Talented Swappers

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  Matt and I are in Hilton Head, SC today with a group of friends.  We go away each year to catch up with each other and watch the game.  I’m not a huge football fan but I watch the commercials and make snack runs during the game.  I bring the computer so I can organize photos, work on my taxes and today, show you some of my favorite swaps from January!

The first 10 are from the group of stampers I swap with and mail to Montana each month.  I’ve been swapping with them for quite a while but sadly, this is my last month.   Matt and I are starting a Stamping School blog and with the extra workload, I have to let some things go. (sniff)  I’ll miss the joy of getting their cards in the mail every month.  One of my demonstrators here in town is taking my place so I can at least still see their artwork and maybe take some pics to still share with you….

stamped by Rhea Hughes

I love the color combo that Rhea stamped here.  The Sweet Pea paper from the Occasions mini has so many different papers and this is one of my favorites.

stamped by Carol Gilmore

I tried to lighten this one up but it still doesn’t look as white as it should.  Carol glittered all the hearts and love that pink satin ribbon from the Occasions mini catalog!

stamped by Jan Cramer

‘Our house, in the middle of the street’…  great song.  I love the paper pierced square and the large oval punch together. The tiny heart paper is from the free 6×6 paper pack in the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog.

created by Mary Ammar

I really like the lattice die being used as a tone-on-tone background.

stamped by Denice Marshall

See the embossed background?  Using the embossing folders adds just a little bit extra!

created by Kimberly Allen

Kimberly used the red satin ribbon for a pretty, tailored bow.  The Sending Love paper already has the glitter on it and I think she cut the flower out from the paper.

stamped by Mary Hall.  I love so many things about this card, especially how she used the scallop corner punch as an accent.   It’s a tricky punch so if you are having trouble going all the way around your paper, this is a GREAT way to still use it!

stamped by Rhea Hughes

This is the Sending Love paper again, which has the glitter already on it.  I like the little pearl – adds to the sweetness!

stamped by Sharon Skelton

Sharon did a bunch of sponging on this pretty card!  I’m guessing but I think she embossed the images in white on white paper first then rubbed the ink into the paper with sponges.  Beautiful!

stamped by Susan Gudmunson

Susan glittered the main greeting where the candle greeting is and I liked how she scalloped just the top and the bottom of the pink layer.

The rest of the samples are either swaps from our demonstrator meeting last week or art from the Share and Show table where we bring things to display:

Stamped by Ouida Gordon

Ouida punched lots of hearts with the Heart to Heart  punch!

stamped by Ouida Gordon

stamped by Deborah LaRue

This card is really neat in person – I think she used the scallop circle punch for the flower petals and it looks like she sprayed water on it and scrunched it  to make it more pliable.  The ink on the tips of the flower almost bleed in, so it was probably inked with an aquapainter after the paper was made into the flower.

Here is a close up:

close up of flower - isn't it pretty?

stamped by Mary Taylor

Love, Love, Love! Sweet Pea DSP and teal – great combo!

Need to start my BBQ for the big game so gotta go but I hope you have fun whatever you are doing today! Linda

Video: Get On Board With Board Books!

I had some time to play yesterday!  These board books are in the Stampin’ Up Occasions Mini Catalog and what a surprise to get them and see how BIG they are!   (er, yes….I did read the fine print in the mini catalog where it says what size they are but it’s just not the same as having them in your hand!)

Here is the video:

Created by Stampin' Up artist. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Each book comes with 8 die cut chipboard pieces for $4.95!  What a deal!  I think most paper crafters will use them for scrapbooks, which will be awesome.  I have a demonstrator get together this Sunday and wanted everyone to be able to take one home.  Then I realized I needed 50 of them so I quickly slapped the nonsense out of me once I calculated $5x 50 and came up with some other projects using only one piece for each person:

I found the heart Post-It notes at the big T store in the office area.   I used the glittery Sending Love DSP and pink satin ribbon.

I used the Sizzix large circle die to cut out dry erase material.  (you can buy it on a roll at a teacher’s supply or office store)  I used the circle scissor to cut the layers of colored card stock.  The photo frame could be any picture but someone sent this to me on email about friendship.  It’s a boxer and a goat!  Too cute…

Here is another sticky note holder using the scallop frame:

I used the Sweet Pea DSP and added some of the little embosslit butterflies.  I cut the sticky notes with the scallop #2 die.

Thanks for tuning in!

Linda

To see all the SU catalogs, click HERE!

To order online and take advantage of free gift with $50 purchase, click HERE and then click on Shop Now

Video: Acrylic Block Sizing Templates

(if viewing from your email, you may need to come to the blog to view videos)

At the beginning of January, I told you about Stampin’ Up’s new option to mount  rubber stamps.   They are not getting rid of the wood blocks but offering another option for those that prefer the space saving solution of clear blocks.  We are not selling clear stamps but rather a clever way to mount the rubber temporarily to a clear block and then remove to store in a slim, DVD type cases.   SU will be offering the new clear mounts and well as wood mounted for all new stamps coming out.

So after having a workshop recently and lugging all 9 clear blocks along so my customers could decide which size works the best for the stamp set they are considering,  I realized I do not want to bring them all with me each time!

All the sizes for the blocks are listed on page 6 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.    I grabbed some clear Window Sheets (or you can use transparencies I guess, as long as they are sturdy) and cut all 9 sizes and wrote the letter with a Sharpie then put them on a key ring.  This way I can take them to events or have them at my classes and customers can just hold them over images in the catalog to help purchase the right size!

See a quick video:

And in case you missed it, here is a quick video for how to put our new rubber stamps on the clear blocks:

More Wow Swaps

This is a little treat cup card created by Shari Lackey from Independence, MO.  The card to the left pulls out to drop the candy!

Speaking of treat cups, did you know we have HEART treat cups available while supplies last?? We now take a moment from our regularly scheduled program for this commercial break:

12 plastic treat cups for 2.95!  What a deal!

And since having the treat cups is not enought, Stampin’ Up brought in the new Sweetheart stamp set, which fits the heart treat cups perfectly!

$21.95 for rubber and wood block mount

$15.95 Clear Mount (rubber stamps for your own clear blocks)

And of course since they love to add to our sales totals, Coordinating Heart Punch, which fits the stamp set and cuts out the hearts perfectly for the heart treat cups.   Remember it’s SAB time, which means that if you spend $50 you get to choose free goodies! See here for details.  Ok, back to our regularly scheduled blog post….

This is a folding desk calendar stamped by Emily Turner.  The saying on the bottom is just perfect for a butterfly:

” The butterfly counts not months or days but moments, and has time enough”

Happy Stampin’ ! Linda

Wowza Swaps!

Wowza! That’s the word I used to describe the card swaps I received in the Wow Swap I participated in at the Stampin’ Up Leadership convention. I’ll post a few each day so you can see the detail up close.  The first one is my favorite and created by Toni Ballesteros (happy to say my good friend)  from Deland, FL

Stamped by Toni Ballesteros

 Isn’t he spectacular?  I say it’s a he since it seems with his feather that he is showing off a bit this Valentine’s day, looking for his love bird.  Toni used our new Bird punch and VersaMarked the scallop edge, bird and branch first before sprinkling with Heat and Stick powder.  Then she used the heat gun to melt the powder, which left the card stock sticky to hold all that red and chocolate glitter!  Wowza!  That red satin ribbon really finishes it off.

 

This neat card was stamped by Alanna Wharf.  I love all the detail and Alanna, you musta spent hours filling all the thermometers with those tiny beads!  Really a great card.

Stamped by Alanna Wharf

This is what you see when the card is opened!

And just a little close up to show you how she punched on the fold line so it created 2 hearts draped over the linen thread line.

More tomorrow!  C”mon back! Linda

Sale-A-Bration is officially underway!  If you haven’t received your mini catalogs yet, email me!

Leadership Day 3

I’m playing catch up from Day 2…

I didn’t get to post my pics last night b/c I lost ALL of my photos on my camera!  Some button was pushed when it wasn’t supposed to be (um, by me) and as a result, everything was gone from yesterday.  Luckily, Toni had pics and transferred them to my computer so I just need to edit and get ready. 

Last night was the Manager’s Reception and we went out to the Corona Ranch here in Arizona.  Stampin’ Up always goes over the top with their wonderful event planning team.  We didn’t know where we were going, we just got on a bus and were surprised to end up at the ranch for a show and dinner. 

Night pictures are terrible for my little camera but this is Sterling, Shelli’s husband, carrying a Stampin’ Up flag while riding a horse.

The show ended sooner than planned as one of the cowboys was riding fast around the arena and hit his leg against the wall.   He went down and then after some examination,  the call to 911 was made.  We heard later he broke his leg in 2 places but will be back riding again soon.  We went into a pavillion strung with lights and decorated Old Mexico to sit down for a delectable dinner.  Steak, shrimp and all the fixins.   At each place setting was this little bundle:

and inside the wrapper was the stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog, Love Bandit! 

Day 3

 Wow!  Flurry of a day!  This morning the alarm didn’t go off or if it did, we didn’t hear it.  We all overslept and only one of us made it to the first class.  I was still in my NyQuil haze and was in no shape to bound out of bed and down to class without some coffee.  So Jan and I slept in a bit longer and then ordered room service for breakfast.   Yeah, I know…rough life, right?

After a nice lunch, we went inside for our final general session.   And one of the BEST surprises…

Shelli comes out at the end saying she forgot  to show us one card.  (which was odd but we all bought it since it was Shelli, of course).  She shows us this beautifully vintage looking card and then says “Do you recognize the stamp set?” and then says, well I think you ALL should  have it!”   And the SU employees came running out with shopping bags full of stamp sets, one for each person!  It really is a pretty set and will be coming out in the next catalog or mini catalog.  Meanwhile, look at the crazy eruption of joy that one stamp set brought to 1000 stampers. You’d have thought Oprah gave away a new car!

Video

Leadership 2010 Make & Takes

Despite admiting I have a  raging cold (rather than just a case of bad allergies) I managed to have a blast stamping our projects!  We actually stamped yesterday but I felt so crummy and being hopped up on non drowsy cold medicine and back down on NyQuil, I decided to sleep rather than post.  My nose is red from sneezing but my projects look great!

I stood up on a chair to get a shot of the excitement filling the room as we start to stamp!

 

All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

 The stamp set we received free is called With All My Heart and is in the new Occasions Mini Catalog and available now to everyone.  All of our make and takes were made with this set

All Images copyright Stampin' Up!. Here is a little milk carton that was cut and scored already using the Sizzix Bigz die cut, Mini Milk Carton. It is exclusive to Stampin' Up so get one from your favorite demonstrator near you! $32.95 So easy to put it togther when all the work is already done!All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

This is a scrapbook page minus 3 squares that will be photos.

Laurie Hobbs, Jackie Walker and Emily Turner taking a break from stamping at our table while I was in shutterbug mode

 

All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

This is a cute, lil’ tag.  The scallop is made using the extra large flower punch in the Occasions Mini catalog.  Cut the flower in half and glue under.  Took a little fiddling to do it but in the end, it’s sweet!

Leadership Day 2 am

Lots of fun announcements, company statistics and demonstrations at the general session. If you aren’t a demonstrator, this post might be a bit dull for you but read on if you like!

Shelli announced the Workshop Of A Lifetime challenge where she will attend 24 different demonstrator workshops! Anyone can win the contest and details will be posted on the demo website soon!

Shannon West made some adorable valentines using the new heart cups. ( pics posted later). She used the new pinking heart border punch leftovers as heart confetti. Wait til you see it!

MDS update! Individual pages now available!

Demo Website improves again mid March- character counters, integrated blog function with video capability and a really cool hostess portal for her to send evites!

Leadership Day 2 Am

(posting live from my phone so you”ll have to put up with not-so- great pics. I’ll be posting snippets in a few separate posts)

well, we rockin out to My Sharona before the general session! the Stampin Up employees are line dancing in he front row and look ar the set design:

Memento Mall Mania

2010 Leadership Charm

(lots of traffic now, so be patient while pics load!)   

These are from my phone – will post better pics later tonight!

Here are a few peeks at the gobs of goodies Stampin’ Up has for us to buy here at the convention.  And good gravy, I told myself I wasn’t buying anything -ugh!

Looky, Looky! Cute vinyl bag and beach towel!  (yep, bought ‘em)

A card tree!  Love it, got it in my hands…

Personalized vinyl for the car!

Ribbon watch!  It even says Stampin’ Up on the face.   It has 4 ribbons, all SU ribbons we have carried in the catalog.  I’m not sure how it will stay on yet  – there is a D-Ring for a closure so I’ll have to try it out first!

yeah, I know what you are thinking -what are these??  They are SU hand sanitzer sprays!

Flip Flops

Memento Line Swaps

just look at this MDS swap from Lorene DeLawter!

Stampin’ Up Leadership Convention Day 1

(I’m posting in nuggets all day but you will only get one feed in your email. to see all the pics and posts, come to the blog at Where The Rubber Hits The Road)

Greetings from Phoenix, Arizona! It is gorgeous here, warmer than where I came from in FL! For the next few days I’ll be ‘reporting’ on the scene and posting pics here. I’m looking forward to seeing the demonstrations, the projects I’ll be stamping later this afternoon and seeing my stampin buds I only run into a few times a year.

This morning Memento Mall opens and I’ll share the treasures I’ll try to avoid purchasing! I’m going to try and resist buying the whole store- we’ll see how that goes!

I’m taking pics with my phone to post quickly but I’ll repost with better pics later today when I have time.

There are almost 1000 of us here- think all of us are here in this line?

Pretty Cards…

Here are a few new swaps I received in the mail and thought you’d enjoy seeing them, too.  These ladies continue to amaze me with their talent!  (All supplies Stampin’ Up!  and images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

Stamped by Kimberly Allen.

I just wish you could see the details like I do in person!  The white card stock on the bottom is shimmer card stock.  The pink satin ribbon is in our 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog (available in 9 colors!)  The paper is called Sending Love and has glitter already on it – really sparkly!

Stamped by Sharon Burkert

White card stock becomes specialty card stock when you emboss it with zillions of dots!  In the Occasions mini, Stampin’ Up has a new embossing folder called Stampin’ Up! Perfect Polka Dots.  Sharon also used our foil embossed paper, rubbed with ink, for the bird punch.  (at least I think that’s what she did!)

Stamped by Mary Ammar

Great MOM set coming out in the new mini, too!  It’s called  Messages For Mom.  Really love the fonts and Mary dressed it up with our new butterfly embosslit!

Stamped by Sharon Skelton

Sharon used the new embosslit called Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Wings.  Cuts and embosses lots of butterflies all at once!

Stamped by Rhea Hughes

Rhea stamped with the new set, Vintage Vogue, and layered it up with Not Quite Navy and Kraft accents.  See the new scallop punch border?

Stamped by Susan Gudmunson

Love is in the air and another peek at the new punch border-

Stamped by Denise Marshall

I love the 2 blues mixed with white.  Denise used Brocade Blue and Night Of Navy card stocks and tied it up with white organza ribbon.

Stamped by Jan Cramer

(note the other new b0rder punch accent!)  This stamp set is going to be a favorite of mine.  It’s called I {Heart} Hearts and it has 10 different hearts, 3 of them fit into our punches!  Jan used 2 hearts, one is a larger outline.   I’m guessing she used the new clear mount stamps (rubber stamps that mount on clear blocks) to get the little one perfectly inside!  And see the adorable little chocolate chip flower brad?  Yep, it’s new too!

stamped by Mary Hall

Creative use of the new Vintage Vogue flower stamps and the snowflake, Mary! The pic came out a bit dark – it is actually Bashful Blue.

Thanks ladies for another great month of beautiful swaps! Linda

2010 Occasions Mini Catalog!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!!

Happy New Year, stampers!

The new Stampin’ Up 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog begins January 5th along with our annual SAB (Sale-A-Bration), which gives you free product with every $50 purchase.  Typically, we don’t post the new mini catalogs until the day we can order from them BUT Stampin’ Up has a delay in their mailing of the catalogs and has posted on our websites and the customer home page for you to see in case your copy hasn’t arrived yet.  Isn’t that nice?  I love sneak peeks!

If you are already on my mailing list and haven’t received your copy from me in the mail, hang in there! If you don’t have a SU demo and would like a copy mailed to you, click HERE to get on my list and be sure to put in  your mailing address (none of your information  shows publicly) so I can mail it to you asap! I’ll post the SAB catty on the 5th unless given the ok to do it sooner.

Meanwhile, you can download it by clicking on the pic above  or click HERE!

Look at this cute little box that was made by an artist at Stampin’ Up! Using With All My Heart, one of the new stamp sets in the Occasions Mini Catalog:

I really love the new Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder!  Really sharp, perfect dots (which is why I guess they named it Perfect Polka Dots, right?)

Stay Tuned for some new things on my blog!  Some of you have been asking how our remodel and new stamp room is coming along.  (see Matt’s posts here for updates)   Well, we are nearing the end and my stamp room will be open for biz in a few weeks!

I’m going to be starting a new series on my blog for stamp room organization while I get my room ready and will be calling on my cyber buddies for your advice and tips!

Happy Stampin’!

Linda

Annual Stampin’ Gift Exchange

Last Sunday we had our annual Demonstrator Holiday party and gift exchange here in Orlando.  Food, stamping and friends…what could be better?  From the group, 30 participated in the gift exchange and brought one stamped gift to pass.   As I read a story about Lefty the stamping elf, the gifts were passed left and right (a TON of times) and finally landed with their new owner.  Here is a gallery of most of the gifts created by our demonstrators (click on each pic to enlarge)

Happy Stampin’! Linda

All Four Corners: Getting Punchy Video

Another NEW and cool product coming out in the Stampin’ Up 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration Catalog is a new punch.  Actually, 4 punches.  There are 2 new corner punches and coordinating edge punches, so you can punch a border all around  your project!

Stampin’ Up is supposed to be creating a video for demonstrators to show us how to use it, but it’s not out yet and I had to hunker down and play with them.  It seemed to work great for me using specific sizes of paper but I wanted it to work with any size of paper.  So in walks Matt ( my stampin’ husband aka Man Card Man and Big Shot Hero guy) and he gets intrigued to help me figure it out.   Within about 10 minutes he does as I look on amazed and wonder why HE isn’t the demonstrator!  Anyway,  in this video I show you part One and he shows you part Two with his method:

Mounting your Unmountables…

Photo by Stampin' Up and Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

(there are 2 posts and 2 videos so if viewing from a feed in your email, you will need to come to the blog here to view videos)

The new Stampin’ Up Occasions Mini Catalog opens up on January 5th, 2010!  As demonstrators, we can preorder those to play with and tease you with sneak peeks during December.   If you would like a copy of this mini catalog and the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog (and you don’t have a demonstrator already or are a demonstrator) click here to send me your mailing address and I’ll pop one in the mail asap!

Oh, and by the way -  Stampin’ Up is going to have12 days of GREAT sales starting Friday, December 11th, so stay tuned here for info as they release the details!

On to showing you something NEW and FUN!

Stampin’ Up has a new option to mount our rubber stamps!  They are not getting rid of the wood blocks but offering another option for those that prefer the space saving solution of clear blocks.  We are not selling clear stamps but rather a clever way to mount the rubber temporarily to a clear block and then remove to store in a slim, DVD type cases.   SU will be offering the new clear mounts and well as wood mounted for all new stamps coming out!

Those of you that saw my ‘just out of the box’ video with my Occasions Mini Catalog goodies know that I owe you a new video for mounting our unmounted stamps!   I didn’t read any directions and just went for it but didn’t do it exactly as the instructions showed.    So far,  I’ve noticed 2 ways to mount these so I made a quick video for you:

I’ve received a bunch of emails about whether I’m changing over to all clear mounts.    I don’t think so at this point.  I love the wood blocks and will probably keep using the wood blocks.  I do like the option of spending less and saving room so I will buy some clear mounts also.   I like being able to stamp fast, each stamp having it’s own block all the time.  I think stamping in big groups and classes can get tricky with sharing the acrylic blocks. but I’ll give it a go and see what happens!   If I were just stamping at home for fun by myself or a few friends and needed the extra space, then I’d probably switch over.   I like the idea of spending less, especially on sets I buy that I might use less or for one occasion.  I guess once I use them more, I’ll make a decision!

Linda

Vintage Vogue

This is a sneak peek of Vintage Vogue, one of the new stamp sets coming out in the Stampin’ Up 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog, which will debut January 1st.    While I can’t post the Occasions Mini catalog until January 1st, I can post samples that I make for you!  This set is beautiful and has 8 stamps in the set.

The card is Rich Razzleberry with Old Olive embossed with a texture plate.   The design stamped on the right side is a vine  from the set, too.

If you would like to receive the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration catalog in your mailbox, be sure to sign up here!

More later! Linda

Winter Swaps to Share…

Here are a few of the BEAUTIFUL swaps I received recently!

Stamped by Jan Cramer. All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

This card changes my mind about Soft Suede!  Most of the time, it’s not my favorite color.  THIS card, with the shimmer gold card stock, almost makes me say the L word.  Inside the champagne glass is a little bit of  (yep, you guessed) Champagne Mist shimmer paint!

Stamped by Rhea Hughes. All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Brocade Blue wonderland!  LOVE the embossed white card stock at the bottom and the largest white layer is glittered with dazzling diamonds!

Stamped by Mary Hall. All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

I wish I was a better photographer so you could see the designs on the paper flower!  She used the Bride Specialty card stock and added some Sahara Sand card stock in to cut the flowers on the Big Shot.   See the jumbo snowflake cut behind the flower?  Genius.

This was my upline, Mari Fredericks, Christmas card to Matt and I.   She sprayed shimmer mist on it and I think she bleached the stars on the front.  She used Bordering Blue and Night of Navy card stocks.   Next is the card open:

She cleverly used a big scallop circle cut in half for the popped up main image.   I had this card on display at a workshop today and everyone who saw it loved it and had to take a pic of it!

Stamped by Susan Gudmunson All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

I really like the traditional colors Susan used on this card!  Garden Green, Real Red, Chocolate Chip  and Vanilla papers all tied up with gold cord.

Stamped by Kimberly Allen. All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Bermuda Bay and Sahara Sand are a perfect team for this little gift purse!  It looks like Kimberly could have stamped the flowers in white Craft ink but it is actually designer paper,

Look at the detail she used to hold it closed!  Just a little bit of elastic gold cord over a Build A Brad.

this is the inside – a little envelope folded and glued inside for gift cards or whatever niceness you want to stuff in there!

Stamped by Denice Marshall. All Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Soft Suede sitting on the Christmas Cocoa designer paper from the Holiday Mini catalog is so pretty! Again, with my less than average photo taking abilities, it is hard to see that Denice also versamarked the entire white snowflake band and embossed it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder for an extra wow touch!

Linda

Everyday Penguin

Whenever someone asks me “If you were an animal, which one would you be?”  I always reply “A penguin, because they are always so playful and having fun with lots of friends around!”

I received this card from my up, upline Karen Titus.  Isn’t he cute?  He’s from the stamp set Cold & Cuddly in the Holiday Mini Catalog.    I love that she used him as a birthday card, which makes him more practical than just coming out of the box for the winter season!  (All Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!)

She used Real Red card stock with Basic Black and added 3 Real Red brads.

This little guy has heart!

This is what the whole set looks like:

$27.95 for a set of 11.    The polar bear is the largest stamp at 2″ x 1-3/4″

Email or call me to place an order or you can order online (while you are in your jammies and everyone else is sleeping!) on my SU website at www.lindaheller.stampinup.net

Linda

1-866-460-4902

Holiday Cards To Share

I’ve got the flu.  Fever, chills, aches…the works!  It’s been such a long time since I had the flu, I forgot what fun it is.  On the bright side,  Matt’s been the best ‘nurse’ ever and just went to get me rice and soup.  He even took pics and uploaded for me for this post!

Here are a few swaps I received from Rhea’s swap group this month.  So pretty I just had to share with you although I loaned a few out so they aren’t all here:

(All supplies Stampin’ Up!)

Stamped by Sharon Skelton. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Sharon Skelton.   Stamp set:  Dasher

The base of the card is shimmery gold card stock and layered with Vanilla.  She embossed the greeting and Dasher with gold embossing powder.   She used Petals A Plenty embossing folder with the Oval resist technique.  (see technique here )   Then it looks like she sponged a little Champagne Shimmer Mist (from the Holiday Mini Catalog) on the flowers.

Stamped by Mary Hall. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Mary Hall.  Beautiful card!  Stamp Set is Scenic Season.  The base of the card is Whisper White and then layered with Shimmery Silver card stock that has been embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder.    The oval scallop frame (sizzix) is embossed with the same folder.  She embossed the trees with white powder on Navy card stock.  A little die cut snowflake and clear rhinestone brad finish it off!

Stamped by Sharon Burkert. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Sharon Burkert.  Stamp set is Berry Christmas from the Holiday Mini Catalog.   The base of the card is Whisper White and the Real Red card stock layer is embossed with Petals A Plenty.    There is a bird in that set also but saved the task of cutting it out by using the coordinating Sizzlet, Merry Details. (Holiday Mini Catalog)

Stamped by Denice Marshall All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Denice Marshall.  Soft Suede, Vanilla and gold with a snippet of Soft Suede ribbon tied with gold cord.   Really a lovely, monochromatic card.

Stamped by Rhea Hughes. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Rhea Hughes.  Stamp Set  Autumn Splendor from the Holiday Mini Catalog.   I love the unique color combo here of Sage Shadow and Ruby Red with a bit of Chocolate Chip ink and ribbon, too.

Stamped by Kimberly Allen. All Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Stamped by Kimberly Allen.  Stamp set is Berry Christmas from the Holiday Mini Catalog.   Rich Razzleberry, Vanilla and Soft Suede are striking together!   The vanilla is shimmery and I think she rubbed the Frost White Shimmer paint on the edges and dotted the flowers on the embossed Razzleberry.

Stamped by Susan Gudmunson.   Stamp Set Dasher, stamped with Silver Encore ink on Night Of Navy card stock.   She used the Eyelet Border Punch on our Shimmer Silver card stock layer and White Organza ribbon with a Filigree Designer brad.    The greeting is stamped in Navy ink and punched with the Modern Label punch.

Well, that’s all for now – going to get another hit of Theraflu and hope it all goes away by tomorrow! Linda

Sunday Stampers

Our group of demonstrators got together yesterday to stamp and here are some of the swaps and projects they brought to share.  With another crazy week of construction guys finishing up on the house and moving back in, I’m afraid I might not get a chance to post details on these so I’m uploading a gallery so at least you can see ‘em!  

All Images copyright Stampin’ Up!   cick on pic to enlarge:

Stamped by Shantaie Fowler

stamped by Lorena Holmes

Stamped by Jackie Walker

Stamped by Karen Wagner.

stamped by Janet Munden

Stamped by Mary Taylor

stamped by Cyndra Alderman

Stamped by Lisa G

stamped by Carolyn Powers

By Susie Brown

Stamped by Myra Keefer

Stamped by Teresa Evangelista

stamped by Linda Goldhersz

stamped by Tammy Elliott

stamped by Angie Harris

Stamped by Marsha Perry

unknown artist – no name on back

Stamped by Toni Ballesteros

Stamped by Toni Ballesteros

Cased by Toni Ballesteros from Jan Tink

More Ideas For You…

Stamped by Cindy Baughman.  Pretty Sahara Sand and white snowflake card using Serene Snowflakes.  A little clear rhinestone brad in the middle adds just the right amount of sparkle!

Stamped by Tracy Komito.  Love the Build A Brad embellishment in the middle of the snowflake!

Stamped by Connie L Heisey.  Love that Dasher stamp!

More Holiday Show and Share…

Here are a few more of my favorite swaps I received at Founders Circle and a few other swaps I was lucky to participate in!   On the home front, we are knee deep in drywall dust and still living out of our office and bedroom while the rest of the house is getting a makeover.  Matt is still keeping his page on this blog updated with the progress (and sometimes the lack of progress – ah, county permits…) for those of you interested in non-stamping events of ours.

Stamped by Angela McKay.   I think this was my FAVORITE card I received at Founders.  Can you believe she stippled these with our stenciils?  She used  the Vintage Ornament stencil from our Decor Elements catalog.  (see it here)   Really beautiful color choices and she did a fantastic job shading these.  (and remember she made 125 of these – oh, my, gosh)

Stamped by Michelle Rahal.   I’m guessing but I think she used the big scallop circle die cut and cut a wedge out for the tree.  She embossed the Olive card stock with our embossing folder and used a white gel pen for the middle of the poinsettias.  Clever!

Stamped by Kim Cagle.   She used the new Ornament Movers and Shapers die in the Holiday Mini catalog, which coordinates with the stamp set and punch.  Using it twice and overlapping like this is really over the top!

Mistletoe Kissing Ball Punch Art!

I had my monthly demonstrator get together last Sunday here in Florida.  We always have a great time and it’s a favorite part of my job!    This month Toni Ballesteros volunteered (or did I talk her into it? details, details) to show her cute, original idea of how to use a Valentine’s Day stamp set for Christmas.  We have a video camera set up so everyone can see it on the big projector screen and I hit the record button and captured it for you. It’s a live video, so you will hear everyone’s comments and cheers, too:

(clear your cache and temporary internet files/cookies if video stutters)

Original Design created by Toni Ballesteros. All Images copyright Stampin' Up

Thanks, Toni!  Really Cute!

Founders Circle Swaps Part 2

Tamye Dunbar

Lynette Zahradka

Heather Summers

Kim Peck

Founders Circle Swaps Part One

Here are the first batch of the fab swaps from the Stampin Up Founders Circle retreat!!  I was so excited to swap with 125 talented stampers.  I delayed in posting some of them until today because I had a Demonstrator get together with my downline yesterday and I wanted them to be a surprise! 

By the way, if  you received a wacky post in  your email feed yesterday, I apologize.  I was playing with an electronic signature for my blog and it created a post without my knowledge!  Anyway, life in blogdom is sometimes unpredictable.

All Images copyright Stampin’ Up!

Jill Olsen

 This card is stunning with red glitter but the photo just doesn’t capture it. 

Christy Harsch

I think this is done with tin foil!

Jen Jacobsen

 Love the VersaMark watermark background on Jen’s quick and easy card

Glenda Travelstead

This has a pretty shimmer sprayed on with a mixture of alcohol and our new API ink, Champagne Mist.

Christy Schroeger

I love that she used Rich Razzleberry for the main card color.  It wasn’t a color I thought would be great for Halloween, but it really works here

Kimberly Van Diepen

Love the colors, love the stylishious bow and it says Create…how perfect!

Founders Circle Last Day (sniff)

I had another relaxing day ( a girl could really get used to this) of eating, talking, eating, laughing, eating, sharing ideas, eating….you get the idea. Oh, and I did get my MDS (My Digital Studio) certification and class done today!

At 5ish, we hopped on buses and headed off to our suprise location.   We pulled into The Ledges, a golf club in St. George.   Before we got off the bus they told us that there was a box at our table and NOT to touch it!

About that box….

(p.s. see the table cloth?  Cottage Wall DS, of course)

Shelli spoke for a few minutes before we were allowed to open the boxes.  She spoke about our theme this week, blooms and growth and butterflies…

and on the count of 3, we all opened our boxes and released our LIVE butterflies!   It was magical to see them all flying in the air!

Some stayed a while when they found a shoulder to lean on, like the fabulous Joann Weimers at my table.  Some butterflies were a little confused with Jan Burnett’s Big Shot flower!

Lisa Schmid was truly the butterfly whisperer as her hung around quite a while and even drank a bit of fruit juice from her finger!

Then if ALL that wonderful-ness wasn’t enough, this was on my pillow when I returned to my room:

I’m sad to leave my friends and my new friends but home is a wonderful place, too!  I miss Matt like crazy and can’t wait to see him.   (poor guy has to pick me up from the airport at midnight and then I’ll be hungry so he’ll have to take me to eat, too!)

Thanks for stopping by and sharing the trip with me! Linda

Founders Share Night

 

Earlier tonight and after a relaxing day, Jan Burnett and I were walking through the lobby to grab a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant.  Shelli Gardner (cofounder of Stampin’ Up) and her daughter, Sara, were looking for someone to eat dinner with.  We were delighted to spend time with them and they are both so easy and pleasant to be around.  We walked next door to Iggy’s and had a nice meal together.  We didn’t talk about stamping much.  It was nice to get to know them on a personal level!

After dinner, we rushed back to our rooms to put our pjs on, grab our cards  for the big line swap!  We made 125 card fronts and I think I had 6 leftover, so a few short but wow!  Wait till you see  ‘em!

After the swap, we went into the gathering room to take our group photo.  Trying to get 120 women to sit still and practically on top of one another to fit into a camera frame is close to impossible but we did it!  I was sitting cross legged on the floor and I could hear the groans and cracking of knees around me as everyone tried to bend and squeeze in!

They made up for the pain and increased blood flow by feeding us mammoth butterfly cupcakes and tropical drinks with paper umbrellas:

 

 They also gave us a special notebook and pen to take notes during the Share:

 

The microphone was in the hand of Bonnie Thurber who was like Oprah in the old days where she went out into the audience and encouraged participation.   Demonstrators got up, introduced themselves and shared a business tip.  As the night went on, I knew she was coming my way but I just kept my head down, doodled and avoided eye contact!  (I’m not the most comfortable at getting up in front of 100 people in my pjs)   I took great notes with my new pen and book.

We raced up to our room to see tonight’s pillow gift, which I thought the notebook  and pen gift was already enough for today.    I heard squeals of delight in the halls so I couldn’t wait to get to my room to see what the SU fairies left on my bed:

Too fun!  Garden boots with our Cottage Wall DSP on them!

 

Founders Circle Make & Takes!

 I’m SO excited!  I just talked to Bonnie Thurber who said we are now allowed to post our new stamp sets and samples we received here!  They will be making a formal announcement tonight – yay!  I really love sharing what we see with you and it made me sad that I had to keep in under wraps.   This will be the same for the cruise in April, so that will be great, too!  I’m glad they listened to our requests.

Here are the 2 new stamp sets and I think both will be in the Occasions mini in January along with what we made! 

I’m adding the display samples, too.  Those start with the lattice picture.

Click on pics to enlarge…

 

GARDEN FROM THE HEART (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

TINY TAGS (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

SET OF 6 ENVELOPES ROLLED OUT WITH BIG SHOT (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

CLOSE UP OF LITTLE ENVELOPE AND CARD (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

LITTLE VANILLA CARD STOCK BOX AND TAG (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

INSIDE BOX – FLOWER DIE CUT (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

FLOWER OPEN (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)