Monthly Archives: July 2013

Oh No! Last Day for Designer Series Paper Offer!

Stampin' Up! Special Promotion Buy 3 Get 1 Free Designer Series Paper

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Oh no!! If today is the last day of July, then today is the last day to take advantage of the Stampin’ Up! Designer Paper offer! Buy 3 of your favorite packs of Designer Series Paper and then choose one for FREE! The Designer Series Paper Stacks and Specialty Designer Series Papers are not included.

Choose your papers from pages 151, 153, and 154 of the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog (the ones priced at $10.95).

When you order online at my Online Store HERE, after you enter the first three packages of papers at regular price, the fourth one will come up as free. Of course I am happy to put your order in for you if you prefer. Don’t wait until the last minute in case of a glitch. Ordering ends at 11:50 pm MT.

Soho Subway (130140) Haven’t used it yet, like the patterns on the back of some of the papers. Sure would be great after a trip to New York!
Afternoon Picnic (131390) Just like a previous pack of paper, just different color scheme. Very pretty.
I Am Me (130138) I don’t own it but it looks pretty cute, like the suitcases and cameras!
Gingham Garden (129310) Just my style, very pretty happy designs!
Etcetera (130129) Don’t have it but looks rather interesting.
Birthday Basics (130145) This paper is absolutely adorable! Much cuter in person! Get it!
Venetian Romance (130144) I don’t own it but I’ve heard it is beautiful paper!
Eastern Elegance (130131) Same as above.
Modern Medley (126926) Bought some and won some at Convention!! Pam Morgan demonstrated embossing in gold on this paper with the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. It’s a very popular set of papers! You ought to have it!
Polka Dot Parade (126902) Polka dots are “in” and these papers are easy to use. Good to have on hand.
Epic Day This and That (130814) I like this paper a lot although it is very “distressed” and “grungy”.

No time left to procrastinate! Order your favorite papers today and get the fourth pack free!

Email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com if you have any questions or need help!

Check Out the New My Digital Studio Downloads

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If it’s Tuesday, it must be My Digital Studio download day!

Click to go to Store

And some more! And even a FREE one for August with a calendar you can use on your computer!

All you have to do is go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and click on this link to go to today’s downloads!

Don’t forget, My Digital Studio software is now available for ONLY $19.95 whether you purchase the downloadable version (recommended) or the actual disc. It WAS $80 up until awhile ago and I can tell you it comes with a boatload of digital artwork plus the software. You will have plenty to play with while you learn to use the program and then you can start adding extra downloads that you like as soon as you are ready. It’s an easy, intuitive program to use so you don’t have to be afraid to venture into something new.

I would recommend just investing in the software right off the bat for that price (I’m sure you can learn it and I’m sure you will like it!) BUT if you prefer you can do the MDS 30-Day Free Trial. You will have full use of the software and a small selection of artwork to use. You can purchase downloads you like and print any of your projects.

Let me know if you have any questions about My Digital Studio! It’s not just about scrapbooking!

Make a Snowman with Stampin’ Up! Clear Blocks

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Out of the many things on display at the Stampin’ Up! Convention, here is one I thought was so cute! Use three clear blocks to build a snowman! Then dress him up how you like! Christmas isn’t that far off, especially for us crafters. Always good to start collecting some good ideas early!

If this is REALLY the last week of July (I think it is!), don’t forget to take advantage of the Designer Series Paper Buy 3/Get 1 Free special offer before Wednesday, July 31, the last day! What a great time to stock up on the new papers in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog!

More Stampin’ Up! Convention Display Board Samples

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Just a few more I chose from my photos! Enjoy!

Stampin’ Up! Apron Dress Up Framelit Die

Paper Doily Die Card

Beautiful Embossed Pumpkin Card

Sample Cards

Fall Inspiration Cards

Doggie in the Dog House Punch Art Card

Summer Smooches Cards

Cute Red Bird Card

Oh Hello Scallop Tasteful Trim Card

Make an easy hot air balloon card!

Epic Day Designer Paper Triangles

Hello Card with Epic Day This and That Designer Paper

Cupcake Punch Birthday Card

Apothecary Accents Framelit and Epic Day DSP

Epic Day This and That Designer Paper

Cute Little Embellishments to Make

Yellowstone Natl Park Scrapbook Page

Patio Party Designer Paper (Retired)

Cute little cork board

Label Love Stamp Set and Artisan Punch

Stampin’ Up! Convention Make & Takes

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This year at the Stampin’ Up! Convention Make & Takes were just ONE of the many activities we could choose from to do. Since I usually get frazzled at Make & Takes, I chose to do mine at home and partake of the other demonstrations and things going on, as well as taking pictures of the display boards.

We always get stamp sets at Convention with which to do the Make & Takes. This year we received the “Hello, Lovely” Stamp Set, Gorgeous Grunge, and the Ronald McDonald set, Tag It. With each purchase of the Tag It stamp set, Stampin’ Up! donates $3 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Here are the packets we received with all the materials to make the projects!

And here are the projects completed!

You can trim and score the Tag a Bag Gift Bags in order to make them stand up rather than just be flat. This one has a tag made from the Tag It stamp set and the Tag a Bag Accessory Kit plus some of the new Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim. You can make lots of cute little gift bags with these tags and bags and buy them as a bundle.

This was a fun card made with the Hello Lovely Stamp Set plus the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set. The Gorgeous Grunge stamp set reminds me of the stamp set we had long ago, I think it was called “Itty Bitty” – something. It was very handy for just adding a bit of texture or interest when you needed it. This card and envelope also has a bit of Epic Day Washi Tape on them. And the little Baker’s Twine thread in the Vintage Button was dyed by holding the twine down on the ink pad with a piece of sponge and then pulling the twine through. Not sure I would want to bother doing this very often, but if you need a certain color, you can do that.

And here are several note cards and envelopes that go in the cute gift bag.

And here’s an easy box to make with the Tag a Bag Gift Box.

These boxes are going to be so good to keep on hand for those little gifts and things when you need something special.

For these or any other great Stampin’ Up! stamping supplies, please shop with me at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Display Boards at the Stampin’ Up! Convention

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One of my favorite parts of any Stampin’ Up! Convention is looking at all the display boards with projects galore! Here are just a FEW photos of where I started photographing cards and projects on the display boards. Yes, the paper and some embellishments might be retired but they are still fun to look at and perhaps you already have those materials and can duplicate some of these or get ideas for using new papers and products! Click on the pictures to enlarge.

All images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

Beautiful Swallowtail

Beautiful Dress with Champagne Glimmer Paper and Core’dinations Card Stock and Dress Up FramelitsCute punch art owl!

All Cute Projects!

Stampin' Up! Display Boards at Convention

Close-up of hanging words

Cute Flip Flops!

Cute framed paper art

Use Stampin' Up! Buttons to decorate box

Cute way to decorate top of a box!

If this is getting you in a stamping mood, you can order more stamping and scrapping supplies at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

Stampin’ Up! Convention Mini Class Projects

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MDS Thanks Card Using Hexagon Punch

I’ve said before I always get flustered doing Make & Takes at the Stampin’ Up! Convention and usually end up just bringing the packets home and doing them at my leisure at my kitchen table. This year they did still have Make & Takes but you had to fit them into your own schedule and there were too many things to choose from. But there were two mini classes, each with a very quick and easy project.

The first one I went to was called the Thankful Sack. These are all new products coming in the Holiday Catalog August 1st. We just stamped a maple leaf on a small muslin bag and added the word “Thankful”. We did the “rock and roll” technique with the leaf stamp, where you ink up the stamp in a light color and then roll just the edges of the stamp in a darker color to get a two-tone look. My first one didn’t come out too well, but just like paper, a small muslin bag also has two sides and it doesn’t hurt to have a leaf on each side, does it?? The cutest part, I think, was tying the piece of Crushed Curry Chevron ribbon around the tie that already comes on the bag!

The second project was a My Digital Studio card. The card was already made in MDS and printed. At first I didn’t know what we were going to be able to do with this card except put a rhinestone on it. But what we did was punch out the greeting with the Hexagon Punch. Since it was then the exact same size as the hole, we trimmed the edges just a bit with Paper Snips and fit it back into the hole but adhered it to the inside of the card with a Stampin’ Dimensional. Then we added a Rhinestone Jewel as a finishing touch!

Here you can see the card close-up and hopefully see how we did the punch. This makes an MDS card into a “hybrid” which is part digital and part traditional.

MDS Thanks Card

If you are interested in any Stampin’ Up! traditional products or the My Digital Studio digital papercrafting software, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store right here!

A Fun Visit to the Stampin’ Up! Home Office

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The first day of Convention, Stampin’ Up! provided buses for us to ride out to Riverton, Utah to tour the home office. It was about a 25-minute ride and oh so beautiful out there! I could turn in a circle and see mountains everywhere! No wonder they picked that spot for the home office! This is where the offices are and the Distribution Center where our orders are packed. However, the stamps are manufactured a few hours away at Kanab, Utah.

After being greeted by some Stampin’ Up! employees when we got off the bus, we went inside!

In the Legacy Room, the History of Stampin’ Up!

Using (retired) First Edition Designer Paper to cover the walls

Decorate your wall with die cut flowers

Books covered with designer paper

Getting the Stampin’ Up! boxes ready to pack

Stampin’ Up! Distribution Center

Where our orders get packed!

The Stampin’ Up! Rock

And I still have plenty of photos I would love to show you that I took at this place! I have to figure out how to make a gallery of photos! But at least this gives you an idea of the home base of Stampin’ Up! and what a lovely work enviroment they have. I also have photos of “The Idea Room”, a large room with bean bag chairs, a piano, games, stamping supplies, and one room where all the walls are those dry erase boards, I suppose for brainstorming. Of course demonstrators had fun writing all kinds of messages all over the walls!

Writing messages in the Idea Room

Writing on the Board in the Idea Room

Even if you’re not a demonstrator, if you’re on vacation in the Salt Lake City area, you might call Stampin’ Up! and see if you could pay a visit to see the beautiful home office in Riverton, UT.

New from Stampin’ Up!: Undefined Stamp Carving Kit

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One of the big surprises at the Stampin’ Up! Convention was this new concept: carve your own stamp!! My reaction, and I’m sure many others was, why would we want to do that?! But once Shannon West finished her presentation of this new kit, we were all anxious to try it! There was a place to try it out at Convention, but unfortunately there was too much to do and I didn’t get a chance to do this.

You can sketch your idea (use one provided in the kit if you want!) and transfer it to the rubber. Then use your tools in the kit to carve out the design! Mount it on your wood block or on to cling foam if you want to use clear-mount (cling foam available separately).

Click on the flyer below to read all about it!

Undefined Stamp Carving Kit Flyer

Here are some of Shannon’s ideas of things she might want to carve into a stamp! 🙂

And here is what an actual carved stamp looks like!

After seeing some of the old historical photos of Shelli when she started the company, Shannon chose one of Shelli Gardner to make into a stamp!

Haven’t I told you inspiration for your projects can come from anywhere? Here Shannon chose one of her favorite things, Diet Coke, for an idea for a carved stamp with the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit.

And here is a collection of carved stamps Shannon made herself that she showed us while on stage at Convention! I think she joked that someone called it her breakfast set! Those are bacon, eggs, and donuts, plus the diet Coke!

And here’s another card she made!

The Undefined Stamp Carving Kit is already available to you! There’s also a refill kit, as you surely will want more!

Watch the video you will find on the store page!

Just click HERE to see it and order it in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Stampin’ Up! 2013 Convention Highlights Video

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Stampin’ Up! has posted the 2013 Convention highlight reel! I hope you enjoy while I continue getting my feet back down on the ground after such a fun time at Convention!

And I’m editing this post to add that the theme song singer, who Shelli introduced as “Ryan from The Voice” is Ryan Innes, a contestant on “The Voice” TV show! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIKGHEZzuC0

Stampin’ Up! 2013 Convention Closes with a Bang!

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All good things must come to an end, they say, and certainly the 2013 Stampin’ Up! Convention did with a bang! Yes, real bangs! Fireworks and confetti! Of course my camera battery died at the exact moment, but with a quick change, I was able to get a tiny video of the sparkle and glimmer!

Glitter and Confetti at end of Stampin’ Up! Convention

(Don’t know how to add a video in this new blog but hopefully this works.) (nothing great, but something!)

Today was travel day and it seemed to take all day since I was up extremely early in order to perhaps beat the other 5000 or so demos leaving today. It actually went fine, I was just SO tired and carrying my heavy SU backpack from Convention with my laptop, a one bag of swaps to look at, catalogs, snacks, etc. It’s fun having something to visibly identify you as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator because we can easily pick out other demos to chat with and also other people are wanting to know who we all are with the matching bags! That’s a great opportunity to share with them the fun job we have as demonstrators and tell them about stamping. My flight from Salt Lake City to Denver was really fun as I got to sit with two other very friendly demos and we just chatted the whole way about Convention and Stampin’ Up! I felt a little sorry for the people in the row in front of us who probably wondered if we would ever be quiet! After a two-hour layover in Denver I finally made it back to Houston by 4:00. It’s always sad to leave the last event of Convention after all the long anticipation and say goodbye to all the other demos.

We barely had any free time after things got rolling with Convention so I haven’t even looked at my swaps yet! Can you believe that? Downloading all my photos was extremely time-consuming (not sure if the hotel internet was slow or if I wasn’t doing something right) (or else the internet was saying ‘Are you kidding me??! All these photos??’) so I really didn’t get to post more on my blog. But I’ll try to catch up this week.

In a nutshell, Shelli’s daughter Sara presented on stage yesterday. She was wonderful. She has her mother’s personality and smile and the projects she showed were great. They also had the anniversary marches across the stage so I got to walk across for being a demo for ten years! In the last general session Bonnie Thurber from Stampin’ Up!, always a favorite, had us laughing our heads off with her fun demonstration and comments! In the past, sometimes she would sing at Convention but we didn’t get that treat this year.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Shelli presented the Heart of Stampin’ Up! award to a demo who I remember from when I was new to Stampin’ Up!. That award is always a touching one and never fails to bring Shelli to tears just reading the nominations.

We also got to see the “commercials” some demos created. This year they were so good they had to give out a fourth place award. I thought 4th place was so good I couldn’t imagine any others being better, but it was fun to watch all of them and what talent by these demonstrators to come up with these videos! They each won a shopping spree!

The last group of Prize Patrol winners won EVERY stamp set in the upcoming Holiday Catalog….maybe consolation prize for being the last ones! All of us got the Yippee-Skippee stamp set as one last party favor!

There’s so much more to tell but it’s time for bed!

Stampin’ Up! Home Office Tour

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Not enough time to tell you every last detail right now!

Took a bus ride out to Riverton, UT to the Stampin’ Up! Home Office!

So fun! Some employees were there to greet us as we got off the bus!

In the Atrium

Just one photo of one of the beautiful displays! Got more!

Do you know Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators will stand in line for half an hour to get their picture taken by a rock?? Well, it is the Stampin’ Up! rock! Can’t find the photos now but I’ll catch up later!

First General Session at 5:00 was fabulous! Guess who even won the second Prize Patrol?? Get yourself some of the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper and gold embossing powder! Pam Morgan of SU says it will be the hot thing! She used the “Grunge” stamp set….can’t think of the correct name. Got beautiful backpacks too! Broke the world record for most greeting cards mailed from one location! I stood in line for an hour to mail my card but now I’m part of a world record! Special offer coming on My Paper Pumpkin. Stay tuned! So much going on, so fun, so fun!!!

First Day of the 2013 Stampin’ Up! Convention

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The schedule for the Stampin’ Up! Convention this year is rather different. I’m not sure I have it all straight in my head yet. But I do know first thing today is a bus tour out to Riverton to see the Stampin’ Up! Home Office! I have been there before several years ago and it is a wonderful place (would Stampin’ Up! have an office that wasn’t wonderful??!) so I’m anxious to see it again. As I remember, there were several rooms to walk through and see stamping ideas and even some Stampin’ Up! history. The first General Session will begin about 5:30 pm tonight. The excitement will be palpable! Just flying in yesterday we were getting more excited the closer we got and when I got to my hotel I thought, “OH, it’s just across the street over there! So close!” So much excitement that will happen and so many memories we will all make! My trip here was fun because I met one demo I already knew a little bit and enjoyed her company, plus we met two other ladies who were fun to be with as we ate lunch together in the Denver airport and rode the shuttle together over to the hotel.

For Convention I always like to take my own notebook, even though they give us a workbook of sorts, but I like to decorate the cover and have plenty of writing and drawing space. So this is what I came up with close to the last minute!

And since all 5800 of us will get the same bag, it’s a good idea to make some kind of tag that hopefully helps you keep track of your own bag. Here’s the one I made, not knowing what the bag will look like!

That’s all I know so far! Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/karenstamps and especially my Facebook business page www.facebook.com/stampingwithkaren. I’ll try to remember to post there now and then.

New My Digital Studio Downloads This Week

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As you read this, hopefully I am on my way to the Stampin’ Up! Convention in Salt Lake City! The excitement will begin probably when I arrive at the airport and see other Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators. We’ll all probably be easy to identify with either some sort of Stampin’ Up! bag or jacket or something, if not a pile of swaps to be finished while waiting at the gate or on the airplane.

Every week Stampin’ Up! releases new downloads for purchase for My Digital Studio to keep our digital papercrafting current and exciting! You will find them at my Online Store and once you put in your order they will be available for immediate download! No shipping and no waiting!

Don’t forget, you can still do a 30-Day Free Trial of My Digital Studio (MDS) OR you can just purchase the software for a mere $19.95. I say mere because you won’t believe how much you get for your money. You get the software plus a TON of content. Plenty to keep you busy for a long time, and then you can add on any downloads that might be appropriate for your projects.

Click to go to my Online Store page

New Magnetic Platform Went Like Hotcakes!

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As soon as the new catalog came out, I ordered the Big Shot Magnetic Platform to use with the framelits dies to hold them in place rather than sticking them down with post-it notes. Except for making the sandwich wrong more than once and having the framelits cut into my platform (duh!), I have loved using it and find it very handy. So has everyone else apparently because they sold like hotcakes and now Stampin’ Up! has a backorder situation. You might consider ordering one now before July 18th so you will perhaps get yours a little sooner than waiting until they become available again. Not sure you will get it right away but perhaps you will be farther ahead in the line!

News from Stampin’ Up! today:

Due to an unfortunate backorder situation, the Big Shot Magnetic Platform (item 130658) will be temporarily turned off Thursday, July 18, at 12:01 AM (MT). This means that you won’t be able to buy it until further notice. While we’re thrilled to be offering a product that you and your customers clearly like, we regret not being able to anticipate just how much you would like it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Here are answers to some of the questions you might have:

Why are you doing this?
We went through what we thought would be a 13-week supply of the Magnetic Platform in just three weeks, and rather than continuing the backorder situation your customers, we believe it’s best to make it unavailable for purchase until we can replenish our inventory. Our supplier is working at capacity to meet our demand, and we will continue working closely with them to get the situation addressed as quickly as possible.

When will the Magnetic Platform be available?
We expect that it will be available early fall.

What if I already ordered it when it was on backorder?
We’ll fill all closed backorders as we get more Magnetic Platforms in. We are receiving periodic shipments from our vendor and as soon as they come in we’ll fulfill orders in the approximate order they were received.

Remember, you have until Thursday, July 18, at 12:01 AM (MT) to close current Magnetic Platform orders (or make a new one); all of these placed orders will be on backorder.

Just email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com or preferably order online at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here. Put the Magnetic Platform on your order and don’t forget about the Buy 3 Get 1 Free offer on Stampin’ Up! Designer Paper!

Stamping With Karen

Having Fun With Paper, Ink, and Stamps

Monthly Archives: July 2013

Oh No! Last Day for Designer Series Paper Offer!

No time left to procrastinate! Order your favorite papers today and get the fourth pack free!

Check Out the New My Digital Studio Downloads

Make a Snowman with Stampin’ Up! Clear Blocks

More Stampin’ Up! Convention Display Board Samples

Stampin’ Up! Convention Make & Takes

Display Boards at the Stampin’ Up! Convention

Stampin’ Up! Convention Mini Class Projects

A Fun Visit to the Stampin’ Up! Home Office

New from Stampin’ Up!: Undefined Stamp Carving Kit

Stampin’ Up! 2013 Convention Highlights Video

Stampin’ Up! 2013 Convention Closes with a Bang!

Stampin’ Up! Home Office Tour

First Day of the 2013 Stampin’ Up! Convention

New My Digital Studio Downloads This Week

New Magnetic Platform Went Like Hotcakes!