Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Hearts Treat Bag Envelope

Hearts Treat Bag Envelope

I wanted to make a special little note card of some kind for a little girl, and this Hearts Treat Bag Envelope is what I happened to come up with! As usual, it wasn’t at all what I planned to make! I was looking in my “stash” for some 3″ x 3″ envelopes that I already had, and I spied this retired package of Sweetheart Treat Bags and that inspired me. It probably was out for Valentine’s Day in a past Stampin’ Up! catalog, but really, when you look at it, there is no reason not to use it for other occasions.  Hearts are good any time!  To fit inside, I cut a little 3 1/4″ square piece of Whisper White card stock and trimmed it with a Real Red border punched with the Hearts Border Punch.

This retired kit contained the treat bag, little die cut banners and the baker’s twine. I wrote my note and put it inside, then folded the top of the treat bag over. I thought it would be cute to staple the banner piece on to the bag, but I was afraid it would make it difficult for a little girl to open or would cause her to rip open the envelope. So the trick was to put a staple with the Handheld Stapler in the banner but not attached to anything!  Then I adhered the banner to the top of the bag with a few Glue Dots.

For a little more decoration, I stamped the heart in Perfect Pennants and cut it out with Paper Snips.  I also stamped the “Hello” banner and cut that out.  I used Dimensionals to pop up the heart on the banner and wrapped the Baker’s Twine around.

So easy and I used something in my stash! Even if you do not have this kit, all you have to do is copy the idea! Use any little bag you have! Stampin’ Up! sells two kinds you could use:  The Kraft Tag a Bag Gift Bags and the  Sketched Dots Tag a Bag Gift Bags or even make your own with the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (as you know, one of my favorite products!). Use them as treat bags or gift card holders or envelopes!  It’s all fun!

Today is the last day for the current Weekly Deals:

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal Aug 4 2015

And while the Paper Pumpkin special offer does not expire for another month, if you would like to receive the August Kit (which I have heard is very cute from people who saw it at Convention), you do need to subscribe today. The 10th of any month is the magic date for anything concerning that current month’s kit. If you subscribe later on, you will receive the September Kit as your first kit, followed by the October Kit.

So what is this special offer??  It’s a good one!  For new subscribers, join Paper Pumpkin at 50% off your first two months!  Paper Pumpkin is the papercrafting kit that comes in your mailbox once a month from Stampin’ Up! with a creative opportunity inside! It’s a creative project in a box, all supplies included except for maybe some extra adhesive.  Your very first kit comes with a clear block to use with your stamps.  New stamps and ink spot inside every kit. It’s win-win for non-crafters, new crafters and stampers, experienced stampers and crafters. You can always order extra kits if you want to share them with someone.  And once you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can order any past kits or refills as they are available. Use the Promo Code HALFOFF.

JOIN Paper Pumpkin TODAY!

For all your other Stampin’ Up! shopping, just visit my Online Store HERE or contact me!

How To Store Your Ink Pads and Refills

Stampin' Up! Color Caddy

How do you store your ink pads and ink refills?  I use the Stampin’ Up! Color Caddy and have for years. Since I do all my stamping at my kitchen table rather than in a “studio” at a real stamping-designated desk, this works great for me. The Color Caddy is portable, which means I can have it on the floor and out of the way, or I can have it on the kitchen table when I am stamping (although I usually leave it on the floor!) or I can carry it into the dining room if I am stamping at the dining room table with a group. For me, if I had all my ink pads in a different kind of holder on a desk, I wouldn’t have the portability.

The Color Caddy as pictured in my photograph does have an extra extension on it that Stampin’ Up! used to sell. So the Color Caddy you can buy now, does not hold as many ink pads as mine. But it does hold 48 ink pads and 48 ink refill bottles so you have plenty of room.

I also love the trays at the top to hold the ink refill bottles. They are right there, handy, and grouped by color family so they are easy to find. The In Color refills I usually keep separately. Yes, occasionally I might need to dust everything – but that’s pretty “occasionally”! Now, being in the kitchen, if you spill sugar all over the place and it lands on your Color Caddy as I did one time, then you do need to do a little extra cleaning!!

Here is the Color Caddy by Stampin’ Up!

Color Caddy by Stampin' Up!

If you would like to purchase this Color Caddy, just visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store.

Catching Up With My July Paper Pumpkin Kit

July 2015 Paper Pumpkin

My July Paper Pumpkin Kit came while we were on vacation so I’m still playing catch up.  But sometimes you just have to stop “life” and sit down and stamp! And an easy way to do that is to just open up a Paper Pumpkin Kit because the decisions are all made for you! The project is decided, the materials are all there, cut and ready to go. Mostly I just needed to fold the card base, adhere the gray designer paper, adhere the colored sticker strips to the bottom of the “notepaper” piece, stamp the cups and plants, adhere everything and slide on the paper clip and bow!  And the bow came already tied on the paper clip!

I had planned to make some of the cards as they were designed and then make some alternate ideas, but in the end I just made all of them! Really cute cards, I think, and I mostly made the thank you cards because I need some of those. I have a few extra cups left over and I might eventually make something else with them. The envelopes are cute that come in the kit.  You just fold and use the adhesive strips provided in the kit to stick the sides together.

And now I still have the cute stamps in the kit to use again and the ink spots! Two colors came in this kit!

If you would like to have a Paper Pumpkin Kit coming to you in the mail each month, take advantage of the special offer from Stampin’ Up! for your first two months 50% off!  This is for new subscribers only to try out Paper Pumpkin. No risk, no obligation if Paper Pumpkin isn’t for you. Use the Promo Code HALFOFF to get your special price.

This offer is good until September 10, but if you sign up by August 10th you will receive the August Paper Pumpkin Kit. After August 10th your first kit will be in mid-September, which is fine too! Whatever works for you!  Once you are a subscriber, if any past kits or refills are still available that interest you, you can purchase those, so if you missed out on something you liked, you can go back and get them.

Paper Pumpkin Kit Contents July 2015

JOIN PAPER PUMPKIN TODAY!

It’s a gift you give yourself – and others, if you like!

Take Advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend!

Timeless Elegance Small Flowers Card

The other day in this post, I used the Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper to make some cards and was inspired to color the designs on some of the cards. On this card I am showing you, I just used the paper as is. I didn’t even add a greeting, because at the time I liked it as is, maybe just a note card that doesn’t need a greeting on the front. I think this paper can stand on it’s own for most of the designs.  And if you don’t care for the bolder designs, there are smaller and more subtle papers as well.

You can get an idea of the designs in this photo. Visit my Stampin’ Up! Store page and click on the photo slideshow to see all the patterns in larger views.

If you need some Stampin’ Up! products and if you live in one of the states and communities with a Sales Tax Holiday this weekend, place your order for these specific products and save the sales tax! It’s not a huge savings, depending on your tax, but it’s a little bit! Check the information below.

Note:  Stampin’ Up! did make a correction on those states that they initially stated the entire catalog was on the tax holiday list, but now it looks like only Louisiana is.  Be sure to pay attention to the dates given! These products can and will be used as school supplies by your children if you have them on hand, so you might as well have some extras!

Sales Tax Holiday 2015

Sales Tax Holiday Chart 2015

Click to View!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online for Crafting Products and School Supplies!

Don’t Miss Out on the August Paper Pumpkin Kit!


Watch the video above to get an idea of what Paper Pumpkin is like. What is shown is the July kit so yours will be different, if you subscribe!  Take advantage of the special half- price offer from Paper Pumpkin!

Paper Pumpkin is the creative papercrafting kit that comes to you in the mail once a month in a nice red box from Stampin’ Up!  Everything you need for that project (it’s always a fun surprise!) is included except maybe some adhesive. Directions are included and there is a video you can watch online if you like (like the one above). Once you are a subscriber, you can even purchase past kits or refills if you have to have something you missed (while supplies last)!

But even better than Paper Pumpkin once a month, is Paper Pumpkin half price for two months (for new subscribers only) to try it out! Just use the Promo Code HALFOFF. No risk, no obligation! If Paper Pumpkin is not for you, simply go into your account and cancel. Want to skip a month?  No problem, just go in and “Pause” your subscription for a month or two whenever you like.

After the two months, subscriptions will continue at the regular price of $19.95/month which includes shipping.

New subscribers receive a clear block with your first kit, so you will be all ready to stamp! Stamps and a small ink “spot” are included in each kit. Perfect for the beginning stamper or even the never-tried-it-before stamper! Fun for the experienced stamper, too, because we always like a new project to do and new ideas! Follow the directions or use your own ideas with the materials. There are almost always extra supplies left over after you complete the project that you can use for future papercrafting.

Order a kit (or an extra one) for your friend, your mother, your niece, nephew, grandchild, neighbor, college student, roommate. Even children can enjoy making these kits and think of the special memories you will create if you sit down with them to make something fun!

I haven’t seen the August Paper Pumpkin kit but those who saw it at Convention say it is cute! Of course that is always a personal opinion, but if it is true, I would hate for you to miss out on a really good Paper Pumpkin Kit. In order to get the August kit, you need to sign up by August 10. The special half-price offer is good through September 10th, but if you want to start with the August kit, sign up by Monday, August 10th. After August 10th, the first kit you receive will be the September kit and then the October kit. Either way, it is all good!

Paper Pumpkin Special Offer Aug 2015
Click to Join!

Join Paper Pumpkin today so you won’t miss out!

Timeless Elegance Designer Paper Makes a Beautiful Card

Timeless Elegance Painted Small Flowers Just Because Card

This beautiful Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper can be used to make all kinds of different kinds of cards. This paper was so popular it was on backorder for awhile and I only got mine recently. The coordinating colors are Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Sahara Sand so you can tell how neutral the colors are, but very dramatic. Of course the papers are double-sided so while one side has a bold pattern, the other side is very subdued.

On this card, I loved the tiny flower pattern and decided to try coloring in the little flowers with my Aqua Painter and some Melon Mambo ink. I didn’t try to carefully color in each little flower, I didn’t even have my reading glasses on! Watercoloring does not have to be exact so I just put down some color inside each little flower. Then I added a few Cucumber Crush green stems here and there, you can see I didn’t do every little line and I didn’t worry if they were exact either. I just had fun!

The greeting is from A Dozen Thoughts and the ribbon is Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon.

Here are the patterns of the Timeless Elegance Paper:

Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper

Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper Patterns

I love the beautiful lace patterns printed right onto the paper!

If you would like your package of Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper for making beautiful and elegant cards and projects, then visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and place your order! I’m also happy to do it for you, if you prefer!  Be sure to check the Weekly Deals and the Clearance Rack with newly added items today!

Deals Going On at Stampin’ Up!

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal Aug 4 2015

Here are the new Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for August 4 – Monday, August 10. Be sure to check them out!  Not too many this week, though. If you don’t have the 1/16″ and 1/8″ Circle Punches, you might be interested in those.  Good for making tags and other projects,  The In Color Blossom Accents are brand new in the new catalog and very cute! Not so good for mailing on a normal card, but if you are enclosing a card in a package or giving the card in person, it makes a cute accent.  Just attach with a glue dot. I love the Venetian Crochet Trim, it makes a pretty embellishment on certain projects. And of course, if you need more items to add to your ribbon collection, any color of Baker’s Twine is always handy and we all love the Seam Binding Ribbon. Remember, these products are only available at these discounted prices while quantities last, then they go back to regular price.

Also, Stampin’ Up! has announced they will add more items to the Clearance Rack tomorrow!

Today is the big day for Demonstrators! We can start ordering from the Holiday Catalog which comes out for customers September 1st. But if YOU want to preorder from the Holiday Catalog right away, just sign up to be a Demonstrator! To become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, you just need to purchase the Starter Kit, $99 for $125 worth of products plus business supplies to get you started in your new business! Beginning today you can even choose Holiday Catalog pre-order products for your Starter Kit! It’s fun having your own business selling Stampin’ Up! products and can be very rewarding if you work hard at it, like any business endeavor.

 Want to join the Stampin’ Up! family?  Just click HERE for information and to sign up!

Email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com  if you have questions or want more information!

Paper Pumpkin 50 off July 2015

Don’t forget about trying out Paper Pumpkin, the papercrafting kit that comes  in your mailbox once a month from Stampin’ Up! Right now new subscribers can sign up and get the first two months for 50% off, using the Promo Code HALFOFF. After the first two months, your subscription will continue at the regular price of $19.95 per month which includes shipping.  But no obligation!  If Paper Pumpkin is not for you, you can just cancel before the 10th of the month after you receive your two kits. If one month isn’t good for you, just “Pause” your subscription and then activate it again when you are ready! No obligation, no risk, just FUN!

Join Paper Pumpkin HERE!

If you are not familiar with Stampin’ Up! products because you do not have a Demonstrator, I would love to be yours!  Please sign up for my Mailing List to get a monthly newsletter in your inbox with the latest Stampin’ Up! news and offers plus many project ideas! Email me if you do not have a Stampin’ Up! Catalog and are interested in our products, because you are missing some great reading and inspiration!

Make a Tea Light Birthday Cake

Tea Light Birthday Cake

When I needed a fun little gift for a friend, I thought of this cute tea light birthday cake! It’s so easy to just wrap a piece of designer paper or washi tape around the side of the tea light and then decorate the top with a 1 3/4″ Scallop Circle PunchPoke a hole in the center of the scallop piece, cut some little slits so the scallop will slip over the light bulb, then decorate to your heart’s content! I punched the little flowers with some retired punches, but you can use whatever you have in your stash or perhaps stamp a design on the top. I also added some Candy Dots and Rhinestone Jewels, plus a little doodle dot on each scallop edge with my White Signo Uni-Ball Gel Pen. There are lots of fun ways to decorate these little tea light cakes! You just have to purchase some tea lights at the craft store and play with them!

I also made some kind of box to package the cake in, but I failed to take a photo so we’re out of luck on that one!

The only tricky part of this project is the little switch on the bottom of the tea light.  If you want to set the tea light on some kind of base, perhaps resembling a plate, then you have to cut or punch a hole to allow access to that switch (and if yours has it, don’t forget to pull out the little piece of plastic protecting the connection so that it won’t get accidentally turned on before you buy it!).

Tea Light Birthday Cake and Box

I added a Metallic Foil Doily in Gold for the presentation! I think I adhered the Watermelon Wonder card stock to the base of the tea light but then just added a tidbit of adhesive for the doily to hold the cake in place in the box.

Tea Light Birthday Cake Lit

Here you see what it looks like with the tea light lit. I also happened to photograph it from the backside in my rush, but at least you can see how I adhered the piece of paper from the Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack.

This is a really fun project to make, quick and easy really. Just keep a few cheap tea lights on hand and you’ll be ready to go! It’s always good to have things on hand that you can make an easy gift or card with and impress your friends and family!

For the best in papercrafting supplies, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store! Or contact me if you need assistance or would like me to put your order in for you. Try this Tea Light Birthday Cake project soon!

Sign Up For My Mailing List! Get a Free Gift!

Join My Mailing List

Have you signed up for my Stamping With Karen Mailing List yet? If you like visiting my blog or if this is your first time here, please join us by signing up in the Mailing List Sign Up Box! You won’t get tons of emails from me!  But you will receive a main monthly email newsletter around the beginning of each month with the latest Stampin’ Up! news and any special offers, plus several tutorials for cards and other projects.  I also usually send out a mid-month email to update everyone on any new offers or to remind you of ongoing ones. Even though I try to keep it very short, I often include another project or two. So that is two emails a month. On some rare occasions, I may send out a special one if there is a big announcement or offer I want you to know about right away!

If you like getting new ideas for stamping, then this is for you! These projects are exclusive to my newsletter – you won’t find them anywhere else. As a special gift for signing up, you will receive a PDF called “A  Dozen Creative Gift Wrap Ideas”. Who doesn’t need some quick and easy way to wrap a gift at the last minute?! This might save you a trip to the store for gift wrap!

Once you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email very shortly, which you do need to open and click the link inside to confirm that you do indeed mean to subscribe.  Yes, this is an extra step and many people don’t take it, but it helps to keep everyone compliant with email and helps keep you from receiving emails you really didn’t want.  When you click that confirmation link in the email, it means you really did sign yourself up for this mailing list. And after that, you will get another email with a link to your FREE GIFT!

And one of the best parts of being on my mailing list is something that will be coming up soon! This may be hard to believe, but we are inching ever closer to Christmas, even as we are suffocating in the August heat!  Something very popular with my subscribers is my “12 Weeks of Christmas” newsletter. Each week leading up to Christmas, I send out a special email with an exclusive project in it.  We start with cards, move on to gift ideas, and end up with tags and bags! This makes it handy for my subscribers to get ideas or just be inspired to create something of their own. Get some cards made, make a few simple gifts, and then be ready with some wrap ideas and cute tags for gifts! It’s all fun! Only my subscribers receive these newsletters each week leading up to the holidays so make sure YOU are signed up! And tell your friends!

No obligation, of course!  As with any email, just unsubscribe it if it is not for you.

You can also “Be a Fan” on my Stamping With Karen Facebook page HERE and follow me on Instagram @stampingwithkaren.

Keep on top of all things Stampin’ Up! and learn ways to use those great products in your papercrafting!  Sign up in the Mailing List sign up box in the upper right corner of my blog or in the pop-up box if you are lucky enough to get one! 🙂

Sales Tax Holiday Coming!

Schoolhouse

Happy August!!  Is today really the first day of August?!  What happened to July?? At least it is almost my birthday!

Since it is August, thoughts turn to the start of school! And with that, some states have a Sales Tax Holiday to help families with back to school expenses.  Twelve states are having a sales-tax holiday for school supplies on certain dates in August. The states typically define school supplies as “any items normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes.”  Stampin’ Up! is, therefore, limiting our exemptions per the state statute based on item description and price.

Here is a chart Stampin’ Up! provided with the states and dates and links to more information. Check and see if your state is listed. Some products that Stampin’ Up! sells can be considered school supplies and therefore, you may be able to save the sales tax. Even though a state is listed, not all communities may be participating.  The dates are very limited to be sure to order during that time if you are able to take advantage of your state’s sales tax holiday.

Sales Tax Holiday 2015

Each state has specific rules they consider to be school supplies–this may be by description or by price. The table below shows the items that are included per state statute definitions. The list of items below will be state tax-free during the holiday period. Please note that you must place your order with Stampin’ Up!® during the tax holiday period (which is midnight on the first day to midnight on the last day of the tax holiday) in order to receive these items tax-free . Also, keep in mind that this is a state sales-tax holiday and may not apply to additional county, city, and special-jurisdiction taxes.

Here’s a specific chart of which Stampin’ Up! items apply in each state.  You’ll have to click to enlarge.

Sales Tax Holiday Chart 2015

Click to View

Many of my crafting supplies through the years when my kids were in school often came in handy for school projects, even the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby! So make sure you are stocked up with your papercrafting supplies before school starts!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online for all your papercrafting and school supply needs!


Sprinkles of Life Cherry on Top Birthday Card

Sprinkles of Life Cherry on Top Birthday Card

Do you like this birthday card made with the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set, Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack, and the Cherry on Top Designer Series Washi Tape?  I really wanted to use all three products, and I love all three products, but I think the card turned out a little busy.  I think I could have done something better.  But, on the other hand, maybe somebody out there will like it and it will be just the card design they are looking for!  You never know!  We are all different!

I also used the Tree Builder Punch to punch out the pieces for the cupcake. But if you don’t have the punch, the pieces are not that hard to cut out yourself, at least if you have the Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips.

Washi Tape is always fun to use.  Just tear off a few strips and stick them on your card or project. Washi Tape is repositionable and can be used in oh so many ways.  The Cherry on Top Washi Tape has such cute designs and matches the Cherry on Top Paper Stack. I used a pattern from the Paper Stack for a layer on the Pool Party card base.

The Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set comes with a special bonus!  While you are stamping beautiful cards and projects with it, you will know that you are contributing to the Ronald McDonald House Charities® by purchasing this stamp set.  With every set sold, Stampin’ Up! donates $3 to this worthy charity, plus makes an annual contribution.

Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set RMHC

You can find this Sprinkles of Life Stamp set and all the products I used to make this card in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store.

You’ve Got This Flower Card with Glitter Splatter

You've Got This Flower Card with Glitter

I’m still trying to catch up after vacation, but I watched some of the livestreaming recordings from the Stampin’ Up! Convention and saw this neat technique, splattering with Multipurpose Liquid Glue and adhering Gold Glitter. I used the You’ve Got This Stamp Set to stamp and watercolor the beautiful flower and add a little pizzazz with splatters of gold glitter! I can still add a greeting to this card and I forgot to color the center flower parts, so maybe it is not completely finished!

Someone from the Stampin’ Up! Home Office at Convention demonstrated this glittering technique. You need an Aqua Painter (or a small paintbrush) (but you really should own an Aqua Painter!  I love mine!) and some Multipurpose LIquid Glue. Squeeze out a little glue, you don’t need much.  Then dilute it with some water from your Aqua Painter. You don’t want it too thin and not too thick, but different consistencies will give you different size splatters.  Then with the diluted glue on the Aqua Painter, splatter it on the card, however little or much you want.  Sprinkle the card with Gold Stampin’ Glitter and dump off the excess.  The glitter, of course, will stick to the glue splatters!

You've Got This Flower Card Gold Glitter Splatter Technique

In my painting days, I learned to splatter by tapping the splattering brush onto another brush handle or pencil or Aqua Painter held in your other hand over the project.  It gives you a little more control.

You could also splatter some color on to your card with a matching ink if you wanted.

I love watercoloring with my Aqua Painter!  To color in this flower, stamped with Stazon Ink, I just put a dab of reinker in the lid of the ink pad and picked some of that up, diluted with a little water with my Aqua Painter. If you want a darker shade, either pick up a bit of reinker that hasn’t been diluted OR touch your Aqua Painter to the corner of the ink pad itself to pick up ink.

Experiment with this splattering technique using Multipurpose Liquid Glue, the Aqua Painter, and some glitter!

You've Got This Flower Card Glitter Splatter

If you need any supplies for your cardmaking and other papercrafting or scrapbooking projects, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Stampin’ Up! Deals For You!

Here are the new Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals! Quantities at these prices are limited so don’t delay if you see something you want to order!  Lots of ribbon, for sure!  Think about the black for Halloween coming up, not to mention just some elegant looks with black on your projects! All of the Stitched Satin ribbons are beautiful!
Also, be sure to check the Clearance Rack for more bargains!
And don’t forget Paper Pumpkin!!  Take advantage of this special deal now through September 10th!
Paper Pumpkin 50 off July 2015

Click Here!

Offer Dates: July 23-September 10, 2015

Offer Details: Use the code HALFOFF to join Paper Pumpkin before September 10, 2015, and get 50% off the first two months! After that, keep the creativity coming for only $19.95 + tax per month (shipping included).

What Is Paper Pumpkin??  Each month a papercrafting kit arrives in your mailbox! Everything is included – stamps, ink, and paper – and is ready for you to put together. Follow the directions or do your own thing! Each month is a surprise! And once you are a subscriber, you can order any available past kits or refills. No obligation. Pause your subscription for a month or two if you want, and cancel any time if Paper Pumpkin is not for you. You can even order extra kits any month for gifts or for friends and family.

The Fine Print:

  • For new subscribers only.
  • Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.
  • Discount applied to one kit per month for the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, the price for each month’s kit will go to the regular price: $19.95.
  • Enter the Promo Code, HALFOFF when you sign up.
  • New subscribers must join by Thursday, September 10, 2015; 11:50 PM (MT).

Just contact me if you have any questions!  I love getting my Paper Pumpkin Kit each month!

Check out the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals and the other wonderful Stampin’ Up! products in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Stampin’ Up! 2015 Convention Highlights

I’m back from ten days of vacation, but don’t quite have my feet back on the ground yet! After spending several days in St. Louis visiting family and a couple friends and eating some of our favorite foods, we went to beautiful Michigan for several days visiting very kind friends who invited us to experience summer there and stay at their lake house. This was our second visit because we loved it so much the first time! Besides the beautiful, relaxing views of their smaller lake, Lake Michigan was stunning, having colors of blues just like the ocean! The scenery was beautiful, lots of interesting wineries, cute small towns along the way, and water everywhere!

While I was away, though, Stampin’ Up! was holding their convention in Salt Lake City. Obviously I wasn’t there this year, but I have attended many previous years and always thought it was one of the most fun things I have ever experienced! What could be more fun than to be with thousands of people who enjoy the same craft you do and be inspired by the presentations on stage of new products, creative ideas, displays of phenomenal projects by Stampin’ Up! employees and Demonstrators!

While I catch up on life again and recent Stampin’ Up! news, I am posting this video of Stampin’  Up! Convention 2015 highlights! It opens with Demonstrators visiting the Home Office in Riverton, Utah. You can get a taste throughout the video of the culture of Stampin’ Up! and the fun of being a Demonstrator! And maybe you will decide to join the Stampin’ Up! family and be a Demonstrator, too!

This was a unique year, with Shelli Gardner, Founder and CEO of Stampin’ Up!, not in attendance as she and her husband are serving a mission in Hawaii for a year. But her daughter Sara Douglass, from accounts I have seen, served admirably in her place. So that is who you see on stage rather than Shelli!

Click HERE to read about joining the fun and then let me know if you have any questions!

Great Deals for Papercrafters!

Paper Pumpkin 50 off July 2015

A great deal is back for Paper Pumpkin, the Stampin’ Up! papercrafting kit that comes to you in the mail once a month! New subscribers can sign up for 50% off the first two months.  Use Promo Code:  HALFOFF .

Join Paper Pumpkin and receive a kit in the mail.  Follow the directions and watch the video to see how to make your project!  If you want to make something completely different or even just a little bit different, you can!  With your first kit, you will receive a clear block to use with your stamps. New stamps included and an ink spot. Everything you need except maybe adhesive.

No obligation!  You can try it and pause your subscription any month or cancel if you must.  But it is a treat to receive that bright box in the mail, just for you!  Or give as a gift to someone! Call some friends and get together to make your kits!

To join Paper Pumpkin, just click HERE to go to my Paper Pumpkin site.  Read more about it and sign up! Let me know if you have any questions. The kits are not always cards, it’s always a surprise!

PLUS:  Here are the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for July 21 – 27. Supplies at this price are limited and will go back to regular price. See something you want?  Order it soon!

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal July 21 2015

Click on the link or photo above to go to my store and see the Weekly Deals page in regular size!

Have fun shopping for Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals and try out the Paper Pumpkin 50% off deal if you are a new subscriber!