Capturing Memories

My family just returned home from an amazing and memorable trip to Cozumel, Mexico.  My parents, siblings & their spouses and my husband and I are certified scuba divers.  Now that the eldest two grandsons are of age to get their Jr. Certification, my parents took the entire family on a trip for their first dive experience.  Between digital cameras, camera phones, an underwater camera and 5 disposable cameras for all the kids, we easily took hundreds of pictures.
In this digital age it is easy to take tons of great pictures that capture every great memory of trips like these.  But taking the time to print them and put them in an album or dare try to scrapbook them can seem like an overwhelming task. But with My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up! has made this task simple.  Here is just one page I made for the vacation album.  I used one of my sunset photos as the background and just added a couple more photos and some quick text.

My Digital Studio is easy to learn and use and comes preloaded with tons of images and tools.  Each Tuesday, Stampin' Up! releases even more digital downloads so you can continue to add to your library.  And at the new price of $19.95, its an inexpensive way to create albums, calendars, cards, flyers and more!  If you are in the Austin area, I provide free hands-on training to get you started.  Contact me today to learn more!

A few quick notes....

• I've updated my class schedule for April and May so be sure to check it out here.
• Paper Pumpkin kits are going out this week!  Watch your mailbox for this months treasure.  If you haven't already signed up, do it today so you can get in on the fun.
• Like me on Facebook to get more news and tips.  My page is here.

This & That

Your life is: Awesome, Quirky, Exciting, Perfectly messy.  And all happening really fast.  So we're happy to introduce our newest product line that lets you capture it all on-the-go.  This and That will debut in the 2013-2014 annual catalog, but we're giving you the chance to get it now!  This product line contains 5 great products...

• Epic Day This and That Journal (131268) $10.95
• Remember This and That Rotary Stamp (130133) $5.95
• Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape (131269) $4.95
• Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper (130814) $10.95
• Epic Day This and That Designer Stickers (131271) $4.95

You can purchase them separately or get the Epic Day This and That Bundle for 15% off!  (133350) $32.08

These products will only be available until April 30 so order yours today.  Check out images of all the products here. 

Do you like fabric?  Then you're going to love this deal!

That's right!  Starting Monday, all of our awesome fabric designs are 50% off!  Stock up now.  Even if you don't sew, use scissors or your Big Shot to cut out pieces for your cards or scrapbook pages.  

Finally, all my April Hostesses will receive their choice of either the Striped Organdy Ribbon (choice of Melon Mambo, Old Olive or Marina Mist) or the Paper Doilies and Ribbon Trim.  These are some of the most popular items in the Spring Mini Catalog and you can get them free just by hosting a workshop in April.  What does it take to be a Hostess?

• Pick a date to hold your workshop.
• Pick a location (either your house or my home studio)
• Invite your friends for a fun night of stamping.
• Earn FREE Stampin' Up! products!

Its as easy as that!  I still have some open dates in April and May so contact me today to book your workshop!

Heather

Skip the To Do List and just STAMP!

That sound like great advice to me!  One of my awesome downline actually posted that comment on my Facebook today.  Stamping is such a great way to 'check out' for a bit, use a completely different part of your brain and relax and recharge.  Its a great stress-reliever!
My ever-growing To Do list last week included designing the projects for some upcoming workshops.  I was running out of time and began to over-think and to do too much with them.  The harder I tried to come up with a good design, the more frustrated and less-creative I was getting.  I just wasn't feelin' it.  Three hours before my workshop, as I'm finishing cleaning and setting up my studio, inspiration hits. To quote Despicable Me, "Light Bulb!"  Some simple, easy but way cute and totally duplicatable cards are what flowed out.  Nothing like last minute huh?

I was even able to put together a little 'kit' of products you could purchase for around $50 to get a Sale-a-bration FREEBIE   If you like these cards and want to be able to quickly, easily and inexpensively make them yourself, here's what you need.

• Oh Hello Stamp Set (wood mount) #130730     $25.95
• Notecards with Envelopes #107311                  $5.95
• In Color Markers (your choice of sets)               $14.95
• Paper Doilies #129399                                      $2.95
• In Color Bakers Twine (your choice of color)     $2.95

Total cost is only $52.75 (+ tax/shipping) PLUS you can choose the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (#130812) as your FREE Sale-a-bration item!

What a steal!  Several of the beginner stampers loved this as a way to get started stamping without a big investment and now they had several great ideas to work with.  Click the Shop button now and get these great products and your FREE Sale-a-bration goodies before it all ends on March 22!

Also, don't forget to sign up for Paper Pumpkin before March 10 to ensure you get the first kit when they ship out March 15!!  Please use my demo info (Heather Wilber at zip code 78665) when you sign up.

Happy Valentines Day!

With three boys in elementary school and one in preschool there were a lot of Valentine's to make this year.  85 to be exact.  And with 4 very different personalities, they each wanted something a bit different.  

Of course the first place I headed when I needed an idea was Pinterest.  Who hasn't been lost there for hours on end?  Aidan (7) happened to see this idea and he really liked it, so his were pretty easy thanks to my camera and My Digital Studio.

Connor (8) is my funny-man.  He's always crackin' jokes and laughing so his needed to be something funny.  He "totally got" the smartie pants joke right away and again, thanks to My Digital Studio and the Celebrate Any Day Designer Kit download (which has the pants image), he was able to assemble his cards all on his own.  We just printed the card, attached a Smarties candy to each leg and then cut out another pair of pants to attach on top.

Declan (4) LOVES the Big Shot.  Anytime I have die cutting to do he wants to crank it so I knew his Valentines would include some die cuts.  There are some peanut allergies in his class we we opted for lollipops and he did all the die cutting to make these adorable flowers using the Fun Flowers Bigz Die.

Finally, my eldest Lucas (10) is getting to the age when cutsie Valentine's are just not cool.  By this age, its really all just about the candy.  I get that but I just couldn't let 'neckid' candy be given so we wrapped the Hershey miniatures in Designer Series paper and added a nice little tag.  He was able to do all the wrapping, stamping and die cutting himself!  I stepped in when monotony threatened to take over but they turned out great.

I can't show you the Valentines I made for some of my girlfriends yet because several of them read this blog and they wont be getting theirs till we get together on Friday so you will have to wait too.  I do have one more thing I can share though.  I mentioned the My Digital Studio program earlier and if you are not familiar with it, it is a digital papercrafting program offer by Stampin' Up!  Its a wonderful way to create photo books, calendars, scrapbook pages, cards, flyers, invitation or just about anything else you can come up with.  Want to see what else I just created with it?

 Connor is having a sleepover campout birthday party (yeah for Feb weather in Texas!) so I made the invitations for it.  I used the Happy Camper Digital Download and was able to use the coloring tool to make the flames of the campfire various colors.  The best part about My Digital Studio is that you can try it for FREE!  Click on the SHOP button on the right and download your free trial offer today and see what you can create.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Heather

A Fairy Tale Come True!

Once upon a time there was a crafting princess who suffered from 3 ailments...

• She didn't have enough TIME to craft.
• She didn't know WHAT to create.
• She didn't have the SPACE to store a ton of crafting supplies.

Then along came her fairy godmother with Paper Pumpkin!  This is a wonderful new program that Stampin' Up! is starting.  Every month a new surprise project kit arrives on your doorstep to whisk you away for a 30 minute journey into creativity.  All the coordinated materials come measured, precut and ready to assemble - including directions.  Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper and accessories; everything to complete the project except adhesive.  The best part - its only $19.95 per month including shipping!

The first kits will begin shipping the 15th of March but you need to sign up by the 10th of the month to ensure you receive the kit for that month.  There is no commitment required, you can cancel your subscription anytime and you can even skip a month if you need to.

So forget Prince Charming.  Hop on over to Paper Pumpkin now to sign up now.  Even if you consider yourself more of a crafting ugly step-sister, you will LOVE this program.  Please be sure to indicate me as your demonstrator when prompted (Heather Wilber, zip code 78665).  You will receive a free gift from me if you do!

Bippity Boppity Bo!
Heather

I'm not intimidated anymore!

Chics 'n Chocolate was a blast!  Eleven dear friends enjoyed making three projects, chocolate wine and this yummy chocolate 'mountain' (as my 4 yr old calls it).  

We started with the projects so as to not have to work with chocolate fingers.  I think they were anxious to get to it cuz they worked hard and fast.  About half the group had never stamped before so it was such a joy to watch them create for the first time.  Many of them started with that look of dread.  I could almost hear them thinking "oh no, I can't do that" or "mine is never going to look like hers."  As I watched and helped each one complete their projects I saw that look change.  They all loved their projects and felt so good about what they had made.  One guest commented that if she sent this to her mom, she would probably show it off like she did her handmade projects when she was little.  Another was so proud of herself she wasn't sure she'd be able to give her projects away.

Later that night as we crawled into bed, my husband asked how the night went and if it was successful.  I smiled as I told him that it wasn't the sales or the bookings that made it a success, it was hearing this from a first time crafter; "I'm not intimated anymore!  I realized I can do this!  And it was so fun!"  THAT is why I do what I do.  That is what I LOVE about what I do.  THAT is what Stampin' Up! is all about.

To love what we do and share what we love,

as we help others enjoy creativity

and worthwhile accomplishments...

in this we make a difference!

                                                   - Statement of the Heart

Heather

Chics 'n Chocolate

Its a wonderful combination.  Chocolate, wine, and creating with your girlfriends.  What could be better?  Join me this Friday night as we celebrate our other Valentines... our girlfriends!  We will create a couple great chocolate-themed projects to show our love to our favorite gals and then spend the rest of the evening enjoying a chocolate fountain.  This event is free but you need to rsvp so I have enough wine and chocolate materials prepared.  :)

And there is another great promotion!  Can you believe it?  On top of the amazing, the awesome, the over-the-top Sale-a-Bration, Stampin' Up! is offering another promotion as well.  Get the exclusive Sent with Love Stamp Set or Designer Series Paper or buy them in a bundle with Calypso Coral Bakers Twine for 20% off!  Click the Shop Now button on the right to get yours today.

I will leave you with a project I made for my Mary Kay Consultant.  She is so sweet and helpful so I wanted to give her a little thank you gift.

 I used Basic Black and Pretty in Pink card stock for both the purse box and the card.  The box contained some dark chocolates.  The card used the bee image from Nature Walk as well as the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and the Dots Embossing Folder.  If you know the Mary Kay story you know the significance of the bee.

Lastly, did you know if you hit the Follow button on the upper left you will receive any new posts automatically to your email?  It will save you from having to remember to come back each week and you'll never miss the exciting news!

Heather