Stitched So Sweetly Dies - The Maine Stamper

2018-2020 Retiring In Color, Pineapple Punch

April 16, 2020

Retirement Time For Pineapple Punch

Stampin’ Up! offers trendy In Color collections that are only available for two years. After two short years of use, the In Colors, like Pineapple Punch, are retired to make way for new colors. This gives us a fresh palette of popular hues to work with.

In April, the retired list comes out. This list includes all the products that will not be available in the new Annual Catalog, which is released in June. “Get them before they’re gone” and “while supplies last” is often heard during April and May.

And every year, we have to say goodbye to five In Colors. Whether we are ready to, or not. Some of the colors are so fabulous, we hope to see them in Stampin’ Up!’s color line-up in the future, if we are so lucky, during an infrequent color refresh.

This year, we are bidding a fond farewell to the following 2018-2020 In Colors: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover and Blueberry Bushel.

Punchy Pineapple

So Saffron (left), Pineapple Punch (center), Daffodil Delight (right)

Pineapple Punch is a bright, vibrant color. Like, really vibrant. We are talking neon, safety-vest yellow here. And, full disclosure, Pineapple is my least favorite of the retiring In Colors. Or…maybe it was...I may have just changed my mind.

This yellow is so outspoken it can be hard to figure out how or where to use it. After all, how much loud yellow is too much loud yellow? Yet, when I sat down to incorporate the retiring Pineapple Punch into some creations, I found its sweet spot.

Timeless Tropical

Timeless Tropcial card in Pineapple Punch

Pineapple Punch…the name of this color deems it necessary to create pineapples with it! I pulled out the new stamp set, Timeless Tropical, and coordinating dies, In The Tropics, both from the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog, for this card.

I used Pineapple Punch for the cardbase, then layered a piece of Lovely Lipstick and Coastal Weave 3D embossed Crumb Cake as well. Using my Banner Punch, I flagged a piece of designer series paper from the Tropical Oasis collection. Next, I flagged old olive cardstock as well. All of these elements help to tone down this card, while keeping it tropical.

The pineapple was die cut in Pineapple Punch, then adhered to another scrap of the same color. I then fussy cut around the image, keeping the cutout pineapple in front and the solid cardstock in back. I sponged my pineapple with Old Olive and Soft Suede. The greens were made by die-cutting Old Olive, and sponging the tips with Garden Green.

Winds Of Change

If you have been following my blog or FaceBook page, you may know that I love stamping with tulips! When the Winds of Change Stamp Set became available, and it featured tulips, I had to have it. Yellow tulips seem very natural, so here they are using my Pineapple Punch theme.

This time I limited the color selection to Pineapple Punch, Whisper White and Basic Black. Even though the windmill image could have been colored in, I purposefully left it, along with the sky and grass, in black and white. I wanted the focus to be only yellow.

After stamping the images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, I used my Stampin’ Blends in both Light and Dark Pineapple Punch to color the flowers. Simple, quick and effective. Additionally, I used some retired 2018-2020 In Color DSP for a striped background. The Rhinestone Basic Jewels do not add color, but enhance this card’s elegant simplicity.

Daisy Lane

When you think of daisies, you usually picture white and yellow flowers, right? Pineapple Punch is yellow, but I wanted something a little different for this card. So then, Balmy Blue and Granny Apple Green were invited to the party.

This card, like my Grapefruit Grove Fox Card, has two layers on it that are embossed. I used Brick and Mortar 3D on Pineapple Punch, and Scripty 3D on Granny Apple Green. I stamped the sentiment using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink directly onto the retired 2018-2020 DSP, then flagged and layered it onto Balmy Blue cardstock.

Daisy Delight and Daisy Lane are two different stamp sets that work with coordinating punches, Daisy and Medium Daisy. I stamped, and also stamped off, every other layer of the flower, using Balmy Blue on Whisper White Cardstock. The daisy center was stamped in Pineapple Punch Ink onto the same color cardstock, then punched out with my 1/2″ circle punch.

I stamped the flower stem and leaves using Granny Apple Green Ink on Whisper White Cardstock before die cutting with the Stictched So Sweetly rectangle. This way, I was able to slip some of the yellow brick cardstock beneath the raised rectangle when assembling. Pineapple Punch enamel dots from Happiness Blooms (aptly named) add embellishment.

Peace Out, Pineapple Punch

As I mentioned above, working with this color intimidated me. Until I sat down and put creative thought and color coordination together, I was not a huge fan of this extreme yellow. Now that we are getting along okay, I am sad to see it go!

It is not too late to get some of the wonderful products still available in Pineapple Punch, but time is running out fast. If you pick up an ink pad, please purchase the ink refill too. You will stamp far into the future without the ink pad going dry.

While you are in my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, make sure you consider the Stampin’ Blends in Pineapple Punch, as well as cardstock and embellishments. This wild yellow will put a smile on your face as you use it on your next project!

2018-2020 Retiring In Color, Grapefruit Grove

April 15, 2020

Retirement Time For Grapefruit Grove

Stampin’ Up! offers trendy In Color collections that are only available for two years. After two short years of use, the In Colors, like Grapefruit Grove, are retired to make way for new colors. This gives us a fresh palette of popular hues to work with.

This year, we are bidding a fond farewell to the following 2018-2020 In Colors: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover and Blueberry Bushel.

Grove of Grapefruits

Cslypso Coral, Grapefruit Grove, Pumpkin Pie — Calypso Coral (left), Grapefruit Grove(center), Pumpkin Pie (right)

Grapefruit Grove is the softest tone of the 2018-2020 retiring In Color collection. I find nothing sour about this grapefruit, only sweet. And, if I were to use other food type descriptions for this color, I would name it “Completely Cantaloupe” or “Circus Peanut Treat”.

There is a tendency for this color to be used as orange, and yet it does not blend well with orange itself. Grapefruit pairs nicely with peachy tone colors, even pinks and reds. It is wonderful with neutral browns and grays, lending light to those earthy hues.

Beauty Abounds

My card is bursting with Grapefruit Grove. I used this color for the cardstock base, as well as the butterflies, which I die cut from the Butterfly Beauty Dies. Once I trimmed the butterfly ensemble apart, I used 3 of the 5 on my card front, leaving 2 for another project.

I love whimsical stripes and playful polka dots. The Designer Series Paper here is from a retired 2018-2020 In Color collection. All DSP is patterned differently on opposite sides, and in this case, I used the same paper, front and back, in creation.

I stamped the flourish in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink directly onto the DSP. Additionally, I stamped the opaque circles in Grapefruit Grove Ink onto the DSP in the same direct manner. I chose pearls to add a touch of elegance, as well as follow thru with the minimal colors of this endearing card.

Nature’s Beauty

Basic Gray and Cajun Craze are both darker colors, and Grapefruit Grove is the perfect choice to perfectly compliment and soften this card.

I stamped the fox image with Memento Black Ink on Whisper White Cardstock. Next, I colored the fox with Cajun Craze Stampin’ Blends, using the Color Lifter to help provide shading. My foxy fox is matted on a piece of Grapefruit Grove Cardstock.

Texture on cards is nice, so I added it twice! First, I embossed in Hammered Metal on Basic Gray. Secondly, I embossed in Subtle 3D on Grapefruit Grove. The sentiment for this card is from the stamp set, Heartland. Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots in Calypso Coral and Grapefruit Grove Nature’s Twine complete the look.

Beautiful Promenade

For my last card, I wanted to showcase a pleasing palette of colorful combinations that included Grapefruit Grove. Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade and Real Red round out the flowers on display.

I stamped each flower using the same ink color as my cardstock, for a tone on tone look. The Beautiful Promenade Stamp Set has an outline flower stamp as well as an inner striping stamp. I stamped each outline using direct ink to paper. The inner image was stamped off first, for lighter inking.

My choice of Basic Black and Whisper White as a stark background enabled the flowers to really pop. Soft Seafoam lends a gentle green tone to the leaves, helping to center the sentiment, which I die cut from the Stitched So Sweetly Dies.

Going, Gone, Grapefruit

I will admit that Grapefruit Grove was not one of my go-to colors over the past two years. But, now that it is retiring, I have come to the conclusion that I am not ready for it to leave, much like my adoration for another retiring In Color, Lovely Lipstick.

Stampin' Up! products in Grapefruit Grove

It is not too late to get some of the wonderful products still available in Grapefruit Grove, but time is running out fast. If you pick up an ink pad, please purchase the ink refill too. You will stamp far into the future without the ink pad going dry.

While you are in my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, make sure you consider the 2018-2020 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers, as well as cardstock and embellishments. You will find that Grapefruit Grove is an easy ingredient to mix into your next project.

Braided In Beauty

January 29, 2020 2 Comments

The stamp set, Beautifully Braided, is new to the Stampin’ Up! January-June 2020 Mini Catalog. With so much focus on other flower stamp sets and bundles, Beautifully Braided could be considered by some to be a bit of a sleeper. You can combine the purchase of Beautifully Braided with the Braided Border Punch for a 10% bundle savings.

Unlike most bundles, the stamp set can certainly stand on its own. Similarly, the punch does not specifically require the stamp set. The connection between the two is a single dotted stamp in the pattern of the punch design. Regardless, each component makes wow cards, and who doesn’t love a bargain?

*Full disclosure, I bought this bundle for the punch and fell madly in love with the stamp set. When in doubt on a purchase, you should always go for the bundle.

Beautifully Braided Bundle, Item #153821 https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net

Card Genre

I applaud a large stamp image that can be used frequently. This generous sized flower stamp from Beautifully Braided requires clear block f, the big daddy! Consider it for birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, congrats, Easter, Mother’s Day cards, and more. The sentiments are unique and refreshing, speaking to us of friendship and kindness.

Card Design

This flower stamp looks clean and crisp done in black and white. When you add color, you add endless possibilities. For you doodle fanatics- grab those markers, blends or watercolor pencils and go for it. Hello quick stamp and go peeps or newbies- this is designed for you. My technique freaks- heat emboss, watercolor, spotlight.

Stamp direct for a deeper color or stamp off for a subtle look. The filler stamp is not an exact match, so stamping is super easy- no perfect alignment needed for this artsy look.

Add additional color with blends or markers. Then tap the uncapped end of either with your bone folder over your stamped image. This creates a sporadic and delicate splatter effect.

Braided Border Punch

Border punches are not new to Stampin’ Up!. Yet the directive to punch, align and repeat can be tricky. It takes a little practice and patience to get it right. Therefore, I have a few tips that may help you in creating an awesome border.

Choose the correct paper size for the punch. Bigger is better!

Steady your punched paper as you align and punch again. Make sure the paper edge on the right remains flush against the punch lip (all the way to the back).

Are you still having trouble making perfect punched borders? A simple solution is to hide the imperfections. First, add ribbon thru the lattice style opening, then knot or tie a bow. Next, tuck the border behind some pretty top layers.

My less than perfect punched border. Coverups are in the works.

Make your border long and wrap the ends around the back when layering. Supermarket shortcut: secure with ordinary tape. No messy adhesive required in the front!

Sentiment Use

Do you love the sentiment, but have no room to stamp all of it? You should mask and condense. Here, I used the word “smile” from the stamp “your smile brightens my day”. Certainly you could stamp the complete version to the inside of the card for continuity.

No need to ink the entire saying, just the portion needed. It’s okay to get ink on surrounding words as long as you don’t go crazy, that’s where the next step takes effect.

Painters tape masks unwanted images, and removes easily from the block and stamp. Use the straight edge of the tape (not jagged) against your inked selection.

Align and stamp. The painters tape keeps unwanted ink off your project.

Colorful Cards

Above all, the beauty of the Beautifully Braided stamp set is its simple versatility. The Braided Border Punch can be used in limitless ways. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram as I share additional cards made with this great bundle.

Be sure to shop my online store and add the Beautifully Braided Bundle to your collection. Most importantly, start creating your own colorful garden projects. Share with others, and make them smile. You’ll be glad you did!