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I challenged myself to make as many projects with few supplies.

First, the supplies I used in 2014-15:

• Whisper White Card Stock, $8.50 for 40 sheets, #100730
• Whisper White Medium Envelopes, $6.50 for 40, #107301.  Consider buying 2 packs.
• Something to Say Wood-mount #134177 $29.95 or Clear-mount  #134180 $21.95 plus Clear Block B, #117147   $5.95
• 14-16 In Colors Stampin’ Write Markers, #133654 $14.95 for 5 markers,
• Basic Black Stampin Write Marker, #100082 $3.50
• Classic Stampin’ Pad in Calypso Coral #126983   $5.95,
• Lost Lagoon 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon, #133672  $8.95 for 10 yards,
• Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, #133787  $16.95 for 3 punches
• Moonlight Designer Series Paper #133701 , $6,95 for 48 double-sided 6 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ sheets
• Stamping Sponges,#101610.  $3.50 for 3
• Tag a Bag Accessory Kit, #133629  $7.95 for 10 large base tags, 10 medium    builder tags, 5 Coastal Cabana self-adhesive strips, 10 mini binder clips (2 each of 5 colors) Whisper White Baker’s Twine (60′) 40 Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Total cost $113.65 plus shipping and tax.  That might sound like a lot, but this will make 40 beautiful cards at $2.84 each, mostly limited by those 40 envelopes.  If you buy 2 packs you will double that to 80 cards at $1.50 each.  Now consider how much you spend for cards at the store and the time it takes you to drive to the store.  I think it sounds like a bargain!  Next year, after you’ve sent a birthday card and maybe a Christmas card or Thank You to everyone, buy a different stamp set.  You will probably still have plenty of supplies on hand for more cards.

Alternatives:

• Cut & Ready Card Bases, #135804 in Whisper White, and/or 14-16 In Colors, #136661, $4.95 for 20
• 14-16 In Color Stamp Pads, # Blackberry Bliss,   Hello Honey,  Lost Lagoon,  Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, $5.95 each
• 14-16 In Color Card Stock and Pad Kit, #133673 $29.95 for all 5 stamp pads and 20 sheets of card stock, 4 each of 5 colors  
  • (This is a great deal!  The 5 stamp pads are $29.75, so you get the card stock for just 20 cents! And you’ll find the stamp pads so much quicker to use than the markers.
  • If you get all of the first list including 2 packs of envelopes, the markers, and this card stock & pad kit it’s $149.90 and will make 80 cards at $1.87 each.  If you buy just one more item to bring the total over $150, you get $30 hostess dollars to spend on anything else in the catalog.  Choose one of the exclusive Hostess Sets from pages 237-240 for even more bang for your buck.

Alternatives you might prefer to save money.

• Buy Note Cards with Envelopes instead of the White Card Stock and Medium Envelopes.  These cards are a bit smaller, 5″ x 3 1/2″.  I use layers for my card samples and you would either need to sacrifice a card or eliminate the white layers.
• A different color collection and/or stamp set… your choice.  Here are some suggestions. 

Supplies I consider essential, but can be substituted with things you most likely have.  I think you’ll find the Stampin’ Up! easier to use and perform their functions better than the alternatives, but the alternatives can get you through until you’re ready to upgrade.

• Stampin’ Trimmer #126889 $29.95,  It cuts a straight line and scores to help fold a clean line.  Use scissors or a ruler and a razor knife for cutting.  Score by putting your card stock on a magazine and use something thin and round (like a paper clip, washer like you’d use with bolts, or maybe even a dime.) and a ruler to create the score line.
• Bone Folder, #102300 $6.95. It helps you crease your score line for a crisp fold.  Use a finger nail or the side a smooth pen.
• Paper Snips #103579  $9.95,  I went for years without Snips.  When I finally bought some, I found they really did cut a lot better than my regular household scissors.
• Snail Adhesive #104332 $6.95, and refills #104331  $4.50.    Use any 2 sided tape.
• Fast Fuse #129026 $9.95 and refills #129027 $7.70  It’s a bigger initial investment than Snail, but the refill are the same per foot and since it’s so strong, you should be able to use less.
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue $3.95, #110755. Use any white glue, but be careful of buckling.
• Stampin’ Dimensionals $3.95, #104430.  Come with the Tag a Bag Accessories, but you might want more.  They are only about a penny apiece and add a lot to your projects.
• Stampin’ Mist $4.50, #102394 and Stampin’ Scrub $16.95, #126200.  The mist cleans and conditions your stamps.  Spray it on one side of the Scrub to clean and dry on the other side of the Scrub.  You could buy the Mist and spray it on a painter’s edger pad refills or you can use alcohol free baby wipes to clean your stamps.
• Stamp-a-ma-jig $11.95, #101049.  See a home-made version here.

If you want to put them in cases like I did in the video, you might want to buy a set of 4 Wood-Mount stamp cases  for $6.95 and 4 Clear-Mount stamp cases for $5.95.  You can fit all the basic supplies including the 5 In Color stamp pads as well as Snips, Snail adhesive, and a Bone Folder.  You’ll have 3 extra clear-mount cases to store your finished cards.  The Large Die Box may be overkill at $24.95 but it is nice and sturdy and it a great size.  There are probably plenty of boxes or bins that would work.

Here’s the file to print the labels.  14-15 Getting Started Stamp Case Labels

Send me photos your Getting Started Samples!

Email Me a picture and I’ll share them here.