Stamp-A-Stack

I have two seats left for the Stamp-A-Stack on Friday evening starting at 7:00 pm and three seats open for Saturday morning at 9:30 am. If you would like to join the stampin' fun, email me at bevennis@shaw.ca to reserve a seat! We're going to be making some cards using the Big Shot - you don't want to miss it!

Happy Birthday!!

It's Stampin' Up!'s 20th birthday and we are celebrating with a special on some fun birthday stamp sets!

From October 1st through 31st, spend $20 on regular catalogue merchandise and get 20% off these selected birthday stamp sets:

A little chocolate treat

Here's a cute idea for a little chocolate Thanksgiving or Halloween treat... These packages each have an Aero chocolate bar under their cute wrapping. Aren't they fun?

To make these, you need a piece of card stock cut to 5" x 4 5/8". On the Thanksgiving one, I used Whisper White card stock and on Frankenstein, I used Kiwi Kiss. You'll score the card stock at 1 1/4", 1 3/4", 3 3/8", and 3 7/8". Then I just wrapped the card stock around the chocolate bar and ran SNAIL adhesive all the way up one side of the card stock in the back, pulled the card stock tightly around the chocolate bar and stuck it together.

For Frankenstein's hair, I used a 5" x 2" piece of Elegant Eggplant card stock. I scored the first two score lines the same as the Kiwi Kiss and then the last two score lines are just a hair further than the measurements above so that it gives enough space to wrap around the layer of Kiwi Kiss card stock. I just cut his hair randomly after scoring the card stock. The white of his eyes, his eyelids and nose are all punched with the 3/4" circle punch and the black of his eyes are with the 1/2" circle punch.

Have fun wrapping chocolate bars!!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!)

Last chance...

September 30th is the last day for the Never Seen Before special... Check out the details here. There are some great new stamp sets on sale! If you'd like to get any of these sets while they are on sale, be sure to email me by 8:00 pm on Tuesday... or you can place an order online through my website: www.bevennis.stampinup.net.

Be sure to scroll down and see two more new posts from today...

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

A fantastic day of stamping!

On Saturday, I had an all-day meeting with my downline group... 11 of us got together and stamped for 6 full hours!! You can imagine how much fun we had! Now, I'm getting some of the projects scanned and photographed so that I can share them with you...

I thought I would start today with the make and take cards that we stamped in the morning...

This first one was Alicia's creation using the level 3 hostess set called Window Dressing. Now, I have to tell you that Alicia's sample was even cuter than mine because she added some glitter on the window sill but I didn't have time to put it on. We used Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Vellum card stock along with a piece of the new Ski Slope Designer Series Paper (from the Holiday Mini Catalogue). Alicia gave us a great tip for punching out the window - we used the 3/4" square punch - you have to punch it 4 times to get the whole window punched out, but it's much easier than cutting by hand.

You can tell that the Window Dressing stamp set was popular... this card was Lucie's. There were a few steps to this card... Check out the background piece - we inked the Sanded background stamp with Real Red ink, stamped it off once and then added some Garden Green ink directly on top before stamping it down onto the Whisper White card stock. The window frame is stamped on Whisper White card stock and then there's masking... the window frame is stamped on a scrap and cut out then laid on top of the good image. This allows you to stamp the snowmen on without stamping over the window frame. Then a second mask - the snowmen - is added over the good image so you can stamp the trees in behind. We used a sponge dauber with Stampin' Pastels to add colour to the sky and trees and the rest is coloured with Stampin' Write Markers.

Sonia brought these next two cards for us to stamp and I adore this one! I had no idea how much I was going to love the Inspired by Nature stamp set (page 100)... Sonia used Sponge Daubers to add the colour to the stamp - Blush Blossom, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss. It gives the stamp such a nice, soft look - great technique to use, Sonia! The greeting comes from the level 1 hostess stamp set called Best Yet and it's punched with the Scallop Square Punch. The Designer Series Paper on this card is from the Urban Garden package. Such a beautiful card!

If I had managed to stamp the greeting straight, this card would have turned out much better! This card is simple, but it has lots of character and I'm sure it will bring a smile to many faces! We had quite a conversation about what this bear is doing - we found it funny that he is trying to look all scary yet with a big smile... hmmm! He is from the Under the Stars stamp set. The greeting comes from Fun & Fast Notes. The Designer Series Paper on this card is out of the Manchester package.

This card is from Lorraine. We used a new technique that I had never heard of... We stamped the big butterfly from Garden Whimsy with Whisper White Craft Ink onto Chocolate Chip card stock. Then we set that aside to let it dry while we finished the rest of the card. The card stock is Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip. Once the Whisper White Craft Ink was dry, we coloured on top of it with the Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Marker... Using this technique, you can stamp a solid image onto darker card stock and then make it any colour you want. Cool!

Hope you've enjoyed seeing some new cards... Keep checking back this week because I have more fun projects to share with you!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!)

Spooky Spider

Click on the flyer below to see full size...This is so cute... perfect for a Halloween Candy dish or for your windows, mirrors - any smooth surface that you'd like to decorate for Halloween!

Snow Swirled

Here's a very quick and easy Christmas card that I made using the Snow Swirled stamp set and the Big Shot. I'm really enjoying this new stamp set - and it's exciting that it is on sale right now! But only for a few more days... the sale ends at the end of this month. Be sure to check out all of the sets that are on sale here. I've also used two new colours on this card - Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze.

I've been busy this week getting ready for my downline group meeting that's coming up this Saturday. Once a year, we spend a full day stamping together! I always enjoy time with stamping friends and I am so looking forward to a whole day of stamping! And, I will have lots of new things to share with you after...

So, besides stamping, I've been busy refreshing myself on driving a standard... My first car, a Mercury Capri that I received as my 17th birthday gift, was a standard. I only drove it for a couple of years so it's been quite a few years since I've had to deal with shifting gears. Well, we just bought a beautiful new Honda Civic. We spent a few evenings in the Costco parking lot last week practicing and giggling with each other! We laughed that we could only take our new car out after 9:00 pm because we were too afraid to be in heavy traffic with it! But, I was brave over the weekend and took it out in the middle of the day... I'm doing pretty well, but I have to say that the sight of a hill still brings fear!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!)

Frankenstein...

Don't miss the post with yesterday's door prize winners below...

Isn't this a fun card? I don't take any creative credit for it... but I don't know where the credit for this idea goes because there are all sorts of versions of this guy all over the blogosphere right now. Someone was really thinking "outside the box" when they came up with this! The face is die cut using the Big Shot and the Top Note Bigz Die. I cut both the face (out of Kiwi Kiss) and the hair (out of Elegant Eggplant) at the same time - you can cut up to 5 pieces of card stock at one time! Just remember, if you are using a die that also scores, it's best to do one sheet at a time.

The rest of his face is punched with circle punches - 1" for the white of his eyes and 3/4" for the black, 1 1/4" for his eyelids and nose. Then I used a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker to draw on his mouth and scar and a White Gel Pen to add the white to his eyes. Once I had him all assembled, I finished the card by stamping "happy Halloween" using the Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp set in Whisper White.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!)

And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who came out to my Hostess Appreciation Night and the Open House! We had a lot of fun and it was so great to see you all!

Okay, I know that you are wanting to find out who won the prizes... so... (insert drum roll here)...

The stamp set winners are:

Tart & Tangy goes to Georgette
Nursery Necessities goes to Karin
Define Your Life goes to Nora

And, the grand prize which is pictured above goes to...

LARISSA!

Yes, Larissa, you read correctly! After saying that you aren't very lucky, I've managed to prove you wrong! : ) And, I found one more mug last night so it's really your lucky day!

All prizes will be delivered with your orders... unless you want to arrange to pick them up sooner!

Also, congratulations to the door prize winners from the Hostess Appreciation Night: Jamie, Kay, Debbie, and Christine who all won Stampin' Up! mugs and Jana who won the box of stamping goodies!

Congratulations and happy stampin'!

Bev.

Open House Make and Take Cards

Here are a couple of the cards that we have ready for this weekend's Open House!

This first one is much more striking in person... It uses one of the stamp sets that is on sale for only $19.51 this month - Upsy Daisy. The stamp is inked in the new Baja Breeze and then a Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker is used to touch on the darker colours on the tips of the flowers.

This fun card uses one of my favourite new stamp sets - Crazy for Cupcakes. I think it's such a cute set! And, the great news is that it will be on sale - 20% off - next month! That will make it only $23.16. We'll be celebrating Stampin' Up!'s 20th birthday in October with 7 selected stamp sets offered at 20% off with any $20 purchase. Stay tuned to find out which other great sets are available on this special.

On this card, I've used a couple of new products - the 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip and the Scallop Edge Punch. The card stock is Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. I've used Stampin' Write Markers to colour the cupcakes in - Pretty in Pink, Real Red and Creamy Caramel.

So, I hope to see you on the weekend so that you can stamp these cards and one more... Details about the Open House are posted below. Okay, I have to get back to my preparations!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!)

Online ordering is here!

Wow, I have so much to get caught up on here...

First, let me announce that you can now order Stampin' Up! products online! And, your order will ship directly from Stampin' Up! to your doorstep!

You can visit my demonstrator website here to order online 24/7. You will see a "shop now" button on the top right of the screen - this will take you into the online ordering feature. All of Stampin' Up!'s current product line will be available to order. Here's a bit more information for you to consider as this new feature launches...

You will also see that you are able to access the online ordering function through the Stampin' Up! website. However, orders placed directly through the Stampin' Up! website will be charged a premium on the catalogue merchandise price (approximately 10% higher). If you place your order through my demonstrator website, you will pay the printed catalogue prices just as you would when ordering directly through me.

Shipping charges will continue to be 10% of the merchandise total but there is a minimum charge of $9.95 on each order.

You can earn Stampin' Rewards when placing orders of $200 or more online through my demonstrator website! These rewards are detailed on page 16 of the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalogue and are the same as you would earn when hostessing a workshop. These rewards are not available if an order is placed directly through the Stampin' Up! website.

You will be able to pay by credit card through a secure online ordering system.

I hope that you will enjoy this new ordering option! Remember that I remain available to answer your questions and will continue to accept orders as I always have - at stamping events, by phone and by email.

Now, let's talk about my Open House... It's this Saturday and you don't want to miss it! I've cleaned out my stamp cupboard, and there will be LOTS of retired stamp sets available in my "rubber sale". Here are the details:

When: Saturday, September 20th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (come and go anytime)

Where: Bev's House - email if you need directions (bevennis@shaw.ca)

There will be lots going on throughout the day:

~ Loonie make and takes featuring new stamp sets and products - stamp cards for a loonie!
~ A door prize valued at over $75 plus other prizes! You'll receive one door prize draw entry for attending plus one for placing an order (orders placed in person, by email or by phone on September 20th will qualify).
~ My annual "rubber sale" - retired stamp sets and products available for purchase!
~ Lots of new samples to inspire you!

I hope to see you there!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

Where the heck...

has Bev been? I think it's safe to say that summer fever got me these last few weeks! I've just been busy, busy, busy and having fun, fun, fun!! And, I can't believe that almost a month has gone by since my last post... I had a great month - it was filled with little kids so that's the best! We did two weekends of respite care and then went to Calgary where we babysat our little nieces while their parents went off to Banff to celebrate their anniversary. We also had company and the month of August just flew by! Now, I'm coming to the end of a week's holidays and am settling into September so I'm sure I'll be back to a more regular routine soon.

So, I have to tell you that I have so many new stamping goodies to play with... problem is that right now I can't even see the top of my stamping table because it's piled high with things that need to find a home! I'm going to need to spend some time in the next few days sorting and cleaning because I have a box full of new stamps, punches and ribbons that need to be put away! Here's a picture of some of the new things I ordered from the new Idea Book & Catalogue and am looking forward to using very soon!

I also got the new Big Shot from Stampin' Up! and a few of the great new die cuts! Although I've only just played with it for the first time tonight, I can tell you that I am in love with it! It's so easy to use and I know it's going to be lots of fun! I'll have it out at my Open House on September 20th and we will be using it for sure at the next Stamp-A-Stacks on October 3rd and 4th. Can't wait to show it to you!

Well, I will be back soon... please check back!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.