Well Saturday was my quarterly Diva/Dude Day.  We had to modify the name as we had TWO male teammates earn the title this time.  It was so much fun and everyone was so excited for both of them.  Diva/Dude Day was a concept that my friend Patsy Waggoner shared with me a few years ago and she shared at leadership this year. She was an amazing presenter!

My top 10 in sales and anyone that recruits for the quarter is invited to a very special stamping day.  I do all the preparation and they come and enjoy and stamp and eat!   Oh how we laughed!  So this is how it played out…

 My daughter Kate got up in the morning and started prepping the food.

 mmmmmmmm we had mini pies filled with cherries and some filled with apples.

 found this on Pinterest – the dip is in the bottom and the veges are all in individual cups (so much easier).

 Here is one of three tables filled with food.

The tables were set and ready for them to come. 

 Everyone had our new Twitterpated Fabric and Twitterpated Designer Series Paper and Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon and Twitterpated Buttons and Maze Game pieces and more.

 Here's Dude Chris along with Val and MaryMargaret.

 They were all sewing and NO ONE was whining about it!  Believe it or not, they were all having FUN!

 More sewers.

more fun

more food! 

 Here is one of the cards I created for them to complete.

Supplies used:

Stamps: Fresh Vintage Stamp Set #125115 Wood Mount or 125117 Clear Mount FREE WITH A $50 order (click here to place an online order)

CS:  Basic Gret Cardstock; Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, Blushing Bride Cardstock; Whisper White Cardstock, Vellum Paper

Ink:  Basic Grey

Accessories:  Labels Framelits (from the Occasions Mini Catalog); Twitterpated Buttons; Basic Grey Satin Ribbon for the Fork Bow; Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

 Here is a side view. 

Hope you enjoyed what I shared.  Have a great day. oh oh oh…I almost forgot…

YEAH NEW YORK GIANTS!!!!

Okay so what was YOUR favorite Super Bowl commercial?  Mine was the M & M commercial when the one M & M took off his shell does that mean he was naked?!  :0)  He was so cute.

Just a little more with food… 

In another part of my presentation, I used Sugar Sheets with punches and my Big Shot. 

Sugar Sheets come in a lot of different colors.

Here they are ready to be run through the Big Shot.

ahhhhhhhh here they go!!!!

And here they are all cut out!

Ready to paper pierced….

paper piercing them…

Add one of our new Jelly Bean Brads from the Occasions Mini Catalog (part of the Sweet Shop Product Suite) and you now have an EDIBLE pin (DON'T eat the brad)!!!

These sugar sheets can also be used with our punches.  Yes I said you can punch them out as I did in my presentation.  So for all you that love PUNCH ART for your cards…you can now do it on cakes and cupcakes!!!!  How cool is that?!  I have a video that I will be posting soon on this technique.  :0)

Hope you enjoyed my post. 

I'm so excited, my friend had her last chemo treatment this week  -  YEAH Margaret!!!!  She's gone through a lot.  I sent off a box of supplies to her so she can do here clubs this month.  The box had all the supplies for fifty people to do two different cards.  One of the cards I designed and cut for her is below.  I used the new Hearts Collection Framelits Dies and the coordinating stamp set called Take It To Heart.  I thought it was very appropriate! 

Here is what the card looks like along with the framelit set.  I also used the new Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies.

Supplies used:

Stamp Set:  Take it to Heart; Loving Thoughts

Cardstock:  Pool Party, Island Indigo and Very Vanilla

Ink:  Island Indigo

Accessories:  Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits Die, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Pool Party Seam Binding, Dimensionals

Thank you for stopping by,  I hope you enjoyed my post.  I will continue to pray for my friend and hope this helps her just a little!

So have you seen the new Occasions Mini Catalog?  I just love the Mini Catalog program.  I was so ready to be over the Holidays and all the trimmings and now I'm onto beautiful cards and snowmen!  :0)  I love my snowmen. 

So here is another tip I have for you…it has to do with the new Edgelits Adorning Accents Dies.  These very thin and very fragile metal dies are the exact same width as our Standard Cutting Pads which makes it a little tricky when running them through the Big Shot.  BUT NOT TO WORRY…I have the solution for you.

Here is what the die looks like – the very thin silver piece. The die is #125595 and can be found on page 7 of the Occasions Mini Catalog. 

If you lay these on your cutting pads, they are very likely to move so I'm going to suggest this tip.  Purchase two extra sets of the Standard Cutting Pads #113475 that will be dedicated to ONLY these two dies.  It is going to save you LOTS of time and and you won't get frustrated with them but even more important, you won't end up BENDING them. 

1.  Take one of the dies and put a row of sticky strip on the "flat" side of the die.  Line it up and stick it to the bottom of one of the new cutting pads.  It is now permanently adhered to this pad.  The side with the "edge" or cutter is now sticking up.  That one is done.

2.  Do the same thing to this one.  Now you've used two of your cutting pads.  These are permanently adhered to these two pads.

3.  This is pad # 3.   What you are going to do with this one is add a piece of our grid paper to the back.  I cut a piece of grid paper the size of the clear pad (make sure you have it EVEN on both sides – meaning the lines are the same on one side as the other).  This is going to be used as a guide for your cardstock.  THEN, what I did so the paper didn't get worn, I cut a piece of our Window Sheets  (these can be found on page 216 of the big catalog) I cut these the same size as the clear pad also and put that over the grid paper to preserve it.  Both of these were put on the back of the pad with Sticky Strip.  Now you have three pads that are dedicated to these dies.  Read on to learn how to use them…

4.  In this picture, I'm placing the card on the "grid pad" with the grid on the bottom of the pad and the clear plastic on the top.  Do you see that the card is even on both sides.  That is very important.  If you don't make it even on both sides, the curves on the left will not match the curves on the right.  I did put a little dotto on the back of the card to hold it in place while I cut.  Then I used my Adhesive Remover to get that little bit of sticky off the card when I was done.  Okay, we've got our dies all glued on, we got our grid pad all set and our paper is glued to the top of the grid pad.  Now what?

5.  For your layers, you are going to put your Multi Purpose Platform down (close the whole thing so that tab 2 is on top), then your pad that has the grid sheet (with the plastic side up and the grid on the bottom), then you line up your cardstock (here I used Blushing Bride), then you put your cutting pad on where you want it.  That's one of the beauties for this set up, you can place that cutting edge anywhere on the paper.  I've placed it pretty far up on this one but it can be right along the bottom edge – it's totally up to you.  It's that easy.  Run it through the Big Shot.

6.  Now to store the pads and dies.  This is another amazing feature.  Put the two pads with the dies on them together so that the dies are on opposite ends.  Then put the grid pad on the bottom.  Take two rubber bands and put one on the top and one on the bottom and store with your other dies.  AND, you now have the empty plastic envelope that the dies came in so you can store the three coordinating Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders in.  I love it when things work out!

Isn't this card just beautiful? Do you see the scallop on the bottom? That is one of two dies you get when you purchase this amazing new die for the Big Shot and it was so easy with the "permanent mounted dies".  If you have ANY questions, just post to my blog.  I'd love to have you leave me a comment and get a discussion going on these amazing new products. 

Now for my Special.  If you place a $75 on-line order from my website during the month of January, I will give you this online class free.  Remember if you wait until January 24th, you will also get to pick a free Sale-a-Bration set free.  It will have all the directions and measurements for five of these cards (and if you think these two are pretty, wait until you see the other three).  These are only two of the cards included in this very elegant class. If you would rather I put the order in, just email me and I will put it in for you.

Thank you for stopping by.

It's been a long long two days so the post is going to be short!  Wanted to share a few things with you…

first…there is a super sale going on right now…our CLEARANCE RACK has up to 80% off on certain items (lots of punches are on sale) as well as scrapbooking stuff,  Big Shot Dies, punches and so much more.  Make sure you go to my website and check it all out – click here for a direct link or click on the picture below to see what is available.  When you get to page 10 keep clicking, there are nearly 200 new items on the Clearance Rack and they don't stop at page 10.

Good from December 15, 2011-January 5, 2012

Details:
Nearly 200 new Clearance Rack items are being added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail–while supplies last!

Things to Remember

• You can only order these on my website (click the picture above to get you to the correct spot) 
• The Clearance Rack Blitz includes old-body style punches.
• There is no minimum purchase required you can order as much or as little as you want.
• Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits which are also called Stampin' Rewards.
• Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last. There are no refunds or exchanges on Clearance Rack items.
• You may view Clearance Rack Blitz items in my On-Line Store.

One of the items in the store is the Tulipe Big Shot Die.  Do you remember this project I did for the Ronald McDonald House?  Well her wings are done with that die and THAT die is on the clearance rack.

front view

Back view – see the Tulipe Die, I cut part of it off but it's PERFECT for her wings.  So make sure you check out the Clearance Rack, there are lots of good things on there.

Here are a few more of my favorites.  I ordered a lot off the clearance rack myself.

1.  The old fashioned (the easier one) 3/16 corner rounder #109047 – $4.19

2.  Scallop Edge Punch #112091 – $9.59 (see sample below)

3.  Spiral Punch #109973 – $4.99

4.  Tulipe Big Shot Die #113457 – #113457

Do you remember this card?  We HAD to use the old fashioned Scallop Edge Punch because the new model cuts it off…so make sure you get this one (# 112091) if you want to do this style card.

see how it does not cut off the edges!  Beautiful!  So make sure you check  it out.

I had my Demonstrator Team Get Together on Sunday.  It was so much fun.  I will share more pictures and project ideas with you later on but for now here are just a few…

Great Food

and yes this is our snowflake die

Deanna used it as a stencil for her snowflake cake – it was just beautiful…

Super Great Friends…

and FABTABULOUS projects! 

More sharing for another day, for now, I'm off to bed!   Thank you for stopping by.

Just a note to let you know that I'm ready for my annual 2012 Calendar Class on Saturday.  I just love the way it came out.

This adorable Designer Series Paper helped to finish it off.  I had my monthly Stamp-a-stack today and made this matching card. 

Stamp Set:  You Are Loved (Holiday Mini – hurry, it's only around until January 3rd)  #123777 (wood mount) or #123779 (clear mount); Thank You Kindly #111700

Cardstock:  #122355 Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper (page 224), Calypso Coral, Pool Party

Ink:  Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso

Accessories:  #122975 Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon;  #122331 Pool Party Seam Binding; #115951 Timeless Type Junior Alphabet

I'm so ready for spring!!!  And this just helps me get there :0)  Hope you enjoyed the post.  

I've been playing with the Glimmer Paper and really wanted a green glimmer paper but we don't have it.  AH HA!  I found out you can MAKE it from our Silver Glimmer paper.  Here's how…

Here is Noel in just the Silver Glimmer Paper #124005.

Then I took an Aqua Painter with Garden Green reinker and I colored it in.  Color it pretty dark as it lightens as it dries.  It's just beautiful (this picture does not do it justice). 

Like I said, this does not do the color justice, but trust me, it's beautiful!

Here is the green one with the silver one.  I added a Stitched Felt Winter Wishes Wreath #124108.  These cute adorable little felt pieces will be gone in less than a month along with the Glimmer Paper so sotck up now! 

And here is the card that I made using the Red Glimmer Paper #124114.

Supplies used

Real Red, Whisper White and Garden Green Cardstock

Backgrounds #1 Texturz Plate # 114512 (used with the Big Shot and the Impressions Pad and Silicone Rubber) and I used Serif Essentials Alphabet set #113464

Red Glimmer Paper Paper #121790

Stitched Felt Winter Wishes #124108

3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon #109070

I hope you try this technique  with the glimmer paper.  Like I said, you can use this with any of our reinkers!

Thank you for stoping by, see you tomorrow.

I wanted to share a little tip with you for those Big Shot dies that like to keep our paper!  They don't like to give it up!  Does your die ever look like this?

That's where the pokie thing came in handy!  I would dig them out.

soooooooo I took my packing tape and put it directly on my die (and leave it there). 

ha ha ha…no silly you don't just lay it on there you put a layer of the tape on the die!

Here is one that is done.  Just cover the whole thing.

and don't forget those embooslits.  They are sticky little critters too so tape BOTH sides.

Yep, I went tape crazy and covered them all and IT WORKS!

Nothing sticks!  So go try it and see how great it works!  You won't want to stop cutting them out!

I hope this helps you in some small way.  It's easy and it works.

Happy Thanksgiving America!!!

Here is one of my Christmas creations…

I used Hand-Penned Holidays stamp set, Stitched Stockings stamp set, Stocking Builder Punch and Mini Jingle Bells all from the Mini Catalog.  That's it.  It was simple but so cute. 

 REMINDERS….

Don't forget we are extending the $100 in free product (you get to pick it out) with the purchase of our Stampin' Up Starter Kit…

and….

and….NEW…

Do you own My Digital Studio?  Here is a free download for you if you do.  Just click on the picture to learn how to get the download for free.  If you DON'T own My Digital Studio, why don't you go to my on-line store and purchase the beginning disc…it's ONLY $39.95 item #124483.  Then download the free bundle.  It's a great way to begin using My Digital Studio…GO AHEAD and try it…$39.95 is a reasonable way to begin and free downloads are awesome.

Getting ready for my Diva Day today.  Hope you enjoyed my post.  Stay tuned for Diva pictures.

I just love this time of the year.  There are lots of great holidays and lots to celebrate. I've told you so many times that Halloween is my favorite holiday to decorate!  I also love to make meatloaf characters…so in true fashion, here is my famous Ghost Meatloaf.

Here they are uncooked.  I had to make two different meatloafs this year because Kate was not going to be home in time for dinner, she was still at school so I made a Large Ghost for Kevin and I then a Baby Ghost for Kate!  Aren't they cute?!

Here they are all cooked up…

And here is Kate's plate…Baby Ghost with Green Mashed potatoes and other goulish embelishments.

Now to change gears, I've been working on Christmas…Here is one of my latest cards.  I used Whisper White cardstock, our new Silver Glimmer paper from the Holiday Mini.  I also used the new Snow Burst Embossing folder and the Snowflake Set #2 die with Rhinestones and silver embossing powder.

ANNNNNNND if you haven't been on my website today, we are offering HOSTESSES a deal that cannot be beat!  Just click on the picture above to find out the details.  BOOK YOUR PARTY WITH ME NOW!

And our $100 in Free Merchandise is EXTENDED…Purchase our starter kit and receive $100 more in Stampin' Up Product of your choice…you may want to pick out the Big Shot or, if you already have that, why not pick out $100 worth of dies to go along with it?!  Click on the picture to find out more.

Thanks for stopping by!!