You're Priceless OnStage Atlanta swap card

Swapping is a big part of all Stampin' Up! events and I was involved in two organized swaps plus some general swaps.  Over the next few days I will be sharing the swaps that I made as well as showing you some of the swaps I received.  Swapping is a great way to get ideas and also some samples of stamp sets that perhaps I don't have.

Today's swap is one I made for an organized swap.  For this swap we were to use something from the annual catalog and it was for full cards.  I decided to use the You're Priceless stamp set.  This stamp set and the Designer Series Paper I used are all retiring so if you'd like to get these, you should order right away while they are still available.  (Edited to note:  the paper is retiring and will sell out quickly!).  I know that when I first saw this stamp set in the catalog, I didn't get it immediately.  It was gifted to me by my upline, Jessica Taylor, and I'm so happy she gave it to me.  Sometimes we just can't see the possibilities of certain stamp sets!  And I liked that it coordinated with the Naturally Eclectic suite and the Eclectic Layers Thinlits.  Fun!

                      

I wanted to do something a little different on the inside so I stamped the sentiment twice, offsetting it just a little.  I'm happy with how it turned out!

You can get all the details and printable instructions here.

Product List

 

 

You're Priceless Swap Card

You repricelessonstageswap

this was a card I made for an OnStage Atlanta swap

NEW Items added to Clearance Rack

                  

 

Stampin' Up! has added new items to the Clearance RackSavings of up to 60% are available but only as long as supplies last!  So don't delay if you want any of these great deals!

 

If you place an order that is below $150, please use the Host Code HY7EQVS3 to be entered into my monthly drawing.  This month I have a new In Color ink pad (Grapefruit Grove) to gift to one of you.

 

                                             

 

Color Revamp!

 

If you checked out the retiring list, you might have wondered just what the heck was going on...so many colors retiring, all the ink pads.  Well, there is a color revamp--everyone had been speculating when we'd have a color refresh and it's here in the new catalog!  All the ink pads are retiring because we are getting new, easier to open ink pads

And they stack!  Also retiring is the Basic Black archival ink and the Basic Gray archival.  They are bringing back Stazon to use instead ( frankly, I prefer that anyway!).  

So what colors are they bringing in to replace those retiring colors (Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Dapper Denim, Elegant Eggplant, Emerald Envy, Island Indigo, Marina Mist, Peekaboo Peach, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Soft Sky, Sweet Sugarplum, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, and Wisteria Wonder)????

Well, they are bringing back some older colors:  Poppy Parade, Coastal Cabana, Mossy Meadow, Mint Macaron, and Blackberry Bliss!   They are also keeping Flirty Flamingo.

And there are some new colors as well.  Here are the colors that we'll be having in the new catalog:

I'm so happy!  Some of my favorite colors are coming back--Coastal Cabana, Mint Macaron, and Mossy Meadow!  And I know a lot of people will be happy for Blackberry Bliss.

Paper Pumpkin Sneak Peek

Right now Stampin' Up! is running a 50% off your first two months of Paper Pumpkin.  This is for first-time subscribers only.  Use the code SAVEFIFTY0418 to take advantage of this great deal!  You must subscribe by April 10 to get the April kit.

                                

I was in Atlanta this past weekend for OnStage (Stampin' Up! event which introduced us to the new annual catalog coming out in June).  There they had a display with a sneak peek of the April and May Paper Pumpkins. 

Just a hint...If you love lighthouses or nautical items, then you definitely want to order the April kit!  The May kit is a more masculine kit suitable for Father's Day or masculine cards.

Don't miss out--subscribe now!  SAVEFIFTY0418 is the code to use to get your kits at 50% off!  Click here or you can click on the Paper Pumpkin tab at the top of the page.  Since subscriptions are based on email, you may be able to use a different email and still get the discount!  (But no guarantees that that will now work although it has worked in the past)

 

 

 

Retiring Products List Released!

                                     

Stampin' Up! has released the list of Retiring products from both the Occasions catalog and the Annual catalog.  You can view them here:

https://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Promotions/NA/2018/Retiring%20List/OCC%20Retired%20List-US.pdf

https://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Promotions/NA/2018/Retiring%20List/AC%20Retired%20List-US.pdf

ALL of these items are "as supplies last" so if you want any of them, you should order them NOW!  Retiring stamp sets are guaranteed until May 25 (SU makes those sets themselves).  All other products are not guaranteed and are only available while supplies last. 

Stampin' Up! has said "Depending on inventory levels, some discounts on the items may be introduced May 8.  The discounts will NOT be preannounced and will vary based on inventory levels.  If you purchased before this discount, Stampin' Up! will not refund your money."  If you wait, hoping for a discount, you may be disappointed that what you want is no longer available.

DON'T MISS OUT ON ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT IN THE FUTURE--YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LOOK ON EBAY FOR THOSE ITEMS!

Shop 24/7 at http://bit.ly/ShoppingwithBeckyTaylor

 

 

 

Tips, Tools and Techniques

Are you new to cardmaking?  New to stamping?  Want to make your cards and scrapbook pages picture perfect?  Well, I certainly can't guarantee that!  But I can offer tips to help you achieve the look you are wanting and making your crafting easier.

Here are my top tips and tools you need:

First, you want to have a place to craft.  Whether it is your kitchen table, dining room table, or a dedicated craft spot, you need something stable to stamp on!  You'll need good light so that you can easily see what you are doing too!  I use OTT lights on my craft table.  You don't have the color changes you sometimes get with other lights.  You can often find these lights on sale at different big box stores.  You also want to have a protective cover on your table--stamping is messy!  You can use a plastic tablecloth, plastic placemat, self-healing grid mat or whatever you want.  Stampin' Up! sells grid paper that is wonderful to use.  It comes two-sided (inches on one side and metric on the other) so when one side gets dirty, just flip it over!  I love having measurements on my paper so that I can easily line up my stamps!

                                                             

Next, you want a way to cut your paper.  The Stampin' Up! paper trimmer is the best!  I was cutting some cardstock for swaps and needed to cut huge amounts.  I turned to my guillotine cutter to cut it out--Big Mistake!  My cardstock was uneven and not correct to size.  I had to trim all of it using my Stampin' Up! trimmer.  I love that it also has a scorer so I can easily score my cardstock for my cards.  And if you get some ragged edges, use an emery board or a nail block (I get the little ones from Sally's) to clean up those edges!

                                                           

When making cards, I always make at least two of every card.  That way I have one to send and another for me to show.  I also take a photograph of every card so I have that for my records and I can keep track of what I have sent and to whom. 

I always recommend doing your stamping first on any project!  That way if you mess up, you can just flip the cardstock over and stamp again or grab another piece of paper.  Want perfect placement of your stamping?  Stamping Up! sells two different products that aid in that!  The Stamp-a-ma-jig works wonderfully (especially with wood-mounted stamps) but is a little more work. You stamp on the imaging sheet and then place that over the paper where you want to stamp.  Carefully remove the imaging sheet but keep the stamp-a-ma-jig in place and put your stamp against that to create the same image with perfect placement.

                                                                  

Stampin' Up! has also come out with a stamping platform (the Stamparatus) which will be available in the upcoming new annual catalog.  This will sell for $49 and has 2 different reversible plates so you actually have 4 stamp plates to use.  This works wonderfully with clear-mount and photopolymer stamps.

                                                      

You'll want to choose some stamps to use.  There are 3 types of stamps sold by Stampin' Up!

Wood-mounted stamps are the ones you are probably most used to seeing.  These are red rubber stamps mounted on wood blocks.  Clear-mount stamps are red rubber stamps that mount onto clear blocks (or the Stamparatus).  Photopolymer stamps are totally clear stamps.  Which stamps you choose is totally up to you but some stamp sets only come in photopolymer.  I now prefer photopolymer for their ease in placement since you can see through them.  They will stain but that won't affect how they stamp.  You can minimize staining by first stamping in either Versamark ink or a very pale ink (like sahara sand or blushing bride) and then cleaning off.  

Next, you'll want a way to color those stamps.  We have a wide selection of dye inks, two archival inks, and markers that you can use to color.  The Stampin' Write markers match all our color collections.  Occasionally you can purchase separate markers (or in groups of 2 or 3) in one of the specialty catalogs.  Otherwise, you can purchase the entire collection or each collection color.  The In-Color markers come in separate sets too.  You can color your stamps (red rubber ones work best) with your markers so you can stamp with multiple colors at once.  Just color them, huff on the stamp (blow on it to re-activate the ink) and then stamp.

                            

Whenever you purchase an ink pad, I recommend that you also purchase the re-inkers!  That way you will be able to use your stamp pads forever!  (And those re-inkers can be used for other techniques--baby wipe technique, shaving cream technique, water coloring and more!).  

We also sell the Stampin' Blends, which are alcohol markers in our current colors.  You'll want to stamp your image using a dye ink (any of our colors or Memento Tuxedo Black), let dry and then you can color in any of the stamped images.  We have some great Designer Specialty paper that you can color in.  Coloring is so relaxing for me!  The Stampin' Blends come in a complete set, or you can purchase each color family (a light and a dark color) separately.  You will be able to purchase these alcohol markers at the end of May.  They are so popular that Stampin' Up! has currently turned off ordering for them so that they can build up some stock before the new catalog comes out.

                                                                                 

So now you've done some stamping, you'll need to clean your stamps.  You can sometimes use baby wipes, but they will often leave fibers on your stamps or won't clean them completely.  I highly recommend our Stampin' Scrub and the Stampin' Mist to clean your stamps.  The scrub comes with two sides--one for you to spray the mist on (see the raindrop on it) and then the other side has a little sun on it so you can dry off your stamps there.

                                                                       

FYI:  you don't have to use the Stampin' Mist full strength.  We also sell a refill so you can refill your small spritzer but you can dilute the Stampin' Mist and it will stick work well and save you some money.

Okay, now you have stamped some images, cleaned off your stamps, and cut your cardstock.  Now it's time to put your project together.  You'll need adhesives.  We sell snail adhesive, Fast Fuse, Multipurpose glue, Fine-tip glue, Tear & Tape, dimensionals (mini and regular size) and glue dots.  Each of those is used for different purposes and you'll have to decide which works best for you.  I prefer Fast Fuse (super in humid climates) for putting my cards together but it does hold fast and you'll not be able to move it around at all.  The Snail works well to hold cards and has a little give so you can adjust your paper if necessary.  A lot of people use the Multipurpose liquid glue for putting their card layers together too.  The Fine Tip glue is great for those small areas you want to glue down (and it also works like crystal effects if you want to make an area glossy--just remember it takes a long time to dry).  The Tear & Tape works particularly well on projects like boxes where you want to hold pieces together.  It is a much stronger adhesive.  I use glue dots and dimensionals to attach diecuts.  We also sell Multipurpose adhesive sheets that I use by attaching cardstock to the entire sheet and then run that paper through my Big Shot for diecuts.  This is especially great for those detailed diecuts that would be difficult to glue down.

There are lots of tools that are nice to have but not necessary for basic cardmaking:  A Big Shot for dry embossing and for cutting out dies; a heat tool to use for embossing; Dies; Embossing folders. Paper Snips (Stampin' Up!'s scissors are the BEST!) for trimming anything or for fussy-cutting out images to add to your cards or scrapbook pages.  The Bone Folder makes it easier to get crisp folds.  There is the Envelope Punch Board for making envelopes of any size and the Simply Scored which helps you score and make all kinds of projects.

So to summarize what you need to make cards:  Cardstock (Stampin' Up!'s is the best), a trimmer, adhesive, stamps, coloring tools (inks or markers), scissors and a way to clean your stamps.  And if you plan to mail out your cards, you'll need envelopes.  You can find all sorts of envelopes all over but I truly think Stampin' Up!'s are the best, especially if you plan to stamp on the outside (dresses up the envelope).  And make sure you cover your table or desk so you don't make a mess!

Nice to haves:  Bone folder, Big Shot, Heat Tool, Simply Scored, Envelope Punch Board, Dies, and Embossing Folders, Stamparatus, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Grid Paper

Final Tip:  Keep a list of what stamps you own so that you don't buy the same ones (ask me how I know to do that!).  You can keep a list in a notebook, on your computer (make a backup in case your computer crashes--that's happened to me before) or use an app.  I use Evernote to keep track of all my craft supplies -- it works on my computer, tablet and my phone.  I input everything on my computer and it automatically updates my phone/tablet.  This works wonderfully!

Turtle Shaker Card

A couple of years ago, I posted a shaker card that I made using a now-retired stamp set.  I've had some questions about it since it shows up on my Stampin' Up! blog home page.  Since my blog posts from then are no longer able to be seen, I thought I'd share that project link with you to answer those questions. 

  

I hope that this link (click on the photo to take you to that link) will now work.  I've since used that same stamp set to create a home decor item (more posts on those items later)