Well, I meant to share this card with you before the last catalog ended (along with the retired items), but alas, life got in the way. (Does that ever happen to anyone else?)

Regardless, here is a card that I made for my brother-in-law's birthday and I was so pleased with how it turned out that we made it at my January club meetings.

I chose the colors from the (now retired) Prestwick DSP – Basic Gray and Night of Navy. I cut a piece of DSP 3 ¾" x 5", then tore the paper approximately 2/3 of the way down (1/3 to 2/3 ratio). Since the paper is double-sided, I flipped over one piece and put them back together on my Night of Navy mat.

I created a monogram using Lovely Letters and Night of Navy ink and punched it out with my new wide oval punch. I used the same punch to punch a navy oval as a "shadow". I attached the white oval using dimensional to give it some depth.

You can't really see it in the picture, but I also used the Canvas background stamp (sadly also retired now) on the Basic Gray card base.

For the inside, my husband and I had fun using different stamps from Smarty Pants (not retired –woo hoo!) to create a greeting on Whisper White card stock with navy ink. My brother-in-law really enjoyed the card and said that it matched his personality perfectly!

Stamps: Lovely Letters, Canvas, Smarty Pants, It's Your Birthday

Ink: Night of Navy, Basic Gray

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Basic Gray, Prestwick DSP

Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, dimensionals, sponge

- Kari

I just updated my retired stamp set and accessories for sale.  Click here to view them.

I needed a birthday card for my niece this past weekend and for some reason my (retired) Crayon Kids Simply Scrappin' Kit was calling to me. So I answered that call and glad I did, because I forgot just how easy it is to make a card from a Simply Scrappin' kit. And this kit is a bit older (can't remember how old – but it's when the kits were still 8 ½ x 11", not 12x12" like they are today), and the die cuts weren't self-sticking like today.

Anyway, I used everything from the kit – card stock, designer paper, die-cuts – and then added my own SNAIL, stamp sets, dimensionals and ink pads. I used the dimensionals to pop up the girl and the flower to add some extra interest.  This was one fast card! And I think it turned out rather cute. My niece seemed to like it, so that's really what matters to me.

So don't forget to look at your Simply Scrappin' kits for other uses than just scrapbooking – they are an awesome value and resource!

- Kari

For those that have been asking, and for those of you who couldn't make it to my Open House and Retirement Party, I have updated my Retired Stamps & Accessories page. New items that I posted have a picture included, and definitely don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the page because I have finally listed many inks and Classy Brass Templates!

Also, I posted about my new stamp camp – The Too Cute Scrapbook Satchel – but be sure to check out my calendar because I have added lots of new classes. You can count on a stamp camp every 3^rd Saturday (and the preceding Friday), and a Stamp-a-Stack every 4^th Wednesday of the month. There will always be early bird registration specials to help with the budget and you can pay with cash, check, credit card or paypal! (How's that for accommodating?!)

Now I really need to spend some quality time with my family – so I hope you all have a wonderfully happy Sunday!

Happy Stamping!

I needed a quick card for a friend to say thank you and decided that I had to use items that were on my desk. (This was a ploy to convince myself to clean my desk, but alas, it didn't work!).

For my card stock base, I used some leftover Wild Wasabi textured card stock (4 1/4" x 11". I used our new scallop edge punch (definitely still on my desk!), to punch one short end and then folded it back. I had some retired designer series paper (DSP) hanging around, so I put that on the base of the card for my main background. Then at convention we received the new Ronald McDonald House stamp set – Say It with Scallops – so I took 30 seconds to mount this one image and stamped with with Chocolate Chip ink on Bashful Blue card stock. Unfortunately I don't have my scallop square punch yet, so I had to suffice with the 1 3/8" square punch. I then matted that with a 1 ½" square piece of Chocolate Chip card stock, and then again with a 2" square piece of Wild Wasabi that I punched the corners with the Ticket Corner punch.

Before I attached the stamped image to the card front, I used my ¼" square punch to punch a small hole in the fold of the base card stock so I could run a piece of Chocolate twill ribbon (sadly this is retired) around the front of the card. Then I used dimensionals to pop up my stamped image on the front of the card, and voila! In less than 10 minutes I had my card done and ready to mail to my friend.

Happy Stamping!

I wanted to showcase some retiring sets in my workshops this month, and one set I knew I had to play with is Greetings Galore. I love sets like this – there are 8 images that cover a multitude of different occasions. If one set could do it all… Nah! What am I thinking – only one set? Whew, that was close. But really, you can create cards/projects with all of the different themes.

So I decided to create some quick note cards (using our pre-cut, pre-scored note cards and envelopes item #107311) using this set. I also chose to use out retiring In Colors (plus a preview of our new 2008-09 In Colors!). In addition to Greetings Galore, I also used the retiring All in a Row stamp set. Each card was created with the same design layout, simply using different colors and images. I used Stampin' Pastels and the In Color ink pads to color in the images.

Well, how frustrating, 2 of my cards won't show up.  Not sure what the problem is.  Hmm.  The 2 cards you cannot see were made with Groovy Guava and River Rock.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my samples. Next time you have a stamp set out, why not make an extra card or two using the same design of the card you just created? It won't take you hardly any extra time, and you will build your stash of pre-made, ready-to-go cards.

Happy Stamping!
- Kari

I love using these little hardware accents to enhance my cards, scrapbook pages and 3-D projects. And right now, you can take advantage of special savings of 25% off the 3 colors we offer in the main catalog – aged copper, antique brass and pewter. These kits will be discontinued and only available while supplies last, so contact me soon to order yours.

Dates: Now-August 10 (or while supplies last)

Promotion Details:

The following Hodgepodge Hardware finishes are being offered at a special 25 percent discount:

• There is no minimum purchase requirement to receive the 25 percent discount.
• This promotion is only good while supplies last.

Get a few of your friends together and put in a catalog order (minimum $150) to earn a FREE level 1 hostess set (which are also being retired) and at least $15 of free merchandise hostess benefits!

I wanted to highlight some cards that my daughter – Kyanne - made recently, so she is my special guest artist today! One card was for Mother's Day card and one for a birthday that she made for various people in her life (I didn't get one, but I got to spend the day with her which is always my preference!). I apologize that I'm sharing these so late. This all fell into the black hole of time that I was having a couple months ago. LOL.

Kyanne really isn't interested in stamping – at least with me (gasp!) - but when she decides to play around, I love what she creates. She is an extremely creative person, and she'll use color combinations and design layouts that I would never (ever) dream of, but it always seems to work. I think it's neat that even though she says she's not into stamping, whenever she needs a card for something, she always comes down to my stamping room and makes something – she doesn't ever buy cards anymore. I love that!

This first card came from playing around with my Cuttlebug. She wanted to try it out and I like the simplicity of this card, as well as the asymmetrical layout. She used the soon-to-be-retiring Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip card stock.

The birthday card uses Perfect Plum and Naturals Ivory cardstock and the It's Your Birthday (retiring) and Autumn Leaf Prints (retired) stamp sets. I like how she tore the plum card stock and used both Pale Plum and Perfect Plum inks to stamp the Happy Birthday greeting so it looks like it's embossed. She also used Whisper White craft ink to stamp the leaves on the plum card stock.

Not bad for someone who says she doesn't like to stamp – don't you think?! Way to go, Kyanne – I love your creativity and am so proud of you!!!

Do you stamp with your kids (grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighborhood kids, etc.)? Please send me a comment – I'd love to know how you are teaching the next generation to enjoy this wonderful hobby.

Happy Stamping!
- Kari

If you've been patiently waiting to see which stamp sets are going to be retired this year, your wait is over! The retired stamp set lists are available now (both in alphabetical order and numerical/page number order).

These sets are available only through August 10, and once they are gone, they're gone.

Get the lists here:

Alphabetical

Numerical

And if you are wondering about the retired accessories list – it will be announced on July 21.

I originally thought that Stampin' Up! was going to put the retired accessories list on the main website, but it turns out that is not the case. So I will post it here for my customers who need the list.

Retired wheels and accessories are available while supplies last. Please note that some items are already gone, so please send me your orders ASAP to avoid disappointment. 

* Jumbo Stampin' Around wheels