It has just been brought to my attention that Stampin' Up!® has made some recent changes to the Last Chance lists since I originally posted links to them on June 1.  If you would like an up-to-date list, please click the blue graphic over in my right-hand column.  (You may have to scroll down to see that blue graphic - or if you're reading this from an email subscription you'll need to actually go to my blog to view it.)

We're warm today!  Well, warm by LOCAL standards, anyway; last I looked at the thermometer it said my backyard was 79 (in the shade of the cedar trees)!  So I just had to go dig out this card from last month's Stamp-a-Stack, since it's *almost* warm enough to actually wear a dress like this! 

The basic shape to this dress originated with a scallop circle cut on the Big Shot and then trimmed down.  Can you see the original scallop circle?  Stampers selected their own Designer Series Papers, so it was fun to see the variety of colors, prints, and ribbons last month! 

I've still got room at all 3 Stamp-a-Stack sessions for this weekend; sign up here if you'd like to join us!  (We won't be going quite so frilly, though….. masculine is where we'll be headed with a couple of our cards this month!)

Some of you may recognize this general criss-cross pattern, as we've done it in stampin' events here before.  But Barb put a band around hers and that just kicked it up a notch! 

Fun colors based on the Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper!  (It's available through the end of this month.)

"Last Chance"….. formerly known as "To Be Retired". 

But this time we've got 'em all on the same day, rather than the previous (more confusing) method of releasing the stamps list one day and the accessories list sometime later down the road.  But here's the deal about the accessories list:  It's not really designed for distribution because it will be updated daily for demonstrator reference.  So hopefully y'all took my advice and have ordered all the accessories that were really BURNIN' on your "I want it" list – and from now on if you are in need of something from the accessories section, you might want to check on the online ordering system to see whether it's still available.  (Actually, that would probably be the safest place to order Last Chance accessories during June anyway….. because if you find it online, by the time you and I can connect it might be gone!)

Oh, and another thing:  Some of the Last Chance accessories are on sale – at prices up to 50% off!  But the best place to find those prices listed at the moment will probably be through the online ordering process.  AND all of the Last Chance Decor Elements are 25% off, too; those prices are listed at the link below!

Ok, now to those LISTS – (and then I'm off to bed 'cuz I can hardly keep my eyes open!).  They're all PDF files.

Last Chance Stamps (page number order)

Last Chance Stamps (alphabetical by name)

Last Chance Decor Elements

PS:  June will be a great month to host a workshop, and I still have a few openings left.  Not only will you and your friends get to take advantage of the Last Chance stamps, but you as the hostess will have the opportunity to earn additional Hostess Free merchandise this month!  Up to $40 more!  AND this will be your "Last Chance" to qualify for an invitation to my Hostess Appreciation Party this year, too….. so let's pick your date!

When I purchased Photoshop Elements however many years ago it was that I bought it, I had a handful of very specific intentions in mind as to what I hoped to learn to do with it.  One such desire was to be able to scan a 12 x 12 scrapbook page in 2 pieces (since my scanner won't handle anything as large as 12 x 12…… and then "stitch" the two images back together to create a single complete image again – so I could post a scrapbook page online. 

Well, unfortunately the learning curve for that particular application with that particular piece of software has proven too steep for this self-teacher, and I've never been able to accomplish a merge that looked satisfactory.  There always seemed to be a line of some type where the two parts meet, and sometimes the two halves were slightly different shades of color….. just general "not good enough" results to ever actually use. 

But last night I suddenly had a fresh flush of ambition, and began seriously searching the web for a potential photo merge application that would really work – and work *well*.  Of course I was hopeful to find something that wouldn't cost – or at least not cost much – and in the process I downloaded a couple of things that sounded promising – only to find they wouldn't work as I'd hoped they would.  ("You get what you pay for", blah, blah, blah…..)  How to blow an ENTIRE evening in one easy lesson.  Geesh.

But I kept digging – and eventually came across this company, http://i2align.com/photographic_panorama_montage_software.php - and I was REALLY impressed with their software.  So long story short, after messing around with their 7-day trial version for a long time last night (into the wee hours of the morning and beyond) testing it on several different types of projects, I  ended up buying it.  And (drumroll, please!) here's my very first 12 x 12 scrapbook page presented the way I've longed to present one for YEARS!  :-)  Are you as impressed as I am?!? 

Now, a little bit of info about what this particular scrappin' page is all about (since obviously it has no pictures on it yet):  I am going to be offering a series of classes this summer called "Santa's Summertime Workshop Series".  Each class in the series will focus on a different project that will make a great gift – and if you'd like to get a head-start on your Christmas list I invite you to stay tuned for more information!  Anyway, ONE of the classes will be to make 20-pages for a 12 x 12 album in a single day.  Yes, that's right – 20 page foundations in a single day!

Now I have been experimenting with this idea this week, and have completed the foundation pages for two such 20-page albums; each taking me only approximately 5 hours from beginning of the thinking process through completion.  One was a baby-boy themed album (this is the front page from that album), and the other wasn't constructed with a particular theme, but rather just pretty, generic pages which could be used for any lovely theme – or however one wished.  Anyway, the plan is that attendees will be able to choose their own theme(s) and colors – but more about all the specifics later. 

And in the meantime, check out what these genius software developers have put together.  It's pretty cool stuff!  And whew!  I actually got a scrapbook page posted up here before National Scrapbooking Month ran out!

Today I received the cards from our Sea to Sea Stampers monthly card swap – and oh my gosh, they are AWESOME!  Much too wonderful to fail to share them here, so here's the first one:

The funny thing about this card is that at first I didn't even recognize the stamped image as being a Stampin' Up!® stamp!  But it turns out it's on a page in the catalog I haven't studied all that often, because the general style of art isn't anything I would personally use.  But it's sure cute here, isn't it? 

Oh, the stamp set is called "Hit the Road", btw….. and Becca bleached out certain areas to give it some subtle contrast.  Very striking in its simplicity and bright red with black, white, and gray. 

More wonderful swap cards coming soon; stay tuned…..

Just wanted to drop a few quick reminders in here before the month runs out:

• Thursday (May 28th) is the deadline to submit your entry to my retiring stamp set game.  Find the particulars here.
• Order 3 packages of Designer Series Paper or Textured cardstock, and get a 4th package free. Mix & match.  Offer ends 5/31.
• Sneak Peek of the upcoming Jumble Alphabet – 20% off the price at which it will officially debut.  Details here; also ends 5/31.
• Ever thought of beginning a business with Stampin' Up!?  The $75 demonstrator starter kit special ends 5/31, too.  Here's why you might want to be part of the Stampin' Up! family.
• Last Chance lists (formerly known as "to be retired lists") publish on June 1.  If you have accessories still on your wish list that you think may retire, it's best to order them BEFORE that list comes out, since things often run out quickly once that list publishes.  Remember that all products featuring any current "In Colors" will be retiring on June 30th – unless supplies run out earlier. Contact me with your order……. or for faster delivery, order it yourself online here.
• June 1 – BRAND-NEW BENEFIT for demonstrators:  We have recently learned that we will get our personal copies of the upcoming catalog with our first orders placed beginning June 1!  If you become a demonstrator by then, you'll be able to take advantage of this perk, too!

Oh!  And THIS JUST IN!  Extra free product available for June workshop hostesses! (Stay tuned for specifics.)  AND my June hostesses will still qualify to attend my Hostess Appreciation Event on July 18th!  But better hurry if you want to claim a June date!  Contact me quick!

Ya know?  I have discovered there are a whole lotta people who don't even know yet that Stampin' Up! introduced a line of Decor Stencils back several months ago! But since they have only been displayed towards the back of the most recent Decor Elements brochure (.PDF), it seems they've been pretty easy to overlook.

So – to remedy that problem (of not knowing we carry stencils, that is), here's a project I offered up at my local downline shoebox swap earlier this month.  For the stenciled images we used stamping sponges to apply Classic inks within this 2-step Parisian Damask stencil – onto a full sheet of Whisper White cardstock.  Colors included So Saffron, Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke. 

The photos here show how I then trimmed that sheet of white cardstock into 4 pieces, and then mounted those onto Apricot Appeal card bases. 

And ultimately, after adding some additional embellishments, the lower-right quarter became a finished card!

Click here to see all the current Decor Stencils, and then start thinking of all the ways you might use these pretty images yourself.  Not only on cards like this, but how about scrapbook pages, album covers, and of course in all kinds of home decor.  So while you're thinking of it, you might want to order your favorites before the Last Chance lists publish on June 1st.   'Cuz we just never know what'll show up on those lists!

In my recent newsletter I highlighted our Small Open End Envelopes, but didn't have a handy sample at the time of the gift card holder to which I referred.  So as promised, here's what I was referring to in my newsletter description – shown both closed and open. 

This version features the Sweet Always Designer Series Papers. (So bright and happy; I seem to be reaching for it mighty often these days, and will certainly miss it when it retires.)

Embellishments include a Flower Assortment Brad, nestled inside a Jumbo Grommet, and a 3-D butterfly created with Stampin' Up!®'s exclusive Beautiful Butterflies die (for the Big Shot, of course).  I curled a narrow strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock around my stylus for the butterfly body and antennae.  (Yes, the butterfly really is 3-D; just doesn't show that much in the picture.)  A 3-1/8" square gift note fits inside the envelope just under the flap; you can see a little bit of white cardstock peeking out in the lower picture.  "For You" (on the front) is from Fundamental Phrases, and the flap is held shut with velcro, the only non-Stampin' Up! item used in this project.

Change the entire theme of your gift card holder by changing the Designer Series Paper you choose.  How about trying "To the Nines" or "Manchester" for a Father's Day gift? 

As promised, here's that video with Shelli explaining how to make that darling ornament referenced in yesterday's video.  Oh, and if you're reading this via a subscription you'll probably have to come to my blog to view the embedded videos.  I'm sorry I forgot to mention that yesterday, but I hope you figured it out anyway.