Summertime means flip flops, beach umbrellas, swimming pools, popsicles, and spending time with friends - both old and new.

Spend time this summer doing what you love with family and friends - and have a party (or several parties) during June and July and take advantage of all the great offers that are coming your way.

• Last Chance List - Your last chance to order these stamp sets before they retire permanently (available the month of June only).
• Hostess Bonus - If you have a party with sales of $250-$399.99, you'll receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars June 1-30; also, if you party is $400 or more, you'll get an extra $40!


• Country Living Summer Cookout Kit - June 15 to August 31 (or while supplies last). This craft kit, which will be featured in the July 2009 issue of Country Living, costs $24.95, and you'll receive the Dig In stamp set, 2 Stampin' Spots (Ruby Red & Night of Navy), 5 yards of linen thread, 4 printed recipe cards, 24 printed food wrapper sheets, 16 tags, 12 coasters, 8 table tents, and die-cuts/bamboo skewers/envelopes to create 8 shish kabob invitations.
• 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - We're back to just one catalog a year! Pre-order yours to make sure you have it July 1! Email me at ericandterry@comcast.net. There's an added bonus if you book a party in July.

Bird on a Branch...

Here's a Riding Hood Red card with layers of Whisper White and So Saffron.

This card uses the Bird on a Branch stamp set and the eyelet border punch. The bird is cut out and adhered with dimensionals. I CASE'd this idea from Jackie Bolhuis' blog.

Sweet Always Pop-Up Cake...

Still don't have a Big Shot? Here's another reason why you should buy it - so you can make pop-up cakes with this fabulous die!

I was intimidated at first to even try the die since I'm not that good with spacial activities. But I followed the directions that came with the die and put it together correctly the first time! I was elated!!!

What I've learned - the cake is only round when you put it together. Once you fold the card, it's forever an oval shape. It's still a WOW though, and one anybody would love to receive.

More details: It's a Regal Rose card with the sentiment from On Your Birthday stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. I used a 6" x 12" piece of Chocolate Chip card stock on the die, then cut strips of the polka-dotted paper from the Sweet Always pack (still Buy 3 Get One Free thru May 31).

Petal Pizzazz treat...

Olivia brought this delightful make & take to our demonstrator meeting. We have such fun at these monthly events - there's still time to join us! All you need to do is purchase a $75 starter kit (good till May 31) and you're good to go.

The Basic Black box below the Top Note is a 5 1/2" x 8" piece, scored at 1" all the way around, and at 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" from one side.

I love the bright colors. We stamped one-half of a Whisper White Top Note that was layered onto an Old Olive one. Then we used scrap paper to stamp the flower and leaves, using the Scallop Circle punch and dimensionals for the flower, and cut out the leaves and adhered.

Accordian butterflies...

Heather created this adorable "card" as a make & take at our recent demonstrator gathering. She doesn't have the Big Shot (yet), so she traced butterflies that we cut out and assembled instead of using the Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies die.

This card fits in a regular-sized envelope.

Raspberry Tart scallop bag die...

Kim's club members loved creating this scallop bag with the Sizzix die and Raspberry Tart designer paper.

They used the Think Happy Thoughts stamp set, punched out the sentiment with a 1 1/4" circle punch, and finished the look with a rhinestone brad.

American Ink cards...

Our American Ink group had its monthly meeting yesterday. It's so great - it energizes you mentally and physically - and I love my downline! It is a fun and creative group of ladies.

There's still time to be my downline, and for only $75! Contact me to sign up. It's easy, you can do it online, and start saving on all of your future Stampin' Up! purchases.

This card is a Whisper White make and take by Frankie and Cindy. We used Walk in the Park designer paper and the Simply Said stamp set with Old Olive and Rose Red markers.

The sentiment is from Stem Sayings.

Trendy Trees & Darling Dots...

This Old Olive card features paper piercing, Trendy Trees and Darling Dots (Level 1 hostess set) stamp sets, and Tea Party designer paper. It's a CASE from fellow SU! demo Sarah Sagert.

The silver hodgepodge piece fits perfectly around this "be happy" sentiment, which was punched out of Whisper White paper with a 1" circle punch. I adhered the circle to the paper and then pierced the holes for the brads to keep the hardware in place.

The trees were stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, along with Tangerine Tango, More Mustard and Old Olive. That white pierce was also pierced around the perimeter and sponged with Chocolate Chip.

A piece of wide Old Olive grosgrain finishes the card.

Hit The Road...

I'm thinking of sending this card to one of my nephews who is graduating from high school this year. He'll hit the road!

The Hit The Road stamp set is a terrific one if you like animals and the outdoors. The greeting, "Hey There!" is from the Really Retro word set.

This is a Tangerine Tango card with a strip of Tangerine Tango designer paper layered on Chocolate Chip card stock, with a corduroy button and linen thread stuck on with a mini glue dot.

I used markers to color in the Basic Black image, layering it also.

Sunshine Garden Scrapbook class & kit available...

Kim has come up with an eye-appealing 8" x 8" album and 10 pages using the Simply Scrappin' Sunshine Garden paper and images, along with numerous embellishments.

You're invited to a 2-hour class on Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m. at my Poulsbo studio to make this project, or purchase the kit by June 30 for $35 from either Kim or myself. You'll receive one free SNAIL adhesive per kit (which is all you need for this project). Credit cards, personal checks and checks are all accepted. Shipping is $10 more.

This is a fantastic deal - you're not only getting 10 scrapbook pages, you're also getting the album, which is On Board chipboard covered with designer paper! If you haven't started scrapping, this is a great way to start. If you already scrap, this will propel you forward quickly. This makes a wonderful gift too!

Please register for my May 29 class by May 28 by emailing me at ericandterry@comcast.net. You're welcome to bring your photos.

Our booth at the Heirloom show...

Kim and I spent last weekend at the Heirloom Rubber Stamp & Paper Arts Festival in Puyallup. Though we had a 10' x 15' booth, which we thought was big, several other vendors' booths were HUGE!

We met some wonderful people, but really the stars of the show were our downline - Heather and Sherry. They helped customers with their purchases while Kim and I did classes and make & takes. Thank you, ladies!

We have the Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Expo coming up August 1 and 2, so we hope you'll put that on your calendar! We'd love to see you.

Look Who's Escaped...

There's a whole lot of fabulous-ness in these 12" x 12" scrapbook pages.

Kim created these Tangerine Tango dreams using the Wild About You and Choo Choo stamp sets, along with the Right on Track wheel.

All of the photo mats are Pacific Point card stock. There are black photo corners with striped Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Point ribbon.

Just sit down, stamp and start cutting out images for your scrapbook pages. They'll POP!

Flower Fancy cards...

These textured 3" x 6" cards will make anyone's day! They're so bright and cheery.

Kim used the Flower Fancy stamp set in Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, and Pumpkin Pie ink colors. The flower and leaves were cut out and adhered to the front of the card with dimensionals.

Different stamps from the Occasions Mini Catalog Oval All stamp set were used with the large oval punch, layered with the oval scallop punch (also in the mini catalog).

Flower Fancy brag book page...

This Tempting Turquoise brag book page (6" x 6") uses some Rainbow Sherbet designer paper, Pig Tails ribbon originals, and the Flower Fancy stamp set.

Kim used the ticket corner punch on the designer paper, cut out the leaves and flower, then used Oval All for the sentiment, layered on a textured Green Galore oval scallop.

It's bright and cheery and is a perfect compliment to these three young ladies!

Morning Soft polished stone card...

I had a technique class last night covering a pop-up card, shaving cream, and polished stone techniques.

The card to the right uses the Polished Stone Technique. You saturate a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess. Add a couple drops of reinker in two different colors (Orchid Opulence and Brilliant Blue here), plus a drop of metallic reinker (silver here). You can swipe, swirl or dab the cotton ball on glossy card stock to make some amazing patterns. The metallic reinker needs to be set so it doesn't keep rubbing off. I use hairspray. Once it dries, stamp your image on top in a permanent ink and finish your card.

This stamp from Morning Soft was stamped in Basic Black ink, layered on Brilliant Blue card stock and finished with white organza ribbon. The sentiment is from the Garden Greetings stamp set.

Sense of Time shaving cream card...

This square white card uses a smaller square of Bella Birds designer paper (ticket corner punch on all four corners), a Bordering Blue scallop (Big Shot die, the largest scallop one), and a fun technique using shaving cream.

For the Shaving Cream Technique, you spray shaving cream on a paper plate and smooth it out with a knife or your bone folder. Drop a few drops of a couple reinkers on top and mix it around to create any pattern you like. Then you take glossy card stock and push it glossy-side down into the mix. Peel it up at the corner and scrape off the shaving cream. I use a paper towel to wipe off the excess. Once it's dry, you can stamp your image on top and finish your card.

This card uses the Occasions Mini stamp set Sense of Time. I used Pink Pirouette and Bordering Blue reinkers. It's subtle, but very pretty in person. The card is finished with a knot of pink taffeta ribbon.

And Many Mower...

This So Saffron card is simple and whimsical, with the lawnmower from And Many Mower and faux grass (cut Old Olive card stock).

I love the jumbo brads. And this checkered paper rocks too. It's from the Jackpot designer series paper pack (don't forget the May special - buy 3 packs of specialty/designer/textured card stock and get one pack FREE).

Fifth Avenue Floral...

I'd recommend the stamp set Fifth Avenue Floral for any beginner. These flowers look great stamped in so many color combinations. Here, I used Night of Navy, Barely Banana and Real Red.

This is a Whisper White card with a torn strip of Jackpot designer series paper. A length of 1/4" Real Red grosgrain is knotted in front.

The sentiment is from the Great Friend stamp set in the Occasions Mini.

Golden Oldies on Candy Lane...

I had to have a blue-haired old lady card. It makes me happy because it reminds me of so many fond memories of my great-grandma.

This old lady is from the Golden Oldies stamp set. She's stamped in Basic Brown ink and colored in with Stampin' Write markers - Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron (mug), Chocolate Chip and Blush Blossom.

The card is Pink Pirouette with Candy Lane designer series paper and striped Pink Pirouette ribbon.

Have a lovely day!

Sense of Time & Tea Party paper...

I love the colors of this Almost Amethyst card, which uses a 4" x 6" piece of Tea Party designer paper, scored at one end and folded up so you can see the dots on the other side.

The saying is from the Occasions Mini stamp set Sense of Time. It stamped in Basic Gray ink and punched out with the 1 3/4" circle punch.

The butterfly is from the Great Friend stamp set, also in the mini catalog. It's stamped in Pink Pirouette ink, cut out and adhered with a dimensional.

To The Nines...

This card is almost perfect for my husband. To make it perfect, the remote would have to be replaced with a laptop.

This card is Very Vanilla with a 4" x 4" piece of To The Nines specialty paper on top. I stamped the main image from And Many Mower in Basic Brown and cut it out, then added a vanilla photo corner with a small corduroy chocolate chip brad. I love those things! I adhered the photo corner with dimensionals.

The "NOW..." at the bottom of the card leads into the card, where I stamped "RELAX."

Life is good.

Any Many Mower...

When we were on the Big Island, a card very similar to this one was on display. I loved it so much, I copied it - mostly.

What's great about this type of layout is that it uses up those leftover strips of paper most of us have in our scrap boxes.

The card is Kraft, with Chocolate Chip layers. It uses the Parisian Breeze specialty paper (cover-weight card stock that you can get for free with the paper special this month when you buy 3 packs of some other designer papers), and Baja Breeze card stock.

I think it's "Par-fect!"