Frightening Feline with Mixed Medley for fun Halloween card

How cute are these two little stamps? They are from the Mixed Medley hostess set in the Holiday Catalog. I received this set FREE along with 3,700+ other demonstrators at Stampin' Up!'s Convention 2012, and used the 3/4" circle punch and 1" scallop punch to cut them out.

I love this Frightening Feline single stamp in the Holiday Catalog. I stamped it in Basic Black ink and clear embossed it. That yummy designer paper is from the Howlstooth and Scaringbone pack. Here's the sketch I used from Mary Jo at Technostamper. I flipped it on its side, using the wide oval punch with the reverse side showing.

You have till Sunday to add your card to Technostamper. It can be any theme or color you like! I'm just excited about Halloween! I've got my own Halloween blog hop starting tomorrow, so I hope you'll join in. Hey - maybe you can make a card for both blog hops!!! It's 2 for the price of 1 (well, they're both free).

A sweet Halloween treat for August!

No tricks and all treats! How's that for a pre-Halloween goody?

Buy the $99 Starter Kit in August (you pick up to $125 in whatever product you like) and receive the kit to make this adorable Halloween Project pictured above for FREE!
The Halloween Project Kit includes:

• Your choice of either a wood or clear Toxic Treat stamp set, a full package of Rhinestones, a full package of Baker's Twine, and enough ribbon and buttons to make the kit!

You pay no shipping! The Starter Kit can be tailor-made to fit YOUR needs! There is absolutely NO obligation to sell if you purchase the Starter Kit, and there are NO strings attached. The Starter Kit products are yours to keep...and so is the Halloween project. You can sign up NOW on my website. Please contact me via text or email if you need help or have any questions.

Adding texture to your card, and fabulous final day of the festival

I love texture! These two cards use embossing folders (page 189 of the SU! Catalog), as well as designer paper on the buttons above, and Vintage Trinkets and ribbon with linen thread on the card below.

These cards were on display boards at Convention 2012. I love the different edges and materials used, as well as the colors on these cards. They're so fun!

Today was my last day at the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival - and the best one! Of course, having Kim there was a blast. We have so much fun! We chatted and laughed while Kim put together at least a dozen stamp sets. The weather was HOT! A local demonstrator named Valerie (Hi!) stopped by to say "Hi." We had people buying retired stamps, M&M cello bags (the punched bears at the top were more popular than the turtles), embossing powders, card stock, cards and more. Kim sold some of her super cute SU! fabric purses. The banner Kim and I put together for the front of the booth was quite the attraction for people too! We'll have to make a few more for our booth at the Tacoma Dome for the huge 5-day show October 17.

If you're one of the new people I met in Kingston during the festival, I'll see you soon at one of my classes! Just click on the My Classes tab above. I have everything from Stamping 101 classes coming up, to a technique class and 10-card class. All supplies are provided, so you just show up!

If you see anything you'd like to order, please click here to start shopping! You may search by category (stamps, paper, punches, etc.). You'll receive $25 free if your order is $150+.

Happy Stampin'!

Stamped and ribbon flowers with fun and quirky people

My favorite part of this card is the piercing. Stampin' Up! is offering an Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack in the catalog with three templates for $7.95. The templates coordinate with framelits, punches, and edgelits. This Field Flowers card also uses Baja Breeze seam binding, the Apothecary Accents Framelits, and the Large Scallop Edgelit. The card itself is Summer Starfruit.

I took these photos at Convention 2012 on a display board. I liked these two cards because the main element is stitched grosgrain ribbon. See how the loops of ribbon make the flowers on the card at the left? Then the whole chevron background on the card at the right is ribbon. Pretty incredible, eh?

If you'd like to order ribbon, Edgelits, Framelits, or any other Stampin' Up! product, please visit my SU! Online Store.

It was a long day at the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival. I arrived at 8:30 a.m., because the Farmers' Market was set up in the same park and started earlier than the festival. I got home just after 6:30 p.m. Fortunately, I only live about 15-20 minutes from where the festival is held. The Farmers' Market is amazing. One guy made huge, beautiful bouquets of flowers for only $25! The produce looked delicious, and there was such a great variety of vendors - from homemade soda and kettle corn, to dish flowers, welded iron animals, fleece shawls, baby clothes and homemade soaps. The weather held out all day. We didn't get any rain, and it actually got quite warm!

I sold retired stamp sets, punches, skinny cello bags filled with M&Ms that have a punch animal (bear or turtle) at the top, fabric personal tissue holders, cards, and glitter. Many of you have asked for more details about my booth. The cost is $175, with proceeds going to student art scholarships. I went through a stack of business cards today. Kim and I met many fun, campy, super nice and quirky people today... many of whom will be showing up at my clubs and classes.

It's been really nice having Kim hang out with me. She showed up around noon with a delicious and healthy lunch (thanks again, Kim!), and gave me time to roam the market. I also had visits from my fellow Poulsbo Lions Club members and some of my SU! downline, which was really nice.

Tomorrow's the last day of the festival! Come on down. I'm sure there will be deals. The succulents lady next to me is dealing on entire flats! I've got terrific sea glass jewelry on the other side. The hours are 10-5 p.m.

Happy Stampin'!

Flowers at convention & my Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival booth

Look at all of the pretty flowers you can make with Stampin' Up! fabrics and card stock. They're amazing. We were shown a HUGE flower by Carrie Cudney at Convention 2012. I plan on making a few of those. They're just too fabulous!

The flower at the top right is made with a circle punch. The inside holds three vintage designer buttons.

The displays were so cute, with chalk-drawn frames around things like these birthday party favors with little jewelry tags.

I love what I do, AND I love this yard flag. There are two other flags to change out, too. I got this at Memento Mall at Convention. The stake unscrews into three pieces. This one is outside of my Stampin' Up! booth this weekend at the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival in Kingston (by the ferry terminal).

I love this space. It looks much bigger than the 10' x 10' size that it is. My idea to go with a boutique look at shows this year has really paid off. The shabby chic furniture holds a lot more than the 6'  and 4' tables I used last year, and I have more room inside my booth. Also, the lush green grass is much preferred over the dirt and crabgrass at last year's location. My BFF Kim helped fluff the booth. She's doing a great job keeping me company. We really have fun! Kim has cute fabric purses for sale and is bringing some die-cut card stock ones for Saturday. The Farmers' Market is at the same park Saturday, so I'm going a bit earlier (9 a.m.) to take advantage of that foot traffic. The festival - and live music and beer garden - will continue till 6 p.m.

Back to my booth: The designer series paper banner out front really draws people in because no one else has anything like it. One of the banners has an aluminum, chevron-embossed butterfly on it. It's really cute! We used Velco dots to adhere the banner, which makes it easy to put up and take down each day. A walking path is directly in front of my booth, perfect for people walking to and from the ferry, as well as those shopping at the festival.

Yep, it's pretty hard looking at this kind of view all day. *wink* In addition to getting a new club member today, I met the owner of a new tea shop in Poulsbo, as well as a Seattle folk singer (Hi, Ally!) who performed for us today. I sold out of headbands, with an order for more, and sold pinwheels, stamps, catalogs, and handmade cards. Life is good!

Pinwheel packaging, banner fun, and hydrangeas

Who wouldn't love to receive a fun gift like this one? I love the way the artist added the pinwheel to the bag. I took this photo at SU! Convention 2012 at one of the many display boards. Notice the In Color Dahlia in the center of the pinwheel?

There were little banners everywhere too! They made the display boards look so festive! This photo shows a sample of a stamp set called Seasonal Sayings available to you in the Holiday Catalog on August 1 (Wednesday!). If you need a Holiday Catalog, please contact me. There's some pretty cool stuff in it!

One of my new friends, Donna H., inspired me to take this photo of a hydrangea growing in my side yard. My photo can't compare to the gorgeous ones on her blog, but I'm trying. I love the color purple. A customer had given my hubby a couple of hydrangeas a few years ago and this is the first year both plants have numerous blooms. They're so pretty!

I hope you enjoy your day! I'll be at the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival from 12-6 today, and from 10-6 Saturday (and the Farmers' Market will be at the same place next to the Kingston ferry terminal too).

Plenty of pinwheels

I found a good use for retired designer series paper and buttons - pinwheels! They're so fun and festive looking, and they're all the rage in fun decorations now.

There are 26 pinwheels shown in this pail. For most of them, I started out with a 6" square. You can click on the Free Tutorials tab above to see how to make a pinwheel. They're easy! My 11-year-old daughter helped me make these, and I'm going to sell them for only a buck at the craft fair this weekend, so I told her she could have half of whatever is sold. I used skewers from the grocery store (100 for a buck), and hot glue to hold on the button and the stick to the pinwheel.

At convention, both Shelli and Sara used the new silicone mat in the catalog with their glue guns. Once the glue cools, it peels off easily. I am waiting for delivery of my new silicone mat, but used the one I'd purchased for use with my Big Shot that retired recently. It worked great!

I love my Stampin' Up! business advisor!

I received this fun Summer Silhouettes card in the mail today and just had to share it with you! It's from my Stampin' Up! business advisor, Carlos, congratulating me for earning the Grand Vacation to Fiji in 2013. He wrote, "I am happy and thrilled to see you reach Fiji! We make a good team. Thank you, Carlos.

I want to thank those members of my downline who promoted to senior associate, securing the trip for me: Ginette, Jessica, Missy, Karen, Dani, Teresa, Jules, and Lynn. And many thanks to my customers for supporting me through my classes and club. I appreciate all of you!

SU! regional stamping seminar Sept. 29 in Tacoma

Registration begins Thursday, July 26!

Guests and demonstrators alike are welcome to attend Stampin' Up!'s Regional Seminar in Tacoma on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. In previous years, the fee has been $75, which includes swapping, displays, Workshop Wows, lunch, door prizes, make and takes, and a stamp set. It's all day long - and FUN!

If you're interested in going, please let me know.

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Buy the Starter Kit for only $99 + tax and pick up to $125 in high-quality Stampin' Up! product! Click here to get started.

There's still time to get the Reason to Smile stamp set for only $5 when you order $50+. You can order through my Online Store here, or text or email me with your order.

This is such a catchy tune. I've been home for almost 3 days and am still singing parts of it!

A nice variety of swaps at latest American Ink gathering

These are the rest of the American Ink swaps from our last get-together. You can see there's quite a variety. I love that! I do apologize for not being able to give credit for a few swaps. They didn't have names on them and it's been a couple of weeks, so I simply can't remember who made what. If one of these is yours, please let me know and I'll add your name.

Bootiful Occasions card with First Edition dsp

Elements of Style swap with raised middle panel

Daydream Medallion swap in Melon Mambo

Mary Ann's Summer Smooches card with Bright Blossoms

Barb's Rich Razzleberry Reason to Smile swap

Ric-rac, plenty of embossing and flowery American Ink swaps

Since I was away at convention, I didn't have time to post our American Ink swaps from our last get-together. This is only a handful. I'll post more later!

I love getting these swaps because many times, products are put together in a way I hadn't thought of. This is what stamping is all about, right? We each get to be creative and unique!

Pearl's Bright Blossoms card with Tasteful Trim die for ric-rac

Kathleen's Creative Elements card

Ginette's Pool Party card with Elegant Bouquet folder

Puddin's Cottage Window card

I'm looking forward to our next meeting the 2nd Saturday of August, where I'll be sharing Convention 2012 information. I learned so many things from which hobbyists and business-building demonstrators alike can benefit.

Happy Stampin'!

I'm a Prize Patrol winner! And the wonderful people at Convention 2012

What a fabulous day at convention! Shelli showed us an altered book she's working on while showing us a bunch of new products like the Stampin' Scrub, new sanding block, piercer, mat, piercing essentials, paper trimmer and more. I love the idea of an altered book, and plan to give it a try when I return home. We also saw some great holiday ideas by Bonnie Thurber and Shannon West at #Convention2012.

Here's a peek at a stamped-on candle decorated by Shannon. Gorgeous! She made it part of a centerpiece idea.

The highlight of my day was when my wristband was shown on the big screen (Prize Patrol) and I won a prize. Look at the great Halloween stamp set, designer paper, googly eyes and black striped ribbon. Yum! I can't wait to create projects with this stuff. I hope the other gals in my American Ink group are just as fortunate tomorrow! That's the last day of convention.

I've been picking up so many great tips and ideas to try. I can't wait to share them with you when I get back! Today was just plain FUN. I even got two recipes and learned a new dance. It helps that I also happen to have two of the best roommates ever - Kim and Barb. We laugh so much, it hurts!

Add to that seeing friends from around the country who are seriously high-achieving - Jennifer Cotton from Texas (and her crazy fun downline!), Deb Moczak from Florida, Connie Heisey from Pennsylvania, Cindy Fodor from Maryland, Sandy Rule from Colorado, and Dawn Olchefske from Minnesota. I'm sure I'll see them all in Fiji next spring, which is COOL!

Then I met a diverse group of demo friends today - two women from Quebec over lunch (I got to practice a little French with Helen and Celine), and two hearing-impaired demos and their two sign language interpreters tonight at my evening birthday calendar class (I learned a few new signs and had a very good time - especially with Amy, one of the interpreters).

Well, it's late and tomorrow's another day filled with classes and a general session. I also have lots of photos to take! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Sunday!

Happy Stampin'

A fun day of stamp projects and classes

I love this home decor project we were shown at this morning's General Session by Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!. It's a glossy frame with some Birds of a Feather dsp, a label framelit out of watercolor paper and embossed with the chevron folder, and embossed and punched Blossom flower and leaves. The vintage buttons have power magnets glued to the back to hold on notes! I love that. I just might have to do a class with this as the only project!

The keynote speaker was Jason Dorsey, an author and authority on Generation Y, the generation SU! wants us to focus on. He had a great delivery. We laughed many times.

The classes at #Convention2012 were just as good. I learned new ideas for classes and clubs (I am Doing Business My Way) from Ronda Wade, Tami White and Bonnie Thurber, as well as ideas for ribbon, fabric, Simply Sent and Simply Scrappin' Kits in my I am Savvy class with Dawn Griffith, Meg Wheeler, Donna Griffith and Laura Milligan. I can't wait to get home to show them to you!

Finally, there was more shopping in the Memento Mall (a few more items were added, such as garden flags, a SU! cookie stamp, cookie cutters, and an MDS print sampler), a nice lunch, and a second general session with stamping, MDS 2+ demo and Prize Patrol.

Part 2: More Memento Mall items to drool over

Remember: I'm drawing from everyone who places an Online Order from me thru Sunday for approximately $25 in Memento Mall products!

Logo Pens, Wish List, Lip Balm, Sticky Notes, Dry Erase Boards, Tape Measure

Dry Erase magnet boards and incentive stamps

Floral tools - Hammer with two screw heads in handle, and tape measure

Inside of Booking Calendar with Wish List and pen holder and a shopping bag behind.

Booking Calendar cover

To order, please click here.

Whoo hoo! Look at all of the fabulous Memento Mall items at Convention 2012

Logo Mittens with top that flops back

Every year, convention-goers eagerly anticipate Memento Mall items. This year, my favorite thing is the metal card tree with the Stampin' Up! logo. I also love the Christmas ornaments and mittens.

Four Styles of Reusable Shopping Bags

No Peeking Ornaments

Papillion Potpourri Water Bottle

SU! Card Tree

A goody bag for my American Ink team members

Kim and I put together goody bags for our downline here at convention. It's easy to forget something when you're packing. Most of the bags have Kleenex, wipes, lotion, Certs, granola bars, Post-It notes, an emery board and hairspray or some combination of these items.

I made bag tags - something to clearly mark the convention bag (of which thousands are running around). I printed out the Convention 2012 logo on Fan Fare dsp after cutting it down to 8-1/2" x 11" and used the Oval Accent Clear Die to die-cut it plus a piece of chipboard before distressing it.

I used My Digital Studio to import my SU! team's logo, along with my team member's name, then printed it out, and die-cut it with a label framelit. Gotta have a little bling with some rhinestones! I used some Island Indigo ruffled ribbon to attach the tag to the bag, or Kim had strips of fabric which could be used for the same purpose.

The most exciting thing is that this is the FIRST convention for both Barb and Lorraine. I hope they soak up every minute and meet lots of great, new people.

Stampin' Up! employees - the best on Earth!

Stampin' Up! has the best employees ever! They are fun, helpful, friendly, and eager to please us demonstrators. We walked around the desks of demonstrator support and business advisors today at Riverton. It was all very tidy (one guy told us they were asked to clean up their area! lol), and there were SU! cards and other kinds of projects everywhere.

On a handout we received it said demo support reps handle approximately 1,100 phone calls, with up to 3,000 per day during peak times. The email team answers between 300 and 400 emails every day.

We were encouraged to write a note in one room where the walls were all white boards! In the larger area, there were foosball, ping pong and air hockey tables, along with "chillsacks" - giant bean bags. An employee told us that was where they brainstormed ideas. Love it!

This area is where the barcodes get stuck on the correct size box for our orders. We also got to watch the pick line in action. A box would kick out of line and when the barcode was laser-scanned, a red light would light up, letting the employee know to put that item in the box! It's an awesome sight.