Gigi42
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Posts: 87
Location: In my own little happy place
Sept 26, 2018 17:51:35 GMT
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Post by Gigi42 on Jan 6, 2022 18:54:15 GMT
With the start of the New Year I would like to get back into card making again and am looking for recommendations for monthly card kits. I did the Spellbinders one years ago and just came across so of the kits when I was purging. I like rubber stamps more so then dies when it comes to card making.
Any recommendations? Does anyone do the Simon Says monthly kit?
Thanks! Christy
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Jan 6, 2022 21:31:10 GMT
I think Unity stamps has a stamp subscription and those are red rubber.- not a kit just stamps
The SSS kit has clear stamps. I got only 1 from them. I liked that one
Hero arts has a monthly kit , I usually just pick up what I like. Clear stamps! Good value!!!
Tonic studio has one,but I never got them so I can't tell you anything about them.
Altnew has one , if you like flowers it looks great! I want to get one of these, this year.
My Favorite Things has occasional kits.
GinaK design has good ones too.
I hope this helps to look around and see what looks good to you.
Have you checked out SheetLoad of cards sketch yet? Its a great way to use up patterned papers and there are some for 6x6 papers.
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Post by kkrenn on Jan 6, 2022 21:42:20 GMT
Stampin Up has a monthly subscription kit called Paper Pumpkin that's worth looking into, I like how easy it is to skip, or cancel.
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Post by tampascrapper on Jan 7, 2022 0:59:06 GMT
Stampin Up has a monthly subscription kit called Paper Pumpkin that's worth looking into, I like how easy it is to skip, or cancel. Is Paper Pumpkin just cards now? Or still other paper crafts as well? If it was just cards, I would definitely do that. |
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Gigi42
Junior Member
Posts: 87
Location: In my own little happy place
Sept 26, 2018 17:51:35 GMT
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Post by Gigi42 on Jan 7, 2022 4:44:25 GMT
Thanks Ladies! This definitely gives me places to look into. I am not sure what the Sheetload of cards is but love more info.
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MDscrapaholic
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Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Jan 7, 2022 5:19:08 GMT
Echo park also has a bi-monthly card kit. I find it doesn’t give much inspiration, and am probably going to drop it.
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Post by kkrenn on Jan 7, 2022 7:42:09 GMT
Stampin Up has a monthly subscription kit called Paper Pumpkin that's worth looking into, I like how easy it is to skip, or cancel. Is Paper Pumpkin just cards now? Or still other paper crafts as well? If it was just cards, I would definitely do that. I would say it is 90% cards but around Halloween and Christmas they usually do some sort of 3D project. This month they are doing Valentine's cards but offer an add on kit that can make treat bags. It's $22 a month or you can buy prepaid 3, 6, or 12 month subscriptions. I'm not sure if it saves any money doing it the prepaid way. You get a stamp set, adhesives, an ink spot, along with the card parts and any accessories it would take to make the project. |
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Jan 7, 2022 13:57:31 GMT
Is Paper Pumpkin just cards now? Or still other paper crafts as well? If it was just cards, I would definitely do that. I would say it is 90% cards but around Halloween and Christmas they usually do some sort of 3D project. This month they are doing Valentine's cards but offer an add on kit that can make treat bags. It's $22 a month or you can buy prepaid 3, 6, or 12 month subscriptions. I'm not sure if it saves any money doing it the prepaid way. You get a stamp set, adhesives, an ink spot, along with the card parts and any accessories it would take to make the project. If you want to try it I would buy a 3 month subscription now because if you buy something over $50 you get a salebration free stamp or papers. I usually get my pre payed subscription this time of the year to get free goodies. This year they have some cute stamps for free. |
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jan 7, 2022 15:30:08 GMT
Hero Arts has a monthly kit sold exclusively at JoAnn online. Here is the link => HA/JA kit |
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Post by scrapperal on Jan 7, 2022 16:28:03 GMT
As mentioned previously, Unity has various monthly stamp kits, but they also have a monthly card kit called Whit-kit. Pink and Main and Club Scrap also have monthly card kits. |
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Post by marg on Jan 7, 2022 21:37:32 GMT
Spellbinders has a monthly card kit along with a bunch of other monthly subscriptions like dies and hot foil plates. They have a good design team for their card kit - you can look on YouTube for that to get an idea of what they include.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 7, 2022 23:21:58 GMT
SSS's kit and the My Monthly Hero (Hero Arts) kit are both card focused and if you search on YT you can see lots of inspiration and enabling. The themes can be a bit hit or miss though, at least for me, and the cost can add up pretty quickly. But I gather there's a fair amount of demand if you chose to sell kits you didn't like. My favorite person using the MMH kit is CardCutUps - his channel is here: www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1IqryClU-61lE1exUP0pA/videos - you can see the recent themes of the kits. They're pretty good value for stamps and dies but not cheap. Most sell out fairly quickly. Vicki P has videos for the Spellbinders and SSS kits www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9R3rNEXsfpd_p75VVRrHR-NjdmFnB9b3 |
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Post by joblackford on Jan 7, 2022 23:25:44 GMT
Forgot to say Sheetload of Cards is a monthly sketch you can use any supplies you like with. Call Me Crafty Al tells you how many sheets of paper you need and how to cut them but it's up to you to find the paper etc. www.youtube.com/c/CallMeCraftyAl/videosI think she also uses the Paper Pumpkin kits from time to time (in non-Sheetload videos) and shows alternative designs she's made. |
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Post by joblackford on Jan 9, 2022 21:50:25 GMT
Kristie Marcotte shares videos for the Spellbinders and Love from Lizi kits on her YT channel  |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449 
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 10, 2022 3:48:57 GMT
I do mostly card making these days. I’ve looked into card kits, but as joblackford mentioned, they can be hit or miss. I hate wasting money for a kit that I don’t like, or which I’m not likely to use most of it. For a time, I got a monthly kit. It didn’t last long, because I didn’t like most of what I got. Since then, when I’ve been tempted to consider a monthly card kit (or any monthly kit), I look at their previous kits and see what percentage of them that I like. I haven’t found a monthly kit that I’m willing to sign up for, because the kits I loved were in the minority. I’d rather spend my money on products that excite me and that I am likely to use. I absolutely love stamps, and I have a huge collection of them. What works well for me is to use Queen & Co. Foundation dies to create the card background, then use one or more of my stamped images to go with that background. The Queen & Co. Facebook Royalty page has a lot of card samples posted every day, many of which are submitted by users that have made their cards with the Foundation dies and just added stamped images (using stamps from other companies). Queen & Co. kits include phrase stamps, but rarely any other type of stamps. Their Foundation die sets coordinate well with each other, so it’s really easy to create a wide variety of cards, and then you can just add your favorite stamped images. (I have no affiliation with them…..I just buy a lot of their products.) If you go through their photo section, you can see every card that has been posted to their Facebook group. If they had a monthly card kit, I would probably go for it, since I buy a majority of their new releases, and they have new releases each month. They have themed kits, too. If there is a company whose products you absolutely love, I would see if they have a card kit, rather than buy a monthly kit from a company whose products are sometimes great, other times not as fabulous. If the companies you love don’t have a monthly card kit, maybe you can budget that amount to spend on their website each month. Then check what card ideas are available for those products on Pinterest. Or browse Pinterest first, choose cards you love, then buy the product to make them. At least some of the cards posted on Pinterest have links to instructions for how the card was made. That way you get only products you love for your money, the card ideas are free, and you’ll know you’ll love what you get. That is what I prefer to do. The excitement of getting a monthly kit is too often offset by disappointment if I don’t like what comes in the kit, or the cards that are to be made. I hope you find what works for you, whether it’s an actual monthly card kit, or a work around, like what I do. |
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Post by CardBoxer on Jan 10, 2022 12:25:04 GMT
White Rose Crafts has a nice kit for $30.00. Nice small business that’s sort of local to me, though is now on line only. whiterosecraftsllc.com/products/vintage-romance-cardmaking-craft-kit-limited-editionI used to subscribe to kits but didn’t really use them, so don’t any more. That’s not a put down of kits at all, just it’s worth exploring what works best for you. Of course companies have their own distinct styles, so it’s worth finding the right match. Enjoy! |
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Gigi42
Junior Member
Posts: 87
Location: In my own little happy place
Sept 26, 2018 17:51:35 GMT
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Post by Gigi42 on Jan 11, 2022 18:29:08 GMT
Thanks everyone for all the great input. I did end up ordering the Hero Arts kit because of the valentines stuff. Haven't really come across any other ones that I liked yet. Definitely will check out Queen & Co foundation dies.
The last 5 years have been crazy in my life and I am final to a point of wanting to make cards again but I've been out of the loop on stamp companies so I going to start researching whats new and find some stamps I love.
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Post by scrapperal on Jan 11, 2022 21:18:24 GMT
Glad you found a card kit. I forgot to mention Graphic 45 and Simple Stories also have card kits, but I don't think they include stamps or dies, just paper and embellishment.
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Post by cmpeter on Jan 14, 2022 2:39:57 GMT
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Gigi42
Junior Member
Posts: 87
Location: In my own little happy place
Sept 26, 2018 17:51:35 GMT
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Post by Gigi42 on Jan 17, 2022 18:00:43 GMT
Just checked out Cards and Coffee time - LOVE it! Thanks for the recommendation.
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Post by kmage on Feb 3, 2022 14:30:17 GMT
I subscribed to Paper Pumpkin with Stampin' Up for my mom and was very pleased. She needed a kit that she did not have to add other things into (other than adhesive, although it came with pop dots) and was very straightforward, yet turned out nice results. There are a lot of youtube videos showing what folks have done with the PP kit and also what they do with the scraps, so she liked that. We did a skip of the months that did not have cards, and had other projects, as she didn't want those.
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Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
Troubled, complicated, and constant
Posts: 3,243
Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
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Post by Shakti on Dec 8, 2022 18:09:14 GMT
Just searched this thread out after seeing MDscrapaholic's post in this quarter's share your cards thread. I hadn't heard about Let's Stamp Together's kits before and I'd like to hear more about your experience with them. From what I saw on their site you can't skip and they don't preview, but I might have missed something -- do tell!
I am currently subscribed to both Paper Pumpkin and Club Scrap's monthly card kit. I like that both give you the opportunity to skip kits you're not interested in. PP has only a bit of a sneak peek for you to decide, but Club Scrap gives you a full unboxing video. If you skip three months in a row, you're unsubbed automatically, but can rejoin at any time. I subscribed in May,skipped June, August, September, and October. Just rejoined for December.
Paper Pumpkin has a small stamp sheet included. For Club Scrap stamps are an add on -- they include preprinted art and sentiments if you want to use them. I usually do, but get the add on stamp set anyway. All of their materials are top quality, especially the papers.
I also often buy the Hero Arts kits from Joann, but I've never found a MMH kit on Hero Arts site that I like, which I think is really weird. I somehow find the Joann offerings more appealing and a better value.
I bought the Sunflower monthly kit at SSS and I'm looking to get the Festive Feathered Friends stamp and die set, but I'm not going to get the full card kit.
As I'm reentering the hobby after years away, I'm right now finding kits to be a good way to build up a collection of stamps and dies and to experiment with styles and techniques. By sticking to those I can skip or can be purchased outright without a subscription, I'm not "forced" into experimenting with anything that's obviously not my style or the like.
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Dec 8, 2022 19:37:51 GMT
Just searched this thread out after seeing MDscrapaholic's post in this quarter's share your cards thread. I hadn't heard about Let's Stamp Together's kits before and I'd like to hear more about your experience with them. From what I saw on their site you can't skip and they don't preview, but I might have missed something -- do tell! I am currently subscribed to both Paper Pumpkin and Club Scrap's monthly card kit. I like that both give you the opportunity to skip kits you're not interested in. PP has only a bit of a sneak peek for you to decide, but Club Scrap gives you a full unboxing video. If you skip three months in a row, you're unsubbed automatically, but can rejoin at any time. I subscribed in May,skipped June, August, September, and October. Just rejoined for December. Paper Pumpkin has a small stamp sheet included. For Club Scrap stamps are an add on -- they include preprinted art and sentiments if you want to use them. I usually do, but get the add on stamp set anyway. All of their materials are top quality, especially the papers. I also often buy the Hero Arts kits from Joann, but I've never found a MMH kit on Hero Arts site that I like, which I think is really weird. I somehow find the Joann offerings more appealing and a better value. I bought the Sunflower monthly kit at SSS and I'm looking to get the Festive Feathered Friends stamp and die set, but I'm not going to get the full card kit. As I'm reentering the hobby after years away, I'm right now finding kits to be a good way to build up a collection of stamps and dies and to experiment with styles and techniques. By sticking to those I can skip or can be purchased outright without a subscription, I'm not "forced" into experimenting with anything that's obviously not my style or the like. Tagging MDscrapaholic |
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MDscrapaholic
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Dec 8, 2022 23:27:05 GMT
Hey, Shakti , I did subscribe to SCT Let’s Stamp Together for a two month subscription. I thought it was expensive ($30/kit) for something you buy sight unseen. I was hoping to get fall and holiday themed card kits - I did get the holiday (the Christmas balls) but the other one was flowers you stitch. Both kits had dies, clear stamps and a stencil. I do like them, but the stitched one is not my fave. I’m at the point where I’d like to see what I’m getting, my collection is growing by leaps and bounds with the Crop & Creates I’m doing. I probably won’t subscribe to LST again. |
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Shakti
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Troubled, complicated, and constant
Posts: 3,243
Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
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Post by Shakti on Dec 9, 2022 2:03:51 GMT
Thank you for that review -- doesn't sound like my cup of tea, either!
Where can I learn more about Crop & Create?
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,634
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Dec 9, 2022 2:33:24 GMT
Thank you for that review -- doesn't sound like my cup of tea, either! Where can I learn more about Crop & Create? Here's a link - scrapbookandcards.com/crop-and-create/I believe registration is over for the spring card event. If you're interested, you can ask to join the waitlist. There are several of us here on the board who attended the fall event and posted pictures of the cards we made. |
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anaterra
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Posts: 4,134
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Dec 9, 2022 23:53:59 GMT
any reviews on stamps of life???
If you are a beginner stamper/card maker would you do stamps of life, echo park or a different company??
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Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
Troubled, complicated, and constant
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Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
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Post by Shakti on Dec 10, 2022 13:20:34 GMT
anaterra, only you will be able to figure out which one is right for you right now, but here are some things to consider. Is it important to you to see the contents ahead (or at least get a glimpse of them) and skip those that don't appeal to you? Do you have a sense of what your style is or is experimenting with different ones something you're looking for? I think some companies have a very distinct style that doesn't vary much from month to month while others seem to offer more variety in their product offerings in general and therefore in their kits as well. What supplies or tools do you have already and what are you looking to collect or willing to buy? Some kits with stamps include mini-inks, and/or adhesives, while others do not. Some come with pre-cut parts, others require extensive trimming. Some companies offer dies as separate subscriptions, some include them every month (or most), others don't offer them at all. Some kits are more like collections -- they have coordinating materials and some inspirations, maybe step-by-step instructions for a single card, but only a jumping off point for you to create on your own. Even the kits that are truly kits, with step-by-step instructions for using all of the materials to make a specific number of specific cards, have blogs or other online content for using the materials differently.
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anaterra
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Posts: 4,134
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Dec 10, 2022 16:44:34 GMT
Shakti that makes sense... i just really wanted an opinion on stamps of life... i tried doing a search but that function is not really good on this board... I didn't want to make its on s/o category since a kit club thing
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Dec 10, 2022 17:14:42 GMT
Just searched this thread out after seeing MDscrapaholic's post in this quarter's share your cards thread. I hadn't heard about Let's Stamp Together's kits before and I'd like to hear more about your experience with them. From what I saw on their site you can't skip and they don't preview, but I might have missed something -- do tell! I get the Let's Stamp Together kits. I've subscribed from the beginning and re-upped for another year. This last kit (November) is the first one I didn't care for. It only works for Christmas and is basically two designs (both are Christmas bulbs). I do like the stencil that came with it and can see myself using it again. I kind of like the surprise of not knowing what it is and for $25.50 for a stamp, dies and stencil (yearly price was $153 US) this kit fits that. Adding: No you can't skip or cancel. |
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