These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

It is always fun to find out what other people like in the new catalog!  It’s exciting to see if some of the sets you like have made the lists of others.  Of course, since we all have our different styles, likes and dislikes, our lists may differ.  As for me…I love vintage and nature, and my picks reflect that.  Plus, there is a touch of whimsy, too. Could I narrow it to a Top Ten List…of course not! This is a fabulous catalog!  Enjoy a peek at what caught my fancy!

My Favorite Holiday/Seasonal Stamps
Beautiful Season Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
1.   A Beautiful Season (W 122680, C 122682…Page 45) This adorable bird on a sprig of holly won my heart. I see glitter and pearls in its future!
A Christmas Carol Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
2.  A Christmas Carol (W 122635, C  122637…Page 45)  I was immediately smitten by this image of Victorian carolers.  I can envision watercoloring or emboss resist this beautiful image.
Snow Much Fun Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
3.  Snow Much Fun (W 122560, C 122562…Page 35)  Every stamper needs a good snowman stamp, and this one fills the bill for me!
Valentine Love Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
4.  Valentine Love (W  122695, C 122697…Page 47)  With its adorable Cupid, who is calling out my name, I know I will be using this set to create my vintage Valentines!

Favorite New Masculine Set
Need for Speed Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
5.  Need for Speed (W 122715, C 122717…Page 91)  It is always tough to find good masculine sets, especially for the younger men in your life.  This set does it for me!

Favorite Nature Stamps
Young Vermillion Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!

6. Young Vermillion (W 124092…Page 20) At $7.95, this a` la carte stamp should be a staple in everyone’s stamping arsenal.

Zoo Review Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
7.  Zoo Review (W 122197, C 122199…Page 105) Beautiful realistic images of some of my favorite zoo animals.  Can’t you just envision this polar bear on a winter card?  Or how about masculine cards with the lion or giraffe!
Kindness Matters Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
8.  Kindness Matters (W 122900, C 122902…Page 121) Say “hello” to nature meets vintage. A bargain at $8.95 for clear mount, this set will prove to be versatile. 
Sunflower Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
9.  Sunflower (W 123606…Page 149)  Big and beautiful! A stamp which will make a statement!
Favorite Retro/Whimsical
Button Buddies Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
10.  Button Buddies (W 122735, C 122727…Page 71)  With buttons or without, this set is too cute to pass up!
Not So Seriously Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
11.  Not So Seriously (W 123085, C 123087…Page 55) Seriously, what’s not to love about a “muttley crew” and a “butt” sentiment!

Little Friends Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
12.  Little Friends (W 122665, C 122667…Page 75)  Adorable little kids, a puppy and a teddy equals “cuteness cubed”!
 
Up, Up & Away Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
13.  Up, Up and Away (W 122755, C 122757…Page 63)  Stampin’ Up! needed a cute balloon set and here it is!

Favorite Shabby/Vintage

Established Elegance Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
14.  Established Elegance (W 122530, C 122532…Page 130)  A key, a crown just made for pearls, and a small flourish are just a few of the elements in this set, which is perfectly designed to make collage cards! I can’t wait to ink this one up!
Daring Adventure Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
15.  Daring Adventure (W 122600, C 122602…Page 145)  Sometimes a set is worth purchasing just for the sentiment.  This is what I think about this set, which contains a fabulous quote by Helen Keller.
Nature's Pace Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
16.  Nature’s Pace (W 122660, C 122662…Page 129) Nature’s Pace may just be my favorite set in the entire catalog! It’s shabby meets nature, with a wonderful sentiment as a bonus!

My Friend Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!
18.  My Friend (W 122585, C 122587…Page 139)  As everyone else who loves this set has stated, it “had me at hello”!  Quick and easy, clean and simple, shabby and distressed…this set will prove to be versatile!
So there you have it! My top picks from the 2011 – 2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  Are they my only favorites?  Of course not…there are many more on my Wish List.  How about you? Is your Wish List extra-long?  Take advantage of Stampin’ Up!’s $99 Starter Kit Special and purchase your Wish List items at a discount! Click HERE to learn more.  I’m anxious to hear what is on your Wish List.  Won’t you please share in your comment today?   Until next time…
 Coming Up:  PPA Peek and Post, Buried Treasure, Twin Talk, Convention Preparation, Blog Award

Christmas in July for The Paper Players

With heat advisories here in Iowa, what fun it was to think “cool thoughts” and pull out the Christmas sets for this week’s Paper Players’ Theme Challenge…Christmas in July!  Can you believe that I bought the Christmas Collage stamp when it came out in the 2010 Holiday Mini and never inked it up?  Does that ever happen to you?  I was happy to see that it made it into this year’s Idea Book and Catalog.  It is a lovely vintage-style stamp that I went “ga-ga” over when I first saw it at Convention last year. I paired it up with the sentiment from Bells and Boughs, another of my “Mini” favorites which made it into the new catalog.  So put on the carols, heat up the hot chocolate and enjoy “Christmas in July”!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Those Special Touches
  • For a cool look, use heat! I inked the Christmas Collage stamp with Soft Suede CRAFT Ink, and heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  This gives a crisp image, and is perfect when a touch of watercoloring is needed.

  • Sometimes scrunchy is better! To add a shabby flair to the corner, a thread was pulled and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding was “scrunched”.
  • Layer a label!  The “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Bells and Boughs was stamped with Soft Suede and punched out with an Oval Punch.  The edges were distressed with a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink.  Finally, it was popped up on a Cherry Cobbler Decorative Label.
  • Pearl Pizzazz! Pearls are perfect for adding interest to both bells and blossoms!
  • The “Wow” factor!  Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke Seam Bindings were shirred and formed into roses and leaves, perfect for accenting the “25th”.

I hope you enjoyed today’s tips and today’s card! Won’t you please let me know by leaving me a comment?  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and everyone. Of course, if you have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, please do not hesitate to EMAIL me. Until next time…
Click HERE for information about Stampin’ Up!’s amazing $99 Starter Kit offer! If you have questions, please email me.

Stamp Set:  Christmas Collage (121279), Bells and Boughs (W 120831, C 121142);  Inks:  Soft Suede Craft…Neutrals Collection (119715), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Always Artichoke (105219), More Mustard (103162), Baja Breeze (111833), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973);  Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Naturals Ivory (101849), Cherry Cobbler (119685);  Tools:  Heat Tool (100005), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Extra Large Oval Punch (119859),  1-3/4″ Circle Punch (119850), Sponge Dauber (102892), Blender Pen (102845), Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109130), Color Spritzer Tool (107066);  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), Always Artichoke Seam Binding (121000)

It’s Here…2011- 2012 Idea Book and Catalog

View the Current Catalog On-Line

Every year we look forward to the release of the new catalog with anticipation, and this year’s catalog did not disappoint.  What was on my first order??? Here’s a peak:

Stamp Sets:

  • Under the Big Top
  • Beautiful Season
  • A Christmas Carol
  • House and Home
  • Up, Up and Away
  • Button Buddies
  • Little Friends
  • Forever Young
  • Zoo Review
  • Summer Solstice
  • Nature’s Pace
  • Established Elegance
  • Sunflower

Designer Series Paper:

  • Mocha Morning
  • Beau Chateau
  • Domestic Goddess
  • Well Worn
  • Big Top

Textured Impressions Embossing Folders:

  • Designer Frames
  • Stripes
  • Houndstooth
Yep, I know…it was a big order.  But luckily for me, I earned several free stamp sets through Sale-A-Bration, so I did not have to pay for all of those sets! Whew!

How about you?  What are your “MUST-HAVE” items from the new catalog?  Until next time…

CLICK HERE for $99 Starter Kit Information
Coming Soon:  List of my Retired Stamps for Sale

***This is Post #3 for Today.  Please scroll down for my Buried Treasure feature.***