Sorry...it's been a few weeks!

Sorry I've been away...I just really needed some time this month. There's just been a lot going on...workshops, classes, clubs, soccer practices & games, Fall break (which included a trip away for a few days!), funeral, ER visit with my son, Bible Study, and family stuff (which includes a lot of kids' activities and my parents and in-laws!). Anyway, I thought I would check in and let you know all is well and I'm trying to pick myself up and get a hold of things! I'm planning on doing better, but I know the next few months will be busy for me! I'll post as often as I can.

I hope all is going well for all of you...I know this is a busy time of year for you, too!

See you again soon...

ANNOUNCING...

The new Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack...featuring Retired Product at drastically reduced prices!!

Overview:

Stampin' Up! is launching a new section of the online store called the Clearance Rack. The purpose of the Clearance Rack is to clear out the inventory of surplus items that have been retired. Many of these retired items will be offered at a substantially reduced price.

Details:

• The clearance rack is not a promotion. It will launch September 29, 2009 but does not have a set end date.
• All products in the Clearance Rack section are retired, discontinued items. No current products will be sold in the Clearance Rack.
• Clearance Rack items are only available while supplies last. Items will be removed and new items will be posted depending on inventory levels. There is no set time for availability.
• Clearance Rack items will be listed and pictured only in my online store (click here, then click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner). No list or flyer will be posted by me.
• All sales of Clearance Rack items are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted, except in the case of defective product.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q: Why does the order have to be placed online?
A: Because the products are only available while supplies last, promoting and taking orders for these items in a workshop setting can result in problems for me and you in figuring workshop totals, hostess benefits, and actual delivery of the product. It is very possible that when you place an order for one of these items in a workshop, that item will be sold out before I have the opportunity to place the order.

Q: Is the Clearance Rack a promotion?
A: The Clearance Rack is not a promotion and has no end date. The intent is for the Clearance Rack to be a permanent part of my online store (click here, then click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner).

Q: How often will the Clearance Rack be updated with new items?
A: There is no set schedule. Clearance Rack items will be posted and removed based on inventory levels. Please check back regularly through my DBWS (click here, then click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner) for new postings.

Q: If you run out of a certain item, will you restock your inventory and post it for sale again?
A: No. Clearance Rack items are retired, discontinued items and are only available while supplies last.

Q: Where can I see a list of available Clearance Rack items?
A: Because items will be posted and removed based on inventory levels, a list of Clearance Rack items will not be posted by me. To see the available items, simply visit my online store (click here, then click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner).

Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Final card from Christmas Stamp-a-Stack

This is the final card that we made this last Saturday for the Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack. You can't see it in the photo, but we used the new Shimmer Paint ~ I pre-mixed it with alcohol, put it in a mister, and we sprayed the Very Vanilla Top Note Die card stock to add a shimmery effect. Really pretty in person...I just wish a camera could capture it! We stamped off Sahara Sand ink on the snowflakes to create the background in different colors. We also used the Patterned Pines Level 1 Hostess set found in the Holiday Mini ~ contact me today so you can get this set FREE!!

Enjoy!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Paper: Handsome Hunter, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Ink: Handsome Hunter, Bravo Burgundy, Sahara Sand
Accessories: 5/8" Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain ribbon, Champagne Shimmer Paint
Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Paisley Background Texturz Plate

Layer, Emboss, and Embellish

This card has lots of layers and lots of extras but I love how the hardware is used and how well the colors work together to create a non-traditional Christmas card. This is the 3rd card we did at the Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack I held on Saturday. Probably my favorite part of this card is how the Clear Rhinestone brad fits right into the center of the Jumbo Grommet...what a great look for the center of the biggest snowflake image from the set Serene Snowflakes out of the Holiday Mini. One thing I didi change for my customers kits is I recommended they use Bordering Blue for the smaller snowflake images for the background done on the Bordering Blue card stock...the Versamark I used just didn't show up enough for my taste. Anytime you use tone-on-tone ink (meaning you use the same ink color on the same color card stock), you get such a great look for backgrounds. And, please ignore the crooked words on the embossing...sometimes life just isn't too straight! ;D

Hope you like it! See you tomorrow...

Supplies:
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Many Merry Messages
Paper: Kraft, Bordering Blue, Whisper White, Brushed Silver, Bella Bleu DSP
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Versamark
Accessories: Whisper White Organza ribbon, Kraft Taffeta ribbon, Designer Hardware ~ Basic Jumbo Grommets (Whisper White), Clear Rhinestone brads, White Embossing Powder, Silver Embossing Powder
Tools: Scallop Edge punch, Paper Piercer, Heat Tool

Elegant Christmas Card

This Christmas card ended up so elegant! This is the 2nd Christmas card from the Stamp-a-Stack class I had. It went together so quick...the hardest part was cutting the ornament out after it was stamped and embossed. The one Very Vanilla layer has been embossed using the new Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder that's found in the Holiday Mini. I love this embossing folder...it embosses leaving such a great impression! The layers were just glued together and the ornament was attached on top using Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some depth. To attach the Gold Cord, I attached the ends of it to the Stampin' Dimensional before attaching the ornament to the top Very Vanilla layer. Let me know if you have any questions on this card!

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:
Stamps: Tree Trimmings
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold, Real Red
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Gold Embossing powder, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain ribbon, Gold Elastic Cord
Tools: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder

Christmas Card from Stamp-a-Stack

Hi, Everyone!

I had my first Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack today. I usually end up offering 3 or 4 big Christmas card classes in the fall ~ gives everyone the opportunity to get all of their Christmas cards made. Anyway, here is the first of the four cards that we made:


Usually cards for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks are a little more involved...multi-step, extra embellishments and layers. This card was a remake of one I had seen on Splitcoaststampers. I had to update it to where it's using all current product as the sample I saw was from last year. No special techqnies were used ~ it's pretty much direct-to-paper stamping. A few tricks on this card...on the French words stamp En Francais, I used a piece of scrap paper to cover the right hand side of the Very Vanilla and then inked up just the upper right hand corner of the stamp and pressed it down on the left hand side of the Very Vanilla...just puts the words on the left hand side of the "postcard." Then on the Chocolate Chip Designer Series Paper that's layered behind the deer ~ I had to sponge Very Vanilla Craft ink on it to color the white to make it match the rest of the card. To get the line down the center, I centered the Very Vanilla in my paper cutter and used a Chocolate Chip marker down the cutting "alley" to draw the line in. The postmark and snowflake were stamped-off in Sahara Sand to make them faint. To finish I just used sponges with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip to age the Very Vanilla.

Hope you like it! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Post, En Francais, Elegant Thank You
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Sleigh Bells ribbon (Holiday Mini), Chocolate Chip marker, Old Olive marker, Vintage brads (antique brass), Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: 1-3/8" Square punch, Cutter Kit (to distress edges), Bone Folder (to curl corner)

More Holiday Mini samples...

Here are some more Holiday Mini swaps that I received...Enjoy!

by Tiffany Cline

by Joey Pogorel

by Staci Wood

by Suzanna Hake

by Cherri Gustafson

Have I lost my marbles?!?

Here is a Christmas card I did for a swap. We had to do either a Fall or a Christmas card using a fun technique. I chose the Rolling Marble Technique. This is a technique I've seen a few times but have never tried. I had heard it was easy and boy, was it ever! I knocked out 21 swaps in no time...


This card uses the set Delighful Decorations along with Four the Holidays, both out of the Holiday Mini. To do the Rolling Marble technique, you need re-inkers that match your choice of card stock. Put a few drops of re-inker in a container with a lid (I used our Supply Boxes...what our stamp sets come in). Use a little bit of Dotto adhesive in the lid, stick your cardstock to the lid, close the lid tightly, swirl the marbles (I used 4 smooth marbles) around on the bottom through the ink real good, turn the container upside down and swirl the marbles around on your paper. Use a different container for each color of ink. Add just a touch of the new Real Red Polka-Dot ribbon found in the IB&C to finish off. Easy peasy!!

Tip: Use a Mini Glue Dot behind a knotted piece of ribbon for a quick attachment.

Let me know if you have any questions! And be sure to be on the lookout ~ you will see this card in an upcoming class!

Have a great day...

Supplies:
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Four the Holidays
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Garden Green
Ink: Real Red, Garden Green
Accessories: Real Red 1/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensions, Mini Glue Dots
Tools: Ornament punch

Monthly Class ~ Project #1

Here is the card we did for my Monthly Class this month. It's using a new set out of the mini called Autumn Splendor. You'll notice the leaf image is embossed in Chocolate Chip...What?! But we don't have Chocolate Chip embossing powder!! But...there is a trick ~ when you use our Clear Embossing Powder and any of our Craft inks, you can make embossing in any of our colors!!! Woo Hoo!! I hope I just opened some doors for some of you out there. This one ought to keep you busy trying new colors for the next week or so. ;D The Autumn Meadows DSP is also used on this project, along with Twill Tape and Linen Thread.


Tip: To distress cardstock use our Cutter Kit distressing tool along the edges and a Bone Folder on the corners...by pulling the cardstock between the Bone Folder and your thumb from the front and the back, the paper will eventually start to separate and pull apart while also curling.

Hope you like it!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:
Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Grateful Greetings
Paper: Autumn Meadows DSP, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft
Accessories: Twill Tape, Clear Embossing Powder, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Cutter Kit (for distressing), Bone Folder (for distressing)

A few more Convention Swaps...

Well, I just finished my clubs this week for this month so I'll have to get some pictures taken so I can share the projects we did this month. I also just finished a swap that I do every month...this month's theme was either a Christmas card or a Fall card using a fun technique ~ I did the Rolling Marble Technique. Again, I just need to get downstairs and take some pictures. So be sure to visit this week as I know I'll be sharing these projects!

In the meantime...here are some more Convention swaps...

Have a great day!

by Vicki Lauer

by Laura Colburn

by LeAnn Anderson

by Brenda Kamin

by Betty Travis

More Convention Swaps...

I'm finally starting to run out of Convention Swaps to share...but here are 5 more!! Enjoy...

Thanks for stopping by...

by LeeLa Smith

by Sharon Carr

by Shari Caspers

(Sorry...no name on this one!)

by Ann Cardile

Regionals...

was wonderful!! Lots of great ideas...full of information and great samples. Wish you all could've been there! If you can't make it to Convention, I really feel like you can get tons of information, ideas, swapping, etc at Regionals...you need to try to go!! If I couldn't go to Convention, I would definitely go to a Regional...it was well worth the money.

To my customers...get ready!! I'm full of ideas now!! (as if I wasn't before ;D)

Anyway...here are some more of my swaps from Convention...

by Tracy Odom

by Tracy Odom

by Cheryl Elenbaas

by Catherine Harwood

by Lois Folla

On my way...

to Cincinnati to Regionals!! It's about a 5 hour drive and several of my downline wanted to go so we decided we'd make it a road trip! Check back Sunday ~ I'll fill you in on how great it was!!

See you then...

More Convention Swaps...

Enjoy!

by April Stevenson

by Andrea Bendis-Munday

by Patsy Waggoner

by Cindy Russell

by Tammi Oakley

Still sharing...

Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these cards!

by Keri Young

by Merine Heberger

by Debbie Kramer

by Sandy Appelhans

by Dean & Chris Talbot

More inspiration...

More swaps...

Enjoy!!

by Tracy Rosowski

by Karen Kurz

I loved this use of the lattice die!

by Carla Starry

by Jennifer Weide

by Carol Payne

Still More Swaps....

I don't know if I've told you or not, but I got 90 swaps at Convention alone...plus I did 2 mail-in swaps for the Mini. I'll be sharing these swaps for the next little while, but will be throwing some of my class projects in, too!

My parents were in this weekend for my oldest son's birthday, and my Mom had requested that I help her make an invitation (can't share what it's for...it's a surprise!) and we worked on that last night. We have a total of 80 invitations that have been started. I will share one when I actually get one completed (she took the 4 that we completed with her). But...I can say they are really elegant and I'm very pleased with them. So...stay tuned for that. I also have Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks coming up and a Halloween Treat Class this month, plus my Clubs and a couple of workshops. It's just right now, everything's in process, but as the date approaches I'll be sharing all of those projects. I also just ordered My Digital Studio and I'm looking forward to playing with that and sharing some samples that I make with it. But for now...back to those Convention Swaps!

Thanks for stopping by...

(No name on this card...sorry!)

by Debbie Parker

(No name on this card...Sorry!)

(No name on this card...Sorry!)

by Kathy Howes

Convention Swaps...

Thought I would take a break from the Mini and show you some samples from the 2009-2010 IB&C. These are some of the swaps I received from Convention. Let me know if you have any questions on any of these fabulous cards!

Enjoy!

by Kathy Howes

by Sharon Carr

by Lisa Stout

by Paulette Dunn

by Cindy Fodor