Black Magic

This cool project is a result of an assignment from my "Boot Camp". I've wanted to try this technique but didn't because it was too daunting...or so I thought!

I tried to find the newsletter that had the instructions but I couldn't find it so I went on memory from when I read them months ago. It was SO easy I can't believe I didn't try it immediately!!

Now it's time for you to try it out...

1. Stamp your image using Whisper White or Very Vanilla Craft ink on dark cardstock.

2. Allow the ink to dry.

3. Use your Watercolor Pencils to color your image (coloring over the White or Vanilla ink).

4. Punch out, cut out or otherwise adhere to your project.

5. You're done - that's all there is to it!

{Supplies}
Stamps: Batty for You
Ink: Whisper White Craft pad
Paper: Basic Black, Only Orange, Green Galore, Eggplant Envy
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Black Hemp Twine

50 Reasons to Be A Demo

Oh my word y'all! I was checking out a fellow demos blog yesterday and found the best song ever!! I immediately e-mailed her and asked for permission to post it to my blog and she has graciously given me permission! Her name is Kathleen and you can see her blog here.

Music is a big part of her life and she often "hears" songs when someone tells her something. Well, she said that someone was talking about all the great reasons to become a demonstrator and Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" popped into her mind. LOL! When you read what she came up with, be sure to read it in his melody to get the full oomph of it. ;c) Check out her creative song....

You love to stamp and scrap and let your muse go free
The answer's easy -- it's an opportunity
I'd like to help you in your creativity
There must be fifty reasons to be a demo

Just slip out the ink, Pink,
Make a new page, Sage
No need to be coy, Joy,
Just listen to me
Say "yes ma'am," Pam,
No need to discuss much
Just give it a whirl, girl,
And get yourself free.

She said it grieves me so I can't explain the pain
I need new ink and stamps and paper with a grain
I said just stamp and scrap -- it's easy, don't you see?
There must be fifty reasons to be a demo.

Make a new choice, Joyce,
Stock your paper bin, Lynn,
Try some new hues, Sue,
It's a really low fee
CASE a new scheme, Breen,
A Big Shot is waiting for you
Just give it a whirl, girl,
And get yourself free.

She said, why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
I said, in the morning you'll begin to see the light
She signed up 'cuz she realized I was so right
There must be fifty reasons to be a demo.

Take a good look, Brooke,
It's all the rage, Paige,
Scrapbook a day, Kay,
Be all you can be,
Sparkle and gleam, Jean,
Embossing is so much fun,
Just give it a whirl, girl,
And set yourself free.

After that VERY creative song, she listed 50 reasons and I couldn't agree more!! After reading her song and these reasons, contact me & we'll talk about signing you up as part of my team! You won't want to miss these opportunities!

Free stamps
Independent Contractor status
Unlimited Income Potential
Ability to invest in your own business
Tax Advantages
Trip Incentives
Fun
Friends
Personal Growth
Self Esteem
Confidence
Minimal Investment
Regional Trainings
National Convention
Leadership Training
Direct Deposit
Online Ordering
Company Website
Monthly Training Publication
Swaps
Contests
New Product quarterly
Rapidly Growing Company
Variety of Sales Options
Commission on Personal purchases
Credit for Personal Purchases toward incentives
Commissions – 12 Step, 5 level overrides
Override commission starts with first recruit
Awards
Customer Incentives from SU!
Low quarterly Minimum
Flexibility
Hobby Demonstrators welcome
Big Shot Die Cut / exclusive dies
Home Décor products
Automatic Promotions
Semi-Annual new catalog
No Inventory
Stampin’ Start Program
24/7 order access
Access to the website with samples and pattern library
Live Demo support 8 hours each weekday
20% instant income on all personal or customers orders
FREE Great Rewards!
20% hostess rewards on top of your 20% instant income
Camaraderie of fellow demos
Tons of inspiration and creative ideas
Demo only workshops and chat groups
Company responsive to demonstrators' needs
Business adjusts to your schedule

A Special SU! Song!

Remember my post about the group that performed at Convention this year - Tonic Sol-fa? Well, they preformed a song just for us at Convention and there was no way it was going to be on one of their CDs for me to share and I hated that! Enter YouTube! :cD One of my fellow demonstrators recorded their special performance and put it on YouTube so I can now share it with you! Woo-hoo! These guys are so talented (and cute!) I think they could sing the phone book and it would be enjoyable! ;c)

Here is the link to the personalized Stampin' Up! song by Tonic Sol-fa for your viewing pleasure. In case you missed the previous post with a link to their MySpace page where you can hear "normal" songs, click here.

Donny's Card

Today is my nephew's 1st baseball game and I can't be there! :c( I quickly created this card for him wishing him luck today & telling him to be sure to call me and tell me all about his game! :c) I will be in Commerce at Trevor's football game so hopefully Donny will call while I'm there so I can tell Trevor how his little cousin did in his first baseball game!

{Supplies}

Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Sporting Goods (retired)

Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Ink: Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Basic Brown Classic Pads, Real Red, Going Grey & Creamy Caramel markers, VersaMark Pad

Accessories: Dimensionals, Pearlescent Powder (retired)

A challenge

As part of the Late Night Stampers group, the Design Team presents challenges to us each week. This week's challenge was to create a 1, 2, 3 card. The requirements for Challenge # 1 were:

You must use only ONE stamp set TWO kinds of Embellishments (ribbon, brads, hodgepodge, buttons, etc...) THREE Colors (any of SU! Colors & Basic Black & Whisper White each count as one color... so if you use them you can only use 1 more color!!!) and UNLIMITED punches!!!!

This is the card I came up with. It was actually one of the Stamp-a-Stack cards we did but I added the Pretties Pearls to it so that it would fit into the challenge. What do you think - did it fit the challenge?

{Supplies}
Stamps: To You and Yours
Paper: Night of Navy, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Night of Navy & Real Red markers, Close to Cocoa Classic Pad
Embellishments: 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Pretties Pearls
Punches: Scallop Edge

5-Petal Flower Baby Card

I made a baby card for a friend but I didn't want to post it before I gave it to her. I visited her today after not being able to attend her baby shower on Sunday due to something I ate the previous night not agreeing with me (I was really afraid I had caught a bug and did NOT want to give it to her!). She liked the card so much that she wants to do it at her workshop next Sunday! That means I'll be coming up with a couple different versions - woo-hoo, more playing with my stamps!

I did NOT come up with this, I got the idea from Dannie's blog. As soon as I saw this tutorial I knew I had to do it for Cindy's baby shower card! I hope you like it as much as I did - it was super easy to do! If you would like to have your friends over and create a card like this let me know and we'll book your workshop just like Cindy did! :c)

Fun stuff!

Most of you know that I am participating in a Boot Camp with one of the top demonstrators with Stampin' Up! This was our first week and one of the tasks was to find a project in the catalog and copy the layout but change the colors and stamp set. I started looking through the catalog to pick out a card and didn't get too far into the catalog when I found my sample! :c) Take a look at my card above and then look at page 19. What do you think? I really like what I came up with (the colors & stamp set - Inspired by Nature). Now no one has an excuse to say, "I'm not creative." Why? Because all you have to do is exactly what I did above....or just copy the project exactly as you see it until you're more comfortable with changing things around! :c)

Happy 60th birthday to my dad!

Today is my dad's birthday! He turns 60 today and was just a "baby" at only 21 when I was born. ;c) For this momentous occasion I decided to try a gift card slider card that I saw on another blog. My dad is a craftsman - can't do anything half-way or use any shortcuts! When he builds something, he goes all the way. Why? Because that's what he's lived all his life...he had his own framing crew at 15 years old! This man was building houses and he had people working for him at 15!! He "retired" this year but that just means he's not working for anyone....he's doing work for himself, working around their house. Basically he's still working, he's just not getting paid for it because it's work for him & my mom. LOL! What I wonder is how long will this last - he just can't not work! Now you know why I used the retired set Power Up. ;c)

Closed card

Open card

Stamp-a-Stack cards

I'm really excited about these cards because they are so simple but look like you spent forever on them! I put them to the ultimate test to see how others would feel about them....I asked my husband what he thought about them! His response? "These are really good, Honey! I like them all but this one has got to be my favorite." Which one is his favorite? Come to Saturday's class and I'll tell you. ;c)

These are the cards we'll be creating at this Saturday's Stamp-a-Stack. All Christmas so you'll get a head start on them before the Holiday rush! :c)

You'll create 3 of each design for a total of 15 cards (and envelopes!) for only $15! All your supplies will be provided except adhesive. If you're planning on attending this class, please let me know by Friday (9/12/08) so I'll have your supplies prepared and ready for you.

Online Ordering is here!

Woo-hoo!! It's now live and you can place orders via my website now! :c)

1. To place an order just click the "Shop Now" button in the upper right corner of my website and it will open another window where you can shop.
2. When you get to this page, click on "Customer Login" at the top of the page (below my contact information) and create your account. You will only have to create the account one time. Each time you shop after this you will only have to log in.
3. Click on any section in the left-hand margin where you would like to shop (stamps, ink, paper, etc.) or click on the pictures under the animated pictures.
4. Add your items to your bag and click "Check Out" when you're done.
   Follow the easy directions to check out and you're done!

I will receive an e-mail letting me know that you've placed an order so I can follow up with you. Just be sure you shop from my website and not the "corporate" site so that you can get Hostess Benefits with any order that is $150 or more. The shipping costs will also be less if you shop from my website instead of directly through Stampin' Up!