Where we’ve been and what we’ve been doing….come and journey with us!
Posted on: Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011Comments
Doesn’t it seem like life moves in fast forward sometimes? I know I’ve certainly felt that way recently. It seems like just yesterday I was preparing to send the kids back to school, and now Christmas is just around the corner. For those of you that have been faithfully visiting the Sunny Stampin’ Blog, wondering where in heaven’s name Soph and I have been lately….I have to apologize. I didn’t realize how long it’s been since we’ve posted to this blog until I came for a “visit” today….all I can say is “wow!…has it really been that long?”
While things have been silent here on the Sunny Stampin’ Blog, the Sunny Stampin’ team has been creating like crazy on the Paper Crafter’s Library blog. Why there and not here?
Well, I’ve actually been doing a lot of thinking on the direction of my paper crafting business, and my life, especially now as we are approaching my one year anniversary of having resigned from Stampin’ Up!
First off, we’ve officially “retired” from the class planner aspect of our business. While I’m going to keep the Demo to Demo site running and all of our previous class planners and workshop planners are still available, we will no longer be creating our planners on a monthly basis. Why? Honestly, because they take more time than we have to give. Each planner, each month took up 40-50 hours of our time – and now that my online business has expanded significantly, I need to funnel more of that time to my other endeavours. More to the point though – after 4 years of offering class planners, I felt that the time had come to move on.
With regards to both the blogs – for quite a long time, we were trying to keep both blogs going – this one and the Paper Crafter’s Library blog .Frankly though – it’s just been way too much to try and post different projects to different blogs. That’s why I’ve decided to do a little consolidation, and also make some additional changes.
You will now find ALL of the paper crafting projects we make (Soph and I, and now Tracy as well) – on the Paper Crafter’s Library Blog site – things like cards, scrapbook pages, gifts and gift packaging, ornaments, altered art, etc, etc. Essentially, anything to do with Paper Crafting. We post 5 days a week on that site, sometimes several times a day. Some of the features we have and are working on incorporating include the following:
- Makeover Monday Challenge: every Monday we take a project we find on the internet and “make it over” using products from our stash. The aim of the challenge is to teach people how to take the inspiration they find on the internet and make it their own. We include a video tutorial showing you the “make-over” process.
- Trendy Tuesday: 1-2 times a month we spotlight a “hot trend” in the paper crafting industry, showing you different project ideas that incorporate that trend. On the Tuesdays that we don’t look at a trend, we share a project with you.
- “Watch Us Wednesday”: This is a brand new feature we’ve launched EXCLUSIVELYfor our Paper Crafter’s Library Facebook Fans. On the second and fourth Wednesday of every month we’ll be posting a new project with a link to a private web page featuring a video tutorial and pdf handout for that project. We do show you a picture of the project and give a supply list on the blog, but to actually access the video and handout – you need to “Like” our Facebook page.
- Technique Thursday: we share with you the weekly technique we are working on with our Club 52 (year long technique club) members.
- Product Spotlight and Freebie Friday: This is where we create a video product spotlight or review/how-to of a product, and then offer a free video tutorial of a project made with that product. We also host a give-away, typically for that product.
Now that’s just what we have planned so far…… we have a lot of other plans we are working on for the new year as well.
A few weeks ago we launched our Paper Crafter’s Library Facebook Page – and are excited to see that we have just crested 3700 fans! We post every day, and much of it is content exclusive to our Facebook page. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit the Paper Crafter’s Library Facebook Page and “Like” us – you’ll also receive the gorgeous Beautiful Wings Video & tutorial as a thank you for joining our Facebook Community!
So, you may be wondering what is going to happen to the Sunny Stampin’ blog? Are we just going to stay silent for ever and ever? Nope! I actually have plans for the Sunny Stampin’ Blog.
As you know, the actual URL for this blog is www.andreawalford.com – my name. I’m giving this blog a face lift and renaming it – it’s going to be a place where I share about me, my life as a mom & entrepreneur, and my art apart from paper crafting.
A few years ago I started dabbling in mixed media art – something that’s intrigued me ever since I picked up the magazine “Art Journaling” created by Stampington & Co. I’ve read a ton of books, taken (and am taking) live and online workshops & video tutorials with mixed media “greats” like Donna Downey, Christy Tomlinson, Melody Ross, Julie Fey-Fan Balzer, Pam Carriker, Dawn Devries Sokul, etc. I’ve been dabbling in my studio, and have really fallen in love with it – to the point that I think I’m finally ready to share this new adventure of mine. I’ve decided to do it here – since the blog is in my personal name – and keep it separate from my paper crafting.
For now, I’m going to keep all of my original content from my blog here, but anything NEW I create – with my Stampin’ Up! and now all my other wonderful paper crafting products, will be posted on the Paper Crafter’s Library blog. So if paper crafting inspiration is what you’re looking for, then you’ll definitely want to check that out.
If you too have been contemplating diving into mixed media and want to follow along on my journey….if you are just looking to get to know me a little bit better….if you’re curious about my life and what it’s like to be a mom to 5 (chaotic), what life with my 90 year old grandfather is like (pretty entertaining), and what it’s like trying to juggle all that while running a full-time successful online business….then you’ll find that here too.
It’s not too late to sign up for our free 12 Weeks of Christmas event
Posted on: Tuesday, October 25th, 2011Comments
Those of you that are new to my blog might not have heard of our 12 Weeks of Christmas event that we run for our email newsletter subscribers every year. Every week, for 12 weeks we release an exclusive tutorial for a different Christmas project. Each tutorial includes a downloadable pdf handout and a video tutorial.
This is our third year running it, and we started on September 25th – so we’re into our fifth week now. For the first four weeks we focused on cards, for the next four weeks (including the one that just passed), we’re focusing on gift ideas, and then the final four weeks is tags and packaging. Just to give you an idea of what we’ve been sharing so far, here’s a snapshot of the last 5 weeks of projects.
Week 1: Embossed Snowflake Card – this project featured dry and heat embossing.
Week 2: Merry Christmas Snowflake Card – in this project you learn how to put together a stunning card using die cut or punched elements
Week 3: Cracked Glass Christmas Card – this project featured the Cracked Glass heat embossing technique, and also showed you how to embed glass glitter into the cracked glass.
Week 4: Poinsettia Card – this project is a shaped card which includes tons of gorgeous detail.
Week 5: Christmas File Folder Mini Album – this cute little album is approximately 4 1/2″ x 7″ high and features four pockets, each with a tag insert.
So there you have it. That’s what we’ve done so far……and did I mention it’s FREE to sign up for our email newsletter? All you have to do is fill out the form on the right hand side bar of the blog (www.andreawalford.com OR www.papercrafterslibrary.com) and then make sure you check your email to confirm your subscription.
Here’s the catch – the video portion of the tutorials are available for a LIMITED TIME only – generally only ONE week until the next project is released. After that, the videos get moved into Paper Crafter’s Library and are only accessible to members) So if you sign up right now, today, you’ll only be able to access the Week 5 tutorial – which is the mini album (but you can still get the pdfs of the other projects). BUT, you’ll still get 7 more weeks of fantastic video tutorials.
When you sign up for our email newsletter, in addition to all the great free project ideas, you’re also going to be the first to hear about any new project kits or tutorials we are releasing in our Sunny Stampin’ Store, and you’ll also be first to receive any coupons or special offers.
So there you have it – if you’re looking for a weekly dose of Christmas inspiration, don’t miss out on our FREE 12 Weeks of Christmas event.
FREE Digital Tutorials of ALL our Sunny Stampin’ Store Project Kits?
Posted on: Monday, October 24th, 2011Comments
There’s a ton of reasons our Paper Crafter’s Library members rave about their memberships. Here’s what a few of them have to say:
Thank you for this opportunity to use the Club 52 as being a member of the Papercrafters Library. This is the best tutorial site I have ever seen. Your clear pronunciation of each word and production of the whole videos is received very thankfully. Ilove being part of the Paper Crafter’s Library ~ Kay~
What a FABULOUS site! I love it! You and your sister are so talented! Thanks for sharing and all your hard work and time you put into it! . ~Linda~
Thank you for your fabulous site! I love it, and it’s my “go to” site of all time!! ~Gloria~
Not only do we have TONS of videos (almost 700!), not only do we add new videos 4-5 days a week, not only do members get to enjoy our current and future online classes for free (i.e. Club 52 – our year long technique club), but now……
As a Paper Crafter’s Library member you will ALSO have access to the digital tutorial version of ALL of the project kits we currently have in the Sunny Stampin’ Store! Yep, you heard that right.
And today, we’ve posted the first one – Blitzen Holiday Planner in a DVD Tin tutorial!
Here’s a picture of the front of the DVD tin:
The picture below shows you what the inside of the tin looks like. On the inside cover there are three decorated envelopes which you can use to store your receipts, as well as a little pencil. On the right side of the tin, an accordion insert pulls out with 5 pockets in all – three on the front (which you see below) and two at the back which you see in the third picture. The tin is decorated with products from the Bo Bunny Blitzen Collection,
The pockets are perfectly sized to hold our holiday planner inserts. The inserts themselves are sold in a bundle of 5 for $5 and include the following:
- a 15 month calendar from Oct. 2011 until December 2012 – allowing you to plan this year’s AND next year’s holiday
- A Gift buying list, where you can put the person’s name, your gift idea, the budgeted $ amount and a check-mark box
- A Stocking Stuffer list – where you can write the person’s name and the stocking stuffer ideas you have
- a Christmas Card list – where you can put the person’s name, address and a little “sent” check-mark box
- a Menu planner – where you can write down your menu ideas for any holiday gatherings
So there you have it, one more reason to become a member!
Halloween Coffin Treat Box
Posted on: Monday, October 17th, 2011Comments
I am so sorry……..I feel like I have to say that to all of you – my wonderful readers. I feel like I’ve let you guys down and I feel bad about it. Despite my best intentions, I just haven’t been able to balance it all - I feel like I’ve been “dropping balls” left right and center. I thought that once summer was over, things would get better. Unfortunately it hasn’t really worked out that way. I’ve had more work than I can sanely handle, and I’ve been struggling. As a result, the blog has really suffered. Our goal when we started this blog was to aim for 4-5 posts a day….sorry, meant to say a week. I think we’ve been lucky to get to one a week 
I’d like to say things are going to get better soon, and we’re certainly working on getting there, so please hang in there!
Today I wanted to show you all a cute coffin-shaped treat box I created for Halloween. I had a lot of fun with the Mummy on top. I created his eyes using a series of circle punches and a red marker to give him blood-shot eyes. I wrapped him using cheese cloth. I bought the cheese cloth at a fabric store and then cut it into one inch strips and wrapped it around him. To glue the mummy to the coffin box top I used Fabri-tac adhesive.
Here’s a list of the supplies.
Stamps: Wicked Cool (Stampin’ Up!)
Ink: Colorbox Frost White Pigment Ink (Clearsnap); Riding Hood Red Stampin’ Write marker (or any other red marker, Signo White gel pen (Stampin’ Up!)
Paper: Basic Black CS, Blushing Bride CS, Whisper White CS (Stampin’ Up!)
Accessories: bone folder, Tombow Mono-Multi-Liquid glue, stamping sponge, ½” circle punch, ¾” circle punch, dotto adhesive (Stampin’ Up!); Fabri-tac (Beacon); ¼” hole punch, cheesecloth (other); Glitter Spiders (Jolee’s Boutique); acrylic graph ruler (Martha Stewart)
There is a video tutorial and pdf handout on Paper Crafter’s Library for members.
Winners of the new Project Kits
Posted on: Tuesday, October 11th, 2011Comments
Last Sunday I posted pictures of the new project kits we are offering in the Sunny Stampin’ Store – which you can see in this post HERE. I’ve drawn the names of two winners. If your name was drawn, please email me at andrea@sunnystampin.com with your full shipping address and phone number along with which of the kits you would like.
Donna
October 2nd, 2011 at 12:55 pm
So hard to choose as they are ALL wonderful kits but I am most drawn to the mini album kit for some reason. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win any one of them. Thanks for a chance to do that! Hugs
Gloria Conger
October 3rd, 2011 at 3:44 am
I really like the tri-shuttered album the best. I couldn’t really say why exactly, but it speaks to me. I always enjoy all of your tutorials. You make it seem so easy. Of course, I would be honored to win any of them. Sure hope I win!!!
Andrea Walford 
