tea-drinking stamper

Oh, the creativity that flowed because of retiring colors and stamp sets! Colors I never thought of putting together have proved to be perfect together. In all honesty, I never cared that much for the Tempting Turquoise or the Tangerine Tango and never ever thought of putting them together. Actually, what inspired the combination was not just the fact that they are being discontinued, but also a shawl pattern I saw in similar but more subdued colors. Chocolate Chip is replacing the tan in that shawl. I love butterflies and was so excited when this stamp set appeared in our catalog—and now it's on its way out! As I sit here looking at the card, I wish I had thought to use the Fluttering embossing folder on the strips.  Note: when using the Bold Butterfly Framelit to cut out the butterfly, wait to stamp your butterfly body in Chocolate Chip until after cutting it out.  You'll also want to curl your wings a little, using your bone folder. Products Used: Watercolor Win

Cool Treats is another of those stamp sets that I wish I had used more before it retired. Granted, it's not gone yet, not until the end of May when our annual catalog expires. I guess  I have too many stamp sets to use them as frequently as I should. Makes me think I should be more conservative in my purchases, but there are just so many great sets I think I must have! Once again, this card was influenced by outgoing colors: Peekaboo Peach, Tangerine Tango, and Chocolate Chip. The Crumb Cake used for the popsicle sticks is a staple in our color families.

When the Work of Art stamp set first appeared in our catalog, I wondered why anyone would ever want to purchase such a stamp set. But then I began to see all the clever things people came up with. I have posted a few other cards done with this stamp set and I've collected a number on my pinterest board. These two cards are ideas I found somewhere on-line. The first is abstract art, perhaps, or at least water color of some sort. My two granddaughters are dancing in a recital the first weekend of May and I plan to give them each one of these cards. Admittedly, the one I made while demonstrating at my stamp class has the bent arm placed closer to the "shoulder" than this one does. The retiring colors I used for this card are Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant. The skin is Blushing Bride and the hair is Crushed Curry.  This card is super simple and is probably a pretty close copy of the original I had seen since there can't be too many ways to accomplish the same

I really worked on using a number of retired colors for this great Hostess photopolymer stamp set. I have always loved tulips and recall when Stampin' Up! had another tulip set. Of course, I always tried to sell off my discontinued stamp sets but I am discovering there are some sets I wish I had kept. I think this is one of those! For all the time I have had this, I never really thought about the other flowers; I was always focused on the tulips. But I find that the more I look at this card, the more I love it and wish I had used it much more frequently. All the colors are retiring, except the Whisper White card stock, of course. Products Used: Tranquil Tulips photopolymer stamp set (22), 143767, Hostess only Rose Wonder photopolymer stamp set (14), 140697, $27.00 (Greeting) Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.00 Rose Red -1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 102544, $8.00 Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, 126985, $6.50 Rose Red Clas

Little did I know when I designed this card using outgoing In Colors, that the Flirty Flamingo would stay with us as a core color! Emerald Envy is leaving us, however. The Emerald Envy ribbon is from last year's catalog rather than the current one. I was also playing around with the new Stamparatus.  Although this stamp set comes with dies to cut out all the parts, I had thought it would be easier to simply stamp it. But I'm not sure I still think that. Products Used: Bike Ride photopolymer stamp set (24), 143716, $21.00 Beautiful Bouquet photopolymer stamp set (37), 143666, $27.00 Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.00 Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 141416, $8.00 Emerald Envy 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 141415, $8.00 Basic Gray Archival Stampin' Pad, 140932, $7.00 Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad, 131179, $6.50 Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad, 141397, $6.50 Emerald Envy Classic St

I am so sad to see Birthday Blossoms stamp set go, as well as the Island Indigo and Soft Sky colors I used on this card. What I have discovered while preparing cards for my April stamp class with the need to use as many discontinued products as possible is the creativity it spurred. I've had this stamp set for a long time and I've used it a number of times, but never in this way. As I laid out all my discontinued stamp sets and papers and dies, things just started fitting together in new ways. How sad, now that these products are about to leave our catalog! Anyway, I love the way this card turned out. Products Used: Birthday Blossoms rubber stamp set (8), W 139167, $27.00; C 139471, $19.00* Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.00 Island Indigo 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 122923, $8.00* Soft Sky -1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 131203, $8.00* Wild Wasabi 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 108641, $8.00* Island Indigo C

I fear I haven't used this great stamp set, Sweet Cupcake, as much as I should have because it is now retiring. I am so sorry to see it go. I recently designed this card using the Springtime Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper from the Sale-a-Bration flyer. I just love that paper! I had thought I would make it masculine by using the blues, but it still looks feminine to me. The card base is Marina Mist and the inks are, I believe, Soft Sky, Pool Party and Marina Mist. The cupcake paper is actually cut from a copper foil sheet, as are the word "wish" and the spirals across the bottom. The coordinating Cupcake Cutouts Framelits Dies, which include the words "sweet" and "wish", are retiring with the stamp set.

As you have noticed by now, I have played with the Black Ice Technique a lot, using it as it was designed to be used. For my husband's birthday card, I decided to experiment using Glossy White card stock in place of the Silver Foil and Night of Navy Ink instead of the Archival Basic Black. It is difficult to stamp on the Glossy White paper without the stamp sliding a little, so anchoring the card stock is a major help. Because my husband is a retired pilot, I like to use the airplane for his cards whenever I can. Thus, I have hung on to the Sky is the Limit stamp set from Sale-a-Bration a couple years ago. It comes in so handy for lots of masculine cards, but especially cards I make for my husband. I also used the discontinued iridescent embossing powder on this card. My granddaughter, who loves bling, was seated next to Bob when he opened the card and immediately cried, "I want that card!" I think I'm going to have to make a card for her using the iridescent emboss

That black ice technique has captured me, in case you hadn't guessed. This time I used the evergreens from the Lovely As a Tree stamp set and I just love the way it turned out. The moon in this is from the Waterfront stamp set and is stamped in white. Otherwise, it is the same technique as I've used before: Draw edge of black ink pad over a piece of silver foil; stamp the desired images and make sure the ink is dry; use embossing buddy and then draw edge of VersaMark ink pad down the silver foil; cover with clear embossing powder and heat emboss. This card uses some long retired black grosgrain ribbon and a discontinued button. I so wish the camera would pick up the glazed effect of the heat embossing. Current Products Used: Lovely As a Tree rubber stamp set (6), W 128655, $28.00; C 127793, $20.00 Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.00 Basic Black 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $8.00 Smoky Slate 8-1/2" x 11"

I had toyed with purchasing the Pretty Kitty and Bella & Friends stamp sets for some time and finally gave in when I had extra dollars for free product. I really like the birthday greeting because it has a message for inside that makes it special.  I was originally planning to make this card at my April class, but changed my mind, deciding to go with retiring products instead. Some of my favorite sets are leaving our catalog as well a some favorite colors. But the replacement colors are fantastic; I just wish I could keep the old along with the new! One reason for this card design is that I really wanted to use my new Stitched Shapes Framelits. The great thing about those framelits is that they coordinate with the Layering Squares, Ovals and Circles Framelits. The Basic Gray Shimmer ribbon is from the Sale-a-Bration catalog and is therefore no longer available.   I'm sharing two images variations of this card because I can't decide which one I like better—with the banne

I had so much fun playing around with this Black Ice technique (details on previous post)! I just wish you could see the gleam from the layer of clear embossing.  Knowing my grandson would be graduating from community college this spring, I decided to use this technique on his graduation card. He loves his music and is especially into his guitars, although he also plays the violin. The background is accomplished by once again drawing the edge of the Basic Black ink pad across a piece of Smoky Slate card stock. I added three silver stars (Metallic Enamel Shapes) to the focal piece of this card. Because the card base is black, I decided the liner needed a little coordination with the card itself. So I added black streaks (a little grunge) and stamped another guitar in the corner. Products Used: Epic Celebration stamp set (SAB, discontinued) Basic Black 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $8.00 Smoky Slate 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 131202, $8.00

I try to include little thank you gifts in bags with my customers' orders. I used retired products for this gift. The Treat Tubes were in our holiday catalog and the lavender stamp was from Sale-a-Bration. As you can probably guess by the jelly beans in the treat tubes, these gifts were added to their orders from my March class. The Scalloped Tag Topper punch is still available (133324, $23.).