Herringbone

For those of you who also quilt, you may recognize today's pattern. The herringbone pattern is great for using up those leftover scraps - even the skinny little pieces that get trimmed off along the way. It is a slow process, but it is fun to watch the pattern grow. Definitely one I'll do again!  I used 1/4" strips for this card, but you could do wider strips as well.

Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake
Ink: Night of Navy
DSP: Just Add Cake
Cardstock: Marina Mist, So Saffron
Accessories: Designer Label Punch, Basic Pearls, White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Favorite Flowers

Greenhouse Garden is one of my favorite flower sets, and it will be retiring at the end of this month. (I could say the same about Fifth Avenue Floral...) I am also sad to see the smooch retiring, as it adds such a quick and easy highlight. It's hard to get a good photo of accents like that, so you'll have to trust that this card has more pizzazz in person. If you do not yet have these stamp sets, or you need another bottle of smooch before it is gone, let me know. (I think I need another bottle...!)

I love to make my own "designer paper," because then I know it has the exact combination of colors I'm looking for. I had a hard time covering these flowers with anything, so I decided to keep the tag small. If you're not looking, you might even miss it!

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Rose Red
Inks: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Rose Red
Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories: Moonlight Smooch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Rose Red brad, paper piercing tool/mat pack

Retiring Accessories & Up to 70% Discounts!

The Retiring Accessories list is now available, and there are some reports of a few items already selling out, so you'll want to place your order quickly. You can see a list here (all 12 pages of it!). Some of these products have been discounted up to 70% - wow!

Don't forget to look through the Retiring Stamp Sets, which you can find here. There are over 300 sets retiring at the end of May.

These lists do NOT include pictures. If you want to SEE what's retiring, head to my website here and under "Products" choose "Shop Now." You'll see the Retiring Products option on your left. Then you'll be able to click through the listings with pictures rather than flipping through a catalog to find them.

Also, don't forget - the Summer Smooches promo and the Occasions Mini catalog both end April 30th!

Questions? Concerns? Contact me today and I'll be happy to help. With all this retiring, I can't wait to see the new catalog! Mark your calendar: Friday, May 25, 7pm, is our Farewell Retirement Party/ May technique class. Then Saturday, June 2, 9-11am, we'll have a new catalog reveal and auction - you won't want to miss! (More details to follow.)

Letting Go of Fifth Avenue Floral

This will be one of the toughest retiring sets for me to let go. Okay, honestly? I won't let it go! lol But to not be able to use it in workshops and classes will be sad. So we'll use it another time or two for sure before it retires at the end of May.

Tonight we'll be making a card with one of the flowers, which was watercolored by wetting the paper and then adding the ink to the center of the embossed flower and allowing the color to flow along the water on the paper. Interesting technique and effect! When my flowers were first colored and drying, I seriously disliked them and nearly threw them out. However, I let them dry... Still not terribly impressed... So I cut them out, and look what happened:

Not too bad for flowers that almost didn't survive, huh?

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, So Saffron, Twitterpated DSP
Inks: Cherry Cobbler (pad and refill), Versamark
Punches: Lace Ribbon Border, Scallop Oval, Large Oval
Extras: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Aqua Painter, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Polka Dot EF, Dimensionals, sponges

Retiring Favorites

Wow - the retiring list is long this year! Some of my favorites ended up on the list, and while I am sad to see them go, I am excited to see what my new favorites will be! What about you? Are some of your favorites retiring?

If you would rather view the retiring sets by picture rather than flipping through your catalog with the list, you can see the images online. Click the button to the right to "Order Stampin' Up! Online" - that will take you to my website. Choose "Products," then "Shop Now." On the left hand column, you'll see the option for "Retiring," and then you can view images for both Wood Mount and Clear Mount retiring sets. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

We'll be having a Farewell Retirement Party on Friday, May 25th. Until then I'd like to feature some retiring favorites. You may remember this post about a new embossing technique. The Medallion stamp is perfect for this technique!

Retired Stamp Set List Posted!

You may want to grab a tissue - some of my favorites are in this list, and yours may be too... Those sets listed here will only be available until 5/31/12. Don't miss out!

Retired List - pdf format

Or see/order through my website - choose Products, then Order Now, and then on the left you will see the link for Retiring.

April Newsletter