Just in case you’ve missed the buzz, we’re fast heading towards a new annual catalogue (launching 1 June) and have a bunch of products that are retiring to make way for the new.

A question I often get asked around now is “what do I do with ribbons that are retiring”?

Our Stampin’ Up! ribbons are really lush and of course they’re designed to match our card and ink colours, so although a ribbon may be retiring, it’s corresponding colours may remain current for several more years, so the matching ribbons are great to keep around.

On the other hand, for my blog projects I prefer to use products that I know you can get hold of and so I often move my retired ribbon stash into my gift wrap box. Here’s an example of how I used it recently.

This Very Vanilla Subtle Striped Satin Ribbon (and also the Sliver Cording Trim) retired in January from our Autumn/Winter catalogue but was just the thing for wrapping this elegant boxed gift for my SIL’s birthday. And I was able to create a tag to match.

The Ornate Tag Topper punch (retiring) was used to punch tags from Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla card. A leaf and flowers were die cut from more of the same card with the Botanical Builder framelits, assembled and popped up on the tag with dimensionals. After tying the tags together with Silver Cording Trim, the flower was finished with a Basic Pearl.

After tying the box with the Vanilla ribbon the tag was tied onto the ribbon. The vanilla tag gives an extra layer to write on that can be seen and read easily, rather than the dark purple.

No wasted ribbon – even after it’s retired!

Sara xx