My Sweet Stampin Spot

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad's birthday is this week. Since he loves tea, I decided to created a little jar for holding his tea bags. Using our Decor Elements is so easy! They go on quickly to create fun little gifts like this. The jar is from my local discount store. This Decor Element is called Dry Goods and also features Coffee, Sugar and Flour. It's a Hostess set, so it can only be earned and not purchased. If you are interested in earning Hostess benefits like this one, contact me today to schedule a workshop or catalog party. (Individual customer orders totalling $150 or more also qualify for hostess benefits)

Customizing Your Scrap Album

Did you know you can stamp on our linen albums? Well, you can. Use our craft inks, available in all 48 colors, plus neutrals, and you can customize the look of your album. This album features Christmas pages with Certainly Celery, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip. I used Baroque Motifs stamp set with Chocolate Chip and Real Red craft inks to give a little flourish to the front of the album. Craft inks don't dry instantly, so you will need to let them dry overnight or heat set with the heat tool. Sorry for the poor photo, I had to photograph this at night. It was being donated for a scholarship fundraising auction and my husband was taking it with him.

Would You Like $5 Free From the Occassions Mini Catalog?

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All right everyone - Grab your calendars and call or email me to book your Sale-A-Bration
workshop! There are only 7 weeks left of this once a year Sale. For those of you
who have recently discovered stamping and are wondering what the hubbub is all
about, here's the scoop-For every $50 you spend during those three months, you receive
an additional, limited edition, EXCLUSIVE STAMP SET, PAPER STACK, or PUNCH FOR FREE!
WOW!

SAB is the BEST TIME TO BE A HOSTESS - party totals are usually VERY high, because
everyone wants to bump their order up to get those free sets. Stampin' Up will also
throw in an extra free set for hostesses for each $300 they reach with their party
total.

Everyone who responds to this booking call by February 7th at midnight will receive
a coupon for $5 FREE to spend in the Occasions Mini catalog at their workshop!

My mind is just SPINNING with everything that is currently available! Let's fill
up that calendar with fun parties and get together and do some stamping since the
crazy holidays are behind us! You'll need a little time for yourself as a reward
for successfully navigating all the duties of a wife, mom, daughter, friend  and
employee during the holiday season.

We have a simply astounding array of new products that hit market in
January just in time for the most exciting sale of the entire year. Here's
just a few:
1.    New Big Shot dies (there's a milk carton!), paper STACKS, and
coordinating stamps with yummy new ribbon and embellishments in the
Occasions Mini catalog
2.    New clear-mounted stamps option!!!
3.    Brand new punch design with corner and side punches, mini punches,
and all new shapes-with coordinating stamp sets, of course!!!
4.    A bigger exclusive SAB brochure than ever before, with additional
options to choose from the main catalog!!!
And this year the sale lasts longer than ever-in order to help us squeeze in all
the workshops people want, Sale A Bration lasts from January through March this
year!!! So contact me right away to reserve your date before someone else gets
it! Call or email me today and let's get you tons of
product and some awesome freebies all for hosting a fun night out with your friends!

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Haitian Disaster Relief

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving in its wake devastation so overwhelming that the Haitian people and their leaders can only look for help from the outside to cope.   

From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set that is purchased will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Product Name	Item #	Price
I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount  (block D recommended)	118571	$18.95
I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount	117010	$26.95

In the past, when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers, when a tsunami struck Indonesia, when a hurricane destroyed New Orleans, and when wildfires ravaged Australia, Stampin′ Up! demonstrators have stepped forward and showed their commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. This time is no different.

DONATION MATCHING: For every I {Heart} Hearts set that is purchased from me, I will match Stampin' Up! and also donate $2 to the American Red Cross.

You can see the flyer HERE. To order your I {Heart} Hearts set, visit my ONLINE STORE, click Shop Now and enter the item number.

 

Chili Cookoff

Every January our church has a chili cookoff as a fundraiser for our youth group. Since I'm not a Kentucky native, my version of chili is a bit different. I remember the first time I saw chili in Kentucky - it has noodles! I was stunned. That is not chili, that is spicy spaghetti! LOL I have grown accustomed to eating this style, but I still prefer mine without. This year instead of entering the contest, I've been asked to be a judge! I've been warned that it's a hard job, but I'm looking forward to it. We typically have 25-30 entries. Which brings me to my card for today. I decided to make, a chili inspired card. I plan to give this card to our grand prize winner, in addition to the revolving gaudy plastic trophy that the church presents. What fun!

I created the pepper with a leaf die from the Build A Flower #2 sizzlet die. The cap is a 1" circle. I used the 1/2" circle to make the scalloped edge. It's then highlighted with the Signo White Gel Pen, sponged on the edges and popped on dimensionals. The layout was cased from a swap card I received at regionals from Charlotte Greenwell. I really like the bright fn colors. I hope the winner does as well!

Supplies: Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Smarty Pants stamp sets, Real Red, Garden Green, Crushed Curry ink, Real Red, Garden Green, Crushed Curry, Confetti White cardstock, Signo White Gel Pen, Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine, Build a FLower #2 sizzlet die, Curry polka dot grosgrain ribbon, 1" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, Word Window Punch, sponge daubers, Stampin' Dimensionals.
  

Build A Bear Coupon

Build-A-Bear Workshop Coupon Special Offer

Dates: January 5-April 30, 2010

Promotion Details: For every $20 spent on products from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Collection, receive a coupon (item 121105) for $5 off a $25 purchase at any Build-A-Bear Workshop store.

Things to Remember:

• Customers will receive one coupon for every $20 they spend.
• Eligible qualifying items are listed in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog (pages 38-40).
• Coupon will automatically be added to the order once the qualifying purchase has been met and will ship with customers' order.
• Coupon is printed in English only.
• Coupon has no cash value.
• Coupon includes
  • $5 off a $25 purchase (expires December 31, 2010).
  • Free 1,000 Bear Bills web code.
• Unique codes for Buildabearville.com. This is an award-winning Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world where kids can go online and create a virtual character and play. In addition, when kids buy a bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop, they also get a virtual bear to play with on the site.

Coupon Restrictions:

• Not valid on prior purchases, a Build-A-Party celebration, Bear Buck$ cards, in Build-A-Bear Workshop within Rainforest Café or in Build-A-Dino within T-REX Café. Not valid with any other offer.
• Photocopied coupons are not valid.
• Valid in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada only.
• Limit one coupon per person, per visit.
• Void where prohibited or restricted.
• Where required, cash value is 1/100 of 1 cent.
• Not valid at www.buildabear.com or www.buildadino.com.

Non- traditional Valentine

I have a tendency to not go with the flow. Like not using red for valentine cards ;) This is a great color combo and has some elegant touches that make it suitable for valentines or even a wedding card. My hostess club members made this card today for their January meeting.

The card features the set I {Heart} Hearts. I really like this set since it coordinates with not 1, but 2 of our punches. I also love this set because I earned it for free! Just another perk of being a demonstrator. The heart is stamped in Rich Razzleberry on Shimmery White cardstock and popped on a dimensional. Photos never do shimmer any justice, but take my word that it's gorgeous in person. I used the scroll/filigree plate in the Texturz Background on the Bermuda Bay layer since it coordinates so well with the style of the stamp. It adds just a touch of texture to keep the card from being too flat. The White stripe ribbon is accented with a Ribbon Slide. To echo the scallop design on the ribbon slide, I added a scallop accent using 1/2 of a Square Scallop punch.

Supplies: I {heart} Hearts stamp set, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Sahara Sand, Shimmery White cardstock, Full Heart Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Hodgepodhe Hardware Ribbon Slide, White Organdy Ribbon, Texturz backgrounds, Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals.  

A Stamping Community and Card Kits for Military

Yesterday I worked on designing some super simple cards for card kits. My MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group has decided to support Cadence International's ministry of KidsLink Downrange. This ministry provides card kits for children who have a deployed parent. We s made half of our cards back in the fall, and will be making the other half at our meeting tomorrow. In order to avoid any issues with postage due to bumpy cards, I kept the designs simple and flat. This means very little in terms of embellishments. It's *really* hard to not add ribbons and knots and brads and "stuff" to the cards! They use some retired colors and stamps, which I normally don't post, but I'd thought you'd enjoy seeing them. The card kits require specific cards. These cards are for First Day of School, Father's Day and a blank greeting.

And, in case you need another reason to join the Stampin' Up! family, they have created the Stampin Connection. It's a community just for demostrators that is sort of a mix of facebook, message board and photo gallery. It's only been up and running for 2 days and already there are over 8000 photos of Stampin' Up! projects and from nearly 10,000 demonstrators. What a fun place to be, to share, and to learn. Contact me today if you'd like to join me as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. There are so many wonderful benefits.
 

For Those Who Love Stamping and Stampin' Up! Products...

One of the many exciting things about Sale A Bration is the discounted Starter Kits. There are all kinds of ways to use your Demonstratorship! It's your business, you get to make all the decisions. Want a discount on the Stampin' Up! products you love? Want a part-time job to supplement your household income? Want to be a business builder and sell Stampin' Up! full-time? You can do any of these! Stampin' Up! may be just the opportunity you're looking for. Especially in the economy's current conditions, now is an ideal time to start a business with Stampin' Up! During Sale A Bration, you can purchase one of two starter kits, both at a discounted price. As a bonus for signing up during Sale A Bration, you also receive a FREE stamp set (valued up to $47.95) of your choice from the current catalogs!

Starter Kit	Regular Price	Sale-A-Bration Price (15% off)
Standard Starter Kit	$199	$169
Digital+ Starter Kit	$185	$157

The benefits of becoming a demonstrator:

• The value of the Starter Kit--Valued at over $335, the Starter Kit is a steal for only $169!
• 20 percent discount on all products.
• See and purchase new Stampin' Up! products first.
• Access to myriad of project ideas on the Demonstrator Web Site and in the monthly Stampin' Success magazine.
• Invitation to Stampin' Up! events, where you can learn from fellow successful demonstrators and Stampin' Up! staff.
• Become part of a world-wide stamping family!

It's so easy to get started! You can visit my WEBSITE, click on Start Your Own Business and use the password kwilliams. It's really that easy. Have questions first? Feel free to contact me. I'm only a click away.

3x3 Valentines

Aren't these adorable? These are the sample cards for my Be Mine, Valentine class. These 3x3 valentines are perfect for kids to swap with friends and classmates. Markers provide the mix of colors on these. I used marker thumping on the heart dandelion and simple coloring for the tic tac toe board. And what kid doesn't love glitter? They can let their imaginations run wild with the 2-way glue pen and assorted fine glitters. I used Dazzling Diamonds on my samples. If you are local and interested in this class, I have 2 remaining spots open in the evening session and 4 in the morning session. You can see my class details HERE.

Forgot to add the supply list: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, perfect Plum cardstock, Markers - Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Old Olive, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamond Glitter