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

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Thank You Card Blog Hop with the Bertucci's - July 2023

 Can you believe we're half way through the Year!  That's right, we have made it through half of 2023.  I can tell 2024 is racing forward as I already see 2024 calendars, day planners, and 18 month calendar books on store shelves.  Go into any craft location and you'll probably see not just sales on Spring, Summer, and Patriotic items, but Fall and Halloween items are on the shelves and priced at 40% off!  (As a big craft fair person, I actually like seeing the sales and are anxiously awaiting all Holiday items to be on the shelves!)

To help with the preparation for the next few months, I am looking over the items in my stash, shown on Clearance Rack (recently refreshed), and the new items from the Online Exclusives.  There are some great values.  For example, last month I really took advantage of the Designer Paper Sale.  One pack I've used on a few posts, the Delightfully Eclectic pack, I grabbed another pack and I'm using another page for my submission for this month's Blog Hop with Kylie and Bruno Bertucci.

Stampin' Up!©  Demonstrators from around the world participate in the Bertucci's Demonstrator Training Program Blog Hop. We, Demonstrators, learn from the training program provided by the Bertucci's to help us build a successful Stampin' Up! business and to reach some goals we have set for ourselves. 

You are invited to visit over 30 Stampin' Up! Demonstrator blogs which are showcasing "Thank You" cards they've created.  You can start here with my blog post and then jump on the links (below) to travel around the world and see the gorgeous cards created by the talented Demonstrators.  Have fun and enjoy the HOP!

As mentioned, I am using one of the sheets from the group of beautiful papers from the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series paper pack.  I've chose the paper that looks like it's lemons with pink stripes.  I love the fresh and tangy look of this paper and using the Garden Green and Crushed Curry card stock provides the feeling of Summer.

The card is actually an angled fold card I saw on a video by Stamp with Lorraine.  The cutting is a little tricky (as in I used five sheets of card stock making the card base before it clicked!  Luckily, I love the card stock colors and know the scraps can easily be used on future projects.)

After mastering the cuts on the card base, I moved onto conquering the cuts on the DSP to make the cards correctly. It's easy to trim off where needed to make them fit.  

Beside stamping the sentiment, I decided to add a "belly" band.  A band not only helps to keep the sides flat, it also provides a place to decorate or add a sentiment. I used the So Refreshing Stamp set for the sentiment and stamped the lemon and leaves from the same set.  Finally, I added a few gems from my stash to the center of the lemon as well as a couple on the card.

Once I made a few, I realized that creating this card really wasn't difficult and gave the card a modern-design look.  I've listed the paper cuts below, if you want to give it a try.  If you'd like some cutting tips, you can contact me by leaving your email in the comments section below or by signing up for my newsletter and requesting the info.

Thanks for visiting my blog and please continue through the Blog Hop.  You'll find ideas from over 30 demonstrators from around the world.  Just click on one of the links below.  Thanks again and Keep Creating!

.. Janice

News and Specials for July 2023

THE SUMMER IS HEATING UP WITH SPECIALS FROM STAMPIN' UP! 

Before I go into all the News and Specials for July, I thought you might want to know about my travels these last six weeks.

My husband graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point (New York) in 1973.  The picture below is of Washington Hall and some of the Baracks which line the parade fields.  The area is beautiful and sits right along the Hudson River.  The 50th Graduation Reunion for my Husband's class was held at West Point towards the end of June.  We traveled there to see many of his classmates and their families.  And of course, to see how the Academy grounds have changed...expanding to not only include more cadets but also to provide more technical studies.  

We had a wonderful time and loved visiting old friends that we haven't seen in over 10 years.  They are the type of friends that you can not be with for a long time, but when you meet again, it's as if you saw them yesterday and just continue the conversations.   The few days passed too quickly and we said our farewells, knowing that we're all much older, but plan to meet for the 60th reunion.

Upon our return home, we immediately began the next celebratory occasion, our 50th Wedding Anniversary and our Disney Cruise Celebration with our kids and grandkids.  There would be 11 of us sailing for short 4 day cruise in the Bahamas.

To say the trip was glorious is an understatement.  We wanted to celebrate with family but knowing our grandchildren, the days needed to be packed with activities and it sure was! We promised to meet each night for dinner and share our day.  Until I saw some of the pictures, I didn't know all that they did!  My Husband, Wayne, and I apparently go at a much slower pace...much slower!  But the trip was all that we had hoped...memories to last a life-time for everyone.

It's been almost a week since we've returned and we're still exhausted!  So when I saw all the News and Specials being offered from Stampin' Up!© I realized that there was no slowing down.  And from what you'll see happening beginning July 6th, you'll understand.  

From July 6 to July 31, you can earn bonus rewards of $5 for every $50 you spend (not including shipping and taxes).  These bonus rewards will be sent to you via email in the form of special codes.  DON"T LOSE the Codes!  You'll be able to use them in August against whatever you purchase during that month.  So if you spend $100 during July, you'll receive 2 reward numbers for a total of $10 to spend on anything you order in August!  And what could you buy in July?  NEW ONLINE EXCLUSIVES. There's even some introductory Holiday items included.  (Giving us a taste of the Holiday Mini being released in September!)

The list just keeps growing...we have some items from the last release that are still available, but don't expect some of these new released products to last long.  Remember the Exclusives have a limited inventory and when sold out, they may not be replaced.  So even though the holidays are still months away, you'll want to order TODAY!  After all, it is Christmas in July! or at least the Holiday Movie channels are telling us (LOL). And can you really start on Holiday projects too early?

Check out the new truck and accessories including a PUNCH.  It's sure to be one of those favorites.

If all of that wasn't enough, there's a CLEARANCE RACK REFRESH!  Starting July 6th, new items are added to the Clearance Rack.  And you know how items fly off the list from there!  So make sure to check it out.

And lastly, Paper Pumpkin has a 2-day sale on their past kits and supplies.  You must be a current subscriber to participate in the sale, but you can join with just a one-month purchase and be a subscriber.  But as we all know, the holidays are coming and the September/October/November Paper Pumpkins are usually the best of the year...at least they're usually sold out well before the close day of the 10th of the month.  So why not take out a subscription?  Remember, you can postpone the kits being sent to you each month by notifying Paper Pumpkin that you're opting out for the month.  You must indicate each month that you want to opt out, but be sure to be set up to receive the September-November kits!  

And of course, there's an adorable Summer Time Paper Pumpkin kit now available through July 10th.  (See below.)

Stampin' Up! also has a new kit available, check in out on line where the Stampin' Up! kits are available.

So you can see, July is off to a great start.  So many new products, ways to save money...and speaking of saving money...

Dont'f forget you can JOIN MY TEAM as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and begin saving 20% on whatever you purchase.  There's no selling or parties required.  You simply join by paying for your Starter Kit (where you start the savings...getting more of whatever you want to fill your kit, a paper pumpkin kit and FREE SHIPPING!) then you start saving 20% thereafter.  Contact me for details regarding this month's starter kit offer and to have your questions answered.  Join the fun...get great ideas from Stampin' Up! Representatives from around the world, and SAVE 20%. PLUS -- you'll get to see the new Holiday Mini Catalog the end of July and be able to purchase in August!  The release will be in September for non-Demonstrators.  Talk about getting a jump on Holiday crafting!

So have a great July...stay in the a/c and CRAFT!

--  Janice

Thank You Card Blog Hop with the Bertucci's - June 2023

 JUNE AND THE WEATHER IS HOT!

Living in Florida has many benefits...like beautiful coasts which provide gorgeous sunsets, varieties of animals...yes, we have alligators....but we have wild boar, cougars, Red cardinals year-round, flowers that bloom in December, fish to give any fisherman the best day fishing ever, lobsters, and the list goes on.

But in June, July, August, and even part of September, the weather is just plain HOT! I remember when we first moved here (30+ years ago), I was amazed when the weatherman said that the temperature outside at 11:00 pm was 92 degrees! I was used to warm weather, but a night the coolness would provide some relieve.

So what do Floridians do during the summer...stay inside and enjoy air conditioning! And I am enjoying crafting inside.  Luckily, Stampin' Up!© has provided some beautiful Designer Paper for us to "play".  And they must have known we needed MORE papers than normal as they provided us with a 15% OFF SALE!  I am using some of the most unique, gorgeous colors, texture galore paper I've seen in years, the MASTERFULLY MADE paper collection.  A couple of the sheets from this paper pack is central for my submission for this month's Blog Hop provided by Kylie and Bruno Bertucci. 

Stampin' Up!©  Demonstrators from around the world participate in the Bertucci's Demonstrator Training Program Blog Hop. We, Demonstrators, learn from the training program provided by the Bertucci's to help us build a successful Stampin' Up! business and to reach some goals we have set for ourselves. 

You are invited to visit over 30 Stampin' Up! Demonstrator blogs which are showcasing "Thank You" cards they've created.  You can start here with my blog post and then jump on the links (below) to travel around the world and see the gorgeous cards created by the talented Demonstrators.  Have fun and enjoy the HOP!

The Masterfully Made paper pack includes colors Azure Afternoon, Berry Burst, Crushed Curry, Fresh Freesia, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly, Lost Lagoon, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Pretty Peacock, Pumpkin Pie, and Sweet Sorbet.  What an abundance of color!  Some of the papers are small bits of colors that resemble pieces of flowers while others have strips of texture that resemble torn cloth from fabrics found around the world. Yes, they are definitely Masterfully Created!

For my cards, I used the new Berry Burst and the returning Pretty Peacock and Fresh Freesia colors.  But I could have used any of the colors listed above.  I chose a simple "Thanks" from the Biggest Wish stamp set.  It's used so often by many of we Demonstrators for its clarity and font style. And in attempting to focus on the beauty of the Designer Papers, I used a simple card design.  

Even the ribbon used is simple Basic White no to conflict with the abundance of colors in the paper.  Although discontinued, I used it to provided the addition of more texture which can actually be felt.  

Don't the flowers just look like they were randomly thrown in a simple pile. Or are part of a garden overwhelmed with tiny blooms.  Don't you feel like you can just reach out and feel their softness?

I used the 2023 - 2024 In Color Dots to the card top to had some color to the top of the stark white card.  But even those can't compete with the colors in the paper.

Guess by now, you know that I really like this paper pack.  But when I was going through the catalog, and I looked at the papers and they really didn't interest me.  It wasn't until I ordered a pack and opened it, that I fell in love with the pack. 

I hope that when my customers receive these cards as a Thanks for selecting me as their Stampin' Up! Demonstrator that they love the papers too. 

To see the cards made by Demonstrators around the world and their favorite papers and designs, just continue through the Blog Hop by choosing the links below.  

Enjoy and keep creating!