My top ten Stampin Up retirement lists!

I like to do this every year, go through and really pick out what are the must haves that are retiring this year!  Based on my past 15 years of experience and since I've had a look at the new catalog I hope you will find my insights useful in deciding any last minute items you might want to add to your paper crafting collection. Here goes!

Stamp sets: Okay you all know I am sucker for words! So these are my top 10 word sets that I would recommend to you! 

Teeny tiny wishes is a set I will keep forever, it has every possible holiday you could ever need!

Thoughts and prayers has been around a long time, and the classic tree and flowers won't date themselves the words are timeless, thoughtful and perfect for your cards!

Heartfelt sympathy set has words wrapped with leaves and flowers and you need only that to make your card lovely and appreciated by anyone who receives it going through a loss.

Guy greetings is a classic set for the men in your life, minus the weird mustache dude it is a must have! ;)

Sprinkles of life is another set that has been around awhile, it has wonderful verses and don't forget the tree builder punch that matches it. A classic set! 

Rose wonder is one of my favorites, the verses are perfect for multiple occasions, and while you don't need the retiring matching framelits, if you own a big shot they are a nice compliment to the beautiful cards you can create with this set. 

I love the big words in this set called Layering love! 

Here for you is one of my top verse sets, it just conveys all those things that are hard to come up with words for close friends and family.

Celebrate you is just so stinking cute, I caved, even though I didn't need it, it's cuteness just captured me! Great words and fun to color! You can also cut those cute little critters apart so you can us them separately on your cards! 

So many shells is just beautiful two step stamping that gives an instant wow to your cards and the verses are beautiful!

Now onto my #1 weakness: PAPER!

Be Merry designer paper has nice simple Christmas designs and colors! 

Foil frenzy is just plain sparkly goodness!

Fresh florals is a really lovely, classy print of flowers with gorgeous still current in colors!

Coffee break? Need I say more? No really if you have the framelits they cut out the coffee pots and mugs!

Picture perfect 6x6 designer series stack is so neat with the real life photos and fun geometric designs on the back!

I probably shouldn't but I just gotta say goodbye to some of my favorite retiring colors.

Perfect plum! Love this color of purple!

Tempting Turquoise-I do feel like I'm losing an old trusted friend! 

Losing Chocolate chip is going to make it hard to make my chocolate cards look like chocolate anymore! :(

Island indigo is a hard one to lose, I will miss it's subtlety as navy is so dark and the newer colors are pretty bright!  :(

I know this is just black cardstock, but it is the 12x12 and it's going to be missed for larger projects and scrapbooking (I did stock up today!)

Okay I've got to move on from these papers and retiring colors!

So here are the retiring framelits that if you have a big shot or die cutting machine then you really need these!

Hearth and home, if you don't have a window, this one is wonderful!

Home sweet home! Just look on pinterest and you will squeal with all the adorable things you can create with this!

Rose Garden, along with the retiring stamp set Rose wonder, these just create the prettiest cards!

This Bloomin' heart is just so pretty on cards and doesn't need the stamp set that coordinates with it, it is just beautiful on it's own!

Popcorn box, can I once again say look this up on pinterest, it is amazing all the different boxes you can make with this! It's not just for popcorn!

Butterflies thinlits is another one that can stand alone but the watercolor wings stamp set that coordinates with it is really gorgeous. There is also the Bold butterflies thinlits that are listed below!

Bold butterflies another lovely stand alone but again the retiring watercolor wings stamp set really compliments these!

Boxes, bags and more the Mini treat bag thinlits is full of countless possibilities! Again, check out pinterest! Did I say boxes and bags?! Another must have and my favorite of all the bags and boxes thinlits! Trust me! 

Lots of labels lends itself to die cutting larger images to small words, it is a MUST HAVE! Trust me!

While this is not a thinlit it is a big shot must have:

Brick wall embossing folder. I am seriously hitting a brick wall trying to figure out why this classic would retire?!

Tools and such:

I've only got 5 of these but they are worth 10! :)

Color caddy: If you own a lot of ink pads and don't have a way to store them this is the best! I love how it spins and has everything readily available for me on my desk with reinkers on top!

1 3/8" circle punch, you simply need any circle punch in existence! 

Pansy punch, oh and you need any flower punch in existence too! This also has a retiring coordinating stamp set that is really nice to have called Flower shop!  

1/16th inch hand held punch, I love this size and am sad to see it go, but I'll keep on using mine anyways!

Tree builder punch, this punch coordinates with the retiring Sprinkles of life set I recommended above. It has so many other possibilities too, just search on pinterest! 

And last but not least are retiring bundles. Most of the separate items themselves aren't retiring with one exception, but the chance to get them at a discount is. 

The one exception is this: Truly Tailored bundle: The stamp set is retiring, but the punch is not! I do recommend the stamp set with this for the masculine side of this punch! 

Beautiful bouquet bundle has lovely words and verses along with beautiful flowers! 

Label me pretty bundle: I love punch bundles and matching words!  

Wood words bundle: This one gives a wonderful country charm to your gifts and cards! 

Coffee cafe bundle, along with the retiring same name designer paper this is a must have for the coffee lover!

At home with you is a great bundle that looks great for all seasons for your cards!

Daisy delight bundle is another beautiful punch bundle!

Hold onto Hope bundle a great encouraging bundle that is so lovely! The crosses in the framelits can be cut so many different ways!

Oh and I forgot here is my final must have BUNDLE, but it is RETIRING and won't be in the new catalog:

You move me! I know it's a little more challenging to do the grid but if you use either the new precision platform, or shims with wax paper or dryer sheets it will turn out perfect. The retiring mini treat bag thinlits goes great with this set but you can also use a standard folding card and some punches. This one wows the receiver! Seeing the butterfly and hummingbird fly across the card is amazing! You can use other stamp sets with it too!