This deal is to DIE for!

If you've been looking for an opportunity to do what you love, while getting a 20 discount on your favorite products, now is the perfect time! During October, you'll get a FREE Big Shot when you join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator.*
Use the Big Shot die-cutting machine and Stampin' Up!'s exclusive dies**  to create uniquely beautiful projects in a flash.

In addition, the new-demonstrator Starter Kit--a steal at just $175--contains over $345 worth of stamp sets, card stock, ink, accessories, and business supplies-everything you need to start your new business.

There are so many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, including

• A 20 percent product discount!
• A free monthly issue of Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator-only magazine, Stampin' Success!
• Sneak peeks at brand-new products!
• Invitations to exclusive Stampin' Up! events!
• Regular get-togethers to stamp!
• Free access to an online community of 30,000+ crafters/stampers and creative artists, as well as 160,000+ project samples!
• Plus, access to an exclusive video and training for your new Big Shot!

Don't miss this BIG deal! Contact me today to learn how you can take advantage of this great opportunity and get your FREE Big Shot!

*Or up to $100 in FREE Stampin' Up! products
**Big Shot dies sold separately

New Catalog, new Hostess Program, and more! (Click links to download PDF catalog/flyer.)

The 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog has been released, and it's better than ever! The new stamps, papers, In Colors, punches, Big Shot dies, My Digital Studio designs, Decor Elements (and more) are wonderful; I encourage you to take a look at the PDF or go over to my Website and Store to view products online.

Also, Stampin' Up! has come out with a new Hostess Program! As a hostess, earn dollars toward free products, have access to hostess-exclusive, limited-edition stamp, paper and digital design sets, and even earn half-price items! Click on the link above to view a PDF of the new Hostess Program, or visit my Website and Store to view details online.

Not only that, but Stampin' Up! has a $99 Starter Kit offer available from July 1-31, 2011. Stampin' Up! has great opportunities for everyone. This deal includes a free Christmas Keepsake Project that includes product samples of some things that will be available in the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog September 1st. Start your own business and share what you love with your friends and relatives, plus meet more people who enjoy what you do. Set your own goals for earnings, whether you just want to pay for your own products through sales or want to go all the way to managing a team of Demonstrators. Don't want to start a business? Be a Hobby Demo and just get the discount for yourself. Minimum "sales" requirement is only $300 per quarter, so if you already spend $100/month, you're covered!

Upcoming Events

It’s time for classes, fun, and creativity again! In April we have an exciting sneak-preview and early purchasing opportunity in the Spring is Blossoming promotion from Stampin’ Up! Therefore, in April’s classes we will be using the paper kit and stamp set from the promotion to make our projects with. I look forward to sharing these with you. The following projects were made using the Spring is Blossoming promotional items:

The schedule for the remainder of the school year is as follows:

April 1-30: Spring is Blossoming Promotion
April 25^th: Stampin’ Class, 7-9 pm

April 26^th: Stampin’ Class, 10-12 am

April 26^th: Stampin’ Class, 6:30-8:30 pm

April 30^th: Last day to order from the Occasions Mini
May 1-31: National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

May 1^st: Summer Mini Catalog items become available

May 23^rd: Stampin’ Class, 7-9 pm

May 24^th: Stampin’ Class, 10-12 am

May 24^th: Stampin’ Class, 6:30-8:30 pm

During my Stampin’ Classes we make two projects, usually a card and a gift box, though projects may vary depending upon requests from regular attendees. Classes cost $5 for supplies, or you may attend free with a purchase of $25 or more. Please RSVP to reserve a seat!

I will be posting photos of new projects using the Summer Mini products soon!

Trying again...

Okay, I'm not doing as well at this blogging effort as I'd hoped! Here's a quickie update, and I'll try to get back SOON to post more:

Sale-a-Bration ends in just a few days, at the end of March. If you want to get some free stuff with every $50 you spend, please let me know or shop my online site and store A.S.A.P.!

As they did last year, Stampin' Up! is getting ready to temporarily release sneak-preview products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog for April only. (The IBC comes out July 1st.) The name of this promotion is "Spring is Blossoming," and they have selected two GORGEOUS products for you!!! Hostesses of workshops in April will have the opportunity to get these two products FREE when their workshops reach the $300 sales mark, and customers will be able to purchase these items when they place a $20 order (before the ordering of the Spring is Blossoming items). I may have a sample or two I can show you before the 1st, but can't promise that...More details will be available on that promotion at my online site and store on April 1st!

Also, Stampin' Up! is going to be including two new products in the Summer Mini Catalog (coming out May 1st), which will help raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Of course, this is very important research, and I'm so glad they're adding this fundraiser to what they're already offering in the annual IBC in support of the Ronald McDonald House. Hopefully this BCRF fundraiser will become an annual event for SU! I LOVE the stamp set, so I will soon be posting some sample projects using that. (The other product is a beautiful digital kit to use with My Digital Studio, a digital scrapbooking and card making program.)

Yes, I HAVE seen the Summer Mini, and I'm VERY excited about what's coming! Beach, nautical (think masculine and patriotic colors), and floral themes abound in this catalog, as well as some VERY cool new punches. I'm going to place my preview order in just a few days, so will be working on (then posting photos of) samples from that by the middle of the month.

Finally, I had the opportunity to attend the Orlando Regional Event for demonstrators. There were some fantastic women there, presenting ideas on how to make my workshops better, giving some WOW project presentations, and generally psyching me up to share more with my friends/customers. I even got to hear Shelli Gardner (CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!) speak about the company and products, and she showed us some beautiful, easy projects she'd made for Easter which didn't look near as simple as they are!

I must say that this Regional has changed the way I think about projects in general and workshops in particular. I am planning to change up the way I present things at my technique classes, and especially the hosted workshops, starting in April. I just know that it will make things more enjoyable for my friends/customers.

Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up! CEO, speaks about the company

Occasions and Sale-a-Bration!

The winter and spring brings about the Occasions Mini Catalog sales period with Stampin' Up!, which runs January 4 through April 30. This year, there are some absolutely adorable stamp sets, designer papers, ribbons, and more. Also, Stampin' Up! has continued offering Designer Fabrics, two sets to match two of the Occasions paper sets! I plan to make myself a ragbag style pocketbook with the Springtime Vintage set, it's so cute! When I get that finished, I'll post a photo, I promise. ;)

Every year, Stampin' Up does an event called Sale-a-Bration. It's a time when customers get rewarded, even when they don't host a workshop or spend over $150, just for being customers. The deal is, for every $50 (retail) you spend, you get to choose one item out of the Sale-a-Bration booklet. There are eight great limited-time offerings, and a generous list in the back of the booklet of many stamp sets that are in the Idea Book and Catalog you can choose from as your Sale-a-Bration free gifts as well. Hostesses also get an extra set for every $300 in sales their workshops bring in. Sale-a-Bration continues until March 31st, so check out what you can earn in free products.

As always, please contact me with any questions, to schedule a one-on-one consultation, or to schedule a workshop of your own!

Note: all catalog links in this post are to PDF versions of the mentioned catalogs. If you'd like to view the products online instead, visit my Stampin' Up! Site and Store here.

After a long break, here's the latest...

After a long break from blogging, during which I took my blog offline, I'm back to it! My purpose from now on is to keep you informed on current Stampin' Up! promotions as well as class schedules and class projects. My hope is to have photos available for class projects at least a week before the event.

In the very near future, I will be writing about the current promotions, which include the Occasions Mini Catalog (January 4 - April 30) and the annual Sale-a-Bration promotion (January 25 - March 31). You can see details now by downloading the PDF of both catalogs to the right of this page, or click on the "Shop Now" catalog photo at the top right, just below the calendar.

Also, if you would like to see products and/or projects from Stampin' Up! but my current schedule does not fit your needs, please contact me via my Stampin' Up! site and store (contact info and link are on the top right of the site) and we can arrange a one-on-one visit when I can show you!

Your input on my projects is appreciated, especially from those of you who are my clients and have requests or suggestions on these and future projects!!!

Today's classes are at 10am and 6:30pm, so it's a bit late to post previews, but here's the plan anyway: The theme is Friends, Flowers and Chocolate. We will be making the cards in the photos, but not the bud vase in the first photo.

Friends and Flowers*:

*Card made using Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Friends Never Fade Stamp Set, Pear Pizzaz 1/2 Inch Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, and Pumpkin Pie Cardstock, and Pear Pizzazz ink. *Bud vase wrapper made with Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Pear Pizzazz 1/2 Inch Sticthed-Poly Ribbon and Pumpkin Pie 1/4 Inch Grosgrain Ribbon.

Friends and Chocolate:

*Made using Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Eat Chocolate Stamp Set, Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch, 2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch, 1/16th Inch Handheld Circle Punch and Early Espresso 1/4 Inch Grosgrain Ribbon.