Slacker

I know, I know. I'm slacking. But I've been sick all weekend. My allergies are out of control, even with taking allergy medicine and I just have no energy or appetite. I haven't done any stamping. I take that back I did one scrapbook page yesterday. Well, I started it anyway. I'm just not happy with it. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and I can finish my chores (after all I do have out of town guests coming this weekend) and get some stamping in. In the meantime I have some retired stamp sets I'm willing to part with if anyone is interested. Shipping is $4.80 for Priority Mail and I only ship to the US. If you want more than one set, let me know and I'll calculate the shipping for you. I take PayPal.

Polka Dots & Paisley $12
Fanciful Favorites $8
Good Times $12
Big Blossom $6
Polka Dots Blocks standard wheel $3
Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Pad, 10 sheets of 8.5 x 11 cardstock and scraps - $6
Soft Sky Classic Ink Pad, 10 sheets of 8.5 x 11 cardstock and scraps - $6
Wild Wasabi Stitched Ribbon, 3/4 of a roll - $7
Spring/Summer Collection IB&C - $3

Reminder: Labor Day Sale

Just a reminder that TODAY is my Labor Day Mystery Hostess event! There was some confusion that it was tomorrow, but in fact it is today. Be sure to get your order in as early as possible to try to get the best deal.

Labor Day Weekend Mystery Hostess Sale

It’s Labor Day weekend which means there will be lots of shopping deals. And I’m offering my own deal with Stampin’ Up! Shop with me this weekend and get a great deal or earn free products.

I am having a one-day ONLY sale this Sunday, Aug. 31^st from 10 am until 5 pm and here are the deals. The deals are based on what order number you are.

First order gets a “What you see is what you get” deal. That means no tax or shipping on your order!

Second order gets 10% off!

Third order gets a free Classic Stampin’ pad in your choice of color.

Fourth order gets a free spool of ¼” Grosgrain ribbon in your choice of color.

Fifth order gets a free pack of Stampin’ Dimensionals.

All other orders get a free Stampin’ Write Marker in your choice of color.

Orders must be placed via phone or email between 10 am and 5 pm on Sunday only. Orders must total $50 before tax and shipping to redeem the above deals. However any order placed with me between 10 am and 5 pm will be eligible for the Mystery Hostess drawing if the order total reaches $150! I will draw two names for the Mystery Hostess at 5 pm on Sunday. The first name drawn will receive the Hostess Stamp set and the second name drawn will receive the free merchandise.

All items will be shipped to me so and I will let you know when the order comes in and you can come pick up your new goodies!

To view the downloadable PDF of the catalog visit my website at heatherhawkins.stampinup.net. While you're there you can also view the Never Before Seen promotion.

Color Challenge

There's another Color Inspiration Challenge posted over on Kristina Werner's blog. I took a mental note of the colors and headed down to the studio to whip something up. This is actually my second creation. The first one didn't turn out like I pictured so I had to try again. Oh, and then I came upstairs to write this blog and realized I used Whisper White instead of Very Vanilla. Oops. I'm posting it anyway. I started with a Chocolate Chip card base and stamped the swirls from Priceless along the side in Chocolate Chip. I added a strip of Whisper White and Pretty in Pink (in place of Pink Pirouette). I stamped the little box in Certainly Celery and cut it out. I stamped the heart in Pretty in Pink and cut it out, too. I added the box to my Pretty in Pink strip and added the heart on top with a Stampin' Dimensional. I added the sentiment in the bottom corner and a piece of 1/4" Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon.

WWII Memorial

Here are the pictures we took at the WWII Memorial back in April. This page came together really quick. I started with a Brilliant Blue page and added my Real Red strips across the bottom. I then stamped the stars background from Classic Backgrounds across the top in Brilliant Blue. I stamped my title with Short Order Alphabet on the Whisper White strip and adhered it to my page. I adhered it to my page and then adhered my pictures. I stamped the stars from Classic Backgrounds in Real Red and Brilliant Blue on a piece of scrap Whisper White and punched them out with my Star punch and Large Star punch and adhered them to my page.

Halloween!

I know it's too early for Halloween, but I'm way late on scrapbooking last year's Halloween pictures. I had to reprint the pictures as I accidentally ruined the pumpkin pictures by spritzing them with some Stampin' Mist (they were a little to close to my Stampin' Scrub). I finally got around to reprinting the picture so I did some scrapbooking. I stamped my title in Basic Black with Big Deal Alphabet. I used the kissing technique with Sanded to give the letters a shabby look. I added it to a piece of Basic Black. For the "o" I stamped one of the images from Batty For You in Basic Black and punched it out with my 1 1/4" Circle Punch which was layered on a 1 3/8" Basic Black Circle and a Pumpkin Pie Scallop Circle that was stamped with Sanded. Before adhering my title strip I stamped the edge of my cardstock with the Sanded background. I adhered my pictures on a piece of Basic Black and added photo corners in opposite corners. One on top and one underneath. I then added a circle with the bat layered on Pumpkin Pie. I stamped the year in the bottom corner, using the pumpkin and spider punched with my 1" Circle punch for my zeros. I stamped the upper corner with my Sanded background and added a strip of 1/4" Basic Black grosgrain ribbon.

I'm glad I finished this one before Halloween rolls around this year.

VSN Card

I had a chance to play the VSN challenges posted on SCS this weekend. This is one of my favorites. The challenge was to use twine. I started with a Bravo Burgundy card base. I added two strips of Old Olive and a piece of hemp twine. I inked up the tree from Season of Joy with my Barely Banana, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip markers and stamped it on a piece of Whisper White. I then layered it on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock and adhered it to my card. Yeah, it was that easy!

August Scrapbook Class

Last night I held my monthly scrapbook class. Our theme was fall and these are the pages we made. We used the baby wipe technique to make our own stamp pad and stamp the flowers from Wonderful You. The Very Vanilla pieces were layered on More Mustard and the strip along the bottom is More Mustard. I distressed the edges of my More Mustard pieces using the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit. We added little loops of ribbon on the title strip (notice mine doesn't have a title yet as I couldn't decide on one) and our More Mustard journaling box. We then added Pumpkin Pie photo mats. Three of the photo mats will hold one 4 x 6 photo and the larger one will fit two 4 x 6 photos.


Everyone's pages turned out a little different as some switched up the layout a little, some stamped the outline on the leaves, some inked edges of their cardstock, but we all had different titles. The one thing that was the same is we all had fun!

With All My Heart

Here is another card I made while practicing the technique for my scrapbook class. Again, I used Wonderful You and stamped the leaves using the Baby Wipe Technique. I stamped the images on a piece of Whisper White and adhered it to a piece of Close to Cocoa. I added a piece of Pumpkin Pie across the bottom of the Close to Cocoa and stamped my sentiment. I tied a piece of (retired) Old Olive PolyTwill ribbon around my images and adhered it to my More Mustard card base. I love how it turned out and I can't wait for you to see how our scrapbook pages turn out. I'll post them some time this weekend for your viewing pleasure. Have a great weekend everyone!

Wonderful You!

I got new stamps! OK, this set is not new, new. It was in the Spring/Summer catalog, but I just got it yesterday. It is Wonderful You and it's currently in the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog. So last night after the UPS man came back and delivered my box I headed straight down to the studio to get busy on some stamping. I wanted to practice the baby wipe technique that we will be using at my scrapbook class this Friday. So I make a few cards with it. This is the first one I made. I used the baby wipe technique and Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, and Old Olive reinkers to ink up my stamp. I then stamped it on a piece of Whisper White. I then stamped the outline in Chocolate Chip. I adhered it to a piece of Old Olive cardstock that I distressed with my cutter kit. I then tied a piece of More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around it and added a More Mustard button. I used my perforation tool and Chocolate Chip ink to add some faux stitching around three sides of my Chocolate Chip card base, added my stamped image, and stamped my sentiment. I love the way this technique looks and can't wait to show it to my class attendees on Friday.

On a side note I was home all day yesterday and Mr. Brown didn't deliver my stamps until after 6:00. Today, however, I was at work and Mr. Brown delivered 3 packages before 10 am. What's up with that?

No Time to Stamp

But, I have been busy cleaning up my studio. I sorted all the scraps that had collected on my table, put all my punches back on the wall, boxed up all the craft fair items I've been working on, and cleaned out a dresser full of scrapbooking contraband that I purchased years ago and never used. I didn't realize I had purchased so many stickers. And I don't even like stickers!!!! I'm getting ready for a garage sale, so I spent about an hour pricing all of that contraband. I've also been getting ready to have some out of town guests, so I've really been doing a lot of work around the house. And that has left me sitting here wondering why the UPS man just drove by and didn't drop of my SU! order. After he brings it to me I'm sure I'll have something to share with you.

Baby Elephant

I haven't done much stamping for fun lately. The only stamping I've been doing is for an upcoming craft fair. But today I needed a card. A friend of mine just had a baby girl so I'd like to send her a little note. I decided to use this week's sketch challenge for my card and in the end I'm not totally in love. It's a great sketch. I just didn't think it out completely. Anyway I took a Pretty in Pink card base and added a piece of retired Cutie Pie DSP. I then added some retired ribbon (from one of the Ribbon Originals in the last catalog) around the card by cutting a slit in the side. I then took my piece of Whisper White cardstock and stamped the elephant from Wild About You in Pretty in Pink. I added two 5-petal flowers punched with Tempting Turquoise and Certainly Celery and my sentiment from Short & Sweet, which was embossed with Whisper White EP on Rose Red and punched out with the Word Window punch. I adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I didn't get a picture of the envelope, but I stamped the flower from Wild About You on the front and the baby pin from Short & Sweet on the back flap. Now I'm off to write in my card and get it in the mail. Have a great weekend everyone!

Stampin' Up! Online Ordering

Last night Stampin' Up! had a teleconference to give demonstrators more information regarding online ordering. Here are the important points:

1. Orders can be made via stampinup.com or a demonstrator business website.
2. Orders made through the demonstrator business website will be the same price as well as same minimum shipping and orders over $150 are eligible for Stampin' Rewards (aka Hostess Benefits)
3. Orders made via stampinup.com will be the same price and same shipping as long as the customer allows the demonstrator to contact, otherwise the price will be raised.
4. Specials offered through individual demonstrators will not be able to be redeemed with online ordering. Those orders still need to be made through your demonstrator.
5. A release date has not been revealed. We're just told it will be available this fall, starting first with the demonstrator business website, then stampinup.com.
6. The online ordering will show you products that work together with items that you have added to your cart (this will help your husband shop for you!).
7. The online ordering will also show you how close you are to Stampin' Rewards to help you so you don't miss out on those rewards by just a little bit.

Another birthday?

Another monkey! I just can't get enough of this guy. As soon as I realized I needed a birthday card I immediately reached for Sock Monkey. I stamped the Sock Monkey in Jet Black StazOn on Whisper White. I then colored him in with my Creamy Caramel marker and Rose Red marker. I stamped the flag in his hand then colored the flag in with my Rose Red marker. I stamped the M from Euphoria Alphabet (retired) on my flag, but I smudged it. My solution was to stamp the flag on a piece of Rose Red Prints DSP (retired), stamp the M, cut it out and adhere it over my other flag. Problem solved. I layered my monkey on a piece of Basic Black that I scalloped the edge of with my Scallop border punch. I then scalloped the edge of my card and layered a piece of Rose Red underneath the flap. I added a piece of Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around my card, put my monkey on top, stamped my sentiment inside (along with a cupcake), stamped the birthday hat on the envelope and colored it in with my Rose Red marker. Tomorrow I will give this card to one of my co-workers. I hope she likes it.

Happy New Catalog Day!

The new catalog is here!!! If you don't have a hard copy you can now view it online by clicking on the picture to the right. Enjoy!

And don't forget about the Never Before Seen Promotion! The link is on the sidebar!

Updated

I updated the side bar. I removed the retiring lists since they are only good through tomorrow. If you haven't ordered what you want from the retiring list, please do not wait until the last minute. I don't like stress. Anyway I added some of the new stuff; the Catalog Sampler, the $99 Starter Kit promo, and the Never Before Seen Promo. I'll get a link for the new catalog up on Monday when it goes live. Have a great weekend everyone!!!

How Can I Work Like This?

My desk is a mess! I've been working on items for a craft/vendor fair coming up in November. And this is what happens to my desk when I work like that! I can't see it anymore!!! I have this tiny little section of desk that I'm working on. And things just keep getting buried. I've been working on some coaster picture frames for all sorts of occasions. And they have magnets on the back. Here's a close up of some of the ones I made today. These are the perfect items to use up all my retired Designer Series Paper. I think they're turning out really cute. Hopefully they'll be a good seller at the craft/vendor fair.

New Catties!!!!!!!!

My pre-order of the new catalogs arrived today! I love it! I've gone through it a few times and now I'm ready to start my wish list!! If you're one of my lucky customers who gets one (and you know who you are) come on over and pick it up! We can officially order from it on Monday (and I plan on doing so). If you want to put in an order in first thing get it to me by Sunday night 'cause I'm placing the order early!

Sorry

I just want to apologize for my lack of blogging. I made a birthday card for my mother-in-law last week before I left, but I took it with me to give to her and didn't take a picture. It was cute, though. I used Big Birthday Candle and retired Charbon DSP.
I'm still trying to get caught up from my trip to NYC. Traveling really takes it out of you. I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation. Last night was the quarter auction. It was a ton of fun! If you couldn't make it this month you should definitely come in Oct.
Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week, so after I mow the grass (OK, maybe before I mow the grass) I'll do some stamping. And of course I'll share!

Back from NYC

I'm back from NYC and I had a great time. I missed all the convention chatter over on SCS since I was on a mini-vacation. I've been trying to get caught up on everything and here's what I have to share. Another phase of Decor Elements is coming. There will be holiday elements as well as elements in other colors. SU! has partnered with Sizzix and we will be carrying the Big Shot die cut machine as well as exclusive SU! dies. This will also create an opportunity to create your own Decor Elements with vinyl! Also, all stamp sets beginning in with the Spring/Summer IB&C will be die cut! For now if you want a little sneak peek of what will be in the I&C that comes out Aug. 11 take a look at the Catalog Sampler by clicking the picture to the right!

The Monkey wants to Wish You a Happy Birthday

It's not your birthday? Oh, well. He says happy birthday any way. I'm slowly working on using this monkey for every occasion possible. This time it's a birthday. I stamped the monkey on Whisper White with Jet Black StazOn. I colored him with my Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel markers. I stamped the flag in his hand and colored it in with my Summer Sun marker. I then stamped the birthday hat on a scrap piece of Whisper White and colored it with my Summer Sun and Rose Red markers. I cut it out and added it to the monkey's head. I layered the monkey on a piece of Chocolate Chip and set him aside. I added a piece of Rose Red Prints DSP to my Summer Sun card base. I then added a strip of Creamy Caramel and a strip of Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. I added my monkey, then 3 brads to my card. I was attempting to follow last week's sketch challenge with this card, but I didn't have my computer in my stamping studio with me and was going by memory. Unfortunately I didn't follow it quite right. I still think he turned out cute.

That's all from me for now. I won't be posting for a while as I'm headed to NYC. Hopefully I'll have something for you at the end of next week. Bye!