Camp Swap is still in full progress.  I'm still faithfully working on my swaps for my Founders Circle trip to St. George, Utah later this month.  I just love working on swaps.  I think they're coming out pretty good if I do say so myself.  I think up my idea then work and work on them (it's called being a control freak).  I just couldn't ask anyone to help, not because I don't like the help but it's because I just love doing them and the satisfaction I get after doing them is amazing.  Anyway…here is what they look like in the next stage.  There are only a few here…remember I'm working on 135 of them for my Founders Circle trip with Shelli Gardner, owner of Stampin' Up!  She always swaps with us, I love the cards she makes….I hope she likes Halloween!  I DO!  Did you know that Halloween is the 2nd largest holiday for decorating.  Stay tuned in the coming weeks to see what other Halloween treats I have in store for you.

Like I said I only work on 25 at a time.  It's fun to see progress.  With all the layers, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to pack them to get to St. George.  YIKES, that could be the only problem.  FUN FUN FUN!

Here is another card I got in the swap the other day.  Isn't it cute.  It was made by Michelle Burkett.  She used the new spider background and shimmer paint for the background.  I love how she did the coloring on the stamp. 

Well that's it for now!  Hope you liked the post.  I'll keep updating you on the Camp Swap as I get them done.  For now, I'm forging on!  Have a great eveing.

Here is the new Holiday Mini.  Everyone should have received their copy, if not, contact me and I'll get one right out to you. Oh my gosh, it has SINGING and RECORDABLE cards in there!!!

And here is the September Stampin' Up! special…

Like I said, there is so much good stuff going on right now!  The Clearance rack has all kinds of new stuff in there including discounted cardstock.  HURRY if you want any of it, it's "while supplies last".  Make sure you go and check it out.  You must order these online, you cannot order them with me or in a class or club…they must be ordered online.  Told you so….lots going on.  I'll report on more tomorrow.

Oh my goodness,What is better than having your UPS man drive in the driveway with a STAMPIN' UP! delivery???  This is!!!!

It's a Stampin' Box and a STAMPIN' UP! UPS SPECIAL DELIVERY ENVELOPE!  So you are asking what's inside of it?

This is!!!!  It's all my travel documents for my upcoming Founders Circle Trip.  Isn't it cute.

Here is the inside view.  Do you recognize the stamp pattern on the inside material?  What stamp set does it resemble?…..If you have received your NEW Holiday Mini Catalog, you can find the stamp set on page 12.  It's called Day of Gratitude.  Make sure you read to the end so you can see a card that I'm featuring today with that stamp set.

and look, it matches the bag I received at Convention for earning the Founder's Circle Trip.  Everything we get on the trip will match these two pieces.  So keep checking back for updates.

Here is a card made by Robin Warren.  She was in the Demonstrator Swap I participated in.  Remember the Christmas Card I showed you the other day?  The swap theme was the New Holiday Mini Catalog.  This is the set that Robin used.  Isn't it beautiful.  Now I have a card that matches my bag!  :0)  Oh my….it's the little things that just tickle me!  :0)

Last night I did another workshop for two very good friends.  It was a special workshop in a couple of ways.  Lauren and Jackie held the workshop.  Lauren has been with me for 11 years, since I began my Stampin' Up business on 9/9/99.  But what made it even more special is that one of her guests was the hostess from my very first workshop, hi Janelle (Janelle has held many workshops for me also).  So this workshop was filled with some good memories.  ANNNNNND on top of all that, what made it doubly special was the two girls decided to have a themed party.  They decided to do a Chicks and Chocolate get together with their friends…so this is how it played out…

So here is Janelle and the chocolate fondue made by Jackie, look at all that cut up fruit (better than the Melting Pot).  Lauren made chocolate brownies with all kinds of super stuff on them (whipped peanut butter, butter, confectionery sugar and milk  - she WHIPPED it all together then drizzled the top with chocolate).  She also made something chocolatey salty, she called them Chocolate Toffee Brittle (saltines, butter, brown sugar, walnuts and lots of chocolate)…oh my gosh….they were heavenly!  But what is a chick and chocolate party with out something to wash it down!  So….the girls had fun trying to find as much drinkable chocolate stuff as possible.  Here we go….

Lauren and her husband Glen went to the Finger Lakes last week and went to a lot of the wineries out there.  Guess what she found?  CHOCOLATE WINE!  The gals that drank it said it tasted like YooHoo.  Remember that stuff?  Do they still sell YooHoo?

And then they found MudSlides that were chocolate.  And look what's next to it?!  Can you guess what's on the left?

She made chocolate ice cubes with….

the chocolate milk she bought for ME!!!!  :0)  How cute is that?

We had so much fun at her party.  After eating and sipping, we sat down and made three projects.  We made a Wipe Off board with a tile and our decor elements (they LOVVVVVED this project).  Then they made two cards.  It was a very successful workshop and everyone had fun chatting and eating and just being girls!  Let me know if you'd like to have your own themed party.  Book early for Sale-A-Bration (which means BOOK NOW)!

Before I show you the Black Magic Technique card that they did at convention, I wanted to share with you what I did.  This past Sunday, my very best friend from Kindergarten asked me to join her in a trip to Burlington, Vermont (it's only a two hour drive from Saratoga, New York and a very beautiful drive when you stay awake to see it).  Her daughter's work was putting on a fundraiser and she asked if I wanted to join in the fun.  It was a GORGEOUS day to participate in Zoe's Race which was a 5K event (we walked of course)!

We did the 5K WALK!  I want to share some of my pictures with you.

This is a tree house they built in the park that is completely wheelchair accessible.

Ready, set….okay when are they going to go?  We were in the very back so we didn't get run over.

We got to walk along Lake Champlain.

All ages could walk or run…okay so the little girls are beating us.  Aren't they cute.

Here I'm holding the rock up or is it the other way around?  We are almost done.  This was one of the rocks that makes up the sun dial in the park.

So here's my kindergarten buddy, Kathy, and they best part of the race…getting Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (Coffee Heath Bar Crunch)!mmmmmmm  They had all kinds of food for us to eat. 

Here's Kathy's daughter Kaylan and boyfriend Josh.  Kaylan was one of the gals that organized the entire event.  She's such a doll.

Okay then we went into town and walked up and down Church Street. 

They had statues all over of cows.  We have horses here in Saratoga but they have cows!  It was a fun day.

Okay here is the card I was telling you about.  It's called Black Magic and it's just beautiful.

It's done with my favorite set from the catalog "Just Believe".  You use Stampin' Up's watercolor pencils and gel pen.  There is some Newsprint DSP and our new pearls.  The backgroung is brayered. Just a beautiful job she did demonstrating it. 

Well I'm off to my last workshop for the month.  Hope you enjoyed my post.  Stop back soon.

So what is this month's Flash Sale?  I'm just in love with all the new Designer Series Papers in the catalog.  They start on page 172 and go all the way to page 175.  So let me  help you fall in love with the papers just a little more. For one day and one day only, SUNDAY, AUGUST 29th, you will be able to buy these in my flash sale.  You have until 11:00 p.m. Sunday night to get your order in.

Isn't this beautiful.  They are even more beautiful in person. 

If you do not have a demonstrator and would like to purchase some of the Designer Series paper from me - here is your chance to do it at a discount.  If you purchase two packs of any of the designer papers on the above pages, you will get the third package (of equal or lessor value) for half price.  So go get your catalog and start looking.   Are there any papers you just HAVE to have?  You'll be saving yourself at least $5 or more depending on the papers you pick out. If you pick out three of our Designer Series Packs, you'll be saving $10 on one of the packs.  Look at how beautiful they are.

And now for my card.  Last Sunday, August 22nd, I celebrated my TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY.  I have been cancer free for two years!!!  YEAHHHHHH….we wanted to celebrate on that day but we knew it was going to rain so we decided to celebrate on the Saturday before.  We started out by going to the Saratoga Race Track.  It is such a beautiful place and I  just love to people watch!  Here is a picture I took of one of the races. 

Then we went to dinner and shopping in Lake George.  It was a beautiful day surrounded by my family.  FUN (and phew, one more year behind me)!

So what do I do on the "real" day?  It's raining and everyone is busy doing stuff.  So I went into my stamp room and started making "pink" cards.  I found a card that I just loved at Convention.  I think one of the girls did it in their demo booth but I took a picture when it was on the board so I'm not sure who to give the credit to.  Anyway, I just kept making pink cards and then I sent them out to all the girls I know that are going through cancer treatments right now.  I had to make quite a few of them.  But it made me feel good to do it. 

I got a call today from a really good friend.  She was just diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to talk.  So guess what….she too will be getting a "pink" card from me.  I hope it makes her feel just a little better inside.

Sending cards really does make you feel so good inside.  No matter what you are going through.  Did you send yours out today?

Thank you for stopping by my blog and reading to the end (it's tough because I'm so long winded)!  But I appreciate you trying.  Have a great day.

I don't even have to go back to school this year but I'm still looking forward to the first day of school!  :0)  Isn't that fun?!  I'm excited because I DON'T have to go!!!!  The grocery store and the streets will be MINE again!!!  Sorry but that's the way it is!!!  :0)  I've already made plans to go out to lunch to celebrate on the first day of school. 

Don't have a job?  Want one?  Have a job but don't like it?  I can help.  There is a VERY nice "sweet" special going on for anyone that signs up to be a demo in the month of September.  I'm so excited to announce that the bag that I got at convention is yours for FREE if you sign up to be a demonstrator in the month of September.  This is what it looks like.  It's awesome.  Big enough to hold all your stamping and scrapbooking supplies but light enough to tote around on your shoulder and not look like a Quasimodo dragging around to one side :0).  Yes, I said it was big enough to carry your 12×12 scrapbooking paper.  Oh my gosh…

Greenhouse Gala Bag Front View – just look at all those pockets.

Greenhouse Gala Bag Back View – that is another huge pocket on the back.  There are also pockets on the side and a gazillion of them inside. 

Remember, the whole bag is FREEEEE if you sign up to be a demonstrator starting September 1st.   If you do not have a demonstrator and would like to sign up under me, please contact me at stampladee@aol.com or go to my website at http://stampladee.stampinup.net and click on START YOUR OWN BUSINESS, then Click on Join Now .  When it prompts you to enter a password, the password for my group is Deb Valder.  After you finish that, just follow the prompts and you are in and your bag will be instantly on it's way.  If you already have a demonstrator, you can also sign up with her.  

Did you know there was paper and stamps to match this bag? Coach Bags eat your heart out, you only have purses to match your bags!  So there!  The Designer Series Paper that this bag matches is on page 173 of the catalog and it too is called the Greenhouse Gala #117167.  And if that wasn't enough, we have TWO stamp sets to match the bag and the paper  found on page 99 of the big catalog- One of the sets is called Friends Never Fade #118750 wood mount and  #120618 clear mount.  The other stamp that matches this bag and paper is called Ornate Blossom #117094.  It is a single stamp and only available in wood mount.  They are both beautiful.  I'll be showing you pictures of these stamp sets in action in a few days.  So remember, if you are out there wanting to jump on board, contact me or sign up on line and INSTANTLY become a demonstrator but this special does not start until September 1st!

I have a class coming up soon that I'm prepping for now.  It's called the "Vintage Christmas Class".  I designed (all by myself) the first card for this class just the other day.  I needed to complete a swap I was doing for my friend Lisa Freeman and this is what I came up with.  So this is the first of several Vintage Holiday Cards we will be doing in the class. 

Most of the supplies for this card came from the Holiday Mini Catalog that you should have received by now.  If you didn't receive one, please contact me and I will get one out to you right away.  Mine were sent out by Stampin' Up! because I forgot to send them myself and they "picked and choosed" who they wanted them to go to (it's all sales driven) so if you ordered from me, you got one.  I know of a few husbands that got them, they were so excited and so were the wives because now they can pick out what THEY want to give their wives for Christmas!  YIPPEEEE.

So I'm not going to give you directions to this card, you will want to come to the class to learn some really exciting techniques that will really make your cards look like an old fashioned, very vingtage Christmas. 

Take care and check back tomorrow….Thank you for stopping by.

My first picture is of our daughter Katie.  Today is her first day of school.  She started Law School today!  Oh my gosh, my baby is going to law school…I'm so proud of her.

Albany Law here she comes!  She came home tired but excited.  She just loves it.

I'd like to share another beautiful card that was exchanged at our demo meeting.  This was done by Laura's mom, Pat,  who is also a demonstrator, they are both so talented.  Isn't this card gorgeous.  When we do our swaps at my demonstrator meeting, we collect one card from each demonstrator.  The card has to have an envelope and a Forever Stamp on it.  We then take them and drop them off at the Ronald McDonald House for the guests to use as they need to.  With the stamp on the envelope, the only thing they have to do is address it and send it to someone back home.  It's our way of giving to the Ronald McDonald House.

Supplies:

Just Believe Stamp Set (#116948 wood mount or #120453 clear mount)

Short and Sweet Stamp Set (#115060)

Basic Black Ink

Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Certainly Celery and Whisper White cardstock

Elegant Lines Embossing Folder (#119277)

Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (#119275)

Ticket Corner Punch (#119867)

Markers:  Certainly Celery and Blushing Bride

Basic Pearls (#119247)

I just can't tell you how beautiful it looks in person!  Simple and elegant.  Thank you Pat for sharing.

Thank you for stopping by my blog, I hope to see you tomorrow.

I just have to show this adorable swap card from Sunday's meeting.  It was made by Laura, one of our new recruits.  It is so stinken cute.  Thank you Laura for sharing.

Didn't I tell you it was too stinken cute!?!!  She used our new owl punch (#118074) and one of my favorite background stamps Woodgrain (#117100). 

I just love my punches.  I have a Punch Book Class that I hold once a month.  If you are interested in participating, let me know and we'll sign you up!

Enjoy your evening and thank you for stopping by.

I had my demonstrator get together on Sunday and one of the winning make and takes was done by Sarah and Trish.  This is the most adorable project and so easy.

I get so excited about Halloween.  The stores have started to put out their candy and decorations.  So much fun. 

If you do not have a demonstrator or if you are one of my customers (I do not want to take anyone elses customers) and would like to order the supplies, let me know.  You can order them by emailing me at stampladee@aol.com or going to my website (http://stampladee.stampinup.net) and ordering 24/7 online.  Here are the supplies used:

Concord Crush cardstock (#119792)

Cardstock Vellum (#101856)

Big Shot (#113439)

Fancy Favor Box Die (#115965)

Extended cutting pads (#113478)

Extended Premium Crease Pad (#117630)

Spider Web Embossing Folder (#120889) available for sale on September 1st

Dark and Dreary Stamp Set (#120837 wood mount or #121151 clear mount) available for sale on September 1st

Black Stazon Ink (#101406)

1/2" Lace Trim Raven (#120988) available for sale on September 1st

Bitty Bat Large Punch (#119279)

1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Old Olive (#119256)

You will cut a 2 1/4" x 2 3/8" square in the front of the luminary.  Make sure you cut this square before you run the cardstock through the embossing folders.  You will need to emboss one side then turn and emboss the other side.  I attached the velum with mini glue dots and I attached the Raven Ribbon with Tombow Adhesive Glue.  There is a battery mini candle inside to light it up.  SOOOOOOOo cute. 

The can is wrapped with our 3/8" twill tape.  So stinken cute! 

Hope you enjoyed my post.  Stop back soon.

Okay are your ready to see what we did today at my demonstrator get together?  It was something that was demonstrated at convention by one of my favorite Stampin' Up! employees - Carrie Cudney.  It was so much fun.  This is the finished project that I was showing you all the pieces to yesterday….so here it is. 

This is the outside of the Reading Log

This is what the inside looked like, it is so adorable and the girls loved them.

Each pocket had an organizational insert, here is what was in pocket #1.

Here is what was in pocket #2

There were two of these in pocket #3 (you could add as many as you would need).  These are little logs for you to jot notes.

Close up of the inside.  They are put together with our new 1/8 taffeta ribbon.

And this is what was in the last pocket.

Supplies used -

Simply Scrappin Kit Love Birds (#118707)

Play Date Folders (#117170) found on page 180 of the big Stampin' Up Catalog

Serif Essentials Alphabet Die for the letters (#113464)

Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Lower Stamp Set (#120272 wood mount or 120648 clear mount)

1 1/4" striped Grosgrain Ribbon Pretty in Pink (#119775)

1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Early Espresso (#120931)

Flower Brads Subtles (#119732)

If you do not have a demonstrator or if you are one of my customers and would like to order any of these items, just contact me and I will add it to an order going in or you can simply click on the SHOP NOW button and order it online 24/7. 

Besides doing this project, we also did 6 make and takes at the meeting that were OUT OF THIS WORLD.  These 6 projects were designed and presented by the girls in my group.  We also swapped and ate and just had so much fun.  I just love my group. 

Hope you enjoyed my project…my demonstrators seemed to LOVE it at the meeting today.  We also brainstormed some great ideas if you didn't want to make a Reading Log – How about using it for a Christmas organizer – give each one of your children one of the log booklets, have them fill out their wish list and you have a great organizer and gift idea log to bring shopping with you.  How about using it for a "baby-to-be" organizer or a knitting log or well…you get it…you can use it for anything that you need to organize.  If you have any ideas on what this can be used for, just leave a comment so others can enjoy the different ideas.

Thank you for stopping  my my blog…hope you come back soon.

Quick post tonight as I'm packing for my demo meeting tomorrow.  I can't show you finished stuff tonight because that would spoil the surprise for tomorrow but I'll show you what I've packed up tonight.  This is my project for the girls.  I LOVE all my meetings but there is something special about the August one.  It's right after convention and I'm pumped and filled with excitement and ideas.  This is one of my most favorite projects…you can only see bits and pieces until my post after my meeting, then I will show you the whole thing.  So here it goes…

I've started to sort out the Simply Scrappin' Kits getting ready to cut.

all cut and ready to pack in their folders!  I just can't wait.  FUN FUN!!

And for an update on my swaps for Founders Circle….progressing nicely, working on them a little every day and it's getting done.

Yes that is candy in those watermelon dishes!  It's keeps me going, I don't need batteries, just chocolate!  YIPEEEEEEE

See you tomorrow.