Beginners Guide

If you are just new to stamping or cardmaking this is the page for you. 

It can be a bit overwhelming when you discover a new enjoyable hobby, but don’t know where to get started. 

Here are some tips so that you can confidently create your own handmade cards to send to those special people in your life.  

Kit Collection

Stampin’ Up! have a gorgeous range of card and papercraft project kits that are a terrific way to get started. (They’re a relaxing option for experienced crafters too – I love them when I feel like creating but am looking for something already prepared.) Everything you need is in the box and there are a wide range of styles with new additions to the range of kits every month.

Paper Pumpkin Subscription Kit

A fab way to get started with crafting, or to get back into the regular habit of some hobby time is a Paper Pumpkin subscription. Each month you’ll get a box of papercraft goodies with step by step instructions. Head over here for more info – Paper Pumpkin Australia – and the link if you’d like to become a subscriber. You receive an ink spot and an exclusive stamp set in your kit each month so this is a great way to build up your supply of versatile items you can use once again once you’ve finished the projects in the box.

Simple Card Designs With Minimal Supplies

Basic Tool Kit

Here’s my suggestions for some essential items to get started.  Below the descriptions you can find pics with shopping links if you need them and a video to give a few more details on each of these items and how to use them. 

Paper Trimmer – You can cut your cardstock with the cutting blade and you can also score fold lines or decorative lines with the scoring blade.  Fold the arm out for larger pieces.  This is such a great trimmer.  I love mine and use it all the time. Replacement blades are available.  

Adhesives – We’ve got a bunch to pick from.  I’ve listed our liquid glue – great for sticking down cardstock layers as it gives you a few seconds of wiggle room if you happen to pop a layer down a little crooked.  I’ve also listed our foam hexagons – Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Trust me – you NEED these.  I can’t make a card without them.  If you love them we also have packs of mini ones and some in black.  

Scissors – A pair of nice sharp scissors are another essential. (Our new detail scissors are coming soon.)

Basic White Thick Cardstock A4 – I love this cardstock.  It is a little thicker and works beautifully for card bases.  I’m a huge fan of white cards.  You can also use it for layers and can stamp on it.  

Simply Shammy – If you’re planning to include some stamping on your projects grab one of these to clean your stamps.  Simply wet it then wring it out and dab your stamp to clean off the ink.  I like to store mine in an empty DVD case.

Clear Block D – We have a large range of clear acrylic blocks to pop your stamp onto.  This is one that I use a lot – it is a very versatile size. 

Black Ink – Black is a handy colour for stamping images and greetings.  I think all stampers need a black ink in their stash.  A great alternative to black is our Secret Sea ink – somewhere between navy and black, it is my favourite colour at the moment.

Greetings: If you don’t yet have any stamps or inks – a great option for adding a greeting to your card is our ephemera pack – Greetings For All. It includes 2 sheets each of 3 different pages of die cut greetings – some on white and some on black. Just pop one out and add to your card with some dimensionals for a finishing touch.

Product List

Here’s a video I put together for you to show a few snippets about these items and how to use them in your cardmaking.  (Since I made this video there’s a name change from Whisper White to Basic White for the cardstock and we no longer carry the scissors.) 

Punches and Stamped Greetings

Next up for very handy essentials – greeting time!  I’d recommend choosing one greeting stamp set and one coordinating punch. 

Here’s some punches from our current range that work well for greetings.  Which is your favourite shape? Or choose one that works for the greeting stamps you have. 

Product List

Greeting Stamp Set – It is very handy to have a versatile greeting set in your stash to quickly stamp a greeting to finish your card. From our current range I love Scalloped Blooms – it has such a nice versatile set of greetings that cover a great range of occasions. If you don’t have a punch you can cut greetings easily with the trimmer or with scissors. Here are a just a few of our current range of stamps that include some greetings.

Product List

I’ve got another video here showing you a bunch of cards you can make using some of these essential tools plus a greeting set and punch.  I’ve also added a pack of patterned paper and two ink pads.   This one is from a while back so some of the products featured are not currently available, but it is easy to adapt the ideas to one of our current punches, greetings or papers. 

Well I hope that was a little help if you are keen to start stamping and cardmaking but are not sure where to begin. 

Good luck building your kit of supplies and getting started on a fun and enjoyable hobby. The beauty of papercrafts is that you have a handmade creation to send to someone special – such a great way to connect.   If I can assist with advice or ordering please contact me.  I’d be happy to help.

Cheers, Sue