Bubbling Over

Hey there stampers!

Happy Monday and welcome to a new post.  Hope you all had a fun and/or productive weekend. Sometimes it is good to dig in and get tasks done!  I don't know about you, but I don't like things hanging over my head.  I would just rather jump in and get things done and that's exactly what I did this weekend.  Now I can say that my business taxes are finished!  Yay!  It is such a feeling of accomplishment to have tackled that task and to have it done!

Today I have a bright and fun card for you that just says "summer" to me.  I apologize for the way it looks a little washed out, thanks to the flash on my camera.  I really need to take a photography class or something.  In reality, the card is quite a bit more vivid.  Take a look.

This set is perfect for "guy" cards, especially if the guy in question enjoys a beer every now and then.  Of course this card features a soda bottle, as I've never seen beer in that particular shade of green, have you? So if you use the soda bottle option, then this make a great set for teens as well. You can see the Bubble Over stamp set on page 32 of the Occasions catalog and the matching framelits are also on the same page.  

What makes this set even more fun is that there is matching Designer Series Paper that you can earn for FREE with a $50 purchase.  Check page 13 of the Sale-a-bration brochure to see this bright paper.  There's not a flower in sight... just bubbles, dots, stripes, bottles, and other patterns that are not the least bit feminine.

I know we all struggle sometimes with cards for men and cards for teenagers, so this set might work when you need such a card.

Make the week ahead a great one!  February will be over before you know it!  The February Host Code is H4E4W9HY.  Of course it goes without saying that I would love for you to place an order.

I appreciate you, my wonderful customers more than you know!  

Blessings,

Susan

Hey, Friend!

Hello out there! 

When you look out your window, do you see snow this morning?  If so, lucky you!  It can be a pajama day for you!  I'm thinking that for my retired friends and those who don't work outside their homes, every day can be a pajama day, but not every day is filled with the beauty of SNOW!  So enjoy every minute of the day if you are lucky enough to be surrounded by snow.

Here in Woodland, California it is sunny, with an expected high of 54.  We are excited to see that there is rain in the forecast for Thursday and Friday.  We are desperate for rain!

I've got a fun card for you today, using one of my favorite In-Colors.... Berry Burst.  Have a look and then I'll tell you more about it...

The base of the card is Whisper White card stock, with an added panel of Berry Burst card stock on top of it.  I embossed the Berry Burst panel with the beautiful Layered Leaves embossing folder.  It is one of the Dynamic Textured Impressions folders, which means it is thicker and more detailed than the regular embossing folders.
(#143704, $9.00, p. 211)

The stamp set is Orange Blossom, (#143765, $17.00, p. 175).  This is one of those sets you might overlook, but if you are paying attention, you can see that it is an extremely versatile set because it has both images and sentiments.   In my opinion, this is the best kind of set there is!

The ink colors are Berry Burst, Basic Black, and Lemon Lime Twist.  The ribbon is the 1/4 inch Ombre ribbon in Lemon Lime Twist (#144234, $7.00, p. 198) and the circles were cut with the Layering Circles Framelits, (#141705, $35.00, p. 214).  While you might be thinking that $35 is a lot to pay for the circle dies, they are much cheaper than purchasing punches.  You get 16 different circle dies, some smooth and some are scalloped around the edge.  Most of the punches are $15-$18 so at that rate, 16 circle punches would cost between $240 and $288 and you'd need a lot of space to store them.

Tomorrow is a big milestone for me in my Stampin'Up! journey... my 17th anniversary as a Stampin'Up! Demonstrator.  I have an awesome special I'm offering... $17 extra dollars to anyone who holds a party-in-a-box, submits a "catalog party, " or an order of $150 or more.  I'm still hoping that someone will take me up on this very generous offer.  Being a Stampin'Up! Demonstrator has been a great blessing in my life.  I've earned some amazing trips and been places I wouldn't have been able to visit on my own.  So I'm very grateful to all of you, my wonderful customers. Thank you for 17 years of fun and friendship!

May the week ahead be filled with good things!
Hugs to all,
Susan

Sneak Peek of a New Sale-a-bration Bundle!!!

Good news, Stampers!

The new Sale-a-bration items are almost here!  They can be added to your order of $50 or $100 beginning on Friday, February 16th and they'll be available until the end of Sale-a-bration on March 31st.

I was able to pre-order the very beautiful Blossoming Basket Bundle, which is free with a $100 purchase.  In this bundle you get the Blossoming Basket stamp set and a Dynamic Textured Impressions embossing folder in a basket weave pattern.  The Dynamic Textured Impressions folders are thicker and produce a more deeply embossed pattern than the regular embossing folders.  When using this type of folder, you use the regular embossing platform for the Big Shot, but you only use one clear plate, not two.  

Here is the card I made using the new stamp set and embossing folder...

As usual, my photograph doesn't do the actual card justice.  There's a bit too much light reflecting off the card.  In real life, the colors are more vibrant.  I used a brayer to add Sahara Sand ink right onto the inside of the embossing folder before sending it through the Big Shot.  It's an easy technique, but looks so amazing.  People will ask, "How did you do that?"

I used my new Blends alcohol markers to color the basket and flowers and it didn't take long at all.  The color flows on quickly and smoothly and the results look professional.  Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.  My coloring skills are not up to snuff but these markers make it so very easy!  The best thing is, you can buy the markers individually, so you can get just the colors you want.  Check out the full offering of Blends markers on page 51 of the Occasions catalog.  There is a light and a dark shade of each color, with a total of 11 colors available. For this card I used the light shade of Old Olive and both the light and dark shades of Pink Pirouette and Daffodil Delight.  Add one or two of these markers to your next order and give them a try.  I think you'll love them as much as I do. And at $4.50 each, they won't break the bank.  Note:  You must use Memento ink when coloring with the Blends alcohol markers.  Otherwise, the ink will run.   

Got your Valentines done?  There's still time to make a few for your nearest and dearest friends and relatives.  And as the song says, "What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.  It's the only thing that there's just too little of."  This is more true now than ever, so do your part to spread some love around and make this world a better, happier, more loving place.  

Don't forget the February Host code  H4E4W9HY.  Please use this code when placing your online orders of any amount.  If your order is $50 or more, you will get your name added to my 50-50 board, and also have your name entered into the February Host Code Drawing which will take place on Feb. 28th.  Plus you'll get to pick a FREE Sale-a-bration item from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  When placing an online order of $150 or more, do not use the host code.  Then you will receive host benefits on your order.

Make the week ahead a good one!  To make a good week even better, take a little time to be creative with stamps, ink, and paper.  
Love what you do, share what you love!
Susan

Love at First Sight

Hello and happy Monday!

Do you ever see a stamp set and just instantly know that you've got to have it?  It happens to me more than I'd like to admit!  When I was at the OnStage event in Salt Lake City last November and the new Occasions catalog was unveiled, the minute I saw the Petal Palette stamp set, I knew I just had to have it. 

Here are the reasons why this is my favorite stamp set and coordinating product suite (Petal Passion Suite) in the Occasions catalog:

1.  I love the images and the way they look softly sketched.  There are no hard, crisp lines anywhere... just soft-looking leaves and flowers.

2.  There's a bird!  And what a sweet little bird he is!  I'm not sure what kind of bird this is supposed to be, but I think it's fun to color him any colors you like.  He's an imaginary bird, so color him blue or purple or yellow or maybe a little of each.

3.  There are some great sayings in this set...for example "I just love you." and "Life is so much better with you in it."

4.  Did I mention the amazing font?  I love the way the font mixes a curvy upper- and lower-case script with very simple upper-case printing.  Take a look on page 23 of your Occasions catalog and you'll see what I mean.  

5.  The coordinating Designer Paper is done in black and white...so very sophisticated and so fun to color!  

6.  There's a coordinating set of Thinlets to make cutting out the images as simple as pie.  (Don't know where that expression came from... in my book there's nothing simple about making a pie, but I digress).

7.  The Petal Pair embossing folders are amazing!  You get two skinny embossing folders, perfect for adding texture to your Petal Palette cards.

OK... after all that I guess it's time to show you a card I made with this great set...

I used a piece of Whisper White card stock for the base.  Next I cut a panel of Pool Party card stock and a smaller panel of the Petal Passion DSP. After adhering them together,  I wrapped the two panels with two pieces of Baker's Twine... one of Basic Black and two of Pool Party before adhering the two panels to the card base.  I cut a circle of Whisper White card stock using the Stitched Shapes Framelits and adhered it over the Baker's Twine with a couple of Dimensionals.  Then I stamped the flowers in Tuxedo Black Memento ink, cut them out with the matching framelit, and colored them with my Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers.  I used both the light and dark shades of Pool Party and the light shade of Old Olive.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  Start to finish, you can make this card in under 10 minutes.  Note that there are no lumps or bumps of any kind on this card, making it perfect to slide into an envelope and mail with assurance that it will arrive intact, something you cannot be sure of if you are adding embellishments such as pearls, rhinestones, or even a ribbon bow.  It is best to use a bubble mailer if your card has elaborate embellishments.

You and your friends could make this pretty card at your Stampin' Party-in-a-Box.  I'll send you everything you need, except for the blocks and stamp pads.  Just let me know you'd like to host and we can put our heads together and decide what kinds of cards you'd like to make.  Please email me at sjrstamps@gmail.com.  I'd be happy to help you order the supplies to make today's card and I'm just an email away!

May the week ahead be a happy one and remember, stamping is cheaper than therapy, and a whole LOT more fun!  So, in case of emergency, get out some stamps, ink, and paper and stamp the winter "blahs" away.

Before I go, the February Host Code is H4E4W9HY   Use this code when placing an online order of less than $150.  You will then be entered to win a host stamp set of your choice at the end of the month. Don't forget that Sale-a-bration is in full swing and that NEW products are coming! 

Blessings to all,

Susan