When Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Brian King, a member of my Stampin' Pretty Pals, first explained to me his idea for "flip" style Designer Series Paper swatch books, I instantly knew it would be a paper crafter's dream and an essential in my Stampin' Pretty Ultimate Stamping Zone. I'm so fortunate that he gave me a Spring Catalog set for a test drive.
I like any solution that really makes my paper crafting experience better. I have wonderful storage for keeping my 12 x 12 paper organized but really don't like dragging out all those big pieces (and scraps that go awol) when I'm in the decision making phase of a project. With Brian's swatch books, I can flip through every collection (nice sized samples of each pattern) in seconds with no futzing. Ditto on checking for each collection's colors, all conveniently listed on the back.
Brian has prepared a video presentation and is selling the swatch books HERE! Take a peek if you are a stickler for organization (code word for "control freak"). I can't wait for the next catalog in anticipation of more of Brian's swatch books!
ARE YOU PLAYING? Be sure to check out the Pals Paper Arts blog redesign and latest color challenge. Details here.
Dawn Olchefske also makes and sells swatchbooks for every catalog. The label includes all the matching CS colors, as well. These are super helpful – they increase sales when customers can see and touch – and they DO make my own crafting much easier.
Mary, you mentioned the mypaperpumpkin site today on FB. I can’t access it, and I believe it may not be up and running yet. Any more info. about it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Mary, I am in love with Brian’s swatch books as well. I found him, through you, and he is a HOOT! I love his ideas and these books are a real treat. I also spend SO much time deciding on my colors and dsp…when all I really want to do is get to creating. 🙂 I can’t wait to get his next ones and what a great idea not only for me, but to show at my workshops so my guests can “see and feel” the paper they (hopefully) are ordering! 🙂
Love the idea & already ordered mine.
Love the idea & already ordered mine.
Love the idea & already ordered mine.
Absolutely love Brian’s swatch books for all the reasons above and one more: reference for clearance rack papers when I can’t remember patterns or coordinating cardstock.
I must compliment Brian on his clean work and professional finishing … the swatch books are a pleasure to hold and use!
I am looking forward to future swatch books!
Love this idea. Maybe a good idea for a class/ club coordinator to make available to its members!! Way to go Brian. Mary, thanks for sharing.
What a great idea! It reminds me of wrapping paper swatches or wallpaper swatches. Thanks to Brian for creating and to you for sharing.
Hello Mary: In all honesty, I’m really not to fond of DSP. I always feel like I’m “wasting” the underside of this paper and, some of them are so pretty that I know I would have a hard time deciding which side to use on top. I did, however, ordered the swatch books from Brian, just to see how they would work out for me. Who knows? maybe this little samples of DSP will change my mind.
Brian’s Swatch Books are AMAZING and I LOVE MINE! I think the best thing about this books are how he posted on the back of each book the coordinating cardstock that works with each line of DSP. I’m totally in when he releases the new catalog Swatch Books. Thanks for sharing Brian’s link with us….he is ONE FUNNY GUY!
Hi Mary,
It is really a great idea with the Swatch Books! I have been doing something similar for years. It really saves my 12×12 papers from looking dog-eared and used before I actually want to distress them on purpose. It is also great to take with me to workshops so that my customers can actually see and feel the quality of the Design Paper Collections!
Thanks for introducing me to Brian’s work!
Best wishes,
Cynthia “Stempelwalkuere”(Stamp Walkyrie) from M?nchengladbach, Germany