Retreat Update #3

So sad ... today's the last day of retreat ... back to reality ranch later today.

For the trip home today, the girls arrived to their own 8' table to find on their seat ...

Great Diva Week

Just wrapped up our monthly Diva Club.  Thanks to all for your orders ... always appreciated very much!

Since we have six divas on vacation this month, I thought I'd share the cards we made so they don't have to wait until they get home to see their goodies.   Your finished cards will be with your orders when they arrive next week.

Fun use of Postage Stamp Punch (pg 212)  and 2 1/2" Circle Punch (pg 212).   On this card we used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (pg 218).  However, the Divas had the option to use the NEW Houndstooth (pg 218) Embossing Folder and it looked even better!  This "Best Dad Ever" Stamp Set (pg 49) is a great set to have on hand to make those MAN cards.  In addition to "best dad ever", the set also contains a stamp for "happy birthday", "thinking of you" and "happy father's day". 

This was a 5x5" finished card.  The white top layer (4 3/4" x 4 3/4") was punched out on all four sides with the Decorative Label punch (#120907).  Again, the 2 1/2" circle punch was used for the center circle and popped out with Dimensionals.
I demonstrated the brayer/dauber technique where we rolled the "My Friend" (pg 139) stamp (corner floral stamp) with Bashful Blue Ink and then daubed Night of Navy Ink on a few of the flowers.  The rose red butterfly was cut out with the Big Shot and the Beatiful Wings Embosslits Die (pg. 216).  "my friend" was stamped in Night of Navy using the Stamp A Ma Jig.  I used a regular sponge to sponge all sides of both white pieces.  The inside was also stamped in a similar fashion.

Simple, simple card showing off our NEW Lace Ribbon Builder Punch (pg 211) and our NEW Stripes Embossing Folder (pg 218).   Another technique shown was using various punches to punch out a simple image.  This "Joy at Christmas" scallop circle image is from the Perfect Punches stamp set (pg 140).  We stamped it three times with Old Olive ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  Then we punched one out with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, then the second one with the 1 1/4" circle punch (pg 212) and the third image with the 1" circle punch (pg 212).  The layers were attached and popped up with Dimensionals. 

Another simple but cute card using our New Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (pg 211).  The base card was cut 6x6" and folded in half (get four cuts from a 12x12" sheet of cardstock).  The top Whisper White layer measures 5 3/4 x 2 3/4".  We punched out three Blossoms from this top layer and three blossoms from Calypso Coral cardstock.  This awesome Triple Layer punch gives us three different punched pieces!  We're only using two of them here.  We then stamped the petals and stems with Old Olive ink, and the butterfly with Not Quite Navy Ink (we had to cut out the butterfly, no punch yet for that :-).  These stamped images were from the Bold Blossom stamp set (pg 7 of the Summer Mini).  This set coordinates perfectly with the Triple Blossom punch.  Unfortunately, it did not make the new big catalog so if you want it, get it before August 31st when the Mini expires.  The "thanks" is from the Thank You Kindly set (pg 168) and was stamped in Black Ink.

Next month, August, is our last month of this Diva session.  We are starting a new 4-month session in September.  If you would like more information about being a special Diva, please email me separately at bzstampin@live.com.   I'll be happy to share the complete information with you.  I LOVE MY DIVAS!

Ten lucky Divas were picked (at random) today to receive a certificate for 50% one item in the next session.  More information will follow.  This means that they could get the Big Shot for a little over $50 (including tax and shipping).  Lots of fun happenings at Diva Club Meetings!