VINYL!

YES! We are now selling the VINYL we make the Decor Elements with as individual entities!

At Convention last year I chatted with one of the Stampin' Up! employees who was in the Decor Elements display area, and mentioned that I'd love to be able to purchase the vinyl for my personal use.

At the time, we were only carrying Decor Elements in white, black, brown, and, in some instances, red.

Well, I wanted more colors than that, and mentioned it to the gal while we chatted. In the mini-catalog that was released in July, we began carrying OTHER colors for some of the product! I told her I wanted THOSE colors, as well...

I also emailed my suggestion - just a few weeks ago. And, LO and behold, they showed up on the Twelve Days of Christmas list.

I've decided I must be psychic!

I was ecstatic!

So, you ask yourself, what the heck is she going to do with all this vinyl?

Look!



I just got the Tulipe die, so my first attempt at using the vinyl was to cut Gable Green vinyl on the Tulipe die.

This is a pretty intricate die, so I chose to use the negative design - simply because I felt it might be easier to apply.

Well, it took some time. I had to work out the bubbles, and at the bottom, I did have a little trouble working out the wrinkles. So, I just cut the vinyl, and overlapped it a tad. I will probably go back tomorrow and snip just a TEENY TINY piece out of that overlap area so it sits flat. And the next time, I may cut just a SLIVER out of the cut pattern before applying.

But, all in all, I thought it came out pretty well.

And then I got the scathingly brilliant idea (Trouble with Angels, anyone?) to cut a couple of small pieces of the Pixie Pink vinyl and run it thru the new butterfly embosslit! I decided to try the new polka dot Heart embosslit as well.

Look!












These are really slick! I cut more butterflies, just so I wouldn't waste the vinyl.

And then I decided maybe they'd look pretty good on the glass block with the Tulipe die.

I haven't applied all the butterflies yet. They're in the "mulling" stage.

I realize I COULD remove them if I didn't like how they looked, but I think I'll just let this sit overnight and I'll look at again tomorrow to see how I want to finish it.


But isn't this KOOL!!??!


So many Big Shot dies, so much vinyl - I need more ideas of what to decorate! Got any you'd like to share with me? Leave me a Comment!

Twice in One Day!

Yeh - it's me again! Can you believe it - two posts in one day?

I wanted to remind you about the Christmas Stamp A Stack, and provide you with a convenient way for you to pay for it, but knew I'd forget about the PayPal button, if I didn't do it when I thought about it!

Hope you can come! I've got some great cards lined up for you to make.
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We had our monthly demonstrator get-together this past Sunday, and, as usual, had a great time.

It's always a challenge to come up with something just a little bit different for this group, because we want to keep each other up to date on the latest things we've learned, and want to share.

But I can always count on these ladies to bring something new to the table.

Here are the cards we exchanged.

My card this month was the Easel card I showed you the other day. They hadn't seen this, so in addition to getting the card I made, I taught them all how to make the card.


















Teresa used the Top Note die from the Big Shot, but cut it out on a fold, so instead of placing it ON a card, it IS the card.

And isn't that reindeer cute! He's made with punches and pieces of the Tulipe die for the Big Shot.














Del used the Petals Aplenty embossing folder and vellum - it's really very striking. She also used the lattice die, and the snowflake punch to add visual interest. To finish it off, she used the Ticket Corner punch.


















Veronica's card is a more traditional one, but certainly not made with traditional colors! I like her color combo.












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Stampin' Up! has some great specials going this month.

Sweet Rewards Hostess Promotion:

* Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10! (Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio).

* Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97) when you use your free hostess dollars!

New Recruit Promotions:

Digital+ Starter Kit
Starter Kit Price: $185 (over $295 value!)

Digital+ Starter Kit Contents:

* My Digital Studio software
* Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
* Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
* Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
* Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
* Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
* Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
* Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
* Button Latte Designer buttons
* Stampin' Dimensionals
* Mini Glue Dots
* SNAIL Adhesive
* Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

Digital+ Starter Kit deadlines:

# Mail-in IDA: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 (received in the office, not postmarked)
# Online IDA: Wednesday, March 31, 2010; 11:50 PM (MT)

If you're at all "into" creating on a computer, and you've ever entertained the idea of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, this is a great deal for you! Just go to my website and click on Join Now button. The password is "stampwithsam". I'd love to have you join my "we StAMp everything" team!

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And here are a few photos of The Kidz. They were tearing around the backyard tonight, stalking each other. It's always so fun to watch, but, believe me, it ain't easy to get good shots of this activity!

I love this picture of Smedley - flat cat! He was getting ready to pounce on Smudge.









She, on the other hand, decided to "take a break", so she sat on the chair for a while, looking beautiful.

She's getting her winter coat, and it's coming in a lot more "smudgy" than her summer one - and nice and thick and soft!






And finally, Velvet just sat in her Adirondack chair and watched the crazy goings-on.






Hope you enjoyed the cards AND the cat photos!

And give having a workshop for your friends and family some thought! You will have personal guidance on choosing those items you'll need to make your own Christmas cards - or at using My Digital Studio!

Or, if you'd rather, sign up for my Christmas Stamp A Stack - you'll walk out of my stampin' garage with them all done - all you'll have to do is address them, put on postage and mail them off!

Thanks for stopping by...