It’s a …..

Well, I’m happy to share that we found out earlier this week that we will be having a little boy come Christmas time.  So, of course to commemorate the occasion I had to put together a quick card to share the news.  

 

I wanted to play with some scraps left over from cutting a scallop circle with the BigShot and start coming up with some ideas using the Nursery Necessities stamp set.  I have a feeling I’ll be getting a lot more use out of this stamp set over the next year.   If you have put together some cute baby cards or scrapbook pages, I’d love to see your ideas.  Leave me a comment with a link to your blog or photo of your design, and I’ll check them out.

Well, I’ll leave you with baby’s first picture and I’m off to finish my Stampin Up convention 2009 scrapbook!

I’m back! Plus some news.

Hello!  After a bit of a summer break I’m back and excited to be getting back into blogging.  I’ve just spent the last four days in Salt Lake City for the Stampin’ Up! convention and it’s been a blast!  I’m so excited to be coming home with cute samples, swaps, ideas, and info on some awesome new products and promotions!  I actually fly home on tomorrow morning so I plan to start getting my pictures uploaded and sharing what I saw and learned.

Until then, I thought I would share with you some of my fun personal news.  I’ve been having a hard time staying up at night for stamping because I’ve been so sleepy so early.  But I’m happy to share that those early nights are for a good cause as I’m working on growing a healthy, beautiful baby that will be joining my family around January 2nd.   

 This will be our first and so I’m nervous and excited at the same time.  However, that means more excuses for cute little baby cards and of course a scrapbook!  If you have tips or advice, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

So, I promise to get some photos posted soon, but until then, happy stamping!

Stampin’ Up! Last Chance Retirement List is here! Get 50% off!

Wow, can you believe it is already June?  Time sure does fly!  But now that it is June, that means the current catalog is winding down and a number of stamps and accessories are heading into retirement.  I know that I’m going to miss some of the awesome In Colors this year – Baja Breeze, I’m talking to you!  But, though it is sad that some items are going away, it also means that there are some great deals to be had before they are gone!  Many of the retiring accessories are being sold at a discount, including many items at 50% off!

 

While you can get any of the retiring stamps between now and June 30th, the retiring accessories are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.  This means, if something you love is retiring, order quick before it is no longer available!  I’ll keep the accessory list updated daily so you can see if your favorite is still available.

 

Retired Stamps – see the full list here

 

Retired Accessories – UPDATED 6/8

Item #	Product Description	Price	Discount	Sale Price	Availability
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO	19.95	0.5	9.98	Available
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR	9.95	0.5	4.98	Out of Stock
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8″	8.95	0.5	4.48	Available
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE	4.95	0.5	2.48	Out of Stock
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS	13.95	0.5	6.98	Available
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP	12.95	0.5	6.48	Available
102875	HEMP TWINE RED	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS	7.95	0.5	3.98	Available
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4″	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1″	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT	10.95	0.25	8.21	Out of Stock
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG	15.95	0.25	11.96	Available
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8″	9.95	0.25	7.46	Out of Stock
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN	8.95	0.25	6.71	Out of Stock
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET	7.95	0.25	5.96	Out of Stock
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Out of Stock
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT	2.95			Available
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO	2.95			Available
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE	2.95			Available
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED	2.95			Available
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS	2.95			Available
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS	9.95			Available
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN	9.95			Available
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE	9.95			Available
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT	9.95			Available
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO	9.95			Available
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE	2.95			Out of Stock
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED	5.95			Available
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE	5.95			Available
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE	9.95			Available
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN	3.25			Out of Stock
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS	9.95			Available
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE	9.95			Out of Stock
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART	9.95			Available
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER	11.95			Available
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS	9.95			Available
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE	9.95			Available
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS	9.95			Out of Stock
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO	5.95			Available
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY	11.95			Available
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12	8.95			Available
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II	9.95			Available
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET	9.95			Out of Stock
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER	9.95			Available
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II	14.95			Available
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT	5.95			Available
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE	9.95			Out of Stock
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE	11.95			Available
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED	9.95			Available
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY	19.95			Out of stock
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE	2.95			Available
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS	42.95			Out of stock
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT	19.95			Out of Stock
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12	8.95			Available
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS	5.95			Available
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
105668	TATTOO KIT I	13.95			Out of stock
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS	54.95			Available
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL	19.95			Out of stock
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE	8.95			Available
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12	11.95			Available
105669	TATTOO KIT II	13.95			Out of stock
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE	5.95			Available
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES	19.95			Out of Stock
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11	7.95			Out of Stock
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE	5.5			Available
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT	39.95			Available
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11	5.5			Available
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET	19.95			Available
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS	19.95			Available
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES	19.95			Available
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN	19.95			Out of stock
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER	19.95			Out of Stock
111253	Blooms & Bulbs	6.5			Available
109684	Doodle	8.5			Available
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday	8.5			Available
109692	Love	6.5			Available
109568	My ABCs	6.5			Available
109682	Perfectly Pretty	6.5			Out of Stock
109687	See You Around	8.5			Available
109683	So Swirly	8.5			Available
111260	Something Fishy	8.5			Available
111262	Stems & Silhouettes	8.5			Available
105516	Watercolor Joy	6.5			Available
114528	Embosslit Flower	11.95			Available
116209	Note of Thanks	9.95			Available
116210	Birthdays Count	9.95			Available
112966	Curly Label Bundle*	33.95			Available
115535	Hand Drawn Bundle				Available

Save money, have fun – become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator!

So, I don’t know if I’ve said it enough on this blog, but I LOVE being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  Since joining SU, I’ve met so many smart, creative, and friendly people, become better at my crafting, become so much more inspired, had more excuses to hang out with my friends and craft and share what I love.  Plus, getting a discount on all my crafting supplies has been icing on the cake!

 

I normally don’t go on and on about why Stampin Up is such a great company to be a member of, but they recently extended an offer to Seattle Regional attendees that I had to share.  If you have been thinking of earning some extra money or just saving money on what you are already buying, now is the perfect time to join Stampin’ Up! 

 

Right now through May 1st, if you join my team you receive $50 off your starter kit.  That means, you get $335 worth of stamping and crafting products for only $149 plus free shipping!  Then, you get 30% off your first order of $150 and then 20% off everything you order ever, including demo-only special offers.   Here is what you get in your kit:

• Eastern Blooms stamp set*
• Fun and Fast notes stamp set*
• Big Bold Birthday stamp set*
• Fundamental Phrases stamp set*
• 2 packs of colored card stock*
• 1 pack of neutral card stock*
• Stampin’ Around self inking wheel handle
• Fast Flowers Wheel stamp*
• Ink cartridge for your wheel*
• Stampin’ Scrub double-sided cleaning pad (the best!)
• Stampin’ Mist stamp cleaner
• Snail adhesive tape
• Blender pens
• Basic Black ink pad*
• Real Red ink pad*
• Brilliant Blue ink pad*
• Green Galore ink pad*
• Pixie Pink ink pad*
• Versamark ink pad
• Pastel chalks in all 48 colors
• Kraft Parisian Damask decor element
• Decor element applicator
• Business forms and tools

* means you can exchange this for any stamp set, paper, or ink pad of equal or lesser value.  Super customizable!

Stampin’ Up! really supports and cares about their demos whether you are looking to do this as a hobby for the discounts and some side money or as a business for fun and to pay some bills.  Plus you get a monthly magazine delivered to you that offers project ideas, business tips, and contests and inspirations.  You’ll also get online access to the demo only website with daily project ideas, templates, business tools, forums, and more.  And then there are all the great people you will be instantly connected to.  My upline group is very active and strong with folks participating from all over the US.  I love it and am so excited about this special offer SU is letting me share.  Contact me if you have any questions or would like to learn more about what it’s like as a demo.

 

Referral Bonus:

And if you know anyone who would make a great demo, let me help them get started.  Right now, I’m offering anyone who refers a potential demonstrator my way, once they sign up to my team, I’ll give them the discount on the starter kit and give you a $20 gift certificate to spend on any Stampin’ Up! goodies you dream of!  Its a win for them and a win for you!

More from Stampin’ Up regionals

I have so many awesome things I saw or made at last weekends regionals that its going to take me a few posts to share the best with you.  I can’t imagine how many pictures and ideas I’m going to come back from convention with.  It should be a blast though!

 

I just had to share a picture of Mom and me, waiting to get let in to the conference room.  The energy was high and when they opened the door, hundreds of women started cheering as they raced (yes, literally running!) to grab their seats.  Shelli Gardner, the owner and co-founder of Stampin’ Up!, was there to talk to us about the direction of the company and share some of her tips and ideas.  She seems really nice and a lot of fun to listen to.  So after one of the sessions, we got a chance to say hello and snap a picture with her.  I have to say, I was very impressed that when I asked her a question about the product line and gave my thoughts, she was very open with me and seemed to care what I thought. 

 

Finally, here are a couple of the make and takes we made during the day.  This uses one of the new sets in the Occasion Mini – Soft Summer-  and at the end of the day, I won the stamp set we used at our table for the make and take.  Woo Hoo!  I can’t say no to a free stamp set. 

30 card swaps in 3 hrs

This weekend has been awesome!  The weather has been perfect – in the high 70’s and sunny all weekend – and I got to go to the Stampin’ Up! regional seminar on Saturday up in Seattle.  Oh my gosh was it tons of fun, super inspiring, and a chance to reconnect with the folks in my Stampin’ Up family.  I’ll posting more this week sharing the swaps and idea boards with you but for today I had to tell you about the feat of craziness I embarked on on Friday night.

 

Since I live in Portland, the drive to Seattle is about 2.5 – 3 hrs which means I would have had to get up at 4 in the morning on Saturday to head up to Seattle in time for regionals.  Well, anyone that knows me knows I’m not a morning person, so I decided to head up on Friday night and share a hotel room with my mom (who was coming down from Bellingham) so we could get some sleep and be up early, but not too early on Saturday.  So 10pm on friday, I arrived at our hotel room.

 

Now, the silly thing is, I decided at the last minute that I wanted to participate in the card swapping that happens at every Stampin’ Up event.  So instead of getting them done early like a sane person, I only had time to plan in my head and grab supplies before heading north to meet my mom. 

So once I got in the hotel room, I set to stamping and cutting and glueing everything I needed for my 30 swap cards.  From 10:30pm to 1:30 am, I power crafted with moral support (and then gluing support ) from my mom.  In the end, I was so glad I made my swaps because I got to trade for some amazing cards.  Plus, I guess it was a good way to warm up for an all day stamping fest on Saturday.   But until I get those photographed and up, here is the swap I came up with:

One more card using the BigShot

Hi all!  I know, its been a little bit since I posted on my blog and I blame it all on the Twilight series of books by Stephanie Meyer!  My friend Kally got me hooked on the series and I found myself spending the last two weeks spending my lunch breaks and evenings powering though all four books in the series plus watching the movie and all the behind the scenes extras.  It is seriously addictive!  

 

But I managed to pull out of the books to get things together for my technique night this week.  Like I mentioned before, we met at a Roundtable Pizza and it actually worked reasonably well.  The biggest problem was that where we were sitting didn’t have the best light after the sun went down.  But if we were in the offical meeting room area I think it would have been fine.  I’m thinking I’ll try hosting my card class there on the 27th (the class is open for more people to come, email me if you want to join in!) 

 

Here is the final project we did for the Technique Night.  We used texture plates and an embosslit for this card.  These are probably my two favorite items for the bigshot and what pushed me over the edge to buy mine.  Texture just makes everything cooler and having a perfectly embossed AND cut-out image in one is awesome too.  Add in the fabulous kiwi kiss satin ribbon and a half pearl and you’re done!

Trying out the BigShot – a card, a box, and the matchbox

I wanted to put up a quick post before I had to run into work.  This week has gone by so fast and has seemed so busy, but the rest of the week should be more relaxing.  On Tuesday, I was hosting a Technique Night focused on using the BigShot.  Unfortunately, that night I had some folks cancel because of illness, unexpected time conflicts, delays, and getting lost, so it ended up not happening.   One the upside, my friend Jennifer recently decided she wanted to make a baby book for her daughter but had been overwhelmed by where to get started.  So, since she had come over, I helped her figure out what she needed.  She ended up deciding to get the Stampin Up! Baby Girl simply scrappin kit, and after looking at it more closely, I can’t wait for her to get it because I think it is going to be so stinking cute.  Then last night we went to Michaels and picked out an album to go with it.  So, I’m feeling good that we got something productive done. 

 

So, since the Technique Night didn’t happen this week, I rescheduled it for next Tuesday.  I’m trying something different this time.  I created a meetup group called Portland Card Makers recently and since some of those folks were going to come, I thought I would try out a public location that most people could easily get to and find parking.  So, I ended up finding a Round Table pizza that had side sections with long tables that you could reserve for free.  It may seem odd crafting in a pizza place, but I’ve been to an event at a Fuddrucker’s so, hopefully this will work out.  I guess we’ll see!

 

Here are some samples I was playing with for the BigShot.  The first is a card using the Top Note die.  It was an interesting and different way to create a card since the inside of the card is the inside of the Top Note die.  Then, I was going to do a box/basket using the Scallop Envelope die and some ribbon.  The last thing we were going to do at the technique night was a card using texture plates and an embosslit but I’m reworking that card right now.  And then finally I thought I would share a box I made with the new Matchbox die.  It was sooo easy to make since everything is cut and scored for you.  You only need to use one piece of sticky strip or snail and its together!  Plus the die punches out the label that I stamped and put on top.  Easy peasy.

 

Get Connected Promotion plus upcoming events

I suddenly realized that I hadn’t shared with you all the latest promotion from Stampin’ Up!  I don’t know about you, but I am always one for a deal and so I had to be sure you all knew about the latest deal from SU.  From now until April 30th, every $40 you spend from the new Occasions Mini catalog earns you free stamps!  How awesome is that.  I love it when I can get cool free stuff just for buying what I want anyway.    In this case, you have your choice of any of the under $10 stamps in the back of the catalog or one of the under $10 mini note kits.  I think those are definitely the best deal because you get stamps, note cards, envelopes, AND an ink spot… all Free!  If you host a workshop, every $150 worth of orders gets you another free stamp or note kit.  That could add up to a lot of free stuff. So, here are the pretty pictures and details:

Peruse all the super cute new items

Spend $40 in the occasions mini and get anything on this page free!

 

If you live in Portland, I’d love to have you join us for one of the classes in April.  Email me for all the details.

BigShot Night – April 7^th 7pm.  The first Tuesday of each month I host a technique night.  This month we will playing with the BigShot die cutting machine.  The BigShot can cut out over 50 different types of materials in fun shapes plus create embossed patterns and textures on your standard paper and cardstock.  Try it out and make a couple projects and samples.  RSVP with your $5 supply fee.

 

Glass Etching with the BigShot – April 19^th   2pm.  Create beautiful etched glass items from your home quickly and easily using the BigShot.  We will be using the BigShot to cut out the shapes that will then be etched on to your own glass.  I’ll provide all the supplies including a glass.  RSVP with your $10 supply fee by April 15^th.

 

Card Night – April 27^th  6:30 pm.  Whether you are a card making pro or just starting out, come join us for laughter and fun as we make 4 cards using different stamps and fun embellishments. RSVP with your $8 supply fee by April 23rd.

A craft fair card

What a weekend!  The usually cold and rainy Pacific Northwest turned beautiful and sunny for the weekend.  It got up to almost 80 today, which was just nuts!  I was at a craft fair all weekend so I mainly got to see the sunny weather from afar but thankfully it stuck around though the evening so after the fair ended at 6, I raced home to spend a bit of time lounging in the sun.  Now if only this weather would stick around for a few days!

 

 However, even though the weather was so nice and most people were playing outside over the weekend, I am still really glad I was at the craft fair.  I met a ton of nice folks who stopped by my table and chatted with me about their hobbies and experiences card making and scrapbooking.  And the other vendors were a blast to hang out with during the slow periods.  I think it would be fun to do another fair with many of them again in the future.  And if you need any of the products you purchase from in-home parties, I probably have a reference for you now.   

 

 I had hoped to spend my downtime making a ton of samples and projects but instead spent it chatting and finishing up a number of cards that were in various stages of completion.  In the end, I only created one completely new and original card.  (Though I made a few partials from BigShot die cuts).  I was trying to use some of my Occasion mini catalog goodies and so pulled out the paper, Oval all stamps, and the new fabulous scallop oval punch.   The flowers are punched out with the BigShot. 

 

And speaking of the BigShot,  my next Technique Tuesdays is this coming Tuesday and we will be focused on using the BigShot.  We will be making 2 cards and a small 3D project.  Let me know if you want to come join us and I’ll send you all the details! 

 

Hope you all had a great weekend!  Here comes monday!