Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for June. This month we a […]
The post Hop Along to See Our Favorite Things! appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for June. This month we are excited to show off new Stampin’ Up! products from the just released 2015 – 2016 annual catalog. We hope you find great inspiration from the projects. Get your wish list ready!
You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Amy Whelan at Amy’s Inklings, number 25 on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all the projects.
One of my FAVORITE things about the new Annual Catalog is all of the 15%-off BUNDLES! Did you know that there’s 35 of them throughout the catalog? The bundles are a must-have because they couple together the products that are designed to work together that you would have bought anyway. I mean, who buys a stamp set without the coordinating punch?! LOL!
Bundle of the Month: Today’s design features my Bundle of the Month – the Flower Shop stamp set and Pansy Punch. There are sooo many ways to use this set! Stop by throughout the month to see this bundle in action. If you buy the bundle from me, you’ll get exclusive project sheets and videos that give you a more in-depth look into the cards. Stop back tomorrow for more details!
Hidden Coloring: What makes this design pop – especially in person? The backs of the flowers are colored in the shades of orange. When the light creates the shadows, they look slightly colored on the Whisper White CS underneath. Cool trick, huh?
Crazy Color Combo – or not? How did I come up with Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Tangelo Twist, Watermelon Wonder and Rich Razzleberry? Easy – my Color Coordinator! These five colors are all in a line Pull out some Watermelon CS and pair it up with the oranges – you’ll be surprised at how orange it looks too!
The next stop is Jessica Wilson at My Papercraft Universe, number 27 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting; I hope to see you at next month’s Pals Hop!
Blog Hop Line-up:
Order the Bundle of the Month: and receive those extra freebies from me!
The post Hop Along to See Our Favorite Things! appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>This week’s Sunday Swaps feature my Bundle of the […]
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>This week’s Sunday Swaps feature my Bundle of the Month for June 2015 – the Flower Shop/Pansy Punch bundle (pg. 126 in the 2015-16 Annual Catalog). Stay tuned this week for more reasons to buy this bundle from me (I’m talkin’ perks here…) – as if 15% off Bundle & Save perk wasn’t enough!
Remember to Pin ’em if you love ’em!
Want to see what inspires me? Check out my Pinterest page, and subscribe to get my weekly Pins in your inbox!
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Today I’m sharing the last of my swaps that have […]
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Today I’m sharing the last of my swaps that have retiring stamp sets. Remember – you can get these through TUESDAY… after that, they’re gone forever! Yikes! Click on the stamp set name to order, and don’t forget to use my Host Code to qualify for a free gift from me! XEPAR2MG
Million & One (Sold Out)
Want to see what inspires me? Check out my Pinterest page, and subscribe to get my weekly Pins in your inbox!
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Summer days are already drifting away! It’s anoth […]
The post Gettin’ Ziggy with PPA253 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Summer days are already drifting away! It’s another Thursday and another Pals Paper Arts challenge! Speaking of drifting, you might want to drift far from this sketch, or follow it exactly – that’s your choice! Perhaps you have a different idea for a decorative bottom instead of the zig-zag we suggest…
I thought I would mix some old and new in my design this week…
Try Something New: I can’t say that I ever thought about doing a creative angled design at the bottom of a card. So, really, don’t ask me what I was thinking when I came up with this week’s sketch – I really don’t know! But, isn’t it a stunner? Especially with the sentiment echoing the angle. It adds a modern touch to this otherwise floral design.
Tiny Strips of Paper: Love that Mossy Meadow strip along the bottom? You can cut tiny, 1/8″ strips with your Stampin’ Trimmer! What? Don’t have one? It’s a must – add it to your next order for sure!
Don’t Cry for Me, Blendabilities: Yah, yah, Blendabilities are gone – but that just gives you more of an excuse to practice some amazing watercoloring! The blooms in Everything Eleanor are great for a beginner because the shading is built in. just add more color where you see more black lines – it’s a no brainer!
I used all sorts of great products on this design! Click on any of the product images below to add them to your shopping cart today.
The post Gettin’ Ziggy with PPA253 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>I’ve This week’s swaps are brought to you b […]
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>I’ve This week’s swaps are brought to you by the retiring list. There’s still time to get these great stamp sets – they’re guaranteed to be available through the 28th. After then they’ll be available while supplies last until June 2nd. Remember to Pin ’em if you Love ’em!
Want to see what inspires me? Check out my Pinterest page, and subscribe to get my weekly Pins in your inbox!
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>ere you shocked to see the Stampin’ Up! Color Coa […]
The post The Color Coach is Gone – Now What? I Know… appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>So was I! It’s a go-to tool that has provided me with some great and sometimes unexpected inspiration over the years. AND – there’s no replacement in this year’s Annual Catalog. So, for the foreseeable future, there won’t be any updated color combinations with the new In Colors from Stampin’ Up!. Boo Hoo!
BUT – I HAVE YOUR ANSWER!
One of my most popular posts last year was my Color Combination chart (see the post here). So, I’ve spent the last few weeks diligently updating it for this year’s In Colors, and making it even better than before.
This year’s design is more compact, and even more useful than last year’s design. It is a 1/2 page, double-sided tool. On one side, the colors by color family (including our new In Colors), and on the other side, a design that allows you to find a color, and then pick colors close to it to create unique and unexpected great color combinations. All you have to do is pick three adjoining colors to create an optimal combination. That can be three in a row, or three in a triangle formation, or even three across various columns – the options are endless!
All you have to do is add the product to your cart (click on the picture to your left) and check out and you’ll have instant access to the downloadable version. Simply download, print and fold in half. You can even laminate it if you want.
OR – if you want multiples to give to downline and customers, you can order them from me! These are glossy printed postcards printed on 130lb cardstock. They are durable and work great as a catalog bookmark! Individual cards are $1.50, and are shipped directly from me to you. Bulk orders are shipped from my printer to you, and come in at less than $1 a piece! If you want a custom number of cards, please e-mail me and I’ll send you an invoice.
The post The Color Coach is Gone – Now What? I Know… appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Time for more swaps – here’s a bevy of beau […]
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Time for more swaps – here’s a bevy of beauties that all feature retiring products. Remember to Pin ’em if you Love ’em!
Want to see what inspires me? Check out my Pinterest page, and subscribe to get my weekly Pins in your inbox!
The post Sunday Swaps appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Hey folks! Thanks for sticking out this dry spell with […]
The post Bright & Cheery for PPA251 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Hey folks! Thanks for sticking out this dry spell with me! I’ve been creating, just not blogging. Starting up our new business, holding down my old job part time, and working on Stampin’ Up! is A TON of work! But, I’m taking advantage of some catching up I’ve gotten done recently to try and get back on track with my sharing here. Please let me know that you’re still out there with a comment today!
Of course, it’s Thursday, so we have a new challenge over at Pals Paper Arts. This is our 2nd color challenge for the month, and it’s a bright one!
Bold Balance: There’s a lot going on in this design, but it’s well balanced with a good amount of white. Any time you have a bold color combo, it’s important to incorporate a good amount of neutrals, otherwise it’s too sticky sweet!
Get Playful: These colors just emanate fun! So, why not take the sentiment and do something unexpected, like creating some notebook paper (markers, ruler, spiral punch) and attaching it with a paperclip. Unexpected, but so perfect!
Don’t Forget your Inventory: The beauty of Paper Pumpkin is not only the cute kits, but the reusable stamp sets! Today’s sentiment is from the October 2014 kit (Thanksgiving themed), but as you can see it’s appropriate for any kind of thank you! That totally extends the value of those monthly kits!
Skip to the Savings:Use the code SAVE50 to join Paper Pumpkin before June 10, 2015, and get 50% off the first two months! After that, keep the creativity coming for only $19.95 + tax per month (shipping included). Applies to new subscribers only.
The post Bright & Cheery for PPA251 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for May where we are prepa […]
The post Hopping Out With the Old appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for May where we are preparing for the retirement of some Stampin’ Up! products. Though it may be goodbye to some very loved supplies, it will make room for the much anticipated new catalog products. We hope you enjoy the Pals’ creative projects.
You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come fromMartie Pollard at The Crafty Bandit, number 6 on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all the projects.
There’s lots of great sets that I’m going to miss, but now that I’ve seen the new Annual Catalog, I’m not too sad. For today’s hop, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites from the Occasions Catalog that will not carry over into the Annual. Since it’s been sooooooo long since I posted, I thought I’d shower you with SIX different designs for your inspiration!
The next stop is Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom, number 8 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting; I hope to see you on next month’s Pals Hop!
Blog Hop Line-up:
Time is of the Essence! Grab today’s featured stamp sets, and all our other retiring products at sale prices – but only through May 31st!
The post Hopping Out With the Old appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Welcome to Friday-eve, and a new Pals Paper Arts challe […]
The post Sending Sympathy for PPA249 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>Welcome to Friday-eve, and a new Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week, we have a new sketch, designed by me. As usual, it was a total surprise, and a fun coincidence when I pulled up the sketch. I prepare the sketches for a 6-month period all at once, and I usually don’t look at them again until the week before the actual challenge. Surprise!
Well, wasn’t I happy when I saw this square design. I knew right away that I was going to use the retiring Label Card Thinlit Die. But, I would need to be creative to turn it into a square…
Resize your Flip Card: How did I make this card a square? When I used the die, I inserted the paper so the left side of the cardstock stuck out ON TOP of the die. That way, it wouldn’t get cut. Then, once the card was cut, I folded it to figure out how much extra I needed to add to the end to make the card square. A simple cut, and I was 5 3/4 x 5 3/4!
Flip the Flip: Ever thought about putting the frame at the bottom? True to today’s sketch, I did! How? after you cut the card with the die, just turn it over and fold at the score lines appropriately!
Add a Mat: How did I get such a perfect mat? I pre-cut a sheet of DSP and adhered it to the cardstock base BEFORE cutting with the die. That way, once cut, everything was perfectly in place! After cutting, you may need to add more adhesive (I use the Tombow Multi Adhesive) behind the frame element.
Avoid those annoying cuts: Do you get those tiny cuts or impressions from your bottom cutting plate? Put a piece of wax paper, or typing/printer paper underneath your cardstock or DSP to reduce the number of cuts that show through.
Get ’em before they’re gone! The Stampin’ Up! Retirement Party is in full swing! I used a lot of retiring products on today’s card – use the listing below to add them to your card and place an order today! Who knows, they might be GONE by tomorrow!
Please note that Petite Pairs is NOT retiring like we previously thought – so put ’em back on the shelf – we have them for another year!
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
The post Sending Sympathy for PPA249 appeared first on Pixel Maven's Retreat.
]]>