Well, we just learned today that there has been some type of delay, and some Occasions Mini Catalogs haven't even mailed out yet.  But the last ones are supposed to mail (not "deliver", but "mail") by Saturday the 2nd.  If you are in one of my Stampers 30 Clubs and/or are a regular customer around here and do not receive your Occasions Mini Catalog within a couple of weeks, please let me know and I'll see what I can do to get you one.  I am really sorry for this unfortunate delay.

But in the meantime, Stampin' Up! has posted the PDF versions of each of these 3 new publications for viewing.  (But please remember they do not take effect until Tuesday, January 5th.)  Check 'em out here:

Occasions Mini Catalog

Sale-a-Bration Brochure

Definitely Decorative 2010 (actually a supplement to the Fall/Winter Definitely Decorative Catalog)

Wishing you a safe & happy 2010!

Ok.  So it's not every day you need a "Congratulations on winning the opportunity to be on a float in the Rose Parade" card!  And I doubt very much that our local Hallmark store would actually have such a card were I even willing to pay for it.  But that's one of the beauties of stamping your own cards; you can pretty much make one for most any occasion.  And I happened to be in need of one to congratulate someone who's earned a place at the Rose Parade next month.

Of course the first thing I scoured my stamp collection for was a tiny stamp with roses.  No go.  In fact the only real rose I found in my entire collection was that big gorgeous one from 5th Avenue Floral.  But it was much too big for any parade float ideas that were beginning to stir in my brain.  So, ok, skip the roses and just look for tiny generic flowers…… which I found in, of all places, that oh-so-versatile stamp set – Loads of Love!  So lookie what I came up with!

You'll recognize, of course, the pick-up truck from Loads of Love, but perhaps not so the "float".  You see, I, the person who can't draw anything to save my life, actually freehanded the flatbed float by simply copying the loose, informal drawing style of the truck.  And then I stamped a bunch of the flower bunches from the same set, and colored in everything with our watercolor pencils and blender pens, and then cut 'em all out with our Paper Snips.  (Not one of the easier detail-cutting jobs I've ever tried, lol, and don't miss the even tinier pieces on the truck fenders!  Arghhh!!!  Even *I* was wiggin' out a little over THOSE things!)  Finally, the letters were cut with our Billboard die on the Big Shot, and I added a scrap of leftover paper from the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' Kit and a retired piece of Ribbon Originals from some time ago.

So whatdya think?

From now through December 22nd, you can fulfill your Christmas wish list with 25 dies and 22 different colors of vinyl (to make your own custom vinyl cling art) – at SALE prices!  This exciting collection of vinyl includes 18 brand-new colors – including our hot new "chalkboard" vinyl! 

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your creative horizons with your Big Shot!  Check out the details HERE!

But wait!  There's more!  Don't have your Big Shot yet?!?  Order your Big Shot through me before Monday, December 14 at 9:00 pm (Pacific time) – either online or by contacting me directly – and I'll send you a $10 coupon to apply towards the future purchase of any other Big Shot accessory of your choice!  (And I'll also sign off 2 squares on your Great Rewards frequent buyer card.)

(Big Shot already includes the Multipurpose Platform and 2 standard cutting pads.)

So make out your wish list and tell your special Santa to GET BUSY!

If you own the My Digital Studio software or may get it in the future, please read all the way to the bottom of this article as I've included some helpful tips farther down.  In fact you may want to print and file this somewhere so you can refer to it later.

And if you already own the My Digital Studio software you'll want to download and install the 1st update to it, which is available now.  Here's how to get there:

• Open your My Digital Studio software and close out any window that may open automatically that prompts you to select a file to work on.
• Click on the "Help" option along the upper row, then select the following commands:  Check for updates – Choose your country – Updates (found in the left-hand column) - Download for PC or MAC

And then from that point on just follow the normal procedure for installing software onto your computer.

This update fixes a few minor problems and adds a few other minor features.  Probably the most notable change, however, is that there are now two different bleed area guides to use if you're working on an album with a photo cover:  one for the photo covers (front and back), and one for the actual pages.  Please be sure to turn on the appropriate guides when designing your projects, as these bleed areas are subject to being trimmed off during the printing process - whether through Stampin' Up!'s print service or maybe even when using your own home printer, too.

When looking at the bleed areas of album pages you'll probably notice that the guide areas have been significantly increased on both the right and left sides.  This is to accomodate for the fact that more space gets used up in the stitching/binding process on the side of the page.  So please be especially careful to follow those guide areas on the side of the page that will be stitched during the binding process and don't put anything really important in those areas.  For instance, if you have a left-hand page you'll need to honor that right-hand bleed area completely and not put anything of importance within that area at all.  But there MIGHT not be as much trimmed off on the left-hand side of your page, so you might get away with being a *little* more daring over there.  (And vice-versa for a right-hand page, of course.)  But of course for BEST results, it's probably wisest to stay out of those bleed areas altogether with important elements of your design.

When I had my album printed I moved all the content of left-hand pages just a touch towards the left, and right-hand page content got pushed a little bit towards the right.  And the end result after printing was perfect; things landed centered on the page just as I'd hoped.  But if you wish to try that trick yourself, you'll need to know EXACTLY which page will print as a left-hand page and which will be on the right. And then be sure to check, check, and double-check before uploading for printing! 

And one more tip for today:  because an opaque, black & white scanner bar label will automatically print towards the bottom, right section of the back cover of your book, please be careful to not put anything of importance in that lower right-area.  In other words, do not place any text or important photos in that lower, righthand area of the back cover or it may get obscured by that scanner label that will automatically print there.

This Friday, Dec. 4, Shelli Gardner, Co-Founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!®, will be interviewed on the Today Show regarding the Today Show's Annual Holiday Toy & Gift Drive – to which Stampin' Up! has donated since 2005!  Please join us as we tune in to watch!

And in the meantime, read more about the details here.

Here's a part of what I've been working on in recent weeks when I can squeeze in the time….. some nursery elements to welcome an upcoming new little one!  This is what was in the package of a few days ago.  More pieces underway, too.

Happy Cyber Monday!  I hope you've all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.  I have, as I've spent many hours working on a special sewing project.  It's progressing slowly, but I'm pleased with how it's turning out.  I'll be posting a picture of Part One of the overall project soon.

If you subscribe to my newsletter you've probably already received reminders this morning about all our many specials expiring today.  But I think I may have inadvertently suggested that the sale items available through the Online Extravaganza  offer are only available with an online order.  However, this was an oversight on my part: they are not only available online, but they may also be ordered directly through me.  And if you choose to do that, THEN that is the maximum way to pile up and maximize all the incentives running right now – including the hostess (or book party or "just treating myself") offers that extend in addition to your regular hostess benefits.  (But you'll still want to go online to my online store to VIEW the items and bundles being offered for up to 50% off – and make a note of their product codes and prices.)

But if you'd like to take maximum advantage of all the following specials by compounding them, however, please remember that I will need your order by 5:00 pm Pacific time.  (My online ordering service should still be able to accept orders until about 10:45 pm Pacific time, if that is more convenient and you don't wish to take advantage of the two hostess specials.)

So to review, here's what you can take advantage of this Cyber Monday – even if (or especially if) you have me submit your order for you.  Compound all these together in the same order for even MORE savings and free stuff!

• Online Extravaganza – up to 50% off lots and lots of select merchandise (see the items at my online store, but ok to order direct through me, too)
• For every $50 you select from the Holiday Gift-Giving Guide you get to choose 1 Decor Elements item up to a $16.95 value (excluding stencils or Hostess gift items)
• Turn in one or more orders (direct through me) totalling $250 or more and get one item from the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10, if you want to (excludes Simply Adorned, My Digital Studio, and hostess gift items)
• Turn in one or more orders (direct through me) totalling $400 or more, and get your My Digital Studio software for half-price, if you want to
• Place a $75 order through me during November and get my expanded tutorial for 3 Books in a Slipcase for free.  (Note that today is the final day to get this expanded tutorial for free; look for it to be available for sale here shortly.  This version has more pictures and greater instructional detail than some demonstrators outside of my downline may have received this month elsewhere.)
• And of course there is always my ongoing GREAT REWARDS frequent-buyer card opportunity:  get a square signed off with every $50 you order…… and then when your card is full you may redeem it for free merchandise or a class!

My 2009 Holiday Helper newsletter series is already under way, but there's still plenty of time to subscribe if you haven't already.  And the sooner you do, the fewer issues you'll miss!  As a subscriber, look for a new holiday project tutorial in your inbox every day, through Dec. 7th…. a Customer Appreciation gift from me!

Reread all the details here, and then sign up for your subscription by entering your email address in the box near the top of the left-hand column of my blog.  (If you're reading this message by email subscription you'll have to come to my blog to view that sign-up box.)

That means that YOU can write on it, too – by leaving a "comment".  At the end of most every article you'll find a tiny little "comment" link.  If you click on that link you'll be able to type in a comment for me – and for whomever else comes along afterwards because those comments become part of the article, so to speak - as they can be read by anyone.  (So, um, keep 'em clean, of course!  LOL)

So why might you want to leave a comment?  Well, perhaps something in the article might strike your fancy and you'd like to share your thoughts about it, or another perfect reason to leave a comment would be like at this post – where you can actually leave your guess as to what's in the package!

So go ahead and try it! It would be fun to know someone's out there!  (And I sometimes comment back in regards to your comments, too.)