Winner of the September Mystery Hostess Contest

Yesterday, I sewed for the first time in ages!  I'm sewing bedding for my youngest grandson, Wyatt.

Isn't he adorable?  Such a happy guy and full of smiles and giggles at 3 months old!

He is the son of my oldest daughter, Erin and my son-in-law, Jonny!  I'm using a navy stripe, like ticking and some ochre-coloured cotton for the pattern.

And guess what?  My Stampin' Up Craft Scissors cut that material like it was butter!  I'll show you the results once I finish.

In the meantime, it's time to announce the winner of the September Mystery Hostess Contest.  Teri Coady won the Hostess Rewards, her choice of free product from Stampin' Up!  You will have a chance to win, too, next month.  The last week of every month is a Mystery Hostess Contest Week.  Congratulations, Teri, and we will connect to arrange for your free product.



Here's a quick sample for you.  It was a card I designed for a workshop, but decided against it because of the  time consuming faux suede technique.  I posted it on Pinterest instead and entered it in the Crafting with Connie and Mary Challenge #269, where it won a Top 3 Pick.  Here's the pic:

• The star of the show is the faux suede flower which I made by punching out 4 scallop circles with the largest scallop circle punch.  I worked those circles with my bone folder until the paper plies separated and I gently pulled them apart which creates that suede look!  I sponge the edges and fastened them in the middle with a brad, then scrunched each layer up around the brad.
• The palette of Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Island Indigo came from the Venetian Romance DSP that I used here.  The one with the stylized chevrons worked perfectly for one of the flags in the Challenge Sketch.
• The other flag was made by punching only the end of the paper with the Petite Pennants Builder Punch.
• The sentiment is from Express Yourself, a Hostess Only stamp set that I find myself using time and time again!  Host a Private Party with me and you could get it for free!

That's it for tonight!  See you tomorrow with more samples and tips!

Stamps:  Express Yourself *(w130336; c130339)

Paper:  Venetian Romance Design Series Paper (130144); Very Vanilla (101650), Island Indigo (122923), Crisp Cantaloupe (131298) and Pistachio Pudding (131294) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Crisp Cantaloupe (131176) and Island Indigo (126986)

Accessories:  Regals Collection Candy Dots (130932); Candy Dots Brads Bases (132293)

Tools:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874); Petite Pennants Builder Punch (122361); Bone Folder (102300); Paper Piercing Tool (126189)

*Hostess Set only

Last Post and Mystery Hostess Winner

As the trumpet plays the last notes of lament, and the sun sets today, several good things must come to an end.





First this is my last post.... in August!  Ha! Got you going there didn't I?

The Pick a Free Project Promotion is over today, so you only have a few hours left to purchase the Starter Kit and get a free Project Kit from Stampin' Up as a further benefit!  Read here about all the reasons you might want to join my Stampin' Up team!

Secondly, the Paper Pumpkin Promo Code Deal ends today.  You have only those same few hours to sign up to subscribe to My Paper Pumpkin.  Read about it all here.

The Winner

Next, the August Mystery Hostess Contest has come to an end and I'm happy to announce that the winner is Polly Dale.  I will contact Polly and get her to choose her free products from any current Stampin' Up catalogue.  If you didn't win, don't worry!  There will be another opportunity at the end of September!

New Promotion from Stampin' Up:
If you like butterflies (and I'm not mentioning any names, Diane) here's a promotion from Stampin' Up, just for you:

Stampin' Up has bundled the Papillon Potpourri Stamp Set with the Bitty Butterfly Punch and has taken 15% off the price!!

Dates: August 29-September 30, 2013

Offer: Get 15 percent off when you buy this bundled butterfly stamp set and punch!

Bundle Item	Page in Catalogue	Description	Retail Price	15% Savings Price	Amount Saved!
135311	90 183	Butterfly Bundle (Clear-Mount) Papillion Potpourri Clear-Mount Stamp Set Bitty Butterfly Punch	$39.90	$33.92	$5.98
135312	90 183	Butterfly Bundle (Wood-Mount)  Papillion Potpourri Wood-Mount Stamp Set Bitty Butterfly Punch	$44.90	$38.17	$6.73

Here's a little Thank You mini card to share with you today:

• The base is 3" x 6" scored at 3" and folded.  I used Bermuda Bay cardstock.
• The Whisper White panel is 2 3/4" x 2 3/4".
• I used the Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set for both the image, in Crushed Curry or Strawberry Slush, and the sentiment, in Bermuda Bay.
• A Designer button in Bermuda Bay adorns the top right of the card.

Quick, easy and cute as a button!  You could totally do that!

Stamps:  Regarding Dahlias (w130324; c130327)
Paper:  Bermuda Bay (131197) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Crushed Curry (131173), Strawberry Slush (131178) and Bermuda Bay (131171)
Accessories:  Brights Collection Designer Buttons (130028)

Brights Collection Designer Buttons

Regarding Dahlias

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!

It's Friday, May 31!

Wow!  For the first time ever, THREE CATALOGUES will be current for a few hours only.  Yes, today is the last day to order from the Spring Mini Catalogue.  The 2012/13 Idea Book and Catalogue is good until June 3, for accessories, only while supplies last.  The 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue is going live one day earlier than usual, so that it doesn't fall on a weekend when Stampin' Up offices are closed.  How cool is that?

Here is the link for the new 2013/14 Idea Book and Catalogue:  (Just click on the Catalogue Cover.)

There are some seriously amazing new stamp sets and accessories in there!  Go ahead and drool!  I know you will be!

My first priority when I order?  The Big Shot Magnetic platform that holds your framelits and edgelits in place!  How cool is that?

Here's a card design made from new products!  I think I'm in love with Strawberry Slush and Smoky Slate as a colour palette!  Tell me what you think! (I'm overdosing on exclamation marks in this post!!! Can't help it, I'm so stoked!!)

• The new stamp set, Happy Day, just makes you want to smile doesn't it?
• The Chevron embossing folder never looked better than teamed up with this delicious colour duo.
• I had to hand cut the medallion from Happy Day, because I couldn't get it to line up with any Scallop Circle punches, but it wasn't that hard to do!
• We will be doing this card as a Make and Take at my Catalogue Launch Party tomorrow afternoon.
• Check out those Very Vintage Designer Buttons - two great designs.

AND, in other news, the Winner of the Mystery Hostess Last Chance Party is Teri Coady!  Teri wins $90 in free Stampin' Up products and one item at 50% off!  Thanks for all your entries, and we'll have another Mystery Hostess before long.

If you want those free Hostess benefits for yourself, it's as easy as calling together 5 or 6 friends for a Private Class!  You can even have it at my house and I'll do the cleaning and baking so you don't have to!  What have you got to lose?  Give me a call to book one.  June is rapidly filling up!

Stamps:  Happy Day (w130294; c130297); Hearts a Flutter (w131922; c129252)

Paper: Strawberry Slush (131295), Smoky Slate (131202) and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Strawberry Slush (131178) and Smoky Slate (131179)

Accessories:  Very Vintage Designer Buttons (129327); Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262)

Tools:  Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127749); Hearts a Flutter Framelits (130159)