Fond Farewell!

Welcome to the Stampin' Pretty Pals June hop! This month, we're bidding a "Fond Farewell" to some of our old friends, the 30 retiring colors of Stampin' Up!'s Color Renovation!

If you've hopped over from Barbara Furlong from The Love of Stampin!, welcome! I'm stop number 4 on the PALS HOP and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find inspirational ideas for papercrafted creations from Mary Fish's Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hope Line-Up at the bottom of this post and you'll be back on track!

In honor of the retiring colors, we'll be presenting projects using the 30 colors, some of which are my favorites! Plus, we're offering Blog CanDEE at each stop on the hop! Visit each of the 17 Stampin' Pretty Pals and leave a comment to their specific posted question and you'll have not one, but 17 chances to win some great Stampin' Up! goodies! Now that's something to celebrate!

Today I'm showcasing cards using Stampin' Up!'s Top Note, which isn't retiring, but is a basic tool that makes a great background and gives a splash of color to any card. I'm going to show you a few different styles so you can see how versatile the Top Note is, not to mention quick and easy! All of the colors I'm using today are retiring, with the exception of Kraft on my last card. As you may know, Kraft will be changing to Crumb Cake with the color renovation in July. The stamps that I'll be using are all from sets on the Last Chance list.

DEEsign 1: Fun and Playful

DEEtails: I started with a Ballet Blue card and added a Gable Green Top Note. I made flowers using my 1 1/4", 1", and 3/4" circle punches and created monochromatic flowers with Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue, Really Rust, Only Orange, Pink Passion, and Pixie Pink card stock. I stacked the circles randomly, then added buttons from my stash "threaded" with thin slivers or Yoyo Yellow card stock. I cut Green Galore strips for stems and punched "leaves" using the wing on my bird punch. I stamped the sentiment from my A Little Birthday Cheer set on Pink Passion card stock, then punched it out with Modern Label punch. This card was fun to make because it didn't require too much thinking because it doesn't need to be perfect! I literally stuck the stems, flowers, and leaves on any which way and it just worked! I love an easy card like that!

DEEsign 2: Sweet and Pretty


DEEtails: I started with a Going Gray card and added layers of Lovely Lilac and Almost Amethyst mats and a piece of Bella Birds Designer Series Paper. I stamped the sentiment from my Bella's Bloom set onto an Almost Amethyst Top Note and cut it down to just a small portion of the shape. I added three little blossoms punched from my Itty Bitty Punches and dabbed with little rhinestones from my stash. I finished off the card with a fluffy Basic Gray satin bow.

DEEsign 3: Bright and Cheerful

DEEtails: I added a little texture with this card by running my Brocade Blue Top Note through a polka-dot embossing folder and adhered it to my Summer Sun card. Then I stamped the sentiment from my Wow Flowers set in VersaMark and embossed it. Then I punched it out with my 1 1/4" circle. I adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I created several circles in various yellow tones - Summer Sun, Yoyo Yellow, and Barely Banana. I cut segments from my circles and pieced them onto the card.

DEEsign 4: Simple and Masculine

DEEtails: I love Kraft cards, so I had to include one in this line up. I'm so excited to see Kraft become a REAL SU! color! I added a Sage Shadow mat and another layer of Kraft card stock, lined up on the left side of the card. Then I added a strip of Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain ribbon. I stamped images from the Very Thankful set in Chocolate Chip, then centered and embossed the sentiment to create this look. I cut off the end of the Top Note and adhered my stamped piece to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Now that you've seen four quick and easy to make cards in some very different styles, are you ready for some Blog CanDEE?

I'm giving away Top Notes in each of the 30 retiring colors, plus 6 Kraft cards and Whisper White envelopes.

These goodies will go to one lucky winner who comments below and answers this question:

What is your favorite Carryover Color from Stampin' Up!'s Color Renovation?

My favorite color is definitely Kraft, which will soon be Crumb Cake. I'm so excited to see ink and Stampin' Write markers in this color!

For your chance to win these goodies, please leave me a comment at the end of this post by 4:00 PM EST, Friday June 11th. I'll announce a random winner in the US on Sunday, June 13th. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me after their name is announced. Good luck!

Want to stock up on the retiring colors or last chance stamp sets? Place an order of $150 or more (of any SU! product) with me during the month on June, and you'll get the Stampin' Up! Top Note die (a $21.95 value) for free, my treat! Just e-mail your order to deesignsbyninadee@gmail.com anytime during the month of June to take advantage of this special offer.

Now, hop on over to check out Debbie Pierce at Stampin' Sunshine, stop number 5 on the "Fond Farewell" Pals hop! Be sure to visit each of the Pretty Pals for more fun and inspiration ideas, and more chances to win!

1. Liz Hughes at DIY Paper Creations
2. Gina Shaw at Cards by Gina
3. Barbara Furlong at The Love of Stamping
4. You're here! :)
5. Debbie Pierce at Stampin' Sunshine
6. The Stampin' Schach, Ann Schach
7. Melanie Collins at Oops a Daisy
8. Kim Lampone at Stamp, Scrap and Get Kreative
9. Mike Funke at Stampin-Style
10. Regina Mangum, The Stampin' Bean
11. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons
12. Anne Eicher at Creative Cards by Anne Marie
13. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
14. Carla Bazhenow at Carla's Scraps
15. Joanna Munster at Inspired by Stampin'
16. Margaret Moody's Blog
17. Martha Stewart at Seasons of Stamping

Thanks for hopping by! :)