WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S ENDING AND WHAT'S ABOUT TO START

It's been a while since I've posted, but if you're like me I find summer a challenging time to do indoor activities during the day, such as card making and scrapbooking and by evening time, I'm just too tired to do anything constructive.  I'm hoping to recharge my energies though as we move into the fall season.  So I thought I'd start by sharing a couple of updates with you as we move in that direction.

WHAT'S NEW:
It's always nice to be involved on "Opening Day".  Makes you feel real special.  To that end,  I was reviewing a post called Stampin Queens Holiday Sneak Peak on the ever-so talented Sharon Field's blog "Created by You". 

Sharon's excited to share her first card and her news that she's part of a very exciting new design team called the "Stampin' Queen's".  This new design team led by Christena Bagne a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, started off with their first sketch challenge today. The blog site called Stampin' Queen's Sketch Challenge ,  will publish new sketches every Wednesday, with winners being drawn on Tuesdays.  So if you're interested in participating in the fun of a new sketch challenge site hop on over and check it out.  I'm so optimistic about these sketch challenges I've added their button to my left side panel so you can easily access them.  I know I'm going to be trying out this sketch myself today, so stay tuned for my creation.   

WHAT'S ENDING:

Just a reminder that August is fast coming to an end and along with it two Stampin' Up promotional items are also winding down:   

1. The Summer Mini Catalogue ends on August 31st so if you're still in the market for some great stamps, punches, and paper products, don't delay, visit my on-line shop to place your order.  Once the 31st comes these items will be gone forever. 
2. Your opportunity to get in on the Buy 3 Get One Free Designer Series Paper promotion also comes to an end on August 31st.  This has been a great sale and I know those of you who have participated have been so happy with your products.  Don't forget that one of  the best selling masculine style designer papers this summer called "Nautical Expedition" (page 8 Summer Mini) is also available for this promotion.  All other papers are featured on pages 184-186 of the Idea Book and Catalogue (2011-2012).

Note:  You may have noticed a new button on my left side bar.  I am supporting a campaign of Stampin' Up! Demos who would like to see The Open Sea and Sail Away stamp sets re-instated in next year's Idea Book and Catalogue as well as the Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper.  Click on the button if you support the preservation of these sets and DSP too!  Sign the guest book and give us your support!  Some things are just too good to end. 

WHAT'S ABOUT TO START:

If you use my on-line ordering "shop now" button or attend any of my workshops and classes and purchase at least one $25.00 order per year you are on my automatic mini mailer list and are about to receive the Winter "Holiday Mini" which runs September 1st through January 4th, 2012.  So keep an eye on your mailboxes and let the excitement begin.  There are all kinds of new and exciting stamps and products featured. 

Customer Appreciation Cards

Love the "Cute by the Inch" Stamp set and it works well with these layered repeat images

In appreciation of  the wonderful orders placed by my customers at the end of July and the beginning of this August, I am sending out customer appreciation "Thank You" cards.

 I'm truly blessed to have such great customers and I want to make sure they know how much I value their friendship and their business support.  I thought you might like to see what my customers are receiving.  This quick to make card looks awesome in any color combination, but I've chosen to use 2011-2013 In Colours. 

The base is Whisper White layered with Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz DSP.  For a strong image I have stamped in the new Lucky Limeade In Color.  It goes well with the Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush.

The base is Whisper White layered with Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush DSP.  The Ribbon is Pear Pizzazz.

The sentiment and ribbon are from a retired Stampin' Up! set called "Of the Earth".  I really loved this set and can't part with it.  

The card front, inside and envelopes are stamped in coordinating ink to match the ribbons. Basic Rhinestones and silver eyelets have been added for some extra bling.

  In colours 2010-2012:  Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait.  Incolours 2011-2013: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder. 

Greenhouse Garden Birthday Wishes

One of my recruits, Janis Meyn, is such a talented stamper.  She makes some very beautiful creations.  Recently I saw a birthday card she made using the Greenhouse Garden 2-step stamping set.  Unfortunately I don't have a copy of Janis' original card but it was stunning, in Poppy Parade and Very Vanilla.  Here's my version of her great card.

The front has a little pocket that you could tuck a note or gift card into.

Here's a view of the inside of the card.  Plain and simple. Thanks for dropping by.

Buy Three Get One Free DSP - During the Month of August

Are you one of those "I have to have all the Designer Series Paper" Stampin' Up! puts out each season?  Well, if you are, then I have the perfect deal for you.  During the month of August Stampin' Up! is offering one free package of Designer Series Pack for free, when you buy 3 packages.  That's a savings of  $13.50!!! 

Stock up on all your favorites, including brand-new designs from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.   And while you're there check out how Stampin' Up has taken the guess work out of matching up cardstock to Designer Series Paper............beside each DSP Order # is a sampling of the colour swatches and for those of us who can't remember what they look like (joking), a listing of the cardstocks that match up.  How easy and handy is that? 

Please note:

• There ares NO LIMITS to the number of FREE packages of Designer Series Paper you can earn.
• Sorry but Specialty Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Papers are not part of this promotion and cannot be redeemed through this offer.
• You can shop on-line up until 11:50pm Mountain Time August 31st for this special promo.......... after that you're out of luck!

This is such a great time to stock up on all the beautiful Stampin' UP! papers! Don't miss this promo.  Just give me a call or email pennyhanuszak@telus.net if you have any questions!!

Click here to find out more about this fantastic promotion!

Five Years and Counting - Milestones I've reached!

Milestones...................
One of the things that I have always liked about being a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! is the recognition you receive for doing something you love.  I reached two significant milestones with Stampin' Up!  - one in May and another in June of which I am very proud and thought I'd share these successes with you and some of the recognition I received, as you're so much a part of it.

Okay the first milestone was in attaining a promotion to Consultant from Senior Associate status for meeting my consistency in rolling sales this past year. To all my customers and my two new recruits, I wish to thank you so much as I couldn't have achieved this promotion without you. Take a bow!

Last week in the business portion of our Colourful Impressions Meeting Kristina Koch announced my promotion along with all the other gals promos and sales milestones, and I was so thrilled!  I thought how wonderful to get recognition from your peers, but yesterday when I got picked up my mail there was also this gorgeous card from Kristina on behalf of our group.  WOW!!! Thanks Kristina and Colourful Impressions for recognizing my achievement. 

As if that wasn't enough this week, I also received this beautiful diploma from Stampin' Ups! head office and my name was noted in the May Promotions for Canada in the August copy of Stampin' Success Demonstrator's monthly magazine.  What wonderful recognition!  Stampin' Up! really knows how to treat it's demonstrators well, and they walk the talk with their motto about "Inspire, Create, and Share". 

My diploma is now proudly displayed in my studio for all to see!   All this recognition has now given me lots of incentive to go to that next level in my business and I'll be working hard this year to build my business and achieve the next level.   If you are interested in learning how you can be a Stampin' Up! Demo give me a call or email me and I'd be happy to go over our start up package with you and have you join my team!

 

My second milestone was attaining my Fifth Year as a Stampin Up! Demonstrator in June of this year.    Even though I've mostly been a hobby demo, this was a great personal achievement for me.  I wished I could have attended convention this year and walked across the stage to get my pin but you know what, the thrill was still there when I opened this letter!  Again thank you dear customers for your ongoing support as I might not have made it without your continuing purchases and encouragement to do classes and workshops.  You are the best! 

A Girly Girl Birthday Card and Matching Gift Bag

My friend Linda's birthday was coming up the beginning of August and I knew I had to get busy and make her a card and gift bag suited to her personality. Because she's a real "girly-girl" I wanted to design a card that was femine and sweet, had a touch of bling and something to do with clothes or shoes.  I remembered seeing a ballerina card on Tammy Q. Howell's blog Tarheel Stamper so I went through my "samples I love file" and had a look at her design.  She used a clever combination of the Round Tab (119864 pg. 209)) and Blossom Petals Builder (121808 pg. 213) punches to make a ballerina dress.  You can check out her post here to see what she came up with.  I really liked the Round Tab for the top of the dress but decided to change mine up a bit with a smaller skirt cut from the Two Tags (115954 pg. 222) Bigz Die.  Here's what U came up with:

I'm in love with the new Wisteria Wonder (122926) cardstock and decided to use that along with some Concord Crush DSP from the 2010-2012 Paterrns Designer Series Paper Stack (117158) and one of  the small floral designer papers from the Cheerful Treat Designer Series [(DSP) #122381 - Hostess Idea Book and Catalogue (IB&C) pg. 11] and layer it on Whisper White cardstock that had been texturized with the Elegant Lines (119277) Embossing folder.  I used the Eyelet Border punch to create a ruffled edge along the Wisteria Wonder layer. 

For the inside of the card I decided to stamp the little girl silhouette from the Easter Blossoms stamp set  and the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Perfect Punches set, in Wisteria Wonder Classic ink.

I needed a little gift bag to go along with the card so decided to use the same designer papers and cardstocks and the part of the Two tags that was left over from the dress.  Here's a close up:

I repeated the sentiment on the tag to compliment the inside of the card and tied some melon mambo, green and purple (non SU) ribbons on the handle. 

Linda loved her birthday gift - some beautiful white chandelier earings that suit her oh so much!  She also loved the birthday card and matching gift bag.   I'd love to hear your comments too!

Colourful Impressions Meeting and Swaps

My 16 Christmas Collage Swaps show casing the Island Indigo In Colour.

I'm very lucky to belong to a great group of scrapping and stamping demos in the Lower Mainland called Colourful Impressions.  One of the great things about being part of this group is attending the bi-monthly meetings where information, card samples and techniques are shared and demonstrated along with a good dose of laughter and fun.  It's always nice to get together and find out what's new, and meet up with old friends.  Yesterday's meeting was no exception. 

It was really exciting to hear first hand updates from those lucky gals who attended the recent Stampin' Up! convention.  Maureen Pollack started out this fun evening with a memory game.  Kristina Koch our leader, drew several door prizes from Memento Mall goodies she'd brought back.  Some of the other gals shared their awesome swap samples and provided great demonstrations from some of the classes they attended.   Jenn Picard and Sandra Farrell two of our "super talented members" gave an overview of how they were chosen as part of this year's Top Ten Artisan Award Winners.  Carrie Gaskin did a great computer presentation on colouring images in My Digital Studio as well as showing some of the fantastic "fascinator" hats she wore during convention and her reasons for doing so.

Another part of the evening that is always fun is sharing swaps with other demos.  We bring 16 swaps - one to be judged and 15 to be swapped.  Here are some samples of the swaps that I was so lucky to receive and a more detailed picture of my swaps.  Hope you enjoy.

My Christmas Collage Card features the background stamp Christmas Collage (#121279 pg. 150 Idea Book and Catalogue [IB&C] stamped in Island Indigo ink on Whisper White and layered on Island Indigo Cardstock. The florish from Baroque Motifs (#113490 pg. 146) stamp set was randomly stamped on the top and sides with versamark ink and embossed with sterling silver embossing powder.  Using a sponge dauber I distressed around the entire edge of the Whisper White layer with Island Indigo ink.  An embossed ornament from the Delightful Decorations (#116517 pg. 40 IB&C) stamp set and a band cut from Island Indigo using the new Lace Ribbon Border Punch (#122362 pg. 211) were added layers of detail.  To add a little bling I've mounted Basic Rhinestones on the ribbon border and ornament.    I so loved making this card that I'm planning on recreating it in Concorde Crush, Tempting Turquoise and other strong non-traditional colors for Christmas.  Stay tuned for other samples in upcoming posts. 

And here are the other swaps.  Hope you enjoy them.  Where possible I've provided links. 

Isn't this just the cutest?  This little piggy is really flying on his scalloped wings, and his snout is extra shiny with the Crystal Effects layer that was added.  The sentiment from the Word Play stamp set (#120308 w or #120651 c) " IMAGINE the Possibilities" is so perfect for this card, that was created by Carol Arbour of Surrey.  Here's a view of the whole card which features the Button Buddies stamp set (#122735w or #122737 c) from page 71 of the IB&C.

This swap submitted by Allison features the Flower Fest stamp set (#122278w or #122280 c) featured on page 124 of the IB&C.  The butterflies and lattice textured band are in the new Wisteria Wonder (#122922) In Color Cardstock and the wings have some dazzling diamond highlights. 

Adel Klassen's Peace on Earth card features Serene Snowflakes(#115438 pg 36 IB&C) stamped in Whisper White on Night of Navy cardstock.  The Peace on Earth sentiment is from the new "Four the Holidays" set (#116921 on page 168 of the IB&C).  The card front base is Soft Suede.  Basic Rhinestones glitter from the snowflakes.  

Maureen Pollock did an awesome job on this card which features the Zebra from the new "Zoo Review" stamp set on page 105 of the IB&C.  To highlight the Zebra's stripes she has created a unique background with the "Stripes" Textured Embossing  folder (#123128 pg 218 IB&C), by actually embossing the raised areas of the cardstock with versamark ink and black embossing powder.   

The zebra is also embossed in Black on Whisper White cardstock and mounted on a Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Circle.

Kellie Ohlmann's Lovely as A Tree Card features multiple layers of Old Olive and Not Quite Navy cardstock, and the image is stamped on Crumb Cake in Not Quite Navy Classic Ink. A great feature of this card is the strip of Not Quite Navy cardstock that was embossed with the new Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123134 pg 218 IB&C)

This darling watercoloured swap created by Kim Knight features the Nursery Nest DSP (#122347 pg. 185 of the IB&C) and Marina Mist, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz Cardstocks.  The gorgeous Stitched Poly Ribbon is in Pear Pizazz (#119265 pg. 194 IB&C)

Kristina Koch's "Snow Much Fun" card (#122560w or #122562c pg 35 IB&C) is a fun homespun design featuring the large snowman from this great new set.  I love the use of the new Lace Ribbon Punch (#122362 pg. 211 IB&C) in Cherry Cobbler on Crumb Cake layer which has been distressed around the edges.  Kristina also layered the Snowman oval on First Edition Specialty DSP (#121878 pg 183 IB&C) which has been distressed around the edges and sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  The "merry" sentiment is punched out with the Jewelry Tag punch (#117190 pg. 210) and a bow from a scrap of Deck the Halls Designer Fabric (#121716 pg. 196) is tied to the edge of the oval.  A tiny vintage trinket button (#118764 pg197) finishes it off.  Wow Kristina this is an awesome card!

 This beautiful "Just Believe" card (#116948w or #120453c pg. 109) by Sheryl Tyson features the Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder (#121809 pg. 218 IB&C) on Soft Suede cardstock.  The image has been stamped in Soft Suede on  Naturals Ivory (#101849 pg. 181 IB&C) cardstock  and blue glitter has been added to the flowers to give it

some extra bling. 

 Sandy Stoyanowski created a beautiful card featuring Pretty in Pink blossoms and leaves from the  Build a Blossom set (#121923w or #121994c pg. 112 of the IB&C).  The Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder was used for the border and it's been coloured with markers.  The petals are stacked in double layers to add dimension.  The Birthday Wishes salutation is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set (#115068 pg 160).

The Fabulous Florets (#123025w or #123027c pg. 107) stamp set was used to create this beautiful card by Tara Ryland.  Versamark Ink and Whisper White Embossing powder (#109132 pg. 201) create a fabulous background and the single flower that is mounted on dimensionals is stamped in Wisteria Wonder and accented with a basic pearl.  The Wisteria Wonder cardstock base and layer provide a beautiful contrast to the Whisper White cardstock

.  

Spooky Bingo Bits (#123944w or #123946c pg. 25 IB&C) are stamped and layered on this totally fun card by Shannon Harding.  Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black and Basic Gray cardstocks are used for the base and layers of the card. The fabulous Spider Web (#120889 pg 218 IB&C) Textured Embossing folder creates some added spookiness to this card. The all new Petite Pennants Builder Punch (#122361 pg. 213 IB&C) was used to showcase the Delightful Daffodil images.  Shannon's card was voted #1 out of all the swaps tonight and you can really see why with all this added detail. 

The final swap card was created by one of our Artisan winners, Sandra Farrell.  It features a new stamp given out at the Stampin' Up Convention.  The image is stamped in Concorde Crush on Whisper White cardstock and layered on Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose and Concorde Crush cardstocks.  The face of the card features Pear Pizazz cardstock embossed with the

Vintage Wallpaper (#120175 pg. 219 IB&C) Textured Embossing Folder.  The twist with this is that Sharon chose to have the negative image showing on her card front.   Pear Pizzazz Seam Bindig has been  scrunched and layered onto Just Add Cake DSP (#124339 pg. 185).