Friday, January 27, 2012

DT Spotlight: Kiss Me

PS1.5.12-KissMe

Today’s spotlight card comes from Lori.  Isn’t this little frog adorable?

Stop by her blog for all the details.  I’m off to CHA and will be back packing orders Thursday 2/2. 

While we’re gone, we’re offering a CHA Clearance Sale – 15% off everything storewide with code CHA15 (min. order $25).  Coupon valid 1/25-2/1 however no orders will be shipped between 1/27 and 2/2.  All orders placed during this time will be shipped on 2/3.

Have a great weekend!  I’ll try to post some updates from CHA on Facebook while I’m gone!

Friday, January 20, 2012

DT Spotlight and Cha-cha-cha-changes (and a coupon)

tracyHappy Friday!  I’m here today with a DT Spotlight project from our latest DT Challenge from  Tracy.  I love how she used multiple patterns from the paper pack and then a simple image and sentiment.  Check her post for all the details.

I’ve also got some important store changes and announcements.  If you didn’t get the newsletter last night, here are the details.  (But you should make sure you sign up for it because EVERY MONTH I give away a free $10 gift certificate to a random subscriber.   Sign up on the right side of the homepage.)

Cha-cha-changes:  Effective 1/22 new postal rates go into effect on Priority and package rates, which is almost exclusively how IHP ships.  And this is quite a hefty increase.  It’s been 2 years  since we’ve had any changes to the store’s shipping policy and in the interim have absorbed 2 postal price increases without raising our rates or free shipping threshold.  But this time the increase is too much to absorb.  Effective 1/22 there will be a new shipping policy in place but even with the change, IHP still offers one of the lowest free shipping thresholds in the industry, with NO restrictions like many other retailers.  Some of our top competitors don’t offer free shipping until $75 and one is even $150 and those are with restrictions!  Yikes!  But at IHP, you can order all stamps, all paper, all 12x12 paper even, and it’ll still be free if you order reaches the threshold.  And hopefully the speedy and reliable service you’ve come to know and love will keep you coming back, even with these changes.   Starting 1/22/12 the new free shipping threshold will be $60 for US orders (includes HI, AK, APO and territories.)  For the complete shipping chart, please check the policies page on the store.

Copic Update:  As we’ve been mentioning, effective 1/1/12 Copic raised their prices to retailers (the amount I pay per marker).  The increase on my end comes out to be about $1.40 per marker more that they expect me to pay.  They attribute this to the global economy and the yen to dollar value.  Copic also has a very strict pricing policy which price fixes the minimum amount markers can be sold for, which is why I can never put them on sale.  For the entire duration I’ve sold Copics, I have always sold at their lowest legally allowed price.  However with this increase, I cannot continue to do that.  I am not even sure at this point if I will restock with the new pricing structure.  So, until the current inventory runs out (which I paid the old price for), the prices will remain fixed at $5.24 per marker and $5.99 per refill. .  I did also order the new 12 Copic colors and they will be arriving next week!  But, I will be visiting some booths and exploring some other marker options while I’m at CHA at the end of the month.  There are at least two comparable competitors that I will be exploring and will report back after the show and my shopping is done!  I haven’t used either of these markers so I want to try them while I am there to determine if I find the quality to be comparable in quality, especially considering the price point is significantly lower than Copics.  Stay tuned!

CHA is right around the corner!  Our end of year clearance sale was a HUGE hit (thank you!) but we’ve still got a few things we’re trying to clear out to help make room for all of the new goodies we’re about to buy.  So, we’re offering a CHA Clearance Sale – 15% off everything storewide with code CHA15 (min. order $25).  Coupon valid 1/25-2/1 however no orders will be shipped between 1/27 and 2/2.  All orders placed during this time will be shipped on 2/3.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your continued support and loyalty.  Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

DT Spotlight: Scooting By

SC367-ScootingBy

Hello!  I hope enjoyed yesterday’s DT Challenge!  If you missed it be sure to go back.  We had some amazing projects!

Today’s DT Spotlight project belongs to Lori.  Chevron is SO hot right now (if you’re looking for a great chevron stamp, be sure to check out Beyond Borders) and I love how she combined the piece of paper with the tilty motorcycle.  CAS at its finest!  Be sure to check her post for the specific project details. 

Have a great day!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

DT Challenge: Living Space Inspiration

ihp0112

Hello!  Welcome to the IHP monthly DT Challenge!  For today’s challenge we took inspiration from one of three living spaces that were beautifully decorated.  I pulled the color palette ands some other design elements to come up with my card.

I used one of IHP’s exclusive stamp lines, The pinkPetal Press set Summer Garden, stamped in Memento ink and colored with Copics to copy the beautiful bouquet on the table.  I also added some Stickles and Glossy Accents as finishing touching.  It is mounted on oval Nesties and popped up with dimensional dots.  Obviously, I used the pink/brown color scheme from the picture as well.  

I also used my Scor-Pal to make the background (pulling the vertical lines in from the carpet in the room).  I used a piece of white satin ribbon dyed with some Angel Pink Fireworks and layered a scrap of brown leafy vine ribbon overtop of it.

I hope you’ll stop by and see all the other projects from the team.

  • Carolyn
  • Deb
  • Gretchen
  • Loretta
  • Lori
  • Lynn
  • Tracy

    Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

  • Monday, January 16, 2012

    DT Spotlight: Need to Venti?

    ihp 123011 hot concoctions1

    When I saw this card from Loretta my heart went pitter patter and it wasn’t because I had too much coffee to drink (although I do love my Keurig!)  I LOVE how she blocked using the patterned papers (and what a great way to use up scraps!) and how she blinged up the little cutey coffee cup.  Such an elegant spin using a whimsical set.  Love it!  Be sure to check out her post for all the supply details!  Have a good day!  Thanks for stopping in!

    Be sure to stop by tomorrow for our monthly DT Challenge

    Saturday, January 14, 2012

    DT Spotlight Gretchen: Cool Friend

    You may have noticed that I’ve been sort of a bad blogger.  I admit it.  Honestly, sometimes I just do not have time to craft, between packing orders, inventory, LIFE, etc…

    coolfriend_edited-1 So, I’m going to start featuring some design team posts in those times when I can’t get into my own studio.

    Today’s project comes from Gretchen and she has all of the project details and supplies on her post. 

    Isn’t he the cutest?  And what a great all –purpose winter card that isn’t “holiday-ey.”  Yup, I totally made up that word.  :)

    Have a great Saturday!

    Friday, January 13, 2012

    Friday the 13th special!

    I know…I’ve been a bad blogger!  It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I’m sorry.  I’ve been working on a lot of things behind the scenes and will be posting about that soon but for today, I am offering a storewide 13% off coupon (order must be at least $25) in honor of Friday the 13th!  Use code friday13 at checkout for your savings!

    Have a great weekend!  I’ll be back soon with some store updates!