She's a winner!

Dear Friends,
Congratulations to Deanne Cary, of Ahwatukee, who won the $150 Open House raffle basket. Deanne increased her chances of winning by signing up and paying for classes at Open House, which earned her ten tickets per class.
Have fun, Deanne!

Project of the Week

Dear Friends,

Okay, so I'm not quite to the point of getting a project on every week! I'm completely in awe of some of the SU! demo'rs who put one up nearly every day...

This week's project is a terrific quick Christmas/holiday card. My scanner is pretty old, so you can't completely see one of the coolest parts of it - the window sheet cover of snowflakes. This crystal clear, medium weight plastic window sheet has sparkly white snowflakes printed directly on it. I layered the entire card front with it, held down with silver eyelets - hardly ever use those anymore, but they're sure useful for materials that I can't glue! Enjoy!

Materials:

5 1/2 by 8 1/2 Night of Navy cardstock, scored down the middle to create the card

2 3/4 by 4 1/2 Whisper White c/s

3 by 4 3/4 Brushed Silver c/s

scraps of Whisper White and Brushed silver

5 1/2 by 4 1/4 Printed Snowflake window sheet (available 9/1 in Holiday Mini catalog)

two Stampin' Dimensionals

four silver eyelets

Night of Navy ink pad

eyelet setter, pad, and 1/8" punch

Modern Label and Word Window punches

Lovely as a Tree and Teeny Weeny Wishes stamp sets

double sided adhesive

two paper clips

Two-Way Glue

Directions:

1. Stamp trees on Whisper White c/s with Night of Navy ink. Layer onto Brushed Silver c/s. Attach to front of card.

2. Place Snowflake window sheet on front of card and hold in place with paper clips. Punch a hole in each corner (a Sharpie is good for marking position of holes so they're not crooked like mine!) Use silver eyelets to attach window sheet.

3. Stamp saying on scrap Whisper White and punch out with Word Window punch. Punch silver c/s with Modern Label punch. Use Two-Way glue to attach saying to label and attach this with Stampin' Dimensionals.

*An awesome alteration of this card would be to stamp the trees in Whisper White on Night of Navy. Then the snowflakes would REALLY show up and wow everyone! Now I wish I'd done that! If I get a chance, I'll do one tomorrow and show you the variation.

You're done! You could do dozens of these in an afternoon and completely awe your friends and family!

Don't miss out...

...on a fantastic way to become a demonstrator! Until August 31, you can join Stampin' Up!'s wonderful family of talented people for just $85!!! This is a great way to get started, especially if you already have plenty of stamping supplies. You'll receive the new In Colors and a stamp set from the new catalog, plus you'll get exactly what you need to work your business - catalogs, forms, and so on.

Demonstrators get so many benefits, it's hard to list them all! Start with a 20% discount that increases the more you sell. Plus, you get an additional 10% discount on your first order as a demonstrator, making your discount 30% - you can buy all kinds of great supplies with that! You also earn points for ever dollar you sell, and you can spend those points on merchandise to grow your business or build your stamping supplies. Once a month you'll receive a magazine, full of great ideas and business advice, and our website - wow! Don't get me started! Our demonstrator website is bursting with stuff to help you become a powerhouse seller - promotions, ideas, technique videos - you name it, you can probably find it. Every year, Stampin' Up! hosts a cruise to an exotic place and you can earn that cruise

If you've ever thought about becoming a demonstrator, this is the time to do it. You can sign up directly on my website: inkingofyou.stampinup.net, use the password stampndreambig. In addition to all of the great stuff you get from Stampin' Up!, you'll receive a package of In Color Stampin' Write markers from me PLUS as part of my downline you get to attend my classes with a 20% discount. Call or email me today to find out more! Jazz up your life - be a demonstrator!

Open House Special

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

Dear Friends,
If you missed all the fun this past weekend, don't worry. For the first time, a limited number of Open House "kits" will be available. For just $15, you get a finished sample of each of the Make n' Take projects (with envelopes), samples of the new In Colors cardstock, the handouts, a Holiday mini-catalog, AND a sample of stamped images that you can cut out and use. I don't have pictures of the new Fancy Favor scalloped bag (a Bigz XL die) that you'll receive, but you can see it on pg. 200 of the catalog. This "kit" can be mailed - first class postage is $2 and Priority is $5. You can add a catalog for just $5 more - I'll let you know what the postage will be when a catalog is added.

The photos above show some of what you'll receive!


First, there's the hit of the day - Real Red cardstock run through the new Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder for the Sizzix (you can use this in any Sizzix machine that is big enough (it's about the size of a regular card).

Next, an assortment of stamped images and greetings from the new catalogs that you can use on your own cards.

Then, the HOT new In colors - a card of each new color.

Ain't they cute? Our new partnership with Build-a-Bear brings us Sizzix dies to make bears and clothes (they even have santa suits and Halloween costumes!) You can choose light or dark bear, dress or pants.

Last, but definitely not least, the four cards and bag that we made.



Don't miss out! I am only making a few of these packets, so don't delay - order today!

Project of the Week

Dear Friends,
Since I was so very busy getting ready for Open House this past weekend, I decided to share this project from Splitcoast Stampers. My dear friend Renee, a wonderful paper artist, brought her version to Open House to show me and I just HAD to learn how to do this! Watch for one of these to show up in a techniques class soon! OR, I might even slip one into a regular class! The picture above shows one done with SU! materials. This link will show you a different one, with step by step pictures and all you need to make a truly amazing card! Have fun!

http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/2009-04-23-quad-fold-card-sample-tutorial/

Class Preview

Dear Friends,

Here's four cards from the upcoming New Catalog 10/10. Join us Thursday, Aug. 27 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30, Friday, Aug. 28 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30, or Sunday, Aug., 30 from 2:00 - 5:00. The cost is just $17.50, but if you sign up and pay at Open House you'll get 10% off!

Can you tell that I just LOVE the new Rich Razzleberry color? It's that lovely purple on the second two cards. The other In Color choices are every bit as nice.

Remember to look here for your class previews. I love my SU! website, as it's loaded with all kinds of cool stuff - don't forget to check there for specials and promotions, and to look at technique videos. However, it's still hard to upload pix to it (it's probably just me being a techno-idiot!) so this is where you'll find class samples to tempt you!

Hope to see you at Open House - it's going to be so much fun!

Weekly Project 1

Dear Friends,



As promised! I am going to do my very best to give you a weekly project to play with. Hope you'll understand that sometimes medical junk gets in the way, but I'm going to try very hard! Here's the first one - I got this idea from the SU! United Kingdom website. Their catalog is much smaller and somewhat behind ours in terms of current stamp sets, though they do have a few brand new ones. The great thing about it, though, is that the projects are almost all different from any U.S. catalog projects! The website is the customer website, open to anyone, and you just go to "view catalog" to see it. Anyway, this cute gift/card is a snap to make and would be a great gift for office mates, teacher buddies - anyone who could use a cute paper holder.

Materials:

Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue cardstock and ink pads

large paper clip

Together Forever and Sincere Salutations stamp sets

Stitched Chocolate Chip grosgrain

Sticky Strip and Stampin' Dimensionals

scallop punch and 1 3/8" round punch
Directions:

1. Cut Sage Shadow cardstock to make standard card. Mine has the fold at top, but it can be on the side, too. Cut Chocolate Chip c/s 4 3/4 by 2 1/2 and Whisper White 4 1/2 by 2 1/4. Cut Bashful Blue 1 by 3 1/2 and score at 3 1/8, then turn around and repeat scoring. Another way to look at it is that you are scoring it 3/8 in from each end.
2. Punch two scallop circles from Bashful Blue c/s. Stamp a small piece of Whisper White c/s with flower design with Bashful Blue ink and punch a 1 3/8" circle from it. Attach stamped circle to one scallop. Run a line of Sticky Strip across the center of other scallop circle. Place the clip (useful end down) on the scallop that doesn't have the design on it. Attach four Stampin' Dimensionals around the clip end. Carefully place the stamped scallop over the first one (stamped side up, obviously!) and press to adhere to dimensionals. Set aside.
3. Stamp the flower image over the card in Sage Shadow. Layer the Whisper White piece on the Chocolate Chip piece. Stamp saying on Bashful Blue piece and put adhesive on underside of both scored sections. Fold around layered piece so that the saying is attached close to the bottom as shown in picture.
4. Place layered piece on workspace and lay clip on piece. Cut 11" of ribbon and tie in a knot around entire layered piece above saying. Pull as tight as you can without bending the cardstock, as this is what actually holds the clip on the project. Trim ends of ribbon.
5. Attach layered piece to card with at least two long strips of Sticky Strip. You need this because the assembled piece is heavy and you don't want gravity to pull it off the card!

Enjoy!

Home Again

Dear Friends,

We've been home just long enough to feel like we never left! My lovely, big box of brand new Stampin' Up! goodies arrived not long after we did, and I've been neck deep in stamping ever since. I have ANOTHER big box arriving tomorrow, with all of my preview goodies from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog - half again as big as last year and introducing not one, but TWO new product lines! I promise you'll be getting sneak peeks here, and it won't be long before your own copy arrives in the mail!

This fall, LOOK TO THE BLOG for first info about all new SU! things, including my classes and promotions. Also, I'm introducing a weekly project with step by step instructions and pictures when available. My dream is to have a daily project..wouldn't that be great?!

Today, I'm previewing projects from Open House, coming up on Friday, August 14 from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Drop in any time, but make sure to leave at least an hour to do your FREE projects - all SEVEN of them! Also, PLEASE r.s.v.p. so I have enough cut paper for everyone. To sweeten the deal, every person who r.s.v.p.'s gets an extra raffle ticket for my $150 raffle basket. I can't wait to see everyone and show off the fantastic new catalog! Hope to see YOU there!

Last class!

Dear Friends,

Don't miss out on the last class until August and the new catalog! I have created some of the most cheerful, pretty, and happy cards! You'll have a great time. Here's the info and samples of six of the cards.

Summer Fun 10/10 Friday, June 12 from 6:30 – 9:30 and Sunday, June 14 from 2:00 – 5:00 Last class before our Big Trip! Ten great cards for summer events, holidays, and birthdays $15

Hope to see lots of you in class!

Sarah

p.s. The "bee" card is a slider card!

Beyond the Basics - Grab Bag class

Don't miss this class! Beyond the Basics - Grab Bag of Techniques Friday, May 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon or Saturday, May 30, from 2:00 - 5:00. Just $20 to learn some amazing techniques - some easy, some challenging.

Earlier posts, both in emails and on my SU! website, had this as a two hour class and only $15. However, when I started to research my techniques I just couldn't resist adding two more!! The techniques are (left to right and top to bottom) shaving cream, polished stone, faux metal, crackle "glass", faux tile, faux shaving cream. You'll receive a sheet of instructions to take home so you can reproduce these effects in your own stamping. Hoping to see you there!

Find pictures here!

Dear Friends,
You probably got my email about how frustrating it is for me to try and upload pix to the SU! demonstrator business web site. So, I'm going to put the pictures and info about classes here! I will try to keep up with them, so you always know what's coming up.
Here's the upcoming events.


Stamp A Stack of Sayings Friday, April 3 from 7:00 – 9:00 and Wednesday, April 8 from 10:00 a.m. to noon This project makes a lovely gift – basic cards with choices of sayings to attach, in a cute bag $15


Beyond the Basics – Grab Bag of Techniques Friday, May 29 from 9:00 – noon and Saturday, May 30 from 2:00 – 5:00 A crazy mix of cool techniques - these will amaze and delight you! Adults only $20

Thinking of You 10/10 Thursday, May 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Ten quick cards that let those special people know you're thinking of them in any season of life - joy or sorrow, good times and bad. $15

2008-2009 Retired Sets 10/10 Thursday, June 4 from 9:00 a.m. – noon and Saturday, June 6 from 2:00 – 5:00 Play with a year’s worth of retired sets, plus get the chance to purchase my retired sets at 40% off, no s/h, no tax!! $15
















Summer Fun 10/10 Friday, June 12 from 6:30 – 9:30 and Sunday, June 14 from 2:00 – 5:00 Last class before our Big Trip! Ten great cards for summer events, holidays, and birthdays $15

Call or email today to save a seat for one of these great classes, and watch for more samples to be posted in the next few days - promise!

A Lot for a Little

One of the very cool things about stamping is how little it takes to make a big impression. The following project is a classic example. I am currently running a Scrapbook Club and this was a little package I made up to hold some treats for them from our first order. Since we didn't have a hostess for this order (long story) I divided up the hostess benefits among the ladies. I didn't have any of our large cello bags, so I had to use a quart zipper bag, and it didn't look very cute, to say the least! So, with a few minutes, a small amount of paper, and some ink, I turned the bag from drab to wow. This would work for anything you need to hand out - just jazz it up a little!

Come to think of it, the whole "club" idea shows how little it takes to get big results. The way it works is that a certain number of people commit to spending a small amount of money each time the club meets. In return, every person gets the opportunity to be a hostess, which means she gets a free catalog, a minimum of $15 in merchandise, and a Level 1 Hostess Set. If she is a go-getter, she can make sure she has outside orders so that her benefits go up. She doesn't have to clean her house, and all the members of the club have the opportunity to come to my house a number of times and use ALL of my tools, my Sizzix, and my Cricut. Not a bad deal!

Considering that most of us spend money on stamping and scrapping on a regular basis, and the only thing we get in return is the stuff we bought, this is a fantastic deal! Keep this in mind in August, after the new catalog comes out. As a member of a club, you will get the new catalog for free, a $5 savings right away! I will be signing up a new group (or groups!) of people for clubs. It doesn't have to be scrapbooking - it can be stamping, or a combination of the two.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Amazing SU! demonstrators!

As a person who isn't the best at thinking outside the box, I am always amazed to see the cool things that others come up with. The first two cards were in our Stamper's Showcase this a.m. (a serious perk of being a demonstrator!). Both use punches to create interesting cards. Expect these to show up in a future punch class! The third card really blew me away. The card itself is pretty, but it's what the demonstrator - Dale Morin, of NJ - did with our new Oval Scallop punch. She turned the punch over and slipped pieces of cardstock through the bottom curve of the punch, creating a unique curved, scalloped edge. Genius!!

What a month!

Well, I think I've been sick long enough! I apologize for the lack of posts - I have literally been sick since Feb. 15 - and the reason I know that is that I had a workshop that day and I came home with a tremendous sore throat and thought, "Uh oh, I hope I'm not getting sick..." Unfortunately, I was, and I am just now - on March 17 - getting well again. It wasn't non-stop - I'd get well, then I'd get sick - first something viral, then it turned bacterial and I was on anti-biotics, then I got the flu. And I had a flu shot! I know it doesn't protect against all forms, but you can't help feeling cheated!

Hopefully, it will now be smooth sailing - well, as smooth as life EVER gets, right? I have a full week of events coming up, so don't miss out! First, there's the "Beyond the Basics - Watercolor Techniques" class on Weds. a.m. from 10:00 - 12:00 noon, and Friday, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00. It's just $15 and you won't believe the cards you'll come home with! You'll look like a waterolor master and the people you send the cards to will be amazed and admiring. Here's two of my favorites:



On Sunday, we'll have our first meeting of the Scrapbook Club. We still have spaces available, so if you can commit $20 seven times between now and June, we'd love to have you! The way it works is that we pool our purchasing power together. Each person gets to be a hostess one time, and she gets a current catalog (or the new one in July, if she already has the current one), a minimum of $15 in merchandise and a Level 1 hostess set. Now, that's the MINIMUM you get. If you can pull in outside orders, when it's your turn to be hostess, you can get more free stuff!

Plus, you get to use my stamp sets, my Sizzix and Cricut machine, my punches - everything except consumables (like paper) and ink pads. You get a big space to work, and the fun of wonderful companions while you work.

There's still time to join both these events, so call or email me as soon as possible!

What to buy?

Guests at my workshops who look at our very large, very complex catalog often look quite bewildered and the most common question I get is, "Where do I START???"

There's no simple answer, because everyone's plans for stamping are different, but here's a basic list to try. Read all the way to the end for a surprise fact!

Paper: Of course, cards are made of paper. We usually use a combination of colored cardstock and plain white or vanilla paper, so your best bet is to buy one package of assorted cardstock from one of our color families and one package of either white or vanilla. Cost: $14.45

Ink: There's two ways to start out. You can either purchase a color family of our Stampin' Spots (twelve colors of miniature ink pads) or four full sized pads from one color family - one green, one blue, one red, and one yellow. The reason for purchasing within a color family is that these colors are designed to go together beautifully. Next, you need to purchase a solid dark pad for outlines. If you want to do a lot of watercoloring, you'll need a StaZon pad, or you can use Basic Black, Brown, or Gray for techniques that don't involve a lot of water. Cost: maximum of $31.75, depending on which options you pick.

Envelopes: With your paper, you'll be able to make at least 100 cards, so you want enough envelopes(3 pkgs)for all of them. Cost:$19.50

Blender Pens: These allow you to do so many techniques that they are a MUST HAVE, especially with Stampin' Spots! Cost: $9.95

Now, add those up and include s/h and tax. You'll get a total ($90.12) that might seem kind of high, but think about it this way - if you make 100 cards with that, your cards are only costing you 90 cents!! I didn't count stamp sets in the total, because those can be used over and over. Plus, if you purchase these materials during Sale-a-Bration you would get a free stamp set!

During these tough economic times, it makes sense to have a craft which is so versatile. You can make amazing gifts for such a small amount of money! I have given all kinds of card sets, in interesting containers (some found at garage sales and thrift shops). I've made calendars and scrapbooks, candy holders, decorated pens and personalized address labels, candle holders, jewelry - the list is endless.

See my website (http://inkingofyou.stampinup.net) for a list of upcoming classes where you can explore this fascinating craft!

Love You Much 10/10

I still have spaces left in both of my Love You Much 10/10 camps and I sure hate to see anyone miss out on such great cards! I'm not tooting my own horn because most of these cards are CASE'd (copy and share everything!)from our SU! website where there are SO many talented demonstrators' cards displayed.

You can still purchase the Love You Much bundle because I bought several extras. This is a GREAT value, because it's 20% off, because you get a new set from the new catalog, and a new three-heart punch, too, and because you get the 10/10 for just $5 more with the purchase ($54.48, includes s/h and tax)! Or, you can just pay the usual $15 and come to the class.

Even though it has a sort of Valentine name, these cards could be used for lots of different occasions, and they're not all pink and red! Here's several samples. Call or email soon to get your spot!! There are two sessions - this Sunday, Jan. 25 from 2:00 - 5:00 or Thursday, Jan. 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Schedule Changes

Winter is never a great time for me, with the medical issues I have, which are boring and I won't go into...suffice it to say that I am rescheduling some of my classes for later in the month, so if you missed out on the Love You Much 10/10 and/or the Just For You Gift Card Bucket, you're in luck! I'll be running both classes a couple of times. I just need another day to get my couple of students' input on the reschedule, and I'll post the new one. In the meantime, here's the Just For You bucket - isn't it a cutie patootie?! Just $12, and you can use it for so many great gift giving opportunities! Plus, now that you have the idea, just think of the ways it could be changed for different people!

The new catalog is here!

The new catalogs arrived yesterday, and MY, OH, MY are they amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm always excited about our catalogs, but they went way, way over the top on this one.
To start with, it's beautiful - a gorgeous spring-y cover, with purple scalloped edging. The stamp sets are amazing - there are SO MANY new ones. And the accessories are just mind-blowing! Here's a little sneak peek:
Faith: Finally, thank the dear Lord, and I mean that literally, we have some lovely inspirational sets (including one called "Special Blessing" that I could have seriously used the year every third grade girl we knew was having her First Holy Communion - and with twin girls, we knew a LOT of other girls!) Manhattan: This series of sets and accessories channels New York style and fashion forward colors. I love the new corduroy buttons, the canvas cutouts that you combine with rub-on, and the industrial look of the jumbo brads and SoHo designer hardware, plus new floral die cuts called Blooms Again. Retro Fresh: cute and kitschy birdies, flowers, and owls for mid century funky fun. There's two birdy sets, "Cheep Talk" and "Good Friend", an On Board set with birds and owls, the full heart punch, flower assortment brads in colors, and rub-ons in colors!! Sweet Bella: continues with lovely florals and delicate designs of birds, flowers, and foliage and includes the number one coolest thing in the catalog, the Eyelet Border punch - if you loved the Scallop punch, just wait!!! Also, delicate, crocheted flowers in our patented colors, designer ribbons, and lots of fairy tale action including an "Ever After" stamp set and fairy tale die cuts of princesses, dragons, a castle, and more! Reduced Cost and Easier Use: The prices have kept steady, and there's a whole page of single stamps and mini starter kits under $10. Also, EVERY SET is die cut now! Sizzix: Lots and lots of new things for the Sizzix, many of them only available from Stampin' Up!. My favorite is one that has a moveable Sizzlit die that is just like our Curly Label punch, only bigger and with dots around it. You can place it anywhere on your card and punch out an opening for the Curly Label to go in. And, a butterflies die cutter - dimensional ones, if you want!
Obviously, the very best way to experience the new catalog is to have it in your hands. I have only three boxes, so they are going to go FAST. You can pick one up from me now - call first, please - or purchase one at the Open House Weekend, Feb. 6 - 8, for just $5. If you want it mailed, it's $10.
Watch for more class announcements asap!

Dive into the new year of stamping!

Upcoming Classes and Events

Just For You Gift Card Can Friday, Jan. 9 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 AND Saturday, Jan. 17 from 2:00 - 4:00 Make this darling tin bucket with six mini gift cards for a loved one for Valentine's Day or any special day! $12

Stamping 101 Sunday, Jan. 11 from 2:00 - 5:00 If you've purchased items from one of my workshops, you're invited to come to this class FREE. We'll do three quick projects to help you practice what you learned at the workshop, and you can bring anything you have questions about from your order - how to use it, how to store it, ideas for projects - you name it, I'll try to help! FREE




Love You Much 10/10 Thursday, Jan. 15 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Sunday, Jan. 18 from 2:00 - 5:00 Purchase the Love You Much bundle and get 20% off (plus s/h and tax) AND get the 10/10 for just $5! Or, just pay the regular camp fee. $54.48 or $15 See website for details.

Stamper Bowl Sunday, Jan. 25 2:00 - 5:00 The guys have football, we have stamping! I know which one I like best! Drop in for some great projects - do one or do all, it's up to you. Each project will cost between $4 and $8. Watch the website and this blog for details.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed holiday season! Now we're starting a bright and beautiful new year, full of amazing possibilities. I don't think it can get much worse - knock on wood - so let's hope it can get much, much better!

Watch this space, my SU! website, and emails for some amazing new products and classes. It's going to be a great Stampin' Up! spring! Here's a sneak peek of the new "Love You Much" stamp set. You can buy the bundle now and get the Love You Much 10/10 for just $5 more!!