Hello, Goodbye Class

It's that time of the Stampin' Up! year to say goodbye to sets and accessories we love, to pull out and create with sets we haven't used often enough, and to re-organize to make room for the new merchandise on it's way. I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet but am looking forward to all the new stuff we'll soon be creating with. Here are the cards my class attendees created at our Hello-Goodbye class this month.

GOODBYE: Fast & Fabulous is one of our current Lv 2 Hostess Sets and I much prefer watercoloring the images to the 2-step stamps the set also includes. Do you notice some new colors? Those are new in-colors

Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Lucky Limeade

HELLO: Faith in Nature (2011-2012 Catalog Sneak Peak) - is one of the new Hostess only sets that can be chosen by a Hostess with her new Hostess Dollars, earned by hosting a Workshop - and she'd still have more left over to choose more new items. I LOVE this set - simple and elegant cards can be created in no time.

GOODBYE: Punch Potpourri - a current Lv 1 Hostess set. Take a few punches, an embossing folder and 2 colors and in no time create a great card with this set. Notice that new purple? It's a sneak peak of one of the new in-colors in the 2011-2012 Catalog - Wysteria. If you know me and how I love purple you know this is only one of many cards I'll be creating using this color! ... and the name - Wysteria Wonder - LOVE IT!

HELLO: Flirtatious meets Circle Circus (staying)

This new Designer Paper comes with laser cut dolies ... cute! There is a new set in catalog the coordinates with it but I found stamp images in Circle Circus worked as well.

GOODBYE: Simple Friendship. I'm not sure why I waited so long to add this set to my collection but I know I will use it even though it is retiring.

If you click on post title above you'll be taken to my webstore where you will find the retiring stamps, available until June 30th, and accessories, available while supplies last. Accessories are removed from site as soon as stock is gone so if there is something you want - don't wait.

If you would like to receive the new Catalog, it can be yours FREE for hosting a workshop, placing an individual order or $75 or more, joining a club or contacting me to purchase one.

On JULY 1st the NEW 2011-2012 Stampin' Up! Catalog will be available to browse or download online ..... and shopping begins!

May Card Class

Our May class was all about embossing .... embossing with folders, embossing powders, and dry embossing of sorts.

Celebrating 10!

April 2001 to present - 10 years now that I have been a Stampin' Up Demonstrator. Who knew when I joined, without ever having stamped before, as a Navy wife and mom with young kids looking just to meet new people and wanting to have something crafty to do, that it would last this long. I never really intended to make it a business (they'd call that being a "hobby" demo) and I have welcomed many other 'hobby" Demos to my team in these 10 years, some who stay for a while and move on, and others like me who find ourselves setting a new goal to reach each year (business building). This opportunity is just that - an opportunity for YOU to make it what you want - I have enjoyed every minute of these 10 years! The people I have met along the way, and friendships that have formed are what really keep me wanting to do this for years to come!

On to posting the class projects my stampin friends completed in March .... Using a mix of Sale-a-bration, Occassions Mini and new upcoming Catalog items.

Recycled can flowers

I've seen people making these into pins but I am always so careful not to make things I think might be sharp into a wearable item so I was looking for another way to use these as gifts. I found these really tiny pots in my craft stash and have a least a hundred paper sticks (you know the ones for making candy suckers) .... so here is what I came up with. Using a variety of punches, some old scissors, an embossing folder (which seems to make metal more soft)

Is it February already?

Right after I returned from Leadership I came down with bad cold .... recovered in time to get some stampin done then came down with flu .... I can't wait for winter to end! So here are a few of the projects we've done at my classes recently.

Leadership Prep

In a panic as I leave for Leadership in just a few days and still have all my swaps and gifts to complete. The girls are coming on Monday for a class - I will post pictures when I return. In meantime here were a few cards from previous class I neglected to post.

Time ... where does it go?

It's been awhile since last post .... done some crafting and held some classes ... but it was the loss of our dog, Skippy, on the 28th that seems to have put me in funk and behind on all I need to get done .... so I will be attempting to catch up this week and next .... with followers and posts.

This was the favorite card from the Oct class ... funny how I wasn't that happy with it and didn't think anyone would like it at all and it was the favorite.

Recent workshop cards

More recyced gifts

Some old, some new..... A wood block, recycled from a large background stamp that I remounted ... Some retired Designer Paper.... the new vintage emnossing folder and Basic Gray cardstock .... brad, satin ribbon, and new pearls and Herbal Expression stamp set. A gift for a stampin' friend who is always doing for others.

Grungeboard Bracelets

When it comes to my craft table come fair time I'd have to say that the poor people stopping by have so many different items to look at that seeing everything just isn't possible. I just cant seem to stick to ONE or TWO items and always need to be trying new things to use my stamps and Stampin Up accessories on. This week I broke out the grungeboard (non-Stampin Up) I'd purchased awhile back and went to town with my Stampin Up Impressions embossing folders and craft ink. I always love that no two items I make ever turn out the same, even when I try, so each is truly a "one of a kind".

Recycled Butterfly

Been busy with remodeling projects around house (workers and dust everywhere) so haven't had time to really stamp for weeks. In an effort to downsize the clutter, I have been remounting 10 years of stamps I just couldn't part with and have been cleaning out my craft room. What to do with all those clear boxes the sets came in and retired designer papers I seem to be hoarding .... well here's what I came up with - Recycled Butterflies ... with command adhesive or velcro on back can be mounted to just about anything, like your work computer screen to brighten your day, or in groups on a wall. I have lots of retired paper and plenty of plastic so will be making a lot of these for my upcoming craft fairs. Cut up and ran the clear plastic through Big Shot with Exclusive Stampin Up Butterfly die (can use any clear plastic found as packaging around most items we buy these days) - die cut retired Designer Paper the same - used Crystal Effects to adhere paper to plastic butterfly - ran the combination through machine with the Elegant Lines embossing folder ... needed more so cut up used Coke cans and ran them through die cut to get the smaller butterfly and embossed that with same folder .... Crystal Effects and mini silver beads add bling to edges. I have some antenae to add I just have to find where I put them! Enjoy.

Always Elegant / Elegant Lines

My Embossing folder finally arrived so I could finish this card I had started .....Away from home for months so dont have a lot of my paper, ribbons and supplies with me so needed the folder to add that little something. The Always Elegant center image was done on watercolor paper and cut out ...using dimensional to pop it off the embossed images below. Adding a little bling with the new pearls.

June Sneak Peak Card Class

Friends Never Fade Pear Pizzazz (in-color) CS ½ sheet; Pear Pizzazz marker Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Greenhouse Gala DSP Chocolate Chip CS Lace edge Border punch Clearlit Scallop Rectangle Daffodil Delight CS River Rock CS Real Red Classic Ink This is my favorite - love the colors, the designer paper and new embossing folder!

June Sneak Peak - Because I Care

Because I Care 2010-11 Catalog Lv1 Hostess Aqua Painters Old Olive ink Bashful Blue CS (1/4 sheet) and classic ink Marina Mist CS; classic ink; 1/8” taffeta ribbon Confetti Ivory CS and Vanilla CS (8”x 5 ¼”) Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

More Dominoes !

Been so busy making new bracelets and holding classes I haven't had time to post ...