Friday, June 28, 2013

We Have Winners!


Thanks to everyone who entered my Mystery Hostess contest and $50 Shopping Spree contest by entering!    The orders are all in now and I got my hubby to do the draws!  The winners are:

Winner of $110 of free product plus 2 items at 50% off is:

Kim Findlater

Winner of  the $50 Shopping Spree is:

Eunice Stoneman

Congratulations, ladies, and I will be in contact with you about claiming your prizes!  If you didn't win, take heart!  I will definitely do these contests on a regular basis!

I also wanted to let you know about a great deal just announced from Stampin' Up:

NEW COLOUR MARKERS



In the 2013-2014 annual catalogue, we offer the Stampin' Write Marker New Colour Kit (item 130034, page 163) to help you update your Many Marvelous Marker pack. Now, we've sweetened the deal. For a limited time, from June 26 until October 31, you can buy any of the new colours in the pack or on their own! Go ahead, fill in the missing pieces in your collection or buy the whole lot.

                                                 ITEM PRICE DESCRIPTION
                               130034 $37.95 Stampin' Write Marker New Color Kit

Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder

                               131899 $4.50 Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker
                               131265 $4.50 Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Marker
                               131902 $4.50 Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker
                               131901 $4.50 Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker
                               131905 $4.50 Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker
                               131266 $4.50 Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker
                               131904 $4.50 Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker
                               131898 $4.50 Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker
                               131900 $4.50 Soft Sky Stampin' Write Marker
                               131903 $4.50 Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Marker

Thanks once again to all my wonderful customers!  Have a great weekend!



Thursday, June 27, 2013

It's a Boy!!


I am pleased and proud to announce that my third grandson, Wyatt Drysdale Poettcker, was born at 9:12 am on Wednesday, June 26, weighing in at 8 lbs. 6 oz.  His mom and dad are doing well!  We left at 10 pm for the four hour journey to Vancouver, and arrived just as Erin was heading to the hospital.

Wyatt is such a contented little guy, SO FAR!  And he is a natural at nursing, his career choice at this point! lol


Just before we left, I designed a vintage-style card, which I am thinking of using as one of my Convention Swaps.  It's missing some embellishments, because my order didn't arrive before we had to go, but I'll show it to you again, once I've got them.  Here it is:



  • Do you ever find that when you look at a photograph of your cards, that you can tell right away if it's one of your better creations or not?  Not sure about this one.
  • I think that I would use less sponging in Soft Suede.  I was doing an emboss resist technique for the newsprint panel, but all the other panels and elements just cover it up, so there's no point, and therefore no need for such heavy sponging with the Soft Suede.
  • What other embellishments would you use with the Very Vintage Button?  It needs more to balance it.
  • How do you like the new stamp set: Tea Party?  Just made for a vintage card, I think.



  • Here's another example of how the 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim is ideal for curves and ovals, due to the stretch and the gathered ruffle.  Here, I'm using Coastal Cabana, which is one of the colours in the Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper.
  • The Delicate Details Lace Tape is so easy to use and adds a pretty element to the card.
  • I did a little stitching with my sewing machine down the right side of the polka dot panel.
Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit orders for the Mystery Hostess Contest and the $50 Shopping Spree as well as for Product Shares.  Product Shares are going ahead, so you might want to take advantage of the opportunity to get more variety of paper and embellishments, without having to buy full amounts of each colour or style.  The orders have really been pouring in, so I know the rewards are going to be BIG!!  Don't miss out on the opportunity to win lots of free product from Stampin' Up!!

Stamps:  Tea Party (w129135; c129138)
Paper: Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper (131390); Wisteria Wonder (122922), Soft Suede (115318) and Very Vanilla (101650) cardstock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Soft Suede (126978); VersaMark (102283)
Accessories:  3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim in Coastal Cabana (130024); Very Vintage Buttons (129327); Tea Lace Doily (129399); Delicate Designs Lace Tape (130966)
Tools: Ovals Collection Framelits (129381); Stamping Sponges (101610)

Afternoon Picnic DSP

Tea Party Stamp Set

Very Vintage Buttons

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

It's Time

At this time, 9 pm Tuesday night, it looks as though Grandbaby #3 may be on his/her way.  I'm so excited I can't think straight, but I wish I had a better supply of cards to share with you over this week.  I am bringing some supplies with me, so hopefully I can be ingenious enough to come up with a few samples.  I don't want to add much to this post, because I hope I can give you a full report tomorrow.


I just want to let you know, however, that Stampin' Up has added several new items to the Clearance Rack and the savings are BIG!  But you know how fast those new items disappear, so check it out soon.



If you do decide to order something, be sure to use the HOSTESS CODE: DSXVJXEY so you can get in on the Mystery Hostess contest, and if it's $50 or more you will be entered in the $50 Shopping Spree contest as well!

Okay, gotta go meet a baby!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Waiting for Baby MOJO

Hmmm!  Seems like I was doing this very same thing last year around this time!  Today is my second grandson, Kesten's first birthday.  This photo was taken at his birthday party!.  My oldest daughter is now five days overdue and we're waiting to go to Vancouver to help them for a week with the new one. (And, of course, to get my Grandma snuggles in!)

But how cool would it be if she had the baby on her nephew's first birthday??  Mind you, that would mean have a continual conflict about which birthday party to attend, but I'm sure we could work out alternating schedules!

The interesting thing is that Kesten was born on my great-nephew's first birthday as well!  June 25th is a popular date in our family.

But in anticipation of the birth to happen soon, I made a card for them and I used the MOJO Monday Challenge #299 sketch.  It is Circle or Square week, which I just LOVE! (Not!) But I gave it a shot anyway!  Here's the sketch:

I chose square so I could use my new Square Collection Framelits.  Here's my card:

  • The nautical theme is because that's how they're decorating the nursery and I will be making some crib bedding with these colours:  Night of Navy and Daffodil Delight.  The Real Red gives it a little extra pop!
  • I used the new Zoo Babies stamp set for that little toucan.  Isn't it adorable?  
  • The sentiment is from the new Cuddles and Kisses stamp set and the anchor is from The Open Sea.
  • I made extensive use of the paper from the Designer Series Paper Stacks Brights Collection, choosing the polka dot pattern in Daffodil Delight and two patterns in Read Red.
  • Note the white button!  It's made from Simply Pressed Clay in the Button Clay Mold.  That stuff is so much fun to play with!!




  • The Square Framelits worked wonders when cutting out the card base.  I scored and folded a 5 1/2 x 11" piece of Night of Navy cardstock at 4 1/4" and cut that out with the framelit extending a bit beyond the fold so it wouldn't be cut. I cut out another square if Night of Navy using the same framelit, then adhered them together.
  • I used the Circle Framelits for the "anchor" panel and it's matte.  The framelits make it soooo easy.
Well, I hope my post tomorrow will have some news for you!  But Baby will come when Baby is good and ready!  Thanks for reading!


Stamps:  The Open Sea (w128454; c123032); Zoo Babies (w130453; c130456); Cuddles and Kisses (w131913; c127314)
Paper:  Designer Series Paper Stacks Brights Collection (130134); Night of Navy (100867) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Night of Navy (126970) and Real Red (126949)
Accessories:  1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Night of Navy (126874); Simply Pressed Clay button (130685); Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (123125)
Tools: Simply Pressed Clay Molds (131272), Circles Collection Framelits (130911); Squares Collection Framelits (130921)
The Open Sea Stamp Set
Cuddles and Kisses Stamp Set


Zoo Babies Stamp Set


Circles Collection Framelits
Squares Collection Framelits

1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Night of Navy
Cherry Cobbler Bakers' Twine

Simply Pressed Clay and Molds




Monday, June 24, 2013

Filming for a Video Contest





We spent some hilarious hours in Kelowna today filming for a Stampin' Up promotional video that we hope to enter in a contest at Convention in July!  The contents are top secret, but I promise to post the video once the contest is over.  Suffice it to say that we had many laughs, and great dramatic and voice skills were put to good use! (NOT, I might add, by me!  I was a production assistant!)




The weather was beautiful, which only served to highlight the terrible weather and floods in Calgary, which are heading downstream to Medicine Hat as well.  But it is important to retain your sense of humour, even in a crisis, and some Albertans have posted this photo:

This is the new business footwear for all professional women in Calgary for the next few days and weeks.  Still have Calgarians and other Albertans affected in our prayers, hoping that the water will recede and clean up will go smoothly.

It's Monday and time for another Dynamic Duos challenge and this time I could pair it with The Paper Players Challenge # 151, because one was a colour challenge and one was a sketch.



 Here's the Dynamic Duo's #58  Challenge logo:



It's a monochromatic palette using Tangerine Tango and Cajun Craze, and I added some neutral Crumb Cake, and Whisper White.  The Paper Player's sketch is simple but effective:






  • It's my first time using the new Flower Shop Stamp set and oh, what a versatile set it is!  Every art style you could imagine and all coordinate with the new Pansy Punch.  In fact you can buy the stamp set and the punch as a bundle and save 15%!
  • I love the new Designer Series Paper Stacks, because you can get four different designs for every colour in the catalogue!  If some of the other DSP's don't have the colour you're looking for, the Paper Stacks will.
  • I'm so glad that the Tea Lace Paper Doilies found their way into the new catalogue!  They add just the right touch to so many card styles.
  • I'm not sure if that bit of 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon is Tangerine Tango or Pumpkin Pie, but I think it's the former.  For some reason, I found it on a spool labeled Pool Party???
  • The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen and is stamped in Cajun Craze on the doily.
  • I did some stitching around the edges, but I needed a darker colour for it to show up better.



I've already received several orders for the Mystery Hostess  and $50 Shopping Spree contest  so already the rewards are building!  The last time I had a Mystery Hostess contest, the winner found herself picking out $90 worth of free Stampin' Up products and 1 item at 50% off.  It is well worth your while to enter.  Just phone or email me your order by  Thursday, June 27 and you are entered in the Mystery Hostess contest.  If your order is $50 or more, you will also be entered into the $50 shopping spree and get extra entrees into the Mystery Hostess Contest, 1 entry for every $50 you spend.

You can also go to my On-line Store and shop on your own.  Just make sure you enter the ALL IMPORTANT Hostess Code - DSXVJXEY  on the page that comes up after entering your first item.  The box is found on the bottom left of the page right by the box that says APPLY.  Once you press APPLY, you should see my name as the hostess, but that will change on June 28 when I draw for the winner.  It could be YOU, so get your order to me as soon as possible.



Stamps:  Flower Shop (w130939; c130942); Delightful Dozen (w128547; c122652)
Paper:  Designer Series Paper Stacks, Neutral Collection (130132); Crumb Cake (120953) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Tangerine Tango (126946) and Cajun Craze (126965)
Accessories:  Tea Lace Paper Doilies (129399); 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Pumpkin Pie (119253)
Tools:  Little Leaves Sizzlet (114511); Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439); Pansy Punch (130698)
Big Shot

Delightful Dozen Stamp Set

Flower Shop and Pansy Punch Bundle

Little Leaves Sizzlit
Tea Lace Paper Doilies

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Mystery Hostess Contest and Shopping Spree! Whee!




It's time to announce:  Another Mystery Hostess Event!!!

June is coming to a close and so is another Stampin' Up year!  I have just 8 days left to make my goal of becoming a Rising Star! You have all been so supportive and wonderful and I can't thank you enough.   Having such great customers is reward in itself and I don't want to make you crazy!  So this contest is only for those who could really use these deals and those who would be ordering anyway. 
Here's how it works:

To celebrate the end of the Stampin' Up! year, and to show my gratitude for your support of Playing with Papercrafting, I am giving away a $50 Shopping Spree.  Here's how it works:

For every $50 of Stampin' Up products you order between June 22st and June 27th, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $50 shopping spree.  Who doesn't love a shopping spree, especially when it involves items from the new 2013 - 2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog?  The more you buy, the more times your name will be entered into the drawing.

All orders, including Stamp Club, Product Shares and special Snail Deals are eligible.

All orders will also be entered to win a Mystery Hostess contest, 1 entry per order and extra entries for every $50 spent.  If you order on-line make sure to enter the ALL IMPORTANT Hostess Code: DSXVJXEY.  (See below for details.)


  • Once you add your first item to your shopping bag, the hostess code must be entered in the box just below the Special Offers section at the bottom of the screen.  ( Clear at the bottom, right next to the "Apply" button?)                                                                                                                                                                
  • After you enter the Hostess Code (DSXVJXEY) in the box below Special Offers and click on "Apply", the name Heather Cooper will show as the hostess, for now.  That's me! But it could be YOU on June 27th.

IMPORTANT:  If your order is for at least $200 before taxes and shipping,  DO NOT enter into the Mystery Hostess Party.  You will already be receiving Hostess Benefits!  Woo hoo!

Now, check out my Product Shares, and my Snail Sale details, which all count for the two contests:







Snail Sale

OPTION #1
Buy 5 Snail Refills and get one Snail refill free.
Cost is $32.50 plus S&H and tax.

OPTION # 2
Buy 10 Snail Refills and get one Snail refill free PLUS a package of Mini Glue Dots free.
Cost is $65 plus S&H and tax.

OPTION #3
Buy 15 Snail Refills and get TWO Snail refills free PLUS a package of Mini Glue Dots
Cost is $97.50 plus S&H and tax.

There are so many enticing new products in the new Catalogue that I'm sure your wish list is longer than your arm! Here's a way to get a taste of many of the papers, ribbons and embellishments for less money! Product shares! Here is what it available. 

A. Chevron Ribbon Share - $38 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)

- 3/4" Chevron Ribbon - 2 yards in each of 12 colours




B.  Ruffle Stretch Trim Share -  $16 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)
 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim- 2 yards in each of 5 new In Colours


C. New Colours in Existing Styles of Ribbons Share - $11 each (includes tax and shipping) 5 people required (see pg. 173)
- 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon - 2 yards of Pear Pizzazz
- 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon - 2 yards each of Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo

- 1/2" Seam Binding - 2 yards of Soft Sky
- 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain - 2 yards of Blushing Bride



D. Embellishment Share - $44 each (includes tax and shipping)  4 people required
- Designer Buttons - 1 each of 3 designs in 24 colours (pg. 168)
- Very Vintage Buttons - 3 each of 3 designs (pg. 169)
- In Colour Boutique Details - 2 each of 5 new In Colours (pg. 169)
- Candy Dots - 5 each of 40 colours   (pg. 171)


E. Paper Share - $47 each (includes tax and shipping) 4 people required

- Quatrefancy Specialty - one  6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg.150)
- Soho Subway -one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs  (pg. 151)
- Afternoon Picnic - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 151)
- I Am Me - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 151)
- Gingham Garden - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Etcetera - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Birthday Basics - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Venetian Romance - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 153)
- Eastern Elegance - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)
- Modern Medley - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)
- Epic Day This and That - one 6" x 12" sheet of each of 6 two-sided designs   (pg. 154)

F. "I Want It All" Share - Save 15%  -  $145.00 each

- Includes A,B, C, D and E


G. Core'dinations Card Stock Share - $23.50 each (includes tax and shipping) 4 people required

- one 6" x 12" sheet of each of all 50 colours

Response needed by June 27, 2013.


Friday, June 21, 2013







As I sit down to write this post, all I can think about are the devastating floods in Alberta.  Some are calling it the worst flooding EVER in that area!  And it hit so suddenly without much warning for the evacuees.  We have family in the area and haven't heard from them yet, so we're hoping they're okay and haven't had to evacuate.

Albertans are pretty tough and resourceful, as evidenced by this photo from Shine FM, but as the flood waters continue to rise and the rain continues to pound down, it must be hard to stay hopeful.






This photo, from CJAY92 shows the High River living up to it's name!  One place particularly badly hit is Bragg Creek, a beautiful little village with some wonderful shops and art galleries.  Homes were actually being washed away in that part of southern Alberta.

Our prayers are with these residents, and we pray that the worst is over and that things will begin to be restored soon.




The card I wanted to share with you is a shameless CASE of a lovely card by LeeAnn Greff of Flowerbug's Inkspot.  I was looking for techniques using vellum for an up-coming Technique Night and I found her card on Pinterest.  It was so pretty, it was my number one choice for this technique.




 

  • As you can see, I haven't changed the design much at all, except for to switch out the retired Baja Breeze with the new Coastal Cabana!
  • The Secret Garden flowers were stamped with VersaMark ink on Stampin' Up's White Vellum cardstock, then heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder.
  • Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight ink were sponged on the back of the flowers.  Ink takes more time to dry on the vellum, so I used the Heat Tool on the first setting to dry it more quickly.
  • The coordinating Secret Garden Framelits were used to die cut each flower.   As you can see, you can do pretty much anything to vellum that you can to regular cardstock, but you need to take a little more care and time.  

  • The sentiment is from the Lacy and Lovely Stamp Set and is stamped in StazOn Jet Black ink.
  • I used Pistachio Pudding to stamp the leaves from Secret Garden on the Whisper White panel.  
  • After first stamping the leaves and the sentiment, the panel was then embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. 
  • The Rhinestone Basic Jewels were coloured with permanent Sharpie markers before placing on the flower centers.
  • The flowers were adhered to the card with half a Dimensional each.
I hope you are warm and dry and safe today!  Count your blessings!

Stamps:  Secret Garden (w131940; c129144); Lacy and Lovely (w132025: c122887)
Paper:  White Vellum (101856), Coastal Cabana (131297) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock
Ink:  VersaMark (102283) and StazOn Jet Black (101406); Classic Stampin' Pads in Pear Pizzazz (131180), Coastal Cabana (131175) and Daffodil Delight (126944)
Accessories:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246); White Stampin' Emboss powder (109132)
Tools:  Secret Garden Framelits (129372); Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impression Embossing Folder (117335), Heat Tool (129053)

Secret Garden Framelits
Secret Garden Stamp Set



Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin' Pad

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

StazOn Jet Black Stamp Pad

VersaMark Stamp Pad