I (Heart) Hearts: Not Your Ordinary, Every Day Set

Hi Everyone,
Well even though Valentine's Day is over for another year, I thought I would share with you some cards I created using one of Stampin' Up's new stamp sets from the Occasions Mini catalog.  Don't have a copy of the new mini? Just click on the link in my sidebar (the litte orange catalog) and you can download a digital copy in just minutes. Or, if you prefer a print copy, please contact me and I will be happy to send you an Occasions mini catalog.
Anyway, for as long as I can remember, hearts have always been my favorite shape. Don't ask me why, but I just love them. So when I first saw the new Stampin' Up set, I (Heart) Hearts, I knew I was in love. This set has 8 different stamps with a total of 10 hearts that are all different in design, shape and size.

Now the obvious use for this set is for Valentine's Day, but this set is also great for birthdays, anniversaries, thinking of you, thank you and love you cards.  Just by changing the colors you use and the way you use the designs can give each card you make a unique look that will bring a smile to the recipient's face.

This first card is a simple card but I love the way the pinking hearts stencilled border frames this one layer card. The hearts provide a clean and simple design and combined with the sentiment from the Sale-a-bration  stamp set, Whimsical Words (love this set), it creates a lovely way to let someone know that you think they are special. (Don't forget, you can earn free Sale-a-bration products like the Whimsical Words stamp set, with a $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products).

The second card I have chosen to share with you today is a Valentine's card, but you could easily change it to reflect another occasion such as a birthday or anniversary card by choosing a different color combination and the appropriate sentiment to finish it off.

In this case, I used one of the hearts from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set to create a tone on tone background that provides a nice contrast with the strong Whisper White cardstock used in the top half of the card.  The punched hearts are layered on top of scalloped hearts in Pretty in Pink and Real Red that have been created using the new Sizzix Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, which is a Stampin' Up exclusive die.  The little love heart in vibrant Real Red Classic ink is from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set and is a cute little embellishment to the center heart. The new Small Hearts punch is the perfect size to punch this little stamped image out. The Valentine's Day sentiment is from the set, Teeny Tiny Wishes, which is a great set for sentiments as it covers just about every kind of sentiment you can think of at just the right size. It works great with the Word Window Punch that I used to punch it out of the Whisper White cardstock.

To finish off the card I used Stampin' Up's versatile Whisper White Organza ribbon tied withh a simple knot bow to add a classic touch.

My final card for today is a simple note card, once again pairing the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set with the Sale-a-bration stamp set Whimsical Words.  Can you tell I also love using my new Pinking Hearts Border punch, which can be found in the new Occasions mini catalog?  The heart I chose for the focal image of this card is the same heart stamp that I used to create the background on my Valentine's card above, showing how these stamps can be used in different ways, depending on the type of card you wish to create.

Don't forget that when you purchase the I (Heart) Heart stamp set between now and February 28th, Stampin' Up will donate $2 to the Red Cross for the Haitian Disaster Relief to help the people of Haiti in their time of need.

Product Name Item # Price

I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount 118571 $18.95
(block D recommended)

I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount 117010 $26.95

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Stampin' Up Online Store and click Shop Now to order online, 24/7.  Don't forget you can download a free digital copy of the Occasions Mini Catalog and the Sale-a-bration Catalog from the sidebar of my blog, or contact me and I will be happy to send one to you.

Until Next Time,
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Sets:
I (Heart) Hearts, Whimsical Words, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Big Shot, Sizzix Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die, Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Word Window Punch

Soft & Subtle Water Coloring

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday.  Today I thought I would share with you a card that is soft and subtle in contrast to the bold reds and pinks of Valentines.

When we think of giving cards, the most popular everyday occasion card is the birthday card.  That being the case, I seldom have one on hand when I need it, which if you think about it, is kind of crazy. So I decided to play with the new  Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration stamp set, Happy Moments (you can earn this set for free with a $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products). 

Now I am a decorative painter at heart, so I love to use the water color techniques to color my cards. With this card I chose to color my images with my classic inks and my blender pen. I used pastel spring colors from the Soft Subtles family including Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink and Pale Plum. I also added some soft background color using my sponge daubers to add some Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue.

Now it is not often that I use just one stamp set to create my cards, but with Happy Moments, I had all the elements I needed in this one stamp set - an image for my background, a focal image (the birthday cake) and the sentiment(Happy Birthday).  Plus, if I wanted to make a series of cards to have on hand for birthdays (or any other everyday occasion card), this set would fit the bill as it has several different images and sentiments that mix and match to create a coordinating set of cards. 

What a perfect gift for a special friend or loved one to give a set of personalized cards that they could have on hand to use when they need them.  Change the colors to suit the person you are creating for and get a whole new look to your card set.

I hope this card sparks your creativity.  Please contact me if you have any questions or to place your order with me, and take advantage of Sale-a-bration.

Until next time,

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Product list (All Stampin' Up products):

Stamp Sets:

Happy Moments - Clear-Mount Stamp Set  119125   Wood- Mount Stamp Set  118664

The Happy Moments set is a must-have set to create a card for any occasion! This set is FREE with a qualifying purchase or workshop. Available in both wood-mount and clear-mount.

Set Quantity: 7

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla

Inks:  Black Stazon, Stampin' Up Classic inks in Barely Banana,Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum

Accessories: Blender Pens, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers

Join Me for My Creative Card Buffet

Hello Everyone and Happy Tuesday,
As usual, the week is flying by and I am trying to play catch up. This Saturday I am having a Card Buffet at my house and I am hoping you will join me for some fun, relaxation and card making.
What is a Card Buffet you ask? It is a card making event where you have a choice of 10 unique, high quality card designs and you can choose to make one of each card design or you may decide to make multiples of your favorite designs.  I have the supplies for the cards pre-cut for you, so all you have to do is follow the simple instructions to put each card together.
The card designs will be suitable for all occasions and you can customize them with your choice of sentiment to suit the type of cards you use the most. There will be a mix of techniques and stamps for you to try, some you may know while others may be new to you.
You pay just $2 per card and there is a minimum of 5 cards required per person. I will have a set number of cards pre-cut, and it will be first come first served,  so I suggest you come early for the best choice of designs.  I will also have a limited number of Valentine's Card designs pre-cut in case you need a last minute Valentine for a loved one.
I will also have on display new card samples that I received during a swap at the Stampin' Up Regional Seminar in Fort Collins last Friday. You will be inspired by the wonderful designs shared by many creative demonstrators and I will be happy to help you if there is a particular design that catches your eye.
Bring along a friend to create cards with you and you will recieve a special little thank you gift. After all, card making is even more fun when shared with a friend.
Don't forget to take advantage of Sale-a-bration and earn free Sale-a-bration Products with a qualifying purchase.  Just order $50 of Stampin' Up Merchandise (excluding Shipping & Handling and Taxes) and you can choose a free product from the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog.
In addition you will have the chance to win $50 in free Stampin' Up merchandise from the 50/50 Board. The 50/50 Board is a board divided up into 50 squares. Purchase $50 in merchandise and you can choose one square. Purchase $100 in merchandise and you can choose 2 squares, and so on. When all the squares are filled there will be a drawing and one lucky person will be the winner of a gift certificate to purchase $50 in Stampin' Up merchandise.
*Note: Qualifying amounts do not include shipping & handling and taxes. The gift certificate can only be redeemed with me and is not recognised by any other Stampin' Up demonstrator nor can the order be placed directly with Stampin' Up.
So I hope you will join me this Saturday for a few hours of creative fun making wonderful cards that you will be happy to give to your family and friends.
Contact me today to reserve your spot and I will give you directions for Saturday.

Until next time.
Stamping Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Event:  Creative Card Buffet
When:  Saturday, 13th February 2010
Time:  10am - 2pm
Where: My House
              Northglenn, Colorado

A Little Something for Someone Special

Yesterday I shared with you the Letter that I decorated for my Valentine's swap partner. Today I am going to share with you the other little goodies I added to her package to help her feel special for the big heart holiday.

I got the idea for the bookmark after visiting Madeline Morcelo's blog and viewing her tutorial for creating this cute corner bookmark here. In keeping with the Letter theme, I created a monogram for the bookmark using the Letter C from Stampin' Up's Jayne's Type Alphabet and gold embossing powder. The background was created using the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel from the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I taught this bookmark at a class in January and it is one of my favorite projects to teach.

Now everyone knows that chocolate is as much a part of Valentine's Day as hearts and flowers are. So I created a simple little topper for a ziplock snack bag to give it a little taste of Valentines.

The topper is made from the Top Note die cut with the Big Shot from Real Red Cardstock.  It is decorated with hearts stamped with a stamp from the I (Heart) Hearts Stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog using Pretty in Pink Classic ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I then  punched the hearts out using the coordinating Heart to Heart punch.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Whimsical Words, which is one of the free Sale-a-bration sets available with a $50 purchase. It is stamped in Pretty in Pink Classic ink on a piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock punched with the Curly Label Punch.  Fill the bag with chocolate and you have a pretty way to dress up a zip lock bag!

Last but by no means least, I created a Valentine's Card to send a short note to my partner.

I got the idea for this card from a wonderful demonstrator by the name of Dawn Griffith. The border is created using the new Pinking Hearts Border Punch on a scrap piece of cardstock to create a stencil. Using this technique you create the border for the top and bottom of the card by applying ink with a sponge dauber in Real Red Classic ink.  The hearts from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set, were stamped with Pretty in Pink and Real Red ink, slightly off center to allow space for the sentiment, which is from the Whimsical Words stamp set stamped in Basic Black Classic ink.

So there you have it. Three pretty Valentine's gifts created from a few simple supplies that were a lot of fun to make.  The great thing is, anyone can make them and with a few simple changes of color, you can customize these gifts to suit anyone for any occasion. Contact me today and I will be happy to help you design your projects to suit your needs.

Until Next Time,

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets:

I (Heart) Hearts (found in the Occasions Mini Catalog)

Wood Mount #117010 $26.95   Clear Mount #118571 $18.95

Whimsical Words (Sale-a-bration free set)

Wood Mount #118386    Clear Mount #119119

Jayne's Type Alphabet #114401  $43.95

Circle Circus #115778  $28.95

Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel  #117693 $8.50
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot, Sizzix Top Note Die, Sizzix Petal Card die, Trio Flower Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Curly Label Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Heat Gun, Gold Embossing Powder.

Order Online 24/7 Here Just click Shop Now 

C is for Creative: A 3D Project

Hi Everyone,

Recently I had the chance to combine my love of decorative painting with my love of stamping and paper crafting and have a little fun. As a member of Chic-Chicks, a yahoo decorative painting group, I participated in a Valentine's Swap with a twist. We had to decorate the first letter of our partner's name and send it to them. The letter had to be at least 4 inches in size and could be made out of wood, paper mache, chipboard etc. and we had the choice of how we would like to decorate it.

I chose a paper mache letter that I found at a local craft store and painted it with a blue acrylic paint to represent the sky. I then added white clouds to the upper sections of the letter.  To decorate the letter I added leaves cut with my Sizzix leaf sizzlit and the butterflies with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, both from Stampin' Up.  The flowers were created by stamping the large and small flowers from the Stampin' Up Vintage Vogue stamp set and then cutting them out individually. The colors I used were Stampin' Up classic inks in Real Red and Crushed Curry and I stamped them with the new clear mounted acrylic blocks that Stampin' Up just released in January. The butterflies I highlighted with gold acrylic paint to provide some shimmer and I added some bling to the center of the flowers with adhesive backed faux gemstones.  The end result was a letter that reflected a spring day in a field of flowers. 

Overall, I was really pleased with how it all came together and I am looking forward to exploring this type of creative art in the future.  I managed to find a few more paper mache letters recently and I can't wait to see what inspires me with each of them.

Stamps Used: Vintage Vogue - Clear Mount Stamp 118598

Price: $17.95   Set Quantity: 8

Accessories: Big Shot, Stampin' Up Little Leaves Sizzlit die, Stampin' Up Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, faux gemstone stickers, misc. acrylic paints, cardstock scraps, Stampin' Up Classic Real Red and Crushed Curry Inks.

All Stampin' Up supplies can be ordered from my online store by visiting my Stampin' Up Website and clicking Shop Now in the top right corner or contact me to place your order.  I am happy to help you.

Until Next Time,
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

February and the Roller Coaster Week that Was!

Hi Everyone,
Well February has gotten off to an interesting start with the first week being very much like a roller coaster ride. Now I am not much of a fan of roller coasters, so you will understand what I mean when I say that I hope I don't have another week like that one.

On a high note, I did get to attend the Stampin' Up Regional Seminar in Fort Collins on Friday afternoon and what can I say but, Oh My Gosh!  It was the most amazing, fantastic event I have been to and the people there were just so kind, generous and friendly and the energy in the room was electric. It really made me so glad to be a Stampin' Up Demonstrator. With all the ideas and inspiration shared in that one afternoon, I feel inspired to create all kinds of projects for the upcoming weeks and months.  Just one slight problem: the time to do it. I will have to work on that because I really want to get to work on my wish list of projects that I have sitting on my desk. I will be sharing photos with you as I work my way through my wish list.

Thank you to everyone who sent me well wishes while I was sick last week and I hope that all of that is behind me. While I will still have to have an MRI in the future, both my Doctor and I are hoping that it will just be a routine thing that will confirm his diagnosis and eliminate any other possibilities.  I do have a new appreciation for life and the simplest of things that I am able to do each day that I wasn't able to for that short time. Life truly is precious and I am planning on making the most of each day.

Have a great Sunday everyone and a wonderful week.  Don't forget, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Stamping Hugs,
Tricia Butts

P.S. It is not too late to order your supplies for Valentine's Day but you will have to hurry. Place your order online at my website or contact me to place your order with me. I will be happy to help you.

Haitian Disaster Relief: How We can Make a Difference

In response to the terrible tragedy in Haiti, Stampin' Up has announced their plan to help the people of Haiti.

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving in its wake devastation so overwhelming that the Haitian people and their leaders can only look for help from the outside to cope. To help make a difference in the lives of those who continue to suffer from the effects of this devastating earthquake, Stampin′ Up! will set aside $2 from the sale of every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set and donate it to the American Red Cross.

Product Name                                            Item #              Price
I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount              118571            $18.95
(block D recommended)

I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount             117010             $26.95

Help to make a difference. Order your I {Heart} Hearts stamp set from my Online Store by visiting my Stampin' Up website and click Shop Now or contact me to place your order.

Through Stamping we can help make a difference.

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Welcome 2010 - Sale-a-bration is just around the Corner!

Happy New Year to you all and I hope that you had a wonderful Holiday Season with family and friends. With the New Year we see new beginnings in our future, a fresh start, a clean slate.  Tuesday, January 5th, 2010, marks the new beginning of a great new Mini Catalog and a fantastic opportunity to earn free merchandise with the launch of Sale-a-bration.
Why am I so excited? There are so many reasons but here are just  few to whet your appetite:
Firstly, Sale-a-bration in 2010 will last for almost 3 months instead of the 6 weeks we have had in the past.Sale-a-bration will run from January 5th to March 31st, 2010. This means more time to earn more free merchandise. 
Plus, in addition to the traditional free Sale-a-bration products, you will be able to choose from a wide selection of free stamp sets that have been chosen from the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog.  To see the wonderful Sale-a-bration products as well as the list of additional free sets you can choose from, just click on the Sale-abration button to download the 2010 Sale-a-bration Catalog.
You want more I hear? Well, in addition to Sale-a-bration, Stampin' Up! is also launching the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog, filled with new stamp sets, new style punches, designer series paper, embellishments and more to take you from the Winter blues to the freshness of Spring and all the holidays in between. 
And for fans of unmounted stamps, you will be thrilled to know that Stampin' Up! is launching its new range of Clear Mounted Stamps in both the Occasions Mini Catalog and the Sale-a-bration Catalog.  You will have the option to choose from the traditional wood mounted stamps that Stampin' Up! is well known for, and the new unmounted option with the cling adhesive back that allows it to be used with Stampin' Up!'s incredible new acrylic clear blocks. I am so excited about this new direction that Stampin' Up! is taking and I am looking forward to sharing samples in the next few days to show off some of the wonderful new products that Stampin' Up! is releasing.
To see a sneak peek, click on the Occasions Mini Catalog button to download a digital copy of the new catalog. (Don't forget to check out the new Level 1 and Level 2 Hostess Sets that you can earn from the Occasions Mini Catalog.)
So sit back with your favorite beverage and take some time to browse the new catalogs (you might want a pencil and paper to jot down your favorites too.)  Before you know it, you will be planning all the different ways you can spend your wintery days creating great projects with the new products from Stampin' Up! Who knows, you may even start wishing for a snow day.
Happy Stamping,
Tricia
P.S. You can place your orders through my Online Store starting January 5th or contact me to place your order. 

Great Holiday Savings with Online Extravaganza

Happy Black Friday to you all.
Did you brave the stores and malls early this morning in search of the perfect gift? If you did, I hope you were successful. This year we decided to skip it and I must admit I did enjoy the sleep in.
I must admit that in the past I had spent Thanksgiving Day scouring the sales flyers in search of the perfect deal and then planned out my plan of attack for Black Friday to maximize my chances and visit the most stores.  At least three of those stops used to be to the major craft stores, with my coupons in hand, hoping for some hidden treasures.
This year I didn't visit a single craft store. Why? Because Stampin' Up this week is having the most amazing sale with savings, I just couldn't pass up. This week is their Online Extravaganza with savings of 30%, 40% and even 50% off their incredible products.
So, just in case you didn't find all that you were looking for today, take a moment to check out the wonderful deals that are available from Stampin' Up. But don't take too long as these prices are only available until 30th November, 2009.

Item Description                                      Regular Price   Discounted Price

120280 Framed with Love Bundle
• Framed with Love stamp set
• Full Heart punch                                       $43.90           $21.95

120281 Thank You Kindly Bundle
• Thank You Kindly stamp set
• Scallop Edge punch                                 $29.90           $14.95

120976 Thank You Kindly Bundle (French)
• Tous mes remerciements stamp set
• Scallop Edge punch                                $29.90           $14.95

120282 Animal Crackers Bundle
• Animal Crackers stamp set
• Star Designer brads                              $25.90           $12.95

120283 Corduroy Button Bundle
• Kraft Corduroy buttons
• Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons
• Summer Sun Corduroy buttons
• Basic Gray Corduroy buttons
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons         $49.75         $24.88

120284 Game Night Bundle
• Card Games stamp set
• Game Night stamp                                $40.90          $20.45

120285 Four Square Bundle
• Four Square stamp set
• Scallop Square punch                            $30.90        $15.45

120286 Heart to Heart Bundle
• Love You Much stamp
• Heart to Heart punch page
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $49.85    $24.93
120310 Heart to Heart Bundle (Spanish)
• Te Quiero Mucho stamp set
• Heart to Heart punch
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $49.85   $24.93

120311 Heart to Heart Bundle (French)
• J't'aime beaucoup stamp set
• Heart to Heart punch
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon  $49.85  $24.93

120287 Chipboard Letter Bundle
• On Board Timeless Type
• On Board Loads of Letters                       $25.90   $12.95

120288 Double-Stitched Ribbon Bundle
• Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
• Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon  $17.90  $10.74

120289 Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle*
• Best Wishes & More stamp set
• Eight Great Greetings stamp set
• On a Pedestal stamp set
• Earth Elements Stampin' Spots
• Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Flower Designer brads                                $127.70     $76.62

120290 Build-A-Brad Bundle
• Calendar Alphabet stamp set
• Pewter Build-A-Brad
• Antique Brass Build-A-Brad                        $40.85      $24.51

120291 Enjoy Every Moment Bundle
• Enjoy Every Moment stamp set
• Circle Designer brads
• Flower Designer brads                                $43.85      $26.31

120312 Enjoy Every Moment Bundle (French)
• Profiter de chaque instant stamp set
• Circle Designer brads
• Flower Designer brads                                $43.85      $26.31

120292 Cheep Talk Bundle
• Cheep Talk stamp set
• Note cards
• Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons                    $42.85       $25.71

120293 Sock Monkey Bundle
• Sock Monkey stamp set
• Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons               $58.85       $35.31

120313 Sock Monkey Bundle (French)
• Sing-chaussette stamp set
• Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons              $58.85       $35.31

120294 Alphabet Bundle
• Jayne's Type Alphabet stamp set
• Lovely Letters stamp set                            $87.90       $52.74

120295 Simply Said Bundle
• Simply Said stamp set
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Full Heart punch                                        $52.85      $31.71

120314 Simply Said Bundle (French)
• Amitié stamp set
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Full Heart punch                                       $52.85       $31.71

120296 On Board Bundle
• On Board So Tweet
• On Board Batch of Blooms
• On Board Essentials                                 $42.85       $25.71

120927 Christmas Décor Bundle #1
• Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Kraft, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements  $74.85  $44.91

120298 Christmas Décor Bundle #2
• Holly Beary Wreath Décor Elements (Chocolate, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements  $74.85  $44.91

120299 Christmas Décor Bundle #3
• Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Old Olive, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements  $74.85  $44.91

120300 For All You Do Bundle
• For All You Do stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads                            $36.90    $25.83

120315 For All You Do Bundle (French)
• Merci pour tout stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads                            $36.90    $25.83

120316 For All You Do Bundle (Spanish)
• Por todo lo que haces stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads                            $36.90    $25.83

120301 Striped Ribbon Bundle
• Bashful Blue 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Real Red 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon           $47.73     $33.41

120302 Bling Bundle
• Sticky Pages
• Sticky Cuts Sweet
• Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter
• Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter                           $43.80    $30.66

120303 Fresh-Cut Bundle
• Fresh Cuts stamp set
• Fresh-Cut Notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                             $37.85    $26.50

120317 Fresh-Cut Bundle (French)
• Fraicheur exuise stamp set
• Fresh-Cut Notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                             $37.85    $26.50

120304 Pendant Note Bundle
• Pendant Park stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                           $39.85      $27.90

120318 Pendant Note Bundle (French)
• Adorable parc stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                           $39.85      $27.90

120319 Pendant Note Bundle (Spanish)
• Un dia en el parque stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                          $39.85      $27.90

120305 Sporting Bundle #1
• Large Night of Navy Sporting Décor Elements
• Night of Navy Just Sports Décor Elements  $67.90      $47.54

120306 Sporting Bundle #2
• Large Chocolate Sporting Décor Elements
• Chocolate Just Sports Décor Elements        $67.90      $47.54

120307 Sporting Bundle #3
• Large Black Sporting Décor Elements
• Black Just Sports Décor Elements               $67.90     $47.54

114864 Ginormous Flowers I Décor Elements $39.95   $27.97
114863 Ginormous Flowers II Décor Elements $39.95  $27.97

112534 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads                  $7.95     $5.57
112533 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads                    $6.95     $4.87
112081 Scallop Square punch                         $15.95    $11.17
113693 Full Heart punch                                $15.95     $11.17
113694 Heart to Heart punch                         $15.95     $11.17
112091 Scallop Edge punch                           $15.95     $11.17
112571 Circle Designer brads                          $5.95       $4.17
112579 Flower Designer brads                         $5.95      $4.17
112572 Star Designer brads                              $5.95     $4.17

114785 Small Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements $39.95      $27.97
114786 Medium Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements $69.95  $48.97
114791 Small Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements   $39.95      $27.97
114792 Medium Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements $64.95    $45.47

*This bundle is only available while supplies last.

To place an order just visit my website here:
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Click "Shop Now" in the top right corner and then click "Online Extravaganza" to see the great deals and place your order. Or you can contact me to place your order.

Happy Shopping,
Tricia

P.S. Don't Forget to Check out the Terrific Deals in the Clearance Rack for more great savings.

Project Canstruction: A Giving Experience Needs Your Help

Hello Everyone,

In the spirit of being thankful for the blessings in my life, I would like to share with you a wonderful experience that our family is participating in.

My two daughters are involved in a school project that involves creating a sculpture out of canned food. They are participating in the Canstruction competition here in Denver and the group has decided to construct a "Can"burger out of healthy, nutritious canned food.

They are members of MESA Club, an afterschool club at North Star Elementary, that focuses on teaching children about Math, Engineering and Science using fun and educational activities.  Mrs Rensink, their teacher, has been helping this small group of approx. 20 children (consisting of 3-5 graders) to create their project from the designing phase all the way through to construction.  In addition, this is a wonderful community service project that has helped the children to understand the importance of helping out others in their community.
The kids have been busy asking family and friends to help by donating canned goods to help build their "Can"burger and so far they have collected approx. 200 cans. All the canned food used in their sculpture will be donated to the Salvation Army Food Bank to help families in need.
As excited as they are about competing in this event, they are more concerned about making sure they collect enough cans to be able to help as many families as possible so they will not be hungry this holiday season. I am so proud of them all for their hard work. They remind me to be thankful for being fortunate enough to have food on the table each meal and the ability to go and buy food when the cupboards are empty. It is a timely reminder that with these economic hard times, there are many families who are struggling to make ends meet, and even one can of food can make a difference in a family's life.
The "Can"burger is made up of layers of different canned foods to create the illusion of a hamburger.  Peanut butter jars are being collected to create the bun on the top and bottom of the burger.  The yummy light brown color of peanut butter is a perfect match to create the look of a whole wheat bun.  We discovered that Walmart's Value Brand has the smallest label to allow the maximum amount of color to show through.  The red lids also provide the illusion of ketchup on the bun. 
The meat layer is created with cans of Bush's Original Baked Beans and the lettuce layer is made up of Del Monte Canned Vegetables with their pretty green labels. We have been tracking down the sales at the various grocery stores in search of canned peas, beans, corn and carrots in our quest for a healthy layer of lettuce.
For the final layers, we are using Hormel Chili with Beans cans with their beautiful bright red and yellow labels to create our layers of tomato and cheese to perfect our "Can"burger.
Last, but not least, we are using Campbell's Tomato Soup to create a handle like an old fashioned stamp on top of our "Can"burger.  The theme for our sculpture: Stamp Out Hunger.
This experience has also helped to teach the children about the importance of eating healthy and they have been studying the food pyramid and applying it to their construction design.
If you would like to learn more about Canstruction, please visit their website: http://www.canstruction.org/  and be prepared to be amazed at the wonderful sculptures that have ben created that will help many families in need. The children need to collect approx. another 900-1000 cans to complete their sculpture and they have just over a week to collect enough cans to begin construction of their "Can"burger.  The competition is on Friday, December 4th and the children will have four hours to construct their sculpture.  After judging is complete, the sculptures will be on display until Sunday, December 13th at the Colorado Mills Shopping Center and then the cans will be donated to the Salvation Army Food Bank.
If you would like more information or would like to help the children to meet their goal to collect enough cans to create their "Can"burger, please email me , or if you live in the North Metro Denver area, you can drop off donations of cans or money at the school tomorrow (Tuesday) or next week, Monday through Wednesday. To learn more about North Star click here: http://northstar.adams12.org/ . 
I will keep you updated on their progess as best I can over the next week and a half and will share photos of their finished "Can"burger here on my blog next week so that you can see the fruits of their labor. 

Wishing you all a day filled with blessings, big and small.
Stamping Hugs,
Tricia

P.S.  Here is a list of the Cans and sizes we are collecting
190 cans of Bush’s Baked Beans, 28 oz.
210 cans of Hormel Chili, 15 oz.
216 cans of Del Monte “green type” canned vegetables, 15 oz.
394 plastic jars of Value brand Peanut Butter, 17 oz.
61 cans Campbell's Tomato Soup, 10 3/4 oz.

Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought I would share a card that reflects how thankful I am for the many blessings I have in my life.  As the holidays approach it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to be thankful for all the good things that we have in our lives. 

I love the warm colors of Fall.  They remind me of the warmth and love of family, especially during the holidays. I am thankful to have a wonderful husband and four beautiful children who make my life complete as well the family members who live far away but are always in our hearts.
This past weekend I had a wonderful time with some very special friends.  We stamped, created cards and gifts and most importantly, we spent time laughing and talking, catching up on what we have been doing in our busy lives. I am so thankful to be blessed with such wonderful friends and the chance to enjoy their company.

This card was created using one of my favorite techniques: heat embossing.  I just love the way the images appear like magic as the heat gun melts the embossing powder to create a beautiful, glossy sheen to the stamped image. Once again, I used my favorite in colors of Dusty Durango and Soft Suede for the cardstock as they are perfect for Thanksgiving. The background leaves are from the stamp set "Autumn Splendor" which can be found in the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog and the jumbo wheel "Bright Blessings" and they are stamped with versamark ink.  I used the clear embossing powder to create an understated tone on tone look to the card design. Heat the embossing powder with your heat gun to achieve that wonderful raised, shiny look to your stamped images. And there you have it. A quick and simple card to brighten someone's Thanksgiving.
I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed day.

Stamping Hugs,
Tricia

Stamps Used:  Stampin' Up Autumn Days, Jumbo Wheel Bright Blessings
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Dusty Durango and Soft Suede Cardstock
Accessories: Versamark ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Click "Shop Now"

Stampin' Up!'s New Clearance Rack

What is the Clearance Rack?
Stampin' Up! is launching a new section of the online store called the Clearance Rack. The purpose of the Clearance Rack is to clear out the inventory of surplus items that have been retired. Many of these retired items will be offered at a substantially reduced price.

What Products will be available on the Clearance Rack?
All products in the Clearance Rack section are retired, discontinued items. No current products will be sold in the Clearance Rack.

How Long will these Items be Available?
Clearance Rack items are only available while supplies last. Items will be removed and new items will be posted depending on inventory levels. There is no set time for availability.

How do I order items from the Clearance Rack?
Clearance Rack items will be available for purchase from the online store only. The items will be listed and pictured only in the online store.  All sales of Clearance Rack items are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted, except in the case of defective product.

(Please Note: the above information was obtained from Stampin' Up! Copyright 2009)

This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase retired Stampin' Up! products at great prices. Do you have someone who loves scrapbooking, cardmaking, papercrafting or just crafting in general, on your holiday shopping list? Here is a great chance to purchase quality products that they are sure to love at a great price that won't hurt your budget. 
Please visit my online store by clicking Stampin' Up website then click on Shop Now.  Once you have reached my Online Store, just click the Clearance Rack link on the left side, to see the items currently available. 
Please contact me if you have any questions and I will be happy to help you.


Stamping Smiles,


Tricia Butts

Stampin' Up!'s Deals of the Week is Back!

 

What great news!  Stampin' Up has brought back the popular "Deals of the Week" for the month of October and here are the special deals for Week 1:

Item        Page     Description             Regular Price    Sale Price
109183   186   Trio Flower punch      $15.95              $10.99

109041    187 5-Petal Flower punch  $15.95             $10.99

110709    187  My Way punch         $15.95              $11.99

This special deal offer is available from October 1, midnight (MT) through October 12 (9:50 AM)

With the holidays just around the corner, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of some great specials that can help you with your holiday gift giving or to create those special holiday projects.

Visit my Online Store today to take advantage of these great offers, just click Shop Now or contact me today to place your order.

Happy Stamping,

Tricia Butts

My Digital Studio Now Available

I am so excited to tell you about the launch of Stampin' Up's new digital software, My Digital Studio, that went live October 1st.  This software will allow you to create digital scrapbooks, digital cards, calendars as well as create movies and DVD's to create keepsakes for you and your loved ones.
The great thing about this software is that you are able to use Stampin' Up's wonderful colors to coordinate your digital projects with the inks, cardstock and Designer Series Paper as well as Stampin' Up's exclusive stampsets, embellishments etc.  Another great feature is that you have the ability to size images to suit your layout.
You can use this software to design your cards and scrapbook pages and print them out using your printer or have them professionally printed with Stampin' Up.  Create hybrid projects by printing your design on My Digital Studio and then adding extra layers and/or  embellishments using traditional papercrafting methods for that extra WOW! factor.
I love that I can use My Digital Studio to design how I create my cards or scrapbook pages to how I want them, and then be able to create them traditionally with paper.  This way I can play with it as much as I want until I get it just the way I want it without feeling like I am wasting my cardstock, DSP or embellishments.  Plus, I can save my finished digital card so that I have it on hand if I want to create it again later.
My Digital Studio works for both Mac and PC platforms, which is great news for all of us Mac lovers out there.  Stampin' Up will also be offering additional downloads for purchase so that you can add to your digital collection. 

 Watch this great Youtube Video about My Digital Studio:



Please contact me if you any questions or you would like to learn more about My Digital Studio.  You can place your order online through my Stampin' Up online store or contact me and I will be happy to help you.
I will be sharing my new My Digital Studio Projects on my blog to give you a sample of the wonderful projects you can create with this wonderful software.


Hope you have a great day.
Stamping Smiles,
Tricia Butts

Life gets Crazy Sometimes

Sorry I have been absent for the past week, but it has been crazy at my house and let's just say things did not go according to plan.  My plans for World Card Making Day came to a halt when I got sick Friday and I am just starting to feel like I am getting back to normal, so hopefully the worst is over.  I am planning on rescheduling Saturday's class and I will let you all know as soon as I come up with a  new date.
It has been an incredibly busy start to October and there are so many things to tell you, so I think I will break them up into separate posts to make it simpler.  Stampin' Up has launched their new digital software, My Digitial Studio, the Deal of the Week has returned and Stampin' Up has also added a clearance rack that can be found on my online store.
So stay tuned to all this and more.
Stamping Smiles,

Tricia Butts