Stamping with Gail

See Ya Later Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set

Have you taken advantage of our Sale-A-Bration promotion?  This cute card uses 2 FREE Sale-A-Bration products: the See Ya Later stamp set and the striking Designer Series Paper, Sweet Sorbet.  I like this card because it is flat yet has a lot of visual texture.  It is so easy to make the starburst shape, too!  Just cut papers 4" x 1-1/2" and cut each piece in 2 triangles by connecting opposite corners.  Pick a point to start and then just lay in the pieces, butting them up against each other.  Most of the time, where the points come together won't be very pretty and that is where you add your greeting!

SUPPLIES:

• Stamps: See Ya Later (wood: 133533, clear: 133536)
• Paper: Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730), and Crisp Cantaloupe (131298) cardstock; Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper (133521)
• Ink: Black StazOn ink pad (101406)
• Accessories: Big Shot die-cutting machine (113439); Ovals framelits (129381); Small Heart punch (117193); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

See Ya Later stamp set:

Sweet Sorbet DSP:

Place your order online or email me to order!

Sale-A-Bration Starts Today!!

Remember when you were a little kid waiting for Santa Claus to come?  And then he came and gave you toys that you loved?  Well, Sale-A-Bration is a bit like that!

We have come a long way when it comes to Sale-A-Bration!  When I first started as a demonstrator, my first (it was called Sell-A-Bration back then) was in 1996 and this is what we got - some cute, single stamps that customers could buy for $1 with a $20 purchase.  I still really like that gecko.

Then, in 1997, we amped it up - whole stamp sets for $1 with a $25 purchase:

After that, there were slightly larger stamps for $6.95 with purchase, and finally, today, we have an amazing offering of 13 prizes valued up to $19.95, including 4 stamp sets available in your choice of wood or clear mount - each one FREE with a $50 order!  So many, in fact, that the black and white flyers of the past have been replaced with a 20 page full-color brochure complete with bundle suggestions on how you might get to $50!  Heads up: the first 9 pages of the brochure feature bundle ideas - things that you MIGHT chose to get to $50.  But you can actually pick ANYTHING in any of our catalogs to put together your order.  Sale-A-Bration runs from January 28th through March 31, so make sure you place your orders and get awesome free products!!  Click HERE for my store!

Weekly Deals

Weekly Deals for January 28th through February 3rd.  Remember, Sale-A-Bration starts today, so for every $50 you order (can be Weekly Deals or Clearance Rack in addition to catalog products), you can get a free Sale-A-Bration product!!

Shop at my Online Store 24/7 or email me!

How Much Does it Cost to Mail a Hand-Stamped Card?

(This is my annual update - with current prices)

So, what does it take to mail a stamped card?  Especially if the card isn't totally flat (because you know how much we love our embellishments!)  And what size is legal?  There are so many questions about postage, I thought I would share some answers with you today.

First, how much?  A first class letter costs $.49 to mail (or a Forever stamp).  That price is for an envelope that is no heavier than 1 ounce, is between 3-1/2" x 6-1/8" high, is between 5" and 11-1/2" long, is less than 1/4" thick, and has uniform thickness.  Oh, and the envelope has to be "machinable", meaning the envelope can go through the sorting machines.  Clear cellophane envelopes are not considered "machinable".   A second ounce will cost you $.21 more.  I finally found a use for that Weight Watcher scale; dig yours out and start weighing your cards!  Add another $.21 for non-machinable, rigid, square cards,  and "lumpy" envelopes.

By the way, those "lumpy" envelopes still need to be no thicker than 1/4".  If they are between 1/4" and 3/4", they are considered "large" envelopes and the postage is more.  Large envelopes are 6-1/8" to 12" high, 11-1/2" to 15" long, and no more than 3/4" thick.  Large envelopes that are rigid, lumpy, etc, will have to be mailed as packages.  Which of course, costs more.  Large envelopes cost $.98 for the first ounce and $.21 for each additional ounce. 

Wow, that seems like a lot of rules!  And there are actually more.  For actual prices, guidelines, etc, visit the US Post Office website at https://www.usps.com/

This is what I do:

1. Put the card in an envelope and address it.  If there is anything sticking out (brad, bow, etc), I put a piece of packing tape over the lump so the envelope won't rip.
2. Weigh the envelope.
3. Go to the Post Office website and enter the appropriate information ("from" zip code, "to" zip code, weight and what I think it is (envelope, large envelope, or package).
4. Calculate what stamps I will need.  If it is a package and more than a dollar or so, I will go to a website that I found that tells me how many of which stamps I need.  When you go to the site the first time, you tell it which denominations of stamps you have and then it remembers that information for the next time.  Very cool.
5. Hope I figured right!  Most of the time, I put $.70 on my cards.  They are almost always lumpy or a little heavy... sometimes both.  Please let me know if you get a card from me and have to pay extra postage - I would feel bad!

I keep track of my postage (I buy my postage online at that same Post Office website) in a book using 6 sheets of Designer Paper and my Rubicoil machine.  Each pocket holds different demoninations.  Here are a couple of the pages:

 

If this is too much to keep track of, you can do what some of my friends do:  Use 1 stamp for a flat envelope or 2 stamps for a lumpy one.  Who knows?  It might work!

I still think that mailing letters is a bargain.  Less than a dollar to give the most perfect gift: a hand-stamped card from your heart.  I can't tell you how many times someone has told me how much their day was lifted when they opened the mailbox and received a card.

How much to mail a hand-stamped card?  Probably $.70.  Value? Priceless!

What does it mean for you to received a hand-stamped card?  Leave a comment and tell me!

 

Are You Ready for Some Stampin'??

Sunday, February 2: 

10:00 am to 9:00 pm: Super Stamp Sunday!

Here is the Game Plan:

• The cost is just $10 (no ticket scalping allowed)
• You will make 3 cute cards from the Happenings Simply Created Card Kit
• There WILL be door prizes!!
• You can browse my studio - feel free to bring a camera to take pictures of the myriad of samples
• You can play with my new stamps and accessories
• You can bring your own project(s) to work on if you want
• You can enjoy some Game Day snacks - and feel free to bring some of you own if you want
• Come anytime after 10 am and stay as long as you like

Super Quick Cards

Many thanks to Patty Bennett, who came up with this brilliant idea - using my favorite Designer Series Paper to make some quick cards.  I made these 16 cards in about an hour with not very many supplies.  It all starts with cutting up one sheet of the DSP into 3x3 pieces.  I chose to make these quite flat with only one element that pops up with a Stampin' Dimensional.  Click on the photo to see more detail.

SUPPLIES:

• Stamps: Happy Watercolor (wood: 133188, clear: 133191); Lots of Thanks (wood: 129687, clear: 129690)
• Paper: Basic Gray (121044) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock; Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight cardstock from the Brights Assortment (131190); Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper (132994)
• Ink: Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad (126981)
• Other: Modern Label punch (119849); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

If you want to receive one for yourself, be sure to place an order at my Stampin' Up! store because these are the cards that I am using for my thank you notes!

 

Are You Missing Out?

You are if you are not on my mailing list!  I send out one project-jammed newsletter a month and 1 or 2 short  reminder emails each month.  I would say it's like a free gift.  So if you are not on my list, just enter your name and email in the boxes to the left and click "Download Now".  Oh, yeah, I will send you instructions on how to turn an ordinary envelope (any size) into a gift bag when you do!

Hmmmmm, Candy Bar Gift!

Yum!  A great gift for a chocolate-lover!  This package neatly holds a 1.55 oz bar of Hershey's Chocolate!

It's easy to make with the Envelope Punch Board!  Just take a 7-1/2" square of cardstock, score at 2-1/4" and 2-3/4", rotate 180 degrees and repeat, and then to score the opposite sides, line up those score marks with the score marker and score.  Cut out small triangles at the score intersections and fold.  Trim long flaps to fit.

• Stamps: You're Amazing (wood: 132103, clear: 126722)
• Paper: Primrose Petals Core-dinations cardstock (129957) and Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650); Modern Medley Designer Series Paper (126926)
• Ink: Black StazOn ink pad (101406)
• Accessories: Envelope Punch Board (133774); Labels Collection framelits (125598); Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (126844); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Shop my Stampin' Up! store for supplies, except for the candy bars: you'll have to find those on your own!

 

 

Weekly Deals

This week's deals include some punches, markers, Washi Tape, buttons, and Digital download!

Shop for these and everything else at my Stampin' Up! store.

1 Week Til Sale-A-Bration!

Sale-A-Bration (or as we fondly call it, SAB) starts in just one week on January 28th!!

Here is what you need to know:

• Sale-A-Bration is one of our favorite times of year - this is when everyone gets free gifts with each $50 purchase.  And I'm not talking about cheesy gifts - these gifts are valued up to $25 each!  We have stamp sets (you can choose clear or wood mount), paper kits, accessories, and digital products.  Place a $50 order and get one free gift.  Place a $100 order and get two gifts.  And so on, no limit!
• When you host a party (either in person or virtually) and your party total gets to $300 or more (and honestly, with everyone getting a free gift with a $50 order, how hard can that be?), then you will get an extra $30 in hostess benefits!  Usually, with a $300 party, you would receive $50 in free product (your choice) but during SAB, you will get $80 in free product! (your choice)
• When you join my team and become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during SAB, you get to choose $150 worth of product from the catalog for just $99 plus tax (you will also get all the business supplies you need to get started: catalogs, order forms, etc).  And in addition to getting a 20% discount on everyhing you order, you can also make some extra money with your own business!
• Today, I mailed out SAB brochures to anyone that has ordered from me in the past year.  If that's you, be watchinging your mailbox for your brochure and be sure to not through it away!  If you haven't ordered from me in the past year and want a brochure of your own, email me with your phone number and the best time for me to call and I will be sure you get one.

If you are ready to CELEBRATE with me during SALE-A-BRATION, book a party with me!  It can be in your house or in my studio - Call me today at 210.684.5800 and we'll pick a date!