How To Choose Which Dies To Order, And Rejoice!

I remember when I first began using and purchasing Stampin’ Up! products. I was overwhelmed with all of the color selections, the stamp sets, and then the dies. How do you decide which items to purchase??? Especially when stamp sets and dies are bundled together?? I’ve been asked this question before by new stampers, and to me it comes back to basics – the basic shapes of circles, rectangles, and squares. Or in this card case – arches.

Look at the dies that are included in the package and bundles – how versatile are they going to be for you?? If the dies are all outlines of stamped images, you will ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THOSE DIES WITH THE COORDINATING STAMP SET. Don’t let that mislead you because I have dies like that. BUT it’s the circles, rectangles, squares, arches, labels, etc that are the workhorses of our paper crafting. These are a great place to start when you begin buying dies for your supplies.

I bet I’ve used the Everyday Arches dies over 20 times since they first were available, and I still turn to them regularly. I use them so much that I have 2 DIE SETS to speed prep work for classes. I have two sets of STYLISH SHAPES, two of SPOTLIGHT IN NATURE, two of NESTED ESSENTIALS, etc. These dies can be used FOR EVERYTHING, not just a flower or branch etc.

So when it comes to falling in love with a stamp set that doesn’t have dies, I don’t hesitate to order it because I know I have basic shape dies that will help me in my creative crafting.

I fell in love with the new stamp set Rejoice coming in the Sept-Dec. catalog. Some will cross it off the list because there are no coordinating dies, others will cross it off because too much coloring. I believe I crossed those excuses off the list with the card above.

FIRST, I simply pulled out some of my basic shape dies, specifically the EVERYDAY ARCHES. There is no need to add the stable or the Bethlehem stamp. Everything I need for the card front is there – the Nativity scene, the stars, and a very simple greeting. No coloring needed, no detailed dies needed. Basics will win everytime.

Also, I had no DSP that I thought would enhance the stamp set of the Nativity. So I turned to two of my color work horses – Night of Navy and Smoky Slate – for the color combo. I added a strip of Night Of Navy card stock to the far left of the white mat, then embossed with a BASIC EMBOSSING FOLDER coming our way called SOFTLY WOVEN. It’s very subtle, as you can see in the photo above if you look at the white mat.

No coloring needed, no detailed dies needed. So don’t avoid this stamp set due to those reasons.

Final Thoughts….

Basic shaped dies are not boring. They are the most used and most loved dies in my crafting arsenal. They are the ones that are still here after the beautiful, intricate dies are moved on to the Last Chance list.

We will save those other basics like our card stock color choices and embossing folders for another day.

Have a great day today! Find time to craft, to create, and God Bless!