Hello!

My name is Julie and I’ve been a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator since January 2006. I signed up to get a discount on my own purchases but now that my son is in school full-time, I’m hoping to step up my business a little. This blog will be where I dump my creative thoughts and post my latest projects. If you like what you see, please leave a comment.

FREE Trial of My Digital Studio Express

Have you ever wanted to learn about digital scrapbooking? Are you already a digital scrapbooker and love Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors and images? I am excited to share that Stampin’ Up! now offers a FREE 30-day trial of their digital designing software!!

• To get the free trial version, click here and add My Digital Studio Express Trial (item 129600) to your online shopping cart, and then download and install it from your Download Manager. The free trial includes the My Digital Studio Express software. This means full design functionality, access to our print services, and the opportunity to purchase My Digital Studio downloads.
• At the end of the 30-day trial period, you can purchase either My Digital Studio or My Digital Studio Express to continue using the software. You will not need to re-download the program, but will simply enter the product key you receive after purchasing the software. (If you purchase the disc version you’ll find it along with the shipped software, and if you purchase the downloadable My Digital Studio Express, you’ll receive the product key via e-mail.)
• You will be able to keep any downloads you purchase during the 30-day trial period.

I am so far behind on my scrapbooking so one of my 2012 resolutions is to scrapbook more. While I still enjoy the traditional method, I have started my 2012 album using My Digital Studio and already have 5 pages done! YAY me!!!

If you have any questions about My Digital Studio or Stampin’ Up!, please feel free to contact me. Happy Scrapbooking!!

It’s Time to Sale-A-Brate!!

It’s that time of year again…YES, it is time for a Sale-A-Bration! If you’re not familiar with this annual Stampin’ Up! event, here are the details:

This is a great time of year to stock up on consumables like paper, ink, adhesive, etc. Purchase items that you know you’ll use throughout the year AND earn FREE Sale-A-Bration product!!

Contact me to take advantage of the awesome promotion!!

New Catalog Strategy starts June 1st

Stampin’ Up! is holding their annual Leadership Convention this week and one of the things they have announced is a new strategy for the publication and release of catalogs.

The next annual catalog will run from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. This means that the current Idea Book & Catalog will NOT go through July 31, as is stated on catalog. The current 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog will now end on May 31, 2012. The new catalog will be reduced in size by 32 pages and will be printed on lighter weight paper.  Fewer pages means that some of the seasonal products will be moved to the seasonal catalogs. Also, the Simply Adorned and Decor Elements product lines will be discontinued. The cost of the catalogs for demonstrators will be reduced by 50% to encourage demonstrators to give catalogs away, instead of charging for them.  (By the way, I have never charged for catalogs. I have ALWAYS given them out to customers as I could not justify charging someone $9.95 for them to look at my “store front”.)

The current Occasions, Summer and Holiday mini catalogs will be replaced with two seasonal catalogs: Holiday Catalog and Spring Catalog. The Holiday catalog will run from August 1, 2012 through the beginning of January. The Spring Catalog will run from the beginning of January through May 31, 2013. These seasonal catalogs will be larger in both size and content with approximately 40 additional pages. The seasonal catalogs will have longer selling periods and more room to include seasonal specific product.

Because the current Idea Book & Catalog sales period will end early, the annual list of retiring products will be released earlier as well. That information has not been made available yet, so, be sure to check back for more details.

Stampin’ Up! Making A Difference

“D” is for Distressing, Dryer Sheet and Desktop Calendar

This month we created a Desktop Calendar, using both the Distressing and Dryer Sheet Techniques.  I found the idea for the calendar here and embellished it using this month’s techniques.  This was a fun project, one that I’m going to try to remember for craft shows next winter.  This was my first time using our new Distressing Kit and I really like it! I bought it back in August when the new catalog came out and just haven’t played with it until now.  The little files are awesome!!

Calendar instructions are here.

Winter and Summer (Distressing) instructions are here.

Spring and Fall (Dryer Sheet Technique) instructions are here.

I’m looking forward to next month.  I think we’ll do the Emboss Resist Technique and create an Envelope Scrapbook.  Please join us!!

Stamped Christmas Gifts

I have been busy in my stamping room getting gifts ready for Jamie’s classmates and teachers.  I started a couple of weeks ago and am happy to say that I am finished, with an entire day to spare.  A few years ago, I procrastinated until the last minute and was late to the class party because I was still working on projects.  I vowed to never let that happen again and it feels so much better to have it finished early!

The first project is a Christmas Tree Luminaire and I basically copied it from another SU! demonstrator’s blog (click here to go to original project for pattern).   I don’t have the Bitty Box and Envelope Sizzix die so I had to improvise.  I used the retired So Swirly Jumbo Wheel, Always Artichoke craft ink and clear embossing powder.  I made one of these for the gift exchange at my upline’s Stamp Club too.

I made the wreaths to give to the office staff and specials’ teachers (P.E., Music, Art) at Jamie’s school.  They are made using the Little Leave Sizzlits die, Bird and Blooms Sizzlits die, a pipe cleaner and a hot glue gun.  Form the pipe cleaner into a circle and attach the Always Artichoke leaves around it with the hot glue.  I used the Crop-a-dile to punch the little Cherry Cobbler berries.  I used a Basic Rhinestone Jewel for the bird’s eye and glued the bird on with hot glue.  I stamped the sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) with Cherry Cobbler onto Whisper White cardstock, clipped the ends, and hot glued it to the wreath.  The bow is made with the new Cherry Cobbler 1/2″ Seam Binding from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Again, this project was not my original design but I can’t remember where I saw it.

For Jamie’s classmates (and all of my cousin’s kids), I made these packages of “Snowman Soup”.  I put a package of hot cocoa, a handful of mini marshmallows and a candy cane inside the plastic bags and then stapled the Snowman toppers on top.  I used the retired stamp set, Flaky Friends, stamped with Basic Black onto Whisper White cardstock and colored with Stampin’ Write markers.  I found a cute poem on the internet and printed those from the computer onto Whisper White cardstock.  These were layered onto Garden Green cardstock.  I like making things like this for Jamie’s classmates but I’m also learning to not invest too much time or materials into these gifts.  The kids love getting them but they usually rip them apart to get into whatever is inside.  I almost cried the first time one of my prized creations got ripped open and then thrown away!

I did a stamped candle for Jamie’s teacher.  On one side I stamped the holly image and sentiment from the Bells and Boughs stamp set (in Holiday Mini Catalog) and wrote the date using a Stampin’ Write marker.  On the other side I printed a copy of Jamie’s school photo onto tissue paper and then, using the candle stamping technique, melted it into the candle.  I think it is a cool and unique personalized gift and I know Mrs. Price will like it.

Mrs. Price is a coffee and chocolate lover so I also made this cute little box that holds a Starbucks gift card.  Tomorrow I will stop at The Dollar Tree and get a coffee mug, and some chocolate candy to fill the mug, to put inside the box.  The idea for this box came from this blog.  I used retired Designer Series Paper and Real Red cardstock.  The inside sentiment is from the Many Merry Messages stamp set.  I used the Whisper White Organza Ribbon to tie the box together.

“C” is for Candle Stamping and Crayon Resist

We only had two techniques this month, candle stamping and crayon resist.  We had fun with the candle stamping and everyone agreed that this was a great idea for Christmas gifts!  We used the crayon resist technique to make a gift card holder, also something that will be useful in the upcoming holiday season.  You can view enlarged photos of these projects by clicking on each photo.  Detailed instructions and supply lists are available as well.  Have fun!!

Candle Stamping
(instructions HERE)

Crayon Resist Gift Card Holder
(instructions HERE)

Gift Card holder (open)

We will resume our 2nd Saturday schedule in January so the next class will be on January 8th.  Have a very merry Christmas!!

“B” is for Baby Wipes, Black Magic and Bows

This month’s class featured techniques that start with “B”.  I had done the two different Baby Wipe techniques before but I discovered the Black Magic technique, thought it was pretty cool, and decided to throw that one in too.  Then, I saw the bows made with our Designer Series Paper and, since they are easy to make, added that one too.  It was a lot of stuff to do but I thought it was fun.  I think everyone else did too.

Baby Wipe Swipe Stripes
(click here for detailed instructions and supply list)

Baby Wipe Ink Pad
(click here for detailed instructions and supply list)

Black Magic
(click here for detailed instructions and supply list)

Bow made with Designer Series Paper
(click here for detailed instructions and supply list)

Next month, there is a scheduling conflict so we will meet on the first Saturday, December 4th.  One of the women in the class has been asking me for years to teach her how to stamp on candles so that will be one of our techniques in December.

“A” is for Acetate

We had our first ABC’s of Rubberstamping Techniques last Saturday.  Our technique was using Acetate (Window Sheets) to create a card and a treat-filled milk carton.  Click on each photo to get a larger view.

When we make a card in this class, we will actually make two cards…one to keep and one to give away.  I know from my own experience, that when I make a card at my upline’s Stamp Club that I want to keep it for future reference.  So, I’m hoping that, by making two cards, class attendees will actually send or give one card away and share their creativity!

Acetate Card
Get directions HERE.

Acetate Milk Carton
Get directions HERE.

Our next class will meet on November 13th and we will move on to a technique that starts with “B”.  This is going to be fun!

Stamping Technique Class will begin in October

A couple of months ago, I was approached by a couple of women from my church about starting a Stamping Up! class.  They had been involved in Stamp Clubs in the past and wanted to continue with techniques and projects but with less pressure.  I am looking forward to this class.  I am calling it “The ABC’s of Rubberstamping Techniques” and we will do a different technique each month, from Acetate to Zindorf.

We will meet on the 2nd Saturday of each month, from 1-3pm, at my house.  If the group gets too large, we might have to meet somewhere else but, for now, we’ll meet at my house.  That said, I have knee surgery scheduled for October 8th, so the October class will be on the first Saturday, October 2nd.  We will go back to the second Saturday in November.

There is a class fee of $10.  There is no contract or commitment requirement and no minimum order requirement (although you will receive $5 class fee refund with order).  I do ask that you let me know if you will be attending so that I can have materials prepared.  Please contact me for more information and to get directions to my house.