This is a test!

I think I'm moving back to blogger to save money. Just seeing if this blog still works!!

Paperlicious Has Moved

Here is the new address www.paperlicious.typepad.com and a link to my new site. I hope to see you there!!

My Friend's Ebay Sale

My friend Pam is selling quite a nice selection of retired Stampin Up stamps, including wheels, as well as a few non craft items. You can find her auctions here. You won't find a more honest or reliable person with whom to do business.

Messages and More

I have a ton of messages to respond to, or I guess I should say "messages to which I must respond." Anyway, you guys are the best -- I just haven't had time to write back to each of you, but I will. About the blog business, it turns out there is a way I can change this blog to another provider and be able to block certain messages. So, stay tuned. You will not have to be invited. As least I think so! Computer stuff isn't my strong suit and this may take me a few days or longer to straighten out. I am cracking up. I can't count the number of messages that say something along the lines of "I like your blog. No offense, it isn't your stamping I like, I like the way you write." Excuse me! You are writing to an honorable mention awarding winning stamper per Nichole Heady on Papertreyink!!! (I suspect she was throwing me a pity bone for having to cancel going to CHA, but a girl can dream...). Now the first time someone wrote that I was "wow, well that's honest." By the 10th time, I decided -- you know what -- that's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me and I mean it. So, thanks. But, sorry, once I finish cleaning up my major mess, you will be seeing more stamping here... Speaking of cleaning, I am in the middle of a MAJOR clean up of my stamping stuff. I had NO idea that I had so much stuff. More on that later and how I'm organizing it. Anyway, I had a bunch of stuff out and my husband picks up this information sheet from Ellen Hutson on what to do with the Wizard sandwich plates. He's reading it out loud and says -- this makes sandwiches? Should this be in the kitchen? Sadly, he was serious. Wow, what fun finding all the stuff I have and forgot about. Goodnight.

New Blog?

For a variety of reasons I've decided to keep this blog but not accept comments -- at least for the foreseeable future. Since I received a lot of questions asking what was going on I will briefly explain and then we can return to our regularly scheduled programming. There are a few folks who don't like me and continue to comment on my blog making sure that I know this. Well, this is my blog and it is about stamping and about me and that's that. If it were just about stamping even I would stop reading it!!! So, stay and read if you want. Don't waste your time on it if you don't. I hope to have actual stamping to post later today!!

Home Stamp Sale Cancelled

I will, however, be posting my stamps for sale on line. Be on the lookout. In addition, I have to disable all comments on this blog. I am looking into creating another blog that will only be accessible to those I invite. I am sorry it has come to this, but it has.

Totally Unfair

After a week off from my day job, I went back to work today. After 2 hours sleep. And I attended a 3 hour meeting during which I think I gave coherent, accurate, legal advice. At least I think I did. Yes, I am superwoman. I Lawyer, I Mom, I Wife, I Daughter, I Stamp -- not necessarily in that order, but you get it. I'll tell you why this is unfair. My goal in life is and always has been to be unemployed. Going to law school was THE FIRST BIG MISTAKE. The SECOND BIG MISTAKE was passing the bar. Then folks kept hiring me. And promoting me. I kept waiting for someone to knock on the door and explain that I had really flunked the bar and it was all one big misunderstanding. I've always felt in over my head. Then, after years of real litigation (as my high school friend the doctor said to me "you don't actually go to court do you?, to which I replied, "you don't actually touch patients do you?") I snagged my honey pie husband. Another lawyer. And nice. And cute. Surely this meant children and the mysterious world of the stay at home mom. My goal has always been to be the stay at home mom. (When I left the Department of Justice, they gave me KNITTING needles as a going away present!! and wrote on my cake "Good Luck Donna Reed.") (I'm not kidding.) Alas, I married Mr. "I wouldn't think of insulting you by expecting you to stay at home and give up being a lawyer so I'll be your total partner and do more than my share around the house and help raise our son and work 60 hours a week." And so he did and so he does. Of course my fantasy of how a Mom who is home actually spends her day is well, a fantasy. In my mind, the house is clean, but not too clean, no one is sick, dinner is cooking, and my son is always happy. Oh, and I've spent a few hours volunteering at his school and at the homeless shelter, and he has listened to my suggestions on how to improve his study habits. I am a Saint Stay at Home Mom. Luckily, I've been able to work part time, but even with that wonderful schedule, there were those awful days when our son needed to go to the doctor for some minor but important illness, and my husband and I would gently try and convince each other of the importance of our day ("I've got a Supreme Court argument." But, dear, I'm saving someone on death row.", only to be upped by the "I'm meeting with the President." -- all lies, but you get the point.) My Mom once said that the "problem" with my generation was that it had too many choices. I used to think she was right, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe I got it just right. If you are a stay at home Mom, you go honey!! I'm not too proud to admit how jealous I am. And if you are a working outside the home Mom, you go honey too. Do what you need to do to keep YOUR family functioning. I am no closer to understanding any of this than I was when I got those knitting needles -- oh, except I still can't knit. I took up stamping instead!

A Card, Finally

Despite the fact that my "chit chat" generates way more comments than my stamping (sigh!!), I know you all have been anxiously waiting for actual stamping to return to Paperlicious. So, by popular demand -- a Card, Finally: And, since I'm sure you will want to run out and get all of these supplies (said with loving irony), here's what I used to make this little gem: Striped cardstock from Memory Box's Beach collection, layered onto a Memory Box Sage card. Other paper is Memory Box Holly and Eggshell cardstocks and Beckett Expression #80 for the main image. (Note, I provided a link to Ellen Hutson's store because I purchased the paper from her. She is an unusual vendor in that she provides interesting and useful info about the products she sells. In this case, she posted that Memory Box paper is environmentally different because it is coated with soy ink. I have no idea what soy ink is, but it sure makes for a gorgeous finish.) For this thank you card for a neighbor, I stamped one of the images from Stampin Up's Feathered Friends set, which I believe is retired. I bought it last year when it was on sale because it reminds me of Karen Lockhart's images -- small, but full of lots of detail and just so sweet. I stamped it with Black Memories Dye ink and colored it in with the following Prismacolor Pencils -- Pumpkin Orange, Light Peach, Ultramarine, Cloud Blue, Burnt Ochre, Sienna Brown, Dark Green, Process Red, Limepeel, Sunburst Yellow, Sand, and Crimson Lake. No Gamsol, no stumps, no blender pen, no nothing, except kindergarten coloring!! Since I had fun coloring it in I'd thought I'd share a close up: Of course, if you want to examine every detail like a Van Gogh painting, feel free to click on the pictures! I added some white eyelets and some SU red gingham ribbon. It is now 5 am. I never went to bed and I have to be at work in 2 and a half hours. What I do for you!! Praise may commence now.

Back From Vacation

Whether it is validation in the form of comments in our galleries or on or blogs, winning a contest, or just making friends of fellow stampers, I guess in one way or another we bloggers are all looking for something, or we wouldn't take the considerable time and energy to run a blog. In my case, I learned a valuable lesson this past week about the law of unintended consequences, including how easily words can fly from my brain to my fingers (I need an editor) and then from one forum to the next, taking on a life of their own and causing genuine hard feelings. What I thought was a balanced list of suggestions to Stampin Up, including some well deserved praise, clearly was not. Upon reflection, reasonable people could look at what I said as bashing. I know I have a bit of an attitude, but I'm not interested in tearing down anything or anyone. So a huge apology to all! Now, time to go into the stamping room, where piles await.

Used Stamp Sale Coming to Northern VA

Chris Franco, awesome TAC demo, and I will be co-hosting a used stamp and stamping supply craft sale at my home in Fairfax county sometime in September. Tons of great stuff -- TAC, Stampin Up, Hero Arts, Amuse Arts, etc. Paper!! More!! Bring cash only!!! No need to pay for shipping! But first, I'd like some feedback. Do you think you might come and if so, when would you be most likely to show up? Your comment is not a committment, just some feedback. Friday day Friday night Saturday day Please leave a comment and let me know! It is possible that we will have this on several hours over the course of a couple of days. Thanks!

Art Everywhere

We went to Pittsburgh. While we were there we stopped in at the Andy Warhol Museum, where they allow you to take pictures. Plus, we found a lot of art in Pittsburgh! Here's some of the fun things we saw. These are, of course, some of Warhol's work. Remember the story about my Mom touching a Van Gogh? Wish this sign had been up in the National Museum of Art!: Is this sculpture cool or what? The brainiacs at Carnegie Mellon University designed this and it is on the campus. I love it!! And, then our fave, parked right in front of our classy hotel!!!!

You are killing me!!

You incredible design team members!! I so thought I could live without those Copic markers and the air brush thingy. I've resisted Debbie Olson. I've turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to Miss Ellen Hutson. I've been good. But, then I saw Trudee's blog today and I am dying. She's killing me with her amazing creations. Check out this (scroll down to the Autumn Leaves, too) and then figure out if you can live without this stuff!! LOL (Yeah, we can live without it, but will our lives be worth living???).

Do You Love Ribbon?

On our way back from a nice 3 day trip to Pittsburgh, I talked my husband into a one mile detour to the Offray Ribbon Outlet in Hagerstown Maryland. Here's what I got! There are dozens and dozens of yards of ribbon -- 5 different pinks, 2 different oranges, 4 greens, etc.!! Can you guess what I paid for all this? Would $30 surprise you? Well, that would be a steal, wouldn't it? But, that's not what I paid (I sound like an infomercial!!). With tax, all this ribbon cost drumroll... $2.58!! Why didn't I get more?? ***** You know the saying, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen? Well, I can't! So I turned off comments on this blog, at least for a while. Enough said!

Do You Live Near Seattle?

If so, you are one lucky stamper! Julie Ebersole's offering classes. Check out Julie's blog here.

My SU Letter

Wow, I have limited access to a computer right now and cannot respond to everyone's thoughts right now. Thanks for sharing everyone of them. A couple of initial responses -- Re clear stamps -- good for you if you disagree withe me. I've just your average stamper with one opinion. I want to keep buying from SU and would be more likely to do so if I had a clear option, but no one died and elected me stamp czar. Re -- why SU? Good point. What is there about this company that engenders such strong feelings, both pro and con? Maybe because it is has been so dominant? Because it has demonstrators? Not sure. Would I write an open letter about another stamping company? Yes. The other reason I feel a bit impassioned is because I was a demo for SU and basically LOVE the company in many ways. One response to my earlier post was correct -- I want to buy their stuff but only on my terms! That's true. But, I'm guessing that's true for every company I buy from. Got to go, my time on this public computer is up!! More later! Thanks for engaging in this conversation. Someone wrote that I opened up a firestorm on Gingerwood. Unfortuntately I cannot access that site right now. I'll have to check in later.

Open Letter to Stampin Up

Dear Shelli, I used to be a demo for SU. Before that I was a very loyal customer. If you were to visit my craft room, you'd see a well stocked room full of Stampin Up inks and papers and ribbons and embellishments and stamps. But a clever eye would notice that I haven't purchased a thing from SU since December 2006. I would like to be your customer again. May I be so bold as to make a few suggestions? 1. Remove things from the catalog that can be purchased elsewhere for significantly less. For example, your shimmery white paper is about 4 times the retail cost. By including items that are really over priced, it makes me wonder about your profit margin on other items and I feel resentful. Before the internet, customers had limited ability to purchase items and often did not have access to information about alternative cheaper sources. We do now. Just take them out of the catalog, provide a unique version of them, or drop the price. 2. Play to your strengths -- one is your color coordination. Almost every stamper I know loves SU's colored cardstock. We put up with the design of your ink pads just to get our hands on that cardstock! Give us more items that color coordinate -- I'd gladly pay a bit more for sheer polka dotted ribbon in the SU colors. Or watercolor pencils in the colors. Or, just about anything in the SU colors!! 3. Another strength, of course, has been your stamps. I'm guessing that you are losing market share here. I can see it on blogs and on stamping forums. You just don't see that many new SU sets being used and the ones that are being posted are from the same sets. It looks like you have 5 or 6 hits on your hands. One reason for this is the proliferation of design teams and blogs for your competitors. It is time for SU to do the same thing. Get some amazing stampers on board as part of your own design team and let them loose. Put together an SU blog using these artists and see what happens! Small investment and it may pay off big time. Don't limit it to SU demos and let them use other products as well with the SU stamps. I know that you think that your demos will feel cut out, but I truly think that is a mistake. 4. About your stamps. I'm not even going to get into the unmounted/clear debate. Personally, I think you are making a huge mistake by not offering a clear option for some of your sets, but whatever... you are a much smarter business woman than I'll ever be! But, the stamp designs? They are fine. But the catalog is full of so many items that look just like each other and look like other brands. This cuts down on the reason to buy multiple sets. Diversify. How many dots and flourishes does one stamper need?? 5. If you are going to offer wood mounted sets at $ 30 - 40 a pop, you've got to give us a reason to buy them. Why buy the Wild West alphabet set from SU when there are so many similar clear ones at less than $20 or even wood mounted ones much cheaper? This isn't a rhetorical question. I really want to know. Your demos need to have an answer to this question. 6. On line purchasing. Have you noticed the number of stampers who are buying Papertrey's releases BEFORE the images even pop up on the internet? Some of us are addicts and are immature. We go with the mob mentality. You NEED us because we tend to be the big spenders!! For better or worse, the biggest spenders are IMPULSE spenders. Give your demos the ability to have websites with shopping carts and you will increase sales. 7. Shipping. Can we talk? I've heard a hundred demos quote you as saying that "SU loses money on shipping." Let's assume that's true. You have a business problem. No company should lose money on shipping. At the best, you should break even. Fix your problem. Now let's really talk. I don't believe it. I don't believe that SU is losing money on shipping and, even if it is true, it is annoying to hear it. Don't say it. Own up to the fact that shipping isn't your strength and just don't talk about it. Better yet, do something about it. If I'm going to pay that much for shipping I don't want to wait 10 days to get my stuff. Remember, addicts don't like to wait for anything!! Thanks for listening! edited to add: Some of my favorite folks are SU demos. This posting is meant to open a dialog that I hope will lead to increased sales for SU and by definition, its demos.

Once Upon A Time . . .

I understand that some folks start out with an idea and end up creating exactly what they had in mind. Not me! I basically have no idea what I'm doing, so by the time I'm done stamping, my stamp room looks like a tornado swept through. This all started last night when I decided to create a bright, clean, Christmas card. I colored Santa and the children brightly with Prismacolor pencils on nice white paper and set it aside fully intending it to be used on some bright, clear Memory Box paper. Today I picked up the colored image and thought -- Cracked Glass. Never did it before. Think I'll try it. Three hours later, this is the result. Left in this 5 x 6.5" card's wake is an amazing assortment of ink pads, oval cutters, embossing powder, sponging, etc. I literally don't remember all the ink colors I used to turn a simple red and pale yellow Memory Box paper into this background. Here's a pic of the original paper next to the final card! I think it is the small red and yellow tiny windowpane paper from the Homespun collection. It's hard to tell with the wavy effect from the camera, but I think you can see what a trip this paper took! Supplies Used: (as best as I can recall) Stampin Up: A Merry Little Christmas; Season's Greetings stamp sets; assorted earth elements and Real Red and Glorious Green ink pads all used to age the papers and rub onto the Cracked Glass image; Kraft, Ivory Naturals and Ruby Red cardstocks; Copper Hodgepodge brad; and the little paper distressor (used around the oval matting). In addition: assorted Prismacolor pencils; Encore Gold ink; Palette Burnt Umber ink; Ranger clear embossing powder; Creative Memories oval cutter; unknown twill ribbon, Xyron (I covered the image with the sticky side and embossed about 8 times, put it in the freezer and craaack!), and the strip of paper underneath the twill is Basic Grey. Whew! ***** so what's the etiquette here? should I make believe that I don't know that the amazing Nichole Heady picked one of my cards for Honorable Mention on the Papertreyink contest and act all humble like it is an ordinary day in the life of an average stamper or should I just admit that I am stunned?

No Sleep Must Buy

What else can a self respecting woman do when she can't sleep other than buy something??? Well, I'm resisting. In the meantime I am wasting a LOT of time and came up with this little piece of nonsense. I took a How Cynical Are You quiz:

You Are 44% Cynical

Yes, you are cynical, but more than anything, you're a realist. You see what's screwed up in the world, but you also take time to remember what's right.

How Cynical Are You?

Ah, the whole thing is probably some plot to download my keystrokes....oh, wait that' paranoia. Is there a quiz for that too?

Easy to Mail Christmas Card

I want clean, fresh, contemporary, bright, and above all -- easy to mail -- Christmas cards this year. (I am not going to pay extra postage or have a card returned because of a brad or ribbon! I'll save those for hand delivered cards and gift tags.) When I'm looking to meet those criteria, I turn to Memory Box! Love that company! (In addition, I think Stampin Up has some really nice bright contemporary white red and green paper this year.) I made this card with the Memory Box Holiday Brights papers and Memory Box Lime and Cranberry solids. (Since the solid paper is white on the inside, I have a dark outside card with a professional white inside. I love this!) I did not have a stamp of a row of trees that I wanted for this card, so I cut out the trees in the Stampin Up Figure of Speech set. It is part of a square stamp and I just cut the trees right out of the middle of the stamp, slapped them on an acrylic block and stamped 5 times in a row in Memories Black dye ink. If you look closely, there is a cute lime scallop layer under the circle. The words and frill both come from Papertreyink. The nice thing about prismacolor pencils (or really any kind of marker or pencil) is that if you look around, and are willing to blend a bit, you can usually find something to use to match your patterned paper. In this case, SU doesn't have a green that has enough of the right yellow in it to pass for Lime. And I love Memory Box's lime cardstock! My favorite for Christmas this year. I grabbed all my red and green prismacolor pencils and made a little mini chart to use with this paper before selecting the ones with the closest match. The owner of Memory Box, Dave Brethauer, is a prismacolor pencil fanatic so not surprisingly, his paper coordinates quite nicely with the prismacolor line of papers and markers (yes, alcohol markers!!) (I'm taking his class on watercolors and on colored pencils next month!!). In the next few weeks, I will be creating a chart that aligns Stampin Up colors with Memory Box and Prismacolor colors and a few other companies' products as well. It might take me a while, but I think it will be worth it. It makes mixing and matching among products sooo much easier when all the grunt work has been done beforehand. Have a great day!!

And the Winner Is...

Elizabeth, with the following post: Hello! I think you should come here and help me start that stamping group! I live in Yorktown Virginia and we love it! We are retiring here. I think you would love it here! We are 20 minutes from Williamsburg and not to close but not to far away from Norfolk and Virginia Beach and having been stationed near Washington,D.C., I know we are not as expensive as D.C.......! Good luck in what ever you decide...Elizabeth Elizabeth -- please send an email to me to claim your $30 gift certificate to Stampin Up! My email address is bardee1 "at" cox.net The responses were fascinating. My husband asked me to print out the whole list so that we can review each of them carefully. Thanks, this was fun!