Holiday mini catalog - First Samples

I was able to play a bit this week end with my preview items from the Stampin' Up! holiday mini catalog, which will be available to order from beginning Sept 1.  This first sample used three new products. 

• It's a Wrap Holidays stamp set.  This set includes candy wrappers for Halloween, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Valentine's Day and Christmas, plus one general sentiment.  It is a great addition to the It's a Wrap Occasions stamp set in the Big Catalog.  I stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink on Avery labels and then attached the labels to the candy...fast and simple
• Kraft Gift Box.  Each year for the past several years Stampin' Up! has included a wonderful gift wrap item in it's Holiday Mini.  This year's Kraft Gift box is ideal for gift cards or small items, like individually wrapped candies.  It's make from food-safe material and it is the perfect size for cookies or small home-made baked goods like home-made fudge (hint, hint -- are you listening, Mom?).
• Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper.  I keep looking at this paper and just want to snuggle with it.  It reminds me of a well-worn, soft, pair of flannel pajamas.  The entire Frostwood Lodge product suite reminds me of all my fondest, old-fashion holiday memories.  I can't wait to play with these items more!  The bow is just strips of Designer Series Paper twisted and then held in place with an antique Brad.  Click the photo for a larger view.

Watch for more upcoming samples from the Holiday mini catalog, soon!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

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

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More Berry Blossoms Samples

• Another Sneak peek card from my Aug 14 Fruit and Berries Class
• Register now for the FREE Aug 7 Post Convention Open House
• Designer Series Papers Special.  Buy 3, get 1 free

Here's another peek at my upcoming August 14 Berry Blossoms Card Class. 
This Designer Series papers are wonderful to work with.  I keep finding more and more ways to coordinate them.  And the good news is the Berry Blossoms Designer Series Papers are part of the Buy 3, Get one Free Special on Designer Series Papers going on this month!  Double click the photos for a larger view.

Now for more details on my latest edition for this class (below).This card showcases a ruffle at the bottom of the card.  It uses yet another print from the Berry Blossoms Designer Series Papers as well as the new Designer Printed Brads.  I inked the Thank you from the Elegant Thank You stamp for the sentiment.  Another tip I use to save time...  I've ordered multiples of each of the Sizzlits Dies.  That way, when I host a class, I can run mutiples of the Little Leaves Sizzlits through my Big Shot at the same time in one pass rather than cranking my Big Shot a gazillion times to make all the die cuts needed for cards.  Click on the photo for a larger size.

Here's the Receipe:

Stamps:  Elegant Thank You (sentiment)

Papers:  Calypso Coral, Berry Blossoms DSP,  Lucky Limeade

Inks:  Chocolate Chip (sentiment)

Accessories: Designer Printed Brads, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Little Leaves Sizzlits, Word Window Punch, Bird Builder Punch (leaves), Red Sticky Strip (to hold the ruffle in place), Dimensionals

See more Berry Blossoms projects I posted earlier showing more samples and inspiration for this class.

We'll I'm just about finished with my first projects using the new Holiday mini catalog preview samples that arrived earlier this week.  Watch for a post later today.  (Love being a demonstrator and getting access early to previews of new catalog products!)

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/

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Fun Flowers and Berry Blossoms

• Another card from my upcoming Berry Blossoms Card Class
• Buy 3, Get 1 Free Promotion
• Open House this week end

Tonight's post is going to be fairly short.  My Holiday mini catalog pre-order was waiting on my door step when I got home from work tonight.  And I can't wait to finish unpacking it and playing with these wonderful new Peekaboo Frames, holiday stocking dies, quilted satin ribbon, and loads more!

First, another card from my upcoming August 14 Berry Blossoms Card Class.  This card showcases not only another print from the Berry Blossoms Designer Series Papers, and also coordinates with the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die.  I'm so loving the vibrancy of this card.  I used the White Gel Pen to outline each of the flower petals from the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die. 

See more Berry Blossoms projects I posted earlier showing what we will be making in this class.  More cards coming, so check back.

Here's the recipe:

• Stamps:  Build a Blossom (leaves) Three Little Words (Sentiments)
• Papers:  Calypso Coral, Berry Blossoms DSP, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade
• Inks:  Lucky Limeade (leaves)
• Accessories: Designer Printed Brads, Basic Pearls, Fun Flowers Die, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, White gel pen, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Eyelet Border punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch (leaves), Modern Label Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch,

I made a couple versions of the card, changing the sentiment and using a different color Designer Printed Brad.  Love how the 2011-2012 In Colors work together so well.

Also, check out these samples made with Designer Series Papers, part of this month's promotion.  During August, when you buy three packs of Designer paper, you get a FREE package.  Time to stock up on all your favorites from the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  Excludes Specialty Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Papers.  No limit to the number of free packes of Designer Series Papers you can earn.  Learn more here.

Here's a list of the Designer Series papers that are part of the Buy 3, get 1 Free promotion.

And to wrap things up...I'm hosting an open house this Sunday, Aug 4.  Stop by if you're in or near NW Houston.  I'll have samples and swaps from the Stampin' Up Convention in mid  - July.  For more details and to register for the fun and prices, click here.

Hope you enjoyed today's ideas!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Current Promotions

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Free $40 Christmas Memory Box Project if you purchase the $99 Starter Kit by July 31

• $99 to Join Stampin' Up...and order your new catalog merchandise at a 20% discount
• Sneak Peek of a new Aug 28, fast-and-easy card class opening soon for registration.
• Free Post-Convention Open House August 7.  Registration now open.

FREE Christmas Memory Box project if you join Stampin' Up! By July 31.  Take advantage of the $99 sign up special to purchase a few new supplies and stamps sets and then continue to purchase Stampin' Up! products at 20% discount. You'll receive the Free kit when you place your first order at a 30% discount between Aug 1 and Sept 30, after purchasing the $99 Starter Kit*.  You can sign up on line, here, at the Join Now button.

I was so excited to see samples of the FREE-for-new-Demonstrators Christmas Memory Box project earlier this month at the Stampin' Up! Convention.  See Convention video highlights, here.

They had two versions of the box on display.  The one above and the one below.  If you are on my blog, click on the photos to make them larger. 

The kit comes with one of the new stamps from the Holiday Mini catalog.  It's called Pines & Poinsettias.  Also from the new Holiday Mini, the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper from the Holly Berry Bouquet Product Suite is  used to make this kit.  The Holiday Mini will be available to customers Sept 1. 

Learn more about joining for $99 and enjoy amazing perks when you become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Join now to take advantage of the 20% discount on your holiday craft items!  Or perhaps you'll want to join just to earn a little money before the holiday.  Either way is fine. No penalty to stop enjoying your discount. 

You can see a few more details on the front and sides of the samples in this photo.  Click photos for larger images.

I love making three-dimensional projects along with cards.  Imagine being among the first to receive products from the new Holiday Mini that only Stampin' Up! demonstrators will be able to purchase early.   As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you'll receive the Free Kit AND be able to order from the Holiday Mini catalog a month early (Aug 1) to get a jump on your holiday season craft projects.  Customer will need to wait another month until Sept 1.  For me,  there never seems to be enough time to do all the hand-crafted projects I want to make between September and Christmas, so I'm putting in my Holiday Mini catalog order August 1! 

The Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit--a $40 value--contains the following products (quantities are 1 unless otherwise noted):

• Pines & Poinsettias Set (wood-mount)
• Keepsake box
• Scallop borders (cut from Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die)
  • First Edition Designer Series Paper (3)
  • Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6)
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
• Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece*
• Real Red Top Note (cut from Top Note Bigz Die)
• Real Red Decorative Label (cut from Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
• Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
• Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric
• Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
• Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
• Linen Thread
• Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter
• Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Bauble
• Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons*
  • Large Wild Wasabi
  • Small Real Red
• Mini Vintage Tags

I know I'll be using some of the new holiday designer buttons and new 3/8" velvet stitched Ribbons from the Holiday Mini catalog that each demonstrator received at Stampin' Up!s convention earlier this month.

I'm so happy Stampin' Up! is helping me get an early start with this wonderful Christmas Memory Box Idea.  And even more fun, Shelli Gardner, CEO and Founder of Stampin' Up! is going to show us, personally, how to make this wonderful box in a special video.  Here's a preview from Shelli showing you even more details of this sparkly, Christmas Memories kit.

And, before signing off, here's a sneak peak at a few of the cards from a new, fast, easy-cards class I'm hosting in August 28.  Be sure you're signed up to receive updates to my bog (sign up in the right hand column) and watch for registration to open soon. 

We will make over 20 cards using one stamp pad color, one stamp set, and a package of the Big Top Birthday self-adhesive Quick Accents and still had left over materials.  Then I’ll show you how to make more fast-easy cards using your acrylic blocks and your stamp sets.

Also, don't forget to sign up for my fun, Post-Convention Open House, Aug 7. 

Enjoy!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Current Promotions

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24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website

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*Full Size Starter Kit or My Digital Studio Digital Starter Kits are also available. There are three Starter Kit options

• The $175 Standard Starter Kit contains over $310 worth of stamping and business supplies!
• The $175 Digital + Starter Kit contains over $320 worth of stamping and business supplies, including the all-new My Digital Studio software.
• The $99 Starter Kit contains over $185 worth of stamping and business supplies.

Berry Blossoms Love

I fell in love with this display of the Berry Blossoms suite during the Stampin' Up! Convention in mid-July.

I knew I was going straight home and build a class around the fun projects I saw at Convention.  I especially loved these little paper strawberries.

Here's what I've been working on this week end. 

This little basket holds eight 3 X 3 cards and uses the Two Tags Bigz Die to the two sides of the basket.  Of course I had to make the paper strawberries too. 

I'm going to include one of these two cards in the class.

These cards use:

Stamps:  Fruit & Flowers, Family Reunion
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Paper:  Berry Blossoms, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack - In Color 2011-2013
Accessories:  Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" and 1-1/2" Circle Punches, Boho Blossoms punch, Old Olive Brads, Itty Bitty Shapers Punch Pack

Then we will make 8 of the 3 X 3 cards. These little cards seemed to make themselves!!  The designs work so well together that it was barely necessary to add more accessories to these small cards.  I made a couple with additional embellishments, but I like the small plain cards with just a sentiment equally well.

Of course, I want to make one of the many matching flowers from Convention displays as well.

That's the class so far.  I have a couple more cards to add and then I'm done.

If you are from the Houston area and would like to register for this class, visit my registration site and select Aug 14th from the calendar to register for the class.

Reminder:  Last week to Join Stampin' Up! for $99 and get a FREE Christmas Box Kit to make in August.  More details here.  

Enjoy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator
Current Promotions
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Stampin' Up! Convention News - Day 3

Saturday was final day of the 2011 Stampin' Up! Convention.  As usually, it didn't disappoint.    This year's, Day 3 -- the final general session--which lasted 3 hours, was filled with fun, facts and powerful emotions.  I'm truly amazed when I hear the Stampin' Up! executives talk about what's next for Stampin' Up! and how the organization plans to keep the values that have made it such a joy, every day, to be part of something that brings so much fun, beauty and love into our daily lives.  I love how much I grow from the demonstrations and classes during convention. What a sense of achievement looking back over the body of work I've created since I first started Stampin' Up!

I wanted to share some of the swaps I made for Convention and some that I received.  These are great ideas to use as staring points for your own creations.

This was the swap card for Sherri Robinson's Firday night swap.  It uses all five of the new In Colors and the new Ruffled Ribbons introduced in the new catalog.  Click any photo for a larger image.

Stamps:  Perfect Punches (Sentiment), Tiny Teacup
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeadek Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party
Paper:  calypso coral, Island Indigo,m Lucky Limage, pool part, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Accessories:  Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon, Top Note Die Cut, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Scallop Punch.

This is another swap I made for Convention in very limited quantities.  Note to self:  Next year wait until I get to the hotel before attaching anything dimensional to a card.  The flight flattened most of the flowers on this card.

I also wanted to share a few of the swaps I received at Staturday night's swap.  I think the quality of swaps have improved in recent years making it easier than ever to return from Convention with a wealth of ideas to share in upcoming workshops and classes.

I love the new Petite Pennants Builder punch (#122361) and the new Pennant Parade (#122742) stamp set in the new catalog.

This card uses the new Faith in Nature Hostess Stamp Set (122492).  It is stamped in Black Stazon on the back side of a clear window sheet, then inked and glittered on the backside of the clear window sheet and pressed with your fingers while still wet, which causes the colors to run, creating the colored image.   I'll post more Convention photos and swap samples over the next couple of weeks.

I returned from Convention exhausted but happy from all of the day and evening activities, blisters from so much walking, and overflowing suitcases from all the free stamps, make and takes, Village of Cuteness projects and merchandise from Memento Mall. 

On the final day we were given another free stamp set for attending classes.  I’ll show you the set later this week.  It’s called Workshop Words and includes stamps that say:  “Come stamp with me”, “Thanks for your order”, “Bring a Friend”, “ I love being your Stampin’ Up! demonstrator”, “Thank you for being such a great hostess”, and Welcome to our Stampin’ Up! family”. I can't find it in any of the catalogs, so it might be exclusive to Convention attendees only.   And then during the final session we received another free set from the upcoming Holiday Mini –the Warmest of Wishes hostess set --and also the Noteworthy Digital Content CD for My Digital Studio Software.  I can’t wait to share more about what’s on this CD in the next few days.

Enjoy all of the new ideas, and let me know if you have any questions!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator
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Stampin' Up! Convention News - Day 2

Day 2 at Convention was very different than in years past.  And I liked the changes!  Instead of starting with everyone together in general sessions in the main ballroom, we began the day with breakout sessions.  I also did make and takes Friday morning.  Stampin' Up! usually has four or five make and takes at convention using the Free Stamp Sets that come in your convention bags.  They supply everything; right down to the snail adhesive and scissors.  This year's projects were fabulous.  They also had display boards filled with more card ideas and three dimensional projects using our free convention stamps.  I'm having trouble uploading at the hotel so I'll show you more photos once I'm home.

Then, after a looong break for lunch--also something new this year--the afternoon was all general session.  The longer lunch breaks gave us more time to shop Memento Mall, see live demos of new products, including demos from the new Holiday Mini catalog, swap, and photograph the display boards.  The new catalogs will be available to customers Sept 1 and available for demo pre-orders August 1.  I think it's my favorite Stampin' Up! mini ever!  If you have purchased from me previously, you are already on my mailing list for a Holiday Mini as soon as they are released.  Contact me here and add your mailing address to the Comments sections to request a copy of the Holiday min catalog.

The main stage demonstrations provided demonstrators with great ideas for monthly hostess gifts, demonstrations of easy-to-do projects, and "Wow" projects covering themes for the next several months. Stampin' Up! makes it so easy to be a demonstrator! The stage demonstrations have been so fun this year.  This year, each demonstrator brought a Plus one (+one) on stage to help with demos;  daughters, the head of IT, etc.  It added a different perspective to the presentations, and showed you how to tailor workshops to the needs of these different audiences. 

For the first time ever Stampin' Up! also included more projects in the evenings.  Friday evening I took a workshop where we made this cute village cottages.   Click on any photo to see it larger. 

For more photos from Convention, check out the  Stampin’ Up! Facebook Convention reports on Facebook


We'll I'm off for final day of Convention this morning. And a shoe box swap tonight after Convention ends, so it's going to be another busy day. Look for copies of my swap cards tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator
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Stampin' Up! Convention News - Day 1

Stampin’ Up! Day 1 (Thursday) Convention doors opened with the entire Stampin’ Up! Company forming a greeting line as we entered the convention.  Wow!  What company do you know that stops their company’s day-to-day business to visit with its sales force and customers – that’s what we demonstrators are – as well as their best customers.

Demonstrators arrive up to an hour early to be there when the doors open.  Then the fun begins.  Dancing in the aisles, swapping,  finding old friends from conventions past and catching up,-- until they dim the lights and we’re ready to start.  This year, the kick off was a drummer/ dance/acrobatic group with a new Stampin’ Up! theme song around “Grow” followed by Shelli Gardner, Founder and CEO of Stampin’ Up.

The stage held the coolest backgrounds this year.  When we walked in  the sets were one colors.  Throughout the presentations, the flower designs on the set moved and before the formal presentations began, the  colors changes.  The position of the flower images and the colors continued to change throughout the event!  (Can you tell?  I’m an old events manager and little things like that impress me.)

We saw the new Holiday mini catalog just before lunch.  I can’t show you the catalog until September 1, but I can show you some of the fun samples from the catalog in August.  Hint:  One of the new products in the Holiday mini will help you make these wonderful flowers in the photo above.

I started writing my Holiday Mini Wish list since Demonstrators can preorder  merchandise from the Holiday Mini August 1.  But I gave up after 10 catalog pages and decided it would be easier to write a list of what I didn’t want;  it will be very short.

If you’re a stamper or a scrap booker who plans to make fall and winter holiday cards and scrapbook pages, you’ll want to consider signing up as a demonstrator this month to take advantage of the 20% discount on all your orders, with 30% off your first order.   The timing is perfect.  August 1 you can you place a 30% off order for both new catalog merchandise on your Wish List as well as the Holiday Mini merchandise that only demonstrators can order early.  Everyone else waits until September.  Read about the US $99 demonstrator sign up promotion going on until the end of July.  Get US$185 worth of products and supplies and a free $40 Christmas Keepsake kit to make.  Only a couple more weeks to take advantage of this promotion!

We’re seeing tons of new samples.   Stampin’ Up! is showing us how to use the has kits in the catalog that are easy and fast for beginners without a lot of supplies, all the way to Wow, Wow, Wow showpiece projects for the experienced stamper with plenty of supplies  who wants to show her creativity, to the “I-don’t-have-time”, the “I-can’t-afford-it” to the “ I-don’t-have-space” stampers who wants a few embellishments, one stamp pad and one stamp set to make a lot of cards fast.   

We’ll I’m off to Day 2 of Convention.  Today I’m doing the make-and-takes – always the highlight of the convention.  Check for make-and-take photos tomorrow.

  

Donna Ross

Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Current Promotions
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24/7 Shopping at my Stampin' Up! Website
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