Now that Stampin’ Up! has refreshed its colours I thought it was a good time to let you in on my wish list strategy. Ultimately I want all the new ink colours and would love to order everything at once. However I need to spread my purchases over several months, but where to start? What I do is just create as normal, then as I’m working I make a note of any colours I wished I’d had. These are the ones I’ll prioritise on my next order. For instance, today’s birthday tag project told me I needed a Pecan Pie ink pad, asap.

TIME FOR SOME MASKING
I began this birthday gift tag project with a 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card. Using some scrap paper I covered up about 1-3/4″ from the right-hand edge along with 1/8″ of the left-hand side. Then in the space that was left I used a Blending Brush to quickly add some new Boho Blue ink. I wanted this inky area to resemble a sky so left it a little uneven just like a real sky.
Next, from the Time for Growth Stamp Set I took the small tree image. This is when I would have reached for my Soft Suede ink pad but as that colour has now retired my next thought was Pecan Pie. And that’s when I realised I hadn’t yet got that colour and added it to my ‘next order’ list. For now though I’d have to use Old Olive ink and stamped the tree slightly overlapping the inky strip.
Turning to my Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers to colour the image I used light and dark Old Olive on the leaves. Then used them to scribble horizontal lines to create the ‘ground’. Next I reached for the Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends which I had included in my Demonstrator pre-order. Using the light and dark markers I coloured in the stem and branches, before adding some random horizintal lines to the ‘ground’.
With that done I found a simple “happy birthday” sentiment in the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set. Using Old Olive ink I stamped the sentiment in the top right corner, and I was ready to get to work on the tag base.

MORE PIE PLEASE
Another of the things I had bought as part of my pre-order was the multipack of 2023 New Core Colours 8-1/2″ x 11″ Cardstock. This pack includes two sheets of all 11 new and returning colours. I definitely recommend getting this pack as it gives you a chance to see all the colours first hand at a reasonable price. Then you can decide which, if any, colours you’d like to buy as a full pack. If there are one or two you’re not keen on you only have two sheets of each so it’s not a disaster.
Today for my gift tag I cut a 3″ x 6″ piece of Pecan Pie Card. Then I scored it at 3″, folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. To turn this mini card into a tag I used the Very Best Trio Punch to add a small slot at the top (on the back near to the crease).
Next I cut a 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ piece of Old Olive Card and using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) mounted the stamped layer on top. Then with more liquid glue I added the layers to the front of the tag.
Obviously with a dark coloured base I needed to add a liner and for this I cut a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Very Vanilla Card. After gluing it inside the tag I tied 6″ of Very Vanilla twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack through the hole. With that my birthday gift tag was complete.
Having finished the project I realised I loved the new Pecan Pie colour which is brighter and ‘cleaner’ than the retired Soft Suede. So now I’m off to check the 2023/2024 Annual Catalogue for any embellishments and ribbon in Pecan Pie too!
Meanwhile, for another project using the Growth Takes Time Stamp Set see these earlier blog posts:
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