Summer Fun Campaign

Summertime means flip flops, beach umbrellas, swimming pools, popsicles, and spending time with friends--both old and new. This June and July, Stampin' Up! is celebrating one of the most enjoyable times of the year with the Summer Fun Campaign.

Spend time this summer doing what you love with family and friends--hold a workshop (or several workshops!) during June, July, and August and take advantage of all the great offers that are coming your way.

Among other exciting offers, the Summer Fun Campaign will include

• Last Chance list (formerly the Retired list)
• Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion
• Country Living Summer Cookout Kit
• Summer School

Last Chance List

You may be wondering what the Last Chance list is. The Last Chance list is the new name of the Retired list. This list will include all stamp sets and accessories that will be retiring as of June 30th. Although the stamp sets are available all the way until June 30th, the accessories are available first-come, first-serve meaning they are only available while supplies last. Be sure to order sooner rather than later to make sure you get all of the items you want before they're gone forever!!

Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion

Dates: June 1-30, 2009

Promotion Details:

The Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion has two parts:

• Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
• Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

Country Living Summer Cookout Kit

Dates: June 1 - August 31, 2009 (or while supplies last)

Once again we have partnered with Country Living magazine to bring you the Country Living Summer Cookout Kit containing simple and speedy projects that will add zest to your summer cookouts.

Summer School

Dates: June 1 - August 31, 2009

“Summer School” is in session! During the months of June, July, and August, you will have an opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate from me for Stampin’ Up! products. Your name will be entered in the drawing when you attend classes, place orders, or host a Stampin’ Up! workshop. There will be four lucky winners drawn at the end of August ~ each winning a $25 Gift Certificate (offer valid only with me)!

Here's how you "earn" tickets:

* Attend monthly club/class: 1 ticket
* Attend a special class or workshop: 2 tickets
* Place a $50 order: 3 tickets
* Place a $75 order: 4 tickets
* Place a $100 order: 5 tickets
* Host a workshop: 10 tickets

Contact me today to take advantage of all that Stampin' Up! has to offer!!!

Inspiration??

Where do you find inspiration for your projects?? I was flipping channels the other day and something on The Ellen DeGeneres Show caught my attention. On the stage with her is a TV and they have a sign with her name showing on it. Well...anyway...I was inspired. Here is the TV (you can see it in the middle)...

And here is my card...


What do you think?? Anyway...just remember, inspiration can be found anywhere!! Look around you...is there something you see that inspires you??

Thanks for stopping in!

Supplies:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Jumble Alphabet (available in the NEW catalog debuting on July 1st!), Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Glorious Green, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow, Glorious Green, Pink Passion
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone Brad Circle Fire (pink), Crop-a-dile (to punch hole in tag for ribbon), 3/16" Corner Rounder punch, Sponge Daubers, Brayer

Club Swap Card

I've been doing a swap with my club members...I'm so proud of those that have participated ~ all of the cards have turned out really great!!

This is the card I did for this month's swap. The theme this month was to use some kind of embellishment ~ it couldn't just be cardstock and ink on the card. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Full of Life (dormant)
Cardstock: Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Baja Breeze (textured), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note Die, Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, Flower Fusion Too felt flowers (Chocolate Chip), Jumbo Brads 5/16" Neutrals Assortment (Chocolate Chip)

Father's Day Card

Here is a Father's Day card using Totally Tool and the Faux Wood Technique. You use Whisper White Craft ink, Creamy Caramel, and Close to Cocoa ink on More Mustard cardstock to create the background. You just swipe the Creamy Caramel crosswise, then the Close to Cocoa in the same direction, followed by Whisper White, then redo the Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa to finish it off.

Enjoy!

Supplies:
Stamps: Totally Tool, And Many Mower
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, More Mustard
Ink: Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Vintage Brads (Black), Black Hemp Twine, Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags die, Sizzix Big Shot, Dimensionals

Grommets & Glitter

Here is a card that showcases the Chunky Glitter and the Small Grommets (found in the Occasions Mini catalog). You just push the grommet through the one layer of cardstock (Very Vanilla on this card) and use a small craft hammer to hammer the teeth down. I used Crystal Effects to cover the inside of the grommet and then just poured Chunky Glitter on it.

And here is a close-up of the Grommet & Glitter...

The flower was colored using Classic Ink & Blender Pens.

Let me know if you have any questions...

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive
Accessories: Basic Small Grommets (Silver), Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Chunky Glitter (Crystal Iris)

Last of the Masculine Swaps

Here are the last of the Masculine Card Swaps I received...

Enjoy!!

by Carol Payne

by Christin Rocha

by Jan Rodrian

by Colleen Morrow

by Raedean Shibata

I'm still here...

Sorry, Everyone...I'm still here ~ I've just been busy this week. Besides being the last week of school for my Kindergartener (with Kindergarten Graduation on Monday), it was also the last week of the Bible study I've been involved with for more than 30 weeks, plus we had Vacation Bible School this week (Monday - Friday) at our church, and my husband was out of town on business for a few days...it's made for a crazy week!!

Here's a picture of my little graduate ~ ;D Boy, does time fly!!


And...here is a picture of the card I made for his teacher as a Thank You for such a wonderful year! On the Top Note die cutout...I actually used the frame that was left over from a swap card I did (here). I figured since I had more than 20 frames, I might as well use them for something...


Hope you like it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Varsity Alphabet, Tart & Tangy, Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Basic Black, Kraft, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Real Red Gingham ribbon, Basic Black Gingham ribbon, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch

Explosion Photo Box

Good morning, Everyone! I wanted to share a project that's been quite popular for me ~ an explosion album box. What is different from this box compared to most I've seen is it can hold 4X6 photos. Most explosion boxes only hold small photos because each "layer" is made with one 12X12 piece of cardstock. The box I've made is actually made with 2 pieces of 12X12 cardstock for each layer. Here are the photos of one of the boxes I've made. I also did one for a Mother's Day class I did ~ but sold my sample so I don't have one to show. We used the DSP Tea Party for it. I also have a kit made up that uses the DSP Good Morning Sunshine and Good Friend stamp set. I'll post it as soon as I get one made up. The box stands close to 7" tall and is about 4-1/2" on each side.

Thanks for checking in!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Cardstock: Bella Rose DSP, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Versamark, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon

More Swaps & a Funny...

Here are a few more of the swaps I received. I have discovered so many talented people out there that have such great ideas!! If you ever get the chance to participate in a swap, I highly recommend it. I know I tend to make cards that have the same style, but by participating in a swap, I have more samples for myself and my customers that might inspire us differently than my style.

I hope you enjoy them!

by Susie Wood

by Ruth Anne Lilley

by Dena Rekow

by Lisa Hoffman

by Karen Kurz

A funny story:

So...I've been having trouble with my boys (ages 6 & 3) getting ready to go to bed, then starting in with "I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty," etc, etc, etc. So I've been fussing at them, telling them to "Quit stalling ~ it's time for bed." So, on Wednesday, we were running a little behind getting them ready for bed and I was rushing them through a bath. I got my little one out and started drying him off, when he says, "Momma, I'm stalling. I want something to eat." All I could do was laugh until I cried. You gotta love kids and the things they come off with ~ it definitely keeps life in perspective! Have a great rest of the day!!

More GREAT Swaps!

Just sharing more of the swaps I received! Hope you are enjoying these swaps as much as I do!!

Thanks for stopping by...

by Cherri Gustafson
I loved how Cherri paper-pierced in between each of the diamonds from the texture plate on the background ~ what a great idea to add just a little more dimension!

(Sorry ~ there's not a name on the back of this swap.)

by Staci Wood

by Dianne O'Connor

by Nancy Hall

Masculine Swap Cards

Here are some of the Masculine Cards I received in the swap I participated in...

Enjoy!!

by Sharon House

by Jackie Ordway

by Carol Stelzer

by Deb McCahan

by Emily Tull

Masculine Swap

I participated in a Masculine Card Swap at the end of April. I don't know about you, but masculine cards aren't always the easiest cards to come up with...so I was pretty excited about getting more than 20 ideas in my hot little hands! This is the card I did for the swap:


This is a pretty basic card that can be used for any age male. I started with the Basic Black layered onto the Kraft. I then added the Top Note Die after I stamped it with the Sanded background and ran it through the crimper. Layered a few punched stars ~ the two sizes work great together or separate. I stamped off on the baseball images so they would be lighter with the wording ~ then added a touch of hemp twine for interest and that extra-masculine touch.

I hope that I've given you something to think about the next time you need a masculine card. Check back over the next few days for the swaps I received ~ I guarantee you'll see something that will inspire you!

Enjoy!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Baseball, Sporting, Sanded
Cardstock: Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Metallic Eyelets, Hemp Twine, Large Star punch, Star punch, Crimper

Project for Downline Business Meeting

I asked one of my downline, Katy to share a project with us for our get-together. She had done this small glass votive holder from the $1 store using the bulk buy Decor Elements for a class and had a few of the kits left. I knew this would be the type of project that would be quick & simple and that was different than a card. This went together SOOOO FAST!!! and it turned out super-cute besides. Who doesn't love those type projects??

Hope you like it, too! Be sure to come back later this week when I share the card I did with them ~ I can't show it yet because I'm also doing it for my clubs this next week. I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Supplies:
Stamps: Oval All
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery
Ink: Basic Brown, Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom, and one of the pinks (I can't remember which one she used ;D) ~ the Basic Brown was used to stamp the image and the other colors were used to color the image in using a Blender Pen.
Accessories: Glass votive from the $1 store, Bulk Buy Flower Decor Elements, Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Linen Thread, 1/16" Circle punch

Business Meeting Swaps

I had a Business Meeting with 3 of my downline about 1-1/2 weeks ago. We talked business, did a couple of projects, and swapped. Here are the swaps they brought ~ (I have to admit...I cheated a little and used projects that I've used for classes over the past month...so I've already shared my swaps with you!)...

The following 2 cards were done by my downline, Katy ~ you can check out her blog here. Katy was a demonstrator for 10 years before she decided to resign when she had her 2nd child...then I talked her into doing a workshop for me and she remembered why she loves Stampin' Up! and she decided to sign back up under me. Her experience has really helped me with my business and we've got a good working relationship to talk "business strategy" and ideas! Look out for her name over the next couple of years ~ I guarantee you'll see it!




The next 2 cards are from my downline Laura Lynn. She signed up with me about 1 year ago only wanting to be a hobby demonstrator ~ then she went to convention and it started to change! Now she's doing a couple of workshops a month, a class, and she's getting ready to start a club. I'm really proud of her!





This last card is from my downline Jamie. She was the first person I approached about signing up as a demonstrator ~ she's just got the personality and the passion for all things Stampin' Up! She's been battling some health issues this past year, but is now "back in the saddle," ready to get rolling again! She's working on promoting to Sr. Supervisor this month ~ she had two people sign up yesterday and she needs the one recruit she already had to place a $50 order to promote to Sr. Associate ~ SO...she should have it!! Way to go, Jamie!!! (She also brought the cute bug card to the other 2 girls that she'd already brought to me.)

I hope you enjoyed their cards as much as I did!! I'm really proud of all of my downline (even the ones that couldn't make it to the Business Meeting!) ~ they are who keep me motivated in this business.

Last of the Occasions Mini Swaps

Here are the last of the Occasions Mini Swaps that I received...

Hope you enjoyed all of them as much as I did!!

Thanks for stopping in!

by Ruth Bingle

by Cherise Schlicher

by Tiffany Bauer

by Jodi Reinert

by Lee Conrey

by Glenda Travelstead

Are you loving these swaps yet??

Here are some more of the Occasions Mini swaps I got...

Thanks for stopping by!

by Julie Salva

by Denise Johnson

by Anna-Marie Still

by Karin Grotjohn

This one didn't have a name on it... :(