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*

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

You Had a Bad Day!

I did not have a good day yesterday!  I wanted to get so much done, getting ready to go away on holidays, but nothing cooperated!  The phone rang, and rang, and the computer would not do what I wanted it to.  To top it all off, as I was feverishly working in my "Computer Cave", the doorbell rang and it was a new customer I met through my Stampin' Up webpage!  I was a bit baffled at first until I realized I had totally forgotten that she was coming to have her first beginner's class tonight.  Can you say "RED-FACED"?  I was in my working grubbies, with nothing prepared!  I apologized profusely, but felt so idiotic! She was very gracious and we talked a little about Stampin' Up, I showed her my samples and she left, having thankfully confirmed our next date for a beginner's class.  Thank you, Tami, for being so understanding!  

                                                                                                  This was me!

I bet you can't top that one! I guess I just have too much going on right now!  Anyway, I wanted to share another Sympathy card I made this week, again for the friend who lost her father, but this one was from my husband and I personally.  Sympathy cards are always difficult to make, but Stampin' Up has some lovely images and sentiments to make it easier.  Here is my card:

I love the soft, comforting Wisteria Wonder for a card like this.  Paired with Elegant Eggplant for emphasis, you get a very classy look.  And I LOVE the Epic Day DSP that comes in the This and That Bundle!  Isn't it gorgeous?  My new favourite!  But if you want it, you'd better order it soon, because it will no longer be available after April 30!  The image is from the Best of Flowers, the 25th Anniversary set for March. I inked up the hydrangea with Stampin' Write Markers in Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade and stamped it on Whisper White card stock.  Loving Thoughts makes a beautifully elegant sentiment!  I think it's interesting that the Scallop Dot Ribbon in Elegant Eggplant doesn't look too flippant here!  It suits the subdued look of the card as a whole.

And on the subject of ribbon and other accessories, have you checked the Retiring Product lists posted yesterday?  Are your wish list favourites among them?  Better make plans to put in an order!  Use the Hostess Code QKSCZFZK  when submitting it and you could be the Mystery Hostess who gets all the hostess rewards from any orders submitted between April 24 and April 30th!

Here are the Retired Products Lists again:

Retiring Stamp Sets

Retiring Accessories

Accessories already sold out are the following:  The products that have already sold out are: 8 1/2" x 11" card stock in More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze; 12 x 12 card stock in Pretty in Pink; First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper; Watercolour Wonder Crayons in Subtles and Brights;  Stampin' Ink Refills in More Mustard, Pretty in Pink, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery, River Rock and Baja Breeze; Watercolour Pencils; and the Story Time DVD Digital Content

Well I hope your Wednesday was way better than mine.  Thankfully, today is a brand new day with no mistakes in it....yet!

Stamps:  Best of Flowers (c133342); Loving Thoughts (w125843; c125845)
Paper:  Epic Day DSP (130814); Wisteria Wonder (122922), Elegant Eggplant (105126) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Elegant Eggplant (126969); Stampin' Write Markers in Wisteria Wonder and  Lucky Limeade (123002 - in In Colour bundle)
Accessories:  1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Elegant Eggplant (124143)(now 40% off until supply is gone)
Tools:  Oval Collection Framelits (129381); Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402)

Epic Day DSP

Scallop Trim Border Punch

Ovals Collection Framelits

Loving Thoughts Stamp Set

Best of Flowers Stamp Set

Retirement Isn't for Sissies!

Well, the long-dreaded/anticipated list is now out!  The Last Chance List as people often refer to it as.  These are the stamps and accessories that Stampin' Up will be retiring in order to bring you many more new and exciting products!

The good news is that you still have until June 3 to get those items you simply cannot live without!  Stamp sets will be available right up until June 3.  Accessories, however, will only be available as long as supplies last.  And you know from past experience, how quickly they can go.  Don't be disappointed!  Email or phone me with your orders, or better yet - shop for yourself online at this link!

Here are the lists so you can pour over them:

Retired Stamps Sets PDF

Retired Accessories PDF**

**When I added this link Tuesday night, it was blank.  I will check it Wednesday morning and update the link if needed.

Remember that one-layer card I made on Monday?  Well, I was never satisfied with it.  It just seems too plain to me, like not enough went into making it.  Well, I used that main image, but layered it up a bit and came up with something I like a lot better!  Here it is:

What do you think?  Did you like it better as one-layer, or now?  I used some Baja Breeze* card stock and some Twitterpated DSP* to bump it up a notch and I made a cute little fork bow from the 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Regal Rose*.

*All retiring products

Yikes!!!

I went to my demonstrator's website today and was graphically reminded that only TWO WEEKS remain for the retiring stamp sets and accessories.  If you haven't checked out what  will not be carried forward into the new 2012-2103 Idea Book and Catalogue, you'd best get on that.

 

I don't want you to be disappointed, and soo many stamp sets and accessories are being discontinued, that I wouldn't be far wrong if I said that at least one of your favourites will be gone for good after May 31st. 

The stamp sets will be available until the end of the day on May 31st, but the accessories are only available while remaining supplies last and many have sold out already.  Click on My Stampin' Up Store link to shop online any time of day or night, and have it delivered right to your door.  You can also call me with your order.

The good news is that I have seen the 2012-13 catalogue, and you're going to love all the new stamps and accessories that will be coming your way.  If you would like a copy of the new catalogue, just reply to this post or on my Facebook page,  and I will see that you get one. 

Here once again are the lists of retiring stamps and accessories, as well as the Definitely Decorative line.  Hmmm... I'd better get a couple of those decor blocks sets myself, before they're all gone!  See you!  Gotta shop!

Change is Good

Stampin' Up has just announced the list of retiring accessories from the catalogue to make way for all the new and better accessories in the 2012-13 Idea Book and Catalogue coming out June 1.  Check the list for any favourites, because not only are there some tremendous bargains (from 25% up to 70% off on some items), but they will only be available while supplies last.  You will need to act fast if there are things you want.  You can email me or phone me with your orders.   

Here is a link to the list of retiring accessories:

2012 Retiring Accessories list

You should note that the Classic Ink Pads in all colours will still be available in the new 2012-13 Idea Book and Catalogue, but they are being reconfigured in a "firm foam" format to hold ink better and give better coverage on your stamp, and hence, a better image.
Other changes include:
Stampin' Write Markers will be available in color collections, but only some Markers will be offered individually. 
12" x 12" Textured Card Stock will no longer be available.
12" x 12" Smooth Card Stock will only be offered in color collections and some individual colors.
The entire Simply Adorned line of merchandise is being phased out
Decor Elements will no longer be offered.  (There is a separate Definitely Decorative Retiring List)

For a refresher, here again is a list of retiring stamp sets, first published April 15, 2012:

2012 Retiring Stamp Sets list

(These links are both PDF files you can download.)

You can contact me at hcooper52@gmail.com, or follow the links on my blog to my On-Line Store, where you can shop 24/7, and get delivery right to your home.

Here's to change!