Here’s another blast from the past, a retired homemade birthday card.  I kept thinking the lighting wasn’t working well for the pictures, but then I looked at the card again and, except for the Brilliant Blue, it’s pretty true to color!!!  LOL!  This is one bright card!  Isn’t it funny how trends and tastes change over time?

I think this is a very clever card, how she used a small punch to create the edges of the greeting piece to make it look like a ticket, and then reproduced the holes on the background.  Simple, yet unique!  And I still have the name of the creator of this wonderful card, Judy Pakula.  Great job!

Make an awesome family reunion scrapbook with one of the newest digital downloads from Stampin’ Up! today!

This cute Family Spotlight digital ensemble has a bit of everything for the most memorable family reunion:

• Invitations
• Table tents
• Game
• Iron-ons
• Recipe book

It’s the complete package!  Make an impression with tea towels, tote bags, and recipe books for the whole family.

What’s included:

• Invitation greeting card digital template (5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″)
• Thank you greeting card digital template (5″ x 3-1/2″)
• 28-page easel recipe book (5-1/2″ x 6-1/2″)
• 11-page décor template (8-1/2″ x11″)
• 55-piece SVG stamp brush set
• 3 Designer Series Papers
• 25 embellishments

See what else is new today!

Up to 60% off!

There’s just a few days left for the current Stampin’ Up! catalog, so you’d better pick up the Stampin’ Up! stamps and accessories that are retiring before they’re gone!  Remember, some of the Stampin’ Up! inks are retiring, too, along with their coordinating card stock, ribbons, buttons, etc.  Many items are available only while supplies last, so be quick if you really want it!

You can find the updated retired rubber stamps list here and the retired Stampin’ Up! accessories list here.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Place your order online 24/7!

I thought I’d follow up yesterday’s post with a little information about the motivational speakers at Integrative Nutrition.  They are experts in their fields and at the forefront of health and wellness.  They are medical doctors, PhDs, researchers, and authorities in nutrition today.  The nutrition theories they teach give a wide range of information to draw from.   Here’s a sampling of JUST SOME of the inspirational and informative speakers from past classes.  See how many you recognize:

• Andrew Weil, M.D., Director of Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona
• Deepak Chopra, world leader in the field of mind-body medicine
• David Wolfe, authority on superfoods and raw food nutrition
• Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of Eat to Live; Eat for Health; Lose Weight, Keep it Off
• Walter Willett, M.D., Chair of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health
• David Katz, M.D., Director, Yale Prevention Research Center
• Arthur Agatston, M.D., author of The South Beach Diet
• John Douillard, D.C., international teacher of Ayurvedic medicine
• Barry Sears, PhD., author of The Zone Diet

Can you tell I’m excited? 

If you’d like more information or to take advantage of the reduced tuition special, just call (877)733-1520 or email Coachblair@integrativenutrition.com.  And please tell them I referred you!

Please excuse this diversion from our regularly-scheduled program.

As some of you know, I’ve recently graduated from a coach training program.  I have decided to further my studies by focusing on health and wellness.  I’m very excited!

Are any of you interested in entering the health and wellness field, either to become a health coach or working with organizations or schools, etc.?

Well, I have wonderful news! To celebrate Memorial Day, Integrative Nutrition is offering a chance to save on the cost of enrollment if you enroll between Tuesday, May 21st – Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. You’ll be able to save $500 + an additional $500 if you pay in full. That’s up to $1,000 in savings!

• Healthy cooking
• A variety of dietary theories
• Cravings
• Fitness
• Weight loss
• Aging
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Food toxins
• … and much more!

Today I’m announcing a new craft contest!  Be sure and tell all your friends because they might  want to enter… the more the merrier!  And the first three people to submit their project will win a prize!

There’s just a few more days left of the current Stampin’ Up! catalog.  Be sure to get those must-have retiring stamps and accessories before they’re gone!

And here’s an added bonus:  Place an order of $40 or more with me before 6:00 p.m. tomorrow — Friday — and in June I will send you a hand-stamped card that you can keep or use to send to someone else, along with a sampling of our new yummy Candy Dots!

Call, e-mail, or place your orders online HERE.

Time got away from me today, but tune in tomorrow for a special offer!

Download this free digital template and make these unique teacher gifts.  Use the Packed For You Designer Template to make these adorable backpacks.  Perfect as a gift card holder, make a few for some very creative teacher gift ideas.

Check out all the new digital downloads HERE.

Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is about regarding the Core’dinations Specialty Card Stock and Stampin’ Sanding System?  Check out this craft tutorial on the Core’dinations Card Stock and discover for yourself.

Stampin’ Up! has recently updated their digital scrapbook software, My Digital Studio, with some important fixes and enhancements. You can see a full list here. The next time you’re using My Digital Studio and connected to the Internet it will update these changes automatically for you.

One of the updates will improve the software installation process by resolving issues with antivirus software and power settings on your computer. Please note that the time it takes to download the installation file (.dmg or .exe) will be longer, but the overall process time should not increase because the actual installation will be much quicker.

Once you’ve updated your software, don’t forget to check out our sale and get 25% off select digital scrapbooking kits and more until June 15th.

Don’t have My Digital Studio?

Try it FREE for 30 days!

Do you need some quick ideas for unique Mothers Day gifts?  Spring is full of special occasions.  Are you ready?  There’s still time!

Create this awesome textured card set for those memorable occasions you’ll be celebrating soon. You will be a superstar when you give this card set as a gift for Mother’s Day, graduation, baby & bridal showers! The Big Shot and Core’dinations card stock products will help you create something beautiful quickly.

You can buy the single 11-page tutorial with lots of photos below for only $7, but why not join the Stamp4Joy Card Making Club?   You’ll receive new card making tutorials every month and save money, too!

I don’t know if this card making technique has an official name; I just call it scribbling.  You can’t find an easier or quicker rubber stamp technique than scribbling… even doodling isn’t as fast. 

PAPER CRAFT SUPPLIES

• Stamps:  Feel Goods (w-129681/c-129684)
• Card Stock:  Whisper White, 5-1/4″ x 4″ (100730); Pacific Point, 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″
• Stampin’ Up! Ink & Markers:  Pacific Point Classic Stampin’ Pad (126951),  Brights Stampin’ Write Markers (119702) – used Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive
• Other:  SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

CARD MAKING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fold Pacific Point card stock in half to create card base;
2. Using Stampin’ Write Markers, scribble across the Whisper White piece on a diagonal;
3. Stamp your greeting in Pacific Point ink
4. Adhere stamped piece to front of Pacific Point card

What would you most like to see on this site?  Please submit your answers in the Comment section below.

Use My Digital Studio for making birthday invitations and the complete party ensemble with one of today’s newest digital scrapbooking kits, Wonderland Party Digital Ensemble.  What child wouldn’t love this magical kit?

This digital download includes:

• thank you greeting card template (5″ x 3-1/2″)
• double-sided birthday party invitations postcard template (5″ x 7″)
• 5-page décor template* (8’1/2″ x 11″)
• 49-piece stamp brush set
• 12 designer papers
• 9 digital embellishments
• 2 punches

* Décor template includes a banner, food flags, framable art, and treat toppers

Begin making birthday invitations and planning that special party.

Order Wonderland Party Digital Ensemble today!

Have you ever found the perfect stamp, but didn’t want to buy the whole set?  Well, you can still buy single Stampin’ Up! stamps until the end of July, so be sure and pick up your favorites!

Details

• This offer is available for clear-mount stamps only.
• You can find the stamp item numbers on the flyers.
• Single stamps can be ordered in the online store.
• These won’t be sent in our typical cases or packaging; they’ll be packaged in cello bags. If you’d like a case for your stamp, you can buy our Clear-Mount Stamp Cases that come in packs of four (item 119105).
• The stamps won’t come with a Clear-Mount Block, and you’ll need to buy a block separately if you don’t already have one. The recommended block sizes can be found on the flyer.
• There’s no limit on how many pieces you can buy.
• These stamps are only available through July 31, 2013, so get them while you can!

Single Stamps:  Assortment 3

Single Stamps:  Assortment 4

I have another friend’s birthday coming up, so I thought I’d create a birthday card with a sneak peek!

First I want to chat about some of the retiring products I used on this simple rubber stamp project.  I created some layers using the stunning blue Island Indigo card stock and some patterned paper from the Comfort Cafe’ Designer Paper collection.  The interim layers of the blue set off the paper patterns nicely, don’t you think?

The adorable flower buttons are from the delightful Neutrals Designer Buttons, which are going to be retiring, too.  All of these items are available only while supplies last, so if you wait too long they might be gone!

The greeting was stamped in the retiring Island Indigo ink and is a sneak peek from a new stamp set coming out in June, Really Good Greetings (w-130330/c-130333)… the name says it all!    I used the Ovals Collection Framelits Dies from the Spring Catalog to cut out the greeting and mat.

Many items from the retiring list are on sale, including digital  stamps and more, up to 60% off!

Be sure and pick up all the designer paper and colors you need in the ink pads, refills, and card stock before they’re gone and start making birthday cards yourself!

The new Best of 25 Years Stampin’ Up! stamps are out for May, Brides & Babies.

We’re bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century as part of our 25-year anniversary celebration.   We’re taking some great classic images and combining them with new ones to create 12 different monthly sets during 2013.   Check back here every month to download a flyer for a new Best of stamp set.

Things to remember:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $14.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.
• A new flyer will be released every month for each new Best of set.
• All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.

For every Best of set purchased you’ll receive a 25-year proof of purchase.  Collect six on your collector’s card and redeem for a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95!  Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.  Download the collector’s card here.

Download the monthly flyers here:

• May – Best of Brides & Babies
• April – Best of Butterflies
• March – Best of Flowers
• February – Best of Love
• January – Best of Birthdays