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?!

August 2016 Alt Paper Pumpkin

Here's another one, sorta like the other one, lol. This time an Early Espresso mat embossed with the Elegant Dots folder was added. The dark mat really makes everything pop!

I'm loving the wooden elements that came in the kit. Did you know you can dress them up with a Wink of Stella Glitter Brush? I didn't do it on the elements on this card, but I did make a sample, using the Gold Wink of Stella. It's subtle, yet gorgeous in real life! Lookie (click on it to see it larger):

Don't forget to take advantage of the Paper Pumpkin Buy One Get One Free offer! Use the Promo Code BOGO when you check out.

Product List

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Copper Foil Sheets

Versamark Pad

Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder

Embossing Buddy

Heat Tool

Big Shot

Elegant Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Alternate Paper Pumpkin

When we got a sneak peek at the sequins that would be included in this month's Paper Pumpkin kit, I thought for sure that we would be making shaker cards, and I was giddy at the prospect. Well, it turns out that the sequins were for clear little banner bags, to use as banners or bags on the cards. Hmmm.... I'm not really into the whole banner mania that's been going on for a while, so I decided to turn my kit components into shaker cards. That's the beauty of it; most of the time I make 'em just as intended, but sometimes I have to color outside the lines, lol.

This one was made for my new Paper Pumpkin subscribers, to show them some alternate uses for their P.P. kits. I do love the sequin colors! Beside gold and white, there are Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach, and the iridescent ones look like Mint Macaron. So pretty!

There isn't really a recipe for this card. I used the Best Badge punch on a piece of Whisper White, then cut it out with Layering Circles Framelits, making sure there was enough room around the edges for the Foam Adhesive Strip. Cut a slightly larger scalloped circle in Peekaboo Peach, placed the punched circle on and adhered the edges in a couple places, then lined the punch up with the previously punched badge. (I didn't try to punch two layers of cardstock at once - that would have been too much for the punch to handle, I think.)

A piece of Window Sheet was stamped with the bird cage using Basic Black Archival ink. I let it dry completely before cutting and adhering to the back of the badge opening. At this point the baker's twine and bow were adhered to the top of the bird cage.

Another WW circle was cut the same size as the first. The foam strip was added around the edge of this circle, some sequins were placed in the middle, the paper backing was peeled off and the top lined up and pressed down. Handy Hint: When you need to use the foam strips around a curve, make little snips every 1/4" or so, about halfway through the strip. It'll make going around those curves a breeze!

If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can get refill kits (without the stamps and ink spots) while supplies last!

Product List

Banner Surprise Refill Kit

Badges & Banners Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Thankful Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Peekaboo Peach 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Window Sheets

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Big Shot

Layering Circle Framelits Dies

Best Badge Punch

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

Twine Baker's Whisper White