. The small leaf is from the same stamp set, making this a great choice for on-the-go crafting.

The Slice & Slide format creates an interesting shape when you open your card, and leaves a little space for a clever reveal at the bottom as well.

The Paper Family packs are a great option for this layout as you have 4 different patterns and a variety of colors to work with. Let me know if you’ve taken the Slice & Slide plunge!

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PRETTY IN PINK SLICE AND SLIDE

Can you stand one more Slice and Slide card? This one is very girly, all Pretty in Pink. I love working with In Colors because they are packed into so many collections – card stock, Designer Series Paper, markers, embellishments, you name it. It makes coordination so easy.

  • Stamps: Layers of Beauty, Bee My Valentine
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Pretty in Pink, Petunia Pop, Soft Seafoam
  • Accessories: 24-26 In Color Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Blends, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

This is only half of the Layers of Beauty stamp, but using it this way leaves plenty of room for the sentiment. I slipped some Petunia Pop in there with Pretty in Pink because, well, it needed the POP!

Layers of Beauty is a 24-25 Annual Catalog bundle. It comes with stamps, dies and a set of masks designed to making the shading easy. I chose to use Stampin’ Blends for this card, but the masks are simple to use and do a beautiful job.

I know it’s only February, but it’s time to start thinking about the end of the 24-25 Annual Catalog. (Sorry, it’s the way my brain works.) If you’ve been meaning to add this bundle to your shopping cart, Sale-a-bration is a great time to do that. If Layers of Beauty is available after the catalog ends, it will most likely not be available as a bundle. Just sayin’.

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SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE VALENTINE

Do you have trouble sending cards – and sending them on time? I am working on a new system featuring our gorgeous new Perpetual Calendar, but in order to make it work I need to have cards made. Why are the obvious things so hard?

  • Stamps: Bee My Valentine, Elements of Text, Happy Hibiscus, Spotlight on Nature
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Bubble Bath, Petunia Pop, Pretty in Pink, Shy Shamrock
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Spotlight on Nature dies, Happy Hibiscus dies, Watercolor Pencils, Petunia Pop Bordered Ribbon, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used a lot of different stamps to add visual texture, including the glorious Elements of Text. Have you added it to your crafty stash? You’re going to love it, I promise.

These colors aren’t super traditional, but they’re not too far off. What do you think? Do they work?

And do yourself a favor: add Elements of Text to your shopping cart and push the button. You’ll be so glad you did.

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SLICE AND SLIDE FUN FOLD: FRUIT SALAD

Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper has the perfect set of patterns for this clever fun fold card. You’ll have so much fun mixing and matching designs!

  • Stamps: Spotlight on Nature, Everyday Greetings, Greetings of the Season
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Old Olive, Pecan Pie
  • Accessories: Fruit Salad Designer Series paper (SAB ’25), Paper Trimmer, Water Painter, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I love the leaves from Spotlight on Nature. They’re elegant enough to stand alone, but they are subtle enough to work as a background. I used a Water Painter to blur the ink a bit after I stamped them.

This card is a direct CASE from one of Rachel Tessman’s Mystery Stamping events. Follow the link for detailed instructions, but the basic concept is to measure halfway down the right side of the front panel of the card and cut a diagonal piece to the lower left corner. That piece is rotated up the left side of the card, forming an asymetrical card front. Measure coordinating pieces of Designer Series Paper (Fruit Salad, in this case) to layer the card front and the rotated piece. Add a sentiment panel over the assembled card front and embellish.

These are absolutely addictive to make! The possibilities are endless, and the DSP is the star of the show. I may or may not have a somewhat excessive collection of DSP that needs to be used ASAP, and I’ve been slicing and sliding for a few days.

Rachel has very detailed instructions, so head over to her post if you need more specifics. If you need DSP, (come ON, you know you do), shop the Online Store. Be sure you take a good look at Fruit Salad, available for free with a qualifying order during Sale-a-bration 2025.

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REGAL FLORA from the NEW MINI!

The September – December mini catalog launches tomorrow, and I hope you’re ready! Regal Flora was a bit of a sleeper for me. I added it to my Demonstrator pre-order on a bit of a whim, but I’m a big fan – tell me what you think!

  • Stamps: Regal Flora, Keeping Tabs
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine, Regal Flora dies, Keeping Tabs punch, Country Lace DSP, dauber, Linen Thread, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The flowers are stamped and die cut in a cluster of 3, and I made 3 clusters. I inked them with Petal Pink, then used a dauber to add Calypso Coral to the centers. There’s plenty of room for individual expression with how much Calypso you add!

My beloved Linen Thread (may it remain with us forever) winds through the flowers, and the Keeping Tabs punch provides a fun little tag (trim the punched shape through the center). A few gems add some sparkle.

The September – December mini is FULL of beautiful new products – shop early and often!

As you know, new catalogs sometimes have supply and demand imbalances, so shop the Online Store soon.

Be sure to check out the Online Exclusives available ONLY in the Online Store! Many of my favorite bundles are there.

The September Paper Pumpkin Kit is Autumn Abundance. It includes everything you need for 9 cards and envelopes, and features copper foil details and a watercolored ephemera pack. Every Celebration, an exclusive set of dies coordinates with all 3 third quarter Paper Pumpkin offerings. Subscribe HERE by September 10th.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.

The 24-25 Annual Catalog is filled with inspiration. New stamps, dies, tools, and gorgeous new In Colors are waiting for you!! Shop HERE. And now more than ever, don’t neglect the Online Exclusives – you’ll find more beautiful products that never appear in a catalog.

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