My Sweet Stampin Spot

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

New Punch Design

Starting with the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and continuing with all new punch designs going forward, Stampin' Up! has adopted a new body style for our punches!

A few features of the new punch style:

• Low-profile, rectangular punch body allows for easier stacking and storing
• Punches lock shut for easier storage and transport
• Dual labels on top and end allow for easy identification and selection when stored
• Available in three sizes: small, medium, and extra-large
• New punches allow for larger punched images and more intricate designs while providing greater ease of use.
  • Extra -large punch images also allow for two-step designs like the Two-Step Bird punch in the Occasions Mini Catalog
• Corner punches allow you to punch a corner design along the inside edges of a page, not just corners
• larger, whole-hand handle design provides better leverage for easier use
• Available in an exclusive Stampin' Up! color

Part of Stampin' Up!'s commitment to providing demonstrators and customers with the very best crafting tools includes the belief in what we call continuous improvement. Essentially what this means is that even if something works very well, but we see a chance to improve it, we will work to make it even better. While new punch designs will be in the new body style, existing designs will remain in the existing body style for now. We will communicate any further changes as those decisions are made.

You can view the Occassions Mini Catalog by clicking on the catalog picture on the right.

 

Country Living Cards a la Carte Stationery Kit

The much-anticipated holiday season has come to a close, but connecting with the ones you love should be a tradition you keep alive throughout the year. An inexpensive and personal way to stay connected with family and friends during the new year is sending handwritten cards or notes.  E-mail and texting may be popular right now, but old-fashioned handwritten cards or notes still reign supreme.

 

From now until April 30, 2010, Stampin’ Up! and Country Living magazine are offering a special Country Living Cards à la Carte stationery kit intended to help people stay connected and revive the art of the handwritten note. Use the kit for letters, invitations, or a special dinner menu—there are so many possibilities!

 

 

For more details, view the color flyer HERE. You can purchase your kit through my ONLINE STORE. Click Shop Now and enter item number 119113.

In addition, Country Living is offering Stampin' Up! customers a special deal: get 10 issues of Country Living magazine for just $10! For just $1 an issue, you'll receive great craft projects, articles on collecting, makeover features, recipes, and entertaining ideas - all delivered to your home each month. Click here to learn more.

 

 

A Clear New Choice

Over the past few years, there has been enormous demand from demonstrators and customers alike for a line of repositionable clear-mount rubber stamps. Well, you asked for it, and now you have it! Starting with stamps in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and the 2010 Sale-A-Bration Brochure, Stampin' Up! now offers our exclusive stamp art in both traditional wood-mount, and the new clear-mount option.

Our new clear-mount rubber stamps are the result of extensive research with the intent to maintain the very best image quality in the stamping industry, while at the same time offering the ease-of-use and storability inherent in repositionable clear-mount rubber stamps.

Clear-Mount Rubber Stamp Features

• Nine different sizes of clear blocks available individually or as a discounted bundle.
• Blocks have ergonomic grooves on all four sides for easy grip and traditional wood-mount feel.
• Stamps and blocks are durable and easy to clean with your Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist.
• Optional image labels on stamp backs let you decide if you want to see the image through the block or not.
• Tight die-cutting for easy image positioning.
• Large clear blocks can be used to create collages or spell words with alphabet sets.
• Stamps store easily in standard, DVD-type cases with artwork on front and spine, making organization easy.

Item	Description	Price
118487	Block A (1-3/16" x 1-1/4")	$3.95
117147	Block B (1-5/8" x 1-15/16")	$5.95
118486	Block C (2" x 2-1/4")	$6.95
118485	Block D (2-7/8" x 2-11/16")	$8.50
118484	Block E (3-7/16" x 4-7/16")	$11.95
118483	Block F (4-7/8" x 6")	$16.95
118489	Block G (3/4" x 2-1/2")	$4.50
118490	Block H (1-5/8" x 4-7/16")	$8.50
118488	Block I (2-1/4" x 5-7/8")	$11.95
118491	Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)	$69.95

Clear-mount rubber stamps are ideal for crafters with limited storage space. It's also easy to arrange several stamps on one clear block for a collage look.

Wood-mount stamps are an excellent choice for stampers with limited time. You don't have to constantly reapply your stamp to the block, just grab the stamp you need, and you are set to go! 

One option is not better than the other; it all comes down to your personal preference.