Seriously:  don’t wait to order from the list of accessories that are retiring.  Remember, stamps will be available until the end of May, but accessories are only available while they last.  And some are not lasting, and I’m having to tell disappointed customers that their orders are not going through.  I don’t like to do that!

So on the final version of this card, we sponged some Early Espresso ink over the embossed Always Artichoke mat to call out the brown in the ribbon.  Don’t settle for a plain color when you can create a custom version of your very own!

Stamps:    Homegrown* (p. 101)

Ink/Color:    StazOn Jet Black Ink, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Wonderful Watercolor Crayons

Paper:    River Rock, First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Other:    Sponge Daubers, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, 3/8″ Denim Jean Ribbon (Artichoke*), Designer Frames Embossing Folder (Oval), Labels Collection Framelit Die, Stampin’ Dimensionals

*Retiring!

It’s a beautiful week in north central Illinois, so we are taking advantage of it.  I do have some help, but you may be able to guess how hard it is to concentrate on weeding when working with someone this adorable:

He does have his own toddler-sized watering can and trowel, but of course they simply won’t do.

After class yesterday, I made the rounds to various nurseries — partly because I enjoy the different venues but also because I can’t find everything on my list at one place.  There are many times I gripe about spending money on things, but I consider good bedding plants an investment, if only for the season.

I immediately got to work when I got home around 4:30, broke for a quick supper, then got back to work as storm clouds rolled in.  I got the last tomatoes in just as it started to rain.  I ran inside dirty and damp, but happy!

Sooner or later, depending how often you’re cleaning up adhesive, the corners of the eraser get … icky.  I just take my Snips and trim off the corner.

This $3.50 investment will last you forever!

This card, from about 4 years ago, finally left my stash to go with a Stampin’ Up! gift card for Mother’s Day.  (I wouldn’t let it go for just anyone!)  The dry embossing, the piercing — this was a lot of handwork before Big Shot embossing folders.

I have “faux stitching” on my list of techniques to use on upcoming projects because it’s such a cool effect.  Little did I know what the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog would have in store for us!

Stamps:  Unfrogettable*

Ink/color:  Jet Black StazOn, Stampin’ Write Markers (Basic Black, Rose Red), Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Paper:  Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky*, Watercolor Paper

Other:  Punches Plus Class Brass Template* and Stylus*, Aqua Painter, Small Oval Punch*, Soft Sky Double-Stitched Ribbon*, Stampin’ Dimensionals

*Retired

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Kindness Matters

Ink/Color:  StazOn Jet Black Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers (Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy)

Paper:  Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Basic Gray

Other:  Lace Ribbon Border Punch*, 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (Basic Gray)*, Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folder (Oval), Labels Collection Framelit Die, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Stampin’ Sponge, Blender Pen, Basic Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals, bleach

*Retiring; available only while supplies last

But Monday I heard about My Digital Studio 2.  Are you a digital scrapbooker?  Do you want to be?  Listen to this cool news from Sara Douglass of Stampin’ Up!:

This is a stamping tool that is never far from my work area:  a quilting ruler.  My sister, the quilter, uses it to cut fabric and paper.  After I got the hang of it, I use it too — but not just for precision cutting of pieces that are too small for my Tabletop Paper Cutter.  I use the ruler to ensure perfect placement of elements I’m adhering to my card.

The trick is to look through the ruler rather than measuring and marking the card stock with a pencil.  On this card I wanted the Vellum Card Stock one inch from the bottom of the card.  So I aligned the 1″ line of the ruler with the bottom of the card.  Along the top edge of the ruler, I butted up the Vellum Card Stock.  It’s really that simple.

I’ve been using this very ruler for over 8 years, so much so that some of the lines are worn off!  When you have a coupon at the fabric store, why not try this tool for your own stamping?

Three was more than enough.  Let me explain:  either you like fussy work on tiny pieces or it makes you sigh deeply and grind your teeth.  You know which kind of stamper you are.  And now — after listening to dozens of stampers make this card — I know, too.

So we’ll move on.

While I was on vacation last week, Stamping’ Up! announced that many of the products from the Occasions Mini are still available.  I guess it’s because we’re so close to a new catalog, but in 7 years I’ve never seen them carry over so much!  And I apologize for my hysteria at the end of April.  You can find the carryover list HERE.

Stamps:  A Word for You

Ink/Color:  Whisper White (Craft), Not Quite Navy

Paper:  Baja Breeze, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper**, Whisper White; Not Quite Navy

Other:  Stampin’ Sponge, Punches (Cupcake Builder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Owl Builder, Itty Bitty Shapes, Modern Label, Blossom**), Twitterpated Designer Buttons*, Basic Pearls, Signo Gel Pen, Baker’s Twine (Lucky Limeade**), Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

*Not available after April 30
**Still available!!

If there was a silver lining in the cloud of last weeks Retiring Accessories list, it was that the color collection Paper Stacks are staying.  The prints are perfect this time and I am not yet tired of them.

On the other hand, I nearly got choked up to see the Crimper on the list, since I’ve been using that tool since I’ve been stamping — even before I heard of Stampin’ Up!  And the 5/8″ Satin Ribbon?  So elegant, so classy, so sexy!

However, despite my dismay and disbelief, I know (because I’ve experienced) that Stampin’ Up! will not disappoint me when the new catalog is released.  Keep the faith.

I hit on this color combination totally by accident.  I was cleaning out my paper files, removing any full packs that were taking up too much space.  (I have lots of paper!)  These were the packs I took out, and seeing them together almost made my mouth water!

Do you use the Baby Wipe technique?  It’s simply creating a custom ink “pad” by dropping re-inkers onto a folded (pad-like) baby wipe.  (I use a cheap brand, not worthy of Peter’s bottom.)  Press the stamp into the pad and stamp.  The ink can be used many times, since it’s the moisture in the baby wipe that keeps it fresh.

Stamps:  Flight of the Butterfly*

Ink/Color:  StazOn Jet Black, Basic Black, Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills (More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango

Paper:  So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Shimmery White, Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (Subtles), Whisper White, Wild Wasabi

Other:  Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die, 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (Certainly Celery)*, Butterfly Punch*, Modern Label Punch, Large Pearl Basic Jewel (from the Occasions Mini), Stampin’ Dimensionals, Crimper*, baby wipe, permanent marker

*Retiring!