DogGone Delightful Stampin'

Ask Wendy Wednesdays, a Quick Update!

 

Hi Fellow Stampers ~

 

Ooops!!!  Thank you Chris R. for leaving a comment this morning and asking about postage on our cards when we add that extra layer in to protect the front.  I realized that I totally forgot to link up to the Ask Wendy Wednesdays post where I talked about mailing and postage last Fall.  My Bad!!  I was very tired last night and forgot to add that one item.

 

So I've updated today's post so that the link is in there now; but I'll give it to you here too ~  Ask Wendy Wednesdays - Shipping & Mailing

 

 

The short answer to your question Chris, is yes, there is a higher postage rate for our cards, both with the embellishments, layers, etc., as well as that extra piece you put in to protect.  I do talk about this in detail in my prior post referred to above.  I'm showcasing the special stamp that we use here in the U.S., on these cards.  You can ask for this stamp at the postal counter; and I always write "Hand Cancel" on my envelopes to be safe!  You do not want these going through the automated machines!!

 

The other thing I thought I'd add here also came from Chris --THANK YOU!!  She had an unbelievably FABULOUS idea I wanted to share with everyone in terms of how to send our special fancy "works of art."

 

Chris is from New Zealand, and this is what she shared:  "I don't know if your stationery stores carry them, but I bought a cardboard DVD/CD mailing box over the weekend in order to post a card I had just made with several of the Botanicals flowers and leaves on it.  Once folded into the box, they are just the perfect size to accommodate the standard card - 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" and work out to be a little over 3/8 in thickness.  I just loosely wrapped a scrap piece of bubble wrap around my card before I put it inside to prevent it from moving inside the box and then taped the whole thing shut."

 

FABULOUS!!  That's all I can say :-)  What a terrific idea, and thank you for sharing it Chris.  I love "community" and I adore my readers and that you share with me.  Thank you so much!!

 

Enjoy everyone!  Have a great rest of your day!

Until Next Time . . .

 

Ask Wendy Wednesdays - How to Mail Your Works of Art!

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

Happy Hump Day!!  Hard to believe that March is almost over, and with it Sale-A-Bration.  2016 is definitely flying right by us.  Before you know it, the Spring Occasions Catalog with all its wonderful products will be closing, and we'll be retiring the beautiful 2015-2016 Annual Catalog right along with it!!  There's a lot of fresh new ideas on the horizon, so hand with us here at DDS Studios ~ It promises to be a fun and fabulous Spring!

 

I had a great question earlier this week, and I wanted to take a moment here at Ask Wendy Wednesdays to answer it, because I just thought it really was a great question and one worth spending just a few moments on.

 

 

After Monday's Paper Players card was posted, one of my followers emailed me and asked, "how do you mail those pieces of art?"  Fabulous question!  So let's just take a few minutes today and talk about our beautiful "works of art" that we create and how to get those safely into the hands of our intended recipients.

 

 

Not all of my card designs are as intricate as this Past Monday's card, or even the Birthday Card I created for this Mojo Monday challenge and my Mother's Birthday.  

 

 

Most of my designs may have several layers, and then some sort of embellishment (most likely some pearls or rhinestones).  These cards are easy to fit into our regular A2 envelopes.  I "cover" the front of these types of cards with a protective layer ~ usually a piece cut from the backing cardboard that is in our designer series paper packs. 

 

It's absolutely the perfect weight (not too thick; not too thin), to slide over the front of the card, and give the protection and cushion needed while in the mail.  I cut these pieces, usually about 4" x 5" to 5 1/4", and just slide them over the front of the card into the envelope.  This gives a cushion for those embellishments and makes the post office happy because the "bumpiness" is not as evident.  Be sure to see my Ask Wendy Wednesday's Post about mailing & postage for our special cards.

 

When I have something a little more "delicate" or fancy, I like to use "bubble" envelopes and some tissue paper.  I will wrap the card in tissue for extra cushioning, rather than in an envelope, and then slip it into a bubble mailer, close in size to the card.  Bubble mailers come in many sizes, so it's easy to find one you like.  The one in this picture is one we had several years ago at Stampin' Up! and I stocked up at the time this product was retired.  There are other similar products out on the market however, that you can find for purchase.

 

  

Cards that are particularly special with those 3D items on the front, are often for someone specific that I'm going to seeing in-person; in those cases, these "works of art" are hand-delivered (not mailed), and might even be given in an acetate envelope (clear, see-thru with no "constriction" on the face of the card).  My mother's birthday card further above was hand-delivered, carefully tucked in its envelope, and I helped her pull it out and "fluffed" the flowers for her so she could set it up and enjoy it.

 

I hope this answers today's Ask Wendy Wednesday's question, and gives you some ideas for how to mail or deliver your very special "works of art."

 

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone!

 

Until Next Time . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Terrific Tuesdays Roundup . . . March 29th thru April 4th

Good Morning Fellow Stampers !!

Happy Tuesday!!!  WOW!  Only 3 days left, and Sale-A-Bration for 2016 will be over!  I can't believe how quickly the time has flown on us. Have you had fun?  I know I have!!!

Let's review and check out this week's promotions and going's on over at Stampin' Up! ~~

 

 

Our Biggest Event of the Year!!  This is it!!  It's almost over -- and when it's gone, it's gone!!  With only 3 days left of Sale-A-Bration, it's time to Take Action!!   If there are still some Sale-A-Bration products you're interested in, get those qualifying orders in today!!!  After March 31st, these wonderful items will be GONE!  Want to stock up on that beautiful Vellum, or the gorgeous Flowering Fields DSP?  There's still time!!!  ~~

 

Check Out All the Details on Sale-A-Bration HERE!

 

 

 

Join Stampin' Up! and the Paper Pups!  That means -- Time is running out to take advantage of this year's Sale-A-Bration Ultimate Bundle offer too!!  You can join the Stampin' Up! team, and get an incredible deal on products you love, lots of fun and inspiration, and no pressure . . . what more could you ask for?!  Have you been sitting on the fence about making the jump and signing up?  Don't wait any longer!!!  There is absolutely No Obligation, No Risk, Nothing.  Do it now, give it a try, enjoy the perks and the discount.  Let your demonstratorship drop by the end of your term if you want; but I'm betting you'll want to keep it ;-)  LOL  This is the time to join -- $155 product for only $99!!!    It's absolutely the "Ultimate Bundle" ~~

This kit lets you test drive the opportunity, . . . with ZERO OBLIGATION!  

• Great Savings
• No Obligation
• Zero Requirements
• Free Shipping
• email me with any questions [email protected]
• or click here and then “Join Now”

Learn more about Joining the Fun HERE!!  Don't miss out -- Join my Paper Pups today!!  I'd love to have you as part of the puppy team  😉  Contact me with questions or to chat (303/475-9449) -- I'd love the opportunity to speak with YOU!!!   

 

 

 

Running Out of Time!!  The end of Sale-A-Bration means the ends of this fabulous sale on the 3-Month Prepaid Subscription for Paper Pumpkin!!  Now is the time to extend your subscription, save money while you're at it, AND Earn a Sale-A-Bration Item. It just might be the easiest way to earn FREE* Sale-A-Bration items.   Learn More About Paper Pumpkin HERE!

3-Month Prepaid Subscription (137859) $59.85 $55   
Save on a 3-month prepaid subscription and instantly qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

Better Yet!  ~~  Get the 12-Month Prepaid Subscription (137861) $215.40, Save $24 a year with the everyday awesome price, earn Stampin' Rewards, and instantly qualify for 4 FREE Sale-A-Bration items! 

This offer will end on March 31, 2016 at 11:50 PM (MT). 

Celebrating 3 Years and the Millionth Kit!  And there could be no better time to join than right Now!  Paper Pumpkin is celebrating it's Third Birthday!!  Even more exciting -- The ONEMILLIONTH kit has just been shipped!!  Whooo Hoooooo ~~~  In celebration, Stampin' Up! is including a Bonus Stamp Set in next month's Paper Pumpkin Kit, called All About Everything.  You don't want to miss out on all the fun!  Subscribe Today to get in on the fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe I'm saying this -- it seems like just yesterday that we were retiring the 2013-2015 In Colors (some of my most favorite in recent years); and now here we are again.  In just a few short weeks we will be receiving the Retiring Products list for the 2015-2016 Annual Catalog, and that means with it, the retirement of the gorgeous 2014-2016 In Color Collection -- Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, and Tangelo Twist!  Can you believe it?!  Read More About the Retiring In-Colors HERE!  You don't want to miss out -- get stocked up on your favorites TODAY!!

 

 

I'm Bringing Birthdays Back!!  Have you heard about the new IBBB Movement, headed up by our very own Shannon West from Stampin' Up!??  If you haven't heard about this fun and fabulous movement yet, check out the Blog Post Here; we have fabulous good news as well.  The #imbringingbirthdaysback Stamp (item 143573) is available as a part of our current permanent stamp offerings.  Order yours today!!! 
 
Be sure to join me in supporting the #imbringingbirthdaysback movement -- let me know in the Comments Section if you would like a birthday card from me and your birth date (I'll contact you by email to get your mailing address).  I'm contacting folks and putting together my spreadsheet now!! 

And then "pay it forward;" start sending birthday cards throughout this year as well!!  Use the new stamp on the back of your envelopes to let others know about the movement too!  

 

WEEKLY DEALS!!  Let's check out what's on sale this week!

 

 

 

 

 

Check Out This Week's Weekly Deals!!!  O M G!!  I cannot believe how good our Deals have been in the past several months.  And they just keep getting better!  Last week the Pearls; this week the Metal-Rimmed Pearls!!!  Ooooo laaa laaa!  And I cannot believe our beautiful Leaflets Framelits are on sale this week!  These are some of my most favorite!  Check out that Box Punch Board too!  Don't miss out on these fabulous Deals!!  They only last a week!

 

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, you can order your supplies in my online store here. Thanks for looking!

 

Place your orders today -- and take advantage of all those great Sale-A-Bration freebies too!

 

 Until Next Time . . .

 

An Odd Pairing for the Paper Players and GDP!

 

 

 Howdy Fellow Stampers -

 

WOW! What a weekend!  It was so crazy and so busy, I didn't even get to designing for the week; including today's Paper Players challenge design.  So now, I'm behind!!  Crossing my fingers that I will get caught back up through the week here; but please bear with me.  We may take a day off just to take a breath and do a little catching up!  We'll see how it goes.

 

So, I did settle in tonight to getting my Paper Players [PP288] challenge design completed (along with trying to get my new computer system up and running).  I combined today's PP challenge with this week's Global Design Project [GDP029] challenge - one a sketch challenge, the other a color challenge, so it worked perfectly!  I had a little fun, and created a little bit of an unusual design for my normal aesthetic; however, I kind of like it.  I'm pushing myself to try things a little bit differently; I'll be interested to see what you think.

 

 

 

 

Here's a better look at today's color combination (I actually substituted Chocolate Chip for the Early Espresso; I hope it will be close enough for GDP) ~

 

 

Bermuda Bay

Tangelo Twist

Chocolate Chip

Whisper White

 Rather a different combination, don't you think?

Let's see what you think about what I did with these colors!!

 

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

• Layerothology.  This card base is cut from Whisper White cardstock, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4".  I laid one background layer on today's design, in Bermuda Bay!  The decorative layer is my focal point today, and we'll talk about that a little bit next.

 

 

• Botanical Builders. I'm playing again today with the Botanical Blooms stamp set, and the coordinating framelits.  I really do love this set.  Instead of laying just some straight boring layers down like the sketch would imply, I created 3 layers using the leafy curved vine from the framelit set.  This is Chocolate Chip, Tangelo Twist, and a piece of the Botanical Gardens Designer Vellum, overlaid with each other after being cut with the framelit -- so fabulous!!!  Don't miss out on this Vellum -- this a Sale-A-Bration product and there are only 3 days left of Sale-A-Bration before it's all gone!!!
  

 

 

• A Pairing of Blooms.  These fabulous flowers (if you haven't played with them yet, you're missing out), are so intricate and just so lovely!  I adore them.  I cut 3 different flowers from Whisper White cardstock, then sponged them with Tangelo Twist ink using a sponge dauber ~ starting darker in the center, and softer along the edges.  I curved the petals with my bone folder; then pressed the centers inward with my thumb while curving the petals upward and outward.  This is how I got the shape you see to these flowers.  They are adhered with dimensionals, and finished off with some pearls, of course!  LOL

• A Perfect Pairing.  Today's perfect sentiment is from the Sale-A-Bration set, Perfect Pairings!!  It looks like it belongs!!  Stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White, I cut the 1" x 5" strip with the Banner Triple Punch and adhered it with dimensionals.  I love how the entire look just seems "perfectly paired" for each other!  😉

 

I hope you have enjoyed today's card design.  What do you think of the color combination GDP came up with??  Interesting I thought; not one I would have naturally thought of or gravitated to.  In the end, I thought it looked pretty good, however.  Sometimes doing something different can be freeing creatively!

 

Remember, we're literally within days of the end of Sale-A-Bration 2016.  If you haven't taken advantage of some of these incredible products, don't wait!!  When they're gone, they're gone!

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, you can order your supplies in my online store here. Thanks for looking!

 

Until Next Time . . .

 

Picture Perfect for Mojo Monday!

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

TGIF!  The good news is that the sun is shining this morning; the bad news is the next snowstorm slides into town this evening, and we're under another winter storm watch -  eeek!  So Mom and I have bounced our little birthday get-together for her birthday since last weekend; but we've settled on today so that we can stay in where it's warm and dry tomorrow.  Brunch, and a little shopping; I think we'll dye our Easter eggs today, and probably spend some time on the Heritage Album.  Should be a nice day!

 

So while we're off having fun, I'll leave you with my MOJO Monday [MOJO440] challenge design to keep you inspired and send you off to your crafting spaces!!  Have fun!

 

 

 

 

Very Vanilla

Sahara Sand

Basic Black

 Here's my color palate for today's design.  Try clicking on the squares!  You'll love that it takes you to my Online Store and shows you all the products available in that colorway!!

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

• Layerothology.  This card base is cut from Very Vanilla cardstock, 8 1/2" x  5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4", turned with the fold to the top.  The background is Sahara Sand, embossed with the World Traveler textured impressions embossing folder and matted with Basic Black cardstock.

• Banners Galore.  The horizontal layering is a series of 3/4" to 1" banners cut from Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Going Places designer paper.  I love the artistic swirl in this particular paper which echos my color scheme for this design.  The vertical pieces are a different style of "banner" using the same paper, matted with Basic Black, and popped with dimensionals.  I purposely kept the mid-layers smaller in size so as not to cover the background embossing, which was an important element of my design to this card.

• Picture Perfect.  I have not had a chance to use this stamp set yet, so I was determined to give it a whirl with today's design.  I love this set and hope to play more with it shortly.  In keeping today's design more "masculine" I chose the lovely 2-step stamping Starfish image; stamping it first in Crumb Cake, then stamping the second layer in Versamark and embossing with a mixture of Clear and Irridescent Ice embossing powders.  This little guys just sparkles in the light.  He is fussy cut, and backed with two 2" circles, layered together for a nice background.

• Greatest Greetings.  I chose the sentiment for today's card from the Greatest Greetings stamp set, stamped in Sahara Sand on Very Vanilla.  I fussy-cut this banner, curved it with my bone folder, attached it with glue dots so it would stand up a little, and added some Neutral Enamel Dots in Basic Black for a nice finished pop of color.  I think this card is the perfect little reminder for that special someone in your life how important they are to you -- not just at Valentine's Day!

 

I hope you have enjoyed today's card design!  Remember, it's all in the details 😉

 

Have a fabulous day everyone!  Remember, I'm only an email away for anything you need, or any questions you have!

 

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, you can order your supplies in my online store here. Thanks for looking!

 

Until Next Time . . .