New Hostess Promotion

Oh my word, Stampin' Up! is so generous to it's Hostesses. From now till August 31st host a workshop that comes to $350 or more and get an additional $25 in free merchandise. So by having a qualifying workshop, and yes you may be your own party, you will get a Level One or Level TWO Hostess Stamp Set and $65 in free merchandise. You may pick anything in the big catalog or the current Mini catalog. What a great deal. Contact me today to hold your in home workshop, your catalog workshop or to just place your own order.

It's always something

I have spent the last couple of days trying my best to figure several things out on this blog. Seems my background disappeared and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. All it took was to ask the kid what I was doing wrong and without even looking at it he told me how to take care of the problem. Problem solved, sure wish I had all of that computer stuff in my pea brain.

Stampin' Up! is having their annual convention in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah and oh how I wish I was there. I am hearing about lots of promotions and the such coming up and can't wait till this info is shared with all of the demos so I can share it with you.

One thing I would like to share today is the Stampin' Up! opportunity. SU! is the perfect part time job for busy people or a full time job for those real go getters. Don't want to make it a business but would love to get your Stampin' Up! fix with a discount? Then become a Hobby Demonstrator. Right now is the perfect time to join my team, call or email me today.

Hillbilly Reunion part 2

Ok, how about this one for the women? The ever talented Becky Roberts has a tutorial for sale on her blog and I just had to buy it. I love her work. Of course I didn't follow the directions exactly because I am just not a direction follower, I'm more of an estimator. I love this little bag, reminds me of my Grandma's purses. The Woodgrain Background was used again and it is so cute in person.

Hillbilly Reunion

It is our turn to host the Allen Family Reunion and of course I volunteered to be in charge of the table settings. This what I came up with for the utensil and napkin holder. I used the now retired Close to Cocoa and the Pillow Box die and my beloved Big Shot. I have to use a pretty thick shim under this die to make it work correctly. I then stamped with the Woodgrain Background stamp in Chocolate Chip and used the 1 inch punch to cut out the hole. Stamped the owl put him on the inside, cut off the top flaps and assembled. Only 39 more to go.

Mini Milk Cartons, part 2

The Big Shot Mini Milk Carton Die is so easy to use that once you start making them you can not stop. Besides that I wanted to stamp the "To Open" part of the Got Treats stamp set. This carrier is a little taller than the last but they are so easy to make and change the height to fit whatever size suits your fancy.

Milk Carton Die

I love my Big Shot and was thrilled when my last order earned me the opportunity to get the Mini Milk Carton Die absolutely free. I love free stuff!!! I wanted to make clear milk cartons from the moment I laid eyes on this die in the catalog. So today I made clear cartons and filled them with my favorite candy, M&M's with peanuts! I figure M&M's with peanuts are good for you since you get a bit of protein with every one.

Did you spy the "ribbon" around the carton? That is the new Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, now you can make ribbons out of any cardstock or Designer Series Paper. The possibilities are endless. The stamp set used on the front of the carton carrier is Got Treats. An adorable stamp set that covers every occasion you could want.

Two more 3 x 3 cards

Here is the rest of the 3 x 3 set of cards I made using the Cheers stamp set. I am bound and determined to use up some of my paper stash and Stampin' Up! makes it so easy to match ink colors to paper colors to just plain fun.

Stampin' at the Bookstore is coming up on the 27th and this month is going to be a Scavenger Hunt. All participants are asked to bring their own kit of supplies; paper cutter, adhesive, scissors, favorite coloring tools etc. Then each participant will also bring 3 or more colors of card stock, brads or a yard or so of ribbon, an ink pad or two and your current favorite Stampin' Up! stamp set. Bring these supplies in a shoebox sized container and we will all share and see what we come up with. Bringing your supplies in a box will insure that you can take your leftovers back home. We will be voting on our favorite at the end of the night and a small prize will be awarded. Sound like fun? Let me know and I will send you more details, we would love to have you join us.

Mini cards, but big fun

I sell cards down at Passage Bookstore in New Richmond, a really nice bookstore down by the mighty Ohio River. There is a skinny spinning rack in the middle of two larger spinning racks and it was just screaming for some 3 x 3 mini cards. I love to make this size cards and I love the little envelopes that Stampin' Up! sells for them, just perfect.

I used the Cheers stamp set and all of the cards have Crystal Effects on top of the drink part of each stamp. Looks really cute in real life.

Just a quickie answer to a question posted in yesterday's comments. The music paper on the Greeting Cards Kids is by Stampin' Up! and is called Newsprint. Every piece in this pack is better than the last. Thanks for your comments, I really love reading them.

Greeting Card Kids

Greeting Card Kids was a set I knew the moment I laid eyes on it in the new catalog that I would have to find a place for it in my Stampin' Sanctuary. Today after a little prodding from my friend Jean I sat down and made this card. It took me about 15 minutes and I even watercolored. Watercoloring scares me for some strange reason and this was my first try in a long, long time. I used an Aquapainter and ink that I squished the lid of my ink pad to obtain. I saw a similar design on SCS and this is my take. So here is my first card using the Greeting Card Kid stamp set and my first Christmas card of the year.

Call or email me today if you need to have the set Greeting Card Kids come to stay in your home. Still need a catalog, contact me immediately, you won't regret it.

Color Renovation Kits available

Another Secret Message Cards

These secret message cards are so easy to make and so much fun to watch the recipient figure out.

Try these quickie directions and see if you can make one.

Start with a half of a piece of cardstock cut long ways, 4 1/4" by 11".

Fold in half to make a standard card and then fold each end in on itself. You need to end up with a mountain fold in the middle and two valley folds on either end.

Take the mountain fold and cut to the fold line in the middle and then evenly on each side.

Two pieces of card stock go into these cuts like you are weaving in and out and then the opposite on the other side. Stamp these two pieces while in position.

Stamp and embellish the front but only glue the top focal piece onto the left hand side. When you are opening the card to get to the secret message you fold the middle and it will split allowing you to find the secret message, so cute and very addictive to make. I first saw this idea on Dawn Griffith's blog.

Happy 50th Birthday secret message card

My baby brother turns 50 this week and we are celebrating at his house today. I love a good 4th of July cookout. I made his birthday card this morning and wanted to incorporate 50 of something in there. So I stamped "happy" 50 times on the inside of the first and second panels. These Secret Message cards are so neat, they remind me of a Jacob's Ladder. I used the patriotic colors of Real Red and Brilliant Blue and the Circle Circus stamp set.

Product Shares still available

Here are some of the Product Shares that are still available for you to order. All prices include S&H and tax. Shipping to you if needed is extra. Money is due when the merchandise is ordered so I wait till the share is filled. Any questions just email me and I will get right back to you.

1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon Share ( 1 spot left ) $10.75 each share

Approx. 3 yards of each of the new InColors, 15 yards total. See ribbon on page 190

5/8" Satin Ribbon Share ( 2 spots left ) $12.75 each share

Approx. 3 yards each of 6 colors; Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzelberry, Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Early Espresso. See ribbon on page 191

Flower Brad Share (2 spots left ) $11.00

2 brads each of 6 colors, four Color Collections for a total of 48 brads with one container. See brads on page 187.

You can also have a half share of this one so it will be one brad in each of the 24 colors available with no container for $5.50.

SU! Brad Share ( 3 spots left ) $8.25 each share

30 brads of each color collection, 5 of each color brad for a total of 120 brads and one container. See brad colors on page 187.

That's it for the available Product Shares. More will become available if interest is indicated.

Thanks and Happy Stampin'

First Day of the New Catalog

The first day of anything can be exciting, but the first day of the new Stampin' Up! catalog, can't describe it, sorry, just can't. I have a bunch of Product Shares going on so I ordered those and a few customer orders and then a little bit for myself and Bazinga! $500 order on the nose. For those followers of certain SU! demos, I JANTINKED it!!! And I paid extra for 2nd Day shipping because the older I get the more impatient I get. To tell the truth I don't think I was ever very patient.

Wanna know what I picked for my 2 Level One Hostess Sets and my 1 Level 2 Hostess Sets? Since SU! rocks and already sent me Because I Care for free!, I ordered Birthday Bakery and Punch Potpourri, kinda like I am going in order thru the catalog. The Level 2 set I picked was Apple Blossoms, the stamp with the open circles intrigues me. Don't ask why because I don't know. I also got $60 dollars in free merchandise!!! Won't go into all of those details, let's just say my BIG box can't get here fast enough.

If you want to get in on any of the Product Shares just contact me. I always have shares going on so if you don't feel the need for 15 yards of ribbon in 6 different colors but would like to have 3 yards of each my Product Shares may be just what you are looking for.

I am going to go clean my Stampin' Sanctuary so it is all ready for new stuff! Would someone please alert the authorities if you don't hear from me in a couple of days?

Thanks and Happy Stampin'