The Stampin’ Up! Last Chance List of Retiring Products Is Here!

Stampin' Up! Retiring List Logo 2018

It’s time to shop for the Stampin’ Up! Last Chance Retiring Products!  This includes products from both the Annual Catalog AND the Occasions Catalog!

Click HERE!  Check out the products in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

See things you want?  Don’t hesitate or they might be gone!

Click HERE for the PDF of Annual Catalog Retiring Products!

Click HERE for the PDF of Occasions Catalog Retiring Products!

Sadness and fun at the same time!  I hate to see some of my favorite products leave, but Stampin’ Up! never disappoints!  There are always great new products on the horizon!

Leave a comment below if if you have any questions or opinions of the list! Or email me at Karen@Karenstamps.com.

 

Make Easy Cards Designed With 2016-2018 In Colors

Cards Designed With 2016-2018 In Colors

My mojo kicked into high gear thinking about the probable retiring 2016-18 In Colors, and these Easy Cards Designed With 2016-2018 In Colors are the result!  I wanted to make a card with each of the 2016-18 In Colors, which we all assume will be on the upcoming Stampin’ Up! retiring list, scheduled to be released this afternoon.

If you have any of these In Color ink pads and don’t have the ink refills, I would be ready to pounce on your order as soon as you see the retirement list today, if not sooner!  No one can predict, but in the past, the ink refills have sold out pretty quickly, and you don’t want to pay some higher price on an auction site later on!  Chances are, the ribbons and papers that have any of these In Colors in them will also retire.  To make these easy cards I chose designer papers that had these colors in them.  You can look at the back of your designer paper package for the list of coordinating colors (I always write them in marker, larger, on the back, so I can read them at a glance!  If you are under 40, you might not need to do this step!!) See how I do it in this post HERE. (It’s a very old post but the advice is the same!)

These easy to make cards use each of the retiring In Colors from 2016-2018. If you like them, stock up!

Check back around 1 PM MT and I will get up the Stampin’ Up! Retiring List and information as soon as I can! Assuming my computer is compliant!

My Stampin’ Up! newsletter will come out tomorrow with all the retirement information plus whatever other updates Stampin’ Up! has, so be sure you are on my Mailing List.  Sign up HERE.

Make easy cards designed with the 2016-18 In Colors getting inspiration from the ideas I posted above!

Shop Retiring Products from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog and also the Occasions Catalog in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store TODAY after 1:00 PM Mountain Time (2:00 PM Central Time).

 

Give Yourself a Treat With Paper Pumpkin! Special 50% Offer!

Paper Pumpkin Projects Banner

It’s time to give yourself a treat with Paper Pumpkin and take advantage of the 50% off your first two months special offer!   This offer is for new subscribers so you can try two months of Paper Pumpkin at a fantastic rate!

In each Paper Pumpkin box you will receive an exclusive photopolymer stamp set, an ink spot to use on the project, and all the materials ready to go to make the project.  Often there are “leftovers” you can use on other papercrafting projects.  With your first kit, you will receive an acrylic block on which to mount your stamps in case you are brand new to stamping so you will have everything you need!

Shipping is included in the price of the kit, which is normally $19.95 a month for a Paper Pumpkin Kit. So consider that at only $10 for each of two months, to get an entire Paper Pumpkin kit of supplies, plus  a stamp set in each, and no additional payment for shipping….WHAT A DEAL!!!

The kit is designed for even non-crafters or non-stampers with directions and even a special video to watch for help in assembling the project. Most kits are cards but each month is a surprise, which is part of the fun, and may be something like a party favor, home decor item, mini album….you name it!  I love anticipating the arrival of my Paper Pumpkin kit in my mailbox each month.

Check out this post about the Paper Pumpkin Kit from March.

My daughter enjoys Paper Pumpkin at her own home for the simple reason that she doesn’t want a ton of supplies like her mother has, but she enjoys some crafting now and then! This way everything she needs comes in the box, she can assemble the project and she’s done! Some months she “skips” if she doesn’t feel she has time, and then she reactivates her subscription when she is ready again!  It’s the perfect kit, or even gift, for someone in this situation.

Join Paper Pumpkin by Tuesday, April 10th  and receive the April and May kits at 50% off!  Kits ship the middle of the month.

Join April 11 – May 10th and receive the May and June Kits.

Click Here to Join Paper Pumpkin

Use Promo Code:  SAVEFIFTY0418

Go ahead!  You deserve a treat each month!  Try Paper Pumpkin for two months and if you don’t love it, just cancel. I’ll even help you do it. No problem whatsoever.

Busy one month?  Just go into your account and “skip” a month!  No problem whatsoever.

It’s a win-win treat for yourself or even as a gift for someone else!  I have a friend who sends Paper Pumpkin to her mother-in-law every month and she loves it!

Read more about Paper Pumpkin HERE if you want more information.

Remember, you get two months of Paper Pumpkin for half price each month!  You can’t pass that up!

SUBSCRIBE TO PAPER PUMPKIN HERE!

Stampin’ Up! Retirement 2018 Coming Soon!

Stampin' Up! Retirement 2018 Coming Soon Banner

Can we even believe it, that Stampin’ Up! Retirement 2018 is coming soon?

It’s coming Monday, April 9, 2018!

Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM (MT).

On Monday afternoon, Stampin’ Up! will post the  retiring lists for the 2018 Occasions Catalog and the Stampin’ Up! 2017-2018 Annual Catalog. These last-chance products will only be available through May 31 or while supplies last — so check this website, www.Karenstamps.com on April 9, and be ready to make your “must have” list!

If past years are any indication, anything with the 2016-2018 In Colors will retire. It has seemed in the past that the ink refills went particularly fast, so if you have the ink pads and either want the ink refills or want extras, you want to be able to order those right away. But there are other things with the In Colors…..cardstock, ribbon, designer papers.

Tune in Monday, April 9th to find out all the details about the annual Stampin’ Up! retiring list! Although we hate to see any of the products leave, there will be wonderful new products to replace them in the NEW Annual Catalog when it comes out June 1st!

I will be ordering new catalogs for my regular customers that will probably go out mid-May. If you are interested in Stampin’ Up! products and do not have a Demonstrator to help you, send me your contact information so I can send one to you. In fact, if you are interested and do not have the current catalogs right now, I may have a few available that I can send to you to enjoy during this retirement period and also have the catalog for future ideas! Just email me at Karen@Karenstamps.com.  If you already have a Demonstrator you work with, I’m sure she will be happy to supply you with catalogs.

Stampin’ Up! is hopeful that they have enough inventory to fulfill orders through this fun retirement period, but if there is somethings you really want, I would not wait long to order! We have seen Stampin’ Up! taken by surprise several times recently! Just sayin’!

Another tip to keep in mind is that any products that are in Bundles and priced at 10% less, will be un-Bundled and will not have the savings.

However, last year there were some discounted products on the list so maybe you will find some bargains! We just have to wait for the details on Monday!

SEE all the retiring products Monday, April 9th at 1:00 PM (MT) in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE!

Check my Blog Post HERE on Monday afternoon for the Retirement List and information.

(12 Noon Pacific Time, 1:00 PM Mountain Time, 2:00 PM Central Time, and 3:00 PM Eastern Time)

Check back Monday afternoon, April 9th, for all the information about the Stampin’ Up! 2018 Retirement List!

Petal Palette Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes

Petal Palette Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes

One of the fun new products in the Occasions Catalog are the Narrow Note Cards & Envelopes, so I made these Petal Palette Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes using the Petal Passion Designer Paper and the Petal Palette Stamp Set.

These Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes are just the right size for some stamping fun! I used a sample in the catalog for inspiration (that means to copy!) I cut a piece of the Petal Passion Designer Paper just a tiny bit smaller than the note card to layer on top.  Then I stamped some flowers from the Petal Palette Stamp Set, colored them in, and die cut with the Petals & More Thinlits Dies.  I also die cut a Whisper White circle with the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies for a background for the flowers.  The flowers on the note cards on the left and rght are popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

The note card in the middle is simply stamped, no die-cutting! I stamped the flowers, colored in with Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen. I’ve loved the Blender Pens since I started buying from Stampin’ Up! as a customer!  So they have been around almost forever! Trying to blend the bluish background I had scribbled in, though, was making my paper pill a tiny bit since I was just using Whisper White so Blender Pens are really perfect for smaller areas, like the flowers and leaves, unless you use some other kind of paper, like Watercolor Paper or Shimmery White Paper.

The note card with the blue flowers is colored with Stampin’ Blends markers.  These markers were taken out of the Online Store temporarily. due to supply issues. Hopefully they will be back around the time of the new catalog Fingers crossed! The greeting from the Petal Palette Stamp Set is stamped and then the words cut apart to adhere them on the card. I don’t often think of doing a greeting this way, but it’s a cute idea, something different!

The note card with the pink flowers is colored with a drop of ink refill and my Aqua Painter.  That really is almost all you need for coloring, is a drop or two of ink refill.  You can put that drop in the ink pad lid, on an acrylic block, or on top of the stamp case. The just pick up the ink with the Aqua Painter (make sure you don’t have too much water coming out of your Aqua Painter.  Wipe it off on a towel if you do.) and color.  I love using the Aqua Painter.  You get two in the package.  One has a larger brush and one a smaller brush.  I almost always use the smaller brush.

So even without the Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers, there are other ways to color with Stampin’ Up! products.  It just depends on which method you prefer!

And don’t forget to stamp a few leaves on the note card envelopes!  Remember, these note cards are too small to mail in these envelopes, they are more suited to put with a gift in person or just hand to someone  However, you could also put the narrow note card in a larger envelope and mail. There are always choices!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online for all sorts of stamps, paper, ink and accessories for your papercrafting projects. Use my ideas with these Petal Palette Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes to make some cards of your own!

Petal Passion Black and White All-Occasion Card

Petal Passion Black and White All-Occasion Card

One of the prettiest products in the Occasions Catalog this spring is the Petal Passion Suite with which I made this Petal Passion Black and White All-Occasion Card.  I have seen so many beautiful cards made with the products in this suite!  It all has that watercolored look, so popular right now!

I had actually already colored this flower on one of the patterns from the Petal Passion Designer Series Paper awhile back.  I used the Stampin’ Blends markers, which unfortunately are not available right now, but hopefully will return maybe in June. You don’t have to have those markers to duplicate this card, though, just use another coloring technique such as the Watercolor Pencils, ink pad and Sponge Daubers, ink refills and Aqua Painter.  You can read the post about my coloring therapy with this paper HERE.

When I saw in my package of Petal Passion papers that I had already colored this flower, I just cut it out and cut the leaves off separately. I chose the white polka dot paper in the collection as the top card layer and layered it on Rich Razzleberry Cardstock since that was what color I had made the flower.

I adhered the flower to the cardfront with Stampin’ Dimensionals to pop it up a little bit and adhered the leaves just flat to the card with Snail Adhesive. For a little pizzazz I found a small  gold doily in the package of Metallic Foil Doilies and cut it in half. Then I adhered each half behind the two sides of the flower.

The greeting is from the Petal Palette Stamp Set.  I think it is such a sweet saying.  It is stamped and then die cut with the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies and layered on a larger scalloped Layering Oval Die. You could put almost any greeting on this card.  It would suit a lot of occasions.

You will love the stamp set and designer paper in the Petal Passion Suite, not to mention the Petals & More Thinlits Dies.  I always forget about these dies for some reason! Order the products you want from this Suite in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store and make some cards like this Petal Passion Black and White All-Occasion Card.

 

Paper Pumpkin Special Offer 50% Off!

Paper Pumpkin Special Offer 50% Off!

Now is the time to try Paper Pumpkin, the papercrafting kit that Stampin’ Up! sends to you in the mail every month with an exclusive project inside. Right now try the Paper Pumpkin Special Offer 50% Off! This offer is for new subscribers only.

Join Paper Pumpkin by April 10th (coming up soon!!) and receive the April and May kits at 50% off!  Shipping is included, and you will receive a clear block to use with your enclosed stamp set with your first kit. Kits ship the middle of the month. It is quite the deal!!

Join by May 10th and receive the May and June Kits.

I love the anticipation of that red box arriving in my mailbox every month!  Everything you need for the project is included in the kit. You can have some crafting time without having to think up what you want to stamp!  Just sit down and open the box!  Maybe watch the Stampin’ Up! video (link in the box). Make the project according to the directions or make an alternative project.

Go ahead!  Try Paper Pumpkin!  Just click HERE to join!

Use Promo Code:  SAVEFIFTY0418

Oh So Eclectic Springtime Card With Flowers

Oh So Eclectic Springtime Card With Flowers

Images (c) Stampin’ Up! 2018

Somehow this Oh So Eclectic Springtime Card With Flowers came together this morning.  I think I am having withdrawal after Sale-A-Bration ending! Plus we had been on vacation in Arizona for a week, and as of last night I thought I had lost all my mojo, even dropping an ink pad on the floor (luckily it landed ink pad up!).  After thinking so much about the free Sale-A-Bration products, it’s time to go back to the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog! Somehow this stamp set and dies, plus paper, popped into my head, but I waited until this morning when perhaps I would remember how to stamp a card!!!

The card base is Peekaboo Peach, one of the In Colors that will be retiring soon. Honestly that group of In Colors wasn’t my favorite so I need to use up some of the cardstock!  If you don’t know what colors to use together, take a look on the back of the package of Designer Paper and see what coordinating colors could be used together.  I chose the Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper and Berry Burst was one of the coordinating colors. I used Berry Burst for the layer underneath the Whisper White.

Next I used the Eclectic Layers Thinlits Dies to cut out the rectangular shape and some flowers. You can purchase the Oh So Eclectic Stamp Set along with the dies and save 10% off the purchase price in the Oh So Eclectic Bundle.

And finally I added some Peekaboo Peach 5/8″ Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon as an embellishment.  This is a fun ribbon to use!  It has a nice feel and the crinkled look is something different.  And it will probably retire since Peekaboo Peach is one of the retiring In Colors. (I assume!)

I left off the greeting until I decide which one I want to use on this card.  It could be almost any occasion, the colors and designer paper have such a happy look to it. Oh, and behind that die cut design I cut a piece of the Naturally Eclectic Designer Paper to adhere behind the open design.  The multi-colored pattern I choose makes a colorful background!

Fun card to make and the die cuts make it easy! Whether you stamp or use die cuts, you can make something springy and happy like this Oh So Eclectic Springtime Card With Flowers.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE TODAY!

Looking For Last Minute Easter Papercrafting Ideas?

Easter Collage

In case you are looking for some last minute Easter papercrafting ideas, here are some of my projects from past years! If you don’t have the newest Stampin’ Up! products, maybe you have some of these supplies!  Even if you don’t make this exact project, it might just give you an idea of something close that you want to make with the supplies that you have!

I think the Circle of Spring Easter Card is a beautiful card to make with that pretty wreath that you can customize for any season or occasion.  You can just stamp the wreath with the Circle of Spring Stamp Set and then easily color it in with markers or an Aqua Painter. If you have the Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies you can cut out the wreath and then adhere it to the front of your card.

The Easter Lamb Easter Card is one of my favorites!  I loved that Easter Lamb stamp from a previous year in the Occasions Catalog!  The background was stamped with the Watercolor Wash Background Stamp.

The card with the Easter cross is actually pretty easy and you can make it with any little flower punch or die you have! I accented each flower with a little Rhinestone Jewel in the center. The back layer is embossed with an embossing folder, don’t remember which one.

You can also make an oval Easter egg-shaped card if you have the Layering Ovals Framelits Dies or the older retired Oval Die. Then the egg is colored with the curved swish from the Work of Art Stamp Set.

I used the Easter Lamb again on the Easter Basket made with the Berry Basket Die (retired). There are many ways you can make a little Easter basket, much like you would make a gift box.

And the last card is the Emboss Resist  Watercolor Easter Egg CardIt’s fun to make by stamping with Versamark Ink on Watercolor Paper and then embossing with Clear Embossing Powder and watercoloring over it.  The embossing resists the watercolor so it’s almost like when you dye Easter eggs but first write on the eggshell with a wax crayon! Remember doing that as kids?!

There are lots of fun spring and Easter papercrafting ideas, just find some project you like and go for it!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online 24/7 

 

 

Easter Basket of Flowers Card on a Basket Weave Background

Easter Basket of Flowers Card on a Basket Weave Background

Images (c) Stampin’ Up! 2018 Design by Karen Fontinelle

Easter is fast approaching so you might enjoy making an Easter Basket of Flowers Card on a Basket Weave Background. Even if you don’t have these exact supplies, this card might give you an idea for your own creation with whatever supplies you own!

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.  This Basket Weave Dynamic Embossing Folder works magic on a plain piece of cardstock!  You will just gasp when you take the paper out of the folder and see the deep embossing that looks like basket weave!  For best results, spritz some water lightly on the cardstock first, or some people recommend spritzing rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol tends to dry faster but really by the time I run the paper through the Big Shot and work on my card, my paper is dry.  Don’t get it “wet”…just spritz it.

The Basket Weave Folder is available in a Bundle with the Blossoming Basket Stamp Set during Sale-A-Bration with a $100 purchase. And if you would rather pay for it in the future, you will be able to buy the Embossing Folder in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog.  Either way, I think you will LOVE this embssoing folder!  And of course it is perfect for Easter and Spring cards!

For this card, I embossed Crumb Cake Cardstock for the basket weave background and adhered that to a card base of Whisper White Cardstock.

The basket of Easter flowers is stamped with the Blossoming Basket Stamp Set and colored in.  Even though the Stampin’ Blends markers are not orderable right now, you can use other coloring techniques like the Watercolor Pencils and Blender Pen.  I cut out the basket just around the outside and left the part inside the handle alone. I don’t think it takes anything away from the look of the basket.  Besides, the pretty bow at the top of the basket will catch the eye of anyone looking at the card!  The ribbon is the Gold 3/8″ Metallic-Edge Ribbon.

And for a little something to set off the basket, I pulled out a doily from my stash!  Sometimes a doily or even a piece of a doily is just what a card needs!  This one is the Delicate White Doilies by Stampin’ Up!  I really like the look of the doily on this card!

The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, the stamp set that has practically every greeting you will need!  It’s punched with the Classic Label Punch and accented with two Enamel Shapes.

There you have it! A card you could use for Easter, for spring, for a birthday, anniversary, and more! Make a card you can send someone for Easter or another occasion like this Easter Basket of Flowers Card on a Basket Weave Background.

Sale-A-Bration Ends March 31st!

 

Last Days! These Are Your Free Sale-A-Bration Gift Choices!

More Free Sale-A-Bration Items

Sale-A-Bration Catalog Items

There are only a few more days left of Sale-A-Bration, and these are your FREE Sale-A-Bration gift choices with each $50 or $100 purchase!  Sale-A-Bration is the biggest promotion Stampin’ Up! has annually, and it is about to come to an end!  With each $50 or $100 purchase (no limit!), you can choose a free gift from the special Sale-A-Bration brochures and also these specific catalog items! Whether you are a new stamper or long-time customer, you can still take advanage of this highly regarded special! It’s been a favorite since the early days of Stampin’ Up!

SALE-A-BRATION BROCHURE

SALE-A-BRATION BROCHURE 2ND RELEASE

SALE-A-BRATION CURRENT CATALOGS SELECTIONS

You MUST use the product numbers in the flyer above, NOT the normal catalog numbers if you choose any of these items for your free Sale-A-Bration gift(s).

I personally think Stampin’ Up! did a great job this year on the Sale-A-Bration offerings! There seemed to be so many favorite things to choose from!  Don’t miss out!  You have until Saturday, March 31 at 11:50 PM (MT) to make your selections!  Who doesn’t want FREE stuff??!

Leave a comment on this post if you want to let other stampers know what you think were the best items!

 

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

SEE THE SALE-A-BRATION CHOICES HERE!

 

Springtime Foils All-Occasion Butterfly Card

Springtime Foils All-Occasion Butterfly Card

This Springtime Foils All-Occasion Butterfly Card  can suit almost any occasion, it would even make a pretty Easter card with an Easter greeting or springtime.  After all, it uses the Springtime Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper, still available this week during Sale-A-Bration.

This is another card I made the the other day when I was making a stack of cards with the Springtime Foils Paper.  This paper is so pretty you almost don’t need to do anything else to it except add a greeting if you like. On this card, I used two different patterns of the paper, side by side (with a tiny bit of overlap). I also colored in the flowers with some of the Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers that unfortunately are not available right now until they get them restocked.

The butterfly is cut with a die we’ve had for awhile, the Butterflies Thinlits Dies. Some dies are just classic and can be used for a lot of things.  This is one of them. I cut the butterfly out of the Copper Foil Sheet.  All of our foil paper is so gorgeous!

The ribbon adds something to the card.  Sometimes I have to remember to tie it around the paper before I glue it down to the card!  This ribbon is the Pool Party 3/8″ Shimmer Ribbon.  Very pretty!

Here is the card from the other day that I made using the Springtime Foils paper and the butterfly.

All this card needs is a greeting before you put it in an envelope!  And really, I think it could just go the way it is and you can write a personal note inside or a greeting.  Not every card has to have a greeting on the front, but that’s what we usually do.

You could make a card design like this with any designer paper you have.  Get into your stash and see what you can make, something like this Springtime Foils All-Occasion Butterfly Card.

Last week for Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration!  Ends March 31.

 

 

It’s Tutorial Time For the Stamparatus Stamp Positioning Tool

Since some Stampin’ Up! customers are getting to order their Stamparatus stamp positioning tool recently once Stampin’ Up! received the early reservations and placed them in their shopping carts, I thought it was a good time to put the Stampin’ Up! videos up for you tutorial viewing pleasure!  You may have seen some of these but Video #4 is a new one.  Enjoy!

I might suggest wrapping some washi tape or similar type take around each magnet and leaving a couple inches of tail.  This will help you have something with which to pull two stuck magnets apart or even just pick them up off the Stamparatus. Those are strong magnets to be sure! Don’t let them near your scissors either!

Also be sure not to store the Stamparatus with both plates still attached.  When you fold them over they will not lie flat and may damage the hinges.  Just pull them straight up and out and lay on top.

This Stamparatus tool will be in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog so you won’t have too long to wait if you missed the early reservation windows!  In the mean time, the rest of us will come up with the expertise to help you when you order yours!  I think it is a tool everyone will use and will want!

Stamparatus pieces

Easy Easter Bunny Clear Tiny Treat Box

Easy Easter Bunny Clear Tiny Treat BoxIf you want to make something for a little Easter treat, try this quick and Easy Easter Bunny Clear Tiny Treat Box. These little treat boxes are handy to have on hand for when you want to take a little treat to someone and it is almost time to walk out the door!  Yes, it would be better to plan ahead, but if you didn’t……you can do this!  And the recipient will love it!

These Clear Tiny Treat Boxes are very small and come flat so they are easy to store!  Just take one out when you need it and unfold and assemble.  I happened to have a little bit of brown “shred” from another package and I thought it would look cute in this treat box.  Then I put some Easter chocolates inside and tied up the box with the Powder Pink 3/8″ Shimmer Ribbon.

To decorate the box, I stamped the bunny from the We Must Celebrate Stamp Set.  Yes, I cut the little animals apart that were on the one stamp!  I thought that the bunny would be cute to use for Easter.  You can see how I did that in THIS POST HERE.  You have to be very careful but it can be done!

I stamped the bunny with Memento Black Ink and then colored in just a little with Stampin’ Blends markers.  Since I was in a big hurry, I just punched out the bunny with the 1 3/4″ Circle Punch and layered it on a piece of pink cardstock punched out with the 2″ Circle Punch. You might want to add an Easter greeting.

You can use the Clear Tiny Treat Boxes for any occasion!  It looks snazzy to have the clear box, I think, with the treat inside showing through. And if you want something quick and easy, make this Easy Easter Bunny Clear Tiny Treat Box or change it up for a different occasion.