Be a BIG SHOT!!!

Join my team by October 31 and receive a FREE Big Shot or $125 worth of product of your choice!  What is not to love about this great promotion and this great company!

Also, why not dress up your holiday baking with these awesome new Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps?  They are $20.95 for 3 prints and the wooden handle and they even come with 2 recipes.  Order yours today!

Happy August!

I cannot believe that today is the first day of August.  July just flew by and I know that August will too!  Stampin' Up! has a great special running for the month of August.  For every 3 packages of Designer Series Paper you buy, you can chose another one for FREE.  There are sooo many beautiful paper choices in the catalogue that I am positive you will be able to pick 4 with no problem!  You can also order the dsp in the Summer Mini.

I'd Love to Have You!

Everything is more fun when you are surrounded by great friends! Stamping is no exception--it's an art, a creative outlet, and a fun way to bring people together. Now, it's easier than ever to participate in Stampin' Up's +One Campaign and get friends stamping with you because both you and I will each get a free Christmas Keepsake Box project kit--a $50 value--to work on together (if you choose, or you are welcome to do it in the comfort of your own home in your Pj's if you'd like:) This project kit isn't offered anywhere else, so be sure to take advantage of this special offer.

With the $119 Starter Kit, it's a great time to take advantage and get ahold of a Kit--valued at more than $200--which is full of product favourites, including items from the brand-new Idea Book & Catalogue.

Here are some of the great perks of becoming a demonstrator, like:

• A 20% product discount!
• A free monthly issue of Stampin' Success, Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator-only magazine!
• Sneak peeks at brand-new products!
• Invitations to exclusive Stampin' Up! events!
• Regular get-togethers to stamp!
• Free access to a community of 30,000+ crafters/stampers and creative artists, as well as 160,000+ project samples!

In addition, you will be eligible for TWO FREE months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS)--including your own business website and Online Store, access to a blog, calendar, a monthly e-newsletter, project gallery, and e-cards--if you sign up within 21 days of becoming a demonstrator.

The Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit--a $50 value--contains the following products (quantities are 1 unless otherwise noted):

• Pines & Poinsettias Set *(wood-mount)
• Keepsake box
• Scallop borders (cut from Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die)
  • First Edition Designer Series Paper (3)
  • Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6)
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
• Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece*
• Real Red Top Note (cut from Top Note Bigz Die)
• Real Red Decorative Label (cut from Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
• Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
• Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric*
• Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
• Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
• Linen Thread
• Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter
• Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Bauble
• Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons*
  • Large Wild Wasabi
  • Small Real Red
• Mini Vintage Tags

Here is video of Shelli Gardner, CEO and founder of Stampin' Up! showing the real keepsake box.  Please note that the kit in Canada is $119.  Contact me today to join my Dare to Stamp team and have lots of fun!

I'm Back

So in the past when I have been at convention, I have posted fairly frequently and when I get home, I have shared lots of pictures.  This time, I guess that didn't happen.  I flew into Toronto on Sunday July 17 and drove to Kitchener to spend a couple of days at my sister's while Scott was working there.  Gavin and I came home on Tuesday evening.  When we got home, we were busy watering flowers and getting sprinklers on when I promptly stepped on the garden cultivator and ended up at emerg with a bit hole in my toe that needed glued back together.  Last week I was not very mobile at all but this week has been much better and I am able to drive and walk somewhat normally.  I hope to share lots of inspiring pictures with you this week.
But first, I have some exciting news to share with you.  On Thursday, I will have been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 5 years!!!!  I got to walk across the stage at convention and I will receive my 5 year pin soon.  In commemoration of the this exciting milestone, I am offering a super special for you.  Place an order between today and Sunday July 31 and I will give you FREE shipping.  To take advantage of this, you will need to email or call me with your order.  I also am going to have a draw so for every $25 order you place, you name will go into the draw.  I will let you know what the prize is in a later post!

Here are 2 pictures from convention that will hopefully inspire you with some ideas other than cards and scrapbook pages.

Grow Convention 2011

I'm here in Salt Lake City at Stampin'  Up!'s annual convention.  Convention technically doesn't start until tomorrow but today has been great.  We are getting ready to head to the opening garden party.  I have posted lots of pictures on my facebook page so if you want to see more, be sure to check it out.
Here are a few pictures to share with you for now.  I will try to post more when I can.

New Ribbon Shares

Even in you are unable to attend my New Catalogue Reveal Party, I have a special for you.  Place an order between now and Thursday July 7 at 5:00pm and receive FREE shipping.  (This only applies if you do not want your order shipped to your door).

I also have 3 new ribbon shares for you.

3/8" Ruffled Ribbon Share: For $17 you will get 2 yards each of the 5 new In Colours - Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, and Wisteria Wonder







3/8" Denim Jean Ribbon share: For $5 you will get 2 yards of the artichocke denim and the blue denim

1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon Share: For $27 you will get 2 yards each of 10 colours - Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, More Mustard, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Tangerine Tango

It's Here, It's Here, It's Here

And it is beautiful.  The 2011-2012 catalogue is so vibrant and beautiful.  I promise that you are going to love it!

Click the catalogue to view online!


Click to Download in .pdf format!

If you don't want to view the catalogue online or download it, then you should come to my new catalogue reveal party on Wednesday July 6 from 1-3pm or 6:30-9:00pm.  You will get an extra door prize ballot for rsvp'ing and another one if you bring a friend I don't know.  I really appreciate your 'word of mouth' advertising you do for me!  There will be a make 'n take,  an ordering special, and retired stuff for sale.  I really hope to see you there.

You are Invited...

New Catalogue Reveal Party

Wednesday July 6

1:00-3:00pm or 6:30-9:00pm

Stop by to get the new catalogue. 

Shop from my retired table.

RSVP and get an extra ballot for the door prize.

Bring a friend and get another ballot for the door prize.

Ordering special and a make ‘n take with new product.

GNO

If you want to join me for Girls Night Out on Wednesday June 15 from7:30-9:30pm, just send me an email to let me know you are coming.  Bring your own projects and consumables and you can use my stamps, ink, and tools.  This is a great time to get inspiration and get some projects completed!

The Winner is...

I am sorry about being so delayed in posting the winner of my retired stamp set contest.  It has been a long weekend and I really wish there was another day.  I had to take Gavin to emerg Friday afternoon because he has pink eye.  Then we were supposed to have soccer pictures Saturday morning so we got dressed and went despite the rain, hail, thunder, and lightning.  When we got there they told use the were cancelled.  We then went to my parents for the day and ended up at emerg again because Gavin had an ear ache.  Found out there was no infection, just lots of congestion.  Up a lot last night with him and not much sleep happened.  Today we planted a new flower bed and got half of the garden done.  So much for doing any stamping or working on report cards which are due soon!
My June stamp club is this week so I hope to have some things to share soon.  Be sure to check out the retired lists because things will be gone soon.

Everyone had 4 answers correct in their guesses of retiring stamp sets but Christine C had 5 correct so she is the winner.  Congrats Christine!!!!  She will get to choose a $25 stamp set of her choice.

Here is another swap card I received at my Dare to Stamp team meeting.  This one was made by Michelle.

Winner will be posted....

I will post the winner's name of the retiring stamp set contest Thursday evening.  I have had a really busy day and still have two assignments to finish for my course by Friday!

The Lists are Here!

The Last Chance stamp list and retiring accessories lists are here.  Be sure to check them out and get your order in. 
Stamp sets will be available until June 30.  Accessories and Decor Elements are only available while supplies last.

Last Chance Stamp Set List

Last Chance Accessories List

Last Chance Definitely Decorative List

Contest Entries due today!

If you would like to enter my retiring stamp set contest, your entries are due tonight by 11:59 pm.  Just send me a list of 10 stamp sets you think are retiring from the 2010/2011 catalogue and you could win a $25 stamp set of your choice!  I will try to post the Last Chance list tomorrow before I go to work so you can start making your wish list!

Here is the card that Liz made for our Dare to Stamp team meeting swap.  Perfect for Father's Day.

Do you want a new catalogue?

Stampin' Up!'s 2011/2012 catalogue will be available on July 1, 2011.  I am able to preorder the catalogues on June 1 so if you want one, you just need to let me know and I will have them for you for FREE when you attend my new catalogue reveal party which will be happening the first week of July.  More details to follow.
When you email me to say you want a catalogue, why not send me your list of 10 stamp sets you think are retiring and you will have a chance to win a $25 stamp set of your choice!
I can't wait to see who wants a catalogue and who will win my contest!
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day.

Flower Garden Embossing Folder

When I saw the new embossing folder in the Summer mini, I knew for sure that I would be getting it.  This is another card we did at my May stamp club.

The colours for this card are Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, and Concord Crush.  We used a piece of Whisper White cardstock to put through the embossing folder but we got the colour by rubbing the Concord Crush classic ink pad on the emossing folder and then we put it through the Big Shot.  It really makes the white flower stand out.
I have had a couple of more entries to my Retiring Stamp Set contest but I know that you will be sending me your guess soon!

Bright and Cheery

I want to remind you that the National Scrapbooking Month promotion is still running until May 31.  You can check out the link on the right hand side for more info.

Also, be sure to enter my  Retiring Stamp Set contest.  This is SUCH an easy contest to enter and I only have a couple of entries so far...what are you waiting for?  Get out your catalogue and send me a list of 10 stamp sets you think will be retiring and you could win a $25 stamp set of your choice.  For all the details, click here.

This next card is one we made for the make 'n take at my Dare to Stamp team meeting last week.  We used the new stamp set Flower Fest and the new embossing powders.  So bright and cheery.  Let's hope that perhaps we will get some sun to make us all bright and cherry!

You Are NOT Going to Believe This!!!

I actually created a scrapbook page!!! I know, can you believe it?  I have been an avid card maker for 5 plus years and have not really done any scrapbooking.  I felt overwhelmed and somewhat intimidated by it but I finally did it....using My Digital Studio.  I must admit, it only took about 20 minutes to create this page and it was while I was sitting on the couch with Gavin while he was watching Cars.  It is a very simple page but as I get the hang of using My Digital Studio more, I hope to be able to create some fabulous pages.  I will make it a goal to "try" to do one page a week.  You can help me stay motivated by letting me know what you think of the page.

(You can click on the picture to zoom in more to see the journaling)

Please remember to enter my Retiring Stamp Set contest.  I don't have very many entries so chances are good that you may win.  To view the details, click here.

Pretty Postage

I held my quarterly Dare to Stamp team meeting last week and we decided to make swap cards using items from the Summer mini.  This is what I came up with.

I used the new stamp set called Pretty Postage.  The cost for wood-mount is only $14.95 and clear mount is just $10.95.  What a deal!  I also used the Postage Stamp Punch to punch out the images.  I embossed the birthday cakes using the great new colours of Stampin' Emboss powder - Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, and Melon Mambo.  I also used white embossing powder on the Melon Mambo cardstock and for the greeting which is from the level 1 hostess set in the Summer mini called Swirls and Curls Verses.  If you would like this hostess set, why not book a workshop and then you can get it and other products for free!  Contact me to set your date.

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch

Well, that is quite the mouth-full, but you seriously have to check out this fabulous new punch.  I love it and it is soo easy to use.

This was another card we made at my May stamp club.  It is a square card that measures 5".  The colours are Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, and Certainly Celery.  The blossom punch can punch out 3 different styles of flowers which you see here.  We also used some circle punches as well.  The greeting in the center is from the level 1 hostess set in the Summer mini called Swirls and Curls Verses which I received for FREE because there was a bonus for demonstrators during Sale-a-Bration.  It is soo great to be a demonstrator and if you are interested, let me know so I can fill you in on all the great deatils.  There is even still time for you to sign up to go to Convention with me this summer.
Remember to enter my Retiring Stamp Set Contest by May 31.  See the previous post for all the details.

Annual Retiring Stamp Set Contest

It's that time of year again when Stampin' Up! is getting ready to put out their retirement lists to make room for the fabulous new products that will be available in the new catalogue!  I can hardly wait to see what they have in store for us.I am once again holding my retiring stamp set contest.  Here is how it works.
On June 1st, Stampin' Up! will release the Last Chance List. This list will include stamp sets that are retiring and will not be available again. This is a super easy contest to enter and you could win a stamp set of your choice with a value of $25 or less.
You need to browse through the 2010/2011 catalogue and email me a list of 10 stamp sets (not including hostess sets) you think will be retiring. The person with the most correct answers will win. In the case of a tie, I will draw between the names. This contest closes on May 31 at midnight so make sure I get your entries by then.  If the list is leaked early, the contest will close then so get your entries in asap!  (Contest open to Canadian stampers only and no demonstrators please).

This is a card that we made at my May stamp club.  It features some new items from the Summer Mini catalogue.  The boat image is a stamp called Sail Away and is only $11.95.  The Baker's Twine that is wrapped around the card is the Cherry Cobbler/White combination and it is only $3.95 for 25 yards.  It is super easy to work with and will last a really long time!  The colours in the card are Night of Navy and Cherry Cobbler.
Be sure to check back each day this week as my plan is to have a post everyday!!!

A Beautiful Sunday

Today was such a beautiful day.  The sun was out and it wasn't cold.  We spent a lot of the day outside enjoying it together. 
These cards I have to share with you today are the cards I made my mom and mother in law. 

The flowers are made from the amazing new punch in the Summer Mini which can punch 3, yes 3, different flowers.  It is sooo cool!  If you need a Summer mini, let me know and I can get one out to you.
To all the moms, I hope you had a great day!

3 years ago...

I was spending the second night in the hospital with my baby boy.  It is hard to believe that Gavin is 3 already!  Time sure does fly by.Gavin really loves Thomas the Train and had asked for a Thomas cake many months ago for his birthday.  I also decided that I needed to create Thomas invites for him and this is what they looked like.

Scott did a great job making Gavin's cake.  This is what it looked like but is now all gone!!!

I will be back tomorrow with a card creation for you.

A Whole Month....

I cannot believe that is has been a whole month since I last posted..eeek!  I am sorry about my lack of writing.  It has been a very busy time for me.  Since March break, I have been back to work almost full time as well as taking an online course which has lots of assignments.  Stampin' Up! also has invited me to be a part of a business coaching group so I am really looking forward to doing that and getting back into posting more for you.
The Summer Mini came out yesterday and it is fabulous!  There are lots of new products in there that you won't want to miss out on.
Also, May is National Scrapbooking month and Stampin' Up! is offering 30% off some items. 
Click below to view the mini and the promo.

Extended...

If you missed my announcement yesterday, I am giving you another chance.  I am extending my 20% off sale until today at 6pm.  Today is also the last day to take advantage of Sale-a-Bration until 2012.  Get your orders into me asap!!