Love You!

I'm really happy with the way this simple card turned out.  We often give our valentines to a man, so I wanted to keep this one fairly masculine.  And trust me – the new Twitterpated Designer Paper will become your best friend!  One side is decidedly feminine while the other side isn't so flowery.  It's the perfect collection of papers!  I've used the "love you" sentiment from PS I Love You in the new Occasions Mini Catalog, and the nifty embossed heart is made with the Big Shot and the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die.  The Riding Hood Red background gets a dressing up with the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I added a sweet Basic Gray Button from the Neutrals Designer Buttons with a bow of White Baker's Twine.  Don't forget the Mini Glue Dots – they're perfect for adhering the button to the card.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 125460 PS I Love You wood $34.95 OR
Item No. 125462 PS I Love You clear $27.95
Item No. 117332 Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 125406 Twitterpated Designer Series Paper $10.95
Item No. 123128 Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 119743 Neutrals Designer Buttons (72) $8.95
Item No. 124262 White Baker's Twine $2.95
Item No. 103683 Mini Glue Dots $4.95

REMINDERS
EARN FREE STAMPS with Kriss's Online Customer Perks – be rewarded for your shopping loyalty.  Click HERE!
TRY A SAMPLE OF NEW PRODUCTS from the new Occasions Mini Catalog in a Product Share.  Click HERE!
SIGN UP FOR STAMP SHOPPE which is next week, either attending or "on the go".  Click HERE!

Sweetheart Valentine

I love mixing the new and the older products together – it freshens up what I already own and makes it look totally different!  This card is just that combination.  I've used the stamp set Sweetheart which has been around for a little bit but it takes on a new look using the 2011-12 In Colors and brand new designer paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog called Sweet Shop.  The new catalog contains an entire Sweet Shop Product Suite with stamp sets, designer stickers and lots of fun embellishments.  One side of the designer paper has images of cakes, candy, cupcakes and ice cream cones, and the other side of the paper has lots of heart images perfect for Valentine's Day.  The sentiment comes from a new stamp set called PS I Love You.  I've made the confetti for the Heart Treat Cups from the Small Heart Punch.  You'll want to be sure to purchase the Full Heart Punch that creates a perfect fit for the treat cup.  Some Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon adds a nice touch.

Like the Sweetheart stamp set?  It's the January Stamp Set of the Month!  Receive a FREE kit for making SIX cards!  Check out the details HERE!  There are also a couple more card samples HERE and HERE.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 125460 PS I Love You wood $34.95 OR
Item No. 125462 PS I Love You clear $27.95
Item No. 120415 Sweetheart wood $21.95 OR
Item No. 120780 Sweetheart clear $15.95
Item No. 125408 Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95
Item No. 120435 Heart Treat Cups (12) $2.95
Item No. 117193 Small Heart Punch $5.95
Item No. 119883 Full Heart Punch $16.95
Item No. 122976 Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon $9.95

JUST ONE MORE DAY – January 4th – and the new Occasions Mini Catalog will go LIVE!  I'll post the new catalog first thing Wednesday morning!  AND get ready for my Occasions Mini Accessories Share – a little bit of almost all the accessories in the new catalog!  Here's what you'll receive:

1 yd. of 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon in each of the following colors for a total of 4 yds. of ribbon:  Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride and Baja Breeze

10 Large (8 mm.) Pearl Basic Jewels

2 yds. Pool Party 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

3 hat pins (3" long)

Twitterpated Designer Buttons – 3 each of 2 designs in 2 colors for a total of 12  buttons

Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads – 1 each of 4 designs for a total of 4 brads

Purchase all of the above brand new accessory pieces for just $15.50!  And that's not all!  Order your Accessories Share before January 31st and receive a free hand-stamped card that highlights many of the new products and stamp sets in the Occasions Mini – you'll have your very own brand new sample card to use for inspiration or to send to a special friend.

Stampin' Up! policies regarding shares have changed in the past year, so I'm no longer able to put PayPal links up for you to purchase the shares directly online.  Instead, please e-mail me if you'd like to purchase an Occasions Mini Accessories Share.  I'll order product immediately when I have 4 shares purchased.  I'll send you a PayPal invoice to finalize your order. I can also accept credit card, check, money order or cash.

I'll be posting pictures of all of the products contained in the Accessories Share tomorrow when the Occasions Mini Catalog goes live!

Sent With Love

Here's a fun Valentine's card showing lots and lots of new products from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  You'll be able to order all of these great new items on January 4th.  Color scheme is Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White and comes from the new Twitterpated Designer Series Paper – 2 different prints used here.  The Real Red card stock is run through the Big Shot with another new item – Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  There are 3 designs in this smaller-sized embossing folder set.  I've used another new product – Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details – on top of the embossed hearts.  The Blushing Bride heart is cut with the Hearts Collections Framelits Die and the Big Shot.  These wafer-thin dies can be positioned to see where you're placing the design before you cut.  Use for accents or layer different sizes together.  The three circle images are stamped from PS I Love You – you're definitely going to want to add this terrific stamp set to your collection!  And don't forget about some of our great existing products for Valentine's Day – in this card, I've used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch with Whisper White card stock.  A pretty Basic Gray Satin Ribbon finishes this card nicely.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED: 
Item No. 125460 PS I Love You wood $34.95 OR
Item No. 125462 PS I Love You clear $27.95
Item No. 125406 Twitterpated Designer Series Paper $10.95
Item No. 125601 Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders $8.95
Item No. 125599 Hearts Collection Framlets Dies $26.95
Item No. 125585 Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details $2.50
Item No. 117649 Pinking Hearts Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 124326 Basic Gray 3/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95

REMINDERS:
LAST DAY TO ORDER FROM HOLIDAY MINI CATALOG – January 3rd!
JUST TWO MORE DAYS until you're able to order from the OCCASIONS  MINI CATALOG – January 4th!
KRISS'S ONLINE CUSTOMER PERKS – New for 2012!  Learn how to be rewarded for placing online orders HERE!

CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ! SAVE UP TO 80%!  NOW through January 5, 2012, over 200 products (tons of punches, dies, designer series paper, ribbon and more!) are being added to the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack–with some discounted up to 80 percent! These great deals are only available when you purchase online and while supplies last.

Click HERE to go to my Online Store and shop away!

Paper Flower Arrangement

I was so excited about having made this beautiful paper flower arrangement, and then I forgot to show it to you during Christmas.  But I got to thinking that it would be beautiful any time of the year by just changing a few things.  Wouldn't it be wonderful for Valentine's Day?  This is another project from our demonstrator-only magazine Stampin' Success.  I pretty much copied the beautiful bouquet that the Stampin' Up! home office showed in that publication.  Everything except the gold ornaments and the pine cones were made with just card stock and some Big Shot Dies!

The first flower I started with were the roses.  Using Real Red card stock, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Island Floral Die.  The center is just a small piece of card stock wadded up into a ball.  The glue gun was definitely my friend with this project!  Just use a bone folder to shape the petals and glue everything together.

Next are the lilies.  This is actually my favorite flower in the bouquet – I love real-life lilies, too.  I cut Whisper White card stock using the Big Shot and the Island Floral Die.  The center is Old Olive Stampin' Pastels sponged lightly along with Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker and the Color Spritzer Tool to make the speckles. 

These are the chrysanthemums – actually the most fun to make!  Just die cut a bunch of Real Red card stock from the Flower Daisies #2 and shape them into flower petals with the bone folder.  So pretty!  This picture also might be better of the tiny little filler flowers in the lower right corner than the next picture I took.

These little flowers were so quick to make!  Just die cut Old Olive card stock with the small flower from the Island Floral Die, snip one petal off then fold them so that two petals overlap.  Punch Whisper White card stock with the Boho Blossom Punch then wad it up and adhere it with hot glue to the center.  I made lots and lots of these to fill in the gaps.  Also a good filler is the green "grass" made with Garden Green card stock sliced really thin with the Tabletop Paper Cutter.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my bouquet – I had so much fun making it!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118871 Island Floral Bigz Die $21.95
Item No. 114520 Flower, Daisies #2 Die $19.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 106959 Tabletop Paper Cutter $45.95
Item No. 119858 Boho Blossom Punch $16.95
Item No. 107066 Color Spritzer Tool $12.95
Item No. 119680 Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker $3.50
Item No. 120962 Stampin' Pastels $24.95
 

UPDATE!  MORE PRODUCTS ADDED TO THE CLEARANCE RACK!

CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ! SAVE UP TO 80%!  NOW through January 5, 2012, nearly 200 products (tons of punches, dies, designer series paper, ribbon and more!) are being added to the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack–with some discounted up to 80 percent! These great deals are only available when you purchase online and while supplies last.

Click HERE to go to my Online Store and shop away!

Occasions Mini Sneak Peek!

I know you're all dying to know what new products you'll find in the Occasions Mini Catalog, that you can order from beginning January 4th.  So I thought I'd share with you one of the cards I've designed with my brand new supplies.  I love that as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I can pre-order a month ahead to prepare for my workshops and classes using all that's available to my customers in January.

This sample packs in just about as much new product as I could possibly put on one card!  There are actually three new products on the right edge of the card alone!  The new Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies cut two unique card edges when used with the Big Shot.  Then use the Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to create a deeply embossed impression that coordinates with the cut scalloped edge. These folders come three to a pack and include two coordinating images to the Edgelits plus a heart border.  Next is a stamped image from a brand new stamp set called Bordering on Romance.  I stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink on Riding Hood Red card stock after cutting and embossing the edge; the flowers are designed to fit right inside the scallops.  A coupe more of the coordinating images are also stamped in white on the top Pear Pizzazz card stock as well as the bottom Island Indigo piece.  There are also new Framelits Dies – both in Hearts Collection and Labels Collection.  Each collection includes 6 wafer-thin metal dies – cut single pieces or use for layering.  The Blushing Bride heart is cut with the Hearts Framelits.  The sentiment is from a brand new Valentines stamp set called PS I Love You.  You'll be seeing more of what this great stamp set can do in upcoming posts!  And to tie it all together (pun intended) is our new Twitterpated Designer Fabric – three beautiful new prints that coordinate with the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper and other accessories.

Whew, we you counting?  Six brand new products on one card!  And you'll be able to order all of them beginning January 4th!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 125460 PS I Love You wood $34.95 OR
Item No. 125462 PS I Love You clear $27.95
Item No. 125480 Bordering on Romance wood $27.95 OR
Item No. 125482 Bordering On Romance clear $21.95
Item No. 125412 Twitterpated Designer Fabric $9.95
Item No. 125599 Framelits Dies Hearts Collection $26.95
Item No. 125595 Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies $9.95
Item No. 125601 Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (3) $8.95

Click HERE to go to my Online Store and shop away!
 

Wedding Wishes

I needed a special wedding card and decided it on a very elegant feel.  So I based it around the beautiful Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper which includes a beautiful piece of Crumb Cake paper with black flocking.  I used Elizabeth single stamp to create the frame for the sentiment and stamped in Versa Mark Ink, applied black embossing powder and heat embossed using the Heat Tool.  Don't forget to use your Embossing Buddy lightly rubbed over the card stock before you stamp – this will take away any static that makes tiny specks of embossing powder cling where it's not wanted.  I stamped Elizabeth on Crumb Cake card stock and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes in the center, then cut out just the oval and popped it up on Dimensionals.  A piece of Basic Black Satin Ribbon and Crumb Cake card stock punched with Scallop Trim Border Punch add even more elegance. I love how Stampin' Up! coordinates its products!  The piece of designer paper I chose has a matching stamped image – it's from Elements of Style and I used it to add a little something to the front of the envelope.

To make this card extra special, I also lined the envelope with the designer paper!  Simply cut a piece of designer paper that will fit into the envelope and extend over the flap.  Then lick the envelope and stick it into place.  Trim off the excess paper following the curve of the top of the envelope.  Use SNAIL Adhesive to seal the envelope!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117120 Elizabeth $9.95
Item No. 115370 Teeny Tiny Wishes $36.95
Item No. 118611 Elements of Style wood $27.95
Item No. 120045 Elements of Style clear $19.95
Item No. 122366 Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Edge Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 102283 VersaMark Pad $7.50
Item No. 100005 Heat Tool $29.95
Item No. 103083 Embossing Buddy $5.95
Item No. 109133 Black Stampin' Emboss Powder $4.75
Item No. 117285 Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon (15 yds.) $8.95

Don't Forget!
To sign up for the next Stamp Shoppe – either to attend or "on the go" – click HERE.
To order your Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Can I have TWO “BFF’s”?

I received this stamp set at Convention and wasn't sure how I was going to use it, but here it is once again!  It's a very fun set with lots of collage elements.  I CASEd a swap I received from my upline Aly Schilling and changed up the colors.  My card base is Whisper White, adding Old Olive for the first layer that's stamped tone on tone with Old Olive Classic Ink.  Next is a strip of the luscious new Island Indigo card stock with coordinating Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon.  The main image is created by stamping and punching with the Decorative Label Punch, as well as punching the little red heart from the Heart to Heart Punch then adding a Rhinestone Brad.  The larger Indigo and white heart is a stamp and is cut out with Paper Snips.  All are mounted with Dimensionals.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122805 Best Friends Forever wood $23.95 OR
Item No. 122807 Best Friends Forever clear $17.95
Item No. 122974 Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon
Item No. 119881 Heart to Heart Punch $16.95
Item No. 120907 Decorative Label Punch $16.95
Item No. 119246 Jewels Basic Rhinestones (150) $4.95

Don't Forget!
To sign up for Stamp Shoppe on Sept. 9 & 10 – either "on the go" or attending – Click HERE!

For my BFF!

Here's a fun card using Best Friends Forever stamp set coupled with the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.  Color scheme is Bravo Burgundy, Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo and Baja Breeze.  I've done some faux stitching where the designer paper meets the Whisper White card stock base using the Mat Pack and Paper-Piercing Tool.  The Mat Pack comes with a handy template so you can line up your paper-pierced holes perfectly.  Simply use a Stampin' Write Marker, this card in Island Indigo, to connect the holes.  The heart is cut out with Paper Snips, popped up on Dimensionals and sports a single Rhinestone Jewel for a little bit of bling.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122805 Best Friends Forever wood 23.95 OR
Item No. 122807 Best Friends Forever clear $17.95
Item No. 122367 Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper $10.95
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper-Piercing Tool $3.50
Item No. 119246 Jewels Basic Rhinestones (150) $4.95
Item No. 123002 In Color 2011-13 Assortment Stampin' Write Markers (5) $14.95

Don't Forget!
The Paisley Petals DSP is included in the Designer Paper sale that ends August 31st – check out our Buy 3 Get One FREE sale HERE!

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
 

Pick A Petal is leaving!

Pick A Petal stamp set is one of the retiring stamp sets this year.  I've enjoyed making some interesting cards with this set – people more clever than I have turned it into all sorts of things!  Anyway, here's a couple of my favorites using this versatile set.

Make your own "groovy" stamp pad by using a baby wipe and a couple of drops of several different color inks.

Here the flower petals were used to create this pretty dragonfly.  Remember those gorgeous hat pins we used to carry?  Loved them!

CLICK HERE to view the Retiring Stamp Set List.

CLICK HERE to view the Retiring Accessory List.  

CLICK HERE to view the Retiring Decor Element List.

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