While there are some sad goodbyes to be had this month - by way of retiring products - it is necessary to make room for lots of fun new goodies coming. The current annual catalogue (the big one) goes until 3 May. Here's what I think are absolute staples in the crafting room:
Some items are already sold out, some are on sale up to 80% off (say what) and some will carryover to the next catalogue. Easiest place to figure out what's going/on sale is the Last Chance section of my online store:
http://www.stampinup.ca?hostcode=SEJRGJ23
But let's focus on the fun. Lots of new product are coming - stamp sets, dies, patterned paper, embellishments, embossing folders, punches.
My favourite though: the new In Colours. These are always much anticipated. I wasn't able to get all the items in my initial pre-order (demo benefit - we don't have to be patient) so not all items are in the photos below.
Now for me, I really like the new In Colours so I want all the things! That's option 1. I have figured out how to get everything In Colour - with some of it for free. We love free!
Option 2 - join one or both of the In Colour clubs. Bet you were wondering when I'd get around to making sense of the blog title. Its a 5 month commitment so the cost and the dispersal of goods is spread out. More budget friendly and not overwhelming with product. There is one club for cardstock and ink, and one club for accessories ànd treat packaging. Enabler alert: you get a bonus if you join both clubs. I need 5 people per club group - you can join with a group of friends, or individually and make new friends
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Option 3 is more of a sampler. Instead of a full package of paper, you get 4 sheets. Instead of a full size ink pad, you get an inked up stampin spot. And so on.
All the details and prices are in the Club Deets. Deadline for sign up is the 10th of May so we can have the goods here in time for the first zoom club get together.
So, you wanna be in the club?
Let me know if you have questions or which club (or clubs 😉)you want to join.
Final pretty picture- my inner 60s hippie love love loves this flower power. A fellow demo suggested a little rhinestone in the middle for extra bling (thanks Donna!).
... it's dragonflies and dandelions. And who knew I would like dandelions so much. I guess when they are not in the lawn, they're alright.
I've been having been enjoying the fun folds lately so half of the cards in our next gathering will be them. Not to worry though, I will cut and score them.
We'll be using the memories and more card pack as well so all the sentiments are already done for you. No stamping required.
Did you notice the adorable little lady bugs? They are great once they are on the card. Fair warning though, if they are in the plastic container, you bump the desk and then out of the corner of your eye you see one of them slide down the lid, you will probably jump, drop your inked up stamp right on the half done card and have to start over. Or so I've heard.
Want to join us on zoom on 30 April to make these cards? Here are all the details - you must rsvp by 16 April so I have time to get the extra supplies.
On a side note, I have had such a great weekend and it has been a great reminder of why I love being a demo. Made some great projects during Spring Stampapalooza with our team on Friday night, the Stampin' Up! OnTour event on Saturday with 224 other demos on zoom, and now I get to plan to stamp and chat with you. It's a trifecta! I love my "job".
While the images are adorable, it was the easter sentiment that really spoke to me.
Back to those cute images though, nothing like a fancy fold card that shows them all.
I think these images would also make cute baby cards. With a "welcome" sentiment or mash up the two stamps and make a " welcome new beginnings" card.
One of the best benefits of Stampin' Up! is the amazing community of demonstrators who freely share - this fancy fold was shown to me by fellow demonstrator Elizabeth Green. She probably told me what the name of the fold was too but I didn't write it down. And if I didn't write it down...
To make this card you need one standard card base (8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored on the long side at 4 1/4") in your choice of colour and a second just slightly smaller card base of basic white (8" x 5 3/8" scored on the long side at 2" and 4").
When securing designer paper to the front of the card (5 1/4" x 4"), only use adhesive around the edge. This way when you punch out or die cut the window in the front of the card, you can use just the cardstock layer and save the dsp cut out for another project.
Secure the white layer to the colour layer and then add the strip of dsp (5 1/8" x 1 3/4") to fold first. Then you can line up the cardstock cut out in the window. Remember to only put adhesive on the right side of the piece - unless you want to glue the cards shut, I guess that's an option too. Just, maybe not a good one.
I also love to make (and hand out) treats. Using the beautiful - yes, it's pink and still I love it - Love You Always specialty paper, this was another great project for the cutie patootie sheep to make an appearance.
Did you notice the polka dot ribbon? I love love love this ribbon. It's about to retire. Now usually, retiring is a great thing 😉 but in this case, I will be really sad to see it go. There are lots of items that will get their last hurrah this month before they are gone forever. sniff sniff. Ok, it's just craft supplies - but I do get attached.
Lucky for me, the new catalogue starts on May 4th - the force to buy is strong with this one. (I am sitting here giggling as I write this - I amuse myself so much). To see the last chance items, best to visit my online store - it updates as things sell out so will be the most accurate.
http://www.stampinup.ca?hostcode=SEJRGJ23
Need a new annual catalogue? I'll have them in my hot little hands next week. Leave a comment if you want one and I'll hook you up.
I hope you all have a happy Easter - whether you celebrate the religious holiday or just enjoy candy and a long weekend. And find lots of joy in this spring. We could probably all use a new beginning in something or another.
You know I love trees. And mountains. And nature. So do a lot of you. I got all excited when I saw the Stampin' Up! March Paper Pumpkin offering. This might just be the easiest way for us to get together and stamp. With 8 nice cards to send out after.
And because March is the anniversary month for Paper Pumpkin - there's a free gift included. Come on, who doesn't like free?
So here are the deets:
the kit contains everything you need to make 8 full size cards and envelopes - except for scissors (envelopes, card bases, layers, die cut, twine, dimensionals, stamp set and ink spot) - all in a special collector box.
the kit also includes 4 free stencils and a sponge (which is best used cut into 4 wedges for 4 colours).
kits are $31.50 total and this includes the kit, shipping and tax.
kits must be ordered by 11 pm on 10 March 2021 - there is a chance that they will sell out (people like free stuff) so sooner is better.
My plan - and we know my plans always work out, ha ha ha - is to get kits for everyone who wants it, supplement the kit with some extra supplies to use the stencils with (porch pickup or office dropoff) and then all gather on the zoom and put them together and learn how to stencil. I'm not actually sure what the extra supplies will be until I can see the full kit but I have built in the timeframe to allow time to figure it out and still get you your extras before the zoom.
You will need an email address, mailing address and credit card. There is no obligation to stay past the March kit - just go in by the 10th of April and cancel. Or you can keep your subscription going and each month that you don't want the kit just go into your account before the 10th of the month and suspend the next kit.
Fun fact - when Paper Pumpkin first started, we never knew anything about the kit. It was a well kept secret. Didn't even know if it was a card kit, tags, treat holders or home decor. Over the years, customers have asked for more and the kits have evolved and gotten wayyyyyy better. So now we generally find out if it's cards, tags or treats and will usually see at least some of the kit elements with an idea of the theme. You will always have some info to help you make the decision. If you suspend a kit and then see it and want it - sometimes you can get full kits after the subscription kits go out and sometimes they offer refills (all of the consumables but no stamps or ink). Sometimes they offer add-on (extra card bases or matching treat holders). Oh I do like my Paper Pumpkin.
Alas, I digress. I also set lots of electronic reminders (cuz you know I need em) so I can remember to go in each month before the deadline in case I want to up the number of kits I get. I haven't ever skipped a month - how do you spell FOMO again? Point is (yes there's a point) that I could include you on my paper pumpkin email list each month that makes sure you saw any sneak peaks and reminds you of the deadline to cancel, suspend or just leave as is and lets you know if there are extra kits or refills available.
Option 2. ETF me the kit cost and I will up the number of kits I get. You actually have the option to do this any month. If I get people interested, I will start have a monthly (wait for it) paper pusher paper pumpkin put-together party. Just trips of the tongue. For now it would be zoom but eventually could be in person. And then we could work on alternate creations too by dipping into the few supplies I have.
Option 3. Order a pre-paid subscription, top up your supplies (unless you get 3 months or more), and earn free Sale-a-bration products. The more months you get, the more free stuff you get. Very important: Sale-a-bration (SAB) ends at 11pm on Sunday, 28 Feb so if you choose this option, you must order by this Sunday night. Like the Darling Donkeys stamp set:
You still set up an account and then get a code to enter. Yes, if you buy multiple months you can still suspend a month and the credit just carries over to the next one. You can go direct to my online store: http://www.stampinup.ca?hostcode=7CHWC7BZ or call/text me to order for you.
Again, deadline to order is the 10th. Kits generally ship on the 12th and usually arrive about 5 business days later. Used to be Fed-Ex delivered right to your porch but it just changed in Feb and now it's Canada Post to your mailbox. So we should have kits by the 19th. I'm thinking zoom would be either Saturday night - 27 March or Sunday afternoon 28 March. That leaves a little wiggle room for shipping delays and time to get the extras together.
Well, that turned into a lesson on all things Paper Pumpkin. Again, no, there will not be a test on the material covered here.
Ok - you get the idea - you got options. I enjoyed last months stamp and chat and would love to do it again. Let me know how I can enable help you?
Okay, I know the expression is down the rabbit hole but, oh, I found out so much about chickens that it seemed more appropriate.
Here's how my brain works - as I am stamping and deciding what colour to use, I wonder: are all chickens female? Hello google, are all chickens female? No, chicken is the species and hens (or pullets) are the females and roosters (or cocks) are the males. Okay, so it's just the roosters that have the combs though? Hey google, is it just roosters who have combs? No.... and so it goes. Many, many minutes later - sometime hours - I stop thinking of things to ask google. So just in case you were wondering, here's my version of chickopedia:
both the males and females have combs and wattles (hey google, what is the thing that hangs under a chickens chin called?) but the males tend to have bigger ones and they tend to be a deeper red. Apparently the bigger the wattle, the more attractive the chickens find the rooster. Hubba hubba.
one of the most interesting things - the comb and wattle aid in blood circulation around the chickens head to help them stay cool in hot weather.
Egg laying chickens are all female but meat chickens can be either - these are called broilers. You don't need a rooster around for hens to lay eggs, but you do need one if you want the eggs fertilized and adorable baby chicks.
In the wild (that made me laugh when my cartoon brain starts picturing wild chickens - hint: imagine the wild west) hens only lay eggs seasonally. They like it when it's warm enough for the chicks to thrive (forward thinking mamas they are) and won't generally lay when it's really hot or really cold. They are also influenced by daylight hours - I bet they hate daylight savings too! Domestication has lengthened the laying time of chickens but they are still influenced by temperature and sunlight.
Chickens live 5-7 years and the oldest one on record lived to be 16.
You can buy a saddle for a chicken but it has nothing to do with riding it - more for protection from mean coopmates.
And finally (there is way more but I had to stop somewhere) you can get diapers for chickens so you can keep them in your house as pets. Who knew.
Don't worry - there is no test on the material covered today. He he he. I so amuse me.
Now, who wants to talk about cards? I have been having so much fun with the chickens and I'm not done yet. Spoiler alert - everyone is getting chicken cards for their birthday.
Better yet - who wants to make some cards. I have made these all as birthday cards but some just say "let's celebrate you" so that could be for other occasions too.The granny apple green one is a waterfall card - and I think would make a cute baby card if you know anyone who is about to hatch.
These cards use a lot of different colours - I really do like to colour. So knowing that not everyone has as much stamping stuff as me - but I "know a guy" if you want to ;) - and because the weather is getting nicer and because restrictions allow for it and because it would be so nice to see people, I give you: driveway stamping!
Yep, I'll try just about anything once. Click here for the details on class offerings and protocols.
Don't worry if chickens aren't your thing - I have mountains and trees on deck. Details on that coming up next week as there is Stampin' Up! deadline that needs to be met.
