Hidden Catalog Gems

Do you ever look through the catalog and then later see something and say "Whoa!  Where was this? I never saw that!"  Well, this little post is about some of the things that I thought you might have missed.

Love those little ink spots in your Paper Pumpkin kit?  I use mine all the time when I travel and when I am using my MISTI.  It's easier to ink up your stamps on your MISTI or other stamping tool with the smaller ink pads.  Wish you had them in other colors?  Well, Stampin' Up! now offers a set of 5 uninked spots for $9 (141822 found on page 180 in the annual catalog)!  

                                                

You just add ink from your re-inkers and you are all set.  I mark the color name on the bottoms with a Sharpie so I can easily find them.  This is a great way to slowly build up your color selection if you can't afford to purchase the full size pads.  Buy these ink spots and the re-inkers of your choice and then when you can afford the larger pads, you will already have the re-inkers (I always recommend purchasing re-inkers at the same time as the ink pads so you will have them if you need to ink them up).

Another little gem from the annual catalog is th Silicone Craft Sheet (127853 $6, found on page 182 in the annual catalog).  Hate how when you are adding snail to your cards and you get some on your grid sheet or table?  Then it's sticky and everything sticks to it.  Well, using the Silicone Craft Sheet under your card will solve that problem.  NOTHING sticks to it!  It will just rub or roll off! 

                                                       

                                                     

 

The next few gems are found in the new Holiday catalog.  Want 12 x 12 Cardstock?  We've asked and Stampin' Up! has delivered!  Not all colors are available yet but Stampin' Up! has made some available within the different Suites in the Catalog.  Real Red (141982--20 sheets for $11), Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green (141992--10 sheets of each color for $11) are three of the colors available right now.  These all coordinate with the Designer Series Paper in their suites.  If you scrapbook, or just need a lot of paper for different projects, this is for you!

Did you notice that Stampin' Up! quit selling individual Stampin' Write markers for most colors?  In the Holiday catalog, they now have some markers available that matches the colors in the different suites.  For the Candy Cane Lane Suite, you can now purchase the Real Red & Crumb Cake markers in a two-pack for just $7 (141973, page 5).  And for the Warmth & Cheer Suite there is a two pack of Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green (141972, page 13).

I'm really hoping that Stampin' Up! will continue to do this with future catalogs.  It will be a great way to build up your stash of 12 x 12 cardstock and markers. I use the markers a lot to color my rubber stamps (and even the photopolymer ones sometimes) in order to add different colors on one stamp.  

The last item I want to draw your attention to are the Seasonal Decorative Masks (141848) $6, on page 43 of the Holiday Catalog.  For a long time, I didn't really use these masks (or stencils) but discovered they are wonderful to create beautiful backgrounds

                                                             

To use these, I put over my card stock and adhere with washi tape.  Carefully hold them in place and sponge away to create new patterns!  

I hope you've enjoyed these little "gems" from the catalogs.  They are not very expensive but pack a big punch!

 

Happy Stamping!

 

Becky

On Stage Atlanta Swap Card

Every 6 months Stampin' Up! has an On Stage event.  These events take the place of the yearly convention that they used to have.  The main event rotates among the US, Europe, and the Pacific and they have "local" events in the areas where the main event is not.  This year the main event is in Australia (oh, how I wish I could go there!).  Last year our local event was in Tampa and this year it is in Atlanta!  It's actually just down the road from where I grew up and where one of my sons currently lives.  I can go visit grandkids while getting to do some Stampin' Up! stuff!  At this event we will get to see the new Occasions catalog that will be coming out in January!  YAY!  So excited to see new product!

At these events swapping of cards and 3-D projects is the norm.  I thought and thought about what I wanted to make.  Unless a holiday card is specified, I prefer to make cards that can be used year-round.  And this is what I created

                                          

You can find all the details and instructions on how to make this card here

This stamp set (Vertical Greetings) really is versatile with various sentiments (Happy Birthday, For You, Congrats, Thank You, I Love You, and Just Because).  I often need something that doesn't take up a lot of space on a card and these vertical sentiments easily fit on cards.

                                        

I now need to make about 100 of these cards!  Although if I get tired and bored doing that many, I'll just create another card so I'll have two (or maybe 3) cards to swap!

 

Happy Stamping!

Becky

Embellished Ornaments Christmas Cards

I fondly remember the delicate Christmas ornaments of assorted colors we placed on our Christmas tree.  As a child we were admonished to be extremely careful of these delicate ornaments because they broke so easily.  

I loved creating these cards that brought back such fond memories!  I can easily picture myself with my siblings and my parents decorating our Christmas tree every year.  Oh, how I miss those days!  My mom passed away several years ago and I can so vividly picture her laughing and singing along to Christmas carols as we decorated.

 

                                                 

 

You can make these using any color ornaments.  What colors do you remember?  Here are the instructions for this card.

 

I also made a simpler card just using sequins.

                                                                             

 

I hope you enjoyed these cards as much as I did and that they bring happy memories to mind!

 

Happy Stamping!

Becky

Grandson's Soccer Birthday Card

My grandson just turned 7 and loves soccer.  He plays on a travelling team and is really quite skilled (if I do say so myself!).  I wanted to do a card that fit his interests.  Unfortunately I had to resort to retired stamp sets to make this card.

 

                                            

 

I like to do fun and interactive cards for kids so a slider/spinnner card was ideal!  You can see (and print out) the instructions and supplies for this card here.

 

I hope he enjoys his card!  It was made with love by his Nana!

 

Happy Stamping!

Becky

 

 

Embellished Ornaments Christmas Card

Embellishedornaments1

These cards remind me of my childhood and the delicate ornaments we had on our Christmas tree!

Grandson's Soccer Slider Birthday Card

Jake s birthday 2016

My grandson just turned 7 and loves soccer! He plays on a travelling team and I wanted to do a card that fit his interests. Unfortunately I had to use retired product stamps to create this. Still, you can make something similar using whatever you have on hand.