Embellish

Disney Arrival Day and Boardwalk Resort

We're here! I am loving Disney... and the kids are just going nuts. We were trying to take it easy today after our early flight and arrival, but there was just too much to see and do here at the Boardwalk.Our flights went perfectly, and Grandma arrived safely after dinner time, and we even got an hour's swim in.

The Boardwalk is soooo beautiful... both the turn-of-the last-century Disney-style magnificence, and the gorgeous flowers and landscaping around it!

...and did I mention it is surrounded by yummy Boardwalk eateries and food carts? Yumm-o!!

This long wicker chair was cool! And of course, there are hidden "Mickeys" all over the joint!

We are POOPED (I've been up since 3:15 A.M. today) but I couldn't resist putting up a few pictures of the fun things Stampin' Up has given us. The kids got the cute water-resistant neck pouches with a wonderful My Digital Studio Disney World activity swatchbook. I think Natalie has hers half filled in already! They are in LOVE with the wonderful candy jars in the Hospitality Suite. And then I spun the Prize Wheel for the first day and won an MDS journal for the trip, too.

I know I take pictures of goofy things, but this is just to show you one of the little touches Stampin' Up is so famous for. Our rooms are marked with these pretty door hangers. The first picture in this post is the incentive trip bag--I love it! It's Disney all the way, and it is super fun to see our family name embroidered in the Disney font style right on the front. AND it was filled to the brim with Disney goodies, too!

Ok! Off to get some sleep so we'll be bright eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow for the Magic Kingdom.

And... we're off!

I "think" we're ready! At least I hope I remembered everything. At the crack of dawn tomorrow, we'll be off to Milwaukee to fly to Orlando. We should be there by noon, and I'm not sure who is more excited about that--the kids, or me! They're excited (especially to fly for the first time) but I'm even more excited because I know what they're in for.

I'll probably sound like a broken record this week, but I want to express my gratitude to my fantastic customer friends who made this trip possible for my and my family. I literally could not have done it without you--every order, every hostess, every scrapbooker, every word-of-mouth reccomendation--it all counted towards my business last year.

As for my gratitude towards Stampin' Up? I actually teared up a couple days ago. My kids were watching the Disney World planning DVD (AH-GAIN!) and I was just suddenly overcome with thankfulness for the blessings from being a demonstrator that have just showered down on my family. My cup is full and overflowing!

My seventh year anniversary with Stampin' Up was yesterday. I would not trade it for anything. I thought about scaling back after this year, but I just cannot imagine life without Stampin' Up. I could go on and on--but I have to get up stinkin' early tomorrow! So you guys just check in regularly this week, as I will be blogging and IF WE ARE ALLOWED I might even have a few sneaky peeks of new things to show you! The new catalog is RIGHT around the corner, and I would just die to see it early!!!

I also just figured out Instagram, so there should be lots of cute impromptu photos on Facebook. Post there if you have a question, and my assistant Penni will help you out. Ok, I'm really leaving now!! Goodbye!

My Disney swap card

Goodness, but I'm getting excited!!! The Disney trip is soooo close, and I'm packing like a mad woman. Be sure to leave me a comment with your best Disney tip! I haven't been there as an adult, so I had no idea how big it has gotten and how many more options there are now. Thanks to the help of MANY friends, I think I have a good schedule of relaxed flexibilty hammered out. I'm probably still going to need a vacation when we get back, though!

This cutie pie is my swap card for the inspiration night Stampin' Up hosts on the incentive trip each year. There is always YUMMY food and amazing projects. I am tickled pink about what I have to share this time--wait until you see it! If I get to it I will schedule the post to pop up on the share night, which is Wednesday May 2nd. It just might be the most adorable thing I have EVER made (excepting the kiddos, of course!) How's that for a tease???

For those who want to recreate the punch art--the sleeves on the dress are the one-inch circle punch. The Mickey Mouse ears are made with the 3/4 inch circle punch and the 1.25 inch circle punch, trimmed. And I got the word "Believe" from the Just Believe stamp set, by using a marker to selectively ink only the one word for my banner.

There's only ONE problem with my Disney swap... it prominently features a retiring Big Shot die! The Scallop Circle #2 die is being discontinued.  Phooey! If you don't have that one, I really reccomend it. I was a little late to get it, but it turned out to be one of my most-loved and most-used dies.

Here's a couple of other things I made with it. Take a peek, then high-tail it over to www.lyssa.stampinup.net and GET IT before it's too late!

Yellow & Gray party dress

Two different dresses

scalloped Baby Buggy card

Telescoping Circles Card

Retiring Set Showcase: Herb Expressions

Ok, I'll admit, I'm really going to miss this one! Herb Expressions is a fantastic set with four really nice sayings along with four great herb stamps that you can use alone, or together like I did for this card.

Check out the sayings and the rest of the stamps on page 121 of the 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog, and make sure you consider adding it to your "must get" list of retiring stamps! This set will no longer be available except for outrageously inflated eBay prices after May 31st, so do yourself a favor and get it now!

Here's a couple of other really great projects with this beautiful set:

Bookmark card made with the retiring Cutter Kit

French Perfume Box made with the Simply Scored and Scallop Square die for the Big Shot

Personal Favorite Herb Expressions card

 

Interlinked hearts

It's raining today, but I made a rainbow in my craft room yesterday!

Here's a fun, colorful card that I made with the one-inch circle punch and the Small Heart punch. I used Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Island Indigo and Elegant Eggplant cardstock. I made a little slit in the right hand side of each of the punched pieces so that I could slide the next link in. The left side of each piece then covers up the slit area.

And what did I do with the punched-out hearts I had left? Can't throw them away, right? This quick card made with the Brights brads.

Retiring Set Showcase: Uncharted Territory

Ok, I thought I wasn't too torn up about the Retirement List this year, until I got out Uncharted Territory to make one last card for you. Then I remembered how much I have adored watercoloring this beautiful, serene set, and how versatile the two images were--you could use the lighthouse alone, the sailboat alone, or stamp both images any distance apart from each other, to suit the layout of your card.

You also didn't have to color it, and it still looked great! This was one of my swap cards at Leadership 2012.

Oh well! All good things must come to an end. And just because I can't demo this set for you any more does not mean I won't be able to enjoy it for years to come. But YOU, on the other hand, need to order it, before it's too late!

Be sure to check out the retirement list and make up a "priorities" list so that you're all ready to go bright and early tomorrow when the retiring accessories list is posted! While you'll be able to get the stamps through May 31st, the accessories are first come, first serve--so don't put it off!

Retiring Set Showcase: Peace Within

Continuing my showcase series of retiring stamp sets you might want to take one last peek at before they're gone! Click here to view the 2012 Retirement List and order those stamps through May 31st. And check back on April 25th for the 2012 Retiring Accessories List! Download RetiredStamps_0412_en-US

This is a set called Peace Within, after one of the sayings in the set, "Peace within makes beauty without." I've enjoyed using my favorite coloring tools, the Aquapainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons, to color it. The little kitty is really detailed, but it's worth it! If you're a fan of hand-coloring, this would be a great fit for you. For me, that's about as close as I can come to a cat without sneezing!

TIP: several people recently told me they love the Watercolor Wonder Crayons but are not fans of the Aquapainter. I encouraged them to try the Stampin' Up ones as they have a super pointy tip--AND they don't leak water randomly like another brand I no longer own!

S(ick)? Get Well Soon

My downline friend Cristy gave me the cutest Get Well card this week! She used the Make A Monster and Word Play stamp sets on this slider card. Thanks for thinking of me, friend! Here's the card after you pull the ribbons--

'The Big Four' stamp camp

Spring is in the air (again) and it's time for my annual

4x4 Stamp Camp!

Thursday, May 17th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

RSVP by May 11th to come and make 16 cards--4 each of 4 different designs!

We'll be making cards for the four major spring/summer occasions--wedding, anniversary, baby and graduation. I'll have other sentiments available as well, if you want to change things up. There will also be a special, one-night-only sale on retiring stamp sets! Cost is just $20 per person or FREE if you sign up to be a demonstrator this month! Includes envelopes. bring your own adhesive. Contact me for details or to RSVP!

Everyday Butterfly Enchantment

Using up some of my Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Papers left from Sale A Bration 2012 with this pretty, textured butterfly card. I used a stamp from Family Reunion for the sentiment, and Beautiful Butterflies die for the Big Shot. I textured it with the Finial Press embossing folder, then sponged it to bring out the design.

Pool party is actually the blue in these patterned papers, but on this piece it was in such small amounts, I felt safe pairing it with the more toned-down Baja Breeze. And then I could use my Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon, which I adore! So soft and silky. I reeeeeallly  hope the seam binding ribbon makes it into the next catalog. Only FOUR MORE DAYS until we find out what accessories and embellishments are retiring! Be sure to check here or my Facebook page (Song of My Heart Stampers) on the morning of the 25th, and then place your order right away. Everything on that list, from Big Shot dies to punches to papers and the Simply Adorned and Decor Elements lines, will be FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

So don't wait! Click here to go see my shopping site and set up your account and password--it's quick and easy, and you'll be all set to order easily. www.lyssa.stampinup.net

Retiring Set Showcase: Varsity Alpha & Numbers

Ahhh... such a great alphabet. I loved you well, Varsity Alphabet! Varsity is destined to leave us forever and join the hallowed halls of retirement on May 31st! I used this set a LOT for Scrap A Stack Club, because the iconic block-style lettering made it so perfect for school pages as well as sports, gymnastics, and boy pages.

Sorry this photo is slightly blurry. I FEEL slightly blurry today. I looooove my new pain meds, but I just don't feel terribly with it right now! Yes, I am STILL having pain from my oral surgery situation (33 days now, not that anyone's counting, right?) Anyway, Scrap A Stack Class will cheer me up tonight!

Here's a couple other projects I have made with Varsity in the past. But don't stand around looking up how *I* used it--order it for yourself and get crackin' on those projects for your own kids or favorite team! I have orders going in about every third day this time of year, or you can go online at www.lyssa.stampinup.net and have it sent straight to your door, too.

Dude... Happy Birthday card

Patriotic Pennants page

Build A Bear spread (scroll down)

I'd consider Varsity Alphabet and Numbers a MUST HAVE for the scrapper with kids anywhere in the school system. And it's also a MUST HAVE for the serious SPORTS FAN! Ahem, all you cheeseheads!

First/Last Day of School Comparison Pages

Tonight at Scrap A Stack Class, we're making these cute 12x12 pages to compare your child as they looked on the first day of the school year and the last. I don't know about your kids, but my two will look vastly different this year--mostly taller, and minus/plus a few teeth!

Here's the fall page and below is the spring page.

I got the Play Date Quick Accents for these pages right off the Clearance Rack on my shopping website. They are a TOTAL STEAL at just $1.79 each set right now--originally priced at $8.95! You get two full 12x12 sheets of self-adhesive border strips, journalling boxes, page accents and more.

As you can see, the sheet comes with all 12 months of the year, making this Quick Accents kit IDEAL for mini "school year" scrapbook albums for teachers, doting aunties, grandmas and more... or for making calendars! How cute would that be?!

TIP #1: Now, the trick is, remembering to TAKE the photos, right? Here's a little trick for ya--if you are taking photos with your phone, stop right there and make yourself a reminder to take the comparison photo. This works especially well for "baby belly" photos, remodeling progress pictures, and month-by-month "growing so fast" type photos.

TIP #2: Another cute idea I learned from my child's school is to have them sign their name right on the scrapbook page. It will be a fun comparison as to how their handwriting has improved, and a cute memory in years to come!

So get yourself on over to the Clearance Rack on my shopping website and pick up a couple packages of the Play Date Quick Accents before they're gone! All Clearance Rack merchandise is while supplies last, and things sell out really quickly.

Retiring Set Showcase: Fifth Avenue Floral

GASP! I know!! Fifth Avenue Floral can't possibly be retiring, can it? But it's true--the list is out and Fifth Avenue Floral is soon to join the ranks of the retired, exclusive, most-sought-after and over-priced eBay sets ever! You realllllly need to think about getting it before then! 

Some more favorites with this beautiful set:

Wedding Scrapbook page (with tips on bleach stamping)

Magic Reinker Spread technique

New Favorite Set

There are lots more--just type in the set name in the search box on the right hand side bar and you will find all sorts of oldies but goodies. Stay tuned for more of my Retiring Set Showcase features as I help you take one last look at some spectacular sets you might have missed!

Hearts Collection Framelits wedding card

I didn't show ya'll this amazing swap from the Milwaukee Regional Seminar, because I was saving it to make at my Try It Tuesday Edgelits and Framelits Class last month! Mary Polcin traded me for this gorgeous Big Shot masterpiece. I just love how she slit the hearts to intertwine them, hiding the cuts where the hearts overlapped.

Lots of love and detail went into this! Thanks to all swappers everywhere who throw their heart and soul into their work. Here's the inside:

The Full of Life stamp set is retiring--make sure you get yours before it's too late! Click here to view the 2012 Retirement List. Download RetiredStamps_0412_en-US

 

Platform pop-up card

As you know, in all my loads of spare time lately, I've been messing around with pop-up cards. I like how this one turned out, but it would definitely be a VERY special occasion, as it was quite a bit of work (although it wasn't difficult). This is called a "platform" pop up, which is kind of fun! It is intended to have a gift card stuck to the platform with removeable adhesive. When I saw the platform, I thought it would make a cute cake stand, so that's how this turned into another wedding card.

Here's the side view. You can see how the platform itself pops from the bottom, and then the cake, added later, pops twice from the top side.

No photo tutorial on this one--just in too much pain this week from my dental fiasco. Having a hard time concentrating between the dull ache and the lightning bolt pains. I can't WAIT for this to be over! But don't be afraid to mess around and see how easy and simple it is to make a pop-up card. You might waste a little cardstock, but it's only paper!

Fiji Bound Customer Appreciation New Catalog Premiere Event

Join me on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012, between 6:30-8:30 p.m. and let me spoil you rotten as a token of my thanks in helping me earn a free trip for two to the fabulous country of Fiji! I can’t wait! And it wouldn’t have happened without YOU.

Pick up your brand new 2012-12 Catalog, and stamp three cute projects with the newest In Colors as a gift from your grateful demonstrator! Enjoy tropical treats, drinks and music.

This event is free to any customer friend who placed an order since 7/1/11. No orders necessary and no charge for the projects! Please RSVP by May 31st. Hope to see you there!

 

Superb examples of Spirelli

At our February demonstrator gathering, we all learned the cute Spirelli technique, and I made that our Product Challenge for the next month. My team members totally outdid themselves! Look at the clever and creative ways they used this easy string-wrapping technique to make completely unique elements for their projects. Not familiar with the technique? See a quick photo tutorial here.

Christine made this big flower one above, by layering two different sizes of scalloped circles together. Carol made this one below with a double layer as well, the center one being Spirelli-wrapped around a flower shape instead of a scalloped circle.

Lynn D. incorporated Spirelli technique into this wonderful vintage card for her challenge item. And Michelle used natural hemp twine instead of Baker's Twine for her Western version--so cute!

Penni added a tiny Flirtatious Designer Series Fabric flower to the center of her Spirelli medallion on this Hello, Doily card. And Cristy went NUTS on her Creativity Journal, adding Spirelli technique variations all over this page in her 5x5 chipboard album. Love the quote she used--"We all need empty hours in our lives, or we will have no time to create or dream."

I was so pleased to see everyone really sink their teeth into last month's challenge. I can hardly wait to see what my clever friends do with the next one--use a household item in your project! Wax paper, aluminum foil, wallpaper, coffee filters, hair gel--you name it! Spring cleaning and "upcycling" is the name of the game. What's the weirdest thing YOU have ever incorporated into a project?

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!

Pocket Size Scrapbook

Hi everyone! Hope you had a blessed Easter celebrating the ressurection of our Savior! I sorely missed the music and the message of hope yesterday as I was home with my bottle of Vicodin to keep me company. My mouth pain levels skyrocketed on Friday night and I'm just hanging in there until Tuesday morning's oral surgery. Not the way I wanted to spend my Easter! So jealous of all the wonderful family dinners and gorgeous family photos you all are posting on Facebook. Chicken soup just didn't cut it. Well, I did eat some Peeps, yes. They're soft and squishy!

I know I am tempting fate by posting "under the influence" BUT I don't seem to be too loopy, and it helps me to stay busy, so here goes. I'm also doing my downline meeting tonight as scheduled, because it will help keep my mind off everything. so it may be a slightly more hysterical meeting than normal. I am loopy enough just on general purposes, without fancy pain meds involved!

But just so you're aware, I may not post for a couple days, depending on how it goes. I'm also working on something TOP SECRET for a contest, so I actually don't have a ton of things that I can show right now, either! I know, I know, I'm a tease.

ANYWAY... today I have something cute to show you. This is a pocket-sized fold-out scrapbook that I created for Splitcoast Stampers' Design Team this month. It is my last month on the team and I wanted to go out with a bang! We were saying "goodbye" to the retiring 2010-12 In Colors and I was trying to use as many of them on one project as I could. I combined Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush on this one, but just couldn't bring myself to throw in Poppy Parade.

It's hard to tell in the photos, of course, but this pages fold out about four times, so you can really fit a lot of photos in. These pics are from a four-generation tea party we had at my mom's house two years ago. I'm going to give this album to my mom to take back to my gramma when she returns after joining us for the Disney World incentive trip in just three weeks!!! Can't wait.

Hope your Easter was better than mine! I'm going to go solace myself with an egg for breakfast... from a company called Cadbury...

Five Scientific Reasons to Start (or keep on) Scrapbooking

Enjoy this article taken from my "snail mail" local-customer newsletter this week! And if you live near the Watertown, Wisconsin area and would like to be on my mailing lists, shoot me an email! zwolaneks@att.net

1. The National Geographic Society estimates than about 80 billion photos were taken in 2011 alone. That figure will only rise as more and more of our gadgets come with cameras. Every two minutes more photos are taken than were taken in all of the 1800’s combined! Something needs to be done to sort and pare down those memories into a useable, practical format.

2. Researchers in Great Britain discovered a mood booster that works even better than chocolate, wine, or music! What is it? Looking at pictures of your loved ones! Studies showed that viewing personal photos of family, friends, and trips they had taken significantly lifted people’s moods. The next time you’re down, pull out an album and you’ll feel better in no time!  This also makes scrapbooks the perfect gift for elderly or isolated people who live far from family.

3. Socialization with people with similar interests has long been recognized as part of a healthy, happy life. While you can get together with friends without scrapbooking, it is one great way to make a regular time for yourself to catch up with friends in our busy world.

4. Researchers at UCLA discovered that looking at pictures of a loved one reduced pain levels. Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to get your mind off a painful physical condition or as an activity during recuperation from surgery.

5. Scrapbooking has also recently been proven therapeutic for Alzheimer’s Disease, by helping the patient remain in the current context, giving them activities to connect with their families, and reducing disassociation. It also helps caregivers see the patient as a real person who lived a full life.

There are many reasons to scrapbook, including that it is just plain FUN! Stampin’ Up has tons of scrapbooking supplies to suit your style, whether traditional or digital, or a combination of both (hybrid). Just do it! Your family will be so glad you did.