April Stamp Club Cards

We had fun this week at Stamp Club.  I used some retiring items on the cards.

This card was the favorite by everyone.   Actually, most things on this card will be in the new catalog coming out in June .... except for Marina Mist ink that I used for the water in the Wetlands stamp and the Leaflets die which I will really miss.

We all need sympathy cards in our stash and hope we don't have to use them.  This card uses Heartfelt Sympathy and Work of Art (boo hoo) stamp set and Perfect Plum which are all retiring.   

Another retiring stamp set - Painters Palette and ink - Tempting Turquoise.  I love bright colors so this was a favorite card of mine and super easy.  I'll miss Tempting Turquoise ink.  It used to be "go to" ink but I don't think  I have used it much lately.

This retirement stamp set was a shocker to me.  It was so popular and only around for a year.  It's one I will hang onto because it makes such cute cards.  The happy birthday is embossed in white.  The black and white striped ribbon is on sale now for $2 in Clearance!!  The tiled floor is 1/2" white squares that are glued onto the black cardstock.

Don't forget to check out the Clearance section as well as the retiring items.  Just click above - Shop and Clearance to check out the deals.

CLEARANCE!!

Stampin' Up! updated the CLEARANCE Rack today with lots of goodies!  Quite a few are perfect to incorporate with Holiday products .....

Gold Wink of Stella
Red and Green Silky Ribbon
Gold Sequin Trim
Classy Designer Buttons
Crushed Curry Bakers Twine
Emerald Envy Taffeta
Gold and Silver Satin Ribbons
White Gift Boxes

These items are only available while supplies last.

There is also this Cheerful Tags Framelits which would be great for Christmas tags!



And another one - Merry Tags Framelits -


AND what a deal on this Designer Tin of Cards for $10.80!




There are a lot more great deals so head on over and check them all out HERE.

Clearance!

 

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that the Stampin' UP! Clearance Rack and Special Offers have been updated.  You are sure to find something you need on sale.  Check it out HERE.  And please make sure you are shopping with me and that you add in the Hostess Code AGVSDKCG.


I got some great news yesterday!  When I was in Hawaii, I went to a Weight Watchers meeting every week.  I wanted to make sure I was accountable while I was on vacation.  It was ok if I didn't lose weight (which I didn't figure I would!) but I didn't want to gain too much either.  As it turned out, I gained a little the first week; lost a little the second and third week and ended up coming home the same weight as I left which was great.  Last night was my first Weight Watchers meeting since I got home and I had lost a couple of pounds, getting me to my GOAL weight!!  I am so happy.  Now I just have to maintain.  I think I have learned a new way of eating in these past few months.  The only problem is going to be on Football Sundays when we go to a bar and have fried stuff and beer.  

These are Banyan Trees

The path to the beach

This is the Kailua Bird Man.  The birds just flocked to him as he walked down the beach.  He has names for all the birds and just walks out into the ocean with about a dozen birds on his shoulders, arms, head, etc.  It was fascinating!   You can read more about him HERE.

Waikiki Beach

Year End Sale

DETAILS:

• Promotion Dates:  December 10 - January 4, 2016
• No minimum purchase required
• No refunds or exchanges on Year End Sale items.
• Items can be combined on orders with non Year End Sale items.
• Year End Sale orders are eligible for Stampin' Rewards with qualifying orders.
• Following the Year End Sale, some remaining items may stay in the Clearance Rack.  Other items may be removed from the Clearance Rack to be added at another undermined time.

SHOP HERE     When you shop on-line, please use my Hostess Code:  MESNY6FN

It's That Time of Year!

Are you feeling overwhelmed?  It's that time of year!  I am so behind this year!  Who am I kidding?  I am behind every year and doing things at the last minute on a regular basis!  Marianne and I were discussing this today.  Why don't we do these things in the summer or fall instead of waiting until last minute.  Although, I have to say, I have been working on my 6x6 calendars a little at a time for several months.  But I like to do 2-3 different calendars.  Today I spent most of the day working on the calendars that I give out this time of year.  I am going to have to send them to Office Depot to get printed though.  I tried printing them on my printer and got funny yellow lines going up and down - not pretty!  Don't have time to figure out the problem with my printer either. Tonight while watching TV, I worked on some little punch art reindeer tags that I am going to take to my Mahjong Christmas party on Friday.  When I finish those, I need to start on the gifts I want to make for the bridge party on Monday.  And then work on the projects for Stamp Club next week! We are going to do tags and gift cards and I will be using the Oh What Fun Tag Kit from the Holiday catalog.

Yesterday was the Duplicate Bridge Christmas party.  It was rather bittersweet.  We had a huge void with Sharon not being there this year.  She loved Christmas and we usually had our Christmas party in her home.  We all felt like she was with us this year in spirit; looking down on us.  We also welcomed two new members .... well, they aren't new since they have been subbing for us for the past year but now they will be regular members of the group.

Here's a picture of the group - minus Kathy since she was taking the picture.  We did a gift exchange and Kathy got a Selfie Stick but we couldn't figure out how to use it so we just took turns taking pictures.

At lunch, Diane had napkins on the table that were folded to look like a Christmas tree.  She gave us instructions on how to make them, but mine didn't turn out so good.  Here is the one Diane did:

Be aware that Stampin' Up will have more products on CLEARANCE for their Year End Sale starting December 10 - January 4, while supplies last.  They will be offering discounts up to 60 per cent on select products.  So make sure you check them out starting Thursday.

Also - more good news!!  Because of the popularity of the Woodland Embossing Folder, it will not be retiring!!  It will be available in the next annual catalog!!  I am so glad!

Here are the Weekly Deals - just in time for Christmas!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sleigh Ride Edgelits

I have been having fun with the stamp sets, framelits, punches, DSP, etc. from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  There are so many great sets and bundles in this catalog.  But one item I do not want to ever be without is on page 43 - the Fine Tip Glue Pen.  OMG!!  It is fabulous!  I used it earlier on a swap I am making to run a fine line of glue and put glitter on a flower.  So much easier than anything else I have used.  I suggest you put that on your list of things you have to have from this catalog!!

Here are a couple of cards I have made using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits (pg 12).  They were on my list from the beginning and I love them.

For this card, I cut the Santa apart and adhered it under the Vellum that I embossed snowflakes in sliver.   The "jingle" sentiment is from Jingle All the Way which is bundled with the Sleigh Ride Edgelits.

On this card, I sponged the Tip Top Taupe with white ink to tone it down a bit.  I did the trees in Mint Macaron and the embossed sky (using a new embossing folder - Softly Falling, pg. 24) is Pool Party. I mounted the whole card onto Lost Lagoon.  I like the varying shades of blue and green.

These are the bundles available in the Holiday Mini:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

If you are putting an order in on-line, please use my Hostess Code for this month  - TPJ9XSDC

If you are interested in the Paper Pumpkin Deal, TODAY is the last day to take advantage of the HALFPRICE deal!


There are some great items for this week's Weekly Deals - I don't know about you, but I can always use some pearls!  And the sequins will go great in a Halloween Shaker card!  And what about that silver ribbon and glimmer paper?  Great for the holiday stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

New items have been added to the Clearance Rack this week also.  Remember, these items can be used for your club order too.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

MDS Monday Sketch

I've been working on my page for this week's MDS Monday challenge.  For some reason, I was really stumped this time!  In fact, I made three pages trying to decide.  But I think I like the last one I did the best so that is what I am submitting for the challenge.

I love the greens in the picture.  I made my background color to match the green in the flowers.  I used an overlay (love overlays!!) from Decorative Overlays - actually, I used two of them - one colored in white and one in green.  I really like the hazy look of the background.  I purchased about $65 in MDS downloads yesterday with my club order and had to use some of them on this page.

Embellishments used -

• Hello World Chalk Dots Overlay (recolored Pear Pizzaz)
• Everyday Enchantment Ribbon - Lucky Limeade (recolored to match)

Stamps used

• Decorative Overlays Flowers 
• Simple Snapshots - "the beauty of life" colored in white and green

Paper used:

• Whisper White background
• Hi There DSP #2

The font is a new one I just discovered also called EPIDEMIA.



There were new items added to the Clearance List today.  There are a couple of cute stamps from the Holiday Catalog that you might like!

If you decide to order from the Clearance .... or even some of the retired items, please use my Hostess Code 4CFDVMMK.

I also want to let you know that if you are tired of trying to read the teeny tiny print of the Retiring Stamps and Accessories List, if you will click above "SHOP ONLINE" and click on "SHOP NOW" button and then RETIRING PRODUCTS, the list will open with a picture, price, item code, etc. - everything you need to make your choice.

Have fun shopping and don't forget to use the Hostess Code please!

Clearance and Weekly Deals Plus Christmas Trivia!

It's Tuesday and that means new Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!  The Deals include one of my favorites - the Chalk Talk Framelits Die set.  Also, be sure to check out the YEAR END CLEARANCE items at my online store.  Items are only available while supplies last.





Here are some random Christmas facts that I got from someone!  Enjoy!

The Popular Poinsettia

Holiday Past
Poinsettias were first introduced into this country in 1828 by the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett.

Holiday Present
Poinsettias are now grown in all 50 states and represent over 85 percent of potted plant sales during the holidays. Over $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during holiday season!

Kisses in Color

Holiday Past
Hershey's started wrapping their Kisses in red, green, and silver foil for the first time in 1962. The success of the holiday-wrapped Kisses led Hershey's to dress up their little chocolates for the Easter, Valentine's Day, and Fall Harvest seasons.

Holiday Present
Hershey's now wraps up to 1,300 Hershey's Kisses a minute. That gives them the capacity to make approximately 33 million Hershey's Kisses a day, or more than 12 billion a year!

A Tree of Lights

Holiday Past
In 1949, the tree at Rockefeller Center was strung with 7,500 bulbs.

Holiday Present
Now more than 25,000 bulbs are strung on the tree - that's more than 5 miles of lights!

Artificial Trees

Holiday Past
Artificial Christmas trees were on the market by 1900. They were available by mail from Sears, Roebuck and Company, and cost 50 cents for 33 limbs, or a dollar for 55 limbs.

Holiday Present
Most artificial trees are now manufactured in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong and contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals. They usually range in price from $200 to $2,000.

Holiday Mail

Holiday Past
The first Christmas card, created by a London businessman, was printed in England in 1843. Three years later, the first commercial Christmas cards were available to the public. One thousand cards in all were produced and they were an instant success.

Holiday Present
The holiday season is now the busiest time of the year for the US Postal Service. Last year, over 20 billion cards, letters, and packages were sent, causing the USPS to hire nearly 40,000 temporary workers and put thousands of additional trucks, trains, and planes in service.

Clearance Rack Blitz!!

 

 

 

Who doesn't like a great deal?  Especially on some old favorites!

 

Buy yourself a Christmas present!!

Stampin' Up! is going to be filling the clearance rack with never before posted retired items.  Up to 80% off!  They are clearing out the warehouses and YOU are going to benefit.
  

If it's your first time online shopping you will need to create your profile,
you may want to take care of that now, so you are ready to shop later.

If you do not shop online, you may call me or e-mail me
and I will place your order for you. See info in the blog header to contact me.

 Remember this sale is "WHILE SUPPLIES LAST".

 

Click on CLEARANCE in the tab above.

Time for another CLEARANCE BLITZ!

Clearance Rack Blitz:
A new Clearance Rack Blitz begins December 10.  Retired products-up to 80% off-will only be available while supplies last.  If you place an online order, please use the Hostess Code when prompted - RADZVCQJ
Also, Sara Douglass filled in for her mom, Shelly, on the Today show last week.  You can see the video HERE.

I realized I did not share the Thanksgiving pictures that I took.  Unfortunately, none of us took too many pictures .... too busy visiting and eating!!

Ashley, Grandmom Betty and Girlfriend (Sharon)

Sharon gave me this Friendship Basket with a few adult beverages in it for Sonny and I.  Isn't it beautiful?

Marianne and Sharon made the candle decorations and place cards. 

Plenty of food for everyone!!

Girlfriends!

The table is set.

I made these a year or two ago and just "spruced" them up a bit this year.

Place settings on the table made by Marianne and Sharon

thank

Washi Tape

 If you are like me, you're not too sure what all the hub-bub is about Washi Tape.  I have used it a few times (see my journal below) and I really like it but would like to know more.  Well, Stampin' Up to the rescue!

The gray striped tape & the coral tape (beside the gray one at the top) are all This & That Washi tape.  It goes on great and just adds a little something to your project.!

 

What to Washi!    

Stampin' Up!'s brand new online class - What to Washi - is now available. Offering seven different sections of Washi wisdom, this class includes everything you need to know to make the most of one of the hottest crafting trends out there, including written instructions, step-out photos, instructional videos, and supply lists for more than 30 projects.

All for just $14.95!The following topics are covered in the class:

. The Washi Basics
. Washi-The Next Step
. Above and Beyond
. Sharing Washi with Others
. Memory Keeping
. Storage
. Only the Beginning. . .
 
 

But wait, there's more! This class is also being offered as part of the What to Washi Bundle.

Bundle Includes:
* 7 PDF Documents
* 2 Instructional Videos
* 4 pkgs of Washi Tape (3 rolls per pkg)
* 20 Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

All this for only $36.95

The class features seven different sections, and takes a customer from the basics to incredibly creative and customized Washi Tape ideas. Customers receive more than 30 projects ideas, along with Stampin' Supplies and detailed instructions; in addition, there are step outs and two videos included with the class. When you order the What to Washi Bundle, you'll be the first to receive our Season of Style and Witches Brew Washi Tape packages; they aren't available to individual purchase until August 1!

If you want to order this class OR bundle, please use my July hostess code when ordering - Y4BBPUMB

You can order HERE.

And don't forget about the new CLEARANCE items.  Stampin' Up strongly recommends that customers order clearance items on online orders via a hostess code to guarantee availability. Customers may add clearance items to a workshop order, but because clearance items are only available while supplies last, it's possible that the item will not be available when the order is submitted.

Bootiful Thanks

Punxsutawney's famous groundhog predicts spring will come early this year.  Yay!!  With thousands watching on Gobbler's Knob in west-central Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair Saturday but didn't see his shadow.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-predicts-early-spring-article-1.1253756#ixzz2JmPSXeNy

I've been working on my thank you cards and have even gotten them mailed!  Yay for me.  This one uses the Bootiful Occasions and some retired DSP.  The DSP is Well Worn and is on the Clearance rack so if you want it, scurry over there and put it in your cart.  The "thank you" is stamped with the Itty Bitty Banners set which is available FREE for Sale-a-bration.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Who do you predict will win the Super Bowl tomorrow?  From everything I am hearing, it is a hard one to predict.  I will be pulling for the Ravens for a couple of reasons.  This is the final game for Ray Lewis, a veteran player for Baltimore, and I would like to see a win for him.  Also, if San Francisco wins, they would have the same number of Super Bowl rings as the Steelers and I don't want that to happen!!  Whatever happens, I hope it is a good close game.

Clearance Plus ....Thanks A Ton

 EDITED TO ADD :  I used Circle Nestabilities for the circles in this card.  The card measures 4 1/2 x 11".  Score the long side at 2 3/4" - flip and score again @ 2 3/4".  I just used the "Nestie" circles that would fit the card.

I just checked out the Clearance page and there are some great buys there.  Some of my favorite Designer Paper is on sale - Everyday Enchantment (my all time fav!) and Well Worn.  Also there is some great ribbon (Bashful Blue Satin and Pear Pizazz Seam Binding) as well as Twitterpated Buttons, Neutral Brads and some punches.  The other GREAT deal if you have My Digital Studio is the Content Discs for $1.00!!!  Yep - $1.00  - not a typo but I imagine these will go fast so if you are interested, better not wait.  Order them now.  One of the CD's (Express Booster Pack) includes 400 Designer Papers and originally sold for $39.95.  Either contact me and I can put in an order for you or you can order online at my Online Store HERE.

I am having such fun with the Oh Whale stamp!  I just love this card I made this weekend with a little different fold. 



Oh Whale closed - front view



Opening up



The cut out circle is adhered to the top of the card and the solid white circle is adhered to the bottom half of the card.




Inside of card

 The colors I used are white and Marina Mist.  It is easy to cut the little whale out using the Clear Sizzlit and the little water that is spouting out of the whale in the inside picture also is punched out with the sizzlit.  I am also loving the Cloud Embossing Folder!

Clearance!!

Stampin' Up cleared out their warehouse and put them on the Clearance list.  Lots of new CLEARANCE items have just been added.  Click HERE to see all the new goodies added to Stampin' Up!
Ribbon – Punches – Stamp Sets – Embellishments, Big Shot Dies, etc! and while you are in there, add your last minute favorites from the Holiday Mini Catalog, as it ends soon.

CLEARANCE!!

Stampin' Up! just added over 70 items to the Clearance Rack.  Check it out soon before they disappear! 
The Clearance Rack is an online store where you can get fantastic deals of up to 60% Off on retired Stampin' Up! accessories.

Lots of retired items are available in the Clearance Rack at great savings including Very Vanilla Designer Velvet Ribbon, Magnet Sheets, Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper and Side Notes, Bitty Box & Envelope Bigz XL Die, 12" x 12" Card Stock in various individual color packages, Classic Ink Stampin' Spots Collections, Crimper, Decor Blocks, Decorative Strip Cutting Pads, Flower Designer Brads, 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in various colors, Ovals Originals Die, Simply Adorned Charms and Chains and Baubles and Trinkets, Designer Albums, and much, much more!

Don't forget that three of our retired Designer Fabrics (Candy Cane Christmas, Deck the Halls, and Sweet Stitches) are available for only $.99 each while supplies last!
Please keep the following things in mind about Clearance Rack items:

• all items are available only while supplies last and supplies can be limited
• all sales of Clearance Rack items are final, no exchanges can be made
• Clearance Rack items must be ordered online only, they can not be ordered through me
• minimum shipping charges do apply of $6.95 or 10% of merchandise ordered, whichever is greater
• you pay Stampin' Up! directly with a credit card
• no limits and no minimum purchase requirements
• you may order current catalog merchandise at the same time if you wish

To get to the site, please click on the ORDER FROM ME button on the top of my blog.  Then, click on the "Clearance Rack" link on the right side.  

Stamping Queens Sketch plus CLEARANCE items added

 

Yesterday was the Stamping Queens Sketch Challenge.  I designed another card using My Digital Studio.  It was a pretty easy sketch this time. Here is my take on it using the stamp set, Fabulous Florets.  Click HERE to see the cards the other gals designed with the sketch.

Margaret has been visiting me for a couple of days from Texas.  We went to Charlotte on Monday to pick her and Graham up and stopped off on the way home at the Original Pancake House .... yummy!!  Sonny and I took them to the airport this morning  - an almost costly trip.  We were driving back home just talking when flashing lights pulled up behind us.  We were on a highway that we hardly ever travel on and Sonny thought the speed limit was 60 or 65.  NOT!  It was 55.  Don't know how fast we were going - the officer did not tell him, just that he was speeding.  After he ran his license, he ended up only giving him a warning.  Such a nice guy!!  Whew!

NEWS FLASH: 

 55 NEW Clearance Rack items have been added to my Online Store, including a number of punches, dies, and accessories.  I will be putting an order in this weekend for Clearance items.  If you want to add yours to mine to save on postage, let me know.

The Negative and the Positive

I made this card using another one of the goodies that my friend, Judy, gave me last week.  This time it is the Sizzix leaf die.  I saw a card similar to this one on Pininterest.  It is so easy to make but a Wow! card I think.  You use both the negative and positive images of the leaf die.  The DSP is from the Twitterpated pack which is in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I used the Daisy Sizzix Die for the flower and a corduroy button (retired) for the center.  I love these buttons and hate that SU discontinued them.  Luckily, I stocked up on them when they were on Clearance.  The ribbon is also from Clearance - actually, you can still purchase it on the Clearance rack for $3.49 for the roll which is a great price for almost 10 yards of ribbon.  I love this ribbon because it ties so nicely.  At the top of my blog, just click on the Clearance tab to look at the other items available.  There are still several punches available on Clearance also.

(A tip - if you are going to order  items from Clearance or the regular on-line store, make sure you make it worthwhile as far as shipping - SU puts a minimum of $6.95 for shipping on orders so to just order one roll of ribbon would not be smart - order other items or go in with a friend and share the shipping.)

Clearance Rack Blitz Begins Today

	From December 15, 2011, through January 5, 2012, nearly 200 products are being added to the Clearance Rack in the Online Store--with some discounted up to 80 percent!  Visit the Online Store to take part in the savings! (Within the Online Store, in the Clearance Rack Blitz category, there will be some identical punches that have two different item numbers; this is because SU is using inventory from both their American and  European warehouses. We will indicate which punches this affects in the product description.

Christmas Monday Mailer

It's a new month for Monday Mailers and I decided to switch it up a little bit.  This month I am letting the recipients ask for the type of card they would like to receive.  As for me, I really don't care - just don't need any more Halloween cards!  Becky, who I am sending to, requested Christmas cards.  That's great because I need to get my butt in gear with my own Christmas cards so I can do mine right along with doing hers.  I really tried something different with the first card I sent her.  She should have received it today (or tomorrow) so I figured it would be ok to share it with you.



Front of card

 

View of card opened

I used the DSP from the Holiday Mini, Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is from Word Play.  The ribbon is actually vanilla ribbon - I used my dauber to color it.

Here's how I did it using the Sizzix Movers & Shapers Die.  I only wanted to cut half of the ornament out on the fold of my paper.

• I started with a piece of  cardstock 4 1/4" x 11". 
• Score at 2 3/4" & 5 1/2" (or instead of scoring, fold in half; then fold 1/2 back onto itself). 
• Line the cardstock up so the fold is lined up on half of the ornament punch.    

Your "sandwich" will be an acrylic plate on the bottom (I used a long one) and a short acrylic plate on the top.  Run it through the machine and you will have half of the ornament punch!

If you would like to watch a video of this technique, I found one on You Tube.  You can watch it HERE.

I hope some of you took advantage - well, you still can - of the Clearance Sale.  I was putting an order in last night around 8:00 and it took forever to get to the Clearance page.  I think everyone in the country was checking out the great deals!  Stampin' Up made some server optimizations and code changes to enhance the Online Store's performance so now you should notice that Online Store orders will be processed faster.