6/29/2008

Decor Elements

SU! announced to demonstrators last week that it's branching out into a new product line, called Decor Elements. They are self-adhesive vinyl elements that coordinate with many of our existing products to coordinate your home decor! The elements are easy to apply and are removable. I can't post a link to the brochure until Tuesday, but I can show you the one I applied to my wall yesterday!



This view shows it far enough out to see the placement, and below you can see it close up. The catalog says this image, Together Forever Circle Frame is 12-1/2" x 12-1/2". The "W" is a separate element. This wall is in our kitchen eating area, the door goes to the laundry room and then the garage. Our primary entry way, and most guests end up coming in through this way too! I've always thought something needed to be there, and the Chocolate color is perfect for my decor!


I do have to say that this probably wasn't the best image to start with. Well, the W was easy enough, but the circle was very tricky. See all those edges?? and those dots?? The end result was worth it though. The directions are very clear and I'm ready to try a few more!

This is phase one, and the color choices are Chocolate and White, with one flower set available in Kraft also. I expect bigger things are coming though!!! Watch for the brochure to be posted Tuesday. I also have paper copies, LMK if you want one!

6/28/2008

Pretty Peony

A quick correction-my last post said the Fresh Cut Notes come 20 to a package but they are really 15 to a package. That's what I get for posting when I'm too tired!! I corrected the last post, but wanted to say it again here because of the feed/reader issue. Thanks! And, if you're interested in ordering, please contact me by Monday! I can ship directly to you, and I'll pay part of the minimum shipping charge for you. I'll figure your order at the 10% just like a workshop. Contact me ASAP as time is running out!!!!

On to the card. I used the Pretty Peony set for this one. Purely Pomegranate color is so perfect for this set!!

We had a little lesson and practice using the Stamp-a-ma-jig. It takes a little time, but the result is worth it with these 2-Step sets!! To get the Peony & leaves two tones, we stamped off the first, solid image once, then stamped the second, outline, image full strength. Same for the leaves using Always Artichoke. We also used the Shimmery White CS for a little extra zing!! The background is the Tres Chic stamp using Pomegranate on Pomegranate. Ribbon accent also in Pomegranate to finish it off. It's rare that I don't do a greeting of some sort, but I didn't with this one because of all the words on the background.
I'll be back tomorrow with the last project from camp, and something NEW from SU! that I tried out today! The boys and I are off to a baseball game, not playing, but watching! There is a minor leage team in Lincoln called the Saltdogs that we enjoy. As if we haven't had enough baseball lately-LOL!! It is a nice, cool evening though, so should be fun.

6/27/2008

More info

I hit post on the last one and wasn't quite ready! I could edit it, but then those of you with a reader or feed subscription might not get the additional info.

I just wanted to say again the Fresh Cuts set special is available only through Monday. To ensure you get one, I really need to hear from you by Sunday. I have to work Monday and probably head to an out of town baseball game right after.

The note cards are our Whisper White (Ultra Smooth) cardstock, and about 4" square. They are alot of fun! The set is $21.95 which I think is a bargain, especially since it's die cut. The notes come 15 to a package-with envelopes. The first set purchased with the set is $5, additional ones are $8.95. I hope we see more fun things like this in the new catty! These will be available in the new catty, but that's over a month away. GET YOURS NOW!!!

Remember too, the eScape promo also ends Monday. As does the current Mini Catalog.

Contact me at this email through Monday if you "NEED" to purchase something! Remember too that the Retirement list is out so those sets are limited time only!!!

Hope you're all having a good summer. So far here it hasn't been terribly hot, but we've had too many severe storms. And lots of rain. We try not to complain about that as we don't want it to stop all together, but I for one am glad my house is on a hill!! Our crops are doing OK, too, but many in the area have flooded several times. We've driven many miles for baseball games between the two boys. We're in the home stretch as the regular season ends this next week. Kyle's tournament starts just after the 4th. Ryan has a few make up games to squeeze in somewhere, and a tournament starting the next week. I'm not sure when I will have time to make any swaps for convention! I need to give my house the once over, and go through all my retired sets!! YIKES!! I'm going to catch up on sleep this weekend, and hopefully find some motivation!!! Happpy Stamping all!!

You gotta get these!!!

I finally took time this week before club to play with the Fresh Cut set and Notes. LOVE THEM!!! My club did too last night!! The special sneak peak of the set is still available thru June-the end is MONDAY! Don't miss your chance to own this set now and the first pack of note cards is only $5. The set is die cut too so you'll be on your way to creating very quickly!!

Here are the two I created before the one we did for club.

For this one, I stamped the script image inside the note card, so it shows thru the punch out petals. The cards come with the petals die cut for easy removal. I added a punched 5-petal flower of Textured Soft Sky Cardstock and a small flower image cut out and a Rhinestone brad from the Pretties kit. I randomly stamped the vine image around the outside, some by stamping off once. I sponged the outside edge, added the Thank You, and tied the matching Soft Sky ribbon aroudn the top.


For this one, I removed the petals and added a piece of Prints Designer Paper behind. I cut out the small flower once again, , and added a small half pearl from the Pretties kit. No other stamping but the 'for you'. The ribbon was tied on the side of this one as it opens the other way. Simple flexibility!!


This is the one the club ladies did. On this one, I put a piece of Soft Sky inside the card, so it shows thru the petals. We stamped the script image on the front of the card this time in Soft Sky with the words in Blue Bayou. We added a 5-petal punched out flower of textured Blue Bayou CS, and the small flower again on the top with another Rhinestone brad.

6/16/2008

Retirement List

It's that time of year again, to say good-bye to stamp sets that have become old friends. It's always a little sad, but it brings with it the possibility of new and GREAT things to come!!! That new catalog isn't far off now!!!

The retirement lists are available by clicking below for either the alphabetical or numerical (page number) version. I honestly use both lists! I go through my catalog with the numerical one, and my shelves with the alphabetical one!

Alphabetic

Numeric

Both are pdf files that you can save to your computer and print out nicely. These sets are only available through August 10. Get yours NOW!!! This is an excellent time to host a workshop!

Contact me if you NEED any of these sets, or to schedule your workshop!!

eScape with Stampin' Up!


Let me say, this is just a bit ironic that I'm doing a blog post about getting away from the computer and cell phone!!! But, SU! is having a special encouraging just that. They want us to reconnect the old fashioned way with cards and letters, instead of emails, blog posts and cell phones. I know I rarely get cards in the mail, so I'm going to try!

SU! has a special bundle available right now at a savings of 25%! Click the picture above to see the description and items included in the $30 package.

SU! has designated June 25 as eScape day. I have a packed baseball schedule right now (make up games on top of regular ones!), so I'm unable to host an event that night. What I am doing though, for those in my delivery area**, is hosting a mystery hostess workshop. Between June 15 & June 25, place a qualifying order of at least $25, and you could win the hostess set(s), free merchandise, or a FREE Fresh Cut set (if we get to $400).

And, as a bonus, keep track of any hand stamped (by you) cards that you mail out within those days. I will take your word (please be honest!) and give you a bonus entry for EACH card you send out. You must place the qualifying order to earn bonus entries.

Contact me TODAY to place your order and get your chance to win!!!

Those of you out of my delivery area are welcome to order too, I just can't include you in the workshop because of the shipping. You can place an order ANYTIME with me for Stampin' up! merchandise. The only minimum we have is a shipping charge. You could put together a catalog party with orders from friends! Maybe invite your friends over to stamp on the 25th!?!

**My delivery area is limited to SE Nebraska in the Lincoln/Crete/Beatrice area. Please contact me if you're unsure if you're within range!

Fresh Cut special


Stampin' Up! is giving us a sneak peak during June at the new Fresh Cut set and coordinating Fresh-Cut Notes. The set, which is die cut for quick and easy mounting, features 5 images for the price of $21.95. If you buy the set, you can get the coordinating pack of note cards for just $5. Additional sets of note cards are available for $8.95.
Also, Hostesses with $400 workshops during June get FREE the Fresh Cut set AND Fresh-Cut Notes!!! Contact me TODAY to book your workshop!


Sorry for the late notice posting here on these specials. Make sure you see them all, I'm posting a couple!

6/08/2008

Last Club Project

I never made it back with the last club project from May! I owe my members an instruction sheet too for the Criss-Cross Card-I'll try to get that out this week!

Here are two versions of our last project, the Double Pocket Gift Card. I received a sample of this with a pattern in a recent swap-Thanks Richard!!! His sample used this same Designer Paper-Ginger Blossom, but these are my versions.



The paper coordinates with the Embrace Life set so we used that for the flowers. The DP is double sided, so when you complete the folds, the back area is the contrasting color from the outside. We used that same paper to stamp our flowers on and cut out. We curled the top flower (over a pencil, paint brush, paper piercer) to give it dimension. We did layer two flowers together also for dimension. We used a brad to put the flowers together and attached with a jumbo glue dot.

Here is a picture showing the 3 parts of the card. The gift card sits in the front pocket, the other card the back pocket so you can write a note to go along with the gift!

I'm not going to do a step by step here, but if you haven't seen this and need directions, email me and I'll see what I can put together. The pattern I used was done by Richard, and I don't want to share here without his permission. I can do my own, but haven't yet had time. I will say there is a similar one on SCS. I haven't studied those directions, but I believe one of the corner folds is done the opposite way, and my folders were "tighter" to make the pockets closer together and the back contrasting piece bigger.

The Free & The Brave

This is my most recent swap creation for the category "Patriotic". I have had this set for a while and knew I wanted to use it. I have to mail this tomorrow to make the due date, and just couldn't get it to work til last night. I do work better under pressure! We were under the threat of severe weather last night (nothing happened-Yeah) and my room is upstairs. I mapped out my idea just before dinner, then after I worked as quick as I could to cut the layers and stamp everything. I came downstairs with all my pieces just after 9 pm. I sat on the couch and paper pierced the corners. That is hard to see in the pic, but hopefully if you click to enlarge you'll be able to see. I used my mat pack and did the angled corners.

The base layer is Night of Navy. The neutral layer is Naturals White. I stamped the Sanded background in Creamy Caramel, and then stamped over that with Real Red & Night of Navy stars by stamping them off once before stamping onto the Naturals. I wanted a more muted look, not bold. I sponged all the edges of the Naturals White with Creamy Caramel. The soldier image is stamped in Night of Navy, and the saying in Real Red. I added a Red Gingham ribbon behind the saying for another accent. That seemed to work better than tying a bow or know with ribbon.

Enjoy!