Wetlands

 Hope you had a good weekend!  I did.  We finally had a weekend with NO rain!!  Sonny and I went to Hickory on Saturday.  He was looking for ammo at a good price and I was just looking!  He dropped me at the mall where I bought a new pair of shoes (that I don't need but they were on sale and really cute!) and then over to AC Moore where I bought some canvases to try my hand at some mixed media Halloween pictures.  On Sunday, I met Angela and Mom for brunch after church and brought Mom back home with me.  We went out on the boat for the afternoon.  We found a nice shady area on one of the small islands on the lake and beached the pontoon.  That way Mom could get in the water easily.  It was really enjoyable.  After lounging around, we boated over to a restaurant on the lake and had dinner before heading home.  When we got home, Mom took a bath in my tub.  She loves my garden tub with the jets beating on her!

It's funny how you can look at a stamp set in the catalog and think to yourself, what would I do with that set?  That's the way I felt about the set, Wetlands (pg 69).  Well, after convention, I have a new found respect for the set! 

I received several swaps using this set that I just loved.  And after further evaluation, I have decided that this would make a good masculine card.  Like many others, I struggle with making masculine cards.  So .... this set may just be finding a home in my craft room in the near future!

Here are a few of the swaps that I received with this stamp set:

Halloween Canvas

Carrie Cudney taught a class during convention where she showed some samples of mixed media art that she created using Stampin' Up products and DSP.  These were photos I took of Carrie's samples. They were done on a 6" canvas but she made into the ghost into a card also, They were just too cute not to share.  I plan on getting some canvas-es (??) and making my own soon!

Holiday Catty Live Today!!

The Holiday Catalog goes live TODAY!!  You'll notice the layout is a little different than what you're used to....I like that the front of the catalog is like a magazine, and the back is the catalog.  Took me a few times to get used to this, but I love the inspiration that is in the magazine!!!




To view PDF, Click HERE
Download the Stampin’ Supplies List HERE 

The Holiday catalog is LIVE and available to order from!  If you have ordered from me in the past year, you should have received one in the mail.  They do get lost or thrown out by husbands so if you have not received yours, please email me with your name and mailing address so I can mail you one! 

See the catalog come to life!  See page 5 of Holiday catalog for details.  You can download the free app called LAYAR in your APP store  or Google Play.  When you see the red icon in the catalog, scan the catalog page and it unlocks a special video showing you more about that product!  (for me, I had to touch my screen when I saw a video come up then it played)   If you don’t have a mobile device, you can visit www.stampinup.com/showmehow

 I’m over the top excited for these new THINLITS card dies!  They’ve been called flip cards, flip flop cards, swing cards, and more-but they have always been a bit tricky to create. Not anymore! Our amazing new Thinlits Card Dies cut and score to create a card that flips in just one step. 2 sets to choose from, Label and Circle.  (Check out my previous blog posting about them HERE)

Here they are in action - 



 
 There is great coordinating stamp and measurements info on the flier.

With a new month, we have a new "BEST OF" stamp set.  For August, we have best of Halloween.  I don't know about you, but I love that spooky tree with the owl in it!!





I have started a hostess code for a Holiday Catalog OR a Thinlit Die order!  Anyone that orders between NOW and August 20 should use the HOSTESS CODE J9ZVVFJS.

Stampin' Up! is an amazing company to be associated with and this video brought tears to my eyes. It was my very favorite one from our recent Convention. It had a particular tug at my heart because I have a special needs grandaughter who has that extra chromosone.  Cassidy is the sweetest little girl and has so much love in her heart.  I wish I lived closer to her so I could help out in her school and "be the difference" in her life.

Please share with anyone who you think would be inspired by this. 

Be A Difference!

Guess I'm still in convention mode.  My Paper Pals Sketch card this week is our convention theme - Be The Difference. 

What does Be the Difference mean to you?  

Stampin' Up!'s mission statement, called its Statement of the Heart, reads: "To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference."  Through the Making a Difference program, Stampin' Up! partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2003. Each year, they design an exclusive stamp set to promote the partnership with RMHC, and donate a portion of the proceeds from the each sale of that set. We received the "Tag It" stamp set this year at convention and I will be sharing cards made with this set soon.  It is a great one and by purchasing it, YOU will be making a difference!!  One stamp set can make all the difference. When you purchase the Tag It Stamp Set, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The set is complete with decorative tag images for six different occasions AND the Tag It set coordinates with the Chalk Talk Framelits Dies.

Here is a wonderful video made by Stampin' Up on being and making a difference.  The lady at the very beginning is Susy Miller who received the Statement of the Heart award this year.  This wonderful inspirational lady now has ALS and is in a wheelchair unable to stamp anymore but she has made a difference in all our lives by being an inspiration.

In researching this topic, I came across some good ideas on being the difference.  I love these images and maybe I'll try to do the first one with MDS one day.

 

Are you ready to make a difference in someone's life?  Seize the day and make the most of every opportunity. Be proactive and make a difference today. You can help someone in need or volunteer your time for a worthy cause. Be an encouragement to someone who's in need of a friend. Give a hug to someone who's hurting. Use your imagination and make a difference today.

Here are a few quotes that would be great to use in a letter, a note or an email.  Use one of them today!

"One person can make a difference and every person should try."
--John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
--Winston Churchill
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
--Dr. Seuss
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
--Mahatma Ghandi
"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it."
--Earvin Magic Johnson
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
--Mother Teresa
I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
--William Penn
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
--Anne Frank
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring: all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
--Leo Buscaglia
"Often we set out to make a difference in the lives of others only to discover we have made a difference in our own."
--Ellie Braun-Haley
"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference."
--Tom Brokaw
"It's not what happens to you...it's what you do about it that makes the difference."
--W. Mitchell
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
--Nelson Henderson
"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light."
--Norman B. Rice
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
--Mother Teresa

Convention Name Badge Holder

Marianne made these wonderful Name Badge Holders for us for convention.  They were a big hit.  I can't tell you how many people commented on them and took pictures.  I told Marianne that she could have paid her way if she'd made a bunch of them and brought to convention and sold them.  She took a few orders while there.  Now she just needs to find the time to sew them!  They were great for us to hang on our necks with all our stuff in them and not have to carry a purse.

Front view of badge holder - even a zipper in the bottom pocket!

Back view - plenty of pockets

I took a few pictures of Sammie this week trying to help me!!

More convention

Think I've finally caught up on my sleep!  We took my mom out Friday night for her 85th birthday.  It also coincided with Restaurant Week so we took advantage.  We went to Alton's in Cornelius and had a delicious meal.  They even put a candle on mom's dessert for her and we sang happy birthday to her. 

I thought I'd share a few more convention photos.

These were the most gorgeous flowers!  They are on the grounds of the Mormon Temple

One of the SU employees painting Marianne's nails.  We were trying out the "In Color" nail polish!

This is taken at the Riverton campus - SU's headquarters.  It would be such a fun place to work!

Shelli with Ronald McDonald!

This was the 25th Anniversary Party night!

Marianne has her seat and is waiting for things to get started!

My Upline - Carol Bartle - and my downline - Marianne

Me and Marianne

Sitting on the edge of the stage (until we were all told to move!)

Convention Pics

I have been so exhausted this week.  I guess my body is still trying to get back to Eastern Standard Time vs. Mountain Time.  I ok until about 4-5:00 and then I'm making friends with my couch for a while.  I haven't even felt like stamping.  I've got all my new stamps put together just waiting.  But, I've also had Stamp Club on Tuesday and Thursday so I haven't had a lot of extra time to stamp ... maybe this weekend.

Today is my mom's 85th birthday!  We're going to take her out tomorrow night to celebrate.

I've been working on trying to label all the pictures Marianne and I took last week.  Wow!  What a job!!  But, in the meantime, I want to share a few of the display boards at convention with all the wonderful cards and projects.

Specials and New Promotions

Convention wasn’t the only excitement last week ...  Stampin’ Up! also announced some really great promotions and new products.  I want to share those with you today

****  THINLITS - There are some really great Thinlits in the Holiday Catalog, but these Thinlits take it all to another level.  With these Thinlits, you can make “flip cards”  (see below).  The Circle Card Thinlits Die comes with 10 total pieces; the Label Card Thinlits Die comes with nine total pieces.  Starting August 1, Stampin’ Up! is bringing Thinlits your way. Check out the flyer HERE.





***** UNDEFINED   Have you ever wanted a stamp but couldn't find the perfect image? Maybe one of your customers has a special family logo or a sketch she'd like to have as a stamp. Well now she can! Undefined is Stampin' Up!'s new stamp carving product line. You define the rubber stamp any way you want.
When you carve your very own stamp, you will have an entirely new and different creative experience. And when you're finished, you will have created a one-of-a-kind stamp!

**** -  PAPER PUMPKIN   Now is the time to try out Paper Pumpkin!  

This is why you will love Paper Pumpkin -

• precut supplies to make adorable projects
• stamps that are one of a kind and desired
• a WONDERFUL surprise each month - cards, mini albums, home decor
• adaptable to suit my style and needs - even if something isn't my style, I know it'll be perfect for someone!
• very reasonably priced.....and now it's on SALE!!

In your first month's kit you will receive everything you need to craft for months to come - a clear block to use with future stamps, an ink pad and all consumables.  The only thing you need is adhesive!  How great is that!?!?!

Offer Dates: July 18, 2013 -August 31, 2013

Offer Details: Use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL to join Paper Pumpkin before August 31, 2013, and pay only $10 a month* for the first two months.
*plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included!

The Fine Print:

• For new subscribers only.
• Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After receiving two month's worth, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price: $19.95.
• You need to visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join.
• You must click "Add Promo Code" and then enter the promo code PUMPKINDEAL in the "Promo Code" field when you sign up on the mypaperpumpkin.com website to take advantage of this promotion.
• You must join by Saturday, August 31, 2013; 11:50 PM (MT).

AND here are a couple of specials going on now -

**** - SINGLE MARKERS 
 
In the 2013-2014 annual catalog, SU offered the Stampin' Write Marker New Color Kit (item 130034, page 163) to help you update your Many Marvelous Marker pack. Now, they've sweetened the deal. For a limited time, from June 26 until October 31, you can buy any of the new colors in the pack or on their own! Go ahead, fill in the missing pieces in your collection or buy the whole lot.
Check out the flier HERE 

DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

 
  
Offer Dates: July 1-31, 2013
Offer Details: Buy three packs of select Designer Series Paper and get one for free!
The Fine Print:

• These items don't qualify for the offer:
  • Designer Series Paper Stacks
  • Specialty Designer Series Paper
• No limits. Order six? You'll get two for free. Nine? You'll get three for free.
• Check out our Designer Series Papers in the annual catalog pages 151, 153, and 154.

Life is Better at the Beach!

We took a week off from the Paper Players Challenge because of convention but we're back in full swing this week.  I designed my card using My Digital Studio and the hot summer in mind! 

I really like this color combo of pink and green.  I was one of those "preppies" years ago that liked to wear Izod, weejuns, madras and pink and green while I was shagging on the beach to beach music.   I found out today that one of the theme nights on our cruise is going to be "going for a drive, back to the beach, back in time... going Back to the Bowery with 70's Theme Night!"  My days of going to the Bowery (club at Myrtle Beach) is more like the 60's though!  I was getting married and pregnant in the 70's!!  (married in '73, pregnant in '75 and '78) ummmmm .....

OK - back to the card - I used the kit, Anchors Away for this one.  Check out what the other gals have done with the sketch this week.  There are some really great cards HERE.