Countdown to Christmas

As a demonstrator I received the Holiday Mini at convention in July already and I knew immedeately that I had to get the stamp set "25 and Counting" (123792 w / 123794 c) to make one of those adorable Advent Calendars that Stampin' Up! featured in the Mini. This is my version of it.

To make this Advent Calendar I also used the new Big Shot die called "Peekaboo Frames" (124587) and the 1" Square Punch (124094).

Online Extravaganza

Dates: November 21-30, 2011

During these 10 days only, you can get incredible discounts--up to 60 percent--on some of your favorite products! You can visit the Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

Included in the Online Extravaganza promotion is the opportunity to receive a free bundle of preselected digital downloads (at least a $39.95 value) with the purchase of My Digital Studio Express. To view a PDF of the images in each bundle, visit the online store under My Digital Studio Express. 

In addition, two brand-new products will be discounted 20 percent only during the first 24 hours of the sale (November 21, midnight - 11:59 PM [MT]):

Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour  Sale Price
122334	Simply Scored	$29.95	$23.96
125152	Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps	$16.95	$13.56

Things to Remember

• Discounted digital downloads are only available on online orders.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
• For product bundles, you must use the bundle item numbers provided. Bundle discounts will not be applied if individual item numbers are used.
• Additional products from current catalogs may be purchased on the same order.
• Discounts range between 20 and 60 percent.

Online Extravaganza

Stampin’ Up! will launch their Online Extravaganza, the annual sale to kick off the holiday shopping season, Monday, November 21, 2011. It will run through Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

The offer includes FREE digital downloads valued at $40 when you buy My Digital Studio Express, 60 percent off select Designer Fabrics, and 30 percent off an exclusive ribbon bundle!

In addition, there will be two items on sale for 24 hours only (November 21, 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM [MT])

Watch for more detailed information to post on my demonstrator website (http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/1stampingnightowl) on November 21.

Wicked Cool Witch

A Hallween card with some humor. The colors used are Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry. The stamp set I used is Wicked Cool (118738 w, 120600 c). The cauldron was punched from a 1-3/4" Circle punch (119850), the Large Oval punch ( 119855) and the Jewelry Tag punch ( 117190) for the legs. The Rich Razzleberry card stock is embossed with the Spider Web EF (120889). For the ribbon I used Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffeled Ribbon. The bubbles rising from the cauldron (they are kind of hard to see on the picture) are made with Crystal Effects (101055).

Halloween Frame

I am really on a roll this year with my Halloween projects. Boy, am I having fun. I used some Pumpkin Pie Designer Series Paper  (117155) for the background and then decorated the frame (12x12) with several little individual pictures - most of them are 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches. The "boo" was cut with the Peekaboo Frames (124587) from the Holiday Mini. For the spider web I used the Spider Web embossing folder (120889). The tombstone is made from the Decorative Label punch (120907). The owl is from the hostess set "Warmest of Wishes" (122672 c, 122670 w) in the Holiday Mini. Other stamps I used are from "Wicked Cool" (118738 w, 120600 c) and some retired ones.

Halloween Crow

Do you recognize this crow? This is my version that was cased and inspired by the bird on page 10 in the Holiday Mini (see here). I used a scoring tool (122334) for the rosette around his neck. I also love the cute little Mini Jingle Bells (124116) on his head and on the pedastal. They are so much fun to use.

Earn a FREE Stamp Set

Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Whether you’re a brand-new card maker or an experienced crafter, The Simply Sent card kits help you make unique, handcrafted cards in a snap! The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it's easy to create cards for any occasion. This promotion is available until October 31st, 2011.

Buy any two of the following Simply Sent Kits:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	122375	Simply Sent Great Day	$12.95
193	122377	Simply Sent Everyday Elegance	$11.95
193	122376	Simply Sent Sweet Moments	$13.95

Everyday Elegance Simply Sent Kit

Great Day Simply Sent Kit

Sweet Moments Simply Sent Kit

And get a FREE coordinating stamp set:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	123682	It's Your Day	$8.95
192	124685	Es tu día (Spanish It's Your day)	$8.95
192	124800	C'est ta fête (French It's Your Day)	$8.95
193	123686	Everyday Wishes	$9.95
193	123684	You're Cherished	$8.95
193	124865	Chérissons les anges (French You're Cherished)	$8.95



FREE BIG SHOT

An offer to DIE for!

If you've been looking for an opportunity to do what you love, while getting a 20 discount on your favorite products, now is the perfect time! Only during October 2011, you'll get a FREE Big Shot when you join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator.*
Use the Big Shot die-cutting machine and Stampin' Up!'s exclusive dies**  to create uniquely beautiful projects in a flash.
In addition, the new-demonstrator Starter Kit--a steal at just $175--contains over $345 worth of stamp sets, card stock, ink, accessories, and business supplies-everything you need to start your new business.
There are so many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, including

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

Don't miss this BIG deal! Contact your me here today to learn how you can take advantage of this great opportunity and get your FREE Big Shot!

Tutorial for Halloween Boxes from Candy Wrapper Die

Here they are, all four of my Halloween characters that I made from the Candy Wrapper Die (120890). I used the pumpkin as an example for the tutorial, but the box is made the same for all of them. The boxes are just dressed up differently. O.k., enough talk, I know you are all wanting to know how these cute little boxes are made:

Run 2 pieces 6“x6“of Pumpkin Pie (orange) card stock through Big Shot with Candy Wrapper die. Fold all score lines.

Cut off a quarter section of the box on the side that does NOT have the glue flap.

Put glue on flaps and glue two pieces together tucking flaps under. Make sure flaps are glued to the inside and are invisible on the outside of the box.

Cut each section at score lines through the diamond until you reach the horizontal score line.

For the bottom fold all opposite sides towards the middle and adhere.

At the top feed ribbon through diamond shaped holes and close with a knot.

Punch leaf from Luckey Limeade (green) card stock and adhere to pumpkin.

Run Chocolate Chip (brown) card stock through crimper, roll into a stem and stick through the hole in the middle.

Punch flower with 5-Petal Flower punch and snip off 2 petals for eyes. Adhere to pumpkin. Punch partial 1 ¾” scalloped circle, reinsert card stock into punch and punch again. Trim edges for mouth, adhere to pumpkin.

Halloween Mummy Box from Candy Wrapper Die

Here is the last one of my box boddies I made from the Candy Wrapper Die (120890) - the mummy. The box is made from Very Vanilla card stock. The I wrapped some 3/8" Twill Tape around it. To finish the look I assembled two eyes (circles punched from Basic Black and Whisper White) and stuck them in the twill tape. Doesn't he look super cute?

Come back tomorrow for the tutorial on how to assemble the box.

Halloween Frankenstein Box from Candy Wrapper Die

This is #3 of my Halloween Quartett: Mr. Frankenstein. For the hair I randomly cut some zig zag in Basic Black cardstock. For the eyes I used circles I punched from Whisper White and Basic Black card stock and a half circle from Luckey Limade. The nose is a circle that I folded in the middle and then adhered it to the box. The ribbon is 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon (117285).

Halloween Bat Box from Candy Wrapper Die

This bat is also made from the Candy Wrapper Die (120890). The box is made the same as the pumpkin, just dressed up differently. For the wings I cut two triangles and used my circle punch for the scalloped look. Then I ran the wings through the Big Shot with my Spider Web embossing folder (120889) and adhered them to the box. For the eyes I punched some circles from Whisper White card stock and red Glimmer Paper (121790). The teeth are punched from the very tip of the owl's ears from the Owl Builder punch (118074).

The bat is #2 of my Halloween buddies, two more to come. Keep on checking.

Halloween Pumpkin Box from Candy Wrapper Die

I have used my Candy Wrapper Die (120890) to create this cute little Pumpkin. The eyes are two single petals cut from the 5-Petal Flower punch (119880) and the mouth is a double punched 1-3/4 Scalloped Circle (119854). The leaf is punched with the Blossom Petals Builder punch (121808). For the stem I ran some brown card stock through my Crimper (101618) and rolled it up, sticking it into the little opening. The ribbon is the new In-Color 2011 Luckey Limade 3/8" Ruffeled Ribbon.

I have a few more of the cuties that I will post over the next few days followed by a free tutorial.

WITCHES BOOT

The leaves on the trees are getting really colorful and that is a sure sign that fall is here in Wisconsin. It's time to get ready for Halloween. I have lots of cool projects to publish this month so keep on checking. Here is a witches boot that was made using the stocking die from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini 2011.

Holiday Stocking Die for the boot, the cuffs of the die are used for the sole and heel of the boot as well, Spider Web EF, the "faux eyelets" are punched holes with heat embossed silver embossing powder around them and for the witches hat the Petite Pennants Builder Punch and the Oval Punch were used. Colors: Basic Black, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade and Pumpkin Pie

Flower Bouquet

In July this year I attended Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City. Over 3000 demonstrators came to this event and it was fun, fun, fun!! Stampin' Up! offered classes, make and takes, introduced the new products from the holiday mini and spoiled us with a convention bag, lots of free stamp sets and other gifts. What a blast!

Wednesday night was a kick-off party with a contest for the best decorated sun hat. I did not win the contest but I sure had a lot of fun that night and even more fun making my hat.

After convention I disassembled it and made a pen flower bouquet. Since the flowers were all already mounted on a wire all I had to do was wrapping them around a pen with flower tape.

I am intending to take these flower pens to my workshops not only as a center piece and inspiration for my customers but also for everybody to use them to fill out their order forms.

I can hardly wait to go there next year again. If you would like to go to convention as well in 2012 sign up as a demonstrator today and join the fun!

Holiday Mini 2011

Yes!!! The new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog 2011 is here!!!!! It went live on September 1st and has soooooooooo many cute and adorable stamp sets and accessories! When I went through the catalog I wanted it all. Click on the picture below to have a look at the catalog.

I can't even tell what my favorite thing is because there are just too many things I love. But I am very excited that Stampin' Up! is offering the Simply Scored scoring tool now!

It was introduced to demonstrators at convention 2011 in Salt Lake City this year. The Simply Scored Scoring Tool’s base fits paper or card stock up to 12" x 12" and features score tracks every 1/8". Features two easy-to-read rulers (with inch markings down to 1/8") along top and left side for perfect scoring. (One standard left-to-right ruler and one zero center ruler.) Includes three markers and stylus. Bottom of base has nonmarking and nonskid feet to secure it on your work area.

And did I mention the Mica Flakes, Designer Fabrics, Holiday Stocking Die, Mini Jingle Bells, 3/8" Quilted Ribbon, Stitched Stockings stamp set with coordinating punch, Peekaboo Frames Die, 1" Square Punch, Silver Glimmer Paper and Dazzling Details iridescent glitter glue - just to mention some highlights? Keep on coming back and checking out this blog as I will be posting projects with the new merchandise soon.

$99 STARTER KIT-OFFER ENDS SUNDAY

Whether you want to sign up as a hobbyist to get your 20% discount on all Stampin' Up! merchandise or make some extra money as a demonstrator - check out this offer, this might be the right thing for you:

$99 Starter Kit + Free Project Kit! During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products: Easy Events Clear-Mount Set* Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set* Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper* Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon* Note Cards (20) Clear-Mount Block C Blender Pen (1) SNAIL Adhesive Business supplies *Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit--a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful--isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer. Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit—all for just $99! Contact me to get started today.

LEGO Birthday Card

This is a card I made for a birthday that was LEGO themed.

Some of the card stock is actually retired but I still liked the colors for this occasion.

Father's Day - A Wallet for Dad

It's just around the corner - Father's Day. Here is a cute idea for a Father's Day card.

I submitted this "wallet" card  for the Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine March 2011 art contest "mama & papa". It was selected for recognition with an honorable mention.

The outside is embossed with a SU! Texturz plate from the kit #4, sponged and inked with brown ink and then covered with clear embossing powder and heat embossed. The sentiment says "A FATHER CARRIES PICTURES..." and is continued above the first picture on the inside with "...WHERE HIS MONEY USED TO BE". 

The pictures on the inside can be pulled out individually. I also made coins for the coin pocket that have family members from the "All in the Family" stamp set embossed on one side and a photo on the other side. The coins are made with the faux metal technique.

Stamps

All in the Family (113488)

All Holidays (114916)

Paper

Whisper White (100730)

Chocolate Chip ( 102128)

Old Olive (100702)

Tempting Turquoise (102067)

Ink
Versa Mark (102283)

Chocolate Chip (100908)

Old Olive Marker (100079)

Tempting Turquoise Marker (100058)

Pumpkin Pie Marker (105115)
Accessories
Texturz Plates Kit #$ (114531)

Stampin' Emboss Powder Clear (109130)

Heat Tool (100005)

Jumbo Eyelets Pewter (108432)

1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Early Espresso (retired)

1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Old Olive (111368)

1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Tempting Turquoise (retired)

Sticky Strip (104294)

Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)

Velcro Dot

LAST CHANCE

It's that exciting time of year again. On July 1st the new 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog will be released! To make room for all the new products hundreds of stamps, accessories and decor elements will retire. Now is the last chance to get your favorites before they are gone forever. Retiring merchandise can be ordered until June 30th 2011, accessories and decors only as long as supplies last.

I am sad to see some of my favorite stamps sets go but I am glad I own them already and can play with them in the future.

View and order retiring products at your convinience 24/7 on my Stampin' Up! website here.

And no reason to panic. There will be no color change. All the retiring 12x12 card stock will be "reconfigured". That can mean a change in price or packaging.

WHITE BUTTERFLIES

I needed to make a card for a First Communion and I was inspired by a lot of white-on-white cards that I have seen lately. I somewhat cased them giving it my own twist.

It's kind of like a tri-fold. The square is a flap that tucks under the big butterfly and keeps the card closed. I cut it from the Glossy White card stock to have a little contrast by playing with different textures. Except for the "Congratulations" there is no stamping involved. I used my Big Shot with several embossing folders and a die for the butterflies. The sentiment is heat embossed with silver embossing powder. Since it was for a First Communion I added a littele silver cross pendant.

Stamps

Fast & Fun Notes (113500)
-for the sentiment-

Paper

Glossy White (102599)

Whisper White (100730)
Ink
Versa Mark (102283)
Accessories
Elegant Bouquet Embosing Folder (115964)
Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809)
Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (118138)

Silver Stampin' Embossing Powder (109131)

Basic Pearls (119247)

5/8" Satin Ribon White (114616)

SUMMER MINI AND PROMOTIONS, PROMOTIONS, PROMOTIONS

Finally, the Summer Mini 2011 is here!!!! Check out all the new fun stamp sets and accessories.

Stampin' Up! also offer lots of interesting promotions in May since it's National Scrapbooking month. Select stamp sets and digital downloads are 30% off.

The Digital Starter Kit is also available for 30% off this month, you'll pay just $122.50. It contains over $320 worth of stamping and business supplies, including the all-new My Digital Studio software. Check out the benefits of becoming a demonstrator and get 20 percent discount on all Stampin' Up! products, including stamp sets, paper, and accessories when you sign up. It's a great way to support your love of stamping, paper or digital crafting, home décor - or whatever your passion may be. Already have a lot of stamp sets and supplies and don't want to double up on things when you order the starter kit? NO PROBLEM, the starter kits can be customized. Join now by clicking on this link and then on "join now" on the left site of the website!

Mother's Day with Easter Blossoms

Hello stampers, I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and lots of fun making Easter themed cards. Now its time to move on to the next occasion - Mother's Day is just around the corner, so here is another inspiration for you.

This is a card using the Faux Mother of Pearls technique to achieve the shimmery background. After applying the Shimmer Paint I sponged the card stock with Rose Red ink and wiped off the ecxess ink. Then I stamped the branches in Crumb Cake, stamped the sentiment in Rose Red and matted the picture with Rose Red card stock. I scrunched the ribbon and glued it to the white card stock. Then I stamped the girl with Early Espresso, punched it out with a circle punch and mounted it on a scalloped circle.  The base of the card is Crumb Cake card stock. The frame is embossed with the "Framed Tulips" embossing folder and then I very slightly sponged over the embossed impressions with a sponge dauber and Early Espresso ink to make the design pop a little more. Last step was to attach the miniature rose on the girl's basket.

This card also shows how versatile your stamp sets can be. The stamps are from the set "Easter Blossoms" in the Occasions Mini catalog. I just covered up the Easter eggs in the little basket with a miniature rose and VOILA -  it can be used year round. How cool is that.
You can order all the material through my website, but HURRY, the stamp sets and some of the accessories are from the Occasions Mini (OM) catalog that expires on April 30, 2011.

Stamps

Easter Blossoms (121905 w / 122057 c)
Occasions Mini

Something to Celebrate (121897w /121955c)
Hostess level 2
Occasions Mini

PaperCrumb Cake (120953)

Rose Red  (102544)

Whisper White (100730)
Ink
Early Espresso (119670)
Crumb Cake (121030)
Rose Red (101778)

Accessories

Shimmer Paint Frost White (116854)
Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809) OM
1/2" Seam Binding Rose Red (121884) OM
2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906) OM
Spinge Daubers (102892)

Dimensionals (104430)

Sponges (101610)

Saran Wrap