Deal of the Week #3

Add some HEAT and SPARKLE to your projects with Square Fire Rhinestone Brads!

This week, July 13-19, receive a package of Square Fire Rhinestone Brads for only $6.99--that's over 30% off the original price of $10.95! No purchase necessary, and no limitations! Each package contains approximately 80 pieces, an assortment of 3 sizes each of four colors: red, yellow, orange, and pink.

Click here to order yours today!

July Weekly Deal Announcements:

• Deal #1: Wednesday, July 1 at noon to Monday, July 6 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #2: Monday, July 6 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 13 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #3: Monday, July 13 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 20 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #4: Monday, July 20 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 27 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #5: Monday, July 27 at 10:00 AM to Friday, July 31 at 11:50 PM

These deals will automatically be announced on my Stampin' Up! website, and I will do my best to announce them here as soon as I can.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I meant to post this yesterday since my dad's birthday was yesterday, but somehow the day just got away from me!

While making this card, I ran out of white thread, but I didn't want to have to go somewhere to buy thread, so I "made" my own thread! Read on for a little tutorial on "making" thread for stitching on your paper crafting projects!

I made a card with the a similar design last winter, and just had to copy the design again! I got the idea for the color combo and argyle pattern from the current catalog (pg. 145). Although I love how this card turned out, it literally took me 2 hours to make this card! Good thing I really love my dad :-)

1. I made the card base from Kraft card stock, but instead of cutting the card stock 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" (like a normal card), I cut the card stock 6-1/2" x 5-1/2" and still scored at 4-1/4" so that the back base of the card was normal (5-1/2" x 4-1/4"), but the front was smaller (5-1/2" x 2"). This way, I could cut the diagonal on the Old Olive card stock front and be able to see straight through to the back.
2. I then cut a piece of Old Olive card stock to a regular card front size (5-1/2" x 4-1/4").
3. Using my Circle Scissors Plus, I cut a 3-1/2" half circle on the bottom of the card. This way, I could layer the scallop circle underneath. I used temporary adhesive to keep my card stock from slipping while using the cutter. I started the circle about 2" into the card and cut around to the bottom.
   
4. Using my paper cutter, I cut a straight line from the top of the half circle to the top right corner of the Old Olive card stock, thus making the diagonal
   
5. Using the Big Shot and the Scallop Circle Die, I cut a scallop circle from Soft Suede card stock. I adhered the scallop circle behind the Old Olive card stock.
6. Using the paper cutter again, I cut off the extra scallop circle from the bottom of the card stock.
7. I cut 2 diamonds from More Mustard card stock. I started with two squares of More Mustard, each 1-3/4" square. I turned each square so that it looked like a square diamond. Then using a ruler I lined the top of the ruler up with two opposite corners of the square. I measured 1/2" in from each point and marked an "X" there. Using the paper cutter, I cut from the top point to the X on all 4 sides, making a slimmer diamond.
8. I adhered the 2 diamonds to the card. Then using my Paper Piercing Tool and my Mat Pack, I pierced an "X" through the center of each diamond.
9. Using white thread and a needle, I stitched each X. A quicker method is Faux Stitching: using a white gel pen and drawing little lines between each hole. See below for a tutorial on "making" white thread.
10. I then cut a piece of Soft Suede card stock 3" x 3/4" and stamped the sentiment from Best Wishes and More (pictured below) in Soft Suede classic ink.
11. I adhered the Soft Suede sentiment to the card and pierced a straight line along the edge of the sentiment and stitched with white thread.
12. I stamped the circle image from Circle Circus (pictured below) in Soft Suede ink on Kraft card stock and punched it out with the 1" circle punch.
13. I threaded a clear button with Linen Thread, securing the thread on the back with a glue dot and adhering to the Circle Circus image.
14. After I was completely done with the card front, I adhered the whole thing to the Kraft card base.
15. Be careful when writing in a card like this--I used a light pencil outline to make sure I wasn't writing in the space that can be seen when the card is closed, erasing the line when I was done.

Whew! I told you it took me 2 hours to make this card! :-) Now, when I was halfway done with the stitching the first X, I realized that I was about to run out of white thread. Instead of going out to buy more, I got creative! Read on...

White Thread Tutorial

So I have a bunch of In Color double striped ribbon left over that is no longer current, so I used some Kiwi Kiss ribbon. However, any grosgrain ribbon that is white or has white thread in it will work.

Step 1: You know how your grosgrain ribbon begins to unravel on its own sometimes...and it's really annoying when you're trying to use the ribbon on your project? Well, here it comes in handy! If your ribbon isn't doing this already, just cut it straight across and run your fingers along the edge until it does.


Step 2: Grab onto that stray thread and gently pull it so your ribbon starts to unravel.


Step 3: Keep pulling until your ribbon is completely unraveled. It takes a little patience because that thread will break easily if it gets caught and you pull too hard. I used about a 6" piece of ribbon because I was getting about 10 pieces of white thread from each piece of ribbon. Plus, I didn't need super long pieces of thread for my project. As you can see, I ended up with plenty of white thread. If I had used Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, that original stray thread would have worked on its own, and I probably would have only had to cut about 2 inches of ribbon!


So there you have it...making your own thread! I was quite proud of myself for being so useful with my resources :-)

*******************************************************

To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Best Wishes and More (111602--pictured below), Circle Circus (115778--pictured below)
Paper: Old Olive (100702), Soft Suede (115318), More Mustard (100946), Kraft (102125)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Punches: 1" circle punch (109046)
Cool Tools: Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Circle Scissor Plus (112530), Big Shot (113439), Scallop Circle Die (113468)
The Little Something Extra: Clear Buttons (105447), Mini Glue Dots (103683), Needle, White Thread

Thank You CASE & Deal of the Week

Here's another fun CASE from the new catalog (p. 107). I met with a friend last week who is a graphic designer here in Chicago. She and her husband so kindly took me out to lunch and shared with me some brilliant ideas for job hunting. I wanted to thank them...and since they are both graphic designers I knew I needed a really nice card! So I relied on my SU! Idea Book (also the catalog) and altered the design to go with my stamps. I used the same colors they used (Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive) and went to town. I think the card turned out really nice!

The card is 6-1/2" x 3-1/4" and fits perfectly in the SU! Small Open-End Envelopes (p.168 #107286). Each of the flowers I stamped on Whisper White card stock and hand-cut each flower (this card is not a good one for mass-production!). The sentiment is from the Thank You Kindly stamp set. That stamp set is not a new set to the catalog, but is new for me! I love sending Thank You cards, so naturally a cost-effective set with 4 different Thank You sentiments is perfect for me!

Deal of the Week: Big Shot Doctor's Bag

On a totally separate note, I completely forgot to announce the Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week on Monday! So sorry!

You'll feel like a big shot carrying around the Big Shot Doctor's bag! From July 6-12 this fun bag is on sale for only $49.99--that's nearly 30% off the regular price of $69.95!

July Weekly Deal Announcements:

• Deal #1: Wednesday, July 1 at noon to Monday, July 6 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #2: Monday, July 6 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 13 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #3: Monday, July 13 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 20 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #4: Monday, July 20 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 27 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #5: Monday, July 27 at 10:00 AM to Friday, July 31 at 11:50 PM

These deals will automatically be announced on my Stampin' Up! website, and I will do my best to announce them here as soon as I can.

******************************************************

To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Eastern Blooms (111626--pictured below), Thank You Kindly (111700--pictured below)
Paper: Old Olive (100702), Orchid Opulence (100969), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Old Olive (102283), Orchid Opulence (101859), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Basic Black (101179)
Cool Tools: Paper Piercing Tool (116631), White Gel Pen (105021)
The Little Something Extra: Silver Brads (104336), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Happy Anniversary!

Ben & I celebrated our anniversary on Tuesday. I can't believe it's already been 2 years! The time sure has flown by, but I could not be happier :-)

I made a card for Ben (as well as a fancy picnic by the lake for lunch!). The layout for this card came from the Mojo Monday blog:

Here's my card:


Ben loves the color silver (...if that's really a color! :-)), so I always make his cards with either Basic Gray or Brushed Silver. Although these Basic Gray Designer Series Papers are retired, I couldn't help but share the project! I love making stuff for my husband! I am so happy to be married to my best friend! Love you Ben!

Join Stampin' Up!

...so I guess in my last post when I said "I'll be posting more information on the new demonstrator specials tomorrow" I actually meant next week :-) Sorry!!

Anyway, like I mentioned last week, Stampin' Up! is offering 2 AMAZING new recruiting specials!

Option 1: FREE In Color ink and card stock

That's right! Sign up for the Standard Starter Kit (valued at over $340, but priced at only $199 with free shipping), Stampin' Up! will give you the following for FREE:

• All six new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads
• One package of In Color assorted 8-1/2" x 11" card stock

(these items have a retail value of $43.65 are are not substitutable)


The above-pictured items are those that come with the Standard Starter Kit. Please see your catalog or email me for more information about these products.

Option 2: Join for only $85

You'll receive the Stampin' Up! Mini Starter Kit that includes:

• For All You Do stamp set ($28.95)
• All six new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads ($5.95 each)
• One package of Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock ($7.50)
• One package of In Color assorted 8-1/2" x 11" card stock ($7.95)

(these items are substitutable for like items of equal or lesser value)

Demonstrator Benefits

• Product discount. Demonstrators get a 20% discount on all Stampin' Up! products, including stamp sets, paper, and accessories. It's a great way to support your love of stamping and paper crafting.
• Extra income. You'll earn extra income based on your sales and recruiting--how much extra income is up to you. Maybe you just want enough income to pay the electric bill every month, or maybe your goal is bigger--the monthly payment for your new car--it's up to you! See the Compensation Table for more information.
• Flexible schedule. This is your business, so you can put as much (or as little) time into it as you'd like!
• Support from Stampin' Up! Stampin' Up loves their demonstrators and it shows through their demonstrator support materials, including a monthly magazine, workshop ideas, and audio and video trainings on all kinds of topics on the Demonstrator Web Site.

I'd love to see you join Stampin' Up! this summer! Please contact me today if you are interested!

Woot! Woot!

The new catalog is here!! And I have so much to tell you about both the catalog and tons of new promotions!!

In honor of the new catalog, I have updated my blog layout (again!). It now more closely matches my Stampin' Up! website where you can see upcoming events, current promotions, and you can place your Stampin' Up! order 24/7!

The paper featured on my blog and SU! website are from the new Designer Series Paper pack, Razzleberry Lemonade. I wasn't sure I was going to like the paper very much, but just like everything else I buy from Stampin' Up!, I LOVED it once I got it in my hands. The colors featured in this paper are many of the new In Colors, including Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, and Crushed Curry. I am so excited for this new catalog, and I hope you are too!

Here are the news flashes from today. Be sure to read them all! There is a lot going on in the Stampin' Up! world!

The New 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog

...is now available for .pdf download. Click here or on the picture in the sidebar to open the file. It is a rather large file, so be patient while it downloads :-)

2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog Stampin' Supply List

Ever look at a card or project featured in the SU! catalog and wonder just what stamp set or card stock color was used? This Stampin' Supply List shows the photo of the project and gives all the supplies used on the project. Download it here!

The New Definitely Decorative Brochure

This new brochure takes the place of the Decor Elements brochure from the past. Yes, we still have Decor Elements (the vinyl wall clings--like huge rub-ons for the wall!), but we've added stencils as well! Be sure to download this brochure because you'll want to see all the new Decor Elements images and colors along with the new stencils! You may click here or on the photo in the sidebar.

The New Celebrando Creatividad

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but Stampin' Up! now has a completely seperate line of stamps that are all in Spanish! They have a seperate catalog, Celebrando Creatividad, that features these stamps. If you'd like to see this catalog (you're welcome to order from it!), click here.

Celebrando Creatividad Stampin' Supply List

Just like the list for the regular catalog, but for the Spanish catalog! Click here to download.

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week

This could be the most exciting thing I've heard today! Each week during the month of July, Stampin' Up! will be offering one discounted product as the "Deal of the Week." No minimum purchase is required and there are no limits to the promotion!

Deal of the Week: Scallop Edge Punch

Who doesn't love scallops!? From July 1-5 this amazing punch (probably my favorite of the punches--not kidding) is on sale for only $10.99--that's over 30% off the regular price of $15.95!

July Weekly Deal Announcements:

• Deal #1: Wednesday, July 1 at noon to Monday, July 6 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #2: Monday, July 6 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 13 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #3: Monday, July 13 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 20 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #4: Monday, July 20 at 10:00 AM to Monday, July 27 at 9:50 AM
• Deal #5: Monday, July 27 at 10:00 AM to Friday, July 31 at 11:50 PM

These deals will automatically be announced on my Stampin' Up! website, and I will do my best to announce them here as soon as I can.

Demonstrator Starter Kit Specials!

Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is one of the best things I've ever done! I love it! From July 15 through August 31, take advantage of one of the two Summer Starter Kit Specials, including FREE In Color products or a discounted Starter Kit. I'll be posting more information on these specials tomorrow!



Whew! I think that's all the information I can overload you with today! I'll have a little more info on the Starter Kit Specials tomorrow, and hopefully I'll have cute new projects with some cute new products for you soon! Stay tuned!