Have you ever seen a Stampin’ Up! project online, searched through your catalogue and wondered why you could not find the products anywhere? There is a good chance they were Online Exclusives.

The July release is a big one, with Christmas, Halloween, floral products, everyday stamps, papers, embossing folders and a few clever items that are much easier to appreciate once you’ve had a closer look. I have worked my way through the full release and pulled together the things I think are especially worth knowing about, including details that may not be obvious at first from the online photos.

You can browse the full July Online Exclusives release here, but this guide will help you know what to look for before you start scrolling.

What are Online Exclusives?

Online Exclusives are Stampin’ Up! products released through the online store rather than a printed catalogue. New products are added every second month, and availability varies from product to product.

A new batch comes out in January, March, May, July, September and November.

Why Violet Dreams is getting so much attention

Lots of crafters love purple, so it is not surprising that the new Violet Dreams Suite has attracted plenty of attention. But what the online photos do not show all that well is how much is going on inside the paper pack.

The Violet Dreams Specialty Designer Series Paper includes two sheets of push-out die cuts, with flowers, leaves, labels and other pieces ready to use. I did not realise they were included until I opened the pack, so it is an easy detail to miss when you are shopping online.

The Shimmering Stripes Specialty Paper is another one that looks better in person. The stripes aren’t just printed onto the paper – they are fine glittery stripes, which give the paper a really different look when the light catches it.

You can choose the Framed Violets Bundle of stamps and dies together, or the complete Violet Dreams Suite Collection. If purple is your thing, this is definitely a suite to look at closely.

My favourite suite: A Stitched Season

My favourite suite in the July release is A Stitched Season. I love Christmas, I love Christmas in July, and the Stitched Stocking bundle is very cute!

The A Stitched Season Designer Series Paper is worth looking at from both sides. Some of the designs are quite geometric, which can be a little tricky when you are cutting odd shapes or using certain fun folds. The reverse sides have smaller, more general prints, so there are still plenty of patterns that work well on narrow strips, angled panels and different-sized pieces.

The full A Stitched Season Suite Collection includes the paper, the Stitched Stocking products, ribbon and those sweet little Christmas button embellishments. It is a nod to quilting and Christmas at the same time.

Other Christmas products I would not skip past

• Festive Cheer. I really love this one, and we will be using it in my July classes, so you will be seeing more of it very soon.
• Pretty Poinsettia. A strong traditional Christmas choice, especially if you enjoy floral Christmas cards. The dies are part of the new Impressions die and embossing range, so if you have the Impressions Plate you’ll want to have a good look here.
• Merriest Tags. A useful option for tags, cards and smaller Christmas projects.
• Seasonal Cheer Mini Embossing Folders. The set contains three different mini folders: a Halloween design, an autumn leaf design and a Christmas candy-cane design. That variety is not immediately obvious from a quick glance online.
• Woodland Wishes. My favourite stamp set in the whole release!I love the fine-detail line art, the adorable animals with their little faces, and especially the animals stacked into the shape of a Christmas tree. It will be great fun to colour.

The surprisingly versatile everyday products

A few products are likely to earn their keep well beyond one season or one style of card.

• Simply Leaves Bundle. This stamp and punch bundle is more versatile than it first appears. The leaf punch is useful on its own, but the punched leaves can also be arranged like petals to create flowers. I think Pinterest will soon be full of clever variations using this punch.
• Botanical Expressions Bundle. I think the wording in this stamp set will make it popular. Useful sentiments often make a bundle far easier to reach for repeatedly.
• Summer Happiness Bundle. This one has already attracted some interest from my customers. It is bright and cheerful, even though it has arrived in the middle of an Australian winter.
• Textured Tree Ring 3D Embossing Folder. A striking texture with plenty of year-round possibilities, rather than something tied to one event or season.

Look beyond the Halloween theme

The Frightfully Fun Suite is very cute, especially the adhesive-backed bats, ghosts and dots. Halloween products are not something I use often enough although I know it’s getting more popular here in Australia, but I have to say there are a few pieces in that collection that are far more versatile than just for Halloween.

The Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder is the real winner for me. It could easily be overlooked by anyone scrolling quickly past the Halloween section, but the design can work for all sorts of cards throughout the year.

The Black Iridescent Ribbon is another handy basic that is not limited to Halloween. The White Gable Boxes are also fabulous. I have already used them, and for July I am turning them into Christmas wreath gable boxes for class. That is a good example of why it pays to look at the individual products rather than judging everything by the suite theme.

Not sure where to start?

The easiest way to approach a large release is to start with what you genuinely make.

• If you love Christmas projects, begin with A Stitched Season, Festive Cheer, Pretty Poinsettia, Merriest Tags or Woodland Wishes.
• If you prefer products you can use all year, look closely at Simply Leaves, Botanical Expressions, Swirls of Magic and the Textured Tree Ring folder.
• If colour and coordinated products are what get you creating, Violet Dreams is the suite to inspect properly, especially the die-cut sheets and glittery Shimmering Stripes paper.
• If a full suite is more than you need, choose one paper, one practical tool or one embossing folder and build from there.

You can also use the coordinating colours printed on the back of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper as a quick starting point. Choose a neutral, then add one or two of the listed colours. It removes a lot of the guesswork without requiring you to buy every coordinating product.

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A few quick questions about Online Exclusives

Are Online Exclusives in the printed catalogue?

No. They are released through the online store, which is why they can be easy to miss if you mainly browse the catalogue.

Will an Online Exclusive be restocked if it sells out?

It depends on the product. Availability varies, so check the current listing if there is something you are considering. If it’s temporarily sold out but will be coming back in stock, it will say “Currently Unavailable”. Make sure you pop your email address in to the reminder box so you’ll get notified when they come back. If you want to know how long you’ll have to wait, just reach out to me and I’ll find out for you.

Do I need to buy an entire suite?

Not at all. Every product can be ordered individually, and one paper pack, stamp set, punch or embossing folder may be all you need.

Where can I see the whole July release?

The full range is available on the Australian Online Exclusives page through my online store. Prefer to print out your own paper copy? Download here.

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Have a closer look

You can browse the complete July Online Exclusives collection here. If you are torn between a few products, send me a message and tell me what you like to make. I can help you narrow it down or send you some more detailed pictures.

Happy stamping,