Hope's Notes

A Family Photo Session

2010-09-22T22:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I told of my sorta sunrise stroll (I'm southern ya'll) on Tybee Island, but I didn't tell you why I was there. I am going to humor myself and pretend that someone out there cares. (grin)

I was in Tybee for a reunion of those on my father's side of the family. The whole family couldn't make it, but enough for a nice group photo attended, so we decided to have ourselves a little photo shoot. Yes, we planned ahead, which is why we all match...well almost all of us, but hey what's Photoshop for if you're not going to use it?

I could easily just show you the final shot, but what fun would that be? So many wonderful moments are always caught on camera in an attempt to get that perfect shot.

So here's my share for the day. May I introduce my family...

It's the lady in charge. When big sis directs, we listen...cause we're skeered not too.

Notice how big sis is front and center, putting everyone into place. I told you we listen.

Just a little test shot. Our final collaborative effort.

I took what seemed like hundreds of pictures that evening. Here are a few of my favs.

My baby girl lovin' on some butterflies.

My Aunt & Uncle adore each

other. They are so stinkin' cute.

A special moment of joy

between a brother and his sister.

The newlywed's and Baby J.

My sweet angel is growing up. (tear)

Me and my honey.

Hello, Daddy.

And finally, my miracle cousin and his favorite cousin. Nope, I'm still not offended at all that he didn't ask for a picture with his redheaded cousin. (sniffle)

Strolling for a Sunrise on the Seashore

2010-09-22T00:10:00.003-04:00

I adore the seashore, everything about it in fact. The shells, sea foam, seagulls, sunsets and most especially the sunrises. I should mention that I do love aspects of the beach that don't start with the letter s, but hey, I was on a roll. Anyway, it gives me great serenity to stroll the shore for seashells as the sun peaks up over the horizon (hmmm, now I can't get "she sells seashells by the seashore" out of my head). I love the shells. I really do. They are like the jewelry of the sea and what girl doesn't want a little new jewelry? I speak the truth, people.

On a recent trip to Tybee Island, GA which by the way is one of my favorite places on the planet, I was determined to sooth my soul with a seaside sunrise (again brought to you by the letter s). I set my clock so that I would have plenty of time to "rise & shine" and be in place with my toes firmly planted in the sand awaiting my chance to capture the sun in all it's glory with my beloved Nikon D5000. It was all perfectly planned, so you can imagine my dismay as an early morning beachcomber deemed herself the sunrise police and shouted, "no sunrise today" as I eagerly crossed the boardwalk to the beach. Who was this lady and why was she dashing all my hopes so early in the morning? Maybe I wanted to take pictures of...oh, I don't know, gloom & doom beach goers such as herself. Needless to say, I was genuinely disappointed at her news, however I decided to prove her wrong and see what glories the Lord would reveal to me that morning.

I am so glad I didn't turn and run at the sound of the Tybee town crier. She was right, the soft glow of the morning sun wasn't present, but my morning stroll was still full of beauty for me to behold.

So go ahead...behold. You have my permission. ❤

Way off topic, but I had to share.

2010-09-13T11:09:00.001-04:00

Oooooh, I felt a feeling I've never felt before. Now don't laugh, but I totally felt EMPOWERED in my kitchen. Those of you who truly know me will understand the significance of this because I am not a person who cooks, by any stretch of the imagination. This lack of kitchen skills haunts me every day of my life...3 times a day, and I have finally decided to do something about it.

As you may know, in the craft world, I feel completely at home. A sense of inner peace and, shall we say, elation flows through me at the thought of creating something in my craft room. I have no idea why that doesn't spill over into the kitchen, it's just another room where one creates, or so I'm trying to tell myself.

My hubby once said something profound and I am going to apply his wisdom (again, do NOT laugh - that would just be mean). He said, "If you don't like something, you should become a master at it so you only have to do it once when the occasion arises." Now, he was referring to his own dislike of painting - as in houses, interior walls and the like - and learning how to be a master at that task so he would never have to go back and touch up a wall. I can honestly tell you, by the way, he is the absolute best painter I've ever seen, and he refuses to tape areas off - just cuts it in perfect every time.

Okay, back to my logic. I don't dislike cooking, per say, I just don't enjoy doing something over and over again that I stink at. I know some of you can relate. So, to fix this little problem of mine, I have decided to learn (master would be too strong a word) how to cook - or at least a few weeks of recipes.

I discovered a blog, thepioneerwoman.com, that I have fallen in love with many times over, and to my delight she has a cooking section complete with pictures for every step of the way. It's what I need, people. I am remedial in the kitchen.

I came across a recipe on PW's blog for muffins that taste like donuts. Oh the delight I felt. I adore donuts, so I thought this would be the perfect thing for me to whip up ( I have to master the chef's lingo too). Once I had the little treats in the oven and commenced to clean the horrific mess I'd created, it happened. THAT feeling. The feeling of power. I am woman hear me roar, I tell you. It was intoxicating and something I want to feel again. Maybe, just maybe, it will be that feeling that will propel me into this strange new world of recipes, herbs, spices and dare I say... dinner parties. I'm giddy just thinking about it.

Because I have a slight obsession of photographing every aspect of my life, I had my new little muffin friends get all gussied and pose for a photo shoot. My kids think I have a screw loose, but I just knew I couldn't tell you this story without a picture. It was needed and I obliged.

Behold the little lovelies:

Because I am an avid donut connoisseur, I must be honest and tell you they didn't really taste like the royalty of the pastry world as they claimed, but they were absolutely tasty in their own right.

Here's the recipe just in case you want to crank a few out yourself. Oops, slipped back to my craft lingo. It's a process, ya'll, and I have to take baby steps.

The Recipe

My Digital Studio

2010-09-12T16:46:00.004-04:00

I have wanted Stampin' Up's digital scrapbooking/card making software since the day they rolled it out and I am pumped to say that I FINALLY HAVE IT! Now, I know I want to take all the tutorials offered for this little disc of fabulousness, however I just couldn't wait to play. Soooo, here are a few super quick projects I cranked out so I could get to the business of playing with all the tools. I promise to study hard and bring you some projects with a bit more finesse & pizazz as soon as I can. For the mean time though, aren't these cute?

A side note to self: When will I learn to stop paying for the kid's sports pictures and start taking them myself?

2010-09-08T18:22:00.000-04:00

From September 1st through October 18th. receive this craft tote FREE when you join Stampin' Up!

This gorgeous Greenhouse Gala tote has a spot for all your paper crafting supplies and is perfect for the hobby stamper or the business demonstrator on the go.

The fall & winter holidays create some of the BEST stamping opportunities...it's a great time to earn some extra money too! And with two Starter Kits to choose from - Standard or Digital + - at brand new lower kit prices, there's never been a better time to join the Stampin' Up! family!

So contact me at heartfeltstamps@yahoo.com and get started on your Stampin' journey today!

Ribbon Share Update

2010-08-24T16:58:00.001-04:00

Hi Stampers!

Round #1 of the ribbon share is full. Yea!

1- P. Hughes

2- P. Hughes

3- K. Williams

4- D. Connell

5- M. Stewart

I will place the ribbon order as soon as all $ is received from those participating.

If you missed out on this round, but would still like to "share" the In Color ribbon, contact me anytime.

In Color Ribbon Share

2010-08-19T18:28:00.002-04:00

Hi Stampers!

It’s time again for the annual “In Color” ribbon share.

This year’s fabulous In Colors have really struck a cord

with me. I can’t decide which one is my favorite.

If you are like me and want to play with all five new

“In Color” ribbons, this may be the perfect solution

to have them all without the hefty price tag.

In this share, you will receive 3 yards each of the 5 new

"In Color" ribbons. That’s 15 yards of 1/2” stitched poly

ribbon for a cost of $12. If you were to purchase all the rolls

individually, you would spend $44.75!

Each share consists of 5 spots. If you would like more than

one spot, no problem, just let me know.

I already have several interested ladies, so I only have 2 spots

available in this round. If you’re interested contact me soon.

Once all the spots are filled, I will order the ribbon.

(peach parfait, poppy parade, pear pizzazz, concord crush, blushing bride,)

Indulge in the art of stamping!

2010-03-10T16:35:00.003-05:00

Become a part of my local or virtual downline.

Sale-a-Bration is the perfect time of year to join.

SALE-A-BRATION STARTER KIT DISCOUNT AND BONUS STAMP OFFER! Available January 5 thru March 31, 2010!

If you love a good discount and have a passion for creativity Stampin' Up! could be your perfect outlet.

Check out the links on the right hand side of my blog for all kinds of yummy info on becoming a demonstrator.

Benefits of becoming a demonstrator:

Receive 30% off your first order of $150 or more (or keep it as "instant income" from sales). Redeem in the first 45 days. PLUS, during Sale-A-Bration you'll earn 3 gifts, too (one for every $50 in product).
Get 20% off Stampin' Up! products or keep it as "instant income."
Earn additional income (called a volume rebate) on your monthly product sales of $400 or more. Together, your instant income and volume rebate can reach up to 40% of your personal sales.
Pre-order select Stampin' Up! stamps, tools and embellishments a month (or more) before the customers sales period (often with additional discounts).
Earn free stamps with Stampin' Start, Sale-A-Bration and other promotions.
Qualify for cash bonuses, product bonuses, incentive trips and other awards.
Recruit and receive downline overrides based on your recruits' sales.
Earn free hostess sets and merchandise
Receive Stampin' Up!'s exclusive monthly demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success.
Enjoy 2 free months of a personalized Stampin' Up! on-line store (optional $12.95/mo. after trial).
Be inspired by video tutorials and project ideas on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator web site.

Contact me today. I would love for you to become a part of my team!

Designer Baby Strollers

2010-03-05T10:11:00.003-05:00

These little cards are just so stinkin' cute, don't you think?

They are made using Stampin' Up's Scallop Circle die and the Big Shot and are super simple to crank out, yet pack a big wow factor. I just love them!

The trim of the stroller is made using the Scallop Trim Border punch that you can get for FREE right know with the Sale-A-Bration promotion. All you need to do is purchase $50 in merchandise and it's yours. Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll do my best to help you.

Kudos to whomever originally created this little gem.

｟clap, clap, clap｠

30/30 Winner

2010-02-19T07:00:00.006-05:00

Do you remember this?

It's the 30/30 chart. For every $30 in Stampin' Up! merchandise purchased, you could write your name one of the 30 squares. All the spaces were filled in before the end of the 2009 and so it's time to pick a winner.

I wanted to make this as fair as possible, so used Random.org to pick the winner.

AND THE WINNER IS...

#25 Jan Congrats Mom!

I actually cringed, as I know you will, mom, because YOU won this drawing. But, here is the time stamped screen shot to prove I did this fair. Scouts honor, I did. Well, I'm not a scout - not even a boy, so I couldn't be a scout, but honestly you won fair & square.

Ode to the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010-02-18T09:12:00.007-05:00

Oh My!

The Olympics were so awesome last night!!

Congratulations to Shani White (Gold), Chad Hendrick (Bronze), Lindsey Vonn (Gold), Julia Mancuso (Silver), Scotty Lago (Bronze), and

my favorite redheaded Olympian Shaun White (Gold)!

We sorta look alike don't you think?

Well, if I took my glasses off and russled my hair. Haaaa!

Well anyway...redheads rock!

When I was making this card, my daughter asked me who I was going to send it to. Hmmm, not sure, but I was so inspired by all the determination & dedication of the athletes that an "Olympic" card was all I felt like making. I hope you enjoy it!

Go USA!

The rings were created with the 3/4" circle punch & the 1" circle punch. Punch the smaller circle first, then go back and punch the larger circle. Cut small slit in rings to connect.

Cardstock used in the rings: Brocade Blue, Basic Black, Real Red, Summer Sun, Glorious Green

All products used are Stampin' Up!

P.S. The patriotic music is just for today.
I couldn't help myself. ⚑

All in the Family

2010-02-17T13:15:00.004-05:00

I love making gifts for my family. It gives me the warm & fuzzies and I honestly think it means more to those on the receiving end. Often times my intentions are all I have time for, but this project actually came to fruition and I was so pleased with how it turned out.

This "family tree portrait" was a gift to my dad & my step mom. I love the idea of it because the family is spread all over making it next to impossible for us to be in a portrait together.

I used the All in the Family stamp set along with Thoughts and Prayers in this project.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! except for the green, polka dotted background paper.

What Is A Stamp Camp?

2010-02-16T09:34:00.007-05:00

What do you get when you add some crafty ladies, a Saturday afternoon, and some Stampin' Up! supplies?

A Stamp Camp & a ton of fun!

❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧

Here are some pictures from my I {heart} Hearts class that was held on Saturday.

Here's a little display of cattys, additional projects made with the I {heart} Hearts stamp set, and my little workshop mascot, Sadie.

A few project bins, ready and waiting.

(If you'd like to see a close view of all the cards we created, please view yesterday's post.)

A place for everyone to sit and crank out their creativity.

Sweet ladies at work with room left over for you to come and join us.

Yummies for your tummy.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my stamp camp and maybe we'll see you soon. ❤

Sweet Valentine!

2010-02-15T09:14:00.003-05:00

I was suppose to post these final Valentines on Saturday, but the day just got away from me due to a fabulous heart themed workshop. I will post some pics from that event tomorrow.

So without further adieu, here are my last 3 valentines of the season.

This card originally designed by Ilina Crouse. I absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to show my monthly stampers the reverse applique technique used in this card.

This card has a very unexpected color combination, but I think it really works.

Mary Fish created a card with this same combo and it really struck me. So, when I sat down to crank out cards for my recent workshop, these colors were screaming at me for some attention.

I had to oblige.

This final card is so sweet and simple in every way. It is the perfect Valentine for my daughter, who is super sweet, but by no means simple.

I hope you've enjoyed all the Valentines over the past week. I sure have enjoyed making them and sharing them with all of you.

2010-02-14T17:20:00.001-05:00

I {Heart} Hearts

2010-02-12T09:53:00.003-05:00

This card was totally inspired by Julie Dinn.

It is all about the heart and everything that is Valentine's day.

The hearts on the card were made using the stamp set I {Heart} Hearts.

I love this set and just can't stop using it make fabulous Valentines.

I hope you'll stop back tomorrow to take a peek at my final Valentine projects.

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used
stamps: I Heart Hearts, En Francais, Love You Much
paper: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink
accessories & tools: Polka Dot Red Ribbon, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die, Full Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch

Fresh & Fuss Free Valentine

2010-02-11T12:51:00.004-05:00

It's Thursday and Valentine's Day is almost here.

Have you made a card for that special person? If not, I hope I have given you some inspiration this week to create something special.

Today's card does not have a lot of fuss.

I love the color combination. It's fresh and a bit unexpected. And it gave me an opportunity to use some left over Christmas paper from the Merry Moments paper pack from Stampin' Up!

Supplies Used
stamps: I Heart Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper: Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments Designer Paper
ink: Close to Cocoa
accessories & tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Full Heart Punch, Playground Buttons, Hemp Twine

Vintage Valentine

2010-02-10T09:51:00.002-05:00

I am discovering that I am really drawn to the vintage style and today's Valentine reflects that a bit.

My inspiration:

My interpretation:

I used 4 different punches on this card, which can sometimes make a project a bit too busy. However, although "punchy", I think it turned out uncluttered.

Have a fabulous Wednesday and I'll see you tomorrow with another Valentine.

Supplies Used
stamps: En Francais, Bella Toile, A Happy Heart, I Love Love Wheel
ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
paper: Confetti Cream, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
accessories & tools: Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Jumbo Brad, Spiral Punch, Full Heart Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Damask Texture Plate

Under the Stars

2010-02-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for popping by to see Tuesday's Valentine.

The inspiration behind this card was 2-fold.

1st: I headed for the stamp set "Under the Stars" because while I was making this card, my hubby was camped out under the stars with the men's group from our church and the little grizzly sorta made me feel closer to him.

2nd: Although not traditional "sweetheart" colors, I was intrigued by this color combination and wanted to try something a bit different.

All in all, I think this card has just enough whimsy to fall into one of my kid's Valentine boxes. In fact, I'll probably have to duplicate it because they both claimed it as their own.

I just love this "crafty" little bear. He left a mess on the floor just like I would.

Supplies Used

stamps: Under the Stars, I Heart Hearts, Family Phrases

ink: Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, Stampin' Write Markers: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

paper: Basic Grey, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

accessories & tools: Twill Tape, Crushed Curry Ribbon, Linen Thread, Small Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Big Shot, Large Scallop Square Die, Button (not SU)

See you tomorrow!

Very Vanilla Valentine

2010-02-08T10:25:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday!

As promised yesterday I will post a Valentine every day this week.

Today's card was inspired by a beautiful picture I ran across while blog hopping last week. It was taken by Leslie at A Creative Mint. I love the simplicity of this color palette and just knew it would translate well into an elegant Valentine.

Here's my inspiration:

Here's my translation:

I hope you enjoyed today's Valentine as much as I truly enjoyed creating it.

All products used are current SU products.
Supplies Used
stamps: En Francais, I Heart Hearts, Bella Toile
paper: Confetti Cream, Kraft, Whisper White
ink: Sahara Sand, Real Red
accessories & tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Hemp Twine, 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Playground Designer Buttons, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Folder

Butterfly Kisses

2010-02-07T16:46:00.006-05:00

Hi everyone!

I hope you are having a fabulous 2010 so far. I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned it before, but I home school my two children and it has been keeping me pretty busy this year - and last, which is why I haven't posted in so very long. I have still been making cards and holding workshops, but I haven't had the time to blog about it and well... I miss that. I am going to try my very best post more often and share my creativity with you.

Today's project was inspired by the yarn that I used in a scarf I made last month. I loved the colors and thought they would make a fabulous card.

Once I made the card, the little butterflies inspired me to make the little matching box.

Can you guess why I titled this post Butterfly Kisses?

Take a look inside the box and you'll know for sure.

Stop back by tomorrow for some Valentine inspiration. I will post a different Valentine everyday this week in honor of one of my favorite holidays.

Supplies Used:
stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper: Sahara Sand, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Taken with Teal, So Saffron
ink: Really Rust Classic Ink, Really rust, Old Olive, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Markers
accessories & tools: Linen Thread, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Bigz XL Bitty Box & Envelope Die, Hershey Kisses :)

2010-01-06T10:24:00.003-05:00

Sale-A-Bration 2010 Is Here!

FREE STAMPS ~ FREE ACCESSORY ITEMS ~ FREE PRODUCTS

Promotion Dates:

January 5-March 31, 2010

(3 full months of FREE product!)

Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping). SHOP ON LINE! Click “Shop Now” here: www.hopekeene.stampinup.net

Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $300 in workshop sales*, in addition to our regular hostess benefits. *Note: This benefit only available on qualifying customer, demonstrator, and workshop orders. Online orders do not qualify.

NEW Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (valued up to $47.95) from the current catalogs when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+)!

Starter Kit	Regular Price	Sale-A-Bration Price (15% off)
Standard Starter Kit	$199	$169
Digital+ Starter Kit	$185	$157

Have you thought about signing up to be a demosntrator? Now is a GREAT time!!! You will receive a 15% DISCOUNT on your Starter Kit AND you can pick a FREE $47.95 stamp set too!

2010-01-03T17:32:00.004-05:00

I hope that you had a beautiful Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Stamp Camp #2

2009-11-21T00:01:00.008-05:00

Here are the cards from the second Christmas stamp camp. I sort of "themed" this camp around non traditional colors and I really like how they turned out.

I am in love with this color combination. It's Bermuda Bay, one of this year's In Colors, and real red.

I think so far this is my favorite card of the year.

This is the card that inspired me to look outside of the crayon box (so to speak) for my color combos. It never would have dawned on me to use pastels had I not run across this card.

If you haven't found a card that you love yet, stay tuned...I am having my 3rd Christmas stamp camp today and I can't wait to share these next four cards with you.

Have a fabulous weekend - go stamp something!

Christmas Stamp Camp #1

2009-11-20T00:01:00.015-05:00

As promised in my newsletter, I am posting the cards we created at this years first Christmas stamp camp. We made 2 of each card and had a great time. Stay tuned for the postings of the cards from our second & third

Christmas camps.

For those local luckies that are attending my Stampapalooza December 4th & 5th remember that Saturday's project will be customers choice of 8 cards. You may create all 8 cards in the same design or choose two designs and create four of each. So, over the next several days as I post all the projects be thinking of your fav so you can email me your selection.

#3

If you want more information on my upcoming events, please click on my calendar link that is located on the left side of my blog

Enjoy the cards! I hope they inspire you to get up and go create something.

Merry Christmas!!

It's a Build-a-Bear Birthday

2009-11-19T11:25:00.008-05:00

I hope you enjoyed the last post about my son's card, however I must give equal air time to both children. So here is a fabulous card my 10 yr old daughter made for her friend's birthday. I think she did such a great job, don't you?

All supplies here (except for the colored pencils) are Stampin' Up because even my daughter says "it's the good stuff". The water color pencils are Derwent.

Here are my little blessings...

Well Wishes & Cards for Uncle Randy

2009-11-19T10:17:00.013-05:00

Here is a picture of an adorable Build a Bear card my 5 yr old made for his Uncle Randy.

Randy embarked on the journey of being a civilian contractor in Afghanistan working on a forward Army base. I thank the Lord that he is retired military and all the training that has been instilled in him because he had a very unfortunate meeting with a mortar round that landed 8 FEET from him. He is back in the states recovering and preparing for some additional surgery to repair his pretty torn up leg - nerve damage is nasty.

My little man had so fun making this card. He really wanted to create a military bear in honor of Randy so I was forced to use non SU supplies on this one. The ribbon came from WM and the camo paper was downloaded from the internet.

We love you Randy!

Make a Christmas Wish List

2009-11-18T00:28:00.009-05:00

Tell your loved ones that since you've been extra nice this year,

you deserve some stampin' gear.

It's the time of year to start planning out all those special gifts for your loved ones, but don't forget about yourself.

I have created a stampin' wish list just for you to print off, fill out and pass on to your loved ones. It's an easy way to let them know just what you'd like this year under the tree.

All wish list orders must reach me by December 5th to ensure delivery in time for Christmas.

If your friends & family prefer gift certificate's, I have them available in any denomination.

Sparkly & Bright Notecard

2009-11-18T00:01:00.011-05:00

I love being a Stampin" Up! demonstrator! If there's ever a day that my creative mojo isn't happening I can head on over to the section of the SU website dedicated to demonstrators and know that I will always find a project like the one shown here to give me tons of inspiration.

Contact me today if you have any questions about beginning the exciting journey of becoming a demonstrator.

Supplies Used:
stamps: Sparkly & Bright
paper: Old Olive card stock, Ruby Red card stock, Whisper White card stock
ink: Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Taken with Teal Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark pad
accessories & tools: White Stampin' Emboss powder, Elementary Ribbon Originals, Playground Designer buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sewing machine and thread, Stapler and staples

Sunday Blessings

2009-11-08T16:57:00.004-05:00

I pray this video will bless your heart as it has mine.

Please make sure to scroll to the bottom of this page and pause the music player so that you may truly enjoy the music in this video.

Stampin' Up! Punch Book

2009-07-24T14:20:00.014-04:00

This handy business tool is now available for purchase. It includes all of the SU punches.

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What will my Punch Book include?

Your punch book will have one punch per page* and will include all of the current Stampin' Up! punches. It will have a front and back cover page ready for you to decorate, and an extra page for you to add the new punch that will be available in the upcoming mini catty. I will not label the punch pages as I have in mine. I will leave that for you to do in your own handwriting. I used the white Signo gel pen available from SU to label mine.

* 1/16" circle, spiral, double rectangle, horizontal slot and slit punches will be grouped together because of their small size.

What can I do with a Punch Book?

This punch book will enable you to easily see which punches will work with different stamps and sentiments throughout the catty. Just hold the punched page over the image in the catty to see if you like the look.

It is a sturdy tool so it will travel nicely with you to all your events and workshops.

This would make an excellent incentive item for current downline members or new recruits.

So how much does it cost?

The punch book is $15 plus $3 shipping.

If you would like one, you may contact me or use the Buy Now button to checkout through Paypal.

Here is a picture of mine all decorated:

Win $30 in Stampin' Up Merchandise

2009-07-22T11:10:00.004-04:00

Does $30 in free stampin' goodies sound good?

If so, don't miss out on my 30/30 Promotion.

For every $30 in merchandise you purchase from the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog, you can choose a numbered square on my promotion grid. Once all 30 squares are full, I will draw a number from 1 to 30. If your number is drawn, you will win $30 in Stampin' Up! merchandise from any current catty.

Make sure to email me at heartfeltstamps@yahoo.com with your order & lucky number. You may pick a number for EACH $30 you spend.

Have a fabulous day!!

I Got Carried Away With Pink & Black

2009-07-21T14:23:00.007-04:00

I went off to my craft room this morning to get some work done for my upcoming Technique University. After making this card for the event that uses a Stampin' Around Wheel, I just couldn't stop myself from attempting to create a coordinating hot air balloon. What can I say...I got carried away. lol! Anyway, I hope you will leave a comment and let me know what you think. My DH said the proportions are all wrong and that the balloon needs to be larger. I know.. he is all man. Actually, he is right, but if I blew the balloon up more, it would have been a bit more difficult to photograph. So, if you want to recreate this, just put a little more air in the balloon.

I hope you enjoy it!

Supplies Used:
stamps: Razzle Dazzle, Family Phrases, Always in Bloom (wheel)
cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White
ink: Basic Black, Black Stazon (on the balloon)
accessories: Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals
tools: Stampin' Around Handle, Scallop Edge Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Stampin' Around Wheel Guide

Join in on the Ribbon Share

2009-07-20T16:05:00.026-04:00

Want to get your little crafty hands on some of the new "In Color" ribbon? Well here is a way to have all the colors without the big price tag.

There are a few spots left on my "In Color" Ribbon Share. The cost is $15 and $2 for shipping if I need to drop yours in the mail.

You will receive 3 yards each of the 6 new polka dot "In Color" ribbons for a total of 18 yards. If you were to purchase all the rolls of ribbon individually, you would spend $60.

(soft suede, crushed curry, dusty durango, rich razzleberry, bermuda bay and melon mambo)

Email me today if you have any questions or just go ahead and use the Buy It Now button for quick & easy checkout.

Here is a little picture of what you will receive.

Please choose local pickup option ($15) or ship to option ($17).

New Catty Open House Was A Hit!

2009-07-20T16:00:00.002-04:00

Oh my! The open house this weekend was so much fun. We all visited, shopped at the rubber rummage, ate, and of course made some cards. I was having so much fun though, that I forgot to take pictures while everyone was here, but I will share the pictures of the cards we created.

Everyone that purchased the new catty at the event received an awesome sheet of coupons that are good until June 2010. I know you hate that you missed out on that, but go ahead and plan to attend next year so won't miss out again.

A few of the specials are still available to my on line friends. They are the 30/30 promotion and the ribbon share. I will list the details of those in separate posts, so make sure to check them out.

Have a wonderful week.

Happy Stamping!

Drop In & Have Some Fun This Saturday

2009-07-13T09:53:00.002-04:00

New Catalog Open House JUL 18 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Eastern )

Drop in to see the new goodies Stampin' Up! has to offer & see the "In Colors" in person. You can pick up a copy of the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog do a few make & takes, have a few munchies and check out my "Rubber Rummage". I will be offering a nice selection of my retired stamp sets at a discount. So pop on by & say hi!

*The catalog is $10 or $5 with an order of $25 or more.
*The make & takes will be $3 each. Do as few or as many as you like.
*If you think you might make it, send me a quick email so I'll have enough goodies on hand.

This event will be held at my home in Clermont.

Become a Demonstrator for just $85!!!

2009-07-03T11:51:00.005-04:00

While anytime is a great time to join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator, joining during July and August is especially sweet!
Starting your own Stampin' Up! business means free and discounted products, plus a little extra cash--and who couldn't use that? Plus, from July 15 - August 31, you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for only $85!

The special, limited-time Mini Starter Kit contains many of the items you need to get started in your new business, including

For All You Do stamp set
In Color Classic Stampin' Pads (6)
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Business forms and tools

Or if you want to buy the standard $199 Starter Kit, in addition to the supplies listed below, you'll get all six of the new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads and one pack of In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")--a $43 value! The standard Starter Kit includes

Four stamp sets
A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge
Stampin' Pastels
Card stock
Eastern Blooms Décor Elements and applicator tool
Five Classic Stampin' Pads
VersaMark Pad
Stampin' Scrub and Mist
Blender pens
Business forms and tools

These special offers--the Mini Starter Kit and the In Color add-on to the standard Starter Kit--are only available for a limited time, so you must act fast!

See this post for more information about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Faux Woodgrain

2009-06-12T17:04:00.007-04:00

This card has been floating around in my head for a few weeks and I am so happy that it turned out very close to my mental picture.

It all "came to me" as I was preparing for last month's Technique University. One of the techniques I taught was faux wood. It is super easy to do and packs such a punch on your projects. I prepared the recipe card for this technique with three samples: wood "flooring" complete with nails, a sheet of wood, and a picket fence.

As I was making the small picket fence sample, visions of this country scene filled my imagination. It came to fruition thanks to my paper trimmer, Big Shot and paper snips - and of course a smidge of stampin'. Can you tell I was raised in the South? lol!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Supplies Used:
stamps: Wow Flowers
card stock: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Retired DSP Ski Slope
ink: Whisper White Craft, Really Rust Classic, Chocolate Chip Classic (these 3 created the faux wood)
accessories: dimensionals
tools: Big Shot, Little Leaves Die, Birds & Blooms Scallop Circles Die, 1/2"Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Paper Snips, Paper Trimmer, Chocolate Chip & Summer Sun Stampin' Write Markers

One Of The Good Ones

2009-06-06T00:00:00.003-04:00

Here's a little card a made tonight for a sweet lady at church that will be moving out of state. She is truly one of the good ones and will be missed by the church family. Love you Terri!!

Supplies Used:

stamps: Smarty Pants
card stock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Sweet Slumber DSP
ink: Always Artichoke Classic
accessories: Always Artichoke Ribbon, dimensionals
tools: The Big Shot, Daisies #2 Die

Things I Adore

2009-06-05T22:21:00.006-04:00

Ya know, it's funny what jump starts a train of thought.

My 10 year old told me today that it is National Doughnut Day. Well, if there's one thing that people know about me it's that I adore doughnuts. I can not believe that I did not have prior knowledge of this momentous occasion; in fact, I'm shocked.

So, what action did I take after learning this yummy morsel of info? I headed straight to the nearest Krispy Kreme, of course, and grabbed my free, celebratory doughnut - and a dozen of it's closest friends. What's a party without a baker's dozen? Am I right? You know I am.

Now, as I was driving home and enjoying the intoxicating smell emanating from my small fried cakes of sweeten dough, I begin to think about the things I truly adore.

Have you ever thought about that? I mean what defines you? For me first it is my desire to be a godly Christian lady and follow God's will in all circumstances - let's make no mistake about that. However, on the lighter side, other than doughnuts, here is a little list of things that have my absolute adoration: my family, my fabulous friends & sister's in Christ, laughter, hugs, walking along the seaside, my Nikon D5000, seashells, eating out, Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke, sunsets, the smell of Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion, luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linens, dessert (there's just too many to list), the sound of a steel guitar, Southern gospel music, coupons, strolling through any craft store, and of course all things associated with Stampin' Up!

I'm sure if my drive home had been a bit longer, I would have thought of several more things to add to my list, but I think I mentioned the main ones. So, I challenge you to make your own list and share it with someone. If you're up to the challenge, leave a comment on my blog and let me know - just for kicks & giggles.

Here is a picture share of tomorrow's breakfast of champions..can't you just smell them?

Janna's Graduation Day

2009-06-04T18:41:00.005-04:00

It's hard to believe, but my niece graduated from high school today. You know they really do grow up right before your eyes.

This is the card I made for her. It's not completely Stampin' Up! because I incorporated parts of her invitation into the card. My aunt used my grad invitation in my gift (many years ago) and I still love it to this day. It made an impression on me and frankly is the only gift I remember, so I try to do what I can to carry that forward when I receive a special invitation.

I hope you enjoy it!

Stampin' Up! "Last Chance" list is HERE... get your accessories before they're gone!

2009-06-02T00:30:00.003-04:00

It’s here!……Stampin’ Up! has released the “Last Chance stamp sets and accessories” list! Even better, some of the accessories are on sale up to 50% off! How exciting is that?

WARNING: The accessories are available only while supplies last and sell out DAILY (last chance stamp sets are available the entire month).
Your best chance to ensure that you get what you want is to shop online. This way, your order is processed immediately.

Here’s are the downloadable lists of the Last Chance items in pdf format.

CLICK HERE for the list in Alphabetical Order
CLICK HERE for the list in Page Order
CLICK HERE for the Decor Elements “Last Chance” List

June Workshops Get Extra Hostess Benefits!

2009-06-01T23:56:00.005-04:00

Dates: June 1-30, 2009
Promotion Details:
The Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion has two parts:

Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

This special also will apply to online orders over $250.

Stamp-a-Stack Projects

2009-05-22T07:30:00.002-04:00

We had so much fun last Saturday at the Stamp-a-stack. I am sorry you missed it, but make plans to be at the next one when it's announced. We snacked, chatted, stamped, glued, and punched our way to ten cards.

Here's a picture of the cards we created - we made two of each one.

The New Cattys Will Be Here Soon!

2009-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hot Stampin' News!

June 30th is the last day to order from the current catalog because the new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog will be available July 1st.

If you are like me you won't want to wait an extra minute to sit and browse all the new goodies and ideas that the Stampin' Up! idea books always offer. If that's true contact me today to pre-order your personal copy. You won't need to pay anything until the books arrive, which will be mid to late June. If you are local, the cost of the catty is $5. If I need to ship it to you the cost is just $8.

Do you want your catty for free? Well who wouldn't, right? I will enter the first 25 people that pre-order by May 31st into a drawing for a free catty. So don't delay, contact me real soon.

Technique University

2009-05-21T12:56:00.007-04:00

Happy Thursday!

I offer a Technique University on the fouth Thursday of the month. Last month was the 1st of 5 classes being offered in this session. Classes are unique and do not build on each other so you can still jump in on the fun.

Each month, I will introduce 3 techniques. You will get hands on experience with each technique, as well as create a "recipe" page for each one. These "recipe" pages can then be added to an album or notebook to create a very practical reference tool to look back on when you want to add a certain technique to one of your very own projects. Oh, I should mention that we will also make a card using one of the techniques.

The cost for these classes is $15 at the door. However, if you place at least a $20 order the night of the class the class fee will be discounted to $5.

Advance sign up is necessary so that I will have enough materials on hand for everyone. So don't wait, contact me today to sign up. I'd love to have you join us!

Here are last month's techniques:

If you'd like to see a list of the classes I offer, please click the link on the right sidebar.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

2009-05-20T13:45:00.008-04:00

I wanted to share with you the card I made for my hubby's birthday. According to him, it's not enough to use manly colors to make a man card. He says you have to have a truck or a tool or something manly on it to call a true man card. So honey, this tool's for you.

For this card, I browsed around splitcoaststampers.com until I found a layout that spoke to me. Then I went into the craft room and dove into my stash of retired designer paper. The paper I used was actually from a winter seasonal pack. It just goes to show you that even seasonal Stampin' Up! things can be versatile. I just adore this company!

I know some of you will be eyeballing the tool that I added. Isn't it cool?! I made it using the word window, 1" circle & 1/2" circle punches. Go try to make one..they are a lot of fun.

Ready for Summer, Sand & Suntan Lotion

2009-05-19T10:43:00.006-04:00

Happy Tuesday!

We are getting such a good drenching of rain here in Florida that I have had some time to myself in the craft room the last few days.

For those who know me, I am all about the beach and anything that has to do with the seaside. So, I wanted to make something that celebrates Summer using the colors of the surf & sand. Oh, if only I could find a way to make this card smell like coconut it would be perfect. We can always dream, right? I guess I'll just light my new Yankee candle that my Mom, I mean kids, bought me for Mother's day while I type this post. If you love the smell of suntan lotion, you'll flip for this scent. It's called Sun & Sand, and man it has to be my favorite scent on the planet. Anyway, we were talking about a card weren't we? Yes, we were, so here it is. I hope you love it!

Supplies Used:
stamps: One of a Kind, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
card stock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
ink: Tempting Turquoise (don't know why I didn't use Baja), Creamy Caramel to sponge the flip flop, Versamark
accessories: Twill Tape, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Rope Twine, Dimensionals
tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1/2" Punch, Crop-a-dile, Paper piercer

Heartfelt

2009-05-17T20:56:00.005-04:00

I set aside some stampin' time today and wanted to share with you what I created. Because Father's Day is on the horizon and my hubby's birthday is this week, I have been thinking a lot about the masculine side of card making. I know women love buttons and bows, however men could really do without them. But what is a card without a few embellishments, right? So, I set aside the glitz and glam and used twill tape and jumbo eyelets instead.

I hope you enjoy what I came up with.

Daddy, I really hope you enjoy this one cause it will be arriving in a mailbox near you real soon. lol!

note: The tree is stamped in classic ink and then embossed in clear

Suplies used:
stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Heartfelt
ink: Always Artichoke, Versamark
card stock: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla
accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Twill Tape, Clear embossing Powder, Dimensionals
tools: Heat Tool, Crop-a-dile

Where to Find Inspiration

2009-05-13T10:31:00.006-04:00

So has this ever happened to you?

You have your craft supplies all purchased and organized and you are so excited to make that special card, so you sit down and it hits you...what now.. where do I start..how do I start..what colors do I use..Oh My, What was I thinking!

Okay, if this hasn't happened to you, then may I tell you how blessed you are. For the rest of us, don't fret. I have totally been there and I am going to share with you where I get my inspiration for making cards.

First of all, when you are making cards, don't be afraid to copy other people's work. While you're recreating the cards, you'll be learning and developing your own style. It's not plagiarism people, it's called CASEing (copy and selectively editing). As long as you give credit where credit is due and don't submit someone elses work for publication, you'll be fine.

So..My first stop for inspiration is usually the computer. I love to blog hop because there are so many talented people out there. As for sites, my favorite has to be splitcoaststampers.com where you can view thousands of cards as well as non-card paper projects. If you have a specific Stampin' Up! set, you can even view a gallery that pulls up cards by the stamp names. How fabulous is that?? Be careful though because splitcoast can be very addicting.

I also browse card specific magazines at book stores and even Walmart. I can't afford to buy every book and magazine that I see, although I would love to stock my library with all of them, so what I do is pick out two projects and really study them. I take a quick mental snap shot of the cards and pay special attention to the colors and basic lay out used. Then once I'm home, I fly into the craft room and create my version of what I saw. If you won't have time to sit down within a few hours after looking at the mags, then trust me, you'll want to have a little notebook to create a sketch and make notes while you're at the store. Now, if a magazine is quite special and has a lot of projects that speak to me, that would be the one I'd toss in the cart.

My mental snap shot technique works well for me because it forces me to make the card while the details are fresh. If I know that I have notes to fall back on, sometimes the card just doesn't get made.

I use this method when browsing the premade card, or as I like to say, flat card isle, as well. Often times you'll see nice basic "flat"card designs that you can recreate using multiple papers, ribbons and such to make the card come to life.

If you have a layout in mind and need color inspiration, turn to clothing. Fabrics or even full outfits have great inspiration ability, if you just take note of it.

Well, enough rambling..it's time to show you a card.

This card, by the way, was completely inspired by one of my mental snap shot excursions. I just tweaked it a bit and voila!

Supplies used:
stamps: Sweet Stems
card stock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP (retired)
ink: Old Olive
accesories: Pumpkin Pie stampin' write marker, Always Artichoke 1/4" Ribbon
tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

A Pot Full Of Flowers

2009-05-13T09:58:00.007-04:00

Here's another flower pot card.
I just love these and they have such a wow factor in person.

Supplies used:
card stock: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Whisper White
ink: Rose Red & Regal Rose to ink edges of flowers
accessories: Organza Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Linen Thread
tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plates Backgrounds #1, Daisies #2, Little Leaves, Buttons #5

Upcoming Event

2009-05-11T22:13:00.007-04:00

For a larger view, click on the bulletin board.

A Mother's Day Bouquet

2009-05-11T14:20:00.007-04:00

I saw a card like this one (by Regina Cornelius) as I was blog surfing and absolutely fell in love with it. I loved it so much, in fact, that I planned a class around it - and all of my ladies loved it. Today, I was reading Shelli's blog (Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! ) and guess what...she loves it too and she picked it as one of the winner's in her Mother's Day blog challenge. Man, I knew this was a fabulous card. I hope you love it too!

Supplies used:
card stock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Parisian Breeze Designer Series Paper,
accessories: Valet Ribbon Originals, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots
tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Big shot, Texturz Plates Backgrounds #1, Birds & Blooms, Flower Layers, Daisies #2, Little Leaves, Buttons #5

Lovin' My Punch Index

2009-05-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I know I'm suppose to be working on cataloging my stamp sets - and I am, by the way. I just got a tiny bit sidetracked and created something really cool. Oh, and it does fall in line with organizing, so I think I didn't derail too much.

I created a punch index! I made it using vinyl name badge holders, that I found at WM in the office supply section, and 1" book rings that were buried in my stash drawer - but you can find those at WM as well, I'm sure.

This, along with my stamp index, is going to allow me to be so much more efficient. Love that!

Now, if you're looking at the picture and can't quite figure out what I did, here's the scoop. I cut a piece of card stock to fit into each name badge and punched a single punch per page. This way if I need to check if an image will work well with a certain punch, I can easily flip the book open and see if the punch outline fits around the image.

Once I made all my little punch pages, I put the two metal rings in the holes of the holders - just like a little notebook, tied some pretty ribbon on the rings, decorated a cover and voila - done.

I hope you like it!

Why Should I Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?

2009-05-03T23:33:00.004-04:00

If you're thinking about becoming a demonstrator, I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Some of the most common questions are, "What comes in the starter kit?", "What's the catch?", and "What do I need to do to stay active?". Here are the answers to those questions and more.

What comes in the Kit? The Regular Starter kit contains $335 worth of products for 199.00.

Stamp sets (4 sets: Eastern Blooms, Fun & Fast notes, Big Bold Birthday, and Fundamental phrases, OR 4 sets of your choice at the same or lower price)

Fast Flowers Stampin’ around® wheel OR wheel of your choice (standard size only)

Stampin’ around handle (standard size only)

Pixie pink ink cartridge OR color of your choice (standard size only)

Stampin’ pastels® (1 case has 51 colors, 6 applicators, 1 eraser)

Assorted card stock (2 pkg. 8-1/2" x 11" Bold Brights® OR color family of your choice)

Card stock (1 pkg. 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White OR neutrals)

Blender pens (1 pkg. of 3)

SnaiL adhesive® (1 pkg.)

Décor Elements™ (decorative vinyl image) (Large Kraft parisian Damask) OR Décor Elements item at the same or lower price

Décor Elements applicator tool

Stampin’ Scrub® (1 two-sided scrub)

Stampin' mist® (1 - 2 oz. bottle)

Versamark® pad

Classic Stampin’ pads® (5: Basic Black, Green Galore, Real Red, pixie pink, and Brilliant Blue, OR 5 colors of your choice)

Tons of business supplies like a box of 8 catalogs, mini catalogs, our Demonstrator magazine and order forms.

What is the catch? Other than a totally addictive hobby, it’s pretty easy. It takes about 20 minutes online to sign up and you get your password to go onto the Demonstrator Only Website right away, while you wait for your kit to arrive in a week to 10 days.

What if I decide to not place any orders and just enjoy my kit? Stampin ‘Up will just drop you after your quarter is up. No penalties and nothing to give back.

How much do I have to order to stay active? $300 retail. Stampin' Up runs on a Quarter system. So if you sign up Feb 1^st, you would get your first quarter free of minimums. Apr-may-June is the next quarter so you would have to your $300 in orders by the end of June. It can be ALL at once, or in smaller orders. With just your own orders or friends adding to it. You can be your own hostess, so with your 20% off as a demonstrator, the 300 goes down to 240.00 but then add back in 10% shipping and then tax. If you are 7% tax like me, then it comes out to around 285.00. BUT as your own hostess, you can get a free hostess set and 25.00 of free merchandise. So it pays off if you are looking for a discount and you are going to be spending that much on stamp goodies anyway.

Bonus Tip: Some people sign up if they have a huge wish list or want something big like the BIG SHOT because you get 30% off (instead of 20%) your first order over 150.00 if you place it within 45 days of signing up. So, you can be your own hostess and reap the benefits + get a big discount = no brainer.

Do I have to have classes or workshops? Some demonstrators do it as a career and support themselves full time with it. It’s a lot of work but it can be done. Tons of demonstrators do it just for the discount or hobby. There is no requirement to host or teach any classes. Now, if you want help with putting in the orders you'll want some Bread and Butter customers. Those are the friends or family that you can stamp with each month or every other month so they can order a few things from you. Every little bit helps! And who knows, one day you may need extra money and decide to operate this more as a business. When times get tough, sell stamps!

What is in the Demonstrator Only Website? Wow, there is so much in there that I couldn’t list it all. 5 years of back issues of our Stampin’ Success magazines (which arrive in our mail monthly), projects, templates, articles, videos, Stamper’s Showcase (3-4 samples uploaded daily from demonstrators who submitted their samples) and Workshop Wizard, which has more projects.

Some people sign up just for the preorders. Stampin' Up! holds preorders for demonstrators to purchase items that will be coming out in upcoming mini catalogs, Idea Books and promotions that aren't available for the general public yet. This allows you to be among the first to get the new goodies.

How do I sign up? If you're ready to make that decision now, then it can be done quickly and easily. Visit my Stampin' Up! Website and click on "join stampin' up!" to find more information and even watch some introductory videos. If and when you're ready to sign-up, you will find the words "click here to enroll" about 2/3 of the way down the page. That will get you started. You will need a recruiter password - mine is hope352 for those who are ready to sign up!

I would love for you to be part of my team!

Hope Keene

Clermont, Florida-- 352-255-3814-- heartfeltstamps@yahoo.com

http://stampinwithhope.blogspot.com/ or http://hopekeene.stampinup.net

New Stampin' Up! Promotions

2009-05-01T22:07:00.010-04:00

Wow! It's National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up! is celebrating in a big way with three great promotions. Here's the breakdown:

1.) Buy three packs of Designer Series paper (including our Specialty Designer Series paper) or 12" x 12" textured card stock, and get one FREE!

2.) Buy a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog--Jumble Alphabet (set of 52; double-mounted)--at a 20 percent discount.

Item #	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
115199	Jumble Alphabet stamp set	$43.95	$35.16

3.) In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator for only $75 with our limited-time Scrapbooking Starter Kit!

The Scrapbooking Starter Kit contains the following:

Item Code	Description	Retail Value
113510	Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set*	$42.95
113059	Simply Scrappin' Petal Party	$19.95
108697	Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12")	$11.95
105240	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	$7.50

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $43.95 value.

Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items.

The Scrapbooking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit:
Getting Started DVD
Getting Started Guide
Guest Invitation Postcard (100)
Idea Book & Catalog (8)
Occasions Mini Catalog (8)
To My Hostess Envelope (10)
Recruit Folders (5)
Recruit Brochures (20)
Hostess Brochure (20)
Hostess Benefits Form (10)
Customer Order Form (50)

Ready to join me?! I have NEVER seen the signup fee to become a demonstrator this low before, so don't wait -- contact me TODAY! This is a great way to jump in!

If you'd like to find out more about what being a demonstrator is all about (either as a hobby or business), contact me! You can do this just as a hobby for yourself and save on tax and shipping or do it as a business - it's up to you.

Pretties For Your Pleasure

2009-04-30T11:33:00.009-04:00

Two more cards from a recent workshop.

This one is done using the Cheep Talk stamp set. I absolutely adore this set. It is just so fresh, yet retro all at the same time. You can't tell from the picture, but the scallop circle element is popped off the card using dimensionals.

Supplies used:
Stamps: Cheep Talk
Card stock: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss Designer Series Paper (DSP)
Ink: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss
Punches: Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, 1-1/4" Circle

This card appears very flat here because I scanned it in the computer, but it's actually pretty cute in person. It uses the very versatile Flight of the Butterfly set. This is yet another one of my favs (I'll probably say this for every card). Seriously, I love the gift of the butterfly that Lord has blessed us with. The whole idea of something so outwardly (and inwardly) ugly becoming something so purely beautiful is a picture of us all as sinners accepting Christ as savior and becoming children of the King - beautiful in his sight. Who wouldn't love that?

Supplies used:
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery
Ribbon: Certainly Celery Twill

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Okay, now that I have posted some pretties, I must show you what I am up to.

I know, a mess, right? I am finally getting around to cataloging my stamp sets. I wish someone would have advised me to do this from the start, but oh well, better late than never as they say.
What I plan to do is stamp each set on a separate sheet of paper and enter it into a notebook. That way when I am searching for inspiration, or something specific, I can pull out my handy stamp index and browse, rather than digging through stacks of stamps as they fall all over the place. Not pretty when this happens by the way, and believe me it happens often.

Another thing I plan to do while I have my stamps all out is color code them using these great little multi colored hole reinforcers I found at WM in the office supply section. I will use red for retired, green for current, yellow for sets from a mini catty and finally purple for hostess only sets because that's the color of the rubber on these sets. Just had a thought, I didn't include sale-a-bration sets - I think I'll use plain old white for those.

Anyway, when I get it all done, I will post a picture for your viewing pleasure. :)

Well, enough stalling, I better get to organizing seeing as how I just told the world I was going to get 'er done.

Fabulous Friend

2009-04-29T12:04:00.007-04:00

Here's a card I made for a recent workshop. I found a similar card on SCS (splitcoaststampers.com) by crazystamper01 and just tweaked it a bit. I just love the Petal Pizzaz stamp set. I hope you enjoy the card.

Supplies used:
Stamps: Petal Pizzaz, Oval All
Card stock: Ruby Red, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Ruby Red, So Saffron, Baja Breeze
Punches: 1/2" Circle, Scallop Circle, Scallop Oval, Eyelt Border,

My first post

2009-04-28T11:38:00.008-04:00

I love card making, crafting of all kinds really, and photography. This blog will be a way for me to share those passions with others.

Primarily my posts will be centered around my Stampin' Up! business. I am so in love with this company and have been with them for just about a year now.

I have to send some love out to my big sis' who sent me my first handcrafted card years ago. She is the one who inspired me to get started making these little jewels from the heart and is always there for me when I need to ask a stampin' question. I love ya, T'. Thanks for being my red phone hot-line whenever I need it.

I also need to show some love for my mom who is my greatest supporter and best customer, other than myself of course. She is the first to sign up for every event and is an endless supplier of positive, uplifting encouragement. I love you, Mom!