Birthday Wishes Update

Earlier this month Pals Paper Arts had a great colour combo PPA150 featuring Basic Black, Melon Mambo and Basic Gray and I decided to make a birthday card using this combo along with the MOJO Monday sketch MOJO274.  

Since it was my friend Wendy's birthday the next day and I needed a card the timing was perfect and I set to work.   I loved the colour challenge and will probably use this combo again. The same with the sketch which was quick and easy to pull together.  What fun!  

Unfortunately due to the browser problems I was experiencing with IE I wasn't  able to link my card to the PPA site or Mojo Monday, and missed their deadlines.  I also couldn't post to my own blog.  Teeth grinding here!!!  Oh well next time. In the meantime, I thought I would share this cheery little card with you.  Hope you like it.  Wendy did!

The DSP was perfect for this card.  Gave it a real cool girly look.  I absolutely love the Lacy and Lovely set which I received for free when I attended Stampin' Up!s Convention last summer.  It's on page 99 of the Idea Book and Catalogue.

Here's the inside of the card.  I liked re-layering the card stock and using the sentiment again.  

Stamp sets:   Lacy and Lovely and Itty Bitty Banners
Paper:           Houndstooth pattern from the Festival of Prints DSP series in   the Holiday Mini (retired).
Card Stock:  Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Basic Gray
Ink:               Basic Black
Framelits:      Itty Bitty Banners, 2 1/2  Inch Circle Punch, 
Accessories:  Large Basic Pearl, 3/8" Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon (retired) 

Well that's it for this post.  Leave me a comment if you liked this card.  It's always encouraging to hear from you.  Until next time.  Happy Stamping! 

LINKS TO OTHER CURRENT PROMOTIONS

YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT:

1. Fancy Friends Kit 
2. Valentines Day Promotions
3. Talking Tags
4. Stampin Trimmer
5. Clearance Rack

Click Here For On-Line Ordering:

Penny Tokens

Paper Pumpkin Monthly Kits Are Available on January 15th

Sweep away the mundane-your 

creativity carriage awaits!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone  can enjoy!  Once you join the program, Paper Pumpkin will come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). It will help you to escape your life with some paper fun.  

Everyone loves a surprise and this one comes in a sweet box.  You're going to love what you find on the inside! There'll be all the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories you need to create pinable projects, such as cards, journals, decor and more!  

How Do You Get Started?

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. You'll complete a simple registration process and then every month a new, surprise project kit will arrive at your doorstep. 

Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

Here's The Nitty Gritty:
Each month Stampin' Up! will  send you a unique, surprise kit with  project-cards for journals, décor, and more! (everything will be colour-coordinated, measured, and pre-cut for you!)

• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March,Stampin' Up! is offering a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.
• Your Paper Pumpkin will be shipped on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, Up! Stampin' will send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, they'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• The Paper Pumpkin membership is just $24.95 per month which includes shipping. 

Get Started

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. 

Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

If you have questions about this promo please feel free to contact me.  Happy Stamping! 

LINKS TO OTHER CURRENT PROMOTIONS 

YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT:

1. Fancy Friends Kit 
2. Valentines Day Promotions
3. Talking Tags
4. Stampin Trimmer
5. Clearance Rack

 Please leave a comment if you liked this post and found it helpful!

Penny Tokens

Dude, You're Welcome! Kit

You asked, and Stampin’ Up! listened! Stampin’ Up! is excited to introduce their new, very manly stamping kit: called  Dude, You're Welcome! kit.


Guys stamp too so how about a kit just for them!  Here's a kit for guys that's designed by guys.  What fun!

Guys don't always have the easiest time expressing themselves, but with the Dude, You're Welcome! kit, they'll have:


Four wood-mount stamps (double-mounted) with the perfect sentiment for every occasion

• Twelve 4" x 6" postcards in four different (manly) colors
• Twelve gray envelopes
• A Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
• An instructional guide (for the most novice stamper!)

Basically, the kit includes everything a dude needs to create the perfect manly card that any woman would adore, all packaged in an appropriately masculine box.

You can order this set using item #132807  Price $30.95.

Visit my on-line store to learn more about this exciting new kit. Check out this video and see what's new in this fun kit! 

LINKS TO CURRENT PROMOTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT:

1. Fancy Friends Kit 
2. Valentines Day Promotions
3. Talking Tags
4. Stampin Trimmer
5. Clearance Rack

Happy Stamping.  Please leave a comment if you liked this post and found it helpful!

Penny Tokens

Project Kits - Contest

In October Stampin’ Up! ran a "Pick a Kit" survey on the SU Facebook page asking for input from customers and demos.  Well, the results are in and an amazing kit has been constructed!  With all the hubbub of Halloween and Christmas, you may have missed seeing the information on the winning kit and so I’d like to share it with you today.  Here is a picture of the first viewer’s choice kit (drum roll, please) . . . Fancy Friends!

Fancy Friends Kit Order # 132319 $17..95 add additional Note Cards kit item # 107311

You’ll get everything you need to make six cards for only $17.95 (item 132319)!  And if six cards aren’t enough, you can add additional Note Cards to your order (item 107311). They've also included extra rhinestones in the Friends Kit -- just in case.   

To assemble these cards:

1. Stamp the doily image in Daffodil Delight or Old Olive ink three times on the card and once on the envelope, re-inking between uses.
2. Stamp "Friends" in Daffodil Delight or Old Olive ink on the front of the card.
3. Adhere the flowers to the card. Adhere Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the center of the flowers. 

Now for some additional fun and prizes. You Can Submit a Project Too:

Stampin’ Up!® wants your kit ideas for upcoming kits. No, this is not a typo. Stampin’ Up! is starting up a new kit program especially for you. YOU will be the inspiration for the kits and YOU will vote to decide which project will be sold.

That’s right! Submit a Project is not limited to demonstrators!  Anyone can submit a project and/or vote on upcoming kits.  Isn’t that just too exciting!!!! 

This is a great way to get the entire stamping community together, don't you think?   Okay so what are you waiting for start creating today! I know I'm going to be working on my project kit!  Send your kit ideas to Stampin’ Up and get ready to vote for your favourites.

How Do You Play Along - The Not-So-Fine Print!
*This program is available to both customers and demonstrators.

*While your projects should not include retired products, they may include products not created by Stampin' Up! such as jars or frames.

* The category for this promotion is Birthday, do not submit any other theme.

*Projects can be cards, scrapbook pages, home décor, holiday décor, birthday decorations, etc. If you can make it with Stampin' Up! product, you can submit it! 

*Submit your projects by e-mail. Send an image (less than 2 MB), supply list, and instructions for creating the project to: mailto:kitideas@stampinup.com?subject=Project%20name%3A. 

*Include the name of your project in the subject line of your email

* Must be received by Stampin' Up by midnight MTN time January 30, 2013.

*Please keep in mind that all submissions become the property of Stampin' Up! once received, and they reserve the right to change project elements, the project name or any feature to make the kit easy to reproduce.

So, what's in it for you?

Glad you asked! Those who submit the winning kit will:

• See it - your photo, name and project will be posted online.
• Flaunt it - you'll receive a "blog badge" for your personal blog or website.
• Spend it - you wouldn't be a winner without a $125 Stampin' Up! shopping spree.

And that’s not all!  Those whose submissions are in the top 20 will also receive product used in the winning kit or a $35 shopping spree of their own. 

Okay so that's it for today, but I've got another great kit promotion announcement coming your way tomorrow, so be sure to come back!

Click here:

LINKS TO CURRENT PROMOTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT:

1. Fancy Friends Kit 
2. Valentines Day Promotions
3. Talking Tags
4. Stampin Trimmer
5. Clearance Rack

Happy Stamping.  Please leave a comment if you liked this post and found it helpful!

Penny Tokens

Winter Card With Pop Ups

When I participated in the Can/Am Convention Girls Christmas Swap, the challenge was to make a Christmas/winter themed card using a technique. 

I really wanted to make something special for my Can/Am friends, but I was really stumped, until I was inspired by two cards I saw on Pinterest and Stampin' Ups! Stampin' Connection*.  Thank God for card sites!  

The first card featured the Snow Flurry Embossing Folder and Mittens Punch.  The second inspiration card was a birthday card that had a series of presents that popped up when you opened the card.  I decided I would combine a similar card front with pop-up presents for a Christmas theme.  Here are some of the steps that I took to create my card.

Pop-Up Presents Technique for inside of card: 

The pop-up packages are easy to create. The 3-D piece measures 5-1/4" X 8" (scored and folded at 4"). Cut slits in the folded edge, perpendicular to the fold as follows: slit #1, 1/2" up from bottom edge, from fold to 1-1/2"; slit #2, 1-1/4" up from slit #1, from fold to 1-1/2"; slit #3, 1-1/4" up from slit #2, from fold to 1-1/4", slit #4, 1-1/4" up from Slit #3, from fold to 1".

Push the slits to the back of the card stock. 

Once slits are cut, turn over and burnish folds to ensure they are  firm.

This view  of my template shows the presents before they are decorated and has the measurements on it. The next step is to decorate the pop outs by cutting three pieces of designer  paper which will be glued to each of the sections.  Make sure you coordinate the DSP so it doesn't clash.

This view shows the presents with 2 pieces of DSP adhered to them.  Add ribbon to the sides of the boxes and adhere to the back side of the card base with tape. Create a bow for the top of the box.  

This video by Akiko Hyoda shows how to add the DSP and the inside portion of the card to the outer layer.   Hope that makes sense............. if not watch the video and it will.  Ha Ha! 

Assembling the Card Front:

The card base is a 5 ½ x 8 ½ piece of Bashful Blue card stock.  Add 5 ¼ x 4” piece of Pacific Point.  The next layer is a 5 x 3¾ piece of Whisper White card stock that’s been embossed with the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder.  Although this picture doesn’t show it, Basic Rhinestones were added to the centers of the snowflakes for some bling.  

For the mittens and for the presents inside the card I used some of the beautiful papers from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.  Using the Builder Mitten Punch, I punched two mittens from Bashful Blue DSP.  I made sure that I punched one mitten from the bashful blue side of the DSP and the other one from the Lucky Limeade side.  Why you might ask?  Well, if you don’t do that then your thumbs will both be facing the same way. 

The snowflake and the cuffs for the mittens were punched from Silver Glimmer Paper.  The Snow Flurry Bigz Die was used to cut out the snowflake image and it is the medium sized flake.  I added dimensionals to the back of it and two 1 ½” strands of Pacific Point Butcher’s Cord and then adhered this to the front of the card, just off center from the large embossed snowflake.  Once I had glued the silver cuffs to the mittens, I added dimensionals to the back of the mittens, capturing the butcher’s cord underneath them and then stuck each mitten to the card front.  Pretty cute!    

Sale-a-bration is Coming!

Sale-A-Bration What Is It?

One of Stampin' Up!s biggest events of the year is just around the corner and I'm excited to share some information about it.  Sale-a-Bration is the one time of the year when you can choose free additional stamp sets and product rewards for any purchase over $60.00 CDN (before S&H and tax).

How Do I Get My Own Sale-a-bration Flyer?
If you're a customer of mine you'll have already received your Sale-a-Bration (SAB) flyer and had a chance to look at all the neat little goodies within.  If  you're not a current customer but would like to receive  catalogues and sales promos for FREE all you have to do is place a minimum $25 order (before shipping/handling and tax) at my on-line store, or hold a workshop, or order directly through me.  Once you've done that you'll automatically receive the year's catalogues in the mail.

So What's So Hot About This Year's SAB?
Although the format of the flyer is totally different this year, don't get scared off, there are some awesome products available for FREE during the sales period from January 22nd to March  22nd.   Here's what's new:

• Six exclusive to  SAB stamp sets 
• Beautiful Designer Series Paper
• Cute buttons and ribbon pack
• A "to die for" Embossing Folder
• A cute little punch that coordinates with one of the Stamp Sets
• One big SAB 2013 Digital Disk - MDS 2 or Lemonade Stand Digital Disk
• If you earned all the above there are six additional products from the main catalogue available.  They include: 
• Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set
• Getting Started Card Stock Pack - 24 sheets
• Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons - 24
• Quintessential Flower Stamp - single
• Simply Scored Diagonal Plate
• Essentials Paper Piercing Pack - 3 templates

Because Stampin' Up! is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year the SAB offers you THREE WAYS to earn free products.  Make sure you check out both sides of the flyer and you'll find the best way to earn free products during this promotion.

1.  Host a Party:

• Host a Party With a Few Friends and get minimum sales of $200 before s&h/taxes and you'll earn:
• $35 in Hostess Dollars to spend on what you want
• A Free pack of Silver Glimmer Paper 
• Host a $525 Party and you'll get:
• $90 in Hostess Dollars to spend on what you want
• 50% off  Any Full Priced Item from the IB&C or Spring Mini
• Free Product Bundle from SAB includes stamp set, designer paper and buttons and ribbon pack
• Free Pack of Silver Glimmer Paper 

2.  Join My Stampin' Up! Team and You'll Get:

• 20 % Off Product Discount Every Time you Order
• 25% More in Your Starter Kit - Choose $194 in products but only pay $125.00
• Click here to find out more about the Benefits of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

3.  Simply Shop:

• Easy- Peasy!  Spend just $60 (before S&H/tax) on-line or through me and you'll earn one free product choice from the SAB catalogue.

Sab and Spring Cattie Preview Card links:

Check out Kris Sobolik's great blog, Maddie Bug Designs to see a sneak peak at a SAB card.  Click here: http://maddiebugdesigns.blogspot.com/

You can also check out the offerings on the Stylin' Stampin' Squad Blog Hop that's happening right now.  They are featuring products from the Spring Catalog as well as some sneak peaks at SAB creations.  Happy Blog Hopping! 

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
2. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
3. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps-A-Lot
4. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
5. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
6. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
7. Patricia T. of Sunnyone Stampin'
8. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
9. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
10. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
11. Terry B of Goin' Over the Edge
12. Justin K of JK Cards
13. Heidi B of Stuck on Stampin'
14. Jennifer B of NW Stamper
15. Bree R. of Craft-somnia
16. Diana E of Stampin' Fun with Diana

Technology Can Be Sooooooo Frustrating

What's the Problem?
For the past few weeks I've been experiencing problems accessing my Blogger Account, my ability to post to my Penny Tokens Blog site, Stampin' Connection and a few other sites I use. 
I've been techno-challenged!

How frustrating it's been!  
I wanted to start the New Year off with some exciting new blog posts, but nothing was simple.   For example, I'd spend hours trying to compose a new post.  Blogger would freeze as I typed and I'd have to wait in between each word.  As well, I couldn't access the picture Icon to download pictures from my browser and could only rely on what was stored in Picassa.  And, even after following a suggestion to used HTML mode to add pictures, the post would be corrupted and the paragraphs and photos would bounce all over the page.  Grrrrrrrrrh!

Asking for Help:
I know I haven't been alone with this problem. When I put a call-out for help on the Late Night Stamper Forum several stampers advised they've been having similar problems.   It's awesome being part of Late Night Stampers as the advice I received was almost instantly forthcoming and it was good solid information I could act on.  Unfortunately I did not have a similar experience in trying to access and receive help for these issues from Blogger's help forum.

Solution and Success!
So if you've hung in with me this far I've got some good news, at least from my point of view.  After trying several methods to recover my blogging access I was able to finally fix the problem by upgrading my browser from IE to Google Chrome.  So far so good but my fingers are crossed.  This week I'll be catching up with posts that should have been out a weeks or so ago. Please bear with me as I catch up.  Thank you.