Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks May Blog Tour! Our theme this month is "Going, Going ... Almost Gone!". It's all about retiring stamps, papers, embellishments and supplies from the Stampin' Up! Catalog. The new catalog will become "live" on June 1st but there are a lot of favorites that are going away for good (sniff, sniff). Many of the retiring items that you will see on this month's tour are still available for you to purchase -- be sure and contact your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for more information.
If you've already begun the tour, then you must be arriving from the blog of Sandy Mathis! She had some amazing projects for us!
My projects have a common theme running through them ... daisies, daisies, daisies! Sadly, the Flower Daisies #2 Die (for use with the Big Shot) is one that won't be returning in the new catalog. I've fallen in love with these bright, colorful Gerbera Daisies that you can create with the die so I've decided to highlight them tonight. Each flower is created with 4 layers of the large daisy diecut and 3 layers of the small daisy. I've used Poppy Parade and So Saffron for this flower and used an Antique Brad for the center (don't worry, the brads aren't retiring!).
My first project uses two of the retiring InColors -- Poppy Parade and Peach Parfait. I've also used the Finial Press Embossing Folder and the Ticket Corner Punch (both retiring items). The sentiment is from the Sincere Salutations Stamp Set (yes (sniff, sniff) ... retiring).
This is a pretty straight-forward and simple card -- the bright beautiful daisy is really the star. It would be great for just about any occasion in spring. As you can see from the first picture above, these flowers really bring so much dimension and texture to your projects. After assembling the layers, just use your fingers to "fluff" up the petals!
Next in the lineup is another card, also with daisies, but this time using the Greenhouse Garden Stamp Set (yes, retiring).
The sentiment is again from Sincere Salutations. The Designer Series Paper is Just Add Cake and again the colors are retiring InColors -- Peach Parfait and Poppy Parade.
The ribbon is Peach Parfait 1/2" Stitched-Poly. I used a Stamp-a-ma-Jig to line up the two-step stamps and stamped the center of the flowers with Black Stazon Ink.
Finally, to round out the daisy ensemble for this tour, I create a quick and easy little pillow box using what else but the Pillow Box Die (yes, retiring). I tied it shut with some Concord Crush Stitched-Poly Ribbon and attached another Gerbera Daisy (created with Concord Crush Cardstock) with Stampin' Dimensionals. These little boxes make great little treat containers for all kinds of occasions ... or no occasion at all!
Well, that's all I have for this post! You can advance to the next tour stop by clicking on the button below. It will take you to Cindy Major's Blog. I can't wait to see what surprises she has for us!
Thanks for much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the tour and I hope you'll be back soon for more ideas and inspiration!
as always a great blog hop -- I enjoyed every stop and glad I got to get in early. Ladies you are all amazing in your creativity and thank you so much for sharing ... summer is coming and I will have time to play (I hope) PS I am a former SU consultant and this is my first time in a long time as a customer with retiring list and oh I want it all still
Posted by: Karen Beavers | May 19, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Gretchen, your projects are gorgeous as always. What beautiful blossoms can be made with that daisies die! And I'm sniff-sniffing for Sincere Salutations also. My favorite greeting set ever!
Posted by: Sandy M | May 19, 2012 at 08:54 PM
Such "HAPPY" samples... love them!! Can't believe we are losing such great products... oh well.. guess we'll have to get some new goodies! :) Patty
Posted by: Patty Bennett | May 19, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Can't even tell ya how many times I almost bought that Greenhouse Garden set ... and your card is a reason that I SHOULD have!! BEAUTIFUL!! Love those blossoms, too!! Such happy colors! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | May 19, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Love your daisy projects Gretchen! The Daisy die and Sincere Salutations are among my favorite retiring products too.
Posted by: LeeAnn Greff | May 19, 2012 at 11:21 PM
Simply gorgeous. Love your daisies.
Posted by: Brenda H | May 20, 2012 at 08:40 AM
Gretchen, I love your daisy idea... in fact, I can see that instead of a bow on a gift... truly stunning... thank you for sharing....
Posted by: Mz.Cookie | May 20, 2012 at 02:26 PM
Gretchen I just LOVE poppies and these cards just POP out at you! Love them both. hugs
Posted by: Diane Oliver | May 21, 2012 at 09:37 AM
Hi Gretchen! Great projects with such lovely daisys, such a shame they are retiring. Beautifully done!
Posted by: Stef Perry | May 23, 2012 at 12:23 AM
Beautiful! The flowers are so pretty.
Posted by: marilyn jones | May 23, 2012 at 09:01 PM