Greetings for the New Year!

I hope you are getting excited for the new year and the release of Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Catalog and Sale-A-Bration Event. It is going to be tremendous year ~ Stampin' Up! celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, so I feel certain that we will all have many chances to celebrate with them.

But before the clock strikes midnight and calendar rolls over, consider some stampin' housekeeping before the new products arrive on your doorstep.

I do not want to say that I abuse my Stampin' Trimmer, but it does get a tremendous amount of use as the only paper trimmer I have; so I attempt to keep the surface clean of snail adhesive and liquid glue goo ~ I usually use my silicon craft mat for all of my work, as I am sure you do as well, but sometimes I get in a hurry, or behind ... 

Give your trimmer a good wash down, as well as the cutting mat and the plastic slide/ruler for the blades. I use alcohol wipes to clean the surface and plastic ruler. The trimmer mats do come out of their position and can be turned over. Dust and minuscule bits of paper get trapped in the mat. If needed, add replacement mats to your next order. I always have a spare pair of cutting blades on hand, too.

The alcohol wipes I use work wonderfully well on acrylic blocks; now is a good time to get them cleaned up for new year stampin', too. Try cleaning your bone folder, paper snips and piercing tool while you are at it.

I recently cleaned my Stampin' Scrub ~ just in the kitchen sink under running water, drying it in the dish drainer. 

How about your Big Shot Cutting Pads? Are they clean? Fairly flat? Try to rotate the pads occasionally to help keep them flat. Flatter pads hold framelits to the magnetic platform easier. Having a spare set of pads is a good idea.

Once everything is in terrific working order, stamping becomes even easier and more enjoyable.

The cleaning and supplies take little time and little funds.

Organizing ~ now that's a different matter, but something to consider as you prepare to begin ordering from the new catalog. Take stock of what you already have and make a list of what you need to replenish. As you look through the new catalog at the gorgeous Designer Series Papers, stamp sets and kits, check that you have the coordinating colors of cardstock and ink or refills. 

Cheers! Let's stamp in 2018! 

Cut, Score & Fold

Today's work was good therapy ~ I managed to measure and trim and fold with few mistakes.

I have been watching tutorials on Pinterest. Searching for favors, I found the directions for covering mini-sticky note pads with scraps of DSP.  Sandra Ronald at http://sandraartecardare.blogspot.com provided the instructional video with her lovely UK accent that had me heading to the kitchen for a cup of tea.

The pieces needed for mine were only 2 X 6. It was not hard to find plenty of paper that size for seldom do I toss scraps of paper. I also broke out the Simply Scored Scoring Tool (board) today. These covering wrappers need to be scored in 6 places; it was far easier for me to score with the stylus and the grooved board than to use the scoring blade and the Stampin'  Trimmer. 

Here is a closer look:

And why would I need a dozen sweet little clutches of sticky notes ~ to flag all the exciting new products in the new catalog!! I probably don't need all of these, so maybe my dear stampin' friends would like them? (I don't need to flag the items I want; I want them all!) 

You can also see tea bags in something of an envelope. The envelope/pouch is referred to as the 'diaper fold.' Square sheets of paper is all you need; another great use for the convenient 6 X 6 paper stacks, and you'll find some in the new catalog. 

For an upcoming tea party, I think these will be lovely. They are easy to construct, need no adhesive and a 6 X 6 square will fold up nicely to hold a tea bag, or a square of chocolate, or BOTH! I think I will add a small detail on the front - a die cut cup, a label with a sentiment, a flower ...  I  can't wait to craft these for the next baby shower ~ not that all mothers today need to master the diaper fold themselves, although it actually might be easier than swaddling.

Anytime that you are scoring and folding, use your bone folder for crisp, flat folds. It really does make a difference.

And more more item to mention: I had a plastic coil, a clear cover and a hard back added to my catalog at my close-to-home office supply store - for about $5, it allows the catalog to open flat and protects the edges from constant wear. 

I would love to give you some of these favors; please sign up for upcoming classes and events. And please use the ideas yourselves ~ make someone smile.