Magazine Monday – Deciphering Supply Lists

Sarie Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! I love the start of a new week. The time when you can forget your mistakes, incorporate new strengths and move forward with renewed motivation and energy. 

Soon I’ll be leaving Paper Crafts to explore other endeavors, so I’m also doing a little reflecting today. I have learned so much here, and truth be told, I’ll be sad to leave. 

However, I’ve been thinking about a Facebook thread that started last week on the Paper Crafts Fan Page, and since I previously promise to reveal more office secrets, I think I’ll let you all in on some great tips that go right along with it. 

The thread asked the question, “How do you use the supply lists that appear in all of our issues?”  

Many readers replied with comments like: 

• “I love to see new products and find out more about them”
• “I look at the supplies so I can find the manufacturer online and buy it”  
• “I always look at the supplies list and take the magazine with me when I go shopping”                                                                                                

I loved reading all of these comments because I spend A LOT of time writing them to ensure their accuracy. However, there were a few readers who commented that: 

• “Most of them [are too] confusing to sort through”
• “I do get frustrated when I find out that paper(s) used are last year’s and hard to find”

Whether you fit in with the first group of commenters or the second, I think you will find these tips very helpful. Of course, every manufacturer (MFR) is referenced, so that’s the first place to start. 

First I am going to break down this online bonus card from our January/February issue as an example:  

Turtle Love Card by Maren Benedict

SUPPLIES:  Cardstock: (Ocean Tides) Papertrey Ink  Patterned paper: (Cheerful Charlie, Handsome Henry, Elements from Lil’ Man collection) Cosmo Cricket  Rubber stamp: (turtle, heart from You + Me = Happy set) Unity Stamp Co.  Dye ink: (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko  Rub-on: (sentiment) Cosmo Cricket  Fibers: (red ribbon) Michaels  Finished size: 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ 

• The category of the supply is always italicized. Highlighted in yellow.
• The product name or description and the collection or set it comes from are always in parenthesis. If there is more than one patterned paper from the same company it will be separated by commas in the parenthesis. If there are papers from different designers there will be more than one set of parenthesis in the same category. Products highlighted in green, collections/ sets highlighted in pink.
• The MFR always follows the parenthesis that has their product in it. Highlighted in blue.

More tips for a few tricky categories: 

1. Patterned paper is referenced by name and collection, so when you look up the manufacturer the easiest way to find it is to look for the collection. This way you can find the specific paper used and a lot of other great coordinating papers and elements as well.
2. Stamps are listed by name or description and set. Some companies sell stamps individually, so a set name won’t be listed. Don’t worry…just find the manufacturer and use their web site search engine. Also, if you search a keyword (“Love” instead of “Love Your Face”) on their site, other stamps along those same lines will show up and you might even find a different one that fits your style better.
3. Embellishments are usually commonized and just listed with the MFR because we want you to know you can really use anything like it. If there is a certain element that you thought worked perfect with the papers and you see it’s the same manufacturer that made the paper, look at the embellishments from that same collection—it’s probably there.

***If you still can’t find the item you are wanting because it’s older product or the manufacturer doesn’t sell product on their web site, Google the item name or collection and the company. Then click on the shopping results link. This usually brings up the right product and gives you several options of places to buy from. You can find great deals by doing this. 

Thanks for stopping by today. Hopefully some of these tips have been helpful to you. I’m off to write my next supply list! 

Your Paper Crafts Intern,
Sarie Smith 

P.S. If you’re not a member of the Paper Crafts Fan Page on Facebook, then you’re missing out on lots of great conversation and tips from designers alike. You should take a quick break from reading this and become a fan RIGHT NOW! (I hear the editors are posting lots of fun sneak peeks from CHA!) 

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners of Kelly’s Off to CHA We Go post! 

1. Christy Q. (Jan. 22, 6:44 a.m.)
2. Rose (Jan. 22, 11:29 a.m.)
3. Chris (Jan. 22, 4:55 p.m.) 

Congrats, winners! You’ve won one of our sassy new t-shirts! So many of you said “Betty” was the ideal name, so stay tuned to see if this becomes official. Winners, Kelly will be contacting you later this week to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!