Stampin' and Scrappin' With Kristin

Philly Inkers Swaps

Monday night the Philly Inkers gathered at my house for our monthly meeting.  I love having a house packed full of demonstrators!!!  The ideas and inspiration are overwhelming!  Our group is getting so big it's soon going to be hard to fit around a table!  I think there were ten of us there on Monday - and that may have only been half of us.  I've lost count! 

This month Melanie shared with us how to make bottle cap pins.  I didn't take a picture of mine, but I'm sure you'll be seeing this fun and easy project in my Holiday Gifts class later this year!  Stay tuned for more information on that!!!

I wanted to share some of the swaps with you.  I confess, I didn't take these pictures until this morning and it wasn't until I sat down to upload them (here at work....shhh) that I realized I'm missing two - Stephanie's and Cindy's.  I'll post them tomorrow - you don't want to miss them!!!  Besides, I don't have a lot of brand new stamping to work on this week as I've shifted my focus to convention swaps.  I leave in less than a week!  If you haven't noticed, I added an entire section to my blog dedicated to Stampin' Up!'s Annual Convention.  You can access it by clicking on the "Celebrate 08" logo over there on the left.  There's not a whole lot there, yet, since convention hasn't begun.  But, you can visit there every day while I'm away to see pictures and information about everything I'm seeing, doing, and learning.  Last year I felt like my camera was glued to my forehead because I was taking so many pictures of so many great ideas!  So I'll be sharing some of those with you!

Anyway...got a little off track there...bring on the swaps (click on the images to see the full-size version):

Fun and Fabulous Cards Reminder

Last night I finished designing the cards for this weekend's class.  I thought I'd show you one more sample.  This one has a few fun folds and is relatively simple to make.  I'm certainly going to miss this color combo - Blue Bayou, River Rock, Soft Sky, and Ruby Red.  There are a few spots left in each of the sessions this weekend, but both are already more than half full.  Click HERE to view all of the projects we'll be making.

Just one more quick reminder - the Rertiring Accessories are selling out fast.  Contact me to place your order today before the accessories you want are gone for good!

Bella Rose Pocket Booklet

Oh man, am I excited about this project!  I'm so excited that I'm offering it as a class in August.  And, for the first time ever, I'm offering a Long Distance Option as well!!!  You can now make this project at your home at your own convenience!

This project contains six different pockets and folders that hold pull-tabs for your memories or photos!  There are SO many options for this booklet!

The in-person class is being held on Thursday, August 28th at 6:30pm.  The long distance kits will ship a few days after via Prioirty Mail.  You must register for either option by Monday, August 18th.

Click here to see additional samples and to register!

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You...

...five items on the Retired Accessories List have already sold out and the list has only been posted for five hours!!!

2008 Spring/Summer Retired Accessories List

Drum Roll Please.....

Here's the full 2008 Spring/Summer Retired Accessories List!  Check back daily for updates on availability.  The items on this list are only available until August 10th or while supplies last.  Based on previous experience, these items will sell out FAST!!!  The accessories are on sale for 20%-25% off.

Feel free to e-mail me or call me at 856-503-7459 with your order TODAY!

Don't forget, Stampin' Up! previously posted their 2008 Spring/Summer Retired Stamp Set list.  The items on this list are also only available until August 10th.  All retiring stamp sets are on sale for 20% off.

Decor Elements

I just received my second round of Decor Elements - I love these things!  I applied the Long Stem Silhouettes to my living room wall.  Have you seen the brochure?  This brand new product line from Stampin' Up! is available for purchase NOW!  I have received lots of positive feedback about the designs and sentiments on my classroom walls.  They're easy to apply and also removable!  You could change your decor daily if you wanted!!!

Contact me by e-mail or at 856-503-7459 to place your order today! 

An Even Bigger Sale!!!

Stampin' Up! announced this morning some of the accessories and Designer Series Paper that will be retiring on August 10th!  And, the even better news, they're offering everything on the list at 25% off!!!  HodgePodge Hardware is also still 25% off.

The list makes me REALLY curious to see what will be on Monday's list.  Why?  Well, only certain conlors of the In-Colors Prints Designer Series Paper are listed.  Soft Sky Prints DSP isn't listed.  Hmmm...  Other non-In-Color Prints Designer Series Paper is listed (Close to Cocoa), but not all!  I'm really bummed about the Close to Cocoa retiring since I love it SO much with Pink Pirouette.

My theory is also confirmed (almost).  I don't think the "Three For You" Punch Box Punch is retiring.  It coordinates REALLY well with a lot of our stamp sets and some of the new DSP.  And now they're letting you buy that awesome box for only $3.95!!!  They've never sold the boxes before.  Kinda makes me wonder if there will be another punch box in the new catalog.

The 25% of sale begins on Monday.  You can certainly give me your orders earlier.  To view EVERYTHING that is on sale, click here, or click the big Sale button over there on the left.

I will post the remainder of the Retiring Accessories list after 9am ET on Monday - SU isn't posting the list for demonstrators until then.  You can check back daily for updated availability.  I will also be sending out an e-mail to everyone on my mailing list once the list has been published.  If you're not on my mailing list, use the "Join My Mailing List" button over there on the left so you don't miss a single thing!

Okay...time for me to go strategize about what I might want off of the list!!!

Fall Flair - Level 2 Hostess Set

I'm working my way through my newest stamp sets and have come to Fall Flair.  This is a fun two-step stamping stamp set.  There are several leaf and flower images in outlines and solids.  I used just one image from the stamp set to make the embossed background.

The jury's still out on this card - I haven't decided if I actually like it or not.  I'm not sure that the color scheme reflects the mood of the sentiment.  What do you think?  It was supposed to be a fall card.  Somewhere along the way that changed!  But, I hope you enjoy it!!!

I stamped the flowers in the background with Whisper White Craft Ink then heat enbossed with White Embossing Powder.

Here are the supplies I used to make this card:

• Fall Flair Stamp Set
• Beautiful Life Stamp Set
• Basic Black Classic Ink
• Whisper White Craft Ink
• White Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Kraft Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Real Red Card Stock
• Basic Black Card Stock
• Real Red Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Fresh Cuts

I'm rounding out this week's Preview Products cards.  Here's another Fresh Cuts card with Bella Rose Designer Series Paper.  Notice the button in the middle of the flower???  That's one of the new buttons from the Button Bouquet that will be debuting next month.  Fun, huh?  I think I've got it on upside down - but I liked this side better...at least for this card!  Some of the other buttons are shaped like little flowers - I just know they're going to be popular!  In fact, the supply they had available for demonstrators to pre-order sold out in just eight days! 

So, a little more about this card...you probably recognize the Whisper White layer on top - it's a cropped Fresh Cuts Die-Cut card from last month's promotion.  Don't worry - these will be in the new catalog if you didn't pick any up in June.  Since I cut off the back of the card, I was able to turn it 90 degrees so my flower is on a slight angle.  I always struggle with the amount of white space that is left, so I sponged some Pink Pirouette Classic Ink around the edges.  Behind the flower is Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, a 5-Petal Flower punched out of Riding Hood Red.  And, the new button is sitting on top of a 3/4" circle punched out of Riding Hood Red. 

Of course I punched the Kiwi Kiss border with the new scallop edge punch.  And, the thing I like most about this new punch - it's easy to center your scallops.  If you're like me, you may have been frustrated with the corner rounder scallops because it was always a mystery where your last scallop would end up.  I'd often feel frustrated that the scallops weren't centered.  Well, the new punch solves that problem!  The guide is wide enough that you can lay your card stock down and see exactly where the scallops will punch on each end before you punch. 

I finished this card off with some images from the Fresh Cuts stamp set in Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette.  The thread in the middle of the button is actually a couple of strands of DMC string in a pale pink color that I had sitting around from my cross-stitching days.  And, of course, last but not least, Whisper White Taffeta ribbon.  I guess I'll skip my supply list since I already mentioned them all in my description.

In Colors and Retiring Accessories

The retired accessory list is right around the corner.  And, if Stampin' Up!'s message to demonstrators this morning is any indication, the In Colors will be flying off the shelves come Monday morning when the accessories list is posted!  Check my website early - I'll be trying to get it online as soon as possible.

However, two In Color Ribbons have already SOLD OUT!  Purely Pomegranate and Blue Bayou are already gone forever!!!

Item Number	Description
109060	Blue Bayou Double-Stitched Ribbon
109061	Purely Pomegranate Double-Stitched Ribbon

So, if you're thinking about ordering any of these retiring items, contact me soon!!!  Just a reminder, check my Sale Page for all of my current promotions - In Colors, Retiring Stamp Sets, and Retiring Accessories are 20% off.  Retiring Hodge Podge Hardware is 25% off.

E-mail me or call me at 856-503-7459 to place your order!