No Matter the Weather .... We're in This Together!

Can you believe it's time to say good-bye to some of our stamps, DSP, dies, embossing folders, ribbon ......!!  On April 22 at 1:00 pm (MT), Stampin' Up will post retiring product lists for the January–June 2020 Mini Catalog and 2019–2020 Annual Catalog. These last-chance products will be available until June 2 or while supplies last only.  And remember—retiring items sell fast. Get your favorites before they’re gone!  This is a great time to get re-inkers for the retiring In Colors.  They sell out fast.

As promised yesterday, here are the remainder of the March Paper Pumpkin cards.

I stamped the boots onto the gingham check paper and adhered them to the Stitched Label.  The lemon lime is retired but I hope it makes a come-back sometime.  I really like it.

Can you see the shine on the boots?  I used Shimmery Crystal Effects on the boots and on the portion of the umbrella above.  Also if you look close, you can see the little rain drops among the hearts.  Do you ever cut your sentiments apart?  It's a good way to use them when they won't fit on the card.  I sponged So Saffron onto the cardstock with the hearts and layered it onto one of the envelope lining.   I wrapped Bakers Twine that came with the Paper Pumpkin kit around adhering it on the back with tape.

Again I used a piece of the envelope for the pink stripes.  

This background uses the rain stamp from the Paper Pumpkin kit.  I stamped off in Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, and Petal Pink and used the stamp horizontally to make the background.  At the time I made this card, I didn't know what this stamp was supposed to be.  I finally figured it out with a little help from someone's card on Pinterest!  

More sponging - the top I sponged with Balmy Blue and the bottom with Shaded Spruce.  I stamped the raindrops with Balmy Blue.  The green striped paper is from an envelope that I cut apart.  The card base is Shaded Spruce.

I guess I could have used this card for Easter!  I dug out my Scallop Punch that has been retired for years to do the bottom of the Petal Pink cardstock.  I ran it through the hearts embossing folder.  It was a great way to use up all the little hearts that came with the kit - I had just enough!

End of Sale-a-Bration and In Colors Retiring

It's almost that time again! Retirement for the In Colors.

If you are familiar with the Stampin' Up! In Colors, you know that we have a set of 5 colors that only last for two years.  Then they retire and are replaced with 5 new colors.  So, you may be wondering about the 5 retiring colors.  You can see them above.

NOW is the time to stock up on reinkers for your ink pads, on cardstock, designer paper and on the ribbon or embellishments you enjoy in these colors BEFORE they are sold out.  (They tend to sell out pretty quickly.)  AND if you order this month, you can enjoy FREE Sale-a-Bration gifts on your purchases.  A win-win for you!!

This is the final month for Sale-a-Bration.  You won't be able to order the Sale-a-Bration items after March.  Here are a couple of cards I have made using stamp sets from Sale-a-Bration.

I just love this chick!  I used my Watercolor Pencils to color them.  The DSP is some retired paper I have in my stash that I thought went well with the chicks.

This card uses the elegant Delicate Details.  It makes great backgrounds.  For this card, I embossed the images using white craft ink and white embossing powder.  I adhered a strip of glimmer paper between two of the borders.  (Sorry for the fuzzy picture.)

Raining Flowers - going, going .....

Only a few more days to show off these stamp sets that are retiring.  This one is Raining Flowers, a two step set that I got at convention a couple of years ago.  I really haven't used it much but I really like this card!  Don't you love these colors?  Think they are my favorite!  I used Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery and Daffodil Delight.  I popped up the two flowers and used a piece of retired (a long time ago!) grosgrain ribbon about the card with pearls in the centers.  I also used the Framed Tulips embossing folder on the white card stock.

Season of Friendship final hoorah

How do you like my new blog banner and background paper?  This is the Summer Smooch collection that will be in the new catalog.  I love the bright colors ...  I am a Brights kind of gal!

Things have been kind of crazy here. Yesterday I left the house at 9 a.m. and returned home at 7:30 pm!  I went to the "Y" and then out to lunch with Newcomers Out to Lunch Bunch at Firebirds at the mall.  So, of course I had to do some shopping while at the mall!  Plus, I had a $25 coupon for Coldwater Creek that I couldn't let expire.  But, I also went to Belk's and bought my mom's Mothers Day present.  After shopping, I met Marianne back in Mooresville and we went to the movies.  We saw "The Lucky One."  Zac Efron is sure dreamy!  We both enjoyed the movie.  My only complaint is that I thought he seemed a lot younger than Taylor Shilling (his love interest in the movie).  He is 24 and she is 27 but he seemed a lot younger than that.  But it was a great chick flick and I would recommend it. 

Sonny and I are on a new Red Cross National Disaster Team.  This is a pilot program for Lake Norman Red Cross.  There are about 18-20 people on the team from all over the Piedmont.  Sonny and I and the Team Leader are the only ones from the Mooresville office - the others are from Charlotte, Kings Mountain, Morganton, Gastonia, Salisbury, etc.  We will be doing all our training as a team and will be traveling to the various cities for our training.  Saturday we were in Charlotte for our first meeting; Monday night we had a Forms Class in Morganton and today we took an on-line (3 hours!) course on setting on and closing a shelter.  We have a class scheduled Saturday in Charlotte and over the next few weeks, we have 1-2 training classes a week.  The plan is when a disaster hits, we would be ready to deploy as a team of about 4-5 people within 24 hours. 

I have another card to share using a retiring stamp set, Season of Friendship.  I had to use it one last time before sending the stamp to a friend in Georgia who is buying it from me. (Cathy - it will be in the mail tomorrow!)  I actually saw a card similar to this one on Pinterest in pinks.  But I wanted to use Poppy Parade since it is retiring.

I stamped the tree in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla card stock and the leaves in Pear Pizazz.  Some of the leaves I stamped and cut out and mounted them to the tree with dimensionals.  The flowers are punched with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch with a Pearl in the center of each one.  I stamped the sentiment on the side.  I really like this card!

Monday Mailers for June

 I have been so busy with the retiring stamps that I haven't taken the time to share my Monday Mailers this month.  We also used the theme of retiring stamp sets so some of the cards I shared with you, I used for my Monday Mailers also.  But I received some great Monday Mailers from Laurie, a new member of our NC Demos group.

This last one I received today and it is by far my favorite!  I will be CASE-ing this one for sure.  The Brilliant Blue card stock is retired but I think the new in-color, Island Indigo will work well.  She used the Scallop Hearts Border Punch along the side and ran the vellum through the Big Shot with the Dotted embossing folder.  Thinking of You is stamped on the vellum.  The flowers are from Fresh Cuts which is retiring.

Tomorrow I will be posting the final Retirement set.  If you want to win, leave a comment!!

June Birthdays = Retiring Colors!

I have been making birthday cards for a couple of days.  I have a bunch of friends having birthdays in June.  Since I will be out of town for a couple of weeks, I wanted to make them now and have them ready to pop in the mail.

This one uses the stamp set, Flight of the Butterfly and the Butterfly Punch.  I stamped them in white and used Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  I drew the antenna onto the cardstock.  The background is a retired butterfly wheel.  I used retiring Gable Green cardstock.

This card uses Party Hearty stamp set and a Cuttlebug Birthday Embossing Folder.  I used another retiring cardstock, Glorious Green.  I have a bunch of this color left - it's probably one of my least favorite colors.

This card uses Fifth Avenue Floral.  I stamped the flower in Versamark and embossed it clear.  Then I sponged Pink Pirouette ink over the flower.  The DSP is one I just got.  Don't know why I waited so long!  I love it.  It is the Bride carstock (pg 158).  The paper is white embossed on white.  When you brayer or sponge a color on it, it changes the paper.  This one I brayered in Pink Piroutte.. 

This card uses Inspired by Nature.  The grass and the flower are stamped in black and embossed clear.

This card uses some of the retiring purples - Orchid Opulence, Perfect Plum and Almost Amethyst.  The stamps are retired.

This card uses a stampset from the Summer Mini - Watercolor Trio.  I love, love, love this stamp!!  Again, I used retiring colors - Summer Sun and Only Orange.

If you are interested in ordering any of the Retiring Colors, you should do so ASAP!  Here is some of the info I have received from Stampin'  Up about these orders:

• 
  
  For re-inkers in retiring colors, as we run out, they will be placed on backorder status and those orders will be filled as quickly as we receive the product. We will continue to do this to the best of our ability through May, and then the re-inkers will be available while supplies last in June.
• 
  
  As for cardstock, we can't order significant quantities at this point in time without putting the production of the new colors in jeopardy.  We will be substituting textured paper for some of the smooth colors--including card stock in 8-1/2" x 11" as well as 12" x 12"--where the smooth is no longer available. These colors will go on backorder, and we will be filling as many of those as possible with textured card stock. Because the demand for each color varies, we are unable to provide a list of what colors of card stock will be substituted with textured, or at what point that will happen. However, if you receive a package of card stock that is textured instead of smooth, there will be a sticker on the package indicating that change.

I am anxious to watch Americal Idol tonight!  Who will the final two be???  My bet is Crystal and Lee.  I just heard that Chris Daughtery, a former idol star, and his wife are expecting twins!!

SU Retiring Colors and a treat for you!

With the retiring colors going out, there has been a rush on ordering them. SU! is going to do their best to keep backorders down, but they also are running out of certain colors. They will be replacing (as needed) textured cardstock with the smooth paper. There will be no increase in price. As for the re-inkers, they will allow you to order replacements the month of May, but once June arrives they will only be available while supplies last!! Don't wait to place your order!! Contact me or go to my SU! website to place your order!!

I got to hear my grandson's little voice today.  My mom shared a book (think it came from Hallmark) that my son had sent her called "I Love You Grandma" for Mother's Day.  It is a recordable book.  They recorded Jayce reading the book to my mom.  It was so sweet - he sounded so grown up.  I haven't seen him in 2 years.  He is 3 1/2 now.  Just a long sad story but I have hope that one day things will change.

A friend sent me this and it struck a chord with me.  Hope you enjoy it.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.  
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says~~
"Oh Crap, She's up!" He just promised it would be worth it.
 
And a little chocolate for the tummy ... Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans - Small bites packed with flavor, these sophisticated sweets are perfect on their own as a snack or dropped into a cup of coffee.

INGREDIENTS
Espresso beans
8 oz. chocolate of your choice

INSTRUCTIONS

• Lay espresso beans (available at your grocery store) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Create a double boiler by boiling a pot of hot water and placing a heat-safe bowl on top. Or, use your microwave to melt chocolate of your choice— recommend dark for this treat.
• Using a large spoon with straining holes, dip beans into melted chocolate, letting excess drip back into the bowl before setting beans on baking sheet.
• Once all are fully coated, place sheet in refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.