Wendy Klein is an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
Established in 1988, Stampin' Up! is a global paper crafting company specializing in decorative rubber stamps and accessories for greeting cards, craft projects, home décor, and more.
Whew! Well, here we are!! It took me a bit longer than I planned to get this little "Ask Wendy Wednesdays" video uploaded; technology can be interesting!
Things are changing so quickly with the coronavirus; even for Stampin' Up!, that it can be difficult to keep up!
Just a few notes we received from Stampin' Up! today ~~ they have been changing their protocols, which include alternating shifts/days for the warehouse pick lines, and the stamp manufacturing center in Kanab. This means that efficiencies may be slowed and it may take a little longer to get your order shipped to you. Please be patient. This about keeping people safe; not being in a hurry!! Don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions if you're wondering about your order, or one of our products, etc. I'm here to help!!
In the meantime, I had a question about the labels on our new classic ink pads several weeks back; and I wanted to take some time to finally answer and showcase that. I'm also giving a couple of other tips regarding our ink pads in today's video. So I hope this will be helpful and informational.
Stay Tuned!!! We're planning more fun, information ~~ and figuring out a new "format" to offer classes online and virtually so that we can keep "gathering" virtually ~ if not in person!! Hope you all are well and keeping safe and busy!! Snow on the way tomorrow; stay cozy!!
THERE'S NO BETTER TIME!!! Here are 10 Big Reasons You'll LOVE joining Stampin' Up!
Learn how you can get the best deal of all on new products HERE.
I Love to hear from you. Leave your questions or comments below!!
It's that time again . . . when I share with you what my Favorite Things are out of the brand new catalog - this time around it's the 2018 Holiday Occasions Catalog.
There is just so much to love, love, love about this catalog. I find it hard to pick sometimes. However, today I'm going to give you my very TOP, top favorite bundles, stamp sets, designer papers, ribbons, and accessories/tools from this year's holiday catalog, and am going to keep it short and sweet. This doesn't mean there isn't more that I love; just that I can't give you the WHOLE catalog - LOL. Here’s a handy wish list to track your Stampin’ Up! favorites ;-)
Winter Woods Stamp Set & In the Woods Framelits Dies, p. 27(save 10% bundle clear mount item #149992 | $50.25)(save 10% bundle wood mount item #149991 | $57.50)From the moment I first saw the Winter Woods bundle, I knew it would be one of the very first products I bought from this catalog. From the stamp set to the dies, create beautiful winter scenes for the holidays and beyond. Watch this Stampin’ Up! video demonstration here.
Joy & Noel stamp set, pg. 14. (clear mount item #147839 | $19) (wood mount item #147843 | $27) This set, much like the Floral Statements set in the Annual Catalog, spoke to me from the moment I saw it; the difference being this one is all about the holidays with poinsettias and holly. Color to your heart's content using either the Stampin' Blends, or Watercolor Pencils. Try the new Stampin' Blends colors in Real Red and Shaded Spruce on the same page.
Pleasant Pheasant stamp set, pg. 44. (clear mount item #147684 | $20) (wood mount item #147687 | $28) The Pleasant Pheasant set is perfect for all your autumn paper crafting. It works well with watercolor pencil and other watercolor mediums. Pheasants are a common bird in North Dakota, making this the perfect image for all occasion cards sent to your favorite North Dakota farmer!!
Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper, pg. 37 (item #147800). This is one of my top two picks for designer series paper in this catalog. You will LOVE the shimmer of this delicate paper, perfect for all your scrapbooking, cardmaking, gift bags, and more. The color combination make it perfect for all occasions.
Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper, pg. 29 (item #147816). Here is another "to die for" designer series paper collection. The gorgeous copper foil accents make this the Christmas paper collection extraordinaire! You will want to use this for all your holiday paper crafting this season.
Joyous Noel 6" x 6" Glimmer Paper, pg. 29 (item #147817). You cannot pass up these gorgeous "limited edition" glimmer papers. No holiday crafting season would be complete without shimmer and glimmer. This collection of Copper, Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide glimmer papers are absolutely stunning; the 6" x 6" size makes them easy to manage in your Big Shot and so much more. You'll want multiple packs of this gorgeous set of papers.
Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, pg. 43 (item #147906). This gorgeous vintage/antique-style "tin tile" embossing folder is easily my favorite of all time. I love all the options this embossing folder affords for so many styles and themes of paper crafting. This is a 6" x 6" folder, in our "dynamic" set of folders, meaning it has the deeper 3D impression requiring a little spritzing of your regular cardstock (not the foils) before running it through the Big Shot - and you only want one of your cutting plates when using this folder. Check out the Stampin' Up! video below to see how this beautiful embossing folder works.
Take Your Pick Multipurpose Tool, pg. 30 (item #144107). Stampin' Up! has hit it out the park again, with a "pick up" tool that is so much more than your basic "helper" to pick up and adhere those pesky sequins. One end has the sticky putty to pick up all your little pieces and adhere them to your work, with an easy "refill" mechanism. The other end of this wondrous tool has multiple double-sided pieces that are easy to exchange in out and include a "spatula", paper piercer, and double-sided scoring tool.
Black 3/8" Glittered Organdy Ribbon, pg. 49 (item #147897). This ribbon may be featured in the Halloween section of the catalog, but do not be misled; this beautiful sheer, sparkled ribbon is perfect for all of your holiday crafting, including elegant packaging for the Christmas season.
Snowflakes & Stars Wire Elements, pg. 29 (item #147819). This is a "sleeper" embellishment that is getting missed. Only 1-3/4" in diameter, these beautiful little embellishments in copper are going to be perfect so many of your packaging and ornament-making this season. Snap up several packages to have on hand!!
Punches, dies, paper, so much more!! There is a lot to love about this year's Holiday Occasions Catalog. These are just a few of my very top favorites. Which new Stampin’ Up! holiday catalog products make YOUR heart go pitter pat? Did I pick ones you love? What did I miss? Please share your comments. I'd love to read what you think!! :-)
I mentioned yesterday that we would revisit our "how to's" on the new Stamparatus and I also want to talk about the new "magnet pad" that Stamp-n-Storage is releasing later this week to resolve any of the "stamping near the hinge" issues that may be experienced.
But before we look back at this posting from several weeks ago, I first want to share this wonderful video from Stampin' Up! reviewing all the new designer series papers released this week with the new Annual Catalog:
I wanted to address very briefly a comment passed to me earlier this past week, that someone was thinking the papers were all "bold floral designs" this year. In fact, only 3 of our designer paper collections are floral focused this year; any other floral patterns of any kind can be found scattered here or there as a part of a broader collection. However, florals are "on trend" this year. Take a look at how the Petal Promenade designer series paper was researched and designed:
In truth, I think SU! hit it out of the park this year with the designer series papers. I highly recommend that you sign up for a Paper Share (or an "I Want It All Share") to get a better look at all the papers first hand; and then get ready to order your favorites in July when we will be having a very special Designer Series Paper Sale!! More to come on that very soon!!! See more about the Annual Catalog Product Shares HERE.
Now let's go back and review regarding the wonderful new Stamparatus - available now as a permanent tool in the new Annual Catalog. If you missed on ordering this tool during the Pre-Order period last Fall, don't wait another moment. Grab your very own today. I shared the series of "how to" videos in my Just Ask Wendy Post HERE. And you can also re-read my post on the Stamparatus Magnets HERE.
What's just as exciting is that Stamp-n-Storage (as you know I'm an Affiliate and in love with ALL of Stamp-n-Storage's products) has come out with the brand new "Magnet Pad". The Magnet Pad is compatible with the Stamparatus by Stampin' Up!® and provides an extra boost for your photopolymer stamps. Just place the Magnet Pad on top of the foam mat (included with your Stamparatus) and stamp away. Your most detailed stamps will display beautifully on your project, even when placing your stamp near the hinges of the Stamparatus. The magnet surface also works perfectly with your loose magnet, holding your project in place.
The new Magnet Pad is available beginning June 8th; but you can Pre-Order yours today!! Just click on my Affiliate link on the right-hand side of the blog and search for "Magnet Pad" on the Stamp-n-Storage site.
**Please note that when you use the links I share for shopping at Stamp-n-Storage, I receive a small affiliate commission. However, I only recommend products I use personally and believe will add value to my readers and customers crafting and organizational experience.
Here is a recent video by our wonderful "Fearless Leader", Mary Fish, showcasing the new Magnet Pad and giving you some wonderful hints and tips:
I think SU!'s new Stamparatus is one of our most exciting recent tool innovations, and is one of my number one top recommendations as a must have at this time!! To order yours go to my Online Store, or contact me with questions today!!
I had other plans for today's blog post, and then we received some interesting news from Stampin' Up! that I wanted to share with you, so we'll delay for a little bit my original plan for today's blog post.
As a follow up to my announcement yesterday that we will be adding a new platform to DDS blogging and updates - a new Private Facebook Page called DDS Distinctive Dabblers - I wanted to let you know that Wednesdays going forward are going to be my planned primary blogging day and will be called Wednesday WOW with Wendy. We will intermix our Wednesday WOW post with "Class With Wendy", "Just Ask Wendy", "WOW Wednesday projects", and of course, our monthly Pals Blog Hop. So I hope this will be a fun weekly get-together. I may post during other times of the week, but it will not be as consistent. Rather, you will want to be a part of the new DDS Distinctive Dabblers as that is where we will be having our fun, interaction and sharing on a more day-to-day basis.
Today I want to briefly revisit a previous Just Ask Wendy Post that I wrote last October 2017 - you can revisit that Post HERE, where we talked about Stampin' Up! "knockoffs" - these are inferior copies of Stampin' Up! products that can be found on the internet in places like eBay, AliExpress, and Wish. We talked about how this is actually illegal, but does happen to top name brands like Gucci and Prada.
Today we received the following news from Stampin' Up! - and I want to share it with you, because I think it is important for everyone to know:
Counterfeit Stampin’ Up! Products
"We are very aware of the counterfeit Stampin’ Up! products that have been appearing on sites like AliExpress, Wish, and eBay. Our corporate counsel has been working diligently to protect not only the Stampin’ Up! corporation, but also all of your businesses, from these fraudulent and inferior products.
Yesterday, Stampin’ Up! filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the US Federal District Court of Utah against Alibaba.com Hong Kong Ltd., the operator of the AliExpress e-commerce platform; this is an aggressive effort to stop the sale of counterfeit Stampin’ Up! products on AliExpress by merchants who appear to be based in China. US law requires Alibaba.com to remove forged and counterfeit products from AliExpress once it has been notified that such products are being offered for sale. We previously tried to stop the sale of these products by going through Alibaba.com’s purported reporting channels without success; the purpose of this lawsuit is to obtain the assistance of the US federal courts to compel Alibaba.com to comply with their legal obligations. A lawsuit is not our first preference; however, given the severity of the problem, it is our best option at this point.
We are committed to ensuring all of Stampin’ Up!’s art and intellectual property—and by extension, each of your businesses—are protected. We have taken additional steps on our end to make copying our artwork more difficult, and we will continue to take whatever legal action is necessary in order to shut down forgers and counterfeiters.
If your customers ask you questions about counterfeit Stampin’ Up! products, remind them that while it may be tempting to buy these products because of their cheap price, they’re cheap for a reason: Not only are they illegal, but they are highly inferior to Stampin’ Up!’s quality. They will not produce the top-quality results your customers have become accustomed to while using true Stampin’ Up! products."
I want everyone to know that purchasing these products from these companies actually hurts Stampin' Up!. I also want you to know that you are getting a far inferior product from the one you will get through Stampin' Up!, and that you will ultimately be unhappy with how your stamped images look, and how well your product holds up over time. Please do not buy copies of Stampin' Up! products from these companies no matter how appealing it may seem monetarily. It is worth the extra money to get the legal version and a far better longer lasting product!
I believe that we will see less of these copies on the market as Stampin' Up! becomes more aggressive in protecting their intellectual property. You can always purchase all of your Stampin' Up! products through my Online Store 24/7, right from the comfort of your couch in your jammies :-) Now that's really the best part, isn't it??
Thanks for joining me today - and I have something fun I'm working on in the Studio that I'll share with you soon (I keep changing my mind on how it should look - LOL),
We're here for a "late" Wednesday Blog post. I've been just a touch behind this week. And I'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming weekend!! LOL Just to crazy lately.
Today I want to share a little bit of information with you regarding the new Stamparatus. Soon, many of us who ordered our Stamparatus on the special "pre-order" last Fall will be receiving notification that our new tool is in and ready to finalized and shipped to your mailbox!! This will be like "Christmas" in February -- LOL When you get your new tool, there is some important information that I want you to be aware of so that you can maximize the use of your fabulous new toy!!
As many of you may know, high-quality magnets are included with the Stamparatus and enable you to securely anchor your paper to the Stamparatus platform. While you will find information included about these special magnets in the tool packaging, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with additional context regarding their use before your new tool arrives.
Neodymium magnets (also known as rare earth magnets) are very brittle; they are also the strongest magnets available for papercrafting and are therefore standard stamp placement tool accessories in the papercrafting industry. When placed on your paper, they attract the thin, magnetic plate inside the stamping tool and prevent your paper from slipping.
Rare earth magnets must be handled with care. Lower quality magnets can snap together without effect, but all rare earth magnets (though strong) can shatter, crack, or chip regardless of shape or size. This does not indicate a manufacturing defect. Stamparatus magnets are safe when they are used as intended.
Here are some tips to follow when using Stamparatus magnets.
Individual magnets are extremely strong; most projects should only require one magnet.
Store the magnets under the base when they are not in use so they are always separated.
When using both magnets on a project, be mindful of their placement on the base; the further apart they are, the better.
If your magnets do snap together, twisting them apart is the easiest way to separate them.
Handle the magnets with care to avoid injury. If they snap together, Stamparatus magnets can pinch fingers or shatter.
Children should not play with, touch, or use Stamparatus magnets. Please store the magnets in their storage compartment when they are not in use.
Magnets can interfere with pacemakers; if this is a concern, please consult your physician for more information.
Magnets can damage electronic devices, e.g. computer hard drives, magnetized credit and debit cards, etc.
Magnets are a choking hazard; they should not be placed inside the mouth
If the magnets do crack, chip, or shatter, they cannot be "replaced"; they are not under warranty and cannot be returned or exchanged. However, Stamparatus magnets will be sold separately in the 2018-2019 annual catalog - so you will be able to purchase them separately as needed.
If the magnets do crack, chip, or shatter, it is not recommended that you continue them as they may have sharp edges.
These magnets are great tools when used in conjunction with the Stamparatus. Simply use them with care and follow the tips outlined above. I'm looking forward to playing with our wonderful new tool ~~ I hope you are too!!
Wendy Klein is an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
Established in 1988, Stampin' Up! is a global paper crafting company specializing in decorative rubber stamps and accessories for greeting cards, craft projects, home décor, and more.
DDS Office Hours
DDS Studios - Office Hours
DDS Studios is available Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm MT Only!! I will respond to emails, phone calls, text messages, etc., and any Stampin' Up! needs during these business hours. Please be patient and I will get back with you as soon as I can during these times. Thank you.
The content of this blog is the sole responsibility of Wendy Klein, an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator. The use of and content of any posts, classes, services, or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
From time to time I may use non-Stampin' Up! products in my creations. I will list these items in my recipe lists for your knowledge, but I am not marketing these items in any way for sale or otherwise, and cannot sell you any of these items. If you like something you see, you will need to locate the distributor of that item on your own and purchase that item from that entity separately.
Affiliate
Affiliate Links
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have an “affiliate link” with Stamp-n-Storage, craft storage solutions. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”