Stampin' Up! has announced that the stamp sets on the current dormant list will be retired Jan 5th. That means you need to act NOW if any of them are on your wish list. Go to my online store to place your order before they are no longer available. I have listed them below for your convenience. Blessings, Sue

Yes, I am waaayyy behind. This sketch was posted two weeks ago. I actually had a version of this card made that weekend but a layer was crooked and I certainly couldn't post on the world wide web a card with a crooked layer!!! LOL! I finally got an improved version of this sketch finished last weekend. Here is the sketch:   

And here is my version: 

I embossed the Shimmery White cardstock with Stampin' Up!'s Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder. To keep the center of the oval from being embossed, I cut an oval out from a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" piece of chipboard. I put this under the embossing folder. The sandwich for running this through the Sizzix Big Shot is Multipurpose Platform with all tabs down, chipboard, embossing folder with cardstock inside, and only one cutting platform. I got this technique from a friend on Utah Divas International Yahoo group but can't remember which one. Sorry. After embossing the shimmery cardstock, I inked the oval stamp with markers and stamped inside the oval. Then I stamped the horse-drawn sleigh with Basic Black ink. I love the results of the embossing and plain oval. To order the supplies needed for this card, visit my online store here.

Stamp Set: Yuletide Christmas

Cardstock: Shimmery White, Real Red, Handsome Hunter

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Stampin' Up! Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, Real Red dotted grograin ribbon, markers, Sizzix Big Shot.

I had time yesterday to play along with the Stamping 411 operators but am just now getting time to post my card. I wanted to use this wonderful Thanksgiving verse that is part of the Grateful Greetings stamp set in the Stampin' Up! Holiday mini catalog. I cut out Handsome Hunter and Whisper White cardstock using the Top Note die and then ran them through a second time positioning the top note so it was cut in about thirds. I then removed the outer part on the white note and distressed the edges using Stampin' Up!'s distressing tool. I stamped the verse on the white label with Chocolate Chip ink then layered the white on the Handsome Hunter piece. For the big leaf I ran a piece of Ruby Red cardstock through the Big Shot using one of the plates from the Texturz Plate Kit #4. Then I cut it out using the Leaves #2 die. The smaller leaves are parts of the Sweetest Stem Embosslit. All these parts were adhered to a base card of Soft Suede. An overhand knot of Dusty Durange Dotted grosgrain ribbon and highlights of Champagne Shimmer paint finish off the card. Thanks for the cool challenge, operators. Thanks to my visitors for coming to see me on my blog. Sue

The challenge sketch

 
My card: 

Stamp Set: Grateful Greetings

Card Stock: Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Old Olive

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Other: Sweetest Stem Embosslet, Sizzix Texturz Plate Kit #4, Leaves #2 Sizzix die, Dusty Durange Dotted grosgrain ribbon, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

Stamping 411 is a blog started by some of my Stampin' Up! demo friends that focuses on teaching techniques and stamping for the beginner stamper. Every Saturday the operators at Stamping 411 post a sketch challenge. Here is the sketch:

Here is my card. When I mounted the Patterned Pines stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalog, I cut the pines apart, cut the wood block so that two of the pines fit nicely on the blocks and used an unused block I had on hand for the third pine tree. I stamped one of the trees on a piece of Christmas cocoa designer series paper with craft white ink and cut it out. I used my 1 3/4" circle punch to cut out a Real Red circle and mounted the tree on that. I used a piece of soft suede polka-dotted ribbon with the plain side out. The rest of the card is fairly self-explanatory. Thanks, operators, for this fun sketch.

Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines (Holiday Mini catalog hostess Level 1), Season of Joy

Inks: Real Red and craft White

Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White

Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper

Other: Soft Suede ribbon

Whoohoo! I have been published in the Oct/Nov 2009 issue of Stampers' Sampler by Stampington. I am always surprised and excited when one of my cards is chosen. This card used the Glitter Stripes technique from the April/May 2009 Technique Junkies Newsletter.

Stamps: Solemn Stillness (retired)

Inks: Versamark, Always Artichoke

Card Stock: Mellow Moss, Brushed Gold, polarized white

Other: gold embossing powder, Star-Studded wheel (retired), mellow moss taffeta ribbon

The Utah Divas International Yahoo group has a Stamping 411 blog filled with helpful hints and instruction for beginning…and more experienced…stampers. Each Saturday the Stamping 411 operators issue a challenge. Here is the card template

And here is my version of the card. I used the Stampin' Up! Level 2 Hostess set Asian Artistry and colored the rubber with my Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Then I lightly misted the rubber and stamped the image on watercolor paper. The dragonfly is embossed with the retired Classy Copper embossing powder. The first time I stamped the greeting, it was crooked so I stamped it a second time on Certainly Celery and layered it over the boo boo. It seems that the 'fix' always turns out better than what I originally planned…LOL! Unfortunately, the scanner had troubles scanning the card. Thanks for visiting my site and come back again. I promise to post more often!

Stamp set: Asian Artistry, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla

Inks: Versamark, Always Artichoke

Other: Watercolor paper, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Copper embossing powder

I want to welcome Deborah David to my Stampin' Up! demo team. She took advantage of the recent mini demonstrator kit special to start her own business. Deborah joins over 1,200 new recruits that joined Stampin' Up! the last three weeks of August. I look forward to working with Deborah for many years to come. Although there is no special for recruits at the current time, it is still a perfect time to start your own business and earn that extra money you might need for a car payment or for Christmas and even have fun while you are working. Contact me for details.

Sue

Stampin' Up! has challenged us demos to recruit 3000 new demos by the end of the month. The prize for  the challenge is a free copy of My Digital Studio to the demonstrators who have been to convention. If we recruit just 1500 new demos by the end of August, we will be able to purchase one copy for 50% off. So……with the August special of the mini demo kit for only $85….what are you waiting for. Contact me for the needed information to sign up with my team. You can even sign up online. What do you get as a demo? You get a 20% instant income for any purchases of product you place. You get the wonderful support of me and the wonderful people at Stampin' Up! You get the chance to determine the level of business you want to develop and how much money you want to earn. You get to set your schedule to fit with your family and any other obligations you may have. And most importantly, you get to have FUN while you work. What more can you ask for? Click here!
Blessings,
Sue

A second stamp set I pre-ordered from the new Stampin' Up! catalog is Animal Stories and its coordinating Tall Tales designer series paper. This card is going to be one of my convention swap cards. I wanted the Tall Tales paper to go as far as possible so I cut three different width strips of one of the stripe prints. The darling giraffe image has spots along his back. I punched these spots out with the paper piercing tool so the So Saffron cardstock would show through the spots. This technique is called Heavenly Holes and can be found in the current Technique Junkies Newsletter. The eyelet border punched along the side softens the lines of the card and a Certainly Celery grograin ribbon is just the right finishing touch. You can order this stamp set and coordinating paper at my online store beginning July 1.

Stamp Sets: Animal Stories, Short and Sweet

Card Stock: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip

Tall Tales Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark, Old Olive

Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon, Paper Piercer

The reveal of the new catalog is coming soon! Here is a card I made showcasing the Hostess Level 3 Lovely Flowers bundle. There are several ways you can earn this free hostess offer. First, you can host a workshop where the total of products purchased is $500 or greater. Don't live near Craig, Alaska? Host a catalog workshop. You still get the hostess benefits. Two, you can purchase $500 yourself. With all the wonderful products in our new catalog, you can easily order $500! Three…join my team of demonstrators and teach your own workshop. The starter kit is a great bargain. You get over $350 worth of product for only $199 and you get 20% instant income on your orders for products. Click here for more information or to schedule a workshop with me.

Stamp Set: Lovely Flowers (Level 3 Hostess Bundle)

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Other: Lovely Flowers DSP, Curly Label Punch, Top Note die, Rich Razzleberry polka dotted grosgrain ribbon.

What is Rich Razzleberry, you ask? It is one of the new In Colors for 2009-2010 from Stampin' Up! I needed to make a sympathy card and jumped at the chance to use this new color I have pre-ordered. You can't order it until July 1 but if you pre-order a new catalog from me for $10 which includes shipping, I will put one in the mail for you as soon as they arrive at my house. In addition, I will include a $10 coupon you can use on the first $35 or over order you place with me after July 1. You will have to email me the order to be able to redeem the coupon instead of ordering online.

Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, satin striped white from Taste of Texture specialty paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Markers: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke

Other: Polka-dot Rich Razzleberry grosgrain ribbon

My how time flies! Our older daughter and her husband are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary! It doesn't seem that long since she got married. Here is the card I made for them using the tri shutter card technique. The white cardstock with the satin stripes (from Taste of Textiles) is so elegant! I cut out the roses from the Bella Rose DSP. Both of these items are on the Last Chance list and are available as long as supply lasts or until June 30. Don't delay in visiting my online store to order these! I'd hate for you to miss out on making this elegant card.

Stamp Sets: Congrats (retired SAB set)

Paper: Bella Rose DSP, Taste of Textiles, Pirouette Pink card stock

Ink: Always Artichoke

Other: Whisper White Organza Ribbon

   I taught the Tri-Shutter Card fold to the stampers attending my workshop Friday evening. The basic fold is pretty simple to do but the emblishing can take as much time as you wish. Here is my sample card. I used Stampin' Up! Designer Series paper Afternoon Tea and the Great Friend stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Ocassions mini catalog for the butterfly. The Jumble alphabet I used to stamp 'Hello" is a sneak peek from the new catalog. The embossed flower was made using the Stampin' Up! exclusive Flower Burst Embosslit die. This designer paper, the Say It with Scallops, and possibly the Great Friend stamp set will not be available after June 30 so rush to my online store to order them so you can make this card. Click here for a great tutorial on how to make this type card.

Stamp Sets: Jumble Alphabet, Great Friend, Say It with Scallops

Paper: Afternoon Tea DSP, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Always Artichoke

Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke,Pretty in Pink

Other: Scallop Square punch, Flower Burst Embosslit, Sweetest Stem Embosslit

Stampin' Up! has released their lists of 'last chance' items. Click here for the stamp sets thate are soon to be retired. Here is the list of decor elements that are retiring. The accessories that are being retired are on sale up to as much as 50% off but they will go quickly and are available only as long as current inventory lasts. Here is the list for accessories. Order quickly in my online Stampin'Up! store so you don't miss out. The list will update as things sell out so check it before you place your order. Thanks for visiting my blog. Come back again.

I am getting so excited! Today we Stampin' Up! demonstrators get a sneak peek at some of the Hostess sets in the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog. We also get the 'Last Chance' list of retiring stamp sets and accessories. Later today I will have an active link on my sidebar to this list so check back this afternoon. Send me an email if you would like to preorder a new catalog. The price is $10 with free shipping by priority mail. I will include a coupon for $10 off your first order of $35 or more.