Eek the countdown is racing towards when I head out on the trip at the end of the week! But I have so many projects to share with you that I’m working furiously to get them written up into blog posts so you will continue to have lots of fun ideas and inspiration (and sneak peeks!) while I’m away.
I do want to give you the heads up that it is looking like I’ll have infrequent to no internet access while I’m away, so if you need something from me or have questions, please try to get them to me in the next day or two. Otherwise, I’ll catch up with you when I’m back in town. I’ll post updates when I can over on my Facebook page, so if you are interested in the fun of a Stampin’ Up Grand Vacation, follow me over there and see what is happening. 
Fond Farewell to Kind Koala… and candy dots… and piercing templates…
This was another card I put together to get in a big hurrah with more of my retiring favorites. How can you not smile when that cutie patootie Koala is giving you a flower?
When you mix the bright colors in the Have a Cuppa designer paper with Bermuda Bay cardstock and ribbon, you get such a fun cheery card that would brighten anyone’s day. Plus it is so easy to put together that you can whip together a bunch for anytime you need to send a smile in the mail. It does contain a number of items that will be discontinued at the end of the month though, including the stamp set! So, if you love any of the following make sure to grab them now before they sell out.
Retiring Products on this Card
- Kind Koala Wood-Mount Stamp Set
- Have A Cuppa Designer Series Paper Stack
- Brights Candy Dots
- Updated Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack
- Bermuda Bay 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (on sale!)
I started by picking out a couple of my favorite patterns from the paper stack and cut a 5 1/4” x 2 3/4” piece in one color and a 5 1/4” x 1” piece in a contrasting pattern. Then just glue them down to your card front so there is even spacing along all the outside edges. See, that was easy enough!
Then stamp your Koala and color him in with complementary colors (I use the following markers – Crushed Curry, Pink Pirouette, and Cucumber Crush for the stem). I sponged around the outside of the cardstock before adhering to the Bermuda bay cardstock mat. Oh, and you can’t forget that candy dot that is the perfect center for your flower!
I used my retiring Updated Essentials piercing template to poke straight line holes around the stamped Koala to make a frame and then added just a touch of the Bermuda Bay ribbon. Pop those up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and you have yourself a card!
So you can mix and match this idea with all kinds of great stamps and patterned papers, but I wanted to give some of my retiring products some love. You can see them and all the rest that are saying farewell here… including items that are up to 50% off! Sweet!
While I’m Away Special – Special Offer!
I’m going to be sending out all the details with my newsletter later this afternoon, but I thought I’d give you a heads up about a special promotion I’m doing while I’m away on the Stampin’ Up Grand Vacation cruising the Mediterranean! I’m so excited to be heading out with my hubby and the kids are excited to have Grandma and Grandpa here staying with them. It’s a win for everyone!
But I also wanted to do a thank you for my customers too! I loved the idea that while I was duty free shopping on the boat, I could have you join in the fun by doing a little duty free shopping at home.
Duty Free Shopping Special
So, between now and May 31st, shop online using the hostess code ETHE2KQ4 when you shop in my online store and your taxes and shipping costs will be returned to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can spend starting June 1st after I’m back!
So, you can get those last few favorites – or stock up on cardstock before the price goes up on June 1st – and then have free money to spend when the new catalog releases!
If your order is $150 or more, don’t worry about putting in the hostess code, use the free Stampin’ Reward dollars your earn for yourself and I’ll make sure you still get your gift certificate!
Have fun shopping! I know I will!
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