Wow, only 3 days left until I kiss my hubby and kids goodbye and head off to Salt Lake City with my demonstrator friends for several days of stamping inspiration, ideas and business classes! Yes, it's the annual Stampin' Up! Convention! Yippee!! Although I'm finding it hard to type while I sit here clapping my hands and cheering ;-)

Fortunately I had some time to sit down and STAMP at the Stamping Staycation I held last weekend... watch for more pictures of our fun times in a future blog post!

One of my projects was these bag tags for everyone in my demonstrator group. When we go to Convention we always get a cute new tote of some kind as a gift from Stampin' Up!, and having a handy tag with your name helps keep each bag with the right owner.

I couldn't resist using the new For All You Do stamp set. This set has the perfect name when I'm thinking about all the fabulous demonstrators in my LovenStampfuls group who are attending Convention this year. :-) Plus it's the stamp set that's included in the $85 Mini Starter Kit for new demonstrators through the end of August!!


The tags themselves are stamped using the new In Colors: Melon Mambo/Rich Razzleberry/Crushed Curry or Soft Suede/Bermuda Bay/Dusty Durango. And I love that Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (don't miss my Ribbon Share!) I slid the cardstock into a clear bookmark sleeve and finished off the end with a Pewter Jumbo Eyelet and more fun ribbon.

I'm looking forward to handing these (and another fun gift...stay tuned next week!) to all the demonstrators in my LovenStampfuls group at Convention!

And in case you were wondering, the inks, cardstock and stamp set in this project are ALL part of the $85 Mini Demonstrator Starter Kit during August, so if you got this kit, you'd be well on your way to making these cute tags! Would you like to join my LovenStampfuls group? Feel free to email me with any questions!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: For All You Do (115360) - also available en espanol: Por todo lo que haces (116742)
Inks: Rich Razzleberry (115658), Melon Mambo (115656), Soft Suede (115657), Bermuda Bay (115655)
Papers: In Colors Assorted Cardstock (115315), Whisper White (100730)
Accessories: Pewter Jumbo Eyelets (108432), Crop-A-Dile (108362), Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611), Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Serif Essentials Alphabet (113464)

70 Years, Stampin' Style Pennant Banners

You may have noticed from my posts last week that we're celebrating a "big birthday" for my mom. We had a fun party for her this past weekend, and I wanted to share some of the Stampin' Up! decorations that I created. This is the "Happy 70th" banner, created with the Stampin' Up! Pennant Big Shot Die.


The banner pieces were cut from the gorgeous new Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (which I also used on one of my new Stamps in the Mail Club projects). I die-cut 3 large pennants, and used the Scallop Circle Die to cut a piece of Summer Sun cardstock for the center panel.

The ribbon is Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain, and my favorite way to attach the pennants to the ribbon is to start by tacking them down with SNAIL adhesive. The ribbon gets folded into the back of each pennant (check out the picture). Then I use my Crop-A-Dile to punch holes through the two layers of Designer Series Paper and the ribbon itself. Pewter Jumbo Eyelets hold the pennant onto the ribbon--one eyelet at each side of each triangle.

The letters on the "MOM" portion of the banner use the Serif Essentials Alphabet, and the numbers on the "70th" are from the new Stampin' Up! Alphabet Simple Numbers. The little tiny "th" in "70th" come from the Stampin' Up! Billboard Sizzlit Decorative Strip Die. You probably also recognize the Little Leaves die, plus the Cherry Blossom Embosslit, which is one the dies you can get with my August Big Shot Die of the Month Club. This banner is like a Big Shot Smorgasbord ;-) So if you're looking for Big Shot ideas, making a banner like this is a great way to use lots of those dies that you have on hand!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Happy Everything ()
Inks: Melon Mambo ()
Paper: Summer Sun (), Only Orange (), Green Galore (), Tempting Turquoise (), Melon Mambo (), Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper ()
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin' Up! Billboard (114510), Little Leaves (114511), Cherry Blossom Embosslit (114516), Simple Alphabet Numbers (115968), Serif Essentials Alphabet (113464), Scallop Circle (113468), Crop-A-Dile (108362), Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109050), Jumbo Pewter Eyelets (108432),

Big Shot Ideas, Ready to Stamp: Join the Club!

Big Shot Die of the Month CLUB

This is my newest Club and I am so excited about it! Each month, there will be a different "featured" Big Shot Die as part of this kit. You will receive the die, all the supplies and complete instructions to make 4 projects with that die. (You will even receive a bonus "die cut" of one of our XL dies--plus project ideas for using it.)

Already have the featured die? No problem--just select a different one to get in your kit--your projects will still be for the featured die.

If you don't have a Big Shot--now is your time to get one and start purchasing these awesome monthly kits. It's a great way, over the coming months, to learn how to use all the different kinds of dies while making great projects and building your collection.
AUGUST SPECIAL--this is the month to get your Big Shot! If you purchase the BIG SHOT DIE KIT this month, you can add-on the Big Shot at a 25% discount!

(If you have a die cutting machine different than the big shot--most of these dies will work in your machine--contact me to double check before ordering your kit.)

AUGUST BIG SHOT DIE KIT
Featured Product: EMBOSSLITS--THANKS & CHERRY BLOSSOM

Embosslits not only "cut out" your image, but they emboss it too! It's a great effect and they can be used to make quick and easy cards!

In your kit you will get:
*Thanks Embosslit
*Cherry Blossom Embosslit
*Cardstock precut & ready to go to make 4 cards with these dies
*2 Pre-Cut Matchbox Dies (to do what you want with)
*Instructions will be emailed to you. They will contain pictures and directions to complete your 4 projects, 2 bonus project ideas, and ideas using the Matchbox Die
*Cards are designed so that you can add stamps and inks you already have at home.

August Kit Cost: $38.00 (includes shipping!)
(monthly kit price will vary depending on cost of dies being used)

TO ORDER: Email me your name, shipping address & payment method (check, credit card or PayPal) and any die you'd like to change or if you'd like to add the Big Shot.
Or use the PayPal link here to order the kit as listed above.

DEADLINE TO ORDER IS AUGUST 10 -- kits will arrive before the end of August



To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Is It Polka Dot, or Plain?

You don't have to decide--the new In Color Grosgrain Ribbons are both plain AND dotted! They're Polka Dot on one side, and plain on the other. Just decide which side you'd like to show for your project.

The great thing about these ribbons is that it's like you're ordering 2 varieties for the price of one.

And with my new In Color Polka Dot Ribbon Share, you're actually getting an even better bargain!

• Ordering all 6 new In Color Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbons would cost you over $70.
• With this Ribbon Share, you can try them all for only $13.95!
• You'll receive 6 colors of ribbon, 3 yards each.
• Pick up your ribbons after August 14th, or add $2 to have them mailed to your door.
  

Choose Pick-Up or Shipping

Local Pick-Up $13.95Shipping Included $15.95

It's so hard to decide which ribbon to buy first... I love ALL the new In Colors! So this is the perfect solution--you don't have to pick. Just get all 6 colors now, and decide which you like best so that you can order full rolls later. Ribbons will be ready for Pick-Up on August 14th, or will be mailed on August 14th.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Decor Elements for Kids: Turtles on Totes

To be completely honest, I had no idea what I was going to do with these Decor Elements when I ordered them.

But when I looked through the new Decor Elements catalog, I just fell in love with these alpahbet blocks! My biggest quandry was choosing which letters to purchase first. The Turtle with the "T" seemed perfect, since my son's name is Tucker.

So my order included both the Decor Elements "T is for Turtle" in Old Olive (117908, $4.95) and the Scallop Frame in Chocolate Chip (117865, $6.95), and I managed to find a cute Rubbermaid tote with matching green handles at Target for a few dollars.


Did you notice something about the SQUARE frame on my tote? It's no longer square :-) I found that the Scallop Square was a bit too long for the side of the tote. **TIP** It's easy to omit or adapt parts of the Decor Elements for your project. I cut the bottom scallop line off the Decor Element sheet. Before attaching the top three sides of the square, I cut one scallop off each side. Then I attached the bottom scallop row, matching it up in place of the missing scallop. With the repeating design, it was no problem to get the bottom row on straight.

Actually, I did something similar on the Upsy Daisy Decor Element Tin that I created. If you haven't seen the video of me creating that tin, you'll want to check it out.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Decor Elements: "T is for Turtle" in Old Olive (117908, $4.95), Scallop Frame in Chocolate Chip (117865, $6.95)

FINAL Deal of the Week: Heart To Heart Punch

Summer is flying by, but at least it's been fun to check each Monday morning for the latest Deal of the Week!

This week's special isn't just for Valentine's Day... in fact, it's one of the tools that I'm using on a card for my new Stamps in the Mail Club round! With your Stamps in the Mail Club kit, your pieces will be pre-punched. But if you want to make more of this card at home, you can order the punch at this discount and you'll be all set!
I am pleased to announce the fifth and final Deal of the Week:

Period	Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
July 27, 10 AM (MT) through July 31, 6:50 PM (MT)	113694	187	Heart to Heart punch	$15.95	$10.99

The Heart to Heart Punch can be ordered through my Online Ordering website, or by sending me an email. And you can add it to your Stamps in the Mail Club order! Just let me know!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Have You Signed Up Yet? Tri-fold Shutter Card

Isn't this a FUN & FLEXIBLE stamp set?! I'm having so much fun playing with ideas. And you CAN sign up for the next round of my Stamps in the Mail Club! This will be my 13th round, and it features the New In Color Markers plus the Hello Again stamp set from the new 2009/2010 Stampin' Up! Catalog. This is one of the cards that you'll make with your supplies in the August kit.


Stamps in the Mail Club lets you stamp at home with the benefit of pre-planned, pre-cut cards ready for you to stamp and assemble. As part of the club you'll get all the stamps and inks needed, plus a variety of matching accessory items--$35 in Stampin' Up! product each month. And if you already own an ink color or other item, you can substitute from your Wish List for the items you don't need.

Here's what Debbie K, a 10-round Stamps in the Mail Club subscriber had to say: "I really enjoy the Stamps in the Mail Club because everything you need for a project or card is right there--everything is pre-cut. The directions are clear and easy, and then you have the directions that you can use on future projects. I love it."

And Dawn H, another Stamps in the Mail Club veteran shared this thought: "Stamps in the mail club is an awesome way to get creative ideas. A fabulous way to build up your supplies at little cost. Stamps in the mail is like taking a class, only you don't have to leave the comforts of your home. Everything is delivered to your door. I highly recommend Stamps in the mail! Besides the demonstrator is awesome!"

And as if that wasn't exciting enough, my Stamps in the Mail Club now features video tutorials for all of the kit projects! I look forward to sharing these extra lessons with you as part of the Club.

Don't wait to sign up--if you're registered and paid before August 1st, your kit will ship on August 3rd and you can begin working on your projects right away!

If you missed the Project Preview, you can check out the video of another August project.

Use the PayPal button below to sign up, or visit my website for further details.

Select Printed or PDF file Instructions

PDF Instructions to Print at Home $45.00 Include Printed Instructions $48.00

Sandbox, Sun and Hodgepodge Hardware

Here's another page from my mom's birthday scrapbook: I don't think she's figured out that she's getting this album on Sunday, so if you're coming to my Stamping Staycation on Saturday in Penfield, IL, don't say anything! ;-)


I got this Flower Fancy stamp set as one of my free selections following Sale-A-Bration last spring, and I hadn't had a chance to use it yet. Wow--I'm using it all the time now! Remind me to post pictures of the cute back-to-school notebooks we made at Summer Scrap Camp this week!

I picked the stamp set because it reminded me of the little flowers on Abby's swimsuit.

The set is a 2-Step stamp set, so I stamped the outlines of the flowers first in Night of Navy, then used the inside stamp with Brocade Blue. And the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (the Vanilla is on sale this week!) fit perfectly with this page effect. The message inside the frame is from another of my favorite sets: One of A Kind.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: One of A Kind (113624), Flower Fancy (111578) Ink: Night of Navy (102977), Brocade Blue (101102), Certainly Celery (105217), Garden Green (102277) Paper: Whisper White (100730), Garden Green (102584), Certainly Celery (107080), Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (111325), Brocade Blue 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109057),

Hodgepodge Technique Tip: Snip, Snip!

Here's another page from my mom's birthday scrapbook. This picture is from a couple years ago. Why is it that it's so exciting to go outside in a swimsuit and play in the rain? :-)


I used the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware here. The Silver is the same shapes and pieces as the Vanilla Hodgepodge that's on sale this week.

***TOOL TIP*** The piece I chose is the square frame, which normally has 2 brackets--not just one as shown. So here's a great use for your Craft & Rubber Scissors: you can use them to cut one bracket off the side of the frame, so that there's only a place for one brad. Amazing, but those scissors have fabulous pressure, and they cut right through the metal on the frame.

The colors I chose here are the new In Color, Melon Mambo, and the Orchid Opulence from the Bold Brights color family. The letter "A" is from the wonderful new Jumble Alphabet stamp set--it's a perfect alphabet to have on hand because it has so many varieties of letter style.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Jumble Alphabet (115199)
Inks: Melon Mambo (115656)
Paper: Melon Mambo (115320), Orchid Opulence (), Whisper White (100730)
Accessories: Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (111325), Scallop Border Punch (112091), Scallop Circle Die #2 (113469), Big Shot (113439)

Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware: Like Christmas in July

It's July, so that means I can post Christmas cards, right? Getting ready for Christmas in July?

I especially wanted to share this card, which uses the Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, which is not only gorgeous, but also on sale this week :-)


This card features the Home For Christmas stamp set, which debuted in the Holiday Mini Catalog last year, and was popular enough to make the cut for the 2009/2010 Catalog! If you're one of those people who were crying in your ink pads because you missed it the first time around, you can get out your kleenexes so that you don't drip salty tears into your computer when you go online to place your order for this set now :-)

Really, I loved this set last winter, and I'm so excited to be able to pull it out again. Even the gorgeous greeting is included in the stamp set. I created a wonderful ceramic tile coaster project with this stamp set last year, and I've included the directions on my blog post.

But for now, you can just check out the detailing on the elegant Designer Series Label frame from the Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit here.

If you missed it, here's what's included in the Hardware Kit--each kit contains approximately 200 pieces of hardware:

• Raised dot Oval holders: 10
• Small Rectangle holders: 10
• Raised dot designer holder: 10
• 1" Circle holders: 10
• Square holders: 10
• 1/2" Genuine holders: 10
• 3/8" Flower brads: 10
• 3/8" Star brads: 10
• 1/2" Flower brads: 10
• Flowers ribbon slides: 10
• 3/16" brads: 100

To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Home For Christmas (111756)
Inks: Basic Brown (104315)
Paper: Always Artichoke (105119), Ruby Red (102030), Chocolate Chip (102128), Very Vanilla (101650)
Accessories: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (112454), Earth Elements Watercolor Wonder Crayons (106696), Neutrals Watercolor Wonder Crayons (106746), Designer Series Label Punch (107590), AquaPainters (103954),

Wedding Ideas: Save the Date Cards

These cards are designed to go with a wedding ensemble that I created for a friend. She didn't actually get to use these, but if you're starting to plan well ahead of time, I love this for a simple, easy-to-reproduce card!

The cards use the Big Shot and the Top Note die. The die usually cuts a full shape, as in the sample wedding invitation. To make the cards here, I folded the Very Vanilla cardstock in half, then put the cardstock on the Top Note die so that the fold would NOT be cut. The Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon and the elements from the Baroque Motifs stamp set are a great combination.


To put the information about the upcoming wedding on the inside of the card, I actually printed the cardstock using my home printer BEFORE cutting the cardstock with my Big Shot Die Cut machine. I also set the text color on the printer to match the Chocolate Chip ribbon and Chocolate Chip ink used on the front of the card.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs (113490)
Inks: Chocolate Chip (100908)
Paper: Very Vanilla (101650)
Accessories: Big Shot (194), Top Note Die (198), Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon (109051)

Deal of the Week: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware

Oh my goodness--the Deal of the Week this week is the best one yet!!

It's the Designer Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware box, usually $29.95, but only $18.99 this week only!!

I was actually just using this Hodgepodge on a scrapbook for my mom's 70th birthday (shh... don't tell her!).

If you haven't placed an online order with me before, remember that your order gets you an entry for my FREE Stamp Set of the Month drawing.

Stay tuned for more samples using this fabulous kit. Oh, and remember that everything is in multiples of 10 in this kit, which makes it easy to make card sets. You get 10 Designer Label frames, 10 small Oval Frames, etc.

Oh, and did I mention that the frames in this kit match the Stampin' Up! punches?! Yup!! They do!! So if you want to punch out a Designer Label punch piece, it will fit perfectly inside the little frame above. Stampin' Up! is so good at coordinating products!!

Period	Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
July 20 through July 26	112454	178	Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware	$29.95	$18.99

Here is the fabulous Designer Label frame that's included with this Hardware box... too cute. And don't forget that when your tin is empty, you have a fabulous box that you can decorate and use for another purpose!!

Seems to me that you might want to order 2 sets of this Hardware at this price! :-)


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Showcase is REALLY an excuse to Buy Cupcakes

It's true, my secret is out: I have a New Catalog Showcase Party so that I have an excuse to BUY CUPCAKES! And our local IGA makes great ones--seems to me I should have New Catalog parties more often ;-)

I couldn't believe it, but not only did the cupcakes come pre-frosted in Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry colors, but I ALSO found Melon Mambo-colored roses to go on the table! I don't know about you, but I'm seeing the new In Colors everywhere I go!


As an added color touch (can't have the colors all come from roses and cupcakes!) I covered the water bottle labels with strips of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper and added little ribbon ties with Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon at the tops.

And for the Peppermint Patties on bamboo skewers, we used the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper again. Yikes... how many packages of that paper have I gone through already? Yup, 3 FULL packages, and the catalog has only been out 17 days :-) The flower pot decorations are the same as what I created last year, only with updated paper. They use the Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms Sizzlit set.




To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (115675)
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms Sizzlits (113485), Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611)