Stamp Sampler

Here's the other cards from tomorrow's Stamp Sampler class.  We're doing a set sampler - seven cards from one set!  The set is the Ronald McDonald House set - there's a new one every year from SU!  $2 from the sale of each set goes to RM House charities up to a guaranteed $100,000.  That's a LOT of money!  The class is $10 if you just want to do the cards, or for an additional $12 you can get the set which is a BIG savings, as that cost includes s/h and tax and the set costs $14.95. 

We'll make the seven cards and then you will choose one to donate to our local RM House, along with a bunch of extra cards I'll be sending from my retired cards.  These are for the families who stay there when a child has major medical issues at local hospitals.  As you can imagine, it's a nice thing to have free cards so you can write to people when you're stuck far away from home in a terrible situation.  Won't YOU join us?

Huge Clearance Sale!!

Wow! Stampin' Up! now has a Clearance section on their online website. You can save up to 80% on items ranging from paper to scrap kits to those wonderful felt snowflakes from last year - remember those?!! To begin saving, go to my SU! website, click "Shop Now" and away you go. HAVE FUN!!!

Party Packs for sale

I told you guys that I would show you an example of the prize for the first Blog Challenge - well, here it is!  This is the first of several Party Packs which I'll have for sale this fall.  This one uses last year's Ghostly Greetings Designer Series Paper (DSP).  Just in time for Halloween, these are a killer deal (pun definitely intentional!)  You get five pre-cut Fancy Favor bags (all you have to do is fold them together and add Sticky Strip); five Top Note fold over Treat Bag toppers plus five small cello bags; large strips of coordinating DSP, and ten stamped circles from the Batty For You set attached to Kiwi Kiss and Pumpkin Pie scalloped circles.  The cost is just $9.95, or FREE if you're the first person with correct answers on the Blog Challenge.  You get to choose what kind of Party Pack you want (or card pack, when I get them up).  Here's the goodies:

I'll be adding a couple of other Party Packs for you to purchase.  Some, like this one, I have a limited number of because they use retired DSP.  Others can be ordered as they'll use current materials.  I'll always let you know which is which.  You can use the PayPal button or you can call or email me.  I have three packs available right now - Ghostly Greetings DSP (retired, limited quantity), Cast a Spell DSP, and Tall Tales DSP.

Packs

Ghostly Greetings DSP $9.95 Cast a Spell DSP $9.95 Tall Tales $9.95

One last thing - I've added a really neat gadget at the bottom left of the page - it's pictures of Autumn - the season I MOST miss from living in Ohio.  Sorry about the ads - they come with it, and since this blog is free, I'm not complaining!

Ronald McDonald House set class

October's Stamp Sampler class showcases the many ways you can use the new Ronald McDonald House set called Very Thankful.  It's a small set, but my, oh my, can you do some BIG things with it!  Here are some of the cards we're doing.  Look below the cards for the class info, cost, and a special offer!

Join me on Thursday, October 1 from 10:00 a.m. - noon or from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00.  We'll make six cards, with an additional extra easy card to donate to RM House of Phoenix.  The cost is $10 to just do the cards or you can also order the set at a substantial discount ($12, includes s/h and tax) so it's $22 for the cards and the set.  I need to know ASAP if you're coming, so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call or email me!

Blog Challenge #1

Hopefully most of you have had a look at the new Holiday mini catalog.  If not, stop by to pick one up or look at it online at http://www.stampinup.com/ so that you can compete in my first ever BLOG CHALLENGE!  Here's how it works.  I am posting a list of questions, the answers to which you can find in the Holiday mini.  Answer the questions in an email to me at matthewsfarm@aol.com.  The first person to send the correct answers to all the questions will receive a Party Pack or Card Pack for free (more about those in tomorrow's blog - trust me, you'll love them!)  Then, I'll take all the other names of people who took the quiz and pull another person to win the same prize!  Okay, the clock's ticking - start looking!

1.  What are the three new product lines released in the Holiday Mini-Catalog?

2.  What's so special about the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper?

3.  What holiday item has Stampin' Up! built a collection around including rub-ons, a punch, stamps, and a wheel?

4.  What new product makes your paper look shimmery in three different shades?

5.  How many "Under $10" products are listed in the catalog (hostess sets don't count)?

6.  Which product can help your projects have a yummy center?

7.  How many new Big Shot products were introduced?

8.  Which product helps children send thank you cards?

9.  What 2-Step Stamping set can be used for lots of other holidays besides the obvious?

10.  Which product helps to keep you organized, is a nice desk accessory, and fits perfectly in our new Magnetic Gift Box?

Okay - start looking!!

My Digital Studio

The more I work with our amazing new program, My Digital Studio, the more I'm blown away by it!  This is a truly amazing program.  It goes FAR beyond most photo editing/scrapbooking programs because of its enormous versatility.  You can make scrapbooks, cards, calendars, web pieces, movies, and more. You can print your work yourself, publish it online, or get a professional product from our printing services.  I can say with utmost sincerity that this program is one of a kind and worth every penny of the $79.95 price.  I will be using this for years to come, with new tools and attachments coming throughout every year.

I will be offering a free look at My Digital Studio in October.  Join me for a group look at the elements of the program and some of the gorgeous items you can make.  Each person who signs up before September 30 will receive a free set of four cards just for attending and the chance to win door prizes.  Each person who purchases the program in October will receive the first new digital download FREE!

Here's two pages from my current scrapbook.  We visited Mackinac Island on a gorgeous summer day and our girls rented bikes and cycled all around the island - seven miles!

Pumpkin Frame Blog Project

Here's an adorable little picture you can make in about an hour.  This is a 7 1/4 by 5 1/4 wood frame I purchased at Ikea (pkg. of 3 for just $1.99!)   Think of all the possibilities!  You could make one for Halloween, one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas, or make a set of three using various sets or variations on one set.  With all of the wonderful Designer Series papers we offer, your ideas are limitless!

Materials:

wooden frame

Night & Day Specialty Designer Series Paper (mini cat pg. 11, #116768, $11.95 for 12 sheets, two are window sheets)

Cast a Spell DSP (cat. pg. 161, #115677, $9.95 for 12 sheets)

Pumpkin Patch* stamp set (mini cat pg. 9, #116499, $22.95)

Holiday Best Level One hostess stamp set (cat. pg. 13)

Halloween Frights stamp set (catalog pg. 24, #111766, $15.95)

Whisper White c/s (cat. pg. 155, #100730, $7.50 for 40 sheets)

Basic Black Classic ink pad (cat. pg. 155, #101179, $5.95

Basic Black Stampin' Write marker (cat. pg. 155, #100082, $3.25)

Going Gray Classic ink pad (cat. pg. 155, #103274, $5.95)

Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pad (cat. pg. 156, #105216, $5.95)

Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker (cat. pg. 156, #105115, $3.25)

Garden Green Classic ink pad (cat. pg. 156, #102272, $5.95)

Garden Green Stampin' Write marker (cat. pg. 156, #100080, $3.25)

Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker (cat. pg. 156, #100071, $3.25)
Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (cat. pg. 178, $29.95 for 200 pieces; holders match our punches)
Pumpkin Pie 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (cat. pg. 183, #109030, $4.95 for 15 yds. - compare to 3 yds. for $3.25 at a fabric store and you'll never match the color!!)
Designer Label punch (cat. pg. 186, #107590, $15.95)
Scallop Circle punch (cat. pg. 186, #109043, $15.95)
Hobby Blade (cat. pg. 191, #102449, $4.50 for blade plus 5 refill blades - it's very elegant!)
Cutting Mat (cat. pg. 191, #101087, $15.95)
Glue Dots (cat. pg. 192, #103683, $4.95)
Anywhere glue stick (cat. pg. 192, $3.95 for two)
Sticky Strip (cat. pg. 192, #104294, $6.95)
Stamping Sponges (cat. pg. 192, #101610, $3.50 for 3 which can be cut into four pieces each)
Clear acrylic spray

*this set can be used all year - the ovals for pumpkins could also be balloons or Easter eggs!

Directions:

1.  Cut two 7 1/4 by 3/8 and two 5 1/4 by 3/8 in. strips of Pumpkin Pie dotted paper from Cast a Spell DSP.  Cut a 7 1/4 by 5 1/4 rectangle of houndstooth check from Night & Day Specialty DSP.  Place frame upside down over the rectangle (check side down) and use Hobby Blade and Cutting Mat to cut the inside out and trim any extra; set aside.  Use Basic Black Stampin' Write marker to cover bare wood along sides and inside edges of frame.  Take out the plastic and backing piece from the frame and spray the black edges lightly with acrylic spray once the marker is dry (it will smear, be careful!!!)  When acrylic spray is dry, use glue stick to attach Pumpkin pieces to the sides.  Let dry, then attach black houndstooth check piece to front of frame with glue stick.   Set aside.
2.  Cut a 5 15/16 by 3 16/16 in. piece of Whisper White c/s.  Make sure it fits inside frame and adjust if necessary.  Punch a scallop circle from a scrap piece of Whisper White and use sponge and Going Gray pad to make gray cloudy sky.  Start about an inch up from the bottom of the paper and move sponge frequently and in different directions to create the sky.  Stamp the pumpkins in Pumpkin Pie, the stems, vines, and grass in Garden Green, the faces and bats in Basic Black.  Place inside frame and replace plastic and cardboard layers.  If you use the Ikea frame, there's a film over both sides of the plastic that protects it.  Pull this film off before you insert the plastic.
3.  Use markers to color the Trick or Treat saying on a scrap of Whisper White c/s.  The rule with markers is to always use the lightest color first, so that you don't get a dark color on your light marker.  Use Pumpkin Pie on pumpkin and flourishes; Garden Green on vine; Chocolate Chip on stem; Basic Black on words and don't forget to "HUFF" on the stamp before you stamp so your breath can make the ink moist again.  Hint:  the Basic Black marker takes a VERY long time to dry completely, so be careful of smearing (I did mine three times; this one is actually too light but I was tired of coloring!!)  Punch saying out using Designer Label punch and glue to the front of the frame using glue stick.  
4.  Cut two 9" pieces of Pumpkin Pie ribbon.  Cut four 4" pieces of Sticky Strip.  Pull one piece of ribbon through the hole on the left of the Designer Label silver hardware piece and even the pieces up.  Place on piece of Sticky Strip on the inside bottom piece and sandwich the pieces together.  Place a second piece of Sticky Strip on the back of the "sandwich".  Repeat with other side.  Place two glue dots on each metal piece next to the hole where the ribbon goes. Pull the covering off the back pieces of Sticky Strip and attach the silver label holder over the saying, pulling the ribbon evenly around to the back of the frame and pressing down.

Remember that you can get a 10% discount on any item used in this project if you order before the next blog project goes up (about a week...or more!)  You must order through me, though, not through my web site.

ENJOY!!

October Stamp Sampler Class

This month's Stamp Sampler is a Set Sampler!  We'll use one set (mostly - a few other stamps thrown in, like backgrounds and sayings) to create six cards for just $10!  Also, you can purchase the set for just $12 (includes s/h and tax) which is a considerable savings as the set is regularly $14.95 plus s/h and tax.  The set we're using is called Very Thankful and it's this year's Ronald McDonald house set.  Each year, Stampin' Up! designs a new set and $2.00 from each sale of the set goes to Ronald McDonald house charities.  SU! gives $100,000 a year even if they don't sell that many sets.  Demonstrators in each city also do stamping events at the RM Houses to help guests deal with the devastating effects of major illness.  At our class, you'll have the opportunity to do an extra card which we'll send to our local house for guests to use.  Here are two of the cards we're doing:

Hope to see YOU at a class soon!

Christmas 10/10

It's almost time for my favorite class of the whole year!  The Christmas 10/10 is a super jumpstart to the holiday season.  We do it early so that you have tons of ideas for your annual, hand stamped Christmas card and plenty of time to order your materials and get it done.  It's not just stamping, though!  We have music, treats, door prizes, and other fun surprises.  This class ALWAYS fills up really early - in fact, the Sunday class is already more than half full.  So, get your fee in right away because I can't hold a seat without pre-payment.  We'll do ten cards that each take about ten minutes, for just $20 (it's a bit higher because the gorgeous materials, such as shimmery white and brushed silver cardstock, rhinestones, and flocked Designer Series Paper cost quite a bit.

There are three sessions of the class - Friday, Oct. 2 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4 from 2:00 - 5:00, and Thursday, Oct. 8 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30.  Here's eight of the cards we'll be doing.  Have fun looking at them and get that fee in soon to save yourself a space at this great class!

Wow!!! Sale-a-Bration news and Project of the Week

When I scooted over to the demo'r side of Stampin' Up!'s website this a.m. for my daily look at what's going on in our fantastic company, I read something that just about made me shoot up into the stratosphere.  (Drum roll, please.........)
Sale-a-Bration will be THREE MONTHS this year!!!
Imagine having THREE months to earn free stuff every time you spend $50!!!  And that's not all that's coming, but I'm going to keep the best part secret until Dec. 1, so watch the blog and see the coolest part - and it is SO cool, it's unbelievable!!!  It will be sure to put a smile on your face.

Okay, let me wipe the sweat of excitement off my brow and get to work this a.m.  Here are four more cards using printed window sheets for this week's blog project...

Printed Window Sheet Cards

As usual, my scanner has done a really icky job with the color green... the card  with ferns and ribbon is one of my favorites and here it's the color of something you'd find on the bottom of your shoe around ducks, if you know what I mean....oh, well, can't afford a new scanner so you'll have to take my word that the card is a beeyootiful Mellow Moss! 

Don't forget, any time you order supplies from a current (within a month of publication) blog project or email project, you get free s/h on those items! (You must order thru me, not my website)

Materials:

Clearly Thanks window sheet pkg, catalog pg. 169, #115122 $5.95 for two sheets
Soft Subtles assorted cardstock, catalog pg. 157, #105568, $7.95 for 3 sheets ea. of 12 colors
Medium Whisper White envelopes, catalog pg. 168, #107301, $6.50
Heard From the Heart stamp set, catalog pg. 142,#111644 , $22.95
StazON White pad, catalog pg. 190, #106960, $11.95 (includes refill)
Soft Subtles brads, catalog pg. 179, #106954 $8.95 (TY card)
Small Filigree brad, catalog pg. 179, #112577, $5.97 ( " )
Vintage brads Antique Brass, catalog pg. 179, #109109, $8.95 (happiness card)
1/4" Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon, catalog pg. 183, #109033, $4.95 ( " )
Crop-a-dile, catalog pg. 191, # 108362, $29.95 (lg. puncher)
Paper-Piercing tool, catalog pg. 191, #116631, $3.50
Mat Pack, catalog pg. 191, #105826, $9.95
Pretties Kit lg. flower, catalog pg. 178, #109144, $29.95 for kit
Jumbo (5/8") white brad, catalog pg. 179, #112533, $6.95
Brushed Silver c/s, catalog pb. 159, #100712, $7.95 for 10 sheets (our silver color runs through the entire piece of cardstock, unlike others which have a white core, so it cuts and tears beautifully!)  (dandelion card)
Clear Rhinestone brads, catalog pg. 179, #113144, $10.95 ( " )
Circle Ice Rhinestone brads, catalog pg. 179, #109111, $10.95 ( " )
Stampin' Dimensionals, catalog pg. 192, #104430, $3.95( " )



Directions:

1.  Cut three 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 cards from Mellow Moss, Lavender Lace, and Bashful Blue cardstock.  Cut one card from Brushed Silver c/s.  Cut one Perfect Plum panel piece 4 by 5 1/4.
2.  Carefully cut each printed plastic panel, centering so that each design is in a 4 by 5 1/4 in. area.
3.  Stamp one saying from the Heard from the Heart stamp set on each plastic panel using White StazON ink.  Allow to dry - takes a minute or so.
4.  Using pictures as a guide, apply all brads.  On "wishes" card, set brads through plastic and c/s layer but not through card, as you will use Stampin' Dimensionals to pop this up.
5.  Use large puncher on Crop-a-Dile to punch a hole through plastic and c/s 1/2" from bottom right side.  Cut 14" of Mellow Moss grosgrain.  Thread ribbon through hole and tie a square knot (right over left, left over right!) to cover the hole.  Trim ends.

You're done!  These are so quick and easy, and the window plastic packages give you two sheets of each, so you can get eight cards from just one pack!  And trust me, when people see how amazing these look, they'll think you spend HOURS on them!!

Have a great weekend!

Pack it Up! class

This week's "Pack it Up" class is truly a wonderful value. You are making 12 treat/gift holders for just $20, PLUS getting templates so that you can recreate the projects at home. The classes are Friday, Sept. 11 (day after tomorrow!) from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 or Sunday, Sept. 13, from 2:00 - 5:00. Kids are welcome as long as an adult stays with them to help with the projects (no drop offs).  It would be a fun thing to share with your child!   Here are the projects.  The brown treat bag is my favorite! Perfect for cookies or other home baked treats!

The projects we will be doing are:

1. purple Sweet Treat Halloween card

2.  "Eat, Drink, and be Scary" treat bag

3.  "Happy Halloween" Sweet Treat candy holder

4.  Snowflake treat cup

5.  Halloween gum holder

6.  "Matchbox" candy holder with snowflake window sheet top and decorated mini candy bars

7.  spooky fence Halloween bag

8.  Delightful Decorations Christmas bag with 3 tiny note cards

9.  Merry Moments DSP bag

10.  flocked red bag w/ tag

11. flocked red bag w/ grommets and ribbon

12.  reindeer larger treat bag

*the only one that comes with candy/treats is the matchbox holder - you can choose your own fillers!

Also, a limited number of Long Distance packages are available for this class. Since so many of these are 3-D I am only having one option. You'll receive all the materials, stamped and ready to go, for you to assemble at home. All of the bags will have Sticky Strip on them to make it VERY easy! The cost is $30 (includes s/h).

I hope to see YOU at class!

It's a GREAT time to host a workshop!

Dear Friends,


From now through Nov. 30, Stampin' Up! is offering one of the best hostess promotions I've seen!

Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!


*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

On October 1, when My Digital Studio is released, this offer will become even sweeter:


Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

Right now, you might think, "This is a terrible time to do a workshop," but you'd be surprised. Studies show that even in a flat economy, craft sales GO UP!!! That's because we turn to "do it yourself" to help us with our budgets. I can show your guest great packaging, card, and gift ideas that can be made for pennies.

Plus, we have so much fun!!! And even in these tough economic times, a $250 or $400 workshop is completely do-able, with a little effort on your part, and what a GREAT way to spend a couple of hours!


When you do a workshop with me, you get all kinds of goodies as a "thank you".

For a minimum $150 in sales, you get:

+ a free catalog or $5.00 off your own order if you already have the catalog

+ $15 to spend in the catalog

+ a Level 1 hostess set

+ all of the samples I make in class

+ a hand made hostess "Thank You" gift

At $250 in sales, you also get

+ the $10 item listed above, from SU!

+ instead of $15, you get $25 to spend in the catalog

+ PLUS from now until Nov. 30 you'll receive your choice of Stampin' Dimensionals or Classic Color Marker (from me)

At $300 in sales, you'll also receive

+ $35 total to spend in the catalog

+ a Level 2 hostess set

At $400 or more in sales, you also get

+ the $10 item from the Mini Catalog AND 50% off My Digital Studio (starting Oct. 1)

+ any Classic ink pad (this promotion is from me)

+ $45 total to spend in the catalog


Many of my weekends are already booked with classes, so to get the date you want, call or email ASAP. However, workshops can really be fit in just about ANY time - I even have an ultra quick workshop that I can do in about an hour and a half!! Don't delay, book a workshop TODAY!

Birthday 10/10

This week I'll be uploading most of the card samples that I've done so far, so that you can make sure to put on the calendar a class that you really want to attend!  Here are some of the cards for the Birthday 10/10 (10 cards that take about 10 minutes each!), which is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 2:00 - 5:00, Thursday, Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30, and Friday, Sept. 25 from 6:30 - 9:30.  Each class is the same ten cards, just different dates.  The cost is $17.50 and includes all materials, envelopes, pre-cut supplies, and so on.  The only thing you have to bring is your adhesive!

As usual, my scanner doesn't do justice to the lovely Sage Shadow green that the "Enjoy" is on - this would be a great masculine card (but doesn't have to be!) and you can choose your sentiment because the "Enjoy" set has several - plus you could also use the similar "Thanks" set's choices!  I always encourage my customers to alter the sayings if they don't fit.  I don't want you going home with a card that you can't use!

Flower Fantasy Window Sheet Project of the Week

I just LOVE these new window sheets from Stampin' Up!  There are three kinds in the catalog and two in the Holiday Mini Catalog and I have all of them!  I'll post more samples as I make them, but I really wanted to share this project with you today.  Then I'm off to a date with fabric for a Halloween costume!

The cards are very simple to make.  The pattern of flowers and vines is printed on the clear window sheet so it's a cinch to make a beautiful card quickly. AND, starting this week, if you order any of the materials used in a current Card/Project of the Week in email or on this blog, you'll receive FREE s/h on those materials!!

Materials:

*Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper (catalog pg. 160, # 115671 $9.95 for 12 sheets of double sided 12 x 12 patterned paper)

* Rich Razzleberry In Color cardstock (catalog pg. 155, # 115316 $5.50 for 24 sheets)

*Whisper White cardstock (catalog pg. 155, #100730 $7.50 for 40 sheets)

*Very Vanilla c/s (catalog pg. 155, #101650  $7.50 for 40 sheets)

*Flower Fantasy window sheets (catalog pg. 169, # 115705  $7.95 for two 12 x 12 sheets)

*Elastic Cord, gold (Holiday Mini pg. 27, #109867  $4.95 for 25 yds.)

*Antique Brass Build-a-Brad (catalog pg. 179, #109108  $9.95 for 24)

*1/2 in. circle punch (catalog pg. 186, #104390  $5.95)

*Thoughts and Prayers stamp set (catalog pg. 52, #113252  $25.95)

*Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink Pad (catalog pg. 155, #115658 $5.95)

*2-Way Glue Pen (catalog pg. 192, #100425  $3.50)

Directions:

1.  Cut one piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock in half and score each piece in half.  Cut two 5 1/4 by 4 pieces of Cottage Wall DSP and attach one to each card front.

2.  Cut two 5 1/4 by 4 pieces of Flower Fantasy window sheet and set aside.  Cut two 2 1/4 by 2 in. pieces of Rich Razzleberry and one each 2 x 1 3/4 in. pieces of Whisper White and Very Vanilla.

3.  Stamp the saying on White and Vanilla pieces using Rich Razzleberry ink pad.  Layer these pieces onto the Rich Razzleberry smaller pieces.  Attach to the window sheets using double sided adhesive.  Place more adhesive BEHIND each of the sayings pieces - this way the tape won't show!  Attach to the card fronts.

4.  Cut 13 in. of Gold Elastic Cord and tie around the fold of one card.  Punch a flower out of a scrap of patterned paper using the 1/2 in. circle punch and attach to base of Build-a-Brad with  2-Way Glue.  Place the plastic "bubble" over the top.  Attach to card, punching through to inside of card.

Listen to the "oohs" and "aahhhs" and ENJOY!!

More My Digital Studio

In my excitement, I forgot to mention that this program isn't available to customers just yet.  Sorry!  We got to order it a month order so that we could learn it and show you all the cool things available.  You will be able to order it on October 1, and you'll also be able to order additional downloads throughout the life of the product!  It includes both this year's AND last year's In Colors so if you want to coordinate with something you made last year, you can.  You can publish your results THREE WAYS.  One, you can print your project yourself.  Or, you can have our professional printing service do it, for a fee.  Last, but not least, you can share your project online.  Here's an example of a page from an 8 x 8 book I'm working on.  This page came from one of the prepared templates on the program  - there's quite a few, and they are beautiful!  Isn't this great?!!  All images copyright Stampin' Up! and Scott Nelson. 

I'll post more samples as I work on them!

Long Distance Packet for Bleach Class

This week I introduced a new set of classes.  The classes are held the first Thursday of every month, and I'm calling them "Stamp Samplers".  We'll do something different at every class - new techniques, new products, and so on.  This month's class was a bleach class.  Yes, bleach, that stuff you use in your laundry!  It makes a simple stamping tool and VERY effective, as you can see by the samples above. 

This year I'll be offering Long Distance Packets for most of the classes.  If you can't make the class, especially those who live a long way from Ahwatukee, you can purchase the supplies and still have the fun of assembling the cards.  Or, I can just assemble them for you!  Here's a list of what's available and the cost:

Option A - card "guts" and accessories only, no stamping, you do what you want with the materials  $12.00 plus shipping
Option B - all materials are stamped but not assembled  $15.00 plus shipping
Option C - all cards are stamped and ready to go   $17.00 plus shipping

Contact me at matthewsfarm@aol.com to order.  Have fun!

p.s. I owe you guys a look at the Christmas Sweet Centers card but I can't find any gold candy to go in it so I have to keep looking!

My Digital Studio ROCKS!!!!

I am SO excited about My Digital Studio which arrived today!  I have been waiting ever since last summer when I first heard that SU! was getting ready to launch it.  Long ago, before I learned to stamp, I used to create all kinds of cool things on the computer using clip art programs, so I've always loved to do this kind of thing.  Our program beats those things FLAT!!!  Using it, you can create memory books, calendars, cards - including picture Christmas cards which you can personalize with "stamps"!  Then you can either print your creations yourself, or have our professional services do it - the books are hard bound!  Can you imagine the possibilities for creating books for your kids and other family members?  I can't think of a cooler gift to give a grandparent!  If you were doing it by hand, can you imagine doing five or six of them?  With this program, you create the book and then print it out as many times as you want.   At just $79.95, it is much cheaper than many other programs, and it is EXCLUSIVE to SU!  Watch for me to post some samples soon!

Also, I've been playing with another new toy - the Sweet Centers set.  With this set and some nifty little plastic cups, you can create all kinds of projects!  I took some Cast a Spell DSP and made such cute little treats for Halloween!  My picture got turned sideways, but you get the idea!  Tomorrow, I'll post the Christmas Sweet Treat card I made.  Have fun!