Good Friday morning my fellow stampers.  Well, the weekend is upon us and I’m heading out for OnStage to meet up with some of my wonderful team members, YAY!!!  I really can’t wait to see the new catalog.  I’ve seen a sneak peek of the cover and some of the goodies people got in New Zealand already. I know I’m in trouble.  I’m going to want it all.

For today’s card I made another quick and easy card and it’s a Fun Fold.  Take a look.

I started with a Balmy Blue card base and scored it at 2 3/4″ and 8 1/4″.  I adhered a piece of the Balmy Blue Subtles 6 X 6 Designer Series Paper to the top portion of the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

On a panel of Very Vanilla cardstock I stamped the tea cup image from the Stampin’ Up Tea Together Stamp Set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  I stamped the rose buds from the same stamp set on the tea cup.  Using my Big Shot, I cut the tea cup out using my Tea Time Framelits Dies (which will be available in the new Annual Catalog).  I then colored the tea cup and flowers in using my Balmy Blue, Old Olive and Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Markers.  I took one of the Pearlized Doilies and colored it in with my Pool Party Stampin’ Blend Marker so that it wasn’t a striking white against my Very Vanilla tea cup.  I adhered the doily to the top half of the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  I adhered the tea cup to the doily using Stampin’ Dimensionals only on the top part of the cup.

On the bottom half of the card front I stamped the sentiment from the Tea Together stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  I stamped a few of the rose bud images from the same stamp on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Using my Big Shot I cut them out with the Tea Time Framelits Dies and colored them in using my Balmy Blue and Old Olive Stampin’ Blends Markers.  I adhered a couple on the bottom of the card front using Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.

On the inside I stamped the tea cup image from the Tea Together stamp set in Balmy Blue Ink stamping off once on a Very Vanilla panel.  I stamped the sentiment from the Stampin’ Up Incredible Like You Stamp Set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink over the tea cup.  I adhered a thin strip of the Subtle 6 X 6 DSP to the bottom of the panel using Snail.  I adhered a couple more of the rose buds to the bottom using Glue Dots.  I adhered the Very Vanilla panel to the inside of the Balmy Blue card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

To finish my card I decorated a Medium Very Vanilla Envelope.  I stamped the tea cup image from the Tea Together stamp set in Balmy Blue Ink on the envelope front.  I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set inside the tea cup in Balmy Blue Ink.  I adhered a piece of the Subtle 6 X 6 DSP to the envelope flap.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.  I hope you liked my card and will give it a try.  Fun Fold cards can be very fun, quick and easy just like this one.  Happy Stamping!!

Big News!!  Stampin’ Up! has just announced that they’ll be transitioning to a new manufacturer for their dies and embossing folders moving forward!

Stampin’ Up! is moving to a direct-to-manufacturer relationship. This means that they will work directly with the factories who manufacture their dies and folders instead of working with another company who then works with different factories. This gives them greater control and potential in the manufacturing process. Yay!

TRANSITION TO NEW DIE-CUTTING AND EMBOSSING LINE

Here’s a look at how this transition will unfold:

Through June 3, 2019	Die and Folder Supply: While Supplies Last and Interruptions·  Inventory on some retiring dies may be depleted before the end of the 2019 occasions and 2018–2019 annual catalog sales period; Stampin’ Up! will not replenish inventory on any retiring dies and folders that sell out.·  Inventory on some dies and folders carrying over into the 2019–2020 catalog may be depleted; if this happens, they may go on backorder or may not be available to order until they have replenished the inventory.
April 15–June 3, 2019	Retiring List·  The old-style die-cutting & embossing machine will be on the retiring list while supplies last. This also includes related products such as plates and platforms.·  Dies and embossing folders included on the retiring list will not be offered in the new catalog in any format. ·  Dies and standard embossing folders NOT included on the retiring list will be carried over into the 2019–2020 annual catalog. Stampin’ Up! will use up their current inventory before starting to ship new-style dies, so even if you place an order in 2020, you might receive an old-style die or folder.
Beginning June 4, 2019	2019–2020 Annual Catalog·  All new dies and embossing folders (denoted with a “New” icon in the catalog) will be produced by their new supplier and made in the new style with a different and high-quality product design.·  For carryover dies and non-3D embossing folders, Stampin’ Up! will use up their current inventory before starting to ship new-style dies, so even if you place an order in 2020, you might receive an old-style die or folder. ·  All new and carryover 3D embossing folders will be produced by their new supplier and made in the new style with a different and high-quality product design. ·  Carryover 3D embossing folders (previously named Dynamic) will not be available to order beginning with the catalog launch but they are in process on getting these ready to go and they’ll be available as soon as possible. Stampin’ Up! will let you know when they are ready. ·  No die-cutting & embossing machine will be available for purchase from Stampin’ Up! in the 2019–2020 annual catalog.

HIGHLIGHTS: NEW-STYLE DIES AND EMBOSSING FOLDERS

Since Stampin’ Up! is using a new supplier for their dies and embossing folders, they’ll be manufactured differently, which means the way you use them will be a little different. A few of the changes between the old-style and new-style products are listed below. In the future, Stampin’ Up! will also provide videos to show how to craft with the new-style dies and embossing folders and better showcase the features described below.

Here are some of the changes you’ll notice with our new-style dies and embossing folders:

• The new-style open dies (those that coordinate with stamps) use a high quality metal that’s thinner than before but still as strong and durable.
• The new-style dies have an added lip to the inside of the blades.
• On old-style dies, when you place an open die (dies that coordinate with stamps) over a stamped image, a small border of cardstock is visible around the stamped image. With new-style dies, the die hugs the edge of the stamped image. Instead of aligning the die to the space around the stamped image, you will align it to the edges of the stamped image. When the image is cut, there will still be a cardstock border around the image.

OLD STYLE ALIGNMENT

NEW STYLE ALIGNMENT

• They’ve improved the adhesive that secures the dies to the insert sheet in the package so that it’s not too sticky. It’s easier to remove dies from the insert sheet, and the adhesive won’t cling to the dies.  (1,000 Yay’s for this update!!)
• They’ve standardized the size of the die inserts for easier storage. There are now only two insert sizes: 5″ x 7″ (12.7 x 17.8 cm), which coordinate in size with the stamp cases, and 6″ x 6″ (15.2 x 15.2 cm). The standard sizes will allow uniform storage in whatever system you use. The envelopes that the dies come in will be slightly larger.
• With old-style Dynamic folders, they recommended that you spritz cardstock before embossing to soften the fibers so you got a better impression. Now, that extra step will not be necessary because the new-style folders usually create a crisp impression without spritzing. The way the new folders are manufactured also gives options for more detailed and intricate designs in the future.
• 3D folders are thinner than the old-style Dynamic folders. Because they are thinner, you will need to use a shim, depending on the die-cutting & embossing machine you use.

I’m really excited about the new product line and can’t wait to get my hands on them this weekend!  I’ll be sharing photos and details just as soon as I can!

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Stampin’ Trimmer Discontinuation

Stampin’ Up! will be retiring the Stampin’ Trimmer as of June 3, 2019, including all accessories—replacement cutting blades, scoring blades, and cutting mats. As most of you know, they’ve experienced challenges with their supplier and are taking the opportunity to research and explore a replacement option for this product, which will not be the same as the current Stampin’ Trimmer. There will be a gap in time between when the current Stampin’ Trimmer retires and when a new product becomes available, but they do not currently have an estimated timeframe.

While the replacement cutting blades will also retire with the trimmer and will not be featured in the annual catalog, Stampin’ Up! has ordered what would normally be six months of inventory based on recent historical patterns to help customers during this transition away from their current trimmer. But please know that this news could cause faster inventory depletion.

• When the retiring list goes live on April 15, the order limit for the blades will increase from three to six (and the limit will remain at six until they’re no longer available).
• From now until September, intermittent shipments of blades will be received from the supplier. Throughout these months, Stampin’ Up! anticipates times when the blades will not be orderable (and not offered as a backorder). During those downtimes, you will have the option to enter an email address to receive notification when the blades are available again.

Click the images below to head right over to my online store to start shopping for the Stampin’ Trimmer and the replacement pieces:

Stampin’ Trimmer

[126889]

$30.00

Stampin’ Trimmer Cutting Blades

[126995]

$6.00

Price Increases in the 2019-2020 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog

Stampin’ Up! will also be doing so pricing changes in the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. Here is the note that they’ve posted and you can find a link to the new price list below:

We regularly review our pricing, taking into account the cost of doing business, global exchange rates, increased supplier costs, and market comparisons. When it comes to making changes, we are conservative and put off price increases for as long as we can because we know they impact demonstrators and their customers.

Click here for a complete list of individual product price increases in the 2019–2020 annual catalog.

Lots of updates today!!  Let me know if you have questions.  I’m thrilled that we’re going to have some new products coming our way soon!!

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Card stock cuts for this project:

• Balmy Blue Cardstock 4 1/4″ X 11″(card base scored and folded at 2 3/4″ & 8 1/4″)
• Very Vanilla Cardstock 4″ X 5 1/4″
• Subtles Designer Series Paper 2 3/4″ X 4 1/4″

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Product List