Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Stampin’ Up! Opportunity Calls

Interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in the Hispanic market? Join Sandra from the home office on any Wednesday for a 15-minute phone call to discuss Stampin' Up!'s history and philosophy, our products, and the unique opportunities that exist for demonstrators in the Hispanic market. You'll be able to ask questions, and there might even be a special incentive offer made to call participants!

The calls are held every Wednesday in both English and Spanish:

11:00 AM (MT) for English
4:00 PM (MT) for Spanish

To participate, simply call 877-787-7226 (toll free) at the appropriate time.

Notice the times are Mountain Time (MT), which is Stampin' Up! time in Utah, so please make adjustments for your time zone!

It's always a great time to start your own Stampin' Up! business!! Check here for more information before or after the call!

Grab Yourself a Grab Bag!

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Wow! The Grab Bags are going fast! Here is an update from Stampin' Up!:

As announced on April 1, for a limited time we are offering $5, $10, and $15 grab bags on Demonstrator and Online orders. So far, many people have taken advantage of this offer–so many in fact that the $15 grab bags are already sold out. In order to keep a $15 option available, we’re now kitting together a $10 and a $5 grab bag to fulfill $15 grab bag orders. The value of the products you will receive is unchanged.

Whether you are interested in a Grab Bag or not, you should definitely check the Clearance Rack for some great deals!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Gift Wrapping with Stampin’ Up!

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Here are some more examples of easy ways to gift wrap with Stampin' Up! All these Big Shot flower dies are quite addicting! Just die cut a bunch of flowers, emboss some of them for extra pizzazz, and you've got the makings of a lovely gift wrap idea!

Here are some vanilla flowers cut with the Fun Flowers Die #121812 in the Occasions Mini and embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder #120175.

I very lightly sponged some ink on each layer of the flower and adhered them together with dimensionals. It looked okay but I wondered if I should not have done the sponging….but THEN I curled the tips of the flower petals with my bone folder and that was just the WOW it needed! There's often just one more little thing to do that really makes you satisfied with your project! And of course I added a little pearl to the center.

And as I did the other day in THIS post, I made a simple belly band around the gift box and adhered my flower to the top! Can't you just imagine making these flowers for a wedding gift or on a wedding gift bag…or a wedding card?! I think it would be beautiful!!

Here's a Daffodil Delight flower embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335 with a button in the center!

And one more flower gift wrap decoration made with the Daisies #2 Flower Die #114520.

You don't even need gift wrap for packages. Just use tissue paper and decorate with your Stampin' Up! flower dies! This is a great gift wrap idea and will save you a last minute trip to the store for wrapping paper and ribbon!

If you need any of these wonderful flower dies for your Big Shot, please check them out at my Online Store.

Ice Cream Sundae Birthday

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Apparently, April 3 is the 119th Anniversary of the first documented Ice Cream Sundae, according to Google. Who would have guessed there is such controversy over the history of the ice cream sundae, as several different cities claim to be the first to have invented it! Whether you want to believe that it was because the selling of soda water was prohibited on Sunday so just the remaining ice cream and syrup led to the invention of the ice cream sundae, or whether a customer asked for some syrup on top of the ice cream and perhaps a cherry, or any of the other versions out there led to the naming and birth of the ice cream sundae, I think we can all agree it is certainly a tasty treat!

In honor of the Ice Cream Sundae, here is my digital version, made with My Digital Studio! I assure you, all the scoops are made with Blue Bell Ice Cream, my favorite!

If you already own My Digital Studio (good for you!) there is a new update from Stampin' Up! you will want to take advantage of! Open the program, click the "Help" button and then select "Check for Updates". This is a free update and it is the best one yet! It does take awhile to download because there is lots of new content! And did I say it is FREE?!

For more information about My Digital Studio, click HERE! Really! Do it now! There is so much to check out!

Discontinued Stampin’ Up! Products

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Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2011

Check the Clearance Rack at my Online Store for discontinued Stampin' Up! products! Looks like some good buys on there! Don't miss out!

You'll also find Grab Bags of Stampin' Up! products! What fun! Beginning April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in the Online Store. These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.

Please keep the following in mind:

Grab bag orders can only be placed on demonstrator orders or in the Online Store.
There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.
There is no limit to the number of grab bags a customer may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last.
All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.
Not all grab bags will be unique.
You should use the following item numbers when ordering grab bags:

Item	Description
125873	$5 Grab Bag (containing at least $20 worth of products!)
125874	$10 Grab Bag (containing at least $40 worth of products!)
125875	$15 Grab Bag (containing at least $60 worth of products!)

Once you spend $20 on any products in the Online Store, you'll be set to take advantage of the Spring Is Blossoming Promotion. You'll be able to make some beautiful Stampin' Up! cards with this stamp set and designer paper.

Have fun shopping and good luck with the Grab Bag! If you buy one, come back here and tell us what you got!

April Fools Joke? No, New Catalog Sneak Peek! For You!

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No April Fools joke here! Stampin' Up! is offering a sneak peek from the Stampin' Up 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog for demonstrators and customers! Click on the picture below to go to the Promotions page!

Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Four Frames Stamp Set
W: item 123440 | $20.95
C: item 123442 | $15.95

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
item 122367 | $9.95

Online orders are not eligible for the Hostess option.

Please contact me for more information or if you have any questions.

Oh…..have you checked out the new feature for Gmail?? Get your exercise while you check your email! http://mail.google.com/mail/help/motion.html

Have a fun April Fools Day! :)

Stamp Space Makeover Contest for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators!

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Do you need a stamp space makeover? Don't we all?! Here's a good reason, actually two, to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! If you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and register to go to and attend Convention (the most fun event in the world!) in Salt Lake City in July, you may submit a video to enter a contest on why you deserve a makeover of your stamping space. And the prize is: Shelli Gardner herself, Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!, will come to the winner's home and work her magic to redesign the winner's stamping space! The winner will be announced at Convention! How COOL would that be??!! And how cool of a company is Stampin' Up! to offer something so fun! Wouldn't you like to be a part of a company like that?

While you can join Stampin' Up! any day, today is the last day of Sale-a-Bration and the last day to get 15% off the Starter Kits (you may choose between the standard kit and the digital kit) AND receive an extra bonus bundle worth $50 in free products! Registration for Convention will begin soon so you will be just in time! Then you can start thinking about the video you are going to make to try to win a stamping space makeover by Shelli!!

Just click HERE to learn more about joining Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator…..then click on the "Join Now" button on the left on that page and you'll be signed up in a matter of minutes! I'd love to have you on my team!

Free Products! Sale-a-Bration 2011 Coming to an End!

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Free products! Who doesn't like to hear that phrase?! Time is running out for the greatest Stampin' Up! promotion of the year….and the oldest! Stampin' Up! has been promoting Sale-a-Bration since the early days of the company (back then, called Sell-a-Bration), so you know it is a good thing! But today and tomorrow are the last days. Sale-a-Bration 2011 ends tomorrow, March 31.

With a purchase of just $50, you get to choose one free product from the Sale-a-Bration Mini Catalog. With a $100 purchase, choose two free products…and so on! No limit!

You may have seen some of the new SAB stamp sets in the mini, but did you know there are MANY stamp sets from the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog that are also available? They are listed on page 11 in the Sale-A-Bration Mini.

Here's one of them…Elizabeth! It's a single "a la carte" stamp. I was asked to make some simple invitations for a school event thanking some volunteers. This was one of the samples I made. The Elizabeth stamp is very elegant!

It's time to stock up on card stock, adhesives or those stamp sets you've always wanted because with your $50 purchase you will receive the Sale-A-Bration benefits. Check it out HERE. And then click on the "Shop Now" button on my website to place your order! Have fun!

Card Making Made Easy

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Card making is so easy when you use Stampin' Up! products. When inks, paper and accessories coordinate, all you have to do is choose a few colors or a main color to work with and everything else will fall into place. This 4"x4" card base is Melon Mambo which coordinates with the Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper & Quick Accents Pack #122242. I knew I could also use the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon with the buttons included in the Ribbon & Button Pack #123529. The stamp set in the Sale-A-Bration Catalog "Sweet Summer" has a little stamp of stems and leaves that I easily colored with Stampin' Write Markers and then adhered the little buttons.

You can choose any of the Sale-A-Bration products FREE with a $50 purchase, but only until Thursday, March 31!! The last day is fast approaching and I'd hate for you to miss the fun of choosing your free product from the amazing catalog this year! There are stamp sets, accessories, a Decor Element, and digital content for digital papercrafting with My Digital Studio.

Just think how special it would be for someone you know to receive a handmade card! There are plenty of Stampin' Up! ideas on my blog and in the Stampin' Up! catalogs that are easy for you to be inspired and to duplicate. And copying is allowed!!

Avoid the crowds!! Place your Sale-A-Bration order today!!

How to Gift Wrap with Stampin’ Up!

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We all need ideas on how to gift wrap presents sometimes! I was late getting my friend's gifts mailed to her, but this gift wrap idea came to me when I saw these Big Shot Flower Folds die cuts (#115970) laying on the table. They were cut from both the Real Red Patterns Designer Series Paper #117155 and the First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper #121878 in the Occasions Mini. I put them together, liked what I saw, and added a Filigree Designer Brad #112577 with a Clear Rhinestone Brad #113144 to hold it together. I wrapped a band of card stock around the boxes and adhered the flowers to it! You might recognize that the brown boxes are from the Stampin' Up! Simply Adorned line of jewelry. For being so spontaneous, this gift wrapping idea turned out to be very cute and my friend liked it!

There's more to stamping than Stampin' Up! cards! Next time you need to gift wrap something, think of Stampin' Up! ideas, using your stamping supplies and maybe the Stampin' Up! catalog for inspiration! It's a great source for ideas for all sorts of things.

Need anything from Stampin' Up!? Just shop at my Online Store HERE! Sale-a-Bration is still on until March 31! Don't miss out!

So Much to Sale-A-Brate CD

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The "So Much to Sale-A-Brate CD" is one of the free products you can earn from the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration Promotion……but only if you place your order by March 31! It's so much fun to play with My Digital Studio and now you can have all the digital content of the Sale-A-Bration catalog FREE with any $50 purchase from Stampin' Up!

I began by choosing a card in the Designer collection….meaning, it is already made up for you.

And then I changed almost everything about it! I changed the Old Olive background paper to a pattern in the Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper; changed the color of the Scallop Border Punch; and added Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon, Bows, and Buttons. You could make this same card with your real supplies or you can make this digital version.

If you want to get all this free digital content to use with My Digital Studio or your own digital program, please place your order with me or at my Online Store before Sale-A-Bration ends on March 31st!

Stampin’ Up!: Baby Shower Gift

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Another baby shower gift idea might be something like this: A decorative tin, notebook and pen. It is decorated for the nursery and is a handy way for the new parents to write quick notes about the baby and later add them to the baby book. We parents know how harried the first weeks (and years!) are, and yet you want to remember all those special, fun, and funny moments. I've also used new paint cans wrapped with designer paper or cardstock in a similar fashion.

On this tin, I used designer paper from Nursery Suite Specialty Paper #117165 (the bunny paper in this package is SOOO CUTE!), some Eyelet Border #119853 punched Melon Mambo cardstock for trim, Ice Cream Parlor Buttons #123529 from the Sale-a-Bration catalog, a little stamped medallion on top and ribbon tied on the handle. I've always had good luck with our Stampin' Up! Anywhere Glue Sticks #104045 on projects like this. I apply the glue to the paper as well as to the tin.

And here is the cute little notebook, just covered with some matching paper and ribbon. The pen is an RSVP Pen….just unscrew the top, pull out the ink cartridge, wrap a 1"x3" piece of designer paper tightly and stuff down into the barrel of the pen. You'll have to shove it the last little bit but you can get it in there. Insert the ink cartridge into the center of the wrapped paper and replace the top. Very cute!

Baby Shower Gift

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Want to incorporate scrapbooking and Stampin' Up! in a nice gift for a new mother? Instead of an entire baby scrapbook, how about just one scrapbook page….and put it in a frame to hang on the wall! It can be both art for the nursery as well as documentation of a new baby's early days. Photos and journaling can be put in the blank spaces or journaling box and the rest can fit the theme of the nursery. On this 12×12 page I used animals from various stamp sets as well as other embellishments just to decorate the page. You can find scrapbooking ideas right in the Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog as well as plenty of supplies and embellishments to make one page or an entire scrapbook.

You can see some other baby scrapbook pages I made for framed gifts HERE and HERE. It's a unique gift idea for a new baby and something the mother will appreciate.

Stampin’ Up! First Day of Spring Card

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The first day of spring was yesterday, and I took pictures of our beautiful azaleas that have really burst into bloom this past week. The weather was a perfect spring day as well….and you won't normally hear people raving about how good the weather is here in Houston…except for this time of year when other cities are still experiencing snow and we are looking at beautiful spring flowers and digging short pants out of the closet.

Here is a Stampin' Up! card to commemorate the first day of spring.

I just grabbed a Note Card #107311 (did you know you can buy a pack of 20 note cards 5"x 3 1/2" including envelopes?!) to make a simple card with the stamp set Bold Blossom in the Occasions Mini (page 31). I assumed I would put a little greeting on the card or embellish the flowers with some kind of center layer, but in the end I decided to just go with simple! When I looked in the drawer to possibly use my glitter, I spied the Basic Rhinestones #119246 and decided just a little bling was what the flowers needed….and that was enough!

Here are some photos of our azaleas! You should be able to click on each photo to enlarge it.

If you need any stamping supplies to make some beautiful spring cards, please contact me or shop online at my store HERE.

Stampin’ Up! Cards: St. Patrick’s Day

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Stampin' Up! cards are so easy to make, even for holidays like St. Patrick's Day! Without buying a special St. Patrick's Day stamp set, I found this shamrock in the Got Treats stamp set. And if I wouldn't have had a shamrock stamp, I could have used hearts to make a shamrock! Or I could have just used our great colors of green to make a generic St. Patrick's Day card. I found the greeting in the fabulous stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370…..or you could have used something simple like "Celebrate" or "Thinking of You". Maybe add some ribbon, some brads, a punch or our new Fabric Designer Brads #121880 and you've got some easy embellishments to jazz up your card!

For some other St. Patrick's Day ideas from last year, click HERE, HERE, and HERE.

My Online Store is always open for shopping!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Stamping With Karen

Having Fun With Paper, Ink, and Stamps

Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Stampin’ Up! Opportunity Calls

Grab Yourself a Grab Bag!

Gift Wrapping with Stampin’ Up!

Ice Cream Sundae Birthday

Discontinued Stampin’ Up! Products

April Fools Joke? No, New Catalog Sneak Peek! For You!

Stamp Space Makeover Contest for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators!

Free Products! Sale-a-Bration 2011 Coming to an End!

Card Making Made Easy

How to Gift Wrap with Stampin’ Up!

So Much to Sale-A-Brate CD

Stampin’ Up!: Baby Shower Gift

Baby Shower Gift

Stampin’ Up! First Day of Spring Card

Stampin’ Up! Cards: St. Patrick’s Day