At last....

My husband is home and our family is complete.  BUT....I guess things couldn't stay perfect for long.  We are dealing with some personal issues in our family right now and I will not be posting in the very near future.  I hope that I will be able to be back sometime in November.  I just feel like I'm about to fall apart with what is happening and stamping is definitely going to have to take a VERY back seat right now.  In advance, because I know you all are so FABULOUS and will offer them, I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

My Digital Studio - the best thing since die cut SU! stamps!!!

So, I am just loving My Digital Studio (MDS) if you can't tell!  :)  I decided today that I would start playing around with possible Christmas photo cards.  This card is not the one I will send - can't share that until it gets mailed!!!  We still have to take a new family picture, but I wanted to get an idea for how it might look.  The great thing about MDS is that you can make your own Christmas photo card.  You know, the ones that are like a card on a picture - like a postcard, and people usually get them from Wally-World and other such places?  Well, I got so many last year that I thought maybe it's time I jump on the bandwagon and do something easy so that it's not just one more stress at this time of year that's supposed to be about something else - not about the shopping and to-do lists....  I am going to look into how much it will cost to send the finished card to a photo shop to have them reproduced so that I can do it locally and do it one at a time until I get one that I like.  I am fairly certain that they do make 5x7's in most stores that print pictures, so that's the size I'm sticking with in MDS.  We'll see how it turns out!!

PS - this was one of the "Designer Templates" in MDS so all I did was insert my picture, add some stitching to the ribbon and add the text!!!  Gotta love that!!

Piddling Around....

So, I've mostly packed our stuff up for our trip back to Delaware, and I thought that I would make a quick CAS (clean & simple) card on My Digital Studio (MDS).  Well, it was quick to make and Halloween cards are not my thing, so I'm not sure how I feel about it.  It's okay.  I do like that I could get the little pumpkins whatever size I wanted.  That is just one of the many awesome features to MDS and having your stamp images in an electronic version.  So, what do you think?

Stamps:  Pumpkin Patch (MDS digital image), Eat, Drink & Be Scary (MDS digital image), Torn Edges (MDS digital image)
Paper:  All MDS papers/CS - Pumpkin Pie, Lovely Lilac, Old Olive and Whisper White CS, Cast-a-Spell DSP
Ink:  All colors used in MDS - Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Old Olive
Accessories:  All accessories from MDS - black brads, Modern Label punch

Oh, oh, oh!!

 

I haven't stamped, but I found this card that I hadn't posted on here yet and thought I'd put it up so that there's something pretty to look at rather than my lame-excuse-post that you can see previous to this one ;)  No time to post the exact details, except that everything used is SU! and it's all current so either in the Idea Book & Catalog or the Holiday Mini Catalog.   The trees are that lovely Patterned Pines Hostess Level I stamp set in the HMC and I finally inked up SU!'s fabulous Woodgrain Background stamp.  Enjoy!!!

PS - I'm out of town for this week and will be back on Saturday and hope that my husband has finally made it home (this is a pre-scheduled post) so that maybe some stamping time is in my near future ;)

Deals of the Week #3

This week's deals are some great ones!!!  Who doesn't love to use embellishments on their cards and other projects?!?!  I know I will be ordering some of these myself.  I adore the mini library clips and the circle brads too.  At these prices though I think I'll throw in some of the other deals too!!

Please remember that if you are my customer or you don't have a SU! demonstrator, to go to my website to place your order so you don't pay extra ordering from the generic SU! website.  Here it is:  http://mariemcclellan.stampinup.net  and then click on "Shop Now" to place your order.  On the left-hand side of your screen you'll see "Deals of the Week" as one of the categories you can shop from.

The third deals of the week are from October 19, 10 AM (MT) through October 26, 9:50 AM (MT).

 

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
114348	179	Basic Jumbo grommets	$6.95	$4.49
109857	179	Mini Library clips	$12.95	$8.99
112571	179	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$3.99
112581	179	1/2" Library clips	$6.95	$3.99

Here is a link to the deals specifically so that you can see the pictures:  http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=425 but I can't promise that it will actually take you to the link in MY website, so make sure that you see my name at the top right of your screen before placing an order!!!  If you don't, you will want to enter via the link I provided earlier in the post that goes straight to my SU! website.

Oh, and don't forget about my Stamps in the Mail program!!!!  Check it out by clicking on the logo for it in my sidebar to the right.

So Sorry

I will not be posting for a while.  I have A LOT going on.  Nothing bad or worrisome, just a lot going on with my husband's return to us getting delayed, school stuff, activities for the kids, the return of one of my girls to me from a long stay with her grandparents, a sick little boy, and I could go on and on.  So...please don't forget about me - I promise that I WANT to stamp, and when I do, I'll share it with you :)  For now, if you would like to join my Stamps in the Mail program and get new stamps at your doorstep each month, check it out in my right-hand sidebar (click on the logo that says Stamps in the Mail) or click HERE.  I would love to have you join me.  And yes, SIM is one of the things I could add to the list I began above ;)  Take care!!!

Week #2 Deals are HERE!!!

Contact me (mariemc01@gmail.com) before the deal ends to order these dies, or simply go to my website (www.mariemcclellan.stampinup.net) and click on "Shop Now" at the top right of your screen.  From there you can place your order from the comfort of your own home, and it will ship right to your doorstep!!!

ALSO - CHECK OUT MY STAMPS IN THE MAIL PROGRAM BY CLICKING ON THE  LOGO FOR IT IN MY RIGHT-HAND SIDEBAR.  GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE 4 FABULOUS PROJECTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH FOR 3 MONTHS.  STAMP SETS INCLUDED!!!!

 

The second deals of the week are from October 12, 10 AM (MT) through October 19, 9:50 AM (MT).

 

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$25.99
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$5.99
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$25.49

 

 

Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die

 

Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL Die

 

Flower Burst Embosslits Die

Some inspiration from the Holiday Mini Catalog

In case you missed it, each of these gals have some GORGEOUS projects to share with you featuring stamp sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Perfect for your Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas crafting needs!!

1. Tracy/rosowskimom: Sweet Centers (Tracy’s Stamp Therapy)
2. Michelle/stampin’shell: Grateful Greetings (Come Stamp with Me)
3. Sarah/willsygirl: Pumpkin Patch (Sarah’s Ink Spot)
4. Twila/tjdstampsalot: Twick or Tweet (Stamp a Little Longer)
5. Sara/lilyinkpad: Haunting Hill & DSP (Lily’s Ink Pad)
6. Marie/mariemc: Night & Day DSP (From Combat Boots…)
7. Holly/hollylogic: Autumn Splendor & Tablesetting Die (InkPaperStamps)
8. Joyce/broncomom: Autumn Meadows DSP (Stampin’ Central)
9. Lyssa: Calendar Kit with Magnetic Box (Song of My Heart Stampers)
10. Trina/pepesmom: Gifts of the Earth (Stamps and Whiskers)
11. Kim/s1itcher46: Wandering Words (Stitchin’ N Stampin’ on Paper)
12. Carmen: Cold & Cuddly (Stamping Addiction)
13. Ashley/CoastieWife09: Just Beclause & Christmas Cocoa DSP (Stamp with Ashley)
14. Dawnmarie/dmdezigns: Berry Christmas (DM Dezigns)
15. Rhonda/rhondag: Holy Family (The Stampin’ Bunny)
16. Kat/uk79ee: Delightful Decorations and Punch (Kat’s Kards)
17. Cheryl/lovetostampandscrap: Icicle and Merry & Bright Rub-Ons (Love to Stamp and Scrap)
18. Holly/catrules: Serene Snowflakes (Holly’s Stampin’ Mania)
19. Paula/scrapshappen: Décor Elements & wood blocks (Stamping with Paula)
20. Linda/lindakeal: Charming (Olive Stamps)
21. Barbara/cre8tivestamper: Simply Adorned (Creative Stampin’ Spot)
22. Yapha: Bear Bigz Die and clothes (Yapha Stamps)

It's Stamps in the Mail Time!!!

 Please e-mail me if you would like to sign up.  The cost is $55 for those not living in Dover, DE and the kits are customizable and include one different stamp set each month for 3 months.  I will e-mail you the rest of the details if you let me know you're interested.   The stamp set featured for November is "A Cardinal Christmas" on page 38 of the Idea Book & Catalog as seen below.  If you would like to choose a different stamp set, that is possible each month if you have the one we're using already (or if you don't celebrate Christmas as that is what the featured set is for in November). 

Click HERE to see past SIM projects (you will need to click on the individual posts to see the entire post and any pictures contained in it).

Pumpkin having an identity crisis...

Well, this little pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch (#116499, $22.95) stamp set found in the Holiday Mini Catalog, thinks it's supposed to be a flower!  Sarah Wills made an adorable flower card for the Holiday Mini Blog Hop that I was a part of several weeks ago (see THIS post) with some other gals from Stampin' Addicts (see their link in my sidebar).  That flower stuck in my head, but the funny thing was I couldn't remember which pumpkin she had used for the petals.  Well, subliminally I must have remembered, because I used the same one ;)  I did construct the flower a little differently though, and I used the polka-dot pumpkin for the flower center. 

I went a little paper piercing crazy, but as some people have issues saying "no" to more embellishments, or layers, or whatever they keep adding and adding, paper piercing is my indulgence.  I wish I hadn't done it at the bottom of the card, but oh well. 

I hope you like it!  Have a great weekend!!

Stamps:  Pumpkin Patch, Hugs & Wishes (retired)
Paper:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Basic Black, Only Orange and Rich Razzleberry classic ink
Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/2" Circle punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Mat

 

Pumpkin Patch, #116499, $22.95



 

From our Pumpkin Patch

This happy little card was fairly simple to make and I think it turned out very cute.  It would be a nice one to give to the friends, teachers, family, etc. in your life if you just want to give them a little note to bring a smile to their face. 

With the versatile Pumpkin Patch stamp set (#116499, $22.95) from the Holiday Mini Catalog, there’s no limit to the Halloween treats you can create! Use 2-step stampin' to create cards, gifts, or tags, and everything you make can be unique!

I hope you like it, and stay tuned for tomorrow's post where a pumpkin becomes a flower.  This further demonstrates that this "Halloween" stamp set really has a versatility that your creativity can increase exponentially.

Stamps:  Pumpkin Patch
Paper:  Only Orange, Old Olive and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Only Orange, Old Olive and Basic Black classic ink
Accessories:  Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Silver brad, Stampin' Dimensionals 

Pumpkin Patch, #116499, $22.95

Candy Corn Sweet Treat Cup

I got to stamp yesterday with a friend!!!  I finished 3 whole projects - I am a SLOW stamper and add in gabbing with another chica, and it makes for some REALLY slow stamping ;)

I made this little treat packet as the "prototype" for the treats I will have my daughter take in to her class for Halloween.  I pulled the inner tab out a little bit to the right so that you could see that I made a sliding panel so that the kids can just pull it out and have quick, non-ripping-up-the-whole-treat-package-up access to the candy corn inside the sweet treat cup.  Normally the ribbon would be peeking out from the right side of the stamped image - not the Only Orange CS and brad.

Did you know that you get TWELVE of these fantastic sweet treat cups on a package for only $2.95?!?!?  They are a deal and they make adorable packaging for treats of all kinds.

Below you can see the images of the stamps that come in this fabulous stamp set called Sweet Centers (#116521, $29.95).  The Sweet Centers stamp set makes it easy to create ornaments, treat bags, cards, and more. Combine it with the Sizzix® Holiday Windows die and Sweet Treat cups for even greater results!

Have a great day!!!!

Stamps:  Sweet Centers
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Only Orange and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Only Orange classic ink
Accessories:  1-3/4" Circle punch, Black gingham ribbon, silver brad, Sweet Treat cup
Sweet Centers, #116521, $29.95

Holiday Card Swap

I was recently in a Holiday Mini card swap and all of the ladies have received theirs by now, so I thought I would share mine.  I'm sorry if you don't like CAS because that's what the bulk of my cards are.  I venture into more layered/embellished card-making realms every now and then, but as you'll see, this one is not too fancy.  I really like it and could easily make it as my Christmas cards as it was pretty easy to duplicate quickly 10 times for the swap.  That's the beauty of the new Ornament punch and the Big Shot (for the Top Note die layers).

Enjoy!

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations (Holiday Mini Catalog), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft and Whisper White CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog)
Ink:  Real Red classic ink
Accessories:  Ornament Punch (Holiday Mini Catalog), SU! Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Silver Elastic Cord (Holiday Mini Catalog), 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals



Delightful Decorations   #116517   $21.95

Make the holidays a little brighter with cards, gifts, tags and decorations made with the Delightful Decorations stamp set! No matter what you want to make, this set can help you make it.

 

 

 

A Catalog Cover CASE

Well, as you'll see, this card isn't an exact CASE, but it was definitely inspired by the cards in the box on the front cover fo the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog from Stampin' Up!.  I love those cards, and I made this one for my daughter's teacher.  It was her birthday two weekends ago.  Her favorite color is black, but I really couldn't make an all black birthday card, so I added in a pop of color with the Bermuda Bay.  I hope she liked it.

Stamps:  Medallion BG, Short & Sweet
Paper:  Whisper White CS, Bermuda Bay Textured CS, Night & Day Specialty DSP
Ink:  Basic Black and Bermuda Bay classic ink
Accessories:  Black brads, Curvy Label, Modern Label and 1" Circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Excuse me...

...while I am absent from posting for a few days.  By now my family knows that I flew home to surprise them and spend a little time there helping out.  I couldn't mention going away on here of the surprise would have been spoiled.

I pre-scheduled the previous week's posts, and have run out of time to schedule the rest at this point.  I will post again on Monday, October 5th.  I should have a swap card to share with you, along with the card I made for my daughter's teacher's birthday back in September.  Take care, and happy stampin'!!!

WOW!!!

SU! is beginning 2 new promotions along with the unveiling of My Digital Studio TODAY!!!!

DEALS OF THE WEEK ARE BACK AT SU!

Week 1 Deals of the week:

These three punches are regularly $15.95 each. 

Item	Description	Special Price
109183	Trio Flower punch	$10.99
109041	5-Petal Flower punch	$10.99
110709	My Way punch	$11.99

 

Dates: October 1-31, 2009

Promotion Details:

During the month of October, Stampin' Up! will offer several discounted products as "Deals of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required.

 

Customer Weekly Deal Announcements:

• Deal #1: Thursday, October 1, 2009; 12:01 AM (MT)


• Deal #2: Monday, October 12, 2009; 10:00 AM (MT)


• Deal #3: Monday, October 19, 2009; 10:00 AM (MT)


• Deal #4: Monday, October 26, 2009; 10:00 AM (MT)

Things to Remember:

• Deals of the Week items may be purchased on workshop, demonstrator, customer, and online orders.


• Deals of the Week products are only available at their discounted price during the specified time.  At any other time during the month, the item will sell at the regular price.


• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.


• There is no limit to the number of Deals of the Week items a customer may purchase.


• The order deadlines for each Deal of the Week will be as follows:

Deal of the Week	Ending Date	Phone Deadlines*	OEX/Online Ordering Deadlines*
1	October 12, 2009	9:50 AM (MT)	9:50 AM (MT)
2	October 19, 2009	9:50 AM (MT)	9:50 AM (MT)
3	October 26, 2009	9:50 AM (MT)	9:50 AM (MT)
4	October 31, 2009	6:50 PM (MT)	11:50 PM (MT)

 

If this isn't enough, SU! has created a new Starter Kit in conjunction with My Digital Studio!!!!

Digital+ Starter Kit



 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: October 1, 2009-March 31, 2010

Promotion Details:
With the launch of our much anticipated My Digital Studio software, new recruits can purchase an exclusive Starter Kit that includes My Digital Studio, in addition to stamps, inks, and accessories.

Starter Kit Price: $185 (over $295 value!)

Digital+ Starter Kit Contents:

My Digital Studio software
Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
Button Latte Designer buttons
Stampin' Dimensionals
Mini Glue Dots
SNAIL Adhesive
Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

The regular starter kit ($199) is still available during this promotion, and as always, you can customize the stamping items included in this kit if you already have them or would prefer others (of equal or lesser value).
 
My Digital Studio is a great creative outlet for those who want to be crafty, but are strapped for time.  You can create photo albums, calendars, scrapbooks, greeting cards, blog headers and other digital features, and the list goes on!!!
 
Contact me today if you would like to ask any questions, and if you want to sign up as a Demonstrator, please go to my website (http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mariemcclellan) and put your mouse over "Start Your Own Business" and click on the tab with the same name directly beneath that.  Then, on the left-hand side you will see "Join Now" which you can click on after reading all of the information you want about being a Demonstrator.  My password is "stampwithmarie".
 
I love being a SU! Demonstrator!!  The opportunities to share my love of papercrafting with others are what keep me going, but that Demonstrator discount on fabulous products, and the ability to pre-order them before they're available to customers certainly doesn't hurt!!! ;)
 
Take care, and have a wonderful day!

8x8 Digi Page

Here is another page out of one of the 2 albums I have created so far using My Digital Studio.  I really do love this program.  It is SO easy to use!!!  Not complicated like I've found PhotoShop or other editing programs to be.  Of course, I can use PhotoShop, but I was very impressed with how everything is very self-explanatory and not hidden under some icon with sub-icons, or anything complicated or confusing. 

Well, do you remember that TODAY IS THE DAY!!  You can now to go my SU! store (click the "Order Stampin' Up! Online" button in my right-hand sidebar of my blog) and order your copy to be shipped straight to your home.  There's nothing like being able to shop in your jammies from your own home, is there?!?!  :)  Also, please e-mail me (mariemc01@gmail.com) if you have ANY questions about MDS.  I'll do my best to answer them for you, or get an answer from SU! for you.

Also, did you notice that the SU! projects of the month (also in my right-hand sidebar) have been updated?  Check them out when you can.

I hope you enjoy this fun little page!!!