Stampin Up News - Retiring Colors

As I promised yesterday - here is a look at the retiring colors - which one will you miss the most?

I will miss the blues - Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky and Island Indigo

Stampin Up News - Ink Pads

You may notice, when you look at the Stampin’ Up! Retiring list that ALL of the ink pads on on the list!  They are NOT all retiring, but rather the style of ink pad is retiring.

WHY?

One of the main reasons for the change is that Stampin’ Up’s mould that they use to make ink pads, was about to expire and they had to decide if they would just keep it the same or if it was an opportunity to change and improve upon the style.

So they improved it! Here are the improvements to the design:

•  It is easier to open (just flip open!)
• It has a larger label on the front of the pad so you can easily identify the colour.
• The sticker with the ink pad colour on it, is right side up even when the lid is open.
• There is an extra colour label to place inside the pad, to make it even easier to identify the colour when open (no mix ups or dirty ink pads!!).
• The new case is tighter so there are no accidental leak outs.
• The new case is a sleeker design that takes up less space (and the inkpad is only about 1/4″ shorter on one side).
• The ink pad is not quite as “tall” as the previous pad, which makes it work really well with the Stamparatus so you get less ink transfer to the plate.
• The ink pads have a groove on the top that allows them to stack.
• The ‘In Color’ pads are identified with a little symbol.

In addition, while making changes to the ink pad style, Stampin’ Up! also added a defoamer to the ink pad solution that will help when inks sometimes get bubbly.   Please note that the colours that are staying are exactly the same formula (other than the defoamer) so new ink refills can be used on old pads and vice versa.

Here’s some pictures I took to show you the comparison of the inkpads.

If you would like to know which colors ARE retiring, check back tomorrow.

SOS339 - Bloomin Heart Valentine

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called "  He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not". I don't make many Valentine's Day cards, but here is one:

I used the Bloomin' Heart framelit from SU and a sentiment from the matching stamp set. Embossing folder is from CTMH

SOS337 Funny Sentimental Birthday

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called Getting Sentimental and we want to see sentiments as focal points.
For my card I used a sentiment from the new Birthday Wit stamp set:

Colors I used are Berry Burst, Sweet Sugarplum and Lemon Lime Twist

Challenges:
613 Avenue Create - AG + something new (new stamp set)
Dragonfly Journeys -  Hooray for Birthdays
Brown Sugar - Birthday

SOS335 - Watercolor Petal Palette

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called Watercolor and I have the perfect stamp set for it - it's one of the SU new sets called Petal Pallette

I created a watercolor wash using Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Coastal Cabana. Then added some splatter using the same colors. After drying I stamped the roses and sentiment with black Versafine and embossed them with black EP to make them stand out. Card base is Melon Mambo, stamped with splatter stamp from Swirly Bird stamp set.

Challenges:
Always Fun Challenges - Something New - new stamp set
Sweet Stampin' - Anything New- new stamp set

SOS332 - Christmas Ornament Shaker Card

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called I Like To Move It and we want to see something moving on everyone's creations. I made a shaker card with current Stampin' Up products:

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Christmas Pines ( 142049)

Inks: Emerald Envy (141396)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Emerald Envy (141415), Silver Glimmer (135314)

Dies: Pretty Pines Thinlits (141851), Layering Circle Framelits (141705), Hometown Greetings Edgelits (144671)

Other: Window Sheets (142314), Snail Adhesive (104332), Foam Adhesive Strips (141825), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)

Challenges

Card Mania - Christmas

Christmas Cards All Year Round - anything Christmas

Paperminutes - Christmas Ornaments

Dream Valley - Christmas

The Crazy Challenge - Christmas is Coming

SOS331 - Sparkly Wreath with Snowflakes

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called Snow Much Fun and we want to see anything related to snow.

I kept mine quite simple and made a Christmas wreath in non-traditional colors with snowflakes on it. All stamps, paper and dies are from Stampin Up

Christmas Card Challenge - anything Christmas
Crafting with Dragonflies - non-traditional Christmas colors
Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas or Winter

SOS330 - Inlaid Wood Thank You card

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is to make a quick Thank You Card - something that would take under 30 minutes

I used the Quilt Builder Framelits from Stampin Up and die cut the pattern 3 times from 3 different shades of woodgrain paper. Then I mixed the pieces and made an inlaid wood pattern - actually 3 different ones. The trick to get them stick down nicely, quickly and without big mess is to use Sizzix double sided adhesive sheets. No sticky finger and glue that leaks out :)

Challenges
Cards in Envy - It's only paper
Cuttlebug Mania - Masculine

SOS323 Watercolored Fall Thanks

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called Give Thanks so we want to see Thanksgiving or Thank You cards

I used a new Stampin Up set called Count My Blessings - watercolored the background and the acorns using SU inks.

Challenges:
Oh La La Creations - Harvest Tuime
Stamping Sensation - Autumn Glory
Less Is More - Watercolor
Sweet Stampin' - Autumn

SOS320 Double Embossed Painted Harvest

This week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called Emboss Like a Boss and we want to see both dry and wet embossing on your projects

I used my new Painted Harvest stamp and did a bit of emboss resist. Stamped the flower in Melon Mambo and Pink Flamingo and embossed it with clear EP. Then I brayered the background with Pool Party, Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay. The background bits are from French Foliage stamp set, stamped in Bermuda Bay. CS is Melon Mambo. For the background panel I inked the embossing folder with Pink Flamingo and then ran it througt the Big Shot.

Challenges:
Stamping Sensation - Color Inspiration
WOW embossing powder - emboss resist
C.R.A.F.T. - embossing