I Hope Organizing Is Not My Superpower

I mean, that would be handy and all, but there are times that I feel like it’s all I do.  Compulsive much?  Me?  Movers fear me because everything is so well-organized it looks like a deceptively small amount o’stuff we haul around every couple of years.  The hubs always warns them, and they never believe him.  Too bad for them.

But I digress. Another of my projects for this summer is getting my stamps organized.  I tend to forget what I have.  I prefer to believe my memory is failing, not that I own too many stamps. Anyway, I made a catalog to keep track of them.


I found a small three-ring binger at an office supply store.  It holds 8-1/2” x 5-1/2” papers.  I designed a cover paper using My Digital Studio, Stampin’ Up’s digital design program.  I thought since the stamps are all Stampin’ Up!, the cover should be, as well.  Plus, I need to justify buying the software.


To make the dividers, I just cut cardstock in half, then attached a tab I punched out of cardstock. I set my three-hole punch to fit the binder. Then I hid it so no one could reset it before I finish my catalog.


And now begins the rather tedious part…adding all the stamps. For clear stamps, I simply copied two covers from the cases on a sheet of paper, folded it in half, and punched along the open edge.  For wooden stamps, I either cut the set out of an old catalog and adhered it to a half sheet of paper or stamped each one from the set on a half sheet of paper. Guess which was easier? 

While I’m pretty sure I’ll still forget stamps, this makes it easy to page through instead of looking through my stamp sets on the shelves.  I’m also going to attempt to add each new set as I get it to the catalog, so I don’t have to devote another whole day next summer. 

This was a perfect project for this hot, sticky summer day…but tomorrow I’m taking the kids to see “Big Miracle” at the bargain movie and enjoy the a/c and polar scenes!

Hot off the Presses!

Stampin’ Up! released the list of retiring accessories and supplies yesterday.  It’s pretty massive…12 pages…and very fluid.  When an item is sold out, it’s gone forever. You can see the complete list at my website, and if you see some things you need (or want) be sure to order them right then and there.

If you take a look at the list, you’ll see all the classic and craft pads are retiring.  Don’t panic. Starting on June 1 with the new catalog, Stampin’ Up! pads will have a “firm foam” pad rather than the fabric ones we currently have.  They hold the ink better, ink the stamps better, and have better results all around. If you have the current stamp pads, you don’t need to replace them.  Refills will work on either type of pad.

Craft ink pads will only be available in Basic Black and Whisper White.  Most markers will only be available in sets, so if you need individual ones, get them now. As expected, almost all the Designer Series Papers are retiring, and anything involving the 2010-2012 In Colors:  Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, and Peach Parfait.  That’s inks, papers, ribbons, embellishments, whatever.

12x12 Textured Cardstock is retiring, as well as many colors of 12x12 Smooth Cardstock. So please take a few (or many) minutes to look over the list.  So many things are retiring as Stampin’ Up! redesigns the catalog.  I can’t wait to see the new, amazing products!

The cards I want to show you today actually do not involve many retiring products, at least not in the essential design.

Supplies:  Hello Friend Stamp Set

Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla Cardstock; First Edition Specialty DSP

Chantilly Trim (retiring); Vintage Trinkets; Corner Rounder punch

Concord Crush (retiring), Soft Suede, and Melon Mambo Classic Ink

To make the background piece, I stamped the flower image using Concord Crush, then crinkled it and flattened it a bunch.  Finally, I lightly rubbed over it with the Soft Suede ink pad. 

Supplies:  Happy Greetings stamp set (way retired)

Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla cardstock; First Edition Specialty DSP

Baja Breeze and Soft Suede Markers; Baja Breeze Seam Binding; 

Spiral Border (way retired), Large Oval, Scalloped Oval, and Scallop Circle punches

Elegant Lines Embossing Folder and Big Shot; Antique Brads

I love the way the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder pumps up the interest on the newsprint. To make the flower, I cut 5 scallop circles, folded four of them twice, and attached them to the last one.  To finish the flower, I put an antique brad in the center and spinged the edges with Baja Breeze.

I really miss the spiral border punch that retired last year.  Or maybe the year before.  You can still buy them at craft stores, though, made by EK Success.

I’m so glad the First Edition DSP isn’t retiring.  It’s great for vintage or grunge projects, as well as adding interesting pattern to contemporary cards. Really.  I’m not making that up to sound all creative.

Remiss, yet again

I just realized, while checking out the demonstrator support area on Stampin’ Up! (where we get the top-secret recipe for the kool-aid), that I have been seriously remiss is sharing their news. During the month of October, if you sign up to become a demonstrator, you’ll get a Big Shot ABSOLUTELY FREE! If you’ve been reading my blog, as you obviously have been, you know how much I love my die-cutting capabilities. It’s almost like power tools for my husband, I think. If you don’t NEED a Big Shot (and that would only be because you already have one), you can get $100 of FREE stamps and products instead.

It really is a great deal, if you’ve been mulling over becoming a demonstrator. I’ve been a demo for almost 6 years now, and love that opportunities it gives me for creativity as well as the friendships I’ve found. I could be making a little spending money at it, as well, but we all know I just spend it all on stamps, anyway.

There are a couple of other cool things going on at Stampin’ Up! as well. I’m waiting for my cookie stamps to arrive. I have all sorts of nifty ideas brewing for those. The Simply Sent card kits are a fun gift idea for teachers, or they are a super quick way to create hand-crafted cards for you!

If you’re interested in any of the above spiels, let me know. You can order or sign up to be a demonstrator right on my website. You’ll need the “top secret handshake code” to sign up, so just email if that’s the case. Otherwise, shop away!

But I’d really like for you to come join me in the Land of Demonstrator Bliss…