Saying Good-bye to Some of My Favourites!

When the retiring product lists came out this morning, I was sad to see some of my all-time favourite stampsets and accessories on the list.  So I thought I'd give you a list of the retiring items I'm going to miss the very most.  These are things I consider to be timeless and oh so versatile...I turn to them time and again!...

1.  LAYERED LABELS
The reason this set is #1 on my list is the largest image in the set...the 'heartfelt' image.  I have used this on countless projects, a sample of which I've included below.  I think it's one of my favourite all-time stamps and it makes everything work for me. If you scroll down a couple posts on this blog, you'll see I also used this set on the KISS cards at my last stamp club...I love the swirl-y-ness!
Another reason I love this set is that every image in it coordinates with a framelit and many of the images also coordinate with a punch...now that makes for quick creating!!

 
2.  AMAZING FAMILY
This is another stampset that is SO versatile, and it's not just for family members, it also has a friend stamp.  I just love the font!!  It's great for chalkboard stamping, or embossing or just about anything you can think of!

3.  EX LIBRIS
This one is a background stamp, and, yes, it looks like a bookfront, but you can do so many different looks with it.  I love the old school vintage feel of this stamp.

Below is a project I made last summer with it, I'll also highlight the fact that this project also uses the butterflies Bigz die that is also retiring!

The little CREATE journal below pairs Ex Libris with Creative Elements (#4 on my list of favourite sets retiring below).

4.  CREATIVE ELEMENTS
This next stamp set is a favourite because it goes with anything...the swirly large stamp in the set is literally in so many of the backgrounds to my cards, that I don't dare count.  If you were to check out my April 17th post below, you'll see it again there.  Below is a project I did when it first came out, a gratitude journal we made at that year's catalog launch workshop.  I still have one of these right beside where I work.  I'll also highlight that that delightful oval frame on the project below is from the frames embossing folders that are also retiring.

Just look at this little pin cushion I made with images from Creative Elements, still one of my favourite things I've made:)

 

This delightful banner below hangs on my craft racks where my punches also hang to this very day and it was also stamped with the CREATE image from the creative elements set.  The flower was made from the Fun Flowers die that are also retiring (I also made the wreath just posted below as well on my blog with that die...and the Fun Flowers Die is #5 on my list below).  The other dies used in the banner below are the Bigz pennant dies, which will also be retiring.  Say it isn't so?!!



 

5.  FUN FLOWERS BIGZ DIE
I know a die is not a stamp set, but I have loved this die.  I used it most recently on the wreath just a couple of posts below this on on my blog (incidently I also used the Morning Post alphabet stampset in that project with is also retiring).  Here is a link.

Back to fun flowers though, below is the card box that sits in my craft room, where I store all my extras and it is adorned with this big beautiful flower I made with layers and layers of fun flowers.  No, I could not be without this die!  Love it!!

I made a multitude of bookmarks (ribbon bookmarks) with this die too, like the lovely one in wisteria below!

6. FRAMED TULIPS
Also not a stampset, but the framed tulips embossing folder is next on my list...here are 2 of my favourite cards I made with it...love the effect on a card!!

7.  DRESS UP FRAMELITS
I, frankly, think SU is going to regret retiring these adorable and versatile framelits, I've used them on cards, scrapbook pages, and even 3D items, like the one below that still adorns one of my shelves:)

Or, how about this bday card on embossed tinfoil?!

 

8.  HEARTS A FLUTTER
What a sweet stampset this one is and perfect for borders (so trendy!).  I've used this one on everything from valentines to birthday cards to whiteboards to baby cards...vers-a-tile!

 

 

 9.  LOVELY LITTLE LABELS
It's in the little things...this one may not stand out as a focal point on many of my projects but it's there, usually as the perfect little tag...and some of the images even have postage and vintage charm:)  See the little 'sweet' label framed and stamped with this stamp set:)

10.  FABULOUS PHRASES
Another stamp set that you'll be hard pressed to see as the focal point in the project, but it's always there with the perfect word or label or accent.  Love the font too!  This stampset is where the word 'friend's came from in March's double pocket card - see link here.
It's also where the greeting I used on this little box below that I haven't posted before came from.  I made this boxes to hold lip glosses to give to co-workers who've been helpful from a Pootles tutorial, didn't they turn out darling?!

Well I've made it to 10, but I realize I'm not nearly done, here are some other retiring products that I believe are top 10 worthy...if I have time, another day, I'll add links/photos of projects where I used them:
- Two frames embossing folder (used in creative elements gratitude journal above)
- Occasions  Alphabet stampset...truly something in here for every occasion!
- Morning Post alphabet stampset...love the script in each of the letters!
- Stampin Wheels!  So many of them, but my very favourite are:
    Music Notes
    Travel Journal
    Viola's Lace
    Shop Around
    Very Vintage
- Blessings from Heaven - the sentiment in card #1 above comes from this; oh, and can't resist this one either:

- Sweet Essentials - I use these sayings/greeting on everything...just look at my April club KISS cards...the 'thinking of you' comes from this set!
- Boutique Details  - the lovely in color embellies that came out last summer!
- Vintage Trinkets...oh these are used all over my blog on projects, what will I use din their place?!
- Stitched Satin ribbon in the retiring in colors...the retiring in colors were gorgeous and I will especially miss the raspberry ripple and this ribbon which ties like a dream!
- Ruffle Stretch Trim...this one's in the current in colors, how can it  be retiring already, I'm still in luv with it?!
- Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die!!!!!!
- Postage Collection Hostess set...oh but I luv it...ok, here's a reminder...

- Scallop Edge Border...that MUST be a typo on the retiring list, no?!
- Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack...I will start a protest on this one!
- Modern Medley dsp
- Coordinations cardstock & the sanding system...you surely have seen the beautiful roses one can create with this, surely they've gone mad at SU if this is on the list?!

FREE SHIPPING!!!!!! **Starts Today!! April 21 - 25, 2014 ONLY!

The SU retirement list came out this morning...here is a link to the pdf of retiring stamps and retiring accessories:
Retiring stamps
Retiring accessories

Items are only available while quantities last!!

Also, from April 21 - 25, 2014 SU is offering FREE shipping on ALL orders.  Here is a link to my online store for you to place your order from the retiring list (just click 'SHOP' in the upper right corner of the link and away you go!).  You can shop from clearance products, from the occasions catalog, from MDS, from anything you wish - no matter how small!! 

Burlap & Blooms - My Way!

So this is my version of the Burlap & Blooms wreath in the spring occasions catalog.  I made the flowers using the Fun Flowers die and the new spiral flower die.  Cardstock colours I used on this project were Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals (which are both about to retire) and Pool Party.  I know it looks completely different than the one in the occasions catalog, but those colours were just now me, still the Burlap & Blooms kit was a great value to me  and I love working with the Burlap so much!  Also, the letters I used for the banner were stamped with the Morning Post stamp set and the banner pieces were cutout with the banner framelits.

Card Set & Box - Trust God

This is a set of 8 cards and coordinating envelopes & box I recently made for a friend in Ministry.  I used a real combination of stamp sets including:  the dove from Calm Christmas, the swirls from Creative Elements and the greetings from Trust God. 

April Club Projects! - KISS Cards & Envelope Punchboard Cardbox

 For my April club, I wanted to show my stampin ladies how to make a card box with the Envelope punchboard, if you make a cardbox, you know you've got to fill it with cards, so I decided we'd make a set to fill our boxes.  Normally at club we make one 3D item and one card, but if I made this card set to be as complicated as the individual cards we normally make, I knew we'd never get done in an evening, so I decided to introduce club to KISS cards...Keep It Simple Stamper.

 

Above is the cardbox we made with the Envelope Punchboard.  We used the Afternoon Picnic DSP that is going to retire at the end of May.  We also used the Papillon Potpourri stampset and coordinating punch as well as several other punches (blossom, 2 1/2 circle and 1' circle) and the Lovely Little Labels stampset and coordinating punch.

 

Instructions for making the box:

Base - 9 1/4 x 9 1/4

First score 3 5/8

Second score 4 5/8

Then line up score lines as you turn the box and score & punch the other 3 sides

 

Rule of Thumb for making these boxes ** You can make them for any envelope size on punch board just increase the size of the paper by 1 1/4" (both height & width) & increase first score by 1/8" and do second score an inch from there

Above is the KISS card I came up with for the card set and coordinating envelopes for this project.  We used the Layered Labels, Notable Notions, Papillon Potpourri and Sweet Essentials stamp sets to create this cards with inks in:  wisteria wonder, coastal cabana, basic grey & smokey slate.

The idea behind a KISS card is to keep to a few layers.  Right now a tone on tone matting is on trend.  Also, do each step for all cards at once before going on to the next step.  Here are the dimensions for this particular set:

Base 5 1/2 x 8 1/2; score at 4 1/4

Insert 4 x 5 1/4...you'll get 4 out of one sheet of cardstock along with 2 pieces that are 1/2 x 4 and one long 1/2 x 4 for your sentiments...cut all at once

Do every step for all 4 then move on...saves time

Shadow Box

Ok, I confess that I did not use all SU supplies for today's project.  I had this 6x6 pad of designer paper from My Mind's Eye called Lost & Found Two and it's just so me & soooo pretty...and here it had been sitting unused for quite sometime, so when I sat down to make today's shadow box, I couldn't resist using this beautiful sheet with the Eiffel Tower on it as the recessed piece in this project.  All other supplies are SU including the coastal cabana base, the baked brown sugar gathered trim & the real red and primrose petals coordinations cardstock I used together wit the rosette bigz die to get that lovely rose.  Inspiration for this project came from Sam at Pootles, such a clever girl!  Sam is in the UK and so if you are in the UK and looking for a SU demonstrator, please look Sam up...she is a doll!

Storage Solutions...storing Markers & Re-inkers!

I came across some great ideas for storage of markers & re-inkers this week.  If you click on the words 'markers' and 'reinkers' you will find the youtube videos, thanks to Sam Donald (clever, clever girl!:)  I adapted my marker one (below) to fit my space and purposes by basically making 3 triangle boxes and affixing them.  Each is made out of a piece of 7 1/4 x 7 1/4" paper. By having a 3 triangle configuration I think I'll be able to have of them on either end o the shelf I'll use them on.   I made mine in raspberry ripple cardstock and embellished with some soho subway dsp (and some retired striped grosgrain).

And below you will see that I made some caddies to store my rinkers (previously I kept them in a basket, but I liked this idea...improvised out of a lipstick storage box).  The base for these was made with Early Espresso cardstock and, once again, I used soho subway dsp to embellish..and this time a little summer starfruit stitched satin ribbon.



Business Card Holder

 

I needed a new business card holder, well 2 really...one for my desk at work and one for my volunteer position, at which I'm working an event this weekend and wanted to have my cards on my feature table, so a holder was in order to keep them in place!

I kept making a fairly wobbly version until I stumbled upon Sam's tutorial here.  Sam is in the UK and is so clever at these things & she thought to add feet to the box - brilliant!!  I adapted her box slightly as my tools work in imperial (rather than metric), so here are the dimensions that I used in mine:
Cardstock base 6 x 7.5″
Score at 1.5, 2.25, 4.75 and 5.5″ (on long side)
Score at 1 and 5″ (on short side)
And here's a link to Sam's video where she makes her metric version.

For my box, I used basic black cardstock & modern medley dsp.  I also used the rosettle bigz die from the Occasions catalog and 2 pieces of coordinations cardstock, one in primrose petals & one in real red, to make my flower embellishment.  I *luv* making these flowers/roses...must be the 'roses in my heart' I guess;)