Getting ready for Valentine's Day

• Yet more Valentine projects
• Sale-A-Bration - Free merchandise with each $50 order
• Download and use My Digital Studio Express Software Free for 30 days!
• $175 Starter Kit now $125, plus it pays for itself with free monthly Designer Series Paper or Digital Downloads

While at Leadership, there was one Lolly on display that really caught my attention.  I just had to duplicate it once I was home.  Here's my C.A.S.E. of the one I saw on display.  The new over-sized half pearls really added the finishing touch.  I used the Fresh Vintage Stamp Set (125115-w; 125117-c) for the center of the Lolly.  And the new1/8" Organdy Ribbon in Calypso Coral added to the whimsy of this fun piece. This ribbon can be one of your FREE Sale-a-Bration selections with a $50 order.   It is part of the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack (127279).  Of course the Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334) was used to make the this Lolly.  Two strips of 12" designer series paper were scored at 1/2" and joined together with the Sticky Strip. 

I thought it worked well with one of my recent card  posts and would make a fun, coordinated gift set this Valentine's day.

While I was busy making the Lolly, I also glanced over at another of my recent cards and decided to make a treat holder that matched it.  Here's the treat holder.

The treat holder is made using the Sizzix Pillow Box Die (113446) and the Big Shot.  I also used the P.S. I love you stamp set for the images and tag.  I punched a strip of Real Red Glitter paper with the Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402) and used the Jewelry tag punch (117190) on the "I love you" tag.  The ends of the pillow box are held in place with 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon.  Both the card and the Treat Holder were run through the Big Shot using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.

And here the card and the treat holder together.  I tried several camera settings and worked with the brightness and contrast settings to show you the details, but I couldn't seem to capture the design from the Perfect Details Texturz Plate. The cardstock is River Rock, but by the time the photo was dark enough to show the details of the Texturz plate, the color was much darker than River Rock.

I'm doing a Valentine's Card Buffet Class this week-end and all of these designs are part of the class.  Check out my class, if you are in the Houston area!  Register here:  http://www.meetup.com/NW-Houston-F-M-1960-Spring-CardMakers/


Free 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express

Don't forget to take advantage of the  free 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express.  Digital designing is one of the hottest crafting trends right now!.  .

To get the free trial version, add My Digital Studio Express (item 129600) to your online shopping cart, and then download and install it.

Order during Sale-A-Bration and Earn free items for every $50 you spend

Best time of the year to restock your supplies or order those sets you've wanted for Spring projects is during Sale-A-bration  Get free merchandise while you're buying what you need! For every $50 you spend from Jan 24 - Mar 31, 2012, you receive a free product from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  Download a free copy of the Sale-A-Bration brochure now to see what you can earn.

In addition, learn more about how hostess earn products more during Sale-A-Bration.

Demonstrator starter kit only $125 during Sale-A-Bration

And,  joining Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration pays for itself in free merchandise monthly!  The $175 starter kit (with $340 worth of product and supplies) is only $125 during Sale-A-Bration... and you get either a free package of Designer Series Paper or a Digital Download every month for the rest of 2012.   Learn more and sign up on-line.  You can sign up on line at the "Join Now" button!

Check out upcoming classes using new products, if you are in the Houston area!  Register here:  http://www.meetup.com/NW-Houston-F-M-1960-Spring-CardMakers/
Enjoy!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

To place an order: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/ - 24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Current Promotions

Start You Own Business

Host a workshop

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs

Hearts and Butterflies with new products from the Occasions Mini

·        Exceptional products from the New Occasions Mini Catalog

·        Pick up your Free My Digital Studio Digital Kit Download until Jan 10

The Occasions Mini Catalog is live and you can now place your orders.  The on-line version of the catalog is available here!  

 I’m continuing to play with all of these new products.   I used four new products on this card.  I used the new 3/8” Pleated Satin Ribbon,  the Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, The Hearts Collection Framelits Dies, and the Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies.  

Download a copy of the new Occasions Mini and see what terrific new products you can buy with any of the left over jingle in your pocket from Christmas gifts.

I had so much fun and wanted to keep adding more and more, but finally stopped so I could get it posted.  (I’ll probably add a few pearls or crystals before I call this card completely finished! 
Order any of these products from my Stampin’ Up! Store for the best prices.

Recipe:

• Stamps:  Butterfly Prints (120049-w, 120738-c)
• Paper:   Whisper White, Soft Suede, Beau Chateau (122357), Pretty in Pink,  Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose
• Ink:  Regal  Rose, Soft Suede 
• Accessories:  Hearts Collection Framelet Dis (125599), Adorning Accents Edgelits Die (125595), Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (125601), 3/8” Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon (125571), Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123130), Butterfly Punch (119848), Decorative Labels (120907), Sweet Buttons Embosslits Dies (114513)

This is a great time to book your own Workshop – Use your home or mine.  Earn free hostess gifts from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Contact me today for best dates.  For those of you who know Stampin’ Up!, Sale-a-Bration is just around the corner and you’ll earn even more free merchandise for every $50 order you place.

The Stampin’ Up! catalogs and mini catalogs can also be downloaded free:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/catalogs

If you prefer hardcopies of the catalog, the large 2011-2012 Stampin’ Up! catalog is $9.95.  You can order the large catalog with any product order you place using item number #125856    Or I will send you a free copy of the large catalog when you place a $50 order. 

To order products or a copy of the catalog on-line 24/7: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx For best prices, place your order through a demonstrator’s site rather than directly from the Stampinup.com web site.

Free My Digital Studio Digital Kit

Until Jan 10, you can download this free My Digital Studio Digital Kit for liking Stampin’ Up!’s Facebook, page until Jan 10.  If you haven’t already done so, go to Stampin’ Up!’s Facebook page and “like” Stampin’ Up!.   See all of the papers, embellishments and fun images that are part of this kit in the photo below.  On Stampin’ Up!’s Facebook page, scroll through the posts until you find the one offering the free download.  (Sorry, it is a little hard to find) Take a short survey and download your free Digital Kit valued at $14.95 (US).  If you have trouble finding the link, here’s the link to the survey.  The last page of the survey gives you the link to the free download.

Enjoy!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

To place an order: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/ - 24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Current Promotions

Start You Own Business

Host a workshop

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs

Stampin' Up! Online Holiday Extravaganz with 24-hour-only discounts starts today!

• Stampin' Up! Online Holiday Extravaganza -  from 20% to 60% off
• 24-Hour-only discounts - today only-- Simply Scored, 20% off

Stampin' Up! annual holiday shopping season begins TODAY, Mon, Nov 21 and it runs through Wed,  Nov 30, 2011. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to offer you great products at great savings... just in time for your Holiday shopping! This is the perfect opportunity for you to make it easy for your family and loved ones to get you exactly what you want this year.

Select items will be available at great savings...up to 60% off on some of your most wished for products!  Check them all out here: 



http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=776&dbwsdemoid=100492

 In addition, today only, two great deals: (Nov 21, on-line until 11:59 PM (MT)) 

• Simply Scored, Regularly $29.95, 24-hr sale price  $23.96
• Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps, Regularly $16.95, 24-hr sale price $13.56

I can't wait to pick up a second Simply Scored for my classes.  And the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps make a great hostess gift for your Thanksgiving Day hostess.  You can bet Stampin' Up! will be offering more shapes for your coolies stamps in future catalogs.

Also, with Holiday Memories and hand made gifts, tags, cards and scrapbook pages to make, this week is a great time to treat yourself to My Digital Studio software and receive $40 in digital Downloads FREE.  Save on My Digital Studio Express with $40 in FREE digital downloads, on digital software downloads at 25% off, and on 40% off Digital Downloads.  Check out the discounted downloads and see how they can help you make fast work of holiday labels, tags, place settings and more.  You can take advantage of these offers by clicking HERE


Shop from my website so you get the best prices and the hostess rewards not available in the general online store.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about any of these specials.  But hurry!  You don't want to miss any of these special prices...especially the two that expire at midnight tonight.

Holiday Cheers!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Register for classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

SU Demonstrator Web Site: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/

Current Promotions

Start You Own Business

Host a workshop

24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs - including the Holiday mini catalog

Gently Falling and Frostwood Lodge

I get a little thrill every time I work with the Frostwood Lodge designer series papers. This project pairs one of the wood looks from Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Papers with the Gently Falling two-step stamp set. 
 

I stamped the leaves in Soft Suede using the leaf outline from the 2-step stamp set.  Then I stamped with More Mustard as the second step of the Gently Falling stamp set.  Then I used a sponge dauber and ink from the Cajun Craze ink pad around the edges of each leaf.  I tried edging the leaf two different ways.  First I sponged the edges before cutting out the leaf.  Then I tried it where I cut out the leaf and then held the leaf in my hand to sponge the edges.  Both worked equally well and gave about the same results.  Then, after cutting out each leaf, I used my bone folders and slightly curled the edges of the leaf to give them even more dimension.  It made the leaves look much more life-like, in my opinion.  I added one of the Spice Cake designer Buttons in the fun jumbo size.  There were so many sentiments that would look good on this card.  "Grateful" form Always Thankful, or "Give Thanks" from Hand-Penned Holidays. I used Thank You from the Perfectly Penned sentiment set.
Here's the recipe for this card:

Visit my Online Store to buy the supplies to make this project.

Recipe:

• Stamps: Gently Falling (123802 (w), 123804 (c)), Perfectly Penned (Sentiment) (122890 (w) 122892 (c))
• Paper:  Frostwood Lodge, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla,  
• Ink:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Cajun Craze  
• Accessories: Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Sponge Daubers (102892); Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack, 105826),Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Glitter Brads - Brights (Pumpkin Pie (121006), Linen Thread (104199), Spice Cake Designer Buttons (124113 - Holiday Mini)

Additionally, This fun gift box uses the Kraft Gift Boxes from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Perfect for gift cards, or a few of the cookies made with the new Stampin' Up! Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps.  Decorate them in a seasonal theme, like mine, and you'll have the perfect hostess gift for your Thanksgiving Dinner hostess.

I used the Simply Scored Scoring Tool from the Holiday Mini Catalog and pleated my topper at 1/4".  I grabbed 5 punches--including my largest circle punches and scalloped circle punches--and quickly formed the  center base to showcase the Jumbo Spice Cake Designer Button.

On the sides of the box I layered Soft Suede, Pool Party and and Very Vanilla.  I used more leaves from the Gently Falling stamp set and added a label and sentiment to the front of the boxes.  These boxes are less that $1 each and come in a four-pack.
Visit my Online Store to buy the supplies to make this project.

Recipe:

• Stamps: Gently Falling (123802 (w), 123804 (c)), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Sentiment) (115370 (w) )
• Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, More Mustard, Spice Cake print, Very Vanilla,  
• Ink:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Cajun Craze  
• Accessories: 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Large Oval Punch (119855)  Sponge Daubers (102892); Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Linen Thread (104199), Spice Cake Designer Buttons (124113 - Holiday Mini)

What a great gift set for Thanksgiving.  Arrive for Thanksgiving with a hostess gift in the decorated craft box.  And send the Thank-you card following the meal. 

If you're from the Houston, TX area, attend my class this Sunday, Oct 9, to make these and other wonderful fall projects and get a head start on the Holidays. 

Reminder:  Check the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack:  A number of Holiday items were added Oct 1 at up to 60% off.  But hurry!  We've seen popular punches and other items disappear quickly.  Look for bargins on Pumpkin Pie 5/8" Satin Ribbon (119749), Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Buttons (114342), 1/2" Raven Lace Trim (120988), and the Batty Bat Punch (119279) for Halloween cards and scrapbook pages. 

Enjoy!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Register for classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

SU Demonstrator Web Site: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/

Current Promotions

Start You Own Business

Host a workshop

24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs - including the Summer mini catalog

Spice Cake Suite

Where have I been?  Early this month  our mom decided she wanted to move from her 3 bedroom home to a 2-bedroom senior apartments and give up the upkeep of a house and yard.  Great decision for an 89 year old lady who still drives and gets around just fine.  She had such fun picking out paint colors, new appliances, a new love seat for her den, and setting up her "thing" in her new home.  My sisters and brothers all managed to coordinate schedules and between last weekend and this week end, we moved her to her new home and help her get most of it set up and livablewith  furniture in place, and  with phone, cable TV and computer networks working. (Hi mom!) 

Today's project builds on the Fall/ Thanksgiving theme from the past few weeks.  I made a simple topper using the Note card die.  It works great as a place card on a Thanksgiving table or as a gift bag topper.    Click for larger image.

Here's what it looks like as a tent card.  You can use it for any fall occasion -- or add a sentiment and use it for a special holiday.  On the reverse side add a punched or printed label and hand letter names of your guests.  Or, if you are a My Digital Studio Software users, you can personalize labels for each of your guests and print them on your home printer.  I just love the colors!  I stamped the leaves from Gently Falling in Soft Suede.  It is a two-step stamp.  I stamped with inside of the leaf with More Mustard.   Then I inked the edges of each leaf using a sponge dauber with Cajun Craze.  I switched to another dauber inked with More Mustard and stamped a little more in the center of each leaf

Here's what it looks like as a bag topper.  I used it for a small gift size of shower gel or hand and body lotion I picked up at a bath shop.  I added a couple of brads to hold the topper to the cellophane bag.  And I added a button with linen thread on the stems of the leaves for additional accents.

Here's the tent card coordinated with cards I've posted earlier.  Turn one of the cards into an invitation to a fall event -- a birthday party or for Thanksgiving -- and coordinate your table with these cute tent card name places, use the back to label the food you're serving, or turn them into bag toppers for a small gift in cellophane bags at each place setting.

Visit my Online Store to buy the supplies to make this project
Recipe:

• Stamps: Gently Falling (123802 (w), 123804 (c)), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Sentiment) (115370 (w))
• Paper:  Pool Party, Very Vanilla, More Mustard 
• Ink:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Cajun Craze  
• Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die (113463), Big Shot Die Cut machine (113439),  Modern Label Punch (119849), Word Window Punch (119857), Sponge Daubers (102892); Regals Designer Buttons (119744), Linen Thread (104199), Regals Brads - More Mustard (119737), glue dots to hold the button in place

It is always such a special time when family gets together.  We're spread across the country from California to Texas to Minnesota.



Mom Esterling surrounded by part of her immediate family.  She grew up in a family of 13 children.  She married an only-child who lived kitty-corner on the same block, and they had over 60 wonderful years together!   She's blessed with great health and wonderful friends.

All my brothers and sisters were unable to all be together at one time over the past 10 days, but we did manage to see each other during different times of the week.

Enjoy, and thanks for indulging my pride in family!



Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Register for classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

SU Demonstrator Web Site: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/

Current Promotions

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24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs - including the Summer mini catalog

Spooky Bingo Bits make great Cello Bag Toppers

• Order Tangerine Tango Stampin' Embossing Powder for Halloween projects, now!
• Frightful Sight Halloween Designer Paper special: buy 3, get one free*

The best Holiday Mini Catalog I've ever seen from Stampin' Up! will be released in just a few days -- Sept 1.  I've been playing with more of the sets and products available early to Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Click to enlarge images.

These are the new 1" X 8" narrow cellophane bags available beginning Sept 1.  Aren't they perfect for filling with rows of treats like gum balls, mints, chocolates, red hot cinnamon discs, Boston Baked Beans, Hot Tamales, Red Licorice Twists, Jujubes, colored pencils, marbles, or anything long and narrow.  The toppers I made use the Spooky Bingo Bits Stamp set from the main catalog along with the new 1" punch offered Sept 1 in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Love these new holiday products!!  While I'm now ordering most of my stamp sets in clear mount, for sets like this, I prefer wood mount.  Yes, it takes up more room, but I think it saves time when you are stamping several pages of images at one time, like I did with this set (see photo below)

To order any of these Stampin' Up products on-line at my store, shipped direct to you address, click here.

• Recipe:
• Stamps:  Spooky Bingo Bits (123944 w, 123946 c)
• Paper:  Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black
• Ink:  VersaMark
• Accessories:  1" square punch (124094- avail Sept 1), Narrow cellophane bags (124134 - avail. Sept 1),  Scallop Square Punch (119884), 1-1/8 square punch (non-Stampin' Up!),  Black Embossing Powder (109133), Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder (123106), Heat Tool (10005), Embossing Buddy (103083), Powder Pal tray(102197), Red Sticky Strip tape (104294)

I stamped and matted two images so that both the front and back side of these bag toppers were finished off. Here is a close up of some of the addition images I matted, ready to use as bag toppers or on cards.  And there are many more images in the set that I can't wait to use on other projects.

  I like stamping and embossing these smaller images.  I believe they retain their sharpness better when embossed.  Which makes it especially nice that Stampin' Up! offers Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder!  I completely missed this new embossing color in my first new catalog order.  Then I realized I already owned it since I had ordered it out of the Summer mini catalog!  Yeah!!  Click to enlarge photo, and take a look at the images on the left embossed with Tangerine Tango embossing powder.



Another new embossing color I'm anxious to break open is the new Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder.  Paired with the Frightful Sight Designer Series Halloween Designer Series Paper, it will make sophisticated Halloween cards in non-traditional colors.  But for now, I'm going to work on a card to go with these toppers.  Check back soon!

Hope you have as much fun working with these new products as I did.  Be sure to sign up for my to have my web site updates automatically sent to your email address, so that you'll receive the link to download the Stampin' Up! Holiday mini catalog as soon as it is released Sept 1.  Look for the "Subscribe via email" link in the right hand column of my web site.


Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Register for classes:  http://cardmaking.meetup.com/71/

SU Demonstrator Web Site: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/donnaross/

Current Promotions

Start You Own Business

Host a workshop

24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

Download Free Stampin' Up! Catalogs - including the Summer mini catalog

*Buy 3, Get 1 Free promotion ends Aug 31.  Mix and Match the Designer Series Papers Packs you want.