Today is our blog hop retirement party

Hello and welcome to our blog hop retirement party! Hi to all of you who've joined me from Caroline's blog (if you haven't, then don't worry you'll end up there on your way back around the hop). I hope you loved what she created as much as I did. Her card sets are gorgeous but that bag is just to die for! Got to have a go at casing that.

Our aim today is to inspire you with a few ideas for using retiring stamp sets and colours. If you'd like to get hold of any of these, then just check out the Last Chance List and email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com.

My projects for you today are a quick and simple thank you card and a little Christmas set perfect to gift to a friend before the holidays.

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: Green Galore, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

Punches: 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Brads (Bold Brights)

This month True Friend has a 50% discount and costs just £10.98 (while stocks last). The base card is an A6 portrait card in Green Galore. Using Pink Passion ink I stamped the True Friend sentiment direct to the Pixie Pink card front and added a border all round with the Nat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool. Each of the other stamps in the set were inked direct to stamp with Pink Passion and Pixie Pink markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. These were punched out with the 1-1/4" Circle and matted onto Green Galore card punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle. The circles were popped up on dimensionals and the card was finished with brads.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas

Textured Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Plain Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red

Punches: 5-Petal Flower

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: Brads (Soft Subtles)

Spotlight on Christmas currently has a 25% discount and is just £14.21 (again while stocks last). I've used it for all elements of the gift set, the box and each of the four cards. The card box was made following Joanne's tutorial over at In Love With Stamping, using Handsome Hunter textured card. Using Handsome Hunter ink, the oval sentiment was stamped onto Whisper White card and the number added with the journaling end of a matching marker. Swirls were added around the edges with Sage Shadow ink. This was matted direct to textured Sage Shadow card and popped up on dimensionals on the front of the box base. The poinsettia was stamped in Ruby Red and again in Handsome Hunter onto Whisper White card and punched out with the 5-Petal Flower punch. The two flowers were layered together and secured with Apricot Appeal brads from the Soft Subtle collection and popped up on dimensionals. The box closure is Whisper White ribbon.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Punch: Small Tag

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Each little card is made in the same way, just varying the colours and punch shapes (recipes for each are given below). The card base is a 3.5" square of Creamy Caramel. A 3" square Close to Cocoa mat was punched with the Small Tag and adhered centrally direct to the card base. The Small Tag was punched again through the existing aperture (the punches can manage one sheet of card at a time). The sentiment on the Christmas Punches Three stamp was inked direct to stamp with the Close to Cocoa marker, stamped onto Whisper White card and punched out with the Small Tag. The edges were sponged lightly with Creamy Caramel ink and the Tag popped up on a dimensional in the opposite corner to the aperture. A Whisper White insert was added and the December 25 image stamped in Close to Cocoa ink through the aperture and again onto the envelope. Whisper White taffeta ribbon was coloured with a Creamy Caramel marker, tied into a bow and added to the card front with a glue dot.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue

Punch: Large Star

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Punch: 1-1/4" Circle

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White

Ink: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral

Punch: 5-Petal Flower

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Now I'll pass you on to next step of the blog hop which is the super talented Kim. She's got some gorgeous birds on a branch to show you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx