"Where's Michele??..."

Hi, my loyal friends and readers... I have been contemplating writing this post for some time but have put it off for so long because, quite simply, I don't want to write it! You have all seen my posts dwindle down to almost nothing. I feel a tremendous amount of guilt for that because I WANT to give you more. I WANT to continue to inspire you. I WANT to share with you how fabulous I think the Stampin' Up! products are... (and they really ARE fabulous - just wait til you see the Holiday Mini that goes live on September 1st!) ...and quite honestly, I thrive on all the wonderful compliments you shower me with!!

...but the bittersweet truth is that I just can't. I can't keep up the pace I set while I was in Texas. I love it here in Colorado and we're enjoying more family time together than we EVER have. Just LOOK at this beauty!! I made my own postcard from a photo I took a week ago on our way up to Mt. Evans.

In addition, I no longer have a room dedicated solely to stamping and paper crafting like I used to. I have a corner downstairs for all of my precious supplies, and I get down there to drool over them every chance I get, but those chances are fewer and farther between.

Many of you also know that tomorrow, August 24th, I will begin homeschooling our boys. It is my full intention to shower them with every ounce of energy I have in order to make their remaining school years the best that they can possibly be. In the evenings when I do have time for me, I plan to stamp some and I will always show you what I have made. But I won't (and haven't for awhile) stamp every day... I also like to sew, quilt, read, and spend time with my incredibly handsome husband. Therefore, stamping will have to take its rightful place among this list.

I just wanted to give all of you an explanation as to why I've been scarce these days. Please note that I will not be giving up my demonstratorship - I love it too much! So please continue to ask me questions, place orders through me or my website, and share your love of stamping with me... the best way to reach me is through e-mail.

In closing, let me just reiterate that I'm LOVING it here in Colorado - there's no place I'd rather be. Life is good, we're all healthy, and I hope that you are too. I'll catch you when I can... and I do so hope you understand.

Growing Up Promotion!

Here are two great deals for the kids in your life... and the kid in YOU!

Promotion #1:
From August 1–September 30 only, you can get the exclusive Décor Elements™ Growth Chart — plus, receive a free applicator tool!

Promotion #2:
From August 1-31, spend $35 on stamp sets from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (pages 74-90), and choose a FREE package of Designer buttons — a $7.95 value!

Click on the flyer above or contact me for full details!

Mom's Birthday

My mom's birthday was last week, and I decided to make her a card that WASN'T red this time (that's her favorite color)...! Here's what I came up with:

I used the wonderful new Medallion background stamp along with an elegant Rhinestone brad and the Organza ribbon. Colors are Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, and Whisper White.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Heather's Creations

There's a saying here in Colorado that we get 9 months of winter and 3 months of relatives. It's not far from the truth! We just finished up a week of hosting some of Michael's family... his mom, step-dad, sister, niece, and nephew. A good time was had by all!

My niece, Heather, wanted me to show her how to stamp, so we took some time together and created a little box and a birthday card for a friend of hers back in Mississippi. Heather plans to put a pair of earrings in the box... clever girl!

We decided to play with the Big Shot, and Heather chose to use Green Galore and Pink Passion along with the Beautiful Butterflies Die to make her gift. With a few minor exceptions, these were completely Heather's designs. I just showed her some possibilities and she took off! A future Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you think?!


The watermark really should say, "Stamped by Heather" but I don't have that font on my mac, and I am too tired to choose another one. So do me a favor and give a big shout out for Heather anyway!

Final Deal of the Week!

First of all, to explain my absence... I've had 5 extra people with us all this past week. In Colorado, there's a familiar saying that we have 9 months of winter and 3 months of relatives - and it's true!

The final deal of the week is on the Heart to Heart Punch - you can get it for only $10.99, that's over 30% off! Get yours before next Monday!

Deal of the Week!

Oooooh, this is a good one! Save over 30% on the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware! Get it this week for only $18.99 (instead of $29.95)!

Offer good through July 26th, so don't delay!

Happy Birthday, Dawn-E!

A dear friend of mine - my maid of honor, in fact - is having a birthday next week. I affectionately call her Dawn-E because E is her middle initial. I don't think she watches this blog, so I think I'm safe in showing you the card I made for her:

I used the new Rich Razzleberry In Color for this one - I like it! It's so... um... RICH! I paired it up with the new Chic Boutique stamp set with the sentiment that says, "It seems only fitting... to wish you a happy day!" What a cute set this is. Oh, and look! Since the Fire Rhinestones are on sale, I decided to pop some on here!

Oh, it felt so good to stamp again! I've been neglecting it far too long.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Chic Boutique
Ink: Black StazOn, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide Grosgrain ribbon, Fire Rhinestones, Crystal Effects

Deal of the Week!

This week, the special deal is on the Square Fire Rhinestone Brads! Through July 19th, you can order them for just $6.99 (instead of $10.95).

And just to explain my absence... I have started a quilt for Morgan. I'm not a quilter, so it's a new hobby for me, and I rather enjoy it! But I am here at my stamp table right now because I need to make a birthday card for a dear friend... hopefully I'll show you something new in the next day or so!

Deal of the Week!

Carry your Big Shot in style! The Deal of the Week this week is the Big Shot Doctor's Bag! Through July 12th, you can get it for only $49.95! That's nearly 30% off!

Shop online anytime, or let me know if I can help you with an order.

Sara's Birthday

I created my own little cocktail to toast my mother-in-law's recent birthday:

I think it looks kinda like a strawberry margarita, don't you?! In any case, I used some Crystal Effects to make the drink look more refreshing. Here's a close-up:

Obviously, this is the Cheers to You stamp set, with a little bit of polka-dot texture using my Big Shot and a Texturz plate.

Happy Birthday, Sara!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Real Red Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red brads
Tools: Big Shot, Backgrounds I Texturz Plate

More New Colors

I'm still trying my hand at these new In Colors - it always takes me some time to adjust! Here's another one I played with:

This one uses Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo... and notice how the flower is colored in using our FABULOUS NEW In Color Markers!! I just LOVE that they finally made these for us! I also used some of the new Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon and a rhinestone brad.

I also want to take a moment to let you know that I am once again sending out e-mail newsletters of upcoming promotions and specials that I run. I sent one out a couple days ago - if you did not receive it and would like to, just drop me a line and I will add you to my list.

I hope you all had a great week! It was an exciting Stampin' Up! week with the new catalog arriving and all!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: It's a Stretch, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Black Staz-On
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories: Bermuda Bay Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone brad
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8", 1-1/4", 1", and 1/16" circle punches

Deal of the Week!

This week (thru July 6th), you can purchase the Scallop Edge punch for only $10.99! You can contact me to place your order, add it to an existing order, or shop online!

The NEW Catalog!

It's here!! The new Idea Book & Catalog has arrived! Click on the thumbnail at left to start browsing!

And don't forget about my Paper and Ribbon Share - save a lot and sample it all!

Paper & Ribbon Shares!

The start of a brand new Idea Book & Catalog means it's time for more SHARES! Although the new catalog won't go live for another day, I wanted to give you advanced notice so you could be better prepared with your wish list -- and by participating in these shares, you can save money to be spent on other goodies!! (and be sure to look at the "Want it All" special at the bottom of this post!)

Paper Shares
I will have 4 different groups to choose from. Each group contains 6"x6" squares of each paper in those particular Designer Series Paper (DSP) packs. For instance, if a share contains 3 different DSP styles, then you would receive 36 squares (12 from each style). This is an EXCELLENT and AFFORDABLE way for you to sample many packs without paying full price for any of them!

Group 1 - $12
Nouveau Chic
Cottage Wall
Thoroughly Modern

Group 2 - $12
Kaleidoscope
Tall Tales
Razzleberry Lemonade

Group 3: (Holiday Group) - $15
Holiday Lounge
Merry Moments
Autumn Traditions
Cast-A-Spell

Group 4: (Specialty Papers) - $10
The Write Stuff Specialty
Storybook Specialty


Ribbon Share
I will only have one Ribbon Share group, and it will include ALL of the NEW ribbons that are in this catalog. The cost is $32 and a detailed list of what will be included in this share is below:

Real Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Soft Suede 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Dusty Durango 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Pumpkin Pie 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Basic Black 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)

If you ordered a whole spool of each of these, you'd spend over $130. Share the cost and save $100!!

And for those of you who want it all... take advantage of this SPECIAL OFFER:
Participate in ALL of the above shares and save $11 - Total cost is only $70! (and shipped via Priority Mail)

All prices include shipping and tax. Contact me to place your order and I will send you a PayPal invoice. I will keep these shares open throughout the month of July, but I will place the orders as soon as each group fills up. Be among the first and get your shares the quickest!