March 2025 Newsletter - Christine Josti, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator In 1994, the Craft & Hobby Association created National Craft Month to help people rediscover and learn about the benefits of crafting. If you are receiving my emails, then my
guess is you don't need to "rediscover" the benefits of crafting. But maybe you need to remember them? Crafting is necessary, beneficial and important for our well beings. I encourage you to make time to create, whether alone, with a friend or both! I promise you will be happier because of it. New Online Exclusives Products New products are available beginning today! Even though they are called "Online Exclusive Products", that doesn't mean they are available for only online shopping. Anyone can order these products whether you shop online or on the telephone with me. They are just listed in the online store and not in
printed catalogs. Stampin' Up! releases new products every month - whether in a new catalog, as Online Exclusive products, in a Scrapbooking brochure or new Monthly Kits. It's always fun to see what is new. Better Searching Options for the Online Store For some time, Stampin' Up! has been making changes to their online ordering site and system. Some you have seen and some behind the scenes. A while back, they updated the entire online store and now they are beginning to make updates to enhance our viewing and shopping experiences. I'm very excited to announce that there is a better searching system for suites and bundles. Now, you can actually see what is included in these suites & bundles AND click into the itemized items (in case you don't want the whole suite, but rather just a few items in the suite). This is what it looks like: The picture shows the entire Thankful Garden Suite, a new suite available today (ignore the aqua "preorder" listed as I took a screenshot of it yesterday before it was available to you). Having the picture here is not new, but to the right you will now see a dropdown box with the red title "product includes". When you
click the arrow, a listing of all of the items in the suite will appear. You can click on any of the items listed and it will bring you right to that specific product. For this example, I clicked on the decorative masks and it brought me to the specific Thankful Garden Decorative Masks product. You can also see that entire suite is listed here as well so you can click that to go back to the suite. Back at the suite listing, when you scroll down the page you will see the individual products listed in picture form (versus the text form of the dropdown menu). Both options are clickable links. All suites and bundles will now have this searching option. I hope more coordinating products will be listed with products in the future too! I hope you enjoy this new feature and find it helpful. Benefits in Crafting Since March is National Craft Month, I thought I would highlight some of the benefits of crafting. Maybe some of these benefits will be new to you? These benefits are not just paper crafting either! If you are a knitter, woodturner,
quilter, into stain glass or any other of the numerous other crafts that keep our hands busy, this list applies too. Crafting has numerous benefits, both for our mental well-being and our personal development. Here are some key benefits: Mental & Emotional Benefits- Reduces stress & anxiety – The repetitive and creative nature of crafting can be very calming, similar to
meditation.
- Boosts mood – Creating something with your hands releases dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter.
- Encourages mindfulness – Focusing on colors, textures, and designs keeps you present in the moment.
- Increases confidence – Completing a project gives a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Creative Benefits- Encourages self-expression – Crafting lets you
showcase your personality and style.
- Enhances problem-solving skills – Thinking through designs, layouts, and techniques develops creativity and adaptability.
- Allows experimentation – There’s no "wrong" way to craft, so you can freely try new ideas.
Cognitive Benefits- Improves focus & concentration – Following patterns, layering elements, and planning layouts train your brain to pay
attention to details.
- Strengthens memory – Learning new crafting techniques helps keep your mind sharp.
- Develops fine motor skills – Cutting, stamping, gluing, and assembling small elements improve dexterity.
Social Benefits- Builds community – Crafting brings people together through clubs, workshops, and online groups.
- Encourages gift-giving – Handmade gifts and
cards create meaningful connections.
- Provides a sense of belonging – Engaging in crafting communities fosters friendships and support.
Practical Benefits- Can be a source of income – Selling handmade crafts or teaching workshops can turn into a business.
- Encourages sustainability – Upcycling and using materials mindfully can reduce waste.
- Creates personalized gifts
– Handmade items carry sentimental value and are more thoughtful than store-bought options.
What we do is good for us! Be proud of what you create and show off your talents to the world (or to your family & friends). Many times, we push our crafting to the back burner in order to get other things done. Many of you tell me that you don't have the time to do what you want to do. I hope this list helps
you realize that what we do is good for us and we should make the time. I created this sign for you. If you would like to print it, the pdf is attached to this email. I know it will use up a lot of ink, so you may just want to keep it on your computer for viewing. Kits that Bring Outside In! Each month Stampin' Up! releases two crafting kits. Kits are great for everyone, especially a beginning crafter or someone who needs projects with the prep that's
already done. Everything you need to complete the kit comes inside the box. Photographs never do the kits justice. Many layers in both these kits are popped up giving wonderful layers. I brought some
kits to my event this weekend to show in person and they were all wowed by the quality, saying "they are so much nicer than I thought". If you haven't already, give a kit or two a try. You'll be surprised and wowed too. Create your own charming, garden-themed cards with the Welcoming Garden Kit. Featuring precut, colorful flowers and unique garden gates, this all-inclusive kit is perfect for crafting a heartfelt thank-you card or a note to say a friendly hello.
Kit Details:
- Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs
- Folded card size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
- Colors: Basic Black, Berry Burst, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green,
Gray Granite, Highland Heather, Lemon Lime Twist, Pecan Pie, Pool Party
Maritime Moments Kit #165664, $21 Let your creativity set sail with
the Maritime Moments Kit. Drift in the soothing watercolors and costal imagery of these cards that can be either feminine or masculine. With printed sentiments, twine, and a stamp set of nautical images, this kit comes with everything you need to make cards for your favorite sailors.
Kit Details:
- Makes 6 cards: 2 each of 3 designs
- Folded card size: 4.3" x 5.5"
- Colors: Balmy Blue, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Gray Granite, Night
of Navy, Pecan Pie, Pool Party
- Sentiments printed in Dutch, English, French, and German
I was surprised by how many people never made a shaker card at my event on Saturday, so I thought this would be a good card to demonstrate on my live today (this is the same card we made at the event, so if you missed it, you can kind of feel like you were there). You can watch live at 2pm ET (1pm Central, 12pm, MT & 11am
PT) on Facebook and YouTube: FB - https://www.facebook.com/mailsomethingpretty/ YouTube - https://mailsomethingpretty.com/YouTube I go live every Tuesday and every first Thursday at 7pm ET (for Global live stamping with my Australian Demonstrator crafting friend Ann). This week we'll be using some of the new Online Exclusives products! Water Painters will be Discontinued Unfortunately, the vendor who makes the Water Painter pens will no longer be making and supplying them. Stampin' Up! is looking for a replacement vender. I love watercoloring with these painters! These painters work great with Watercolor Pencils and direct to ink pad painting & coloring. What this means: - Water Painters #151298 are currently at the "While Supplies Last" status. They are $13 for three painters (1 fine tip, 1 medium tip, 1 large flat brush tip).
- You can also get one painter in the Nature's Paintings Kit #164982 which is now on the last chance list, but is listed for sale at $22.50. We just used this kit at my event this weekend.
March's Paper Pumpkin - Extra FREE Stamp Set Included in this Kit! Did you know you can have an all-inclusive (& exclusive) crafting kit delivered to your mailbox every month? That's exactly what Paper Pumpkin is. A box filled with pre-designed and cut papers, card bases, decorative envelopes, a mini ink
pad, stamps, embellishments and directions on how to put that month's kit together. Paper Pumpkin is perfect for beginners, those who travel, those who don't have a large craft space or want to accumulate too many supplies and/or gifts. You can start and stop at any time. To begin, subscribe by the 10th of the month to receive that month's kit. Then your crafting boxes will keep coming until you tell it to hold a month/s or
cancel. Sign up & see all the details for Paper Pumpkin With spring right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to craft handmade cards that are as fresh and sunny as the season! The Daisy Daydream Paper Pumpkin Kit includes: - Three different printed card base designs and coordinating envelopes
- A stamp set with all-occasion sentiments
- Gold foil honeycomb
- Precut paper and vellum pieces
- and more—all packaged in a lovely box adorned with dreamy daisies!
 To make this month even sweeter, subscribers will also receive a FREE additional stamp set with their kit!
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