Congratulations to my Team Members – September 2011

A sincere "From the Heart Stampers" congratulations goes out the top FIVE sales people on my team for the month of September!  We had SUCH a good month, that I want to recognize more gals!  They are:

Debbie Sowards (earned a spot at Grand Achiever's Day!)
Pam Kane
Pat Schmidt (also promoted to Sr. Associate!)
Sheila Edwards
and
Nicole Bertrand (also promoted to Sr. Associate!)
You ladies rock!  And here's the special card I made them.

I was giving out these cards at our Oktoberfest weekend retreat, so I wanted to keep with the circus theme.  The red and white star designer paper from Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper pack was perfect for my sales stars!  But I couldn't stop there – I cut out two size of stars using the Stars #2 Die with the Big Shot die-cutting machine and Red and Silver Glimmer Paper, holding them together with a Tempting Turquoise Glimmer Brad from the Brights collection.  The Daffodil Delight card stock is run through the Big Shot using the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Stampin' Write Markers direct to the rubber stamp create our "you're a star" sentiment from Workshop Words stamp set, and a few Basic Rhinestones give even more bling.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 127067 Workshop Words – free at Convention!
Item No. 122348 Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper $10.95
Item No. 121790 Red Glimmer Paper $4.95
Item No. 124005 Silver Glimmer Paper $4.95
Item No. 121006 Brights Glimmer Brads $4.95
Item No. 119246 Basic Rhinestone Jewels (150) $4.95
Item No. 119850 1-3/4" Circle Punch $16.95
Item No. 114526 Circles #2 Die $15.95
Item No. 113461 Stars #2 Originals Die $15.95
Item No. 123128 Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot die-cutting machine $99.95

You can see by this card that I LOVE using my Big Shot!  From textured embossing to cutting out shapes, it's become my most used crafting tool!  And now you can have your very own Big Shot FREE during the month of October!  Click HERE to find out how!

Want more information about the FREE Big Shot?  Don't forget to call into our informational conference call this evening!  Click HERE for all the details – don't miss it!  

To register for this FREE Q&A Call, Click Here:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2370103042 

Christmas Card swaps

At our annual Oktoberfest Retreat Weekend, we exchanged Christmas Cards in a swap including 30 people!  It was so much fun to see lots of different ideas for our beautiful seasonal stamps.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Here's a beauty by Nicole using the Holiday Mini catalog stamp set Bright Hopes.

What a truly clever card from Jackie using Holiday Happiness stamp set.  Ornaments are simply punched out of Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit designer paper from the Holiday Mini catalog and popped up on dimensionals.

My apologies to whomever designed this gorgeous card – can't remember who it was.  The border is Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink.  Stamp set is Bells and Boughs from the Idea Book & Catalog, coupled with the Bird Builder Punch used with Red Glimmer Paper.

Stay tuned for more fabulous Christmas Card swaps!  I'll be posting many more!

Don't Forget!
New photos are up for November! – sign up for the next Stamp Shoppe, either to attend or "on the go" – click HERE.

Leadership Summit project

Every year, our team of Heartfelt Stampers enjoys our annual retreat on Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.  This year, we added an extra day, and our Leadership Team met on Thursday to enjoy some business training and special projects.  Here's what we made!

This is a beautiful memo board I'm going to hang in my office.  It begins with the 12"x12" cardboard from the backing of a package of designer series paper, then hot glue two strips of Cork Sheets found in the Base Materials for the Big Shot.  I covered the cork with Timeless Portrait Designer Fabric and added Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon on all sides.  Antique Brads decorate the four corners.  Some Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon acts as a hanger and is hot glued to the back; I adhered a piece of 12"x12" card stock to cover the back.  Now for all the decorating!  The beautiful butterfly is cut using the Big Shot and Beautiful Butterfly die in Island Indigo card stock.  Lots of the same card stock is punched out using one of the punches from Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, then adhered with Mini Glue Dots. Accent pieces were stamped with Forever Young stamp set, and I personalized it with the letter "K" cut from Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies and the Big Shot.

Here's a close-up of the sweet little note card hanging from the board.  The Daffodil Delight flower is actually a tack with the head covered with card stock cut out with a punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.

I'll share a second project we made at our Leadership Summit tomorrow – stay tuned!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED: 
Item No. 119819 Cork Sheets (6) $9.95
Item No. 122337 Timeless Portrait Designer Fabric $9.95
Item No. 117273 Antique Brads $5.95
Item No. 119261 Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (10 yds.) $5.95
Item No. 115615 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon $9.95
Item No. 114507 Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die $21.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack $16.95
Item No. 103683 Mini Glue Dots $4.95
Item No. 122572 Forever Young clear mount stamp set $18.95
Item No. 115951 Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies $74.95

To order your Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Doily and Flowers

Here's a card I taught at my August workshops.  I had lots of design help from my friend Sharon V. – I modeled it after a swap I received from her and just changed up the colors.  The card starts off with Whisper White card stock with Hello, Doily background stamped in Soft Suede Classic Ink.  Next I created the pretty flower using Calypso Coral card stock and Fun Flowers die with the Big Shot.  The center is a punch from Boho Blossoms Punch.  I stacked them one on top of the other and adhered them using dimensionals.  The leave is cut from Old Olive card stock and the Leaves #2 die.  The sentiment was created using the Lots of Tags Sizzlits die in Soft Suede card stock.  I stamped the greeting using Petite Pairs and punched that out with the XL Oval Punch.  A few extra flowers punched from Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack fill in some negative space.  The decorative strip is created with punching some Blushing Bride card stock with the Scallop Trim Border Punch on both sides then a piece of designer paper from the Mocha Morning Specialty paper pack.  Basic Pearls complete the centers of all the flowers.  Do you notice some sparkle and shine?  I used a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in a small bottle of rubbing alcohol, shook it up really well and spritzed the flower.

Here's Sharon's original swap (minus the greeting – don't have a picture with it on!) using a bit different color scheme with Concord Crush, Always Artichoke and Pretty in Pink:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122845 Hello, Doily $17.95
Item No. 122495 Petite Pairs wood $28.95
Item No. 122497 Petite Pairs $20.95
Item No. 121812 Fun Flowers Bigz L Die $32.95
Item No. 114508 Lots of Tags Sizzlits DIe Set (4) $21.95
Item No. 113459 Leaves #2 Originals Die $15.95
Item No. 119859 XL Oval Punch $16.95
Item No. 119858 Boho Blossoms Punch $16.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Punch Pack $16.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 122366 Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95
Item No. 119247 Jewels Basic Pearls (150) $4.95
Item No. 116806 Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint $5.95

A few more swaps

Here are some more terrific swaps from my team mates!

Here's a terrific Christmas card if you don't want to go with the traditional red and green.  I love the clean, simple lines that black and white create.  Wonderful card from Julia H.  It uses the penguin from Zoo Review, a terrific animal stamp set you can use year round – especially nice for masculine cards!  The sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Next is a card from Jackie B. using Up, Up & Away stamp set.  Don't you just love the popped up air balloon?  It's made by stamping once on the main card then three times on scrap Whisper White card stock, cutting out, folding in half then adhering them together.  So cute! 

Don't Forget!
Designer Paper sale ends August 31st – check out our Buy 3 Get One FREE sale HERE!
Summer Mini Catalog ends August 31st – order now by clicking HERE!

Congratulations to my Team Members – July 2011

A sincere "From the Heart Stampers" congratulations goes out the top three sales people on my team for the month of July!  They are:

Pam Kane
Debbie Sowards
and
Pat Adams Schmidt

AND Pat just joined my team in July – she had less than a month of sales!  You ladies rock!  And here's the special card I made them.

Lots of new stuff included in this card!  I began with a Whisper White card stock base then added Calypso Coral.  Next comes some designer paper from the Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper pack bordered with Daffodil Delight card stock cut out with the Tasteful Trim die and the Big Shot.  Basic Gray card stock borders the pretty butterfly from Creative Elements stamp set.  I added Rhinestones and some paper piercing.  The sentiment comes from the hostess stamp set Perfect Words.  Great job, ladies!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122470 Perfect Words wood $12/hostesses only OR
Item No. 122472 Perfect Words clear $9/hostesses only
Item No. 122645 Creative Elements wood $32.95 OR
Item No. 122647 Creative Elements clear $24.95
Item No. 119720 Daffodil Delight 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon $9.95
Item No. 122355 Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper #10.95
Item No. 119246 Jewels Basic Rhinestones (150) $4.95
Item No. 120893 Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die $42.95
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper-Piercing Tool $3.50

Convention 2011 Gifts

I wanted to share some gift ideas with you today using the Flirtatious Product Suite found on pages 126 and 127 of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.   I received these darling items at Convention from my upline, Aly Schilling. 

First up is a nicely packaged hand sanitizer using the Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper, along with the Delicate Doilies stamp set, Glimmer Brad and Pretty in Pink polka dot ribbon.  The "enjoy" tag was made with You're A Gem stamp set.  It was tucked into this cute little bag and tied with some Flirtatious Designer Fabric.  Here's a close-up!

Also tucked inside was a sweet pair of footies, just perfect for those chilly meeting rooms at Convention!

They were made by cutting flowers from the Big Shot using the Fun Flowers Die with the Flirtatious Designer Fabric.  No sewing is needed here – just use a Designer Printed Brad in Wisteria Wonder to hold them onto the footies!  I washed them with the flowers on for a shabby chic look, but you can remove them simply by unfastening the brad so that the flowers stay a little more crisp.  Here's a close-up of the flowers:

Make your own special gifts using all of the beautifully coordinating products in the Flirtatious Product Suite.  That lucky person in your life will be so glad you did!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122360 Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95
Item No. 122590 Delicate Doilies wood $21.95 OR
Item No. 122592 Delicate Doilies clear $16.95
Item No. 122268 You're A Gem wood $14.95 OR
Item No. 122270 You're A Gem clear $11.95
Item No. 124141 Pretty in Pink 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon
Item No. 121004 Subtles Glimmer Brads $4.95
Item No. 122940 In Color 2011-13 Designer Printed Brads $7.95
Item No. 121812 Fun Flowers Bigz L Die $32.95
Item No. 122335 Flirtatious Designer Fabric $9.95

Feminine Thank You

Here's a pretty little thank you I made a while ago and didn't post.  There aren't new products on the card, but it really showcases a lot of "tried and true" products that Stampin' Up! carries.  I started with a base of Whisper White card stock, then added a layer of Peach Parfait.  The center strips are Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzazz.  The Eyelet Border Punch and Whisper White card stock frame the center piece nicely.  I cut an oval from the Ovals Originals Die using the Big Shot die-cutting machine and stamped with Elements of Style stamp set in Pear Pizzaz Classic Ink.  The blossoms are made with one of the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and are held on with Gold Brads.  The sentiment comes from Curly Cute and is stamped in Early Espresso Classic Ink.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117014 Curly Cute wood $19.95 OR
Item No. 120510 Curly Cute clear $14.95
Item No. 118611 Elements of Style wood $27.95 OR
Item No. 120045 Elements of Style clear $19.95
Item No. 114525 Ovals Originals Die $15.95
Item No. 119853 Eyelet Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack $16.95

Ready for Convention!

I still have to pack, but everything's laid out for my trip to Salt Lake City, UT, and the Stampin' Up! Convention!  I leave in just 3-1/2 hrs.!  Here are the swaps I made to take along – I made about 85 of each design for a total of 170 swaps!  That means I'll be bringing back 170 brand new card ideas for all of my workshop customers to view!  Be sure to book an August workshop with me to view my basket full of inspiration!

Here's a brand new hostess stamp set you're going to LOVE called Simply Soft.  It's a set of 6 two-step stamping stamps that create different floral images.  Color scheme is Elegant Eggplant and two new In Colors for 2011-13 – Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade!  I've used the 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to spif up the flowers.  Thank You Kindly stamp gives the sentiment.

My second swap uses the SAME stamp set – Simply Soft – this time stamped in StazOn Black ink and overstamped with Rose Red Classic Ink.  The new blue is another of the 2011-13 In Colors called Pool Party.  Remember Soft Sky?  Well, it's just a bit more saturated a color but the same tone – love it!  I've used the Petal Cone Die with my Big Shot to make creating the Whisper White banner a breeze.  Word Play stamp set gives this terrific sentiment.

And did you know that as of July 1st, Stampin' Up! has announced a brand new hostess benefits plan with even more benefits?  I love the versatility of this plan – your hostess dollars will give you more of what you want in free products!  Contact me to get your workshop on the calendar and start earning items like this gorgeous stamp set FREE!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122565 Simply Soft (W) OR
Item No. 122567 Simply Soft (C)
Item No. 120308 Word Play (W) $41.95 OR
Item No. 120651 Word Play (C) $28.95
Item No. 111700 Thank You Kindly (W) $13.95
Item No. 104336 Silver Brads $6.95
Item No. 121884 Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon $6.95
Item No. 119871 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch $6.95
Item No. 120906 2-1/2" Circle Punch $16.95
Item No. 100425 2-Way Glue Pen $3.50
Item No. 102023 Dazzling Diamonds Glitter $3.95
Item No. 121810 Petal Cone Die $32.95
 

Welcome, Fran!

Fran Cohen of Rochester, NY, joined my From the Heart Stampers team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators in May, and I made her this special card to say welcome.  I love using the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart as a reminder of what our team stands for.  While it's a business for some, a hobby for many, we are still in the "business" of touching people's lives through a simple yet profound act of sharing something we've created.   This card measures 5-1/4" square and begins with Whisper White card stock, then Pear Pizzazz card stock, then Real Red card stock for the center area.  I kept all of the accents in Daffodil Delight – the card stock at the top punched with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch, the flowers at the side cut with the Big Shot and the Birds & Blooms Sizzlits Die, and the scrumptious 5/8" Satin Ribbon.  The final touch is few Rhinestones for the centers of the flowers.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117649 Pinking Hearts Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 113485 Birds & Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack $21.95
Item No. 119750 Daffodil Delight 5/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 119246 Jewels Basic Rhinestones (150) $4.95

So sad to say that Birds & Blooms is retiring at the end of June.  I use it all the time!  Be sure to get yours before it's gone forever!

Don't Forget!
To sign up for June's Stamp Shoppe – click HERE!
To order Stampin' Up! retiring products at a discount and online 24/7 — click HERE!