Blowout Sale!

WOW! Starting today lots of retiring items on SALE for up to 50% off!

Check it out to see if any of your favorites are there...while supplies last!

Epic Vacation Pages

I cannot believe it's already been a week since I've posted! I've been doing a little re-organizing in my stampin space now that we know what is retiring. I need to get ready for those new In Colors and other goodies that are on their way here! I did a little scrapbooking over the weekend and planned to share my pages...but I have had a really bad sinus headache the past few days. With so much pressure around my eyes I haven't felt much like getting on the computer. I'm feeling somewhat better today, so I wanted to share my some vacation pages created using the Epic Day Designer Series Paper.

Back in March we took our son to Florida to celebrate his safe return from Afghanistan. He was deployed for almost a year, and missed so many holidays including Christmas and his birthday. As you can imagine, it was so nice to spend a whole week with him relaxing and having a good time! Unfortunately, our oldest son couldn't get away from school and his clinical training to go with us...otherwise it was the perfect vacation.

I like the way my title turned out. I cut a piece of chipboard using the Bigz Typeset Alphabet for the "&" and the R's were stamped using the Morning Post Alphabet. (both the alphabet dies and stamps are retiring...so if they're on your wish list...better get them while you still can!)

The phrase "Just a little" was printed from my computer, as was the journaling. To grunge up the Very Vanilla card stock a bit I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. I also used it here and there on the DSP as well.  On one of the punched hexagons I used the Remember This Rotary Stamp to include the date. Here's a look at the other page.

The hexagon border shows many of the patterns included in this paper pack...the colors and map prints are perfect for tropical vacation photos. It was fun punching out and arranging the hexagon shapes...kind of like doing a puzzle. I sponged the edges using Basic Gray ink. The On Film Framelits show a few selfies of my hubby & I lounging in the hammock one evening. I even cut down the larger frame to fit the photo of our son. I held it together and hid the seams with Epic Day This & That Washi Tape and an arrow cut with the arrow framelit. (included in the On Film Framelits)

Here are both the pages together...

I almost forgot...today is Tuesday! Which means...new Weekly Deals and new digital downloads...check them out!

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you will stop by again soon...my pre-order will be here soon, so I'll have fun stuff to share!

Saying Goodbye: Secret Garden Bundle

Saying goodbye to a favorite stamp set is even harder when it also has coordinating framelits...which is the case with the Secret Garden set. Today I have a card to share that uses the Secret Garden Bundle and a really cool technique created using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

Adhere your punched or die cut pieces onto a cardstock base and then run through your Big Shot using an embossing folder with an all over tight pattern. Once it is embossed, the die cut pieces are embedded into the background, giving it the name Inlaid Embossing. I think it kind of has the look of a woven textile. The Square Lattice Embossing Folder is perfect for this technique. Here's a closer look...

The largest flower was embossed with Pool Party Embossing Powder and then watercolored using the Aqua Painter. Can you spot all the retiring items used to make this card? Check out this photo for some clues...

In addition to the Secret Garden stamp set and framelits, I also used:

• Express Yourself (Hostess set)
• Large Pearls (part of this weeks weekly deal!)
• Square Lattice Embossing Folder
• Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder
• Pool Party Core'dinations Cardstock

Today is the last day to take advantage of  FREE SHIPPING so if you don't already have the great products used to create this card, now is the time to get them!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Saying Goodbye: Pennant Parade Trio

Today is day four of my farewells...let me wipe away my tears so I can type up my blog posting. Yesterday said that Creative Elements may be "one of the most versatile sets on the retiring list"...then I played with Pennant Parade and I must say...Creative Elements has some stiff competition in that category! I'm thinking that Pennant Parade may just win the title of "Most Versatile Set"! Seriously...I sat down to make "a card" and when I was done I had three...a feminine one that could be any occasion, a masculine birthday card, and even a Christmas card. Sounds pretty versatile to me, don't you think?

Lets start with the feminine card that is good for any occasion...

Along with Pennant Parade, I also used the Petite Petals stamp set. (the little pot and "hello" stamp are from Pennant Parade.) I also used several other retiring products...can you spot them all? Maybe this photo will help...

• Gumball Green Core'dinations Cardstock & Ink
• Petals-a-Plenty & Designer Frames Embossing Folders
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack - flower punch
• Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon*

*I almost died when I saw Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon on the list! I was afraid that ALL the seam binding ribbon was going bye-bye. Thank goodness it was only one color...even though Pool Party is one that I use a lot, I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing more colors in the new catalog!

Now...on to the manly birthday card...

In addition to Pennant Parade, this one uses a few different retired items than the last card...can you spot them all?

• You're Amazing stamp set
• Timber Wheel & handle
• 2012-14 In Color Markers 
• Raspberry Ripple Cardstock
• Midnight Muse Cardstock
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack - 1/4" circle punch

I'm really glad that the Petite Pennant Punch is not retiring! That means we can still create cute banners like the one above for cards and on scrapbook pages, using DSP.

The last card I have to share is the Christmas version of the top card....

The retiring supplies that are different from the top card are:

• Raspberry Ripple Cardstock & ink
• Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Silver Glimmer Paper 

Do you agree that Pennant parade is super versatile? Do you have it in your collection? If not...get it while you can! What is your favorite/most versatile set that is retiring? 

Check back tomorrow to see more of mine.

Saying Goodbye: Creative Elements

I think one of the most versatile stamp sets on the retiring list has to be Creative Elements. I grab this set a lot for the beautiful swirl to create pretty, yet subtle backgrounds, the label image to make a nice framed focal point for a sentiment, and the border stamp for what else...creative borders! Add in the butterfly and pretty flower along with the word "create" and this makes for a must have set. Here's today's creation, made with several favorite retiring products.

Can you spot all the different retiring products I used here...besides the Creative Elements stamp set? The Pool Party background as well as the Primrose Petals embossed strip are Core'dinations Cardstock. I love that this cardstock has a nice texture to it and comes in 12x12 so it's perfect to use for my scrapbooks. The added benefit is the cool look you get when you use the embossing folders and then sand it. Here's a look at some of the other retiring products I used here...

I just love that embossed oval included in the Designer Frames Embossing Folders set...and of course the stitched border from the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folders set is another one I use a lot. All the Stitched Satin Ribbons in the retiring In Colors will be missed as well. Here I used it in Primrose Petals.

I decided while I am working with all my retiring favorites this week, I will make smaller cards sized to fit inside my antique printer tray hanging in my stampin' space.

You cannot tell from this photo, but there is actually a lot of dimension on this...the little banner, flower & butterfly are all popped up.

I hope you will stop back by tomorrow to see more of my retiring favorites.

Saying Goodbye: Vintage Primrose Papaya Parade

With the Retirement List being announced yesterday, I decided to share projects using some of my favorite retiring stamps and accessories all this week.

Today I am featuring the set Papaya Collage. Even though this beautiful set has been around for quite some time, I only recently added it to my collection. (yes...go ahead and blame me for it's retirement! ;-)  Unfortunately for me,  it hasn't seen a whole lot of ink...yet.

I used quite a few retiring products on this card...can you spot them all? One of the items used here is also part of this weeks Weekly Deals. This photo should help you to spot what I've used...

Favorite Retiring Stamps: Papaya Collage & Pennant Parade
Favorite Retiring In Color: Primrose Petals (here I used ink & Core'dinations Cardstock)
Favorite Retiring Paper: Core'dinations 12x12 Cardstock
Favorite Retiring Wheel: Very Vintage...bummed that ALL the wheels are history...waahhhh!
Favorite Retiring Ribbon: Victoria Crochet Trim (on sale as part of this weeks Weekly Deal)
Favorite Retiring Embossing Folders: Framed Tulips & Needlepoint Border
Favorite Retiring Tools: Sponge Daubers & Sanding Block (oops...forgot to put in photo)

As you can see I've used many favorite retiring products here. I've gotten a lot of use out of the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel...I think it makes a lovely background that can be layered upon as I've done here. The Framed Tulips Embossing Folder makes such a beautiful frame for your stamped creations or photos on a scrapbook page...I sure hope that we see other frame style embossing folders! I've used the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder often to add extra detail and to use as a layer under my ribbon. Here I've just used the dashed line that looks like stitching...doesn't it look like ribbon?

If you don't already have these items...I highly recommend adding them to your collection today!

Hope you will stop by tomorrow to help me say goodbye to some more of my favorites.

Saying Goodbye to Some Old Favorites

Have you seen Stampin' Up!'s retirement list yet? I look forward to seeing this list each year with mixed emotions of dread and excitement. It's always sad to have to say goodbye to some of my most loved stamps and accessories each year...but it is also exciting as I start to anticipate the upcoming release of the new catalog; wondering what will be replacing the items that are leaving.

This year, a few of the sets I will really miss are Field Flowers, En Francais and Happy Day. Unbeknownst to me, I must have been channeling the upcoming retiring list when I created this card the other day.

I had a feeling that perhaps Field Flowers would be on the list, but the other two were kind of surprising to me. I love the swirl image from Happy Day and have used it so many times as a pretty accent on my cards and scrapbook pages.

Do you have any favorites on the list? If so...get them early while they are still available, and get FREE SHIPPING besides!