Feb 4, 2012 | cards, Occasions, Seasonal Catalogue
A version of this card was in my last newsletter, showing how to do the faux suede / faux velvet technique that's used for the strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock along the bottom of the card. I think I called it faux velvet, I think others call is faux suede…but whatever you call it, it's a fun way to add texture to your paper projects!
The stamp set used is Take it To Heart from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalogue. This card also has a strip of Whisper White cardstock that was embossed with the very fun heart pattern that's one of the three folders in the Adorning Accents Textured Embossing Folders set.
Love that the Silver Glimmer Paper is still available. Just a scrap punched with the small heart punch adds some bling to this card!
Please be sure to join my mailing list – I'm going to be moving to a new email server next month so you'll need to be sure to be re-subscribed (use the top link at the left on the blog page, or the link from the last newsletter). Contact me if you have any questions!
Jan 29, 2012 | Business Opportunity, cards, Information
I created this card using Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scored tool. You may recall my Christmas card where I used scored lines for a design element. When I revisited the concept for this card, I realized that having the scored lines so the bump was on the good side made them more visible. So here's the result. The leaf image is from the Days of Gratitude set the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny wishes. Always Artichoke, River Rock and Kraft cardstocks were used for this card. Can't wait til March 1st when the Diagonal Simply Scored Plate that fits on my Simply Scored tool is released! (Demos get to preorder in February – woohoo!)
If you are interested in learning more about demonstrator events and being a demonstrator, please attend my no cost Information Evening! Next one is being held Wednesday, February 8th at 7pm. RSVP for directions. If you can't make it that evening, please get in touch with me anyway – we can chat on the phone or make other arrangements. I'd love for you to consider becoming part of my demonstrator group!
Jan 27, 2012 | Big Shot, cards, Events, rubber stamping
They say that one of the best ways to keep sharp is to keep learning new things. At Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference, there were lots of choices in classes to attend to hear about different topics to help demonstrators in their businesses. (Don't worry, there's also a crafty sample at end of this blog post!)
One class I attended was "Why Women Buy" presented by Carrie Cudney who highlighted habits and trends amongst female purchasers vs. male purchasers. A slide she used to show some differences cracked me up: 
The theory is that the female is looking for "the" perfect pair of pants, while often men will settle for "a" pair of pants; the female is often also shopping for other things and other people at the same time, therefore needs to look around at more stores!
Now, for those of you who have attended workshops or classes with me previously, there's no need to fear that I'll become a hard sell, marketing machine now – I'll just be working harder to help you find "the" solution for your crafting needs (vs. "a" solution!!).
I also attended a class on "Coaching For Performance" by Natalie White and Jim Pitt, which concentrated on how to help others come up with goals and plans to meet them. I do try to do this with demonstrators who are signed up with me, but this was a more organized/formal way of approaching it. I will also be doing this for myself to help me focus on my goals and the plans to reach those goals!
"Retaining and Engaging Your Downline" by Donna Griffith and Patsy Waggoner (a US Stampin' Up! demonstrator) provided some practical tips to keep my team of demonstrators active and acknowledged, so that they can continue to reap the benefits of having a source of income plus a creative outlet. I plan on using some of these ideas at my upcoming demonstrator meetings and throughout the year!
Of course, we also receive lots of crafty inspiration and ideas too! Here's more samples using the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit (guess what was on my order that just went in for Sale-a-Bration?! LOL). I love the framed artwork – so simple but so effective and perfect for any time of year – not just Valentine's Day.
My next card class is on Wednesday, February 1st at 7pm here in Burlington and the theme is "Love"-ly cards. We'll be doing a card suitable for Valentine's Day, but all four cards will be designed to be given to someone you care about at any time of year! Cost is $20 and includes all supplies including adhesive and envelopes. Please contact me to register. Space is limited.
Jan 26, 2012 | cards, TV/Video/Web/Tech, Uncategorized
Sometimes it's just a question of being in the right place at the right time…Through another demonstrator, we met a woman who was helping organize the Helping a Hero gala in conjunction with the taping of the final episode of Extreme Makeover – Home Edition. She needed crowd fillers, and we were more than happy to help her out!
Below – Ty Pennington and Meredith Iler (the organizer extraordinaire)
The evening was to raise funds for the organization plus celebrate the building of a home for a local wounded war veteran. All the designers were there, Lee Greenwood was there to sing as were the Four Tenors (originally the Ten Tenors from Australia).
Paige and some of the Tenors (above)
Demo friends and Tenors (below)
Kim, Lydia, Mel, Sue, me, Liz, Dana with a few Aussie guys thrown in for good measure ;)
This was one of those neat life experiences!
Oh – and just in case you forgot this was a paper crafting blog….here's another cute sample shared by Stampin' Up! at Leadership – this one uses the Fashionable Hearts embosslit die for the Big Shot plus the Labels Collection Framelit die in the background.
See, don't you wish you were a Stampin' Up! demonstrator so you could attend Leadership?! Oh wait, you CAN be!! Contact me for more information!
Jan 20, 2012 | cards, Events
So it's been an AMAZING time so far at Leadership Conference – and we really only had our first full day of activities today! Lots of goodies (stamps, accessories, digital artwork…), lots of information and lots of inspiration….all this with lots of great friends! I am so lucky to have Stampin' Up! as an outlet and income source. I'll have lots of great stuff to share with you over the next while! Here's a cute sample shared at one of the display booths: 
Tonight we had a bizarre stroke of luck as well, as we were invited to fill out the crowd as Extreme Home Makeover taped part of their last episode (ever) here in San Antonio - got to see Ty Pennington close up, all the designers, plus got to hear Lee Greenwood and (some of) the Ten Tenors sing.
Tomorrow brings the last full day of Leadership activities, but we still have the Regional Training Event to attend on Saturday – lots of fun still to come!
Dec 29, 2011 | Announcements, cards, Christmas, rubber stamping, Seasonal Catalogue
Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus… I've had a wonderful time catching up with family and friends, and taking a few moments to catch my breath!
I thought I'd share my Christmas card design with you. If you've been following my blog at all, you'll know that I like to do cards that look great but aren't too finicky. This one suited me to a T! I used the Simply Scored tool to create a few score lines around the edge of the card, and then used my Big Shot to die cut a snowflake from Brushed Silver metallic paper. I silver embossed my greeting to create a tone on tone effect, which I really like!
I then had a brainwave as I had stocked up on some of the fantastic silver Glimmer Paper carried in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalogue – and this is the "bling" version of my card…not so much subtle elegance but more in your face! (still love it, perhaps even more…).
If you LOOOOOVE the glimmer paper like I do, you may want to stock up on a few sheets before they go – they don't appear in the Occasions Mini Catalogue (though fingers crossed they may make a future appearance in a mini catalogue or the next Idea Book?? No guarantees though!). One thing that I _know_ will NOT be carried over (because Stampin' Up! has warned demonstrators already!) – the cute stocking builder punch! So if you fell in love with that punch, you may want to consider getting one before they disappear!! The Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalogue sales period ends January 3rd – so place your online order HERE (take a look at the Clearance Rack while you're at it…) or contact me.
A version of this card was in my last newsletter, showing how to do the faux suede / faux velvet technique that's used for the strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock along the bottom of the card. I think I called it faux velvet, I think others call is faux suede…but whatever you call it, it's a fun way to add texture to your paper projects!
