Warning – BIG messages included in this post.  Expect updates throught out the day on Sept 1!!!!

Fundraiser – TODAY only for Fairview Ridges Hospital Auxillary.  Stop by and visit me in the hospital lobby or call me with an order.  20% of all sales today benefits the hospital.  This is a great opportunity to make a difference!

My Digital Studio - is coming Oct 1!!  Stay tuned.  I get to order today (don’t you wish you could too?)  Whether you are a card maker or scrapbooker, you need to check out this easy to use software.

Holiday Mini Catalog – Starts today!   I know I’ve said this before but, this is the BEST Holiday Mini Catalog EVER!   If you didn’t get one, let me know and I will get one sent to you. . . it is 40 pages of simply awesome ideas, stamp sets, punches, holiday items. . . all I can say is  oooohhhhh lala!!!

NEW Class - I have been asked to add a Stinkin’ Cute Box Class. . . . and so, RSVP for this class on Sept 8 at 6:30pm.

Hostess Special - you are going to love this. . . Hostesses earn any item (except My Digital Studio) from the awesome Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10 with a $250 show.  If you choose one of my remaining Sept dates, I will give you a free handstamped gift in addition to this great offer.  Available dates are;  Sept 11, Sept 28, 29 or 30.  Call me soon to assure you get your first choice of dates. 

Punch Class - Reminder of the Punch Class this Thursday night – I still have a few spots left.

Girls Night Out - if you are looking for a fun time – you need to check out my stamping or scrapbooking clubs. . . the stamping club meets the first Tues, Wed or Thurs each month.  (the projects for this month are fantastic!)  Call me for details as we certainly don’t want anyone left out of the fun!

The Stampin’ Up! family!   There are only 3 days left to make this great choice!  I love what I do.  I love this family. . . and I invite you to join it as well!  It’s a family of Stampin’ Sisters built on fun, relationships, sharing and creativity!   Sound like fun? It is! 

Stampin’ Up! is making it easy with an $85 starter kit filled with the gorgeous new In Colors!  (of course you can customize it if you want!)   I have been demonstrating the fabulouse "For All You Do" stamp set this month and you have been lovin’ it!

If you are looking for the BEST value. . . then consider the regular starter kit and let Stampin’ Up! add on $43 worth of brand new In Color products!   Yes, it ends up that you get about $400 worth of merchandise for 1/2 price!

Be the 3rd, 4th or 5th person to join my team this month and you will receive the awesome new In Color Marker set as a free gift from me!  Call or email me to sign up! Or click the "Join SU" button and use the password; "stampinbj". 

Here’s some exciting news. . . .I was humbled and surprised to learn at convention that I was in the top 100 demonstrators in the United States for  the last Stampin’ Up! year (July 08 to June of 09).  This is called the Founders Circle.  You find out by being handed a new bag at the awards booth during convention.  You can see my bag here with my new Build a Bear.

During the awards night celebration, I found out I was number 83.  This is based on my sales, downline promotions, sales and leadership.  I was VERY excited.  This is the first time and was a goal for me – "someday". 

As a result, I will be traveling to the Founders Circle Retreat Sept 16-20 in St. George Utah.  I am truly honored to have acheived this honor.  Thanks to all of you for your support, encouragement and most of all your friendship. 

I get many questions about how I store my stamps.  Plus, I think most of you think I own it all. . . well, that’s not exactly true but I do store my stamps this way.  It has worked well for me over the years.  The labels my customers like (when I demo a stamp set, the ordering info with page number is right on the stamp set) are on the ends and i store them alphabetically. 

You can see a little piece of how I store my 12 x 12 cardstock off to the side.  I have 6 bins – 1 for each of the colore families, 1 for neutrals and 1 for textured cardstock (one of my favs). 

This weekend – yes!  I can’t wait!  My Dad is coming tonight – a little salsa making going on, then tomorrow I will be at Woodbury Days – booth #65 for Friday and Sunday.  Stop by and see me you never know what the specials are going to be!

In case you missed it, here is the "thanks for coming" gift from my Open House last weekend.   Aren’t they cute?  I used the Bag with Scallops die and just did the front and back (sides come with the box but, I didn’t use them).   Of course the color is Rich Razzleberry which is one of my favorite new colors! 

I punched the window out with a 1 3/8" punch and put a window sheet behind stamped with a sentiment from Matchbox Messages in white staz on.  The finishing touches were added with a white gel pen - I’m sure you’ve heard me say our gel pens are awesome!  Make sure that you put one on your next order. 

Ah yes, the great ribbon!  I have lengths of the ribbon available – if you haven’t yet purchased yours, make sure you call.  Rich Razzleberry has been the "hottest" and I just got some in!  I know it will be gone quickly.

Well, if you have been watching my schedule and looking to see me at the Dakota County Fair - you will not find me.  While I could speculate as to why the fair cancelled my booth the night before I was to go there, the result is the same.  But, you are soooo in luck!   You can catch me Saturday at the Pierce County Fair in Ellsworth Wisconsin AND of course there is my Open House this week!  Make sure you RSVP for either Thursday and Saturday – I have been busy making the gifts you will be receiving! 

This card is one posted on the Stampin’ Up! website – the demonstrator portion.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  There is a talented pool of fellow demonstrators!  Many of you often ask how I get my ideas. . . Stampin’ Up! provides a plethora of ideas and I am never at a shortage!  You could have this resource at your fingertips PLUS get a discount on your Stampin’ Up! supplies for an $85 investment this month!  Ask me for more details. 

Stampin’ Up! Style. . . . Yes, I have soooo much fun with these boxes.  I saw many of these with some great variations at Stampin’ Up!’s convention. . . . more to come later on that. 

I have three announcements involving boxes today! 

1. My Big Shot class on Wednesday – August 12 will feature a new creature that is red and black and oh, so cute!
2. By popular demand, I have added a night to the Fall Stinkin’ Cute Box Class – Wednesday, August 19 still has some openings.  Please RSVP if you are interested.
3. Stampin’ Up! posted my class on the demonstrator part of it’s website today with instructions!  Don’t you wish you were a demo. . . . ask me how you can do that right now for only $85! 

Were you missing me?   Yes, I am home. . . . . here is what I have been trying to do;

• Call all of you and share the news (Holiday Mini, August and September promotions, My news, etc!)
• Unpack
• Sleep
• Get ready for upcoming events
• Breathe!

Ok, these are not necessarily in order but, they are certainly competing with one another for time!

This is a picture of just one section of the display boards at convention. . . a little Halloween inspiration for you.  Attend my Open House on August 20 or 22 and you’ll see a TON more great ideas to inspire your fall decorating and papercrafting! 

Wow, it was a great day!  You’ll see a picture from the opening introduction featuring members of the 2010 Olympic hopeful gymnast group.  I reconnected with great friends through Stampin’ Up!, Leo and Margaret.  Today we learned more about Build a Bear – coming soon!  You’ll also see a sample from the display area.  The inspiration here is awesome!  Shelli looks great as always.  Then it was our turn to dress up for awards night.  It was a big night for me as I was honored to be in the top 100 demos in the United States!  Wow!  This is a first for me. . .

The theme this year is Inspire, Create and Share.  I love this theme as this is my goal for each of my events.  I hope you feel that I give this to you!

First stop was Momento Mall Shopping.   These are cute reusable shopping bags – I certainly know what to do with them.  They feature some of our new stamp sets including one of my favs- Circle Circus!

Here is one of my favorite swaps for the day.  Such a cute ladybug made by a fellow demonstrator!  I have a ton of card swaps and some really exciting 3D swaps as well.  I can’t wait to share them in the upcoming months with you!

Tonight we walked over to Lion House for supper.  It was in a house built for Bringham Young.  The gardens are gorgeous.  Here are two of my wonderful downline – Sue and Laura.  We are having fun!

One of the highlights is the bag we get at convention – here is a pic of this years version.  Stampin’ Up! really makes us special by decorating, adding just the right touches, etc.   There is no way you can’t feel special here! 

Are you checking out the bear next to the bag?  Wondering why I have a Build a Bear?  No, It’s not for my grandkids. . . . it’s a hint of things to come from Stampin’ Up!. . . . . . you are going to want to stick with me as there are some sweet things coming your way.  

That’s all for now. . . . I will do my best to post tomorrow – it is a BIG day!  We have our opening session in the morning and some classes in the afternoon.  Our awards night is tomorrow night.  I am really excited for that!   We also have entertainment. . . and I love the group we are having – they are form Minnesota – Tonic Sol Fa.  

Stay tuned for more updates!