Pootlers Blog Hop - 2017/2018 Annual Catalogue

  
I'm so excited because it's that time of year again where the Pootler's get to show you some of the fabulous products in the new 2017/18 Annual catalogue.  It doesn't feel like it's been a year since the launch of the 2016/17 Annual catalogue but as the saying goes 'time flies when you're having fun' and I'm having so much fun being a demonstrator. 

I love taking part in the Pootler's blog hops because my fellow Pootler's are super talented and the blog hops are always full of inspiration. Please continue hopping by clicking on the 'Next' or 'Previous' buttons at the bottom of this post.

Todays project was meant to be a card with a sponged background but that all changed when I got my sponges out.  In my craft room everything I use regularly has to be organised and within reach.  I don't use my sponges very often so the sponges for my Stampin' Up! inks were in an ice cream tub with sponges I had for cheap inks.  I was getting inky fingers and wasting so much time trying to find the right sponges it was driving me mad. I had to find a better way to store them.

I thought about making some clear boxes but fighting the Window Sheets into submission put me off.  When I saw the stamp sets on my worktop I had a 'light bulb moment', the wood mount stamp cases (Full Wide Stamp Cases) would be perfect.  You can still buy the clear mount and wood mount stamp cases, they were accidently omitted from the Annual catalogue.

I wanted one case for each of the 4 color families (Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles) and another stamp case for the 2016/2018 and 2017/2019 In Colors.  To make the inserts I cut 5 sheets of Whisper White cardstock to 11-1/4" x 7".

At the top of the spine area on each insert I used the Brushwork Alphabet stamps to stamp the first initial of the colour family/In Colors, for the In Colors I used the exclamation mark because I didn't like the capital 'I'.  I also stamped a little cloud in every colour that was in the colour family/in color, the cloud is from the Dare to Dream Hostess stamp set.

After stamping the cloud I stamped the pretty floral image from the Label Me Pretty stamp set onto a scrap of co-ordinating cardstock, punched this with the Pretty Label punch and adhered it to the insert.  This would make it easier for me to see how the ink looked tone on tone.  I punched another label, folded it in half and stapled this to a new wedge of sponge.

My new sponge storage system is now right in front of me when I'm working in the 'messy area' of my craftroom.  Storing my sponges like this has:

• Made it quicker for me to choose what colours I want to work with because I'm now able to see how every colour looks when it's stamped. 
• Helped me to choose colour combinations that work well together.
• Helped me to incorporate more tone-on-tone stamping in my projects. 
• Solved the original problem which was wasting so much time trying to find certain sponges, now all I have to do is grab the stamp case.

  

If your stamping sponges need organising maybe you could try this, it has really been beneficial for me.

Please continue the hop by clicking on the 'Next' button to see the lovely Christine Bettany's creation. 

If you like to be a rebel click on the 'Previous' button to see Ann Melvin's beautiful creation.

Have yourself some crafting fun.

Dee x

The products used to make todays project are listed below. If you would like to order any Stampin' Up! products click on an image and you will be directed to my online store.

Product List

Full Cases Wood-Mount Stamp [127551] £6.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Dare To Dream Photopolymer Stamp Set [143769] £9.00	Brushwork Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set [141772] £23.00
Stamping Sponges [141337] £3.25	Pretty Label Punch [143715] £16.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] £3.75	Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143861] £15.00
Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Bundle [145305] £27.75	Label Me Pretty Wood-Mount Stamp Set [143858] £21.00	Label Me Pretty Wood-Mount Bundle [145304] £33.25

*When designing a project or when I CASE a project I always use my cheap cardstock to make a prototype before making it with my Stampin' Up! cardstock.   I do check the measurements I add to my blog posts but when typing lots of measurements mistakes can be made.  When making any project I recommend making it first with cheap cardstock before using your best cardstock.*