Category Archives: SEASONAL stuff

Thoughtful Branches – one of my all-time favorite bundles ever!

Aug 28, 2016

This month I've been in love. In love with what has got to be one of Stampin' Up!'s most versatile stamp set & dies bundles ever offered! And wouldn't you know it's only going to be available to the public for just THIS month – of August 2016!?!

If you haven't already seen this bundle all over the 'net, I suppose that means you must not have been ON the 'net, because it's everywhere you look – shown in amazing creative and colorful designs.  Um, but wait, wait! Please don't head off to Pinterest quite yet; you'll probably want to finish reading what I've got here for ya first!

Thoughtful Branches Bundle

This bundle is truly unique. Not shown or available in any catalog, it's only been available during August 2016…. and *will* be only while supplies last – through the 31st. (Fingers crossed that inventories will hold out that long, but you never know.) With 23 photopolymer stamps, and 9 coordinating Thinlits dies, and amazing versatility in its design, this is one bundle you'll definitely want to add to your collection if you haven't snagged it already. 

At my card classes earlier in the month, all 3 designs featured this set of stamps & dies – as we made a spring/summer card, a fall card, and a winter card. (Watch for those 3 designs to post in the upcoming days.)

But then when I needed a pile of thank-you notes for my August orders, I once again turned to this bundle…. and made up the card shown here.

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Actually, I got on a roll and made several of 'em.

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You may also notice that in addition to the Thoughtful Branches Bundle, I also used Timeless Textures in the background.  (Another very worthwhile stamp set to own.)

I have also fielded some questions about how I created the "tendrils" (curly-cues) at the top of the pumpkin. That's actually a 1/8" wide piece of Old Olive cardstock, wound around a skewer to shape the spiral. Then I snipped the curled piece in half and glued one end of each piece at the base of the pumpkin "stem" (which is really an upside-down tree trunk stamp & die).

Behind the die-cut fancy layer of Peekaboo Peach cardstock with Tangerine Tango ink lies an oval piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock. Tiny snips of Stampin' Dimensionals hold the layers apart – to preserve the intricacies and detail of the die-cut layer.

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If you're still deciding whether or not you want this bundle, technically you still have through Wednesday the 31st, to call it yours. But why wait and run the risk of inventories running out before then? Claim both of these versatile selections here. I doubt you'll be sorry….

 

Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Bundle

$52.00
Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$20.00

 

Out with the OLD to make way for the NEW – stamps, that is

Apr 18, 2016

1Well jeepers, creepers! I can't believe how long it's been since I posted here! Does that mean I've been sitting around watching TV and eating bon-bons in my PJ's? Ha ha… hardly! Actually, I've HARDLY even been in town as I've fixated on the goal of getting my folks' house ready to sell – back where they used to live. So I've been out of town just about exactly half of the past 6 months, and with very limited access to the internet during that time. So I've still been workin', but largely (and thankfully temporarily) focused in a different direction. But the good news is I've always seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm now only a handful of weeks away from closing the door on that project and having more time to focus on the things I love – family and my paper-crafty friends!

But as they say, time waits for no one, and regardless of my own personal set of circumstances, the Stampin' Up! calendar marches onward. I just returned yesterday from an awesome trip to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up!'s convention (now known as "OnStage Live"), where we saw and learned about the gorgeous products in the upcoming Annual Catalog. Let me just say you're going to swoon….. and that's about all I can say while I'm still sworn to secrecy!

But in the meantime, I CAN tell you that the items that will be retiring from the current line and that will NOT be continuing with us – will soon be revealed. And THAT is what I'd like to give you a little bit of inside information about. (And this "inside information" only comes from many years' experience with this process.) 

Lynda's PSA:

If you still have your heart set on acquiring any accessories from either the Occasions Catalog or the 2015 – 2016 Annual Catalog, best get 'em now. BEFORE the list is revealed.

Because once that "Retiring" list becomes public, the most popular items tend to vanish. Often within only hours. So by the time many crafters get a chance to sit down, leisurely peruse "the list" and think about submitting an order – their favorite things have already sold out. Participation in this whole "retiring list" thing isn't for the faint of heart. 

So consider this fair warning. Don't be "that girl" who waits until it's too late again. Instead, grab your wish list (you know, the one you've been working on since roughly this time LAST year?!?), check for any "accessories" still hanging around on there, and order 'em. Now.

And while you're at it, don't forget the 2014 – 2016 In Color items. We don't need an official list to tell us THEY'RE retiring! Do you have all the ink pads you have wanted? What about the ink refills? (Those typically sell out almost immediately once the official list publishes.) And enough coordinating cardstock to carry you through? 

Bottom line is that list is coming. And soon. Really soon. And if things go as in past years, the hottest items WILL sell out. Quickly. All that remains to be seen is whether YOU got what YOU wanted….