IS IT REALLY OCTOBER??? What happened to September?
Wasn't it just yesterday that we celebrated July 4th? This summer seemed to fly by so quickly, I can't believe we're discussing Thanksgiving plans and the Christmas Holiday already.
Well, somehow my crafting has changed from butterflies and flowers to Autumn Leaves and Holly and Christmas Trees. As a result, there's been lots of activity in my paper crafting life over the past few weeks.
1. I've had another crop and have made wonderful new friends.
2. I've participated in another "craft garage" sale and sold many of my older items, but seemed to come back with more than I took...how does that happen?
3. I've been working hard on learning new paper crafting techniques. There's some wonderful training in which I participated that was available through Stampin' Up!
In September I had my 3rd crop which was SO much fun! I met new people and used some of the beautiful new tools found in the fantastic newly released Mini Catalog (often referred to as the "Holiday Catalog"). Here's a sample of one of the cards I made as a sample for the crop:
The top card is the outside. I used the stamp set Merry and Bright which includes two styles of lights often used to decorate a tree. And the sentiment from the stamp set, Christmas Classics. The second picture is the inside of the card. My idea was to represent the stringing of lights on the tree by having the cards "strung' along the strip of Designer Paper. The sentiment that says, "Have a Merry & Bright Christmas" came from the Merry and Bright stamp set while the Designer Paper, Merry Bold and Bright, light style was used on the connecting strip and the cards. (If you're interested in more details, leave a message or add a note when you sign up for my Newsletter.)
The "garage" sale was as exciting as always. Our local scrapbook store has a sale about twice a year. Crafters bring in items that they have collected but haven't used (or hardly used) and want to clean out their craft room. There are plenty of bargains! I had three full tables and was pleased to see so many of my items going to crafters who had wonderful plans to use them. It's always great to know that your goodies are going to good homes.
New products and techniques are always being introduced and there are training and classes available to learn and more ways to showcase these new products. Styles change so rapidly and new techniques are so much fun to learn. I offer a paper crafting class every other Friday at a local community center where we try new techniques and products and share our creations. If you live in the Land O Lakes area of Florida, send me a message and add a note when you sign up for my Newsletter, and I'll provide the details.
One product technique was new to me, but you probably already know about it and maybe even used them...decorative masks. I never knew how to use them and how easy it is to make cards with them. So when I saw the Abundant Beauty Decorative Masks shown in the new Mini Catalog, I had to try them. Talk about a great purchase, at only $10.50, you get 3 styles of masks and 1 special 4-layer set of masks! There's one for snowflakes, one of leaves, and one of a herringbone pattern. The set of 4 provides a detailed way to create sunflowers. Below is a card made with the new set of masks. It is so easy to layer the masks and various colors to create the flower. I chose the typical colors of sunflowers, but I've seen cards with pink and blue and purple flowers!
I introduced the masks and taught attendees at my crop how to make the card. They loved it!
Over the next few weeks, I'll introduce in my blogs some of the other beautiful cards made with the new stamp sets and dies found in the new Mini Catalog.
CHECK OUT THE NEWS!!!
I want to be sure to let you know about a few exciting events occurring in the next few days and throughout the month of October:
1. FREE SHIPPING! That's right, Stampin' Up! is having 3 (that's right THREE!) days of Free shipping for orders totaling $75 or more (not including taxes). You can save not only the new catalog items, but also the regular catalog!
I find that the Free Shipping time is always a great time to purchase items that never seem to go on sale (cardstock, envelopes, ink, scissors, dimentionals, glue, stamping blocks...you get the idea...the basics)! You can replenish your necessities and SAVE!
And of course, it's a great time to get the extra pack of your favorite Designer Papers from the catalogs. You're probably doing more crafting at this time of the year and don't want to run out of your favorite DSP while making dozens of treat holders and gift cards.
2. JOINING SPECIAL! Stampin' Up! is celebrating their 35th Anniversary and you get the gifts! The word "special" is an understatement. You can SAVE big on your starter kit. You have two choices, either save 35% on the cost of the starter kit (normally $99) or purchase 35% more product at the cost of $99.
That's right, you'll get all the specials traditionally part of the starter kit...products of YOUR choice, a Paper Pumpkin kit, a discount of 20% on future purchases (after you've paid for the starter kit), and no shipping!
But this time, you can also receive a FREE ticket to attend one of the most popular events offered to Demonstrators....the virtual OnStage event to be held November 11th, a $77 value! You can watch the event indepently, gathered together with other demonstrators, or with your Team Leader. Demonstrators who join during the promotion will be automatically added to the OnStage attendees, they do not have to register separately.
There is a special link on the right which will take you directly to where you can get more information and complete your joining paperwork. Any questions? please contact me or Demonstrator Support at 800.782.6787. You DON"T want to miss this opportunity!
Hope Fall is bringing you cooler weather and all it's beauty.
-- Janice
