Good Bye Whisper White!

 We'll Miss You, Whisper White!

Whisper White has been a Stampin’ Up! staple for as long as I can remember. Whisper White cardstock is one of the first things I purchased at my first workshop in 2001, and I do my best to keep it stocked in the Fungeon. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, though, the supplier mill that produced Whisper White cardstock products has permanently closed. Stampin' Up! wasn’t given much notice about this closure, so quick pivots had to be made. As a result of the closure, the technology unique to this particular supplier is now unavailable to Stampin' Up!, and the company can no longer offer our Whisper White cardstock and related products. This will not affect any of our other cardstocks - only Whisper White.

With Whisper White going out of production, a number of Whisper White products will soon be going away. The following items are now available while supplies last (with an order limit of 2 per item per order):

• #100730 - Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock
• #140272 - Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Thick Cardstock
• #124302 - Whisper White 12" x 12" Cardstock
• #107301 - Whisper White Medium Envelopes
• #131527 - Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes
• #145829 - Whisper White 3" x 3" Envelopes
• #149710 - Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes

While you may want to grab up some Whisper White before it goes away (I did), please rest assured there's a new friend on the way.

Welcome, Basic White!

Stampin' Up! was as startled by the news that Whisper White was going away (this decision was out of their hands) as we are, but they jumped right into action to find the best replacement paper possible. They found it!

After many hours to source and test alternative cardstock options from several suppliers to find the perfect fit, Stampin' Up! has found a new replacement - Basic White! The quality of the new Basic White was thoroughly tested by Stampin' Up!'s quality assurance and product teams. We are told it also tested very well with demonstrators and concept artists who played with the new paper and gave it a huge thumbs up. The company believes in the quality of the new Basic White cardstock, and I'm certain it will soon become our new crafting staple!

Here's an informative video from Stampin' Up! to show us how Basic White compares with Whisper White:

The new Basic White products will become available to purchase as soon as Stampin' Up! can have them in stock. This means that some Whisper White and Basic White products may be available at the same time. Additionally, due to the nature of sourcing, some Basic White products may not be available before the Whisper White products sell out. Please know that the company is working on getting these products available to you as fast as possible.

Since this change is outside of the company's control, Stampin' Up! hasn’t been able to tackle all necessary alterations at once. You may still see the name Whisper White on some of the non-cardstock product labels, catalog, and marketing material for a while. They will be working on a rolling change to address this.

Buying Basic White

We'll soon see Whisper White products go away and Basic White products make their way into our online store and catalogs. When Basic White is available (it's not there yet), here are the products numbers you'll want to have on-hand:

• #159276 - Basic White 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock
• #159229 - Basic White 8-1/2" x 11" Thick Cardstock
• #159231 - Basic White 12" x 12" Cardstock
• #159236 - Basic White Medium Envelopes
• #159232 - Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes
• #159233 - Basic White 3" x 3" Envelopes
• #159234 - Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes

The news isn't really that bad once you have all the fact, but the headline can be startling. I'm so glad the company got ahead of this change to communicate how it impacts us (or doesn't make much of a difference).

Remember Me?

Wow - a new post from me!!  You know, it's that time of year when there is not enough time left in a day to do everything you want to do .... plus I'm a little lazy!  I actually did a lot of things in the summer that I usually am rushing around trying to finish everything - like my calendars, Christmas cards, etc!  But a friend of mine chastised me this week for not updating my blog so here you go!

Ashley was not able to come home for Thanksgiving so we drove to Maryland to see her instead.  We are afraid it will be the same for Christmas due to Corona Virus.  We always have fun when we are together and this trip was not an exception.  We drove to a small town in Virginia that had several breweries.  The weather was perfect for our stroll through the town stopping at 4 or 5 breweries that offered outdoor seating.  We each found a beer that we liked.  Ashley and I shared the different beers but of course not Sonny!

On Saturday we drove to Fort Belvoir in Virginia to tour the newest military museum that had just opened on Veterans Day.   The National Museum of the United States Army is the official museum for the history of the US Army.  The objectives of the museum are to honor America's soldiers, preserve Army history, and educate the public about the Army's role in American history.  Exhibits include Gen. Douglas MacArthur's famous cap; the "tinpot" helmet worn by WWI Medal of Honor recipient Sg. Alvin York; and a WWII Sherman tank called the "Cobra King" chich was the first to break through German lines to help besieged troops at Bastogne.  Another cool artifact is the sword carried by Capt. John Berry in the War of 1812 against the British at the battle of Fort McHenry.  That battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner."

 

As for stamping news .... the Clearance Rack has just been restocked this week AND the Giant Year-End Closeout event.  From December 8, 2020 through January 4, 2021, you can grab your favorite retiring August-December 2020 Mini Catalog items at a deep discount.  This offer is valid while supplies last only!!

If you click above on either CLEARANCE or ORDER ONLINE, you can see the items that are included in the sale.

Another great item I want to recommend to you is the Curvy Celebrations Bundle.  I really love these!  You can see some of the cards I made using this set HERE.

Merry and Bright Online Extravaganza 2020

 Stampin' Up! is hosting its annual Online Extravaganza on TUESDAY.  This year it's filled with merry and bright deals.  For this year's annual sales event, the company is offering a 10% discount on (almost) everything in the 2020 Annual Catalog.  10% off is an awful lot like "free shipping" on orders over $69.50, do I'm thrilled about this offering - and you should be too!

• SUITE COLLECTIONS are an additional 10% off (except for one)
• PUNCH BUNDLES are an additional 10% off
• DIE BUNDLES are an additional 10% off
• INK BUNDLES are an additional 10% off
• The STAMP BLOCK BUNDLE is an additional 10% off
• SELECT TOOLS are 10% off
• SELECT STAMP PADS & CARDSTOCK are 10% off
• DESIGNER SERIES PAPERS are 10% off
• RIBBONS & EMBELLISHMENTS are 10% off
• NEARLY EVERYTHING ELSE is 10% 

I'm a huge fan of a cardstock refresh - I always try to have some of each color cardstock and grabbing up more to make sure I never run out. You can bet I'll be adding several packs of cardstock to my order on Tuesday.   I want to point out that ALL CARDSTOCK and ALL INDIVIDUAL CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADS are 10% off during this sale, except for:

• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
• Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock and Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Thick Cardstock
• Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock and Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Thick Cardstock

There are also so restrictions on markers, specialty inks and specialty papers.

Listed below are the excluded items.

Save Your Favorites

There are two great ways to build your wish list for Tuesday's sale.

• Save them Online. You can add them as favorites on your wish list in the online store so you are ready to add them to your order on Tuesday. If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, check out the little heart in the corner by the shopping cart logo.  You can add items to your wish list - and can even share that list with others.
• Write them Down.  Get a piece of paper and a pencil and go to town!

I hope you take advantage of this sale.  I know I will!!  My Hostess Code for this month is:  73Z7UWX3

Christmas Curvy Celebrations

 I have been playing around with the Curvy Celebration bundle.  I haven't gotten mine (or ordered it!) but a friend has loaned me hers.  I love how the dies make a curvy layer on the cards.  I won't lie but I am such a visual person that I have had to search through You Tube to figure out how to make the different layers.   After you get going on them though, you'll figure it out and make some great cards!  These that I made below use some Christmas decorative paper from last year called Be Merry.

This one is so simple.  You basically cut the 5 1/4" x 4" designer paper in half with the curvy die, trim off the top and bottom a bit and sandwich a piece of Whisper White in the middle and stamp the sentiment.

Isn't that little bow the cutest?  There is not a die for it but it is easy to cut out.

Are you ready to order yours???  My hostess code is at the top left of this blog.   

CURVY CELEBRATIONS

TODAY Stampin' Up is releasing a NEW bundle of products that are sure to be on your wish list.  I can't wait to get my hands on this bundle!!  CURVY CELEBRATIONS is a collection of early release products.  They will also be available in the upcoming January - June Mini Catalog.

Click on the picture below to see the flyer! 

Christmas Cards

 One last reminder about the Designer Paper sale.  Tomorrow is the last day!!

I have several Christmas cards to share with you today.  Yes .... Christmas - it won't be long before we need to get these in the mail!!

I think this is my favorite!  So simple but I love, love, love polka dots!  This paper is not Stampin' Up.  It is some from a local stamp store that closed down a few years ago that I sure do miss!  The stamp is a Hostess set (A Merry Hello) and can be found on page 81 of the Holiday Mini.  It is only $10 with a $150 order.  The Real Red frame is die cut and embossed with Heritage Frames (retired).

This is a fun fold card.  The cardstock is 11" x 4 1/4"; scored at 4 1/4" and 7".  The DSP is my favorite Plaid Tidings.  I stamped the cute trees using Tree Angle ($17, pg  22).

Another card using the Plaid Tidings DSP.  I die cut JOY with Penny Black dies that I have had a couple of years and don't think I ever used them!  I cut the dies with gold foil paper.

I just got the Old World Paper 3D embossing folder and I love it!  I used it on this piece of Whisper White for texture.  The stockings are from the hostess set A Merry Hello and colored with SU Blends.  I die cut Merry Christmas from retired SU thinlits

Designer Paper Sale Alert!

 A reminder that in just a matter of days, the Designer Series Paper Sale will be over.   You have until October 31 to take advantage of the 15% discount on select paper.  I just opened my Snowflake Splenda designer paper (page 37 of mini catalog) and it is gorgeous.  It's one of those packs of paper that you don't want to cut into!!  To solve that dilemma, just order two packs!!  I also took advantage of the sale on the Artistry Blooms and love it too!  It's just a good background paper without a lot of busy-ness to it.  Another favorite of mine is Playful Patterns.  Both of these papers are in the Annual Catalog on page 148-149.

These are two cards I made using the Artistry Blooms paper.  The paper and the die made this card!!  I used the Many Layered Blossoms dies (pg 51, Annual Catty.)  For the card on the left, I used vellum paper for the blossom on the bottom with the Whisper White outline on the top.  For the card on the right, I used a piece of the Artistry Blooms designer paper to die cut the blossom on the bottom and Whisper White on the top blossom.  The easiest way to adhere the Whisper White piece is with the Adhesive Sheets (page 162).  Adhere the adhesive sheets to the back of your paper and run it through the Big Shot; then peel it off and stick it down!

Designer Paper Sale + Christmas Cards

 Well, I did receive my package on Saturday!!  Hooray!!

Here are a few Christmas cards I have made this week.

This card is a fancy fold and a gift card holder.  It seems like that's what is the #1 thing people like to receive these days (gift cards) so you might want to make a few for the upcoming holidays.

This is the gift card holder closed.  I used a piece of the designer paper from the Plaid Tidings 6x6 stack.

Another simple fun fold card using Shaded Spruce, Real Red and retired designer paper.

I made this card using some of the supplies that came with the package from Michael Diehl that I was waiting for.  I didn't think I'd like the Toile Tidings designer paper but I really do like it on this card.  It's really old fashioned and reminds me of my grandmother's wallpaper!  The bell die is in the Holiday Catalog on page 33 - Sounds of the Season.

Don't forger about the Designer Paper Sale!  

Both of the designer papers that I used in the cards above (Toile Tidings and Plaid Tidings) are ON SALE until October 31!  

USPS .... grrrr

 I'm not so sure about the US Postal Service!  Hope it does better with our votes in November.  This is what has happened to me.  I had a package sent to me from New York on Sept. 24 - over 2 weeks ago!  Every day I would get an update on my package (through the Informed Delivery - informeddelivery.usps.com)   It seemed my package was going around the world and back!   I needed the package for a card making event on Sept. 30 .... obviously, that didn't happen!    See below all those trips back and forth to Greensboro?  What the heck??  I went to the post office a couple of times a week asking them about the package and showing them the tracking info I had.  I was told that is common now because of the COVID virus!  That is a bunch of BS in my opinion.  The whole think was verging on ridiculous!  Last Thursday, the person who was sending me the package visited his post office and found out that supposedly, it was never in Greensboro (see all the mentions of Greensboro below) and in fact it had been sitting in Syracuse, NY all this time!  When they GPS-d the package & we asked about it, that escalated the search and sent it along to ..... (wait for it) Greensboro again!!  It is supposed to arrive at my house TODAY.  We'll see - I'm not trusting it!  

You might want to consider voting in person & not trusting the Post Office!  Wish I had done that now but I mailed my ballot a couple of weeks ago.  Sonny is not trusting the P.O. & will be standing in line.

You also might want to start on your Christmas cards and get them in by November 1!!

Scan History

TODAY

   

Expected Delivery

between 12:00pm and 1:00pm

SHERRILLS FORD,NC 28673

   

Oct 10

   

7:59 am

Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery Between 12:00pm and 1:00pm

SHERRILLS FORD,NC 28673

   

Oct 10

   

7:48 am

Arrived at Post Office

SHERRILLS FORD,NC 28673

   

Oct 09

   

6:42 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Oct 09

   

In Transit to Next Facility

   

Oct 08

   

4:17 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Oct 08

   

3:49 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Oct 08

   

1:47 am

Departed USPS Facility

HYATTSVILLE,MD 20785

   

Oct 07

   

11:32 pm

Arrived at USPS Facility

HYATTSVILLE,MD 20785

   

Oct 07

   

10:28 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

BALTIMORE MD DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Oct 07

   

4:59 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

BALTIMORE MD DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 28

   

1:12 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 27

   

10:44 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 27

   

4:18 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 27

   

3:32 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 26

   

9:46 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

GREENSBORO NC DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 26

   

6:07 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

ROANOKE VA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 26

   

7:49 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

NORTHWEST ROCHESTER NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 25

   

3:52 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

NORTHWEST ROCHESTER NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 25

   

1:57 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

SYRACUSE NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 24

   

9:10 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility

SYRACUSE NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

   

Sep 24

   

3:10 pm

USPS in possession of item

AUBURN,NY 13021

Celebrate - the Season and Fall!

Well,  almost a week later since my last post and I have no excuse!!  Just laziness.  I am addicted to a card game on-line (Hand and Foot) and it seems like I play it all the time!  I have even gotten my sister, Marianne, addicted to it too!  I did play cards with real people on Monday and Tuesday though.  Hand and Foot Canasta on Monday and bridge on Tuesday.  During this pandemic, I have played Hand and Foot with the same 3 gals every week.  We started in May and we are still going strong and look forward to it every week.  We take turns going to each others homes.  We all bring our own lunch and the hostess prepares a dessert for us.  It's been fun trying out new dessert recipes.  (Maybe that is why I have put on a few extra pounds!)

I have made a few cards lately and have some new stamp sets that I haven't opened yet.  Here are a couple I made this week.

I used the blender brushes to blend Highland Heather and Pool Party in the middle of the card and stamped the trees from Winter Woods in Memento Black ink.

A lot of stamp sets went into making this card.  I stamped the daisies (Daisy Lane) with Pretty Peacock on Mint Macaron cardstock and punched them out with the Daisy Punch.  The center is stamped with Bumblebee ink.  The leaves in the background are done a different way.  I used Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Bumblebee cardstock and the dies from Gather Together and Rooted in Nature.  The Cajun leaf was stamped with Cajun ink and die cut.  For the Bumblebee and Old Olive leaves, I pressed the dies into the ink and onto the cardstock.  Then I die cut them.  The Crumb Cake leaves are from Bouquet Bunch framelits (retired).  The sentiment is from Celebrate Sunflowers.  I adhered all the flowers, leaves, etc onto a circle from Stitched Shapes.  I adhered a 1 1/2" piece of Plaid Tidings across the bottom of the card.  I added a bit of bling using the 2019-2021 Faceted Dots.

Love Fall!

Sonny and I have been making little day trips for the past couple of weeks.  Last Saturday we drove to Ronda, NC to Raffaldini Vineyards.  Sonny is not a wine drinker so this was a big deal that he went without complaining!  Although, he did sneek a beer in while we were there!  We took our own chairs and sat outside enjoying the beautiful views of the vineyards.  It was a beautiful day and we were able to enjoy a nice lunch from a really good food truck.  Looks like these grapes are ready to be harvested!

Yesterday we drove up to Hendersonville hoping to get some apples.  Didn't see any for sale so I think we are a little early for the apples and the fall foliage - another couple of weeks.  We ended up having to make a little detour along the way.  We stopped at QT for a bathroom break and Sonny happened to look at the tires.  We had a screw in one of the tires so we found a Discount Tire store and got it fixed before heading west!  We had a great meal in Hendersonville at a German restaurant.  The restaurant is a favorite of Sonny's.

We found this brewery with chairs and table outside so we stopped off and enjoyed a beverage.  The last time we were in HendersonvilleI love ( a year or so ago), this was called Sanctuary Brewery!

Hendersonville is another town that has these painted bears!  They are going to be auctioned off later in the month.

I love fall!  So, I have been having fun making a few fall cards using the Gather Together stamps and dies.

I'm debating if I should color those pumpkins.  I sponged color lightly over the Very Vanilla cardstock and then used the "splatter" stamp in Soft Suede.  I also sponged Soft Suede on the edges of the piece.

I love using the Plaid Tidings 6"x6" designer paper.  I die cut the leaves in Copper Foil paper, Cajun Craze, Cinnamon Cider and Rich Razzleberry.

Again, a good use of the Plaid Tidings designer paper!  Leaves are die cut from Mossy Meadow, Cinnamon Cider and Cajun Craze.  I used Wink of Stella on them.

More World's Greatest Paper Pumpkin Cards

 Here are a few more cards using August Paper Pumpkin and I still have more!  I'm telling you the Paper Pumpkin Kit is worth the $$ for all the cards you can make with the kit.  I know some people don't like the fact that they don't know what the theme is and don't like being surprised each month.  I don't know - I think that is part of the fun of it especially at this crazy time.  It's nice to have a surprise!

This was such a fun card to make!  I just used the negative from the circle punch out piece and using blenders colored the circles with Crushed Curry and Flirty Flamingo.  

These are the blenders that I used.  I bought one at Walmart or Walgreen's in the Cosmetic department and I liked it so much, I went searching for them on Amazon.  I was able to get a box of 7 for about $10.  Here is a link to them if you are interested - CRAFT BLENDER  BRUSHES  

After using them, you can either wash the color out or do what I do and just rub it onto scrap paper and most of the ink comes off.

I cut one of the cards apart (blue argyle) and added a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock behind it for this simple card.  I used the Daisy Punch and the 1 1/2" punch for the flower. 

Another shaker card.  This is a record for me.  I have the hardest time making shaker cards.  9 times out of 10 I forget to put the window sheet in place before going further on the card so I have to take it apart and start over!!  I only did that once though on these cards!  I added some sequins that I had left over from another kit and used the Balloon Punch for the birthday balloons.

I love simple cards!!  Can't get much simpler than this one!

Another simple card.  I used a piece of the ribbon that came with the kit.

I hope you've enjoyed these World's Greatest Paper Pumpkin cards. 

World's Greatest #1

Hope you remembered to check out the stamp sets that are on SALE today only.  I just finished placing my order - what about you?

I've been busy working on my August Paper Pumpkin.  I think I have made enough and am ready to move on to something else!  August's theme was World's Greatest.  The cards are specifically designed to celebrate life's champions.  It was good timing for this kit I thought.

I used the vellum leaves under the ribbon and popped up the celebrate circle.

Everything on this card came from the kit (also the same goes for the card above and below this one.)

 

This card is a shaker card.  Again, everything for this card was in the kit - even the foam backing and window sheet!

This is another shaker card.  I mounted it onto a piece of thick white cardstock.