It’s RemARKably hard to say GOODBYE

Welcome to the May 2015 RemARKable Blog tour, where we explore all things GOODBYE.  I’ve chosen to focus on the Stampin’ Up! 2014-2015 catalog retiring list, and I’ve based my projects around one of my favorite all-around stamp sets, For the Birds:

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015This is a (sort of) Clean and Simple card.  There’s just one image, and there are no sentiments, but there are multiple layers.  It’s a very quick card to assemble and employs one of my favorite card-making tricks:  have plenty of cards on hand with NO SENTIMENT.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015I could add Miss You, Sorry, Love You, Thinking of You, even Happy Birthday – or Happy New Baby in a real pinch!  (It’s a nest – get it?)

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015If you’re lucky enough to have Blendbilities, For the Birds is a great choice because of the detail and variety, but today I chose to use colored pencils.  If you’ve ever had a kid in grade school, you more than likely have colored pencils in your house.  Even if there are no kids, colored pencils are inexpensive and working with them is easy and generally trouble free.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015With this much magnification, you can see the shading, but the general effect is much more subtle.  If you see a few fuzzy bits in that top left corner, your birdie-eye has spotted bits of the white jute ribbon cut apart and tucked behind the image.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015For the Birds Clear #126407  $24.95  Wood #132001 $32.95

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015I must confess that when I spotted this DSP from the Back to Black (retiring) collection I did a little happy dance around my studio.  FEATHERS.  Need I say more?

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015Look closely and you’ll realize that I am no rock-star-pencil-colorist.  But I do find it relaxing and enjoyable to play with shading and color, and this stamp set is a great all-around addition to your stamping birdhouse!

Enjoy the tour – I love the unique manner with which everyone interprets the theme – and I’ll see you here next month.  Head over to see what Heather Mathiesen has created!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Goodbyes

 

Happy (Sparkly) Birthday

If I were in charge (and you should be glad this is not the case) I would not retire Perfect Pennants:

Maui Stamper Perfect Pennants Make A WishI would also not retire Back to Black DSP, unless of course I had a brand new, Black and White/Vanilla DSP waiting in the wings (that would blow my socks off).  Just sayin’ Stampin’ Up!

Maui Stamper Perfect Pennants Make A WishThis bold, masculine font does the trick for Manly birthday cards.  It goes into my permanent archives.

Maybe I should get a couple more packages of Back to Black…

Won’t you make a card today?

It’s World Card Making Day!  Did you know there was such a thing?  It’s a great day to make – and send – a card!

Maui Stampers Amazing Birthday Four Feathers

  • Stamps:  Amazing Birthday, Four Feathers
  • Color Palette:  Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Whisper White
  • Accessories:  Back to Black DSP, Feathered Framelits, Crushed Curry Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

Maui Stampers Amazing Birthday Four FeathersI used daubers to blend the colors on the tallest feather – and the Daffodil plus the Bermuda created a beautiful transitional green shade.

Maui Stampers Amazing Birthday Four FeathersThese feathers are addicting!  Sometimes I neglect the inside of a card, but this one was for my BFF Cheryl.

Maui Stamper and Create With Cheryl

Make a card, send a card…even if it’s tomorrow.