The Play is finally here!

I'm sorry it's been so long between posts. My daugher is involved in the Christian Drama School of NJ's play, "Ebenezer," which has kept us busy for months with rehearsals and making and altering lots and lots of costumes! If you are interested, there are 2 performances at the Morris Knolls High School in Denville, NJ, this coming Saturday, Dec. 13th, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14th, at 3 p.m. (Monday is the "snow date"). Tickets are $10. It is always a great show!

This photo is from a scene in their last play, 'According to Women', which was about the life and death of Jesus according to the women who were there. In this scene Jesus is healing Peters mother-in-law.

It's time, once again, to say Goodbye.......

As we get ready to unveil a brand new Stampin'Up! catalog, we must say 'Goodbye' to our retiring friends. Check out the list by clicking on the link to the left. This will be your last chance to get these sets--they are only available through January 18, 2009! If you place an order between now and Dec. 23rd, you can get them at a 10% discount, AND orders of $70 or more will receive FREE SHIPPING to boot!!

Call or e-mail me with your order today. Or better yet, go to my website (there's a link to the left), click on the 'SHOP NOW' button and order immediately. Place your order by Dec. 16th to receive it in time for Christmas. However, Stampin'Up! cannot control the delivery service and high holiday shopping volume could cause delays, so place your order early to avoid disappointment.

The set used in this lovely card, Sleigh Bells Ring, is retiring. Don't miss out on getting sets that you love!

Have Fun Shopping!
Marge

Holiday Extravaganza!!

Starting today until December 1st or while supplies last, Stampin'Up! is running it's best holiday sale ever! Check out the list of bundled items by clicking on the link to the left....they're available at up to a 50% discount, but must be purchased in the bundles.

If you're interested act fast......in fact you can link to my website and place an online order there! Just remember to register a login id and password before starting your order. My understanding is that when you click on the "shop now" button at the upper right hand corner of my website, this list will appear but I'm adding a link here for your convenience.

Happy Shopping!

Marge

Happy Birthday, Stampin'Up!!

Stampin'Up! celebrates its 20th birthday in the month of October!

As part of the celebration, they are offering a 20% discount on a select bunch of birthday stamp sets from Oct. 1-31! Click on the flyer in the left colum of my blog to check out the details.

Special product offer for the month (October 1-31, 2008, or while supplies last) -- Purchase the large-tip Aqua Painter (item 114617) for $7.25. No minimum purchase, no limits, while supplies last

Hostess Incentive: October 1-November 30, 2008
Host a $350 workshop and choose one stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free. Click on the link in the left column to see the selections!

Tons of Techniques!

At my last Tons of Techniques class I focused on Emboss/Resist techniques.

This card was made with a basic emboss/resist technique using white embossing powder and sponge daubers to apply the ink.

Stamps: Doodle This, Fresh Cuts (greeting)

Card Stock: Whisper White, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Versamark, White Craft, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: White embossing powder, White grosgrain ribbon, Styled Silver hardware, Dimensionals, Sponge daubers


This card uses an emboss/resist technique that mimics batik. The image is embossed with clear ep then spritzed with water before sponging on the colors (stick with 2 or 3 colors--preferably ones that blend well). The embossed image is then ironed off (place between 2 pieces of copy paper) which flattens the image and gives it that batik look.

Stamps: True Friend

Card Stock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Confetti White

Inks: Versamark, White craft, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red and More Mustard

Accessories: Flower Fusion, Rhinestone brads (circle fire), Glue dots, Sponges, Clear embossing powder


This is my attempt to case one of Michelle Zindorf's brayered backgrounds with embossed flowers in the foreground. Check out her blog (she's in my blog list)....she has perfected this technique and then some....a true artist! However, I have joined with those who believe that she truly does have a magic brayer 'cause I couldn't get my brayer to duplicate her look at all. So my background is totally sponged! I'll keep workin' on the brayering part.

The flowers are stamped, colored and then embossed using a Versamarker and clear ep. This part was done first so that the flowers would resist all the background ink (they really pop). This is so much fun!

Stamps: Embrace Life, Sincere Salutations

Card Stock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Black StazOn, Pink Pirouete, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Versamarker

Accessories: Blender Pen, Clear ep, 1 1/4" Circle punch, Sponges, Post-it Notes

Hope you are having a beautiful fall day wherever you are! Thanks for stopping by....

Marge

The Never Before Seen Promo Ends Sept. 30th!

Don't miss out, the following new sets from the Fall/Winter 2008 Catalog & Idea Book are 15% off, but only until Tuesday! Click on the SU caty link to view the sets. I will be placing an order on Tuesday, and if you want to be part of that order I'll be raffling off the hostess sets. Call or e-mail me today to place your order before it's too late!

Snow Swirled/p. 32 - Reg. $24.95/Sale $21.21
It's a Stretch/p. 55 - Reg. $23.95/Sale $20.36
Putt Putt/p. 81 - Reg. $24.95/Sale $21.21
Eastern Blooms/p. 91 - Reg. $21.95/Sale $18.66
Pocket Silhouettes/p. 98 - Reg. $18.95/Sale $16.11
Upsy Daisy/p. 101 - Reg. $18.95/Sale $16.11
Under the Stars/p. 109 - Reg. $29.95/Sale $25.46
Heard from the Heart/p. 145 - Reg. $22.95/Sale $19.51
Contempo Alphabet/p. 157 - Reg. $40.95/Sale $34.81
Felicidades Siempre*/p. 23 - Reg. $17.95/Sale $15.26

Sock Monkey & Dreams Du Jour

I finally took some time to play with some of my new stamp sets from Stampin'Up!. How fun! I spent some time online getting inspired by some wonderful stampers who are kind enough to share their creations on their blogs and on splitcoaststampers.com. (This is a wonderful way to get ideas......and many of them even share tutorials.) And here is a sample of what I came up with...

This is Sock Monkey. Isn't he cute? Did you have one of these? I wish I could find mine. He's in the new Fall/Winter 2008 catalog on p. 51, and there's another set there with a whole bunch of cute accessories that go with him.

I used Pacific Point, Kiwi kiss, Riding Hood Red and even a spot of Pink Pirouette (for the flower center) from the new In Color line. The polka dotted background paper is from the new Bella Rose DSP (caty p. 168). When you look at the beautiful Designer Series Paper in the new catalog, notice that Stampin'Up! has included all the colors that they used in each pack. What an easy way to pick out great color combinations for our creations! And love that new Scallop Edge punch (caty p. 188). Makes it so fast and easy to get a straight scallop edge!

In this card I used Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, and Kiwi Kiss (Bella Rose DSP). I made the flower window by first punching out a 1 1/4" circle from Riding Hood Red and lining up the Scallop Circle punch around it (hold your punch upside down so you can see the placement). The leaves were made by stamping the heart from Sock Monkey on the back of the DS paper, cutting it out and then cutting it half (just trim to round off the edges a little). This card was inspired by the layout of a card that Jackie Matyasovski created for our Spirelli class.

The next card uses Dreams Du Jour and the Floral background stamp. The triple panel piece was stamped with Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss (swiped with the edge of the Kiwi Kiss pad to give it interest), then cut into 3 - 1 inch panels (inspired by a card created by Cindy Lawrence). The center piece is watercolored using pads and a blender pen. I then went over the flower, leaves and border with a Versamarker and embossed it with Clear ep.

Online Ordering and More!

Beginning Tuesday, September 9th, you may now order online through my website! So if you're browsing through the online catalog late at night in your jammies, you can place your order right away! How cool is that!


Stampin'Up! has lots of cool new stamps and products to check out like their new Decor Elements, an extension of the Definitely Decorative line--vinyl artwork for walls, mirrors, windows, or other hard, smooth surfaces--they're like huge rub-ons.


Then there's the Big Shot, featured in the Holiday Mini Catalog, which was designed for Stampin'Up! by Sizzix. It works with many other dies on the market as well as our exclusive Stampin'Up! dies. You can order this cool tool starting October 1st!


Check out my Stampin'Up! website for current promotions.....

• The Never Before Seen Promo--9 new stamp sets are being offered at a 15% discount thru September 30th!


• $99 Mini Starter Kits--choose between a stamp or scrapbook focused kit--thru October 11th!


• Now thru January 18, 2009, if you become a demonstrator with the $199 starter kit, choose 1 FREE set from the new Catalog & Idea Book or the Fall/Winter Sampler mini.


• Host a $350 workshop between October 1st and November 30th and choose a FREE set from the Fall/Winter Sampler mini in addition to the already great hostess freebies!

That's all for now. I was hoping to include some pictures of these great new products and possibly some samples, but I'm not at my main computer. So for now, you'll have to check out my website to see them.

Blessings,

Marge Thuen