The wait is over!  Stampin’ Up!’s Retired List has been released! Over 300 sets will be officially retired effective May 31st! Now is the time to purchase your retiring favorites!  Just CLICK HERE to see “The List”!

(This is today’s second post.  Don’t miss out on this week’s The Paper Players challenge card in today’s first post: Watercolored Thoughts of You!)

It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week the lovely Jaydee is hosting a Clean and Simple Watercolor Challenge.  Although my card may not be the cleanest and the simplest, it is indeed watercolored.  I hope you enjoy “Watercolored Thoughts of You”.

The finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

• Faux watercoloring! The Floral Cluster image from Bordering on Romance was inked in Jet Black StazOn and stamped onto Whisper White cardstock.  Using Blender Pens, I transferred the following inks:  Poppy Parade, Pool Party, and Pear Pizzazz.  To shade, I outlined using the corresponding Stampin’ Write Marker and blended with a Blender Pen. 

• Double Bow! A sweet Pear Pizzazz double bow, created from Stampin’ Up!’s fabulous Seam Binding, adds a “pop” of contrasting color!

• Fluttering by! A Pool Party butterfly, courtesy of the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, graces the curled end of the Thoughts of You banner.  I love stamping sentiments onto textured card stock for a brocade look.

• Pearls! Of course, Pearls are always the perfect finishing touch…whether embellishing the flowers or adding interest to the Tasteful Trim Large Scallop Border!

Today’s card was created for a dear friend of mine who received word this past week, that after winning her battle against breast cancer fourteen years ago, she has bone cancer.  It will be hand-delivered, so I have no worries about the embellishments I used.  I selected what I knew she would love.  She has indeed been in my thoughts and prayers…

As always, your comments are important to me.  I do read each and every one of them, so please, won’t you let me know what you think of today’s card?  And of course, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

(Mitzi…the background paper on last Sunday’s card was Well Worn.)

Stamp Sets: Bordering on Romance (W 125840, C 125482), Loving Thoughts (W 125843, C 125845); Inks:  Jet Black StazOn (101406), Poppy Parade (119782), Pear Pizzazz (119784), Pool Party (122938), Crumb Cake (121030); Stampin’ Write Markers:  Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz (123002 – set), Pool Party (119801 – Set);  Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924), Poppy Parade (119793), Lucky Limeade (122926), Textured Whisper White (121078 – Neutrals Collection); Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Tasteful Trim Bigz Die (120893), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (118138), Paper Snips (103579), Blender Pens (102845), Sponge Daubers (102892);  Glitz and Glam:  Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding (122330), Basic Pearls (119247), Large Pearls (125577)

It’s time to take a peek at this week’s The Paper Players design team card.  I must say I have had difficulty getting inspired to create this week…as you have probably noticed.  I am suffering from a case of  “no mojo”,  also known as “No-jo”.   I just hate it when that happens!  However, I am on the mend. Sometimes you just have to jump back in with both feet and let your creativity soar! So…I hope you will join me Sunday for the reveal.

 

• Stampin’ Up! will be releasing its Retired Stamp List on April 15th, 2012.  Stamps will be available through May 31, 2012.  
• The Retired Accessories/Decor Elements List will be released on April 25th.  Items on this list will be available only while supplies last!
• The New 2012 – 2013 Catalog will be released June 1st...a month earlier than in previous years!

As always, if you ever have any questions about Stampin’ Up! products, or the cards that I create and the techniques I use, I am only an email away!  Until next time…

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