Tea Bag Holder Card

I thought I'd quickly share a recent project. This one has been simplified a bit because I'm presenting it to kids as a possibility to make:

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. All materials from Stampin' Up!--except for the tea. ;)

I got the basic instructions from this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj2Ryw6o9VI and even managed to find her blog: http://iwannabuildamemory.blogspot.ca/2011/09/tea-bag-holder-card-tutorial-for-kraft.html I was going to make it with Christmas paper, but I figured for just a base idea, I would use something else that I could still potentially add more to and give away.

Never, Ever

Never, ever be without a Versamark refill!!!!

My Versamark pad has been drying up. I meant to get an ink refiller, but forgot and now it's too late at this point to get a refill since I need it immediately.

So, I went to a craft store. I won't name names. I paid, omg, I paid $13.49. I knew this was more expensive than through Stampin' Up! but not how much. But I needed it now.

Turns out, it's only $9.95 in the current catalogue. And demonstrators get an additional discount. And the refill is only $5.25.

That reminds me that I also don't have a Real Red refiller and my pad has essentially dried up. I have some other favourite colours that I don't have refillers for. Guess I know what will be on my next order?

Ornamental Elegance Kit!

You know that gorgeous decoration in the Holiday Catalogue?

You can now buy the kit to make it!

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=132832

But you have to act quickly! Stampin' Up! is recommending that Canadian orders be placed by December 5 to ensure delivery before Christmas. Email me if you want to order!

The Extravaganza is Coming!

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=1197

The Extravaganza is here starting Monday, November 19! I don't have a demonstrator website, so if you would like something or you have questions, please e-mail me. :) You can check out a pdf of the sale items here! (A French version is also available here. Et oui, vous êtes bienvenus à me contacter en français!)


All kinds of products will be on sale from 20%-50% off. Certain deals are only good Monday and others only good on Wednesday. Check out the pdf for more details!

Wowzers, What a Deal!!

Stampin' Up! has announced a new promotion:

(The following is partially copied and pasted from the Stampin' Up! website:)
From 1 November through 16 December, host a minimum $575 Stampin’ Up! party and get a FREE collection of ink pads*—a $64.95 value—in addition to our other fantastic benefits!

Your Party Sales**	Free Ink Collection	Hostess Dollars	Items at 50%
$575	Yes!	$90	1 item
$650	Yes!	$110	2 items
$900	Yes!	$150	3 items
$1,150	Yes!	$190	4 items

Contact me today to take advantage of this INK-redible offer.

Don't have time to host a party this month? That's okay! You can place a $575 order (you can collect orders from friends--it doesn't have to be all yours!) through me and still earn a FREE collection of ink! Here are the collections you can choose from:

• 132652 Brights Classic Stampin' Pads
• 132653 Subtles Classic Stampin' Pads
• 132654 Regals Classic Stampin' Pads

(End of modified copy and paste)

There is another way you can earn that free stamp pad collection: by becoming a demonstrator! It is only $125 to become a demonstrator in Canada--and with that $125 order, you get to choose $155 worth of products and they throw in $70 worth of business things, if you decide to do the business. The benefits of becoming a demonstrator are that you get to have at least 20% off EVERYTHING you order! With the Ink-Redible! deal going on, you will actually get over $200 worth of Stampin' Up! products you can play with for only $125. If this sounds interesting to you and you are in Canada, email me! :)

Just Getting Started?

I actually have another post that has been in the works for over a month, but the images I wanted to add to it are being uncooperative (okay, that means I'm having difficulty with my photo editing programs because I haven't used them enough). It will eventually get posted.

In the meantime, I have been asked by a friend what would be some materials to just get started in stamping. I thought that would make a really great blog post, so here I am.

The absolute basics would be:

• Whisper White card stock #100703 - $9.25 for 40 sheets--this paper works so well with Stampin' Up! inks and gives a much clearer image than other card stocks I've tried
  
• Coloured card stock: A multi-pack of some sort that comes with 2 of each colour in the collection. These cost $8.25. If you get the Getting Started pack, you get an extra 2 colours and sheets of paper--for the same price.
  
• Ink: my recommendation if you don't have specific colour ideas, try the Getting Started Stampin' Spots collection #119979 $26.95.
  
• A stamp set of your choice
  
• Adhesive: The SNAIL is my favourite (#104322 $9.75; refills available at a reduced price)

  All images copyright Stampin' Up!



A nice touch would be to add envelopes and an embellishment of some sort: pearls or rhinestones or ribbon... Something to add that extra something special. :)


Of course, if there is a particular product you have tried or maybe seen a video, and you really want it, that would be a good one to add on!

So, it's pretty simple. The hard part will be picking the stamp set. ;)

More projects to share

The following is made with some retired products, so... If you have the stuff, here's an idea! :D If you don't, you can still take the same basic principle and create a card with the same type of layout.

You can't tell very well in the picture, but I did some distressing of the base brown paper with my nail. The two papers below that are a single sheet that was ripped and one side was flipped. (I love how the Stampin' Up paper has the complementary sides!)

This is another with retired stamps and paper. I followed somebody else's card, but it's been a while since I made this, so I don't remember how I found it and can't give proper credit! Again, though, you can take your papers and available stamps and do a similar layout:

Another card with the same same stamp:

You can't really tell, but I used Crystal Effects on the flower to make it pop out more. (I always love people's reactions to that! "How'd you do that??" :D )

All right, enough for now. More to come later!