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I'm just getting back into stamping and have always loved SU products. I hadn't seen a catalog for many years and am completely overwhelmed! I've gotten involved in a SU group and want to do the swaps, which leads me to ask...
What are your must-have items? It could be stamp sets, inks, embellishments, etc. I just need some guidance on what will be the most versatile items to purchase. Btw, I do have stuff from other companies; right now, I am looking for SU particularly.
I say pick one great sentiment set and a few image sets you like. A blender pen, an aqua painter, some ink, maybe the watercolor pencils. White cardstock and watercolor paper and go to town! That's pretty much a list of what I use on every card. I'm not an embellishment or patterned paper user though.
Ditto what Lydia said
I would add the white epoxy embellishments. I like that the sticker can be peeled off the back to make it clear. (If you do this, just use a glue dot to adhere to your project.) You can color them with sharpies or alcohol-based markers to change the color, too. I find them to be a very versatile embellishment for that reason.
Well, you need to think about your style AND what kind of cards you want to make (who will receive, what is your message, etc). Then you will see some stamps that fit those priorities. MUST Haves: Paper trimmer, bone folder, adhesives, white cardstock, black ink, stamps, great scissors.
MY MUST HAVES: Color cardstock and ink (tho I don't buy SU inks due to that complicated pad and my limited grip), patterned paper, dies and Big Shot.
When you find your style, you'll see if you need embellishments, embossing folders, embossing powders and a heat gun....then there's watercoloring....
I really love SU punches. I have two retired tag topper punches and they are fabulous. I'll probably get the banner punch too.
SU is one of the only companies that I know of to carry stamp sets with matching punches. This makes it so easy to take your project on the road.
I also happen to like their coordinating stamp and die sets.
I also love their clear blocks. Thick and very comfortable to hold.
I with you on the punches....my favorite punch is the Decorative Label Punch. I use it so much! Alot of sentiments fit on this punch and it makes a simple card look a little fancier!
Blender pens or a water brush is handy also. You can color using the Stampin' Up! die ink pads very easily with one of these.
Speaking strictly for myself I use them mostly in this order. Ink Pads, Markers and then watercolor pencils. Depending on what I'm working on I may then color in a stamped image using either of the other. HTH!
Karrie G.
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I love SU and 90% of what I have is SU.
I use colored inks on all my cards.
I also love punches and especially those that match stamp sets-I prefer punches over dies but have quite a few dies/framelits too.
I use embossing folders on almost every card.
I also use dsp on many cards.
I use Rhinestones often! A new sparkly technique I just saw and love is drop a tiny
Bit of re inker on the opened lid and use to paint in stamped image with Wink of Stella! Sparkle heaven! Just did this with leaves.
Wink of Stella is a sparkly glitter brush pen.
I use twine or ribbon often On cards
Here's a card I made for a shower...a little embossing, a button, some twine and punched hearts. I like texture.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 03-22-2017 at 12:41 AM..
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Here's an example of my style that's more involved. There's ribbon, punching, designer paper, bling! I also love pastels but I use other colors too. This is not my card but I want to case it!
I tend to like cards with lots of white space too.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 03-22-2017 at 12:54 AM..
SU! Essentials for me (mostly scrapbooking, but lots of cardmaking, too):
Whisper White cardstock (8.5x11 and 12x12)
Basic Black ink
Chocolate Chip ink
Markers set
A floral stamp set
A flourish-y stamp set
An alphabet stamp set
A versatile ribbon
A patterned paper pack (DSP)
Next would be a cardstock pack and inkpad pack of one of the InColor groups or color families.
Then gradually add in the bling and doo-dads, and stamp set after stamp set, and papers after papers, and cardstocks and inks after cardstocks and inks, ... you get the idea ;)
I think if you ask 50 SU fans or demos, you would get 50 different answers. For me, I buy the stamps the most (after inks which I already own all of them, and cardstock, I always keep my cardstock stocked). I love to make cards AND I love to scrapbook. I don't buy stickers for the most part I make my own embellishments out of stamps and framelits. I do this for a number of reasons, but 1) I love to stamp and get inky 2) if I bought stickers, I would use them once and they are done OR I end up with stickers or embellies that don't match anything and can't use them. As I make them as I scrapbook, they always match my colors I am using!!!! 3) I am obsessed with stamps LOL!!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monalsw
Thanks so much! I like the ribbon and twines too, it seems like there is not much of a selection as far as colors. Which ones do you use the most?
There isn't as many choices for ribbon as there used to be. I have so much ribbon it would last for life so I don't buy it any more. If I needed ribbon I would buy
Natural trim with the gold metallic center-but I got some at Target's $ spot awhile ago that's almost the same-see photo.
Thick bakers twine in Bermuda Bay and Calypso Coral
Stitched satin in Real Red and PoolParty
Stitched Ribbon in Melon Mambo, Smokey Slate, Bermuda Bay
These happen to be colors I like. You might be wanting totally different colors! Also, keep an eye out at Target's $ spot. I've gotten lots of ribbon, twine, and sequin trim! Here's a sample of what I've gotten there. The trim that's pulled out is really close to Blushing Bride and has gold metallic through it!
Also, $ Tree has nice quality lace trim and grossgrain ribbon for a $. I've always bought White satin ribbon at Walmart. Always seemed like high quality!
Also, watch SU's clearance rack for ribbon. I've gotten lots there. Not sure how much they have on there now.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 03-23-2017 at 01:40 PM..
I used to be an SU demo so I have lots of their stuff. I quit 10 years ago and I have purchased many different stamps, dies, and embossing folders over the years.
But I still buy their card stock and coordinating inks. If you have any strength or dexterity issues with your hands the ink pads might be a challenge.
I've never found another company with better colored card stock and inks. Many are just as good; but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ya' know?
I do buy other companies heavyweight white card stock for bases because SU's Whisper White is just not sturdy enough. They came out with a heavy weight white last year I think but even the demo I buy from said it's not great.
So my most used SU items are the colored paper and inks. And the large grid paper pad they sell that I use as my stamping surface.
What are your most used SU products?
