$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