With the big color renovation coming in the new catalog, I thought I would post some information on the upcoming changes and then some color tips and ideas about color and inks in general.

Place your order for retiring colors as soon as possible!

First, some information about the transition to the new color groupings and deadlines to order. If you are planning on stocking up on specific colors before they retire, you should place your order as soon as possible. Stampin’ Up had intended to place the retiring colors on a first come, first served basis after May 31st, but demand for the retiring colors has been much higher than previous retirements and so the paper inventory could be depleted much sooner than expected. Ink refills can be back ordered and so those will be available till the end of May and then orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis as all other retiring, non stamp items will be. They will fill orders for paper as long as possible, substituting textured card stocks as colors run out. To order new inventories now, will interfere with the manufacturing of the new colors and so they have had to move up the out of stock deadline on the paper.

Updating your current color sets

Some of you may be wondering about how you will update your current color sets to the new color groups. Stampin’ Up! will be offering several kits that will update your existing color sets to the new color groupings. For instance, if you have the current Many Marvelous Marker set with all 48 colors, you will have the opportunity to purchase a kit that will include all of the new colors and returning In Colors as well as a new insert for your marker case. If you have the chalks or watercolor crayons, you will be able to purchase a kit that will have the new colors and new cases to contain them. All of our current color products will have update kits available for those who wish to update their color collections.

Some things to consider about the retiring colors

To stock up or not? On the one hand, you have already invested in pads and paper to match and now those colors will no longer be available. Should you stock up on everything or just use it up and replace it with the new colors eventually?

First, consider why we are making this renovation. Many of the colors were just not popular, at all and often there were many variations of one color and some were just never as popular as others. Many are very outdated. Take the Bold Bright collection, for instance. Most of those colors are going away, but there will still be a similar color, in an updated version. Originally, I thought I would stock up on these. I needed my Sesame Street Colors! But I soon realized that the colors replacing these will work very well, they are just more vibrant and current versions of those colors. Pacific Point is perfect for Cookie Monster and Daffodil delight will be closer for Big Bird (less neon)!

There are a couple of options here. You could purchase an ink refill and a couple of packs of paper, to make your investment last as long as possible or you could just use up your current supplies and replace them with the updated color when they run out. If you have a lot of paper, you may want to purchase a re-inker for your pad, so that you will have ink to match while you use it up.

In the instance where colors are very close in values, there is the option of using up the current color and then rinsing the pad thoroughly, letting it dry and inking it with the new color that is close to it. YoYo yellow could be transitioned  to the new Daffodil color for instance. Mellow Moss could be transitioned to Sahara Sand or River Rock.

If you love purples, in particular lighter variations, you probably would want to stock up on a re-inker and paper. For this catalog season anyway, there won’t be a light purple in the mix. You may also want to look at whether there is a color that remains that is similar to the color going away and transition to that. Also consider that your existing colors of pads may still co-ordinate with current papers, even if they do not match exactly.

Keep in mind that the new colors are gorgeous, and very up to date and trendy, so you will find plenty of new colors to fall in love with. But if a color is going away that you love, love, love, by all means pick up a re-inker and a couple of paper packs so you won’t be kicking yourself later.

My favorite color tips

• Buy the Ink refill when you purchase the pad. There is nothing more frustrating than opening a pad you haven’t used in a while and realizing that it needs to be re-inked and now you have to place an order for 1 bottle of ink and wait for it to arrive.
• As I mentioned earlier, don’t throw away retired pads. Re-ink them with a color that is similar.
• Don’t feel you have to own all 40 colors! The new configuration co-ordinates better across all 4 groups, so choose the colors you love and make your own favorite groupings. Remember that we will have new In Colors introduced each year and those colors will be available for two years, so there will be plenty of opportunities to update your palette and keep it current and fresh.
• Vary your color choices, invest in full size pads in colors you will use frequently and in spots or markers and re-inkers for those you use less often.
• Use Ink refills to create your own pads (baby wipe technique), extend the life of your markers, water color images, etc.

Here is a sneak peek at the new colors!

It’s hard to get the exact colors in a photo, so I have shown a comparison to some of the other colors. I think you will see that the new colors are a gorgeous improvement and work so much better with  colors across the color groupings. Enjoy!

*returning In Colors

**retiring colors

This is a fairly simple card that features the Medallion stamp set and the new Lattice impressions folder. I love these folders, such a wonderful way to add texture to your projects. This new folder has a neat design and I actually like it on both sides! I reversed it on this card so that the sentiment would show up a little better.

Stampin’ Stuff
Stamps: Medallion and Thoughts and Prayers
Inks: Basic Gray and Sahara Sand Classic Inks
Paper: Basic Gray, Sahara Sand and Whisper White card stock
Fun Stuff: Big Shot and Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder, Basic Gray satin ribbon, Pretties Kit

It’s National Scrapbooking month and Stampin’ Up! is celebrating with free brads! During the month of May, if you purchase any of the following sets or the My Digital Studio software, you can choose from four sets of designer brads. See the product details in the charts below. I personally must have the new Rough Type alphabet from the new mini catalog, along with those mini vintage tags AND free brads! Now that is a FAB thing!

Stamp sets

*From Summer Mini Catalog
**Last Chance stamp set!

My Digital Studio software

*From Summer Mini Catalog

Designer brads

The new Summer Mini Catalog is here and I am offering another Keep the Stamps Hostess Opportunity!  Here are the details!

Your stamp camp attendees will be making the following cards. To qualify for the hostess goodies on this camp you will need to have a minimum of 7 campers (or 7 camp units) Each camp unit is 5 stacks of 5 cards for $25. Your campers will choose 5 stacks from the 3 designs shown here. As hostess you will collect the camp fees in advance and turn them in with any outside orders you may have gathered. You will receive all the pre-cut supplies and stamps needed to complete your projects and you get to keep the stamps and accessories used at your workshop! Additional outside orders will increase your hostess benefits earned. Additional camp units do not count as outside orders.

This is a great opportunity for hostesses who don’t live near me to be able to offer stamp camp and a full workshop atmosphere to their friends. If you live too far away for me to deliver your supplies you can still qualify for this camp, contact me for details on the minimum requirements.

This is what you will earn as hostess

Medallion stamp set

Itty Bitty Bits stamp set (summer mini)

Itty Bitty Punch Pack (summer mini)

1/2 inch circle punch

Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Elegant Bouquet embossing folder

Chocolate chip Ink pad and refill

Pale Plum ink pad

So Saffron ink pad

Rich Razzleberry pad

A level 1 hostess item of your choice

pre cut paper and ribbon

Contact me if you would like host your own event!

Here is another stamp camp card. This set is so much fun. It makes stunning, quick and easy cards. I love the borders that Stampin’ Up! has been including in some of the sets.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Pennant Park

Ink: Mellow Moss and Soft Suede classic inks

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke card stock and retired DSP

Fun Stuff: Pinking Hearts border punch, Small Oval  and Designer label punches, corner rounder

I have a busy weekend with my nieces Wedding and a friends baby shower, so I won’t be posting tomorrow for the kick off to National Scrapbooking Month, but I’ll have some fun stuff to post next week so check back often!

Happy Stampin

A quick post here with a card we made for last month’s stamp camp. I love the Bloomin’ Beautiful set and the scalloped border frames it so nicely! That sweet little bee hovering over the flowers adds a fun touch. The paper is from the Tea Party DSP, love that stuff!

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Well Scripted and Bloomin’ Beautiful

Ink: Black StazOn, Almost Amethyst, Old Olive and Crushed Curry refills

Paper: Whisper White and Almost Amethyst card stock and Tea Party DSP

Fun Stuff: Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches, Aquapainters

And now a quick announcement……

We will be Scrapbooking at the Community Center again!

The format will be different than in the past. There will be no formal class and therefore no class fee!  Everyone will bring their own supplies and just get together and scrap.  We will be meeting on the 4th Thursday of each month beginning May 27th from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. We will still have an RSVP format, so let me know if you plan to attend!

I will be offering scrap kits that will be available for purchase here for those who would like to have something planned for them to do that night. The kits will include all of the consumable supplies needed to make a two page spread and I will bring the inks and tools needed to complete any of the kits that are pre-ordered, so that you can finish them that evening.

Happy Stampin’

Today I have a sweet and simple card for you and My Don’t Miss Picks for the retiring Occasions Mini Catalog which will expire next Friday.

This card features the Crazy for Cupcakes set and our Sweat Pea designer paper stack which I’ll talk about more in a minute. Quick coloring with Stampin Write Markers, a little glitter and punched accents pull this card together in a hurry.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink: Black StazOn and Rose Red, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Mellow Moss Markers

Paper: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Whisper White card stock and Sweet Pea DSP

Fun Stuff: Scalloped edge punch, Scalloped Square punch, Scalloped Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Rose Red grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, sponge

Don’t Miss your favorite sets and accessories from the Occasions Mini catalog, which is good through April 30th. We all have favorites that are influenced by our own personal taste and if you see a must have set in any of the Mini Catalogs, I highly recommend that you order it before the mini retires. Only a few of the mini catalog sets make it into the big catalog to be offered again. I can’t tell you how many times I have people tell me they wished they had ordered a particular set before it was gone.

As I said earlier, what constitutes have to have for most of us is a matter of personal taste, so I will reserve my Don’t Miss Picks for those sets that I feel are unique and good multipurpose sets for any stamping Library. You can view the mini catalog by clicking on the link in my sidebar or going to my online store in the Shop Now section.

My first pick would be the Well Scripted set. This set has such a nice font that it doesn’t just add a lovely touch to your cards, it can become the focal point and make for quick and easy cards. My next two set picks are actually individual stamps. I think the Chocolate Bunny stamp is so unique and fun that it belongs in every stamping library and the Butterfly Accent works perfectly with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die (which is also a must have for me, but Stampin’ Up! has already announced that it will be available after this mini expires).

The next item on my list is the Chat Room rub-ons. Many times my rub-on stash has saved me with the perfect sized or worded sentiment. For those of you who may not own a lot of sentiment stamps, these will come in handy time and time again. They are very versatile and inexpensive.

The last item I am going to focus on is the Sweet Pea Designer Paper Stack. These papers use eight of our most popular colors which make them very versatile. I love the patterns and if one side of these double sided beauties isn’t your cup of tea, chances are the other side will be. The biggest plus for these though, is the wonderful value. You get 48 pieces in this stack, which is equal to 4 of our standard DSP packs that would cost around $40. This stack is only $24.95 which makes it almost half the price. Love that!

Of course I had to have a whole lot more than what I have listed here, but I think these will be the items that people will be wishing they hadn’t missed later. My personal must haves were Tote-ally Tess and the Vintage Vogue sets!

Hello! It has been a couple of weeks since I posted last, I have been working on several projects that will be revealed over the next few days. I have also been working on a few personal projects that upon completion, will hopefully free me up to post a little more regularly. One project that I had just finished before the color renovation was announced, was to completely reorganize my stamp room and closets. I am thrilled to say that I finally have things the way I want them for a while, (I can never leave well enough, alone for too long).  Of course, since we will have new color families with the new catalog  I’ll have to change a few things around again, but that will be fun with all of the new colors coming!

This is the Awash with flowers set that is being offered as a special sneak peek set. It is a two step set and I really love the whimsical flowers. This is one I’ll use a lot from the new catalog. Can you believe that it is already time to start talking about the new catalog?!? I can’t believe the year has flown by so fast. I really do prefer the way we are showcasing new product and seasonal items in the mini catalogs now, with the one big catalog highlighting all of our core products that are offered year round. The Summer Mini Catalog should be showing up in your mailbox this week (if you are a catalog club member). It has some wonderful new things, but that means the Occasions Mini Catalog will be expiring at the end of this month, so be sure to order those must have items before it is too late! I’ll post my Don’t Miss picks tomorrow.

Of course, that means that this months two step promotion will be expiring in a few days as well, so don’t miss those sets for 20% off.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Awash with Flowers, On Your Birthday

Ink: Black StazOn, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery Classic Inks

Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White card stock

Fun Stuff: Big Shot and Top Note Die, Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder and Certainly Celery twill ribbon

OK! Here are  a few things to stay tuned for, over the next few days and weeks!

StampFest 2010 dates and details, details on a new scrapbook night at the community center, a new Keep the Stamps stamp camp featuring items from the new Summer Mini Catalog, projects from the new mini catalog, details on the retiring list and new catalog and more! So stay tuned…..