The Problem With Change

Change is usually a good thing, but sometimes change makes things difficult.  Take my blog for instance.  At the end of June I decided to go to a 3-column setup and chose one of the new Blogger template designs.  Took me the better part of a day to work out the kinks of transition, and I thought I had it all captured.  July 1st comes along and a couple of things happened that have affected my blog since that time. 

• My July 1st post............... well, it didn't post until today!  How did that happen?
• My PennyTokensStampingBlogspot title is all crammed into the left corner............how do I stretch it out?
• None of my widgets/gadgets work, so I'm linkless in the right column............. how can I share with you? 

I'm sad these problems arose but I'm not going to let it get me down.  I hope you'll hang in there with me as I try to circumnavigate this electronic world and work out the kinks.  In the meantime if you want to look at the catelogues or any of the other items I put a link to in the right hand column, just right click on it and choose Open in New Tab from the dialogue box..........that should take you to the new catties.  If you can open all the links from your side of the screen without any problems, drop me a comment and let me know, because maybe it's only me that's affected.  Wouldn't that be rich?  LOL!!! 

Hostess Benefits

One of the wonderful and fun ways to earn new Stampin' Up Products is to Host a Workshop.  A Stampin' Up! workshop is a creative event you host at your home, where you invite your friends to enjoy an exciting demonstration provided by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. When you host a workshop, you'll see new project ideas, learn different techniques, make a project, and have fun with people you enjoy.

As a hostess, you'll work with me to choose a date for a workshop, then invite your friends and family into your home to stamp and have fun with you. Your Stampin' Up! workshop can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. It can be a class where you make specific projects, or a training event to learn new techniques. No matter what you have in mind, I will help you make it the perfect event for you and your friends!

 If you are interested in holding a workshop in your home or in my studio, just contact me for further details and check out the Hostess Benefits to see how soon you could begin to earn free products.

Welcome July - Happy Canada Day!!!!!

Happy July 1st and Happy Canada Day!

July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer) and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere. The second half of the year commences in July. The birthstone for July is a red ruby. In the Southern Hemisphere, July is the seasonal equivalent of January in the Northern Hemisphere - Dog days begin in early July, when the hot sultry weather of summer usually starts, summer school is under way for many students, Spring lambs, born in late winter or early spring, are usually sold before July 1.

On Canada Day, Canadians celebrate the day the British North America Act created the Canadian federal government on July 1, 1867. This date was originally celebrated as Dominion Day up until the year 1982, when an Act of Parliament changed it to Canada Day. 

I'm Proud to Be a Canadian:

• I live in one of the largest and most beautiful countries in the world.
• I have freedom of speech, attitude and for the most part actions.  I'm polite. Diversity in history and heritage "Canadians have a diverse and rich heritage from our ancestors. It's instilled in us that we must leave a mark as Canadians on our planet."
• We are a multi-cultural country and celebrate our differences. We are bilingual. And, yes we love our monarch Her Royal Majesty the Queen.
• Canadians are funny - check out where the funniest Comedians come from - yup for the most part they are Canadian - Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser - Due South), Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara from Second City TV, Kids in the Hall (remember Dave Foley). John Candy, Mike Myers, Dan Acroyd, Rick Mercer, Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel to name "just a few".
• We have so many great Canadian actors, singers, sports personalities, scientists, politicians and heroes:  William Shatner, Donald Sutherland, Gordon Pinsette, Ryan Reynolds, Pam Anderson, Celion Dion, Brian Adams, Gordon Lightfoot, Ann Murray, Avril Lavigne, David Foster, Sara McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Barenaked Ladies, Burton Cummings, Rush, Neil Young, Guess Who,Terry Fox, Rick Hansen, David Suzuki, Alexander Graham Bell, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, McKenzie King, Dave Broadbent, Tommy Douglas, Mike Wier, Wayne Gretsky, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry .......... to name a few. 
• Our national sport is hockey - can I say Wayne Gretsky! But we also love baseball and soccer.

• One of our most frequently used words is Eh! 
• Great Canadian Treats:  Nanaimo Bars (Yum! Yum!), Buttertarts, Pierogis, Screech, Tim Horton's Donuts, Canada Dry, Cheezies, Coffee Crisp Chocolate Bars, Werthers, Gold Fish, Montreal Bagels and smoked meats, Ice Cold Kokanee and Birch Beer and Bloody Caesars, Garlic fingers and donairs, nacho crunchies........to name a few.

Other reasons to celebrate the month of July:

• July 1st - New Stampin' Up! Catalogue is released!   Need I say more..........

Harmonized Sales Tax Changes

It's not often that you hear good news regarding taxes, but Stampin' Up has just sent out a bulletin regarding the Harmonized Sales Tax Changes and how they will affect Stampin' Up Customers and Demos in BC and Ontario.  So here goes. 

"Sales tax in Ontario and British Columbia is changing to what's known as a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) effective July 1."  What does that mean for you?  Well for one thing,  "with this change, recruits in Ontario and British Columbia will no longer have to pay taxes on the Starter Kit. The tax on the kit will apply only to those provinces with a separate provincial sales tax."  For those of you holding off on becoming Demos.........are you yelling yahoo yet?????  In BC you are already paying 12% sales tax which is the equivalent of the HST, so there will be no change or increase to affect you.  And finally, Stampin' Up order forms won't be changing either,  as Canadian forms already have a place to indicate HST and the percentage. It's the same as before, you simply need to choose the appropriate tax for the place you live.   So I don't know if that makes you feel any better, but I know it makes me feel great!!  Just thought I'd share this with you.  Have a great day! 

2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue............It's Almost Here!

Only two more sleeps until July 1st and you know what that means...................a whole brand new season of Stampin' Up starting with the release of the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalogue. Whoo Hoo! I can't wait! As one of the perks of being a demonstrator I've already received a pre-order of new stamps, cardstock and ink as well as my first shipment of the new Idea Book and Catalogue and I just can't wait to show you all the exciting new things I'm making.

I absolutely love getting the new cattie (must be a throw back to the old Sears Roebuck days). Anyway for me, it just doesn't get any better than the excitement of viewing all the new products and samples. I just pour over every page trying to soak it all in. And then I do it again, and again.......... well, you get the picture. Every year I think the newest catalogue is the best yet, but let me tell you Stampin' Up! has really lived up to the challenge this year!  Trust me there were lots of ooohs and awhs when I opened this year's book, and oh my is it good!  For example, the Idea Book and Catalogue has even more pages than last year, and it's  jam packed full of ideas and inspiration - enough to keep you crafting all year long! The arrival of Stampin’ Ups! Color Renovation and Six New In Colors is also exciting, and while we were sorry to see some of our old favourites go, you’ll be sure to find fresh and fun color inspiration on every page, with these updated colors.
As a token of my appreciation to all my loyal "on line" customers and workshop hostesses, and you know who you are................. a free copy of the Idea Book and Catalogue is being sent your way. I can't wait to hear your comments ......... and I know you’re looking forward to having your very own copy too! You’re going to love the new designs, cards, and layouts and all the helpful hints.  

The Idea Book is just $11.95, plus postage.and this is such a fabulous value for all of the ideas and inspiration you’ll find packed into it.  But for a limited time you can make the deal even better!! If you live in the Fraser Valley area and would like to find out more about the Idea Book and Catalogue and obtaining your own free copy just drop me an email at pennyhanuszak@telus.net. 

Have You Seen the New Color Selector?

Julie Edmonds over at Incredible Stamping is a Stampin' Up Demonstrator from Eureka MO who shares her talents and love of paper crafting, teaching and knowledge with others, through  in home workshops,
stamping and scrapbooking classes. She also publishes a wonderful newsletter and most recently has shared a computerized color selector that will make using the new Stampin' Up color changes so much easier to incorporate into your projects.  Check out her "incredible blog" and her new site My Create Ink Color Lab.  Drop a tip in her tip jar if you want to use this site and post her widget on your blog.

Happy Father's Day!

My memories of a wonderful man.......... my dad.

He wore suspenders and baggy pants, often accompanied by an old red cardigan sweater and his grey hat.  He smelled of tobacco and ink and his fingers were rough from hard work, and much like a mechanic, his nail beds were never clean, they always wore a streak of ink.  He was a printer by trade and he knew everything there was to know about type, ink and paper...............guess that's where I got my love for it.  When I was a child I used to watch him setting type on his old hand press in the basement.  It was fascinating.  That old red press .....I can still hear the clang and bang as he pressed the handle down to make the impressions.  He'd earn some extra pocket money printing off business cards and flyers for local businesses, and did this well into his 70's, never losing his love and fascination for it. 

When he laughed it was like a jingle not often heard but well remembered. He had twinkling blue eyes often belying some secret joke or something he found humerous.   He loved nature and growing his garden, along with his wife of 57 years, various dogs and his cockatiel Joey.  He also loved his five children and all their offspring.  Dad always delighted in holding the new babies and enjoyed their visits.  He took great pride in all their accomplishments and would have loved to have been here to see all the latest great grandchildren and to have shared their growth and triumphs. 

Dad passed away in 1998, but it seems like only yesterday.  I think of him almost every day.  He would have so loved my passion for stamping and creating paper projects. He always encouraged my art work and printing and was really enthused when I started doing caligraphy.   I didn't start stamping until 2006 so he missed that journey, but it's funny, every time I lay ink to paper he's there with me.  He encourages me a lot in my color choices and my layouts, and he enjoys my pastime immensely. 

Today I'll take my mom to visit his graveside and we'll say hello and talk awhile and I'll envision him standing at the end of the driveway as we approach, with his hands in his pockets, the old red sweater and gray hat and a rollie in his hand. He'll be walking up the road to meet us as he did so many times.   I loved my dad and always will.  Hope you don't mind my reverie but I just wanted to share my thoughts.  Happy Father's Day Dad, we'll talk later...........

FATHER'S DAY CARD AND GIFT BOX SET:

A few Sunday's ago my wonderful stamping friend Sheri and I got together for a fun afternoon and evening of stamping.  I had seen a Father's Day suspender box in the June/July 2007 Paper Crafts Magazine (designed by Lisa Strahl) that intrigued me so after showing it to Sheri we decided to make our own box and matching card using the suspender theme.  We cut the base of the card box from Blue Bayou and the lid from Chocolate Chip cardstock.  Sheri attached her lid, but I chose to keep mine separate.   We used some old Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon I had kicking around for the suspenders, and added brass toned hodge podge hardward for the strap detail and attachments for the pants.  The pocket was made using the large tag punch and we paper pierced around the edge so it looked like stitching.  The pocket was mounted with dimensionals to give it some depth.   The buttons were made by punching out six circles from the Blue Bayou cardstock with a 3/4" circle punch, and layering the circles on top of each other.  We then punched out button holes and I finished mine with a coat of Crystal Effects for a shiny button look.  The pants were made from Chocolate Chip cardstock and we made a belt using hodge podge hardware.  The card is similar to one made by Alisa Bangerter in the June/July 2008 Papercrafts Magazine, and was made using the same card stock and DSP paper combination. Paper piercing and the addition of large brass eyelets on the So Saffron card stock add some interest, and some matching blue DSP ties it altogether.   Enjoy and comment if you like it!