Nutz about Stamping

This amazing new product suite is super popular and so much fun to use

Stampin' Up! has launched a brand new idea: Online Exclusive product releases throughout the year!

Starting 1 March, there are now even more Online Exclusive products for you to shop. The best way to see what is available is to view my online store. 

And there’s no end date for the sales period! Some products will be reordered when inventory is low, and others will only be available while supplies last. This way we can offer even more new products throughout the year. New products mean new inspiration and new ways to express your creativity!

Here's a peek at this gorgeous collection - I definitely had to have it all! 

And here's page 2 of the promotion flyer - click on the photo below to download the entire PDF to your device.

Tip: use the QR code on the flyer to see even MORE new products - yippee! 

Returning Colors

You may notice in the Hello, Irresistible Suite Collection some returning colors. 

For now, here are the coordinating colors in the Hello, Irresistible Suite Collection:

• Hello, Irresistible 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) Designer Series Paper: Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, Pretty Peacock, Soft Sea Foam
• Loose Frosted Dots: Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Pretty Peacock

Use this link to see these new exclusive products! 

I know you can create something beautiful using 2 rectangles and a circle

This week's Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge is all about shapes!

I decided to use three different patterns from the Hello, Irresistible designer paper pack for the three shapes on the challenge:

 

I love love LOVE this paper and have created several project ideas using it. Check them out here, here and here!

I even stamped directly onto one of the more subtle designs for my card. As the card base is so light (Soft Sea Foam) I stamped some leaves around the card borders (using Versamark ink) for added visual interest. 

Here's my card: 

And now it is your turn! What can you create using 2 rectangles and a circle? Give this simple but beautiful idea a try.

If you want to see what the other crew members created for this week's challenge, click here. 

See how this simple die can create colorful card layers

Polka dots are simply the perfect accessory to add texture and pattern to card making. You can spice up any papercraft project with the Dots & Spots Die, by using the full sheet or just a portion of the die to add depth and dimension to a variety of projects.

Why not try this fun technique using the Dots & Spots die?

Supplies

Stamp set: Color & Contour (154994)

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Mango Melody: 8 ½” x 5 ½” Rich Razzleberry: 5 ¼” x 4”
        Basic White: 3 ¾” x 5”;

Misc: Blending Brushes; Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Stitched Rectangles Dies; Glossy Dots Assortment; Hearts Pearls; Scalloped Contours Dies (155560)

Instructions

1. Choose 4 ink pad colors to create the Dots & Spots layer, such as Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Rich Razzleberry and Blackberry Bliss.

2. Beginning with the lightest color, apply ink to the top section of the Basic White layer, using a Blending Brush. I

3. Apply Mango Melody ink underneath the Daffodil Delight section (slightly overlapping), using a Blending Brush. 

4. Apply Rich Razzleberry ink underneath the Mango Melody section (slightly overlapping), using a Blending Brush. 

5. Apply Blackberry Bliss ink underneath the Rich Razzleberry section (slightly overlapping), using a Blending Brush.

6. Run layer through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using Spots & Dots Die. 

7. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue, adhere Dots & Spots layer to Rich Razzleberry...

...and then to Mango Melody card base.

8. Ink phrase using Rich Razzleberry ink and stamp onto Basic White Strip. Die-cut using Stitched Rectangles Dies. Adhere across card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

9. Ink Flower solid image using Daffodil Delight ink and stamp onto Basic White square. Ink line art image using Mango Melody ink and stamp onto Daffodil Delight Flower. Ink line art image a second time, using Rich Razzleberry ink, and stamp on top of flower image. Die-cut using the Scalloped Contours Dies.

10. Attach flower to phrase strip using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

11. Add Daffodil Delight Glossy Dot to flower centre.

12. Add 1 Hearts Pearl to phrase layer to complete card. 

Do you want to see a fun fold card that has a nice surprise inside?

Today I am excited to show you another fun fold idea, one that impress with its double doors. I am going to be using the Hello Irresistible Suite Collection product suite that became available in March and is ONLY available through an online order rather than being offered in a catalog. 

I am going to feature the Hello, Irresistible Designer Series Paper, both on the outside and inside of my fun fold card:

From elegant botanical and floral designs to beautiful color washes, the Hello, Irresistible designer series paper was hand drawn digitally to give it a natural, artistic flair that will complement any project. Cut out some of the designs and use them on card fronts or use the paper as background for all-occasion projects.

The phrase for my card, and a fun element that I added inside, comes from the Irresistible Blooms bundle:

The Irresistible Blooms set features gorgeous floral designs and sentiments in an elegant font, and is  perfect for all-occasion projects to say hello or thank you and to make smiles bloom. Combine the images as you wish on your project—pair the flower image with a greeting on a card front, add the stamped leaf image for a fuller and more detailed image, or use the leaf image repeatedly as to frame one of the greetings. The set is also great for coloring opportunities like the emboss resist technique. 

Here's the card I am going to show you how to create in the video below:

Supplies

Stamp set: Irresistible Blooms (bundle, 161150)

Ink: Flirty Flamingo

Paper and cutting dimensions:

• So Saffron (base): 8 1/2″ x 11″, score at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8" (see video for pieces to cut off)
• Hello Irresistible: 4" x 5 1/4"; (2) 5 3/8" x 1 7/8"; (scrap for inside element)
• Basic White: 4″ x 5 1/4″; 3/4" x 4"

Misc: Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine; Loose Frosted Dots (161153); Hello Irresistible Designer Series Paper (161239)

And here's my video - be sure to watch all the way through for my bonus tips and design ideas. 

Want to create the perfect look for your next paper crafting project?

The Petal Park bundle can be used for almost any occasion. The stamp set has leaves and flowers and coordinates with the Petal Park punch that will cut out the three main flowers.

There are so many ways to style the flower images in the Petal Park set. Mix, match, and pair up these floral stamps in myriad ways to create the perfect look for your next paper crafting project. The two-step nature of this set creates images with added depth and dimension. Simply choose your ink and stamp the outline image, then create the details by stamping right over the top with the filler image—you can use the same colour ink or switch it up with a different colour. The possibilities, and the fun, are endless!

Petal Park Thinking of You

For this card, use Balmy Blue card base, and attach a 1" strip of Country Gingham DSP to the right edge. Cut a white panel and use a die from the Basic Borders set to cut a decorative edge along the right side.

The leaves are stamped in Mint Macaron. The outline stamp is full strength, and the solid stamp was stamped off once on scrap paper for a lighter hue. You can do the same with the flowers in Balmy Blue on a Basic White scrap and punch them with the Petal Park Punch. Stamp the greeting from Go To Greetings in Balmy Blue.

The white panel is adhered to the front of the card over the DSP strip and the flowers are attached with Dimensionals. Finally, the card is embellished with Pastel Pearls.

Go To Greetings

Go To Greetings is one of the most popular stamp sets in the Annual Catalog. It has FOUR different greetings in THREE sizes, plus a small Hello. There’s a greeting for almost everything!

 

What designer series paper is the perfect complement to all your cards?

I love the By the Bay Designer Series Paper pack. This pack is 6” x 6” and is great for card fronts.

The water-inspired designs and natural hues are the perfect complement to any handmade card or paper crafting project. You will definitely get carried away to a happy place where sun, sand, and surf meet when you craft with this pack! 

Here's just one idea showing you how to use one of the paper designs, along with the instructions on how to make it at home. Want to order this paper at my online store? Click the paper photo above and I will transport you there! 

SUPPLIES

Stamp Set: Seaside Bay (160436)

Paper (including cutting dimensions):
        Crumb Cake Card Base (120953) 11” x 4 ¼”
        Basic White (159276) small piece for sentiment
        By the Bay Specialty Designer Series Paper (160434) 5 ¼” x 4”; 5 ¼” x 3”

Ink: Night of Navy (147110)

Accessories: Into the Clouds Embossing Folder (159171); Meadow Dies (155852); Flat Adhesive-Backed Pearls (160449); Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Stamp the three small seagulls in Night of Navy ink on the blue “sky” By the Bay Specialty Designer Series Paper.
2. Run the blue sky By the Bay Specialty Designer Series Paper through the Die cutting & Embossing Machine in the Into the Clouds Embossing Folder. I found the machine cut through a few places, so I recommend adding a piece of cardstock to the back when you run it through to keep it from cracking. This, of course, will depend on your individual machine. Mine is kind of “heavy-handed”.
3. Adhere the above piece to the “wood” By the Bay Specialty Designer Series Paper. Adhere these to the Crumb Cake Card Base.
4. Stamp the sentiment from Seaside Bay on the small piece of Basic White in Night of Navy Ink. Cut out using the Meadows die.
5. Add this to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

See how I turned this simple card sketch challenge into something beautiful

 Today's  Paper Craft Crew card sketch challenge is really simple - and leaves you wide open for using all your crafting products:

What I really love about a card sketch is that you can follow it exactly as it appears or you can go wild and crazy and use the layout as inspiration. When I first saw this challenge I knew exactly what I was going to feature on the card front. 

My Hello, Irresistible designer series paper:

You cannot easily see the pattern I chose from the photo above but I promise you it's in this pack. And when I pulled it out to use, I realized that the pattern is vertical not horizontal like the sketch challenge indicates. So I chose to go a tiny bit wild and turn the sketch on its side so that I could the vertical pattern. 

The phrase on my card comes from the Irresistible Blooms bundle...

and the die used for the phrase comes from the Something Fancy dies:

Tip: click on any of the product photos to link over to my USA store!

My card took only a few minutes to create and I love how it turned out!

What can you create using this week's card sketch challenge? If you want to see what the other crew members created this week, click here to head on over to the Paper Craft Crew website.

 

 

Want to see how to bring spunky elegance to your handmade cards and scrapbook pages?

The Beautiful Thistle bundle in the January – April Mini Catalog features a great selection of stamps and dies that enable you to create a varied selection of thistles. There are dies to cut out the stamped images and detailed dies to build up thistles from the different pieces.

This set will bring spunky elegance to your handmade cards and scrapbook pages. The realistic floral imagery is ready to color using your favorite coloring techniques and tools. Add a sentiment and you’re ready to give a card with words of encouragement, strength, and gratitude.

The stamped images are beautiful line drawings that enable you to color them in a variety of different ways. So whether water coloring, markers or even pastels are your favourite coloring medium of the moment, you will love these stamps.

The project today has been created from a card sketch. Sketches are always a great starting point for your creativity. You don’t have to stick rigidly to the layout, you can always change the shapes and orientations on a sketch if that works better for you.

The Favored Flowers pack was one of the Level 1 Sale-a-Bration choices until the end of February. As well as the beautiful floral designs, there are also some generic coloured prints in this pack, including Blackberry Bliss and Fresh Freesia patterns which are perfect for this project. If you missed out on earning this paper pack for free, try this card sketch idea using paper that you already own. 

The card features a Fresh Freesia card base with a Blackberry Bliss designer series paper mat on top. The larger square is a piece of Fresh Freesia designer series paper. The large Thistle has been stamped onto a square of Basic white card. It has been coloured with Old Olive and Fresh Freesia Stampin’ Blends. A Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Blend has been used to add some highlights to the thistle at the bottom of the petals and at the base of the thistle where it meets the leaves.

The texture image stamp has been stamped around the edge of the Basic White card in Fresh Freesia ink. A bow of white twine is stuck to the thistle with a glue dot.

The sentiment is stamped in Blackberry Bliss ink. Thinking of You is such a useful sentiment, whether someone is having a rough time, or you just want to send a “just because” card.

The card insert features a simple stamped thistle in Blackberry Bliss ink. You could also repeat this on the envelope.

Now is your turn to have a play with this card sketch. Whether you use this Beautiful Thistle bundle or choose different products from your Stampin’ Up! Collection, have fun with it.

Here's how to impress everyone with this cool and unique fun fold

Today I have a very unique fun fold idea to share with you, one that will be fun to send to close friends  and family members. I will be using my Irresistible Blooms bundle and matching Hello, Irresistible paper:

The Irresistible Blooms set features gorgeous floral designs and sentiments in an elegant font, and is  perfect for all-occasion projects to say hello or thank you and to make smiles bloom. Combine the images as you wish on your project—pair the flower image with a greeting on a card front, add the stamped leaf image for a fuller and more detailed image, or use the leaf image repeatedly as to frame one of the greetings. The set is also great for coloring opportunities like the emboss resist technique. 

From elegant botanical and floral designs to beautiful color washes, the Hello, Irresistible designer series paper was hand drawn digitally to give it a natural, artistic flair that will complement any project. Cut out some of the designs and use them on card fronts or use the paper as background for all-occasion projects.

Here's the fun fold (called Curtain Call) I am going to show you how to create:

 

Another view: 

Here's what you need to make this card - and don't miss my video tutorial below, showing you how!

Supplies

Stamp set: Irresistible Blooms (bundle and save #161150)

Ink: Pretty Peacock

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Basic White: 10 3/4" x 5 1/2" 
        Hello, Irresistible: 
                (2) 6/8" x 5 3/8"
                (2) 1 3/8" x 5 3/8"
                (2) 7/8" x 5 3/8"
                (1) 2 7/8" x 5 3/8" 
        So Saffron: 3" x 2" 

Misc: Hello, Irresistible Designer Series Paper (161139); All That Dies (159058); Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Loose Frosted Dots (161153); Fine Tip Glue; Simply Scored (122234); Bone Folder

Here's my video - I hope you will try this new fun fold idea!

Wow: Perfect for handmade cards or gift packaging for children and adults

Today I have another fun idea to share with you. It's a bit unusual because it does not feature what you might expect from the Hello Ladybug stamp set:

The set includes adorable ladybug and flower images, as well as friendship-themed greetings. Perfect for handmade cards or gift packaging for children and adults alike, you can mix and match the images and greetings to create customized projects.

Ready to see this fun idea? 

This card is easy to create and only takes minutes. Here's what you need and how to make it at home. 

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets – Hello Ladybug (157693)
• Card Stock – Basic White (159276), Daffodil Delight (119683), Basic Black (121045)
• Stamp Pads – White Craft (147277), White Craft Refill (101780), Daffodil Delight (147094)
• Misc. – Watercolor Pencils Asst 1 (141709), Best Label Punch (158885), Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (144108), Stampin’ Seal (152813)

Measurements:  

• Basic White: 8 ½” x 5 ½” (score at 4 ¼”); small scrap for sentiment
• Daffodil Delight: 4” x 5 ¼”
• Basic Black: 3 7/8” x 5 1/8”          

Instructions:

1. Start with your largest flower, and stamp randomly over the entire piece of Basic Black cardstock, using your White Craft Ink.
2. Fill in the blank areas with the smaller flowers—also in White Craft Ink.
3. Let dry. Once dry, color in the center of the flowers with the Daffodil Delight Watercolor Pencil.
4. Stamp sentiment in Daffodil Delight ink and punch out using the Best Label Punch.
5. Assemble your card as shown. The sentiment is adhered with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.  Card layers are adhered with Stampin’ Seal.

Have you tried these fun layers yet? If not, let me tempt you.

Here's a fun project to try using the Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks:

 

You can create textured and colored backgrounds with these masks. This set of decorative masks is designed intentionally for layering. Create a beautiful flower and use it as the focal point on your cards. Or use the basketweave stencil and turn it 90 degrees to get an all-over pattern—perfect for a card background!

The card below is just one of many that you can make!

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets – Go-To Greetings (158763) 
• Card Stock – Soft Succulent; Basic White; Evening Evergreen, Pale Papaya
• Stamp Pads – Soft Succulent; Poppy Parade; Evening Evergreen, Pale Papaya
• Misc. – Stampin’ Dimensionals; Bone Folder; Stylish Shapes Dies; Evening Evergreen Open Weave Ribbon; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine; Paper Snips, Paper Trimmer; Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks; Blending Brushes, washi tape or painters tape

Measurements: 

• Basic White Card Stock: 4” x 5 ¼” (will trim after stenciling), scrap for sentiment
• Evening Evergreen: 3 ¾” x 5”
• Pale Papaya: 5 1/8” x 3 ¾”
• Soft Succulent: 5 ½” x 8 ½”
• Evening Evergreen Ribbon: 8”

Instructions for the layering masks:

1. Examine the 4 stencils, layer one of top of the other to get the proper orientation. Tip: use a sharpie to mark the stencils, I put a dot in the upper left corner of each stencil so I would know how to place the stencils.
2. Use washi tape or painter’s tape to adhere Basic White card stock to worksurface. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Place first flower stencil over Basic White card stock and adhere to work surface. Ensure any white edges not covered by the stencil are covered with tape. Apply ink with Blending Brush then replace stencil with the second flower image and repeat. I used Pale Papaya ink for the main flower and Poppy Parade ink for the flower detail.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Repeat process with the two remaining stencils. I used Soft Succulent for the main leaf and Evening Evergreen for the leaf detail.
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
4. Remove artwork from work surface and trim to 3 ½” x 4 ¾”. Adhere to Evening Evergreen Card stock, then to Pale Papaya card stock and then to Soft Succulent card base. Sentiment was created using the “Just A Note” image from Go-To Greetings in Evening Evergreen ink. It was die cut with stitched banner shape from the Stylish Shapes Dies and adhered to card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Add a bow made from Evening Evergreen.

Here's a simple card sketch challenge that has so many possibilities

Are you a fan of polka dots or any kind of dots? Well then you will have lots of fun with this week's card sketch: 

My original intention was to use my Dots and Spots die but that quickly changed when I spotted one of the patterns in the new Hello, Irresistible paper pack - only available online! 

From elegant botanical and floral designs to beautiful color washes, this paper was hand drawn digitally to give it a natural, artistic flair that will complement any project. Cut out some of the designs and use them on card fronts or use the paper as background for all-occasion projects - I did both in my card today. 

Product colors: Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, Pretty Peacock, Soft Sea Foam

Can you spot the pattern with the vertical dots? That sold it for me! I wanted to keep the paper as my focus point so decided to keep the rest of my card quite minimal. 

And you guessed it: it is now your turn. Give our polka dots sketch challenge a try and see what you can create. 

Want to see what the other crew members created? Then click here to hop over to the Paper Craft Crew website for a quick look. 

April is my favorite month of the year, want to know why?

Because it's TULIP season! The fields near where I live are overflowing with rows of tulips and the colors and varieties are breathtaking! And speaking of breathtaking, you need to check out the April Paper Pumpkin kit!

WHAT IS PAPER PUMPKIN?

Paper Pumpkin is our monthly One-Stop Box™ that offers a unique variety of paper projects for subscribers of any skill level to enjoy! These thoughtfully-themed and all-inclusive craft kits encourage Stampin’ Up! customers to explore their creativity, try new techniques, and discover their potential in paper crafting.

Good things take time, but you can start creating them now with the All the Little Things Paper Pumpkin kit! This kit includes nine cards, three each of three designs, with elegant designs and bright colors. The iridescent foil is the shining detail to bring your crafts together. You can make a card for anyone and for any occasion!

And don’t wait, because anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a FREE box organizer! This organizer fits perfectly inside your Paper Pumpkin box and is great for keeping your supplies from past kits organized, so you know right where everything is! 

ABOUT THE KIT

Name: All the Little Things

This kit includes:

• 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs, and 9 coordinating envelopes.
• 1 photopolymer stamp set with celebratory sentiments.
• 1 Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Spot.
• Precut cherry blossom paper pieces with iridescent foil.
• Unique embellishments and twine.
• Adhesives to complete the projects.
• Final card size: 5-1/2” x 4-1/4” (14 x 10.8 cm). 
• Coordinating Stampin’ Up! colors: Balmy Blue, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce.
• FREE box organizer

A handful of greetings that will help you create amazing cards

Hi all! I am feeling under the weather this weekend so decided to stay tucked in bed to rest up and recover. But I can't let you down so have a masculine fun fold card idea to share: 

 

The open road awaits, and that's the feeling we wanted to capture with the Legendary Ride set. It includes two different bikes, some accent pieces, and a handful of greetings that will help you create amazing cards. Build scenes of a garage or a road for the bike enthusiast in your life. The sentiments include phrases for birthdays, Father's Day, and more.

The set of dies includes pieces that cut out individual parts of the motorcycle as well as the full bike. It's easy and fun to layer the pieces. No need to go to the garage to work on your bike—just go to your craft space and let your creativity go full throttle! (hehe)

Here's my fun fold card idea, along with instructions on how to make it. 

Tip: click on the bundle photo above to order it at my online store! 

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets – Legendary Ride (Bundle: Stamps + Dies: 160763)
• Card Stock – Basic Gray (121044); Smoky Slate (131202); Basic Black (121045); Silver Foil Specialty (156457)
• Stamp Pads – Memento Tuxedo Black (132708); Versamark (102283)
• Misc. – Metal Plate 3-D Embossing Folder (160766); Adhesive Sheets (152334); Metallics Embossing Powders (155555); Heat Tool (129053); Black Dimensionals (150893); Stampin’ Cut & Emboss (149653); Liquid Glue (110755)

Measurements: 

• Basic Gray card stock: 5.5” x 8.5”, scored at 2-⅛” and 4-¼” along the long side.
• Basic Gray 2” x 4” for Motorcycle base
• Basic Black: 5-½” x 4-¼” plus   4” x 4”
• Smoky Slate: 5-¼” x 1” plus   5-¼” x 2-½”   and  small scrap
• Silver Foil sheets: Gunmetal- 5-¼” x 3”, Bright Chrome - 2” x 4”…both with adhesive sheets on the back side.

Instructions:

1. Stamp “You Are Legendary” on the right end of 1” Smoky Slate strip in black.
2. Emboss the gunmetal silver foil sheet with Metal Plate embossing folder using the Cut & Emboss Machine. Adhere embossed background to the top of the large black background and the stamped Smoky Slate strip to the bottom, leaving a gap between the two and around the edges.
3. Stamp smaller motorcycle image in Versamark on one end of smaller black card stock, then heat emboss with silver embossing powder and heat tool.
4. Die cut: Small motorcycle, 2 tires, and large motor piece from the smaller black card stock.
5. Die cut: Large motorcycle background from 2”x4” piece of Basic Gray
6. Die cut: Details for large motorcycle and two hub caps from Chrome Foil sheet.
7. Die cut: Motorcycle seat from small Smoky Slate scrap.
8. Assemble large motorcycle as follows: Use liquid glue to adhere the black “motor” to the center of the Basic Gray bike, then the Smoky Slate seat over the black at the back. Peel off the adhesive backing of the hubcaps and adhere to the center of the wheels, then use liquid glue to adhere the tires over the hubcaps. Finally, peel off the backing of the bike details and press over all other layers.
9. Fold the Basic Gray card stock along all fold lines. Adhere the bottom half of the black background to the folded outside edge (half) of the card front. Do NOT adhere the top half of the black layers to the front of the card.
10. Attach the large motorcycle to the front background using black dimensionals.
11. On the inside of the card, stamp the “Authentic You” sentiment in the lower left corner in black. Attach the small embossed motorcycle to the right front corner with black dimensionals. Adhere the 5-¼” x 2-½” Smoky Slate card stock toward the top inside of the card.

 

Front of card will fold down and “stand” like an easel by leaning against the top of the small motorcycle on the inside of the card.

My top 12 tips for how to craft on a budget

With prices rising almost daily we have to start crafting on a budget. Stamping is fun and a great creative outlet. It is also important for your wellbeing. But: it can also get expensive.

Here are my top 12 tips for how to craft on a budget and to keep your spending manageable.

1. Set a budget for what you can spend.

2. When the new catalog releases, make a list of what you would like to have and put it into categories such as tools, embellishments, stamps, etc.

3. Coordinate your colors with your purchases.

4. On your list, decide what you really need and what can wait (your 'nice to haves').

5. What tools do you really need? You can often find things around the house that you can use instead such as a push pen instead of a paper piercer. Make your own bow maker with a Styrofoam block that comes in packing and dowel rods.

6. Look for different ways you can save on cardstock such as when cutting a layering piece, cut out the center that will not show when the top layer is applied and set it aside for another project.

7. Tie the bow on your ribbon before cutting to save waste Use small pieces of ribbon and tie in the center to make a mock bow.

8. Save your scraps of cardstock to make tags and cut punch shapes. Many light color strips of cardstock can be used to stamp words on.

9. Save scraps of designer paper to create blocks to build an interesting layer and then add a cutout image of verse.

10. Keep a list of your purchases (in categories such as tools, stamps, dies, etc.) to keep from duplicating your purchases.

11. Before you throw out scraps ask yourself, can I use this for something else? Even plastic containers from the kitchen that would go in the trash can often be used to make into gift holders.

12. Have fun finding ways to save money in other areas of your life (such as coffee purchases or takeout) so you can spend more on your stamping supplies.

What other tips can you think of that I could add to my list? Leave me a comment to let me know.