Banners and Stamp Carving

Time to flex those stamping muscles! You can always click on the Events tab at the top of the blog to find a fun class or stamp camp coming your way, but here's a little sneak peek at a few things coming soon:

BANNER DAY CLASS

Tuesday, October 15

10 a.m.

at Loni's house in Spanish Fork, UT

A cheery welcome for holiday guests or a focal point for a mantel grouping, you can create one or both of these banners for $15 each (all supplies provided). Choose which banner you want to customize for your home (Halloween or Christmas...or both!) and let me know when registering.

If you can't come to the class, you can order the Banner Simply Created Kit (#132699) and the Christmas Banner Accessory Kit (#132697) or Halloween Banner Accessory Kit (#132698) and there is enough of the canvas paper pennants to create a few of these at home. You may need ink pads and sponge daubers or Stampin' Spritzers to create the backgrounds, but the Banner kit has the stencils for the chevron, stripes and polka dots as well as the WHOLE ALPHABET! It's a great Girl's Night Project, too, so gather your friends.

Stamp Carving Party!

Tuesday, October 22

9:30 a.m.

at Pam's house in Spanish Fork, UT

Less messy than carving pumpkins...and you take home (up to) four custom stamps that are UNIQUELY YOURS! We can't wait to see what you come up with :) The cost of the class is just for the Undefined Kit (#133402) Your payment must be received by October 17th so we can order your kit in time for the party OR you can order the kit from my store and just let me know you are coming. Pumpkin treats and a warm drink will be served as we create together. Cost: $23.30

Grundles of Cards & Tags!

Pretty excited about the two newest products from Stampin' Up! because both would be awesome gifts to give a friend or yourself. In fact, I plan to do both :)

First is the Everyday Occasions Card Making Kit (Item 134797) and you get everything (minus scissors & adhesive) to create 20 cards for just $29.95:

NOTE: These are only available while supplies last!

Second, may I present the Pop & Place Holiday Gift Tag Book and Photopolymer Stamps:



You can order them today in my store and check a few names off your Christmas Shopping List!

Begin Your Stampin' Up! Journey Today

What's keeping you from taking the first step in a marvelous creative journey with Stampin' Up!? Today is the perfect day to start!


When you join my Stampin' Family, I'll send you 10 sample cards (samples may vary from photo) to start using in your business.

Other reasons to join my SU! team today:

• Active Facebook Group for sharing and caring!
• Personal training...if  you want it!
• Buy all your Christmas Gifts from yourself!
• Quarterly Training Meetings (in Spanish Fork)...next on on October 19th!
• An immediate family of awesome friends!
• A chance to try Stampin' Up! on for size :)

Ready to take the first step? Start HERE!

Bottle Bib Pocket: Whip One Up In a Jiffy (Video Tutorial)

Waiting in line at the Cal Ranch store in Spanish Fork, I saw a display of awesome bottled pop. One that caught my eye was called, "Dang! That's Good" Root Beer...even the bottle cap was cute! The colors effused FALL and the Stampin' Up! Sweater Weather came to mind. So I grabbed a handful of bottles and decided I'd figure some way to use them :)

Then I went shopping and saw the Caramel Apple bite by Russell Stover and if you know me well, I'm an even bigger sucker for CARAMEL than I am for chocolate (and that's sayin' something). So I put another handful in my cart and whistled all the way home!

My solution? What I call a "Bottle Bib Pocket"! It was actually inspired by a project made by my friend Pam Clyde, whose artistry is beautifully detailed. I'm more of a quick and easy crafter, but I think you'll like both :)

I made a video tutorial for the simple one...I'll let Cal Ranch know they better stock up on "cute" soda pop :D I suspect it tastes as good as it looks, but I don't know as I've been giving all mine away to my Stampin' Up! hostesses as I demonstrate them! Want me to teach you and your friends? Book a party during October!

A Shared Anniversary: 25 & Still Going Strong

Stampin' Up! and my husband & I share the same Anniversary this year: TWENTY-FIVE!

At the 25th Anniversary Convention for Stampin' Up! this summer, the 25 oldest longest-lasting demonstrators were called to the stage and I was surprised to be one of those most tenacious demonstrators! That's me under the "N" in "Difference" with my upline Sherrill Graff to the left in blue. 

Shelli Gardner (far right) presented all of us with a gift (below). Each necklace had our initial on it! Because it was unexpected, it is one the most treasured things I have ever received. Doesn't something delightfully unanticipated just feel so much more exciting? I love the embossed silver paper on the gift and all the layers and every time I wear it, it reminds me how much I love Stampin' Up!

My 20th Anniversary with Stampin' Up! was actually the same time I was in San Diego celebrating my 25th Wedding Anniversary with my sweet husband. I'll admit that we've had our rocky times (as those of you who know me may remember), but perhaps this celebration was just that much sweeter because we have triumphed (with help and prayers) to get to this milestone!

You may be asking yourself...WHO ARE THOSE OTHER WOMEN in her pictures?? LOL! No, he only has ONE wife, but in a serendipity moment, we happened to be in San Diego at the same time the Stampin' Up! Getaway achievers were there enjoying a well-earned vacation, and my friend Carolyn (from Canada) brought her daughter Jenna with her, so we spent a day together exploring the area. My favorite picture is of Cody & I by the sandcastle on the beach, but my second favorite is Carolyn's photobomb captured by Jenna :)

Next year, I hope our Anniversary trip is funded by Stampin' Up!  Carolyn and I have made a goal to earn the Washington D.C. Trip together!

Now, I don't want to leave you out of the celebration, so here's a way for you to join the fun, starting on October 7th (and only for 14 days!!):

Come back on October 7th and join my family by clicking "Join Now" at the top of the blog!

So Glad

Oh, Anne! She's my kindred spirit :)

Know what else is great about October? Stampin' Up! specials bigger than a giant pumpkin!

And here's the "Best Of" Christmas set, available in my store now!

But hold on to your hats, because there is MORE! 

For 2 weeks only (starting on October 7th) you can join Stampin' Up! for JUST $25!!!

You read that correctly...only $25!

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, SU! is offering this amazing opportunity for 14 days...and it's a wonderful chance to get your feet wet and see if our "family" is a good fit for you :)

I will be sharing more about this offer as the time draws closer, but CIRCLE October 7th with RED pen on  your calendar!

A "Wheely" Quick Card

Card Recipe (All supplies from my Stampin' Up! store)
Stamps: Bombs Away Birthday (a clear Photopolymer set!) Item# 133441, Birthday Candles jumbo Stampin' Around wheel (130111)
Ink: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle (103661), Jumbo Triple Cell cartridge (121206), Hardware Clips Essentials (129964)

Now Serving Leftovers: Card Candy!

Why is it that the word "leftovers" has a negative connotation? This is a thought I'm pondering this morning because I am believe that so many things are BETTER the second time. Seriously: Spaghetti is soooo much tastier when left overnight (or two) and the flavors meld together! Even though the number of people in my household is dwindling as the kids grow up and move out, I continue to cook for an army JUST SO I can "cook once, eat twice". At this moment, there is leftover chicken & rice in the fridge for dinner tonight and a sausage/vegetable skillet ready to reheat for tomorrow's supper! It makes me happy knowing I just have to push the button on the microwave and have a meal ready to serve :)

So when I had "leftover" 2" squares from the Sampler Swap, I thought about the term "Card Candy" instead of leftovers: Many stampers create Card Candy as little focal points that can be created ahead of time and stuck on a card whenever they are needed. And what a fitting term, as they create SWEET little morsels:

They were super easy and quick to put together with a little card stock and DSP (Designer Series Paper). Looking at them now, I doubt you would think of them poorly as "leftovers", huh?

So maybe we need to coin a new term for food: I'm thinking "Supper Starters", "Meal Marzipan" or "Sweet Seconds". What do you think?

Candy Corn & Paper Piecing Mashup

A sure sign of fall isn't the falling leaves or cooler temperatures...it's the CANDY! Remember when you could ONLY get candy corn in Autumn and Peeps at Easter? That was before they started making pastel corn for Easter and Peeps ghosts for Halloween...ah, the good old days...

I've been thinking about tags lately, so this popped into my head when I saw the Friday Mashup challenge (mashing up a fall food theme and paper piercing, FM128) and the Freshly Made Sketch (FMS104) this week:

The paper piercing was inspired by Patty B (but on a smaller version of hers). Here's how I made the candy corn:

So there's a sweet treat double whammy (or is it a triple?) for you today! 

Project Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up! unless noted):

Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet stamp set 

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry

Paper: Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (132184), card stock: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Accessories: Stampin' Sponge, Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon (130019),  Early Espresso Baker's Twine (123124),  4x6 Cellophane bag (102757).  Punches: 1/2" circle (119869), 1" circle (119868), 1-3/8" circle (119860), Artisan Label (130920). OTHER: CANDY CORN

Update 9/30/13: My project was voted as ROCKSTAR at the Friday Mashup! Wahoo!

A Card for a Special Occasion

Today I made a card for my dear friend and downline, Sally Hadley, who just passed $100,000 in career sales with Stampin' Up! It had to be SPECIAL to celebrate such an awesome accomplishment, so I combined it with Connie & Mary's color challenge and spent a happy hour crafting this masterpiece:

 To make it even more exciting, the inside slides out and the balloon floats up:

I was surprised at how much I thought about Sally as I created this card for her: She has been a friend for 14 years and I love visiting with her. We share the same faith, struggles and goals, and talking to her is easy. She is thoughtful and kind, sarcastic (in a good way), easy-going, dependable, loyal, tenacious, hard working and fun to be with.  She likes simple, quick crafting and you can see her artwork over on SallyStamper, Ink FB page. Yesterday was her birthday, too, so wish her a HBD if you stop by! That's one of the benefits of stamping something specifically for a friend, I guess ~an opportunity to reflect on what they mean to you and the satisfaction of creating something special, just for them. 

Sadly, I don't have a picture of us together (an error I intend to correct the next time I see her), but this is her doing what she loves best: Stamping!

Way to go, Sally! I'm proud of you and know this is going to be your best year ever :)