Retiring Stamps

I thought it was time to drag out a few old favourites that have been ignored for far too long - and now that they're retiring why not give them one last look?

This one was released in a Mini catalogue a couple of years ago, and I had to have it as soon as I saw it. As well as the little single flower and phrase shown here, it also has an outline to stamp over the flower, another word ("happy"), a stylised paisley and a little dotty background. I called this my "happy stamp set" because just looking at them made me smile.

What happened? One day I just started using something else and put these aside - now I feel bad for ignoring them LOL.

So this is a quick card using some colours I wouldn't normally put together but it just seemed to be the right thing to do.

By the way, this stamp set is one of those that Stampin' Up! has chosen to assist in raising money for the Bushfire Appeal here in Victoria. This means that if you buy this set (it costs $35.95 plus postage), half that amount will be donated to the fund.

Just saying, that's all ... *g*

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Polka Dots & Paisley
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Other: Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, 1-1/4" Square Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch

Find Joy

This is a bit of an experiment ... based on (but nothing like) a card I saw in what will be the new Australian Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer Mini Catalogue (not officially released yet *g*).

The experiment is in the colours ... not sure that I like the red (although it does look nicer in real life) but the layout was interesting to try out. I will probably try this with different stamps and colours sometime soon.

I have to add, I like using the Spiral punch to create a bit of interest along the edge of a layer. In this particular case, I think it balances the ribbon quite nicely.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Real Red, Bordering Blue and So Saffron cardstock, Real Red ink, Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Double Rectangle Punch, Spiral Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Real Red ribbon