Yup, still trying to use up those 6 sheets of Rebecca Designer Series Paper! I decided that if I have any hope of using it up, I'm going to have to create some scrapbook pages since it's easier to use large quantities of patterned paper on them. The layout ideas for these two page come from AnnMarie Bryant who runs a great Facebook group: Scrapbooking the day away! She provides monthly challenges and offers a space for scrappers to share. This month, she is doing daily layout ideas.

Once again, I used the Rebecca DSP with Sahara Sand (still available) and Chocolate Chip (retired) cardstock. I added brads from the Hodpodge Hardware kit (retired). The circles are cut with the Layering Circles dies (still available). The two lettering stamp sets are both retired and stamped with Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip ink. 

To create the stitching around the outside, I used my old tool kit that Stampin' Up! used to sell when eyelets were popular. There is a plastic template in it to help you punch even holes. I poked through all the holes and then used a Sahara Sand marker to draw a line through them to look like stitching. 

While the stamps and paper are no longer available, Stampin' Up! has many great options that would work as well! I hope the pages inspire you to create your own layouts and use up your stash!

Since I am focusing on using up my stash in the month of April, I will also be talking about some issues that come up with really old supplies. My first topic: the shelf life of embossing powder.

Does embossing powder go bad? This question is raised often in various rubber stamping communities and the opinions vary. Some people will say that embossing powder absolutely goes bad after a couple years. Personally, I have found that it depends. I have a number of powders and many of them are from 2005-2010. Most of these powders are generally fine. 

However, as I've delved back into stamping, I did notice that I was getting poor results from my white embossing powder. I finally purchased a new jar so I can share some comparisons with you. 

The jar on the left is my new jar and the jar on the right is my old jar of white embossing powder. It is hard to see in the picture, but there is a definite difference in color. The older powder has a yellowed look to it. You can also see that the older powder is clumpier. Now, often embossing powder will clump and it's not a big deal. However, I think the extra clumps in my older powder represent the general clumpiness of it, to the point that it does stick evenly to my image when I apply it. 

In this picture, the top image uses my new embossing powder and the bottom uses the old embossing powder. Again, you can see a difference in color between the two. However, you can also see the difference in coverage. While it is normal to have an uneven application when using a bold stamp, the one on the bottom has much larger spaces that aren't covered and just looks lumpier. This is representative of the way this older embossing powder has been acting for me since I have started stamping again.

My final decision is that while some powders may still work fine after years, others may not. If your embossing powder isn't acting the way you expect it to or isn't giving you as nice of images as your other powders, you may want to consider replacing it.