More FREE Hostess Benefits!!!

Extra! Extra! Stampin' Up! hostesses get extra hostess awards July 27-August 31, in addition to the already fantastic hostess benefits! 

(See details here.)

Sugar and Spice...

Here is a picture of the goodies that awaited all demonstrators at the Stampin' Up offices:

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Doesn't it all look delicious!?!   Check out the close-ups:

 

It all looks good enough to eat, wouldn't you agree?  But did you notice that it's all made out of Stampin' Up's color coordinated cardstock, ribbons, and buttons!?!  I was certainly in awe of the talent of the designers employeed by Stampin' Up!

2010 Stampin' Up Convention

I just got home from the 2010 Stampin' Up Convention in Salt Lake City.  It was simply AMAZING!!!  Below is a picture of this year's theme:  Share What You Love.  I hope that you all can feel the love that I have for this craft as I share it with all of you!

Here is a picture of my best friend and downline Dee and myself at the Stampin' Up home offices, just inside the Legacy Room.  Displays of Stampin' Up products and creations as well as the history of the company are displayed within this room.  The framed picture features Stampin' Up's Statement of the Heart:

To love what we do

and share what we love,

as we help others enjoy creativity

 and worthwhile accomplishments...

in this we make a difference.

At the home office they also have a huge blackboard where they are keeping a tally of the number of new recruits who join in 2010.  I estimate that my friend Sharon is counted on that board, as she just joined the Stampin' Up family in June! 

I received a special reward of sorts since I had a new recruit in June:  breakfast with Shelli Gardner (CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up)!!!  Below is a picture of my new friends and I at that breakfast:

After 4 funfilled days at the annual Stampin' Up convention the only thing that could have made the trip any better was to get some free Stampin' Up toys... and ... guess what?!?!  All demonstrators who stayed until tht last minute of convention received some awesome products from the new Holiday Mini Catalog which won't be available until September 1st!!!  How awesome is that?! 

If you'd like information about joining the Stampin' Up family or products feel free to contact me via my demonstrator website:  http://www.stampngrl.stampinup.net/

Got Treats?... Halloween Swap

When I saw the new stamp set Got Treats in the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog I knew that I would just have to order it.  It's so versatile with images for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, and Halloween.  Since Fall is the next season coming up, I made this Halloween card with the pumpkin image.  I used the Web wheel for the background, too.

Supplies

Stamps:  Got Treats, Web Stampin’ Around Wheel

Cardstock:  Naturals White, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Ink:  Whisper White Craft; Basic Black, Garden Green, Tangerine Tango Stampin’ Write Markers

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Tag Punch, 1/16” Circle Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Christmas Card Swap...2 Versions

I wanted to create a card for the Stampin' Up Convention with my new stamp set Welcome Christmas, fresh from the brand new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog.  Here are the two versions I came up with:

Supplies

Stamps:  Confetti, Welcome Christmas, Occasional Quotes

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Whisper White,

Ink:  Whisper White Craft; Night of Navy Classic

Accessories:  5/8” Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

So, which version do you like best?

Artistic Etchings Swap

This swap features my favorite color combination:  Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler!  I've used one of the brand new stamp sets Artistic Etchings which has the Eiffel Tower image.  This card makes me want to visit France for the first time in my life!  How about you???

Supplies

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, En Francais

Cardstock:  Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black

Ink:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Basic Black ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin’ Sponges, Modern Label Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Glue Dots, Sstampin’ Dimensionals

Falling Leaves Swap

I think this is one of my favorite swaps I've made for this year's Stampin' Up Convention.  I've loved the Falling Leaves stamp set since it debuted in last year's catalog!  I tried to incorporate a few of the new colors and some of the returning favorites from the Color Renovation.  What is your favorite new color???

Supplies

Stamps:  Falling Leaves

Cardstock:  Elegant Eggplant, Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze

Ink:  More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon,Glue Dots

Friends Never Fade Swap

Don't you just love the Color Renovation at Stampin' Up?!  This card features several of the new colors:  Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, and Melon Mambo.  I've added a touch of the familiar with the Pumpkin Pie butterfly as an accent, made with the Beautiful Wings Embossslit.  I also used the Big Shot to add embossing to the background of the Pacific Point .  I think this card turned out pretty cool!

Supplies

Stamps:  Friends Never Fade

Cardstock:  Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Ink:  Pacific Point

Accessories:  Scallop Border Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Birthday Bliss Swap.... Take 2

Here is my "redesigned" swap card featuring the Birthday Bliss stamp set.  As you can see I brightened up the card by using the awesome new colors Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist.  I also moved the stamped image to the center of the card.  I love the playful polka dotted background created with the Big Shot.

Supplies

Stamps:  Birthday Bliss

Cardstock:  Confetti White, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler

Ink:  Marina Mist & Basic Black Classic Ink; Daffodil Delight & Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Write Markers

Accessories:  Modern Label Punch, Curly Label Punch, Big Shot, Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool, Blender Pen, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

So, which version of Birthday Bliss do you like best?

Birthday Bliss Swap... Take 1

Here is my first take at a birthday swap for the annual Stampin' Up convention.  I wanted to use the stamp set Birthday Bliss as it has some simple images that are so cute.  While this card turned out cute, I didn't feel that it was a "WOW".  Since I made this version I've reworked this card a bit with a change of colors to brighten it up some.  I'll post the updated card next week, so keep coming back to see my other swaps!

Supplies

Stamps:  Birthday Bliss

Cardstock:  Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Confetti White

Ink:  Marina Mist, Basic Black Classic Ink; Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Modern Label Punch, Curly Label Punch, Big Shot, Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon, Glue Dots, Paper Piercing Tool, Blender Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Yummy Recipe Swap!

Here is my entry for the recipe swap I'm participating in at the annual Stampin' Up convention.  This is one of my favorite recipes of my mom's.  It's easy and delicious!  If you look closely, you see some of the brand new products from the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog!  I've used the new color Daffodil Delight to represent "butter" which always goes well with mashed potatoes!  I've also used the new stamp set Friends Never Fade and the new 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Daffodil Delight.  Yum!!!

Supplies
Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Daffodil Delight 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon, Antique Brass Brads, Big Shot, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Black Magic

This card is part of another technique swap I'm doing for the annual Stampin' Up convention.  Black Magic is an easy technique to do!  You stamp your solid image using Whisper White Craft Ink on Basic Black cardstock.  After the ink dries, you simply color over the image using your colored pencils and the result is this:

Supplies

Stamps:  Inspired By Nature

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie Classic, Whisper White Craft

Accessories:  Colored Pencils, Wide Oval Punch, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Faux Suede

Today's sample features a technique called "Faux Suede".  I made this card for a swap I'm doing at the annual Stampin' Up Convention I'll be attending later this month.  Both the snow drifts and the circles that make up the snowman are examples of this technique.  You take a piece of cardstock (such as punched circles) between your thumb and a bone folder and curl the cardstock in every direction and on both sides until you break down the fibers in the piece of cardstock and notice that it is starting to separate at the edges.  You carefully peel the piece of cardstock apart and inside is a soft "suede-like" surface.

Here is a close-up of the snowman.   (Remember you can click on the picture to make it larger!)

Supplies

Stamps:  Snow Swirled

Cardstock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

Ink:  Whisper White Craft, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories:  1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Bitty Circle Punch, Snowflake Punch, Bone Folder, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Bitty Buttons, Basic Black Brads, Crystal Effects, Linen Thread, Glue Dots

MMMmmmmm

What else would be so yummy on a hot July day as a triple scoop of ice cream on a sugar cone?!  This card features the Sweet Scoops stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog. 

Supplies

Stamps:  Sweet Scoops

Cardstock:  Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum

Ink:  Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Final July 4th Sample

As pleased as I was with yesterday's card, I thought that the post office would not be very pleased with that star brad, so I replaced it with a plain, small silver brad.  This is the final, mailable version of my 4th of July card that I am sending to my family and friends.  Now, tell me... which one is your favorite???