Impressions Abloom!

(Starting to play with the Impressions Abloom dies)

Hello!  Today I am sharing three projects I worked on this week using the Impressions Abloom dies (item 165610), which will be one of the products included in the Stampin’ Up!® May 6, 2025, Online Exclusives new product release.  These dies are part of the Floral Impressions Suite Collection (item 165617), and will also be available together with the co-ordinating Impressions Abloom photopolymer stamp set (item 165605) in the Impressions Abloom Bundle (item 165611).

For some additional foliage in my projects I used another new set of dies, which will also be released on May 6, 2025:  the Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212) are one of the products featured as part of the Beautiful Gallery Suite Collection (item 165217) in the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue, which launches on May 6, 2025.  The Gallery Blooms dies will also be available together with the co-ordinating Gallery Blooms photopolymer stamp set (item 165211) in the Gallery Blooms Bundle (item 165213).

To cut the fence for my first project I used another new die set, which is also featured in the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue:  the Notes & Totes dies (item 165240) will also be available together with the co-ordinating Notes & Totes photopolymer stamp set (item 165239) in the Notes & Totes Bundle (item 165241).

For my fence I cut six of the vertical pickets and two of the horizontal cross-bar pieces from Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shading each of the pieces with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114), using Small Blending Brushes (item 160518) to apply the inks.  One of the benefits of Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item110755) is that it can be used to create a temporary (non-permanent) bond between two paper surfaces.  By placing a small amount of the glue on cardstock (or other paper) and allowing it to dry - it will remain tacky - before sticking the cardstock or other paper to another cardstock or paper surface you will be able to easily separate the two pieces at any time.  I very often use this technique for the closures on envelopes that I want to be able to open and reclose - if the flap is not permanently glued shut the envelope doesn't have to be destroyed to be opened.  The key to creating these temporary bonds is not to use very much glue - a little goes a long way in this case.  To assemble the fence I put a small dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue on the back of the top and bottom of each of the shaded pickets and, after letting the glue dry for a few minutes, stuck them onto a piece of graph paper - using a gridded ruler to measure the spaces between the pickets.  Once all the pickets were suitably arranged I added small dabs of glue on the front of the top and bottom of each of the pickets and immediately attached the top and bottom cross-bar pieces.  After allowing the glue creating the permanent bonds of the cross-bar pieces to the pickets to dry I was able to easily remove the completed fence from the graph paper and proceed with the completion of the project!

All the die cuts used in my projects were cut from cardstock, with some being shaded with Classic Stampin' inks applied with Small Blending Brushes.  For foliage die cuts I used Soft Seafoam cardstock (item 146988) [the Queen Anne's Lace die cuts made using the Gallery Blooms dies], Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) for shading.

For my die cuts I also used a few retiring dies, all of which are available - but only while supplies last - as discounted (some quite substantially) Last Chance Products:

• Beauty Of The Deep (item 161236) - the coral die cut makes a great shrub!;

• Delicate Forest (item 162679) - leafy sprigs; and

• Grove (item 157844) - I used the "shrub" die to cut four grass clumps that I added behind the fence on my first project - two cut from Old Olive cardstock, and two from Mossy Meadow cardstock, and all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink applied with a synthetic sea sponge "pounced" over the surface of the cardstock die cuts.

For two butterflies added to my second project I resurrected a retired die set:  the Brilliant Wings dies (item 155523) were featured as part of the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle (item 155821) with the Butterfly Brilliance cling stamp set (item 155092) in the May 2021-April 2022 Annual Catalogue.  I cut one butterfly from Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416) - center shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084), and one from Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986).  To add a little sparkle I painted both die cut butterflies with my Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush (item 141897).

On a mundane errand to my local Home Depot I also found inspiration for two of my projects - paint sample cards in colours co-ordinating with the colours of Stampin’ Up!® cardstock!  It always pays to carry your cardstock swatches with you!

Just a brief note regarding the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and Designer Series Paper panels and strips - I also used the Paper Trimmer for scoring the card fold line, and I used my Bone Folder (item 102300) to burnish the card's scored fold line; 
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for doing any necessary trimming of die cuts - shortening stems, trimming off a few leaves etc.;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the tacky putty tip is definitely a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  When gluing DSP to a large base surface, such as the heavy weight cardboard backing panels for the two framed projects, I use the Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) to roll over the DSP immediately after gluing it to the base surface to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the DSP to the base surface.  When applying glue to a larger surface area I will also often use an old small flat tipped paint brush to help spread the glue over the surface. 

On with the projects!

For the first project I began with a 7" square (dimensions of back opening) dollar store wood frame, glass removed, and edges distressed with a fine-grit sandpaper.  After cutting a heavy-weight cardboard panel to fit the frame opening I glued a piece of linen patterned paper from the Online Exclusives Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560) to the cardboard panel, shading the edges with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116).

After completing the fence, and gluing the Grove dies "grass" clumps, and Beauty Of The Deep dies shrub to the back of the fence I spot glued the fence to the DSP panel (after securing the panel into the frame).  I then added the additional foliage and floral die cuts.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) for all stems;
• for the large die cut flowers/petals:  Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117), shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) and Real Red ink (item 147084); and Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416), shaded with Real Red ink;
• for the small die cut flowers:  Pool Party cardstock (item 122924), shaded with Pool Party ink (item 147107); Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683), shaded with Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094); and Flirty Flamingo cardstock, shaded with Real Red ink;
• for the die cut centers of the two large flowers:  Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665).  To attach, and slightly pop up, the large circle center I used one of the Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430); and to attach, and slightly pop up, the smaller circle center I used one of the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108); and
• three small and two large of the Pool Party dots from Party Dots (item 164602) added to the panel.

For the second project I began with three of the paint sample cards co-ordinating with Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, and Flirty Flamingo respectively, and a 12" x 6" (dimensions of back opening) thrift store wood frame, glass removed, and the edges distressed with a fine-grit sandpaper.  To a heavy-weight cardboard panel trimmed to fit the frame opening I glued six 2" wide x just shy of 6" long strips cut from the following two retiring Designer Series Papers collections (2 strips cut from each of the three patterns):

• 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments-Brights (item 163775) - Daffodil Delight and Flirty Flamingo striped patterns; and

• 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments-Regals (item 163774) - Gorgeous Grape circle pattern.

Using double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) I attached each of the paint sample cards to a matting panel of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) that was trimmed to allow a 1/16" border on all sides.  After adhering the floral and foliage die cuts to each of the matted paint sample cards I glued the cards to the background panel, after the panel was secured in the frame.  When gluing on the cards I began with the two at each end, centering the third card between the first two.

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• for the large flower/petal die cuts:  Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986); Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683), shaded with Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094); and Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416), shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084); and
• for the flower centers:  Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665).  To attach, and slightly pop up, the larger center circles I again used as in the previous project one of the Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430); and to attach, and slightly pop up, the smaller center circles one of the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108). 

And finally. . .

For this 6 1/8" x 4 3/8" side-fold card I used double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to adhere the Peach Pie co-ordinating paint sample card (the edges of which I lightly scraped with a fine-grit sandpaper) to a matting panel of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), trimmed to allow a 1/16" border on all sides.  To complete the card I used the following additional supplies:

• Peach Pie cardstock (item 163799) for the card base, and the large petal die cuts that were shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086);
• Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117), shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink, for the small flower die cuts;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" inside panel;
• two Peach Pie patterns from the retiring 2024-2026 In Colour 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments (item 163777) for the card front's 5 7/16" x 3 11/16" panel; and the inside panel's 3 3/4" x 3/4" and 3 3/4" x 5/16" strips; 

• Basic Black cardstock for additional matting panels:  5 9/16" x 3 13/16" (card front); and 5 3/4" x 4", and 3 3/4" x 1/2" (inside panel); and
• two small and two large of the Peach Pie dots from Party Dots (item 164602) added to the paint sample card.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun starting to play with some of the new products - lots of possibilities to explore!

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the following products I used this week are not currently available, but I have indicated below the date that Stampin' Up! expects the products to again be available for ordering:

• Party Dots (item 164602) - week of April 28, 2025; and
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) - TBD.

Just a reminder that the sales period for the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue ends on May 5, 2025, at which time the five 2023-2025 In Colours (Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Moody Mauve, and Pebbled Path) - and all products in these colours, including cardstock, Classic Stampin' ink pads, Classic Stampin' ink refills, Stampin' Blends, the five-pack Stampin' Write Marker Assortment, and the 2023-2025 In Colours 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - will be retired so you may want to check your supplies and submit orders for any required products well in advance of the Annual Catalogue end date because retiring In Colour products usually do sell out very quickly! The 8 1/2" x 11" Wild Wheat cardstock, the 8 1/2" x 11" Boho Blue cardstock, and the 8 1/2" x 11" Pebbled Path cardstock have already sold out!  

The Last Chance Products listing has been updated to include retiring products from the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue; the January-April 2025 Mini Catalogue; and the Online Exclusives line.  Many retiring Last Chance Products have been discounted - like several of the products I used in my projects this week - and there are definitely some great bargains to be had but all Last Chance Products continue to be available only while supplies last!

Although it is definitely sad to see favourite products retired the good news is that with the launch on May 6, 2025, of the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue will come the release of lots of exciting new products - including five new In Colours for 2025-2027:  Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, Darling Duckling, Secret Sea, and Cloud Cover! 

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects - or you need to restock your supplies of any of the available retiring products, including the retiring 2023-2025 In Colours products - 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 and would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) and I will try my best to help!  The digital versions of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue, January-April 2025 Mini Catalogue, and the companion (and digital-only) January 2025 Scrapbooking Brochure, will all be available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/) until May 5, 2025. As of May 6, 2025, the digital version of the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue will be available for you to access at your convenience on my website.  If visiting the online store don't forget to check out the full line of Online Exclusives products - and the Last Chance Products listing!  Just a reminder that coinciding with the launch of the new Annual Catalogue on May 6, 2025, there will be a release of lots of exciting new products in the Online Exclusives line!

Have fun creating!

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!! 

Sharing secrets with an exhausted Easter Bunny!