Salt Lake City!

What a great travel day. Each flight and connecting flight was on time and smooth riding. From Atlanta to here is a 4-hour ride....Oh my goodness, I had a hard time sitting still that long.

When I got to the gate in Atlanta, I found nine demonstrators waiting for the flight. How did I know they were demonstrators?  Well....they were madly snipping and snailing away on their swap cards.  They were from everywhere - Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Macon, Greenville, Asheville. We had a great time just talking.

Here are a couple of shots from my hotel room window. The mountains here are topped with snow even though it was 92 degrees here today. The second shot shows how close the convention center is to the Hilton. I need to be there at 8 am in the morning....yipee!

I met a couple of girls waiting for the hotel shuttle and we decided to go to dinner. We were all starving because it was 7 pm for us. It ended up being eight of us and we had a great time. The girl in the center here has a dual demonstratorship in the US and France. She was so interesting. The girl on the left is from Kansas City and we're meeting in the morning, and the girl on the right is from Greenville and this is her first convention. Great meal, great company.

So tomorrow, I need to be at the Memento Mall and hour before it opens. They are letting the group who is helping with the Make n Takes shop an hour early. Oh boy! Then a training session from 10:30 to 12:30, lunch and two classes in the afternoon. Tomorrow night is the Eighties Flower Power event. I'll have lots more pictures for you then.

CU

B

Come With Me To Convention!

I'll be blogging daily about my convention experience. Thought it would be fun for my stampers to attend and experience some of what I'll see and learn. I've smoked up my studio trying to get all my swap cards made.

Here's the beginning of one of the cards. See how messy it gets trying to make 200 cards at once? I sure wouldn't want you to see my studio right now. I'll need to do some serious housework before our next Play Day.

This swap had a little fancy fold, embossing on one layer, popped up hand-cut message, a little Blushing Bride ribbon and can you see the little bling rhinestone at the top of the cage. Everything on this card is from the new catalog.

Here's the second card...all six layers of it. It was more time consuming because I used craft ink and white embossing powder. Craft ink takes FOREVER to dry. But, I think it turned out pretty and I hope it stands up to the national competition.

So I'm all packed. Left plenty of room to bring back loads of stuff for you to see. I'll have a slide show and all 200 samples at the next Play Day to share. As you can see, Zoe is not too happy when the suitcases come out. She has been on my heels all day.

So until tomorrow night when I'll be writing to you from Salt Lake City....

CU

B

It's hereeeeeee!

Tracked my demonstrator order everyday for five days knowing my new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog was included in the preorder shipment. The day it was due to arrive, everything that needed to be done that day was done early in anticipation of the 3 p.m. delivery. Zoe (my little Jack Russell) hates the UPS truck. She can hear it as soon as it turns into our little community.  I kept asking her "Where's the brown truck?"

The delivery was late...right into dinner time. Poor Joe knew better than to ask me "What's for dinner?" I've been immersed in all the new stamps, colors, ribbons, buttons, antique lace....it goes on and on. Here's a photo of what my catalog now looks like. See all those tags? Those are ideas for classes coming up. You guys are going to love this new catalog.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Just so excited about all the new stuff! The Play Day class in June was so much fun. We started out our summer with flower lei's made from the new die in the Summer Catalog. Then we played "Win It in a Minute". Have you seen that new game show? The trick was to move six m&m's with a straw from the counter to a bowl. It didn't take Sheree Firth long to move those m&m's. Must be all those Pilates classes that gave her all that hot air! I'm just sayin"...She won a new stamp set for all her hard work.  Then we set to work on our three projects. We used all new stamps and colors from the new catalog. We talked a little about where to find inspiration for color combinations and I shared where I find some of my ideas. Each month we learn a new technique. Jan Guider had requested we make a card using the "black magic" technique, so we did that. Then we made a Father's Day card with the motorcycle single stamp in the summer catalog and a pretty pink card with the Watercolor Trio stamp set. Here's everyone concentrating on their work.You can't see Elaine Plemons in this photo, but we are all thinking of her this month as she has double knee replacement surgery.

Ok, I'm getting packed to go see my g'kids who live in Tampa tomorrow, but I have been working on some ideas for next class. I'm not sure how well these photos show it, but the new designer series paper is absolutely knock your socks off gorgeous! Here are the samples. I hope you enjoy looking at them and are inpired to get your fingers inky, too. I'll be sending you an e-vite for the July 3rd Play Day. Remember, I do not charge for my classes (lots of demonstrators do). All your materials to make your samples are free. I do hope you will be inspired to purchase supplies to make your own creations, or to host a workshop in your home. I will be elated to come and demonstrate to your family or friends. Any sales from the party will earn you free merchandise, not to mention the gift I bring along for you. I even have the postcard invitations for you to send out. Talk to me if you're interested in earning free merchandise. And, if you're interested in becoming a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I can help you get started. Ok, now really here are the samples...Merrily stamping in my studio...

Billie

Summer Sun and Inky Fingers

A BIG hello to all my stamping friends! Summer brings a new set of things to do...most of them outside while we continue to keep up with all the things that need to be done inside, too.  This was a great spring for all the flowers except it seemed to me everything bloomed at once. Wasn't the pollen something else?

So the new Summer Mini Catalog is out with so many new stamps and embellishments. I've had a ball playing with all of them and have a few samples to show you today. The next Play Day is Saturday, June 5th at 2 p.m.  in my studio. You are all warmly invited to come and play. I will be sending out e-vites for you to respond to. Be sure and let me know if you're coming so I can have a kit ready for you. I want to restate that there is no charge for your projects at Play Day. It's an opportunity for you to play with the new products and learn some new techniques. Of course, I do hope you'll be inspired by what you see and want to order your own supplies, but there is no pressure to purchase.

Ok, here is the first sample I thought would be nice for Father's Day which is coming up soon. I took some time to antique this card and I didn't think I would, but I love this little motorcycle stamp. It comes all by it's little self and I've seen so many different samples done with it. Who knew one stamp could be so versatile?

Now that we have good old Dad taken care of, let's look at some "girlie" stuff. These flowers are peonies I brought to my house from my mother's yard. I made this vintage tag and a bracelet for my daughter, Kelly, whose birthday is on Mother's Day. I just wanted you to see you can stamp so many things other than cards. The flowers from my mom's garden made the gift special for Kelly.

Like that? Here is a birthday card with a cute twist on the ribbon. You won't believe how fast that comes together. I sent this card to my three year old g'daughter and watched her open it while we were skyping one night. She seemed to really like it. She loves hoot owls so this was right up her alley.

Check out the Watercolor Trio stamp set in the Summer Mini. Did you notice that one? Here's a card using that stamp set and the new "Magic" impressions paper.  Same ribbon technique as the previous card. This was a fast and easy card that looks stunning in person. It would make the perfect all occasion card...birthday, wedding, anniversary, etc.

Here's another card made with the same stamp set. Change the colors, a different paper and you have a whole new look. The combinations are endless.

Remember I mentioned last Play Day that May is national scrapbooking month? I would like to start a monthly scrapbooking class where we could all work on our individual scrapbooks. Don't you have a pile of photos somewhere? I made this little heart scrapbook of our beach week with the little g'kids last month? Sometimes it's just fun to make a little scrapbook of a special event. This project took about four hours and half a pack of designer series paper.

Did you notice the beautiful butterfly single stamp? I know some of you did. I made up a couple of cards using this little stamp. Here I stamped on vellum card stock and colored the back side with watercolor pencils. When you turn it over...gorgeous! I'm sure we'll be making something Play Day with this stamp.

Last sample for today. This uses a stamp set not yet available. It will be in the 2010-2011 catalog. It's called Awash With Flowers and it is a two-step stamp set. They are so much fun to play with and you get a real artsy look with them.

That's all I have for you today. I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of these samples and you'll be inspired to come to Play Day and make your own creations.

Now go get your fingers inky..

B

Do you know what the month of May is? National scrapbooking month. I'd love to have a 6 x 6 scrapbooking class during the month. If you're interested in coming, drop me an email @ brm643@comcast.net and I can give you more information. I promise it will be drop-dead gorgeous.

So Saturday, May 1st,  at 2 p.m. is our Play Day...are you planning on coming? Be sure to reply to the e-vite so I can have all your supplies ready for you. I'm going to show some samples I've made from the stamps in the new Summer Mini Catalog. Did you get yours? I mailed one to everyone I thought would be coming, but if you didn't get a catalog, I'll be glad to mail one to you. Just drop me an email.

There are some great stamp sets in this new "mini" and did you see the Smooch Spritz?  Try saying that five times fast. I'm so glad I got the little box to spray into because my whole studio would have been covered. It's so pretty. Takes a so-so card and makes it beautiful.

Did you notice the little butterfly single stamp? Here's a card using that stamp and the re-newed (is that a word?) Baja Breeze cardstock with Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. This card is so versatile...it could be used for just about any ocassion.

After I finished this card my attention was drawn to the "enjoy the journey" set. I finished the two cards and wanted to make a baby card with the tricycle, but ran out of time. Maybe I'll have that one done before Play Day. It's so stinkin' cute. So I made this wedding card with the two-seater bicycle and a masculine card with the bicycle. You could make the bike pink with glitter, too. Oh, the fun.

Now for my favorite set in the new mini catalog...."Elements of Style". There are so many possibilities with this set. Here's my first sample using the "spotlight" technique.

Wouldn't this make the perfect wedding card. I used the word stamp from the "Journey" stamp set on the inside that reads "Enjoy the journey."

Now for the last sample in today's blog. This card is made with a technique called "black magic". I can't wait to show you this technique. It's really easy and the cards are a knock out. The stamp set used here is Awash with Color. Remember, there are several two-step sets that are on "special" until May 1st. You can check those sets out on my website under promotions at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ . Here's the card with this technique.

I think the flash dulls the colors somewhat because this is vibrant in person. I hope you're planning to come on May 1st and have some fun with us.

Now go get your fingers inky...

B

Introducing.....

Last Play Day while many of you were hiding Easter eggs, we had two "newbies" attend the class and get their fingers inky. We worked on three different projects and learned three new techniques that they all seemed to like. The cards we made are in the previous post to this one. You can scroll down and see some of the samples.

Both "newbies" are friends from my Pilates and Yoga classes at the Y. Martha (everyone calls here Mots) was nervous but eventually she saw we were all here to relax and have fun. She seemed pretty proud of her cards. Sheree was a natural and very particular about her artwork. I hope they both come back and bring friends with them. It's so much fun watching someone stamp for the first time. It's definitely an AHA moment.

Here is a little card to spark your creative juices today. It tells a little story and could be used for several different occasions.

I want to encourage you to check out my SU! website at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ for some great special deals from SU! and announcements about color renovations to their products in 2010. There are some exciting changes in the near future. Also, be on the lookout for the new Summer Mini Catalog to arrive in your mailbox next week. There are sooooo many products you are going to want (me too!)

Here's a sneak peek at the cover.

And here's a sneak peek at the new color collections to be announced in June. I will have a list of the retiring colors for you later this week. If one of your favorite colors is on this list, be sure you have the refill for your ink pad, get the paper and accessories because after June 30th, they will not be available.

Did you find the five new colors? And did you notice they brought back some of the former In colors? This is just the beginning of all the new and exciting changes. I'll be keeping you posted and the news is released.

Now go get your fingers inky!

B

April Play Day

Happy Spring! Even though today it snowed...I feel spring in the air. I have some interesting stamping techniques to show you this month. All of them are simple with fantastic results. Let me know if you particularly like any one of these cards and I will try to add it to our projects for the Saturday, April 3rd Play Day at 2 p.m. in my studio. You are all invited.

This first little 4" x 4" card was made for my good friend, Sandy, who just had her first grandchild, Logan Michael. The folding technique is really simple and highlights the little Sweet Pea Baby. A little ribbon, small bit of coloring, a punch or two and you've got it made. We always make a coordinating envelope so our cards make a grand presentation.

This is a hostess stamp set (you can get this set FREE when you host a party). The background in Bashful Blue is textured using the Big Shot. Takes two shakes. The stamp was colored with markers and stamped all at once. Makes a pretty card that could be used for many different occasions. All the 5/8" satin ribbons have been carried over in the new mini catalog coming out May 1st.

Does this card look torn to you? The envelope, too? Actually this is a masking technique that gives your card a W O W impact with very little work. The stamp set is the Vintage Vogue set, which is one of my personal favorites.  This set will not be available after March 31st. If you'd like to order it, you can go to my website at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ and have it shipped to you.  

This little card is so simple and fast, but it's so stinkin' cute, isn't it? The background polka dots are textured by running through the Big Shot. The little flower is the It's Time to Bloom stamp set in the 2009 Idea Book and Catalog. I've made it a sympathy card, but this could just as well be a b'day, or get well card.

What do you think of this butterfly closed card? The butterflys interlock to close up the card. After I took this photo I added some butterflys to the inside card, too. This would make a pretty thank you note.

This is a stamp set from the 2009 Idea Book & Catalog. I've used watercolor paper, watercolor crayons and a blender pen to get this watercolor effect. It was really fun to do and you will have an original work of art to begs to be signed.

Here's another stamp set from the 2009 Idea Book & Catalog done in the same technique as the previous cards. I hope you like one of these well enough to select it, because it is really fun to do. Are you getting tired of looking at sample yet? Just a couple more....

Here is another simple b'day card made with the textured cardstock and a little bit of coloring. Between the texture and the color combination you can create a gorgeous card. Did you notice the envelope also has the polka dots?

Some of you have this stamp set already. I just wanted to show you how you can use some designer series paper inn part of the stamp image to give you a really different effect from a simple stamp. I made this layered card for my hubby who celebrated his b'day this month. He expects a "special" card after all this time.

This was a challenge card on the demonstrators website and I just had to try it. There are eight layers of paper to the card using only two colors...Bermuda Bay and Certainly Celery. I did use the scallop punch for a little more texture.

This isn't one of our projects, but I wanted you to see you can do many things with your Stampin' Up! products. I made these three headbands for my g'daughter for her birthday. Are there shirts to match? You betcha! She loves to dress up and I can't wait to see her in them.

That's all the samples I have for you today. I hope you have been inspired to play with your stamps. I hope you'll be here the first Saturday in April. Send me any comments to brm643@comcast.net and let me know if you'd like to make a particular project.

I'm merrily stamping...

Billie