Stamp with Me!

Great News about Sale-a-bration!

You already know you get to select a free SAB stamp set, designer paper or ribbon bundle for every $50 you spend during Sale-a-bration (February 1 - March 31).  And you know you get to select one of the selections when your workshop reaches $300.

If you sign up to become a Stampin' Up!® demonstrator during SAB, you can select any set from the current catalog FREE.

Now there's even more to "Sale-a-brate!"

Become a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator during Sale-a-bration, and get your customizable Starter Kit—$335 worth of products—for only $169! That’s 15% off the regular price of $199!

Enhance your kit by adding scrapbooking products with our Stampin’ Memories® add-on for only $50. And shipping is FREE!

Whether you want a fun and flexible career with Stampin’ Up! or simply some great products at a terrific discount, jumpstart your creativity today with the Stampin’ Up! Starter Kit.

Contact me to find out how to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

(Note....had to work today, so hopefully I'll have cards for you to see tomorrow!)

Snow Day!

I didn't get as much done as I wanted - but I did get to practice some music today.  I took one for the team, though.  I turned a page and smoothed it down with my hand and---oops!  --a not quite flat staple took a chunk out of my finger.  Ouch. 

This is kind of what it looks like at our house.

This is the new "Branching Out" stamp set from the Spring/Summer 2009 catalog.  I'm really enjoying it!  I decided to use a jumbo eyelet for the swing, then added a little "snow" with white craft refill and some embossing powder.  I used a white gel pen for the snow on the tree.

You can't see it really well, but I "textured" the DSP with one of the plates from the "Texture Plates Kit #4."

Supplies:
Stamp set:  Branching Out
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue classic; Close to Cocoa marker, white gel pen, white craft ink refill
Paper:  Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White card stock; Brocade Blue patterns DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Texture Plates Kit #4, Pewter Jumbo eyelets, white embossing powder, crop-a-dile, stampin' dimensionals, stampin' sponges

I call it.....Waiting for Spring.

And here it is!!  Same layout, except I left off the eyelet. 

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Branching Out
Ink:  Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal classic; Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa markers
Paper:  Whisper White, Always Apricot, Lavender Lace card stock; Always Apricot patterns DSP
Accessories:  BIg Shot, Top Note Die, Texture Plates Kit #4, Stampin' Sponges, flower eyelets, crop-a-dile, Certainly Celery wide grosgrain, stampin' dimensionals

That's it for today.  Looks like we have ice and freezing rain tomorrow, so the Technique class will probably be rescheduled, and we'll meet next Thursday at 11 a.m.

Chocolate Box Template

Here's the template for the chocolate box.  Sizes are approximate.  It's a very forgiving template!
My final box was tied closed with chocolate chip taffeta ribbon.  Gorgeous! (This pic uses Baroque Burgundy ribbon.)

I'm hoping to be able to stamp tomorrow.  They're calling for nasty weather again, so maybe I'll be able to spend some time in the stamp room.  The guys cut wood today, so it will be nice and toasty!
         

Chocolate & Champagne

...just in time for Valentine's Day!  Trust me, the scanner really doesn't do this card justice. 

The Bronze Metallic card stock in the Taste of Textiles pack is so gorgeous.  I used that as the main panel, and embossed the Fifth Avenue Floral flower on it with Chocolate Chip craft ink and clear powder. 

The sentiment is gold ink/gold embossing powder.  The background oval and the crimped strip were made with heat & stick powder and Fine Galaxy glitter.  I used the Champagne.  Someone asked if it was worth $13.95.  YES!  Of course, I am a glitter junkie.

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink:  Chocolate Chip craft; Gold Encore; VersaMark, Chocolate Chip classic
Paper:  Taste of Textiles; Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Crimper, Fine Galaxy Glitter, Heat & Stick Powder, gold embossing powder, clear embossing powder, wide oval & key tag punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

And this one has no glitter at all!  Lots of people have said, "What's with the boots?" about this set.  Well, let me tell you - as someone who spent a lot of time in the apple tree in our front yard, you can't climb a tree with boots on.  Ok, you can, but it's not that easy.  There's just something about feeling the limbs under your feet.  Yes, I know there's no one up the tree.  That's the beauty of kicking your boots off.  We had a rule that you had to wear shoes outside until the temperature got to be a certain Fahrenheit, but no one said you had to keep them on once you were out.  So whoever kicked them off is barefoot and having an awesome time right now.  (And I know my mother knew I was barefoot from March until October...nothing got past her, really.  She just pretended it did if it wasn't something that would cause serious harm, illness or injury.)  My friend Karen (another Karen, not the "anti-glitter Karen" from yesterday) has a daughter named Autumn.  Well -- this is really weird, because both Karens have daughters named Autumn.  But the little Autumn (I think she's about five years old right now) has red boots.  So - this one's for Autumn.  (She's the little sister of the inspiration for the Ballerina Monkey.)

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Branch Out, Dream a Little (hostess, Level 3)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Brilliant Blue classic; Chocolate Chip, Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Brilliant Blue, Ruby Red card stock; Garden Green Patterns DSP (hostess Level 1)
Accessories:  Texturz Plate - Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1, Big Shot, Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges, Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Crimper, 1" circle punch, designer label punch, corner rounder*
* Note.....if you take the guide off the corner rounder to do a scallop border, be sure to put it back on before you use it to corner round.  Oops!

Last thing....Lots of people ask, "How big is your dog?"  Well, here's a picture, and it's not Photoshopped, I promise.  Yes, his name is "Hoss," but he came with the name.  If I had the choice, it would be "Danzig," "Ludwig" or "Wolfgang."

You notice we have hardwood floors.  Part of the reason is because he drools incessantly, so it's easier to clean hardwood than carpet.  And, yes, he's taller than the seat on the wing chair.  That's his "happy face," by the way.  He's trying to decide if he wants to play with the flash on the camera.

Guess What I Got!!!

Yep - I got a Stampin' Up! box today, filled with goodies from the new catalog.  I got the new circle cutter and glass mat, three new stamp sets, lots of new glitter, paper, hardware, punches.....just too much to play with all at once -- but I tried!

Here are some of my thoughts. 
Circle Cutter - Do I love it?  Not yet.  But the first few times I used my Big Shot, I thought, "Hmmmm.  Was this a waste of money?"  And now it's my favorite tool.  I cut a bunch of circles today, and each time, I liked it a little better.  (Not that I don't like it, mind you.)  So I'm sure once my room is better organized and it's easier to get it in and out, I'll love it.  I can tell you now we'll be creating a lot of circle projects!  It is extremely easy to use and very fast.
Glitter - The new colors are fabulous.  The aqua and olive in the Supernova set look very close to the turquoise and celery in the original cosmo set - at least, in the bottles, but the chocolate, orange and pink more than make up for that!  And they're not exactly the same color, so on a project, they will probably look much different.
Designer Hardware - They're kind of pricey (6/$4.95), but, oh my!  They are so nice, and really make a card or gift special.  They set very easily with the Crop-a-dile.
You have to see Taste of Textiles!  These papers are gorgeous; I'll try not to hoard them, because they're too pretty to keep hidden away.
Rockabilly Specialty DSP - It's shiny!  It's a printed gloss design.  Nice!
The Eyelet Border Punch is a little more finicky than the Scallop Edge punch (you can't overlap the eyelet scallops), but easy to use and very pretty.
Texturz Plates - Oh, well, what can I say?  I used them on everything I made today.
This isn't all I ordered, but it's a start. 

Here's what I made with some of it -
After I sent in my order, I had second thoughts about this set.  I bought it to have a current "coffee" set, but it's very like a set from several years ago that I only inked once!  But after using it, I think I'm really going to really like it.

As always, it's much nicer IRL.  The colors are really bright and the glitter is, well, glittery!  I made this for my friend Karen, who is always giving me beautiful plants (and a Sizzix die at Christmas!).  She also is a coffee drinker, so this reminded me of her.  She's, in her own words, "not a glitter girl."  She always skips that step!  So I had to sparkle it up a little.  Not that I'm trying to convert her or anything.

Supplies: 
Stamp set:  Sip by Sip
Ink:  Chocolate Chip classic; Markers - Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal; VersaMark
Paper:  Kraft, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom card stock
Accessories:  Heat & Stick Powder, Supernova glitter, Textures plates kit #4, Big Shot, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals, corner rounder punch, Circle Cutter, Glass Mat, heat tool

The coffee rings at the bottom of the card are stamped.  I have seen a card, though, that the designer accidentally set her coffee on.  When she saw the ring, she added more and incorporated it into her design.  Clever!

This set works really well with the Taste of Textiles - especially the Chocolate Bronze!  But I didn't want to use it all up right away (uh, oh!  Sounds like hoarding to me.)

The Baja Breeze flower is the Simple Flower embosslit.  I inked it with a little Baja Breeze classic, then added a Soho hardware piece with a Circle Ice rhinestone brad in the center. 

I wrapped the DSP with ribbon, but wouldn't the next time, since it's mostly hidden by the rest of the layers.

The Baja Breeze layer and the DSP were run through the Big Shot with a Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texture plate.  (Bet it took a long time to come up with these original names:  Backgrounds 1, Kit #4....The good news is, "Backgrounds 1" gives us room for "Backgrounds more!!")

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink:  Not Quite Navy craft; Classic - Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze card stock, Urban Garden DSP
Accessories:  Designer Hardware - Soho; Punches:  Wide Oval, Key Tag, Eyelet Border; Big Shot; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texture plate set; Circle Ice rhinestone brads; Stampin' Dimensionals; Stampin' Sponges; clear embossing powder; Simple Flower embosslit; heat tool; 5/8" grosgrain ribbon - celery

Tomorrow I'll play with "Branch Out" and use a few more of my goodies. 

Gold and Chocolate

Janet brought an adorable little box to my Open House and let me take it home so I could disassemble it and make a template.  It held Ghirardelli chocolate - but, unfortunately, it was all gone by the time I saw the box.  Or maybe not so unfortunately! 

Here's my copy of it, and we'll be making it at our clubs this month.  I'll post a copy of the template and a few tips/instructions on my blog next week.  It will be under "Odds & Ends."

It's a very simple design, and the ribbon holds it closed.  Janet's box had a satiny ribbon, and the bows were attached to pretty wires, so you could open and close it all you wanted (once would be all I'd need, though!).  I didn't have pretty wires or fancy ribbon, so mine just uses Bravo Burgundy grosgrain. 

Stamp Set:  Love You Much (Don't forget the bundle special this month!!)
Ink:  Gold encore, Chocolate Chip classic, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
Paper:  Brushed gold metallic, Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Punches - 1" circle, Heart to Heart, scallop circle; Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, crimper, Crop-a-dile, heat tool, gold embossing powder, embossing buddy

This has lots of chocolate and gold on it.  When my new glitter comes Thursday, I may play with it a little.  (More chocolate and gold, and a little champagne!)

Here's another project we're doing at club.

This sketch was from a card on the Stampin' Up! demo web site today by a demonstrator named Barb Harmon. 

Stamp set:  Just Buzzin' By
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn; Cameo Coral classic; Markers - Orchid Opulence, Pretty in Pink, More Mustard, Old Olive, Basic Black
Paper:  Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Orchid Opulence card stock; Raspberry Tart DSP
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig; Punches -Scallop square, corner rounder, scallop edge, 1 1/4" squre; stampin' dimensionals, blender pen, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter

I used markers to ink the words, and stamped half at a time, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up.  When you do this, be very careful to make sure the stamp is dry so you don't get a shadow of the previously stamped words!

Here's the last one -

 

Stamp set:  Sweet Stems
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, Markers - Orchid Opulence, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink; Classic Pads - Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Rose Red card stock; Raspberry Tart DSP
Accessories:  Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Sweetest Stem Embosslit.

I'm off to cut paper for tomorrow!  Hope to see you at club.

Today's the Day!

The long-awaited hour has come!  Well, at least long-awaited for me. 

At noon Mountain Time today, you can order from the Spring/Summer 2009 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  (Hereafter known as "the catalog," because the rest of that is just too much to keep typing!)

New Decor Elements are also available today, and you'll love the new designs and colors - like the fairy land images, prehistoric pals or the new sports elements. There's something for everyone! (Click on the picture of the tree to view the brochure, or the pic of the catalog to download the S/S IB&C .pdf file.)

In the new catalog, you'll find vinyl sheets you can use to create your own Decor Elements with your Big Shot or other cutting system.  We also have new and exclusive Stampin' Up! dies, Texturz plates and Embosslits for the Big Shot.

You can buy sheets of chipboard or sticky pages to create lovely projects using our Designer Series paper, card stock, beads, glitter.....2 new sets of fine cosmo glitter!  (Yes, I'm a glitter junkie.)  There's "Supernova" and "Galaxy" - with yummy colors like Champagne and Chocolate and Gold.  

There are also flower brads, new buttons, designer hardware, colored library clips, new rub-ons, designer paper, ribbon and punches.  Oh, and did I mention the new stamps?  No matter what your taste, you'll be able to find something new to ink up and love.

We're finally getting some snow today and it's a holiday, so hopefully everything I need to do will be either closed or cancelled so I can stamp.  I'll try to post some new art this afternoon.  I have two projects from the Open House, but I left them at the studio - so you'll have to attend a workshop or class to see them.

Now's the time to book a workshop for February or March.  You'll get to use the new products and it will be Sale-a-bration - so you'll get added benefits.  Contact me today to schedule a workshop or class.

Don't forget stamp club Wednesday at 11 and Sunday at 3.  Next Wednesday (January 28) is the Technique class (11 or 6).  So mark your calendars!

Time's running out.....

....to order from the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog
....the Holiday Mini Catalog
....to order Retiring Stamps
....to order Retiring Accessories
....to take advantage of the Inventory Blowout Sale.

  If you want anything from any of these publications/lists, be sure to order before midnight Sunday, January 18. 

Online ordering through me or through my web site will be down from midnight Sunday to noon (all times MT) Monday while we transition to the new Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog. 

You're going to love the new catalog!  If you haven't gotten a copy yet, let me know and I'll make sure you get one.

Don't forget - Winchester Stamp Club will meet Wednesday, January 21 at 11:00 a.m. or Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 p.m. at my studio.  Please RSVP three days ahead of time so I'll have supplies for you.   We'll be using new products and accessories from the Spring/Summer IB&C!

Spring/Summer Open House!

Don't forget the Open House Sunday from 3-6 p.m.  We'll meet at my studio - 1437 Front Royal Rd.,Winchester (in the back.)  You can pick up a new catalog and create a project or two with new stamps and accessories.  It's also the last day to order from the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog and the Holiday Mini catalog.  Lots of stamps and accessories are retiring and will be gone after Sunday.  Here are the links to the info:

Retiring Stamp Set List

Retiring Accessories List

Inventory Blowout - Selected retired, retiring and current accessories available 20-50% off! Ends Sunday.

Also, some prices have gone up in the new catalog due to rising production costs.  Classic stampin' pads & refills, Stampin' Mist, Stampin' Scrub, and the adhesive eraser have all gone up a little, so you have through Sunday to buy them at old prices. 

 So bundle up and come on over.  Hey - at least it's not snowing!

Yes, Virginia, it IS Winter!

Oh, my gosh.  It's about 6 degrees outside today.  I thought Virginia was supposed to be in the South.  There's a huge debate over that - at least about my part of Virginia.  We're in the northern tip, so we're actually closer to Washington, D.C. and parts north than we are to Richmond, which, if you know your history, was the capital of the Confederacy.  So our town changed hands a bazillion times during the War of Northern Aggression, er, I mean....The War between the States.  (Just a little southern humor there!)  Consequently, our neighbors to the south - Southern Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, in particular - think we're really a Northern town.  Well, maybe.  It sure feels like it today.

My stamp room has a little space heater, which works wonderfully!  But on mornings like this, I usually make a cup of hot chocolate while I'm waiting for the room to warm up.  I found this great 25 calorie, sugar free mix.  I know - you're thinking,  "25 calories, no sugar....how good can it be?"  Am I right?  Well, let me tell you - it's delish!  You can make it with water or milk.  I opt for the hot water, to keep it at 25 calories.  But - here's the secret.  I bought some Hershey's miniatures for a stamp camp, and, unfortunately, bought too many, so we have to eat the leftovers.  If you melt a milk chocolate mini in the hot cocoa, then add a dollop (which in my vocabulary means "1/4 cup,") of whipped cream, it's absolutely wonderful.  And all for 25 calories.  More or less.  Oh, ok - I know it's more, but I'm shivering off the extra.

Here's the card I promised to show you.  It did dry overnight!

The bird's wings have a layer of Crystal Effects, then some glitter, then more Crystal Effects.  Each of the flowers has a little glitter, too (I just used a 2-way glue pen for those). 

Supplies:

Stamp Set:  Dream a Little
Ink:  Basic Gray, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze classic
Paper:  Urban Garden DSP; Confetti White, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray card stock
Accessories:  White taffeta ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, scallop edge punch, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 2-way glue pen

And here a little "heavy metal" for you!

It's not as easy to layer a 5-petal flower to a 6-petal flower as you'd think!  The metal flowers were stamped onto an aluminum can, then punched with a coordinating punch.  I used a knife to slice the top off the can, then scissors to cut down the side and take off the bottom.  Be careful, because the edges are sharp.  So far, I haven't cut myself with the can, though.  I've had worse accidents doing laundry.

The Hodgepodge Hardware is part of the Inventory Blowout sale, so grab some while you can get them at a discount!

The card stock flowers were made with the Big Shot and the Birds & Blooms sizzlet die.

Supplies:
Stamp sets:  Yummy*, Polka Dot Punches*
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn; Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand Stampin' Write markers
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron card stock; Delicate Dots designer series paper*
Accessories:  Punches:  5 flower, 1 1/4" circle, 1" circle, 1/16" handheld circle, scallop edge; Rich Regals brads, Certainly Celery wide grosgrain, Filigree brads, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, Big Shot, Birds & Blooms sizzlet die, flilgree brads, aluminum can

*One FREE with a $50 purchase during Sale-a-bration (February & March).

More announcements -
If you need a catalog, please let me know so I can get one to you.  If you hostess a workshop or place a $75 order, you can have one free!  Otherwise, contact me to find out how to get yours. 

If you want to wait until February, when you place your first online order through my web site, Stampin' Up! will be offering a free Idea Book & Catalog with the first 22,000 orders or until April 30, 2009, whichever comes first. There's no minimum purchase.

Sunday is the last day to order retiring stamp sets and accessories.  Be sure to get your orders to me before that stamp set you love is gone!  Or you can order 24/7 online.

I'm off to enjoy another cup of that 25 calorie cocoa!  (I think someone is using hot water in the laundry....things seem to be shrinking.)