Retirement Showcase

I don't know about you, but I tend to keep many of my stamp sets and supplies even after they retire.  Sometimes though, they do get shoved to the back of the shelves and not used very often.  So I thought I would show some love to the retiring sets and products this month for a little inspiration.

I am kicking myself  a bit over not purchasing this set sooner; I just purchased it from the retiring list. Although Awash with Flowers is not my typical style, I really like how this card turned out. This is a two-step stamping set and was really easy to use with the cling mount stamps.  You can use the Stamp-a-ma-jig if you have the wood mount to help with alignment.


All the stems and flower outlines were stamped in Basic Black.  I first stamped the stems for the larger flowers and the stem with the buds.  Next came the three large flowers.  I then filled in the space with the two smaller flowers along the bottom.  I drew in the stems for the flowers along the bottom with the Black Stampin' Write Marker.  Once the outlines were done, I simply went back in with the solid stamps and color.


"Hello" is stamped in Poppy Parade and is from Elementary Elegance (SAB set).  I used the small oval punch on it and also punched an oval in Daffodil Delight to mat it.  I raised the sentiment on dimensionals to give the card a little depth.

Stamps: Awash with Flowers (retiring), Elementary Elegance (SAB)
Paper: Poppy Parade (retiring), Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Poppy Parade (retiring)
Misc.: Small Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Wisteria is such a pretty color and it goes wonderfully with Concord Crush.  I love purples so I am sad that Concord Crush is retiring.  This was a very quick and easy card and could be given to either a female or male.  

I colored an image from Pocket Silhouettes (retiring) with Stampin' Write Markers in Wisteria Wonder and Pear Pizzazz and then matted that on Pear Pizzazz.  After attaching a tab with the sentiment, created using the Round Tab Punch (retiring), I mounted the entire piece on Concord Crush and used dimensionals to place it on the card.  The sentiment is also from Pocket Silhouettes; I used the Concord Crush marker to color just the word friend.


Only a few select colors of Stampin' Write Markers will be available for individual purchase in the new catalog June 1st. [We don't know which ones yet. :)]  However, all current SU colors of the markers will be available for purchase in color assortment packs.


Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (retiring)
Paper: Concord Crush (retiring), Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin' Write Markers in Concord Crush (retiring), Pear Pizzazz (retiring) and Wisteria Wonder.
Misc.: Round Tab Punch (retiring), Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon (retiring), Dimensionals

This wasn't where I was going with this card when I started and I am not sure that I totally love the layout;   but, I do like the flocal point of the pear from Faith in Nature.  It is a Hostess set that will be retiring at the end of this month.  You can earn it for free with a qualifying workshop or purchase.


I stamped the pear in Versamark on Crumb Cake and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Once that was cool I used a sponge to "rub in" the Pear Pizzazz ink around the image.  Once I had the coverage I wanted, I took a paper towel to wipe off any ink on the embossing.  I attached a Mini Library Clip (retiring) tied with Hemp Twine (retiring) and then mounted the image on alternating pieces of Crumb Cake and Not Quite Navy Textured card stock.  The 12 x 12 textured card stock is retiring, so if you like it as much as I do, stock up while it is still available.


Each of the mat pieces was torn at the bottom and then inked for some depth.  I used Pear Pizzazz on the Crumb Cake pieces to coordinate with the focal point.

Stamps: Faith in Nature
Paper: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy Textured (textured is retiring)
Ink: Pear Pizzazz (retiring), Not Quite Navy Craft (Craft inks are retiring), Versamark
Misc.: Mini Library Clips (retiring), Natural Hemp Twine (retiring), White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponges

You can see all the retiring stamp sets and accessories HERE.  Stamp sets are available to purchase through May 31st.  Retiring accessories are only available while supplies last, some are even discounted, so don't miss out!

Make it a great day!

Carryovers from the Occasions Mini

Some of the great products in the Occasions Mini catalog, that just ended on April 30th, are still available for purchase!

Carryover Items

There is no guarantee that these items will be included in the new catalog available June 1st.  So, order now before they are gone.

Kym

See Ya Later Alligator....

The retiring lists are out. Don't panic!! Stampin' Up! is making room for fabulous new products.

Yes, there are a LOT of items on these lists, but here are a few things to note:

• Classic Ink Pads are on the Accessories retiring list-They are just being reconfigured and will still be available in the new catalog (Available June 1st), however, they will be replaced with a new "firm foam pad" for a better stamping experience.

• Craft Ink Pads and refills are retiring-We will only carry the craft pads in Black and White now, so get your favorites while they last.

• There is a lot of 12 x 12 cardstock on the list. Colors that are not selling as well are being retired, we will still have 15 colors that will be sold in individual color packs. All other 12 x 12 will be sold in assorted packs.

• All 12 x 12 Textured cardstock is being retired.

• Retiring stamp sets will be available to order until May 31st.

• Retiring Accessories and Decor Elements will only be available while supplies last and they do go quick, so order early!!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I will be happy to help with any clarification needed or offer suggestions.

Kym

Crafty Red Stilettos

I love using my craft items for non-traditional projects. These are something I whipped up over the weekend. They are a gag gift for a friend. The gag is that they are for a guy. I won't bore you with the story, it wouldn't be as funny in translation. Just picture someone similar to Michael Chiklis wearing these and you should at least giggle. :)

BEFORE

AFTER

And here is a close-up:


The ribbons are Stamin' Up! Cherry Cobbler seam binding and Striped Riding Hood Red Grosgrain. The dangling crystals are Tim Holtz and the metal filigree piece and large rhinestone I believe are BoBunny. I was doing some cleaning of the craft room and going through a huge box of embellishments. These pieces were perfect for this project.

I attached the bows with glue dots, as I am assuming they are not actually going to be worn...

I'd break my other ankle if I tried walking around in these babies. Anyway, if you really wanted to bling out some plain shoes, even nice safe flats or wedges, I would recommend using a stronger adhesive or a clip of some kind that you can take on and off without damaging the shoe.

Just remember those craft supplies can be used for just about anything! Have fun creating!!!

Kym

Blooms

The effects of the psycho weather patterns this year are starting to show in the plant life around here. Many of the early Spring flowers are already dying off, so I thought I would create some blooms that are a little more permanent.

The Blossom punch and Mixed Bunch stamp set from the Occasions Mini have been sitting in a box, unused, for over a month now. {Not for lack of wanting to use them though. :)} My niece's birthday card was a great way to break them in.

She's a girly girl and loves pink, so the soft but cheery colors in the Beau Chateau DSP made a great background for the single bloom. The card base and flower are Pink Pirouette. The sentiment is stamped in Lucky Limeade.

I used the Large Tag Punch to create the "v" in the end of the banner. Any square punch will do.

I don't know about you, but this card just makes me happy when I look at it. It reminds me of warm sunny days working in the flower garden or sipping lemonade by the pool.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Curly Cute
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Beau Chateau DSP
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade
Misc.: Blossom Punch, Large Tag Punch, Designer Buttons, 1/8" Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon (SAB 2012), Mini Glue Dots

One of the patterns in the Beau Chateau paper has this ornate vintage frame which I thought would work as a great background to showcase the focal bloom.

To create the bloom I stamped the more ornate flower in the Mixed Bunch set three times on First Edition Specialty DSP in Pink Pirouette. After I punched them out with the Blossom Punch, I sponged the edges with Pretty in Pink and crumpled them up. Be careful when doing this, you don't want to rip your blooms.

The center is a half inch circle of Daffodil Delight. The flower is kept together with an Ice Rhinestone Brad. To add a little more texture, I used Chantilly Crochet Trim to make the "leaves". The sentiment is from the Because I Care stamp set (retired) and stamped in Marina Mist.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Because I Care (retired)
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, Beau Chateau DSP, First Edition Specialty DSP
Ink: Marina Mist, Pinnk Pirouette, Pretty in Pink
Misc.: Blossom Punch, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Chantilly Crochet Trim, 1/2" Circle Punch, Mini Glue Dots, Sponge

For this last bloom I wanted to go a little more dramatic, so I decided to use black. I also wanted to create a 3-D project.

The little Kraft boxes are currently in the Occasions Mini catalog and are the perfect size for small gifts or little treats. A 3" x 3" gift card is the perfect compliment to the gift box.

A stylish label made with the Decorative Label Punch and Four Frames stamp set creates the perfect place to add a sentiment.

In the Mocha Morning Specialty DSP there are two designs with flocking and they give some elegance to this simple little box. Since the flocked papers are not double sided and I wanted the flower to be dimensional, I needed a way to make the white back of the paper more interesting. What I decided to do was glue two flowers back to back and create my own double sided paper.

I ran both sheets of the paper through the Big Shot using the Fun Flowers Bigz Die.


Then I glued them together and sponged the edges with black ink to cover any white.



I layered all the flowers along with Raven Lace Trim (retired) to create this elegant bloom.

Stamps:Four Frames, You're a Gem
Paper: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Mocha Morning Specialty DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Sahara Sand
Misc.: Kraft Gift Box, Blossom Punch, Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Big Shot, Ribbon Originals (retired), Raven Lace Trim (retired), Mini Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Sponge

Make it a Great day!!

Masculine Thanks

I'm finding that I am not having as difficult a time doing quick and simple cards as much as I used to. Even my daughter noticed it. When I showed her the card for this post she said, "Wow, what happened? You did a simple card!" (LOL)

I needed a thank you card for a male friend, so going with vintage, frills or collage wasn't an option anyway. I also needed to get it done quickly, which always aids in the decision to use less product.

I adore Bonsai trees which is the main reason I bought the Plant Hope set. Having only used the palm tree in the set so far, I figured it was time to get more use out of it. I colored the Bonsai stamp with markers, misted it with water, and then stamped it on watercolor paper. I then misted the paper to get the colors to bleed a little bit.

Be careful when doing this, start with just one or two light mists to see what the colors do. You can always add more water, but there's not much you can do once the colors have all bled into a muddy blob because the paper is soaked. :)

I then layered the image on a distressed piece of soft suede. The ribbon is Pear Pizzazz seam binding with Hemp Twine layered on top of that. I only put adhesive in the middle of the image mat so that the corners and edges stayed "loose" for some added dimension. The card base is textured Early Espresso cardstock.

Stamps: Plant Hope
Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive and Soft Suede Markers
Paper: Early Espresso Textured, Soft Suede, Watercolor Paper
Misc.: Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Natural Hemp Twine


Make it a great day!!

Coming out of the dark...

So what's a girl to do when the desire to create seems to have flown the coop? Well, sometimes you just have to force yourself to make something...anything. My day job has been kind of sucking the life force out of me lately. :) Tired of giving in to the dark side, I made myself go into my studio this past weekend and play.

Here is my first attempt:

I felt kind of like a first time crafter. It's been months since I picked up any type of stamp or tool. It was fun.

I think this card looks much prettier in person. I couldn't get the Wisteria Wonder to photograph right. It's such a pretty color too. I used the set Sprinkled Expressions from the SAB catalog. Only a few days left to earn FREE product! The Luck Limeade 1/8" Organdy ribbon is also a SAB item that you can earn until March 30th. The flower was stamped in Wisteria Wonder and the sentiment in Elegant Eggplant. Once the matting was done I popped it up on dimensionals to give it a little depth.

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Patterns DSP Stack-Regal Collection
Misc: Clear Rhinestone Brads, Lucky Limeade 1/8" Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals


I like my second attempt a little better...

I really like the neutral palette of black and cream; it's so elegant looking. I stamped the First Edition DSP with the French Filigree background and then inked the edges. This was so quick and easy to put together.

The little crown stamp is from Clearly For You. I added the smallest pearls to give it a little zing. The Chantilly trim tied behind the Antique brad just added that extra little touch.

Stamps: Clearly For You, French Filigree
Ink: Basuc Black
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP
Misc.: Basic Pearls, Minit Vintage Tags, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Antique Brads, Basic Black 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain, Sponges

Well, I hope you liked my attempts at getting my creative mojo back. Have a great day!

Kym