The content of this blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of, and content of, the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
You must know how wonderful it feels to have a major deadline taken care of. Like a huge load off of your back. We have a wonderful fire department locally, and Tuesday, December 2nd, is the annual dinner where we honor our fire fighters. I was asked to do the name tags and come up with a method of showing the waitresses what each person has ordered. The gal in charge knows (1) I'm a stamper, (2) my schedule is like all stampers: overloaded, and (3) I could do this project in my own time.
What I've created isn't stampin' rocket-science but I think they're cute and will serve the purpose:
The menu choice 'medallions' also feature Stampin' Up! with the Scalloped Circle Punch. Our food choices were salmon, chicken and prime rib so I grabbed some free clipart off of the web since I had nothing in my current stampin' stash for those 3 choices. I had to show at least a little stamping. When you're making 100 name tags, a little is enough!Mr. Twigster's tree adorns each name tag. But they were looking a little unbalanced so the Punch Pal's snowflakes took care of that. Ink used: Classic Pads: Garden Green and Ballet Blue, Markers: Real Red, Yoyo Yellow and Ballet Blue.
My son and daughter-in-law spent the long weekend with us and she (Khris) was able to tick off a deadline too. She is an SU! Demo but even more she's an author (and pregnant). Her book is called The DIY Bride, published by Taunton, and book 2 is wrapping up. We'll see it in 2010 I think. She has met other bride writers on the web and some of them have planned card swaps. So Khris came determined to create her swap card using Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Background stamp and flocking. I know we no longer sell flocking but that was what she needed to create the look she was going for. After lots of trial and error (e.g. she went from black flocking to white) this is the simple and elegant card she came up with. I hope you can see the flocking.
Stamp Sets: Baroque Background, Punches Three
Card Stock: Black Textured, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, "Someone's" Glue Pad
Accessories: Dimensionals, "someone's 1/2" red velvet ribbon
So, as you can see, we had a fun and productive stampin' weekend. I also planned our Christmas card. I'll be sharing it in a week or so. My husband and I always work on our cards together. It really is fun. Yesterday I also did most of the pre-cutting. I save the tricky jobs for Russ: like speciality cutting of one of the components.
I'll be seeing you next m-o-n-t-h. Can you believe it's nearly Christmas!? I wish us all a productive and not-too-crazy December. And I'll wish right now for some snow or rain for us. It's time for serious weather in our mountains of Northern California. The local ski resort, sometimes open at Thanksgiving, is still showing bare ground. Come on snow............
I received an email last night from one of 'my stampers', Nancy, here in Mi Wuk Village, sharing a gift she had just made. I love it! Here's what she said: "I wanted to share with you my latest project. I bought some alcohol free wine for a male relative who doesn't drink alcohol. I covered the bottles with Stampin' Up paper and used my handy dandy punches and stamps (Stampin' Up of course). My dear husband threw some scraps together and made the wine holder. The whole gift (two bottles of alcohol free wine, wine holder, and wine glass, paper, brads, etc.) was put together for under $20. Pretty neat, huh?"
Nancy is the gal who made the treats for our first Stamp Club Meeting at the end of October. You can see her goodies by clicking here.
I truly love to see 'my stampers' using their products in ways for sharing with others.
There's supposed to be a tune associated with the subject line above....."It's the most wonderful time of the year...There'll be (can't remember) and gay mistletoeing and lots of good cheer......It's the most wonderful time of the year....." (sung by Perry Como, my all time favorite crooner).
All I can say is, Oh My Goodness!!! Did you check out the specials that Stampin' Up! is offering
beginning NOW through Sunday night, November 30th! 50% off on stamp
sets like All in the Family and Accessories (in a bundle) and select
sport sets (The Manly Man's Bundle).40% off on Autumn Harvest, Snow
Burst, A Good Egg and Something New to Love (Seasonal Stamper's
Bundle).30% off select chipboard, embellishments, the Curly Label
Punch Bundle, Glitter and Embossing Supplies (all in bundles).
In addition to the sale items, we have
something for everyone on your shopping list. Before you head out to
shop on Black Friday, check here first. I can save
you gas, time and frustration! What about our Stack and Store
Turnabouts (page 195) which are
perfect for small nails, washers, etc on your husband's work bench. Or
Tattoo Kits (page 194) for all the nieces and nephews (and great for
stocking stuffers). Don't forget personalized stamps with
an ink pad in a favorite color, or an ink pad that says "FOR DEPOSIT
only" for your favorite booster organization or business owner (page
159). What about blank journals for a traveler or young adult on your
list (page 181, decorated and personalized by you, of course) or how
about a pair of our scissors for you favorite scrapper or crafter (page
192). For more gift ideas, check out this Holiday Gift Giving Guide. (I'm desperately working on the link for a large pop-up window---should be up within an hour--my guru guides aren't awake yet! It's not as easy as it looks. HA HA.)
Shopping in one place is a win-win
situation for you and there is not a store out there that will give you
the following for spending $150 or more 1. ME - your personal
demonstrator to provide gift tags and bags for your purchases, as well
as follow up on ideas for use, and answers and support. That's
right, if you place an order for $150 or more, I will send you a set of
hand-made, beautifully embellished gift tags! 2. FREE LEVEL I hostess set 3. $15 to spend anyway you want - you are not limited to door busters, stock on hand and you don't need a coupon! 4. FREE '09 catalog - valued at $10 5. Increased FREE gifts the more you spend 6. The convenience of shopping online in your pj's with no crowds at any time, day or night 7. The savings of time and gas 8. Exactly what you want
9. AND DON'T FORGET THE FABULOUS DISCOUNTS OFFERED ON THE BUNDLED ITEMS
(only until Sunday) and a FREE set of Rub-ons (my gift to you) on any
order of $50 placed before Sunday evening (if you order online, I will
send these to you separately -- just let me know your choice of
Rub-ons).
When you
order, it is to your advantage to use our Online order system to make
sure your order is placed and finalized before the limited bundles and
sale items are gone. I will do my best to help you, if you need help,
but by far, the best option is to place the order yourself, online, and
check it off your list!
-
On the top right corner of this site, click on the little coral button
saying 'SHOP NOW". It is right under my contact
information.
- takes you right into Stampin Up. For your first time, click on NEW CUSTOMER - SET UP ACCOUNT (right side).
- enter
your mailing address (does not accept post office box numbers), it also
requires your telephone number (UPS needs that). You also need a
password.
- You can
shop anything from any current catalog. To find the Bundled Holiday
Specials, click on "specials" (on the left side-bar) and then click on
"Holiday Extravaganza".
There, now
you are ready to shop. I would advise doing this ahead of time as I
get the feeling this web site is going to be very busy on Thursday.
Stampin Up has never had a sale like this and there are limited
quantities of some bundles, so you want to be prepared.
Remember,
if you spend $150. you receive hostess rewards, so watch for the
prompts that come up. If you spend more than $20. you will also get a
prompt for the Rub-On sale this month (20% off) and at the end of the
transaction it will ask you to choose your hostess set. The pictures
are very tiny - click on them, they get bigger.
If you
spend at least $50, I will send you (as a personal gift from me) your
choice of any set of Rub-ons. After your order is placed, e-mail me
with your choice of Rub-on sets (page 178-179 in the catalog or any of the
Rub-on sets from the Holiday mini catalog), and I will order these and send
them to you separately. Also, if you spend $150 or more, I will send
you a set of beautiful, hand-made gift tags!
If you don't enter this site through a demonstrator's website, you will not
get Hostess Sets or cash rewards and prices for product are higher -
just so you know. Also, remember, I will always be there as your
personal assistant to help you with problems and give you ideas and
inspiration with your new toys!
E-mail if you have questions and Happy Shopping, everyone!
This week in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day set aside to focus on the wonderful blessings we all enjoy. While we recognize Thanksgiving Day is not celebrated in all countries at the same time, the idea behind Thanksgiving is appropriate year-round.
--John F. Kennedy
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
I wish I knew that everyone was with family or loved ones today, but truth is, that just won't be the case for all Americans again this year. Whether your loved ones are serving their country in places throughout the world, some safer than others, or they're across the country or just out of your town, they're still in your hearts and thoughts. And in mine too.
I am fortunate that my nuclear family, brother and his family, sister and her family, and Russ and me and our children and grandchildren are all within 175 miles or so from each other and we choose to make the effort to get together at Thanksgiving. This year it'll be my brother and sister and their families in one home and my husband, son/daughter-in-law and daughter/son-in-law and 3 grandchildren in another. But in both homes we will all take part in a wonderful tradition that began with our parents years ago. Rather than saying a blessing at our Thanksgiving Table, we each express something that we are grateful or thankful for this past year. For me it will be the safe birth of my youngest grandson in October and the amazing pregnancy of my son and his wife who are due in February. And then, of course, I'm thankful for the health and existence of the rest of my family who shall just go unnamed here. Oh yeah, I'm also thankful for the fact that we took a month long, cross-country road trip this year (which we somehow managed to blog: http://www.stampinwithblythe.typepad.com/on_the_road , saw fantastic sights and people, and returned home safe and still speaking to each other! :)
At last, the
bundles we've been waiting for have arrived. I've just glanced so far and what I'm seeing looks pretty good! Remember, supplies are limited.
I have to admit that I have become totally technologically challenged so I'm going to list the individual bundle groupings below. Perhaps in 2009 I can master clicking on a document and successfully opening a full view of the image. So...... here we go:
ALL IN THE FAMILY BUNDLE (item 116217) - 50% off All in the Family stamp set, p. 78 Family Accessories stamp set, p. 78 Neighborhood Stampin' Around * jumbo wheel, p. 79 Regular Price: $63.40, Bundle Sale Price:$31.70
THE MANLY MAN'S BUNDLE (item 116224) - 50% off
Sporting stamp set, p. 82
Just Football stamp set, p. 82
Just Basketball stamp set, p. 83 Just Baseball stamp set, p. 83
Regular Price: $56.80, Bundle Sale Price:$28.40
SEASONAL STAMPERS BUNDLE (item 116221) - 40% off
Autumn Harvest stamp set, p. 30
Snow Burst stamp set, p. 34
A Good Egg stamp set, p. 47
Something New to Love stamp set, p. 47
Regular Price: $83.80, Bundle Sale Price:$50.28
ALPHA BETCHA NEED THIS BUNDLE (item 116226) - 40% off
Well-Worn Alphabet stamp set*, p. 155
Well Worn Number stamp set*, p. 155
Regular Price: $64.90, Bundle Sale Price:$38.94
I'M ON BOARD BUNDLE (item 116218) - 30% off
On Board Batch of Blooms, p. 180
On Board Essentials, p. 181
On Board Lots of Letters, p. 181 On Board Timeless Type, p. 181
On board 8-1/2" x 11" ring album, p. 181
Regular Price: $67.75, Bundle Sale Price:$46.65
BAGS & TAGS BUNDLE (item 116216) - 30% off
Punch Pals stamp set, p. 37
Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Pad, p. 162
Note Cards, p. 167 White Gift sacks (2 pkg), p. 167
Riding Hood Red Patterns Designer Series paper, p. 171
Tag Punch, p. 188
Regular Price: $74.95, Bundle Sale Price:$52.46
SANTA'S STOCKING STUFFER BUNDLE (item 116219) - 30% off
Square Ice Rhinestone Brads, p. 185
Metallic Eyelets, p. 185
Fresh Favorites II colored buttons, p. 187
Regular Price: $23.85, Bundle Sale Price:$16.69
CIRCLE LABEL PUNCH BUNDLE (item 116266) - 30% off
Curly Label Punch Bundle, p. 189
Regular Price: $33.95, Bundle Sale Price:$23.77
STAR STRUCK BUNDLE (item 116220) - 30% off
Starstruck stamp set*, p. 117
Starring You stamp set, p. 138
Star Designer Brads star assortment, p. 184
Star Punch, p. 188
Regular Price: $41.80, Bundle Sale Price:$29.26
STICKY SITUATION BUNDLE (item 116222) - 30% off
Sticky Cuts Letters, p. 190
Blue Bead Duo, p. 190
Green Bead Due, p. 190
Fine Cosmo Stampin' Glitter*, p. 190
Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter, p. 190
Regular Price: $47.30, Bundle Sale Price:$33.11
MISSION EMBOSSABLE BUNDLE (item 116223) - 30% off
Heat Tool, p. 190
Gold Stampin' Emboss* Powder, p. 190
Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder, p. 190
Iridescent Ice Stampin'' Emboss Powder, 9. 190
Powder Pals*, p. 190
Embossing Buddy*, p. 190
Regular Price: $66.10, Bundle Sale Price:$46.27
SCRAPBOOKERS DREAM BUNDLE (item 116227) - 25% off
Blooms Again Die Cuts, p. 166
Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, p. 168
On Board Lots of Letter, p. 181
Roof Garden Accents & Elements, p. 182
Natural Linen 12" x 12" ring album, p. 183
Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, p. 187
Basic Black Stampin' Write* Journaler, p. 193
Regular Price: $82.95, Bundle Sale Price:$60.71
WILD THING, I THINK I LOVE YOU BUNDLE (item 116225) - 20% off
Wild About You stamp set, p. 77
Bold Bright 8-1/2" x 11" card stock, p. 164
Bold Brights Stampin' Spots, p. 164
White Gift sacks (2 pkg), p. 167
Riding Hood Red Patterns Designer Series paper, p. 171
Tag Punch, p. 188
Regular Price: $54.40, Bundle Sale Price:$43.52
RIBBON STORAGE BUNDLE (item 116228) - 20% off
Small Ribbon Keepers (2), p. 195
Medium Ribbon Keepers (2), p. 195
Large Ribbon Keepers (2), p. 195
Regular Price: $46.85, Bundle Sale Price:$37.48
Turquoise tin, 114673, $3.95
Silver Skinny Tin, 108333, $1.95
WHEW! Those items you see marked with an *asterisk* will be discontinued.
I hope you find something among these great bundles that peaks your interest. I see some great bargains in there. Remember, this is a great opportunity to jump over to my Stampin' Up! website and shop on-line. Or just call or email me........but......I will be out of contact for about 6 hours this afternoon (Wednesday) so you if you're worried about missing a "while supplies last" item, I suggest you check out the on-line ordering.
Save driving to any of you who are taking off today. And enjoy your friends and family tomorrow as you gather for Thanksgiving.
I have to be honest and tell you that in the final hours of the 9,990's until the big (for me) 10,000, I had three (3) whole comments. This was fun regardless of how many comments. Each of them was fun to read. My loving sister, and my downline (comment #3) both know how I struggle to get that room clean and organized, let alone keep it that way!!! Back to business: I had my husband, Russ, pull a folded piece of paper from a basket and the winner was #2, Jan. So Jan, please send me your mailing information (you can email it to me at <blythe@stampinwithblythe.com>) and I'll get your collection of goodies out to you on Friday. Thanks for playing. I'll do this again as I approach 9999 more clicks on my blog.
See you on Tuesday, possibly with a guest stamper or two.
Stampin' Up! is about to offer a special promotion. CHECK HERE ON WEDNESDAY for more information! All I know -- I think -- is
it will be a promotion
tied to ON LINE ORDERING! Think large discounts on bundled, limited
quantity items! You won't want to miss the opportunity so be back here
on the 26th. I'll post the information just as soon as I see it, for
me, usually 6 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
And while we're on the subject of special promotions, how about "specially promoting yourself"? If you're wishing for accessories or stamp sets or maybe even the Big Shot, just print off the Dear Santa Letter below and put it in the hands (or on the pillow or steering wheel) of your special
Santas.
As always, "Santa" can contact me, via email or phone, to place
'your order'. We'll decide whether to have your wishes sent to your
home or mine. If you're local, or I'll be in your area before
Christmas, I'll be happy to gift wrap it and deliver it to your Santa.
See you all tomorrow...... Wow, it'll be short week for sure. And then starts the countdown.
It took me a year to get my blog off the ground, and then it's taken another year to figure out what I'm really doing. I still have a long way to go but.......I've come a long way Baby! And now, I'm getting excitingly close to having 10,000 'hits' which to me is amazing. In honor of you, my readers, I'm going to give away some blog candy.What's that you say? Ohhhhh, I'm sure many of you know. It's a little treasure chest of stamping goodies to add to your stamping pleasure.
Just leave a comment to this post, what you've liked, disliked, would like to see more or less of, something you'd like me to know, on my blog. Or just say HI! When I hit that magic 10,000 mark, I'll select a random number and that comment writer will be the recipient of my blog candy.
While you're waiting, I'll show you where I stamp. Come on in...... This is the doorway, off of the deck from the house. If you turned right, rather than walking into my room, you'd go down the stairs into my husband's playroom: the garage.
I was lucky enough to be able to convert a bedroom over our garage into a studio for all of my stampin' stuff, classes and activities. The previous owner/builder of our 'cabin in the woods' (we border the Stanislaus National Forest in Northern California) had designed this space as a craft room for his wife so it has lots of electrical outlets plus one in the ceiling! My husband and I built some very custom cupboards, to place under the roof line (lots of 'dead' space just waiting for our project), for storing my current and retired stamp sets and some supplies. We painted the insides of these cupboards with leftover paint so each is different inside.
I keep my Stampin' Up! currentribbons in a piece of plastic rain gutter which hangs just at the roof line bend in the wall, above the cupboards. This room is quite difficult for storage since the walls over 3-1/2' are pitched, following that roof line.
I have a great collection of Elfa storage system drawers that are seeing their 4th or 5th incarnation, this time as storage for stampin' supplies. I've had these for nearly 25 years so they've really paid for themselves. On top of the set of drawers under the large window is a door which serves as a counter top.
To the right of that (photo on the right above) is an old 'diaper cupboard'. It was in a house we rented when first married in the late 60s and has been with me ever since (with permission from the owner of the rental to take it when we left). I used it in my childrens' rooms literally for storing their diapers and other baby paraphernalia. Now it serves as another type of storage unit for swap cards, retired eyelets, and things I just can't (but should) let go of. Just keep the door closed! The lower picture above shows my cardstock storage: alphabetically, left to right, 2 colors to a 'cubicle' and one of my favorite uses of slanted space: Stampin' Up!s Stamp 'n' Stack units, 7 of them hanging up on the wall. I keep all my buttons, brads, eyelets, and beads there, right where I can see them and easily reach them.
As you walk in the door, on the right is a very unglamorous, but much loved, cupboard that I salvaged when friends left San Jose CA for Virginia Beach VA. I store my envelopes, and gobs of other supplies in there. It's really due for a purge! The fruit crate on top of it holds my background stamps.
Next to the "Bill & Susan cupboard" is one of my favorite pieces: a mail sorting thing a former neighbor (who got from someone who got it from Folsom Prison in California) offered me. I store all kinds of things in it: CDs from Conventions (like Art from the Heart), my Craft Pads and reinkers, various other stamp pads (Versamark, StazOn), and other random supplies. It also needs to be cleaned out a bit. I keep a flash light handy (power outages) and my trusty-dusty hammer/screwdrivers when I need to become Ms. Fixit, in one of the cubbies as well.
Inside the door and behind it, are my punches and word/alphabet stamps and catalogs. I got the shoe hanger thing-y at Bed, Bath & Beyond (nice heavy plastic) and my dear husband placed wood bars under each row to give it stability and strength.
Here's where I sit and do my computer work, when I'm not in the house. I'm on dial-up so have to be near the phone plug-in. And I watch out the window (over the driveway) for my favorite guy in brown---Lucky, the best UPS guy in the country.
And now, as your reward for getting through all of this, here's a photo from Stampin' Up!'s 1997 Convention which was themed "Good Olde Summertime". There I stand, between the costumed Shelli and LaVonne. This was way before I finally started to color my hair. :)
I just went into my Convention files and found the registration form that we had to FAX or MAIL to Stampin' Up! in Kanab, Utah. Early registration fee was $140; regular fee: $165. It was held in two sessions. Location: Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada.
OK, the tour is over and I'm off to collect Blog Candy. Be sure to leave your comments. :)
Well, it was kind of a toss up: Thanksgiving? or Christmas? I honestly did not know, when I woke up this morning, what our 2 cards would look like today. One day at a time has to be my motto at times! So, today, being the third Thursday of the month (library stamping), I decided upon one of each.
First we did the Christmas card. I've got to say that I love it when the 8-15 women all oooooh and aaaaah practically in unison when I show them our card. I usually pass out a cello bag with the cut up cardstock and then show them the samples---one for each end of the tables. This is a very simple, stark blue/white card.
I had wanted to try the card with a splash of red on it but didn't have time before my class, so I tried it when I got home. I'm not sure. What do youthink?
This is strange. To me, it looks better on the screen than it does in real life. Again, what do you think? I took some old Stampin' Up! 3/4" wide red organdy ribbon as an option for stampers to use on their card. At first they liked the idea of the pop of red, but when it came time to place the ribbon on their card, they went with the white. And, would you believe, I am o-u-t of 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain? I think it might be too heavy for the card but I had no way to check it out. Fortunately the Riding Hood Red Taffeta didn't look bad with the Real Red that was used on the card. And those are the ramblng thoughts of a tired stamper! :)
INGREDIENTS:
Stamp Sets: Scandinavian Season and Christmas Classics
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Real Red (sample #2)
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories: 2-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Punches: Large and Wide Ovals, White Narrow Organdy Ribbon--retired, Dimensionals
TIP: After stamping the tree on the Whisper White cardstock, stamp the flower on the lower right of the tree again, on a piece of scrap paper, without reinking. Do huff on it though before stamping. That way it'll stand out from the tree a bit more .
Our second card was presented like this:
and they were sure it was going to be a turkey. Well, my Sizzix Big Shot and I sure fooled 'em!
I used two sheets of Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper and the Leaves #2 Die for the Sizzix Big Shot. I cut a whole pile of leaves so my stampers could choose which ones they'd like on their card.
To create the card, tear both long edges of the 2" x 4-1/4" Chocolate Chip
cardstock piece. Wrap it three times with Gold Elastic Cord (tie ends in a knot and
then a floppy bow). Attach it to main card front with SNAIL adhesive. Randomly place 3 die cut leaves. Use dimensionals to attach the 3rd
leaf. Stamp the greeting with chocolate chip
ink. You're done. Not bad huh?
I hope you've enjoyed your little trip into the Mi Wuk Library for our third Thursday of the month stamping. Next month I'll add a photo of where you've been. :) The building is a converted fire station.
Yesterday I held my Mi Wuk Village Bags, Tags & Cards class. It was a ton of fun. These ladies know how to chat and joke while they create. And it was really nice to see that they put previous classes to work months after the class. Nancy called to ask if she could bring some lemon cookies that were fresh out of the oven. Well, of course she could. But look what she brought:
Nancy didn't just bring a plate of cookies, she wrapped 3 of them them in a zip lock bag and then popped that into our medium cello bags! Then she tied the bags with Hemp Twine (and eyelets) and used the Tart & Tangy stamp set to create a cute tag (Yoyo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise) .....complete with Crystal Effects on the lemon slices. Good thing I took the photo before everyone got their cookies because they were g-o-n-e by the end of the afternoon. I offered paper towels for munching them so they didn't get any 'greasies' on their stampin' fingers!
I've been showing you some of the projects we did in the class throughout the week but I have to share the assortment of Bags in a Box which they loved. If you scroll down to the 17th's blog entry, you'll see the entire 'how-to'photo tutorial so you can create one of these bags too. They're really quite easy, but.......if you talk and giggle and eat yummy cookies, it does take a bit longer.
Our basic ingredients were Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper, Little Felt Flurries and Build-a-Brads. The class loved them all, especially getting to pick and play with the Felt Flurries and the Build-a-Brads.
Now it's time for you to go challenge yourself and make a Bag in a Box. The finished result demands a huge smile! Enjoy.........