Embellish

Whew! It's done

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me and sent good vibes (and chocolate--whoo hoo) before my presentation at the Stampin' Up conference Friday afternoon. It went pretty good! I only made one (big) slip up... good thing I have LOTS of practice laughing at myself, huh... I won't type what I accidentally said when I combined two words together here because I don't want to attract the wrong types of visitors to my blog. Oh dear!! We all died laughing. Then I *carefully* said it correctly, and we continued on.

Too distracted to get a photo on the platform that day, but here's one I took later with Brandi, a demonstrator who now works for the Home Office at Stampin' Up and helped coordinate the event. She's a sweetie! All the staff were so encouraging. I had made up little Packer Perc and Highlander Grogg coffee packets from Berres Brothers here in Watertown to give some of them as a thank you. Wish I could thank each one personally for everything they do!

But anyway, I made it through all three sessions and everyone was very kind in their comments. There was standing room only in all three sessions. One of the helpers told me there were 62 people standing during one session, not including the people in the chairs!! I hope if nothing else I passed along a little of my passion for blogging about what you love. If they catch that spark they will be ok even if the technical side takes a while to learn.

Good times with uplines, downlines, sidelines, friends from Founder's Circle, friends I know through the internet, and brand new friends I just met here and there. I was especially bustin' my buttons to see my SOMH Demonstrator team member Lynn walk the stage for promoting to Manager this year--quite an accomplishment! Go Lynn Go!

Such lovely weather we had. I left for the airport this morning in a t-shirt and flip-flops, which I changed promptly after de-planing in Milwaukee, let me tell you. I came home to 20 degrees, biting wind and a minivan enclosed in a half inch of solid ice. Not fair!! I even got a tiny bit of sunburn on the day we went to Downtown Disney to do some shopping. The walk to and from the convention center was a joy (well, except for my EIGHT blisters.) I am trying to think if I wore my sweater once the whole time.... nope! Jealous yet?? Hee hee!

Leadership Conference 2013

Spotty internet access at the hotel made for fewer blog posts than I was hoping for this past weekend, but it was all for the best--I got busy relaxing and spending even more time with my friends in balmy Orlando at the 2013 Stampin' Up Leadership Conference! It was just what I needed--four days of girl time and business inspiration... look out, ladies, I am so fired up about all the fab new product lines coming our way, I just might get even squeakier than normal when I talk about it!

We got some funny comments on our way to the "Stampin' Under the Stars" party on Friday night in our pajamas! It was SUCH a fun evening, though. Three back-to-back stamping presentations featuring amazing--AMAZING--ideas for each of the product suites in the spring Occasions Catalog, and another all-attendee giveaway. Then they sent us all home with a super cute send-off--milk and cookies : )

Sadly, I did not get any good photos at the private party at Universal Studios because I was too busy riding the roller coasters. It is soooo fun to just walk on the rides--no lines! Now THAT is a PARTY! We had a total blast at the Manager's Reception held at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on Thursday night.

Ready for my famous food photos??? LOL! We are having a LOT of scrumptious food. I have a lot more on my Facebook page as it is really easy to just snap them with Instagram and send them there. This amazing turkey Cuban wrap was my upline's. My Thai beef salad below was marvelous!!

What can I say... I love to travel and trying new foods is one of the best parts of that! I know you guys will put up with my goofiness a moment longer while I share another carpet picture. Have you noticed the carpeting in some of these newer hotels? They are truly stunning! This one was in the Rosen Centre Hotel. It's Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, River Rock and a light sage color with a caramel thread as well.


Our hotel was awesome. The pool area was especially nice. Look at Jessica working on her tan!! Ahh... let me know if you want a job where you have to go to exotic locales in the middle of winter!! I can hook you up! : )

Sample swapping has begun!

One of the highlights of every Stampin' Up event is swapping samples with other demonstrators. It's such a fabulously crazy pastime, I even carry swaps with me in my carryon to trade with demos I meet in the airports and restarants along the way! Yesterday there were about twelve of us on the plane. I felt sorry for the people sitting around us. We never lack for conversation amongst demos.

Got some real beauties today! Love this first one by Tiffany Bauer. The heart is actually cut with the Hearts Collection Framelets from a torn piece of cardboard box! So many details on this card!

Here's a few more that really knocked my socks off. This one is by Melissa Davies... using the new Framelets from the spring 2013 Occasions Catalog and embossed all over the place. Such a cute little trio of tags.

Beautiful blue one by Tara Bazata featuring the Pool Party Core'dinations cardstock and new Sale A Bration reward choice embossing folder... and another pretty pink vintage creation by Glenda Travelstead. Hmmm... I was SO not going to buy those Hearts A Flutter Framelets... sigh. I neeeeeeed them now. Oh dear!

Stay tuned for more photos from tonight's big party at Universal Studios... I am sooo excited. First I feel the need to go soak my tootsies in the pool! More to come!

gorgeous glorious orlando

Ok, this post is mostly for my kids, all right? They were so excited when they found out Mommy was going to the same place they went to on our Disney trip. So I dragged the girls over to Downtown Disney today to buy gifts for my spoiled kids And take pictures of the new displays at the Lego store.

We ate a fabulous lunch on the outside deck of this steamboat, soaking in the glorious sunshine and balmy breezes. It is SOOOOO nice here!! Hard to believe it is JANUARY!

More later... gotta head over to registration and start swapping. What a marvelous morning--sleeping in, lingering over a great breakfast and wonderful business discussions, some shopping and a little exercise... all under the palms. Love it!

Calendar Club is starting up for 2013

The 2013 session of Calendar Club is just about to start! Our first session is January 21^st.

Make 12 quick cards, four each of three designs at each of our six meetings. We will be focusing on any major upcoming calendar holidays, plus everyday card needs such as sympathy, thank you, birthday, etc. Fill your card box and never run out! Everything is designed and pre-cut—all you need to bring is adhesive! And if you forget, I will have some for sale as well.

In August, Calendar Club becomes Christmas Club for the months of August through November and we make only Christmas cards. Calendar Club is a six-meeting commitment. You can choose whether or not to continue on with Christmas Club when the time comes.

 Cost: $15 flat fee, no order necessary. If you must miss a session, your payment is still due by the night of the club. A kit will be made for you to create your cards at home.

 We meet in Watertown on the third Monday night of the month January thru June, starting at 6:30 p.m. and finishing up no later than nine. 

So far I have eight confirmed clubbers! So hurry to save your spot! Hope you can join us Calendar Girls for another session of this popular, long-running club! Please feel free to ask me for details, and please forward this information to your friends that might be interested!

polka dot party decor

I am famous for going a little overboard, and even I admitted it this time... I made a LOT of extra little decorations and special touches for the 2013 Birthday Bash last Saturday. I chose a color scheme based on the Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Papers, using the Marina Mist, Real Red and Daffodil Delight papers from that pack. Polka dots and stripes were my theme, and I think it turned out super cute! I forgot that we used every single table in the joint for an event this size, though, so all my cute things were kinda crammed together...

Congratulations to these Birthday Bash participants on winning the door prize bundles at our event Saturday! Lynn D--#1 (scrapbooking bundle); Brenda B--#2 (girly stuff bundle); and Barb P--#3 (tools of the trade bundle).

My favorite touch was the little glassine candy bags (leftover from the Holiday Packaging Bundle special last month) that I decorated with the new Pretty Petites stamp set and the Petite Curly Label punch, both reward options for Sale A Bration 2013. The stamps are a set of eight and there was one that said "YUM" so it was perfect! Everyone agreed that the punch and stamp set will be tops on their list of priorities when ordering begins for Sale A Bration on January 22nd!

Of course, the accessory every hostess covets the most for her party is the one the guests hopefully wear on their faces--big smiles! I'm lucky in that 95% of MY parties are Stampin' Up events, in which the guests ALWAYS arrive AND leave with big smiles on their faces! I stack the deck with cute cards and lots of candy!! Many thank to all ya'll who keep thinking I'm fun to hang out with. : )

Advanced Papercrafters Class 1/28/13

You are invited to the kickoff event of my newest class offering for 2013! Please consider joining me for Advanced Papercrafters Class on Monday, January 28th to make three fabulously detailed projects using the new Artisan Embellishment Kit and the More Amore Specialty Designer Series Papers from the spring Occasions Catalog. Class will last approximately two and a half hours and includes everything.

Our projects for January will be this framed burlap pinboard (frame not included), a stand-up desk photo frame, and a 12x12 scrapbook page. You will go home with three completed projects and a generous amount of leftovers embellishments and Designer Series Papers from the class kit. Cost for January's class is $25 per person and must be pre-paid to reserve your class kit by the 18th.

Advanced Papercrafters Class (APC) will meet on the fourth Monday night of each month from January through May at 6:30 p.m. at my house. Space is limited to six due to the scope of the projects we will be making.

The cost of the class will fluctuate between $25-30 per month according to the projects. Reservations are first come, first served. There are no refunds but if you cannot attend you will still receive the class kit and you will be allowed to borrow the projects to copy them, or you can find a replacement for your spot.

Please contact me for more info on January's class or to RSVP! Register to attend by January 18th. No late registrations will be taken.

BOO HOO! Want to come but can't? I would be happy to mail you a kit for January's class. There will not be step by step instructions but I will email closeup photos of the finished project for you. There is an additional $8 shipping and handling fee for kit orders if they must be mailed.

All-Day Scrapbooking Marathon

You are invited to participate in an all-day Scrapbooking Marathon on Saturday, February 2^nd from nine to four in Watertown.

 Our fabulously fun day will be divided into three parts:

 **From 9:00 -11:00 a.m. approx, you will be participating in eight 12x12 page Make N Takes. Each one is designed to teach you something (or many somethings!) new and trendy right now in the world of scrapbooking. You’ll be using the latest tools, learning new techniques, and getting a lot of pages done, all at the same time!

 **Eat lunch at the college’s all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar, sandwich deli and pizza kitchen, with free drinks and desserts included. Other options may include waffle bar, omelet chef, pasta bar and more.

 **From approx. 12:00-4:00, work on your own projects in a warm room with a comfy chair, plenty of space and nice bright lighting! Chat with friends new and old while you get some of your projects done. Put the things you learned in the morning session to good use! You may leave at any time as necessary.

Price is just $35 per person for the day, and includes lunch, bottled water, all eight Make N Takes and a goodie bag. There will be a free paper swap table for you to take or leave papers you no longer have need of.

The deadline to sign up is Monday, January 21^st. Space is limited to 20. Payment in advance is required to hold your spot. Refunds will not be given for cancelations after the 21^st.

I hope you can come and participate in our Scrapbooking Marathon! Think of how much we’re going to get done. Awesome! Please contact me to RSVP or for more information— [email protected]

 

Wondering about the new borders plate for the Simply Scored?

Wondering about the new Borders Scoring Plate (#126192) for the Simply Scored? Here's a quick video from Stampin' Up that demonstrates how it works and some adorable samples of things made with it. The Borders Scoring Plate is available now in the Spring 2013 Occasions Catalog on page 26!

Custom color flowers and braided ribbon trim

Just loving the soft, feminine "new vintage" look of the spring 2013 Occasions Catalog. While there's something for every taste in the book, the first few pages are so girly and full of texture it really made me happy to see (and even happier to order!) (and even HAPPIER to start playing with!) It's like Downton Abbey has sprung to life with all the great options we have for embellishing and that whole Tea For Two product line... adorable! Even the most particular Lady Mary would be pleased!

While you can't get this Vintage Verses stamp set yet because it is one of the Sale A Bration reward choices beginning on January 22nd, I did use a lot of new accessories that are available now that ordering has begun for the Occasions Catalog. First, I took the new Pool Party Core'Dinations cardstock (#129321) and ran it through the Big Shot to emboss it with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions folder (#127819), then used the Stampin' Sanding tools to sand it so the design really pops.

Next, I brayered Pool party ink over one of our new Paper Doilies (#129399) to change the color from the basic white to match my color scheme. Then, I cut some roses from the fun new Flower Trim (#126869) and pressed them directly onto my Island Indigo ink pad to pick up some color (that is such a fun tip! Your roses can be any color you want, with virtually zero mess).

TIP: yes, I actually braided the ribbons for this card. It did take a while as I was making a set of twenty to swap with other demonstrators at our conference this week... but I love how braiding the thinner ribbon grounds the card as well as giving a smaller embellishment more visual "kapow!" And even better, this is FREE ribbon from the Sale A Bration reward choices for this year. Always nice to play around with freebies! I got mine early because I'm a demo. if you'd like info on how to become a demonstrator and be able to take advantage of the discounts and pre-orders as well as be the first to hear all the news and test the latest and greatest product developments, let me know! I would love to have you on the Song Of My Heart demonstrator team whether you live nearby or far away.

Summer Starfruit sneak peek

I like looking at summery cards in my stamp room during the long Wisconsin winters... and this one fits the bill on both counts--summery card and a long winter! Well, it really hasn't been THAT long, yet, but since nothing has basically melted at all since our blizzard the Thursday before Christmas, it feels like we have been in a long freeze. Can't do anything about that, so I'm wearing slippers in the stamp room and sipping beverages from my new Keurig (!!!) and working on spring and summer cards from the 2013 Occasions Catalog.

Summer Starfruit sure has grown on me in the six months it has been available from Stampin' Up as part of our trendy new In Color line. I like it best paired with a nice bring white and then some shade of blue. It looks great with every blue in our lineup! Here I put it with lace tape, flower trim and the new Pool Party satin ribbon that will be available FREE as part of the Sale A Bration 2013 reward choices. The Designer Series Paper on this card is also one of the choices--love it!

Can't wait for Sale A Bration to start officially on January 22nd! Two weeks from tomorrow!!! If you haven't booked your SAB workshop yet, get crackin!' And mark your calendars for two new fun events--and all-day scrapbooking event on February 2nd, and a 10-10-$10 event on March 9th. Finally got the venue nailed down for those--details forthcoming. It's going to be a fabulously fun winter stamp session!

Still More His & Hers Birthday Cards

Tickled pink that tomorrow is finally here... well, it WILL be here... tomorrow... you know what I mean. Today is all about getting packed up and putting the finishing touches on my massive preparations for the 2013 Birthday Bash stamp camp. It is going to be so fun! And the weather is supposed to be nice, even. Can't think of a better way to spend a COLD January morning than making all the birthday cards we need for the whole year. Think of how awesome it will feel to be that organized and on top of things each month!

This guy card is one of my favorites for this event. I've always loved the Tool Shed background stamp (#123688) but I wasn't sure if it would look good paired with the more formal-looking Memorable Moments stamp set (#126682) and the coordinating Framelets for the Big Shot. But I like how it turned out, especially the tone-on-tone Sahara Sand contrasting with the dark Cherry Cobbler and Basic Gray colors.

Memorable Moments is such a cool stamp set. It has a complete set of numbers and numerical suffixes to make any birthday or anniversary date you can think up. Wouldn't it be fun to send newlyweds a first anniversary card? Or a 99th birthday card?

So that's one of the Birthday Bash options for men...

...here's one of the options for women! This one looks nice but is so easy, my stampers tomorrow will be able to crank out several at once to keep on hand for random birthdays that pop up during the year. I just keep finding fun new layouts for that Blooming with Kindness stamp set (#126422). Seriously one of the best stamp purchases I made in 2012!

Lots of layers... and they're all pre-cut for you! Lucky Ducks! Did you know that's one of the biggest reasons people tell me they don't want to be a demonstrator-- because they'll have to start from scratch? I have two answers to that! First, you can still attend my events once you sign up. In fact, I encourage it! You'll get samples you can use and learn lots of tips for your own business, should you decide to go for it.

And secondly, being a demo means you will LEARN, LEARN, LEARN all the cool cutting tricks I know! I've learned tons of things over the years that make prepping for events easier and "magic" measurements to get the most from a sheet of cardstock. And with the Tabletop Paper Cutter and the new personal Stampin' Trimmer, it's easier than ever. So don't let the thought of having to start from scratch hold you back from being a demo.

Got other questions about what life as a Song of My Heart team demonstrator for Stampin' Up might look like? Shoot me an email! I'm a busy girl, yes, but I'll make time for YOU. Let's chat!

I 'heart' Art

Found the perfect shirt for my littlest stamper. Now why don't they make this in mommy sizes? Although I don't think I could pull off the ruffly yellow tulle skirt and the hot pink tights she wears hers with...

Are you my Secret Admirer?

Just a quick post today because today is all about rehearsing over the phone for my Leadership Conference presentation. Yikes! It's one week from Friday! And I leave for Florida a week from today. I have a ton of things to do between now and then... but I couldn't leave you without inspiration, now, could I?

This is one of my many, many, MANY swap cards to exchange with other demonstrators from all over the US and Canada. I think they'll really like it, because it uses a couple of new products from the 2013 Occasions Catalog that begins tomorrow (whoo hoo!) The printed fabric inside the heart is lightly stuffed with cotton batting so it puffs out from the card. I used the Hearts Collection Framelets (#125599) for the Big Shot die-cutting machine to cut the window piece and laid it over the batting and fabric. Trust me--cuter in real life! And a good way to use up your fabric stash.

The new Designer Series Fabric is from the More Amore collection (#129307), and the other new product on this card is the tulle flower trim (#126869) that I have shown on several cards lately. I am on my THIRD package of that stuff already, with all the swaps I have been using it on. I love how it comes in a continuous two-yard strip and you just cut off how many roses you need.

This card is perfect for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day! Are YOU my secret admirer? Time to fess up and introduce yourself! Leave a comment and tell me how long you've been "lurking" at Song of My Heart Stampers. It takes about two clicks of the mouse, and I don't even have that annoying CAPTCHA thingy you have to type in and never get right the first two times enabled. A lot of readers never interact with their favorite bloggers, but I'd love to get to know you and hear what you think. So, spill!

All right, back to tweaking my Power Point slides and highlighting my script... wish me luck on my phone rehearsal and think of me on Friday the 11th at 1:30 pm!

Thank you so much!

Thanks for donating to Lyssa's intravenous coffee drip fund. You have helped keep inspiration flowing freely at Song Of My Heart Stampers. I want my tutorials to remain free, and I'd like to keep SOMH clear of cluttering advertisements and annoying web commercials. I appreciate your support!

Warmest of Wishes

Happy New Year to all the SOMH stampers out there! I hope you had a fun evening celebrating with friends or just snuggling in with family. May your 2013 be filled with memory-making and a sense of the preciousness of the moment. The milestones are exciting, but the moments are what makes up a life. Emily Dickinson wrote, "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." My warmest wish for you today, friend, is that you will take the time to savor the sweetness when you become mindful of the moment.

I have a card to share... of course. I always have a card. We are way beyond addiction here. Is there a word beyond obsession? Wait, don't tell me. Let me live in happy ignorance!

I love, love, LOVE gray and yellow... If I had my wedding to do over again right now (heaven forbid!) I'd probably pick gray and yellow. Crazy for someone whose favorite color is any shade of aqua! But this combo is just heavenly. Soothing. Classy, yet unpretentious. I used the Blooming With Kindness stamp set (#126422) for the mum and saying on this card, along with the Flowering Flourishes set (#126367) in Daffodil Delight and Basic Gray inks.

What really makes this card, though, is the new wide two-tone satin ribbon from the 2013 Occasions Catalog (#129295 Basic Gray/Basic Black). It looks fantabulously elegant in person--wish I could send you each a sample yard so you could feel how smooth and thick it is.

TIP: Normally I use mini glue dots (#103683) to adhere buttons, but I actually sewed this Vintaged Faceted "glass" button (assortment, #127555) on to the gathered ribbon--just took a minute and now I know it will stay put. Other than that, this card was simple and quick. Leave me a line if you were inspired by the card or the color scheme! I love to hear when I've piqued your creativity.