In a little over three weeks we’ll know for sure what Stampin’ Up! products are retiring. For some things though there’s no doubt. I’ve already mentioned all the 2019-2021 In Color products will go as they make way for new 2021-2023 In Colors. Also guaranteed to retire are Host stamp sets in the 2020/2021 Annual Catalogue. Host stamp sets never carry over, so your time to earn Stampin’ Rewards to get them is running out. Today’s unusual bookmark project features one of these exclusive stamp sets, the beautiful Summer Days.
Ever since I first got the Curvy Dies I’ve had this idea in my head. After all why should bookmarks always have perfectly straight sides?
CURVY BOOKMARK
I began by cutting a 3″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Thick Whisper White Card. Then I chose the Curvy Die with the line of holes up the edge. I placed the die onto the card close to one of the long edges and cut. This shaped the edge and added the holes at the same time. Then I slid the die over to the other long edge, while trying to keep the space between the edge of the die and the other cut edge even all the way up. This time when I cut, the section with the holes was scrap.
Now I needed to add a hole at the top and for that I used the Detailed Trio Punch. In hindsight it might have been better to do this before shaping the sides. Still, I managed to get the oval hole pretty much centred.
For my background I decided to keep things really simple using ink and a Sponge Brayer. So I added a delicate layer of Balmy Blue ink over the top part of the bookmark, and Granny Apple Green over the bottom.
By this point I’d chosen the “always be yourself” sentiment from the Hey Girlfriend Stamp Set to stamp towards the top. Unfortunately I didn’t check the stamp rubber after inking it up with Tuxedo Black ink and added a inky hair. Grrr. Oh well I’d fix that by stamping it again, more carefully, onto a scrap of Whisper White Card. Then I cut it out using a small tag-shaped die from the Ornate Frames Dies.
Finally I tied some Linen Thread through the little hole, before using Multipurpose Liquid Glue to fix the piece over the original sentiment.
SUMMER DAYS
With that it was time for me to pull out the Summer Days (Host) Stamp Set. I always knew the child flying the kite would be perfect for a bookmark. The curves on my bookmark base would simply add to the feeling of movement.
Using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped the image towards the top of the ‘grass’ area. Then because the image is quite delicate I decided to use Stampin’ Write Markers to colour it in.
To keep things simple I wanted to use just one set of the markers. The ‘Brights’ family of colours always reminds me of summer so that’s the pack I pulled out.
First I coloured the kite using Gorgeous Grape and Mango Melody. The child’s shirt and shorts came next using Bermuda Bay and Pacific Point. This was followed by the hat and shoes using Poppy Parade, with a tiny spot of Mango Melody for the hair.
All I had left were the child’s legs, arms and face. And the only pink in the Brights collection is Flirty Flamingo… Now, I could have simply chosen a lighter pink from the Subtles collection but I was not to be beaten. So I went ahead and used the Flirty Flamingo marker anyway.
As I suspected it looked like the child had spent way to much time outside and was sporting a severe case of sunburn. But sunburn can be soothed. So I took my Blender Pen and gently coloured over each section of Flirty Flamingo and removed just a little of the colour. After working on one area I wiped the nib off onto scrap paper until it came clean, then carried on. Very quickly I’d toned it down to a more acceptable summer glow.
All that was left was for me to cut two 6″ pieces of Whisper White baker’s twine from the Snail Mail Twine Combo Pack. I folded the pieces in half and threaded the loops through the hole at the top of the bookmark. Then after passing the ends of the thread through the loops and pulling tight, my summer days bookmark was finished.
HOST STAMP SETS
Host stamp sets are exclusive sets that can only be purchased using Stampin’ Rewards. To earn Stampin’ Rewards simply place an order for $200CAD (before shipping and taxes). or host a workshop/party that reaches this threshold in orders. Then you’ll earn at least 10% of the sales as Stampin’ Rewards to spend on anything in the catalogues or Clearance Rack. More information and current Host stamp sets can be found on page 187 of the Annual Catalogue, and page 88 of the January to June Mini Catalogue.
For more projects featuring some of the current Host stamp sets see these earlier blog posts:
PRODUCT LIST
BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Curvy Dies with the coordinating Quite Curvy Stamp Set (not used today) using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included both options below in case you want to explore this further.
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