Separation Anxiety

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. Even those of us with furry "kids" got in the spirit!

Remember about a week or so ago when I told you about the colors that Stampin' Up! is going to discontinue on July 1, 2010?

Just to refresh your memory, here is a small pictorial - I hope you can read the names ok.












So, this past couple of weeks I've been trying to create, using the new items I've gotten from the Summer mini-catalog.

And I kept inadvertently pulling the Discontinued Colors.

I'm torn with this - do I keep showing you these colors so that you can decide whether or not you need more of something ( card stock, markers, re-inkers, pads, ribbons) before they're no longer available?

Or do I purge my CS of all of these and start showing you only items I've made using the "Carry Over Colors"?

Tonight I decided I would separate the two groups, so that I can make a conscious decision.

I'm still sad to see some of these colors go away. Apricot Appeal has become one of my favorites in the past 5 years.

BUT - I'm excited we're getting some new colors to play with - and I think by my sorting them in a rainbow format, I'll start seeing new color combinations to work with in the future. And I'm excited to see some of the old "In" colors return to our palette.

I found some packets of card stock of some of these colors the other day, have brought them over nearer the "CS pile" so that I'll start remembering I can use them again.

I've received one sheet each of the five new colors, whose names are:
Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Cajon Craze, Marina Mist, and Early Espresso.

I'm sure you can figure out they are: red, yellow, rust, light blue, and dark brown.

But having only one sheet of each color doesn't really give me anything to create with. So, until June 1st, when I can order these in quantity, I'll probably be concentrating on trying to use the Carry Over colors.

HOWEVER - that doesn't preclude me from showing items I've already made that used the Discontinued Colors, OK?

That said, here are some photos of a technique I've been playing around with for the past 2 weeks.

This technique is called Black Magic.

You start by stamping a solid image using White Staz-on on to basic black card stock. Here are several I stamped...


















After you've let the Staz-on ink dry, you can color over the ink, and the color will adhere!

I played with: watercolor crayons, metallic colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and chalks - every one of these medium worked beautifully!

I decided to use this as the main theme of the Stamp Club at our April meeting, (hi ladies!) and knew that they each already had different tools that might work. So, I used even discontinued tools (watercolor pencils and metallic colored pencils) to show them those could be used, if they had them.

They each give a somewhat different look, but I liked all of them. At this point, it becomes a matter of which you prefer, or have on hand.

Here are several of the images, colored...



This first one was done with the watercolor crayons minus any water.

I also spritzed it with Gold Smooch Spritz. You may be able to see sprinkles of in on the black card stock. It's available in the Summer mini and comes in 4 different colors.

That was fun to play with, too! And I managed to get it all over everything! LOL I guess you're supposed to confirm WHICH WAY the nozzle is pointed BEFORE you spray!! {grin}






This one was done with the Chalks.

I felt a little more in control with the watercolor crayons, but I have to admit, the chalk one came out quite beautifully! I used Q-tips to apply the chalks, just like we've been doing for years.

After I finished the technique I layered several colors of card stock, and added a bow.






I've been playing around with the burnishing technique as well, and will post some more photos of those samples in the future.

I used items from the Summer mini for a couple of graduation cards I made over the weekend, but I'm not going to show them to you for about a week. I want to make sure the recipients receive them before I unveil them to you.

So, what have YOU been stamping lately? Have you seen something in the Summer mini-catalog that you just HAVE to have? Let me know!

El Nino Strikes Again

We're supposed to have a big storm in the next two days. It's APRIL! We seldom get rain at this time of the year. But we welcome it, any time it wants to come...

The patio roof is gone. Taken down in about 2 hours. Friday or Saturday the jack hammering starts to remove existing, cracked, cement.

And, of course, now that the patio project has been started, they called today to tell me the shower pan will arrive tomorrow. We started the patio project because the shower pan wasn't supposed to be here for another two weeks yet! Geesh! The best laid plans...

But now that the patio cover is gone, it's going to be REALLY sunny in the kitchen, so guess we'll continue down that path, and the master bath will just wait...

I've gotten some of the items that will be offered in the upcoming Summer mini-catalog, but honestly, I haven't had time nor energy to even play with much of it! Have started a couple things, but they're not finished, so will continue to show you things I've already got completed. Most of them feature things from the Occasions mini, which is in effect until April 30th. See something you like? You can still order it!

I haven't mentioned as yet, the upcoming Color Renovation that Stampin' Up! announced to the demonstrators last week.

I was in shock for several days. Some of my favorite colors are being discontinued.

Here's a snapshot of those being discontinued:












I hope you can read all the color's names. LOTS of discontinued colors. Several of which are my "go to" colors. So, I'm a little sad about that.

Here's another view of the colors being discontinued:













And here's a visual (minus new colors) of the Core (or Carry Over) Colors:













But, I'm very excited about the changes! I have received one sheet of each of the 5 new colors that will be unveiled in July, which will become a part of the new Core Colors we'll offer.

The names of the new colors: Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, and Marina Mist. I'll leave their hues to your imagination for the moment...

Some of the new Core (or Carry Over) colors were previously "In" colors which are returning! I'm excited to be able to use them again.

Three of this year's "In" colors will stay: Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, and Rich Razzleberry. I liked ALL this year's "In" colors immediately, so I'm glad some will stick around.

Other "In" colors we'll be able to play with again are: River Rock. Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, and Riding Hood Red.

In addition, we'll get five new "In" colors. Haven' seen anything but their names as yet, so my imagination is running wild.

Let me take this moment to remind you to go through your existing pads, markers, re-inkers, chalks, etc and MAKE SURE, if you want any of the colors being discontinued, that you order them NOW!

Do NOT wait until the Discontinued List comes out in mid-June and be disappointed because the items you want/need are gone!

=====

Here's a card I worked up earlier this month. I'd intended to use it for my brother's birthday card, but changed my mind at the last minute. Still think it's a cute card, though!


Nature's Nest, Inspired by Nature, Bermuda Bay ribbon, Chocolate Chip CS, So Saffron CS, Certainly Celery CS... Used the Pinking Hearts punch, and a Chocolate Chip Sending Love epoxy brad from the Occasions mini...

I popped the turtle up with some dimensionals to add a little visual interest.



So, are you RUNNING to your craft space to take inventory of what you'll need to purchase so you have complete sets of the Discontinued colors?

Just because I won't be featuring these colors after July 1st doesn't mean YOU can't USE them after that!

And if you have a re-inker for all your pads, you'll still be able to get years of use from them.

Do your inventory and let me know what you need! You can call, email, or place an on-line order for any and all items you'd like.

OH - and something I need to remind you about. There's a continuously changing Clearance Rack that's available ONLY through an on-line order. So don't forget to check that out occasionally. You can click on the link on the left side bar of this blog to access the Clearance Rack.

Last week I saw the Raspberry Tart DSP listed there - did you need some more of that? The Clearance Rack is the place you'll need to go!

Happy stampin'!