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July 2013
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September 2013

Look what arrived in the mail....

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A package from Stampin' Up!  Isn't it pretty ~ love pretty packages and this one is especially nice because it contains lots of information about my upcoming trip to St. George, Utah to attend Founder's Circle.  So, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who support my business ~ I would not have been invited without YOU!

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Inside the folder....
Shelli is always at Founder's Circle but that may not be the case this year.  I checked her blog today but there was no further information about her condition.  Please keep her in your prayers.

 


I knew you would want to know....

Shelli's butterfly card.....inspiration
From Shelli's blog this afternoon ~

Hi, everyone, this is Sara, taking liberty with my mom's blog.

I just wanted you to know that yesterday my mom was involved in a riding accident in southern Utah; the horse she was riding stumbled. She was taken to the Kanab hospital where X-rays were taken, and she was diagnosed with a fractured wrist, pelvis, and collarbone. She flew by plane to Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where she will likely be for a few days.

Obviously, she is in a great deal of pain but wants you all to know she is fine and is grateful it wasn't worse. Thank you for your concern, well wishes, and prayers! I suspect she'll blog herself as soon a she feels up to it. . . .


Color Coach Class

Last night's Color Coach Class was interesting, as always!  I love providing a little background into the world of color and a little 'how to' about a super tool, Stampin' Up!'s Color Coach.  You can find the Color Coach on page 139 in the annual catalog, #130118, $14.95, described as a swatchbook with a card for every color in our collections.  It is so much more ~ an inspiration tool for anyone who works with color and, we all do.  The back side of each color swatch gives us ideas on color combinations that work together.  For instance I was using Pear Pizzaz as a base card for class last night.  Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry were suggested as a creative combination.

Color Coach Card
Pear Pizzaz, Rich Razzleberry & Tempting Turquoise!

 


It is not a combination I would have ever considered.  What do you think?  Here's the inside of the card ~

Color Coach Card 2
We embossed the snowflakes (Festive Flurry, page 30) and the greeting (Joy to the World, page 24) with Iridescent Ice using the Rich Razzleberry stamp pad.  Did you know you can emboss using the new stamp pads (no versamark or craft ink needed)?  It is so easy ~ you just have to work quickly!  If you need additional information on this card, and the products I used, send me an email or give me a call.  I'd be glad to help you with this beautiful Christmas card or another design.  (Come to my first Christmas Card Class on 9-28!)  Thanks for stopping by!

 


Let's Get Started Class ~ Saturday, September 28

Santa 1
Santa's List ~ 3 stamps ~ #131808 wood, #131811 clear


Another super card ~ this one was Sarah Williams' contribution to the SHOE BOX SWAP last week.  One of the things that Sarah did when she was creating her card was to score the background to create a brick pattern ~ so clever!

Santa 2
Use the scoring blade on your trimmer or your bone folder to create this pattern.

Want to get started on your own Christmas cards?  Join me for my LET'S GET STARTED CHRISTMAS CLASS on Saturday afternoon, September 28, in the Cat/Art Studio.  Make 10 easy and quick holiday cards (2 each of 5 designs) using new products from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.  Class fee is $25.00 (or $20 with an in-class order that day).  Register by 9-15.


Margaret's Quilt Card

Quilt card By Margaret
This card is perfect for those of you who love to quilt!  Margaret Spencer created this card for my team's SHOE BOX SWAP last week.  Everyone participates in the swap by making everyone else's card.  Here is the information if you would like to make your own ~

Stamp set:  A Round Array, #129090 (clear) #129087 (wood)

Card stock:  Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla and Sweater Weather designer series paper, #132184 in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie stamp pad and Chocolate Chip Marker

Accessories:  Hexacon, #130919; 7/8" Scallop Circle, #129404; Very Vintage Designer Buttons, #129327; 5/8" Crochet Trim, #118481; Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, #125573

If you would like to come to my next team meeting we would love to have you as a guest.  Or, if you have ever thought about becoming a Demonstrator now would be a great time.  Check my blog post from last week, August 23, for details on Stampin' Up!'s special offer or call me for more information ~ 641-9354.  The offer expires on Saturday this week!


Book
I love reading while Alan is driving and it is almost four hours to our cottage.  Since he doesn't mind I can bury myself in my book and get to the 'Tree House Cottage' really quickly by totally ignoring the ride.  I usually have about three books with me and choose the 'lightweight one' for the drive.  This was my choice last Wednesday and it is one of ten books in a series that the author, Laura Childs, calls her Scrapbooking Mysteries.  The main character, Carmela, owns a scrapbook store in New Orleans which we would all love to visit (if it weren't fiction!).  I found a quote from her that I love ~ "Creating lovingly crafted handmade goods in an era of foreign-made products and instant gratification."  It's worth the whole book!

My weekend project....

I wanted to show you my project for our recent trip to our cottage in the mountains.  I always plan on taking some stamping with me so this was my 'big' project this week.  I also took the most recent My Paper Pumpkin* box with me and you might have seen that one on FB ~ forgot my clear blocks!!  Oh well, it worked out and the Starter Bundle (#129851, page 196 AC) will be on my next Stampin' Up! order!  Here is my 'hey, pumpkin!' Halloween card ~

Halloween punch card
Inspiration - Dawn O ~ thanks, Dawn!


Stamp set:  Perfectly You, #131877 (c) hostess set, page 39, Holiday catty

Card Stock:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

Designer Series Paper:  Witches Brew, #132185, page 21 HC

Ink:  Versamark, #102283, page 165 AC

Accessories:  Hexagon Punch, #130919; Dimensionals, #104430; Heat Tool, #129053; Black Embossing Powder, #109133; Rhinestones, #129324.

*MY PAPER PUMPKIN is available as a special offer until the end of the month.  The usual price is $19.95 per month but, if you order this week, you will get two months at $10 each.  The first month will be a starter kit and will include Clear Block D valued at $8.50 ~ well worth signing up for this special, don't you think?  It is fun to get this stamping kit (everything you need included) in your mail box once a month ~ don't delay ~ we have only six days left!  Email me and I will sign you up (you can discontinue at any time you choose!).


Talking Tags???

$20 Tuesday . . . The Gift of Gab

Join us every Tuesday for the month off August for our $20 Tuesdays. We will explore some great options that you can create for $20 or Under! These prices are based on the US prive value and do not include shipping and handling or tax.

If there is one trait I know that my son got from me when he was born it was the gift of gab. I will never forget the moment when I realized that this was one of his talents. He was about four years old and we were vacationing in San Diego. We had just finished a harbor cruise and were heading back to the motor home to eat some lunch. We started eating and my son suddenly started talking. He was chatty, so I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as I tuned in to see what he was talking about, I realized he was speaking out the window to the cute old couple who were parked next to us. I still smile about that  incident to this very day (seriously . . . I am smiling as I type it)!

So it was natural as I was flipping through the catalog to land on the Talking Tags ($7.95 US/$9.95 CAN—way under $20). Now, one thing I love about the Talking Tags is their versatility. I know . . .  immediately you think of stamping a card, adding a Talking Tag message inside, and sending it off to a loved one.  But I have found a few more uses that will make this a must-have for nearly everyone.

Please note that in my excitement to post about the versatility of Talking Tags, I failed to look into the longevity of the message. I have confirmed that the message will be around for at least two years. So keep that in mind as you are tagging things! Also for idea purposes I have left up the ones that may no longer make sense with this information. Happy tagging!

With back to school right around the corner, the first thing I thought of was attaching it to the first day of school photo. You can record your child telling you how excited they are, what they hope to learn, and what their favorite thing about school is. To be a little more discrete about this one, I attached mine to the back of the photo.

I then thought of the obvious: I attached it to the bottom of a scrapbook page. This page in particular is pretty fun;  it has a five-generation picture of my son and daughter, my wife, her dad, his dad, and his mom. So for my kids that would be their great- great-grandma. I thought my wife could take the opportunity to leave a brief message about her so that our kids would know a little bit about her—perhaps a favorite story, or something she liked to do.

In the same vein, I also attached a Talking Tag to our wedding album, so I could share with my kids how we felt on this particular day!

I also love the idea of using the Talking Tag to help your children read, or be read to. I asked my daughter to grab her favorite book and I attached a Talking Tag to the bottom of each page. I plan to record myself reading so she can follow along. Or—this would make a great gift coming from Grandma and Grandpa. Record them reading a book and give it as a gift to a little one. To make these a little less obvious on each page I attached the sticker with the instructions on the main page and then cut it down to just the QR code on every other page.



You can add Talking Tags to souvenirs, too! For example, we want our kids to experience all that this country has to offer so we have made it a goal to visit all 50 states before our children turn 18 (we have been to 11 so far). Each time we go somewhere, we let them choose a souvenir, and I choose some sort of decorative shot glass so that we can remember each state we have been to. If I attach a Talking Tag to the bottom of each one of these, I can tell a brief message about my favorite part of the trip.

You can also add it to family keepsakes, antiques (be careful not to ruin anything valuable as they will stick) or souvenirs given to you by other friends or family members. My brother brought me a hand- carved water buffalo from the Philippines, but my kids have no idea what it is. Since it was special to me, I wanted to share it with my kids. Side note, I put the Talking Tag there just for picture purposes. I would put this on the bottom so as not to distract from the gift.

Last but not least, have you ever wondered how to work your TV/DVD/DVR, etc.? Well, wonder no more! Leave yourself a recorded note, or have one of your more tech savvy children leave you some recorded instructions!

These are just a few ways you can use the Talking Tags; let us know in the comments below how you have been using them—or plan to use them!

Casey G.
Sr. Web Properties Specialist 

P.S. You will always want to test these on a discrete surface spot in case it leaves residue or alters your item. Stampin' Up! cannot be held responsible for any damage done by using the Talking Tags on anything other than its designed purpose. 


This offer is expiring ~

B1_july-15_aug-31_Pick-A-Kit_na

So, we all love to craft ~ scrapping, cards, gifts, projects for our homes!  And, guess what is just around the corner?  Right ~ those lovely holidays just perfect for our crafting appetite!  Stampin' Up! has a special offer for YOU ~ a FREE Craft Kit when you join Stampin' Up!  That's $125 in product of YOUR choice and one of our amazing Craft Kits ~ 3 from our upcoming Holiday catalog and one from our Annual Catalog.  Click below to download the flyer for more information ~

Download NA_Pick_a_Kit_Flyer_NA

To learn more about the kits from the Holiday Catalog, email me or give me a call at 757-641-9354.  Don't want to do home parties?  Don't want to sell?  No problem.  YOU pick how much, or how little, you want to do as a Demonstrator!  Believe it or not, you can take advantage of this offer and then drop if you want to ~ there are no Stampin' Up! police and I will still love you! 

So, what are the advantages ~ besides all the crafting fun?  20% savings on all products, a fabulous website w great ideas, demonstrator only events, complimentary catties, great magazine from Stampin' Up!, ability to preorder, crafting friends and Southern Star team meetings ~ having fun with other demonstrators.  Seriously, call me!


Love this from the Artisian Design Team member ~ Jennifer Timko ~ back to school!

A Simply Sketched Thank You

There is nothing like a summer at home with my children to help reinforce my appreciation for teachers! Don’t get me wrong . . . I LOVE having my two boys with me, but wow, are they active. I know that their teachers work hard keeping their minds engaged and excited about learning.

While working on a summer book report, my oldest stopped one day and said, “You know, Mom, this isn’t so bad. Mrs. H. taught us how to get through these easy-peasy!” Oh how I love that woman!! 

So of course I want to help these teachers start the year off right by thanking them for all they do (and have already done before the school year officially starts). What better way than with a first day of school treat bag? 

The minute I saw the Mini Muslin Bags in the holiday catalog, I jumped for joy. I can see so many ways to use them! I wanted to add a touch of elegance to them so I decided to watercolor on them. (Yes, you CAN watercolor on them! And it is easy to do, too.)

The Simply Sketched Hostess Stamp Set has just the pretty look I was going for so I stamped the flower and sentiment on the bag using Jet Black StazOn Ink. It looked great just like that, but I kept going and added some color. Using a Blender Pen, I picked up some ink from a Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad and started applying it to the flowers. (Use a light hand to start and then add color as you go.) To add some extra highlights, I took my Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Marker (available individually until Oct. 31) and lightly colored directly on the bag. I used the Blender Pen to smooth it out a bit . . . just as I do on paper! Then, I used a Pear Pizzazz Stampin’ Write Marker to color the stems and the Blender Pen and a little Pool Party ink to create shadows around the flower. Done!!

And the card? I colored it exactly the same way as the bag on Naturals Ivory Cardstock, then added a Basic Gray Cardstock frame to make it pop.  I thought that the Naturals 7/16" Trim would be a perfect finish along with a Smoky Slate button from the Neutrals Designer Button . . . plus some Linen Thread.

I hope the teachers enjoy these—and I look forward to making more variations with these fun bags! What was that my son said? Oh, yes: “Easy peasy!”

Jennifer Timko
2013 Artisan Design Team