Ribbon Split Offer

Jul 4, 2010

Are you anxious to get your hands on a bunch of those dreamy ribbons in the new 2010/2011 Stampin' Up!® Idea Book & Catalog?

Then I invite you to claim a share of my Ribbon Split, which will give you one yard of almost all of the ribbons on pages 190 and 191 – featuring 8 different styles and 19 different colors!  That's 72 different ribbons for only $55 (US)! 

This is a very limited-time offer, though…… only available through Tuesday evening (July 6) at 7:00 pm Pacific.  To learn more specifics, including how to order, download this PDF flyer.  And feel free to forward it to your friends.  But there's no time to waste, 'cuz availability is very limited!

Happy New Year!

Jul 1, 2010

Well, Happy New STAMPIN' UP! year, that is! 

I'm so excited this week!  We've got a fresh new catalog, trendy new color collections, new stamps, new punches, ribbons, and other accessories - and lots, lots more!  Beginning Thursday, July 1st I'm excited to have the privilege of introducing this gorgeous new catalog to lots of crafters anxious to get their hands on their very own copy!  If YOU've reserved a copy through me you're welcome to come and grab it between 1:00 pm and 6:00 on Thursday…… or if you're coming to Stamp-a-Stack Friday or Saturday anyway, you can just pick it up then.  (If you can wait that long, of course, lol!) 

And ALSO during the month of July, Stampin' Up! is issuing an invitation for any former demonstrator to come back – for ONLY $35!  Yes, you read that right…… JUST $35 to get your Stampin' Up! business fired up and going again!!!!!  But only during July 2010.

If you know of someone who may be feeling a bit sad for having left Stampin' Up! (no matter how long ago), please ask her to get in touch with me asap at my contact info shown at the top of this page; I'd be delighted to share the details!  Oh, and it doesn't matter who she used to be signed under; this incredible rejoining opportunity allows her to start all over with a fresh start – under any demonstrator of her choice!  (Of course I would recommend she choose an ACTIVE one, lol.  Perhaps even me!)  🙂

Happy Stampin' – and Happy New Year!

Lynda

Hurray for Stampin’ Up!®’s printing service!

Jun 29, 2010

I'm so excited today!  Mr. UPS man has been bringing me all kinds of fun packages recently:  orders from my recent workshops, backorders that have now been cleared out, several cases of brand-new 2010/2011 catalogs, and  then today…… this card that I've been so anxious to see that I've hardly been able to concentrate on anything else!

Ok, I guess you'll have to understand the background before appreciating how anxiously I've been waiting to see this card.  Here goes:

My son and his wife became new parents this spring.  Unfortunately, they live a whole day's drive away – over the mountains and in another state – so I am destined to not be able to watch this special little boy grow up day-to-day.  But they visited here over Memorial Day weekend and I snapped some adorable pictures that looked just fine in the view window of my camera.  Unfortunately, after they all headed home and I hurried to download my precious pictures, I discovered quite to my dismay that most of them were out of focus.  Oh NO!!! How in the world that happened still remains a mystery, as the camera was set on auto-focus.  But at any rate I was sorely disappointed with these once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Well, I went to work on the photos with my several-years-old version of Photoshop Elements, and while I wasn't able to make great pictures out of poor ones, I eventually decided they were improved "a bit".  Or at least as long as they're kept small, they look better anyway. And so *I* felt a little bit better. 

Ok, fast-forward to Father's Day.  My son works in the sports world, MDS-card-5x7 so I was totally tickled when Stampin' Up! released some sports-oriented digital downloads recently.  I had quickly scooped up the alphabet and numbers images that suggested sports themes, and figured I'd combine those together with some of the recent pictures I'd taken – to make him a custom "1st Father's Day" card with Stampin' Up!'s awesome "My Digital Studio" digital crafting program that I just adore. 

So I carefully worked to create the strong masculine look I was after – pulling colors from the photos I was using, as well as generally thinking in terms of the sports team for which he works.  I had a blast fiddling around with the simple, but strong design…..  until it was time to print it.

The size I'd chosen for my card is a 5 x 7.  Nice and big for a masculine card. I was happy enough with its look on my monitor screen, but alas, my printer had other ideas. It absolutely *refused* to reproduce the details of what I'd just designed.  When printed on my home printer (only 1 year old, btw), all the fine details of the photos as well as the graphics images were simply not there – and I was again mighty disappointed.  Finally I realized that time was growing short, and I was going to HAVE to submit my design to Stampin' Up!'s printer – but that would take a lot longer than I'd allowed. 

Luckily, there's a feature in My Digital Studio where you can export your artwork to a jpg format.  I make use of that option fairly regularly, and so I pressed it into service that day, too – and was able to fashion an "ecard" of sorts, adding a message and got that emailed in time for Father's Day - while I uploaded the full artwork to our online printer.  I told my son his "real card" would come later; quite a bit later.  And then I began to wait…………..

Until today…… when I finally received the "official" printed card!  Mds-card2-5x7 And let me tell you I am OVER THE MOON happy I decided to do that!  And at the last minute I also had had the idea to have TWO copies printed – one to mail and one to keep for myself.  And boy, am I ever glad I made that decision, too!  'Cuz I just can't stop looking at it.  Mostly because the guys in the pictures are both mighty special to me, of course….. but also because it just looks so darn good!  The detail that was completely absent when printed on my own machine is all there, the colors are a perfect match to what I'd chosen, and the skintone is as good as can be expected given that I'd started the whole thing with less than perfect photos to begin with. 

Now of course there's never a substitute for the real thing, so next time you're here, I hope you'll ask to see this card in real life. (Along with samples of other MDS cards that I've had printed through Stampin' Up!, too.)  But in the meantime, I just had to scan and upload – and share it here. 

AND give a great big thumbs-up to Stampin' Up!'s printing service!  They came through with flying "colors" – and saved the whole project! 

Have you requested your 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog yet?

Jun 14, 2010

Last call for requests for the upcoming 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog!  I will be ordering them on Wednesday, June 16 so they can be available for pickup on July 1st at my house.

If you would like a catalog (and do not work with another Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, of course) please call me right away at the phone number at the top of this page* – and let's confirm that I have your current contact information.  I will need your name, phone number and mailing address in order to send your complimentary catalog (if you are not local and therefore unable to pick yours up on or about the 1st, that is).

If you've already requested your new catalog and your name is already on my "list" you don't need to contact me again…….. but if you haven't already talked to me about it, please let me know by Wednesday!  After that, it may be a loooooong wait until I order more.

(Hint:  it's beautiful, btw!)

* Note:  If you are reading this message from a feed, you will probably need to go to my website in order to see my phone number at the top of the page.

Sign-ups are now open for my 30’s Clubs

Jun 8, 2010

P6080002

So what are you doing for regular fun these days?  How would you like to experiment with a couple of new techniques or "a step above" stamping/crafting ideas every month?  Would you enjoy having a regular evening out with some friends – longtime or new?  How 'bout a special purchasing option including free craft supplies?

Well if you're on Whidbey Island or on the mainland close to the I-5 corridor between Everett and North Seattle, then one of my 30's Clubs may be just for you!  And right now we're accepting registrations for our 2010/2011 Clubs!

This card is one of the projects my 30's Clubs will be making this week.  The technique we'll use to make the pansy is really, really fun…… and typical of the "a step above" types of complimentary make & take projects I offer my Club members every month.  We'd love for you to join us at either of our current Clubs:

South Whidbey – 2nd Tuesday evening of the month

Oak Harbor – The Wednesday evening (next day) following the 2nd Tuesday

OR…… if you've got a group interested in your own local area (roughly Everett to North Seattle), how 'bout let's set up a Club for you, too!

At any rate, if you don't want to be left out of the fun, contact me soon to answer your questions and/or reserve your space at the table!  My phone number is at the top of this page – or if you're reading this from a feed, click here to view the full page, including my contact info. 

Oh…. and if you think some of your Facebook friends might be interested, too, please click the "Like" button in the footer immediately below this post.

Watercolor Crayons revisited

Jun 7, 2010

P6070001 It's been a long time since we pulled out the watercolor crayons at Stamp-a-Stack, so this past weekend I decided it was time to resurrect them and combine them with one last fling with one of my favorite stamp sets (Soft Summer) before we say goodbye to those stamps at the end of this month.  This card also features the Textured Impressions Embossing Folder  – Square Lattice (newly introduced in the Summer Mini Catalog). 

It was fun to watch everyone's rendition of this flower image; because each person used a slightly different concentration of crayon to water, each card made here was different.  Some darker, some lighter, but I thought every single one was pretty once the detail image was stamped over it.  I know I'm going to miss this stamp set once it's gone.

Oh, and the ladies actually stamped their greetings directly onto their card – not onto something else and then punched out as shown on my sample.  The reason for the goofy layered thing on my sample is because in my original experiment I'd stamped the greeting with black.  But then I decided the Old Olive would look softer, but didn't feel like starting all over again with my sample just to change that one detail.  I used to do that, but once people started commenting about my samples looking "too perfect" (ha, ha…. then hadn't seen all the versions, first!), I started letting 'em see some of my own "development" process.  And besides, it saves me time, lol.

And there's another technique we reviewed this weekend with this card – changing a regular silver brad to white.  It was done by heating the brad with the heat tool, then dipping into white embossing powder, then reheating until melted, redipping, then reheating – for a total of 3 cycles.  It's a neat way to turn a brad (or any metal hardware, for that matter) into any color of embossing powder you may have on hand.

At my Stamp-a-Stacks you'll make 5 different cards.  If you're in the area, why not join us next month for some fun?!?  3 sessions to choose from – Friday/Saturday, July 2 or 3.  (And the brand-new catalog will be freshly available, too!)

Easel card for a friend

Jun 3, 2010

P5050004 A recent easel card for a friend.  She happens to like pink….. can you tell?

“Last Chance” Lists are here

Jun 2, 2010

Demo_LastChance_USCA[1] copy

Wow!  Not sure where this past year has gone, but can you believe we're now into the final stretch before the new catalog debuts?!?  And as we race towards that date, Stampin' Up! has now published the "Last Chance" lists – for stamps, Definitely Decorative home decor items, and crafting accessories, too.  And there are lots of things to choose from - including a rare opportunity to get *some* retiring items at up to 50% off!

So get out your "wish lists", compare it to the lists below, and see what's on there that you haven't had a chance to order yet.  And you'll want to get your order submitted "sooner" rather than "later" – while supplies are still available! (This *especially* applies to accessories, many of which will likely disappear quite quickly.)

The fastest way to order, of course, is directly through my website:  http://StamptheRock.StampinUp.net , and if you'll be joining the race for the remaining retiring accessories I *highly* encourage you to use that method for ordering.  You'll be able to tell immediately about the availability of an item at my online store:  if the product code is still active, then that means Stampin' Up! expects they'll be able to fulfill your order for it.  And the additional advantage of shopping this way is that you'll be able to view the picture of each item in the retiring categories easily.  Want to see what's being offered at a discount?  There are categories to click for just those items, too.  (The discount – of up to 50% – will be applied when the item is added to your shopping cart.)

But if you only have stamps and/or Definitely Decorative items you'd like to choose, you may also contact me to submit your order for you if you wish.   Stampin' Up! expects to be able to fulfill all orders for retiring stamps and Definitely Decorative items, too, so there's not quite the rush there will be with the accessories, which will only be available as long as inventory holds out.

Now, before I point you to those Last Chance lists, however, I do want to caution you not to be too stunned when at first glance it may appear that a huge percentage of our accessories are retiring.  Actually, it's not really that we're not going to carry these items anymore (except in the obvious cases of retiring colors of cardstock & inks, etc.), but here are a couple other reasons for the unusually long lists this year:

  1. Some items are simply being reconfigured (repackaged), as we move forward with our exciting Color Renovation process. For instance, if an assortment item (such as an assortment of brads, buttons, watercolor crayons, etc.) currently includes a color that will be retiring, then that entire assortment package must be removed, "retired", and repackaged – probably with a new color replacing the old. And then the NEW assortment will go back into the catalog with a new product code. So some of the items showing on the accessories list are there simply because of a minor reconfiguration in their packaging.
  2. And another large category of retiring accessories you'll notice will be our punches. But Stampin' Up! is KNOWN for our awesome punches, so no worries…… it's really only a handful of shapes that are actually leaving the line. The list seems long simply because our supplier is changing over to the newer design. So while you'll see many, many punches listed on the accessories list, be aware that it's usually that particular *style *of punch that's retiring (the style with the handle), but the "punch image" of most of our punches will return in the newer, updated format. If you want to know exactly which punch shapes are leaving altogether, please contact me for that information. There are about a half dozen of 'em, I believe.

So with those technical explanations out of the way, here are the Last Chance lists for stamps and Definitely Decorative items:

And remember the best way to view the Last Chance ACCESSORY items is at my online store….. and don't forget that discounted prices, when applicable, will appear when you put the item into your shopping cart!

So have fun perusing these lists, and remember if you haven't put in your reservation for a new 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog when they arrive, please do so right away so I can order one for you!  I'll be ordering my cases in roughly a week from now, and I'll bet you don't want to be left out!

At last! Become a Facebook Fan of this blog

May 28, 2010

Woo Hoo!  Who SAYS perserverance doesn't pay off?!?  And afterall, I AM related to my Dad!  (Love ya, Dad!)

So, after a bazillion hours over the past several weeks I have FINALLY got Facebook's "Like" button installed here on my blog!  I know. I know.  For such a tiny little button, that doesn't *sound* like all that big a deal – but trust me – it WAS!  I followed the instructions…… and followed the instructions…… and followed the instructions …… again and again over the course of several weeks…… but never once got the results they SAID would happen.

So finally, this morning in one final last-ditch attempt before completely throwing in the towel, I changed browsers (again….. 'cuz, hey, it's not like I hadn't already tried THAT trick)….. AND did step #2 (of the supposedly really simply 2-step process) over and over and over again.  Just kept clicking the silly button thingies over and over and over again – mostly out of frustration…….. And Voila!  SUDDENLY……Success!

So, what does that mean to YOU?!?  Well, if you look over at the top of my left-hand column you'll (hopefully) see a blue Facebook "Like" button.  If it's pale blue you are not yet a Fan of this blog; if it's dark blue you are.  Well, at least that's how I think it's SUPPOSED to work, but don't blame me if it doesn't.  (And I know it's not displaying exactly like they said it would, but hey, at least SOMETHING is there now!)

And if you would LIKE to be a fan – and receive my posts in your FB news stream – just click the button, and (well so they say, anyway), that's all there is to it!  You should start receiving my posts in your FB news stream!

OR….. if that might be too much volume of input for you on your FB, you can now also "like" my individual posts.  Of course you'll have to read my posts via some other method, but then there will (er, "should") be a "like" button at the end of each individual post.  (Not sure it that will apply if you're subscribed by email or reader – but you'll be able to figure that out on your own quickly enough, I suppose.)

So go ahead!  Give it a try.  And let me know what you think.  But hey – if the whole technology thing doesn't work as promised, it's ok to *tell* me that…… as long as you don't expect me to fix it for you.  I've had enough struggle just getting it THIS far, lol! 

PS:  This has nothing to do with my FB page: STAMPTHEROCK .  I will continue to update that page, too – where sometimes the content mirrors what's here on this blog….. and sometimes it entirely different.  So I invite you to FAN that page, too – and then I'll see ya over there soon!