Ask Jo! It's Talk time Tuesday~ VERY LONG But WORTH it!

Hello my sweet friends!

Welcome back to another Talk time Tuesday! Gosh I have lots to share in today's post. First I would like to remind you all that on Sunday, May 3rd; my blog turns 3 years old! I cannot believe how fast time goes by and my blog would not be here if it were not for all of you! I'm so excited for this blogaversary and to celebrate it, my design team and a few of my great bloggy friends will be having an awesome birthday themed blog hop! You won't want to miss it! I am giving away this huge giveaway to one lucky person....

 

Contents of this giveaway:

 Your Story Photo machine & accessories
We R Memory Keepers Gift Box punch board
(2) 6x6 My Mind's Eye paper pads
8-1/2 x 11 multi-colored chevron paper pack
Sequins
Resin flowers
Roll of bling
Ribbon
Twine
Chipboard album + decorative papers
K & Co. Tags & envelopes
(3) packs of metal charms
Large ribbon embellishment
Buttons
Mesh
"How to write the stories behind your photographs" By Denise Ledoux- A writing Guide
Teresa Collins "Vintage Finds" stamps#2 set

Also some of the girls in the hop will also be having giveaways! Now in order to be eligible to win these goodies, you must stop at each blog in the hop, subscribe to their blog and leave a comment. The winner will randomly be chosen from any of the designer's blogs, so you need to comment on all the blogs to ensure your chances of winning! The blog hop will end at midnight on May 3rd or May 4th's "start" of the day. However you want to look at it. Any comments that come through after midnight will not be eligible for the giveaway. Good luck and mark your calendars!! :)

Next some exciting news I want to share with you. I am now a Stampin Up Demonstrator!! :)  For your convenience, I have added a link to my Stampin Up store on the side bar at the top right of this blog. I want to let you know a little bit about some things going on right now at Stampin Up. First things first, Stampin Up is getting ready to retire a ton of  product; some of which are fan favorites. 

Click here for the Retired list in PDF format, updated on April 27th 

Stampin Up's weekly Deals April 28th 

 

Here are the Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals ... you have until next Monday night, May 4th to order these items with the sale price.  

• Sweetheart Punch Item # 133786
  Discounted Price: $11.96 
• Retro Fresh This And That Washi Tape Item # 133001
  Discounted Price: $3.71 
• Hello Honey 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon Item # 133671
  Discounted Price: $6.71 
• Fuse Fast Adhesive Item # 129026
  Discounted Price: $7.46 
• Fry Box Bigz L Die Item # 132966
  Discounted Price: $24.71 
• Hearts Border Punch Item # 133784
  Discounted Price: $11.96 
• Gold 1/8" Ribbon Item # 134583
  Discounted Price: $3.71
• Confetti Hearts Border Punch Item # 137415
  Discounted Price: $16.46

The new Stampin Up catalogs for 2015-2016 will be shipping the week of May 18th-22nd. If you would like a new catalog, email me using the "contact me" tab at the top of my blog and include your full name and mailing address. 

 Hostess Code:  CKJQHGWD

 Use this Hostess code and receive a free gift from me! (Please do NOT use this Hostess code if your order total comes to $150+). The reason you do not want to use this hostess code if your order reaches $150 or more is because you would be giving up hostess benefits to possibly win hostess benefits. 
*** Please take note: If you select the "no contact" option, I will not have access to your name or mailing address to ship you the free gift.

And lastly, I want to let you know about this awesome Paper Pumpkin Monthly kit! The best PP prepaid subscription kit to purchase is the 3 month kit. Why do you ask? Well, each month's kit is something different. One month it can be a card kit, the next it could be a home decor project and so on. And you may get a kit that you don't connect with too much but the next month's kit might be something you just adore and love! If you only sign up for one month, you will not get to experience the kit in its entirety because you will miss out on other projects and all the goodies that are jammed packed inside this box. My best suggestion would be to give the three months a try! You love to craft right? And Stampin Up has taken the guess work out of it for you! You don't have a lot of time? No problem! Just sit down and create a project in just  half an hour! These kits were designed specifically for people who love to craft, who don't have a lot of time to dedicate to crafting and for those who get frustrated because they do not know what to do. If that sounds like you, then these kits are for YOU! Give it a try! I promise you won't be disappointed. I have already done one of the kits and oh my lord, I loved it! Easy Peasy, coordinating, awesome stamps and so much fun!! So how do you get started??? Read below.

Get Started
It's so easy to get started. Simply pick which prepaid kit subscription you would like and add the item number to your order (if you need help ordering, send me an email with your order and phone number and I will help you).

Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family every month! Check out more about Paper Pumpkin on Pinterest 

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes exclusive stamps (that is only available through the kit), ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive!
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month. 
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10, we'll send your kit around May 15. If you sign up on May 11, we'll send your first kit around  June 15.)
• Shipping is included in the price you pay and there's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin kit subscription at anytime! 
•  So to place an order with me, simply click the Stampin Up logo on the right side bar! Keep in mind, tons of product is retiring and will not come back, get it before its too late! And think about that Paper Pumpkin Subscription! Mother's day is coming, you can gift a subscription to your favorite crafter for Mother's day!

Use this Hostess Code and receive a free gift! (Please do not use the Hostess Code if your order is $150 or more). - See more at: http://www.mychicnscratch.com/blog#sthash.0c4iQbhn.dpuf

Use this Hostess Code and receive a free gift! (Please do not use the Hostess Code if your order is $150 or more). - See more at: http://www.mychicnscratch.com/blog#sthash.0c4iQbhn.dpuf

Use this Hostess Code and receive a free gift! (Please do not use the Hostess Code if your order is $150 or more). - See more at: http://www.mychicnscratch.com/blog#sthash.0c4iQbhn.dpuf

Okay so finally we can now move on to today's question and it comes from Tracey S. who wants to know, " I struggle so much with the start up process of creating a project. What to do first? Select the paper? Select the stamps? Cut the paper first or color the stamped images first? So Jo how do you get a project started??"

Hi there Tracey!
  Great question! Sounds like you are overwhelmed to say the least. The first thing that needs to happen before I can start the process of planning out a project, is I need a clean work space. If there is any type of clutter or mishaps from previous projects, I have to clean that up first. So I always make sure there is a clean work space, no distractions on my desk. 

What I tend to do first is pick out my papers. I find this to be the easiest for me because once I pick out pretty papers that I feel in the mood to work with, the rest comes right along very fast. After my paper is chosen, I will then pick out my copic colors to match my paper, pick out coordinating colors in embellishments or ribbons, etc and then I will sit down and start to stamp out my images and color in. If I am not working with stamps or copics, let's say I am working with just watercolors or mixed media, I will do the same process. Choose colors to match the papers I am working with. Everything falls into place after I choose the paper, at least for me. Before you know it, I'm creating away and by the end I have a very coordinated project. I hope this helps answer your question and thanks for writing in Tracey! Hope to hear from you again soon!!

Well friends, that is it for today. Please write in with questions you want answered or topics you would like to see talked about during our Tuesdays together :) 

 Thanks for stopping by and until next time.... Enjoy life's blessings~