I Finally Have My Catalog!

I am so glad to say that I FINALLY have my catalog! I feel like the last person on EARTH to get it! I want to say... I am so pleasantly pleased with the contents.

As some of you know I have stopped doing classes and workshops. I basically depend on my close friends to keep me in the business and making my minimums. I started running some specials for those of you who read my blog (see my SU! website for those), and I am so grateful for the handful of orders I get from my faithful readers every quarter. I am never going to be one of those Stampin' Up! Cruise earners you read about, but I am happy to keep getting my discount and enabling everyone to buy more stuff from Stampin' Up!

Needless to say, I wasn't as excited as I have been in past years to see the new catalog. Maybe it's knowing I won't be MAKING any money SELLING stamps... therefore I have LESS money to BUY stamps. Maybe it's the fact that I have expanded my personal taste beyond SU! since last year... and also changed my personal business goals. So I avoided a lot of the new catty chatter and didn't wait on my doorstep for UPS as I did last year.

But now that I have the catty in my hot little hands I am THRILLED. I have a wish list that is ridiculously long... I love so many of the new sets and the ribbon... oh my goodness... RIBBON is where I will probably spend the most money! I thought I'd let you know what my faves were... and enable many of you BEFORE you even SEE the new catty! :)

Let's start in the back of the catty with the new accessories. (I will add links to the online catty as soon as it's up and live!)

• Don't miss the Neutral Assorted Markers set of 4 on page 165. I am so looking forward to using the new Basic Gray marker and Waterproof Ink.
• Textured 12X12 Paper... assorted packs available in all colors! And if you are strictly a stamper/cardmaker don't discount this paper. Just because it's textured doesn't mean you can't stamp on it! I have seen wonderful effects with tone on tone or watermark ink on textured papers. Try your bolder image stamps for this look.
• Page 169: Gift Notes, Long Notes, Love Notes and Pocket Notes in assorted colors... love them! The Gift Notes, which hold a gift card will be especially great for the Holidays!
• Wait until you see the new Designer Papers! The color combos are right on trend and some of my favorite patterns have been brought back in new fresh color combos! I will be ordering Fall flowers, Linen Prints, Wintergreen, Cerise (love this especially; Real Red and Vanillla... YUM!), Cutie Pie... AND... I love the new Prints Designer Papers. They are availible in sellected color packs... perfect for multiple card projects like holiday cards or invites! I will be ordering Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise... at LEAST!
• I have always been a fan of the Simply Scrappin' kits. While I am not a big time scrapper, I use them for gift albums, mini albums and even cards. The self adhesive Die Cuts that are included are repositionable, stampable and of cardstock thickness. Plus this year the kits all include textured card stock! Such a bonus! I especially love the new baby prints; Special Delivery (in Boy or Girl). They are perfect for baby stuff AND beyond, and they aren't in plain old pink and blue! I also love the Holiday set "Winter Bright". It's not for everyone; but if like me you dig that Pink, Red, Green, Blue modern Christmas thing you will love this kit.
• Moving on to the new Accent and Element kits on page 178. I am totally ordering the Borders and Blossoms kit. It comes in a solid assorted set of neutral colors; Basic Grey, Sahara Sand, kraft, River Rock, Very Vanilla and Whisper White. These are in a tin which you may remember from my past tutorial is PERFECT for a cool mini album. Plus I think they will be so cool brayered in color or stamped on. They look very versatile.
• Into the new Chipboard. I have already used 1/2 of my new Blossoms and Basics Chipboard... so I will need more of that. I love the new On Board Ginormous Pieces... perfect for making giftables and for embellishing altered items and scrapbooks. I have a million ideas for these. I also dig the new Lots of Letters set... it will be great to have smaller letters in multiple fonts, and because two of the fonts are outlined by shapes you really get double the letters.
• I am a little sad the ATC chipboard album is no longer available, but the new Chipboard Clipboards are super cool!
• Punches... again; this is where I will be going broke! I already have the Crop-a-dile... but if you don't you will NEED one. I will also be getting the 5 petal flower (matches the hostess set "In The Spotlight") and the new scallop circle. The Photo Corner punch is another must have, as is the new 3/16" Corner Rounder.
• The new Classy Brass Template for "Pick-a-Petal" is amazing! It's shaped like a large scallop circle! WOWZA!
• I am not YET sold on the Pretties Hardware Kit... dyeable flowers and hatpin pieces. But who knows how I will feel after convention is over and everyone starts sharing the demonstrated samples.
• Page 189 JUMBO Eyelets... yes... I want some! Very cool!
• Now the ribbon... oh the ribbon! Ribbon Originals; I want one of each please! 6 X $12.95 = $77.70 OUCH! ok... maybe I will have to wait a while on that (anyone wanna split it with me?)... but I LOVE the 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon... and the double stitched ribbon... and Taffeta Ribbon... well I need to find out what Taffeta IS exactly... but you know it's on my wish list.

Well that is it for me on Accessories... check back for my scoop on the new stamps... looks like I am in for a HUGE order! Hopefully my upcoming retired stamp sale will hook me up with some spending money! :)

I Picked the Winners!

Sorry for the delay! I sellected the winners (via random number generator) for the mini giveaway I had! Ladies please email me (link on sidebar) with your addresses! I have a fun little something for you!

Michelle Mallet said... How about The Cottage Stamper in St. Charles???? Great little stamp house owned by Karen and Louise. They are hosting Amuseapalooza there too!!!!! When you visit there is a great store not too far away The Little Traveler, a victorian house, with all kinds of things from soup to nuts and an incredible floral dept!!! Stampology was already mentioned, the selection and staff can't be beat!

Wackie said... I know it was already mentioned but I have to repeat it - The Cottage Stamper in St. Charles. It's the best place!!! Jackie

KardKrazy said... You can't leave out this hobby shop in Evanston which has an enormous stamp selection and a great collection of PSX stamps. It's Tom Thumb Hobby Shop at
http://tomthumbcrafts.com.

Thank you ALL for your help! I hope to compile this list soon for all the Chicago locals! :) Stay tuned!

My Tutorial is on Splitcoast Today!

I am pleased to announce that Splitcoaststampers published one of my Tutorials today! This one is for a Mini Backpack Badgeholder Book! What is especially cool is that now that Stampin' Up! sells (spoiler alert!) the Crop-a-dile, demonstrators can use this quick and easy project for stamp camps and classes!

Besides the book I made for SCS, I created this little Activity Book for my Son Anderson (who turned 3 yesterday!) Use the link above to access the tutorial. This little activity book clips nicely onto a diaperbag. stroller or shopping cart. The plastic sleeves make it the perfect album for a child!



I used the Retired Stamp Set "Toy Box" for this project... and just about every small punch I own! The numbers were created with a Cuttlebug (Red Tag Alphabet), and the images colored with SU! markers. Karen Foster Snap Stamps were used for the title.

I wanted to add; the tutorial on Splitcoast used The Simply Scrappin’ Kit “party Pieces” by SU!. Paper colors are Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise. Stamps; DoodleFactory by Sun Spirit Studios and Karen Foster Snap Stamps. Ink; Basic Black. Ribbon; Turquoise Grosgrain by Stampin’ Up! and Miscellaneous polka dot ribbon by an unknown maker.

I Can't Wait to See the New Catalog!

It seems everyone in Elgin has their new Stampin' Up! Catalog except me! I can't wait to see the new chipboard... and all the new ribbon! Whoo Hoo! Isn't it crazy how excited we can get about STAMPS and PAPER?!

Here is another chipboard card! You can see all the details on the card by clicking HERE.

What I Would Look Like If I Was On South Park

I have always been a fan of South Park... but since we have a two year old in our home our adult TV time is pretty limited... but I just started to Tivo it and watch late at night... and I am loving it. So insane and offensive... but I can't help but laugh. If I was a South Park character this is what I would look like.

If you want to make your own South Park YOU... looksee HERE. Fun stuff!

By the way... since I have family in from out of town and a three year old with a B-day (plus my anniversary and hubby's b-day this week!) I will post the winners for my little contest on Thurday. And stay tuned for a HUGE fund-raiser-contest-giveaway... I can't wait!

To Make Up for the Cicada Pictures...

Something sort of funny... I don't know if there is a connection; but I had 7 people unsubscribe to my blog the day I posted the Cicada Pictures. SO I thought I should balance the icky bug energy and post some pretty bug pictures!


These pics were taken at Brookfield Zoo as well (a few weeks back); in the butterfly exhibit. The fluttery beauties were everywhere! Being there with a 3 year old was a bit frightening. Andy did his best to be VERY careful... but we had a few close calls with the butterflies... they were all over the sidewalk and a bit irresistible to Andy's curious hands. I am proud to say the Moore Family did not smash a one!

As for the Cicadas; they never hit Elgin; but my friends in Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Westmont report they are inundated! Looks like we escaped the year of the Cicada... I will be 51 years old before I have to worry about it again. :)

Top Chef

Among my TV addictions is Bravo's Top Chef. I have been a devoted watcher since Season One. I was so pleasantly surprised to note that THIS season one of my old High School pals is a contestant!

Cutie pie Dale Levitski is doing OK so far! He was in the bottom 3 in the first episode but in the second he wasn't even noted on the radar... which is probably a good thing. It is a bit unnerving seeing someone you know on a reality show. You hear how things can get so twisted on these shows and how people can often be portrayed wrongly. I really hope Dale keeps it positive and does well.

He is so different from how I remember him! All buff and sporting a mohawk! Of course the last time I saw him was 1990. and we were both 17! Both my hubby and I remember him fondly; he was always a great guy and I have pleasant memories of him from High School. Good Luck Dale, I am so proud of you and Rick and I can't wait to go to your first Restaurant when you open it!

You can read all about Dale HERE.

I Can't Stop Playing With Chipboard!

Look what I made with my new Blossoms and Basics Chipboard! I am really a fan of SU!'s Chipboard; it's reasonably priced and very durable and versatile. You can read the recipes for the cards on SCS (see link below each card). Each of these little animals have been created with only pieces of the new chipboard. I covered the chipboard with the new prints series papers with the exception of Rudolf; he was sponged with ink and his antlers and nose embossed.

Click on the image to enlarge.
You can read the recipe for this card HERE.

Click on the image to enlarge.
You can read the recipe for this card HERE.

Click on the image to enlarge.
You can read the recipe for this card HERE.

Click on the image to enlarge.
You can read the recipe for this card HERE.

Click on the image to enlarge.

You can read the recipe for this card HERE.

Playing with my New Stamps!

I have been busy playing with my new stamps! I am really liking the new colors and figuring out new combinations. I saw several samples in the Splitcoast galleries using White craft ink on Kraft paper; then topping the white with color... these were inspired by that look.

You can see the recipe for this card HERE.

You can see the recipe for this card HERE.

You can see the recipe for this card HERE.

I figured out that the Big Clear button fits perfectly inside this piece of the New Blossoms and Basics Chipboard. I think it gives this card a little "POP". I used a glue dot to secure it in place.

Some color combos to try with the new "In Colors"

Blue Bayou
Wild Wasabi
Kraft

Purely Pomegranate
Kraft
Basic Black

Wild Wasabi
Very Vanilla
Basic Black

Groovy Guava
Kraft
Blue Bayou

Wild Wasabi
River Rock
Basic Black

Blue Bayou
So Saffron
Wild Wasabi

So Saffron
Wild Wasabi
Rose Red

So Saffron
Soft Sky
Almost Amethyst

Help Me Out and Win Something!

This is for all the local stampers... I am trying to compile a list of all the best stamping stores in the Chicagoland area... so let's say no more than 50 miles from Chicago. Just list 'em here and include a website link if you know of one.

For helping me out I will select three winners to receive a free stampy gift from me!

Thanks!

Edited to add: I will keep this contest open until 6/22. Did I miss any great stores?

Stamping or scrapping... I want paper too! :)

More Glitter!

I love the "cool" (pardon the pun) layout of this card... Nicole Heady of Papertrey Ink gets the credit for this... I just switched it up a bit. You take a Window Word Punch and punch the flap... then just draw some guide lines with a pencil, and with your self healing mat underneath you use your craft blade and a straight edge to cut the slits. The paperclip fits right under the flap securing the card shut! I used a Coluzzle to make the rounded edge on the fold over part.

A clear square button was used as the paperclip topper. I pressed the button into a versamark pad, coated it with Heat and stick powder, melted the powder with my heat tool and then covered it with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. A second quick blast with the heat tool and the glitter is set!

The "cubes" below were created the same way. I coated a piece of Whisper White paper with the Versamark/Heat and Stick Powder/Glitter.

You can click on any picture on my blog to enlarge it!

Has it Really Been a WEEK!?!

I can't beleive I haven't posted in a whole week! I have been super busy with justjoanna DT stuff... none of which I can show you! (you'll see it all someday!) SO let's see... what have I go for ya...

I made this for my SU! upline Glenda... she is such a wonderful business woman and mentor. She has a fun Glitter contest coming up and I entered a few things... this being one of them. She is keeping them for some top secret something-or-other (related to her being a speaker at convention I assume). So I figured she would be able to use this on her desk maybe to frame a picture of her and Shelly.

The frame is for the Target $1 spot (last year), but it's just like the stampable frames you can get by ProvoCraft. Chipboard by SU!. The frame was layered with Luminere Paint, Rose red and silver craft ink and dotted with Turquoise craft ink. The chipboard was brayered with Classic Tempting Turquoise (Tip: use your marker to get the edges). Then I coated it with Versamark and embossed it with Heat and Stick Powder... then coated it with Dazzling Diamonds. It really blings! The button by the way was a Turquoise Button; I used versamark/Heat and Stick/Dazzling Diamond on the button too.

I will try not to be so distant in the coming weeks... now that my craft area is organized (see Craft Critique this week if YOU need help getting organized!) and I have a handle on my latest DT projects I should have some free time coming up! Stay tuned for a Garage Sale and a blog giveaway soon too! I found a TON of stuff I need to get out of my house while I was cleaning... I mind as well give it away or sell it to YOU!

justjohanna June Sketch Contest!

justjohanna is having a great Sketch contest... check out the details HERE. You could win $25 in justjohanna stamps! My creations for this sketch are below. Be sure to look HERE for more inspiration by the rest of the justjohanna design team.

Also the new justjohanna Design Team Galleries are up! You can look HERE to see all the wonderful artwork!

Full details on this card can be found HERE.

Full details on this card can be found HERE.

Details on this card can be found HERE.

Attack of the Cicadas!

The Cicadas are here the cicadas are here! If you are not in the midwest or in the United States you may not have heard... we get the periodical Cicada... or the Magicicada... they rise from the ground and climb into the trees every 17 years in droves! Ick!

We were at Brookfield Zoo this week and saw tons of them... lucky for me my backyard doesn't look like this! It was fun to see them; and at the zoo where they can stay thank-you-very-much.

That is a pile of live Cicadas and their molted shells at the base of this tree. It moved... ick!


Here is a close up of the icky pile.


Then they climb up the tree and slowly pull out of their shells. Some of the shells stick to the trees and some fall and blow all over... (The zoo's sidewalks were a bit crunchy). Then the Cicada's sun themselves on the tree or the ground until their wings are outstretched and dry. Then they fly around and make a ton of noise. (don't you love my scientific verbiage?)

Cicada that's almost ready to fly!

More disturbing than the Cicada's was the "Lord of the Flies" mob mentality of some of the children at the zoo (following a parental lead I am sure). At many turns we saw little clusters of children stomping Cicadas... shouting "get em, get 'em!" at one point my Andy ran to a crowd with curiosity and asked what they were doing (they were poking a big Cicada with a stick... killing it)... I explained (loud enough for other parents to hear) that we don't like to kill insects that are minding their own business. I just thought the whole concept of killing bugs for entertainment at the ZOO of all places was a bit disturbing.

It's been my policy with Andy and bugs that we don't kill bugs that are outside... because that is where they live and we are in "their house". Bugs inside the house are a different story... with the exception of tiny house spiders (that eat fruit flies and entertain my cat) the rest is fair game... and I am just not capable of capturing and releasing insects.


One last noteworthy bit about the zoo... I was bitten by a Stingray! But it wasn't a brush with death or anything... they have what they call "Stingray Bay"... a shallow pool filled with Stingray that swim around in circles. Their harmful barbs have been removed, which apparently does not hurt the animal; it's like getting your fingernails clipped and they grow back... We got the chance to feel them, and I had a piece of shrimp in my hand and I probably didn't have my hand low enough or flat enough... my finger was sucked right into the rays mouth! It was more of a bad "suck" than a bad bite... but I sure felt it! I tried to yank my finger out of his mouth and I pulled the ray halfway out of the water!