$99 Starter Kit + Free Project Kit!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products:

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Note Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit—a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful—isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.

Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit—all for just $99! Contact me to get started today.

Bag yourself a Bargain!

Beginning today, April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in my Online Store. These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.

Please keep the following in mind:

• Grab bag orders can only be placed in the Online Store.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.
• There is no limit to the number of grab bags a customer may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last. 
• All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.
• Not all grab bags will be unique.
• You should use the following item numbers when ordering grab bags:

Item	Description
125873	$5 Grab Bag (containing at least $20 worth of products!)
125874	$10 Grab Bag (containing at least $40 worth of products!)
125875	$15 Grab Bag (containing at least $60 worth of products!)

Remember this is an online special from my store.
Happy GRAB-BAG-ing!

While you are online make sure you check out the Clearance Rack. It changes a lot, so check back often. In the last two days they've added a ton of markers, ribbons, and inks to mention a few of the additions. Even when you think you're at the end of the pages, click on the little forward circle there's hidden pages!

Sneak Peak new catalog promotion

Spring is blossoming with Sneak Peek products 
from upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Promotion dates: April 1-30, 2011

Promotion details:  Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!
• Hostess may choose either the wood-mount or clear-mount set.  Clear blocks are not included in the clear mount set.

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Have you been dreaming of owning a Big Shot?

What would you think if I told you I'm going give someone a Big Shot, an embossing folder, pay your shipping & taxes, plus give you 4 Free lessons so you know how to use it? Read on...

Wouldn't this make a nice Mother's Day gift?

First Lutheran Church is doing fundraising for a team of kids that will be going to Tanzania this summer. I am offering ONE silent auction Big Shot package. The Stampin' Up! package value is $173.70 $138.55 plus you'll get $60 in free classes bringing the total package value to $233.70 $198.55   It includes the following:

2 Sale-a-bration stamp sets - value up to $14.95 each

Sizzix Big Shot Machine - $99.95

Your choice of embossing folder (pg.214) - $7.95

2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog - $9.95

Shipping and Taxes - $25.95

4 Free Big Shot classes, I want you to know how to use it! - value $15 each class

Bidding starts at $100 and ends 
midnight March 30  April 24th

I will contact winner on Thursday the 31st on Monday April 25th to finalize your order. Cash or check should be made out to First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN. You may come get your package or I will delivered it if within 50 miles.

To bid (in increments of $5) simply add a comment to this post.  Include in your comment which 2 items you want from the SALE-A-BRATION mini catalog.  Remember to check back often to see where your bid is. 

Happy Bidding!

The Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! product line is a BIG deal! Cut over 50 materials with the Big Shot and duplicate creative and intricate designs quickly and easily. Get exclusive dies that coordinate with current Stampin' Up! product lines as well as standard Sizzix dies. 
     
UPDATE:    I've had a lot of lookers but no bids. I would love to see someone get this little package and the church team raise some cash so I'm extending the bidding until midnight April 24th (Easter Day). So tell your families you'd love to get this for Mother's day. The SALE-A-BRATION promotion has ended which means I no longer can get those 2 stamp sets for you. Sorry. The Stampin' Up! package value is now $138.55 and with the 4 FREE classes the total value of this package is $198.55

Summer mini Bicycle Shoebox swap

I participated in 3 different swaps this last weekend. For this shoebox swap we were to use the Summer mini stamp sets, I choose Pedaling Past (pg. 7). We were to have all the pieces cut and ready to assemble in 5 minutes. Uff-da, for me, quick and easy is always a challenge. But look look:

I done good didn't I?

45 Graduation cap cards

You're looking at 45 graduation cap "spring" cards. This time I almost followed the spring card directions without changing too much.

These cards fit in the medium envelops. When the graduate pulls out the card the cap springs up. 40 of these are for the Minnesota Leadership swap that I signed up for plus a few for the graduation parties we have been invited to attend.

Water Color Trio Swap

Here's the card I made for the Summer mini swap I was in last weekend:

Continuing your stamped image off the matted layer

Have you ever wondered how they get those images to line up from the background onto the matted layer?

Colors: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Bashful Blue

Punches: Large oval, Scalloped oval, Hearts edge punch, Scalloped circle (mask for clouds)

Stamping alignment Tip: Using dotto adhesive (pg. 192) temporarily attach the white layer on the old olive background layer. Stamp your images. Remove the top layer and attach the razzleberry mat. Now re-align these layers and attach with dimensionals.

Graduation cards & Shower cards Monday Mini May 10th

It's that time of the year when you need to have cards on hand for graduations and wedding showers. Here's the cards that my stampers made for the Monday mini class, May 10th.

This first card is a very quick and easy card:

This next card, I would call a fun funky fold. When I saw the spring fold cards, they reminded me of a graduation cap. I eliminated one of the folds from that pattern and switched around a couple other folds to make the gift pocket. What do you think?

Stampin' Up!s  ribbons only unravel from one direction. Therefore if you tie a knot on the one end and unravel the other, you'll have an easy tassel. Attach it to the top of the card/cap on the other side of the knot that is not unraveled, trim any excess ribbon. When the graduate lifts up the cap, it will reveal a pocket where you can place a gift card, cash and a small note letting them know it's from you.

I'm so loving the Big Shot embossing folders. Seems like my cards are missing something when I don't use at least one of the embossing folders. Here's the punchy shower card that was made, with just a little bit of stamping.

Isn't the crunchy punch flower just adorable? It's no secret I need to work on my photography skills, there really is 3 different pinks.


Punching Tip For Layering: For perfectly centered punches when doing multiple layers, start with the smallest punch, add adhesive and attach to the next layer, then center and punch.


Tip for Punching Corners: If you are having trouble with the new corner punches, curl the tip with your fingernail. Then when you slide the paper in, the tip will catch in the corner so you don't go to far.

BACKORDERS ON RETIRING COLORS

Snippets from the Stampin' Up! back order announcement that I thought you'd like to know about:

With our recent Color Renovation announcement, we have experienced a spike--much greater than anticipated--in demand for some of our retiring colors. You may have noticed in the backorder report that a significant number of colors in both card stock and re-inkers have gone into backorder status, and we recognize the frustration this may have caused you.

For re-inkers in retiring colors, as we run out, they will be placed on backorder status and those orders will be filled as quickly as we receive the product. We will continue to do this to the best of our ability through May, and then the re-inkers will be available while supplies last in June.

Card stock presents a bit larger problem, as the process of ordering and producing new paper from the paper mills is very involved, and we can't order significant quantities at this point in time without putting the production of the new colors in jeopardy (and we know you want those!). To help us be able to provide you with the card stock in the retiring colors for as long as possible, we will be substituting textured paper for some of the smooth colors--including card stock in 8-1/2" x 11" as well as 12" x 12"--where the smooth is no longer available.