VIDEO: Perfect Blend Starbucks Gift Card Holder

perfect blend-stampinup3Today's video is an awesome gift card holder using the Perfect Blend stamp set, which I've nicknamed the Starbucks stamp set lol. "Coffee & Friends are the Perfect Blend" and it's perfect for both a Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts gift card, but as you can see from my example, you can use for any gift card.

This is a great way to dress up a gift card. I also love the Coordinations card stock accent piece created from the window framelits. Inspired by Dana Wurster.

INSPIRATION SHEET

starbucks gift card holder-stampinup PM

Inspiration Sheet
Includes all measurements and supplies
Starbucks Gift Card Holder pdf

Haunted House Gift Boxes from the “Best of Halloween”

trick-or-treat-box

This stinkin' cool project comes from Stampin Up concept artist Christina N. I love it!! The haunted house image in the Best of Halloween is one of my all time favorite images!

Every year at Halloween I love to give all of my nieces and nephews a treat, and it’s always wrapped up especially for them. Since the August “Best of” stamp set is “Best of Halloween,” it’s the perfect opportunity for me to get started early this year. You can read more about our “Best of” stamp sets here

I love that there are three main images, a border, and a greeting in the stamp set. Since the main images are about the same size, it was easy to come up with a design that worked for all of them.

I used the new Decorative Window Gift Boxes since they are small and all of my nieces and nephews are still very little. I didn’t think they needed much more candy than these hold!

Christina N.
Concept Artist

VIDEO: Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit

stampin up christmas banner kit

We are featuring our new Build A Banner Simply Created Kit and the Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit , which is fully customizable! These are featured in the new 2013 Holiday Catalog. You can create any holiday greeting you want. For directions on how to make this beautiful banner, check out the video below.

Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit
Item: 132697

  • four pre-scored
  • precut rosettes
  • three glittered die-cut accents
  • two 18" pieces of Silver 1/8" Ribbon
  • two 18" pieces of exclusive Bermuda Bay/Pool Party 1-1/4" Two-Toned Ribbon
  • 36" of Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon
  • five Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons
  • ten Large Rhinestones.

Build A Banner Simply Created Kit
Item: 133507

  • eighteen 5" x 7" blank canvas paper pennants, six each of three different designs
  • 9' of jute twine
  • alphabet and image stencils
  • Stampin' Spritzer.

DIRECTIONS & TIPS

Use the pattern stencils and your Stampin' Spritzer to create the patterns on your pennants. Be sure to plan your design out before you begin spritzing.

  • Fill your Stampin' Spritzer with your desired color of reinker and rubbing alcohol or water (we recommend rubbing alcohol because it will dry faster).
  • You can adjust the color saturation in your spritzer to create different looks. If you want a darker color use more reinker and less alcohol. If you want a lighter color use less reinker and more alcohol.
  • To spritz your pennants, lay your pattern down on your pennant.
  • Spray with your Spritzer until you have the desired saturation.
  • The spritzing will pool on the stencil a little so be sure to carefully lift your stencils off to prevent any accidents with the reinker.
  • To add letters to your pennants, lay down your shield stencil and your desired alphabet stencil and spritz a coordinating color.

VIDEO:

CARD: Dress Up with an Oval Sunhat

dress up-kim quadeI love, love, love this card! My downline, and friend, Kim Quade sent this to me. It's just darling. I love how she used the Dress Up Framlits and Polka Dot parade designer paper to create the dress. And I especially love the sun hat made from the Small & Large oval punches! Too stinkin' cute Kim!

VIDEO: Halloween Bash Card from the Holiday Catalog

toil and trouble-halloween bash-club"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble." from Shakespeare's MacBeth comes to life on the Toil & Trouble stamp set - "Eye of Newt, Toe of Frog, Wool of Bat...." and especially fun combined with the Halloween Bash stamp set "Beware" Bat and label and coordinating punches and of course the Witches Brew Designer Paper. Check out my video tutorial below for some Halloween fun, and a laugh at what "toil & trouble" double sided paper can be. Created by Lori George.

Many of these products are from the new 2013 Stampin Up Holiday Catalog.

 

INSPIRATION SHEET

2013-08 toil and trouble screen

Inspiration Sheet
Includes all measurements and supplies
Toil & Trouble Halloween Bash Card pdf

VIDEO

WIN! Toxic Treats stamp set and Howl-o-ween Kit – ends Aug 15

stampin up toxic treats

I'm doing a fun new Halloween goody give-away! Somehow I had this amazing printers tray kit and NEVER used it?! What is wrong with me? I also have the coordinating Toxic Treats stamp set. My oversight is now your prize! I'm doubling your chances to win and giving you have 2 ways to enter, either on Facebook or Google+ (or both).

This give-away is for the very popular and retired

  • "Toxic Treats" wood stamp set
  • Howl-o-ween accessory kit that coordinates with the set (Shown above) - ink and tray not included

TO ENTER:

  • Post your favorite Holiday Catalog product(s) on my Google+ and/ or Facebook page between now and Wednesday, July 14
  • I’ll use random.org to draw the winner on Thursday, July 15, 2013.

Good luck!!

MDS: Summer Fun and Holiday Planning Downloads

Are you suffering from post-July stress syndrome? (Also known as “summer-can’t-be-over-already-itis” and “the-holidays-are-right-around-the-corner-phobia”.) Our latest downloads (PDF) are the perfect cure. Trying to soak up every last bit of the sunny weather?You’ll love the new Grilling Good Time Ensemble. It’s perfect for a backyard barbeque. Getting ready for back to… Read More

VIDEO: Envelope Liners Framelits Dies

envelope liners dies

Why not make the inside of your envelope look as fancy as the card you are giving. It's easy to do when you use Stampin' Up!'s Envelope Liners Framelits Dies #132172. They are sold in a set of three so you can make liners for our Square, Note Card and Medium Envelopes. They were designed to be used with a single sheet of Designer Series Paper, or cardstock. If you are someone who enjoys making cards, these Envelope Liners Framelits dies are just what you need to add that finishing touch to your project.

DIRECTIONS

  • To use the Framelits dies, place the paper on a Cutting Pad, then the Framelit die with the raised edge down, then another Cutting Pad.
  • Place the Cutting Pads on tab two of the Multipurpose Platform and then run that through the Big shot machine.
  • The liners will slide easily inside an envelope -- use just a little bit of adhesive to hold it in place.

VIDEO

CARD: Halloween Bash Card from the new catalog

halloween bash-stampinup melissa bussMore fun from the new Holiday Catalog. This time in the form of Halloween! I just love making Halloween projects. Most of these fun new "toys" come from "Halloween" section of the catalog, on page 20-21. Including the Halloween Bash stamp set, Black & Orange Stampin' Glitter and Witches Brew Designer Washi Tape. Did you know the Washi Tape coordinates with the Witches Brew designer series paper??

Created by Melissa Buss.

VIDEO: New Gift Bow Bigz Die

gift bow die-stampin up

Today's video features the Gift Bow Bigz L Die , and a tutorial on how to use it to make several different size bows. This die is so easy to easy and the end result is beautiful!

Gift Bow Bigz L Die
Item: 129977

Pretty Presents Designer Bows
Item: 132186

DIRECTIONS & TIPS

  • To use the die build your regular sandwich using the Standard Cutting Pads, and run it through the Big Shot.
  • This die is different from our other dies -- it's a steel roll die and that means it can cut three to four pieces of paper at a time. It can also cut fabric! When you have cut your paper you will have five bow pieces. Now you can get to bow making.
  • You will need a bone folder, and SNAIL Adhesive. Run your bone folder over the paper and break up the paper fibers and then assemble!
  • To make the large bow you will need the large piece, the two bow end pieces and the wrap piece.
    • Put a little bit of SNAIL in the middle of the large piece, and fold the ends of the large piece in on its self.
    • Then bend the wrap piece around the middle to create a finished look.
    • Then adhere the end pieces onto the bow.
  • To make the smaller bow you will need to cut out two pieces of paper on the Gift Bow Bigz L Die.
    • Take two of the bow pieces and fold them in half.
    • Adhere them to each other in the middle and assemble the same way as large bow.
  • You can play with the pieces to create as simple or as elaborate bows as you want!

Don't have a Big Shot? We've still got you covered, check out our new Pretty Presents Designer Bows. It comes with enough to make ten paper bows, and it looks fabulous on our new Extra-Large Gift Box. Bows are so much fun! If you want to take your holiday gift wrapping to the next level contact your local demonstrator,

VIDEO

CARD: Wishing You Holiday Catalog Card

wishing you - diana hickeyHaving some fun in the new 2013 Holiday Catalog from Stampin Up (just released yesterday). This card features LOTS of new goodies you'll find in the catalog. Wishing You stamp set, Season of Style DSP, Gift Bows Die and more (will post supplies below).

My friend Diana Hickey gave me this card. I especially want to point out a couple of super cool embellishment ideas she used: notice the Rhinesetone on top of the button in 2 places on the card, and also the ticket duo punch in crumb cake over the edge of the olive tag. Perfect finishing touch!

Recap of August Specials announced

noble deer - mary polcinOh my! What a whirlwind of excitement this morning has been with all of Stampin Up's new products and my specials. This is the last "blog bombing" for the day (I promise...at least, I think I promise lol).

Because so much was released this morning, I wanted to do a quick recap so you don't miss anything. And I'm sharing this sweet card featuring new products from the Holiday Catalog for some inspiration (see details below).

AUGUST RECAP

stampin up ordering specials

 

This card was using the Remembering Christmas Deer silhouette stamp, Frosted Finished Embellishments & Winter Frost Specialty DSP on page 28. Created by Mary Polcin.

NEW PRODUCT: Thinlit Card Dies for Flip Flop – Swing Cards

LPHeader_thinlits_Demo_7.19.13

There are some products you just have to see in action before you realize how much you need them, right? This is one of them! Plan to feature these dies in your events and share the video. When your customers see what they can do, they will place their orders.

These new card dies come with extra die pieces that have versatile designs, so you can use them on other projects, not just flip cards. (The Circle Card Thinlits Die comes with 10 total pieces; the Label Card Thinlits Die comes with nine total pieces.)

 

With the number of dies you're getting, plus the die that creates the card itself, the price is a great value-especially to create an interactive card!

  • Do a mass production of these impressive "flip" cards. They would make great announcements, invitations, or Christmas cards.
  • The main shape in the cards (circle and label) can work with a lot of our stamp images so you can create tons of different kinds of cards using many different stamp sets. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

Label Card Thinlits Die (item 133479):

  • Happy Day Stamp Set (item 130294 W item 130297 C)

Circle Card Thinlits Die (item 133480):

  • Worth the Wait Stamp (item 131094 W)
  • Five-Way Flower Stamp (item 131088 W)

Both card dies pair well with:

  • Oh, Hello Stamp Set (item 131931 W item 130733 C)
  • Yippee-Skippee! Stamp Set (item 131341 W item 131344 C)
  • Really Good Greetings Stamp Set (item 130330 W item 130333 C)
  • Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set (item 130324 W item 130327 C)
  • These dies also work well with our new magnetic platform (item 130658) so you can place the dies exactly where you want them!

NEW HOLIDAY CATALOG

stampin up holiday catalog
August 1, 2013 - January 2, 2014
Harvest
Harvest
All Seasonal Products
All Products
Halloween
Halloween
Product Suites
Product Suites
Christmas
Christmas
Seasonal Catalog Index
Index
Kits
Kits
Bundles
Bundles

The holiday catalog launches today, and it's filled with plenty of products so you can get started on your holiday projects. If you would like a free Holiday Catalog in the mail, simply email your name and address to me at: tami@stampwithtami.com (US only).

2013 Holiday Catalog

COOL NEW WAY TO FEW THE HOLIDAY CATALOG

Be sure to try out the new augmented reality feature--available today--to see videos that show our products in action. It's easy enough for newbies, fun enough for tech-savvy users, and free!

  1. Install the free Layar app to your smartphone or tablet.
  2. Using the Layar app, scan any catalog page that has the Stampin' Up! Interactive icon on it.

While you're using this feature, be sure to share your favorite products and videos on social media so your friends can see what there is to love about Stampin' Up! products.

Different mobile devices work differently with different apps. Some are faster than others, some take more steps to load videos, etc. With the Layar app, we have noticed these differences in user experience too.

Things to know:

  • Different mobile devices will work differently with the Layar app. Some are faster than others, some will take more steps to load the videos, etc.
  • You need to hold your mobile device far enough from the page that the image is completely in the device's screen before the video will load.
  • Hold your device over the page until the video loads. Be patient-the video might take a while to load, depending on your device.
  • Most devices will start playing a video automatically, but some will have a play icon that you need to tap to start the video. And some won't show a play icon but will still require you to tap the screen on your device to start the video. So if a video doesn't start playing automatically, tap the play icon or screen of your device. (If you're using a Samsung Galaxy phone, you'll need to tap the box that appears on the screen to start the video.)
  • If you don't want to hold your device over the page for the duration of the video, just tap the video and then pull it away from the page-the video will keep playing.
  • From the video can go directly to the online store so they can buy a product immediately, and they can also share their favorite products on social media - Be sure to enter my name TAMI WHITE as your demonstrator of it doesn't already come up so we both get credit.

You can also see all of the catalog videos at www.stampinup.com/showmehow.

BEST OF 25 YEARS: August Edition – Best of Halloween

stampin up best of halloween

Download the monthly flyers

Download the Collector’s Card

Best Of 25 Years

VIDEO: Wetlands Color Wash Technique

wetlands-stampwithtamiI love the way this card turned out. The washed in background of the beach and the bird silhouettes are eye catching. I thought they were sea gulls, my mom thought they were Terns (I think that was the name)...what do you think?

I used the color wash technique to create the background. The key to achieving this effect is the paper used. I used Stampin' Up's watercolor paper, it does make a difference. I also love the convenience of our aqua painters (brushes), you don't need any extra supplies...such as a cup of water.

INSPIRATION SHEET

2013-07-wetlands

Inspiration Sheet
Includes all measurements and supplies
Wetlands Color Wash Card pdf

 

VIDEO

Stampin Up Making a Difference

These videos are just some of the many reasons why I love Stampin' Up, and how we can make a difference. It's a very special company, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Stampin' Up Making a Difference for 25 Years

We believe that by sharing our talents and offering friendship to others, every one of us can make a difference at home, in our communities, and around the world. Hear from demonstrators who share how Stampin' Up! has made a difference in their lives, as they've made a difference in the lives of those around them.

Making a Difference in Special Education Students' Lives

See how Stampin' Up! makes a difference in the lives of these extraordinary students from Lincoln-Way High School. Their school's Special Education program uses card-making to help teach them life skills such as following directions, working in a team, resolving conflict, and believing in themselves. Watch and be inspired!

Stampin' Up! Demonstrators Making a Difference in Fiji

Demonstrators who earned the 2013 Fiji Grand Vacation had the opportunity to serve at the Treasure House Orphanage and Nadi Hospital. See highlights from their incredible experience working with the people of Fiji—it will inspire you to make a difference in the lives of those around you!

CARD: Punch Buggy!! Super cuteness

*PUNCH* Punch buggy (pun intended)!! Maybe you share in the tradition of punching your loved one in the arm whenever you see a Volkswagon Beetle? Our rules are that it has to be the old style VW Bug my parents had when I was little. It was all I could… Read More

MDS: New downloads in Full Bloom plus Free

It’s Tuesday and you know what that means-new downloads are in full bloom. (PDF) Straight from the annual catalog, the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper pairs perfectly with the Kind & Cozy Stamp Brush Set. While the About to Blossom August Kit adds a bouquet of possibilities to the FREE… Read More

Boating Accident over the weekend

capsized boat1

A nice relaxing afternoon on the lake with my buds turned into anything but after my boat capsized in a freak accident yesterday! OMG! I'm still trying to grasp it all, it took hours to "sink" in that this is real last night.

My friends Cindy, Lisa & I are known as the "scream queens". Always up for adventure, chasing roller coasters and thrill rides...however yesterday we were just looking for a little relaxation and bbq. My kids had just left for scout camp for the week, and it was just the girls. We hopped in the boat (20' ski boat) and headed out for a little "putt" (aka" slow cruise") around the lake.

It was a busy afternoon on the water, lots of boats out enjoying the nice weather. About 5 minutes into our trip, we hit some big waves from a passing boat. My boat took water over the bow from the waves, which happens occasionally. However, something went terribly wrong this time. The nose went down and continued to fill the entire boat with water (with us still in it) and then the entire boat began to capsize. All within a matter of 2 minutes!! Cindy will tell you she was terrified, I never had a chance to be scared as it was happening because I still couldn't believe it was actually happening. At this point, the girls had swam out of the boat, it's starting to capsize and I'm still sitting in the drivers seat in shock...a captain about to go down in her boat. Thankfully all of the other boats in the area came to rescue, and I remember someone yelling to get out of the boat which snapped me back to the moment that I was about to be under this boat.

We all got out of it safely, thanks to God, my neighbors, friends and good people I don't know who were in passing boats and stopped to help. And also to my friend Lisa who insisted everyone wear their life jackets, not just keep them in the boat. Ok, confession, I still didn't have mine on it was under my feet - we were only doing 10mph. I thought what could possibly go wrong? Lisa was able to save her cell phone because had her life jacket on and could swim with one arm up (that's my public service announcement - life jackets save more than just lives, they save cell phones too).

I'm eternally grateful to all who helped us. It took a small army and a lot of good and smart people. I'm told we may even be able to save the boat, can't say the same for my phone.

Below: Scream Queens Cindy Ruggiero, Tami White & Lisa Schwartz.

scream queens

VIDEO: Taste the Rainbow of Butterflies Card

butterfly card-stampin upWowzers!!! This card is just fabulous. I'm calling it "Taste the Rainbow of Butterflies". One of my friends received it as a swap card at Stampin Up's convention last week, and from the minute she got it, the card went "viral" hehehe!! First it happened in person, when it got passed around our group so everyone could take a picture of it. Then the surrounding rows caught sight of the card, and everyone wanted a shot of it. I posted my picture of the card on my Facebook Page from the convention, and it was an instant success. There were so many responses and emails about it, I promised to share a video tutorial when I got back...so here I am, as promised:)

It's almost like a rainbow of the new 2013-15 In Colors: Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding and don't miss the card base of Baked Brown Sugar. The butterflies are from the Papillion Potpourri stamp set, and the Petite Pairs stamp set makes the card extremely versatile as you can simply swap out the birthday greeting for any occasion.

Card created by Sheryl Wheatly.

INSPIRATION SHEET

rainbow of butterflies-stampinup screen

Inspiration Sheet
Includes all measurements and supplies
Rainbow of Butterflies Card pdf

VIDEO

CARD: Ice Coffe to-go-cup with a straw

perfect blend-stampin upI think the Perfect Blend stamp set, or the Starbucks coffee cup set (my nickname), is one of my new favorite sets. I just love it. Here's a fun card from Sue McNeill. It features the new 2013-15 In color collection: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding. The background is created with sponge daubers, dipped in the ink pads and dotted on Whisper White card stock.

My favorite part about this card is the coffee stirrer poked in the lid of the cup so it becomes a straw. Too stinkin' cute!!!

CARD: SImply Sketched Textured Flower

simply sketched-stampin upThis card is a beautiful sympathy card, created by Sue McQuiston. She is so talented. Sue is part of my demo group, and she made this card to swap at the Stampin Up Convention last week.

The Simply Sketched stamp set Sue used is a Hostess stamp set. You can get this set free when you have either $150 order, or are a club / workshop / ghost party hostess. You may also choose this set as part of your freebies if you are a Mystery Hostess winner (don't forget to enter the code with your orders).

DIRECTIONS:

  • Cut out the whisper white and old olive using the Oval Framelits
  • Stamp flower on white, then color with blender pens and ink pads
  • sponge edge of white oval with Olive ink
  • Texture white oval and primrose petals background with Square Lattice impressions folder

VIDEO: Stampin Around Wheels

stampin up stampin around wheels

Often I'm asked about the Stampin' Up - Stampin' Around Wheels. They are one of most unique products in our catalog...plus they're economical, they're simple to figure out, and they're really cool! Before we get to the project, let's quickly review some of the basics. Below is a great video from Carrie Cudney at the Home office on how to use the wheels.

HINTS & TIPS (shown on the video)

  • We have three types of wheels: standard, jumbo, and builder
  • To use them you'll need a handle.
  • We have a standard handle for the standard wheels, and a jumbo handle for jumbo and builder wheels.
  • To get the most out of a builder wheel, you'll also need the spindle and spacers.
  • Now besides a wheel and a handle, you are also going to need ink. Of, course you can ink up a wheel by rolling it over one of our ink pads but using a cartridge will provide more even ink coverage so it's easier to get a clear, even image. Cartridges also allow for continuous inking so you don't need to stop and re-ink.
  • Cartridges come in basic black or unlinked. Black has always been a top seller because several of the wheels contain line-art images that you can wheel in black, and then color in using other techniques.
  • Un-inked cartridges were designed for you to ink yourself in whatever color or fashion you desire -- so they are actually kind of fun.
    • To ink an unlinked cartridge, use tip of re-inker bottle to roll the roller so you don't get your fingers messy.
    • Cover the roller with ink until you can't see the natural sponge color anymore.
    • Ink a little while before you make your project so the ink has a chance to absorb and saturate the roller for more even coverage.
    • You can use coordinating marker to write the color on the label.
  • Our advice for using wheels is to practice first! Always get it going on a scrap paper. This lets you be sure your ink is flowing, your wheel is right side up and you're getting the look you want. There are lots of techniques for using wheels so play around with to decide which method feels the most comfortable for you.

VIDEO

NEW! Undefined Stamp Carving Kit

Undefined_banner

Have you ever wanted a stamp but couldn't find the perfect image? Maybe one of your customers has a special family logo or a sketch she'd like to have as a stamp. Well now she can! Undefined is Stampin' Up!'s new stamp carving product line. You define the rubber stamp any way you want.

When you carve your very own stamp, you have will have an entirely new and different creative experience. And when you're finished, you will have created a one-of-a-kind stamp!

How exactly do you carve a stamp? Check out this video tutorial:

Intrigued? We know you want to get your hands on the kit and start carving your own masterpieces. Here are the item numbers you'll need (we suggest adding a refill kit on your first order . . . trust us, you're gonna want it).

Undefined Stamp Carving Kit Undefined Stamp Carving Refill Kit
Undefined Stamp Carving Kit
Price: $19.95
Undefined Stamp Carving Refill Kit
Price: $9.95

Express your personality, thoughts, feelings, etc. with a stamp you've carved all on your own! We know you'll have a "look what I made!" moment.

We'd love to see what you make with your kit. Please e-mail us a photo of your creations and any projects you make with your carved stamps to undefined@stampinup.com so we can pin your photos to our Undefined Pinterest board!

CHECK IT OUT:
Here's a example created by Jen S, a photographer at Stampin' Up! Click here for the details of Jen's stamp and more ideas she camp up with.

 

MDS: Rise & Shine Pocket Cards and more

2013-07-23 MDSdownloads

I saw these Rise & Shine Pocket Cards in action at convention, they are awesome! Perfect for your everyday memory keeping. Well, they have arrived! And they are a must-have (along with all the other new downloads of course). PDF

VIDEO: Chalk Talk Chalkboard effects

chalk talk-stampwithtam-stampin up 1A little inspiration from the Apple store of all places! This was inspired by "chalk" like words they had on their windows, I saw it and immediately came home and started playing with the Chalk Talk stamp set and framelits. The chalk board is such a trendy and cool look, add on the Chevron impression folder and some Melon Mambo (because it makes me want to dance AND eat lol) and you've got instant fun. Check out my video tutorial below for a peek at one of my stamp club projects using the same set.

INSPIRATION SHEET

chalk talk screen shot

Inspiration Sheet
Includes all measurements and supplies
Chalk Talk Card pdf

Convention Highlights – #1 Salesperson OMG!

stampin up convention highlights

Stampin' Up!'s Annual Convention 2013
Celebrating 25 years!

Wow, what a whirlwind week of excitement it has been! So many stories from convention in Salt Lake City, UT. Many of you have been following me on Facebook and had the updates live, I will do a recap below in case you missed anything.

The biggest highlight for me, was being honored by Stampin Up as the #1 Salesperson in the company for 2013 (US)!!!!!!!
OMG!!! That really happened...I think...I know I didn't dream that! HUGE THANK YOU to all of my customers who made this happen. I can't tell you how much you mean to me and my family, I love you and I owe this honor to you. I hope to continue to provide the service, support and inspiration you deserve throughout this coming year.

I was also honored with # 2 Recruiter and #5 in Leadership. I was honored as one of the companies Top 100 Demonstrators of the Year / Founders circle. (sorry no #'s on this one, Stampin Up no longer ranks this category).

More of my favorite moments from convention:

  • Having a blast with my BFF's and demo group!! I <3 you gals, and miss you already
  • Our Stinkin' Cute pink t-shirts (thanks Esther!!!)
  • Prize Patrol!!! WE ALL won!!
  • Convention Bags
  • SWAPS!!! They are awesome this year!! I've even been posting some on my Facebook Page
  • Meeting the demos from UK, Australia and New Zealand. Not only are the excitable, they are inspirational and truly amazing.
  • Hearing Scott Nielson (CFO & former pitch for the New York Yankees) say "Go Sox" while emceeing Awards night when I was on stage! yes - that really happened!!
  • Setting a Guinness Book of World Records record for the most greeting cards mailed from 1 location
  • The ideas, the excitement and the energy from 5,800 friends
  • Stamping presentations, especially Bonnie Thurber...we laughed so hard we almost peed our pants (mental note for next time: go to the ladies room before Bonnie takes the stage)
  • Visiting with friends from all over the country and Canada that I only get to see a couple of times a year
  • New product announcements and sneak peeks!! I can't share all of them yet but be prepared to be WOWED!!
  • Hitting a career milestone of $900,000 in sales...guess what comes next?!?!
  • Susy Miller receives a stamping ovation as she is honored with the Heart of Stampin Up Award!! She has shaped the lives of so many demonstrators throughout her SU career. Susy continues to be an inspiration and a hero to so many as she battles ALS. We love you Susy!
  • My photo album of pictures from convention (click here)

Stampin' Up!'s Highlight Video

Look close, you may even find me in it - it's rare I make a highlights video!

CARD: Happy Day Smile

happy day-stampin upToday's beautiful card is from guest blogger, Linda Cullen of Crafty Stampin'. Linda uses some color inspiration and the Happy Day stamp set to create this wonderful card.

One of my favorite new stamp sets from the 2013 - 2014 Catalog is the Happy Day stamp set. We used it to make this fun simple card at Stamp Club last night.

- Linda

Color combo sm
I turned the above palette into Stampin' Up! colors:

Color blocks

CARD: Cup of Tea

Cup+of+TeaToday's card is from Siara Acdal from Siara's Sweet Sensations. Using the new Pistachio Pudding In color ink and card stock, along with the Tea Party stamp set. Very pretty!