Flowers, Leaves and A Few More Winged Things!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few projects with flowers, leaves and a few more winged things!  The Stampin' Up! Last Chance Promotion began on April 4, 2023, and will run until May 1, 2023.  During the Last Chance Promotion retiring products from both the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue and the January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue will be available - while supplies last - with many of the products offered at substantial discounts!  At the end of the blog post I will include a full list of the retiring products (and any discounts being offered on the products) that I used in my projects.  

With regard to retiring items I apologize for erroneously indicating in my blog post last week that the Queen Bee stamp set (item 160476) was retiring.  The stamp set, while not part of the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue, will become one of the Online Exclusives starting at the beginning of May.   The Queen Bee dies (item 160484) are retiring and are offered at a 60% discount during the Last Chance Promotion.

With the launch of the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue on May 2, 2023, Stampin' Up! is also launching a colour refresh, involving an update of all the colour familes (Brights, Regals, Neutrals, and Subtles).  In addition to the introduction of five new In Colours for 2023-2025 (Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Moody Mauve, and Pebbled Path); the introduction of several new and "returning" core colours (Azure Afternoon, Pecan Pie, Lemon Lolly, Bubble Bath, Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst, Misty Moonlight, Pretty Peacock, Blueberry Bushel, Lost Lagoon, and Fresh Freesia), the colour refresh also means the retirement of the following colours and all products in these colours (cardstock, ink pads, ink refills, Stampin' Blends) so the Last Chance Promotion is a final opportunity to stock up on supplies in your favourites of these retiring colours:

• Polished Pink
• Pale Papaya
• Evening Evergreen
• Soft Succulent
• Mango Melody
• Bermuda Bay
• Pacific Point
• Merry Merlot
• Soft Suede
• Sahara Sand
• Rich Razzleberry
• Blushing Bride
• So Saffron
• Pear Pizzazz
• Mint Macaron

The stamp positioning platform, the Stamparatus (item 146276), and accessories (additional Stamparatus Magnets - item 148213, Small Grid Paper - item 149621, and Stamparatus Deluxe Foam Mat - item 150866) are being discontinued - however, if there is a supply of the platforms and accessories remaining after the completion of the Last Chance Promotion they will then become available as Online Exclusives.  During the Last Chance Promotion the additional Magnets and Deluxe Foam Mat are both offered at a 50% discount.  As with all products offered during the Last Chance Promotion the Stamparatus and accessories will be available just while supplies last.  I find the Stamparatus an invaluable tool!

Just a quick summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring cardstock;
• Bone Folder (item 102300) - for burnishing all score lines to ensure sharp fold lines, and to curl up edges of flower petals and leaves;
• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for cutting all paper and cardstock (can also be used for scoring);
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the tacky putty and paper piercer tips are a great help in picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; 
• for heat embossing the bee on the first project, an Embossing Buddy (included with the Embossing Additions Tool Kit - item 159971) to rub over the cardstock to prepare it for stamping and embossing; VersaMark Ink (item 102283) and gold embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Metallics - item 155555) to stamp and emboss the image; and a heat gun (Heat Tool - item 129053) to heat (activate) the embossing powder; and
• for the main adhesive - Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

I have attached for reference a photo showing particular dies used in my projects (including retiring dies).  However, not included in the photo is one of the branch dies from the Tree Rings dies (included with the Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing Folder - item 159888) which I used for the final card.

On with the projects!

To decorate this 1/8" thick white washed MDF bunny from Dollar Tree that measures 11 1/2" tall x 10 7/8" wide I used the following additional supplies:

• Queen Bee stamp set (item 160476) and Queen Bee dies (item 160484) to stamp and die cut the embossed bee;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the stamped, embossed, and die cut bee;
• Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951) -  grass and floral stems;
• Summer Shadows dies (item 156618) - large flower, and broad solid and outline leaves;
• Queen Bee dies - small flowers (9);
• Around The Bend dies (item 160649) - medium flower, and veined leaves;
• Poppy Moments dies (item 151594) - flower centers (4);
• Shaded Spruce cardstock (item 146981) and Mint Macaron cardstock (item 138337) - grass, floral stems, and leaves;
• Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199) and So Saffron cardstock (item 105118) - large and small flowers;
• Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416) and Sweet Sorbet cardstock (item 159268) - medium flower, center for medium flower, and small flowers;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) - bottom center for large flower;
• Soft Suede cardstock (item 115318) - flower centers (2); and
• white dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) - added to flower centers.

For this 6 1/4" x 4 7/8" side-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the card base, and matting panel (the edges of which I distressed by scraping the blade of my craft knife along the edges);
• watercolour paper for the frame panel, image panel, and bee;
• Basic Gray cardstock (item 121044) for the two torn frame strips - cut using the Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163);
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the inside panel;
• Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) and Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the grass and leaves;
• Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951) to cut the grass;
• Around The Bend dies (item 160649) to cut the leaves;
• Honeybee Home stamp set (item 157943) and Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951) to stamp and die cut the bee image;
• Stazon Jet Black ink (item 101406) to stamp the bee and floral images;
• Mango Melody ink (item 147093) and Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to colour the bee;
• Dragonfly Garden stamp set (item 154411) - floral image;
• Rich Razzleberry ink (item 147091), Old Olive ink (item 147090), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Starry Sky ink (item 159212) to colour the floral image;
• Starry Sky ink to off stamp the distressed text image from the Queen Bee stamp set (item 160476) on the watercolour paper panel from which I had cut the square opening using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183);
• Soft Suede ink (item 147115) to sponge over the stamped watercolour paper panel - I spritzed a little water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), blotted dry with paper towel, and then sponged more Soft Suede ink around the panel and square opening edges;
• Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237) for the inset square frame - also cut using the Stylish Shapes dies; and
• four of the Matte Black Dots (item 154284) - one of each of the two sizes added to the top left and bottom right corners of the watercolour paper panel.

Using an envelope punch board I made the envelope from a piece of the Perfectly Penciled 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159244).

For this 4" x 5" top-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202) for the card base, and stamped panels;
• Basic Gray cardstock (item 121044) for the matting rectangle (cut using the Stitched Rectangles dies - item 151820);
• Smoky Slate patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Neutrals (item 159257) for the vertical DSP strip;
• watercolour paper for the image/sentiment rectangle (also cut using the Stitched Rectangles dies);
• Dragonfly Garden stamp set (item 154411) for the floral images;
• Nature's Harvest stamp set (item 156495) for the sentiment;
• Stazon Jet Black ink (101406) to stamp the floral image and sentiment on watercolour paper;
• Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to stamp the floral images on strips of Smoky Slate cardstock;
• Rich Razzleberry ink (item 147091), Old Olive ink (item 147090), Mango Melody ink (item 147093), and Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) to colour the floral image;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) - wrapped twice around the front of the card;
• Dragonfly Trinkets (item 160520) - two added to the front of the card; and
• four of the Basic Gray dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) - two of each of the two sizes added to the front of the card.

Using an envelope punch board I made an envelope from a piece of the Rich Razzleberry shaded Pretty Prints 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159245). Around the envelope I tied a bow using 5/8" "almost" Smoky Slate gross grain ribbon from my stash!

For this 3 1/8" x 4 1/2" top-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Bermuda Bay cardstock (item 131197) for the card base, and die cut flower and leafy sprigs;
• Costal Cabana cardstock (item 131297) for the sentiment label, and die cut leafy sprigs, leaves, and flower center;
• Basic White cardstock (item 159276) for the inside panel;
• Vellum 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock (item 101856) for the die cut solid butterfly;
• watercolour paper panel coloured with Bermuda Bay ink (item 147096) - cut using the Stitched Rectangles dies (item 151820);

• Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237) for the die cut detailed butterfly overlay and solid bees.  I added a little dab of Multipurpose Glue just to the underside of the main body of the Distressed Gold Specialty Paper butterfly to attach it to the Vellum butterfly - adding another little dab of glue to the underside of the Vellum butterfly at the same point to adhere the whole butterfly to the watercolour paper panel - I did not add any glue to the wings of the detailed die cut so that the wings could be gently pushed up;
• Queen Bee dies (item 160484) to cut the solid bees;
• Around The Bend dies (item 160649) to cut the large flower, leaves, and leafy sprigs;
• Poppy Moments dies (item 151594) to cut the flower center;
• Bermuda Bay ink to stamp the "Thank you" sentiment from the Grassy Grove stamp set (item 157836) - label cut using the small label die from Harvest dies (item 156504);
• Brilliant Wings dies (item 155523) - to cut Vellum and Distressed Gold Specialty Paper butterflies; and
• for a little sparkle I added four of the Pool Party dots from Glossy Dots Assortment (item 158827) to the front of the card.

Using an envelope punch board I made an envelope using a leftover piece of the Sale-A-Bration Dandy Designs 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (Sale-A-Bration item 160836).  Around the envelope I tied a bow using gold cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766).

For this simple 4 1/4" x 5" top-fold card I coloured tulip-patterned pieces of Abigail Rose 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159037) using alcohol markers, and used the following additional supplies:

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the card base;
• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the front matting panel, inside panel, and sentiment label;
• Soft Suede ink (item 147115) to stamp the partial "enjoy" sentiment from the "enjoy today" sentiment from the Campology stamp set (item 152553) - before inking the sentiment stamp I used a post-it-note to cover the "today" portion of the stamp, removing the post-it-note before stamping!;
• small label tag die from the Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163) to cut the sentiment tag - I tore one end and sponged around all edges with Soft Suede  ink; and
• Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) - I didn't fully wrap the panel - to save a little twine I secured the ends of a double strand to the back of the panel with clear tape and then used another length of twine to tie the bow.  I secured the torn sentiment label under the bow with a little dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

And finally . . .

For this 5 3/8" x 5" top-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the card base; the Eiffel Tower cancelled stamp square; and the jar label;
• watercolour paper coloured/splattered with Soft Suede ink (item 147115) - spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185) and blotted dry with paper towel.  The square opening was cut using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183), and the edges of the panel distressed by scraping the blade of my craft knife along the edges;  
• watercolour paper for the bottle - cut using the Vintage Bottle punch (item 158689) and coloured using Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088), spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers), blotted dry with paper towel, and the edges then sponged with Soft Suede ink;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the inner frame - also cut using the Stylish Shapes dies;
• ledger patterned paper from Abigail Rose 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159037), overhanging side torn and the edge sponged with Soft Suede ink - backing panel for frames;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) - edges sponged with Soft Suede ink - matting panel;
• Crumb Cake cardstock for the sentiment label - "Hello" sentiment, from the Forever Fern stamp set (item 152559), stamped using Soft Suede ink, and the label cut using the small label die from Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163) - edges of label sponged with Soft Suede ink;
• watercolour paper for the die cut grass and leafed branch - cut using the Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951) and Tree Rings dies (included with the Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing Folder - item 159888) respectively;
• Old Olive ink (item 147090) and Soft Suede ink to colour the die cut grass and leafed branch;
• Ranunculus Romance stamp set (item 157968) for the jar label and Eiffel Tower cancelled stamp images - jar label stamped using Soft Suede ink (immediately after stamping I rubbed paper towel over the stamped image to partially blur the ink), and trimmed using scissors (Paper Snips Scissors - item 103579); the Eiffel Tower stamp image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708), and before stamping I spritzed the inked stamp lightly with water (Stampin' Spritzers), so that the ink would slightly bleed on the stamped image.  The square was cut using the Stylish Shapes dies and the edges sponged with Soft Suede ink; 
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the die cut leafy sprig - cut using the Around The Bend dies (item 160649);
• Dragonfly Garden stamp set (item 154411) for the dragonfly image - stamped on Vellum 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock (item 101856) using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) - the dragonfly was coloured on the backside of the Vellum using alcohol markers, and the image was cut using the Dragonflies punch (item 154240).  On the right side of the Vellum I "painted" the wings using my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897). I rolled up one of the Mini Glue Dots (item 103683), which I stuck to the back of the dragonfly along the length of its body, and then pressed it down to attach the dragonfly to the  DSP panel;
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - to attach the Eiffel Tower stamp square, and added behind the top of the bottle and the leaves of the leafed branch; and
• Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 159082) - two added to the sentiment label.

The following is the list of the retiring products I used in this week's projects:

• Queen Bee dies - item 160476 - 60% discount;
• Honeybee Blooms dies - item 157951 - 60% discount;
• Poppy Moments dies - item 151594 - 60% discount;
• Summer Shadows dies - item 156618 - 60% discount;
• Mint Macaron cardstock - item 138337;
• So Saffron cardstosck - item 105118;
• Dragonfly Garden stamp set - item 154411;
• Honeybee Home stamp set - item 157943;
• Fabulous Frames dies - item 159163 - 40% discount;
• Soft Suede ink - item 147115;
• Mango Melody ink - item 147093;
• Rich Razzleberry ink - item 147091
• Matte Black Dots - item 154284 - 40% discount;
• Perfectly Penciled 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 159244;
• Stitched Rectangles dies - item 151820 - 30% discount;
• 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Neutrals - item 159257 - 30% discount;
• Dragonfly Trinkets - item 160520;
• Nature's Harvest stamp set - item 156495;
• Pretty Prints 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 159245 - 30% discount;
• Bermuda Bay cardstock - item 131197;
• Brilliant Wings dies - item 155523 - 60% discount;
• Harvest dies - item 156504 - 60% discount;
• Abigail Rose 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 159037 - 10% discount;
• Campology stamp set - item 152553;
• Forever Fern stamp set - item 152559; and
• Ranunculus Romance stamp set - item 157968.

If you are purchasing dies and stamps that are currently part of a Bundle and the Last Chance Promotion discount on the dies is greater than the 10% Bundle Savings (i.e. Queen Bee, Honeybee Blooms/Honeybee Home, Harvest/Nature's Harvest etc.) when submitting an online order be sure to use the separate item numbers for the dies and the stamp set rather than the Bundle item number to ensure that you receive the full discount on the dies.  In instances where only the Bundles (10% Bundle Savings) are retiring, and there is no additional discount on either the dies or the stamps, which will continue to be available each on their own after the Last Chance Promotion, you would use the Bundle item number when submitting your order during the Last Chance Promotion - i.e. Grassy Grove Bundle (Grove dies and Grassy Grove stamp set), Playing In The Rain Bundle, Lighting The Way Bundle. (With respect to the Lighting The Way stamp set the cling stamps will be retiring but the photopolymer stamps and the dies will continue to be available - although no longer as a Bundle - after the Last Chance Promotion.)

Thank you for visiting my blog!  As always I had a lot of fun working on the projects!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business! You can browse the PDF versions of the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue, and January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue, anytime on my website.  There are also lots of good deals to be had on the Clearance Rack and don't forget to check out the selection of fun new Online Exclusives too! 

Have fun creating and Happy Easter!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

The desire for sleep is almost winning over excitement about the Easter Bunny!