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Ok, I have a question, doesn't TAC and CTMH also carry some of the same items that SU carries...and if so, wouldn't all of these ideas be a better deal than all of the 3 companies offer. I know that I do not generally use products other than SU, I have tried others, (Not from the other direct sales companies) and I do find that I am more pleased with the quality of the SU.. Just curious...
Is it difficult to adhere the drywall tape--or does it have adhesive already on it? If not, what do you use to adhere it? Thanks.
I have not had a problem and have used it many times - BUT if you did maybe heating it up a bit would do the trick - They make carpet tape that is heated to stick to the carpet (not sure if it is the same or not)
OK SO who went and bought all the dry ink pads at ATRS site??!!! There are no more there
Shelley
__________________
Shelley
The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
talk about thinking outside the box!
PLEASE EXPLAIN!!!!!
THANKS
misti
For Valentine's cards, kiss your cardstock and then emboss with clear EP. You can also draw simple line art designs and then emboss. Can you tell I've been playing with that make-up I used to put on every morning before I had kids?!?
My mom used to tell me all while growing up "You get what you pay for."
You go cheap you get cheap and hence you land up spending more in the long run to replace the cheap. SO my theory is pay once and save. Especially on cards and scrapbooking products. (of course they are consumable products, but one should take pride in what they are sending to others as gifts or cards.
There are bargains then there are bargains (cheap/substutes/cutting corners) that just produce more headache in the end.
Be wise and not foolish. That is my $.5
The Window Sheets that SU sells - can you get them somewhere else? I went to a workshop that we used them for the cutest cards - but 2.95 for just 3 sheets seems very pricey - tack on to that 10% shipping and sales tax. Does Michaels have them? I love my coupons at Michaels - and I know that a lot of SU stuff is another brand with their name on it -- I much prefer to buy stuff like that at Michaels. I KNOW it is the same quality because the same manufacturer makes them....
I have a hot laminator and run the pouches through the machine to make my "window sheets." It's worked well for me. I get my pouches at oregonlam.com where they come to 11 cents a sheet. Great price!
In regards to WIndow sheets...you can use transparency sheets. If you work in an office they may have some. I think they are expensive to buy though (although you get 100 in a box!) In my research I think it ends up being cheaper to just buy the window sheets. Unless, you have access to transparency sheets at the office/school!
There are many good ideas on this thread that I use, and there are many that I have tried, but ended up back at SU for the quality!
See what works for you! And saving money on the way is always a good thing!
I had trouble when I bought the drywall tape. It was not straight, even into the middle of the role. I went right back to SU mesh!
Andi Pandi
I have not had that problem yet but you know I bought mine from a lady here who was selling it and I am not sure if it is drywall tape or not??!!
Anyway - it is also true that you DO NOT want to use these type products in your scrapbooks....I only use on cards and I know that they will probably not be kept forever.... I don't use many kinds of embellishments in my scarpbooks at all - I do not like the extra thickness that all the stuff adds - SO I keep it more basic and add my layers in pictures and paper!
__________________
Shelley
The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
I got a brown paper bag in my paper Sunday that was from Office Max - You can fill it up and get 15% off of things inthere -- they have 100 of the medium envelopes either white or Ivory for 6.59. The bag is good all week long - but you have to turn the bag in when you use it....
Get this:
my awesome friend uses the the canvas background stamp in place of magic mesh! She used silver embossing powder and none of us could tell the difference. I'll get her permission to post the card. Instant Magic Mesh any time you need it - in any color too!
Get this:
my awesome friend uses the the canvas background stamp in place of magic mesh! She used silver embossing powder and none of us could tell the difference. I'll get her permission to post the card. Instant Magic Mesh any time you need it - in any color too!
Ok, I don't understand the ink pad thing. Why would I want to spend 2.95 for a reinker and then another 1.00 for a blank 'old style' pad? For 4.95 I can get the new style already inked, and it automatically stores upside down so it stays wet longer. Then, when I need it, I can order the reinker. I've had my new pads ever since they came out, and still have not had to reink them. And I stamp a lot. The new style is bigger, hence being able to ink the large stamps easier. JMO, I absolutely LOVE the newer style of pads. The lid isn't even in the way when I'm inking my stamps!
I was told a long time ago by a demo, who wasn't very good, about the left over foam instead of dimensionals. Bottom line, I tried it. It looks really bad on a card or even scrapbook page. You can see the grey from the sides. UGLY!! Dimensionals are what, 3.95 for 300? Not bad. I usually get them when I have a SU party and am really close to my next level of benefits. Great time to stock up on those.
On the eyelets.....I truly don't want to go to all the trouble of getting out my heat gun and EP to change the color when I can get 50 eyelets of one color, 4 different colors in each container, for what 5.95? Not bad either. Sorry, but for me, convenience sometimes is more important than saving a dollar or two. Besides, the colors match exactly!! That is what I love so much about SU products. The colors all coordinate.
I run my white organdy ribbon through my ink pads when I need a color SU doesn't carry. I love all the SU ribbon because the colors are made by the manufaturer to coordinate with SU colors. Besides, haven't found a ribbon yet that competes with SU color and quality.
I do use the codes on Viking to get my mono, but lately, it just has not been holding up. I bought the Xyron 505 on HSN.com for 29.95. If you order online, you don't pay tax, just shipping. It ended up being 35.00 and change. Best purchase I made in a long time. Local craft stores sell these for 49.95! Plus, mine came with 2 extra adhesive cartridges and a laminatiing one.
I guess I should just be labeled a SU snob. Other than the Xyron and the mono, if it's not SU, I don't use it. Have been that way since I was sucked in by my wonderful demo 3 years ago. I had been to one workshop a year before that and SU did nothing for me. I thought there was no way I was going to spend that kind of money on STAMPS? But with the right demo, SU can be dangerous on the pocketbook, because there is never nothing in the catalog that I don't want. I made the decision to start this hobby knowing it can be pricey. But, I put my heart and soul into these creations, and I don't want it to look cheap. If I cut too many corners, that is exactly what will happen. I want my creations to be of the best quality. JMO
WOW Well said JBradley11!!! That is just how I feel too...
Quote:
my favorite tip is just to go to dollar tree and buy cards 8/$1
After all, saving $ is ALL that is important!
I agree too mamakimberly!! You get what you pay for when you try to go cheap!! Especially in the eyelets!! SU's are HIGH quality and aren't that soft yucky metal that most are out there!!
Here is another!! My mom went to a Pampered Chef party and bought me one of those kitchen tool holders on a rotating base!! Fantastic. Now all my tools are right at hand. Wonderful space saver.
Another discovery is that you can use food color rather than reinkers for many techniques (do not put in your pads though).
Don't bother with a light box either. Put a string of white Christmas lights under a clear pyrex baking dish and voila!!
Buy locally as much as possible to save shipping costs. I always forget to figure that in to the price and it really does make a difference. Also check to see if your LSS has a punch card or discounts for regular purchases. I had a punch card last year that was worth $116 in free merchandise by December. I have several disabled stamping friends or those with small children and we have a deal that if I will pick up items for them, I get the punch line on my card. Works for both of us.
Buy EP in bulk with your friends and divide into baby food or spice jars and you can get your EP for about 90% less than buying small jars. Add a silicagel packet from your new shoe box and it stays fresh for years and years!
Buy your Coluzzle and supplies at Michaels with your 40% off coupon.
Such a fun thread. LOVE that lipstick idea!! I just put some metallic lipstick on a card by sponging it with Kleenex and embossed and got an awesome background on black paper.
IMPORTANT! I haven't read all the posts since last night so I don't know if this information has already been sent out, but here goes.....
I was searching the net for Perfect Ink Refresher and found a great site. It is www.wilde-ideas.com
They are selling the ink refreshers for $4.99 and they have very reasonable shipping. They also have a special every Wednesday. This weeks special that she gave me today, was their line of aquapainters for 25% off. She said they are the original good ones. I think she said Ninja brand. She has mini, small, medium, large, and a flat one for washes.
The number os 1-800-558-8680 or you can order over the web.
Buy locally as much as possible to save shipping costs
Ya know if you go in with friends and order on one order and split the shipping costs it will be CHEAPER to order from Stampin Up. At the price of gas I can't see running all over the place to save a buck or two!!!
SU white cardstock over W@lmart cardstock
Do this simple test:
stamp an image on SU white and then on W@lmart white. Compare the two images. The ink soaks into SU white so much better giving you a more crisp/solid image. Even with the very fine detailed stamps. Almost like it was printed rather than stamped.
I am all about saving $$ but I also take great pride in my stamp work so sometimes you have to spend a little more to get a better end result.
I just found a package of write on transparancies in a box in our home office! I am so excited now that I know they are the same as the window sheets. Cant wait to get some pearl ex to make some pretty cards!
I to use the ink refreshener...and like it. I also like the dry wall tape and love that it picks up the SU dye inks so it's easy to make the exact color I want, magic mesh sometimes just couldn't match the color of SU papers. Great tips! TFS
__________________ Wherever I Go...There Go My Stamps!
Splitting shipping would be a great idea when it is a flat rate. When it goes up with each item no one saves any money by splitting it because each person pays the same on each item no matter what. If I order $50 I pay $5 shipping. If my friend adds $50 to my order, I still pay my $5 and she pays $5 more. No savings that way. Buying locally means zero shipping.
Splitting shipping would be a great idea when it is a flat rate. When it goes up with each item no one saves any money by splitting it because each person pays the same on each item no matter what. If I order $50 I pay $5 shipping. If my friend adds $50 to my order, I still pay my $5 and she pays $5 more. No savings that way. Buying locally means zero shipping.
Think of all the wear and tear you put on your vehicle - all the gas you use running around getting bargains! No offense, but I enjoy getting my deliveries from Brown! It is so much easier to have things shipped to my house - no dragging the kids out to Mike's or Jo's....no picking up those lovely viruses from the shopping carts....no coupons to clip....no dealing with running to Mike's or Jo's for an item which they are out of...no THANKS!
Some things are apples to apples. Sure it is nice to get a versamark pad at Mike's for 40% off. But you cannot compare the cardstock, the ink, the elements and ESPECIALLY the stamps! You just cannot! I am all about saving a buck here or there - but the cheaper cardstock ...no thanks. Running around to dollar stores finding empty ink containers....I don't think so...
I would rather use my light box than haul a glass pyrex dish with a strand of christmas lights in my craft area. :shock: Spend your money on the stamp sets, cardstock and ink at SU! It is not just SHIPPING, it is handling and OVERHEAD. They have to pay people to fill your orders. And if you have ever had an issue with an order, SU is the most phenomenal company to work with. I have nothing but praise for SU and their customer service.
WOW - what great ideas! I am putting this one on my watch list. I also have the pad refresher and love it! It is great stuff. My favorite $ saving tip is not buying things unless you have a 40% or better off coupon!
Well all of this tips and comments are great !!
i loved reading them and i can see that some don't like the ideas of spending the money on the SU suppllies and others Just think there number 1 !
Well if you enjoy getting out of the house once in a while and going to the store to buy your products then thats great !
Or
If you enjoy your delaivery affair with the stranger dressed in brown like most women do than thats just great to !
which ever you choose i have enjoyed reading this post thanks to every one !!
Location: Dreaming about playing in Sher's Craftroom!!!!
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Tips
Where do you purchase the Perfect Ink refresher?? I have an old SU pad Luscious Lime and they don't sell it anymore. Also the Crystal effects 3-d at walmart I've never seen it where abouts is it??? Thanks for all the other $$$ tips too.
My demo just showed me another great tip this morning! Instead of glue dots, take your scissors and cut up a bunch of glue sticks. Takes about a minute to cut a whole baggie of them. Cut them very small then lay one on your card, slightly heat with your heat gun and you have a glue dot!!
:oops: 
