Musical Indulgence

Please indulge me for a few moments. I am a drama nerd. My favorite plays are musicals. And the creme de la creme of musicals is indisputably Les Miserables. So the fact that it comes out in DECEMBER as a movie that will be Absolutely. Incredible. is just a wonderful gift I can hardly wait to open! So I've been obsessing over it for a few days and when I found this Nick Pitera One-Man-Show, how could I not pause to pay homage? The kids introduced me to Nick a few years ago when he did both parts of Aladdin's "A Whole New World" and we've been fans since then. So if you have a few minutes, pull up a chair and some popcorn:

Now, if you have been buried in the Sahara for a few months and didn't know the movie is coming (with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Seyfried and some other EXCRUCIATINGLY talented people), then be prepared to be blown away:
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me and allowing me to share something I love!

2-for-1 Challenge and Cut a Perfect Flag Tutorial

I love it when you can combine TWO challenges and get one simply sensational card! Today I combined the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary with the Fall-To-Layout 210 sketch at the Clean & Simple blog and came up with this holiday card:

I debated whether to add something to it, but I *really* like it just the way it is...and with the silver glimmer paper, it's even prettier in person! Of course, I tend to gravitate toward simple and elegant cards with a touch of sparkle, but I hope you like it too. It used  a-little-bit-of-this and a-little-bit-of-that Designer Series Paper...why not pull out your stash and try your hand at this sketch too? The stamp is from the "Greetings of the Season" set on page 8 of the Holiday Catalog (which you can download from my sidebar).

Let me share the EASIEST way to make a perfect "flag"...taught to me by one of my Stampin' Family, Kelly H. WARNING: This may change your life! Start by cutting a slit straight into your paper from the side center where you want the flag to be:

Then cut from the corners into the point of your slit. I KNOW!!! It's so simple! I haven't used a square punch since she showed me this! Thanks again, Kelly :)

Don't forget to leave your comment because I am still giving away all the cards I share here in September to celebrate my 20th Anniversary with Stampin' Up!

Update: Connie will be getting this card in the mail...thanks for visiting, Connie! I admire your work and am happy to share this card with you :)

Satin Rosette & Ribbon Roll Control (Blog Candy!)

Today's card features a rosette created with the Stitched Satin Ribbon (Summer Starfruit #126846). To create this flower, I used a Jumbo Sticky Round (#127852) and started on the outside of the circle with the end of my ribbon, gathering (or "scrunching") the ribbon as I went around the circle, spiraling into the center and finishing it with a Midnight Muse Dahlia (#127556).  Since it's "Back to Spool" time, you can get your ribbon FREE....

My *favorite* way to store my ribbon is with the Ribbon Roll Control system, shown here wearing all the In-Color Stitched Satin Ribbon:

And THANKS to Trish of RRC who has kindly donated one of these cool acrylic stands to be given to one lucky visitor (no ribbon included)! Leave a comment below by September 30th and you could be the winner. If you don't win, head on over to Ribbon Roll Control and order a few of these to hang on your wall and keep your ribbons corralled!

Wait...that would be TWO chances to win, because someone will also receive the card I created, too!

UPDATED: The winners are Heather B~Ribbon Roll Control and Kathy Mc~Card! Thanks for visiting and commenting. We bloggers love to hear from our readers, it means so much!  Kathy Mc: I need your snail addy to send this card to...email me :)

Holiday Card Class: SATURDAY

I used to think that someday life would slow down...now I've decided that's never going to happen, so I had to choose to give up something. I chose housework. I mean, you clean a room and then someone comes along and messes it up or you wash the dishes and then it's time to eat again. Sheesh. I'd much rather stamp something...at least I know that nobody is going to come along and take it apart!

That said, I'm late in posting this here (but it has been on my event calendar for a while).

HOLIDAY CARD CLASS

Saturday, September 29

1:30 p.m.

Spanish Fork, UT

Create 6 beautiful cards: 2 each for Halloween, Thanksgiving (shown above) and Christmas. You will have one to keep and one to share with a friend! Each comes with an envelope and I'll do most of the work for you...you can simply come and stamp :) Bring SNAIL adhesive and scissors. If you need to order a SNAIL refill, let me know when you RSVP.

Here's the key: You need to RSVP by TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 (yes, I know that is tomorrow, but I need time to order supplies and cut them!) so call your best friend and make a creative date to come play together! 

NOTE: I CASED the Thanksgiving card shown from Jill Olsen...thanks for the fun time stamping in St. George, Jill!

The Haunted Village: A Special Club Project

This year, one of my stamp clubs requested home decor and giftable projects so we are kicking off the club next week with this cute little Haunted Village:

The idea came from a class at Stampin' Up! convention 2011 and I transformed it into this spooky trio: Grab a few junk pieces of wood, some paint and ink, your favorite Designer Series Paper and create your own neighborhood for any holiday! I'd love to see what you create, so share a link in the comments if you try it.

Jenn (the club hostess for this month) said she could accommodate a few extra guests if you are in Spanish Fork next Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. The cost is $6 for the village if you place a $25 order and $12 if you just want to come to make the project. It will take about 2 hours. If you are interested, email or call me by Monday morning so we have the supplies ready.

Note: While I am sending out all the cards (and some of the other projects) I am sharing on my blog this Anniversary month, I won't be giving this one away :) Leave a comment anyway, and I'll pick one person to get a copy of one of the other cards from the month!

There are a LOT of fun events and classes coming up in the next few weeks and I hope you'll join me: Check out my EVENT CALENDAR and RSVP early to reserve your spot.

A Tuesday Two Layer (Pinterested)

I am always drawn toward simple and elegant cards, so when I was browsing Pinterest a few weeks ago, I found an idea that appealed to me and I searched for a flower that I could substitute for the original and found the perfect one in "Everything Eleanor" (catalog pg 112). Usually this set is very Victorian, but this card makes it look fresh and modern:

 

 I used the 5" x 3.5" Notecards (Item 107311) and just added a single white layer, embossed the flower in black and water-colored it in using a Aqua Painter (103954) and ink refills. If you think all white card stock is the same, I dare you to try Stampin' Up! card stock!!! It's "like butter" to stamp on and so smooth :) I just drew the lines and used expressions from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (pg 133) to make a whole cadre of cards:

 Simply Lovely! Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

September is filled with milestones: 20 years with Stampin' Up!, my 24th Wedding Anniversary is TODAY (love ya, sweetheart!!) and over at Freshly Made Sketches, they are celebrating their first year, too. So in honor of all of the above, I made this card (and an anniversary copy for my husband, because we are the perfect "pair/pear"):

This card uses the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and coordinating Cannery Set Framelits (127822) as well as the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper (126895) from the Holiday Catalog (page 29) which I am head-over-heels IN LOVE with! It makes it easy to create perfect 3-D pears because they are all cut the same :) And see that double stitched satin ribbon? You can get some FREE with your $40 in September! I followed Sketch 13 from FMS, since we could choose any sketch from the past year:

In keeping with the celebration, I will mail this card (with a Re-Smile note inside so you can share the love!) to someone who leaves a comment below! 

UPDATE 9/20/12: Congrats Jenn! I'm mailing this card to you...thanks for commenting!

Ribbonista

If you love embellishing with ribbon as much as I do, you are sure to enjoy the "Back to Spool" promotion in September: A FREE spool of  Stitched Satin ribbon with each $40 purchase (a choice of 5 In-Colors for 2012). Of course, a $200 purchase would get you all 5 colors shown here: Raspberry Ripple (126845), Primrose Petals (126844), Summer Starfruit (126846), Gumball Green (126848) & Midnight Muse (126847). 

...and what's not to love about this new Elegant Butterfly punch (127526)? I want to use it on everything!

Why wait? Get your ribbon today!

Digital Tuesday

I've been working on a family photo album in My Digital Studio...trying to get it finished in time to take advantage of the 31% Off MDS Print Sale that ends this Friday...so I thought I'd share a few of the pages from my book :)

First, this is a page right out of one of the templates that comes with MDS. I just dropped my pictures in and typed in the journaling:

Simple. Beautiful. Easy!

Of course, you can create a page from scratch, too, so here's an original by Loni:

And as a reminder, there are new digital downloads every TUESDAY...here's a peek at today's downloads that you can purchase individually:

To order them, go to my store and choose "My Digital Studio". New to Digital Designing? TRY MY DIGITAL STUDIO 2 FREE FOR 30 DAYS! Stampin' Up! has uploaded many wonderful training videos on YouTube to help you get the most of it, too.

Thanks Ribbon Card

Blooming with Kindness Class

If your style is soft, feminine and elegant, then this class is for you!

DATE: Thursday, September 13

TIME: 10 a.m. ~OR~ 7 p.m.

WHERE: Loni's House in Spanish Fork (RSVP for my new address!)

WHAT IS INCLUDED: 3 fabulous projects (that's just ONE project shown above) AND the Blooming with Kindness Stamp Set!!

WHAT TO BRING: Scissors, SNAIL adhesive and clear blocks C & D (if ordering clear mount set)

COST: $30 (clear mount stamp set) or $35 (wood mount set) 

REGISTRATION MUST BE PAID FOR BY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th!! 

Questions? Call or text 801-376-86685 or email me: loni@sfcn.org

And SOMEONE will be getting a set of these cards in the mail when you leave a comment! 

Perfectly Preserved Gratitude

Traditionally at this time of year, you would find me bottling fruit. It is a chore I both love and abhor: I love eating the fruit in the middle of the winter and it brings me great satisfaction to see the beautiful rows of the preserved harvest, but I don't love the work of gathering fruit, peeling and cutting out bruises and bugs or sweltering in the kitchen for hours with a hot water bath.  Because we sold our house with the orchard a few months ago and have moved to a new house with only a few fruit trees (most of which our neighbors have kindly divested the fruit thereof), you can find me bottling a different kind of joy with the Perfectly Preserved stamp set from the Holiday catalog:

I know you can't see it very well, but the bottle is stamped on a window sheet with StazOn ink and cut out with the coordinating Big Shot framelit so it looks like a glass jar! This kind of "Bottling" could become addicting :) My card is a flipped version of the Clean & Simple sketch #206:

I'll be sending my card to someone who leaves a comment! Thanks for visiting and helping me get my 20th Anniversary celebration started!

UPDATE 9/20/12: Congrats Patrice! Send your snail mail addy to loni@sfcn.org and I'll send you this card! Thanks for your kind comments.

Here's to Another 20 Years!

 This month is my 20 year Anniversary with Stampin' Up! and I am so grateful for the blessings that have come to my life because of it: Amazing, creative and caring friends (both customers and demonstrators), the discovery of my own inner artist, the confidence to speak in front of people, the opportunity to travel, and so much more, but I can see your eyes glazing over, so let's move on...

To celebrate 20 years with SU!, I have a lot of fun things in store for September!

1. EVERY ORDER (online, customer or workshop order) in September will receive a free gift!
2. EVERYTHING I create and share on my blog will be mailed to someone who leaves a comment!
3. EXTRA STAMPS for hostesses this month only!
4. GIVEAWAYS on my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/creativejuicebyloni

 And that is IN ADDITION to the great things happening at Stampin' Up! this month, including:

While the kids are heading back to school, Stampin' Up! is going back to 'spool'! For the month of September, get a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon-an $8.95 value-for every $40 you spend! Choose from Gumball Green (Item #126848), Midnight Muse (Item #126847), Primrose Petals (Item #126844), Raspberry Ripple (Item #126845) or Summer Starfruit (Item #126846)

Also EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14th: 

31% OFF MY DIGITAL STUDIO DIGITAL CONTENT 

AND MOST PRINT PRODUCTS

What's on sale? ALL cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags. That's right: print any photobook, board book, swatchbook, individual pages, greeting card, postcard, trifold card, or tag-all for 31% off. Some of our best digital content. 30 downloads and 1 content disc. Yup, that equals 31.

Item	Digital Content	Retail Price	31% Off Price
127217	Floral District Collection Disc	$  23.95	$ 16.53
118115	Night and Day Designer Series Paper	$    4.95	$   3.42
129929	Candid Frames	$    2.95	$   2.04
129921	Check This Out Page Templates	$    4.95	$   3.42
129609	Blossom Builders Embellishments	$    5.95	$   4.11
128999	It's All Me Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127441	Whimsical Note Journal Template	$    1.95	$   1.35
128342	Pinwheel Daily Calendar Template	$    9.95	$   6.87
127599	Party Animal Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127600	Autumn Traditions Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127620	Grateful Heart Thanksgiving Ensemble	$  14.95	$ 10.32
126027	Playful Polka Dots Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
130066	World Traveler Photobook Template	$  17.95	$ 12.39
131221	Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper	$    4.95	$   3.42
130850	Joyful Times Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
124463	One Great Year Digital Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127175	Limited Edition Embellishments	$    2.95	$   2.04
129607	Walk in the Park II Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
129934	#HASHTHIS Stamp Brush Set	$    7.95	$   5.49
129923	Book of Birthdays Swatchbook Template	$  12.95	$   8.94
121071	Travel Journal Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
129924	Get it Done Kit	$    5.95	$   4.11
129005	Sweetly Nested Framable	$    4.95	$   3.42
127758	Delight in the Day Photobook Template	$  19.95	$ 13.77
130862	Blast Off Ensemble	$  19.95	$ 13.77
129890	Little Milestone Birthdays Greeting Card	$    7.95	$   5.49
128892	Designer Gift Cards	$    4.95	$   3.42
127580	And a Happy New Year Photocard Template	$    1.95	$   1.35
127435	Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set	$    2.95	$   2.04
127587	Sending Glad Tidings Designer Tags Kit	$    7.95	$   5.49
127762	Gratitude Framable Designer Template	$    1.95	$   1.35

And last, but not least, the Howl-O-Ween Printers Tray offer is also extended through September 16th for NEW Demonstrators:

Go ahead, make my day and join my Stampin' Up! family...because it's always more fun to stamp with friends!! And the next 20 years would be delightful if I can share it with you :)