Mystery Stamping is a unique way to make a card by following step-by-step clues! It’s as simple as that! And you have fun with the Mystery Stampers community as we solve the mystery together to make a card!
- How does this work
- How to be ready to participate
- What to expect when you join YouTube Live
- What happens if I get lost
- What happens after the Mystery is solved
- Be inspired by all of the cards that others share
- Benefits of joining Mystery Stamping
- Get new card-making ideas
- I am ready, how do I participate
- What people are saying
How does this work
You simply:
- gather the supplies that I tell you to in the first Clue
- then join me on my YouTube Channel to get the rest of the clues to make a card.
This step-by-step way to make a card is fun and easy! I think you will agree with the other Mystery Stampers that is a very different way to make a card that you will want to do again!
BEGINS WITH CARD DESIGN
Each week I pull out my supplies to design a card for Mystery Monday Stamping. As I design the cards each week, I like to keep them fresh by adding some very simple card designs mixed in with fun card folds. If I chose fun folds, I make sure that I have props ready to help you during Mystery Stamping so that you can easily understand how to make the fun fold.
WRITe the clues
After the card is created, I sit down and write step-by-step clues to make the card. I keep the clues very generic since you may not have the same supplies that I used to create my card.
The first clue is always the list of supplies that you will need to make the Mystery Card. It includes all of the cardstock and Designer Series Paper that you will need, as well as what size to cut it to be ready. It also lists what type of stamps, inks, tools, and other things you will need. Don’t worry, it is all designed to use products that you have, so the list will guide you in selecting them from your “stash” without having to purchase anything special.
SHARING THE CLUE
Each Sunday afternoon I send out the first clue via email to everyone who has signed up to receive my newsletter. This gives you plenty of time to get everything ready and cut your card stock for Mystery Monday. If you have not already signed up for my newsletter, make sure to do so you can receive the clues and participate in the fun.
The very best way to get the first clue (which is the supplies you need for the next upcoming week) you need to sign up for my Newsletter. Every Sunday after 3:00 PM Central the first clue arrives in your inbox so you don’t have to search for it!
To give you an idea of what that first clue may look like here is an example:
CLUE #1
- Colored Cardstock – 4 ¼” x 8 ¼”, scored and folded at 5 ½”
- Same Colored Cardstock – 3” x 5 ½”
- Same Colored Cardstock – scrap
- Basic White – 4” x 5 ¼”, scrap
- DSP – (Your card will be landscape so cut accordingly) 2 ¾” x 4 ¾” and 2 ½” x 4”
- Stamps – images and greeting
- Ink
- Coloring tools if needed for images
- Embellishments
- Paper Trimmer with a scoring blade
- Adhesive including Dimensionals
GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
It’s Sunday and the email is here with the first Clue!!! As you gather the supplies on the list think about the type of card you will want to make (Birthday, Christmas, Thank You, etc) and choose the supplies accordingly.
There may even be times that you did not have time to prepare the first clue that I emailed to you on Sunday. No worries! You can still hop on YouTube, chat with the other Mystery Stampers and enjoy that week’s Mystery Stamping. You will find that we chat about so many things that may help you outside of stamping!
JOIN ME LIVE
Every Monday I offer Mystery Monday Stamping on my YouTube Channel at 7:00 PM Central. Not only do we have a great time making a handmade card but we have so much fun and share a lot of laughs. And you end up with a card layout you can use over and over. Then after the Mystery is solved, I give you the clues on my blog for you to print off to make the card again.
While I go Live at 7:00 PM Central many Mystery Stampers hop on the chat a lot earlier than that! They love to catch up with each other and see how everyone is doing. They look forward to visiting with their stamping friends each week in the chat area. Join them and make sure that you are signed into your Gmail account which will allow you to comment and chat on my YouTube channel.
Times I will be Live on YouTube every Monday: Eastern: 8:00 PM, Central – 7:00 PM, Mountain – 6:00 PM, Pacific – 5:00 PM
WHAT HAPPENS DURING MYSTERY STAMPING?
Once we begin, I share on the screen a written clue for you to complete the first step of your card. I also give you any additional information or tips to complete that step. As everyone is working on the clue, we hang out, chat, laugh, and enjoy the fun of our stamping community.
I try to give plenty of time for everyone to complete the clue before moving on. If you don’t understand or need a clue repeated, simply leave a comment in the chat and I will repeat it or try to help you. (at least the best that I can without spoiling the mystery!)
Throughout our time together, you will hear me repeat two rules quite often:
- No Stress – Mystery Stamping is fun and should be stress-free
- Just Go Rogue – if you get lost, or are not sure what to do, just go rogue and create a card with the pieces and products you have.
Remember this is fun and should not be stressful. If you are a slower stamper and fall behind, that’s OK. Just stop and wait until it’s over and watch the replay so you can start and stop the video as needed. Many Mystery Stampers do that. They will enjoy chatting with the others during the Live and then go back and watch the replay to complete their card.
SHARE YOUR CREATION
After the Mystery has been revealed and you have finished your card, you are invited to post your card in the TxStampin’ Sharon’s Mystery Monday Stampers Facebook Group for others to see.
We are all inspired by each other’s cards! Even though everyone received the same clues, everyone selected different colors of cardstock, ink, paper, and stamp sets, making each card unique and different!
How to be ready to participate
get your SUPPLIES READY
Use the supplies you already have in your craft stash! There is no right or wrong way to do Mystery Monday Stamping. Everyone uses their own stamps, paper, and inks so everyone’s cards are all different.
CUT CARD STOCK
Make sure to have your cardstock and Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut before we begin. Doing that during Mystery Stamping may stress you and we can’t have that!
Be in a STAMPING AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE YOUTUBE LIVE
Mystery Stampers stamp and create as I give them the clues on the screen. Make sure that you have your stamp desk or table set up and close to your computer or mobile device so you can see the clues and stamp at the same time. I laugh when my mystery stampers tell me that I am on their big TV! But if that works for you then I will smile and wave at you on that big screen!!!
What to expect when you join YouTube Live
HOW THE CLUES ARE SHARED
By using two cameras you will see my face and my desk on the screen. I print the clues using a very large font so that you can read them easily on the screen. I do read them as well.
SOMETIMES I HAVE PROPS TO HELP
My goal during Mystery Stamping is to make this a fun and stress-free activity. Therefore, I will sometimes have props to help you assemble your card. Everyone loves the props!
TIME IN BETWEEN CLUES TO FOLLOW IT
As I give the clues during the YouTube Live I instruct people to let me know when they are done with that clue. I want to give you time to complete the clue before moving on to the next one. This is when some of the fun conversations can happen while I am waiting for everyone to be ready for me to turn the page and reveal the next clue!
What happens if I get lost
DON’T STRESS JUST GO ROGUE
We have two rules with Mystery Stamping:
- No Stress – this is a fun way to make a card
- If you get lost on a clue, Just Go Rogue! You have everything from Clue #1 to make a card and I encourage you to just make a card!
WAIT AND WATCH THE REPLAY
You started to play along and you begin to feel behind and stressed. Since that is rule #1 I tell you to just sit back, and enjoy the chat and conversations going on. When the Mystery Card has been revealed you can pick back up and watch the replay. Make your card by stopping and starting the video at your own pace!
You are encouraged to do Mystery Stamping the way you want to! Remember there is no right or wrong way to do Mystery Stamping!
What happens after the Mystery is solved
I REVEAL THE MYSTERY BY SHARING MY CARD
I show the card on the screen that I designed and wrote the clues for. It’s always so fun to hear if anyone’s card is close to mine! I think in the three years of Mystery Stamping I have only had two people even come close!
YOU HAVE A COMPLETED CARD
You followed all of the clues and you have a card and may interpret the clues differently your card looks totally different than someone else and that’s ok! The end goal for Mystery Stamping is to make a card! Before you get to see anyone else’s card realize that no two cards are ever the same!
SHARE IT ON THE FACEBOOK GROUP
I encourage you to take a picture of that card and share it with others in the Facebook group and then mail those cards!
Sending handmade cards to friends and family is priceless!
Be inspired by all of the cards that others share
You are invited to share your Mystery card on our TXStampin’ Sharon’s Mystery Monday Stampers Facebook Group. Where you will be surprised and delighted at the variety of cards from others! Remember no two cards will look the same!
I encourage everyone to go and look at everyone else’s cards on the Facebook Group. Everyone is inspired and in awe of the creativity! You received the same clues yet how each card is so unique it shows how creative everyone is!
Benefits of joining Mystery Stamping
LEARN TO USE PRODUCTS YOU HAVE
So many of us purchase card-making supplies and don’t use them. Mystery Stamping helps you use them in ways you may not have thought of!
Get new card-making ideas
Once you make a card using the step-by-step mystery clues you will realize that you now have learned a new way to make a card. You love it so much that you will make it over and over again!
You will have everything you need to recreate the cards over and over because I give you the clues each week in a PDF form to print. When I heard that my Mystery Stampers were doing screenshots during the YouTube Live, I had to save them from doing that and offer a FREE download. The download is shared on my blog and in the Mystery Stampers Facebook Group under the Guides Tab. Many of my Mystery Stampers will make multiples each week of the card because they loved it so much!
LEARN NEW FUN FOLDS
One of my passions is to teach fun folds for card making. Mystery Stamping allows me to break down those fun fold cards in a way that helps you learn to make it in an easy way!
MEET NEW FRIENDS
Having a community of Mystery Stampers who love to chat and create friendships even after I have turned off the camera is heartwarming. They encourage and support each other during Mystery Stamping and in the Facebook group.
There are many reasons why stampers join us each week for Mystery Stamping.
- Being a part of a community of fellow stampers I feel is the #1 reason!
- Having new card ideas each week that include fun folds
- Trying card ideas, they would never try on their own
- Inspiration for ways to use supplies they own
- Feeling creative by following my clues
I am ready, how do I participate
JOIN EMAIL LIST
Make sure to join my Newsletter to get the clues.
WATCH FOR THE FIRST CLUE ON SUNDAY
I email the first clue on Sunday at 3:00 PM Central. You will have more than 24 hours to gather the supplies and be ready for Monday evening.
HAVE EVERYTHING READY
Make sure you have everything on the list ready to use for Mystery Stamping before we start. Some stampers put post-it notes on cardstock and DSP layers to help them if there is more than one on the list.
JOIN THE YOUTUBE LIVE
I go Live on YouTube every Monday unless it’s a holiday or I am on vacation. Over the year that adds up to a lot of Mystery Monday Stamping! Join me LIVE on Monday on my YouTube Channel. Invite your crafty friends to join you and share the video. It’s a fun way to stamp virtually with others! If you miss me Live you can always watch and play along on the replay!
While I go Live at 7:00 PM Central many Mystery Stampers hop on the chat a lot earlier than that! They love to catch up with each other and see how everyone is doing. They look forward to visiting with their stamping friends each week in the chat area. Join them and make sure that you are signed into your Gmail account which will allow you to comment and chat on my YouTube channel.
Times I will be Live on YouTube: Eastern: 8:00 PM, Central – 7:00 PM, Mountain – 6:00 PM, Pacific – 5:00 PM
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP
I encourage everyone to join the TxStampin’ Sharon’s Mystery Monday Stampers Facebook Group and post your cards. The amount of inspiration in that group is incredible!!!
WHY MYSTERY MONDAY STAMPING?
First, it’s the best way to start your week! No need to dread Mondays anymore! Start your week off with us during Mystery Monday Stamping on YouTube!
In 2020 when the Pandemic shut down our world the need for social interaction increased virtually since we could not gather with our friends and family. I felt a strong need to help others stay stamping and connected.
Offering this unique way to gather on Facebook at first then moving to YouTube was a great way for everyone to come together to enjoy a hobby they loved.
For over 25 years I have loved teaching others how to make a card either in person or online. With Mystery Stamping that continues! Because with my step-by-step clues, I can guide you on making a card that you created and can be proud of! If you have questions contact me today!
What people are saying
That’s easy. Confidence. The videos give me confidence that I can follow your directions and make a beautiful card. I print the first clue, get my materials together and then write down the others clues from the replay. Even the few times I’ve gone rogue as I stamp along, I still end up with a pretty card. I tuck the instructions into the first card put it in my template box under the Z-fold or whatever title, and get it right the next time. The tips and tricks you and the other people who comment as the conversations go on are always very, very helpful. Mainly I learned to have fun and not stress, just like you always say.
MaryLou
Mystery Stamping helped with my measuring so that there are no mistakes and don’t be so hard on my outcome
Denise
Mystery Monday Stamping has me back to making cards on a weekly basis. I like the surprise of not knowing what my supplies will turn into!
Grace
Mystery cards are a fun way to get away without leaving the house. I thank you for coming up with this idea in a time of need and carrying on after the danger was over. I look forward to them and miss them when you are unable to do them. Thank you, Sharon, for taking care of us!
Carla
It helps me to just have fun! I don’t need to be creative at that time…you have done the work for me. It is a gift to all of us just to sit down and do something without having to think.
Rory
I love it. You personally are so refreshing. I love the new ideas and the input from your audience. I don’t get out and I have no friends. So, I feel like I am visiting with friends. Thank you, Sharon
Patti
It has given me inspiration and a better eye for color combinations. It’s helped my creativity individually.
Samanth
It has helped me start a stash of cards I would not have imagined. I can tweak them for occasions or holidays.
Kim
For starters, you give me room to be imaginative while doing the hard part of creating the needs and guidelines for a card. As a result, I’m finding myself imagining the direction you will take with the clues which lead to ideas I may not have had. Secondly, I look forward to your presence in my home each Monday (and Thursday) and the cyber-stamping friends I’m making.
Sue
I began viewing Mystery Monday Stamping during COVID. It was my respite to get another week started. Since then when other challenges were on my doorstep, I turned to Mystery Monday Stamping for friendships and card crafting, a very relaxing time.
Marsha
It helps me make use of my supplies rather than storing them and inspires me with ideas to keep going with a new layout. In simple terms, it is a fun and helpful inspiration.
Susan
This sums up Mystery Stamping very well:
It gives me something to look forward to!
It’s socializing without leaving my house.
Mystery Monday Stamping, because it is a mystery, creates a perfect reason to use products I hadn’t even opened. It makes those products work!
I feel less stressed having all the pieces cut ahead of time and my stamps, dies, and embossing folders already selected.
I get to use what I already have and don’t feel forced to buy specific products to create a look.
Debbi
Love u share all this thank u had your hubby