Retiring MOJO and Perfectly Preserved

As I read this title over I thought, "Yes, it would be nice to retire and remain Perfectly Preserved!"  Instead, I keep noticing little hints of deterioration here and there!  But I guess getting old is better than the alternative!

I had two goals today.  One was to make a MOJO Monday Challenge #295 entry and one was to create a card highlighting some of the retiring products.  I believe I managed to do both here:

I created a round card using the Scallop Circle Bigz die and the Big Shot.  

• I cut out one complete circle from Crumb Cake card stock.
• Then I took more Crumb Cake and folded it in half and cut out another circle except I had the top of the die lined up above the fold so it wouldn't be cut through and it becomes the hinge.  
• I stamped the complete scallop circle with the Distressed Dots background stamp (which is retiring) in VersaMark ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  

I used a partial scallop circle in Lucky Limeade (retiring) for the bottom panel with a partial 3 1/2" Circle Originals die cut with some DSP from another retiring set: Sunshine and Sprinkles.  You can see the layout for the challenge from the diagrams below:

  

For the main panel, I got out my Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set from last fall's Holiday Mini.  It is also a retiring stamp set, but it was one I got a lot of use out of in the fall.  Sad to see it go because the mason jar is SO versatile.  I've seen it used in dozens of applications.  

• I stamped mine on a Window Sheet and used the coordinating framelits to cut it out.  
• I stamped a pear on the Very Vanilla square in the middle and adhered the window sheet jar right over top of it.  
• I stamped the lid cover in More Mustard (a retiring colour) and die cut it with the framelits and added it to the top.  
• The sentiment and the naturals button finished off the look.

What is your favourite retiring product?  Leave me a comment and tell me how you're going to cope without it!

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved (w126690; c126692)*; Distressed Dots (w122815)*

Paper: Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP (126922)*; Window Sheets (114323); Crumb Cake (120953), Lucky Limeade(122926)*, More Mustard (100946)** and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock

Ink:  VersaMark (102283); StazOn Jet Black (101406); Classic Stampin' Pads in Early Espresso (126974), Lucky Limeade (126984) and More Mustard (126964)

Accessories:  Stampin' Emboss Powder Clear (109130); Naturals Designer Buttons (127554); Linen Thread (104199)

Tools:  Cannery Set Framelits (127822); Scallop Circle Bigz Die (113468); 3 1/2" Circle Originals Die (121811); Bitty Banners Framelits (129267); Heat Tool (129053)

*Retiring Item

**Retiring and sold out

Cannery Set Framelits

Linen Thread

Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set

Distressed Dots Background Stamp

Naturals Designer Buttons

Scallop Circle Bigz Die

I Must Remember Everything!

I'm excited to be offering a monthly stamping class in a small town about an hour and a half south of me!  It's the first out-of-town class I've done so I will need to be super diligent about remembering to take everything with me!  Does anyone else have that problem?  No matter how hard I try to remember every tool or accessory I need for a class, I always seem to have to run down to my craft room about 3 times to get something!  I think I'm slowly improving though.  Tonight I only had to get 1 thing and I was running one class plus helping another customer catch up on a big class she missed, so 1 missing item was pretty good, considering!

I'm hoping my out-of-town customers will enjoy this card that I designed while on my retreat at Gardom Lake:

I really love the colour scheme and the playful design.  Of course, the Feel Goods Stamp Set has some awesome sentiments.  To get the two colours on the one stamp, I used Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight. The background stamp is called Distressed Dots and it is inked up in Daffodil Delight ink, the same colour as the card stock.  And I'm sure you've seen enough of the Honeycomb Embossing folder to recognize it anywhere and here it is in Basic Gray.  I love the look of the Naturals 7/16" Trim Ribbon with this design!

The little flower embellishing the sentiment was created using the Boho Blossoms punch twice, once on Basic Gray card stock and once on Daffodil Delight, then mixing the colours and adding a Rhinestone Basic Jewel and a little bow of linen thread.  

On another note, I wanted to let you know that Stampin' Up is offering a basic On-Line Stamping class that you can access here.

It is $17.95 and you can download it to your own computer and go through it at your leisure.  Here is the product description:

Learn innovative ways to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. 
Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, this class includes videos, step outs, and supply lists for 30+ projects. Join the fun!

Doesn't that sound perfect?  And it is just right for beginners or seasoned stampers.  I have just downloaded it myself and I will show you a peek or two at some of the projects you can do in the days to come!

Happy Stampin'!

Stamps:  Feel Goods (w129681;c129684); Distressed Dots (w122815)
Paper:  Basic Gray (121044), Daffodil Delight (119683) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Daffodil Delight (126944); Stampin' Write Marker in Daffodil Delight (119677) and Basic Gray (119703) in a set of 8 Neutrals
Accessories:  Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246); Linen Thread (104199)
Tools:  Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (129378); Big Shot (113439); Window Frames Collection Framelits (129021); Boho Blossoms punch (119858)