Wouldn’t you know all my photos of my cute little Love Notes that I made with my new Punch Box awhile back all came out blurry?!  This one is slightly decent, enough to give you an idea.

Stampin’ Up!® has announced a new special running from now until Sept. 30th.  Wish you could choose your own family sometimes??  Well, now you can…..family of ink pads, anyway!

Purchase the Starter Kit between August 10 and September 30, and you’ll get to pick the family of your choice!  Yes, you can pick the color family of Classic Stampin’ Pads® FREE. That’s a $57.95  value!

Click here to read all about it!  If you have ever wanted to be a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator with all the benefits and fun, now is the time!

New recruits may choose between our four color families (Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals, and Soft Subtles) or choose a pack of our 2007 In Color pads. Color family packs include 12 ink pads, and the In Color selection includes six ink pads.

I guess it has really been awhile since I have posted.  My blog is never far from my mind but I seem to always put it off until the next day… and the next day…and now it is the middle of August!  And I have actually been doing some stamping this summer (never as much as I would like to do) so I do have some things to post. 

I think the summer has been speeding by so fast because I am sending my last child off to college this week.  While I would have said boys don’t need as much stuff at college as girls, and even though I have been through this twice before, it still has taken a significant amount of shopping and errands to get everything accomplished…or purchased.  And there are still probably a few more things to do before we leave in a couple of days, not to mention the actual packing.  To top it off, we had to think about possible hurricane preparations because of Hurricane Dean, but thankfully that seems to be avoiding the Texas coast as of now.

Here are a couple of cute things made with the Zoofari Stamp set.  I also used the new wheel, See You Around to make the little dotted background.  You could make lots of cute baby cards and things with the Zoofari set.

When I wanted to make a little gift for my neighbor who became a grandmother, I found a cute little album on SCS made with one 12×12 sheet of designer paper for the basic project.  The basic directions are to fold the 12×12 in half, then accordion fold, and on the end panels you can fold down one corner of the paper to make an opening for a tag.  On the "inside" panels I cut down on the folds about halfway and folded one piece down.  I used other pieces of designer paper and the Zoofari set to embellish.  I decided to decorate both sides as it could be used standing rather than folded and tied with ribbon.  I was pleased with how this project turned out with the cute little animals!



Here you can see the designer paper just folded in half.

This is one of Beate’s tutorials on Splitcoaststampers.  Just one sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock is used and folded a certain way.  There was only one tricky part and once I got it, it was easy!  I used the new In Color Sky Blue along with Chocolate Chip.  The stamp set is "Baroque Motifs".

One sheet scored, stamped and (un)folded.

The front of the box tied with the new Taffeta ribbon.

Box from the side.

Here is the cover of a travel album I made for a gift.  I just used less than half of the retired "Tickets and Tokens" Simply Scrappin’ Kit to decorate it.  I found this wonderful project on Amy Celona’s website.

Part of the inside.

The center has envelopes glued together to make pockets into which you can put photos or other travel memorabilia.                                                             

This was stamped using the Level 2 Hostess
Set, "In the Spotlight".  I loved making this
card, the random stamping just felt good!
The organdy ribbon is retired but the
Gingham is available.

Easy one-layer card with "Pick a Petal".
Mount your petal stamps with the point
close to the bottom of your block
and you can see where to place your
petal.

Finally I am going to post some new things I have stamped!  A week ago I went to Peggy’s stamp camp (another Demo) and made these cards.  It was fun, relaxing, and felt good to stamp!

Stamped with Baroque Motifs.      

Stamped with Doodle This.  The flower on top was cut out and adhered to the stamped flower beneath it.

Another Baroque Motifs card!  Love this set!

Remember to click on any photo to enlarge it.

Here are more photos of my first order.  I ran out of space on my previous post and then out of time!  Click on the photo for a close up.

Now I think I should go stamp something!

Here are a few things!  Click on the photo to make it larger.

LOVE the new Stampin’ Stack & Store to hold containers of brads, buttons, beads, you name it!  It came fully assembled out of the box except to screw on the top handle and spins nicely!  So cute!!  You can see photos on pages 163 and 193 of the catalog when you click on the link above.

The Outlaw Designer Paper is scrumptious, even if you are not interested in a western theme.  Lots of great uses for this paper!  I know I’ll be ordering more.

The Pretties Kit on page 188 looks very interesting!  Some of the beads are flat on one side so they can be applied easily to a flat surface.  Can’t wait to see what kinds of great projects can be made with all these little beads, flowers and hat pins!

The Scallop Circle Punch will be lots of fun!  Lots of possibilities there for cards, scrapbook pages and other projects!  You can see the actual punch on page 183 of the catalog.

Ribbon!! If you like ribbon, you will love the new Stampin’ Up!(R) offerings on pages 190-191.  I chose "Fairy Tale" for this order but it was an agonizing choice!

Simply Scrappin’ Kits!  They all look great in the catalog.  For my first order I chose Round-Up and Winter Bright.  Don’t for a minute think these are only for scrapbooking!  They ARE great for scrapbooking but also cards and lots of projects.

Here is the other side of the double-sided Outlaw Designer Paper.

I could probably have used one of my own “Survival Kits” in deciding on my first order from the Fall-Winter Collection 2007.  So many wonderful new stamp sets and great new accessories to choose from!  You can see the new catalog online if you click on the above link.  I chose some of the stamp sets they will use for Make and Takes at the Stampin’ Up!(R) Convention later this month in Denver because I know they will come up with fabulous samples and then I’ll have to buy those sets anyway!  Demonstrators attending the convention will get those sets FREE when they check-in!  One of those sets is called Wanted….naturally they have created beautiful samples in the new catalog so even though I don’t know how much I can use a western theme, I thought I better get it!  Of course we did go on two trips to dude ranches in the Texas Hill Country so that might work for some scrapbook pages!  I also needed some of the Designer paper to match.  The new Scallop Punch was a must as was one of the new clipboards just begging to be altered.  Had to get the new Pretties kit with the flowers, hat pins and other goodies plus the new Stack and Store Caddy as well as a tiny bit of new ribbon.  Now to be patient until it all comes!

I’m a day late but here is a card I sent my son for the 4th of July.  I used the recently retired "Sketch It" set to make the fireworks plus some Versamark and Hologram Highlights and a little Dazzling Diamonds.  Might not exactly  be fireworks, but it looks festive just the same!

Other Demos are so clever to come up with these things!

UPS Memo

To: Drivers and Security
Date: June 20th , 2007
Subject: Crazy Stampin’ Up! Ladies

This time of the year has come around once again. Stampin’ Up! is releasing the New Idea Book and Catalog. Please be extremely cautious of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators (SUDs) for the next two weeks.

Watch out for the following:

1. At the distribution centers, please be on the lookout for SUDs. In the past they have been known to cut fences and sneak inside covered with Close to Cocoa ink in hopes of blending in with the trucks.

2. The ladies have been known to run after your trucks. If they catch you and ask if you have a "package" for them, be careful with your answer. They do not take "no" for an answer. If you do not have it, just say " I will double check in the back" and turn and run as fast as you can to your truck and drive away. Do not turn back and look, just keep going until you are a safe distance away.

3. They have also been know to drive up next to you at a stop light in their mini vans and SUVs and ask if you have a package for them. Turn up your radio and pretend you cannot hear them. Do not let them approach your delivery truck at an intersection. SUDs have been know to stop traffic and throw all your packages off the trucks until they find their new Idea Book and catalog.

How to Deliver the New Idea Book and Catalog

1. Be sure you have fixed your squeaky brakes, If not – park your truck two blocks away so the SUD can not hear you coming.

2. Put in your earplugs and secure your safety glasses.

3. If you see children looking out the window, put your finger up to your lips and say "SHHHH".. They are on a "lookout" for you and are being paid to "alert" their mothers (SUDs) when they see you coming to the door.

4. Approach the front door and very quietly, set the package down in front of the door (Make sure you place it in FRONT so when she opens the door, the box will be in the way and give you a little more time to escape).

5. Back up as far as you can and reach for the doorbell, (BE READY TO RUN !!!). Ring the doorbell and make a mad dash back to your truck and drive away….DO NOT LOOK BACK !!!

The UPS corporation is informing you of this because in the past years, SUDs have been known to scream at the top of their lungs with excitement and try to tackle you with hugs for delivering their catalogs. After you have been smothered with appreciation for getting them their catalogs on time, watch out for flying packaging material as they will open up the box before you have had a chance to leave , or they have gone inside. Best of luck to you with this mission, and remember

Let’s Be Safe Out There!!!!

Someone gave me a box of tins and this is what I decided to do with them for a recent stamp camp.  Amazingly I just used our SU Anywhere Glue Stick on the tin and on the Au Chocolat Designer Series Double-Sided Paper in the Spring Mini and it has really worked!  The ribbon around the middle is from the Winter Mini and is no longer available.  For the centerpiece I stamped my initial, but you could also use some other small design.  The Au Chocolat paper it is layered on is punched on all four corners with the Square Steps Punch and then each corner is folded down….a very unusual and fun way to use that punch, an idea shared by another demo Cambria.  If you want more details, just contact me.

If you haven’t played around with the online Stampin’ Up!(R) catalogs, you really should!  Just go to www.stampinup.com and click on "Our Online Catalog".  Select the Idea Book and Catalog or the Spring Mini Catalog.  Open the catalog either by doing the Quick Flip at the top or moving the bar at the bottom to the page you want.  At the top you can also select whether you want the double-page layout or a single page.  You can even get thumbnails of several pages at once!  There is a zoom tool (the plus sign) and next to it a Magnifier!  Click on that and then place your cursor over what you want to magnify in the catalog!  Really neat!  You can move it around, too, on the page.  If you notice the "Tools" next at the top,  you can bookmark a page….a little tab comes up on the side of the catalog page and then you can always click on that tab and go back to that page.  You can write yourself a note with the Checkmark box or you can Circle an item.  There is also "Help" if you need it with the Question Mark box or you can print a page.

Another neat feature is if you put your cursor on any project in the catalogs, including the covers, it will say to click and then a zoomed view of the project will come up plus a list of stamping supplies!   You can even zoom in closer if you want.  Try it!

Now you’ll be all set to look at the new Fall-Winter Collection 2007 when it is available July 1st! Contact me with any questions or additional information.

Many years ago I saw this idea somewhere and actually remembered it when my children were older.  The idea was to keep a journal of their senior year, just a diary really.  It was supposed to be all positive, which we all know is a little bit difficult that senior year!  But it is possible to do!  I kept the notebook on my nightstand and was pretty good at keeping up with it.  Then before graduation I decorated the cover with stamping.  I am under no illusion that they appreciate this book now, but I’ve told them that someday when they are 40 or 50 and find it in a box, hopefully they will really appreciate and enjoy it then, a glimpse into their life when they were 17 or 18.