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I've been a demo for 3 months now. When I started buying SU stuff in February, I bought assortment packs of cardstock, according to color family. I also bought the 12x12 ones - I was scrapbooking at the time and that has fallen by the wayside now that I've started stamping and cardmaking!
Then I decided to purchase full packs of the fall colors - Really Rust, More Mustard, Old Olive, Ruby Red, and Summer Sun. Then I ordered Forest Foliage, Night of Navy, and Baroque Burgandy. Now I'm almost out of Barely Banana and Marvelous Magenta that I used for recent cards. I'd like to use a Loads of Love card for a swap that has Barely Banana in it, but I don't have the cardstock.
So how do you manage your purchases? I'm thinking eventually I'll end up buying packs of all the individual colors (except for a few rarely used colors like Going Grey <g>).
Every time I have ordered a new ink color (have 46 now - all i want) i also figure in that i will buy the pack of paper and the matching pen. that way i have it all when making a card using that color. If I don't buy it right away, I inevitably go back to use the ink, don't have what I want for supplies, and change color selections. If I have it all, then i'll actually use the color...
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Marni - SCS #14788 and SU Demo
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. Thornton Wilder
Since I am not a demostrator, I did buy the 12x12. It doesn't bother me to make the extra cuts when making cards because I am not doing quantity nor need the speed and ease a demo would. I started with the family color packs because I wanted to see exactly what each color was like. And I have to admit, when I started ordering the solid packs, I did pick colors I would not have picked by name or swatch in the catty.
I did order 14 colors right off the bat because I had Christmas and Breast Cancer cards planned. I love Barely Banana, too. I think you should just decide what you think you will use. Maybe on a color you like less, you can swap sheets with a friend?
I like to keep all 48 colors...plus white and vanilla...totally in stock. I've always purchased full packs of 8.5 x 11, and I only buy 12 x 12 for special projects.
My customers borrow and my downlines borrow...and I'm glad I can keep enough to make that easy.
I started out by buying a combo pack for each color family...that way I had ALL the colors (even though you only get 3 of each color) for a relatively small investment. Now whenever I use my last sheet of a color, I order a whole pack of that color. I figure if I ran out of it, I'm obviously using it and will probably use it a lot! Some colors won't get used...but it's so hard to guess which ones.
good idea stampinmarni to buy the cardstock that way. I usually buy the inknand the marker at the same time, but never thought to add the cardstock also. I have a new plan!
I bought all the combo packs as well. Now, each time I place a personal order, I check how many sheets I have of each color. If I have less than 6 sheets (just a random # I chose), I order a full pack of that color. So I'm slowly building up to all solid packs except for those colors I never use. Usually comes out to 2-3 packs in each order.
I'm a sort of new demo, and every time I place a workshop order, I add three colors of cardstock to my inventory. I buy packs of 8.5x11. I order the stamp pad and reinker each time also, and have just started ordering the markers too. Sometimes I'm not adding new colors, but replacing colors I use all the time (barely banana, old olive, real red, ballet blue, to name a few). I did start out with the multi packs though, so I could see which colors I liked in person, and which I didn't need at all (mint melody, taken with teal). I always tell new customers to do the same.
I have all the inks and the markers so now I just buy a pack of cardstock when I get down to 3 of one color, except the SS. I usually buy them in the assorted packs because I tend not to use them as much. I just need to get something new to store them in. My "crate" file is so full, I might need to buy a new one!
I'm with StampinMarni. Buy the ink and cardstock at the same time or you'll regret it when you sit down to do a project. As far as the markers go though, I purchased those in the family set. They are a great upsell during your workshop considering you can use them to ink your stamps as well.
Early on I purchased each month a set of markers and 2 or 3 ink pads and cardstock along with my stamps. And ALWAYS use your hostess benefits to purchase more supplies and accesories for your workshop like an extra bone folder, or another stampin scrub or anything you really find you need 2 of with larger groups...
And I know that paper storage has been discussed in other threads, but for storing, I bought 4 snap-tight boxes, one for each color family, and file folders to sort them. There is plenty of space for a whole pack of each color and a couple extra packs.
Managing Cardstock purchases!
