Over the past few years I have have grown in so many ways. I decided last year to make my health a priority and have lost close to 70 pounds. I am off several medications and feel so much better. This year I decided it would be my year of joy. I would do things that make me happy and be around those that bring me joy. I have been purging my house of old unwanted things and replacing them with items that make me smile.
In turn my crafting has changed as well. While I love making cards, I have found great joy in scrapbooking again and I have found a new way to papercraft in junk journaling. These outlets really make my creativity shine and my heart full.
With all this said I have decided to completely rebrand myself with a new name, website and logo to match my new attitude and crafting style.
I have enlisted the help of a fantastic web designer who will be helping me on this journey. It will be a fresh clean look, uncluttered and easy to navigate.
My hope is that it will be a place to come and learn, try new things and feel like you are visiting an old friend for a day of creating.
I will be offering different things both in person and online, things I hope will inspire your creativity.
I cannot wait until I unveil this new website, and for you to join me in Jo’s Craft Corner.
With the anticipation of the new Spring Mini Catalog also comes the sadness of saying good bye to some of our favorites from the Fall/Winter Mini Catalog. If there are any items on the retired list that have been on your wish list, now is the time to get them before they are gone!
Between November 21, 2023 and January 3, 2024 you can order products on the retired list with some discounted as much as 60%!!
Promotion Details:
Not all items on the Last Chance Products List will be discounted.
All products are available while supplies last, and there are no purchase limits.
Discounted items can be added to a Starter Kit and redeemed as a 50% off item or with Stampin’ Rewards.
Stamp sets are not guaranteed during this promotion and are while supplies last.
Discounts are automatically applied when sale items are added to any order, including Starter Kits.
With the anticipation of the new Annual Catalog also comes the sadness of saying good bye to some of our favorite sets, colors and accessories. What are some of your favorites? If there are any items on the retired list that have been on your wish list, now is the time to get them before they are gone!
Place an order over $35.00 using the host code DJPSQ474 and receive a Designer Series Paper Sampler as a personal thank you from me! Your sampler will be mailed to the address on your order at the end of May.
Here are some of my favorites that are retiring. Remember, this is just a partial list of all the products leaving, be sure to view the entire list by clicking above. And don’t forget to place your orders as soon as possible, the retiring products are only available until June 2, 2020 or while supplies last.
“Don’t be afraid of change. You may lose something good but you may gain something even better.” ~ Unknown
I love change, whether a new hair style or color, moving furniture in my house or reorganizing things in my office or house. But I know some people are resistant to change they like things to always stay the same. No matter which category you are in, I guarantee you are going to LOVE the new colors that Stampin’ Up! is introducing in the new 2018-2019 catalog! I know I will miss a few of the retiring colors but the new fresh colors taking their place are so stunning I cannot wait to start creating with them!! And not only are we getting new colors but the ink pads have been redesigned!!
First off let me explain what is happening with our exclusive color collection. Each year five In-Colors are introduced and five In-Colors are retired. These colors are around for two years so this year the colors from the 2016-2018 grouping will leave us and the 2018-2020 colors will be introduced. That is usually it, but this year Stampin’ Up is doing a complete color revamp! They are retiring thirteen colors and not only bringing back six previously retired colors but they are introducing ten brand new colors, for a total of sixteen new colors!!! The collections have been reconfigured and they have added a Basics collection consisting of Whisper White, Very Vanilla and Basic Black. The last time a complete color overhaul took place like this was in 2010! We did have a refresh in 2013 where several retired colors were brought back but there were no new colors (other than the In Colors) introduced.
Now for the ink pad redesign. We are all used to the push and flip method of opening the pads, now all you have to do is open the pad like a compact and slide the lid into place. In addition to this the ink has been reformulated to reduce bubbles so you will get exceptional ink coverage. All this in a flatter pad that stacks to save space and a sticker that gets placed inside so you can always see the color at a glance!
Since there is so much information I want to share with you, this post will be two-parts. Be sure check back later this week for Part 2, an up close look at the new ink pad design, including several tips on using them!
And without further ado, let’s see the retiring In-Colors, the new group and the five from 2017-2019 that are staying for one more year!
And here are the thirteen retiring colors and sixteen new colors…..
As I mentioned there are now 5 color collections to choose from they are:
Basics – the foundation for your projects:
Whisper White
Very Vanilla
Basic Black
Neutrals– colors designed to go well with everything:
Merry Merlot **
Early Espresso
Soft Suede
Crumb Cake
Sahara Sand
Gray Granite **
Smoky Slate
Basic Gray
Mossy Meadow *
Night of Navy
Brights – vibrant happy colors:
Poppy Parade *
Melon Mambo
Flirty Flamingo *
Mango Melody **
Daffodil Delight
Granny Apple Green **
Coastal Cabana *
Bermuda Bay
Pacific Point
Gorgeous Grape **
Subtles – soft soothing colors:
Blushing Bride
Calypso Coral
Petal Pink **
So Saffron
Soft Sea Foam **
Pear Pizzaz
Mint Macaron *
Pool Party
Balmy Blue **
Highland Heather **
Regals – rich deep jewel tone colors:
Real Red
Cherry Cobbler
Cajun Craze
Pumpkin Pie
Crushed Curry
Old Olive
Garden Green
Shaded Spruce **
Blackberry Bliss *
Rich Razzleberry
* denotes a retired color returning ** denotes a BRAND new color
I hope you are as excited about this color change as I am!!
If you want to stock up on the retiring colors don’t delay, once the stock has been depleted they will be gone forever!!! If buying ink pads don’t forget a reinker!
SHOP NOW FOR RETIRING COLORS
As always, please feel free to share any post on Pinterest or Facebook! If you are interested in attending classes or any of my all day events be sure to visit my events page for a current schedule.
Happy Stamping!
~Jo
Making the world a happier place, one card at a time!
Everyone has their favorite stamping tools and I am no exception. Putting this list together was a lot harder than I thought it would be, trying to narrow down my choices for my top five when my top twenty-five would have been so much easier! I picked the tools I use almost every time I stamp. These are my “go to” tools and ones that if I didn’t have I would be lost. I would love to hear what your favorite tools are!! Please let me know in the comments section!
So without further ado….here my top five tools for every stamper.
A Bone Folder
This is a must have for any stamper whether you are just starting out or have been stamping for years. It may be a simple tool but can do quite a lot. From getting the perfect sharp crease for your cards and projects to burnishing, this little guy needs to find a home in your toolbox.
Simply Scored Scoring Tool
I use this every single time I stamp. The grooves are set 1/8″ apart with the measurements clearly marked on two sides. It comes with a double tipped stylus (two sized heads) and a little compartment where you can store a bone folder, extra stylus and other goodies. You can score cards pretty quickly and is a must for any fancy fold cards, boxes, 3D projects and more!
Paper Snips
What can I say about my snips. I have used many types of scissors but these are truly exceptional. They are super sharp (my finger tips can attest to this fact) and perfect for any intricate fussy cutting you may have to do. They come with a blade case and will stay sharp for years. I have two pair; one for paper and one for ribbon.
Grid Paper
This may seem like an odd choice but this item is often overlooked in the catalog and I think it is the perfect tool for all your stamping. It has a ruler on two sides and markings on the other two for finding a center point. The little squares are in 1/4″ x 1/4″ (the opposite side is in metric) and there are spaces on the side for making notes. Bonus it will keep your stamping area clean. It comes in a pad of 100 sheets which breaks down to just .11 cents per sheet.
And my number one stamping tool….
The Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine
This is another tool I use 99% of the time I stamp and by far my favorite! Yes this is a huge investment but I guarantee it will bring you much happiness and joy with what it can do. Stampin’ Up! offers a huge selection of dies including framelits and thinlits to match their exclusive stamp sets not to mention the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. It comes with the Big Shot Platform and two acrylic cutting mats. You can purchase the Precision Cutting Plate for intricate thinlits and the Magnetic Platform for exact placement over a stamped image. Also the Die Brush and pads makes removing small pieces a breeze!
To learn more about the Big Shot be sure to watch my video tutorial!
If you would like to get a notification each time I post a project share, specials from Stampin’ Up! or myself, class schedules or video tutorials, please make sure you click “Follow By Email” at the top of this post. That way you won’t miss a thing!
As always, please feel free to share any post on Pinterest or Facebook! If you are interested in attending classes or any of my all day events be sure to visit my events page for a current schedule.
Happy Stamping!
~Jo
Making the world a happier place, one card at a time!
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August Specials
From Stampin’ Up!:
Time to redeem those coupons earned during Bonus Days! Between August 1st and 31st you can redeem your coupons. Just enter the coupon codes sent to you by Stampin’ Up!. If you earned more than one, make sure you enter each one separately and watch your savings add up!
Early Release Bundle – Carols of Christmas and Card Front Builder Thinlits. Between August 1st and 31st be one of the first to own a stamp set from the 2017 Holiday catalog! The Carols of Christmas set and coordinating thinlits Card Front Builder are a perfect addition to your stamp collection!
Everyone loves surprises! As a thank you for supporting my business, with any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) you will receive a FREE surprise gift bag share! Just enter Hostess Code JB7TVAUR when you place your order online. I will send your gift to the address used for your order. If your order is $150 or more DO NOT enter the code. If you enter the code you won’t get your Stampin’ Rewards for FREE goodies and I wouldn’t want you to lose out on those! I will automatically send your gift when the order is placed.
This offer is only available only through Joanne Mulligan, an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Gifts ship at the end of the month and are sent via USPS. At this time I can only accept orders in the United States.
The other day I was reading an article about strategies to charge up your memory in AARP Magazine, yes I am in the 50+ age bracket, and one of the tips was to live creatively. It goes on to state that “having an artistic hobby in both middle and old age made older adults in a Mayo study 73 percent less likely to experience cognitive decline.” Now that made me really take notice. For years I have touted the benefits of stamping to help reduce stress and now a study shows that having a creative hobby can help maintain brain function. Now another great reason to stamp!
I know many of you reading this have been stamping for a while but some may be new to this wonderful hobby. I am doing a series of articles and videos titled “Let’s Get Stamping” to help new stampers as they begin their stamping journey. Even though they are geared for beginners there may be a few tips sprinkled in that you didn’t know or may have forgotten. I want to reach every stamper no matter what your level because I really believe this is wonderful hobby that not only benefits you but all those who receive your creations and works of heart!
Each article will build off the one before so you can progress from novice to pro in no time! I started with a list of basic supplies every stamper should have in their arsenal. For the next one I go into different types of stamps and care with a video showing how to mount each one for use.
I hope you enjoy the series and as always thank you for visiting!
stamptilyoudrop.com 