Thanks So Much!

Hello! I wanted to let you know that I may not be blogging for a little bit. My computer seems to have been taken over by some type of virus. Not Good! It has disabled my updates and my antiviral software.I am going to have to get someone to fix the problem because it seems to be more than I know how to do. I am at my mother's house using her computer to post this. I have been very busy making new samples from the catalog and can't wait to share them with you but I don't have access to the photos I've taken of them. They are on my computer at home!Hopefully I will have my computer up and running again by this weekend but I'm making no promises! I just want to say "Thanks So Much" for being patient with me and my computer!Here is a card that I can share with you that I has saved on my blogger site. It is one of my favorites because all you have to do is change the greeting and it can be for any occasion!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp sets- Baroque Motifs and Sincere Salutations


• Papers - Certainly Celery, Regal Rose and Whisper White card stocks


• Inks - Regal Rose and Certainly Celery Classic Ink Pads and Regal Rose Stampin' Write marker


• Embellishments - Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon


• Tools - Color Spritzer Tool and dimensionals
  

I hope that I am back to posting again very very soon!

Happy Stampin'

Karen

New 2008 Fall & Winter Idea Book & Catalog!

Well here is the much awaited new Fall & Winter Idea Book & Catalog! Isn't the cover just so beautiful? You can click here to download a copy of the catalog or click the catalog icon on the left side of my blog. As of right now Stampin' Up! has decided not to have an on-line link to the catalog as they have in the past. I'm not sure why they have decided to do this but it might have something to do with the fact that they will have FULLY AUTOMATED ON-LINE ORDERING COMING SOON. Whoo Hoo! From what I have heard, Stampin' Up! will be transitioning to a fully automated one-step on-line order (shopping cart style) in the near future which will make your ordering process incredibly easy. How cool will that be? I will have the feature available on my blog as soon as it's released. In the mean time, you can either download your copy and save it to a CD or your computer. If you would prefer a copy of the catalog you can hold in your hands there are several ways to obtain one. You can host a party and earn one FREE or you can join a stamp club and earn one FREE or you can purchase one from me for $9,95. Contact me for more information or to purchase your copy!


Stampin' Up! has several wonderful promotions going on right now that I want to share with you. First of all they have new sets from the catalog priced at a 15% discount!! Can you believe it? Click here
to view the details! Contact me to place your order now through September 30th!


Then Stampin' Up! is offering NEW $99 MINI STARTER KITS!! For a limited time (Aug. 11 through October 11), Stampin' Up! has made becoming a demonstrator even more attractive by introducing three new $99 starter kit options. Click here to see the $99 Starter Kit contents and details. Stampin' Up! is also offering a FREE STAMP SET of your choice with the FULL SIZE STARTER KIT that is $199. Sign up for the full size kit by October 11 and receive a Free Stamp Set of your choice as a bonus (up to a $47.95 value). You can sign up online here but be sure to email me first to get my special password that allows you to sign up online!

What are some of the benefits of becoming a demonstrator? Here are just a few:

• You will receive 30% off your first order that you place!
• Get 20% off all orders (and potentially more based on sales totals)
• Receive Stampin' Up!'s monthly exclusive demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success!
• Earn free stamp sets through a bonus program called Stampin' Start
• Have exclusive access to the Stampin' Up! demonstrator web site
• Get online training through teleconferences
• Earn products and even VISA gift cards through a rewards program called Great Rewards!
• Be able to pre-order select Stampin' Up!'s stamps, tools and embellishments!
• Be part of my great demonstrator downline team and attend monthly meetings!
• Attend fantastic demonstrator only events through Stampin' Up!
• Be inspired by video tutorials and project ideas on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator web site
• Have your own business web site to list your events and classes for only $12.95 per month
• Best of all, meet new people and make lasting friendships through customers and fellow demonstrators

There is no obligation to hold workshops/parties or even sell Stampin' Up! products at all with the purchase of the starter kit. It's yours to use and enjoy. If you do decide you want to remain an active demonstrator and be a part of my team, just a minimum of $300 in product sales per quarter is all you need to do. Please contact me for more info! I'd love to have you as a part of my team!!

Finally I want to share with you a card that I have made using new colors, papers, stamps and tools! I just love new set of paper! The paper is called Bella Rose and the set is Dreams Du Jour! The scallop edge on this card is made by the new scallop punch pictured below!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Set: Dreams Du Jour
• Papers: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White card stocks and Bella Rose Designer Series Paper
• Inks: Basic Black ink pad, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette ink refills
• Embellishments: Vintage Brads and Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon
• Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 1/8" hole punch, Aqua Painters and dimensionals

What do you think of this card? I do just love it! The punch is so very easy to use too! I love it so much! We will be trying it out this weekend at my NEW CATALOG Open House! Can't wait for you to get you hands on it!

Here is all you have to do to use the new punch. Punch the card stock once then move it down and line it up with the scallops that are printed on he punch itself. Continue to punch until you have the desired length of the card stock finished. It also punches off a skinny strip of card stock that can be used as embellishment too.

I have seen so many neat ideas made using the punch. If I can remember where I've seen them, I'll post links to them to share with you!

This post was very long today but I have so much to share with you! I'm so glad that you stopped by! I'll be showing more samples that I have made using other sets this week. I'm going to go get busy stamping some more now!

Happy Stampin'

Karen

My Christmas In July Samples!

I wanted to share these 4 cards that we made at my "Christmas In July" Stamp-a-Stack last month. This will be my last post of retiring stamp sets since you can't purchase them from the catalog anymore.
Each of these cards featured retiring Christmas sets.
The card above with the snowflakes uses a couple of the sets that retired. They are "Snow Flurries" which I love and "Block Party".

This card features "Festive Favorites" which was always a fun set to use.

This card uses "The Snowflake Spot". It is sad to say but this is a set that I had for a while and this was the first time I inked it up. Shame on me because it is a very pretty snowflake set!

This card uses the "Peaceful Wishes" stamp set. This was one of my favorites and I am sad to see this one retire. It was nice because it was simple stamping but gave you an elegant look.

Hopefully these cards will give you some ideas on layouts for other Christmas sets to use if you don't happen to have any of these sets.

Okay, so now it is time to get the new catalog posted on my blog and I hope to get a few samples for you to see later today or tonight. Stampin' Up! is also having some great specials right now that I will post later too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stampin'

Karen

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

It is time to announce the winner of my blog candy which was picked by random.org
....are you ready? The winner will receive all of the items that are pictured here. Okay..so here we go...the winner of my first blog candy is...

Cindy Rutledge! Whoo Hoo!


Congratulations Cindy!


On my nugget tutorial post I asked that everyone tell me what they liked to use their stamps for the best...cards, scrapbooks or 3-D items.


This is what Cindy had to say in her comment:

I like stamping it all! But I think scrapbook pages are my favorite.



Thanks Cindy for leaving a comment and participating in my first blog candy give away! It was Cindy's birthday on August 4th so she has earned a little extra gift! How fun! I will have your items for you to pick up at my "New Catalog Open House" this weekend! See you there if not before! wink wink! : )


Okay, so I didn't get to post this afternoon like I had hoped to because we were out school clothes shopping! What a nightmare it was! We were out ALL afternoon and evening. Some stores were opened later today even though it was Sunday! But the good news is...I think that we are all set for school to start. There might be a few things here and there to get but for the most part WE ARE DONE!



Here is one last card to share with you using another of my favorite sets that is retiring!The set is called "Touch of Nature". I have had it for a few years and used it pretty frequently. I know we used it for a couple of Stamp-a-Stacks that I did and I have used it often myself for cards that I have sent out. It is another one that I am sad to see go!

I had intended to share my cards with you that were from my latest Christmas Stamp-a-Stack that were all retiring Christmas sets. I might do that before I post samples tomorrow from the new catalog! My little one has an early morning dental appointment so we will see how it goes!
Remember that the new catalog goes live tomorrow and demonstrators can begin placing orders from it at 11:00MT which would be 1:00pm here in Tallahassee!
Whoo Hoo! Contact me to place an order or purchase a new copy of the catalog!
Thanks for stopping by today! Congratulations again Cindy!
Happy Stampin'
Karen

My Favorite Stamp Set!

Stampin' Up recently did a demonstrator survey that asked what our favorite stamp set was of all times. So what is mine? This stamp set is my most favorite set from Stampin' Up! It is called "Bud Basics" and the wheel that matches it is called "Basics Outline".
These are my favorites because they are so easy to make a card with it. All you have to do is roll the wheel on a strip of light card stock and then using the stamp set, stamp in the images of the flowers to fill in the outline wheel. I love this set because it doesn't have to be perfect to look great. This set is very forgiving of little imperfections! : )
The "Happy Birthday"stamp comes from the "It's Your Birthday" set. Both the sets and the wheel is going to be retired tomorrow forever! This is your last chance to order any of these. I will be sending in my last order from the current catalog on Sunday evening. Contact me to order.
The colors that I used on the samples above are Groovy Guava and Blue Bayou which are also being discontinued and replaced with new "In Colors" . Stampin' Up has almost run out of their supply of the current "In Color" items.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stampin'
Karen

Give Thanks!

Just a quick post today. I seem to have a headache that just won't go away! Not even with meds!

I thought I would share a couple of cards made with another of my favorite sets that is retiring forever on Sunday! The set is called "Give Thanks". I like this set because it is super simple to watercolor. On both of these cards I used aqua painters, inks and markers. Aren't the pumpkins below just "gojus"? ( Thanks for the word Jan Tinklenberg! ) The sunflower card also has a couple of other stamp sets used on it that are also retiring. One is the "Thanks You" greeting which can be found in the "Much Appreciated" 4 piece set and the "stitching" around the sunflower image can be made with the "All In A Row" set. ( I learned the "faux" stitching technique from the famous Beate Johns!)

Both of these sets I will also miss using a lot! I like the font of the "Thank You" and I love doing the "faux" stitching too. All three of these sets are only available until Sunday so if you would like to add them to your collection make sure you order them by Sunday! Contact me via email to place your order! It won't be too long and you will be able to place your orders online through me! I can't wait until Stampin' Up! starts making online purchasing available for you!

Speaking of Sunday, not only will that be the last day to get your orders in from the current catalog, but that is the day that I will announce the winner of my blog candy! Be sure to read my previous post and leave a comment there for your chance to win! Thanks for stopping by today!

Have you stamped anything today? Go stamp something for someone special!

Happy Stampin'

Karen

Nugget Box Tutorial and Blog Candy!

So here is the post for the nugget candy box. The items shown to the left are what I used to create the box. I hope that you will be able to understand my tutorial. Refer to the pictures as you read the directions. Hopefully that will help you.

Box Base:

Begin with a piece of card stock cut to 3 3/4" x 5 1/4". Score it at 1/2" on all four sides and then score it again at 1 1/8" on all four sides. Cut in to the score marks on the two longer sides leaving tabs as shown in the picture below. Be sure to trim tabs at an angle because this makes them easier to work with. You will have four tabs, two short ends and two longer ends when you are finished trimming your box base. To assemble it, apply Sticky Strip to the base as shown in the picture below. Fold tabs in and attach to the longer sides of the box base and fold all sides down on scored lines to be stuck on the sticky strip pieces. This will complete your box base.

Slider Cover:

Cut a piece of card stock to 3 1/8" x 5 1/8". I used textured card stock for mine. Score this piece at 2 1/4" and then 4 1/2". Turn card stock piece around 180 degrees and score again at 2 1/4" and then 4 1/2". Adhere the designer paper piece that is cut 1 1/2" by 5 1/8" to the scored card stock piece. Using sticky strip, adhere one side flap to the other to create a rectangle shape open ended slider for your box base.

Cover nugget candy with a piece of designer paper that measures 1" x 3 1/4". This box size will hold 3 nugget candies. Place the candies inside the box and slide the slider cover onto the box. To finish it tie with a piece of grosgrain ribbon. What a nice gift this is to make! It makes even simple chocolates seem so very special!

Now onto more candy! I want to announce my very first blog candy give away! In honor of my site reaching 1000 hits and to thank you for your support, I want to have a very special drawing! To be entered into the drawing, please leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to use stamps for the best. Is it for making cards, scrapbooking or making 3-D items like the nugget box I just showed you. In order to be considered in the drawing you must leave your complete name, where you are from and your email address on your comment. Please leave your comment by the deadline date of this Saturday August 9th. I will pick a lucky winner through random .org on Sunday afternoon, August 10th and will announce the winner in a post so be sure to check back. Below is a picture of the blog candy that you could win! This is over $50.00 worth of Stampin' Up! products! Can you say Whoo Hoo? Don't forget to leave your comment by Saturday night at midnight! Let me know what you thin about my first tutorial too!

Good Luck! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stampin'

Karen

Hostess Appreciation!

My annual hostess appreciation event was so much fun on Saturday! I did a "Fiesta"theme! We had delicious food, played lots of games, there were tons of door prizes, of course stamping but it wouldn't have been complete without a pinata full of treats! Right? Everyone scrambled to fill their bag with goodies when the pinata was opened! It was such a fun day! Everyone enjoyed the projects we made as well! "Thank you ladies for making the day so special for me!" "I love and appreciate you all so much!": )

I have a customer and dear friend named Cherith who is going to be moving away soon and I'm really going to miss seeing her. She is the lady in the very first picture at the top of this post wearing the white blouse! She has been my customer from the very beginning, when I first signed up to be a demonstrator. She was a guest at my very first workshop! Cherith teaches Spanish and since she will be leaving me soon, I presented her with a small gift. Included in the gift, I gave her a new stamp set called "Wow Flowers" but gave her the Spanish version of it! She loved it! It is so neat that Stampin Up is now going to have a whole catalog in Spanish!

These are the projects that we made!

I love the 4 x 4 sized cards now so we made a couple of those and we even made a candy nugget treat box to go with one of the cards. I wanted to use stamp sets that would soon be retiring so I chose the wonderful "Polka Dots & Paisley" set and I chose the "For a Friend" hostess set too. The decorative papers are also going to be retired. I used the "Berry Bliss". It is one of my favorites!
I can't wait to see the new catalog and all of the new papers they have for us! I should have the new catalogs by this weekend...I hope anyway! Remember that you have until August 10th to order any of the things that are retiring from the current catalog! Contact me to get your order in soon!
We also made a card using the stamp set "Friendly Flowers" which was in the last mini catalog we had. I had ordered the set and realized that I never used it! Not even once...how sad is that? So I decided to use it even though no one could order it. Maybe it will show up in the new catalog! I'm not going to post a card recipe for these cards but I am going to post the directions for the nugget box and include pictures on where to cut it and where to glue it. I'll try to post that later today! I also have reached over 1000 hits on my blog so I'll post info about that on my next post as well! I have a great hostess stamp set bundle to give away! How Fun!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope these samples have inspired you to go stamp something!
Don't forget to stop by later today for directions on the nugget box and to find out how to win my blog candy give away!
Happy Stampin'
Karen