Victorian Retirement Etchings

I think that the late 1800's and early 1900's must have been an incredible and fascinating time to live.  Well, especially if you were a man. (If you were a woman, not so much!)  So many changes took place in that era. Authors had great imaginations and modern technology was in it's infancy.  The combustion engine, the camera, the telephone and telegraph, the airplane.  Modern medicine as well.  I realize that my mother, had she lived, would have been 97 years old this year and so would have seen many of these changes as they happened.

What would it have been like to go from the horse and buggy to airplanes and automobiles within a few short years?  I can't imagine.



My last nostalgic card celebrating the retiring Stampin' Up stamp sets this year reminds me of the photograph above and that time in history.

I love all the images in the stamp set Artistic Etchings and this is one set that I'm going to have a hard time retiring.  They are just so.....VINTAGE!  I wanted to celebrate some of this past catalogue's Designer Series Papers as well, particularly Fan Fair, First Edition and World Spectacular shown here.

I was also intrigued with the sketch LeAnne provided for The Paper Players Challenge #147 this week.

Great for using up scraps of DSP or for showcasing it and I loved the cards the Design Team came up with. I just didn't want to miss this opportunity!

• The upper right panel is actually an image cut right out of the Fan Fair DSP and it perfectly fits my theme, don't you think?
• I love the rich colours in the balloons from the World Spectacular Design Series Paper.
• First Edition Specialty paper is retiring, but I notice in the new catalogue that many of the new series have newprint in them, so I was comforted by that thought.
• Sponging the edges in Soft Suede added to the vintage look of the card.
• I love the little touch of the Victoria Crochet Trim and the Antique Brad, as well as the trio of Vintage Trinket brads on the bottom right.

Tomorrow, I plan on showing you a card using new products from the 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue.  If you haven't received yours yet, please let me know and I will be happy to send one to you.  

REMEMBER..... Today is the last day to give me your orders for retiring products to take advantage of my Last Chance Mystery Hostess On-Line Party.  Email or call (250-768-7379) me with your orders by 9:00 pm, Thursday, May 30 to be eligible to be entered in a draw to win the free Hostess benefits from Stampin' Up.  All orders receive one entry and every $40 you spend will get you an extra chance.  The orders are really coming in, so it will be worth your while!

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings (w118517; c120573)*

Paper:  First Edition Specialty paper (121878)**; Fan Fair Designer Series Paper (126918)*; World Spectacular Designer Series Paper (126897)*; Soft Suede (115318) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Soft Suede (126978); StazOn Jet Black (101406)

Accessories: Victorian Crochet Trim (118481); Antique Brads (117273); Vintage Trinkets (118764)

Tools:  Paper Piercing Tool (126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199); Stamping Sponges (101610);

Tabletop Paper Cutter (106959)*

*Retiring Product available until June 3

**Retiring Product available until June 3 while supplies last

***Retiring Product now sold out

Artistic Etchings*

Fan Fair DSP

Paper Piercing Tool

Stampin' Pierce Mat

Tabletop Cutter*