Free Big Shot Promotion Extended!

Stampin' Up! Just announced that they are extending their AWESOME (sing it out, it sounds better!) Big Shot Promotion until November 11, 2011.

11-11-11!!

What is this promotion you ask? How can I get a free Big Shot? (THE most amazing die-cutting machine out there, if I do say so myself!) Simply sign up to be a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! The starter kit contains over $400 worth of products (see picture below) for the low, low price of $215 and then, on top of that already amazing deal, Stampin' Up! will GIVE YOU a Big Shot. Or, if you are already the lucky owner of a Big Shot, $125 in free product. Trust me, if you are even remotely considering making a large purchase or wanting a way to earn some extra cash while having fun stamping with your friends (old and new), this is the deal for you!

Check it out.

This kit includes (click on them to view):

Easy Events

For All You Do

Create a Cupcake

Triple Treat Flower

Cupcakes Stampin' Around® Wheel

Clear Block C

Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

Assorted colour Smooth Card Stock (8-1/2" x 11") - Getting Started pack

Card Stock (8-1/2 x 11) - Whisper White

5/8" Satin Ribbon

VersaMark® Pad

4 x  ® (Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red, and Pumpkin Pie)

2 x Stampin' Write® Marker (Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist)

Marina Mist Classic Refill

SNAIL Adhesive®

Stampin' Mist®

Cupcake Punch

Always Bird Décor Elements®

Medium Envelopes (40)

Color Coach

Substitutions are allowed (for items at the same price point) which makes the kit is completely customizable (is that a word?) For digi scrappers and card makers, the Digital + Starter Kit includes the full My Digital Studio® CD and His & Hers Collection DVD as well as some of the items above. 

So right now you can get $550 worth of Stampin' Up! products for only $215!! What are you waiting for? Grab the deal! Start creating and stamping with your friends and it will pay for itself in no time flat.

Okay, sales pitch is over. Have a Safe and Happy Hallowe'en tonight!!

Fun Make and Takes

Last week at my upline group meeting, we made a couple of really cute cards. I'd like to share them with you now if I may (mwa, ha, ha, ha!! Like you have a choice here!)

First up, this adorable little guy.

He actually folds up - well, twists up - on himself and I realize now that I should have taken a picture of that.  Tomorrow. Maybe. Hopefully. :)

Next up is this one. It was a little more complicated than I'd anticipated. The woven technique is something I will have to pull out at my new Technique Club. What's that you say? A Technique Club? Tell me more!

Come to my Open House on Saturday and I will!!

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon!!

Blog Award

My friend Roxy let me know she'd given me a Blog Award. That is just so like her! She's a sweetie. She's one of those blog friends that I have yet to meet in real life but I know we'd gel instantly. Our lives have apparantly been running in parallel for awhile. It's kind of crazy!

Anyway, here's the award.

Liebster is a German word that means beloved or favourite. This award is for blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

Here are the rules to accept this award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun!

So my picks are:
1 - Apron Strings. Lori puts up some pretty awesome challenges that I highly recommend checking out.

2 - My sister-in-law Jonina. She's currently running for School Board Trustee in New Westminster (BC) and would be such an asset to the school system there. She's passionate about kids, education and (the subject of her blog) getting kids outside to play ... even in the city.

3 - An old Ultimate Frisbee team mate Andrea. I love and admire her attempts to feed her eldest daughter good, healthy food. I try as well and know how hard it is when you're stuck with a picky kid. Her recipes are super yummy!

4 - Next is my friend Beth. She is battling breast cancer again and taking us along for the ride. She is a mom of 3 kids, ages with my own, living here in Ladner. The parallels are undeniable and force me to thank God on a daily basis for my continued fair health.

5 - And last but not least is an old Sorority Sister (Go Kappa!) of mine, Andrea, who is bravely documenting her trials and tribulations of motherhood. She's just had her second daughter so I look forward to those spit up posts!!

All right, that's it.
It was actually hard to find blogs with fewer than 200 followers! I've been so swamped lately that IF I'm blog surfing it's usually a few of the more well known ones. I rarely have time these days to sit down and check out all the fantastic blogs out there - even of those that regularly check me out! Anyway, thanks again for the recognition Roxy!! I'm now more determined than ever to be a better blogger friend to all!

I'll be back soon with some more card eye candy for you.

I'm still here!

I may have been MIA from the Blogosphere lately but I've been working hard behind the scenes. Want to see what I've been working on?

(Like you have a choice! LOL!)

First up, my card for my Colourful Impressions group meeting.

Actually, it's only a card front - that's what we were swapping this time not full cards. 

I used the Delightful Decorations stamp set with matching Ornament punch and my new obsession, embossing. The top right ornament is embossed with Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Emboss Powder and the bottom one with White Stampin' Emboss Powder. The left hand ornament is stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink. 

Other items of note: Card stock - Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler; texture plate - Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine and Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to showcase my business at a Momcafe event. My sister in law Christine Nielsen owns the Vancouver and North Shore franchise of Momcafe and for my birthday last month she gave me both a membership and a table at October's meeting. It was a really neat opportunity! I hope to be able to do this again sometime. Here's a picture of my set up!

And last but not least ... have you heard yet that I'm having an OPEN HOUSE next Saturday? For all the details visit my web site here. Here's a little sneak peek of what I'm giving away to anyone who books a workshop with me or signs up for one of my upcoming classes or club nights. You know you want one!!

All right, that's all for now. I'll be back this week with more card swaps and the make and takes from my meeting last week. We made this incredibly cute snowman card! Wait til you see it!!

Late night inspiration

I'm participating in a live webinar that Stampin' Up! is putting on as part of their World Wide Week of Workshops (I'll be calling you once the sun comes up again, don't you worry!) They took a break so that those demonstrators in parts where it actually IS daytime can make some booking calls. Since I can't do that (seems like a sure fire way to get shot down - calling at 11:20PM) I thought I'd do up a quick blog post to share another beautiful card I made at the Let's Stamp Out Breast Cancer event last month.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it seems appropriate to be sharing these with you now.

Isn't this gorgeous?! I can say that without any false pride as all I did was follow the instructions Kari laid out. And very carefully too I might add. I'd never embossed before and I gotta tell say ... I'm hooked! Watching the embossing powder melt and give you this ...

... AWESOME! (sing it, it sounds better!)

I went ahead and purchased the official Stampin' Up! Heat Tool and several different embossing powder colours so look for them in upcoming workshops!

All right, I think we are about to get going again so I'd better run. Thanks for checking in! Talk to you soon!

Welcome Baby card

How's this for a cute card?

I made this at the Let's Stamp Out Breast Cancer event I attended last month. We made several projects - all more lovely than the last - which I plan to share with you over the next few days (although, if you clicked on the link you'll have already seen Kari's versions.)
This card is destined for an old high school friend of mine who recently had her very first baby. She's supposed to be buying our old crib but her busy schedule is making it hard for us to meet up. (Hear that Traci? When are you coming?!) This, the crib plus many other baby goodies we no longer need, are waiting for her whenever she gets here.

The cute elephant stamp is called Elebration. Isn't is sweet? We painted it with Stampin' Up!'s Watercolor Wonder Crayons and the Aqua Painter. Together these products give such a lovely, soft effect to your stamped images.

Well, it's Thanksgiving this weekend up here in Canada so I'd better head off and make my dish for dinner tonight. Last night we went to Greg's sisters for a turkey dinner and tonight we are heading to my parents for another turkey. Always a good year when you can score two turkey dinners with no clean up!! Bummer, of course, is no leftovers. Oh well. Next year I'm sure we'll be back on the hook for hosting duty.

Simply Sent Promotion and a Little Something Sweetly Wicked!

Ages ago, I promised you something Hallowe'en themed. Um ... sorry for the long delay. This whole juggling family, kids activities, and new business thing is all a bit overwhelming. Plus I am finding it hard to get some actual crafting into the schedule! So, here is something I made at my Upline meeting a few weeks ago.

These are the new 1" x 8" cellophane bags from the Holiday Mini catalogue. I have purchased enough of these that Marley and Paige's classes will be getting little treats in them!

The great thing about them is that you can put anything in them! Not just candy, but pencils, rolled up colouring sheets, glitter (don't worry Moms of my kids classmates - I will not inflict a house full of glitter on you but ... could be fun as a wedding favour!) and all sorts of things.

The spider is a bit too creepy for my taste but hey, if you can't creep out your kids on Hallowe'en, when can you?!

Now for something completely different.

This is another of the fabulous Stampin' Up! promotions going on this month.

Promotion Details:  Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Our Simply Sent Kits are the ideal choice for the beginning crafter. The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it's easy to create cards for any occasion.

Buy any two of the following Simply Sent Kits:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	122375	Simply Sent Great Day	$15.95
193	122377	Simply Sent Everyday Elegance	$14.95
193	122376	Simply Sent Sweet Moments	$16.95

And get a FREE coordinating stamp set:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	123682	It's Your Day	$10.95
192	124685	Es tu día (Spanish It's Your day)	$10.95
192	124800	C'est ta fête (French It's Your Day)	$10.95
193	123686	Everyday Wishes	$11.95
193	123684	You're Cherished	$10.95
193	124865	Chérissons les anges (French You're Cherished)	$10.95

Follow the links above to see the products in my online store. These kits make things so easy. If you are at all under the impression that you aren't crafty (say what?!), this is what you need to get started. I'll be sharing them in my workshops this month so if you want to host a workshop and find out about these, now is the time!

Okay, off to make lunch for me and the 2 year old then it's early dismissal, Hallowe'en costume shopping, ballet class, shove dinner into the younger ones (and me!), soccer practice, feed the athletes, home reading, bedtime, soccer practice for Greg and then maybe, maybe do some crafting before passing out for the night! Whew! Have a great Wednesday everyone. 

BIG news from Stampin' Up!

On Saturday, after recovering from my birthday dinner out (really, that makes it sound like I was drunk or something - actually, it was the multiple interruptions from the 2 y.o. that gave me a rough feeling in the morning!) I logged onto the Stampin' Up! site and was blown away by all the promotions on this month! Click here to check them all out, or wait and I'll share them with you over the next few days.

First up ... Be a Big Shot.

Sign up to be a demonstrator between now and October 31st and you will receive a Big Shot included with your KIT! Already have a Big Shot? No worries, you can choose $125 in FREE products! WOW! Now is a GREAT time to become a demonstrator. Earn a little cash for the holidays or become a hobby demonstrator and enjoy some of the best crafting supplies around. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain with Stampin' Up! If you have questions, please never hesitate to ask.

I wish this deal had been around when I joined. I LOVE my Big Shot!!

Okay, speaking of the Big Shot. Here is something I made at a recent meeting with some of my fellow Demonstrators using the Big Shot and the Holiday Stocking Die.

Isn't it cute? It's also a card. Wouldn't you just love to make this for your friends and family this Christmas? Ask me how! :)

Walk for the Cure 2011

Walking for the Cure!

Today was the day! Team Pinkalicious Pandora had fun walking through the streets of Vancouver in support of an excellent cause. As soon as I get the team photo I'll pop it into the post here ...

Edited Oct 12 - Beth sent me this picture of Team Pinkalicious Pandora. Aren't we a gorgeous bunch?!

... until then, here are some other shots from the morning.

Pre-race energy - mmmm ... Timbits!

Tanya, myself and Shannon.

Approaching the start line - finally! With all the people it took ages to get moving. It was worse than the Sun Run for congestion! But we were there to walk, support Beth and her family and enjoy the sunshine so the slow pace was not a problem.

Pinkalicious Pandoras in all their Pinkalicious glory! Beth with her daughters Kate (on left) and Emma. Beth's husband Mike is the man walking behind with the stroller and in the bottom of the stroller is their son, John. The kids did amazingly well - considering. There were a few melt downs and Kate need a piggy back a few times but all in all, they were awesome!

Then there was this guy.

He did the walk with his cat on his hat. A real live cat! 

Apparently this was their 3rd year doing the walk like this.

It truly takes all types!!

The walk took us under the Chinatown gates.

And here we are approaching the finish line!

It was a moving experience. Seeing everyone with names on their pinnies - Moms, Aunts, Sisters, Grandmas, friends, co-workers and even the odd man's name too. This is truly a disease that needs to be defeated! I was so glad I took part and hope that next year I can turn it into a family affair. It's on my birthday next year so it seems destined!

It's not too late to donate to this walk and the cause in general. To donate to my team please click on this link. (Hope it works!) Thanks!