Dasher - dashing out of the catalog

Welcome back.  Today we're saying a fond farewell to Dasher.  This is one of our A la Carte stamps - it's not part of a set, but is sold singly.  Again - it's such a versatile stamp.  I know I say that a lot, but I guess that's because Stampin' Up! designs a lot of versatile stamps! :)  My Dasher stamp has seen an abundance of ink over the years, so he's probably happy to be retiring so he can get some rest. :-D

Here are some samples to drool over:

Dasher really lends himself to be inked up with Stampin' Write markers.

Here the artist inked up the antlers with Real Red and the body in Chocolate Chip.

One of my favorite color combinations is red with a light/medium blue, like we see here.

Here Dasher is stamped on some retired Designer Series Paper that has the look of

the Emboss Resist technique.  Notice the little bird that the artist has perched on Dasher's antlers.

Speaking of Emboss Resist, Dasher is a great stamp for that, since it's a silhouette stamp.

Dash also works great with our heat embossing powders - here the artist used silver.

The silver/navy/white color combo is a holiday classic.

And Dasher also looks great just stamped straight in one color.

He can hold his own as a focal point.

This was one of the cards we made at my Christmas Card Camps last year.

Dasher is embossed in white on Night of Navy card stock.

If you look closely, you can see the paper piercing in the lower right corner of the white.

Again, here Dasher is inked in one color as a focal point.

I offset the focal layer and added texture to the background.

As always, you can see all the retiring items through my online store here (click on Retiring Products on the left).  You can also purchase items from the Clearance Rack or any other products with your retiring items.  Remember, stamps are available until May 31st, but all other Retiring Products are available only while supplies last.  So get your favorites now!

See you soon, 

StamperNan

Tree Trimmings

And the parade of retiring stamp sets continues!  How about a little Christmas?  The Tree Trimmings stamp set has been one of my most used holiday sets.  Here are a few examples:

One of my favorite cards, and it's so easy with this set.  The string for the ornaments

is a separate stamp.  So you can easily stamp the ornament and string different colors.

The Big Shot and Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder add oomph to the background.

These ornaments are embossed, then I added a little color with a Stampin' Write marker.

Here's a twist...cut the ornaments out to make a fun topiary!

This is a striking card, but it's so simple.

Stamp the ornaments, wrap a little ribbon, add a torn card stock layer,

and voila!

Another easy option...helped along with the Scallop Square punch

and the Big Shot and Top Note die.

And finally, more embossed ornaments with color added with our Stampin' Write markers.

So fun to use non-traditional colors on Christmas cards.

You can see all the retiring stamp sets and other products through my online store here (click Retiring Products on the left).  You can place your order right on the store and have it shipped right to your door.

See you soon,

StamperNan

Awash with Flowers Samples

I'm back with samples from another retiring stamp set - Awash with Flowers.  This is a great two-step stampin' set.  That means it includes solid and outline images, so you can stamp the outline in a dark color then stamp the "fill in" solid image in a lighter color.  It's a very easy way to get the multi-color look.

Once again, these are not my creations.  They may be Make & Takes from events I attended or displays from the events.  If you see your work here, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

I love this card.  We made it at a group meeting last year.

The outline for the flower was stamped in Basic Gray (I believe) and

the solid was stamped in More Mustard on Whisper White card stock.  

Then we sponged over the flower with So Saffron, giving the flower a two-tone look.

Another card from a group meeting.  Here you can see that the solid images

aren't meant to perfectly line up with the outline.  This actually makes

this set very easy to work with, since you don't have to worry about getting it lined up just so.

And here's a great sample of the other main flower image from this set.

If you like flowers, this is really one of the best flower sets I've worked with.

A little housekeeping - there were two items listed on the Retiring Accessories list in error.  The Craft Scissors (#108360) and the Paper Snips (#103579) are not retiring.  Whew!  Here are links to all the retiring lists again:

Retiring Stamp Sets

Retiring Accessories (while supplies last)

Retiring Definitely Decorative (while supplies last)

As always, you can view images of all the retiring items on my website here (click Retiring Products on the left).

Remember that the stamps are available until May 31st, but the accessories and decorative items are only available while supplies last (up until May 31st).  When you place an order through my website, you'll be able to tell if the items you want are still available.  Plus it's quick, easy, & delivered right to your door!

See you soon,

StamperNan

Retiring Accessories List - While Supplies Last!

Hi everyone - just a quick post this morning before I head to my day job.  The Retiring Accessories List and Retiring Definitely Decorative List have been posted.  Here are the links to each list:

Retiring Accessories

Retiring Definitely Decorative

Or you can view all the retiring products in my online store here (just click Retiring Products on the left)

A few notes - many of these products run out of stock quickly.  Please use my online store to place your order.  That's the quickest way to know if the item you want is still in stock.  You can shop with a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) - quick & easy & delivered right to your door.

Also, you may notice that all of the stamp pads are listed as retiring.  Don't panic!  Stampin' Up! is not getting rid of these colors.  They are switching to a new firm foam pad in the new catalog on June 1st.  The only colors that are retiring are the 2010-2012 In Colors.

Craft Stampin' Pads will only be available in Black and White in the new catalog.  So if you've been wanting to get some Craft Pads in other colors, get them now.

Starting with the new catalog in June, only select Stampin' Write Markers and 12 x 12 Smooth Card Stock will be available individually.  They will still be sold in the color family assortments.  The 12 x 12 Textured Card Stock will no longer be available.

I think that's it.  Sorry no picture today.  Check back soon for more retiring stamp set samples.

See you soon,

StamperNan

Fifth Avenue Floral - Get It While You Can!

Today I have lots of samples from the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  So versatile.  I will admit that I never bought this set...not because I didn't want it.  I wanted it from the moment I saw it in the catalog, but it just never made it to the top of the list when I was placing an order.  Ugh!  Don't make the same mistake I did - get it while you can - until May 31st.

(Again, these samples are not my creations.  If you see your work, please let me know & I will update the post to give you credit.)

How gorgeous is this flower?

It's only made better by the great combo of blue and brown.

The flowers make great background stamps also.

So subtle, and so beautiful.

This is a great technique that is just made for these stamps.

Emboss the flower, wet the paper a bit, then drop/touch ink drops into each section.

The ink will spread within the embossed area.

These stamps even make washers beautiful!

This little paper piecing sure make the flower "pop"

The Fifth Avenue Floral set coordinates with our 

Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder for the Big Shot.

Again, beautiful background flower really sets the stage for the greeting.

Hope you've enjoyed these samples.  Remember, these stamps are only available until May 31.  You can view the complete list of Retiring Stamp Sets here (organized by page number in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog).

Or view the images in my online store here (click on Retiring Products on the left).

See you soon,

StamperNan

Crazy for Cupcakes

On today's menu...cupcakes!  I've gotten so much use out of the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set - retiring May 31st.  It really does lend itself to many occasions and easily covers female and male themes.  The large cupcake is great for young kids; the cupcake tower is perfect for birthdays, weddings, showers; and the balloons work for any age or celebration.  Here are some samples to get the ideas flowing:

This card also uses some already-retired Designer Series Paper,

but Stampin' Up! always has some with polka dots that you can easily substitute.

The large cupcake is wonderfully showcased in front of the Top Note die cut

made with our Big Shot.

Here, the balloon colors are pulled from the Designer Series Paper.

I love that about Stampin' Up! - everything coordinates!

It makes designing projects so much easier.

Here's one I put together for a co-worker's birthday.

The Rich Razzleberry layer behind the cupcake tower is made by

modifying the Top Note die a bit.

This was an idea I used over & over with this set...

using a striped "awning" to simulate a bake shop window.

I hope you're enjoying the tour of some of my favorite retiring stamp sets.  Remember you can view the retiring stamp set list here, or you can view the images in my online store here (click Retiring Products on the left).

Wednesday, April 25, the Retiring Accessories List will be published, and I'll be sure to post it on this blog as well as my facebook page (just search for StamperNan).

See you soon,

StamperNan

Inspired by Nature

Today's featured retiring stamp set is one of those that I'm sad to see leave.  Inspired by Nature is a great set on its own, but it's also one of those sets that I've reached for to work with other stamp sets.  You know the saying..."You don't know what you've got until it's gone"...it really applies to this set.  Now I realize I should've gotten a lot more use out of these beautiful stamps!

I've gotten the most use out of the grass image in this set.

Here it's combined with our Beautiful Butterflies die for the Big Shot.

Love the oval frame on this card.

Very different use of the stamps here.

A tone-on-tone image of grass in the background with a beautiful

embossed silhouette of flowers on the vellum overlay.

This set works for so many occasions...

and it's quick and easy to put together a fabulous card like this.

Here I used our Scallop Circle punch to make a template for sponging clouds,

then I used sponge daubers to ink up the flower stamp.

Easy to do, and it makes for a bold image.

I CASEd this card from a display I saw at convention.

I loved this version of the spotlighting technique, with the flower peeking through the vellum.

(CASE = Copy And Share Everything)

This stamp set also lends itself to alternate card shapes - like this tall card.

I love the border punch detail along the top.

Remember, Inspired by Nature is another stamp set that will retire on May 31.  Visit my online store here to order yours before it's too late!

View the retiring list here - listed by page number of the catalog, or

view the images in my online store here - just click on Retiring Products on the left.

Thanks for stopping in today.

StamperNan

Going, going, gone!

This is one of my favorite times of year.  School is almost out, the weather's getting warmer, and the Stampin' Up! retiring lists are appearing!  I know some of you are thinking that the last one is a little sad - and sometimes it is - but I focus more on the excitement of new products just around the bend.  This year Stampin' Up! announced a new catalog strategy which includes our current 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog expiring on May 31 and the new 2012-2013 Annual Catalog going "live" on June 1.  That means that some of those stamp sets you've been drooling over all year will be going away a month earlier!

You can view the list in a PDF file here - listed by page number in the current catalog...
or you can view the pictures in my online store here...just click on Retiring Products on the left.

Starting today, I'll be featuring samples from some of those retiring stamp sets.  Starting with Flight of the Butterfly.  This set has been one of my customers' favorites since it first appeared.  With the coordinating butterfly punch, it's a real winner.  Some of these samples were made by me, others were on display at events, and others were saved from websites as inspiration.  I've been collecting these images for years - long before I had a blog -so I'm not sure where they came from.  If you see one of your creations, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

This gorgeous creation also features Baroque Motifs, which is retiring as well.

A very crisp, clean sample using colors from our Brights collection, along with some square punches.

This card uses some already retired Designer Series Paper also, 

but you could easily pick a current paper to recreate it.

A sweet card with some great texture added with the Big Shot and some Basic Pearls.

This one uses only a phrase stamp from the stamp set 

and uses the Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot die to set it off.

A great idea for this set!  Bookmarks are always a great gift for teachers, moms, and kids alike.

Love the dimension on this card created with the tone-on-tone circles and one punched butterfly.

Another of my favorites.  This stamp set features a solid butterfly stamp and detail accent stamps (like the dots, flowers, and outline).  Very fun & very easy.

A soft version using the stamps to create a tone-on-tone "background" paper along the bottom.

This card combines Flight of the Butterfly with Inspired by Nature (sadly also on the retiring list) 

and a die cut butterfly made with our Big Shot.

That's it for today.  Visit again tomorrow when I will feature another retiring favorite.  Visit my online store here to get yours before it's too late!

See you soon,

StamperNan