This awesome set, Bordering On Romance (new Occasions Mini Stamp Set) is used in this sample of one of the cards we will be making at my Sale-A-Bration Rubber Stamp Festival on Saturday, February 25th.  If you are in the Pa/Md/Delaware area, be sure to spend the morning with us and a whole lot of stamping fun!

The cardstock is Pink Pirouette as well as the marker.  You can achieve the two-tone effect in the flower by going over the pink again after the marker is completely dry.

The card uses a plethora of new accessories… mostly for the Big Shot:

• Framelits ‘Labels’ Collection #125598
• Edgelits Dies ‘Adorning Accents‘ #125595
• Textured Impressions Embossing Folders ‘Adorning Accents’ #125601
• Textured Impression Embossing Folder ‘Designer Frames‘ #123130*
  *This is free this month for SAB, use #127709
• XL Oval punch #119859
• Eyelet Border #119853

I got some exceptional photos at Leadership this year. I did miss ‘actual’ display boards (they didn’t have them), but they had a lovely display of samples that Stampin’ Up! put out. I also got some great shots of the set ‘contest’ entries and the demonstration shots from the overhead screens.

There are 300+ photos in all (at least 8 pages). To view without the ‘lightbox’ effect (and view at full size), hold down the shift and click on a thumbnail. Otherwise, click on the thumbnail and then click on the photo itself (once enlarged) to move forward.

Sorry this took so long to post! How did I do?

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Oh, don’t let the title fool you… we’re talking about Sale-A-Bration!  Every year, Stampin’ Up! does a little bit of post-holiday celebrating with their fabulous Sale-A-Bration promotion.  This year, from January 24-March 31, you can take advantage of all that Sale-A-Bration has to offer. And this year, Stampin’ Up! has changed things up a little bit. There are three ways to “Sale-A-Brate.” Here are the details:

• As a customer, with every $50 purchase, you can choose something for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration brochure. This brochure includes exclusive items that are available ONLY during Sale-A-Bration as well as some handpicked items from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. There is no limit to the number of Sale-A-Bration items that you can earn, so get out your wish list and start reaping the rewards!

• As a hostess, when your workshop sales reach $150, you will automatically receive a free reusable shopping tote that sports a design from the Sale-A-Bration EEveryday Enchantment Designer Series Paper. And when your sales reach $400, you will also receive a free bundle of Sale-A-Bration products that includes the Fresh Vintage stamp set and the coordinating Everyday Enchantment paper and accessories. All of this is in addition to the fantastic Hostess Rewards that you get all year ‘round!

• As a new demonstrator, when you join Stampin’ Up! during Sale-A-Bration, you can start your own stamping business for only $125!  It includes the standard Starter Kit and all of the perks and benefits… just at a lower cost to you. And when you join, you’ll get additional benefits for the rest of the year because each month, you will get to choose either a free pack of Designer Series Paper or a free digital download.  CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up in less than 15 minutes!

As you can see, there’s no better time than during Sale-A-Bration to be a Stampin’ Up! customer, hostess, or new demonstrator. So contact me today to place your order, book your Sale-A-Bration workshop, or to find out more about becoming a demonstrator and starting your own stamping business. Or maybe you’ll decide to do all 3!

Either way, it’s time to Sale-A-Brate!  Give me a call or email me for more information about any of these opportunities.

UPDATE:  I have added a video on how I did the watercolor techniques:
Parts appear blurry, but close ups are clear

I just *love* the new Occasions Mini Catalog set ‘Apothecary Art’ (wood: #125525, clear: #125527) that so perfectly coordinates with our new Sizzix Framelits die set called ‘Labels Collection’ for the Big Shot.  If you have been holding out getting a Big Shot, I think the new Framelits dies are going to be what finally pushes you over the edge, LOL!

This is one of the cards that is part of my new online order gift… read all about your purchase gifts here.  The card is ‘Not Quite Navy’ cardstock, the image is stamped in Black StazOn and colored in with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen (which is a change for me, I usually use the Aquapainters, but this time I wanted a more ‘controlled’ watercolor look).  The layer in the middle is Soft Suede and the flowers in the focal image were shaded (outside) with the Soft Suede Watercolor Crayon (from the Neutrals collection).

Other accessories I used are:  Basic Pearls (#119247), ‘Victoria‘ (#118481) Crochet Trim ribbon, (new) Twitterpated Designer Buttons (from the Occasions Mini Catalog).  Other Sizzix accessories are the Embossing Folders:  Elegant Lines #119277 and Square Lattice #119976.

Okay, be honest… what do you think?

Wow is all I can say!  Customers who have purchased with me in the last quarter should have already received their copy of the Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini Catalog, email me if you haven’t (include your address, etc.).

I simply had to have one of everything… and if you repeat that to my husband, I WILL deny it.  But I will be sharing the new samples in the days to come!

There are AMAZING accessories and three product ‘suites’ that feature sets that coordinate with accessories:

• The ‘Twitterpated’ product suite
• The ‘Attic Boutique‘ product suite
• The ‘Sweet Shop‘ product suite

You really have to view them in the downloadable PDF or you can view it online in the interactive flash format.

Amazing, but it is the last day to order from the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog… click here to view it online for a limited time.  And remember, I am offering these 6×6 books below (one free for each $75 online order) FULLY FINISHED with all accessories for one more week (click here full details).

If you are reading this via email, you will have to view the article on the web to see the video.  Below are the books shown and you can download the instructions under each photo:

CLICK HERE to Download the photo instructions
for the Gently Falling Book

CLICK HERE to Download the photo instructions
for the Christmas Lodge Book

Enjoy the video on the construction of the book, be sure if you like the sets that you order them today… in case they are not picked up in the new catalog (coming out in July 2012)–this might be your last chance!  If you like the designer papers, remember they have never carried over into the next catalog in the past, so stock up!  As for accessories, click here for the flyer on which accessories will continue to be available.

This set Pennant Parade (#122740 wood & #122742 clear) is primarily a birthday set but I got this idea Terry Wise in the 2011 Founder’s Circle Swap, where she uses a pennant stamp and the punch to make a Christmas tree… don’t you just love people who can think out of the box like that?!

The pennant was stamped three times in Old Olive on Old Olive cardstock and punched out with the ‘Petite Pennants Builder‘ punch (Order #122361) and glued back to back… well, actually each punched pennant was folded in half and glued side to side to side and the back consists of the left side of the left triangle and the right is the right side of the right triangle.  The colors are Old Olive and Real Red.

I punched out the greetings with the Jewelry Tag (Order #117190) and the narrow grosgrain ribbon is Old Olive.

Here’s another sample using the ‘Pines & Poinsettias’ stamp set… this one holds a gift card, sneakily tucked away under the front cover!

I love the natural colors… more than the traditional red & green.

I did a step by step photo tutorial to explain how it was put together, but it is basically folding in the front flap inside and then punching a slit and then tacking it down.  I’ll show you in the next four photos…

1. Fold in the front flap of the card and then open it
2. With the front flap open, punch a slit with the Word Window punch (you’ll have to punch it in the middle and then slightly to the left and then slightly to the right to make it as wide as you need)
3. Glue the sides down and make sure you don’t put glue in front of the slit or your gift card will get stuck (LOL!)
4. Press the front flap closed and you can see that you can fit a half of a gift card in it.  You will cover the gift card with a front panel (in this case, the red layer).

The cutting measurements and links to buy the accessories are below.  And right now (as this article is being published) there is a special going on in the ‘Clearance Rack‘ on my online store, up to 80% off select products… which means you have permission to take a moment and buy yourself some Christmas presents!

Pines & Poinsettias stamp set* (#123762 wood, #123764 clear)
*This is a limited edition Holiday Mini Catalog set (available only until Jan. 3, 2012
Accessories:
5 ½ x 8 ½  Crumb Cake cardstock #120953
5 ½ x 1 inch Early Espresso cardstock #119686
2 ½ x 3 ½ Vanilla cardstock #101650
2 ¾ x 3 ¾ Cherry Cobbler cardstock #119685
3 ½ x 3 ½ inch Cherry Cobbler cardstock #119685 for punching
3 x 3 Vanilla cardstock #101650 for stamping
1 3/8th inch jumbo circle #119860; 2 3/8th inch Scallop Circle #118874; Word Window punch #119857; Crumb Cake Classic Ink #121030, Sponge Daubers #102892, Glue Dots, Dimensionals™, Spice Cake Designer Buttons #124113, Very Vanilla 1/8th inch Taffeta Ribbon #119960
——-Sizzix ———————–
Sizzix Embossing Folders –
   Northern Flurry folder #120902
   Finial Press folder #115963
Sizzix Die Cutting Machine #113439, two clear cutting pads

Okay, I am still contemplating this as my Christmas card… I say ‘contemplating’ because I have yet to actually take action… and since it is about 10 days from Christmas (and even fewer days before *mail* will arrive to people in time for Christmas, I think I’m in big trouble, LOL!

But I promise you that this card is simple… and it is hard to tell from the picture, but the card is Whisper White and there is a second layer that is 3 3/4 x 5 and then a third layer (raised embossed with the Finial press folder) on top of that (popped up with Dimensionals).  The white ribbon is across the seam of the top layers and the bottom–and the greeting is on the bottom. Any horizontal greeting will do, and I think a good ‘Happy Holiday’s’ may suffice for my non-religious friends (if I can locate one!).

I do punch the ornament opening and then stamp the pinecones through it… it isn’t hard to do, but if you mess up, you can stamp it on a 2 x 2 inch white square and slip it under the punched layer (no one will be able to see!).  Takes the pressure off of getting it right each time… so what do you think?

Pines & Pointsettias (#123762 wood, #123764 clear) from the Holiday Mini Catalog (ends Jan 2nd)
Accessories:
5 ½ x 8 ½ Whisper White cardstock
3 ¾ x 5 Whisper White cardstock
3 ½ x 3 ½ Whisper White cardstock
Stampin’ Write Markers: Always Artichoke, Choc. Chip, Cherry Cobbler; Always Artichoke Classic ink; White Satin Ribbon 15” #114616; Ornament Punch #119847; Dimensionals™ #104430; Dazzling Details (glitter glue) #124117
——–Sizzix————
Finial Press embossing folder #115963; Sizzix Die Cutting Machine, Multi-purpose platform; Two clear cutting pads

If you hold down the SHIFT and click on the image, you can view it in a new window at full size (bypassing my lightbox plugin.  And as a bonus,  CLICK for larger left layout | CLICK for larger right layout

Happy December 1st!

And to celebrate 24 more days until Christmas, I am sharing a 2 page Christmas scrapbook layout with you.  All the materials used are listed below.

Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper #124004, Builder Stocking punch #124095,  Very Vanilla 12×12, Garden Green cardstock 12×12, Chocolate Chip cardstock 12×12, Cherry Cobbler cardstock, Doily Triple Layer punch #122465, 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch #118874, Decorative Label punch #120907, XLarge Oval punch #119859, Eyelet Border Punch #119853, Northern Flurry textured embossing folders #120902, Sizzix machine w/multipurpose platform and two cutting plates #113439, Real Red 1/8th inch Taffeta ribbon #119251

And in the spirit of the holiday season, Stampin’ Up!  believes in making a difference in the lives of others–whether they’re demonstrators, employees, the people who use our products, or children in need of a way to express their creativity.

Since 2005, Stampin’ Up! has been honored to participate in the TODAY Show’s Holiday Toy Drive. This year, Stampin’ Up! will be donating over $500,000 worth of stamping and paper crafting products to the following organizations:

• Action for Boston Community Development Inc.
• Alliance for Children’s Rights
• Boys & Girls Clubs Harford County
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
• Community Partners of Dallas – Rainbow Room
• Diocese of Saint Augustine
• Friendship Project
• Help USA
• Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN)
• Kids In Need Foundation
• National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section – The Dignity Project
• Operation Homefront
• Puerto Rican Family Institute
• St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital
• Stephen Siller Foundation/Katrina Fund
• Welcome House
• Youthbuild USA

In conjunction with the donation, Stampin’ Up!’s Shelli Gardner will make an appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show on Tuesday, December 6. We are honored and excited to once again participate in this annual holiday tradition of giving back and making a difference!