Sparkle and shine – and FREE INK!!!

We interrupt our previously scheduled post to shout:  FREE INK!!!

  • Who:      Stampin’ Up!
  • What:     Free Subtles, Regals or Brights Collection FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
  • When:    Now until December 16
  • Where:   My Online Store
  • Why:       DUH!!!   It’s free!

How?  There are two ways to get 10 free ink pads.  Hostess a Stampin’ Up! event with at least $450 in sales and they’re yours for free…OR take the leap and become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for $99!  The demonstrator kit includes plenty of business supplies PLUS $125 of whatever Stampin’ Up! product you would like from either catalog or My Digital Studio downloads – and 10 free ink pads.  Either way you win – contact me or stop by the Online Store for more information.

OK, where were we?

Ah yes.  Seriously, who doesn’t love a little bit of sparkle?  I’m not a super-sparkly, bedazzled kind of girl but I definitely love a touch of bling.  Crystal and I went all out with these tags for last weekend’s Christmas Extravaganza:

We embossed the Petite Pocket and dressed it up with a little bit of Ruffled Tulle, then filled it with a sparkly pair of tags.  It’s just the right size!  The tags are easy as can be – and pretty fabulous:

There were two classes, so there were two pockets and two sets of tags.  Here’s the second pocket without the tags in it:

And the final set of tags:

 

Versatile ornaments

These ornaments can be used in so many ways:

  • Ornaments Keepsakes stamp set
  • Elegant Eggplant FFIP
  • Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Champagne Glimmer paper
  • Color Spritzer
  • Elegant Eggplant Polka Dot ribbon
  • Big Shot, Holiday Framelits and Holiday Frame TIEF
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Where’s that polka dot ribbon, you say?  Well, it’s inside out – you just have to do a little twistin’ and tweakin’ to get it just right.  This would be an easy card to duplicate – you could cut multiple framelits in one pass of the Big Shot by using multiple images from the set.

What are you doing for holiday cards this year?

 

Pillow Gifts from Hilton Head

The Stampin’ Up! Hilton Head Incentive Trip was last month.  Although I earned the trip, I didn’t attend as it conflicted with my God-daughter’s wedding in California.  (It was a FABULOUS weekend and I absolutely made the right decision!!)  Stampin’ Up! is generous, though, and I received a lovely cash bonus.  I’d forgotten that I would also be getting the pillow gifts until an unexpected box arrived last week:

Yes, it’s a Lands’ End bag!  It’s big, too – it will hold my 15″ laptop!  Gorgeous, isn’t it?  And that’s our Polka Dot fabric too – can’t wait to make a few more of these myself.

How sweet is that logo?  Yeah, it’s our red rubbah…and look what else was inside the box:

It’s like Christmas in October!

Watch for new projects with Fan Fair Designer Series paper and the Postage Due stamp set!

If you’re on Maui, there are a couple of spots left for tomorrow’s classes at the Masonic Lodge in Kahului.  Everything is ready for you at the table:

We’re making cards in the morning from 9 til noon, and owl themed crafts after lunch.  Hope you can join us!

The Holly and the Pines

At hostess club last week we made a card with an extra surprise inside:

Well, that isn’t the inside now, is it?  It’s actually pretty simple, and if I were to do it again I would give it the Maui Stamper More Is More treatment, but I wanted to have time for the inside:

  • Ornament Keepsakes, Watercolor Winter and More Merry Messages stamp sets
  • Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Be of Good Cheer Designer Series paper
  • Champagne Glimmer Paper
  • Lucky Limeade and Cherry Cobbler FFIP
  • Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon
  • Big Shot and Labels Collections  and Holiday CollectionFramelits
  • Adorning Accents Edgelits
  • Festive Paper Piercing Pack
  • Stampin’ Pierce Mat
  • Paper Piercing Tool, aka Pokey Doodle
  • Aquapainter
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Sticky Strip

It’s a simple but pretty way to add an extra page for a Christmas message!

Moving Forward with love

Hello, dear friend – who wouldn’t like to hear those words?  Or read them, for that matter:

  • Moving Forward stamp set
  • Pacific Point Classic FFIP
  • Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write marker
  • Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card stock
  • Pacific Point Prints Pack Designer Series paper
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots TIEF
  • Blender pen
  • 3 inch Bigz Circle
  • 2 1/2 inch Circle Punch
  • Rhinestone Jewels

I took this project to the high school my kids attended as a thank you to the hard-working staff.  They had such a good time, we’ll do it again!

Stampin’ by…AppLight??

The Maui Stampers decided to try something new for our team meeting, and last night we met at Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping center.  It provided a central location, plenty of tables, and a variety of “nutritional options”.  However, what we had failed to realize was that it was VERY short on light.

Nevertheless, once the business part was done we persevered with our project.  We were having a hard time seeing what we were doing when Crystal, being the brilliant girl she is, whipped out her phone and said “I’ve got an app for that!”

It did a good job, wouldn’t you say?

It clearly didn’t stop us from having a good time!!

Crystal spotted an electrical outlet and said next time she’ll bring her craft lamp.

A little Core’dination

I realize I’m a Stampin’ Up! dork.  Someone asked me today to imagine how I would respond to something if I weren’t a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and I couldn’t do it.  Couldn’t imagine NOT being a demo.  Couldn’t imagine NOT having access to the SU website, NOT going to convention and all the other great events, not being part of the “demonstrator club”.  So it should come as no surprise What So Ever that I am doing the Happy Dance about yet another new Holiday catalog product!

  • Gently Falling and Kindness Matters stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard and Cajun Craze card stock
  • Early Espresso Core’dination card stock
  • Early Espresso, Canjun Craze and More Mustard Classic ink pads
  • Big Shot
  • Woodgrain TIEF
  • Window Frames Framelits
  • Regals Designer Buttons
  • Linen Thread
  • Stampin’ Sandin’ System

Oh my goodness.  LOVE this Core’dinations paper!!   LOVE that Woodgrain TIEF!!  Love the Stampin’ Sandin’ System!!  (OK, maybe I don’t love the name, but the product – yeah, baby!)  And if Stampin’ Up! ever retires the Linen Thread, I will buy up every last package in the warehouse.

The Core’dinations paper does amazing things with a TIEF.  It’s thicker than regular cardstock and has a tone-on-tone interior.  Run it through the Big Shot and you’ll see the core peep through, but hit it with that new sanding block and fabulous things take place.  This is not your grandmother’s sanding block, crafters; this is a sanding block on steroids!  And the sandy goodness attaches with velcro so you can switch out the yucky old paper for fresh, growly, chew-up-that-core’dinations paper!

Are you a Stampin’ Up! dork?  Isn’t it time you gave yourself the gift of becoming a demonstrator?  $99 for $125 worth of product PLUS a heap of business supplies…you’re worth it!   Visit www.AnneMatasci.StampinUp.net to learn all about it.

It’s not just for Halloween

Crystal brought me a fabulous present a couple of weeks ago.  The gift itself was awesome – The Best Bag Hook Ever!!  The wrapping was pretty doggone sweet too:

Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series paper Stampin' Up!Tell me, does that look like Halloween paper to you???  Love, love love it!!!

Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series paper Stampin' Up!Here’s the side view – she layered solid Blossom punch flowers with the DSP on top and cut through the petals for extra fullness.

Now that’s thinking outside the box!!!
(I know, it’s sick, but I couldn’t resist.)

An Annual Christmas Extravaganza!

It’s time for Anne and Crystal’s Christmas Extravaganza!!  Yep – ACCE is here!

We’re offering two classes on Saturday, October 27th at the Maui Masonic Lodge.  As always, your paid reservation holds your spot at the craft table.

First up:  Christmas Cards!

Cards class runs from 9am until noon.  You’ll make 2 of each card plus the Petite Pocket and two very sparkly tags.  Cost is $20 and includes envelopes and specialty adhesives, but you’ll need to bring your own Tombo or SNAIL to assemble the cards.  We will also have Tombo available for purchase on Saturday.

After lunch:  the Owl Suite!!

From 1 to 4pm we’ll make projects based on the Owl Occasions stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  You’ll craft a gift bag, two cards, an 8oz jelly-type jar, a covered Fancy Favor bag (not pictured) and another Petite Pocket with two more bling-bling tags!  Cost is $25 and includes all supplies except Tombo or SNAIL.

If you’re an All-Day kind of stamper, we’ll save you a couple of dollars – register for BOTH classes for $42.  Bring a friend and share the fun, or come by yourself and make new friends!  We have some great door prizes in store as well as chocolate and maybe even a Christmas song or two – hope to see you there!

A RemARKable Ending to World Card Making Day

Well, my blog-hopping friends, we’ve reached the last moments of World Card Making Day – at least on the East Coast.  Here in Hawaii, it’s time for pupu and a glass of wine, and Mr. Maui Stamper and I are heading over to the beach with our picnic basket for the sunset.  I’m sure to lift my glass to all of you!!  Thanks for sharing this day with all of us.

I left the neutrals for last because after my favorite blue + green combo, I love a neutral card.  Granted, I often use an neutral palette to set of a pop! of color – Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist – but by themselves I find the neutrals very elegant.  Tell me what you think:

Have you tried our new Core’dinations card stock yet?  Hie thee off to thine own Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and order thyself some of this paper of the kings!!  It is royally fabulous!  And that tulle is pretty sweet too, and it sticketh to sticky strip quite welleth!  (OK.  Enough of that nonsense.)

There’s a little 3/4 inch circle of Early Espresso cardstock behind that Vintage Faceted Button to give it depth.

Black and white is classic, but black with Very Vanilla is just splendid – like deep, dark chocolate hot fudge with rich vanilla bean ice cream (did I send you off to the freezer there?  Sorry ’bout that!)  Our First Edition Specialty paper is one of my stamp room staples; it’s flexible enough for nearly any card-making situation.

Although the Neutral color family lends itself well to luxurious, elaborate cards, it certainly works well with other styles.  This is about as close as I get to a Clean and Simple card, and I’m pretty sure that sparkly star at the top disqualifies me from the genre.

That’s my last card for this hop – or as Mr Maui Stamper called it the other day, the Blog Parade.  We are all very grateful for each of you taking the time to hop, skip, jump and parade through our posts.  If we’ve done our job well, you are inspired; perhaps you’ve left a comment or two, or pinned a few samples to your Pinterest board for later study.   I’ll be reviewing some of these projects over the next couple of weeks with a little more detail – if there’s one you’d especially like to see featured, just leave a comment.

A hui hou…until we meet again.

Next Stop on the World Card Making Day RemARKable Blog Tour