...oops!

Ok, so this is the second time I arrived at the post office only to find it closed for a bank holiday...not sure exactly what rock i've been under..lol, all weekend orders will go at 9am tomorrow, huge apologies!

...Back-ordering on the store and the dreaded...

Fortunately Waltzingmouse Stamps appears to be growing! I have, this week, sold out of many, many sets. More stock is due in the next couple of days but this little spurt has prompted the question of backordering.

Originally, I configured the store to only allow folks to add 'in-stock' items to their baskets, I was wary of selling anything that I didn't physically have, but as time goes on, and with the huge amount of admin involved in running waiting lists, I am wondering If i might allow the store to take orders even for out-of-stock items.

There have been a number of folks who have had to keep returning to the store to check on availability and while it's nice to have the visits, I recognize that it's a pain in the neck for the visitor! lol.

So here's what I am going to do:

After I get todays orders processed, I will do the normal stocktake and then I will be updating the site to allow the purchase of out-of stock items. I will try to do this in a way which advises the customer that the item is on back order.

This means that towards the end of this week, all waiting lists will cease and folks will be able to order what they want, when they want, with the proviso that there might be the occasional delay. Any delays will be advised up-front.

My plan is to increase again, the numer of items I hold in stock, to try to minimise the need for backordering but I think that obver the next week or two there may be a little period of adjustment, but hopefully all will be smooth soon.

Reminder:

A little while ago, here I wrote about the planned price change, it's a necessary evil. Here's what I said:

I started my little stamp company last year, when VAT was 15% (VAT is a government tax that I have to pay when I purchase stock and packaging supplies etc.) The VAT rate rose to 17.5% in January this year, so my costs went up. My manufacturing costs also rose in January when my supplier made their annual price adjustments.

I did not raise my prices at that point. I felt that it was too soon after I had made a slight adjustment to the pricing in November. Frankly, I wanted to wait until after the May release and the first birthday celebrations. I was prepared to swallow the extra cost until then.

It is important that folks know that VAT is a government imposed tax that has to be paid, it is not discretionary, and so, unfortunately, I can't ignore it.

It should have happened weeks ago but we were in the midst of a change of government and there was talk of further changes to VAT which heavily affect this particular price change, and I so did not want to make the change, only to find I'd have to do it again very soon!

So I will be making the changes this weekend, when I configure the back-ordering.

My deepest thanks for your understanding.

...good evening!

Good evening! A few Halloween samples from the August 09 release, I do love the Halloween Party set!

I am indulging myself in the luxury of posting 'oldie but goodie' projects this week while I get to grips with a few behind the scenes things at WMS! Hope you don't mind. I hope to actually make something new real soon! as I have some new Spellbinders dies just waiting to be opened!!...and a silhouette/robocraft...still in the box...shame on me!!! LOL!

We plan to have our traditional 1st of the month blog waltz next Tue 1st June, so do pop back and join us, there will be some new items for the store, but no stamps this month...but I think you'll find July worth waiting for...LOL!

...good morning!

So I'm wading through 'oldie but goodie' projects, thinking about my first year in business, the set above was from the September '09 release. I really feel like I'm just getting into the swing of things now and my ideas books are full to bursting with all sorts of notions I'd love to roll out!!!!

I am particularly excited by one product that I'm hoping to bring out in June, the timing is tight, but I might just make it!!! It's some thing I have wanted FOREVER!! I may be the only person on the planet who see's the value in it, and I must admit my DH is scratching his head over it, lol! but you never know, it might catch on...LOL!

If you've been around the old blog at all this last week or two, you'll know that our first anniversary May release was huge. So huge that I had to push the June sets back to July! Still that's no bad thing, it gives me a chance to think about the business and really concentrate on a few things that otherwise might get delayed, such as the...well, Lisa will tell you more about it at some point! lol (wink Lisa!)

I'm hoping you'll pop back for our June release anyway though, even though there will be no stamps for June, there are a couple of other things going on....



Today's blast from the not too distant past is the Peace and Plenty set, I wheeled out the little thanksgiving ensemble I made for its release, I love the vibrant blue with the tan! you can read all about it here if you missed it and look at other samples here in the store.

I paired it up with Blessed by You, ideal for thank you projects.

...FYI

Waltzingmouse Stamps is the sponsor for the challenge over on the PaperPlay Challenges blog this weekend, there are just under 3 days left if you fancy entering!!LOL!

Check it out Here

...today

Today happens to be the exact one year anniversary of Waltzingmouse Stamps!! Exactly one year ago today my husband and I stood in the hallway of our home anxiously watching the computer to see if anyone would be interested in the little gingerbread stamps that started this whole adventure.

I am very, very honoured to say that some of the people who were interested at the very start are still with me! Thank you ladies for hanging in there - someday there will be a reward scheme lol!! I am very hopeful for the future of WMS, and I do hope that we will continue to have the chance to provide stamps that are just that little bit different. Of course I have huge plans and about a million ideas for things I want to do with WMS but nothing is possible without your support and well wishes. For that I am in your debt. Thank you.

Just this week I had the very great privilege of actually meeting a friend from the USA who was traveling through Ireland, I had her stamps ready but I wanted to dress them up a little as I was going to have the opportunity to hand them over personally. So I wrapped them with kraft paper stamped with the Blooms from the latest release.

I was so delighted to meet her and her folks and I very much enjoyed chatting to them. They made a great impression on me and later on, as I was mulling over the opportunities I've had and the people I have met through WMS, I was struck by how very lucky I have been. I have made some wonderful friends, people that I hope I will always be in touch with, no matter what happens with WMS.


So folks, you can expect even more nostalgia from a soppy old stamper throughout the rest of this month as I shamelessly wade through some of the first sets from WMS!! Here's a couple of my favourite projects from the first ever release! lol. You have been warned! lol

ps. the little yum pouch is a FREE downloadable template, get it on my right hand sidebar under the heading Gingerbread Joy Templates

...howdy

I have posted the blog waltz winners over at the forum...LOL, quick, go see!

The blog waltz was absolutely superb, if you didn't manage to see it, the links can be found here ( you'll need to be a forum member to see but it's painless! lol) , there were so many spectacular entries I may just go round again (for the 4th time).

Now I want to give you folks the heads up on June. You know how I love to release new stamps every month, well May was such a huge event that I literally had to push back the June stamps so's my manufacturer could get extra May sets out, sooo...My June release stamps will now be held over 'till the July release.

July release will be....large...LOL

Having said that, there will still be plenty of 'NEW' stuff to see in June, we at WMS are working on something special that I hope you will all find fun!!

So do stay tuned to WMS as our June "Event' will be well worth watching!!! LOL

....May 17th Blog waltz!!!

ED - I'm putting my post up early and opening the forum threads as I have to nip out to see to my wee mum, she's not too well today, but I'll be back this afternoon. Don't worry if you are not ready, we take it nice and slow here at WMS and none of the threads will close until tomorrow! that's why we call it a waltz! LOL. Have fun, and see ya later!

Despite having fabulous plans for a super-duper card, life sometimes just gets in the way! There was a slight family emergency last night which meant I wasn't able to get my card made as scheduled and so here I am kicking off the May Friends of WMS blog waltz with a super simple card instead. The fastest card on the net today, It was simply stamped to make a background using the larger line drawing of the Chrysanthemum from Big Blooms.

I stamped the smaller solid bloom 3 times in warm coloured inks and, not even having time to trim them, I punched them out with a 1" circle punch, literally threw on 3 bits of bling and mounted them with foam tape. OOh sentiment from Fancy Phrases!
Tied on my last piece of light green satin ribbon and ran out the door!!
Here's how to dance along with our waltz:

I have opened two threads in the playroom of the WMS Forum HERE.

Folks who are participating in our waltz leave their links to their projects in the May 17th Blog waltz Link List Here.

Folks who are just chatting and enjoying the inspiration may post any comments here in the chat thread.

The competitions
The viewers prize
We are running a couple of little competitions for our waltz, The DT ladies and I have hidden little cups of steamy hot tea through out are blog waltz entry photos, it's up to you to find them. Here is what they look like, but remember, they could be in other colours or even transparent!! We;r a bit sneaky like that! LOL.


Count the complete number of tea cups you find and post your tally in the chat thread here.

A random winner will be chosen from among the correct answers!! the winner will scoop a free stamp set!

The participants prize
One random participant in our blog waltz will be chosen from the link list to scoop a free stamp set of their choice!! It's that easy, all you have to do is take part!

The list will not close until tomorrow so there might still be time... our theme today is birthdays and we'd love to see your WMStamps!!

Have fun!!

Tomorrow is the Day!!!

Tomorrow is the day! Our Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz begins Monday morning, May 17th at 7:00 am Pacific, 8:00 am Mountain, 9:00 am Central, 10:00 am Pacific, 3:00 pm GMT in the Waltzingmouse House forum. Threads will go live at the above time in The Play Room for you to link your blog. Please be sure to place the badge (above) at the top of your blog post so that we can easily find you!

If you need for me to link your blog because the time is inconvenient, please email me at TheCraftsMeow@gmail.com, and I'll be happy to do it for you!

There will also be another thread in The Play Room for chat and to play along in our monthly blog waltz game. This time you will be looking for (and counting up) watermarks that look like teacups in the blog posts by the Design Team and Claire. A winner of a stamp set of choice will be drawn from all the correct answers! You'll have until 11:59 pm Pacific on Tuesday May 18th (7:50 am GMT on Wednesday May 19th) to complete the waltz and enter your guess(es).

A stamp set of choice will also be awarded randomly to all of the blog waltz participants. Both prize winners will be announced here on Wednesday.

We can't wait to continue our celebration of Waltzingmouse Stamps 1st Birthday by seeing your BIRTHDAY themed creations on the waltz! See you there!

Lisa

...CONTACT

Just a heads up for anyone who has been trying to contact me lately. My email company recently 'upgraded' me only for me to find out this morning that my spam filter settings have changed and a Tonne of emails nearly got deleted as junk before I had even seen them!!!!!!!! I am so concerned that folks have been trying to get in touch and I have not known!

I am working my way through the spam folder now, trying to catch up with people!!!!

...Store news

Just a quick FYI to let folks know that everything except Faux Fun circles is now back in stock. All folks on waiting lists have been emailed.

Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Monthly Blog Waltz!

ED - folks who don't have blogs may of course post a small sized pic of their card in the link thread that will open on the forum on Monday! You can of course link to galleries or Flikr pages too!! Thanks for asking!! look forward to seeing you all!

I hope you all have marked your calendars for Monday, May 17th... the date of our monthly Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz! Our monthly blog waltzes are always on the 17th of each month so that you can plan ahead. The fun will begin at 7:00 am Pacific, 8:00 am Mountain, 9:00 am Central, 10:00 am Eastern, 3:00 pm GMT! If anyone needs for us to post the link to your blog in the forum because the start time isn't convenient, please email your link to me (Lisa) at TheCraftsMeow@gmail.com, and I'd be happy to accommodate!

Our theme this month is...ta da... birthdays! Let the celebration of the first birthday of Waltzingmouse Stamps continue! All we ask is that you use Waltzingmouse Stamps stamps (and/or templates) for your birthday cards/projects.

As always, the festivities will take place in the Play Room in the Waltzingmouse House forum. (If you haven't registered yet for the forum, it's just a few clicks away!) The threads will go live when the waltz begins... one for you to post your blog address if you are participating in the waltz, and another for chat.

And of course there will be prizes!!!


We'd love it if you would post the Blog Waltz badge above on your blogs to help spread the word, linking back to this post. For those who participate in the waltz, please include the Blog Waltz badge at the top of your post so that we can easily find you.


If you have any questions, please leave a comment here and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

See you all on the waltz!

Lisa

...downloads

Could I please ask that if anyone has had a problem with their download that has not been resolved, could they please email me on

claire.brennan1@ntlworld.com

I was horrified to find that there was a customer still waiting on a download today.

All download links should come to folks a few moments after an order is made. You should not be waiting for longer than 20 mins.

When you receive the download link it is very important to SAVE the file to your desktop before trying to open it or the file will not work. Once saved on the desktop, you can open the file by double clicking(mac) right-clicking (pc). Then you can save the templates on your computer for access any time you need to.

Thanks folks.

...horribly late

ED - Also managed to add some stock to the store this evening, more will be here tomorrow hopefully!

but the shipping notices have now all been sent!! I'm taking tomorrow off, LOL!!! and maybe Thursday..and Friday...lol

anyhow your order will have shipped ages ago, you might already have it!! i do apologise but there were heaps of them and they have to be done individually!!

Now, I'm absolutely itching to make something!!! woohoo!

...waffle

ED - OH NO!! I forgot to write two personal messages!! So sorry ladies!!!!!

It's a very poor day if you learn nothing. I've had a few days this week that were fairly repetitive and so I learned the same thing, over and over again this week.

I learned that the address label is only 'good' if I've rubbed it into place no less than 3 times. I've learned that the stamp sets must be packed in the order they appear on the order sheet...or I want to go back and do it again, I learned that i don't have time to do it again because the plane is leaving now and may not be leaving again tomorrow, so I pack them in order.

I learned that I like the sentiment stamps to be the 'right way up' in relation to the front of the package. I like the red corner on the packaging to be far away from the sticky tab. I like all the sets to be the 'same way up' in the envelope.

I learned that the one order I forgot to write a personal message on, is driving me nuts inside my head...

I've learned that I have to have the WMS label the same way up as the customs label...although I only learned this late in the day after DH had stuck most of them on at random. In the interest of not delaying the shipping I didn't make him take them off and do it again...this time.

I learned that I like Jiffy Bag envelopes. I learned that I only like Jiffy Bag envelopes. I learned that I have an unfounded compulsion to tape every other sort of envelope to within an inch of it's life.

I learned that stickers with wee dancing mice on them are irresistable to three year olds.

I learned that butterkist popcorn is nice with hot chocolate until you reach the 11th mug and bottom of the bucket...

I learned also that maybe I have a little OCD...much...lol

what did you learn about yourself recently?

...shipping latest

Finally, everything has shipped!!! All orders are now in transit.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the free shipping promotion for the May release!! I do hope you all enjoy your stamps!!!!

I will send shipping notices, they just might take a while to get out...LOL

...shipping update

A super quick FYI, I am STILL packing. lol. The back-ordered stock of new release sets is due here Friday (fingers crossed) and I am packing like 99 packing things in an effort to have all of the orders sitting waiting ready to go so that all I have to do is drop in the 'missing' sets and hey presto we're out the door to the PO.

So this means I am behind on paperwork as usual, I simply think it's in all our best interest to get those orders out first. I have sent a good many shipping notices but not all. I have not emailed folks whose orders contain backorder sets, there simply hasn't been time yet. I intend to do this, but for the reason above would prefer to get the packing ready.

So for quick reference, If you have not received a shipping notice yet it is most likely that your order is waiting on one of the sets due Friday.

May I tell you again that this release has been absolutely staggering. I think I'd say it was maybe 5 times as big as any release yet, and so it will take me longer than normal to get everything out, but it is my priority and I am working like you can't imagine...just ask my DH...LOL.

Anyhow, I'll keep you all posted!

scroll down for help with downloads if you need it.

...templates

Just a quick reminder about how to download the templates, i've had a few emails and I'm just posting this in case anyone else is unsure.

Folks who ordered templates will receive an email with a link in it to the template. Please make sure that when you click on the link and your computer asks what to do with it, that you select the "SAVE" option and not the open option at this stage.

They are supplied as Zip files, which is a compressed file, and so you need to save them onto your computer before you try to open them or it won't work.

Once they are safely saved on your computer, double click (mac) or right-click(pc) to open and then store them somewhere suitable on your computer. Then you have access to them whenever you need it.

I set the downloads to allow folks to have 3 attempts at downloading the files before the link expires. The idea is that you have 3 'goes' at downloading the file, this is handy in case your 3 year old plonks his wooden train in the centre of the keyboard just at the crucial moment...

Once you have downloaded and stored away the files you have unlimited access to them and can use them as often as you like!!

If anyone has had a problem, or was unable to download, do contact me, I will be delighted to help, it may take me a day or two to reply, as I am STILL packing orders, but I will return your email!!

HTH!

New Release Blog Waltz Round-up Part 4

Hello there! It's Lisa again, popping in for the final installation of the May New Release Blog Waltz Round-up. I know by now you're itching to get your hands on your new stamps! We can't wait for that to happen, too! Let's all take our collective breath and blow that ash away!

I never get enough of looking at all these beauties. I'm inspired to get back into my craft room and ink up my new Waltzingmouse Stamps sets... I haven't even scratched the surface yet! Plus, I've gotta try the teacup and tea bag templates. Did you get yours, as well as the cake template? So fun!

Speaking of parties (were we?), please mark your calendar for May 17th... that's the date for our Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Monthly Blog Waltz. The fun will start in the Waltzingmouse House Forum. The theme this month will be BIRTHDAYS, so start planning/making your cards/projects now! We'll post all the details soon here on the blog.

Have a wonderful day!

...ugh the return of the Ash...

ED - I managed to get a tonne of shipping notices out tonight, if you haven't got one yet, it could be that one or more sets you ordered was sold out or it could be that i needed some more address details from you, or maybe I'm combining your orders, check your inbox and spam filter. Ever the optimist, i'm still hoping to get the huge majority of orders away this week, my replacement stock is in transit, so pop back here for updates. I will email everyone eventually but there were hundreds of us in the tiny store that night...it might take a moment or two...lol, many thanks for your patience!


Och you ladies are just the best!! thank you for being so understanding!!

Just a heads up, the ash cloud is causing problems again, at first the airports here were closed this morning for a short while, but now i'm hearing that they are to close again tomorrow!!!

I sent out a huge amount of orders first thing this morning and i'm really hoping that they've made it out of ireland already but there will now undoubtedly be some delays due to this latest development, I am so sorry ladies, it's just not what we want to hear, but the airport folks have to put safety first.

I'll post more details here as I get them.

...Store news

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the free shipping promotion, It was an incredibly busy release and I'm still packing, It may be 2 more days before I get through packing!!! The first batch or orders went out this morning, but it might be a day or two until the shipping notices go out, rather get the goodies away first!!

Popular sets are still available to order on a back-order basis as I am expecting more stock this week. I will be removing the back-order facility tomorrow and the store will operate as normal with out of stock items not having an 'add to cart' button.

Items currently on back-order are:

Asian Gardens
Fancy Phrases
Vintage labels No.10
Pic-nic patterns
Vintage circles small
Off beat backgrounds
Vintage labels No.1
Very Vintage Christmas
Afternoon Tea


hope that's ok! Thank you for visiting!

ooh and scroll down for Lisa's round up posts and the two blog waltz winners!! was it you??

New Release Round-up Part 3

It's Lisa again, bringing you more fabulous eye candy from the Design Team created using the newly released stamp sets!

Don't you just LOVE the new Very Vintage Labels No. 10 stamp set? All of the Waltzingmouse Stamps sets that coordinate with Spellbinders Nestabilities are definitely among our best sellers, and for good reason! How many do you own?

And now, for the winners of a stamp set of choice! The winner from among all the comments left on Claire's Blog Waltz post is LYNN PHELPS!!! And the winner from among all the comments left on Jennifer's Blog Waltz post is CRAFTY MATH CHICK!!! Please email Claire at claire.brennan1@ntlworld.com with your stamp set choice and mailing address, and she'll get your prize to you as quickly as possible. Thank you all for waltzing with us!

I'll be back again tomorrow with the final installment of the New Release Round-up. Have a fantastic day!!! 

Blog Waltz Round-up Part 2

It's Lisa here, back again to share more of the amazing creations by our Design Team using the new stamp sets. I'll bet you can't wait to get your hands on these stamps, can you?? It won't be long now!

I'll be back tomorrow with another round-up... and with the winners of a stamp set of choice from comments left on Claire's blog waltz post and from comments left on one of the Design Team's blog waltz posts. There's still time for you to make the rounds for a chance to win!

In the meantime, keep dreaming up ways to use these new sets when they arrive in your mailbox because we want you to join us on May 17th for our monthly Blog Waltz. The theme this month will be, of course, birthdays!!! Details to follow...

Have a great day!

...Release watch update

Just a quick note! I am still in shock that it took over two hours just to print out the orders!!! Needless to say I am knee deep in packing, I want to thank all you folks again for visiting the store, it was a veritable stampede!! lol.

Several sets sold out very quickly but I am still anticipating getting all orders out this week as I did manage to order extra stock before the release got underway. If your order contains a backorder item I will email you, hopefully on Tuesday to advise. The store was enabled to take backorders to allow folks to benefit from the free shipping!

I will start shipping on Tuesday at 9am when the Post office re-opens after the May-day bank holiday, and I expect to have the bulk of orders packed by then, but as the response was nothing short of phenomenal, it looks very much like I will be packing for a few days yet!!

Thank you!!!!

ps, scroll down to see Lisa's round up post!!

New Release Round-up Part 1

Hey everyone! Lisa stepping in here while Claire is busy packing up orders. Thank you all so much for your overwhelming support of this very special release!!! For those who might still be on the fence, the free shipping incentive is still available but ends tonight, so hurry!

To tantalize you, here is a round-up of some of the cards/projects created by the Design Team this past week featuring the new stamp sets:

I'll be back tomorrow with more!!! Have a wonderful day!