Happy Stampiversary to ME!

Eight years ago today, I took the plunge and became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I did it because I wanted the demo discount, and had every intention of being a hobby demo until I had acquired all the things I wanted. Who could have predicted that here I'd be, eight years later, a Silver Elite demonstrator with a growing stamping family?! Certainly not me!

I have enjoyed every minute of it, too. Not only because I get that demo discount (and who doesn't like a bargain, right?), but because of the lifelong friendships I've made along the way. People I never would have met, if it weren't for a shared love of stamps, ink, and cardstock! To me, that's the best part. Well that, and getting sneak peeks and preordering things before the general public, and going to Stampin' Up! events like Convention and OnStage. And earning FREE stuff. I like free; free is good!

Now is absolutely the best time to take the same plunge that I did eight years ago. The rewards are so....rewarding! If you've been thinking about placing an order that is close to $100, why not turn that into a starter kit? For $99 w/FREE shipping (free is good, remember?) you can choose $125 in Stampin' Up! products. That's it. THERE IS NO FURTHER OBLIGATION!

But wait, there's more! (Sound familiar? LOL) Act now and you will receive the FREE (still good) Essentials Gift Pack shown below, along with the Carols of Christmas stamp set, that no one else can get yet unless they're a demo. That's $72 in free products!

Essentials Gift Pack includes:

Paper Snips
$10 

Bone Folder
$7 

SNAIL Adhesive
$7 

(2) Clear Block D
$17 

Grid Paper
$11 

Carols of Christmas (Clear-mount)
$20

I really hope you will seriously consider what a great deal this is. If you have any questions or reservations you would like to discuss, please contact me. I am always available to chat! If you are ready to go for it, then I'd love it if you joined my stamping family!

The card above was made with this month's Paper Pumpkin kit - I just added the ribbon and a different greeting. Cute, no?!

2016 In Color Sneak Peek - The Elusive Blue Rose

According to news reports, in the past few years scientists have been able to splice a gene into a rose to make a "blue" rose. Well, call me cynical, but every picture I've seen of the so-called blue rose looks a whole lot like a lavender-colored rose. I saw no true BLUE roses in any of the photos. And anyway, genetically modified anything is a bad idea in my book.

So I set out to make my own true blue Dapper Denim rose.....no gene splicing needed! And *BONUS* I can guarantee that it will never wilt, draw pests, or mess with your own personal biology. After I spliced colored this rose, I colored up some more roses with the other In Colors. But not Emerald Envy, though. A green rose would look as odd as a truly blue one, wouldn't it?

Sorry, I'm too tired to do a detailed "how-to" for this card. I heat embossed the rose three times on watercolor paper with white embossing powder, colored them with an Aqua Painter, and fussy cut them. Popped layers on Dimensionals. Corrugated paper** is 4" x 5-1/4", cut with Oval** die (counting fifth from smallest). Sponged Mint Macaron on white card base, stamped with same (stamped off) using Timeless Textures. Punched detailed banner on Duet Banner* punch in Mint Macaron, plain banner in Whisper White. Stamped greeting in Dapper Denim* using Thoughtful Banners*.

** Retiring 5/31
* Available 6/1