STORAGE SATURDAY, Card Stock Storage...

Today's Storage Saturday is in response to a couple of questions from readers.  One wanted to know how I store my card stock.  I have touched on part of this in the past, but I will be happy to share again.  I have tried several different systems before settling on my current methods.  While these work well for me, they may not be for everyone.  I tried paper racks which looked great, but light fades the paper even though I have absolutely no direct sunlight in my room and dust was a problem even with page protectors over each stack.

Ultimately, I decided on a hanging file system for my 8.5" x 11" card stock.  I find lateral filing cabinets the easiest to use.  I found a 42" wide cabinet at an office superstore which fits all my card stock in the top drawer perfectly.  Mine is immediately to the left side of my desk chair and easy to use without having to get up.

I use legal size hanging file folders, so that there is plenty of extra length.  This keeps my card stock from getting dinged up and allows me to file my 12" x 12" scraps in the files as well.  In each hanging file, I also have a plain file folder in the front in which I keep the matching color scraps.  This way, I can easily check the scrap folder in each file first before getting out a new sheet.  See next photo

Another great tip is that I keep a large paper clip on the front of the hanging folder if I have an extra pack of the card stock.  When I use the extra pack, I remove the clip.  That way I can tell at a glance which colors need to be reordered.

I use color coded tags for my hanging folders to make finding the correct color a snap.  I have updated the file I shared with you all last year with the newest In Colors.  If you are interested in printing off your own labels for hanging file tabs, I made these labels and printed them off using Avery 5567 Hanging File Tab Labels.  Be sure to print using the highest quality.  Note:  I do not use them folded over like a tab as I find them too flimsy for that.  I cut them on the fold line and get two labels out of each that I then insert in the plastic tabs.

You can download my the PDF file HERE.   There are four sheets to print - each sheet will look like those below and the labels will peel off.  If you don't have the labels, you could just print it out on paper and cut out the color portions to insert them in the plastic tabs.  Thanks for the reminder to update this file, Janet!  Hope you all find these useful!

I would love to use a similar hanging file system for my 12" x 12" card stock.  However, there are not many makers of these and I haven't found one that will work for me.  Either they are too small (I have a LOT of paper) or too ugly, etc.  I have yet to find anything attractive that matches my decor.  So I opt to keep my 12x12 card stock in the 12x12 Paper Holders from Stampin' Up! (#105528, $7.95).   Right now, I keep the Paper Holders in cubes.  With one cube for Smooth Card Stock, another for Textured Card Stock and another for current DSP and retired DSP.  I did have metal tags labeling each Paper Holder, but since they retired, I took those off and am trying to come up with new ones.

I use lots of 12x12 Dividers (#105529, $5.95/4) for each color or DSP to make everything quick and easy to find.  In the photo at the left, you can see the dividers in one of my retired DSP Paper Holders.  For DSP, I organize them alphabetically (I don't know what happened to this one!).  For Card Stock, I organize them by ROYGBIV (rainbow) order.  I like being able to go to the Reds when I need a Red and see them all together to chose one from.   For more on ROYGBIV organization, check out another post on that subject HERE.

Sorry for the LONG post, but I hope that helps some of you to organize your card stock.  I always feel better when my stampin' supplies are color-coded and organized!  Enjoy!

STAMPIN' STUDIO HURRICANE PREP TIPS FOR IRENE...

Okay, first we have an 5.9 earthquake in VIRGINIA of all places!  Definitely not something you think about living here.  And now it looks like Hurricane Irene is making a dead run for us in Virginia Beach!  So we spent the day battening down the hatches for the hurricane.  We have been through this before as we lived in Charleston, SC when it took a dead on hit from Hurricane Hugo, so we know what to do.  Luckily we are just out of the storm surge zone, so we're not evacuating, but it will be a BUMPY ride!  I'm still holding out hope that it will move east and go out to sea...

Besides hurricane prep, I also spent time cleaning up my studio, labeling and putting away new products received (LOVE it!) and getting more Dauber Cases ready for when the daubers arrive Monday (if Irene doesn't intervene).  I figured I better not start any new projects and have stuff out all over the room just in case our big tree decides to fall on my studio.  Okay...like it would matter if things were out when a tree falls on you!  But, it feels better being put away when you're expecting a storm!  :o)

Someone posted this on SUDSOL and I just HAD to share it with some personal tweaks!

STAMPIN' STUDIO HURRICANE PREP TIPS:

1. Overnight any necessary stampin’ supplies needed to lock myself inside safe from the storm.  DONE! - lots of new things to play with from the upcoming Holiday Mini.
2. Purchase battery operated lamps for my studio.
3. Stock up on batteries for the lamp, my battery operated fan, radio, etc.
4. Purchase necessary crafting sustenance – lots of water, Sprite Zero, pretzels, yogurt and CHOCOLATE!
5. Download and print ideas I have saved to CASE on my computer in case the power goes out
6. Charge cell phone, iPod (to jam to music while stamping), laptop, etc.
7. Wash some comfy short sets, so they are ready to live in for the day or many days as it may be.
8. Charge camera battery (consider purchasing extra camera battery) because you know we need to take pictures of the storm to scrapbook it!

Of course, this is all tongue-in-cheek!  PLEASE be sure to take all the necessary precautions to keep you and your family safe throughout this event!

I'll leave you with a picture of the uber-cute bat treat cone that Shelli made at the Charlotte Regional last weekend.  I will be working on a tutorial for this as soon as the storm passes...

LOTS OF NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE...

Six new digital downloads were released this week (and five last week) including five new stamp brush sets and the gorgeous Paisley Petals DSP I've been waiting for (shown at left)!  Check out the Aug. 16 PDF & Aug. 23 PDF for more recent downloads, and then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get yours today!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

PLEASE NOTE:  You don't have to have My Digital Studio to use our digital images.  You can download them as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!

SNEAK PEEK, Sweet Friend Card from Charlotte Regional...

Today I have another Make & Take from the Charlotte Regional to share with you.  This one has more of a Vintage feel--very different from yesterday's Love Card.  I love that Stampin' Up! included the envelopes for us to stamp to match as well.

Once again, I pretty much stuck with the design - shocking!  But, it was a cute card and a little different from my regular style, so nice to have something different to show.  Hope you enjoy it!

REGIONAL SWEET FRIEND CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – You Are Loved (W#123777 $31.95, C#123779 $23.95 beginning Sept. 1), Good Grid (#122630, $9.95)
• Card Stock – Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler Textured, More Mustard Textured, Old Olive Textured, First Edition Specialty DSP
• Ink – Soft Suede Classic, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, Tea Stain (from the Distressing Essentials Kit)
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding (#120992, $6.95)
• Punches – 1" Square (#124094, $15.95 beginning Sept. 1)
• Accessories – Vintage Trinkets (#118764, $5.95)
• Tools – Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95), Distressing Kit (#118762, $19.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

SNEAK PEEK, Love Card from Charlotte Regional...

Are you ready to be shocked?  Today I am sharing one of the Make & Takes I made at the Charlotte Regional Event this past weekend.  And I made it almost exactly as designed!  In the past, I have always taken my Make & Takes home and changed them up - I have to be different, ya know!  :)  However, since I don't have this stamp set and time was limited, I actually made it mostly as is.  And I like it!  It was a cute design.  I hope you like it, too!

LOVE CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – You Are Loved (W#123777 $31.95, C#123779 $23.95 beginning Sept. 1)
• Card Stock – Pool Party, Whisper White, Old Olive Textured
• Ink – Soft Suede, More Mustard Classic, VersaMark, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Old Olive, Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
• Ribbon – Old Olive 1/2" Scallop Dots (#124139, $7.95)
• Punches – Decorative Label (#120907, $16.95), Large Oval (#119855, $15.95)
• Accessories –Basic Pearls Jewels (#119247, $4.95)
• Tools – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

EXCLUSIVE BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN STAMPIN' UP! & MY DIVALICIOUS DEMOS GROUP...

Yesterday I promised you a special offer and here it is... 

Stampin' Up! has given all demonstrators who attended the Charlotte Regional Event an exclusive bonus to share with YOU.  Anyone who joins my Divalicious Demos team by September 4, will receive the Sweet Cake stamp set absolutely FREE!  This is an exclusive sneak peek at a brand new stamp set that will be in the Occasions Mini Catalog (beginning January 2012).  Demonstrators cannot even purchase this set until December and you can get it now for FREE!

Here are some fun samples with this adorable stamp set:

For more information on becoming a demonstrator, please check out my Join My Team page.  Or call or email me with any questions you may have!  Take advantage of this special offer and you will not have to meet any minimums until December 31.  I would LOVE to have YOU in my group!

CHARLOTTE, NC REGIONALS...

Back from Charlotte finally!  It was a long, windy and RAINY ride home, but we had a FABULOUS time at Regional yesterday!   We learned so many fun techniques and got so many giveaways!  I'll have lots of projects to share with you this week from the event.  Weekends like this are just one reason why I LOVE being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!!!

We started the day off swapping and swapping!  I learned not to have both your daughter and you swap as you end up with duplicates!  By the time I realized and tried to swap the duplicates, most were done swapping, but now I know...  Lots of cute ideas to be seen though.  They changed the seating to a classroom seating, which I loved!  So much easier for everyone to see now.

After Shelli's initial talk and stamping demonstration (a sooooo cute bat box I will show you soon), we were on our own to visit demonstration booths, make our two Make & Take cards, take pictures of the display boards, etc.  And I finally got my picture with Shelli!  She hasn't been at the last couple of Regionals I attended, so I was thrilled!  Isn't she adorable?  Here is a shot of Jenni and I with Shelli:

At noon, we had a delicious lunch and then there were presentations from Stampin' Up! staff (Shannon, Carrie and Dawn).  There were some definite ah-ha moments!  We had a ice cream break in the afternoon with yummy Magnum ice cream bars.  After that we got two more kits to make at home.  One was a Creativity Journal kit and included an ART JOURNAL!  Woot!  The other was for a coupon book using the Petite Pocket Die.  So cute!  Prize Patrol was active throughout the day, but no one from our group won.  :(  However, everyone got one of the adorable Stampin' Card Keeper!  YEAH! 

We were so sad when the day ended.  For dinner, we went to Mama Ricotta's.  It was so delicious, the dessert was fabulous and the service was wonderful!  If you ever find yourself in Charlotte, NC, you should give them a try!   After dinner, we all went back to our rooms and died!  Well, most of us.  It was a FANTASTIC, but tiring day.

This morning, we had the breakfast buffet in the hotel and were on our way.  The weather was awful - rainy almost the whole way.  And at one point the wind was so bad, I thought we were going to be swept away Dorothy-style!  But, now we are home and my bed is calling to me...  Check back throughout the week for samples on what we saw and made including a special offer tomorrow!

SNEAK PEEK, Falling Leaves Thankful Thoughts...

While I am away at Regional, I thought I would share my Thanksgiving swap.  This is also the swap I am using for the SUDSOL swap I am participating in today.  This card features the Gently Falling stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog.  It is a two step stamp set, but I only used the solid portion on the focal piece.  I used the Rock & Roll Technique on most of the leaves - a favorite technique of mine for leaves.  Then I color spritzed the focus piece and finally I used Shimmer Mist on the whole surface.  It doesn't show up in the picture very well though.  On the background, I used the outline stamps with VersaMark and then embossed it with the new Stripes Embossing Folder.  Hope you enjoy it!

We made it to Charlotte!  A group of us traveled together - two other demonstrators and my daughter, Jenni.  We had a nice dinner last night at BlackFinn American Saloon.  It was tasty!  Now we are all so excited to get to the Convention Center and start our swapping.  Let the fun begin!!!

FALLING LEAVES THANKFUL THOUGHTS SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Gently Falling (W#123802 $39.95, C#123804 $28.95 beginning Sept. 1), Grateful Greetings (#116511, $36.95)
• Card Stock – More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
• Ink – More Mustard, So Saffron, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler Classic, Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
• Ribbon – Early Espresso 1/4" Grosgrain (#120931, $4.95)
• Punches – Scallop Oval (#119856, $16.95), Large Oval (#119855, $15.95)
• Accessories – Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806, $5.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Stripes Embossing Folder (#123128, $7.95), Color Spritzer (#107066, $12.95), Stampin' Sponges

SNEAK PEEK, Crushing on The Sounding Joy...

I'm on my way to Charlotte for the Stampin' Up! Regional Event!  Today I am sharing the Christmas Swap that I made.  I think it turned out okay even if I did design it at 3 AM!  Simple, but elegant.

I used a couple of new products that will be coming out in the new Holiday Mini Catalog beginning September 1.  The first is a new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Snow Burst.  I am always a HUGE fan of the embossing folders and am thrilled to have a new one!  After embossing, I sprayed the card stock with Shimmer Mist although it doesn't really show in the picture.

The second sneak peek product is The Sounding Joy stamp set.  I love this stamp set!  It's so elegant and I love the way you can layer it.  I can't  wait to show you more images from the set!

CRUSHING ON SOUNDING JOY SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – The Sounding Joy (W#121967 $24.95, C#121979 $18.95 beginning Sept. 1)
• Card Stock – Concord Crush, Whisper White, Brushed Silver
• Ink – Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush Classic, VersaMark
• Ribbon – Whisper White 5/8" Organza (#114319, $5.95)
• Accessories – Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder (#101930, $4.75), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806, $5.95)
• Tools – Heat Tool, Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95 beginning Sept. 1), Sponge Daubers

REGIONAL SWAP, Jack is BACK!...

Having just gotten back from vacation, I have been feverishly working on my 100+ swaps that I will be bringing to the Charlotte Regional this weekend.  Darling daughter, Jenni, has been helping me get them done.  Today I have the Halloween swap we came up with.  It features Jack of All Trades, one of the new stamp sets from the new catalog.  Isn't he cute?  This stamp set is adorable!

The spider web embossed piece is also Shimmer Misted, but it doesn't show up much in the picture.  Jenni had fun paper piercing all 40+ Jacks!  I also embossed the face on the pumpkin and the sentiment for a little punch.  Hope you enjoy my card!

JACK IS BACK SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Jack of All Trades (W#122620 $23.95, C#122622 $17.95), Wicked Cool (W#118738 $19.95, C#1220600 $14.95)
• Card Stock – More Mustard, Concord Crush, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
• Ink – More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Concord Crush Classic, Cajun Craze, Basic Black Craft
• Punches – Ticket Corner (#119867, $6.95)
• Accessories – Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109130, $4.75), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806, $5.95)
• Tools – Heat Tool, Big Shot, Spider Web Embossing Folder (#120889, $7.95), Paper Piercer & Mat