Last Chance Stamp Set List Released

Last Chance Stamp Set List, the list of stamps sets that are being retired at the end of this month was released yesterday, and I'm making you aware of it today.

It includes some of my personal favorites. I just used Wanted to make some Father's Day cards and a great masculine birthday card, as well as this one featuring the cool scalloped circles technique.

I will also miss Mark the Date, which has great application for any card you want to create and feature a specific date. I used it to create Save the Date postcards for a friend who was getting married and to create a Valentine's card that's one of my all-time favorites.

Wow Flowers was one I purchased originally as part of a set called Simply Sent, which contains everything you need to make 10 cards. The lovely part about it was, I had the stamp set after all the consumables were gone! This is a fantastic, versatile little set, and I will miss it! The Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements, stickers and card stock and other accessories that coordinate with the stamp set, is retiring too.

A Beautiful Thing has been around for quite some time, and I really like the sentiment. Be sure to check through the entire list to see if any of your favorites is on it!

Stampin' Up! - Last Chance Accessories List lists all the paper, ink, Designer Series Paper, ribbon, brads, eyelets, etc. etc. etc. that is retiring. It's an 11-page list, so be sure you don't miss something you may want after June 30. These will be available as supplies last, so don't delay.

If you'd like to order anything you see on the Last Chance Lists, feel free to click on my Shop Online 24/7 button at the top of my blog. Don't wait!

Another Celebration

Today is the 15th birthday of my only son. He shares this day with Emily, one of his best friends, whose parents were (and still are) dear friends when we walked through pregnancy together the summer of 1994. Our due dates were 2 days apart, and we promised each other we'd call when we went to the hospital. But we were only 2 days late, and they were 5 days late, so we didn't call and they didn't either. We found out we were both in labor when we arrived on the labor and delivery floor at the hospital and saw each other's names on the wipe board listing who is in what room. I'm sure they don't do this today, due to privacy issues, but we may have not known otherwise!

Our labor rooms were separated by only a thin wall, so Brad and Darcie could hear my dear husband shouting the numbers 1 through 10 as I pushed, so they knew where we were in our delivery process! We chose not to find out what sex our child would be, so we were thrilled to let them know that we'd had a little boy. Darcie delivered Emily Joy few hours later, (they hadn't found out either)and we shared a recovery room. To say these two are friends since birth is true. They literally have never known life without each other.

So, until 3 years ago, they celebrated their birthdays with each other. Separate friend parties and all, but at least a cupcake or ice cream dessert (Michael doesn't like cake) and a gift were exchanged. Moving changed the face to face nature of the celebrating, but we do not let the day pass without at least a card being sent to let Em know we're thinking of her.

This year's card was inspired by the colors of her room--hot pink and orange. The simple color block design was what I chose to communicate a more sophisticated, growing up look. I utilized the Great Friend set and stamped the leaf image with Versamark on the Pink Passion and Only Orange blocks. I used a stamp from Flight of the Butterfly set which says, "one person can make such a difference and that person is you" as the trail from the butterfly.


I wanted a simple interior that would carry the theme forward. I used direct to rubber inking of the border image from Great Friend for message. The "happy birthday" is from Mark the Date.

A Happy Card from a Grouchy Gal

I'm not sure what my deal is today. The weather's beautiful (sunny, mid-80s, no humidity) and nothing bad has transpired to wreck the day, yet I'm restless and getting grouchier by the minute! So as not to rub off on you, I'll post quickly and be done with it.

I was inspired by this card by Jen del Muro. I liked the three panels, the red, the crisp white, and the saffron.

All was going according to plan until I decided to add a ribbon accent. I punched the slot on the wrong side, so the panel that was to be vertical had to be placed horizontally. Still, it turned out well, I think.

The little accent on the saying is from Mark the Date set, and I think it plays off the pattern in the DP quite nicely.

Okay, I'm out of here! Here's to a better day tomorrow...

Birthday Card

I have 2 events next week, and I wanted to get a head start on getting prepared, so I spent some time yesterday afternoon and today putting together a card that I know everyone needs--one for a MAN!

This one uses the color combination from the Jersey Shore designer paper: More Mustard, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, and Wild Wasabi. Nothin' girly about those choices! I was drawn to the argyle pattern immediately, although there are also stripes and polka dots and some solids on some sides of this pack.

The card pairs the Mark the Date, Full Calendar, and Lots of Thoughts sets. The first two are in the main catalog, and the third is one of the Sale-A-Bration sets that can be chosen with a $50 merchandise purchase.

This is a simple, straightforward layout, and I hope the guests at my friend's class that we're hosting at a Starbucks with a conference room will find it fun and easy!

Still enjoying the time with my folks, and Michael's doing okay adjusting to his braces. He only got the uppers put on, but didn't allow me to post the picture I took for posterity (and the senior slide show) to be posted here. He's very 13!

Happy weekend, all...