OH MY GOSH!!!!

Stampin' Up!'s first-ever Inventory Blowout begins today and runs through January 18, 2009. You can get select retired, retiring, and current products up to 50 percent off retail price!  Simply click on my 24/7 Ordering link in the right-hand sidebar or contact me to place your order or to ask any questions!!

Inventory Blowout Details:

Dates: January 5-18, 2009

Promotion details:

Get retired, retiring, and current products up to 50 percent off regular price!

Items retiring from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog:

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Discount Price
109190	180	On Board 9" x 9" clipboard	$7.95	$5.99
107925	181	On Board Bitty Book	$9.95	$6.99
105384	183	Mellow Moss 6" x 6" Linen Post album	$19.95	$14.99
105381	183	Real Red 6" x 6" Linen Post album	$19.95	$14.99
103977	187	Bold Bright buttons	$6.95	$4.99
104389	188	Double Circle punch	$5.95	$4.49
114447	n/a	Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit	$49.95	$24.98

*Items available while supplies last; page numbers refer to the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog

Retired items from the Spring-Summer 2008 Idea Book & Catalog:

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Discount Price
109013	163	Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109012	163	Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109011	163	Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109010	163	River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109009	163	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109014	163	Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.25	$3.99
109179	178	On Board Ginormous Pieces	$14.95	$10.99
109189	190	Beachfront Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$7.99
109187	190	District Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$7.99
109188	190	Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$8.49
109185	190	Jersey Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$8.99
109184	190	Sherbet Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$8.99
109186	190	Theater Ribbon Originals	$12.95	$8.49
109062	191	River Rock double-stitched ribbon	$8.95	$6.49
110716	191	Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon	$7.95	$5.49

*Items available while supplies last; page numbers refer to the Spring-Summer 2008 Idea Book & Catalog

Current products appearing in the upcoming Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog:

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Discount Price
111349	162	Tangerine Tango 8-1/2" x 11" card stock	$5.50	$4.49
111345	162	In Color (2008-2009) 12" x 12" textured card stock	$11.95	$8.99
109110	185	Fire Circle Rhinestone brads	$10.95	$7.99
109112	185	Fire Square Rhinestone brads	$10.95	$7.99
109113	185	Ice Square Rhinestone brads	$10.95	$7.99
111325	185	Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware	$29.95	$22.49
112454	185	Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware	$29.95	$22.49
113451	n/a	20th Anniversary Embosslits die	$11.95	$9.49

*Quantities at reduced price are limited; page numbers refer to the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog

Things to Remember:

• Items and special pricing are limited supply.
  
  
  
  • Retired/previously retired items will be sold until quantities run out.
    
  • Current items may revert to their retail price if inventory levels become acceptable.
  
  
  
  
• Orders can be placed on a customer, demonstrator, or workshop order.

HERE is a link to the pictures of the items that are already retired but are part of this inventory blowout.

FAQs

Q: Are all retiring accessories part of the Inventory Blowout?
A: No. Only retiring accessories listed on the flyer are discounted; however, all items are only available while supplies last.

Q: How do I know if an item is no longer available for purchase?
A: SU! will post a current update notifying you of any items that run out and you can ask me and I will check on the tiem for you.

Q: How do I know about the blowout products that aren't featured in the current catalog?
A:  If you have a copy of the Spring-Summer 2008 catalog, use this as a resource for most items or see the link posted above.

Q: What about the blowout items that are not retiring--will they run out during the promotion?
A: Our inventory levels are such that we do not anticipate this happening.

Q: Isn't the 20th Anniversary Embosslit die only available to demonstrators? If not, why would a customer want it?
A: Up to this point, the 20th Anniversary Embosslit die has only been available on a demonstrator order. However, this product will be available during the inventory blowout to customers, as well. The Embosslit die is general enough that it could be used for a 20th birthday or 20th anniversary of any kind (wedding, work service, etc.). 

Love You Much!!! My favorite things....

 

Well...I was under the erroneous impression that I wasn't able to share anything I had made with the Love You Much stamp set and the VERY yummy Candy Lane Designer Series Papers from the current Love You Much bundle promotion from SU!.  Also, even though I thought I couldn't share it until the 23rd of December when the promotion began, I didn't post it then anyway because I never got around to pulling my new stuff out.  I kind of forgot about it with all of the Christmas cards I had made.  I was in a stamping-induced coma of sorts ;) 

Well....here is the card I finally made with my fun new items along with several views of it to show you what I did to make it.  The sketch comes from the lovely Limelight Papercrafts blog, and it is the Six Chicks Challenge #9 sketch that you can see HERE.  I had been hanging on to this sketch in my favorites to use, and when I saw the Limited Supply Challenge for this week (HERE) over on SCS, I just had to get stamping!!!

As for how this fits "my favorite things" which was the challenge, for stamps - anything SU! is my favorite ;)  For the papers and inks, the color combo is one of my faves - Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette (with a bit of Very Vanilla as the neutral).  The embellishments I used were some sewing (so fun, but hard to see) and the new Heart to Heart punch that I LOVE!!!!

After the info on the card, and the "recipe" I will post the info about the Love You Much bundle promotion.  It is SUCH a fun stamp set, and it's very versatile.  Not just Valentine's cards to be made with this stamp set, the coordinating punch or DS Papers!!!  I really like the color combo (Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa and Very Vanilla) in the papers and they lend to so many possibilities!!!

I'll explain the only complicated part of making this card (I am showing a couple of different shots to more fully display the only time consuming part of it - you can click on them to enlarge them).  I folded a strip of the Candy Lane DSP and then sewed right down the middle of it and then adhered it on top of another layer of the Candy Lane DSP that was already on top of my card base.  Then, using my handy dandy punches, I punched all 6 squares and I used the fun Heart to Heart punch to punch out the stamped heart images using my Love You Much stamp set.  It was easy peasy.  I did double the dimensionals beneath the hearts to really make them pop.  I also added a strip of the folded DSP on the inside of the card along with some more of the little punched hearts.  All in all, the card came together pretty quickly. 

If you'll notice the "graininess" on the card that shows the inside elements, it's actually the texture of the CS.  I used a piece of Close to Cocoa Textured CS for my card base, so it's not actually a bad picture :)  The top-most punched square is actually a layer of the Candy Lane DSP.  It's a light flower-printed Pink Pirouette color.  The layer on top of the card base is also the Candy Lane DSP.  The hearts are stamped in Riding Hood Red classic ink on Very Vanilla CS.  I used the sentiment in the stamp set to stamp the "friend to friend" but broke it up onto the three different squares of Candy Lane DSP.  The little hearts are also stamped images that are punched with the Heart to Heart punch.

This is fast becoming one of my favorite stamp sets for quick and easy cards. The Heart to Heart punch makes adding little popped up hearts so easy!!!  You'll have to let me know if you have the bundle and share some links to what you make.  I would love to see your creations!!!

I hope you like the card!!!

Stamps:  Love You Much
Paper:  Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red CS, Close to Cocoa Textured CS, Candy Lane DSP
Ink:  Close to Cocoa and Riding Hood Red classic ink
Accessories:  Heart to Heart punch, 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" square punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine 

Love You Much Promotion  These items WILL be in the upcoming (NEW) Idea Book & Catalog, but you WILL NOT be able to purchase them AT THIS PRICE!!!!    Dates: December 23, 2008 - January 31, 2009 Promotion details: Get ready for Valentine's Day with the exclusive Love You Much Bundle (item 115405). The Love You Much Bundle includes the following: Description  Retail Value  Love You Much stamp set  $25.95  Candy Lane Designer Series paper (Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla)  $9.95 Heart To Heart punch   $15.95     Bundle Retail Value   $51.85     Love You Much Bundle (20% off; item 115405)   $41.48

Last of my Christmas Cards

These two cards are the last ones of the batch of clean and simple Christmas cards that I made this year.  Batch, meaning 86 that I ended up mailing!!! 

 
This third card is one that I thought I would show you the "final" version of.  After making and posting it HERE I really felt like it needed a ribbon at the top.  Since I didn't want the ribbon to distract from the clean and simple stamped images I used Whisper White Taffeta so that it added a more subtle element to the card.  Enjoy!

 

I hope everyone has a very happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!

First I would like to say that I hope that each of you has a wonderful New Year and that you can make good on whatever you resolve to do in the coming days, weeks and months!!

 

 

 

I made these little onesies and burp rags for my brother and sister-in-law who are expecting their first baby.  I got the idea (and even used one of the same fabrics because I loved it so much!!!) from Dawn McVey.  You can see hers HERE.  I liked her little star onesie so I decided to make my own using my Big Shot and the Stars #2 Originals Die.  I used some iron-on sheets on the back of the stars and then I sewed along the edges.  One is long-sleeve for when the baby is born and one is for the spring/summer when it will be a little warmer.  

The directions for making the burp rags can be found HERE.  They are three strips of fabric sewn together and then sewn to a diaper cloth.  They are fairly easy to make - but for those who are OCD like me, it takes a little time to get them done :)

I hope they like them!!!

I think the burp rags will be something I will continue to make in the future as baby gifts.  I want to get the flower die from SU! that layers the three blooms and try out some baby girl onesies.   Now I just need someone who's having a baby girl to make them for!!!  :)

Please Read....

THIS POST TO REMAIN AT THE TOP FOR A LITTLE WHILE -- SEE BELOW FOR NEWER POSTS

All I can say is that I have spent HOURS and HOURS trying to fix my blog, it's feed, and all kinds of things that might be causing the problems for Feedblitz and FeedBurner and I just can't deal with it anymore.  Not to mention that I've wasted precious hours of time!!!  I'm a little OCD like that though - in the fact that when something doesn't work, I HAVE to fix it.

If you want to see what I'm recommending so that you can still be updated on new posts on my blog rather than having to click on my blog each day to see if I've posted, keep reading....

I don't know what to do about the problem, and I must say that Feedblitz has tried to help and the folks at FeedBurner stink, to put it nicely.   :(  So - I know I'm going to lose hundreds of subscribers by doing this, but I'm removing my feed from those services.  I don't know if you can somehow add it yourself and still use one of those services to see my blog's updated posts.  If you can't I'm very sorry.  I'd rather lose readers than have weeks go by where you don't think I've posted but I've been posting my little heart out. 

So....if you don't use it already, I know for a FACT that Google Reader works GREAT and I HIGHLY recommend it.  I recommend it for getting updates to ALL of your favorite blogs.  You just add a subscription by pasting a blog's address in a little box and that's it!  You don't subscribe and give anyone your e-mail or anything.  It's the ONLY way I subscribe to blogs. 

If people are worried that they won't know you subscribe to their blogs, at least FeedBurner shows you how everyone subscribes to your blog - even if it's not with them, and I know there are other diagnostic tools out there too.  To be honest, I LOVE that I have subscribers, but I don't really need to know who they are and where they come from.  I'd much prefer your comments to some silly form of tracking each of you.  So, if you use Google Reader for my blog, that's fine with me!!! 

To get to it, simply sign up for a free Google account HERE if you don't already have one.  If you do, click HEREto go to the Google Reader section of Google to begin using GR.  It's VERY user-friendly, I promise!!  They even have this neat feature that I use called "Next" where you add "Next" to your favorites (a link in your own internet browser sidebar) and you simply click there as you do all of your other internet favorites and it will show you the most recently updated blog.  So, I usually hit that link a good 100 times a day to see everyone's updates, but it's easy and I don't even have to remember what blogs I subscribe to or anything.  Simply go to "Settings" on the top right of your screen when you're in GR and then click on "Goodies" and you'll see directions for this "Next" feature.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!  You can also view updates directly through the Google Reader website, of course, without using the "Next" feature.

Thanks for reading this far.  I'm hoping every one has since that means you'll more than likely stay with me and continue to read my blog.  I really do appreciate each and every one of you.  I was not "blessed" with a husband or any family that understand my need to craft and with my husband gone all the time anyway you all are a second family to me.  I guess not everyone has the "loves to craft and appreciates others who do and what goes into crafting" gene.  Some might call it more of an illness than a gene, but I sure love it!!! ;)  LOL  Thanks so much for being there!!!    

ETA:  While the feeds weren't fetched in the time-frames that they were supposed to, BOTH Feedblitz and FeedBurner did finally "see" my feed again.  I got e-mails from both of them while asleep last night.  Rather ironic.  What I am doing is removing the subscription links in my sidebar and I will let my subs with them be.  If they work, great, but if you want a more reliable method that ALWAYS works and has NEVER missed a feed, use Google Reader.

 

 

Let's see if you can see this one...

Here's the little ornament that I posted earlier today.  I had a lengthy explanation about it - that I gave it to my sister, and how I made it, but I will forgo that since I just want to get it posted again and hopefully you will "see" it.  I'm sure you'd rather not read my normal essay anyway! ;) he he he Let me know if you get this e-mailed to you via your preferred subscription method.  I would appreciate it!!

ETA:  Below the picture are step-by-step (lengthy) instructions.  I love to talk - would you expect anything else!!! :)

  

Stamps:  Merry & Bright
Ink:  Black StazOn, SU! markers
Accessories:  heat tool, Sticky Strip (to adhere ribbon), red gingham ribbon, 2-way Glue Pen (to adhere glitter), Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Krylon acrylic sealant

The ornament is fairly easy to make. Here's what I did:
 
1.  Stamp image in black StazOn on Domino.  You could use other colors of StazOn, but I have never tried stamping in any other ink other than that so I don't know how it would do - if it would bleed, be permanent, etc.

2.  Heat set the image with your heat tool.  I usually do this for about 30-60 sec. depending on how large the stamped area is.  Allow it to cool.
 
3.  Using Krylon clear acrylic sealant, spray a VERY fine layer onto the domino in a well-ventilated area.  I typically do this outside on a piece of newspaper.  I hold the spray at least 30 inches away from the domino to ensure that it is a fine spray.  I usually test spray in the air to ensure that the nozzle is spraying a fine mist and not any large droplets.  If it is, you simply need to spray it some to remove any clogs.  Also, a good rule of thumb is to turn the can completely upside-down and spray until nothing comes out when you are done using it so that it is stored with no paint in the tube. 
 
4.  Allow thin layer of Krylon to dry about 5 min and then spray one more thin layer on it.  You should be able to see a different sheen to the domino where the Krylon has "landed" so if your coverage isn't very good, you can spray one more layer.
 
5.  Using your heat tool re-heat the domino for another 30 seconds to ensure that they Krylon is dry.
 
6.  Color in any parts of your image that you want using the fine tip end of your Stampin' Up! markers.  I've never tried any others, but would assume they should work - even a Sharpie should work and might even bleed less.
 
7.  Immediately after coloring part of the image in one color, heat the colored part for 20-30 seconds with your heat tool and then take a Kleenex and very carefully lay it over the image and press your finger down without any side-to-side movement to remove any excess ink.  I do this until pressing does not remove any ink.  If I'm not satisfied with what the image looks like after doing so, I touch it up.  Do this with all remaining coloring to be done.
 
8.  After last of coloring is done, heat the domino for 20-30 seconds again for a final heat set and then you will spray it again with your Krylon acrylic sealant in the same method as listed above, for 2 coats - 3 if needed.
 
9.  Apply 2-way Glue pen to parts that you want glitter and immediately dip in your Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
 
10.  Put strips of sticky strip that are 1" long around each of the 4 corners.  I find it unnecessary to wrap the entire outer edge of the domino in Sticky Strip.  Wrap your desired ribbon around the whole domino tying the loose ends in a bow at the top.
 
11.  Slip ornament hook beneath knot of bow to hang on your tree.
 
That's it!!  Hopefully the steps make sense.  I tried to explain everything I could think of as if you had never done any stamping like this before. If you're familiar with stamping on tiles or some other such surface you may want to do what you're familiar with.  As you make these you may also find better ways of doing things, or ways that suit you better.  Do what works for you!  Happy stamping, and I would love to see what you create!!!

Test

I am having problems YET AGAIN with my blog's feed.  Considering I know nothing about code and I don't do anything other than type up posts and insert pictures and add links in my side-bars, I can't imagine what is causing the problems.  I just found that even Google Reader is not "seeing" the post I posted today (with the Domino ornament).  So...if this post doesn't go through any of the feed subscription services then I just give up.  It's so frustrating and I know that most of my readers (I don't have a lot) only see me through subscription services.  There's no use in blogging if people think they're not getting updates to my blog because I'm not posting when I really am and some stupid problem in the confusing world of feeds and code and all that mumbo-jumbo isn't working right.  So...if this post doesn't come through, my blogging will become pretty non-existent.  I'll know if it works since I myself subscribe to my blog via Feedblitz, FeedBurner and Google Reader.  All three aren't seeing today's earlier post....