A PIRATE BIRTHDAY

Don't you just love birthdays? My son is turning 8 and is the biggest PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN fan and chose a pirate theme for his party. The "Ahoy, Mate" Stampin' Up! stamp set was the perfect set to use for the invitations.

On the outside of the invitation I used the Coluzzele cutting system with the oval template to create the curve of the flap of the card. I also stamped Marigold Morning on a metal edge tag and embossed the "You Arrr Invited" with red embossing powder. The cardstock I used was Close to Cocoa and I 'dragged' the Close to Cocoa stamp pad across the cardstock to create a weathered wood look. For a splash of color I added the red grosgrain ribbon to the metal tag.

On the inside of the card I crimped Cool Caribbean cardstock, both vertically and horizontally, and used it as background. The ship is stamped in black StazOn ink on Watercolor paper. Then I 'painted' the image using Blender Pens and the Classic Ink Pads. For the invite information, I used an Eat Cake stamp with Close to Cocoa ink. "Pirate Party" is stamped in Real Red ink using the Brushstroke Alphabet. (I am going to really miss this alphabet when it retires at the end of June!) To top off the card I punched a 1 3/8" circle out of Marigold Morning and stamped a parrot in the middle. I used this circle to cover up the back of the metal tag/ribbon and to add stability to the card flap.

PALETTE O'PRINTS... SO MUCH FUN!!!

I got to play, again, with the Palette O'Prints papers. They are AMAZING. Stampin' Up is going to expand this paper into Designer Series papers which will be available in 16 popular colors in the new catalog. The release of the new catalog, July 1st, cannot come quick enough!!

PLAYING WITH PALETTE O'PRINTS

WOW... I love this paper!!!!! This is the first card I have made with the Palette O'Prints because they are almost too pretty to use! Now I am hooked and my mind is racing with other ideas for cards and scrapbook pages!

CARDS FOR GRANDPA

We have been making cards for Grandpa! He needs some 'northern' sun rays in Florida after his heart surgery. The kids enjoy making cards with me. My son decided pirates would be just what Grandpa needs and my darling daughter still working on her masterpiece. Myself, I thought he needed a bit of "blue love", his favorite color.

PIRATE GRANDPA: Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets: Ahoy Mate & Cheese Cloth and colored the images with watercolor pencils and blender pens; Cardstock: Not Quiet Navy & Whisper White; Ink: Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa & Whisper White.

BLUE LOVE: Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets: Much Love, Office Accoutrement and Pattern Print; Cardstock: Whisper White, Ballet Blue & Bashful Blue; Ink: Ballet Blue & Rose Red; Punch: Tag Punch; Accessories: Silver Eyelets, Silver Cord, White Gel Pen, Dazzling Diamonds & 2 Way Glue.

LAST CHANCE TO BUY

Stampin' Up! is makin' room for new stamp sets!! The "RETIRED" list has been released and it looks like there are BIG changes in the works. Here is the list by page number and by name.

PALETTE O'PRINTS

Oh So Pretty PALETTE O'PRINTS!!! Stampin' Up! is offering this fabulous special for the month of May. You get a wonderful pack of 48-sheets of 6x6 size designer papers. HERE is a link to pictures. Take a look!