Tour De Freaks!!!

I can't tell you how excited I am to be participating in the very FIRST "Tour De Freaks" Blog Hop. For those of you unfamiliar, the "Control Freaks" is a group of VERY talented women who have been swapping cards with one another for the past several years. I am still not quite sure how I got invited to be in this group (the stars were shining on me, I suppose!), but when we do a swap we get AWESOME samples to share!! (You notice our name? It kinda says it all!)

Anyway, we thought it would be fun to showcase some of our favorite retiring sets/accessories before the catalog goes away for good at the end of June. This first card I am highlighting features one of the most GORGEOUS sets I think Stampin' Up has EVER produced. I also think it has been highly underrated and underused . . . Beautiful Borders. I have created some of my most FAVORITE cards with this set. I also am LOVING this Bella Bleu designer series paper (and I am more than THRILLED that it made the crossover into THIS year's catalog - huzzah!)!! This was a quick and simple card, which makes me like it even more!!

Stamps: Beautiful Borders
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu dsp
Accessories: Small, Large and Scalloped Oval Punches, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Kraft Corduroy Button Brad, glue dots, pop-up glue dots

Moving on . . . this is also one of my faves . . . (and of course it has a BUTTERFLY!). This is honestly one of the most lovely butterfly images that I own (and for those of you who have been following my blog for the past two years, you know that is saying a LOT!!). I have seen this stamped on a variety of different colors of cardstock and colored. I think it looks terrific every single time!!

Stamps: God's Beauty
Ink: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Basic Black
Paper: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Piercing tool/mat, pop-up glue dots

Here's a fun little gift idea using the "Sweet Sampler" set and some clear plastic vials I got from (dare I mention another company in an all-SU post? Forgot to mention that the Freaks are SU purists when it comes to swapping!) Papertrey. Ain't they just the cutest?? And I filled 'em with one of my favorite treats . . . Jelly Belly's . . . hard to resist those little dudes.

Stamps: Sweet Sampler
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Horizontal Slot Punch, Scallop Border Bunch, Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Gingham ribbon, clear plastic vials (Papertrey), glue dots, pop-up glue dots


And last, but not least, I am making a confession here . . . this is one of the cards I submitted for the (GULP) Stampin' Up Artisan Award, or as I like to call it, "The Kicked-to-the-Curb Club." (I actually thought it would be cool to make a blog called kickedtothecurb.blogspot.com where those of us, um, "losers" could post our UN-winning projects, but I digress . . . ) I almost wasn't going to share any of the projects I made for it with you 'cause I was too sad that I didn't get picked (as I thought my projects were MUI fabulous-o!!). Anyway, this card kind of cheats when it comes to the Freaks Blog Hop because not every stamp set I used for it is retiring. "Big Bold Birthday" is definitely on it's way out. It really is a fun set. Makes great projects . . . however . . .

The Jumbo Outline Alphabet I used on the inside for the pop-up message is NOT going anywhere soon (which makes me happy 'cause I use this baby ALL the time). I thought that this card was pretty ingenious, actually . . . don't you think it would make a TERRIFIC Bigz Die? Couldn't you just see the inside saying stuff like "Smile" and "Thank You" . . . they could make a LOT of sets to coordinate with it. And with a diecut this thing would be MUCH easier to produce that it was for me with a ruler, bone folder and utility knife. Sheesh!! (Not to mention that it is going to take extra postage to mail . . . this puppy is THICK when it is closed!!)

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, Jumbo Outline Alphabet
Paper: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, So Saffron, Barely Banana, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy. So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Accessories: Black Hemp Twine, Read Red ½” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 ¼” Circle Punch, Pop-Up Glue Dots, Mini Glue Dots

Hope you have enjoyed perusing my "Ode to Retiring Stuff" . . . click below for the next stop on the hop . . . http://melanieschulenberg.blogspot.com/2009/06/introducing-tour-de-freaks.html! You're gonna LOVE what she has to share!!