Centre-step Monkey for Sarah

Today, I have a cute little project to share. One of Cara's BFF's loves monkeys, so I wanted to make her a monkey themed birthday card. I found these cute punch monkeys by Dawn Olchevske & decided to make a girly version. This is the card I came up with:

I used textured card for the monkey face & added a girly flower, made with the boho blossoms punch, flower brad & rhinestone. You can see her better in this pic.

As you can see, I'm still loving the centre-step card. I decorated this one with some pretty DSPs from the Cheerful Treat hostess pack. The sentiment is also from a current hostess set. I carried the monkey theme to the back of the card, with some cheeky monkeys from Fox & Friends

I'm now realising how much of what I've used is retiring in just a few days. It's sad to say goodbye to many of these lovely goodies, but I'm super excited about so much in our new Annual & Holiday Catalogues.....which start this Saturday...eeeeeeeee! As usual, I've listed the supplies used on this card below & I've also noted if they're retiring, so if there's anything you need, please contact me ASAP & no later than Thursday, so you don't miss out.
Cara's friend loved her monkey card, so hope you do too. Thanks very much for visiting & a special extra thanks to everyone who takes the time to leave a comment too.
Until next time, inky wishes
Di


Edited 16 Sept 2014
You can now download a pdf tutorial for this size centre step card in this post.
Hope you enjoy :-)
PS: See the updated lists of retiring items on the Stampin' Up! website

Supplies:
Stamps: Perfect Words (hostess - retiring), Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess - retiring), Fox & Friends (retiring)
Card/Paper: smooth crumb cake, pretty in pink, melon mambo card, chocolate chip, pink pirouette textured card (textured card retiring)
Ink: melon mambo, chocolate chip classic ink pads, chocolate chip marker
Accessories: olive satin ribbon (retiring), flower brads (retiring), basic rhinestones.
Tools: 2 1/2 inch circle punch, petal card double punch, 1 inch circle punch, 1/4 inch circle punch, owl punch (small circle), boho blossoms punch, heart to heart punch (small heart - retiring), oval punch

Simply a great day

I was very happy to find the Simply Sent Great Day kit I received at Convention last year in a recent Stamp room tidy up. I haven't had much time to create lately & thought it would be great to have some quick ready to send cards. The kit includes all you need to make 8 complete cards. You can follow the suggested layout or give them your own twist. Add a sentiment of your choice & you're done. Here's what I came up with.
I started simply by mostly following the kit sample & then added my own simple twists & scraps. Number 1 has a sentiment (from Petite Pairs) on a scrap of pretty in pink card & some pearl bling, which I used on all the cards.They just add so much with so little effort.

 Card 2 is a portrait version with punched flower bouquet flower & a fave sentiment from the Thank You Kindly set....and yes, its the same gorgeous font as my favourite Fabulous Phrases set.

Cards 3 and 4 have a punched scallop edge & I've used some pretty in pink, bashful blue & so saffron Patterns DSP scraps (all from the Subtles pack). The blue version is one of my favourites.

For cards 4 & 5, I added a bit of extra colour.

For the final card, I cut a tag using Two Tags die & mounted it on a so saffron base. This one was my favourite, so I made another one with the last card base.

I'm generally a pretty slow cardmaker, so I felt so productive making 8 cute cards in one go. I think I'll be carefully looking for some similar new options in our brand new catalogues coming in September. Stay tuned!

So, do you want to know more about the Great Day kit?
It includes everything you need to make 8 cute cards - pre printed bases, die cut accents, ribbon, buttons & envelopes & instructions. Perfect for a gift too. Most importantly, it's retiring this month & has been discounted by 25% to a fantastic $16.95. That's just over $2 per card!  See the kit in the online catalogue.

Thanks for visiting & an extra thanks if you take the time to leave a friendly comment. If you'd like to order a kit or would like more info about my cards, just drop me a line or leave me a comment.
Back soon with a fun kids card.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Stamps: Petite Pairs, Thank You Kindly, Friendly Phrases, Create a Cupcake
Card/Paper: Simply Sent Great Day kit, Subtles Patterns DSP, pretty in pink, so saffron card
Ink: rich razzleberry classic ink pad
Accessories: basic pearls
Tools: 1 3/8 inch & 1 1/4 circle, triple flower bouquet punches

It's retirement month

Our new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue starts in September, so August means it time to retire lots of stamps & accessories to make way for lots of great new products. As in past years, there are 2 lists of retiring products which you can download:

Download retiring stamps List

Download Retiring Accessories List

You'll see there’s LOTS on the lists so I thought take some time to break down the list & share some info to help clarify some items. I’ll also highlight some of my must have picks. Contact me with any questions or to order your retiring favourites.

Stamps

There are sooo many stamps on this list & many that I’ll really miss, but if you twist my arm, these are some of my all time favourites. Make sure you don’t miss out on yours.

• Baroque Motifs (that perfect swirl....sob)
• Fifth Avenue Floral (flowers – love!)
• On Your Birthday (birthday sentiments)
• Party This Way (fun birthday images & sentiment)
• Fox & Friends (cute for kids & babies)
• Many Merry Messages (Christmas sentiments)
• Season of Joy (Christmas images & sentiments)
• Upsy Daisy (floral & sentiments – great for so many techniques)

I will also be selling some of my own collection of retired stamps in September, but my customers will be able to get in first to reserve their choices at my August classes. Contact me for more info.

Note: Retiring Stampin' Around® wheels are on the Accessories list!

Tools & Accessories

Ink pads

From September, our large ink pads will have a new firm foam pad, which will make it even easier to stamp great images. All current fabric ink pads & colour collection packs are retiring & are discounted by at least 25%.

Stampin’ Spots (little ink pad packs) will now only be available for the Getting Started collection, so all other colour collection packs are discounted by 25%.

Markers

Single markers will only be available in Getting Started colours from September, so you may like to  fill any gaps in your colour collections this month. Markers will remain available in collection packs in the new Catalogue.

Cardstock

12x12 inch cardstock packs will be available in a smaller range of single colours & assortment packs. Smooth A4 cardstock will remain available in single colour & assortment packs.

Textured cardstock will no longer be available.

 In-colours

After 2 years, we say goodbye to all products in poppy parade, pear pizzazz, peach parfait, blushing bride & concord crush, including ink, card, paper, brads & ribbon. Most items are discounted by 25-40%.

Papers

Most current patterned paper packs will retire & are 25-40% off. Bargain!

All current Simply Scrappin’ kits & Simply Sent™ card kits will retire & are discounted by 25%

Accessories

Ribbons – All Satin, ¼ inch grosgrain & striped grosgrain ribbon are retiring. Some are 25% off.

Brads etc – you’ll find lots of lovely brads & embellishments on the list & some are discounted by 25%. My faves are the rhinestone brads & filigree brads.

Punches

I’m sad to see the triple layer punches & lace ribbon punch are retiring....& of course the butterfly punch (& its matching stamp sets).

Big Shot dies

You’ll find boxes, flowers, letters & more on the list. My top pick is the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet ( you know I’ve used this one heaps!) which is discounted by 25% to $104.96. Stock of this one won’t last long.

Fabric

Two of our fabric packs are 75% off...yes, just $4.99. These have Christmas names, but are perfect for year round projects.

Tools

Some items have been redesigned for our new Catalogue & some are just discontinuing. These are some of my favourites:

Paper cutter – our current paper cutter is being replaced by a new model but you can get this one for $29.96 (25% off). If you already have this one, make sure you order some replacement blades.

Mat pack & paper piercing tool – these are 2 of my essentials & definitely. There’s a new version coming, so these are 25% off.

Stampin' Scrub® - a new bigger scrub is coming, so you get this version for $21.71 (25% off).

Crop-a-dile – I’m really sad this is being discontinued. Definitely another of my essentials & a bargain at 41.21(25% off).

There are too many other great items on the list to talk about now, so download your lists, have a read & e-mail me with any questions or if there are any items you need to get.

I'll be back next time with some projects.

Inky wishes, Di