Have you seen these messages?  They are on the outside of the Stampin' Up! boxes for Sale-a-Bration!  It's the best time to stock up on paper, accessories, ribbon and your favorite stamp sets!  Which message is your favorite!

Blessings!

This cute fabric flower is the large focal point of this card.  It was a fun creation for my downline Business Builder meeting last week.  It was inspired by something I saw at the Minneapolis Stampin' Up! regional.  Check out this close up of the flower – doesn't it just say – touch me?  This is relatively easy to make.  Using the Tasteful Trim die (120893) from the Holiday Mini Catalog (it is still available and is a favorite of scrapbookers for it's 12 inch width), you will die cut a length of fabric.  Here I used a piece of our Springtime Vintage fabric (121817).  Once you have that cut, I used our sticky pages and cut a 3 inch circle -then just wound the fabric around the circle.  I am sure you can imagine making some of these of your own!  If you need a little help, come to my Big Shot class in March. You can also check back in a week or two as this will be the next video I shoot!  And check back soon as I shot a video today – you won't want to miss this great fold idea!

Blessings!

Check out my second video. Give this layout a try and send posts of your samples!

This was a favorite at a wedding fair I did yesterday in Hudson, Wisconsin.  The wedding fair was lots of fun – I really enjoyed meeting people excited about their futures.  The energy was amazing! 

This invitation is 5 x 7 and has a nice pocket for the extra info you need to send with your invitation.  You'll love the quality and weight of Stampin' Up!'s cardstock as you personalize your wedding with your own invitations.  It's an economical choice too! 

The elegant details on this card really stand out.  This invitation was originally designed by my friend Dena Rekow.  I had to refine it just slightly.  If you have a wedding or other event in your future that needs a special invitation, give me a call for a consultation.  We'll create a sample you'll be happy with.  Then you can use my classroom to put your invites together – my gift to you is that all of your cardstock will be cut for you! 

On another note, winter has struck again here in Minnesota – OMG – can we be done already!  There has to be another foot out there.  The one thing I did love about this storm is that my daughter came to stay with us so that she was closer to work.  It sure was fun relaxing last night with Jim and Mandy – keep in mind she is 27 and this just doesn't happen much anymore!  She even came and watched the news in bed with me this morning! 

Imagine this great banner adorning your creative space!  It is sure to attract the attention of your families and friends.  This was a make-n-take at the Minneapolis Regional.  Several visitors to my stampin' spot this week have asked me about the banner so, I have decided to have a class!  Sign up now to hold your spot for Tuesday, March 8 at 6:30pm.  If you would like this class in the mail, I am pleased to offer this as well.  This project uses the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (p 26 of Occasions Mini Catalog) and the Nature Walk Stamp Set. 

• Class only $20- you only get the supplies you need to make your project
  
• Basic Bundle – $65 (add shipping costs if mailing)
  • Petal Cone Die (this is the base of the banner) $32.95
  • Nature Walk stamp set – clear mount $18.95
  • Sale-a-Bration Set of your choice
  • Directions and all other supplies to make the banner
• Stepped Up Bundle – for when you really need it all and see the versatility of these dies – $125 (plus shipping if mailing)
  • All components of Basic Bundle
  • Champagne Glass Glitter (yummy!) $3.95
  • Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper $9.95
  • Fun Flowers Bigz Die $32.95
  • Basic Pearls $4.95
  • Another Sale-a-Bration Choice!

Blessings!

As I'm listening to the snow forcast for tomorrow 0 I thought I would share this card that is "springish".  It was made by Stampin' Up! and given to me at the Minneapolis Regional last Saturday.  I like the color combination – it is directly from the Color Coach (121620).  Peach Parfait, Not Quite Navy and Pear Pizzazz.  

The stamp set is Bold Blossom (c – 122232  w-123232) from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  A very inexpensive ($9.95 clear mount) that has a ton of possibilities.  If you need a stamp set that gives you a quick and easy card – this is a stamp set for you.  The words are from the same stamp set.

Of course, there are little extras on this card.  The Peach Parfait  1/2" stitched poly ribbon is a great accent.  Check out the bling – aka basic rhinestones (119246).  The flowers are punched out with a 3/4" circle punch and popped up with stampin' dimensionals and then adorned with dazzeling diamonds – a girls best friend!  The Not Quite Navy circle in the background is the 3 1/2" circle die from the mini catalog (121811)  and it is texturized with the perfect polka dots (117335) embossing folder.

I highly recommend the color coach if you don't already have it.  The large samples and color combinations are hmmm hmmm good.  I love to use this tool when I am making cards that needs a certain color in it – but, I use it most when I am scrapbooking – I match up colors in my pictures with the color coach and then look at what accents and backgrounds I need to make that page look spectacular.  At $14.95, it is a great tool to have in your bag!

I am busy getting ready for a wedding show tomorrow in Hudson – come and see me.  If you can't, check back over the next few days and you'll see some of the things I have created for this event. 

Blessings!

Shelli Gardner is the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!  You'll love her message.  Make sure that you are ready to view ALL of the gorgeous, eye-popping and drool worthy projects!  Many of these I have seen at the Stampin' Up! home office and at convention last year.  One of the many benefits of being at Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  I love my job! 

Did you know that right now you can join this company for a phenomenal deal?  All starter kits (Standard and Digital +) are 15% off PLUS you'll get;

• me!   haha – I'm priceless! 
• A starter kit bonus bundle worth over $40
• A not yet released hostess stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog (only if you sign up in the next week)

So, if you are interested in getting a discount on your wish list, adding a little extra money to your families income or growing a business.  This is a great time to consider this fantastic opportunity as you are getting over $400 worth of supplies for $155.  It's a deal!

Oh Summer – please come soon!   Yep – that's a prayer form here in Minnesota!  I'm sooo ready for a little summer!  The name of the stamp set used here is Sweet Summer.  It's one of the exclusive free sets during Sale-a-Bration!  The look of this card is very pleasing.  Nice color scheme.  It's a card I received from the Minneapolis Regional conference this past weekend. . . . unfortunately, I don't know who created it – so, if it's yours – let me know! 

This is one of the cards I am going to feature this weekend at my stop n go cards event.  Stop by – 5 cards for $10 – Saturday, February 19 1-4pm. 

Update – the proud creater of this gorgeous card is LuAnn Dehne!   Thanks for sharing it LuAnn!

Blessings!

Wow, what a weekend!  On Saturday, I attended the Minneapolis Regional Event.  What a blast!  It was so much fun having a great group of my downline and customers!  There were 14 of us!  This is most of the group from Saturday.  I also got a chance to reconnect with some of my Stampin' Up! friends from the home office and around the area.  I know you've heard me say this before – but, the friendships I have through Stampin' Up! are treasures. 

Check back soon for some pics of the great make-n-takes and other yummy ideas!

Check out this cute and simple treat.  I know this weekend you'll be working on your last minute treats for family and friends.  I hope this inspires you!   There is an abundance of heart shaped suckers out there right now.  I couldn't find them with clear wrapping so, I did unwrap it and put a small cello bag over the top.  Of course this uses the Petal Cone Die (again!).   Let's take it apart;

• The "cone" is made from Sahara Sand cardstock – die cut into the Petal Cone shape(121810)  and then using the "Heart Pressed" letterpress plate (121814), you get the added texture that you can see in the close up shot.  What I did to get the hearts to stand out a bit more was to run Crumb Cake Classic ink over the plate.
• The scallop edges are from the Petal Cone Die and are cut in Real Red cardstock
• The White behind the sucker is a half circle from our 2 1/2" circle punch. 
• I also used the 2 1/2" circle punch to punch a 1/2 circle from the Love Impressions Designer Series Paper (121780).
• The heart is punched from the Red Glimmer Paper (121790) using the Heart to Heart Punch (119881).

The Heart Pressed letterpress template and the Love Impressions DSP are from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  If you haven't seen the Occasions Mini Catalog – it is a MUST see – you need to plan out your purchases from this great catalog! 

Here's another treat idea that you might like.  These have been selling like crazy at my local hair salon (MDK's). 

The scallop topper is from the Petal Cone Die – just fold your cardstock in half and don't cut the top edge of the scallop – you've then created a little pocket to put your treat bag in.  The nuggets are wrapped in 1 x 3" strips of DSP.  I again used the 2 1/2" circle punch  from the Love Impressions DSP to decorate the top of my scallop – and of course one needed a Red Glimmer Paper heart!

Hope this inspires you to create a special "treat" for your Valentine!  Blessings!