Stampin' Up!® Retired List

Just letting you know that Stampin' Up!® have released their Retired List, as we await the release of a NEW Catalogue on June 2nd.

To see the retiring stamps you just need to click on the highlighted words or to go straight over to retired accessories click on those. The online stores have been VERY busy because everyone in the know, demonstrators included, jump straight onto these retiring and reduced items. Some aren't reduced in price, possibly indicating lower numbers at the warehouse, and other items are up to 50% off - it is certainly well worth taking a look.
If you choose to make a small order in my online store, (Australian addresses only please) I'd be very pleased if you used the Hostess code 6MGVWWGH.

Just a couple of the retiring stamp sets.

There's only just over 5 weeks left to order from the current annual catalogue and Occasions Catalogue. Not sure yet which items from the Occasions Catalogue will be included in the next annual catalogue.

Little Buddy Birthday has been retired, and reduced in price. The clear mount is $21.71 and the wood mount costs $28.46.

Postage Due is another stamp set I'll be sad to see retire. I love using the collage-style image, especially with other stamps. The clear mount one is $25.46 but the wood mount is only another $3 more.

I didn't think that Itty Bitty Banners would be on the retiring list, but since the banner Framelits haven't retired, I suspect we will get something new to use with the Framelits. Regarding Dahlias was another surprise retiree, it's such a dramatic, but simple large bloom.

Anyway, I'm sure you have your favourites too
Cheers
Rachel

Floral Fantasy CTS#114 CTD333

Needing to make a birthday card for a 'woman of mature years' it seemed that a floral card might be the way to go. I also know that she does like mauve (or is that lilac?) so the colour palette offered by this week's Colour Throwdown fitted perfectly. The sketch that Gayatri Murali  did for Case This Sketch is open to a wide interpretation, and I decided it was time to pull out an old favourite - with a twist!

Regarding Dahlias is a stamp set with just one large bloom and four sentiments, none of which are for birthdays! This bloom is dramatic, so detailed, that is needs nothing more than inking with your favourite colour. However, I've included the leaf from Kinda Eclectic, just for that splash of green and the two butterflies from Kinda Eclectic fluttered in too. Bitty Banners provided the sentiment.

The inside has been finished with '....and many more' , plus some more leaves and a butterfly all in shades of lilac and green. Now to go out to play in the sunshine in  my garden.....

Have a great weekend

Rachel

  

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Age Awareness CMCC#40 HSS#195

It wasn't hard to get motivated to make another card using Regarding Dahlias. The stamps were still out on my work table, and I just grabbed some Whisper White and a different retired DSP, Everyday Enchantment, to make version 2. Colour Me set a monochromatic colour challenge, Calypso Coral, same as my last card. The sketch is from Hand Stamped Sentiments.

The elaborate 'happy' and 'birthday' sentiments from Age Awareness are big favourites of mine, Especially the 'filled-in' parts, which seem rather similar to the shaded sections on the dahlia. The flag has been cut using the Banner Framelits, but they are longer than intended. You do that by using strips a little narrower than the framelit and threading it through so only the flag end is cut.

What you think of the sentiment? Happy Age Awareness Day may not be seen as amusing by some people, do you think it is okay?

Leave me a comment if you like...
Rachel

Delightful Dahlia FMS#156 CMCC#40

I've surprised myself today, by using the monochrome colours at Colour Me! for this sketch by Narelle at  Freshly Made Sketches. Strangely, I find Calypso Coral (really any of the orange shades) a little bit overwhelming on cards, and yet I wear a LOT of orange and coral??! Doesn't really make much sense, does it?


Tea For Two was a BIG favourite from the mini catalogue nearly two years ago because of the 'tea' theme and the lovely patchwork patterns it incorporated. It also has a number of pieces featuring Calypso Coral, like the sweet spot here. It's a bargain in the Clearance Rack at the moment.

Lately, because I have so many new stamps, I have neglected old favourites like Regarding Dahlias. This flower is always stunning, I love cutting it out, and imagine how gorgeous it would look coloured with Blendabilities!

I didn't want a greeting to overwhelm the big blossom and an outline from Mosaic Madness, punched was about the right size. I was happy to find the Banner Banter greetings were quite a good fit, and obviously I could have just punched with a banner punch too.

The Mosaic Madness Embossing Folder was an easy choice after using the punched shape for the sentiment. I love the way either side of the paper looks fabulous after embossing.
Lastly,some leaves cut with Flower Fair Framelits, which might have been nice to stamp with the matching stamp in Flower Patch to give some more definition. With all these ifs and maybes, I can almost feel another card coming on!!!!

There are two great blogs for you to look at more inspiration, Freshly Made Sketches and Colour Me! Click on the link and check them out.

I must get a wriggle on because I am taking hubby to 'test-drive' a lunch at the restaurant where we are celebrating my Big O birthday in two months. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Rachel

Regarding Dahlias Wood Stamp Set

$34.95

Regarding Dahlias Clear Stamp Set

$27.95

Mosaic Madness Wood Stamp Set

$46.95

Mosaic Madness Clear Stamp Set

$36.95

Banner Banter Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$30.95

Banner Banter Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$23.95

Tea For Two Designer Series Paper

$16.95

Mosaic Punch

$27.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$49.95

Paper Snips Scissors

$16.95

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

$14.95

Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$13.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Last-minute Post-it Note Gift

It was my last day at work today (for the five week summer break) and I had planned to make small gifts for the teachers I work with but I have been flat out with family commitments and work and it hadn't happened! Last night my husband and I were out until midnight and then I whipped up these post-it note holders.
My friend Alison has a tutorial on YouTube at this link stampwithali, and once you've made a couple, they're a piece of cake. The pens are available at Officeworks (Australia) for a reasonable price, the post-it notes are a bit more expensive at Officeworks, but what gorgeous colours!!!


I used Stampin' Up! card colors Pool Party, Pacific Point, Wisteria, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo and Strawberry Slush.I can't even pick my favourite colour, they all look lovely.

A variety of stamp sets including Oh Hello, Happy Day, Regarding Dahlias,Simply Stars were used to decorate the covers, stamped straight on as I was so short of time, but Ali did a much nicer job of the finishing off. Mine were well-received, even by the male teacher, so I was happy with that.

With Christmas looming, I hope you have all your preparations under control!
Cheers
Rachel

Challenges Entered:
Sunny Challenges & Creations
SUO Challenge - Almost Last Minute

Regarding Dahlias FMS 115

Regarding Dahlias stamp set has been around since June, but I had put off buying it until last week, after seeing all the amazing cards others have been making. I've struggled a little tonight to bring this together, but I'm happy with the final result. Excuse the poor light though, taking a photo at night with artificial light is not a recipe for success!!!!



I've based my card on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, used my favourite colours -Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana with a touch of So Saffron on the Papillon Potpourri (132058) butterflies, and a greeting from Itty Bitty Banners(132022). The Bitty Butterfly punch (129406) came in handy, along with the Elegant Butterfly Punch.(127526). Just a few rhinestones to finish off because my friends all love a little bling! I'm preparing for the January birthdays.......

Cheers
Rachel