Llama Hop

Hello! If you've just migrated over here from Diane's wonderful blog you've arrived at the right pasture. This is the next stop on the Stampin' Llamas Holiday Blog Hop! If this is your first stop, no worries, you can continue on the Hop from here or use the link below to hop back to the beginning and start from there. Either way, make sure you check out all these very talented ladies.




My projects today all feature the Pines & Poinsettias stamp set from the Holiday Mini. I got this set free from Stampin' Up! and yes, free stamps do stamp better. I've created a card, a bookmark and a gift box for you.








This would make a great gift ensemble for the avid reader on your Christmas list. Put the bookmark and a gift card to a bookstore in the box and you've got a great gift set. The card base is Very Vanilla card stock. I ran a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock though the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder and then distressed the edges. Using the 2 3/8" scallop punch I punched a piece of Wild Wasabi. If you crumple it repeatedly and break up the fibers you can actually peel it into two pieces; which is what I did. The pinecone image was colored using Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler markers and stamped onto Vanilla. I punched the image out with the 2 1/2" circle punch and layered it onto a same size circle of Cherry Cobbler after a bit more distressing. (notice all the de-stressing?) Add some Stampin' Dimensionals and some 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and you've got a nice card with lots of texture. This card also happens to be the one my fellow Llamas will be receiving as their swap this season! (They are all now running out to their mailboxes!)








For the bookmark I started with a 24 inch piece of Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots Ribbon which I folded in half so I had dots on both sides and held together with Sticky Strip. I used a scallop square piece from the On Board Merry Medley chipboard and covered it with Wild Wasabi. I hand cut the flower images and stitched on the buttons with Linen Thread to finish off the bookmark.









For my final project I made the gift box. First I covered a piece of Wasabi card stock with the Holly Berry Bouquet fabric using our Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets. Then I ran the whole thing through the Big Shot and was able to die cut the box using the Box #2 die. Easy peesy! For the embellishment on the front, I used the Scallop Circle punch, the 5 Petal Flower punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, some Basic Pearls, Bakers Twine and the last image in the Pines & Poinsettias set.









I hope you enjoyed your stop here and I encourage you to keep hopping on over to Holly Denghel's blog. I know she'll have some great projects for you to see. Besides, she's going to be my new neighbor when I get to Texas! Llamas in the hood! Feel free to stop by here again and I hope you'll leave a comment if there was something you liked. Happy Blog Hopping!









Heather
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Join my team and get a FREE Big Shot!

That's right! You can get a FREE Big Shot or $100 in FREE product when you join my team from Oct 1-31!



The Big Shot is one of the greatest and most versatile tools you can use in your stamping business. From die cutting to embossing, the Big Shot helps take your cards, gifts and scrapbook pages to the Wow level! If you've ever considered becoming a demonstrator, now is the perfect time. If you already have the Big Shot, it's no problem. You can get $100 worth of dies, embossing folders or anything else you'd like in addition to the amazing Starter Kit.
I would love the opportunity to talk to you about becoming a demonstrator. You can sign up right through my website or give me a call and we can walk through the process together. As your upline you can be sure I will be here every step of the way as you begin this exciting adventure and I will help you make your business exactly what you want it to be. I hope to hear from you today!

Heather
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Card Buffet

A card buffet? What's that? A buffet is defined as a meal in which people serve themselves from various dishes set out on a serving table. So a card buffet is an event in which you can pick and create cards from a variety of predesigned options. This month I premiered this event for the first time with rave reviews. Here is a sampling of some of the "dishes" I offered.



The cards cover a variety of occasions and stamping levels. I am now up to 16 cards in my buffet and will keep adding new cards each month. Cards will remain on the buffet until the stamp set or embellishments retire (or you just get sick of seeing it!) so if you can't make them all one month, they'll be there the next month.
My October Card Buffet classes will be held on Oct 5th and 13th so if you are in the area, please register (see the My Events link to the right to RSVP). There are even some Christmas cards on the buffet now to get your creative juices flowing for the holiday season.
If you see a card design you'd like to create, send me a picture and I'll add it to the buffet. Is there an occasion you need cards for? I'll add those as well. I hope to see you at the next Card Buffet!

Heather

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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I'm sure you've all seen the Staples commercial with the parent singing and dancing their way through the isles buying back-to-school supplies while the kids scour in the background. Yes, September means back to school and back to my house staying clean for more than 3.5 seconds, but that is not the only thing that makes this the best time of the year. The new Holiday Mini Catalog is here and it will knock your stockings off!





If you haven't received one of these babies from me you can view it by clicking here or contact me and I will gladly mail you one. This is one of the best mini catalogs in my entire Stampin' Up career. The new Simply Scored knocks the competition out of the water and I received a cute tote for it made out of the Spice Cake fabric when I attended Convention in July (I love the perks of being a demo!) The Christmas sets along with the coordinating punches and dies will make your holiday gift-giving a breeze! As always you can place an order right through my website (use the links to the right) or stop by one of my two Card Buffet classes being offered this month and get your hands on some of these new sets. Check out my calendar for the dates and descriptions. I will also be adding the first Christmas card class toward the end of the month. This will be a great opportunity to get a jump start on creating beautiful handmade cards your friends and family will treasure.

Heather

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Field Flowers CASE

If you are not familiar with the term CASE, it stands for Copy And Share Everything which is what many demonstrators do regularly. We share our project and business ideas for others to copy and in turn share with others. Even the company does this for us (and you) by filling the Idea Book & Catalog with hundreds of sample projects. One project in particular caught my eye and was the motivating factor for me to purchase the stamp set. The sample is on page 97 of the catalog and uses the stamp set Field Flowers. I recently recreated this card for my Stamp-a-Stack class.



The card base is Pink Pirouette layered with another piece of Pink Pirouette that I ran through the Big Shot with the Lattice Embossing Folder. The Old Olive and Pool Party scallop strips were made with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch cut in half down the middle. I stamped the image with Old Olive and More Mustard ink. The piece of Crumb Cake along the top of the White was punched with the Crop-a-Dile and then cut with the Paper Snips. The old Spiral Punch would have been perfect but that punch retired last year. :( oh well. I then finished it off with some White Bakers Twine. I realized too that just by changing up the color scheme of this card you could easily make it appropriate for a masculine card, sympathy of any other occasion. I love using the Idea Book & Catalog for inspiration and no matter how many (thousands of) times I look through it, there is always something new that catches my eye. I challenge you to pick your favorite sample from the catalog, recreate it and share it with someone today. Then tell me about it!

Heather
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Convention Day 1

Wow, what an exciting day! General session this morning was a wild thrill as always. Rockin' music, all the Riverton employees there to welcome us and tons of excitement. Shelli talked about the importance of growth (obviously the theme of convention) and it's benefits. Bonnie Thurber unveiled several super exciting products from the Holiday Mini and then surprised us all by giving us a pack of minis right then and there! Wait till you see it, I am in love! A Simply Score Tool, gorgeous fabric, stocking stamps, matching punches and a die, advent set (see pic), card keeper box and a stamp for cookies! Yes, you actually stamp on the cookie!



Then we broke for lunch and a few classes. I learned some great new techniques in the My Digital Studio class and Bonnie taught a great class on embracing change and keeping the right attitude about it. Very appropriate and timely for me.
The second general session featured Shelli's daughter Sara demonstrating some super ways to overcome the "I'm not creative, I don't have time..." etc excuses we often here when we try to share the art of stamping.
I skipped the Awards Night tonight in favor of a relaxed dinner with friends and some retail therapy. We did head back for the After Party though which was great. Usually they have a performer (band, group, etc) but this year they opted for the cheaper and much more fun, night club idea. Loud speakers, lots of bass, a great DJ, disco ball, dance floor and chocolate. There's no going wrong with that. It was a long day and I have Make n Takes at 8am so time to get some zzzzz. Good night from Salt Lake!

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Last Chance!

Hi Stampers,
I have 3 very important bits of information to share with you today.  Please read them through carefully!
* Last Chance Lists
* Open House Event
* Garage Sale (with special note to Club members!)

Its June 1 and you know what that means!  We are getting ready to say goodbye to some of our current stamps sets to make room for the brand spanking new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog which debuts July 1st!  Use the links on the side bar to view the Last Chance Stamp Sets and Last Chance Accessories Lists.  You will only be able to purchase the items on these lists until June 30.  After that they are gone for good.  Stamp sets orders are guaranteed to be filled but the items on the Accessories List are while supplies last and will likely sell out before the end of the month.  Please look over these lists and be sure to order those items you want as soon as possible.  You can place an order 24/7 through my website by clicking here! 

You are also invited to attend my New Catalog Open House on Friday, July 1 from 7-10pm.  Stop by for a chance to flip through the new catalog and begin creating your wish lists.  I will have several new stamps sets on hand as well as the new In Colors.  There will be a FREE make-n-take project available to get your creative juices flowing and special gifts and giveaways as well.    Desserts, snacks and beverages provided as well.  It will be a fun night of ooing and ahhing so let me know you plan to attend so I can have a catalog waiting for you!

Finally, since I cannot demonstrate or take orders for retired stamps sets, I will also be having a Garage Sale on July 1 during the Open House.  My retired sets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis and I can only accept cash or checks for Garage Sale items.  These sets will be sold at 50% off retail price!  If you are a member of my Stampin' Club, you will have first access to these sets during our June Club meeting so come prepared!