2013-2014 Annual Catalog is now live!

It's the day we've been waiting for! Actually, it really, really is since not only was today the launch of the new catalog but it is also my kids' first day of Summer break. Yay! So, that's why this post is so late. Forgive me? :)

I updated the link at the left side of the blog for the new calendar. If you'd prefer a link to the PDF, just let me know! It wasn't loading for me tonight for some reason, so I linked to the flip book.

Stampin' Up! also has even more great news! Three popular stamp sets are on sale for 25% off! Click HERE for more information.

Not only that, but there is also a new Photopolymer Stamp Set called Wanderlust, and I do believe this might be a new favorite. It's adorable! Perfect if you like traveling (I can already see scrapbook pages using all these sets) or if you know someone who likes to travel. Check it out today! And, for more information on the new Photopolymer Stamps, click HERE. 

One more thing: If you have My Digital Studio (MDS) don't forget to check for updates. You'll get all the updated colors and some other small updates.

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Hello a little late this Tuesday evening! It looks like I still have almost two hours to share my Tuesday Tip with you. Tonight, I'm keeping it simple. 

The best tip I can give you is to check out the retiring lists one more time. Don't miss out on anything! Double check your Wish List before time runs out. 

I know you are excitedly looking forward to the launch of the new catalog this Friday, but before we say, "Hello" to all the new and exciting stamps and accessories, don't let this be a "Good-bye" to something that won't be available again. 

First, check out the Retiring Stamps list. These will be available until June 3, 2013.

Then head on over to the Retiring Accessories list. These are only available while supplies last. The lists will be updated daily.

So much to be thankful for

Spring is (supposed to be) wrapping up and we are all looking forward to Summer, warmer weather and a break from the school routine. I devoted this afternoon to getting thank-you cards ready for the teachers and teacher's aids and even the school nurse (who, thanks to my daughter, I am now on a first-name basis with) who all put so much into to lives and education of my kids.

It made me stop and think about how thankful I am for so many people in our lives right now. We are surrounded by such blessings in friends and family. The card I wanted to share with you today is soon going to be on its way to my sister-in-law in Florida. Each year in kindergarten my kids read about Flat Stanley and then colored him and sent him on a little trip. We always send him to someone in Florida (most of my husband's family lives there). This year, Flat Stanley went on an extra long trip and hasn't found his way through the postal system back to the school yet. My sister-in-law was kind enough to make a collage of his pictures and have it sent to a local store here and printed out so I could get it to school before Summer break. I know she's a super busy mom of 5, so we really appreciated all her help. This card seems like a small thank-you, but hopefully it will make her smile when she sees it, the same way I will smile when I think of Flat Stanley's adventures this year. 

My Paper Pumpkin

A while ago I shared with you one of Stampin' Up!'s newest additions, My Paper Pumpkin.

I finally had time to sit down last night with one of my Stamp Club friends to put together the first two sets of our My Paper Pumpkin monthly project kits. We had so much fun and even added or changed a couple of the projects using some supplies I have on hand. 

In this first picture, the top left card was created after the example that came with the kit. The others were inspired by cards we found on Pinterest. It's amazing how many different ideas you can come up with using the same basic supplies. What fun!

I only did two variations of the next card, but I loved them both so much I just couldn't decide. Seriously. ;)

I was honestly quite impressed with the quality of the supplies. Some of the supplies were card stock stickers - probably the thickest I have ever used. The kits also come with stamps and an ink spot along with the buttons and twine you see above. You literally only need to have scissors and adhesive in hand when you open your box to create some beautiful projects. These are the perfect time-saver for my busy friends.

As my friend Amanda said last night, these projects probably weren't something we would have picked out and created on our own, but we sure loved how they turned out! This will teach us to stretch our creativity, too, as we try these new projects. 

We already received our kit for May, our third. We had so much fun talking that we ran out of time to keep working, but I am so looking forward to it in the future. The third kit is actually a mini album, so now we are on the look-out for some photos to go along with it. The paper and supplies for this kit are also beautiful and high quality. Of course there are new stamps and ink along with quite a few more pages of die cut stickers to use in the album. And there are many more pages of patterned paper already pre-punched to fit with the rings that hold the album together.

I can't wait to share it with you once we have time to work on it!

As I have said before, anyone who signs up for My Paper Pumpkin through me will have the option to bring it to my house and work on it. I can help you with any questions, and you are free to use my other supplies to embellish or add whatever you wish. It's a fun time! If you aren't sure, there is a Try Me kit available for just $16.95 (plus shipping). Give it a try and see what you think. And let me know what you think, too!

Terrific Tips Tuesday

With the refreshed color families in the new catalog came a need for me to reorganize my paper storage. Thankfully that is an easy task with the system I have in place. I wanted to share it with you today since I know so many crafters struggle with knowing how to organize their paper.

My upline actually suggested this to me. She found the same filing system at Wal-Mart years ago now. Most of my card stock is 8.5" x 11" because I use it for making cards. But before I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I mostly had 12" x 12" card stock for scrapbooking. The beauty of this system is the center bar you can see below. It slides along the top to adjust, but also provides support if you want to turn the folders 90 degrees. When you do that (and change the folder size accordingly), it can fit your 12" x 12" paper.

I organize my paper by color families, in the same order they are in the catalog.

There is also storage underneath which, for now, is a great place for my punches and catalogs.

I bought this 3 years ago for around $30. I can't find the exact same cart online, but I did find a very similar version HERE and you can find many more by searching "mobile file cart".

Flashback Friday

Hello again, Friends! We haven't had a flashback in a little while and I found this picture saved in my drafts. That's a good thing since my computer is currently at the computer doc and I'm (not-so) patiently waiting to see if it just needs a transplant or do I need to say, "Good-bye". I feel lost without it, and while I have this picture for you, I don't have much else to share. The directions are all typed out and saved. On my computer. But, I did find a very good video to show you how to make this Tri-Fold Shutter card. Honestly, it's a lot easier than it looks, which gives you some great "bang for your buck". Someone will feel so very special when they open their mail and find this card waiting for them. We made this card at one of our Club meetings quite a while ago. I had almost forgotten about it until I ran across this picture while looking for something else. 

Try something new and give this technique a try!

You can watch a video that I found on YouTube HERE for instructions.

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Today's tip is an oldie but goodie. And it's so simple but always worth repeating: Stamp first, then punch.

Simple, right? One of my favorite tools both for scrapbooking and card making is the punch. What I love about Stampin' Up! is they not only have your typical punches but they also have many punches that coordinate with their stamps. This makes creating a project that looks like it took tons of time and effort very simple. You can see several examples of this in the card below. First, the scalloped triangle banner from the Pennant Parade stamp set was punched using the Petite Pennant punch. Then I used a 3/4" circle punch to cut a perfect circle around the "6". And, finally, the Extra Large Oval Punch fits around the sentiment from the Perfect Punches stamp set. Each stamp in that set has a matching punch and it is on the retiring list. 

If you haven't used this tip before you might be wondering how to line up the stamped image with the punch. That's the key to this tip. You have to just turn the punch over and use it upside down. Then you can slide your paper in and get a perfectly aligned punched shape.

 

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Hello, friends! I have time for a quick Tuesday Tip today.

This card might look familiar since I recently shared it in my sneak peaks for the next Stamp Camp. You may  have been wondering how I stamped that lovely flower, so I thought I'd share. Stampin' Up! has a great line of Stampin' Write Markers that coordinate with their ink colors which coordinate with all other accessories including ribbon and paper. These markers are great not only for journaling in your scrapbook with coordinating colors but also for coloring, or inking, your stamps! You can use one color or several on the same stamp.When you use markers to color your stamps, use the thicker end of the maker (you can find this without removing the cap by checking for the wider line that you see at each end of the marker) and always use the lighter ink first. This way, the two inks won't bleed together into your marker (this is the same tip for an ink pad!) and ruin your colors. You will look like a professional artist with this technique no matter how long you've been drawing stick figures (those are still my specialty!). Try it today!

Here, I used Certainly Celery and Regal Rose Stampin' Write Markers. These colors are actually on the retiring accessories list. Regal Rose is already no longer available. These colors are making way for our refreshed color families that will debut with the new Annual Catalog later this month. Many accessories are going fast on the retirement list and are only here while supplies last, so be sure to check the list so you don't miss out on something!

You can also check out the retiring stamps HERE. 

New Stamps!

If you're getting a little antsy waiting for the new catalog due out at the end of this month, I think I have something that will help tide you over. 

First, it's time again to look back at some of the most popular stamp sets from Stampin' Up!. Each month Stampin' Up! is introducing a "Best Of" set based on a theme that will include several popular, retired stamps and one new stamp. You can read more information about the "Best Of" sets on my April post HERE. May's theme is "Brides and Babies". 

Some things to remember:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $14.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.
• A new flyer will be released every month for each new Best of set.
• All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.

Each set will come with a collector's card and 25 Year proof-of-purchase sticker. You can send in the collector's card for every 6 stickers you collect and receive a FREE set of your choice up to $14.95 The free sets much be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

Also, Stampin' Up! has introduced two new Photopolymer Stamps sets and an online class. Buy the sets in a bundle with the online class and save 15%. Click HERE for more information and to see the sets.

New Photopolymer Stamp Video

I was definitely a little cautious when Stampin' Up! announced they were introducing Photopolymer Stamps - completely clear stamps. Ones I had used in the past were disappointing, yellowing over time and feeling too soft to leave a crisp, clear image. Stampin' Up! worked on this material to ensure these problems wouldn't be an issue in their stamps. So far, I am really pleased with the Photopolymer Stamp set I have. In fact, we will be using it to make a card at Stamp Camp. You can see a preview of that card HERE.  In the mean time, check out this new video from Stampin' Up! to get a better idea of how well these new stamps will work for you:

Thanks for a Friend

I have amazing friends! I'll bet you could say the same thing. Don't these friends deserve to know it? That is probably the biggest thing I like about making cards: Picturing the smile on my friends' faces when they open the mail box and see they got something besides junk and bills. 

I made two of these cards recently to make sure some of my friends knew how much I appreciated them. I got the inspiration from this pin on Pinterest and I took it from there. See how one card can translate into so many new ideas? As I was creating this card I wasn't sure if I loved it. Sometimes you can get so wrapped up in a project that you miss the forest for the trees. But, once I stepped away for a bit I realized that I adored this card! Does this ever happen to you? The recipe is so simple: Crumb Cake card stock, Sycamore Street DSP (from this year's Sale-A-Bration catalog), the Elegant Butterfly punch,Bitty Butterfly Punch and some Basic Pearls to bring it all together. Dimensionals add an amazing layering effect along with punching a large butterfly around the negative left from the smaller butterfly.

Digital Sale!

Stampin' Up! is having a 25% off sale of digital product now through June 15. Not only is the digital content on sale (ensemble, photobook, calendar, swatchbook - see it here) but so are the print prices. Click HERE for a list of pricing.  

If you have the digital software now is the time to order those projects you've been working on and expand your digital collection. If you haven't made the leap into digital yet, now might just be the time.