Why I love to use SU

It all goes together so well!!

Ever notice how nice a coordinated outfit looks when it's been made to go together? The style and color complement each and look great because they were designed to do so. I've found the same is true about rubber stamping. After more than 20 years of enjoying this fun craft, I've accumulated an impressive amount of stamps, inks, and papers, yet it seemed that I still sometimes struggled to make cards that were well-designed and "professional" looking. After attending a Stampin' Up workshop, I realized that much of my problem was that my colors of inks and papers didn't quite match, even though I had so many. Buying on sale doesn't save money if you can't use it. However, using stamps and supplies from one company who makes a complete line of everything stamping has quickly solved that. Now I no longer have to spend time searching my supplies looking for the right color pad or pen to match those papers and accessories I just bought, because it's all been designed to coordinate together perfectly!

SU makes 48 standing colors of coordinated marker pens, dye and pigment ink pads, solid cardstock, double-sided printed paper, ribbons, buttons, brads, pastels (chalks), watercolor crayons, ink refills, and other accessories to go with their complete line of stamps. There are also punches, brass stencils, and other goodies available that give me more time to actually create with less bother and fuss. Plus, there are 6 new In Colors introduced each year which allow additional trendy designing without sacrificing the basic colors that I can count on. Ever use up your favorite color of ink or paper, only to find that the store no longer carries it or the company just doesn't make it anymore? No longer a problem. Plus, now when I stamp an image there is often a coordinated punch or other accessory that I can use to easily embellish my project and the color and fit will be perfect!

For example, take a look at the card on the left. I stamped the flowery circle image twice in Chocolate Chip brown ink onto a pale Pink Pirouette cardstock scrap and also a Regal Rose Scrap. Then I punched the Rose image out with the coordinated Scallop Punch, and the pale Pink image with the 1 3/8" Circle punch and the middle hole with a 1/2 " Circle Punch. Because the stamps were designed to work with these punches, everything lines up easily. I used double- sided printed Designer Papers and the matching striped Pink Pirouette ribbon for accents; since all colors of inks, papers, cardstock, and ribbon are made to match each other I know everything will look perfect! Quick and easy, no searching through lots of inks and supplies looking for things that work together, I have more time to stamp and a better looking product when I'm done. Stampin' Up punches are among my favorite tools because I don't have to cut so many things out; they are infinately reuseable, time-saving, and neat. They are a must-have!
Stamps: Wanted (109395), Wonderful Favorites (109461). Cardstock: Pink Pirouette(113511) and Regal Rose(105130); Sweet Always Designer Series Paper(112468); Chocolate Chip Ink(100908); Punches: Scallop(109043), 1 3/8"(104401) and 1/2"(104390) Circle; Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon(111373).