082909 Big You, Little Me class

Hi all,
Here is a picture of our little group of stampers. Wow! the kids did a great job on their four projects! These are lovely girls who took direction from the adults well. The girls all said they enjoyed making their projects. They seemed pleased to receive a "hand stamped by" stamp to take home in their canvas Build a Bear totes...with a reminder from me to ALWAYS sign your work! Can't tell you how many folks at convention were trading cards they had not signed. Sheesh!! An artist always signs her work!! Take pride in your work, gals, sign it!!!! This event was a real treat for me, too, and the gals asked that I do another class for kids and their adult buddies (these ladies were their "Aunts"). Soon I will be posting dates for upcoming stampin sessions so check out my website in a few days (peggyouten.stampinup.net) if you are interested in participating in another lady and gal session. By the way, I am not a great photographer, but in this case, I intentionally snapped a shot where no faces showed - thanks, Jeanne, for moving the paper towels to block Jordyn's face perfectly!
nighty night
Peggy

some thoughts...

Quickly before I hit the hay, I wanted to post a few quick thoughts (Gotta get up early tomorrow ...the kids head back to school! Sorry, John it makes me laugh that you have to get up early now too!)
First...thank you to four fabulous ANGELS (Jeanne, Joanie, Peggy and Terry) who completed 308 cards for me to send to Cards for Heroes. I am touched by your generosity and energy!
Second, Monday the 31st is the LAST day to take advantage of the $85 SU demo starter kit. Whether you want to be a fabulous business woman or you just realize that even as a hobby demo you can get 20% or more off every one of your stamp orders - that is a great opportunity. I would love to have you join my growing group!! You will not find more wonderful ladies to pal with than my gals!!
Third, Monday, 31st is the last day to order the Country Living kit or the refill..act fast by contacting me or placing an order directly through my SU website (peggyouten.stampinup.net)
Lastly, contact me to set up your September or October Stampin Up! workshop where you, as hostess, can earn the opportunity to buy any product (some cost as much as $42.95, for only $10 from the new holiday mini catalog (excluding the digital studio and the hostess sets). Did you know that the new mini has special hostess sets you can earn?
'gotta hit the hay.
nighty night.
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #8

Hi all
I have saved my favorite card from last Sunday's stampin session til last to share. This is another card I tweaked from Gretchen Barron - remember I talked about her earlier in the week. Now, as I have said before, EVERYONE used rich razzleberry for convention trades but heck! I only have one RR pad to use during our sessions so I had to mix it up a bit in order to use this design, so I chose the colors so saffron and elegant eggplant instead. I think it is soo pretty. Hope you do too.
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #7

Hi all
Are you a pixie pink lover? Do you love to see it paired with black? Well this is the card for you. I love the die cuts for making the go together easy.

Wow it has been a really long time since I used a wheel. I know lots of folks just run the wheel across the cardstock but I don't recommend it - instead I run the wheel on the diagonal several times. If you run the wheel vertically or horizontally and you waver a bit, it will be obvious, but if you do it on the diagonal you can have a bit of waver in you hand and it is not too obvious. I love the way the dauber adds a bit of color to the rolled wheel image without taking a lot of time.
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #6

Hi all
This is a fun little card that I'm going to take credit for. Somewhere I saw a card that used half a top note die and that is where I started. Can you tell that the sprinkles on the cupcake are sparkly? Sorry, it doesn't really show. This is a pretty quick little put-together...and who can't use a quick little birthday card!

Peggy

a plea!!

Stampers, stampers, stampers!!!!
I have been looking for a way to put together a charitable stampin event that is productive and important without being tooo expensive for you or me! I decided that I should recycle all the convention trades I have received over the years and put them to good use by submitting them to Cards for Heroes. These cards are sent to military personnel who are deployed so that they can send the cards home to their loved ones. Whether you believe is military action or not, you surely have to support the gals and guys who choose to protect us and our way of life. I am sorry to say that I have had a disappointing response to my request for stampers to come on Sunday with their white or vanilla plain cardstock and adhesive to make my card fronts into whole cards to contribute to the Cards for Heroes effort. There is no fee for this event besides your cardstock/adhesive contribution and I have asked folks to bring a snack to share. I will be providing the card fronts, the space, beverages and door prizes. I still have four more seats available. Won't you consider joining us to do something nice for folks who sacrifice daily for us? Please help.
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #5

Hi all
Today's card is inspired by the card I received in trade from April McCreight. Pay attention...here comes another suggested modification!!! April's card used a stencil which I do not have but....I do have the Tulipe die and Big Shot machine soooo I cut a piece of plastic quilting template using my Big Shot and then attached it to my cardstock with temporary adhesive. I took my versamark pad directly to the paper over the template and then applied EP ...viola! a very similar look to what April accomplished with a SU stencil. I think this card could be a great Christmas card by just changing the greeting. Yes, the ribbon on the left is retired but I thought it added just the right touch..do you agree?

Peggy

082309 stampin session project #4

Hi all
This card was inspired by a card I received in trade with Kelly Rogers on the airplane on my way to convention. Kelly and another demo and I enjoyed some pleasant conversation as we passed the time away in flight. Kelly's upline is her aunt, who lives in New Jersey. The friend that I share my hotel room and my good times with at convention is also from New Jersey.

Again, I changed the color scheme - because I do not have the DSP she used on her version - but mine is quite similar to hers. I see that Kelly used ink and sponges to color her images, but I decided to use Q tips and pastels on mine. I hope you are picking up on my suggestions about how to use models you see, even when you do not have all the identical tools and materials.

Peggy

Holy cow!!

Wow!! I just noticed that my "counter" says that I am a mere 21 visits from 10,000!! wow!! in less than 9 months! Cool beans!! wonder who will be number 10,000??????
Peggy

WELCOME!!

Hi all

I want to give a hearty shout out to my stampin budette, Terry, who has joined Stampin' Up! with me as a new demonstrator in my group. Whoo hoo! for Terry!!
Terry has shared many lovely projects with us during my stampin sessions. She is a beautiful soul, a great stamper and will be a great demo, I'm sure. In talking with her, it sounds like Terry has already realized what a great deal it is to be a demo (getting a discount on all her Stampin' Up! purchases, receiving the monthly magazine from Stampin' Up! and having access to all the resources on the demonstrator's side of the SU website) and she certainly enjoyed getting the kit at a fabulous price (only $85 until the end of August - that is next week!!). If she decides to do workshops or classes, she will have my support to organize, plan and carry out the events. We are a team!! We are even considering doing some events together. We would love to have other ladies (and men!) join with us in the fun. I hope you will consider joining us during this great starter kit offer. The sign up process is easy and can be done on line.
Thanks again Terry...Give hubby a hug from me! I know we will continue to share some great times!!
Nighty night
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #3

Hi all
Isn't this card refreshing?!?! I just love the simplicity of it!! It was inspired by one I received from Lisa at convention but if you saw hers you would realize the primary similarity is the layout....I used different colors, stamps, and greeting. When you do not have idea ready to produce, just look at the layout of a card that appeals to you and start replacing item by item. Before you know it you have something quite different. You will be surprised at how this approach will unleash your creativity! Try it!
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #2

Hi all
By the time you see this project, I will have (hopefully) survived my first day back to work/school after summer break. Usually the first day is full of announcements and presentations so I am probably tired of sitting by now. At least when I am home stamping, I usually stand, so it will feel like relief!
This pretty little card is cased from a great lady, Gretchen Barron, who won a great honor at convention this year. I understand it is well deserved as she has been helping demonstrators who find themselves in dire circumstances - after events such as house fires, tornados etc. Anyway, her card was beautiful and I did very little to change it - just a tweak here or there. Of course the base color is rich razzelberry - it has to be the most popular color this year - there were tons of cards at convention made using this color. Don't forget to spritz your cardstock before you put it through the Big Shot with the texturz plates - you'll get a better impression if you do.
Peggy

082309 stampin session project #1

Hi all
Today I am sharing one of the projects we made in my stampin session today. This card was cased from one I received from Rhonda Glaze at convention. Rhonda used a different image from the "A Flower for all Seasons" stamp set, a different texturz plate, and different colors. This is the kind of card you can keep on hand for a variety of occasions. The relatively flat bow will help keep the postage costs down. Hope you like it!!

Peggy

081609 stampin session project #8

Hi all

This card is a variation of one I had posted while I was at convention. When I did the stampin session of my convention trades BEFORE I went to convention, the gals only did four cards (two of each). However, before I left, I decided I needed one more card to trade ..soooo..it was this one, done in melon mambo and rich razzleberry. I wanted the ladies to have the complete set of my trades so /i added it to trhis session. I switched up the colors because we had several other cards using the melon and razzleberry colors. This ribbon, ink, and cardstock are the recently retired (and sorely missed!) pacific point "in color". I really love that blue!!

Peggy

081609 stampin session project #7

Hi all
This beautiful card idea was developed by Sharon Field a lovely lady who I have chatted with on line. Her card had a nice bow but I couldn't do it quite the way I wanted so instead I tweaked it and use the layered oval over a strip of ribbon instead. In order to create the round effect, I cut a circle out of scrap paper and attached it to the card front with temporary adhesive. I stamped the flower in the middle and then used a smaller stamp from the set to go around the edge. I love this effect because it looks so lovely but did not require lots of careful inking of the stamp. Monochromatic is beautiful!! Don't you agree?
When you stamp over the mask you sometimes have little areas where the ink doesn't fully print - did you know you can use a clean eraser 0n a pencil to fill in small areas. A marker can also work though it is sometimes inclined to bleed color a bit. So many errors are a snap to repair!!
Peggy

Finding fun in stressful times

Hi all,
Today I had an opportunity to lunch with some great women who I work with at one of my schools (Hi, gals!!) . We had such a fun gathering, chatting about a hundred different topics and sharing our personal stories, most of which revealed our more vulnerable selves. There was no bragging or name dropping or exaggeration to impress others, just sharing life with other open women who are real - unpretentious, committed, faithful, reliable and funny women. A blessing for sure!! Thanks Karen W, Kathy S, Kathy B, Karyn G. and Jill. It will be a good year in your company. (Jill, we are going to miss you....lucky CJ!)
It is a delight to me that when I attend the Stampin Up! convention each year I find thousands of the the same type of women. I have never (in twelve conventions I have attended!!) ever heard someone brag about how much she has sold or how many recruits she has. It's just not there! If you say you are unsure about a topic, there is always someone there who is willing to suggest a strategy to help. If you complement a demo on her stamped work, she willingly explains how she did it. On my flight back from convention, I chatted with another stamper who was at convention for the first time. She was not overwhlemed by the experience, as many first timers are, as she had been to many conventions with other groups. But the thing she found remarkable was how there was the overwhleming assumption that everyone was a friend to everyone else. Ladies plopped their convention bags down on a chair then walked away to trade cards or treats or pins, knowing that their cameras, travel money and stamps were left behind in their bag. But no one worried that their belongings would not be there when they returned. Since I have been back home, I have seen posts to some of my online groups by ladies thanking whoever it was that found a left behind item and turned it into the info booth. When someone won a prize they hugged the employee who handed it to them as if the gift was from that employee herself. Strangers offered to take pictures of other groups of ladies so no one would be left out. Flat out- the atmosphere of sharing and respect is the true joy of convention...and of Stampin' Up! I wish some of you would consider joining Stampin' Up! with me so that you can enjoy this wonderful, refreshing, rejuvinating experience.
Nighty night
Peggy

081609 stampin session project # 6

Hi all
Today's card was seriously tweaked from a card I saw on line but (so sorry!) I have not been able to find out who made the original card. It used a different stamp set and had a layer on top instead of a hole.
The colors I used are elegant eggplant and certainly celery with always artichoke ribbon. The base paper is very vanilla. My friend, Terry, was generous enough to let me play with her curly label mover and shaper. I had the main mover and shaper die before Stampin Up! began to carry it so I do not have the curly label die that comes with it now. Thanks, Terry, for letting us use yours!
During our stampin session, one of the ladies accidently randomly stamped the images along the short side instead of the long side. Ah ha! a challenge!! Did we cry over spilled milk? NOoooooo! we quickly regrouped and added a corrugated piece of celery c/s between the eggplant strip and the main certainly celery section and then another strip of the eggplant c/s on the right of that celery corrugated piece. Viola! a variation on the original card idea ..........and it was lovely!! That was fun!!!
Peggy

081609 stampin session project #5

Hi all
Hope you are enjoying my riches from convention - great card ideas ...and I have lots more. That is why I am doing another convention trades stampin session on Sunday, Aug 23 with all new ideas!! Hope you will come for the fun!
This card is a tweak of a card made by Shelly Milford. I added the scallop squares behind the flowers - just felt the flowers might pop a bit more with the layer in a splash of coordinating color to match the bow. The popped up flower centers and the soft suede layer add a bit of dimension. The greeting is from Fundamental Phrases.
Enjoy!
Peggy

081609 stampin session project # 4

Hi all
Isn't this a pretty card? This was a convention trade I received from my convention roommate, Linda. It uses the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, rich razzleberry, melon mambo and whisper white c/s. Linda used the texture plate kit #4 to emboss the rich razzleberry c/s but since I do not have that set of plates, the gals used the backgrounds #1 set instead. Layering using the oval and scalllop oval punches made this go together quickly. Love it! Thanks, Linda!!
Peggy

081609 stampin session project #3

Hi all,
Isn't this a fun little card?
The "Things I love" set also has images for shopping and shoes but in reality, I love chocolate the best of all! Too bad there is no stamp for stamping. hmmmm....
This is one of those cards that makes you appreciate all of the graded sizes of punches - for this card I used the 1 3/8", 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches. Fun and fast!!!

Peggy

081609 stampin session project #2

Hi all
Sorry that this photo came out not so clear - I will try to retake the rest of the pics but for tonight this is the best I can do..it's late..or early!
This card was inspired by one I received at convention from Robin Govier from Canada. I switched it up just a bit - different butterfly, different words, Stickles on the flowers, but basically the same. Really pretty! There is a layer of vellum over the pretty in pink c/s. The gals will be making this at my Sunday stampin session later today. I will be posting the rest of the projects through this week. And next Sunday (the 23rd) I will be doing another stampin session with more convention trades. We'd love to have you join us! Can't come? Ask me about purchasing the supplies so you can make the projects at home.
Nighty Night
Peggy

teenager birthday

Hi all!!
Tonight my son is at yet another birthday party! This morning he asked me if I would take him to the store ...to get a birthday card!!!!!
No!!!!
Is he nuts????
So I set out to make an acceptable card for a seventeen year old boy. I usually try to go with the instrument the kid plays, as most of these kids having parties are from the marching band. But this is a multi talented kid who plays instruments I do not have and do not think I can fake. So I offered either snowboarding or bike riding. John sneared at each. So then I offered teddy bears (tee hee)...he chose bike riding. (Hey, it's all relative!!!!) I decided I had to tough it up so it would not be rejected!!
Did the biker in Black stazon ink on cork, crumbled the edges and inked them up with really rust ink. The cork had been rolled up in storage for a long time so I stuck it on the card front with sticky strip (hope it stays put!!). Speckeled the background with "Itty Bitty Backgrounds" and chocolate chip ink. Used the distressor tool on the edges. Used the twill tape (even poked my finger trying to fray the ends...think bleeding and bandaids!!) - also stamped on the twill with stazon. Used some old rough looking buttons on the ends...you probably cannot tell but the buttons are attached using wire. (is that rough enough?) Didn't want the message to be too gushy so I used "enjoy" and "your day" - had to stamp each word individually because they are together in line on the stamp.
When I showed it to John for approval, he said "awesome...did you burn it?" (referring to the really rust edges) Now that question may seem wierd but you have to know that another kid in the band laminated his band notes by sticking them in a report folder and then BURNED THE EDGES WITH A LIGHTER!!! Lucky for John, his mom has a laminator so no chance we will burn his notes to ashes.
Anyway, I felt successful in my attempt. Another acceptable day as a Mom.
fade out as mom smiles.........
Nighty night
Peggy

Consider this...

Are you eager to have all of the new In Color stamp pads and cardstock? I have a deal for you!

You can purchase all of the new In Color stamp pads and cardstock, a stamp set worth $28.95, plus a pack of whisper white cardstock for a total price of $85 plus tax (in Maryland that would be a total of $90.10). This is less than the usual total price of these items which would normally be $93.40 (in Maryland).

Now, in addition to that, you will also receive a special Stampin' Up! magazine monthly until at least the end of December, full access to all aspects of the Stampin' Up' website (you have NO idea of all of the resources that are available behind the scenes), and at least 20% off all your purchases from now until the end of December (or longer). You will have a chance to pre-order items from at least two mini catalogs (the upcoming holiday mini and the winter mini) so you have those products before most of the rest of the stampin world. Is that a great deal or what?

BUT you have to act before August 31ST. There is no trick hiding here!! You simply take advantage of the special starter kit offer and enjoy demonstrator status with me at least until the end of December. And to make it even more simple, you can continue those benefits beyond December simply by buying (or selling) $300 in products over the next 4 months. Many of you are already buying that much product in 4 months time. Don't you deserve a discount?

You have the freedom to hostess workshops, hold classes, service your friend's and relative's orders, or just be your own best customer. Please give me an opportunity to get you in on the fun of having the title, Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I want you to join with me while this hot hot hot offer is still on.
Contact me at 410-256-6772 or
david.outen@verizon.net or
sign up on my demonstraror website (peggyouten.stampinup.net) - you will need to use the code stampeg08 (that digit before the 8 is a zero).

Are you waiting for me to ask you personally to join? I don't know that!!! Give me a sign that you are interested and I will send you the recruiting brochure to answer your questions. Talk to me and let me give you the facts you are waiting to hear. Are you concerned that you already have those products - there is an option to substitute items.

Team up with me NOW (before this fabulous offer ends on Aug 31) and we can share the fun!!
I want You on My team!!!

Peggy

081609 upcoming class sample #1

Hi all,
Tonight I am sharing one of the cards we will be making at my stampin session this Sunday. This delightful card was inspired by a somewhat more quiet trade I received from Kim Lee at convention. I changed the color (this is the new in color melon mambo- ha cha cha!) and added the lines on the left to make the card more busy. The layer behind the words is rich razzleberry cardstock which makes the small words pop a bit more than they did if I had used the melon mambo. Hope you will consider joining us on Sunday ...be sure to register by Thursday night. nighty night
Peggy

how cute!!!!

Hi all

Meet my Stampin' Up! Build a bear!! I keep calling it a "he" but I really think it should be a "she"!! She needs a name! Any suggestions? The stamp in her hand says "Life without stamps...unbearable!" I love it!! Did you notice the SU logo on her foot!

Peggy

lovely gift

Hi all,
Tonight I want to share with you a sweet gift I received from my friend/convention roommate, Linda. She made this lovely bag tag for me to mark my convention bag and make it unique - after all, all 3000 of us were carrying the same bag!! Isn't it great?
Peggy

The Winners are...

Hi All,
Sorry, I am late to post today but it has been a slow day for me - still feeling a bit of a drag from my trip. Unfortunately, I did not get 10 comments on any of the 5 days I was away, even though I had a about 50- 100 "lookie loos" per day! I know, you are all the strong silent types!
Anyway, I do appreciate patti c, jmniffer, jeannievbarron,and kathryn stopping in to comment several times each and so I have decided to award my prizes to them. Patti and Kathryn can pick up their prizes the next time they come to a stampin session and jmniffer and jeannievbarron please send me your snail addys (assuming you are not locals!) so I can mail the items to you. Thanks, ladies, for commenting - hope you will continue to visit my blog and comment on what you see.
I hope to post my convention swap bow directions on Tuesday - still struggling with getting the pictures to appear in order!
Peggy

I'm home!!

So glad to be home after a long day of travel but ......who the heck left the oven on??? 91 degrees at 11 PM? what is going on with that? ugh!
I will try to post some pics tomorrow but right now I am exhausted and am headed to bed! Will be calling some of you tomorrow as some stamp orders arrived while I was at convention!

Peggy

Convention Trade #5

Hi all,
I love this card which features the new In Color, Bermuda Bay. Materials include:
Petal Pizzazz (113417, 32.95 p 113), Sincere Salutations (115068, 23.95, p 143), Whisper white cardstock (100730, 7.50/40, p 159), Bermuda Bay cardstock (115317, 5.50/24, p 155), Bermuda Bay Polka Dotted ribbon (115610, 9.95, p 182),
Circle Fire Rhinestone brads (109110, 10.95, p 179), Rich Regals Colored brads (106953, 8.95, p 179), Rich Razzleberry pad (115658, 5.95, p 155), Melon Mambo pad (115656, 5.95, p 155), Bermuda Bay pad (115655, 5.95. p 155), Gable Green pad ( 101673, 5.95, p 156), Double Rectangle Punch (105088, 5.95, p 186), and Scallop circle punch (109043, 15.95, p 186), Dimensionals and Sticky strip adhesive.

Stamp the large flower in Bermuda Bay ink on the bottom right corner of the 5 3/4" x 2 3/4" piece of whisper white c/s. Randomly stamp the leaf in Gable Green ink around the flower, making sure to stamp high enough so the second flower does not cover the leaves. Stamp the medium flower in rich razzleberry ink on a piece of scrap white c/s; punch it out using the scallop circle punch. Stamp the small flower in melon mambo ink on a piece of scrap white cardstock and cut it out. Insert a rhinestone brad in the center of the rich razzleberry flower and a colored brad in the center of the melon mambo flower. Insert the double rectangle punch in from the top of the strip of white cardstock, all the way so you can see only a small amount of the corner next to the punch. Punch the holes. Lay a one inch strip of Sticky Strip adhesive vertically from the bottom edge of the white c/s upward in line with the punched holes at the top. Put a 1/4" square piece of sticky strip above the holes and below the top edge. Lay the 9" long piece of ribbon, starting at the bottom edge and going straight up to the top, cover the holes and attach to the sticky strip. You should have about 3" of ribbon above the top of the card. With any luck at all, I will post a detailed description of how to tie the bow tomorrow. Once the bow is tied you can attach the white cardstock to the Bermuda Bay cardstock. Attach the two flowers to the card front using dimensionals. Attach a piece of 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 piece of white cardstock, folded in half, to the back of the Bermuda Bay cardstock. Stamp the greeting in Melon Mambo ink.
Remember, you will be entered in a drawing for a free gift if you and nine other people post a comment today.

The Party's Over!!

Hi all,
Well, the party is over ...we all flowed out of the Salt Palace convention center just a short time ago - full of new ideas and perspectives, but a little sad that this fun is ended. I am sitting here paging through my notebook trying to prioritize my "to do" list so I can get back in the groove when I get home. Can't wait for yo'al to see my cute Stampin' Up! Build a Bear and to share some if the many stampin projects I've seen and received. One of the best things about convention is that everyone has a different approach to their businesses and most folks are more than willing to share what they do to be efficient and creative. I loved the many conversations with "strangers" who are now among my new friends. I am thrilled to say that my family was able to "get" my boarding assignment and the number is only one digit higher than I had on the way out - whoo hoo -so I am optimistic that I will get an aisle seat on the way home. whoo hoo! thanks for storming the heavens to help me in that task!! Looking forward to seeing and/or talking to you soon. I have been thinking about my offer of blog candy and will be tweaking the plan since I did not get the target number of posts each day. Sweet thanks to those of you who tried to help me in that goal.
Peggy

Convention Trades #4

Hi all,
This card was made with my friend Terry in mind - she loves butterflies and I know she has this set. so here goes...
Materials list: Flight of the Butterfly(111564, 31.95), Stem Sayings (115078, 20.95), whisper white c/s9 (100730, 7.50/40), colored c/s (really just about any color will work here), ink pad to match the c/s, crushed curry pad (115659, 5.95, p 155), butterfly punch (116629, 15.95, p 186), crushed curry polka dotted ribbon (115614, 9.95, p 155), mini glue dots (103683, 4.95, p 192), sticky strip tape (104294, 6.95, p 192).
To begin, mark a vertical line in dead center of the whisper white c/s (5 3/4 x 2 1/4) and also mark a vertical line one inch from either end. Using the butterfly punch up-side down, punch out three butterflies by pushing the c/s all the way into the punch and lining up the center of the punch with the center line you drew. Then punch the two side butterflies making sure to line up the pencil line with the middle of the butterfly - save both the three butterflies and the piece of c/s you punched them from. (ick! dangling preposition!) Now, trim off (AND SAVE) a narrow piece from the bottom of the butterfly piece - be sure not to cut into the butterfly holes but cut close. The strip that comes off is for stamping the words. Now let me pause here to tell you that this cutting off part (instead of starting with a smaller piece in the first place) is very important because it allows you to push the punch all the way in to get perfect alignment - then you cut off a bit and you save a wee bit of cardstock (as there is none under the ribbon! bam!) but you have enough to add the words. Attach the piece with the words to the bottom of the 3 x 6 colored card front. Then attach the ribbon just above that. Then attach the c/s with the butterfly holes. Then stamp the solid butterfly in crushed curry ink on each butterfly. Using the coordinating ink, stamp the three details stamps - one on each butterfly. Fold the wings upward on either side of the middle of the butterfly body and curl the ends of the wings around a pencil. Use one glue dot in the center of the butterfly body to attach each butterfly onto the card. fold a 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 piece of whisper white cardstock and attach it to the back of the melon mambo cardstock.
Enjoy!
Peggy

Convention Update Friday

Hi all!!

I am moving a little slowly after a SCRUMPTIOUS dinner at the local SLC Brazillion grill. I "behaved myself" by not having alcohol, potatoes or rolls, but plenty of salad and a sampling of assorted meats! Ok!! Ok!! I did have a dreamsicle cheesecake slice but I only ate the narrow pointed half!! Promise!! I felt justified in having the dessert because it was free!!! - we found coupons at the info booth at convention - and except for the dreessing on the salad and the coating on the pineapple (of which I only had two small bites) there were no carbs in the meal. It was such a treat to chat chat chat with the ladies - Cathy, Linda, Blythe, Sue, Sue Ann, Kathy, and whoops, I'm sorry!! I forgot the last name!! Oh and I almost forgot "flat Kathy" - sooo funny - one gal could not come to convention so she sent a flat version of herself for her friends to carry. We took lots of pictures - mostly of flat Kathy drinking alcohol and hanging out with the dessert tray! SLC has a nifty TRAX (think electric streetcar) that takes you around downtown for free!! Are you noticing how much I love the word "free"!!

Stampin' Up! reminded us today that we need to share the opportunity to participate in all the convention fun by inviting all our stampin buddies to join with us by becoming demonstrators - whether you want to build a big business, to add to your family coffers, or just want to take advantage of the demonstrator discount (or anything in between!!!). I truly would love to join with you in this fun and inspiring work (is it fair to call it work?). Won't you take advantage of the limited time offer of a reduced price on the starter kit? I'd love to chat with you about joining me in this fun enterprise!!! Do you know that you only need $300 in sales PER QUARTER to stay active? Some of you are already spending that much per quarter all by yourself!! You could be earning back 20% or more!

Hold you breath (and pray if you are so inclined!!) Tomorrow my son is going to try to get me an "A" boarding pass on the plane back home. You guys helped me with the Tinkerbell effect to get an A seat on the way out here and I need that help again!!

chat soon!!

Peggy live from Salt Lake City!! whoo hoo!

convention trade #3

Hi all,
The gals who came to my convention trades stampin session last Sunday did not make this card - 'cuz I only designed it tonight! The colors do not look very true in the picture but hopefully the directions will clarify any confusion.
The materials used: Out of the Box (115342, hostess level 1, p 12), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370, 36.95, p 145), Melon Mambo pad, Rich Razzleberry pad, Rich Razzleberry polka dotted ribbon (115613), Whisper White c/s, Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper, 1 3/4" circle punch (112004), scallop edge punch (112091), Scallop circle punch (109043), Word Window Punch (105090), Modern Label Punch (116630), 1 3/8" circle punch (104401), Rich Razzleberry cardstock, Melon Mambo cardstock, Pennent Sizzix Die, Dimensionals, Sticky strip adhesive.
Attach the DSP (4x2) on the bottom of the white c/s leaving an even margin on the three sides of the DSP.
Attach two one inch strips of sticky strip about 1/4" above the top of the DSP so one end of each is aligned with an end of the DSP. Lay the ribbon on the adhesive. Die cut the large scallop circle in rich razzleberry c/s on the Big Shot using the Pennant Die. Stamp the jack in the box on whisper white c/s in rich razzleberry ink; punch it out using the 1 3/4" circle punch and layer it on the pennant scallop circle. Attach it using dimensionals so it bridges over the polka dotted ribbon. Stamp the cupcake in melon mambo ink on whisper white c/s and punch it out using the 1 3/8" circle punch. Layer it on a melon mambo scallop circle punch. Attach it to the card front using dimensionals. Stamp the words in melon mambo ink on a scrap of whisper white c/s, punch it out using the word window punch. Layer the word window piece on a modern label punch in rich razzleberry c/s. Attach it to the card using dimensionals. Use the scallop edge punch on a piece of melon mambo c/s and trim to a length of 10 bumps. Attach it to the top front edge of the card. If I have time, I am adding some glitter to the cupcake icing.
I love cards that use lots of punches!! So fast!

Convention update - Thursday night

Hi all
Well we have had a long busy day ...lots of walking and standing but a great day! This morning they showed us some of the new "my digital studio" the amazing new software program for making cards and scrapbooks ..very interesting and full of Stampin Up! colors and images...even punches!! Hope I can figure it out - you know how computer-limited I am!! Many lucky folks actually won the program FREE!!! wow, lucky ducks! We also talked about the new Build a Bear products which are really great - even got to die cut a bear and dress him or her. A really neat announcement was that we could purchase our very own Stampin Up! build a bear from memento mall - so cute with a Stampin' Up! apron and special stamp. Seemed like everyone wanted one and the line was a mile long ...but we were eventually successful in getting our own. Cute! Tonight there was an awards ceremony ..some demos are having amazing success in their businesses! Well I am seeing lots of visits to my blog but not so many comments. Thanks to those who are commenting - talk your freinds into commenting too so I can give away my blog candy - remember I need 10 comments in a day in order to give away the gifts....
Peggy

my convention trades #2

Hi all,
You will be seeing this convention trade on Thursday, the opening day of convention.
I designed this card after finding some craft foil in my stampin stash. The Big Shot machine can handle about 50 different materials including foil, and so I thought I just had to try this shiny, slightly heavier weight foil for a project. This foil is heavier than the foil you use in your kitchen.
Materials: Warm words (115108, 21.95, p141), Certainly Celery c/s (105125, 5.50/24 sheets, p 157), Whisper White c/s 100730, 7.50/40 sheets, p 159), Craft Foil, Taken with Teal pad (103257, 5.95, p 157), Modern Label punch (116630, 15.95, p 186), Big Shot (113439, 99.95, p 194) Magnetic Movers and Shapers punch windows (115953, 29.95, p 201), Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (114512, 11.95, p 195), Flower Burst Embosslit (114515, 11.95, p 195), Simple Flower Embosslit (114514, 11.95, p 195), Gold Brads (104337, 6.95, p 179), Piercer (116631, 3.50, p 191), Mat (105826, 9.95, p 191), and Dimensionals (104430, 3.95, p 192).
Run the whisper white c/s (4 x 5 1/4) through the Big shot with the Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate. Run the foil through the Big Shot using the embosslits (Flower Burst and Simple Flower). Run a piece of certainly celery cardstock through the Big Shot with the modern label mover and shaper die. Attach the foil flowers onto the white cardstock with adhesive. Poke a hole through the center of the two simple flowers; insert a gold brad in each hole and spread the legs in the back. Attach the card front to a piece of 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 certainly celery c/s. (NOTE: I usually make the inside of my cards white because I find it easier to see the message inside on white and I prefer to conserve my colored cardstock as I have much more white cardstock available than colored.) Fold the 8 1/4 by 5 3/8" white cardstock in half and attach to the back of the certainly celery c/s. Stamp the word in taken with teal ink on scrap whisper white cardstock and punch it out using the modern label punch - remember to use the punch up-side down so you can see the stamped word in the opening of the punch to get nice alignment. Layer the punched word onto the die cut modern label the attach the set to the card front using dimensionals. Attach a folded piece of 8 1/4 x 5 3/8 white c/s on the back of the certainly celery cardstock.
This was a fun project ...hope you enjoy it too.
Remember your posted comment will earn you an opportunity to win some blog candy. Each person is entitled to enter one comment each day. Wouldn't you like to win?
Peggy

Good morning!

Slept well...had a nice hot shower (sometimes you don't get hot at convention -too many women showering at the same time!) with great water pressure (hate it when it is just a trickle) and now we are off to the opening. whoo hoo!! chat later!
Peggy

An update from SLC!

Hi, Stampers!!
I got my aisle seat!! whooo hooo! and was seated next to a lovely lady (not the grumpy old men I usually get - think falling asleep on my shoulder and drooling!) who chatted with me - made the time fly by for sure. Then to make matters even more swell, I had a really nice stamper lady, Tammy (Hi, Tammy!) next to me and another great stamper gal, Kelly (Hi Kelly!) behind me! Sure made the trip go faster - even though we were late leaving Baltimore and arriving in SLC. Checked in and got my funky bag - think roomie bag!! - my stamps - love them! - and a few other goodies!! Stood in line for a loooong time to go to momento mall and got a hunk (as many as I could fit in my suitcase) of CD tins for a stamp class project - see, I am thinking about you gals! Dinner at Olive Garden was wonderful - yum!
Keep those posts coming to earn a drawing...can't get the comments section to work? email me at home and it will still count and I will add your comment when I get home.
david.outen@verizon.net
Nighty night
Peggy

my convention trades #1

Hi all,
By the time you see this I will be on my way to Salt Lake City, leaving my family behind to man the fort while I'm off "working" (tee hee). This will be my twelfth Stampin Up! convention - I have only missed one (2005) in all the years since I became a demo. It is a fabulous experience where the energy around you fills you up and you know you would not want to miss it ever!!
Does this card look like a repeat post? Well it is not exactly like the one posted on 8-1-09. I just love the look of this "thumped" card and so I reworked the bottom half to be a bit more cheerful and casual in comparison to the more somber mood of the 8-1 version. I wanted to share this with you because of the paper-saving and postage-saving strategy I used to make this card.
Here are the materials used: Thoughts and Prayers (113252, 25.95, p 52), Sincere Saluations (115068, 23.95, p 143), Very Vanilla C/s (101650, 7.50/40 sheets, p 159), Confetti Cream (102835, 9.50/40, p 159), Bashful Blue (105120, 5.50/24, p 157), Not Quite Navy c/s (101722, 5.50/24, p 156), Not Quite Navy pad (103008, 5.95, p 156), Bashful Blue pad (105209, 5.95, p 157), Not quite Navy marker (100059, 3.25, p 156), Bashful Blue striped grosgrain ribbon (110717, 7.95/10 yds, p 182), Big Shot (113439, 99.95, p 194), Lots of Tags sizzlit set (114508, 21.95/4 dies, P 197), and Wide Oval Punch (112082, 15.95, P 186 ), Sticky Strip tape (104294, 6.95, p 192) Dimensionals (104430, 3.95, p192).
Fold the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 confetti cream c/s in half. Ink the tree with bashful blue ink. Take the Not Quite Navy marker and gently tap the brush marker end randomly on the surface of the stamp. Actually, I made a point of drawing the edge of the brush marker down the edge of one side of the trunk to shade it and then I tapped my marker along the branch lines and a bit more at the bottom of the leaves than at the top of the tree. Give the stamp a huff of breath and then stamp it on a piece of 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 very vanilla c/s. Ink up the word stamp with Not Quite Navy ink and stamp the words in the middle of the 3 3/4 x 2 3/4 piece of bashful blue c/s. Use the wide oval punch upside down so you can see the image and position the words in the opening, punch out the stamped words BUT save the outer piece of Bashful Blue c/s as it is the layer that goes under the stamped tree. Take the 3 x 4 piece of Not Quite Navy c/s and lay the Lots of Tags sizzlit right in the center of the c/s. Run it through the Big Shot. Again, save the outer piece of c/s as this is the bottom layer of the tree set. By cutting out the unseen centers of these two layers, you are being economical with your cardstock and are saving a bit of weight when the postage is calculated. Attach the layered set (tree, bashful blue, not quite navy) about 1/4" from the top of the card front. Use Sticky strip tape across the card base about 1 1/4" from the bottom of the card front edge. Attach a piece of Bashful blue striped grosgrain ribbon on the sticky strip. Layer the stamped words oval onto the Lots of Tags medallion. Attach that set to the card front using dimensionsals - be sure to place the dimensionals at the top and bottom of the back of the medallion so that they stick the medallion set to the card front - not to the ribbon. Viola'!! Hope you love it. Remember, your posted comment gets you entered into a drawing for my blog candy.
Peggy

The Race is on!!!!!! and Convention offer

Hi all
Sorry to be posting so late today ...but the RACE IS ON!!! I am racing against time to get my convention trades finished, my bags packed, and all those important little home details handled before I leave for Salt Lake City. Tomorrow I will huddle over the computer until I get my boarding pass on line ...please, heaven, let me get an "A" ticket!! (nervous flyer -I need an aisle seat!!!).
Tonight I want to detail my special "Convention 09" offer. I will be giving away a free gift each day from Wednesday to Sunday (that's five days!) that I have 10 different folks commenting on my blog (inappropriate comments will not count!). No gift will be awarded on days with less than 10 different folks commenting. Only one of your comments will count each day so there is no advantage to commenting multiple times in one day. However, you are encouraged to come back each day to comment again to increase your opportunity to win. Please encourage your friends to comment also to ensure a gift is awarded each day. Once I return home, I will have a family member draw the winning names and then I will post them to my blog. Of course, if you win, you will need to provide a snail address so I can mail the gift to you. If there are 10 comments each day, I will also give away an additional sixth gift.
I have prepared my blog so that you will see one of my convention trades each day that I am away. As of Sunday, I only had four trades planned but I spent today developing another one so that I would have one for each day. I am also posting directions and a materials list for each project. Hope to hear from you ...don't be afraid to post. If you don't have a google account, you can get one for free. After you comment, you do have to verify yourself by typing in the letters/numbers that are presented. It's easy.
Nighty Night
Peggy

teen boy's birthday card

Hi all,
My teenage son attended a fun birthday party at his friend's swim club today. You should see his poor rudolph nose!! Anyway, the customary gift in my area is cash or gift cards, so the gift was easy to select. All we needed was a card.. so ...viola! here is what I came up with. Mark, the birthday boy, used to play base drum in the marching band but this year he is playing the marimba (bells to some folks!) and so I tried to effect those images in the card. The words are from Stampin' Up!s Celebrate Everything set but the other parts are die cuts. I have a thin drum die - it's green so it might not be Sizzlit - sorry, not sure of the brand. It had drum sticks on the die too but since the base drum and marimba are played with mallets, I tweaked the drum sticks by adding the puffy white parts. The marimba at the bottom was made by die cutting a part of the Swirly long cut die twice. Then I used the horizontal slot punch to make the keys. My son liked the card - high praise, huh? I wasn't there when Mark opened the card, but his Mom commented on it when I picked up my son at the end of the party.
Tomorrow I will begin posting my swap cards for convention - and I plan to give detailed instuctions/materials. I recently devised my own unique bow (where did that idea come from!!) and I hope to post detailed pictures so you can give it a try as well. Stay tuned. I hope to have posts each day this week - even while I am away at convention. Keep on posting comments as I will be checking in each day. Hmmmm, maybe I need a blog candy offer while I am gone. I'm gonna percolate on that idea...I'll get back to ya' on that! Stay tuned!
Peggy

Tree project #7

Hi all,
I really wish I was a more effective photographer because this photo does not do justice to this card.
I should have laid it on a piece of dark paper for the picture but hopefully you can use your imagination to picture the effect. How did the tree get multi colored? Using an old technique that I don't think we have used in a class before - say it isn't so!! This technique is called thumping. After the tree was inked up in bashful blue, we took a not quite navy marker and tapped it on the stamp directly..then stamped. This was my favorite project of the class. Course, using that wonderful hardware makes the card really lovely.
Peggy