Fresh Sketch and My Color Phase

Do you go through color phases? Meaning you are really drawn to a certain color palette for a while, then something else catches your eye and everything you create for a period is variations on a theme? Yep, that's me. I found this color combination and pinned it to my Color Palette board on Pinterest, and I keep coming back to it because it makes me so happy:

In Stampin' Up! colors, they are Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand and Baja Breeze. Thus, my submission for the Freshly Made Sketch at the top stamped with the Blooming with Kindness stamp set (page 87 of current catalog), another one of my current favorites. In fact, I'm teaching a class with this stamp set in September and would love to have you there!

So what is your current (Stampin' Up!) color obsession? Do you have one color you are always drawn to or a set that you love to use? Share with me in the comments and one lucky person will get this card from me in the mail! It's even prettier in person :)

(P.S. Today--August 31-- is the last day to join my Stampin' Family and get the Halloween Printer's Tray FREE)

Party This Way!

I had such fun coloring the glimmer paper for my Holiday Swap Card that I wanted to share it with my Stamp Clubs! This was the card that they created this month using the Blue Ribbon Stamp Set (page 33 in the Stampin' Up! Catalog):

I used the Pacific Point ink refill and a watercolor pen to color the glimmer paper and while it goes on dark, the colors fade a little after soaking into the paper and drying. You can also use your heat gun on a low setting to help it dry faster, but beware: It may melt the plastic coating on the back of the glimmer paper if you get it too hot! The card shows the regular silver glimmer paper (scalloped around the "Happy Birthday") and the colored glimmer paper (blue ribbons hanging below).

Here are a few samples up close of three colors I've tried. Top: Pacific Point, Middle: Melon Mambo, Bottom: Elegant Eggplant. They are sitting on top of the regular silver glimmer paper.

Back to my Happy Birthday card...it matches perfectly the PARTY banner and birthday "cake" (using a battery-operated tea light) designed by my friend Pam Clyde (one VERY talented stamper) for the Late Night Stamper Reunion party this last July at convention:

Ready to party this way? I'll be happy to plan a class for you and your friends in September!

Try it...You'll Like it!

Remember the old Life Cereal commercial where the two little boys make their little brother "Mikey" try the new stuff to see if it's any good? Of course, Mikey loves Life, and I'm here to tell you that you'll love Stampin' Up! even more when you become a demonstrator!

FAQ: 

Q: How much does the starter kit cost? 
A: $99. You get to choose $125 in supplies and $65 of business materials are also included. That's a $190 value...for less than a hundred bucks!

Q: How many parties do I have to do?
A: None. There are no sales requirements to purchase the kit. You can buy the kit and decide how much you want to do, if any. However, I think if you TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT! I'm here to help you make your business a success...YOUR WAY. To remain an active demonstrator, you should submit $300 in sales each quarter (and your own purchases count) and I'll help you meet your own goals.

Q: Is there a discount on my purchases?
A: Demonstrators get a 20 percent discount on all Stampin' Up! products, including stamp sets, paper, and accessories. It's a great way to support your love of stamping, paper or digital crafting, home décor - or whatever your passion may be!

Q: How much money can I earn as a demonstrator?
A: You'll earn extra income based on your sales and recruiting - just how much extra income is up to you.

Q: Are there any specials going on? 
A: YES! Join my Stampin' Family by August 31, 2012 and get this amazing painter's tray Halloween kit FREE (a $60 value)! HURRY...THERE ARE ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT!

Q: What kind of support will you provide? 
A: I will help you feel at home with Stampin' Up! While SU! provides spectacular support, it's great to find a "family" of demonstrators who can make you feel comfortable and capable! I believe the "Stitched Stampers" is that family for you. We hold training meetings, communicate via e-mail and a Facebook page, have swaps and contests, and take care of each other.  You can call me 6 days a week! Whatever you need, I'm here to help!

Q: Where do I go to sign up?
A: Click on the image below to go to my business site and click "Join the Fun"!

Loni's Hostess Bonus for September!

I will be celebrating 20 years as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator this September, so I've got some fun surprises for YOU to express my appreciation for being such wonderful friends and customers!

To begin with, I am offering the person who schedules a party for September 11th this stamp set (in addition to the hostess benefits you can earn FREE):

And if you book a party for September 12th, I'll give you this stamp set:

And whoever calls me first to plan a party for September 20th will get this stamp set:

There is nothing better than gathering your friends together to laugh, eat and be creative...and I'll prepare the craft for you! This offer is good for Utah County Hostesses. If you are out of town, I am coming to Southern Utah a few times, too and I will let you choose from a few sets if you call to arrange a time in September.

Let's plan something fun! 801-376-8685 (call or text)

Everyone needs a little magic...

During convention my Stampin' Family always has a little reunion and our awards dinner. While we wish more of our family could be there, it is such a fun night together! This July we ate at Tucano's in Salt Lake City and I made "Magic Wands" for each of the guests (because everyone needs a little *magic* when they are creating...)

 I used the Razzleberry Splash Simply Scrappin' Kit (Item #126930) which isn't just for scrappin', as you can see! Using the Big Shot (Item #113439) and the Designer Rosette Bigz Die (Item #125594), I made the rosettes. Add a little ribbon and some fairy dust (a.k.a. Iridescent Ice embossing powder) and you can make all your crafting dreams come true, with just a swish of your wand!

Here's hoping you'll spread a little magic today by sharing something you've created with others!

More MDS...

Download MDS2 FREE from my online store (choose the free trial) for 30 days and then go to THIS POST and leave a comment by September 30 to win MDS Blog Candy!

Back to Crafting with Affection Collection

I am almost put together in my craft room after the move, but I had to create a card for a Holiday Catalog Swap, so I ignored the piles around me and found a few hours to get them finished. I used the new "Affection Collection" stamp set and came up with this card, which I then realized looked a little bit like the sketch challenge #213 on Create with Connie and Mary:

As I was making the card, it needed a little bling, so I added the Silver Glimmer Paper...did you know that you can color it using classic ink refills and an Aqua Painter? That's how I made the pink glimmer heart!

It felt good to be creating again. I think I packed up my brain cells when we moved, though, and haven't yet unpacked the box where I put them :)

UPDATED 8/15/12: Wahoo! Thanks, ladies, for picking my card as one of your top 3!

MDS2...your new Guilty Pleasure (and BLOG CANDY)

In February when I went to Beth's Scrapbook getaway, I took my computer and created an album of my trip to Prince Edward Island with My Digital Studio and FINALLY had it printed last month by Stampin' Up!'s professional print partner. It is abso-freakin-lutely GORGEOUS! AND it has the same number of pages that my hand-made scrapbooks hold (which are 3" thick) while my new MDS album is only 3/8" thick!

For a gal who just packed and carried 32 BIG ALBUMS in a house move, I am SO IN LOVE with MDS right now. And I'm ordering MDS2+ because I NEED it! AND I'm making a commitment to use it before Beth's next getaway. In fact I ought to get another album finished this month to take advantage of THIS offer:

Try MDS FREE for 30 days (click on "Buy MDS2" and then choose the Free Trial in my store) then come back here to tell me how much you love it here and I will choose a random commenter on September 30th to win a MDS "So Much To Sale-A-Brate" CD which includes:

• Five Stamp Brush Sets
  • Bliss Stamp Brush Set (five pieces)
  • Notes Stamp Brush Set (three pieces)
  • Punch Bunch Stamp Brush Set (five pieces)
  • So Happy For You Stamp Brush Set (ten pieces)
  • Sweet Summer Stamp Brush Set (nine pieces)
• Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon & Button Kit
  • Ribbon (three images)
  • Flower buttons (three images)
• Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper & Accents Kit
          a. Six Designer Series Paper  Patterns
          b. Quick Accents – nine borders, 20 elements, and 27 flowers

So let me hear how much you love it!!

Stuff You Want to Know About

So MOVING is over...but unpacking has just begun at my new house! We joke that we threw away half of our stuff as we packed, but I'm finding that I'm throwing away even MORE stuff as I unpack!! Though Stampin' Up! convention was 3 weeks ago, I haven't even unpacked my shopping bag from the Memento Mall yet :( 

I am a little late getting August started because of the move and there are a LOT of great stampin' opportunities I wanted to share with you! First of all, I'm always looking for friends to join my Stampin' Family and when you purchase the Starter Kit (now just $99!) in August, you will get one of these cool projects to make FREE:

HOW COOL IS THAT? We could make it together and I'd love to share the fun of SU! with you!! Ready to join me? Click here!

Next, the HOLIDAY CATALOG is now available...just click on the image below (or in the left column) to download! It's packed with amazing new products for Halloween, Fall and Christmas. Now would be a great time to plan a party with friends and get started on your gift-giving (hint, hint).

I hope that my new stampin' space is set up soon so I can share some fun ideas from the Holiday Catalog...maybe I'll take a "before" and "after" picture of the closet I am converting to my "office" and share it with you!

Check back tomorrow for more great announcements about MDS2!