Comings and Goings............Be Prepared

The most anticipated Stampin' Up! event of the year, the release of the Idea Book and Catalogue will be happening on June 1, 2012. That's right, the 2012-2013 Catalog will be coming out a whole month earlier than in the past. Can you say EXCITED!!!!!

Here's some other dates you're going to want to mark down:

The Retired Stamp List will be released on April 15, 2012 and stamps will be available through May 31, 2012. 

The Retired Accessories/Décor Elements Lists will be released on April 25, 2012. Retiring accessories and Stampin' Up! Décor Elements (being discontinued) will only be available while supplies last so be sure to mark your calendar and ORDER EARLY. 

2010-2011 In Color items (Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Poppy Parade) will be retiring.

Summer Smooches & Sneak Peak at 2012 Products

Happy April 1st!

Hope you made it through April 1st without being tricked or and practical jokes being played on you.  My husband woke me up this morning saying "look out the window it's snowing".  I rolled over and tried to ignore him thinking "I'm not going to fall for that", however when I did roll over and look out the window it was actually snowing and coming down hard!  I guess Mother Nature was playing a joke on us because we were wishing for sunshine! 

Speaking of "sunny" exciting things, I'm happy to announce that Stampin' Up! is giving a sneek peek into the 2012-1013 Idea Book & Catalog with their Summer Smooches Promotion.

Here's your opportunity to get a jump on some very hot new products.  I love the DSP and those brads are awesome.   I told you it was exciting! This very special promo runs from April 1st to 30th, so don't miss your opportunity to check it out now!

Some other news I want to share with you is that Stampin' Up! has made some changes in their catalogue year.  That's right.  Stampin' Up! is changing their 2012-2013 catalog release date.  It will be out June 1st instead of July like in previous years, and there will be some other exciting changes to their mini catalogue program.   So stay tuned for these and other changes as we move into Spring/Summer 2012.

10 Year Anniversary - Stampin' Up! In Canada

Today I thought I'd share with you that Stampin' Up! is celebrating 10 wonderful years in Canada! It all began with a journey in 2001 when Shelli Gardner headed north to explore the possibilities of opening Stampin' Up! Canada.

In 2002, open houses were held in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Toronto, and 94 Canadians became demonstrators. Since then Stampin' Up! Canada has been an important contributor to Stampin' Up!'s international growth and development and there are now over 6000 Demonstrators from Canada.

In July of 2005, Stampin'Up! became bilingual as they entered the province of Quebec,  This was Stampin' Up!'s first non-English market. I joined Stampin' Up! in June 2006 and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. 

I'm Going to Salt Lake City

Each year, Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across the US and Canada gather for three days of education, celebration, and motivation.  This year's SU Convention "I Am" is being held from July 18th to 21st at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Stampin' up! Conventions always includes time to swap cards, attend business classes, see new-product demonstrations, participate in Make & Takes, and opportunities to mix and mingle and enjoy time with the best stampers in the world!

Registration for Stampin' Up! Convention 2012 starts on April 17th, and I'm so excited because I'm finally going to be one of these happy gals! 

I'm looking forward to joining in and experiencing good times with stamping friends, getting creative new ideas for workshops and projects and finding out what's new for Stampin' Up in 2012-2013! 

If you're interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! Demo now's a great time to join and you too could be going to Salt Lake City.  I'd love to have you join me, so if you want more information just drop me an email or call me.    Don't wait too long....... registration sells out quickly. 

Simply Scored Diagnonal Plate Envelope Tutorial

I've just purchased the new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate accessory which coordinates with the Simply Scored scoring tool I bought earlier this year.  These two craft tools are going to make my life so much simpler, and I couldn't be more pleased with them. 

The Simply Scored Diagonal Plate is perfect for quickly creating handcrafted envelopes, boxes, and more! To use just sit the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate on top of the Simply Scored base.  It's held securely in place by rubber pads on the back of the plate and has etched grooves every 1/8" so it takes the guess work out of sizing your projects. 

You can score any size card stock up to 12" x 12" and you get instructions for creating common envelope sizes that are very easy to follow. 

Simply Scored Diagonal Scoring Tool, Item #125586 for only $15.95

So now for the Envelope Tutorial:

Since purchasing my new "cool" tool, I've seen a number of videos demonstrating how to use it to make envelopes, but none seemed to address the issue of making unconventional sized envelopes, until I saw one produced by Mike Funke an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator from Southern California.  Here's the link.  Enjoy!

I'll also be demonstrating how to use this fantastic new accessory in my April Envelopes and More Class, so stay tuned for dates and times. 

Monkey Challenge #100: Celebrate! + Sketch.

Congratulations are in order!  100 Challenges...............wow!

That's cause for celebration and the Design Team (Terry Blais and Shirley Sumption) at A La Card Monkey are doing just that. 

This week they're offering up another great sketch and some fabulous BLOG CANDY. 

You can get in on the fun simply by following their blog challenges, leaving a comment on this week's post or uploading your own rendition of their cute little sketch. 

So, what are you waiting for, you could win this adorable handmade (by Shirley Su's own little hands) Owl, 2 stamp sets, Daffodil Delight Pom Pom Trim, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Pearls, a handmade and decorated dispensing container of Whisper White Baker's Twine (made by Terry's own big man hands), chunky glitter, Sweet Stitches buttons, a Thank-You Note kit with stampin' spot and stamp, flower keychain, and an album to alter!

And here's this week's simple sketch and my rendition of the Monkey Challenge #100:  Celebrate & Sketch. 

I was asked to be a Guest Designer this week and what a thrill that was..........I love being in on special occasions and helping my friends celebrate! 

So here's to you Shirley and Terry and all you Monkey fans.   



Sorry for this poorly lit dark picture, but it was all I could produce at the moment and  will replace when I see the light of day!

Stamps:

Sprinkled Expressions Stamp Set - Sale-A-Bration 2012

Outlined Occasions Stamp Set - Sale-A-Bration 2012

Take It To Heart - Occasions Mini Catalogue 2012

 

Ink:

Pool Party

Calypso Coral

 

Cardstock:

Very Vanilla, Pool Party and Calypso Coral

 

Designer Series Paper:

Attic Boutique #125407 - Occasions Mini Catalogue

 

Accessories: 

Basic Rhinestones, Edgelits Adorning Accents Die Cuts #125595 (Occasions Mini), 1 3/8" and 1 3/4" Circle Punches, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

 

Happy Stamping!

Penny

Sale- A- Bration Joy Fold Card

Just a reminder that the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration clock is ticking down for 2012.  If you're interested in hosting a virtual party or placing an online order with me, you'll be eligible for free products, but you must do so before March 31st, 2012.

For every $60.00 spent on Stampin' Up! products from either the Idea Book and Catalogue or the Occasions Mini Catalogue you can choose an item from the Sale-A-Bration line-up. Click here to see the catalogues and learn more about this fabulous opportunity.

Join My Team and earn even more free product.  Contact me now to see how you can be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  There's never been a better time to join:

• Join during Sale-A-Bration for only $150.00
• Get a free paper pack or digital downloads every month for the rest of the year, just by joining now. 
• Joining anytime is great but during Sale-A-Bration the rewards are fabulous!

Square Joy Fold Card:

I  made this Joy Fold Card  with Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper and an element from the Fresh Vintage Stamp set both featured in the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.   What a pairing! 

I've matched this fabulous two-sided designer paper with Soft Suede, Pool Party and Calypso Coral cardstocks to create this fun card.  It would also work with Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade or Very Vanilla cardstocks.  You can't get much more versatile than that.

The measurements for this card are:

• Cut card base from Soft Suede cardstock.  Measurement is 41/4" x 6 1/4"
• Cut layer of Pool Party 4" x 4" and adhere to Soft Suede card base
• Cut layer of Designer Series Paper 3 3/4" x 3 34" and adhere to Pool Party layer

For bottom front flap:

• Cut 1 3/4" x 4" piece of Pool Party and adhere to Soft Suede base
• Cut 1 1/2" x 3 3/4" piece of Designer Series Paper and adhere to Pool Party piece
• Punch out a 4" strip of Calypso Coral cardstock with the Lace Border Punch and weave a 1/8" piece of Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon (see Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brade Pack in Sale-A-Bration catalogue), through the Lace Border Punch and tie a bow at the end.
• Punch out a Soft Suede 1 3/8" circle and layer it with a 1 1/4" Pool Party circle.  Stamp a sentiment on a 1" circle and layer onto the Pool Party circle.  Mount with double dimensionals to the front of the card.  This piece will hold the Joy Fold card to the base. 

Joy Fold Card:

•  Cut a 3 x 3 piece of Soft Suede cardstock and score in the center. 
• Layer with a 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" piece of Pool Party cardstock
• Layer with a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2" piece of DSP
• Punch out a Scallop Circle in Soft Suede, a 1/38" Pool Party circle
• Stamp the image from the Fresh Vintage Stamp set in Lucky Limade onto Very Vanilla cardstock and punch out with 1 1/4" circle punch.  Add Basic Pearls to the center of the design.
• Layer onto Pool Party circle and then mount with dimensionals onto scalloped circle.

Inside of the Joy Fold Card:

• Cut a 2 3/4 x 23/4 piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Stamp birthday sentiment in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral ink.  Sponge edges of cardstock with Calypso Coral.  Adhere to Joy Fold card base.