For these thank you cards, I used the fun Fruit Salad 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (free with $60 purchase).  This paper is so bright and cheerful!!!  

I hope you can see that there are MANY possibilities. This card template is just one of them.  If you search "fruit salad Stampin' Up" on google, you will discover many samples you can copy.

Each card uses a standard card base (8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored in the middle at 4-1/4").  The white panel/layer is 3-3/4" x 5".  Each fruit paper is 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" which means you can get 5 sections from one piece of paper!  Both sides of paper have great and coordination designs!  There is no bad combination.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching!  Did you know that Julia Child and her husband Paul sent out handmade Valentine's Day cards instead of Christmas cards?  “Valentine's cards had become a tradition of ours, born of the fact that we could never get ourselves organized in time to send out Christmas cards.” Food & Wine Valentine article.  I've always admired Julia Child and her "take me as I am" attitude.  I try live by the same mindset, especially when it comes to making my card videos (as you'll see in the video below).

Make this double-step fun fold card exactly as I do, or swap the papers and embellishments and make this card for "any reason and any season".  There are many different versions of a step and double step card and this is just one of them.

In this video, I give a great tip on marking your Paper Trimmer with painters tape to make it easier to cut in the middle of the card stock.

Marbled Designer Series Paper #164919

Gold Foil Paper #132622

Heart Shaped Bundle #164953 (free with $120 purchase during Sale-a-bration).

Sale-a-bration Joining Kit is a Great Deal!

Over the last couple of weeks I have written and spoke about the great Sale-a-bration joining offer.  For only $99, you can choose so many more products in both choices of the joining kit.  

You can read about and watch more of the specifics of this kit here: https://mailsomethingpretty.com/our-live-answered-questions-about-joining-stampin-up/

I always love to talk about Stampin' Up!, the benefits, my experience and the opportunities, so if you have any questions, please reach out to me so I can answer them for you christine@mailsomethingpretty.com

After hearing me talk about the offer over the last few weeks and you are ready to give Stampin' Up! a try, you can join right here!

This section is for those who live local to Massachusetts.  The deadline to sign up for my in-person March 1 Spring into Creativity stamping event is fast approaching.  February 7 is the LAST DAY to sign up for this event.  This will give me enough time to order and prepare all that you need for the projects that you will be making.  Invite and bring a friend!

Sign up for March 1 Spring into Creativity Event by February 7.

From Stampin' Up!: As fun as our happy mail is to receive, we know there are times your Stampin’ Up! packages are the last thing on your mind. We’ve noticed a growing need for alternate receiving solutions, not only during natural catastrophes and other times of uncertainty, but also when you have planned time away from home. Did you know UPS offers a free service that gives you access to alternate delivery address options?

MY CHOICE BY UPS
With the My Choice program by UPS, you can select an alternative shipping destination from a list of predetermined locations within your area. You can opt to have your package(s) delivered to a safe, climate-controlled facility, so it’s not exposed to the elements or lost to unfortunate circumstances impacting your destination. Receiving locations include common neighborhood destinations like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy, making pickup convenient and familiar. Whether you use My Choice only during select, planned-for times (vacations/holidays), during unforeseen emergencies, or as a year-round option, you’re given a secure, convenient alternative delivery destination. 

Create an account and sign up for free on the UPS website (where you can also pay for an upgraded version with even more features) and rest easier knowing your incoming business is covered.

Interested in more details? Sign up at the UPS website here.

Important Note: UPS does not deliver to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) post office boxes (P.O. boxes). This includes using a U.S. post office address for your shipping address. While this may have worked in the past, these packages are now being refused outright. If you have a U.S. post office address/P.O. box on file as your primary shipping address, please update it before making your next purchase. Otherwise, your order will not get delivered. Thank you. 

There will be no live today. I'll be attending a meeting for a potential Multi-generational building in my town at our usual live time. I'm thinking this new building could be a great place for future paper crafting classes!

This Thursday evening will be Ann & my monthly joint live class.  Join us at 7pm ET, 6pm Central, 5pm MT & 4pm Pacific.  Our theme is "birthday".  I have a lot of birthday cards to mail out this month so the topic is very topical for me.  I hope you can join us on Thursday evening either live or on the replay.

FB - https://www.facebook.com/mailsomethingpretty/

YouTube - https://mailsomethingpretty.com/YouTube

Heirloom Arrangements Card Kit, #165007, $23, 8 cards.  This kit is a "loosely choreographed floral, vintage, collage kit" which means you can mix & max all the elements how you like.  A stamp set & ink is included.  There will be suggested designs that you can copy exactly or loosely. 8 cards

This kit includes:
- Heirloom Arrangements Photopolymer Stamp Set
- Clear stamp block
- Pecan Pie Classic Stampin’ Spot
- Basic instructions
- 8 printed envelopes
- Precut elements
- Specialty vellum
- Adhesive

Order your Heirloom Arrangements Kit here

So Much to Celebrate Kit #165011, $14, 9 cards. Whether it’s for a graduation, a wedding, or welcoming a new baby, nothing says congratulations quite like a handmade card. With the all-inclusive So Much to Celebrate Kit featuring gold foil details, precut flowers, and puffy stickers, you can make beautiful cards to celebrate any occasion.

It's hard to see in this picture, but all of the flowers are puffed and popped up for a very 3D look & feel.

This kit includes:
- Step-by-step instructions
- 9 printed envelopes
- Puffy stickers
- Gold foil
- Adhesive 

Order your So Much to Celebrate Kit here

This is a non-stamping kit that includes lots of fun and whimsical flowers to pop up.  Sentiments are printed in gold foil.

Note - If for some reason you find that one of these kits is not available to order today, it should be in the next day or two.  These kits were stuck on a container for quite some time and they have just been delivered to Stampin' Up!.

February's "Hello Spring" Paper Pumpkin Kit

This kit includes:

Get excited for the Hello Spring kit! Create lovely garden-inspired cards using three different printed card bases, precut paper pieces featuring lush green herbs, specialty bronze foil for an eye-catching sheen, and earthy linen thread. Seed packet envelopes bring a delightful touch of botanical whimsy. This cheerful springtime kit also coordinates with the Grow with Love Bundle! Make sure your subscription is active so that you don’t miss this exclusive kit! (paperpumpkin.com)

> You must sign up for Paper Pumpkin by February 10 to receive this particular kit.  www.mailsomethingpretty.com/monthlycraftingkitsignup

This photograph equals happiness to me because it combines two of my loves: card making and gardening!!!!!

Congratulations & Thank you!

Through the Stampin' Up! Make a Difference product give back program, over $86,000 was raised from sales of the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper!  This money will be donated to Children's Literacy programs all around the world.  Thank you to everyone who purchased this paper to support this program!!!!