You've Got This Collage

You've Got This is such a pretty set, but I haven't used it in a while. Since it is on the retiring list, I figured I would get it out and play. I only knew that I wanted to use a couple of my favorite colors that will be returning to the Stampin' Up! palette in the upcoming new catalog. Here's what I came up with.

I started by stamping the large peony onto Whisper White card stock using Black Archival Ink because I planned to watercolor the image. I masked the flower and used the large crosshatch background that is included in this set inked in So Saffron with a bit of Soft Suede on the edges. I stamped it over the flower not worrying about the leaves because I knew I was painting those using Mossy Meadow (a returning favorite) and the yellow would add a nice compliment to the green of the leaves. Using my Aqua Painter I painted the petals using my favorite returning color...Blackberry Bliss and with a bit of Fresh Fig as well.

Using the Timeless Textures and Butterfly Basics sets I added a collage look to my background with several of the stamps from these sets. The butterfly is from a really old retired set called Natural Beauty. I just kept adding elements until I was happy with it. When I was done stamping, I felt it still needed something so I used a Tim Holtz stencil and applied some Blackberry Bliss ink with a Sponge Dauber. I think this added the perfect touch!

Now that I had my stamped panel all water colored and stenciled it was time to finish the card. I used some retired Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon layered over some Lace Trim. I planned to make a bow, but didn't like the way that looked so after searching for some ribbon charms that I thought I still had in my stash and coming up empty handed, I decided to die cut and embellishment using the Flourish Thinlit Dies.

I cut out Blackberry Bliss and Gold Foil and finished it off with a pretty Gold Faceted Gem. This card was a series of trial and error, that I almost gave up on...but I love the way it turned out! I bet I probably couldn't duplicate it if I tried!

If you don't already have the You've Got This stamp set, be sure to order before the end of the month. As of yesterday, there are now many discounted items on the Retiring List as well...check them out!

A Rainbow of Retiring Colors

The background layer for this card was created using the Watercolor Background Technique . The colors used are all on the Retiring List.

To create the background I simply used my ink pads to ink up a large acrylic block and then spritzed it with a little water before using it to stamp the Whisper White background piece. These are the colors I used: 

• Island Indigo 
• Wild Wasabi 
• Tempting Turquoise 
• Sweet Sugarplum 
• Rose Red 
• Tangerine Tango 
• Peekaboo Peach

After the background was thoroughly dry I used the Awesomely Artistic stamp set (retiring) inked in Island Indigo to add even more interest to the background. I used post it notes to mask the edges of my background to prevent the floral design to extend beyond the background. (The full instructions are shared in the post linked above.)

The dragon fly wings were cut out and Wink of Stella added for some shimmer. The sentiment comes from the Birthday Blossoms set which is also retiring.

Make sure to shop early for your favorite retiring colors...while supplies last!

Bright & Cheery Birthday Blossoms

Kind of a funny story...as I was going over this years retiring list of stamps and marking my catalog  (I always use a highlighter so I can easily see at a glance what has retired) I came to the Birthday Blossom set. I was a little surprised to see this one on the retirement list...as I had already accidentally retired it myself last year!

So for an entire year, this poor neglected set had mistakenly been exiled to my retired shelf getting minimal use! It's companion set - Flower Shop and the coordinating Pansy Punch have always been well loved, and when the Birthday Blossom set came out I was happy to have the pretty background image, a leaf and the nice sentiments written in such a beautiful font. to go along with the set of six flowers.  I used both sets on this card along with several retiring colors. If you already have the Flower Shop set, I highly recommend getting this one to go with it.

To create the background I simply used my ink pads to ink up a large acrylic block and then spritzed it with a little water before using it to stamp the Whisper White background piece. The colors I used are:

• Island Indigo
• Rose Red
• Sweet Sugarplum
• Tempting Turquoise
• Wild Wasabi

You want to be sure that the colors you place side by side will mix  together well. For instance, placing the Wild Wasabi next to the Rose Red would have created a brownish tone, while placing it next to the Island Indigo instead, created more of a purple tone. For more on the Watercolor Background Technique you can check out this post I shared a while back. 

Pretty much everything used on this card, with exception of the Basic Black ink & card stock and the Whisper White card stock is being retired. 

Make sure to check out the retiring product list so that you don't miss out on anything. 

Awesomely Artistic Butterfly

On Monday Stampin' Up released this years retirement list...along with many favorite retiring stamp sets and accessories, there are 13 core colors retiring in addition to the 2015-17 In Colors! I created this card using many of my retiring favorite items...

There is kind of a lot going on in this card...but I had fun creating it. I used three different retiring stamp sets along with seven retiring colors...can you spot them all? Here's a little help...

Butterfly Basics and Awesomely Artistic are two of my all time favorite sets. I just love all the different elements that can be used to create collage style cards. Teeny Tiny Wishes...that one is a classic! I've used that one SO much!

I was a little surprised that Tempting Turquoise will be leaving. Tempting Turquoise and Perfect Plum have been around the longest of the departing colors used here. My Perfect Plum ink pad was part of my Demo Kit when I signed up 14 years ago! We are loosing several shades of purple, but the shades we are gaining are even more lovely...so t's a good trade. The other colors used here are: Always Artichoke, Wild Wasabi, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder and Sweet Sugarplum.

Here are some more projects I created with the Awesomely Artistic and Butterfly Basics stamp sets.

Here's a look at all 17 colors that are leaving the Stampin' Up! color palette.

Do you have ink refills and cardstock of your favorite colors? If not, best to order those as soon as possible while they are still available.

Shop Now...don't forget to choose me as your demonstrator if you don't already have one.