Friday, January 28, 2011

2011 Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2011 Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop, showcasing the wonderful FREE items you can earn from the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration catalog!  If you are taking the tour in order, you just arrived from Holly's blog, where she featured the adorable Ornate Blossom.  Starting your hop here?  You can complete the tour of all 21 blogs by clicking on the links at the bottom of each post, but if you get lost, not to worry!  Just click on the banner above for a complete list.

This is stop number 17, featuring the stamp set called A Flower for All Seasons.  It's a very versatile little set, with a stamp for each season, and can be found on the back page of the SAB catalog. Note: you can click on the images below to enlarge them.

I'm going to get the first card out of the way, because....well, because it's Christmas-themed and I am sooo done with Christmas for now! I'm ready for the soft colors of Spring and bright colors of Summer, how about you? The non-traditional colors soften it a bit, but still.....
Up next is another card, but one much more to my liking! Now THIS speaks of Spring, and rebirth and renewal. This card would work equally well for Easter or Mother's Day, too, don't you think? And the Framed Tulips embossing folder was just made for that basket of tulips!
For the final card, I just had to make it "Thinking of You", because that frog has a look of longing in his eyes. Maybe he spies a yummy little bug hiding behind a flower petal. ;-)
And now, for the 3D project! Many of you are in the throes of a very harsh winter, and have to be dreaming of warmer times to come. Nothing says a sunny 'hello' more than cheerful little sunflowers! My local home improvement store has seeds for a dwarf variety that only grows to about 16 inches tall, but has 6" blooms(!) - perfect for bouquets of fresh-cut flowers, without completely overwhelming my small garden space.
I make an effort to "spread a little sunshine" every day, and think this gift would be a good way to do it. The card kind of imitates the stamped image on the row marker (with seeds attached), and the pot imitates the card! Check back on Monday for the "recipe" for this card.

Next stop is Tanya's blog, Tinkerin In Ink With Tanya, where she's gonna wow you with Itty Bitty Bits!
This blog hop is brought to you by the wonderful people over at Stampin' Addicts, where their motto is "Positively Creative! Positively Stampin' Up!" I hope when you finish the hop that you'll hop over and check out the warm, friendly, creative folks there, and sign up (it's free)!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

It's Here! It's Here! Free Stuff is Here!!!

What's here, you ask? Only the biggest Stampin' Up! promotion of the year! For a limited time early every year, you get to choose free goodies. And it's unlimited! For every $50 in merchandise you purchase (before tax & S/H), you can choose something from the SAB catalog (which includes over 60 specified stamps from the big catty, too!). Spend $50, get a gift.  Spend $100, get 2 gifts, and so on. Host a party, pool your order with friends, or just splurge on yourself, and for every $300, choose an additional freebie!

And as if that weren't enough, the customizable Starter Kit (valued at more than $310) is discounted to under $149 AND you get an additional product bundle valued up to $50. If you've been considering joining the Stampin' Up family, now is the perfect opportunity. You really have nothing to lose! You have three choices if you decide to join:
  1. Be a hobby demo just to get the discount. Stampin’ Up! supports all demonstrators, no matter their goals or the level at which they choose to run their business. You only need to submit $300 in sales per quarter. That is less than an average Stampin’ Up!® workshop! Also, you can submit your sales in any increment you wish and still receive your 20 percent discount and commission.
  2. Choose a career path to fit your individual needs. Stampin’ Up! provides dozens of training resources filled with project ideas and tips to help you run every aspect of your business. You can earn money in three ways: instant income (20 percent of each order), monthly volume rebates (5–20 percent
    of total sales), and monthly downline override commissions (2–6 percent of your recruits’ sales).
  3. If you decide to drop, just don't place any orders and you will automatically be dropped. You don't even have to return the Starter Kit.
Just some of the benefits:
  • The Starter Kit ships FREE!
  • Try it out for yourself! Enjoy all the discounts and benefits through June 30th, with NO obligation to do anything else.
  • There is no penalty if you decide to drop (but I think you will find you want to stay!).
  • Demos get the same benefits as hostesses, too.  Stampin' Up really spoils us!
  • Too many more to list here, but I'd love to tell you more about it, if you are interested. Contact me through my Stampin' Up! website.
Ready to join right now? Click HERE, then click on "Join Now" at the bottom left. You shouldn't need a password, but if asked, it's Happy2BStamping.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Matchbox Sweet Treats

These little treat boxes are so quick and easy to put together! Using the Matchbox die, the inner box was cut from regular cardstock and the outer slider was cut from DSP for contrast.  Then all I had to do was add a belly band made from 5/8" satin ribbon and the larger labels.  To make them stand out, they were embossed with hearts cut from the Heart to Heart punch and the edges were inked.  A pearl finishes them off! Well, that and the M&Ms inside. ;-)
Stamps: None!
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette (111351), Regal Rose (105130), Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper (120436)
Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic (101301)
Accessories: Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon (117289), Basic Pearls (119247), Matchbox Bigz XL Die (114890), Square Lattice embossing folder (119976), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439), Stamping Sponges (101610), adhesive

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Masculine Birthday Wishes

Planning classes for this quarter has kept me busy the past couple of days. And today is the Valentine's/Occasions Mini Open House, so preps have been underway for that, too! One of the classes coming up is called Five Card "Stud" - Masculine Cards.
Many people (myself included) struggle a bit with making cards for men, so I thought it would be fun to have a class devoted to all things manly; no frou-frou, no frills.  Mary Fish has some wonderful ideas for masculine cards, so I CASEd her card here.  The only changes I made were to run the More Mustard mat through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder, substitute Night of Navy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon for the stamped panel, and use More Mustard brads instead of gold brads. Oh, and I changed the sentiment, too. This will be one of the five card we'll make in the class.  Wanna join me? The class is Feb. 25th and at this point there are still openings. More details on this and other classes are available on my Stampin' Up! web site List of Events HERE.
Stamps: Nature Walk (Occasions Mini W-121925, C-121997), Occasional Quotes (Level Three Hostess set)
Casrdtock: Whisper White (100730), Night of Navy (100867), More Mustard (100946), Night of Navy Patterns DSP (Regals 117154), Watercolor Paper (105019)
Ink: Night of Navy Classic (102977), More Mustard Classic (103162)
Accessories: Night of Navy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (119954), Regals Brads (119737), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439), Square Lattice embossing folder (119976), Blender Pens (102845), 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Love is in the Air!

This was the other sample shown to the crafty ladies at Heather's Party, and was inspired by this card on SCS. Not a direct CASE - there were a few minor changes. ;-)
Stamps: Valentine Defined
Cardstock: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper, Pretty in Pink DSP pack
Ink: Real Red Classic, Pretty in Pink Classic, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Heart to Heart punch, Small Oval punch, Basic Rhinestones, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, heart charm (non-SU)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

This Year is Starting off With a Bang!

Okay, I'm not one who would normally toot her own horn...oh, who are we kidding, I TRY not to toot it too much, okay? Anyhoo, I received the most amazing email this morning from Kellene Adams, who works in Shelli Gardner's (founder and CEO) office at Stampin' Up! (can you say "dream job"?). She wanted to let me know that my entry was a winner in Shelli's Terrific Techniques Challenge (one of the monthly So Shelli challenges).
Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
I was flabbergasted, to say the least! If you could see the quantity and quality of the entries that get submitted every month, you'd understand why it is such an honor to be one of the ones chosen. This is the card that won. Thank you, Shelli, for making my day, and Kellene for letting me know!!!
Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
This challenge open to anyone, not just Stampin' Up! demonstrators, and the entries don't necessarily have to be cards. Just stick to the theme Shelli gives each month, and maybe you can win, too! The prize is any stamp set out if the current catalogs. Yep, even the pricier ones!

So, winning the So Shelli contest today is just continuing a month that started out great by Mickey Roberts (Paper Conversation), a "sister" SU demonstrator, awarding me a Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks, Mickey! Sorry it took so long for me to acknowledge & pass it on. Been busy!
The deal is, I have to tell you 8 things you may not know about me, and then pass the award on to 8 bloggers whose work I admire. (Oh man, how can I narrow it down to just eight?!)

1.  I used to be the owner/designer of my own line of bra patterns, and had a home-based mail order sewing supplies business.
2.  I am a published author (in a couple of magazines, anyway).
3.  I began card making three years ago this month, after years of not doing anything "crafty". The blame, uh... I mean, credit for this addiction rests solely on my BFF Barb's shoulders. (Love you bunches, Barb!)
4.  I spend way too much time on the computer, looking at other people's blogs for inspiration, checking in at Stampin' Addicts and Splitcoast Stampers, playing Free Cell, and on Facebook. I could get so much more done if I could just pull myself away!
5.  My husband and I are big Moody Blues fans, and we've seen them six times in the past five years. (Number seven is coming up in May, woohoo!)
6.  I love to garden, even though I only have a very small space to "grub in the dirt".  Nothing tastes better than a fully ripened home grown tomato, still warm from the sun!
7.  I love horses.  Always have, always will.
8.  I love being a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator! Sharing the fun of making something beautiful with people who never thought they could do it, gives me so much joy. And just think about how much happiness one little card can give!  There's the pleasure you get from making it, the happiness you feel when you see how much the recipient enjoys it, and the joy that THEY get in receiving it!  That's a lot of happiness in one little card!

And now, here are the names of 8 bloggers who inspire me.  I am passing this award on to:
1. Jennifer Timko, Stampin' on the Fly
2. Debra Burgin, Heartfelt Inkspiration
3. Ilina Crouse, My Creations
4. Sally Jones, Sally's Creative Corner
5. Lisa Young, Add Ink and Stamp
6. Judy May, Just Judy Designs
7. Sharon Field, Created by You
8. Krystal De Leeuw, Krystal's Cards and More

Monday, January 17, 2011

More Valentine Defined

At yesterday's party, I showed a couple of other cards that using the same stamp set.  The versatility is a plus!  These don't have to be just Valentine's Day card....they work for anniversaries, love you, miss you, and thinking of you, too.  This one showcased the inlaid embossing/embedded paper technique.  That was definitely a WOW factor!
Stamps: Valentine Defined
Cardstock: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Basic Black, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Heart to Heart punch, Two-Step Owl punch (smallest heart), Basic Rhinestones, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Valentine Defined

Yesterday I went to my friend Heather's 40th/9th birthday party.  She's a 9 year b.c. survivor, and an amazingly strong woman.  Anyway, her party theme was to have all her crafty friends get together and share what they are creating.  What a neat idea!  I brought a simple card to make, for anyone that was interested, but made sure it used the Big Shot several different ways, since she just got one. :-D
Heather chose the stamp set, and since I knew pink is her favorite color, this was the card we made.  Three ladies had never stamped before and were delighted at how quick and easy it was to put this together, and how nice the completed card looked.  (I think a couple of them will be coming to the Occasions Mini Open House next week, too. Woohoo!)
Stamps: Valentine Defined (image), Filled With Love (sentiment)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette textured, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Inks: Pretty in Pink Classic, Certainly Celery Classic, Regal Rose Classic, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Perfect Polks-Dots embossing folder, Sweet Buttons Embosslit die, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Curly Label punch

Saturday, January 15, 2011

I Love MDS!

I could wax rhapsodic about how wonderful My Digital Studio is, but you will never really know until you get to play with it for yourself.  The possibilities are just about endless!  This is the cover of a journal I threw together last night.  That gorgeous Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper?  Available in the new Occasions Mini AND available as a download.  The Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon and Vintage Flower Adornment? Ditto!!!  Gotta love Stampin' Up!

Friday, January 14, 2011

New Year, New Things!

Yeesh, it's been a week since anything was posted here!  That doesn't mean I've been sitting on my arse eating bonbons resting on my laurels (just what are laurels, anyway?).  Plans are in the works for some changes around here, but they aren't ready to show just yet.  Heh heh, you're just going to have to wait. :-D
But I can show you this card (see, I have been busy!).  This is one of the cards we made in the monthly Stamp Club last week.  We went with non-traditional Valentine colors, because it isn't really a Valentine - it's an anniversary card!

Stamps: Filled With Love
Cardstock: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Sunny Garden DSP
Inks: Basic Black and Daffodil Delight Classic, Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Sponge Dauber, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Basic Pearls, 3/16" Corner Rounder punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Another Snowman, or Men, as the Case May Be

Judging from some of your comments, snow will be an intimate part of your lives for the foreseeable future, and for that you have my sincere sympathy!  I used to think I wanted to retire to Idaho or Montana, but the older I get, the less tolerant of the cold I become.  Now I'm thinking somewhere in the Sahara Arizona or Texas might be better. ;-)

But I digress.  Here is the other snowman/men card.  This one is getting mailed to my private swap buddy.  We stick to the club theme each month, but swap two different cards based on that theme.  Keeps me on my toes!
Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quit Navy, Christmas Cocoa DSP (retired)
Inks: Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso
Accessories: Champagne Glass Glitter, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I Thought I Was Finished...

...With the winter/holiday cards, but I forgot all about the swap theme for this month's stamp club.  It had to have a snowman, at least 2 layers and an embellishment.  Well, at least I got to ink up a stamp that hadn't been used yet, and use some now-retired DSP!  ;-)
Stamps: Jolly Old St. Nick, sentiment stamp non-SU
Cardstock: Garden Green, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, VersaMarker
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, Circle Rhinestone Brads

A word of warning.....there is another snowman card coming tomorrow.  After that I promise to avoid anything related to cold, snow, frozen tundras, frost, winter or ice.  :-D

Thanks for stopping by today!  Stay warm!!!