Have you Heard???????

Stampin' UP! announced they are making a new COLOR RENOVATION starting with the new catalog to be launched in July. I'm so excited about the new colors and some of the Old Colors COMING BACK!! There are five BRAND NEW colors that will be part of the Core Group of Colors and Color Families and there will also be five more NEW IN COLORS announced next month. Stampin' UP! also announced that the IN COLORS will now be available for two years instead of just one!!! Yay. Now we can get more use out of the supplies we purchase.

Here's a look at the New Color Core:

http://204.228.150.61/color_revamp2010/USENG/New_Colors_US_0310.pdf

Here's a look at the colors that are retiring. You'll want to be sure to stock up on the cardstock, markers, stampin' pads and re-inkers for your favorite colors as they will ONLY BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE, 2010.

http://204.228.150.61/color_revamp2010/USENG/Fond_Farewell_Colors_US_0310.pdf

I know it seems a little daunting, but the five brand new core colors are definitely going to be some of my favorites; they're just the right shades. You will notice that several of this year's In-Colors will now be part of the new COLOR CORE and aren't you glad to see that Riding Hood Red is in as well?????

This is going to be such a FUN FRESH year. I can't wait to go to Convention in July to see what else they are and will be unveiling and the new products that will be available.

Anyway, back to cards.......our group of demonstrators had our monthly meeting this month and Carrie Rhoades did five demonstrations of ideas for us to use; she always has such fun, fantastic ideas. I was able to take pictures, so I will post them as I go along this next week. We also had card swap among us and the one I'm going to show you first is mine.

I used Ruby Red Cardstock for my base (one of the Retiring Colors) attached a strip of bashful blue tafetta ribbon from the top to the bottom edge, then layered Always Artichoke and Bashful Blue on top of that after roughing up the edges with my Cutter Kit. I used Soft Suede for my top image and stamped the floral image from Vintage Vogue on the top and bottom with Soft Suede ink after "stamping off" once so the image wasn't too bright. Stampin' UP! has a new Smooch Spritzer which you will see in the new Summer Mini Catalog.... the Spritzers come in a Gold Glow, Silver Foil, Vanilla Shimmer and Log Cabin colors. For this I used the Gold Glow and put in my Color Catcher (also new in the Summer Mini) and spritzed the cardstock "just a little". You can't see very well in the picture, but if you make it bigger I think you'll see the shimmer. Also in Soft Suede I stamped "Wonderful Mother" from the Well Scripted stamp set. I tore off the bottom corner then sponged all around the card using Soft Suede. Before I attached the top piece; I wiped the Soft Suede Ink Pad on the corner of the Bashful Blue giving it that "aged" look. After attaching the top piece; I cut the Butterfly from Vanilla Cardstock using my Big Shot and the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. Using Black Staze-On, I stamped the flower and leaf images from the Embrace Life Stamp Set and colored in using Always Artichoke, Ruby Red and Bashful Blue. Then again, I sponged around the edge of the butterfly with Soft Suede classic ink and attached to the card using dimensionals.

Have a wonderful Monday...... tomorrow I will show you what my husband and I are doing in the yard today..... Yuck!!!

Annie

A week ago we had to put our Sweet Annabelle to sleep..... You've been seeing her on my blog on the side. She would have been 13 in May, but she appeared to have a stoke, so we couldn't let her go on by not walking, sitting and falling over or not eating.... It was a really sad day. We took a couple of pictures of her alone and again with her sisters to remember her...

This weekend we got the most memorable special package I could ever imagine. the Vet we took her to sent us a package. It contained a plaster cast of Annie's paw with her name stamped on it, a book and a sympathy card. These people are so caring for their "patients".... Maybe some of our medical doctors ought to take a lesson from them. Check out our special package..... it's so heartwarmig and special to our hearts..

Stencils

I never realized how much I would love the stencils for making cards. The ornament stencils were wonderful for Christmas and have just learned how funthe Folk Flowers stencil set is. This is the same as the Razzle Dazzle Stamp Set.

I can't believe how close I have come to Kimberly VanDiepen's type of card, but I stenciled the Folk Flower onto my Kraft cardstock using Close to Cocoa Ink. The using the En Francais background stamp set, I stamped that over the stenciled image. I tore the open edge of my card and the sponged around all edges, using the Cose fo Cocoa ink again. Then I cut a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock, again I tore the edge and fitted it up agains the edge of my craft cardstock, leaving an open space to the card base.

I placed a piece of Stick Strip about 3/4" down the fold side of the card front, tore the red backing off, then using my Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, I placed the edge on top of the edge and folded and smashed the ribbon onto the sticky strip all the way to the bottom. Then I tied a bow with the same ribbon and attached it towards the top using a mini glue dot. I sponged around the backside of the cardstock with the Close to Cocoa ink blending it in with the front piece. Then the last was stamping the Thank You stamp from page 144 onto the front of the card, again using the Close to Cocoa ink.

I love how the MonoChrome look appeals to me..... loving the antiquey look.

NEW DEMONSTRATOR OFFER

From April 1-May 31, join Stampin' UP! as a demonstrator and receive two FREE technique DVDs!!

Workshop Wow DVD 2008-2009 (140 min) Sampling of Workshop Wow presentations from Stampin' UP's 2008-2009 regional seminars. Includes 19 demonstrator presentations of "WOW" techniques.

&

Workshop Wow 2007-2008 DVD (117 min) Sampling of Workshop Wow presentations from Stampin' UP's 2007-2008 regional seminars. Includes 18 demonstrator presentations of "WOW techniques for use in preparing for workshops.

Have you ever thought about being a demonstrator? I stamp for a living AND get paid for it! Can you think of anything more fun?

As a demonstrator YOU GET:

1. To enjoy a minimum 20% discount on personal purchases - up to 40$ based on monthly sales.
2. To enjoy being the hostess of an order/party anytime you want - you get your discount, commission and hostess benefits.
3. To enjoy the fact that with Stampin' UP! personal purchases count towards monthly overrides, quarterly minimums, incentives, contests, promotions and more.
4. A beautiful ful color idea magazine - Stampin' Success - filled with lots of full color samples and ideas.
5. The support of Stampin' UP! and ME as an upline.
6. Flexibility - you decide what you want your involvement to be
7. No commitment - you can decide to quit anytime and no set number of bookings are required to join.
8. A chance to earn up to 9 free Stamp sets as part of our Stampin' Start program.

Stampin' UP! demonstrators ENJOY:

1. On line ordering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. Accepting customer credit cards with no fees/costs to the demonstrator
3. Preorder periods of new and upcoming products
4. Access to convention, regionals and other great training venues
5. A company that listens and cares
6. A solid company with 20 years of strong growth tht listens & cares & stands behind it's product.
7. A company that is a leader in the industry, consistent CK winner and favorite.
8. Many demonstrator incentives - chances to earn free product, free gifts, trips, cash bonuses.
9. Great customer incentives that the company sponsors - these do not take away from your discounts and commission - only add to your income as you pass along the great deals to your family, friends & customers.
10. Being at the forefront of the stampin', scrappin' and craftin' industry.

If you have any questions contact me at twoelams@cableone.net. I would love to have YOU join my Stampin' Maniac team!!! Sign up HERE.

Special Auction for a Friend in Need

One of our friends is having a Special Night and Auction for a relative that has cancer. They asked for people to donate things for an auction to help earn money to help this person out. I've made several boxes with cards for a number of auctions, mostly for grandkids sports like football or baseball. They have all raised a lot of money for the group, so I'm hoping the box I did with cards helps out as well.

This is the box I came up with. I just learned how to make the cute tissue paper flowers and thought with the Sweet Pea DSP I used, the paper flowers would really accent the design on the paper. I absolutely love this paper package.... I ordered several more packages for my own personal use after April because it's so beautiful for any occasion and don't want to see it go :( The Stitched Sweet Pea Felt that is designed to accent these papers are so gorgeous and fun to use... I also have several more packets of these for myself, of course LOL.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!!!

Clearance Rack

There are some really awesome deals on My Clearance Rack some items up to 60% off. You should check out my Website often, going to "Shop Now" as there are always new items available. Most of these are retired items and they are only available while supplies last, so if you love something no longer available, here's your chance to get them. In order to purchase at these unbelievable prices, you do have to place your order online, which is very easy to do.

If you have questions on how to order, let me know......

REALLY Cute Key Rings

I saw this really cute Key Ring on one of the websites I visited and thought I would try it. i used the same punch that was used in what I saw and made two of them. I only have a picture of one of them, but the second one I did; I used less papers because I thought the first one I'm showing you was a little too big. Now that I've done a couple I'm going to (first purchase more chrystal effects), then use some different punches.... I thought the Butterfly Punch, the Scallop Square Punch, the Big Heart Punch (maybe even the new Bird Punch) would also make really cute key rings. Next time, I'm going to try some DSP and maybe even some images, stamps or die cuts to make them more interesting. What fun gifts for hostesses or quick gifts to a friend. This would be fun with a friends name or initial on it or a special occasion photo... I'll show you some new ones soon.

Awash with Flowers

Beginning in April (and ONLY in April until the new catalog comes out) you can pre-order the Awash with Flowers stamp set that will be in the new 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog. If you don't purchase in April, you will have to wait until the catalog comes out in July (maybe August?). I ordered it because of all the really cute and fun cards I've seen and was sooooooo surprised at what I got..... LOOK, two stamp sets. Of course this is a two step stamp set, but in two separate boxes???????? WOW, so many options!!!!

Check out the flyer for the Two Step Stampin'
Promotion on the side of my blog

There are also several OTHER two step stamp sets you can order at discounted prices during April during this promotion.

I made a quick card using this set ( it was really quick and shows it) but there are so many really fun images and cards out there using this set, I'm so excited to actually spend some quality time with it to show you what's possible. On my quick card, I used several items from the Eggcellent Eggs Kit..... Can you see the rhinestones on two of the flowers? I also used one of the strips designed for an egg stand... I used it for the grass. Also, on the grass I used one of the rub-ons from "Chit Chat". If you don't own very many word greeting stamp sets, this is a good way to get your greeting for many occasions, and still don't have to purchase the greeting sets. Each one of the rub-on packages contain many sayings/greetings for lots of different occasions.