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That’s right – only ONE week left to join the Stampin’ Up! family for just $99 instead of $175 including this  FREE, EXCLUSIVE, SHELLI GARDNER SIGNATURE KIT that is a $40 value… and there’s NO other way to get it!  I cannot even buy it (BooHoo).

Here’s a look at this AMAZING Kit that comes for FREE!

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

Isn’t it just adorable!?!?!? Just spend $99 to buy THIS kit (BUT – it’s CUSTOMIZABLE so YOU actually pick what goes in it – these are just suggestions!!! You can pick ANYTHING you want for equal or lesser value!):

COMPLETE KIT CONTENTS (Customizable):

*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

When you purchase kit, there are NO STRINGS ATTACHED. However, if you decide to embark on the wonderful opportunity that you can choose to take along with it, Stampin’ Up! needs ALL KINDS of Demonstrators! What kind would you consider being?

• FRIENDS & FAMILY DEMONSTRATOR:  You just want to buy all your stamping and scrapbooking supplies at a great discount and help your “friends & family” get their supplies too!  Also want access to great “demonstrator only” websites and monthly idea magazine–always tons of ideas at your fingertips! No pressure to sell to others, attend events, or communicate with anyone – you just simply order when you want to.
• GIVE IT A TRY DEMONSTRATOR:  You join Stampin’ Up! to see what it is all about – with no long-term commitment or plan.  You purchase the kit (which is a great deal all by itself,) have a couple of workshops or classes, just to see if you might like it.  If you find it’s not for you–you can become a “discount purchaser” or just say “good bye!”
• HOBBY DEMONSTRATOR:  You like the idea if doing workshops and earning extra money, but only when it’s convenient for you.  You might work a lot some months and very little, or not at all, during other months. You love to stamp and/or scrapbook and like to support your own “hobby” so that you can buy everything that you want with the money you earn!
• PART TIME DEMONSTRATOR:  You see the potential to do a little work and earn a little money on a consistent basis.  You want no pressure to ever do more than you want, but you want help and support from a “upline” who truly cares about you and your goals.  You may have specific goals in mind–pay for preschool, college tuition, car payment, new furniture, etc…
• CAREER DEMONSTRATOR:  You recognize the potential of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and want to build a business with long-term career goals.  You want to pursue management and want to move up the career ladder. You love attending Stampin’ Up! events and building relationships with other demonstrators and customers. You intend to work at your business in a consistent and outgoing manner.

As  I mentioned in an earlier post, I finally received my flower, daisy #2 die this week.  I had been wanting it all year due to seeing so many beautiful flowers on the internet made by others and finally ordered it once I saw that it would be in the new catalog.  So here is my first flower:

As this was my first attempt, I used retired Barely Banana card stock along with Basic Grey (121044) for the center.  The die (114520) has three different size flowers.  For this flower, I used 4 layers of the largest flower and four layers of the smallest flower for the center.  I also used an antique brad (117273) to finish the center.  After cutting the flowers with the Big Shot(113439), I curled the petals with my bone folder, glued the layers together with multipurpose liquid glue and secured the brad through the centers.  After assembly, I fluffed the petals a bit more with my fingers.

I like this one so much, I made another with even more layers (sorry for the blurry photo):

Again I used the Barely Banana card stock, but you can use whatever color card stock you have.  Instead of the brad for this center, I used the Boho Blossoms punch (119858) and Chocolate Chip card stock.  I used three layers of the largest flower from the die, three layers of the middle flower and three of the smallest flower with two flowers from the Boho punch in the center (the largest and smallest of that punch).  I think these flowers are just beautiful and plan to make many more in the future to decorate gift packages or put a few with stems in a jar to give as gifts themselves (think I’ll be giving teachers some “forever” flowers when school starts ).  Since you can cut several layers of card stock at one time with the Big Shot, these flowers are relatively quick to make.  The most time consuming part is the assembly, but even that is not very much.  And with such beautiful results, it is time well spent!  You have plenty of time to order  your big shot and this die to make some flowers before school starts – just click on the Click Here to Order button to the right and have everything delivered straight to your door!  Be sure to include some pretty card stock on your order, if you don’t already have some – our new In Colors would make some gorgeous flowers!

For this week’s Thank You card, I chose some bright summer colors, which is not usually my style.  But I love this flower die (it’s retired, but you could use any flower punches or die).  A perfect substitute would be the Flower, Daisies #2 die (114520) which I just received today so you will be seeing it soon!  The card base is pumpkin pie (105117), the flower layers are melon mambo (115320) and pretty in pink (111351) card stock.  Behind the flower is pacific point (111350).  The flower is held together with a clear rhinestone brad (113144) with some certainly celery 5/8″ satin ribbon (117288) tucked behind the flower to represent leaves.  The sentiment is from the Thank You Kindly stamp set (111700) using pacific point ink (111837) on whisper white (100730), punched out with the modern label (119849) punch, layered on another pacific point modern label punch.  A strip of melon mambo using the dotted scallop ribbon border punch (119275) adds a touch of texture to divide the focal image from the sentiment.  While there are many layers on this card with lots of details, it is a rather quick card to make, taking advantage of the big shot (113439) and punches.

While I LOVE stamping, I usually struggle with items for the men in my life.  I naturally gravitate toward flowers and pretty things, which my men probably do not want to see.  I almost always end up using fall colors for my masculine projects, but this time I didn’t!  Since I was giving a gift card to a restaurant that serves hamburgers, I decided to make a hamburger using SU punches.  I’ve seen numerous examples of how to make “make” a burger with punches on YouTube, but really liked the size of this one by Dawn Griffith using the Extra-Large Oval punch (119859).

It also uses the 1-3/4″ scallop circle(119854), 1-3/8″ circle (119860) and 1-1/4″ square (119865) punches.  The hamburger is attached to the front of a gift card holder created with the Top Note die (113463), idea again from Dawn Griffith.  I did put a piece of striped ribbon around the gift card holder to add some texture for the front of the card (this ribbon was on the clearance rack for a terrific price so check there often for some awesome deals!).

 But unlike Dawn’s card, I used velcro to close the gift card holder rather than a bow since this was for a man .  The word window  punch (119857) was used to make the opening for the gift card.  I’m sorry, but I did use several retired items including the Well Scripted stamp set, Creamy Caramel and Barely Banana card stock, and Cheesecloth background stamp because I have them and try to use what I have.  I encourage you all to always use whatever you have on hand prior to purchasing something new, although I would love for you to place an order!  I also recommend that you use your embellishments.  I tend to hoard (treasure is a kinder term) my ribbons and embellishments rather than use them and am trying hard to change that.  So USE what you have!

I don’t know about you, but I am always needing a thank you card.  I am blessed to have many wonderful friends and family that are always doing such kind things for me.  Anyway, I make a lot of Thank You cards!  I plan to post a Thank You Card every Tuesday, so be sure to return to my blog to see them.   I actually made several of these at the end of the school year for my kids’ teachers.  I was so happy with them, I made an extra and I think I’ll make even more.

 To create this card I used my absolute favorite tool, my Big Shot (113439).  I don’t think I make anything these days without it!  But I cannot take credit for the design.  Meg Loven did, although I modified it slightly to make it my own.  I do that a LOT.  It’s kind of like cooking a recipe – I don’t know how to create a dish from the beginning, but I use recipes from other people.  The end result is definitely my own home made meal made with my own two hands!  So I do the same with papercrafting.  I find something I like and re-create it.  The end result is my own home made creation, usually with a bit of tweaking.  But I digress . . . . for this card I used the following SU supplies:

Pink Pirouette 111351 and Melon Mambo 115320 card stock

Pink Pirouette 111838 and Melon Mambo 115656 classic ink

Fun Flowers Die 121812

Petal Cone Die 121810 (to make the heart card base! very versatile die!)

Backgrounds Texturz Plates 114512 (ink plate then run through Big Shot)

Scallop Trim Border Punch 118402

Clear Rhinestone Brads 113144

Curly Cute stamp set 117014 (wood mount) 120510 (clear mount)

The very cool thing about this card is the beautiful shape created with the Petal Cone Die.  Who knew?  This would make a great Valentine’s Day card, right?  I used the die again with regular copy paper to place on the inside for my message. Can you tell I’m really pleased with this card?  And it is much better in person – the picture does not do it justice.  And by using the Big Shot, it didn’t take long at all!  Like before, if you need directions, just leave a comment and I’ll add them.  Still trying to figure out how to use this blog, so am open to suggestions/requests.  But of course, it is still best to see me create it in person at a workshop so contact me to schedule one today!