Although the video was probably made a while ago, Stampin' Up! just posted it, and since the project they show is a classic it will work ANYtime!  Here are some ideas for embellishing a Forget-Me-Not (Card) Keeper from Stampin' Up!

(You can see another Forget-Me-Not (Card) Keeper project at my New Catalog Debut Open House on Wednesday, too.)

Something old, Something new, Nothing borrowed, Something blue…..

Here's a sneak peek at an upcoming hostess set "Wings of Friendship" (new), stamped with Pacific Point (old & blue), along with Sincere Salutations, which is one of my very favorite greeting sets.  Want "Wings of Friendship" for yourself?  Let's get your fall workshop on the calendar!

Stampin' Up!® has once again partnered with Country Living to bring you a really fun kit this summer:  this time, a Summer Cookout Kit! 

I just received mine and have had some fun today exploring it.  I will share photos of some of the elements from the kit, but they won't be as attractive as the staged photo from Stampin' Up! above.

Your summer cookout begins with invitations, of course….. and these are about as clever as they come!  Everything is included for your 8 invitations – right down to the skewers, envelopes, and stamps & ink to decorate the envelopes if you wish.  (I stamped the images over on the left, as the envelope comes plain white.)  But the images for the kabob are super-easy to use – just punch 'em out, write your invitation specifics, and thread them on the skewer.  But check with the post office before mailing; they'll probably need some extra postage.                            

The red gingham image wrapped around the napkin here was stamped with one of the 3 stamps and 2 ink spots (small ink pads) included in this kit, and the round tag comes preprinted with the colorful circle around the edge.  (I stamped the star in the middle.)  And aren't these 2 paper food pockets fun, too?!?  I'll be demonstrating the folds for assembling them at my upcoming events this summer.

Something else that really impressed me about this kit is that the coasters actually have a plastic-like surface, so they're waterproof – and the paper food pockets are waxed, too, just like at the drive-in!

Click here to view a listing of all the elements of this kit (including some more pictures).  Or click here to purchase this kit for yourself.  The kit (with supplies for 8 people) is $24.95 when purchased through my online store, and will be available through August 31st – as long as supplies last.

Have fun at your summer cookout!

Edited to add:  Download a PDF file with some folding tips (for the cone and burger wrap) here.

A package of 10 cards headed for a local charity fundraiser……  (I've already posted most of the cards inside at one time or another here, so I'm not specifically featuring those again.)

Finished size of the box is 4-3/4 x 6-1/4 x 2-1/2.  (Measurements in inches.)  It is sized to accommodate each set of card & envelope in a cello bag.

Cut size for the box bottom is 9-3/4 x 11-1/4.  Score 2-1/2 from each edge.  Fold and assemble as usual for boxes.

Cut size for box top is 8-5/16 x 6-13/16; score 1" from each edge.  Fold & assemble as usual.

The band is 2" wide.

(If you don't recognize the Designer Paper and other elements, they're from a Simply Scrappin' kit from a while back.)

Just a reminder that I will be making some changes to my Great Rewards/Frequent Stampers Cards – to go into effect this summer.  Beginning July 1, 2009, you will have two options for redemption of your full card: 

1. Redeem it for up to $30 in value towards a specialty class with me, or….
2. Redeem it for up to $25 in current catalog product – and I will pay the s/h & tax for you.

Another change going into effect August 1, 2009, is that cards will now expire if they've had no activity on them for 6 months or more.  (In the past, I have not enforced any expiration dates, but now I have many, many cards on my ring that have had no activity for well over a year.)  So if you'd like to keep your card up-to-date and enjoy the added value, please be sure to place at least one $50 order with me every 6 months.

More details and other pertinent information can be found here.

As a favor to those of you who may already have a card half-full or more, I will list initials & other pertinent info about the status of your card here.  If you recognize your initials – or even potentially those of a friend - I urge you to get in touch with me very soon to redeem your card (if it's full) or at least get up-to-date news of its status.  Remember, if you redeem your card before June 30th, I will give you a $30 credit on an order of catalog product.  Beginning July 1, the wording changes slightly so that you may choose up to $25 of catalog product and I will pay the s/h and tax.

Questions?  Please feel free to ask!

Here are people whose cards are full, ready to redeem.  Please redeem before August 1st so you won't run the risk of losing the value on your card:

SB

JB

JE

CG

CI

CL

JL

DM

JM

MM

CP

Here are people with only 3 squares or fewer to fill up:

BA

JB

KB

JB

TB

BD

CD

CD

BE

GH

CH

KK

JM

CL

CL

EM

JM

BN

RP

BS

LW

BW-N

DW

Wow! Just realized it's been over a week since I posted here, but I guess that pretty closely corresponds to roughly a week of thoroughly enjoying my brother and his family here!  Got lots to catch up on, of course, so this will be brief, but I just wanted to share what a blessing it is to have the flexiblity that comes along with being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - so that I CAN take some time off and enjoy such opportunities with family when they arise!  🙂

So today I'm back in the office – all fresh and excited to finish up the remainder of the Stampin' Up! year with gusto!  Remember the new catalog makes its debut on July 1, and if I've got your name on one (oops!  I don't think I've even documented who WILL have their name on one, but I'll be defining that soon, so stay tuned…..) – anyway, I'll be hosting an informal Open House on July 1, so you can come and pick up your brand-new catalog then.  More details 'bout that later!  In the meantime, gotta move on to the next "to do" on my list today!  Ta ta!

Just had to share another cool swap card with you from our May demonstrator group swap.  This swing card was done by Christie P., and as you pull the card farther open the center section changes from one design to the next.  Isn't it just the "bee's knees"?!?

What does this card have to do with my Stamp Clubs this week?  By the end of Wednesday, current Club attendees will understand…….

I've got new Clubs forming now – to launch in July.  Will you be partaking of – or passing on - the fun this year?  If you're ready to broaden your papercrafting horizons beyond cards with basic techniques, Stamp Club is for you!  (And it's the budget way to buy your crafting supplies, too.) 

I've still got openings at both my South Whidbey and Oak Harbor clubs; contact me to secure your place in our next go-round!

Well, the time has come to say good-bye to one of my very favorite stamp sets – Heartfelt Thanks.  This lovely and super-versatile set has provided the inspiration for so many cards and even scrapbook pages at my Stamp-a-Stacks, workshops, and Stamp Camps for oh, about 4 years now.  So before the curtain falls on it for the final time I just HAD to pull it back out for one more tribute to fond stamping memories at my Stamp-a-Stacks over the weekend.

This card's charm lies in its soft and simple design – in Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery, with a little Night of Navy for the 2-step detail.  (And also on the greeting, which features stamp sets Oval All & On Your Birthday.)

We colored the main flower with the brush tips of Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery Stampin' Write® Markers directly onto the rubber, then stamped, and then stamped the detail over that, aligning it with a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  The floral background is stamped, too – even though at first glance it looks like a printed paper.

If you don't have Heartfelt Thanks yet, but would like to add this staple to your collection, you can still  order it here – through June 30th.  (View the individual images here.)

I just wrapped up my June Stamp-a-Stack series this morning.  This is one of the 5 designs the ladies made – as a tribute to the soon-to-be-retired Stitched Exotics stamp set.  (Which I'm going to miss 'cuz I haven't had sufficient time to give it the attention it deserves during the time I've owned it.)

  Not sure I've seen these colors together before, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.  What do you think of 'em?  Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Elegant Eggplant, and Sage Shadow.  Kinda hard to see, but the flower centers are Crystal Effects sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Want to grab your own set of Stitched Exotics before it's too late?  Order it online here.