Retiring Stamp Sets Flashback

With just a couple of days left in my holidays, I wanted to bring you some posts with some of my favourite stamp sets that are going to be retired at the beginning of June, ones that I will really miss!

First up is one of my go-to stamp sets that I've loved and used since I became a demonstrator over a year ago - Elements of Style!  I love everything about it, the flowers, the flourishes, the sentiment and, of course, the hummingbird!   It makes you look like a pro!  Here are a couple of favourite cards from the archives:

Elements of Style (w118611; c120045)

Another favourite is Nature Walk!  Such gorgeous natural images.  All three of these stamp sets work well with the vintage style as well!

Nature Walk (w121925; c121997)

And speaking of vintage, I am really going to miss the flourishes and antique images from Established Elegance!

Established Elegance (w122530; c122532)

If you are dying to have any of these stamp sets or any of the other beautiful sets being retired, be sure to get them before June 3!  After that they will be gone for good!  Email me or call after Friday and I can order them for you, or go to my online store and order them for yourself.

Elements of Style

Established Elegance

Nature Walk

A Little More Black and Blue

No, I didn't slip in the snow and bump my head, or walk into the door frame ( though I have done that many times - I'm the original klutz, remember?)  I just really, really liked the Dynamic Duo's Colour challenge this week and wanted to do more. My first post was on Monday, but it was just a little appetizer.  Now comes the main course.

The colours for the challenge again are Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black.  I used the beautiful stamp set Elements of Style for this card and a sentiment from Bring On the Cake.  This card is very simple to make because you stamp twice, adhere all the layers and you're good to go, after adding some ribbon and pearls.  I wanted a simple, but striking card for my Birthday Stampers' Dozen this week.  The background panel is from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack. 

And now for dessert!  The Dessert Option for the challenge this week was to add clouds, and finally, here they are in this fun little birthday card:

The clouds in the background here are made with the Cloudy Day embossing folder from the Spring Catalogue.  And my penguins are created with the help of the Owl Builder Punch (with the ears trimmed off the owl).  Some torn Whisper White card stock sponged with Tempting Turquoise forms the ice and snow of Antarctica, while the birthday cake with ALL the candles and the sentiment are from Bring On the Cake.  See that little penguin on the right is afraid that all those candles are going to melt the ice on which he is standing.  But really, he has nothing to worry about because underneath all the ice and snow, Antarctica is a continent, not an ocean like the Arctic, so there is solid ground!

Did you enjoy your meal?  If so, why not leave a comment?  I love getting to know my readers better!

Hummingbird Card:
Stamps:  Elements of Style (w118611; c120045); Bring On the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock; Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack (117157
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Accessories:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247); 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Marina Mist (122986), 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black (119261)

Penguin Card:
Stamps:  Bring on the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Tools:  Stampin' Sponge (101610); Cloudy Day TIEF(textured impressions embossing folder) (127022)
Owl Builder Punch (118074)

Bring on the Cake Stamp set

Owl Builder Punch

Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack

Elements of Style

Citrus Celebration

I love citrus!  Flavours, colours, everything about citrus!  My house is painted in citrus colours (not as wild as it sounds)!

My favourite lifesaver flavours are all the citrus ones.

 So I was excited to see that The Paper Players had chosen a citrus palette for their 103rd challenge.

  Here's what I came up with:

I used a technique that I've heard called "Faux Mosaic".  I described how it's done in this earlier post.

I was debating whether to use this card, or the one in the previous post as a card swap for Convention.    I think it's going to be the other card, because masculine design is always something people want samples of.



I just need to find some different paper for the bottom panel, as that DSP is now retired.  Any suggestions? 

If you want to know how to make the delicious little double bow on the first card, follow this link to a video tutorial by Ann Schach.  It makes it SO easy.  Love it!

Okay, must get back to my prep for Convention, Class and Workshop this week!  Phew!

Stamps:  Elements of Style (c 120045; set of 5; $24.95)

Paper: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Paper (122959; 5  6x9 sheets; $5.95)

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Calypso Coral (126983), Lucky Limeade (126984) and Daffodil Delight (126944), all $7.25; VersaMark Pad (102283; $9.95)

Accessories:  Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon (122976; 10 yds.); Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (109130; $5.95); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246; 150 jewels; $6.50)

Tools:  Large Oval punch (119855; $21.95); Scalloped Oval punch (119856; $22.95); Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (116824; $9.95);  Heat Tool (129053; $36.95)

Elements of Style

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Heat Tool