Wednesday, January 15, 2014

SHE found her MOJO-JO-JO on an unexpected Snow Day!


My downline, customer and friend, Marnie, found her MOJO-JO-JO on an unexpected day off due to the Polar Vortex that moved into upstate New York!

She took my creative challenge to use one stamp set, a punch, Designer Series Paper and 3 colors!

I love the Swallowtail Stamp set that she used to heat emboss the image in gold!


This one was heat embossed in black!

Don't recognize the paper?  As a hobby demonstrator, Marnie has early access to Sale-a-bration products.  She received the paper early and FREE when she spent $50 in December or January!  So as a Hobby demo, she actually gets 4 months of Sale-a-bration rewards!


What can YOU make with one stamp set, a punch, a piece of Designer Paper and 3 colors?  Send me your pictures (of projects ONLY using SU products) and I may post your designs here! 

Trip Report from the Leadership Convention in Houston!

My trip to Houston was a TOTAL blast!  I traveled alone and met up with women I met in the airport last  year.  Waiting in line for an excursion to the aquarium, we met a lady from El Paso.  She was a hysterical!  I laughed harder on Sat night than I laughed the whole rest of the year put together.... I had belly laughs on top of belly laughs.  At one point 5 of us where standing on the street and all 5 of us where bent over at the waist laughing SO hard...

My trip down was a mess.  I finally got to my hotel room at 2 in the morning and talked with my roommate until 3 when reminded me that we needed to be up at 6 the next morning!

I qualified for manager's reception and was invited to a night out at the aquarium.  The food was non-stop and amazing... although serving sea food at an aquarium just seems WRONG to me!  We took a train ride thru a shark tank!  I actually shivered!  I was too chicken to pet a sting ray, but several of my friends did.  

Really, just like you all know, it's really all about the people.  It was so much fun meeting new people and seeing friends that I have met over the years at other events.  Oh yeah - The convention was awesome too!  We got to see and try several new products.  I kept it simple and only made 50 swaps to trade this year.  I usually do 200-300, so it was nice to actually have room in my suitcase!

We were spoiled rotten by SU.  They fed us a nice lunch each day.  We went to classes and demonstrations.  I received 7 free stamp sets and a card making kit!  One of the stamp sets is from next year's catalog!!!  Several of the presentations were inspirational to me on a personal level. In particular, the discussion on resiliency - getting up after life knocks you down - was really good for me.  This last year has been pretty tough for me on a personal level and it was really inspiring.

So here is the SU news straight from Houston:
- Between now and March, SU will be releasing Alcohol Markers called Blendabilities (like Copics) that are priced VERY nicely!  I played with these and I just can't believe how cool these are!!!!!  I NEED THEM ALL!  I was so proud of the little ditties that I colored!  

- SU will have a smaller machine just for embossing folders called the Texture Boutique!

- The monthly kits, called My Paper Pumpkin, are being improved - more product per kit and if you sign up by January 25th, you get 2012-2014 in-color markers for free in the welcome kit. Cost is 19.95/month and includes shipping. The markers alone are $14.95 without shipping and handling.   If you don't have a demo that you already work with and want more info, check out www.mypaperpumpkin.com.  You can keep the subscription for as long as you want and cancel at any time!

- If you join SU as a demo between now and March-ish (it's based on when convention sells out, not an exact date), you are invited to attend convention for FREE!  If you have any questions, let me know!  I never push my recruits or hobby demonstrators, whatever their goals are is fine with me!  It's less expensive than you might think.  (If you belong to BJ's for a discount, why not join SU to get a discount!  You are already spending the money anyway!)

I joined a couple of challenges:
- I am looking for 25 new ordering customers by March 31st.  If I achieve this, I will get a free stamp set and I will give the stamp set away to one of the people who referred new customers to me!!!  Please pass my name to your friends!!

- I am looking for 2 people to sign up for the monthly kit.  If I get 2 people by Jan 25th, I will get $100 in free, retired merchandise (which I will share with the 2 people who sign up).  If I get 7 people to sign up, I will get $500 in free, retired merchandise (which I will share with the all of the people who sign up).

- I am also looking for at least 5 new recruits by the end of March. Join for only $99 and get $150 in FREE product, an exclusive magazine every other month, 20% off every order and 30% off each order!  How can you resist all of these benefits AND a FREE convention?  (fine print = save about $280; pay for your own airfare and hotel - which we usually share)

As exciting as the trip was and as exciting as the new products are, it really is about YOU, my customers.  You have changed my life and bring me such joy!

What about crafting and stamping has changed YOUR life?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Mixed Media Play!

These are two of my projects that just never made it to a class.  December just got away from me!

A wall hanging...


and a banner!


These projects feature the Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper!
I'm in love with Mixed Media!  It's so much fun!!!


Thursday, January 9, 2014

What do you do when your MOJO-JO-JO has deserted you? Part 4, 5, 6, 7

So... now that I had a BUNCH of cards... I needed a cute box to put them in to make a nice gift!


By now you recognize the stamp set, punch and colors....  Petite Petals Stamp Set and punch.

and colors....



Supplies:

So... to make a LONG story short... my creative block not only resolved, but turned into a CREATIVE BINGE!  I have another set of Note Cards and Envelopes to share with you using the Watercolor Wonder Designer Note Cards and Envelopes!


Stay tuned!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

What do you do when your MOJO-JO-JO has deserted you? Part 4, 5, 6, 7

As the day went on....  I still kept with the Petite Petals Stamp Set and punch.

and colors....


and note cards...

Here's my 4th card:

 and 5th...
 and 6th... I broke down and used another stamp set, "Hello, Lovely"


and I used a framelit from the Hearts a Flutter set



and 7th... I used the greeting from Yippee Skippee




Supplies:


Next I'll show you the cute box I made to hold a set of the cards and envelopes!

What can YOU make with one stamp set, a punch, a piece of Designer Paper and 3 colors?  Send me your pictures (of projects ONLY using SU products) and I may post your designs here!  

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

What do you do when your MOJO-JO-JO has deserted you? Part 3

As the day went on....  I stayed with the Petite Petals Stamp Set and punch.

and colors....


and note cards...

Here's my third card...
- Designer Series Paper - 3" x 2 1/4"  (bottom piece)
- another pattern from the same paper pack - 3" x 2 1/2"
- a 3/4" strip of Real Red Card Stock, punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch; the scallops are pierced with the Paper Piercing Tool
- three cute, little flowers stamped in Real Red
- raised up with a Dimensionals; with the petals "fluffed up a bit"
- finished with Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon




Supplies:
I will share the other cards over the next few days!  Stay tuned!

What can YOU make with one stamp set, a punch, a piece of Designer Paper and 3 colors?  Send me your pictures (of projects ONLY using SU products) and I may post your designs here!  

Monday, January 6, 2014

What do you do when your MOJO-JO-JO has deserted you? Part 2

So... once my creative juices were at least moving...

I stayed with the Petite Petals Stamp Set and punch.

and colors....


and note cards...

Here's my second card...
- a rectangle of Designer Series Paper - 3" x 4 1/2"
- a 1 1/4" strip of another pattern from the same paper pack
- a 2" strip of Coastal Cabana Card Stock
- two cute, little flowers stamped in Real Red; one stamped in Coastal Cabana
- raised up with a Dimensionals
- with a Candy Dots in the center.... (Pool Party, Real Red)




Supplies:
I will share the other cards over the next few days!  Stay tuned!

What can YOU make with one stamp set, a punch, a piece of Designer Paper and 3 colors?  Send me your pictures (of projects ONLY using SU products) and I may post your designs here!  

Sunday, January 5, 2014

What do you do when your MOJO-JO-JO has deserted you? Part 1...

What do you do when you aren't feeling creative?  When your MOJO-JO-JO just doesn't seem to be THERE????  When your internal voice is telling you that you CAN'T...

After the rush of the holidays, I took a few days off from crafting and it took me a while to get back into the swing of things.... I felt like my MOJO-JO-JO was gone.... Would I EVER be able to make a GOOD card again?????  YOU KNOW how those internal conversations can go!!!!

So I gave myself a design challenge.....

1.  Just make SOMETHING, ANYTHING.  Yes, I put it on my electronic TO DO list just that way.
2.  Use only ONE stamp set!  (gasp - why not tie BOTH hands behind my back!)
3.  Use three colors.

I chose the Petite Petals Stamp Set which of, course meant I needed to use the matching punch.

I thought the colors in the adorable Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack were SO pretty so I chose them - Real Red, Coastal Cabana and Crumb Cake.  Stampin' Up! puts the colors in their Designer Series Paper in the catalog, so when I'm stuck, I borrow from their color choices!


Since I was keeping this SIMPLE, I decided to use our Whisper White Notecards & Envelopes.  (With 12 note cards and matching envelopes for only $5.95, you can never go wrong.)

Here's my first card...
- a rectangle of Designer Series Paper
- a 1" strip of another pattern from the same paper paack
- a cute, little flower stamped in Real Red
- raised up with a Dimensional
- with a Candy Dot in the center.... (okay, I cheated here... the Candy Dot is Pool Party)




Supplies:
Cute, eh?

It's pretty simple, but I have to admit that I love, love, love it!  And even better it got my creative juices moving and my MOJO-JO-JO revved up!  Once I got started, I ended up creating 8 different designs and a gift box to hold the cards!  I will share the other cards over the next few days!  Stay tuned!

What can YOU make with one stamp set, a punch, a piece of Designer Paper and 3 colors?  Send me your pictures (of projects ONLY using SU products) and I may post your designs here!  

Friday, January 3, 2014

The New Occasions Catalog is LIVE today... and your wishlist is going to be HUGE!!!!

Hi there!

The NEW Occasions catalog is now LIVE!

Some of my favorites...

- "on film" framelits - can't wait to use scrapbooking
- Peaceful Petals - love!
- Vivid Vases - love, love, love!
- Fancy Foil Designer Vellum in gold AND silver
- Perfect Couple - love the mustache, lips and "i do"
- Thinlets that FINALLY match the hexagon punch! - p. 26
- Banner framelits!!! - with the bundle of course
- Baby, we've grown - so cute!
- Fringe scissors - I used these to create "grass" on my swap for Leadership!
- So very grateful - I can't wait to emboss in black and watercolor!
- Simple Stems - matches a framelit that I already have!!!!
- Matching punch and stamp set with cute paper - OH MY!  I've been playing with the paper stack, petite petals and punch - I love, love, love them together!

- YOU GOTTA THESE... Tag topper punches with an angled top and a scalloped top!!!
- Making a point - makes me think of my Mary Kay friends!  (only available on a hostess order OR an order of $150 or more)

You can order from my online store anytime!

I am ordering Sunday night if you want me to place your order for you!  Have your wish list to me by 7 Pm please.

If you wish list is HUGE like mine is, host a workshop or join a club and get lots of FREE stuff.  I hold clubs and workshops at my house OR yours. :)

Happy New Year!