Bling It Up!
Sunny then hazy (or Sahara dust sand, more appropriately!) conditions here in North Carolina today. We’ve jumped into “real feel” temps of around 100 degrees, and summer is in full swing. It will be a quiet Independence Day - COVID-19 continues its assault and fireworks shows are canceled, some beaches further to the south will close over the weekend too. There’s been a lot of gardening, flowers and veggies, on my little patch of land, and as much creative time as I can squeeze in!
Speaking of fireworks, Stampin’ Up! has embellishments to add sparkle to your papercrafting creations. You can’t go wrong with a few strategically placed rhinestones, dots, or sequins! Just a subtle burst of “bling” that adds the perfect accent to your piece.
There’s ribbons and trinkets that coordinate with stamp sets as well. Always color coordinated, the ribbons and enamel dots match our vast array of colors, including the new In Colors.
These embellishments are very budget friendly - why not try some and see how they make your next card stand out?
Here’s where you can find all these wonderful products.
Feel free to post your embellished cards below in the comments section!
Until next time, wishing you a pinch of sparkle, much good health and plent of peace :)
Wendy
All Inclusive Card Kits - Perfect Beginner Project!
Hi stamping friends!
The sun is out today, although we’re expecting more rain later. What a rainy summer so far!
If you’re stuck in the house due to rain, pandemic, or any other reason, you may choose to spend your time crafting. You may be new or have a few supplies on hand. If you want a true project that is easy, fun, and produces beautiful cards in record time, you may want to look at Stampin’ Up’s! All Inclusive Card Kits.
A summery kit offered in the new catalog is called Simply Citrus. Its fun colors are bright and cheerful, and this kit is perfect for notecards. Included in this kit are the supplies and instructions to create 15 cards, 3 each of 5 designs. Sentiments include “Just a Note,” “Way to Go,” “Thanks for Being You,” and “Hello Sunshine.” You can learn more about this kit and purchase it here.
Please feel free to posts photos of your creations below. One of the best parts of stamping is admiring and getting inspiration from other stampers.
Meanwhile, enjoy the sunshine wherever you are, whether it’s outside or in your home!
Keep crafting!
Wendy
Bundles - A Must-Have for Your Stampin' Up! Collection!
One of the greatest things about Stampin’ Up! is their coordination of products. One of the ways they do that is through “bundles.”
Today, I’m featuring the new Jar of Flowers Bundle, which includes a punch of a mason-style jar with a stamp set including the coordinating jar and beautiful flowers. It’s so easy to create a beautiful and polished card with these elements. Just stamp the jar, line up with the punch by turning punch upside down so you can see where it aligns, attach to your paper background, and add flowers! Or, as this is a photopolymer stamp set, you can punch the jar first then line up the jar stamp over it. (I like to live dangerously in my papercrafting world sometimes). The Jar of Flowers bundle can be found here. Be sure to check out the other bundles as well. If you’re a beginner, they will give you a great start!
Otherwise, it’s a rainy day here in eastern North Carolina as the world continues to see challenges all around us. I think it’s important to temper all things news with creative time, so that’s my plan for later this afternoon. I hope the weather is pleasant and your world is peaceful today, wherever you are. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read this blog. So much more to come!
#stampinup #jarofflowersbundle #inspirecreateshare
Peace to all,
Wendy
The New Annual Catalog and New In Colors are Here!
It’s time to celebrate the new 2020-21 Annual Stampin’ Up! Catalog! It’s a new year with new products and many returning favorites.
I’m excited to share the new catalog with you, which contains our new In Colors - they are gorgeous, and I’m sure you’ll find them a great addition to your cardstock and inks. Let’s take a tour of them now:
Cinnamon Cider: Just as the name suggests, this warm color makes us think of all things autumn! This earthy tone is also perfect for nature scenes as well as a staple for masculine cards. You can almost smell a delicious cinnamon bun when you see it!
Just Jade: It’s all about tranquility in this new shade. It’s the perfect green to use when bright, lime, or dark green isn’t what you’re looking for. You’ll find many uses for this peaceful and elegant color.
Bumble Bee: This is a golden yellow that is perfect for everything from our very important bees to sunflowers to shades of autumn. I love this color, and you’ll be seeing more about honeybees and the importance of saving them in this blog. In the meantime, you can make your own sunflower garden with this wonderful color!
Magenta Madness: The life of the party in Stampin’ Up!’s 2020-22 In Color collection! When you think fun, think Magenta Madness! It’s a bright, cheery color perfect for birthday cards, kids cards, pretty flowers, and so much more. If you were a fan of the magenta in the famous crayon box like I was as a child, you will love this shade that will make all your creations pop!
Misty Moonlight: Stampin’ Up! knocked it out of the park with this one. Think of a summer evening as darkness descends in a harbor…it’s a still, strong, and steady color that lends itself to many applications. It’s a dreamy shade that is different than any other blue in the collection.
The In Colors are available in cardstock, stamp pads, refill inks, and Stampin’ Blends (pack of 2 - dark and light). Shop the 2020-22 In Colors here!
If you’ve already got your hands on any of these fabulous colors, please comment below with a photo!
There’s lots of good things happening in June! It’s a great time to become a demonstrator (you can be a hobbyist and not have to enter the selling arena.) Please contact me anytime for more details. There are always incentives and special things for those who sign up!
Lots more to come, so stay tuned. In the meantime, be safe and well, and keep stamping!
#spreadsunshine #stampinup #inspirecreateshare
Wendy
Beauty and Nature Abounds in This Complicated World
May is flying by! With it comes warmer days (well, somewhat warmer here in Eastern NC) and all those gardening projects I want to get to. There’s always something to do! For those that enjoy the indoor gardening or a bit of a spin on “gardening”, Stampin’ Up! has wonderful flower and nature stamps. In particular, there are some of these blooming beauties offered in the “Last Chance” selection. You may like some of the following items—be sure to order soon before they are no longer available!
Floral Essence Bundle - Photopolymer stamps and coordinating punch
Magnolia Blooms - Photopolymer Stamp Set
Magnolia Lane Designer Series Paper 12 x 12 paper/sheets
Peaceful Place Stamp Set - Cling Mount
Botanical Prints Product Medley - Perfectly coordinated cling stamps, dies, coordinated paper, and more!
To a Wild Rose Bundle - Photopolymer Stamps and Dies
I hope you enjoy these products and take a look through our Last Chance offerings. In my next blog, I’ll present some fantastic sale items - you won’t believe the deals!
Wishing you peace, and hoping you create sunshine in your corner of the world today!
Wendy
Stampin' Up! COVID-1 Response - #sharesunshine Product Giveback
April is nearly over, and the COVID-19 virus still affects our daily lives. As a company that gives back on a regular basis, Stampin’ Up! has come up with a unique idea where 100 percent of the proceeds goes to two great charities - The World Health Organization’s COVID-Solidarity Response Fund and United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. What’s unique is this is a digital stamping set that you can purchase, download, and use right away! It costs just $12.00 and can be purchased here.
The Share Sunshine PDF Download is a digital stamp set that’s packed with both lighthearted and heartfelt sentiments and imagery relevant to the unique COVID-19 and social distancing situation we’re currently experiencing–including many ideas that came from you and your customers! You can use the download in your cardmaking and papercrafting projects. Simply print the imagery on cardstock and cut it out using our Paper Trimmer, punches, or dies. Since we are physically distanced from each other, now is a perfect time to share sunshine with our friends and family by sending cards!
I hope you’ll check this out and think about purchasing this special product that helps as the world continues to fight COVID-19.
In other news, soon I’ll be giving my readers information on last chance/retiring products you won’t want to miss out on. I just thought this product giveback was a good theme for today.
Meanwhile, stay healthy, and feel free to comment below how your cards and creations of any type are spreading cheer during this challenging season!
Wendy
#sharesunshine
Retirement of 2018-2020 Stampin' Up! In Colors and Mini Catalog on June 2nd, Earth Day, and Looking Forward
Sadly, it’s time to bid farewell to 5 wonderful colors in the Stampin’ Up! family—Blueberry Bushel, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, and Lovely Liptick. But the good news is, you can still purchase the cardstock, in pads, and ink refills while supplies last! Also, the mini catalog products will be available (while supplies last) until June 2nd. Be sure to grab your favorites now! Check out the mini catalog here!
On another note, thinking about and planning for my own retirement is something that I think of now and again. My goal is to develop my Stampin’ Up! business and for that and my other creative efforts to be my retirement income. I’ve got a way to go before I retire, but no time like the present to start! If you would like to explore your options as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, feel free to contact me. I’d love to add you to my team; and remember, you can be a hobbyist and simply buy these beautiful products for yourself at a discount, if you prefer not to participate in sales activity. It’s fun, rewarding, and fuels the creative spirit regardless of the level you’d like to attain.
And yet on other note (full of news today, aren’t I?) today is Earth Day! We need to be kind to our earth every day. During this difficult time in our history, now is a great time to think about our impact, and how to make a great one for our planet. Recycle, reuse, don’t litter—we’ve heard those things so many times. What commitment will you make to the earth today, or this year? Mine is cutting down on one-use plastic and enriching the grounds of my home with more trees and gardens…which will be a year-long project! So, please plant something today - literally or figuratively - to make Mother Earth a better home for us all.
And one more note about retirement—in these uncertain times, more than ever, it makes sense to put some action plans in place. While we’re less busy than usual and not running around with a hectic schedule, ask yourself - what do you want your future to look like? It starts with brainstorming, vision, and goals, followed by an action plan. Go outside and breathe in that fresh spring air (while practicing social distancing and all the current recommendations) and give this some thought. Sometimes, we are made to slow down to think things through. As devastating as this Coronavirus pandemic is, maybe it’s time to seriously think about what to do to make our world better. Your world can be anything from your immediate household to your community to your state, country, and beyond, but while so many are suffering, it’s up to the rest of us to build up our world.
Those cards we make? Send them out to hospitals, first responders, nursing care facilities, our military (there’s lots of groups and information on Facebook.) Feel the spirit to volunteer? Find out how you can in your community. Whether you choose to foster an animal from your local shelter or help get meals to those in need, or any number of causes, think about how you can make a difference in this world. It’s important. We’re all unique, and only we can make our special contribution, whatever that looks like for you.
Finding that part of yourself that the world needs more of is my wish for you today. You can do it; you just have to dig deep. Let’s use this very difficult time in history to do something greater than ourselves and spread peace and love in our very precious world.
Until next time,
Wendy
April Showers...and Umbrellas!
Happy Saturday! Today we had some of those fabled “April Showers” that “Bring May Flowers.” Spring is here. My rose tree has several buds and the miniature rose has been blooming a lot in the last couple of weeks. It is the season of hope and rebirth, of the return of hummingbirds, the rich green leaves of the trees, and the showers that help provide life for everything on earth.
Umbrellas are fancy, too. They aren’t just dark blue or black anymore, but can be found in a variety of designs and colors, inside out and upside down, and all kinds of mechanical improvements on the original. Have you ever thought of sending a greeting featuring rain and umbrellas, celebrating the gift of water those April showers bring? Stampin’ Up! has created a very unique stamping bundle (stamp set and punch) so you can create a card, scrapbook page, gift envelopes, and more with just that theme in mind. It’s called the Under My Umbrella bundle. This is absolutely adorable, and can be used for baby and wedding showers as well as seasonal greetings!
A recent Paper Pumpkin kit also carried this theme. What’s Paper Pumpkin, you ask? It’s Stampin’ Up!’s monthly subscription box - a perfect way to get into stamping! We’ll be featuring a blog post soon that’s all things Paper Pumpkin - but for now, I hope you’re staying dry and using a little inclement weather to do some creating, whether it’s about the weather…or not!
Until next time, remember to look for the rainbow after the storm…
Wendy
Clearance Refresh!
Hello! Exciting news from Stampin’ Up! last night - the Clearance Rack has been refreshed!
This is a great opportunity for add lots of great items to your Stampin’ Up! stash at a fraction of the price! It’s also a good way to delve into the world of stamping when you’re trying to gather supplies.
There will be more exciting announcements coming in the near future regarding products. As spring progresses, we advance closer to the time where the new annual catalog will be issued in June. New products allow for clearance on other older products - but, these products never “expire” so it’s a win-win for everyone!
Not much is new here in North Carolina, other than our rollercoaster weather - speaking of which, I think there’s some carnival rides or rollercoaster dies in the Clearance Rack. I had the air conditioning on a couple days ago, and the smartphone tells me there’s a frost advisory tonight. Go figure.
Check out the Clearance Rack Refresh - maybe it’s a cool evening where you are, and you’ve got a creative project going - or just feel like a little shopping!
Stay comfortable friends, whatever the weather. Tomorrow we’ll explore the Covid—19 situation, and how we’re all responding to it.
Wishing you a peaceful evening.
Wendy
Tulips and Springtime
There’s a saying here that the sky is “Carolina Blue.” Today fits that description with the most beautiful blue hue, not a cloud to be seen, and signs of spring everywhere. It’s a little cool, so I think I’ll take tomorrow to do some yard work; for today, I’ll just simply relax and enjoy all the sightings of spring outside my doors and windows.
Tulips are a classic flower. Their little bulbs don’t look like much when you plant them, but they are show-stopping when they bloom. From the classic to the ruffled parrot tulips, their many varieties allow us all to have a favorite.
If you don’t happen to have the live version, Stampin’ Up!’s Timeless Tulip Bundle allows you to create your own tulip bouquet. The Tulip Builder Punch creates the flower and leaf shapes, which can then be stamped with the Timeless Tulips photopolymer (clear) stamps. The sentiments in this stamp set are perfect for Mother’s Day, a general greeting, springtime wishes, or a birthday. Make some classic red tulips with the Real Red stamp pad. How about pretty pink with Blushing Bride? Or, a gorgeous purple with Highland Heather? Don’t forget Granny Apple Green and Garden Green for the leaves and stems. Lots of possibilities! You may want to check out our Stampin’ Blends for coloring your beautiful bouquet!
I hope you’re enjoying your day and some springtime sights as well. What’s your favorite springtime flower? Hard to choose, isn’t it? Feel free to leave a photo in the comments, or just tell us about your favorite.
Until next time, may your world be filled with beauty and peace.
Wendy