Life is full…..with the Big Shot!

In case you haven’t learned the lastest news, SU is now offering the Big Shot with their own exclusive dies!  I can’t tell you how much I already love mine.  The starter kit comes with some great exclusive dies that are good for scrapbooking, cards, and gifts.  I’ve had so much fun!

Here’s a card using one of my favorite stamp sets from the Occasions Mini that made it into the new catty!

(all images are copyrighted at Stampin’ Up)

Stamps Sets: Full of Life

Big Shot dies: Bird and Blossoms, Top Note

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Other: Stamp a ma jig, stampin dimentionals

I love the big shot!  It makes creating beautiful cards so so easy.  I’m kinda an idiot when it comes to using new machines, but I had this one down pat right out of the package.  It’s that simple to use!  This card consisted of popping out a few dies, and stamping on the top note.  So easy.  Both the bird and the flower come in the birds and blossoms die, and the Tangerine Tango curvy block is another die called Top Note.  I’ve been using this to make not just simple outsides, but also for the inside of the card.

Do you have a stamp a ma jig?  I put off buying one for the longest time, because I thought I didn’t need it.  But it is the perfect cure for my crooked stamping disease.  It helped me perfectly center the sentiment for this card.  And, I love this John Lennon quote.  This greeting set has so many wonderful sentiments for various occasions.

Not one but two recruiting specials!!!!!!!!

Do you love Stampin’ Up’s stamps, inks, papers, and accessories?  Do you get excited before a new catty comes out?   Is your current catty worn from flipping through it over and over again for ideas and new stamps?  Would you like to earn money to pay for your stamping hobby, or make even more to put towards other goals.  Have you ever thought about becoming a Stampin’ Up demo?  If you become an SU demo you will get a minimum of 20% off your orders (you can earn even more based on your monthly sales), get to preorder new stamp sets before customers even get to see them (and this year you get all preorder stamps at an additional 20% off!), receive exclusive SU publications that give you ideas and training, and on an on.  And, with our super low sales minimum of 300 dollars every three months it’s easy to stay a demo whether you want to sell only to yourself for the discount or are looking to build your business into a full time job.

So now to the two specials.  Option number one is to choose an additional free stamp set with our regular starter kit (199 dollars).  The starter kit is already an awesome deal, and you can customize the stamps, paper, and ink if you don’t like the ones that come with the kit.

The second option is a mini starter kit.  It comes with all the business supplies that our regular starter kit comes with, but is a smaller version of the larger kit.  So if you are only interested in selling the decor elements you can choose the decor element mini kit.  These are a great way to customize your business, get your foot in the door, or get started easily if you already have lots of SU supplies. The mini kits can also be customized.

Both promotions run from August 11th to October 11th.  I have included the mini kit contents at the end of this post.

If you are interested in becoming a demo I would love to talk to you about being part of my team.  I love working for Stampin’ Up, sharing my love of creativity with others, and supporting my downline as they develop their businesses.  I have a private blog with advice just for my downline, and I want to help support my downline to reach their personal goals for their business.  I equally support those looking to make their minimums with their own purchases, to those looking to make this a full time business, and everyone in between.

You can email me at colleenstamps@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about being a demo and/or becoming a part of my team.  And, because I have a website through stampin’ up becoming a demo is easy.  It can all be done online, and you don’t have to be in Texas to be a part of my team.  I look forward to talking to you!

$99 Starter Kit Promotion

Stamp-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code	Description	Price
109515	Fast and Fun Notes Stamp Set	$30.95
100730	Bold Brights card stock assortment (8-1/2″ x 11″)	$7.50
105548	Basic Black Classic Stampin’ Pad	$7.95
101179	SNAIL Adhesive	$4.95
104332	Whisper White card stock (8-1/2″ x 11″)	$6.95

Scrapbook-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code	Description	Price
111570	Contempo Alphabet stamp set	$40.95
113059	Simply Scrappin’ Petal Party	$19.95
105212	Pixie Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad	$5.25

Home Décor-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code	Description	Price
111656	Inspired by Nature stamp set	$23.95
114088	Décor Elements Chocolate Classic Ff	$3.95
114126	Décor Elements Medium Chocolate Long Stem Silhouettes	$17.95
114285	Décor Elements Applicator	$1.95
111835	Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin’ Pad	$5.25

Dreams Grow…. with the new in colors

I got my new shipment of preorder goodies! By far one of my favorite things about being a demo is that I get to sneak peak products that customers won’t be able to buy till the new catty is out. I was super excited to get new stamps sets, and even more excited to get the new in colors.

This card uses the new set Dreams du Jour.

Supplies:

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, and Pink Pirouette

Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals

(all images © Stampin’ Up)

Aren’t the new in colors beautiful! I used the Riding Hood Red for my card base. I then stamped the small butterfly stamp onto the cardstock with Riding Hood Red ink to create a nice background. Then I made faux suede paper by rubbing my Kiwi Kiss cardstock along a bone folder until it started to separate at the edge. Then, slowly peel the paper in two. The inside of the separated paper will look like suede. I then stamped the Dream stamp onto Pink Pirouette cardstock, and mounted it onto the faux suede Kiwi Kiss cardstock. Once that was mounted to the card, I stamped three butterflies onto Pink Pirouette and cut them out. Then I mounted each butterfly onto the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals so that they look like they are flying.

Speaking of In Colors, have you stocked up on all this year’s In Colors? If not, make sure you stock up on all your favorites, because they will be gone for good after August 10th. And, don’t forget a reinker for your ink pad!

I actually made a card!!!!

So, when I moved to Texas I could really only take what I absolutely needed, and the rest is coming August.  So there I sat in my stamping area deciding what had to come and what could wait.  I was clearly out of my mind from packing, because other than my new stamp sets I only packed: paper (lovely lilac and confetti cream), snail, bone folder, scissors, bright ink pads, staz on pad.  That’s it!  I didn’t even pack a paper cutter!  Was I insane?  Luckily, I had some Great Rewards (one of the many programs to benefit demos) so I got a free paper trimmer from SU.

But, being so limited in supplies reminds me why I got into stamping and SU.  I loved their images and I loved their matching paper and ink.  So I did the best KISS (Keep It Simple Sister) card I could, and remembered that it takes as much time to put together a simple beautiful card as it does one filled with ribbon, brads, and other goodies.

So here’s the card:

Supplies:

Paper: Lovely Lilac, Confetti Cream

Ink: Lovely Lilace, Staz On, Gable Green, YoYo Yellow, Pink Passion

Stamps: Boho Backgrounds, God is Love

Other: Blender Pen

(all images are ;copy& Stampin’ Up)

This card is pretty simple.  I stamped the confetti cream card with the flowers from Boho Backgrounds in lovely lilac.  I then stamped three of my favorite images from God is love, and cut them each into squares.  I colored them fun girly colors with my bright ink pads and a blender pen.  Then I mounted them on a lovely lilac strip, and mounted it to the right side of the card.  This card was give to a friend of our for her daughter’s baptism.

And, while I enjoyed stretching my mind with limited supplies I can’t wait to order new stuff on July 1st!  Demos get to preorder from a sneak preview, which means in about two weeks I’ll have all the new in colors to play with!  And, I’ll get two free stamp sets as part of another SU demo reward program.  I love being a demo!

Going to the Chapel

A week from Saturday I will be getting married. Needless to say I’ve been super busy planning, and doing more than a few do it yourself projects. I am so excited to be married! I also can’t wait to be in Rome for my honeymoon, and then make my new home with my husband in Texas. And, I look forward to returning to a normal stamping schedule , and playing with all my stamping toys (and making thank you wedding cards, of course).

So after mid May this blog should go back to having regular posts.

One of the things I love about being an SU demo is that our low quarterly sales requirements allow me to slow down my business when my life demands it. I love so many of the stamp sets in this catalog that I could have easily jam packed in classes and workshops, and spent each every day stamping all day long. But, I have been blessed with planning not just a wedding, but preparing to be a Godly wife as well. Needless to say that with all the things I made for the wedding (invites, favor boxes, pew bows, etc.) my SU business needed to slow a bit. But, because we only have to sell 300 every three months I was able to present one buying opportunity to my customers and clear myself through the end of June. Which means I can still enjoy all the fun of being a demo without having to give up everything in my non-stamping world.

Have you ever thought about being an SU demo? If you have, I’d love to talk to you about the opportunity to save money not only on your personal stamping and scrapbooking, but also talk to you about the joy of sharing your love of stamping with others. Stampin’ Up is truly a wonderful company to work for, and now is a great time to become a part of the family. There is a recruitment special for May. You with get 20% off the starter kit, and you will receive your choice of Hodge Podge Hardware for free!

Happy New Year!

And, thus begins the start of 2008. I managed to stay up till midnight, and soon after fell fast to sleep. I hope everyone had a pleasant night ringing in the new year.

So what are your stamping resolutions for 2008? Here are mine:

1. Stamp more: One, because you can always find more time to stamp, and because there are so many new goodies in the Spring/Summer catty to play with. I’m also making my own wedding invitations so I’m going to have to stamp more to get them done. What a sacrifice

2. Scrapbook more: Over the next few days I will be making a 6×6 scrapbook for my nephew’s birthday. I also want to continue working on my fiance’s scrapbook, and at some point scrapbook my family’s vacation though the southwest last summer. And, I want to scrap more, because I’ve become addicted to stamping in my scrapbooks. It really allows my scrapbook pages to be one of a kind.

3. Submit to SU contests and publications: One of the reasons I love being a demo with SU is because, they recognize how talented their demonstrators are and they like to show off our work (or should I say play). One way to get your cards recognized as a demo is send in to their monthly contests. Along with bragging rights, you get three free stamp sets if you win! I also want to send my cards to different magazines for publication.

4. Keep my stamping area in organized chaos: I know that doesn’t make sense, but I’d be lying if I said my goal was to have a perfectly clean stamping area. I’m just not that kind of stamper. By the time I’m done stampin my table looks like something has exploded. But, I would like to commit to cleaning up my area each time I finish a card as opposed to letting it stay messy until the next time I go to stamp.

5. Try new things: I really want to take advantage of the tutorials and challenges on splitcoast stampers this year. Learning new things allows me not only to have more fun, but it gives me more techniques to show my fellow stampers. Sketch challenges especially help me broaden my own creativity, and get me thinking out of my own stamping box.

And, lest the New Year start without a newly stamped example here is a page from my fiance’s scrapbook:

Recipe:

Stamps: Wild West Alphabet, Zoofari
Paper: Cutie Pie, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Bashful Blue Craft, Always Artichoke Craft, Chocolate Chip Craft, Black Staz On
(all images © Stampin’ Up)

This page features one of my favorite (at least until I get my hands on all the new designer series papers ) designer series papers, Cutie Pie. The piece of dsp helped me formulate this layout. I wanted the border on the bottom with the title and the journal box, and when I saw my pictures I thought it would be cute to line up my fiance’s picture amongst the zoo animals. I cut the pictures so that they all fit in line together. For the title I punched out cicles, and stamped the letters with the Wild West Alphabet. I love this alphabet! I then took a few of my animals in the Zoofari set, and stamped them along the border and corner of my journal box. And, in just a few minutes I had a fun scrapbook page.

I hope one of your New Year’s Resolutions is turn earn lots of free stamps sets from SU. If it is talk to me about hosting a workshop in Jan. and Feb. to earn free sets!

More fun with Nursery Necessities

A friend of mine and my fiance’s cousin are both having babies so I’ve been having fun making baby cards for them. I’m quickly falling far the Nursery Necessities set I received in my spring catalog preorder. It is such a fun set to play with, and could easily be used for more than just baby cards. The boat, for example, fits in great with Stampin’ Up’s Crew Classic style watch that will be featured in the new catalog.

Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Bundle of Joy, Nursery Necessities
Ink: Versa Mark, Regal Rose, Lovely Lilac
Paper: Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Lovely Lilac
Extras: Sponge daubers, Stampin’ dimensionals, large star punch
(all images © Stampin’ Up)

I created the first layer with regal rose cardstock, and gave it a background with the small star from the nursery necessities stamp set in versamark ink. I then cut out an additional layer in lovely lilac, and stamped the sweet heart stamp from Bundle of Joy and the little star again in versamark. I placed the greeting for the card in the lower right corner in black, and used my sponge daubers to create more visual interest to the card by sponging on some lovely lilac around the edge of that layer. Finally I stamped the star letter stamp onto very vanilla paper, punched in out with the large star punch, and mounted it to the cards with a stampin’ dimensional. I chose to pop the star up, because I thought the card would look too flat without it. You could add even more dimension to the card by adding addtional punched stars (maybe in lovely lilac?) to the regal rose layer. If I were making this for a boy baby I would probably use brillant blue, real read, and yo-yo yellow.

I’m having so much fun playing with all the new catty stamp sets I preordered, and from the looks of the new catty I’m going to be ordering plenty of stamps in the new year as well.

A Simple Card for a Simple Stamp

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Mine was busy, but lots of fun as it was my first with my fiance. Of course, now I’m ready for the new year and the new SU catalog. I’ve been pouring though my demo copy, and am absolutely in love with it.

I made a card using another one of the amazing stamp sets I received through my demonstrator preorder. It features the darling doodle birdies that have become so popular amongst stampers. I wanted the card to be simple and play up the child like fun of this simple stamp.

Recipe:
Stamp Sets: A Little Birdie Told Me, Nursery Necessities
Paper: Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla
Ink: Black Staz On, Versamark
Extras: SU watercolor crayons bold brights
(all images © Stampin’ Up)

I discovered this color combo while making a baby card for my friend. Her nursery is the most adorable combo of blue and pink, and I felt the regal rose was the closest match to the pink in her nursery. And, I felt the bashful blue and regal rose was such a beautiful combo that I keep using it. I stamped my blue cardstock with the small star from the nursery necessities set in versamark. The star is just the right size to make backgrounds with. I then stamped the birdie on very vanilla paper, and stamped the birdie in black staz on. Because, I wanted to keep with the child like quality of this stamp set I used the watercolor crayons, and used more than one color of crayon to fill in the bird. Instead of flawlessly blending the colors together, I made the line between the colors a little more clear to look more child like. I found it more interesting visually to offset the very vanilla against the regal rose. It also seemed to give the image more movement as it looks like the bird is moving up as opposed to just stuck in place.

This card was oh so simple to make and lots of fun. You can earn this set for free by hosting a qualifying workshop in the month of January.

Will you be my Valentine?

Amongst my preview stamps was Happy Heart Day an adorable Valentine set. It’s a great set for scrapbooks and little kid Valentines (or a card to an adult recalling the old valentine swapping days).

Here’s the card I made:

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Happy Heart Day
Ink: Black Staz On, Versamark
Paper: Real Red, Regal Rose
Extras: Rose Red Designer Series Paper, Build-a-brad, SU watercolor paper, Crystal Effects
(all images © Stampin Up)

I had so much fun coloring in this little guy. I used my SU watercolor paper, which I am quickly getting addicted to, and colored it in with the following SU markers: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue. I stamped a small flower and heart stamp from the set with versamark on the Real Red cardstock. I then used the build-a-brad to decorate the corner of that layer. This was the first time I’ve ever tried the build-a-brad. I love them! They are a super easy way to make an unique embellishment. I punched out a half-inch circle with the SU circle punch, adhered it with crystal effects, and placed the clear bubble on top. I thought it added a little pop to the card.

You can earn this set, or one of the others from the preview brochure, for free by holding a qualifying workshop in January.

A side note: Did you know St. Valentine was a priest? He was killed, because he refused to stop preforming christian marriages. What a heroic priest! He died so that the sacrament of marriage could continue. So maybe you could send your priest or minister a card this Valentine’s Day, and let them know how much your appreciate their service to God and to you.

I’m heading down to Texas tomorrow to see my fiance! Needless to say I’m going to be a busy bee having tons of fun so I might not be able to post for a few days. Enjoy your Christmas, and enjoy celebrating Our Savior’s birth with your friends and family.

A Glimpse of Spring

No, not out my window, but with my stamps. I received my preorder from the Spring/Summer SU catty. Getting to play with the stamps before the catalog comes out is just one of the benefits of being a demonstrator.

Here is a card I made using the beautiful Embrace Life set:

Recipe:
Stamp Set- Embrace Life
Paper- Regal Rose, Rose Red, SU watercolor paper
Ink- Black Staz On
Extras: SU brads, sponge dauber, aquapainter, cropadile
(all images © Stampin Up)

This flower set just screamed for color so I took out my markers, aquapainter, and watercolor paper. First I stamped the large flower onto the watercolor paper. I then masked it by cutting out a piece of scrap paper in its shape, and placed it over the image. I then inked up the smaller flower stamp, and stamped it on both sides of the flower so that it appears to be one large stamp. Masking is a great way to get a variety of looks from just a few stamps. I then colored in the image with the following SU markers: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Summer Sun, Garden Green. I then took my sponge dauber and added Regal Rose ink to the edge of the watercolor paper to add dimension without adding another paper layer.

Now, my first temptation was to mount the watercolor paper in the center and call it a day, but instead I place it to the side, and added some SU brads for visual interest. I marked, with a pencil, where I wanted my holes to be, and then used the small hole punch on the cropadile to punch them out. Finally, I added the Embrace Life sentiment at the bottom of the card in Black Staz On.