Thanks to my hostesses!

I'd like to thank my hostesses publicly for a fun-filled 2006-2007 year! Thanks so much for sharing your passion for stamping and scrapping with me! It has been a soooo awesome!

As we start a new Stampin' Up! year, let's all remember that friendships are the most valuable thing in the world and us stampers have to stick together and support each other in stamping as well as in life.

I wish you all a happy start to the year! It's almost July...

Let's get this party started!!!!

Domestication examined

In this week's online journal Science it is reported that for the first time genetic research has concluded that domestic cats originated in the Middle East and not Egypt.

Cats will always remain mysterious animals--but exactly where they came from is no longer a riddle. A genetic study has shown that the ancestors of all of today's domestic cats prowled the Near East.

...

Their analysis indicates that the common ancestors of all domesticated cats lived in the Near East some 130,000 years ago. They were wildcats living in the Fertile Crescent--the area extending from the Eastern Mediterranean around Turkey and down into Mesopotamia--"exactly the place where humanity settled down to agriculture ten to twelve thousand years ago," says O'Brien. The team found five lineages of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in modern felines. Because of this variation, the researchers believe domestication occurred a half-dozen times or so in the Middle East.

Trendy! very Trendy: A few impressions of the new catalog

This is the first new Stampin' Up! catalog that is a 6 month catalog.

I've been silently taking in all the new product and I'm ready for formulate my first impressions now...here they are:

This catalog is VERY trendy!

Grunge is out - Polka Dots are in.

As a matter of fact, there are so many Polka Dots in this catalog I'm seeing spots! (A good thing.)

Things I am IN LOVE WITH:

The new In Colors.

The Pretties Kit - this kit is awesome! I am in LOOOVVVEEE and it is going on my first order. The kit is $29.95 and in my opinion it is soooo worth that cost. The kit is PACKED with assorted dyable flowers, pearl halves, beads, and clear rhinestone brads. Anyone purchasing all those items separately will have a hard time meeting that price.

Things that make sense:

Page 81 - Bundle of Joy paired with Bundled in Love stamp sets... these are two AWESOME baby sets that are interchangeable, and offer the opportunity to double their use for baby announcement as well as baby christening/baptism.

God is Love set page 71 - wow! We needed a nice, simple, christian set that's appropriate for all ages, not just children. This is it! Look no further.

RIBBONS - I think this is the highlight of the new catalog. For the first time, SU seems to have really changed their ribbon offerings... for the better. I can't even tell you how utterly tickled I am at all the new choices for ribbon! I'm in heaven.

There are new "Style Watch" stamp sets and accessories that coordinate. Stampin' Up! has had coordinating stamp sets in the past, so that isn't new. What IS new - presenting them in the front of the catalog along with all the products that match referenced on the same page.

Boho West - gorgeous, although I'm not into the Wild West so won't be ordering
Tapestry - this is my style! I'll be getting some of these products
Corner Office - fun labels, tabs and stuff. Love it!

Hostess sets are a nice range of styles.

BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE A MUST HAVE:

Tres Chic - wow! This is cool. Easily can be used to make single words on cards and scrapbook pages by omitting.

Sanded - Textured scratching of sanded scratches -- like if you rubbed a piece of sandpaper over something - this is cool and it satisfies my need for some grunge in a catalog where grunge is "out".

Happiness - Versatile background that I won't be ordering because it doesn't cry to me "buy me" (not my style) - but I know this one will be a hit with those who like it. If the style of images where more to my personal liking, I'd purchase it!

MY FAVORITE SET IN THE ENTIRE CATALOG - I'm ordering this one on July 1 FOR SURE:

Priceless! - How a Stampin' Up! artist thought to combine polka dots with Bohemian style is beyond me... but is a sheer genius! This set is so awesome, useful, fun, trendy yet will be in style longer than most trends (I think) and has a matching wheel! Awesome for scrapbooking as well as cardmaking and gift making.

More later... when I catch my breath...

There is meaning in my silence!

Yeah, I've been drooling over the new catalog... too busy to blog in the last 2 days. I have stuff to post... just making my list and checking it twice!

New Catalog Arrival Tracker Map!!

Check out this map to see when the new Stampin' Up! catalog arrives around the USA!

New Catalog Arrival Tracker Map

Retiring accessories that are no longer available:

As of today, the following accessories are no longer available:

Today's Retired Accessories list

Questions from a reader answered

Answers to questions from an Ink Artist reader:

The Stampin' Write markers are still there. The Stampin' Write Journalers are gone except for Black and Brown. The Journalers were the waterproof ones. If you want them in the colors, get 'em now. They still have some left.

Crafter's Tool Kit is in the new catalog.

Someone received their new Stampin' Up! catalog!

Cover Details:
It's the blue shades...with some really rust...blue bayou, wild wasabi
208 pages



Notes on Stamp Sets
"Fun & Fast Notes"....$30.95 all occasions
"Holiday Blitz"....set of 28...... $36.95...
"Double Line Doodles"....set of 9.....$25.95...
there's "I just love you"...flowers, chicken and paisleys!!!
Tagger's DOZEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Polka Dots and Petals...
Polka Dots & Paisley
some religious ones
"Here, Kitty, Kitty.." dogs and cats...w/ 2 reg. wheels to match
Bundle of Joy...
"Peek-a-Boo" cute...one stamp has stork..and "Bundled in love"...goes PERFECT w/ bundle of joy...
"Family Accessories"...set of 12...
"All in Family"...you put heads, clothes and legs and arms...like paper dolls........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh set of 28..
"Perfect Princess"...CUTE...set of 7 BIG crown
Sports stuff:
hockey, golf, football, soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball...
more sets to go w/ new "Wanted" set
School one...ruler...writing paper lines, scissors, pencil...
"Primary Colors" simply scrappin kit
"Big Flowers"...WOW!!!!!!! very cute..set of 8 only $22.95
and "Little Flowers"...set of 6...$10.95
Doodle This...WITH A JUMBO WHEEL to match!!!!!!!
Office Accoutrement..
"Dot are Hot"...cute! all circles
"So Happy"...more circles, flowers, and paisley
CUTE candy cane wrapper idea on pg 124
"Labelicious"....
"Please Come"...stuff for invites
Big Pieces..yes 30.95

Cardstock...can buy "textured"

"Cute Punches....35 in all"

"Craft and Paper Scissors"

"Pretties Kit" 29.95

Ribbon
double stitched ribbon...
in colors only...15 yds. for 8.95

New Taffeta ribbon
10 yds. for 6.95 3/8 in....ribbon originals...cute!

1/4" colors
15 yds. for $4.95

Basic Black
Whisper White
Very Vanilla
Pumpkin Pie (new)
More Mustard
Apricot Appeal
Pretty in Pink
Real Red
B Burgundy
Elegant Eggplant
Night of Navy
Tempting Turquoise
Bashful Blue (new)
Certainly celery
Mellow Moss
Always Artichoke (new)

5/8" grosgrain
15 yds. for 7.95

no more cord!

Gingham Ribbon
15 yds. for 7.50...black, red, lite blue, lit pink, moss, caramel

Gadgets
Crop a Dile is silver w/ black handles . . . 29.95

Craft and paper scissors are 29.95..."cut ribbon easily and create smooth, clean cut"

Ink
Basic Gray and Going Gray...in Neutrals now

Markers...3.25 now...I don't see journalers...just stampin' write

Stampin Spots.. Classic...22.50

"Accents & Elements"...pg 178...ahh!!!!
"Borders and Blossoms"
"Build a Flower"
"Tagged"
"Little Reminders no. 2"
they are die cuts that come in tin...the build a flower is Purely Pomegranite and JUSST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!
10.95

On Board CHIPBOARD & ALBUMS
Ginormous Pieces
it has scalloped borders...little squares, circles, stars, flowers, and some HUGE pieces

Clipboards
13"x 1/2 for 15.95
9 by 9 in. for 7.95
4.5 in. by 9 in 6.50

Letters
letters in squares and circles

Albums
On Board 5x 5" art journal
Bitty Book

12 X 12 CARDSTOCK
Individually Packaged
20 sheets for $7.50

Red
Lovely Lilac
Brilliant Blue
Chocolate Chip
More Mustard
Pumpkin Pie
Old Olive
Brocade Blue
Always Artichoke
So Saffron
Regal Rose
Rose Red
Pretty in Pink
Certainly Celery
Mellow Moss
Bashful Blue
all others MUST BE PURCHASED IN ASSORT. PACK of 24 total for $8.95

Textured Cardstock
12x12....it's 24 sheets...$11.95...only in assorted packs

------
Pretties Kit -

it comes w/ flowers...
white half back pearls
cream " " "
white round pearls w/ holes
Cream " " "
clear beads
round beads w/ center hole
round beads w/ side hole
teardrops
clear rhinestone brads


Build a brad punch half inch circle of designer paper or stamp custom image to build your own brad - 2 choices...antique brass or pweter"... $9.95......for 24 ea. brad base and acrylic bubble

Punches - 35 in all
circle sizes
1 3/8 in. 1 1/4 1 " 3/4" 1/2" 1/4"

3/16" in. corner rounder

photo corners

designer label

5 petal flower

star

snow blossom

scallop circle (one in July SS)

spiral punch is in...and round tab

__________________

journalers...only in basic brown and basic black

There's a staz-on cleaner now....$4.95.....

Brass Templates:

Dots! (It has a ton)
Seeing Spots
Priceless (butterlies, swirls, flowers, heart, scallops)
Punches Plus....coordinates w/ round tab, oval , square, circles, star punches!

pick a petal! circular shaped!!!! w/ scallops (has petal shapes, and flowers)

Embossing Powders
Black
white
gold
silver
clear
iridescent ice
hologram highlites
glassy glaz enamel

stampin glitter:
same

they come in half oz., except for glassy glaze enamel is in 1 oz.
all $4.75

designer paper.....
Petal and Paisley!!!!!
Outlaw
Brocade Background
Fall Flowers
Linen Prints
Porceline Prints
Uptown
Flowers for you
Le Jardin
Wintergreen

more designer....
"creepy crawly"...ahh...halloween...pumpkin pie, black, white
"notations no. 2" (greens and beiges)
"Charbon"...same as Au Chocolat. but in slate color! pretty
"Cerise"....to die for! same as Au Chocolat, but in real red!!!
"Dashing"...dots and stripes....red, olive, vanilla! cute
no Au Chocolat in brown!
"Cutie Pie" ...goes w/ palette of prints colors... with flowers, stripes, circles...LOVE IT
and "Darling Doodles"....ahhh....man...another favorite! all new '08 colors!!!! very bright

Palette of Prints papers....available in these colors....
Lovely Lilac
Almost Amethyst
Soft Sky
Tempting Turquoise
Brilliant Blue
Blue Bayou
Always Artichoke
Old Olive
Certainly Celery
River Rock
So Saffron
More Mustard
Close to Cocoa
Pumpkin Pie
Groovy Guava
Rose Red

Gift notes, Long notes, Love notes, Pocket notes....

New Elements Section
(Very cute pictures of jars and bath set gifts, etc.)

Borders, Backgrounds and Shapes

Office Accoutrement
Stamp of Athenticity
Speckled Jumbo Wheel
Create a Coupon
Rough Texture Jumbo
Rough Around the edges jumbo
Priceless (hearts butterflies flowers and swirls)
So Swirly jumbo
Think Happy Thoughts (Circles with words)
Happiness (large background w/Happiness and flowers)
Sweet Shapes
Label Classics
Little Pieces
Big Pieces
Seeing Spots
Spot on jumbo
So Happy (paisley, circles, dots and lines)
All in a Row
Dots are Hot ( large solid circles and dots)
Sweet Sampler (good for labels)
Brocade Basics coordinates w/ Baroque Motifs
Wing it (very angelic)
Baroque Motifs
Illuminations(Large scroll C,J,H,and T- Cherich, Joy Hope and Thanks)
Baroque Border
Carte Postale
French Flair background
Leaves a la Carte jumbo
Labelicious
Totally Tabs
Trimtastic (set of 4 - rick rack and scallop designs)
Background Basics
Itty Bitty backgrounds
Background sampler
Letter Patterns
Pick a Petal
Stem Sayings(curvy sayings for flowers)
Please Come(set of 5) invitations etc.
Elegant Notes
Property Lines (This belongs to... etc.)
Check it out(Thanks... You... Congrats... you choose the next line you
want to check Thanks... a ton,a bunch etc.)

__________________

Coluzzle Starter Kit 19.95
Refill Blades 4.50
That's it nothing else offered

No other scissors except the new craft and paper scissors that are larger like sewing scissors. 29.95

Storage
Ribbon keepers
Stampin. Stack in Store just like the color caddy but round.
Stampin' Color Index Labels ("place on the ends of your ink pads or use
them to catalog or file your card stock. 66 labels per sheet (2 sheets)
$3.95
Paper Holder and Dividers
Craft Keepers
Forget Me Not Keeper
Stamp and Supply Boxes the same

Sports Theme
Sporting ( Go team, All Star, #1, Game on!, Score, Champ, MVP, Star $17.95
Just Hockey (3) 12.95
Just Basketball (3) 12.95
Just Soccer (3) 12.95
Just Football (3) 12.95
Just Baseball (3) 12.95
Just Golf (3) 12.95
just Tennis (3) 12.95

Masculine sets besides the sports themes listed already:
Wanted, Bronc Buster (Horses and Genuine stamp),Happy Camper, Ahoy Matey, By Land

All in the Family (2 36.95 you can make your own stick figures
Family Accessories (12) 17.95 (sports, teddy bear presents, etc.)

Alphabets

Big Deal Alphabet 40.95 and Numbers 22.95
Jumbo outline Alphabet 40.95
Letter Press Alphabet 41.95
Letter press Number 22.95
Headline Alphabet 41.95
Headline Numbers 22.95
Well Worn Alphabet 41.95
Well Worn Numbers 22.95
Wild West Alphabet 40.95
Typeset Alphabet Upper and Lower 27.95 Numbers 17.95
Best Friends Upper and Lower 27.95 Numbers 17.95
In the Loop 27.95
Short Order 40.95
Short order numbers 25.95
Defining Alphabet 41.95
Define Your Life 47.95 (Dictionary definitions)
Rough Edges Mini (56) 20.95
Simple Serif Mini & numbers (56) 20.95
ABC Upper and Lower (28 each) 27.95
ABC Images (2 31.95 Very cute to make alphabet books for kids.
Coordinating My ABC's wheel to make wide lined paper. (6.50)
Monogram Alphabet Upper and LOWER!! 17.95 each

Vintage Brads are back in different shapes. 8.95 for black Silver, Antique Brass and Pewter

Breakdown of Mini Catalog Sets
A Merry Little Christmas - holiday......NO
Alphabet - wheel - winter..............NO
Arachnaphobia - wheel - holiday........YES
Basics Outline - jumbo wheel - summer....YES
Best Bar Codes - spring........NO
Best Fiends - holiday........(DON'T THNK SO...JUST ALPHABET SET )
Big Blooms - spring.............NO
Big Pieces - winter....YES
Bud Basics - summer.....YES
Buds - jumbo wheel - summer.....NO
Bundle of Joy - spring...YES
Bunny Hugs - spring.....NO
Butterfly of Happiness - winter....NO
By Sea - summer (NO...JUST "BY LAND")
Carte Postale - winter......YES
Clowning Around - summer...NO
Cowboy Kid - summer...NO
Crab & Company - spring...NO
Doodle Alphabet - spring...NO
Doodle Numbers - spring...NO
Doodle That - spring....NO
Doodle This - spring...YES (AND COORDNATING JUMBO WHEEL)
Edgy Eloquence - summer...NO
Fancy Flexible Phrases - winter......no
Flip Flops =96 wheel - summer.....NO
French Flair - winter....YES
Glorious Gift - spring......NO
Going My Way - jumbo wheel - summer......NO
Happy Thoughts - winter......NO
Heavenly Peace - holiday....NO
Holiday Trim - holiday.....NO
Jolly Holiday - holiday....NO
Jolly Trees - wheel - holiday....NO
Just Between Fiends - holiday...NO
Just So Sayings - spring....NO
Laundry Notes - summer.......NO
Leave a la Carte - jumbo wheel =96 winter.....YES
Like it a Latte - winter.....NO
Love Matters - winter......NO
Nature Prints - summer.....NO
Off the Chart - spring....NO
Office Accoutrement - spring...YES
Ornamassortment - holiday....NO
Pattern of Friendship - summer.....NO
Perennial Friendship - winter....NO
Perfect Ending - holiday..........NO
Petals =96 wheel - spring....YES
Polka Dots & Paisley - spring....YES
Polka Dots & petals - spring....YES
Polka-Dot Posies - summer......NO
Quick Cards - holiday.....NO
Sandy Shells - wheel - spring.....NO
Sassy & Seasonal - holiday....NO
Sheltering Tree - summer......NO
Shore Thing - summer........NO
Small Sayings - winter......NO
Snow Flurries - holiday.....YES
Spunky Alphabet - summer,,,,NO
Spunky Numbers - summer...NO
Sweet on You - winter.....NO
Tagger=92s Dozen - winter...YES
Taking Shape - holiday.....NO
That=92s Nice - spring...NO
The Wheel Thing - summer......NO
Think Big - holiday......NO
Thoroughly Thankful - holiday......YES
Trees Three - winter......NO
Wish You Were Here - summer......NO
Wishing You - holiday..........NO
Woodland Cottage - winter......NO
You Make Me Happy - spring......NO

Blogger RAK from Melissa Tootle!

Lookie what I got yesterday! I was RAK'ed by Melissa Tootle who blogs at "Mommy's Stampin' Creations"!

I LOVE these new papers. Purely Pomegranite is such a beautiful crisp, clear shade and looks awesome paired with the fresh look of Soft Sky.

Thanks Melissa!

Thank You note Etiquette for today

I recently read this guide to Thank You note writing in the local paper. Some of these tips are common sense, while others serve as a refresher.

The entire article is here

Gestures that deserve thanks
Always send a handwritten thank-you when you receive a gift by mail. At the very least, the giver needs to know you actually received it.

Always send one after a party or dinner for which you received a written invitation.

Always send thank-you notes for wedding or shower gifts, for gifts when hospitalized and for sympathy cards and flowers.

It's recommended, though not required, that you send one when you have been a guest at a dinner party.

It's smart to send a thank-you after a job interview.

Extra points if you send thank-you notes when friends help you out in tough situations and for gifts that were opened with the giver present and you thanked him or her at the time.

Double extra points if you send a thank-you note this year completely out of the blue. Thank a friend for his or her friendship. Thank a former teacher for his or her guidance years ago.

When to write a thank-you
Right away, Klinkenberg said. The gift or the event is fresh in your mind, and your gratitude will be more easily and genuinely expressed.

Within a week is a good guideline, although it's better to send thank-yous late than not at all. After a month, ask forgiveness for being tardy.

Brides and grooms get special consideration, up to six months.

How not to send thanks
Preprinted thank-you notes are not OK, even for children. Very small children can draw thank-you pictures.

E-mail thank-you notes do not take the place of handwritten ones.

Personalized stationery and cards are nice but not required. Still, go a notch higher than torn-out notebook paper.

How to write a thank-you
Begin with a greeting, as you would any letter, using the person's name, such as "Dear Helen" or "Dear Grandma."

The first sentence starts with "thank you" and specifically mentions the gift or gesture. (For money gifts, go straight to the next step.)

Tell how much you appreciated the person's generosity.

If you were invited to dinner, mention something specific about the meal or the house.

If you received a gift, say how much you will enjoy it or use it. If it wasn't your favorite item, some experts say it's OK to fake your gratitude a little. Others say don't lie but focus on the person's thoughtfulness.

If you received money, tell how you might spend it.

Don't stray too far from the intent of the thank-you note, such as providing news about you. A line, say, about hoping to get together soon is fine. The whole note needs only three or four sentences.

The last sentence should repeat your thanks. Be sincere.

End with a closing, such as "love" or "fondly," and sign your name.

Thank you Cindy! Welcome Jen!

A big THANKS to Cindy Brockes for her help uploading blogs to Splitcoastbloggers Cindy has been a wonderful help in every way. It is with sadness that I report Cindy is stepping down. Thanks Cindy!

Please Welcome to Jen Young !!! Jen is taking Cindy's volunteer spot and will be helping to add blogs to the list.

Welcome Jen!

Restoring fold damage in heirloom paper documents

Recently I had a reader email me with a question about paper restoring.

Dear Michelle,
First of all, I wanted to say that I love your work and your website! ... I have a question for you. My husband has a the original copy of his grandmothers high school diploma from 1928. It is 20.5 inches by 16 inches (so, it's much bigger than a diploma from today). Over the years it has been folded and bent. Is there any way that I can get them all out and make it smooth again? I read somewhere to take a cool iron, a towel over the paper and then iron it. Will this hurt it? Do you have any suggestions? ... I would like to get it restored and framed for her.

Thanks so much,
Alexandria Goudy
Stampin' Up Demonstrator

While I do know a great deal about archives and paper restoration, I would not consider myself an "expert" by any means. I haven't gone through any Paper Restoration specialty classes. However, I do have archives and library training which comes in handy when scrapbooking vintage photos and documents for family history. Here is my response. I'm posting it here because folds in old documents are a common problem. I hope my response will help others:

Hi Alexandra.

Folds and bends in paper are nearly impossible to repair by yourself.

Folds in paper are unfortunately permanent. Ironing it is not going to help if the folds in the paper have broken the fibers of the paper. Look very close at it - are the fibers broken in any way? This usually happens when something is folded in half. Has it been folded in half? If however, the paper has light bends in it - just an un-even-ness to it - no actual folds, then ironing it might help. Low setting with cotton towel.

For paper that has broken fibers and that has been folded, you will need to take it to a professional paper restorer. A paper restorer has the tools and knowledge to repair broken paper fibers.

I've taken books to professional restorers and the cost is reasonable. I'm sure for a single piece of paper where no binding is involved the cost would be minimal and well worth it.

Check your local phone book for a document restoration company/individual. If there are none in your town, call the nearest university library nearest you and ask to speak with a reference librarian. Ask where the University has their books restored.

Michelle

I have used a local book preservation specialist in Kenosha, WI for my restoration projects and I have been pleased with the result as well as price. One of the items I had restored was a 100 year old book with binding in shabby condition. It is truly amazing how preservation specialists can make it look like new!

Splitcoastbloggers List and Splitcoastbloggers RAK's - Important Info, please read

Regarding our BIG LIST HERE

For your information, I'd like to say a word about Updates to Splitcoastbloggers and the Blogger RAK list.

Splitcoastbloggers is a completely Volunteer-Run list of stamping/crafting blogs written by members of the forum Splitcoaststampers.

Since it is administrated by volunteers (me and 3 others) a week or more may pass before you are listed.

For those who have said they sent me their blog link weeks ago, please be aware that my email is through Sbcglobal and their spam catcher is very "good"... meaning unfortunately it is filtering out some people who email me with blogger links.

I *do* briefly check through my Bulk mail folder before I send it all to the Trash. However, my check is brief and done at a glance. I can't take the time to look through it all because of the volume of spam that gets caught. I do my best, but unfortunately I can't be certain I'm finding all of your blog requests that end up in there.

I highly suggest that if you send me an email about adding your site to my sbcglobal address and you don't see your blog posted after a month's time, that you post your link here at the SplitcoastBloggers post at Splitcoaststampers.

Regarding the BLOGGER RAK LIST HERE

Here's how it works:

Joining the BIG LIST doesn't automatically get you into the RAK list. This is because not everyone on the BIG LIST wants to participate in Blogger RAKs. To join the Blogger RAK group you need to first be a member of the SCS RAK usergroup. The reason for this is so that the list of addresses are protected and viewable to members only. I will not email out the list individually to people because I can't guarantee who the list will be passed to. Members need to use the list posted in this forum. If you can't get into this forum, then you need to apply for access to it through SCS.

The idea behind Blogger RAK's is to exchange creations with other members of the Stamping Bloggers community, get art for our blogs, and create links between all our blogs.

Members who get an RAK from an RAK Blogger must take a photo of it, post it and link back to the blog of the sender!

This list is updated when I have the time, usually once a week, but not always.

Blogger RAK from Diane Gilbert!

This is blogger RAK came to me from Diane Gilbert! Diane writes:

Hi,
This is my first attempt at sending out blogger RAK's. I chose you because I enjoy visiting your blog and checking out all of your ideas! I hope you enjoy my card. Have a great day!! signed, Diane.

Thanks, Diane! I love it! This card was made with the Stampin' Up! set "Bodacious Bouquet". Here she pairs the colors Turquoise and Chocolate Chip! She used designer paper from the "Friends & Flowers" Scrappin' Kit, the Aida Cloth background stamp and the greeting "A Happy Hello" from the "All Year Cheer 1" stamp set.

You can see that Diane carefully cut out the flowers and popped them up with Dimensionals. She dotted some glue in the flower centers and added gold glitter! What is not to love here!

Blogger RAK from Michele Pereira!

This cute card arrived a few days ago along with another that will be uploaded shortly. The delay in posting these was due to a stamp class that I taught at the Caledonia Recreation Dept. This card was made by blogger Michele Pereira.



Michele Pereira's card harks back to summer 2006 when the "Sheltering Tree" stamp set was featured in the Stampin' Up! Summer mini catalog at that time. Notice how she used the tree here as the main image and accented the twill tape with stamped flowers. The tree is popped up with dimensionals and Hodgepodge Hardware provides clever accents.

Thanks Michele!

Upcoming events numerous

Hey everybody!

I've been prepping for upcoming events this summer - from new catalog workshops to stamping gatherings in the Kenosha and Racine areas, my schedule is busy!

I'll be releasing my newsletter with all upcoming event dates listed --- most likely by the end of the day today.

New catalog sneek peeks coming soon

I'll be posting new catalog art work soon! Stay tuned! Rhinestone brads are on the way!

It's a good thing I stayed away from the Prima Flower craze.... SU is getting dyeable flowers!

Librarian's Guide to Organizing Scrapbook Paper

Craft Critique has been doing features about craft room organization for the last week. Check out my article: http://www.craftcritique.com/2007/06/librarians-guide-to-organizing.html