My Little Road Trip, and Friends along the Way

My husband went golfing with his buddies last week, so I took the opportunity to go on a road trip and drove to Vernon BC where my dear sister Heather lives.  I hadn't been there for almost 3 years and wanted to spend some quality time with her and also to hold a Stampin' Up! workshop called appropriately, "The Vernon Girls Night In". 

When I left on Monday morning I was running late as I'd stayed up into the "wee" hours the night before prepping and getting all my stamping gear together............. you know how it is!  I finally managed to get on the road around noon and with my loyal companion Murphy for company headed into the pouring rain, heavy winds and bleak gray skies.  It's at least a 5-hour drive through steep mountain roads, but what a trip it was and it was so worth it. The scenery was beautiful and in the afternoon the weather improved.  I finally arrived in Vernon around 4:30 and let me tell you it was good to get out of the car.   Heather had lots planned for the week and we made the most of our time together.  We visited relatives and old friends, attended a birthday party and went to the show.  We thoroughly enjoyed talking until midnight, walking when we could, eating healthy or at least trying to.  The time went so quickly and we had an all around good time.  Did I mention the Margarita's - they were good too!  Heather's hubby, who's a gem, was very accommodating and let us be "girls".  Thanks Ken!

So, here's a shot of my fabulous sister prepping a card for the birthday bash we went to on Tuesday night. Although she's been making cards for a while now, this year she's really gotten into it and is developing a wonderful style.  Although we've often got together to make cards, it's just so much fun seeing her enthusiasm and love for making cards and other paper projects.  I just get the biggest kick out of seeing her smile and I love looking at her projects. 
Here's the card Heather made for the Birthday Girl.  I showed her how to set her camera on Macro for picture taking so she was trying to take a shot of it before the party.  The card is a very pretty little Easel card made with Pocket Silhouettes, Certainly Celery card stock and DSP. The white taffeta ribbon just made the card.    What a great job she made of it!

As most of Heather's guests at the Vernon Girls Night In had not done a workshop with me before I brought up some of my latest card and 3-D projects so they would have a concept of what they could do with a little card stock, ink and paper. What a great hostess Heather was.  She helped me display my projects on top of her TV Stand and set up the room for the party which was being held on the Wednesday night. She even helped me finish off some last minute gifts for the girls.  I wanted to hire her as my assistant!!!

If some of these look familiar, it's because they are some of the projects I've designed for UStamp over the past couple of sessions, including my latest project  a "Halloween Luminary Gift Can", which was posted on UStamp Early Summer Edition on July 15th.

As Wednesday quickly sped around I was really getting up for the party.  I was excited to show case the new Idea Book and Catalogue for 2010/11, the Summer Mini and the Definitively Decoratrive catties. I also was super excited to meet two new customers and see one of my friends/customers who had worked on the Coast with me in our working days.   They were definitely excited too when they arrived and gleefully dug into the new cattie.   I should have taken pictures, but decided not to, and just let them savour the moment.  

Because the new In Colours had just been released along with the Idea Book and Catalogue for 2010/11 I decided to make some book marks to show case them.  Everyone received a book mark along with their new catties,  and some small thank you gifts - a Coaster Post It Note Holder and a Matchbox with Hershey's nuggets, to show my appreciation for them coming.  Here are some pictures of their goodies!

 The bookmarks were made on Very Vanilla card stock and included a punched flower image and marker squiggle in each of the new In Colors:  Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz (pg 165).  The tab at the top of the bookmark is also one of the new core colours from the Brights Collection, called Daffodil Delight (pg 166). 

The little nugget boxes were made using the Matchbox Die and Big Shot machine.  Another new core colour cardstock called  Early Espresso (one of my new favs) ,was used for the base,  and the tops of the boxes were cut from the new Designer Series Paper (DSP) Greenhouse Gala #117167.  This is gorgeous paper and you're going to see it a lot!

The Post It Note coaster pads were a big hit.  They were made using a bar coaster as a base or you could use a 4 x 4 chipboard piece and covered in another of the fabulous designer papers from the Greenhouse Gala series.  The bulldog clip at the top was also covered in Greenhouse Gala and a bashful blue satin ribbon was tied at the top.  The flower image from the "Friends Never Fade" stamp set (Pg 99 118750 W/120618 C) was stamped on the bottom in Baja Breeze. 

For the workshops I chose to do 3 projects featuring the Big Shot and a variety of different dies as these gals hadn't had much exposure to all that Big Shot offers.  They were very excited about this and eager to begin. 

The first card we made was based on a "less is more" type of format.  Sahara Sand which has returned as part of the Neutrals Collection (pg. 169) was used for the card base.  A strip of Basic Black was texturized in the Big Shot using the new Square Lattice textured impressions embossing folder (#119976 pg. 214) and adhered along the center of the card face. Everyone loved the design made by the textured plate and marvelled that it looked great on both sides, offering up some additional options.  Butterflies were die cut using the embosslits Beautiful Wings die (#118138 pg. 215) and Poppy Parade In Colour card stock, and mounted in a flight pattern across the front of the card.  I used Basic Black Ink and the sentiment "Many Thanks" from the All Year Cheers retired stamp set.  I just love that sentiment and will never stop using it.  Unfortunately I hadn't purchased the new basic rhinestones (#119246 pg 188) yet, so had to make do with someone else's brand........................can't wait to get the new ones though - they come in small, medium and large and there are 150 to a package - not bad for $6.50.  On the inside of the card I stamped an image from one of last year's retired level one hostess sets called Of the Earth.  I just love that set too.  Here's some pictures of the project. 

I've also made this card using last year's In Colours for the Butterflies.  this sample is done on Kraft cardstock, with a Chocolate Chip textured strip and Tangerine Tango butterflies.  I used Early Espresso classic ink and it looked fabulous too.  Great fast card when you're on the run!  

Our second card was made using the Movers and Shapers Curly Label Die Cut #114506 on pg 209.  What a riot this die cut is.  Everyone had fun setting up their movable piece on the magnetic surface of the die and figuring out where the window shape would line up.  Our card stock base was Pear Pizazz.  Baja Breeze was used to stamp the sentiment on Whisper White, and a large butterfly was cut using the Baja Breeze and the Wings Embosslit.  A piece of chevron striped Greenhouse Gala DSP was layered on Early Espresso for the front of the card.  For the inside, an image from the Friends Never Fade stamp set was stamped on Whisper White Card stock in Baja Breez and then over stamped with a "best wishes" sentiment from a retired stamp set.   This image was cut out using the Curly Label punch and then mounted with dimensionals to the inside of the card.  What a great fast and simple card! 

I made another sample using Chocolate Chip and Marina Mist for the card base and I liked it too. 

My third and final card for the evening was cased from a design made by Jenn Picard for the Early Summer Edition of UStamp With Dawn and Friends using  the Scallop Circle Punch. For my version of Jenn's card, I used Blue Bayou cardstock.  Here's some shots of that card, which I've posted on my gallery in UStamp. 

For the workshop the gal's made a simplified version using Chocolate Chip card stock for the base and scalloped embellishment.  Whisper White card stock was used for the stamped portion of the circle on the front flap of the card, along with a piece of striped dsp from the Sweet Pea collection.  Once again I used the stamp set Of the Earth (can you tell I like it) and both the image and sentiment were stamped in Early Espresso.  Although it's hard to tell from the pictures, I stamped an image from Pocket Silhouettes with So Saffron ink on the front of the card to add some depth and then sprayed it with Gold Glow Smooch spritz (118770 pg. 195).  If you like this card and would like to see the original tutorial and Jenn's stunning card in which she used the Butterfly Prints set, there's still time to sign up for this session of UStamp. Click on this link for more information. http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/.

So to wrap up here I just wanted to say what a ball I had doing this workshop.  These Vernon gals are just the best and because of that I went above and beyond the normal make and take for this workshop.  Their excitement over the new cattie and products, as well as the projects we made reconfirmed why I love being a Stampin' Up! Demo!  Can't wait to go visit them again.  Thanks everyone for a great time, and thanks Heather for being such an awesome hostess!  Oh did I mention that for hosting this workshop Heather earned a level one and two stamp set of her choice and $70.00 in free product.  Whoo, Hoo............ can you say great workshop!!! 

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.