Now's the perfect time to make up a bunch of winter-themed thank you cards to send to those thoughtful friends and family right after Christmas.  Don't have a lot of time?  Here's a really quick and easy card that I'm sending out this year.  Simply layer together Marina Mist and Rich Razzleberry card stocks.  The Whisper White card stock was run through the Big Shot with the Northern Flurry Textured Embossing Folder.  I placed one of each of the three sizes of Jewel Basic Rhinestones in the centesr of three snowflakes and stamped the sentiment from Sincere Salutations.  Voila – done and in the mail!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 120902 Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 119246 Jewels Basic Rhinestone (150) $4.95
Item No. 115068 Sincere Salutations $23.95

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!

Getting ready to head out to the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference in San Antonio on January 17th – I leave on my birthday!  AND I'm going with my daughter who's birthday is the same day!  Wow – this will be a fun celebration!  Part of the fun of the conference is all of the swapping going on.  I've made 110 card fronts that I'll be trading with other top demonstrators from around the country (and Cananda!) and will be bringing all of those samples back to Rochester to share with my customers.  I'll also post some of my favorites on my blog.  For now, I wanted to share with you the swap I'll be bringing.  AND this is a sneak peek of Sale-A-Bration 2012 that will be starting on January 24th!  I'm featuring a new stamp set called Bordering on Romance that is in the Occasions Mini Catalog as well as some new designer paper called Everyday Enchantment.  You'll be able to take this gorgeous package of designer paper FREE with a $50 purchase beginning on January 24th!

Here is each swap separately.  I changed up the card base to coordinate better with the particular designer paper I was using.  I wanted to use more than one print.

This one is Riding Hood Red for the card base.

Here it is with an Early Espresso base.

And finally a Calypso Coral card base.

I can't decide which one I like best – leave me a comment below and tell me which one you vote for!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 125480 Bordering on Romance wood $27.95 OR
Item No. 125482 Bordering on Romance clear $21.95
Item No. 122495 Petite Pairs wood $28.95 OR
Item No. 122497 Petite Pairs clear $20.95
Item No. 126154 Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper  – SAB exclusive
Item No. 117335 Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 121810 Petal Cone Die $32.95
Item No.  120906 2-1/2" Circle Punch $16.95
Item No. 119868 1" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 119247 Jewels Basic Pearls (150) $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, either attending or "on the go".  Click HERE!

I know I've said it before, but I simply love getting our demonstrator-only monthly publication from Stampin' Up!  It's full of beautiful sample projects from the talented people at the home office, as well as other demonstrators world wide.  I've copied this card pretty much from that magazine – changed up a couple of things to make it my own.  What struck me the most about this card is the color combination – Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla.  Just gorgeous!  It's a pretty straight-forward card using Delicate Doilies stamp set with a few great punches.  It's hard to see in the photos, but the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch is perfect for punching out the Cherry Cobbler doily.  The sentiment is from Short & Sweet stamp set.  I did some paper piercing with the Mat Pack & Paper Piercing Tool around the scallop circle and used the handy duo to set the Silver Brad as well.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 122590 Delicate Doilies wood $21.95 OR
Item no. 122592 Delicate Doilies clear $16.95
Item No. 115060 Short & Sweet $17.95
Item No. 122362 Lace Ribbon Border Punch $19.95
Item No. 119854 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch $16.95
Item No. 122464 Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch $23.95
Item No. 116631 Paper-Piercing Tool $3.50
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 104336 Silver Brads (200) $6.95

Don't Forget!
To sign up for the Occasions Stamp-A-Stacks – click HERE!
To order your Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Have I got a treat for you today!!!!  I have an ENTIRE Fall card set project to show.  I designed this card set for my September demonstrator team Stamp & Chat that I hold once a quarter.  The idea behind this set of cards is to choose a small selection of Stampin' Up! products to showcase throughout all of the cards so that my team could then offer this as a class for their customers.  I designed each card to teach an easy technique (or two!).  With the exception of a few small additions, I chose to focus on Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Gently Falling stamp set, Perfectly Penned stamp set for the 4 sentiments, a roll of Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon and a package of Basic Pearls.  The cards and 4 Very Vanilla envelopes all fit nicely in the file folder card case featuring a Spice Cake Designer Button.

The first card features a "rock and roll" method for creating the two-toned leave of More Mustard and Pool Party (really 3-toned when counting the second stamp in Soft Suede).  Dazzling Details gives the leaf an iridescent glitter.  I also showed how to create the ribbon rose by twisting the ribbon and laying it into Sticky Sheets.  Leaves are punched using the 5-Petal Flower Punch.

This card shows how to gather the ribbon into a row of Sticky Strip for an interesting look, as well as layering our 5/8" Jumbo Brads with a card stock circle and a pearl for added interest.  Postage Stamp Punch is used for the designer paper.

This card highlights the beautiful two-step stamping of the Gently Falling stamps.  Torn edges around the Get Well sentiment add some more interest.  The pearls were lost on the busy background designer paper, so I backed them with Pool Party card stock circles created with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  The Eyelet Border Punch gave the More Mustard background some pop.

The final card in the set uses Post-It notes to mask around the edges of the background of the leaf then sponging Crumb Cake Classic Ink inside.  Stamp the leaf image over the top using Soft Suede Classic Ink.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 124003 Spice Cake Designer Series Paper $10.95
Item no. 123802 Gently Falling wood mount $39.95 OR
Item No. 123804 Gently Falling clear mount $28.95
Item No. 124113 Spice Cake Designer Buttons $7.95
Item No. 122890 Perfectly Penned wood mount $16.95 OR
Item No. 122892 Perfectly Penned clear mount $12.95
Item No. 122975 Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon $9.95
Item No. 119247 Jewels Basic Pearls $4.95
Item No. 122344 Postage Stamp Punch $15.95
Item No. 119853 Eyelet Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 112533 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo Brads $6.95
Item No. 114300 Sticky Sheets $6.95
Item No. 124117 Dazzling Details $2.50
Item No. 119880 5-Petal Flower Punch $16.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Punch Pack $16.95
Item No. 101610 Stamping Sponges (3) $3.50

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

There are so many Stampin' Up! products I'm tickled with on this card!  Let's start off by this all-purpose Stripes Textured Embossing Folder.  It's the bomb!  It's perfect for any card, and a wonderful addition to our collection to use with masculine cards.  The designer paper is from Cheerful Treat, a hostess-exclusive collection that has unique flowers, flourishes and dots in this bright, pretty paper.  But the real darling of this card is the Peekaboo Frames Die for the Big Shot!  When I first saw this new die pictured in the Holiday Mini Catalog along with the advent calendar, I thought that was its only use.  But then I began to see past that into all sorts of fun applications with card making.  Here I've cut Concord Crush card stock out with one of the window frames and inserted a message behind the "door".  Stampin' Write Markers make fast work of coloring in the stamp direct to rubber.   Yet another die creates the flowers, the Flower Daises #2 Die.  Honestly, how did we ever make a card without the Big Shot!  The center is set off with a Lucky Limeade Designer Printed Brad.  And a sweet bow of Melon Mambo 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon completes it.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 123128 Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 122381 Cheerful Treat Designer Series Paper – hostess only at $8
Item No. 124587 Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die $32.95
Item No. 122985 Melon Mambo 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon $7.95
Item No. 114520 Flower, Daisies #2 $19.95
Item No. 122940 2011-13 In Color Designer Printed Brads $7.95

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

Accessory of the Month: Neutral Brad Assortment

Order the September “Stamp Set of the Month” Bundle, and you’ll get a kit containing all of the precut pieces needed to make 6 of the cards shown above FREE! Additionally, you’ll be e-mailed a PDF file which contains step-by-step instructions on how to make the card shown above along with 3 BONUS designs for creative inspiration for other designs featuring this stamp set.  You'll be able to see its versatility and many uses! Supply Lists are included for the bonus designs.

Want more precut pieces? No problem! When you order the Stamp Set of the Month Bundle, just order additional quantities of precut cardstock pieces in increments of 6!

September Stamp Set of the Month WOOD Bundle: $32.90 + Shipping and Tax

(Includes your order for the “Always Thankful” stamp set in wood mount and 1 pack of Neutral Brad Assortment plus the FREE kit)

September Stamp Set of the Month CLEAR Bundle: $26.90 + Shipping and Tax

(Includes your order for the “Always Thankful” stamp set in clear mount and 1 pack of Neutral Brad Assortment plus the FREE kit)

Additional Quantities of the September Kit: $6 + Shipping for every set of 6 cards

Already have the featured Stamp Set or Accessory? No problem. You can order any stamp set and/or accessory of equal value to the featured items and still receive the FREE kit and PDF File!

Other supplies you’ll want to order: Soft Suede Classic Ink, Very Vanilla Craft Ink, Blender Pens, 1 ¾” Circle Punch, Stampin’ Sponge, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Very Vanilla Envelopes, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals and Bone Folder.

Contact me to order today! (Sale won't be reflected with an online order, so contact me directly.)

First up is a fun swap from Laura S. showcasing the 2011-13 In Colors.  I love this simple but effective card using the Big Shot and the Tasteful Trims Die to do most of the work!  The image is from Happiest Birthday Wishes, a hostess-exclusive stamp set, and it's markered direct to rubber using the In Color Stampin' Write Markers.

Sad to say, I don't know who to give credit to for this beauty.  I love the color combo here – Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and Basic Black make such a statement!  There's lots of fun elements – designer paper, textured embossing folder, punches and a wonderful image from Sweets for the Sweet stamp set.  Sentiment is from Thank You Kindly.

This final one is the creative work of Sheila E.  She's used one of my favorite stamp sets, Simply Soft – a hostess-exclusive set – for the two-step stamping.  Tiny Pearls are in the centers of the flowers to dress them up, and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch adds the perfect accent.  Oh, so pretty!

Don't Forget!
To order your Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Truly one of the things I love the most about my Stampin' Up! business is the relationships I've made through a mutual love for stamping.  I've met countless women whom I would never have had the chance to get to know if it wasn't for Stampin' Up!  Imagine my delight when I opened this card to find my brand new team member Nicole Bertrand had made this gorgeous card just for me!  She was thanking me for helping her with her very first workshop.  Not only is it drop-dead gorgeous, but it's not often I'm on the receiving end of a handmade card!  So ladies, never underestimate how happy it makes someone!

Nicole combined 3 different stamp sets – Creative Elements, Petite Pairs and Four Frames – to make her beauty.  And I don't think she knew it, but she chose my two most favorite colors – Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive.  Two punches gave a lot of added interest – Scallop Trim Border Punch and Decorative Label Punch – and 3 Rhinestones were the perfect final touch of bling! 

Thanks so much, Nicole.  You made my day!

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

One of the many things I love about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is receiving our monthly Stampin' Success magazine, fulled with lots of wonderful business tips, as well as fun stamping projects.  Here's a card I copied out of the latest issue.  I began with a Whisper White card stock base, and stamped the polka dot border from Borderlines in Old Olive Classic ink.  The next strip was created by punching Melon Mambo card stock with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch then weaving in some Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.  Underneath that is a piece of designer paper in Daffodil Delight from the Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper pack.  The flower is created by punching 3 flowers from the Fancy Flowers Punch, using Dimensionals and stacking them together.  Circle Circus stamp set created the Daffodil Delight border on the flower center, and I stamped the sentiment from Petite Pairs in Melon Mambo Classic Ink, then punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch.  So cute and quick!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 115778 Circle Circus $28.95
Item No. 122495 Petite Pairs wood $28.95 OR
Item No. 122497 Petite Pairs clear $20.95
Item No. 122640 Borderlines wood $22.95 OR
Item No. 122642 Borderlines clear $16.95
Item No. 119254 Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon $5.95
Item No. 122362 Lace Ribbon Border Punch $19.95
Item No. 118073 Fancy Flower Punch $16.95
Item No. 119860 1-3/8" Circle Punch $15.95
Item No. 122360 Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95

Don't Forget!
To check out all of my class offerings – even "on the go"!  Click HERE.