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!

Pretty, Pretty!

I AM...Excited! (Stampin' Up! Convention Report)

Come along with me for a Stampin' Up! Convention report!

For 20 summers I have reserved "Me Time" at convention, and with the exception of one year when my baby was just too small to travel with me, I haven't missed it! There is nothing better than being surrounded by 3500 close friends, stamps, ink, paper and tons of creativity :)

It was fun to share updates from convention on my Facebook page, but here are a few more highlights:

We started the week at the Late Night Stampers Stamp Camp and Reunion Party:

Back: Kristi, Pam, Sally & Sherrill, my stampin' "mom"

Front: Anne, Me, Sue

On check-in day, we toured the Stampin' Up! home office in Riverton, including a visit to the Legacy Museum, where the decor changes every year and is open most business days for the public to visit:

  

 I took a LOT of photos of the amazing and creative ideas at the convention displays:

 

 This demonstrator's shirt says it all:

We look forward to getting a new bag at each event, this year a chevron pattern in Summer Starfruit!

It was roomy enough to carry a lot of stuff we bought in the Memento Mall :)

I got to walk across the stage for an award:

Make & Take Projects are always a highlight:

And FREE stamps make us smile!

Finally, after convention was over, we got to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert with Katherine Jenkins, guest artist. Here we are on our way to the concert in front of the Salt Lake Temple! What a wonderful week! I'd love to have you join my stampin' family and come with me to convention next year...

Wish I could share more, but we are moving to a new home, so I may be M.I.A. for a week...check back after August 1st for more creativity or RSVP for my Card Buffet this Saturday in Spanish Fork!

 

The Stage is Set...

...for a fabulous Stampin' Up! Convention! I am posting up-to-the-minute updates live from convention on my Facebook page: Creative Juice by Loni. A more detailed "Journal" entry will be posted here next week too :)

Pintrested? Reason to Smile :)

I finally caved and joined Pinterest...then wondered why I haven't done it sooner! One reason could be that it is addicting, but I've tried to limit myself to a certain time when I am there and only look at those I follow or for specific things. Luckily, I follow some pretty AWESOME people so I get plenty of inspiration from them :)

After a while, I realized that I was pinning all these cool things, but never making any of them! So I took some time to make a few things and put my own spin on them :)

Celebrating the "Reason to Smile" promotion this month (see below on how to order for $5! in July only!), here are a few "Pinterested" card...not originally created with this set, but translated beautifully, giving me plenty of smiles and I hope some for you, too.

 

How do you get your hands on one of these stamp sets for only $5? FOR JULY ONLY, go to my Stampin' Store and when you order $50 of merchandise, you can add this stamp set to your order for only $5!! And there is still a LOT of good stuff in the Clearance Rack, too, so that can count toward your $50 purchase :) To order the Reason to Smile stamp set in clear mount, use item #131275 or in wood mount use item #131274 after your shopping bag reaches $50 :) Of course, there is always the option of calling me to order, and you get the added benefit of talking to me :)  801-376-8685

You're welcome :)

Card Buffet Class

You've survived the first half of the summer...and hopefully it has included a lot of family fun! If you feel like you could use a little adult conversation and crafts that don't include playdough or balloons, then make sure you register for the Card Buffet class on
Saturday, July 28th at 1 p.m. 
in Spanish Fork! Here is a peek at one style of card you'll be creating:

This is the new "Moving Forward" stamp set and Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities with every purchase of this set :) Hooray for making a difference in such a cute way!

For the card buffet class, I'll have everything cut and prepared to assemble, you just need to bring the standard crafting supplies (scissors, SNAIL adhesive, bone folder-optional). Register and bring an adult friend I haven't met and I'll give you a FREE SNAIL refill!

Cost: $15

Looking forward to some cool crafting with you this summer!