Song of My Heart Stampers

sneaky peeky--Primrose Petals & Everything Eleanor

Got a delicious sneak peek for you this morning of my favorite new upcoming In Color--just two weeks now until they are available for you! Primrose Petals is a gorgeous dusted rose pink with just a hint of coral to it. It's hard to describe, but it's like an update on the classic rose pink. I LUV it! I'm really enjoying all five of the new In Colors for different reasons, but that Primrose Petals--it's a stand out!

This card is also a sneak peek of the upcoming Everything Eleanor stamp set. We got this at Leadership Conference in San Antonio this year--now, wait, I can hear you saying, "WHAT? You've had this since January and we're just now seeing it five months later???" I know! I could be noble and say it was because I didn't want to tease you TOO badly with a set you would not be able to get for six months. But the truth is far more boring--Sale A Bration 2012 happened, is what, and I was just so busy I put it on the shelf and that was that.

So, I know you'll forgive me because I'm going to make up for lost time, now! You'll definitely be seeing a lot of the Everyday Eleanor stamp set from me. I was really pleased with the ease and elegance of this card (despite the handcutting). I am going to make 20 of them for my private swap group at Convention this summer. Convention is just two months from today--whoo hoo!!!

 

sneaky peeky--new, new new!

We had a blast at the SOMH Demonstrator meeting last night! I know I should space the three projects out over three days, but I can't resist showing them to you now. I am feeling very fond of all my lovely blog-followers right now! Thank you for the horde of appreciation you showed after my pity party post last week about not getting comments. Although, you know, you just rewarded me for being whiny--maybe not the best long-term strategy, eh? Kidding! I promise not to let it go to my head. In fact, it is very humbling, and it makes me want to do things like post even more often than I already do, to thank you for thinking my stuff is good enough to come back for more!

Sooo... without further delay, here are all three projects I designed for my Song of My Heart Demonstrators to make last night, all using the marvellous new In Colors, the new stitched satin In Color ribbons, new Designer Series Papers, and even a new Big Shot embossing folder! OOH and new Framelits--OOH and new stamp sets, too!!!

The top one is my FAVORITE stamp set in the entire new catalog. I'm such a history nut, this hostess-exclusive stamp set based on a historic WWII British poster was a must have! I used Midnight Muse with the new style of "firm foam" ink pad, and HOLY COW... look at how perfectly it is inked. Wow. Do I ever love those new pads! Wait until you try them!

Here's the new Big Shot folder. Recognize the fancy fan pattern from the so-popular Twitterpated papers? And it's a new, larger size embossing folder! Awesome! I used the new Make A Cake stamp set with Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple inks, and a little dab of Baja Breeze, pulled from the new coordinating Patio Party Designer Series Papers I used for the banner pieces.

Here's the last one. I have to say I love this one the best. The stylized flowers from the new World Treasures stamp set are heat-embossed in Clear embossing powder on Rich Razzleberry cardstock. I used markers to ink the saying image, and then cut it out with my new Apothecary Accents Framelits! I matted that on a different Apothecary Accent Framelit and put it on top of the Internation Bazaar strip of Designer Series Papers. Then I added a Pool Party In Color Printed Brad with a twist of our new stitched narrow grosgrain ribbon in Daffodil Delight.

So there you go! I hope I have amply rewarded you for putting up with my whiny self and given you lots of excitement and inspiration for the day. Thanks again for all your kind comments.

Stampin' Up does Disney

I knew Stampin' Up would make Disney even more memorable, and I was not disappointed! Here I am with Shelli Gardner, just moments before she surprised us with the new catalog! And that's ALL I can say about that! Let's just say I have a wish list already and it spilled over onto a second single-spaced page!

These are some of our pillow gifts. Every evening when you finally drag your carcass back to your room, sunburned and happy, there is an awesome surprise waiting on the bed! I love the four-pack of cups they gave us. Natalie was thrilled with the golf visor (that was supposed to be for the husbands--the embroidery on the side matched their SU golf shirts).

Can't show you everything we got, because quite a lot of it was brand new catalog merchandise! Everyday we spun the prize wheel and won something, and one of the nights we got a big package with a stamp set, Designer Series Papers, embossing folder, jumbo wheel and I can't remember what all else, as our pillow gift. It's a really good thing I had extra bags along so we could check a second suitcase!

The night before we went to Animal Kingdom, this cute army-green backpack purse was delivered--perfect! And I already shared a photo of our personalized Mickey Mouse totes and what was in those. They are super nice--there's an insulated cooler in the bottom, and the straps were super comfy. And they even spelled our name right!! : )

The last night pillow gift was a square Thomas Kinkade canvas painting of Snow White's cottage. My first Thomas Kinkade. It is gorgeous! I will take a photo after I hang it. Natalie claimed that for her room, too! And get a load of the incredible flower on the package! It is about the size of a plate. I managed to bring it home. I think I need to take it apart and figure out how to make it, right??

Stampin' Up always remembers the kids, too! They had their own table in the Hospitality Suite with different prizes every day--stickers, tattoos, pencils, etc. I showed you the cool lanyard pouches and the My Digital Studio activity swatchbook they got in an earlier post. But the thing that took the cake for the kids was the party they had while the adults went to the Final Night Event! I didn't take any pictures inside, but there were game tables, art stations, bean bag chairs, a pizza buffet, Mickey ears ice cream bars, multiple Wii's on flat screen TV's, movies, football, and balloon artists. I was gone for four hours and my kids didn't event bat an eye! But wait until you hear what the adults did!!

Retiring Accessories List & SALE!!

Click here to download a PDF of the Retiring Accessories List: Download Availability_en-US

The first two and a half pages are SALE items! There are 12 pages in all. Be sure to order what you want RIGHT AWAY as this is all first come, first served! www.lyssa.stampinup.net

COUPLE THINGS TO NOTE: You will notice that ALL of our Classic Ink Pads are on this list. Stampin' Up is coming out with a new design of the actual pad part, which will be available to order beginning June 1st with the new Catalog. Except for five colors that are being reformulated to work with the new pad style, your regular Classic ink refills will work just fine on the new style pads. Message me for details!

There is also a LOT of 12x12 cardstock on the list! Some of the lesser-selling colors will no longer be sold in single-color packs. Be sure to grab what you want now, if one of those colors is a favorite!ALL of our colors will still be available through the color family packs, though, so no need to panic.

 Lyssa's Retiring Reccomendations:

• Designer Series Papers--you know my favorites! Flirtatious, Beau Chateau, Domestic Goddess and Well Worn. Mocha Morning is also leaving us.
• Big Shot Accessories--Blossom Box, Snowburst folder, Scallop Circle #2, Scallop Oval Frame, Simple Letters & Numbers Alphabet, and Matchbox die.
• Stampin' Around Wheels--Friendly Words, Cupcakes, Soft Holly
• My Digital Studio--the Content CD's on page 7 of the catalog are all 60% off!!!
• Embellishments--70% off select fabrics, 25% off many brad assortments, the Powder Pals, the Crop A Dile, Illuminate Smooch Accent ink. Also the Lace Ribbon Border Punch.
• Tools--Cutter Kit, Dotto refills, Wheel Storage, Mat pack.

Don't ask, you don't wanna know

We are not going to talk about anything involving teeth or the mouth, or oral surgery today, ok? I am SICK of this subject! I'll only say I would continue to ask for your prayers on this 26th straight day of pain, pain, pain.  : (

Let's talk about something a LOT more fun--in fact, one of my very favoritest subjects of all--my amazing downline team! We had a wonderful group meeting Monday night, and my girls really outdid themselves with swaps, Make N Takes, and challenge entries. We had four first-timers and two of our newest "members"--baby Charlie and baby Logan!

Here's just a few of the highlights! Penni's gorgeous brooch card won the swap contest...

amongst some very tough competition, like this stencilled card by Allana!

This was my swap card. I am still not sure I like it. I wanted to do something completely 100% different than I have been seeing with the Mixed Bunch stamp set and Blossom punch. it's different, anyway!

Cristy did her entire Regionals presentation for us, that so wow'd everyone in Milwaukee in March. She had since come up with even more amazing samples and twists on the original design, so it was really somethng to see.

We had four Make N Takes--a version of the Summer Smooches cards I have been showing you, Penni showed the new Petite Purse die, and then this adorable "I Dig You" card by Michelle. Lynn brought a great little project she found on Pinterest, a box made from one of our Simply Sent card kits, originally designed by Julie Davidson. She even brought the candy to go inside it!

We had way too much to talk about, with all the exciting news and announcements from Stampin' Up, so a couple of things got bumped to our May meeting. If you're local to Watertown, WI, and you're a demonstrator or thinking of becoming one, you are very welcome to join my Song of My Heart Demonstrator meetings. The next one is May 14th at 6:30 p.m. I will be back from the Disney incentive trip, and we'll have the NEW CATALOG in our hot little hands, as well as the new In Colors and much more. Shoot me an email if you want to come and see what it's all about!

I'm going to Fiji!!

Yes, me! Little old me. I'm going to Fiji.  WHOO HOO!

THANK YOU, my incredibly awesome customer friends!!

Stampin' Up Grand Vacation 2013 --Fiji's Denaru Island--Sofitel Resort & Spa

My regionals peeps!

It was my great delight to travel with a large group of uplines, downlines, sidelines, and other assorted demonstrator friends to the 2012 Milwaukee Regional Conference last Saturday. Many thanks to Ginger "Snaps" Photography for the wonderful, memory-filled photos I'm sharing with you this week!

This photo is of most of my actual team members who were able to attend; some had already left by the time we rounded up the rest for the picture. Left to right: Carol G, Keri R, Allana B, Danielle L, Cristy B, Christine B, Carrie D and Lyssa Z!