WOW - what a crazy day yesterday was. It was my new catalog Open House and anniversary celebration. From noon to 7 p.m. (and even a little later), I had customers and friends stopping by to pick up their new Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalogs, to see some of the new products and stamp sets, to browse through my retired stamp sale items, to make a project, to place orders (of course) and just to chat! It was wonderful! Everyone loves the new 2008-2009 In Color Collection. Along with their free catalog, everyone who came to the Open House received one of these In Color bookmarks. 
This year's In Colors are (from top to bottom) Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red and Tangerine Tango (I did that without looking - aren't you proud of me). In celebration of our new In Colors, today's post is all about the new In Colors! These colors are exclusive to Stampin' Up! and are available for just one year. Each color is available in cardstock, textured cardstock, ink, ribbons and beautiful double-sided designer paper.
I can't wait to get more of Stampin' Up's! beautiful Designer Papers. As demonstrators, we were only allowed to pre-order one style of the new DSP -- Bella Rose. Now don't get me wrong, I love Bella Rose (you'll see some more of it later in this post) but there are so many beautiful new papers available in the new catalog, I just can't wait to get some more of them! So, what does one do while waiting for new Designer Papers to come in the mail? Make your own, of course! That's one of the things I love about Stampin' Up! products. Our stamp sets and colors coordinate so beautifully together that you can easily take just one stamp set and a few colors and make your own designer paper! That's what I did with this card. 
I used images from the new Eastern Blooms stamp set and three of our new In Colors -- Pacific Point, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. I just randomly stamped the images all over a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11" Whisper White Cardstock until I got a look that I like. I then used just a portion of that sheet to make the background for this card. I mounted the background on a card base of Pacific Point and a mat of Kiwi Kiss and then stamped the large flower image again on Whisper White with the saying from AbsolutelyFabulous. I added a bit of ribbon and a bow and attached it to my background paper. For an added special touch, I added another layer of Whisper White on the inside of the card and stamped just the edge with the vine image and Kiwi Kiss. So what is one supposed to do when you're waiting for new Designer Papers to come -- make your own, of course!
Here is another project made using the new Stampin' Up! In Colors and the Bella Rose Double-Sided Designer Papers. It's not a card, it's actually a small legal pad decorated with Stampin' Up! colors and products. These were another gift that I made for my roommates at Convention. Inside the front cover, there is a pocket to hold notes and small items. The cover is made using Tangerine Tango Cardstock with a mat of Pacific Point. The Polk Dot paper is part of the Bella Rose Designer Paper set. I added a strip of Riding Hood Red, trimmed with our new Scallop Edge Punch. The ribbon is Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (it coordinates beautifully with the Pink Pirouette dots in the Designer Paper). The flower medallion was Stamped with the set, Big Flowers, and punched out with circle punches and mounted on a Scallop Circle Punchie. One of our Rhinestone Brads finishes it off. The sentiment, from the All Holidays set, is mounted on Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango cardstock (which has another edge punched with the new Scallop Edge Punch). My little notebook is filled with notes and ideas from Convention along with my Wish List of things to get from the new catalog (a list which grows longer every day).
Well, here is today's contest question. Leave a comment on this Post (with a new contest each day this week, that's important for me to keep track of who qualifies for which prize) and tell me what you like best about the new Stampin' Up! In Color collection for 2008-2009. I'm excited to read your comments. At noon on Friday, my daughter will again draw a random number which corresponds to the comments left on this post. And the winner will receive (drum roll, please), one of these decorated mini legal pads! Yeah! I just love to give out free gifts! So, leave a comment and you may win one of these for yourself. And if you haven't left a comment yet for Sunday's contest, just scroll down and leave one on that post as well. And remember, check back each day this week for a new contest and another chance to win a prize!
OK, one more card sample to inspire you before I go! The Scallop Circle Card Base was cut from Regal Rose cardstock with our New Sizzix Big Shot Machine and the Large Scallop Circle Die. Have you heard the BIG news! Beginning September 2nd, customers will be able to purchase the Sizzix Big Shot machine and exclusive Stampin' Up! dies from me. I am so excited about this. You'll be seeing more Sneak Peeks of this new product line in the coming days and weeks. Anyway, I cut the card base with the die and then punched the holes in the scallop with a 1/16" punch. The first layer is Whisper White Cardstock with a scalloped strip of Bella Rose Pink Pirouette Designer Paper. The heart image (from the Always set) was stamped with Versamark ink on Whisper White cardstock, embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder (for just a touch of sparkle) and sponged with Pink Pirouette ink. The bird image (again from the Always set) was stamped with Regal Rose Ink and then stamped again with Versamark Ink (using a Stamp-a-ma-jig positioner to line it up) and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The flowers were stamped with Versamark, using the triple flower stamp from the One of Kind set, embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and punched out with our Boho Blossoms Punch. The ribbon is 5/8" grosgrain in Regal Rose and the ends have been frayed for this lovely, soft look. What do you think? Are you excited about all the great new products coming soon? I know I am! And oh yes, one more thing! Tomorrow's theme is all about ribbon and I will be posting a picture tutorial to show you how to fray the ribbon edges. So don't forget to check back with me tomorrow for all things Ribbon and a new contest! I can't wait!!! Blessings, Gretchen
