On My Way to Utah!

I'll be getting on the plane shortly, on my way to Salt Lake City to join thousands of other Stampin' Fanatics!

There will be demonstrators from all across the country, swap cards in hand, ready to trade. It is always so much fun to see what everyone else has come up with for a swap card. There are always techniques used that you may not have seen before, or that you have just forgotten about. The anticipation of receiving the new catalog in just a few hours is tremendous.

First thing we do, after swapping in the Utah airport, and checking in to our hotel, while swapping in the lobby, is walk across the street to the Convention Center, while swapping in the crosswalk, and pick up our Convention bag with the New Catalog. We will then find the perfect spot, while swapping in the hall, to sit on the floor, and swap with the person sitting next to you, and immediately start turning page by page, ooohing and aaahing over all of the new stamp sets and accessories, while swapping with the ladies walking past, that we're just going to have to have.

Check back this evening for a look at the new 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog!

dd

220 Swaps Done!

Whew! 220 swap cards done and ready to trade at Convention. Today I will be packing and getting ready to fly out to Utah for Stampin' Ups! 20th Anniversary Celebration. How exciting to be a part of this year's Convention. I will also be celebrating my 5 year anniversary with Stampin' Up! It is hard to believe it has been 5 years already. Time sure flies when you are having fun, and I do have fun! I truely believe in our statement of the heart, "To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments...in this we make a difference." I know that I am living up to the Loving what I do, and sharing what I Love, and I hope that I am helping you all find and enjoy the creativity in yourselves. I can't wait to share everything I learn at Convention with you all when I return.

I am planning on taking my computer with me. Hopefully I will be able to share a few things while I'm gone. If I don't post, please know that it is only because we have a very full agenda.
Gotta start packing! Have a Great Day!

dd

Another Swap Card

This is a special swap card that I made for the ladies in our stamping group that are going to Convention. I used two more patterns from the new Designer Series Paper Bella Rose and two of the new In-Colors, Riding Hood Red, and Pirouette Pink. I am loving these new colors! The red button is from the new Button Bouquet. This is an assortment of 8 really cute buttons to coordinate with the new In-Colors. It is hard to see here, but check out this really fun technique with the Scallop Circle Punch. I saw this on another site, and just had to CASE it. Copy And Share Everything! After punching out your scallop circle, you just snip each petal, giving the circle a real flower look. Then I slightly bent every other petal, and used Stampin' Dimensionals on one flower. See close up photos below.





The For You stamp is from the Fresh Cuts set, another new set, and the Swirl is from one of my current favorites, Priceless. The ribbon is the Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon and I tied the Red Hemp Twine through the button. Other punches used for this card were the Large & Small Oval, and the 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Circle.

Hope you enjoy this great technique. Only 2 more days to Convention! I'm sure I'll have lots of other fun new tricks & techniques to share when I get back.

Thanks for visiting!

dd

Dreams du Jour

We had the new AT&T U-Verse installed yesterday. This is an advanced tv and high speed internet deal, and while they were working, I wasn't able to use my computer. I must say it is amazing! I have never seen my computer work so fast, plus now I'm wireless. So, now while my husband is surfing the over 300 channels we now have, I can be in the family room with him.
Well, so much for that, lets get to the fun stuff. Here is my latest card.
These are two of the new In-Colors.

Kiwi Kiss, and Pacific Point. This is also one of the new stamp sets that will be in the new 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog. Dreams du Jour is a set of 4 stamps. There are 3 images, and a quote. I love quotes, and this one is a favorite. I didn't have quite the right color of brads, so I created "faux" brads. This is very simple. I just used my 1/4" handpunch and punched holes in the Pacific Point cardstock before I mounted it on the Kiwi Kiss. You can click on the image to view it larger. I also used my blender pens and ink pads to color the flowers on the dream stamp. The butterflies are stamped with versa mark to add a subtle background.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!

dd

Bag in a Box

As promised, here is the project I did using the new Designer Series Paper Bella Rose. I have seen these on several sites, and just had to make one! Isn't it just so cute? As much as I hate to think of the holidays just yet, my brain is swimming with ideas of what little gifts I could put in these. I want to make one for everyone!The bottom measures 2-1/2" x 2-1/2", and it is 5-1/2" tall. These would be great for gift cards, candy, cookies, jewelry, even a small stamp set. So many possibilities. The stamp set used is one of the new Hostess sets that will be available in the new 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog, called Deer Friends. It is a set of 8 all Christmas related...and all equally as cute as this little reindeer. You can earn this set FREE! All you have to do is have a workshop after August 11, 2008, totalling $300.00 in merchandise, and you can choose this set as your FREE Hostess Benefit set. Contact me today if you are interested in hostessing either a catalog workshop, or a live workshop so you can earn your Hostess Benefits!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful day...until tomorrow.

dd

Just an added note to let you know that all of the hodge podge hardware sets have sold out.

Happy Wednesday

Sorry I missed you yesterday...it was my Birthday, and I decided to take a little break and have a me day. I actually slept in...I am usually up between 5:30 and 6:00 am, but I didn't get up until 7:30! I didn't do any dishes, laundry, or clean anything yesterday. I did go shopping, which I haven't done in quite some time. One of the events we are attending at Convention is a "pajama party". All of the girls in our group are wearing matching pj's, so I went out to get mine. I treated myself to a Starbucks caramel frappacino...something else I haven't done in a while, and went to Kohl's and got a couple of new tops...Happy Birthday to me!



Just a reminder that the Retiring Accessories List has posted, and there are several things that have already sold out! Both the pewter and antique brass hodge podge hardware sets are gone. Be sure to contact me as soon as possible, if there is anything that you need. I am still offering a 10% discount on any retiring stamp set ordered now through August 10.

I hope you all enjoy your day! I have some more swaps to work on for Convention, and a really cute project to show you using the new Designer Series Paper Bella Rose. Check back tomorrow to see what it is!

Thanks for checking in!

dd

Pewter Hodge Podge Hardware

Just wanted to let you know that the pewter hodge podge hardware set has already sold out! I knew these would go fast with the 25% discount. The other 2 sets are still available. You can see them on page 188 of the Spring/Summer Catalog. Let me know if you need anything!

dd