Coffee Café Card

This Coffee Café card was part of a shoebox swap I did with some other members of the NC Stampin' Up! Demos group. It's a fancy fold card.

 Here's what it looks like open:

Supplies:

Stamps: Coffee Café

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Garden Green, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Coffee Break (RETIRING)

Big Shot: Coffee Cup Framelits, Layering Oval Framelits

2018 Color Revamp

In my last post I shared information about the Last Chance (AKA Retirement) list. Remember, most of the retiring items are already in the "while supplies last" mode and some are already gone. You can see that post here. Order soon so you don't miss the chance to get what you want.

As you may have noticed, there are several retiring colors on the Last Chance list. When colors go, new colors need to replace them. I am super excited about this Color Revamp! You will be, too, once you see all the beautiful new and returning colors

Before I show you the colors, I want to share some information from Stampin' Up! Those of you who are impatient can skip to the color charts 😉

The spice of life is variety, and that’s especially true in the world of color. Stampin’ Up! makes a point to keep an eye on color trends across different markets and industries. When we see changes happening, we review our color spectrum to ensure that we remain consistently on top of the trends.

This brings us to the 2018 Color Revamp! In order to keep bringing you the most current and on trend colors, we decided it was time to give our color collections a makeover.

There are still four color collections, each with ten colors. There is also a new color group called Basics. In order to keep our color collections to exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors, we moved Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White out of the Neutrals collection. We’ve also moved a few colors into the Neutrals collection, making it more exciting and colorful!

Some additional colors have changed collections as well—you’ll notice this as you look through the new collections below. You can refer to the old and new color charts in the 2018-2019 catalog when it's released June 1st. These changes were based on needing to maintain color balance in our updated collections. For example, Poppy Parade is now the brightest red so it is part of the Brights collection

Here’s some key information to keep in mind about our color offering:

• Keeping 27 of the existing core colors
• 13 core colors are going away
• Adding 10 new core colors
• Adding 6 returning In Colors that will now be core colors (colors offered in the past that will now be available again)

• Mossy Meadow
• Poppy Parade
• Flirty Flamingo
• Coastal Cabana
• Mint Macaron
• Blackberry Bliss

There are no changes to the In Color program. Every two years we will continue to introduce five new In Colors that will be available for the ensuing two years. 

And now, the unveiling!

IN COLORS

NEW COLORS

COLOR FAMILIES

FREE COLOR TOOLS: Stampin' Up! has provided some resources which you may find helpful.

Online Color Coach: The online color coach shows great color combinations featuring all of our new and returning colors. There is also a blank color coach that serves as a template where you can create your own color combinations.

Online Color Coach

Blank Color Coach (so you can record favorite color combinations you discover)

2017-19 In Color Online Color Coach

2017-19 In Color Blank Coach

Hex Codes Values(these will make sure that any digital materials you create will show the colors correctly)

Color labels 

Brights Paper, Pad & Marker chart 

Neutral Paper, Pad & Marker chart 

Regals Paper, Pad & Marker chart 

Subtles Paper, Pad & Marker chart 

In Color Paper, Pad & Marker chart

Stampin Up! is also changing the ink pad style, but that will be a post for another day.

Last Chance Items (AKA the Retirement List)

The Retirement List has posted. It's always so bittersweet - sad to see some favorites go but excited for all the new stuff that will come in the new catalog to replace it. The big news, in my opinion, is the color re-vamp. I'm going to miss several of these colors go, but there are some great new ones on the way (and some in-colors on the way back).

Here are the pdf links. If you'd like an excel copy, let me know and I'll send you one.

Annual Catalog

Occasions Catalog

You also can go to the Online Store. If you do it that way, you can see pictures of the items. I find this the easiest way to see what's retiring.

Don't freak out when you see all the ink pads on the list. The case has been redesigned and the ink improved. Therefore, the old style case is retiring, not all those colors.

These are the colors that are retiring:
Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, and Wisteria Wonder. 2016-18 in colors are also retiring.

Some items are while supplies last, beginning today. Others are guaranteed to be available for a while and then become while supplies last. This chart will help you as you plan what to buy when.

Product	Retiring Color(s)
Classic Stampin’ Pads	Guaranteed stock of old ink pad design through May 7, 2018; then, available while supplies last May 7–31, 2018
Classic Stampin’ Pad Collections	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills	Guaranteed stock through May 7, 2018; then, available while supplies last May 7–31, 2018
Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill Collections	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Single Color Cardstock (All sizes and colors)	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Cardstock Packs, Collections, etc. (all sizes and colors)	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Stampin’ Write Markers (2-pack, Collections, and Many Marvelous Markers)	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Color Caddy	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018
Color Embellishments	While supplies last—through May 31, 2018

Due to high demand for retiring stamp sets, retiring stamp sets will be guaranteed available until May 25; all other products (except as noted above) are not guaranteed and are only available while supplies last.

I will place a group order tomorrow if you'd like to order some retiring items. You can also order online. Current hostess code:  64MPV3ZU. Free gift from me when you use the hostess code or with the group order.

Hugs!

Here's a quick card I made using the Lovely Inside & Out stamp set and
Lovely Words thinlits. 

Supplies:

Stamps:  Lovely Inside & Out 

Cardstock:  Basic Black and Whisper White

Designer Series Paper (DSP):  Fresh Florals DSP stack. 

Baker's Twine:  Solid Whisper White Solid 

Big Shot:  Lovely Words Thinlits and Layering Circle Framelits

Riding Off Into The Sunset

This card makes me think of the motorcycle rider riding off into the sunset for a great adventure. The name of the stamp set, One Wild Ride, fits right into that idea.

In my recent class, I taught how to make watercolor backgrounds with the Stampin' Spritzer. This card uses Whisper White cardstock. We also did one on watercolor paper so the stampers could see the difference in how the same technique looks different on different types of paper. You can see that card here.

For this background, we applied ink directly to a size E acrylic block, spritzed it with water, and then put the block down on the cardstock. I used the stamp pads to apply the ink directly to the block. I just rubbed each color in a somewhat straight line across the block in layers. Colors from bottom to top are Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Rose Red, and Tempting Turquoise. When doing a technique like this, always apply your colors from lightest to darkest. The amount of water you spritz will determine how your colors blend together. Keep in mind when trying this technique that every time you do it, the background will turn out different

 Here's the inside of the card:

While you're at it, you can decorate your envelope with some of these elements, too. I don't have any pictures, but the stampers in class came up with some great envelopes. Stamping your envelopes is just one of those extra touches that steps your card up a notch.

Happy Birthday

In my recent class, I taught how to make watercolor backgrounds with the Stampin' Spritzer. This card uses watercolor paper. We also did one on Whisper White cardstock so the stampers could see the difference in how the same technique looks different on different types of paper. You can see that card in an upcoming post (Edit: see it here Wednesday evening).

For this background, we applied ink directly to a size E acrylic block, spritzed it with water, and then put the block down on the watercolor paper. I used sponge daubers to apply the ink to the block. Colors are Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight, and Tangerine Tango. When doing a technique like this, always apply your colors from lightest to darkest. The amount of water you spritz will determine how your colors blend together. Keep in mind when trying this technique that every time you do it, the background will turn out different.

I used the Happy Birthday Thinlits for the main image over the watercolor background. The heart is from the Brights Enamel Shapes. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from Springtime Foils, which was a Sale-a-Bration (SAB) set this year. Unfortunately SAB ended a couple of days ago. Hopefully you got this beautiful DSP while it was available. If not, let me know and I can get you some (limited supplies). Or, check out the Bundle Of Love Specialty DSP. I think there's a design in there that would work.

Have you tried this technique before? Leave a comment below to tell me what you thought of it.

Hello Easter

Today I am wishing you Happy Easter with the Hello Easter stamp set by Stampin' Up!

 

This first card uses an idea I have done several times in the past. I used an Oval Framelit for the Easter egg. In this case, I cut it in half with a zig zag pattern. Then I put the halves together like the egg was opening and put a little chick inside. The chick is actually the top of a bird from the Birds & Blooms Thinlits. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Delightful Daisy .

Again I used the Hello Easter set, but this time I used the egg from the stamp set. I used several of the other stamps, too. Each bigger Pool Party  image inside the white circles has a Basic Pearl on it. The DSP is the Fresh Florals DSP Stack.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you and your families all have a very Happy Easter.