"Goin' Out In Style"

Every once in awhile I get overly excited and I do something a little crazy. I signed up for four swaps in one online swap. Don't get me wrong I am so looking forward to it. This swap is for all the discontinued stamps SU is not going to sell anymore after the 30th of June. They wanted everyone to see the Stamps used before they are no longer available. I decided I would make just 2 swaps. One for In Honor of the first stamp set I ever bought from Stampin Up. The other for the last background I ordered, which should be getting here this week. I thought that was a cute idea. Then a few other people signed up to do four and I got caught up in the hype so I am doing four also. I just added the link to the swap and noticed someone is thinking of doing 5, I just love her cards. Thirty cards for one swap I just love this hobby, and I love that other people love it as much as I do. This first card is a card I cased form SCS. I saw one link that lead me to another link . and I have actually chatted with the person who designed it (Thanks CindyH).

I decided with this swap I was going to case the cards that made me want to buy the stamp set, but in this case it's a card that definately would have inspired me to buy the set, since I had bought it earlier in the year when it was on sale. It had been on my wish list for over a year. I had to make it right away because I thought Cindy's card was so darling. I did make a few changes. I wish I had the darling ribbon she used instead of the one I used. I think mine still works, but I love the dark turquoise. I picked up mine up at Michaels, on a wood spool. I chose to use the same colors as Cindy, because I thought they looked so good together. Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery and Cool Carribean. I will miss Cool Carribean, when it leaves the catalog in June.

I used my Cricut and cut the scalloped squares with Mini Monograms in 31/2, 3 & 2 1/2 sizes and Fabulous finds to cut the Heart Charm at 1" as well as it's insert.

I used my Cuddlebug to emboss Cool Carribean with the D'vine swirl A2 Embossing folder. I chose to use it because it matched the little swirls on the hearts. I thin used a brayer to add white craft ink on top of the raised image. I used a make up sponge to add some white distressing to the edges of the scalloped square and heart charm.

I stamped the hearts from the (SU Mini Mates set being retired) in Tempting Turqouise and Certainly celery stamped them off once and them outlined with an Elegant Eggplant marker. The small heart comes form the same set I colored the heart on the music note with the Tempting Turqouise marker and then stamped it on white Card Stock and then punched it out with a 3/4" circle punch.

Added a few white brads I purchased from ALLTHATSCRAPS one of my favorite online stores. I get my embossing folders from her also. She gives free shipping for orders over 10$. A great deal in my book. I have yet to spend less than 10$,(WINK) (If you order mention my name it helps enable me to buy some more cool stuff.)

This second card sold me on Buying SU's retiring set ALL THAT I'VE SEEN. The minute my Demo made this card, I have modified it a bit but the colors are the same, I had to have it. This isn't the first tiem I have cased this card. (Did you notice that both of these cards have the same basic LO.)

I used SU's Perfect Plum, Sage Shadow, and Barely Banana card stock. The card base was stamped with SU Canvas Background. I cut the book plates with my Cricut Fabulous Finds Cart cut at 1 ". I love the way these word sentiment stamps,( SU Warm Words) stamped with Perfect Plum, fit perfectly in this oval book plate. I stamped the flower image in Sage Shadow and then colored with Elegant Eggplant marker along the edges of the image. I Just Love that Technique! Did you notice it was used in both cards. I trimmed the image down with a paper cutter and then used my corner rounder to round the corners. The matting for the image was cut on the Cricut also, using Mini Monograms, rounded square foundation, at 31/2 and 4". Making Memories pewter Brads were used to embellish this card. I hope you like how it turned out.

My Demo had too small knotted ribbon pieces tied vertically around the straight strips above "cherised". I didn't feel I had the right color of ribbon to do this. I chose to add the extra brads the rounded corners and the bookplates instead she used the Oval punches from SU. If you are interested in any of the SU products shown here feel free to visit my Stampin Up Demos Site . She'ld be glad to help you purchase any of the SU items shown, including those that will no longer be available after the end of June. I know she takes credit cards and she can ship most places. JUst visit her site and drop her an email.