Incentive Gifts - Ribbon Bottles

With only two days until the Ultimate Card Day, I wanted to come up with some incentive gifts. I love taking incentive gifts to workshops and events I have. That way if someone orders a certain dollar amount, books a workshop or signs up to become a demonstrator, I have something to give them as a "Thank You".

I must admit, I have as much fun giving them out as I do making them and this time was no different! I have LOTS of retired Stampin' Up! rub-ons and ribbon, so I used both to create these (along with some current supplies too!) The bottles are stuffed with retired and current ribbon that matches the color of the bottle. Then the flower fit perfectly into the bottle with the "stuffing" holding it in place. What's better than dirt? RIBBON! I'm not going to list the supplies for these today - there are too many to list.

So now I'm ready for this weekend - and if you're one of the lucky ones signed up to attend the Ultimate Card Day, just place a $50 order, book a workshop or sign up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and your choice of bottle will be yours!

July 22 - Thank You Embossed Card

There's no other way to describe it. The new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog is just yummy.

We made this card at Nancy's workshop this week using some of the brand-spankin' new items from the catalog.

Lots of ingredients for this one, so I'd better just get started...

Ingredients:

• Curly Cute Stamp Set
• Build A Blossom Stamp Set (for leaves)
• Triple Treat Flower Stamp
• Cardstock (Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Certainly Celery)
• Ink (Certainly Celery, Basic Gray and Pool Party)
• Framed Tulips Embossing Folder
• Designer Frames Embossing Folder
• Blossom Petals Builder Punch
• 1/2" Circle Punch
• 5-Petal Flower Punch
• Fancy Flower Punch
• Extra-Large Oval Punch
• Silver Mini Brads
• Stampin' Dimensionals (for under flower petals and middle of Thank You pennant)
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ultimate Card Day!

WHEN: Saturday, July 30 from 11am-1pm
WHERE: St. Mary's School Cafeteria - 1630 Ashland Rd., Mansfield
COST: A $25 minimum Stampin' Up! order

Come and make AT LEAST ten different cards (pre-cut, just stamp and assemble!) from area Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

Please RSVP by Monday, July 25th by emailing Holly.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
New Stampin' Up! 2011/2012 Idea Book & Catalogs will be available for $5. Don't forget to stop by the retired stamp set table for some great deals (retired sets and catalogs do not count toward your minimum $25 purchase required to participate in the event).

July 19 - Happy Birthday Sparkles

Guests at Nancy's workshop tomorrow will be making this card and more. It uses my two loves - polka dots and sparkles! It's a little hard to see in the small picture to the right, but the flower is punched from Stampin' Up!'s red glitter paper that I am so addicted to right now. Glitter paper that doesn't come off on my hands? PERFECT!

And since Nancy is a big fan of decorating envelopes to match her cards, we'll do that too.

Supplies to make the card are listed below, and if you'd like to host your own workshop to make fun projects be sure to let me know.

SUPPLIES:

• On Your Birthday Stamp Set
• Bold Blossom Stamp Set
• Red Glimmer Paper
• Bold Brights Cardstock Collection (used Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight)
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Brights Designer Series Paper Stack
• Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink
• Basic Black Classic Ink
• Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
• 1" Circle Punch
• Five Petal Flower Punch
• Modern Label Punch
• Rhinestone Jewel Accents
• 2010 In Color Glimmer Brads

Hope you are having a fantastic day!

July 18 - A Note of Thanks Card

There is nothing better than going somewhere and finding unexpected INSPIRATION! That's what happened when I visited the post office and bought a sheet of their new "Love" stamps.

I couldn't wait to make my own version of them to match the stamp. Here's what I came up with for my friend and wonderful downline, Connie. With the new catalog out, a few of the items I used are now retired but most of them are still active. If its retired and no longer available for purchase I won't list it below.

The funny (or not-so-much) thing is that after I took this picture, I LOST the card! Married to a clean-freak has its draw backs. This lost card being one of them. I hope I find it soon so I can get it sent to Connie, but until then I thought I'd post it so she could at least see it. :)

FOR CARD:

Island Indigo 8-1/2x11 Cardstock

White Signo Pen

Thank You Kindly Stamp Set

Blossom Petals Punch

Pear Pizazz Stitched-Poly Ribbon

Rhinestone Jewel Accents

2010 In Color Glimmer Brads

FOR ENVELOPE:

Broadsheet Alphabet

Just Perfect Alphabet

Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad

LIMITED TIME - Join Stampin' Up! for only $99!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit--valued at $185--comes with the following high-quality products:

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Note Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit--a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful--isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.

As an added bonus, first-time demonstrators can get two free months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) when they sign up during their first 21 days as a demonstrator. Subscribing to DBWS means having your own online store, blog, hostess portal, and much more!

Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit--all for just $99! Download the starter paperwork now!

July 2 - Baby Shower Cakes

As mentioned in the previous post, I had fun getting crafty for a baby shower I threw for my cousin and her sweet baby girl.

Now, my girls and I watch cake shows on the Food Network more than any other shows on TV. So when it came time for the shower, I knew I wanted to try making a cake. To make it a little easier, I went to JoAnn's and got pre-made fondant that I split in half, leaving one half of it white and used red food coloring to make the other half of it pink. I had made two cakes just in case I messed one up (this was my first time trying fondant!) and when I rolled out the fondant and added it to one cake, I found out that I had more than enough fondant to cover both cakes. So I made two cakes, the opposite of one another. A pink cake with white frosting and a white cake with pink frosting. I loved how they turned out!

But I knew they needed something extra, so I got out my bag of sucker sticks (you can find these at any craft store in the candy making section). I stamped the letters and punched them out with the smaller scalloped circle. Then punched TWO of the large scalloped circle shapes in white. I put dimensionals and sandwiched the two larger white circles together around the sucker stick. Then stuck them into the cakes. The shower was a great time and I got so many compliments on the cakes!

Cake Decorations:

• Broadsheet Alphabet
• Black Classic Ink Pad
• 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch
• 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• Stampin' Dimensionals

July 1 - Thoughts and Prayers Tree Decor Elements

When hubby repainted the dining room and I had to take down the vinyl quote I had up there for years, I knew exactly what I wanted to replace it with. I love the Thoughts and Prayers Tree stamp and have been eying the Decor Elements version for months.

I ordered the large size in brown and when I got it up, it was beautiful. At 52-1/8" x 36-1/8" it covers almost the whole wall. I love making different decorations to decorate it with. The pink flowers on it in the picture were for a baby shower I had for my cousin who was having a little girl. I used sticky-tac to add the decorations, it holds them great and comes off easily without leaving any residue.

Thanks to some new nifty coding from Stampin' Up! all of the item links (like below) will now go directly to the online ordering page on my site for that item. Can't get easier to order than that!

Hope you have a great holiday weekend!!! :)

Ingredients:

• Thoughts & Prayers Tree Decor Elements (Large)
• 5 Petal Flower Punch
• Fancy Flower Punch
• Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents