How to Earn Your Starter Kit for Free!

I have to give credit to demonstrator Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek for coming up with this fabulous idea.  I've adapted it to Canadian demonstrators, and I hope you'll take advantage of this amazing offer!

Have you been considering buying the Starter Kit? Is money the only thing holding you back? I know, it might be the only thing, but it's a BIG thing!

For a lot of us, even the low Starter Kit price of $125 (with no tax or shipping) is hard to spare right now. If we could spread it out a bit, it might happen, but not all in one whack! If that's the case, I have a little math for you to ponder today.

Consider the following:

1. $127.50 is the Instant Income from your first $425 workshop (you earn 30% on your first workshop and 20% on all workshops after that).
2. Say you were to host a party together with me, and it hit $425.
3. We sign up you up and you put the Starter Kit on your credit card.
4. You are instantly a brand new Stampin' Up Demonstrator.
5. We enter the orders from your party under your name.
6. You pay off the Starter Kit on your credit card with the $127.50 you just earned (you get to keep the extra $2.50 for yourself! ).

I know---beyond awesome! But wait--there's more!

1. You get to pick out $194 worth of product in the Starter Kit for just $125 (no tax or shipping).
2. You're still the hostess for that party even though you're now the demonstrator, too--so pick out your hostess freebies and your incredible Sale A Bration rewards ($55 in free product of your choice - more if your party goes higher!).
3. Your quarterly minimum of $400 is met so you'll be an active demonstrator all the way through September 2013.  That means 20% off all your stuff as long as you're a demonstrator!
4. You get all the perks of preordering, demo-only forums and galleries, magazines and more.
5. You are a third of the way to promoting to Senior Associate already.
6. You have me as your totally awesome upline and mentor. 

"But wait," you say, "how come I get the sales if YOU did the party?"  The answer is simple--you're going to do the work!
Before the show, you and I will meet and decide on the make & takes and prep three super cute projects your friends will love. I'll give you the cardstock and supplies as my welcome gift to you. We'll brainstorm on the best ways to get the maximum number of guests there so your party is likely to hit that magic $425

At the show, you'll help me set up (I'll let you decide if you want to wear one of my black Stampin' Up aprons) and you'll walk everyone through the cards with my help (if you even need it!). I'll handle the catalog tour and telling them about the specials and you can observe.

After the show, I'll total the orders while you serve the snacks and chat with your friends. If any of them are interested in helping you out by hosting a party themselves, we'll put them on your calendar. You can pay me back for any catalogs or hostess packet materials out of your own kit when it comes.
 
Sound like something that really ought to be tried?  It is!  You have nothing to lose.

After all, if your party doesn't hit $425:

1. You can just be the hostess like you normally would, and earn hostess goodies and Sale-A-Bration rewards as usual.
2. We still had a super fun night stamping with your girlfriends.
3. I'm not out anything that I wouldn't normally be out from any party. 
4. You could still sign up as a demo and just pay whatever portion of the Starter Kit isn't covered, or ask your family to consider that your birthday or anniversary gift.
5. We don't have to tell anyone we are trying to get your Starter Kit for free unless you want to.

How amazing is this opportunity, especially right now with Sale-A-Bration making the Starter kit an even better deal than it has EVER been?  I hope you give me a call!  Remember that Sale-A-Bration runs until March 22, so we need to book your party soon!   

Blessings,

Happy Valentine's Day from Mario!

My friend, Noelle, asked if I could come up with a Mario-themed Valentine's Day card for her son, who is in love with all things Mario.  Here's what I came up with:

I found an awesome tutorial by Jessica Lewis for making the Mario out of punches.  Check it out for complete instructions.  For this Mario, you'll need the following punches: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Bitty Circle (from Bitties punch pack), Scallop Oval, Ornament, Small Oval (or Word Window), and I used the circles on the Owl punch for the eyes.  I changed a few things - I used the Small Oval punch for the front of the had (I know it's retired, but it was easier than cutting down the Word Window punch!). 

I also thought it would be cute to make the "coins" that sit on the pipe out of red glimmer hearts in honour of Valentine's Day.  I used the Small Heart punch for those.

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone,

February Stamp Club Cards

I apologize for not posting for awhile.  I got called in to substitute teach for my son's class for most of last week, so my home chores have fallen by the wayside!  My Stamp Club ladies are meeting tonight, and here are the cards we'll be making:

Of course, we have to make a Valentine's Day card, so I used the Hearts a Flutter set and More Amore designer series paper to CASE a double-fold spring card made by Kathy House (it's not online - I received the card from Kathy in a swap).  I used the 1-1/4" circle punch to make the peek-a-boo holes for the hearts, which are stamped in Pool Party, Real Red and Primrose Petals.  The side panel is embossed with the Sale-A-Bration vine embossing folder.  I added some Primrose Petals stitched satin ribbon and a jumbo rhinestone to finish off the card.

This card is one that was shown at Leadership (I wasn't there, but some ladies in my group brought back lots of photos!).  It uses the baby wipe technique with Midnight Muse, Pumpkin Pie and Lucky Limeade ink refills.  I scored the edges with the Simply Scored tool.  The stamp set is Feeling Sentimental (a Sale-A-Bration free set).

The final card is CASEd from the one in the Spring Catalogue.  I added a layer of Early Espresso to the Summer Starfruit layer, on which I stamped the Swallowtail butterfly image in VersaMark and embossed it with Pool Party embossing powder.  I then painted over the embossed image with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.  To finish it off, I added some Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon and a neutral brad before layering it on a Crumb Cake card base.  The sentiment is from Bloomin' Marvelous (another Sale-A-Bration set).

Here's a close-up of the butterfly with shimmer paint:

Blessings to you,

Afternoon Daydream Scrap-A-Stack

This is a class I'm offering in March.  I love that Stampin’ Up! has come out with divided page protectors!  And I’ve always loved our Simply Scrappin’ Kits.   In this class, you’ll get to use the Afternoon Daydream Simply Scrappin’ kit with our page protectors to make these 10 double-sided 12 x 12 layouts (so, really you get 20 pages).

 

Here's a look at the individual pages:

 

 I know it's a lot of photos!  Contact me if you'd like more information about the class.

Blessings to you,

SAB All-Occasion Stamp-A-Stack

I will be hosting a stamp-a-stack at my house on Friday, February 15.  Everyone who comes will get to make 20 cards (five each of the following four cards) for $35.  These are the cards we'll be making:

 

This baby card is customizable, so you can change the greeting if you don't need five baby cards.  Make it into a cute spring birthday card!

For this versatile card, I CASEd this card by Debbie Kolberg.  This card is intentionally blank so you can use it for a wedding, birthday, thank you or whatever you'd like!

A similar card to this was shown in this month's Stampin' Success demonstrator magazine.  It uses the new Sale-A-Bration designer series paper and Vine embossing folder.  Again, the greeting can be changed to suit your needs.

I CASEd this card from one I saw at a recent downline event.  I'm afraid I don't know who to give credit to, but I love how she used the Polka Dot Parade designer series paper with the Postage Stamp punch. 

Please contact me to register or to book your own Sale-A-Bration stamp-a-stack in your home.  

If you can't attend or host, but would like a kit to make the cards, please let me know.  You will get the supplies for four of each card, plus one of each card completely made so you can see how to put them together.  The cost is $40 plus shipping (if applicable).

Blessings to you,

Sale-A-Bration!

I always say it's the most wonderful time of the year!  Sale-A-Bration has begun!  There are three ways to get free stuff from Stampin' Up! (and some from me - read on!).

1. Host - Have your friends over for a party!  At your party, we'll create pinworthy products and have lots of fun!  When your party totals $200, you get a free package of silver glimmer paper and $35 in free products.  When your party totals $525, you get a free package of silver glimmer paper, a bundle of free SAB products including a stamp set, a package of designer series paper and a ribbon & button bundle, plus $90 in free products of your choice and a half-price item!  Contact me to book your party!  
2. Shop - For every $60 you order, you get to choose a free SAB product!  Order online or contact me to order.
3. Join - Because it is Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary, they are adding 25% more to the Starter Kit during SAB, so you'll get to choose $194 worth of products and pay only $125 (no tax or shipping).  Click here to join!

And I mentioned that you can get free stuff from me as well!  I am having a Sale-A-Bration draw where for every $60 you order, not only do you get a free SAB product, you will also be entered into my draw.  At the end of Sale-A-Bration, I will draw a name and that person will win my basket of Stampin' Up! goodies, which includes the Spring Fever Simply Scrappin' Kit, Pink Pirouette ink pad, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade ribbon, Everyday Enchantment brads, Holly Berry Bouquet fabric, Packed for Baby and Packed for Birthday stamp sets, and Happy Hello Simply Sent card kit (retail value of approximately $95).

 Happy Sale-A-Brating! 

Blessings to you,

Glimmery Baby

My son's teacher is starting her maternity leave next week, so I made this card for her. 

I used the Sunshine & Sprinkles designer series paper from the Spring Catalogue, layered on some Basic Gray cardstock.  The card base is Daffodil Delight.  I used the Petite Pennants punch with Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Marina Mist cardstock to make the banner.  The letters are in Silver glimmer paper, cut with the Big Shot.  I also added some little bows in White Baker's Twine at the ends of the banner. 

I also made one in Melon Mambo for a friend at my church who just had a baby girl - there's a baby shower for her this weekend!

Blessings to you,

January Stamp Club Cards

These are the cards my Stamp Club ladies made this month.  It was so nice to make some Spring cards!

For this first card, I ran some watercolor paper through the Big Shot in the Manhattan Flower embossing folder.  Then I coloured it in with my Aqua Painter and some Rose Red, Summer Starfruit and Bashful Blue ink.  Just squeeze the ink pads together so the ink pools in the lid of the pad, then use the Aqua Painter to pick up some ink from the lid and paint in the embossed image.

To finish it off, I added one of Stampin' Up!'s new Designer Builder Brads with some Rose Red cardstock in the center, along with some Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon.  The card base is Rose Red, and the watercoloured piece is layered on some Basic Black cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment from Petite Pairs in Basic Black.

Our next card is a Valentine's card using the new Happy Valentine single stamp (available in the Valentine Treat Bundle until January 21).  I started with a Basic Gray card base.  The next layer is Primrose Petals Core'dinations cardstock, run through the Big Shot in our new Honeycomb embossing folder (LOVE this!).  I then sanded the cardstock with our sanding block so the white core shows through.  The "lace" heart and heart-covered heart are both from the More Amore designer series paper.  I stamped the image in Pool Party ink and punched it out with the coordinating Full Heart punch (along with the designer paper heart).

The Pool Party ribbon is from the upcoming Sale-A-Bration ribbon & button pack, which you can earn for free with a $60 Sale-A-Bration order beginning on January 22 (more info to come)!  The pack also comes with Island Indigo and Tangerine Tango ribbon, plus Island Indigo, Pool Party and Rich Razzleberry buttons.

For this next one, I CASEd Debbie Kolberg's card.  The card base is So Saffron, with Island Indigo and Very Vanilla for the layers.  She used Tea for Two designer series paper and a Tea Lace Paper Doily as well, then tied some Natural Trim ribbon (from the Spring Catalogue) around the center piece.  There is a piece of So Saffron punched with the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle punch and embossed with the Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I adhered this with dimensionals over the ribbon.  Finally, the stamped piece is from Collage Curios, stamped in Sahara Sand, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade (the rose stamp is inked with Stampin' Write markers).  This is punched with the 1" Circle punch and adhered into the large Soda Pop Top (these are so cute!).  The Pop Top is adhered with mini glue dots.

As a bonus project, the ladies got to make a card using the My Little Valentine bundle, which includes the stamp set and the Sealed With Love simply sent card kit.  We tied some Pool Party Sale-A-Bration ribbon around the card.  Then we stamped the "for you" in Real Red, punched it out with the Small Oval punch, added a small rhinestone jewel and adhered it to the card with a dimensional.

Hope you enjoy these projects!

Blessings to you,

Dude, You're Welcome!

How awesome it this?  Finally, Stampin' Up! has come up with a manly kit for guys!

As a guy, it’s not always easy to express yourself. You know you want to say it, but you just don’t know how. That’s why we’ve created the Dude, You’re Welcome! Kit. Quickly build a card that says just what you want it to say, whether it’s because you messed up (when does that happen?), for a Special Occasion (you know the occasion), “I _____ You” (love, adore, miss, see?), or a simple “Thank You.”

We’ve got your back. Dude, you’re welcome.

The kit includes four stamps, 12 manly-coloured postcards, 12 gray envelopes, 1 Basic Gray ink pad and instructions all packaged in a manly box for only $30.95.  Click here to order online, or contact me to place your order.

Blessings,

Secret Sisters!

A demonstrator friend of mine does this with her customers, and it sounds like a really fun idea, so I'm copying her!  This is for anyone who is interested, and it's a great way to use your Stampin' Up! products and get some cute card samples.  Here's how it works:

• The group will run from January - December, 2013.
• Deadline to join is January 24.
• Send me the following information in a Facebook message or via email:  your name, mailing address, birthday and email address.
• I will assign everyone a Secret Sister.  You will get a name and address and the birth date of your Secret Sister.
• Once a month, you will make a card for your Secret Sister and mail it to her.  
• Do not include a return address on your envelope, and do not sign your name to the card.  No one will know who her Secret Sister is until the end of the year.
• Do not write in the card.  The purpose is for your secret sister to receive cards that she can re-use.  If you would like to include a message, please write it on a post-it and include it in the card.
• On your Secret Sister's birthday, you will send her a handmade card as well.
• Try to use only or primarily Stampin' Up! products.
• Next January, we will have a Secret Sister Party at my house where there will be make & takes and snacks.  At this party, you will get to reveal yourself to your Secret Sister!  If you live out of town, we will find a way to reveal yourself - I will work out the details later this year.

I think this could be a really fun thing to do!  Again, this is open to everyone, and the nice part is you don't have to live close to me to participate since this is primarily through the mail.  I hope to hear from lots of you!

Blessings,