Tribute to a Good Friend

It's taken me a little while to get around to posting on my blog, as I've had an up and down couple of months in this new year.  But I'm getting back into the swing again now and wanted to share something very important to me.

Sometimes you have the pleasure of meeting and getting to know someone who lives larger than life and experiences all the world has to offer.  I was so fortunate to have had that experience and able to call this little gal one of my good friends. 

Gerry and her precious baby dog Crystal lived in our park in Palm Springs, and many is the evening we sat on her porch enjoying the sunset and chatting.  Gerry loved life to the fullest! She was one of those salty old gals who could shock the pants off a sailor, and yet be sweet and gentle to those she knew best. She was truly genuine.  She loved people and was often the life of the party enjoying dancing and a good stiff drink of vodka and orange.  Gerry was always there to help out and lend a hand for those who needed more. Gerry lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in late January, just before her 72nd birthday.  I was so fortunate to have been able to be share her magic right to the end and will always think of her with a smile and remember her many fabulous stories.  Goodbye Gerry till we meet again.

Christmas Mini Carry Overs

Just wanted to share some exciting news from Stampin' Up regarding carry overs from the Holiday Mini.  Some of you have asked whether it's still possible to order the Ornament Punch and the Shimmer Paint..........well, I've just found out that Stampin' Up is continuing to carry some things from the Holiday Mini, and yes, that includes the Ornament Punch and the Champagne, Frost White and Platinum Shimmer Paints. Isn't this just the best news?  These items will be available even into the 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalogue which will be out in July 2010!   But why wait until then.............. here's a list of what's still available right now:

116794 Ornament punch $22.95
116806 Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint $8.95
116854 Frost White Shimmer Paint $8.95
116807 Platinum Shimmer Paint $8.95
116829 Décor Elements Blocks $13.95
116824 Stampin' Up! Folder Petals-A-Plenty $10.95
116821 Stampin' Up! Holiday Windows Magnetic Movers & Shapers $39.95
116819 Stampin' Up! Table Setting Bigz XL die $57.95
116820 Stampin' Up! Embosslits Merry die $15.95
116823 Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Merry Details die $7.50
116822 Stampin' Up! O Christmas Tree Pop-Up Bigz XL die $57.95
118140 Stampin' Up! Tree Decorations Sizzlits die $7.50
118108 My Digital Studio $106.95
116519 Charming stamp set $26.95"
If you've tossed out your Holiday Mini let me know, I still have a few on hand or you can view on line by clicking on my Order Now button and check out the products list.

Do You Quilt?

Buy your Big Shot Machine from me and you will earn 2 free products from the Sale-a-Bration Cattie. Let me tell you how.

Hi everyone.  Today I want to introduce you to another feature of the Big Shot Machine.  Did you know that the Stampin' Up! Big Shot is not just for card making and scrapbooking?  Hold on to your hats all you guilters out there because I want you to know that it can be one of your best tools in quilting and fabric projects, too!  Fabric is one of the industry's hottest trends right now, and while Stampin' Up! doesn't sell fabric, many of our accessories will compliment your textiles projects.
What do you think of this Flower Quilt Square?  It was made using the 5-Point 3D Star Bigz die and the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die.  Wouldn't this look good as a cushion cover or purse front?   Most Stampin' Up Big Shot dies will cut up to 8 layers of fabric at the same time. The precision and accuracy of repeated cuts with Big Shot dies is such a convenience when making this and other projects.  The Big Shot die cuts also work with leather and suede.  If you're interested in checking out this project Click HERE for the Fabric Quilt Square Idea and the full instructions to create your own quilt square.

If you'd like more informaton about the Big Shot and what it can do for you, please contact me at pennyhanuszak@telus.net or check out my online shopping tab and read up on the Big Shot under Products, Die Cuts.  You can also see all the great die cuts offered by Stampin' Up in the Idea Book and Catalogue for 2010 on pages 194 to 202. 

You can can earn two free stamp sets or products from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue simply by purchasing the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine from me.  Here are the details: 

Big Shot Die-Cut Machine 113439


Price: $132.95

With the Big Shot machine, you can create die cuts with any of our exclusive Stampin’ Up! dies—or any Sizzix die. The Big Shot machine comes with Standard Cutting Pads and a multipurpose platform so you can start cutting immediately.  The Big Shot works with card stock, designer paper, fabric, chipboard, plastic and more.  With this machine your projects will come together in seconds.

Heather Neidig Winner of Blog Candy

A big apology to everyone and especially Heather Neidig, the winner of my blog candy.  I have been laid up the past week and not doing much posting, so didn't realize my annoucement on February 14th was sitting in draft on my Edit posts file...................blush I'm embarrassed.  So, Heather if you're reading this, please contact me and I will arrange for your free pass to arrive in your email for the start of the Spring Soiree!!! 

Early Bird Pricing - Only Two Days to Go!!!!

Just a reminder that Dawn's UStamp with Dawn and Friends Spring Soiree 2010 is scheduled to begin on March 19th.  Right now you can get in on the Early Bird Special Pricing of just $19.99 US, but you will need to hurry, because the price will go up to $24.98 on Feb 19th.   Check out Dawn's website for payment options click here.

UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "Spring Soirée...2010" will deliver all same opportunity to do something REALLY FUN, even if only or a few minutes a day, to check out a project or peak into the chat room to say hello to some friends around the world or be inspired by a challenge or two or three :)

Don't we all deserve a few minutes of fun to help us re-charge and enjoy what we love??!! Of course we do!! One of the many great things about UStamp is that YOU create when YOU are ready. LOVE the projects, but don't have time to make them yourself right away?? No worries!! The website will remain open for many months, ready when you are to create so you won't miss out "Spring Soirée...2010" is going to be a spectacular event so get ready for a ginormous shot of inspiration adrenaline!! Here is what you can expect...

• 40+ Projects all with Step by Step PDF Tutorials with photo's for you to download!!
• Each project is translated in French, German and Spanish and inches are also converted to CM in the English documents.
• Swaps - Both within your country and Internationally
• Designer hosted chats with prizes
• Open Chat Room 24x7
• Gallery to share your re-creations
• A cool blinkie for your website/blog
• Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!

 **COOL NEW STUFF**

• Weekly Color Challange
• Weekly Inspiration Challenge
• Weekly Master Plan Challenge
• Yep!! You guessed it!! All with Prize Winners!! 
• The Hot Picks Pack is back too!!

Dawn Raspas will be announcing a shopping list for those of you that would like to order your Stampin' Up! supplies to stamp along with us. So I'll be posting that around the 2nd week of March, which will give you plenty of time to get your orders in and delivered to you.  You can order on line directly from me.  See my shop now button.

Valentine's Day Blog Candy Winner

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Also, since today also marks the Lunar New Year have a happy "Year of the Tiger".   Which ever occasion you're celebrating, I hope your day has been just fantastic!

Wow what a great response I've received this time for my Valentine's Day Blog Candy.  20 of you sent me comments and it seems like curiosity is the main feature.  You all want to know what I'm excited about!!!  So, I'm not going to keep the suspense up any longer, as I know some of you are hanging in there waiting for my news and for the winner of the blog candy!

And, here's the news you've been anticipating and that I've been so excited to share with you.  Dawn Raspas is launching another session of UStamp With Dawn and Friends in March 2010 called the Spring Soiree and I've been invited to participate as a Guest Designer.  YAHOOOO.  If you've been following my blog you'll know that I'm truly excited to accept this challenge and stretch my skills even further.  Now I'm busy trying to come up with an absolute WOW project to share with all the fabulous gals who sign up around the world. 

Okay, and now for our winner.  I used a random number generator from Randomorg.com and my lucky winner is #8............Heather Neidig.  Congratulations Heather............ you've won a  free guest pass to join in all the fun of the Spring Soiree!  This prize is worth $24.95 US, and entitles you to participate in all the fun on UStamp's Spring Soiree.  Just so you know there will be at least 40 fun, fabulous tutorials that you'll have access to as well as your very own blog page and access to the photo gallerys.  Please contact me by email at pennyhanuszak@telus.net and I will go through the details with you.  Heather's comment was:
"Hey Penny! Your blog is great... I can't wait to hear your great news... you must meet us at OG for lunch sometime."


Thanks again to everyone who participated and visited my blog this past week.  I love all of you for your encouragement and fantastic comments.  I'm going to be giving away blog candy for my 5000th visitor to my blog so come back and visit again............. who knows you may win my prize.  Stay tuned for a sneak peak picture of that blog candy............... coming soon!!!

Borders and Corner Punches

Punches are a quick and easy way to add interest, dimension, and color to your cards, tags, and scrapbook pages. You can glue punched shapes directly onto your projects or layer a sheet of card stock that has been punched over a coordinating card stock for a reverse effect.

Stampin' Up has added eight new punches to its already great lineup of punches.  These new, sleek punches have a large cutting surface and offer better punching leverage and cutting precision, and the sleeker body makes them easier to store.If you haven't seen them yet, check them out in the new Mini Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catties.  

1. 117191 Extra Large Two-Step Bird $22.95
2. 118073 Extra Large Fancy Flower $22.95
3. 117649 Pinking Hearts Border $22.95
4. 118072 Pinking Hearts Corner $13.95
5. 118870 Scallop Trim Corner* $13.95
6. 117190 Medium Jewelry Tag $15.95
7. 117193 Small Heart $8.50
8. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch Free*

Two of the new border punches also have matching corner punches to offer you even more versatility in your stamping creations.    These are the Pinking Hearts Border and Corner Punches (Mini Occasions) and the Scallop Trim Border (Sale-A-Bration). 

Because the addition of corner punching is a whole new concept in punching, there are some tricks you need to learn.  Check out this great video on using the Border and Corner Punches to make your punching experience even better. Video Tutorial click here.  And to assist you even more check out this great tutorial I found by Gretchen Barron.  Gretchen's tutorial called "A Guide for Cutting Squares and Rectangles with the Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches" will take the mystery out of sizing your squares and rectangles.  

Pinking Hearts Border Punch 117649 Price $22.95  The pinking design in this punch is accented with tiny hearts, creating the perfect border for stamped images, frames and more.  Aligns with Pinking Heart Corner Punch to make perfect frames.

Pinking Hearts Corner Punch 118072  Price: $13.95 The classic pinking style in this punch gets an added bit of love with little hearts in this unique corner punch.  Use to create photo corners with the punched out image.  Aligns with the end of the Pinking Heart Corner punch. 

The Scallop Trim Corner Punch #118870 Price $13.95 coordinates with the Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402, which is available in the Sale-A-Bration cattie. This is the first time that Stampin' Up has ever offered a punch as a free Sale-A-Bration product.   You can earn this new punch for free by purchasing $65.00 in Stampin Up Product(s) between now and March 31st, 2010. 

*  The Scallop Trip Border Punch will be offered at regular punch prices with the release of the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalogue in the summer of 2010.  Can you wait that long?????