I know I mentioned it a week or so ago but, I still have an opportunity to give someone a gift from Stampin' Up!  Actually, I really have more than one gift to give;

• Free subscription to Stampin' Success magazine – this is the full color magazine only available to demonstrators until now.  I can give you a FREE 3 month subscription.  No strings attached except that you'll be inspired by all of the great samples in it.  PLUS – there's a BIG surprise coming up with the next catalog – you could be one of the first to know!  If you are interested in getting this from me, Please let me know.  I will be doing a drawing of customers who have ordered from me since January 24 and those who have scheduled workshops with me during Sale-a-Bration.
• Here's a gift that will keep on giving for a year – During Sale-a-Bration, you can join the Stampin' Up! family for only $125.  You get the full kit – worth $360!  You can customize this kit to suit your needs.  The additional gift is that Stampin' Up! will give you a choice of free Designer Series Paper or Digital Downloads every month for a year.  You can check out the details here.  If you sign up with me prior to February 24, I have an extra gift for you.  You too could have these things I love about Stampin' Up! for yourself. 
  • Discount on everything that I buy
  • Access to 1000's of ideas on Stampin' Up!'s website for demonstrators.   It beats pinterest hands down!
  • When you attend Stmapin' Up!'s events, you can learn tons of new ideas, develop phenomenal friendships around the country
  • Fill your personal bank with lots of warm fuzzies – that bank is not just about money – it is about the feel good fuzzies I get from sending cards and helping others be in touch with their creativity

Here's a card that I received in my swapping at Stampin' Up!'s leadership conference.  It was made by Cathy Wszelaki.  The reason I am posting this card (besides that I like it) is that it uses a set that you could receive when you join the Stampin' Up! family.  The set is called Easy Events.

Can you see the versatility in this set? 
I love how Cathy added some pizzaz to this card.  The base color of Island Indigo with the square lattice textured embossing folder and a strip of the printed paper in the same color creates just the perfect background.  She used the 2 1/2" circle punch to create the Easy Event focal point for the card.  If you look very closely, she added Dazzeling Details in Cherry Cobbler to the heart in the tree.  Love it! 

OK, so do you know what you gotta do?  Here's your homework simplified;

• get your order in or schedule your show to be in the drawing for the Stampin' Success subscription
• consider joining the Stampin' Up! family – for a discount or to build a business and a little extra income for your family
• consider getting "easy events"  such an adorable card it makes!

Blessings!

Are you wondering what wonderful new die or punch was used to create the elegant detail at the bottom of this banner?  Well you'll be surprised to learn that it's so much easier than even a punch or a die!  It's the Designer Cuts Cards & Envelopes set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. 

Here's what you get with this gorgeous set of cards and envelopes;

• 4 cards each of 2 different designs – the one shown and the heart (which is soooooo yummy!)
• 8 envelopes in Blushing Bride

Here's a pick of what you get;

So you can see that I took just one of the cards with the design on the bottom and cut it apart and backed it with Blushing Bride cardstock (by the way, I have been using this color a lot lately – it's a very nice pink.  If you don't have it, you owe it to yourself to check it out).

I did start another banner as well – not quite ready for prime time yet – I'll post it if I get it done.

Blessings!

Here's what I used;

Stamp Sets:  Mixed Bunch

Paper & Ink:  Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Punches:  2 1/2 inch circle, 3/4 inch circle, Label

Sizzix;  Dotted Texture Embossing folder, Paper Doily Large Sizzlet die

Accessory:  Large Pearl Basic Jewels

I have posted picks of the Doily Die projects before.   Here is what I have learned from using this die;

• the results are stunning – and worth just a bit of extra work
• It is best to use a shim when cutting this one out – a piece of cardstock
• roll your doily from side to side and up and down – this loosens many of the delicate pieces allowing most of them to pop out
• Use your scoring tool or paper piercing tool to push out the pieces that don't fall out – front to backside

Here's a video from Stampin' Up! creating one of the gorgeous samples in the Occasions Mini Catalog - check it out, I'm sure you'll agree with me!

Leave me a note and let me know what you think!

Blessings!

I used the same technique I described a couple of days ago to create the interest at the top of the card.  The only difference is that I used the Adorning Accents Edgelit.  The stem is from the Sweetheart stamp set – dig it out as it was a favorite a few years ago and goes so perfectly with this set!  I finished it off with the Springtime Vintage DSP and an Everyday Enchantment brad – 2 of the free items from Sale-a-Bration! 

I also want to call your attention to the greeting on this card.  It is from the Loving Thoughts stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  What I love about this greeting set is;

• It is available in a digital download – and will be a great addition to My Digital Studio pages
• It's a little out of the ordinary but, is perfect for cards where I want something just a bit different than "happy birthday", "have a great day", etc.  

Hope you enjoyed this card as much as I did – and if you did, why not may someone's day.  Be a Daymaker!   How do you do that?  Well – make 2 of these cards – one for you and one for a friend and pop it in the mail.  Then sit back and imagine the look on your friends face and the warm fuzzy feeling they will have when they receive this gorgeous card!

Blessings!

I simply put the top of my cardstock through the framelit and cut it – only rolling it partway through the big shot!  So simple – but what a great addition to this card!   LOVE it!!!!!

Here's a close up of what I am talking about. . .

Don't you love how cool the Springtime Vintage DSP looks on this card?   Cool beans!  So many possibilities.  If you haven't yet ordered your framelits – labels or hearts – they are a must have!   Stay tuned for more great looks in the near future.

In the meantime, I am looking for some special person or people. . . . now don't go rushing to any conclusions.  While it could be a man I am looking for – it's not to replace my current prince – aka Jim.  Here is what I am looking for;

• Someone who would love to receive Stampin' Up!'s Success magazine for 3 months – yes for the first time ever and for a limited time, I get to choose 1 person to get this magazine, that I get so many ideas from, FREE for 3 months.  No strings attached – but, the hope is that you'll be inspired to join the Stampin' Up! family!
• I'm also looking for some special person(s) to join my team before February 22.   It's such a great time – during Sale-a-Bration,  Only $125 for over $360 worth of supplies and a 20% discount on your wish list!!!!  Yep, and you are a demo until the new catalog comes out so you'll get in on the fantabulous sneak peak – in other words, you get the goods before everyone else!!!!  And if that's not enough, each month for a year Stampin' Up! is going to give you a gift – either DSP or a digital download!    What are you waiting for?  It does sound a bit like to good to be true – but, trust me – it's not!

Give me a call if you want more details on either of these offers.  You can join my team for product training on Wednesday February 8 at 7pm. 

Blessings!

What I really like about this card is that it uses up those little scraps that you have laying around.  The DSP I used is the Springtime Vintage from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog – in other words – it's FREE!  You simply adhere strips of paper to a piece of cardstock.  it's made easy when you cover it with adhesive from the multi-purpose adhesive sheets. 

The flower is from a fantastic new set from the Occasions Mini Catalog called; Mixed Bunch – there is a punch to match! 

The size of these flowers is so great for a focal point on your card or project.  Love it!  Check out the samples on p 17 of the mini – note how the flower was used to make the butterfly on p 16.  Cute, huh!

Remember, it you want to learn how to do this great background technique – make sure you attend one of my events this month! 

Blessings!

Note the coordinating brads and ribbon!   LOVE them!   So, here's the details about Sale-a-Bration this year!

Customers;

• Free item from the Sale-a-Bration brochure for every $50 in merchandise!

Hostesses;

• Wow – even better this year!
• Free bundle of products for a $400 workshop!  You'll get a stamp set, shopping tote, The awesome DSP and the ribbon and brad pack – check out the pic above – you need these items!
• Free tote for $150 workshop!
• AND that's in addition to the already awesome hostess benefits!

New Demonstrator opportunity

• Kit "on sale" for only $125!   That's $325 worth of products for only $125!
• PLUS you will get a free paper pack or digital download every month for the rest of the year when you place an order!  It's like the gift that keeps on giving!

Upcoming Opportunities!

Saturday, January 28 2-5pm  Sale-a-Bration Open House   RSVP by Thursday to have a gift waiting for you!

Sunday, January 29 1pm – Big Shot Fun – you are going to fall in love with all of the big shot items in the Occasions Mini Catalog!  And I learned some great new tips and techniques at Leadership!   You will want to come to this class!!!!

Blessings!

GREAT Friends and GREAT relationships!

Great Ideas!

Over the top product displays!

and so much more!

I can't wait to get home and share it all with everyone!   Make sure you RSVP for my Open House Saturday, January 28 2-5pm.  Those that RSVP and attend will have a special treat waiting for them!

I'm off to Stampin' Up!'s regional seminar today.  Home on Sunday!

Blessings!

Here is one of the many cute – super cute ideas on display;

There are tons of great ideas!

Last night we were treated at Managers Reception to a great display of Chinese Acrobats!   It was pretty cool – and we got a new stamp set that's not in any of the catalogs we currently have!

Off for more fun today!

Blessings!

I LOVE the free DSP from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog – look at how cool this card is!   I used one of the patterned papers and made a rosette out of eight 1 3/8" circles!   Adding a little of the yummy new ribbon from the mini catalog and a tone on tone textured background and the result is a gorgeous card!  

I'm off to bed tonight but, you'll have to check back in the next few days – I think I'll try out some of the other DSP patterns! 

Blessings!