Color FAQs

Stampin’ Up! colors have evolved considerably since the company introduced its coordinated color system. Some colors have remained available for decades, while others have retired, returned, changed collections or appeared temporarily as In Colors. This FAQ explains the major eras and changes in the history of Stampin’ Up! colors and how Colorfully Made displays them.

Stampin’ Up! built its color system around coordination. Cardstock, ink, markers, embellishments, Designer Series Paper and other products could be selected by color name, making it easier for crafters to create projects with matching supplies. This coordinated system is one reason color names such as Real Red, Night of Navy and Old Olive have become so familiar to Stampin’ Up! customers.

A core color is part of the main Stampin’ Up! color collection rather than a temporary In Color collection. Core colors are generally expected to remain available for at least several years. Core Colors, however, also evolve over time.

No. Stampin’ Up! has periodically updated its core palette to reflect changing color trends, improve the balance of its collections and make room for new colors. These updates may introduce entirely new colors, return previously retired colors, promote former In Colors or retire long-standing colors.

The collections help organize colors by their general appearance and intensity. Bright, soft, rich and neutral colors can then be found more easily, while still coordinating across the complete Stampin’ Up! product line. A color’s collection is not necessarily permanent. Some colors have been reassigned when Stampin’ Up! reorganized the overall palette.

Colorfully Made visualizations do showcase colors, such as blacks, grays and whites that have official names, such as “Basic Black” and “White Willow.” However, they do not include generic color names, such as “black” (note the lowercase letter and single-word name) or “white.” They also do not include colors such as “gold” or “silver.” While you will find these colors listed in product descriptions, they are not considered official members of the Stampin’ Up! color family. It’s also important to note these colors may not be consistent over time (in other words, a “white” used in one product may be slightly different than a “white” used in another).

During the earliest years of its exclusive color collection, Stampin’ Up!’s main colors were organized into four families:

• Bold Brights featured vivid, energetic colors.
• Earth Elements included warm, natural and earthy colors.
• Rich Regals contained deeper, more traditional colors.
• Soft Subtles featured lighter, softer and more delicate colors.

Stampin’ Up! created the standalone Basics color group as part of its major 2018 color revamp, which took effect with the 2018–2019 Annual Catalog. Before that change, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Whisper White were classified as part of the Neutrals or Earth Elements collections. In 2018, Stampin’ Up! moved those three foundational colors into a separate Basics group. The change allowed each of the four primary color collections — Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles — to continue containing ten distinctive Stampin’ Up! colors. Removing the foundational black, white and vanilla shades also created room for more colorful choices in Neutrals, including shades such as Merry Merlot, Mossy Meadow and Night of Navy. When Whisper White was discontinued, it was replaced by Basic White in 2021. The Basics group later expanded further with the introduction of Basic Beige in 2024 and White Willow in 2025. Basics is therefore best understood as a group of essential foundation colors rather than a fifth traditional color collection. Its colors are separated from the four main collections so those collections can focus on Stampin’ Up!’s more distinctive hues. Colorfully Made uses the name “Neutrals (Legacy)” to describe the pre-2018 use of the “Neutrals” collection name.

No. Individual colors were added and retired before the major 2010 reorganization. The 2005–2006 catalog period, for example, included a sizable update that introduced or restored colors such as Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand and So Saffron while retiring several earlier colors.

In Colors are limited-time colors designed to reflect current trends in crafting, fashion, home décor and design. They supplement the permanent color collections and give crafters a rotating selection of fresh colors.

The first Stampin’ Up! In Colors appeared in the 2006–2007 Annual Catalog. The original six were Buckaroo Blue, Cool Caribbean, Cranberry Crisp, Marigold Morning, True Thyme and Vintage Violet. For the first several years, Stampin’ Up! introduced a new group of six In Colors for a single catalog year. In 2010, the program changed to groups of five colors that remained active for two years, with a new group introduced each year.

Under the current two-year system, five new In Colors are normally introduced each year. The five colors introduced the previous year remain available for their second year, creating a combined group of ten active In Colors.

These colors normally leave the active In Color collection after their designated period. However, retirement does not mean that a color will never be seen again. A former In Color may later return as a core color or make another limited appearance.

Yes. Several former In Colors proved popular enough to join the core collections. Examples include Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi and Tangerine Tango. Not every former In Color remains in the core collection permanently. A color can be promoted, remain available for several years and still retire during a later refresh.

Yes. Strawberry Slush is one example of a color that originally appeared as an In Color and later returned for another limited In Color period. This demonstrates that Stampin’ Up! may revisit a familiar color when it fits a new palette or trend.

Of the 84 In Colors introduced in completed collections from 2006–2007 through 2021–2023, 32 later became part of the Stampin’ Up! core color collection. That means approximately 38% of eligible In Colors have gone on to become core colors for at least some time. In simpler terms, a little more than one out of every three completed In Colors has eventually joined the core collection. Examples include Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Blackberry Bliss, Misty Moonlight and Fresh Freesia.

The 2010 color update was one of the most significant changes in Stampin’ Up! color history. The older Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals and Soft Subtles families were replaced by four reorganized core collections:

• Brights
• Neutrals
• Regals
• Subtles

The updated system featured 40 core colors, with ten colors in each collection. It combined continuing colors, returning colors, former In Colors and newly introduced colors. This update also reduced the number of colors per collection from 12 to 10 (meaning there were 40 core colors instead of 48). It also reduced the number of In Colors from 6 to 5 per collection.

Notable additions included Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso and Marina Mist. Crumb Cake also became part of the coordinated color line, expanding beyond its earlier association with Kraft cardstock.

The renovation did more than add and retire colors. It also reconsidered how continuing colors should be grouped. A color that had belonged to Earth Elements, Rich Regals or another older family could be placed in Brights, Neutrals, Regals or Subtles under the new system.

The 2013–2014 catalog brought another notable adjustment to the core palette. Several colors retired, while previously available colors such as Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz and Soft Sky returned. Smoky Slate was also added to the color line. This update was smaller than the 2010 update but continued the practice of balancing the core collections with a mixture of new and returning colors.

The 2018–2019 Annual Catalog introduced another major reorganization. Long-standing colors such as Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo, Pink Pirouette, Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi retired. The updated palette introduced colors including Balmy Blue, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Gray Granite, Highland Heather, Petal Pink, Shaded Spruce and Soft Sea Foam. Former colors such as Blackberry Bliss, Coastal Cabana, Mint Macaron, Mossy Meadow and Poppy Parade also returned.

The 2023–2024 refresh again combined retirements, returning favorites and new colors. Returning colors included Blueberry Bushel, Lemon Lime Twist, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight and Pretty Peacock. The refresh also introduced new core choices such as Lemon Lolly and Pecan Pie.

No fixed public schedule guarantees when the next major update will occur. The historical chart shows large changes in 2010, 2013, 2018 and 2023, but smaller adjustments and product changes can occur between those major refreshes.

Stampin’ Up! has announced plans for another color update in 2027. There have been no details released, such as which colors might retired or remain. This update will be coordinated with the transition from foam Stampin’ Pads to a felt design with magnetic case.

A retired color is no longer part of the active coordinated product line. Its cardstock, ink, refills, markers and coordinating accessories are typically discontinued but remain available while supplies last. Retirement describes the color’s current product status. It does not necessarily mean that Stampin’ Up! will never use the color name again.

Yes. Stampin’ Up! has returned many retired colors during later updates. Examples include Blackberry Bliss, Blueberry Bushel, Coastal Cabana, Fresh Freesia, Lemon Lime Twist, Lost Lagoon, Mint Macaron, Misty Moonlight, Mossy Meadow, Poppy Parade and Pretty Peacock.

No. A returning color is evaluated as part of the current palette. It may be assigned to a different collection than it occupied during an earlier appearance.

A color may retire because the overall palette needs better balance, color trends have changed, similar shades overlap or space is needed for new colors. A color can still have devoted fans and be retired as part of a larger collection update.

Several familiar colors have remained in the collection through multiple eras and reorganizations. Examples shown throughout the historical chart include Garden Green, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red. Even long-running colors are not guaranteed to remain forever, but their longevity demonstrates how certain shades have served as anchors within the Stampin’ Up! palette.

It refers to the Annual Catalog cycle rather than a single calendar year. A color listed in the 2023–2024 column was part of the applicable color offering during that catalog period. In 2026, Stampin’ Up! switched from publishing a single annual catalog in the spring to publishing three catalogs per year. From 2026 on, year ranges may be called “catalogs” but are meant to designate a specific one year period (that spans two different calendar years) that a color arrangement is active.

The category shown for each year records how the color was classified during that period. If Stampin’ Up! reorganized the collections, the same color could move from an older family to a modern collection or from an In Color group into the permanent core palette.