Clubbing With Gal Pals

Ever since I started out as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I have had at least one monthly club in my home. I've done them on Friday nights, Thursday nights, Tuesday nights, and here lately, Sunday afternoons. The basic principle is always the same; we get our "stamp therapy" by making handmade cards and other paper projects.

There is no supply or class fee, I simply ask that members join for 6 months at a time. Which means for each of the 6 meetings they purchase $25 or more in SU! products.

In exchange, we make things, enjoy each other's company, eat yummy snacks and treats, and all members earn rewards from the sales! My last event awarded my hostess with $42 in free product!!

Even when life gets in the way, you don't have to sacrifice your stamp therapy. Any member of my club that misses a workshop will find the supplies and instructions for what she missed in her order bag! This was our September assortment of crafts...

Of course there is also "the party option." We can pick a date for a party with your friends. We'll make 2 projects, play a game or two, win some door prizes, and generally have lots of FUN! You are the hostess, you get the rewards!! This can be a first step to starting a club; if you and your friends want to continue and take turns earning hostess rewards, we can make that happen!

I have met some fabulous ladies over the years, and I love looking back through pictures to see them proudly holding something they made for a photo...I need to take pictures more often! lol

Now that school is back in session, I have some extra dates in my calendar. Are you ready to party? Lets chat!

Sally Saenz
(214) 354-7685 voice/text

Love to Die

The Holiday Catalog started this month!! Pictured above is the Howl-O-Ween Treat Bundle. So CUTE! I always take advantage of the 15% savings when I want coordinating stamps and dies. The stamp set is also available in wood mount so there are two bundle options.

Since this is the Holiday catalog naturally there are many Christmas stamps sets, and another bundle to die for is the Embellished Ornaments Bundle.

Love it!! The ornament dies are very detailed and the go-to trick for them as well as the "Boo" die in the Howl-O-Ween Treat Bundle was always a layer of wax paper between the die and your paper to ensure it will pop out without tearing. But hold onto your hat...

One of my favorite new items in the Holiday Catalog is the Precision Base Plate. It's a steel plate that gives you extra-fine cuts with minimal effort. For the best results it's suggested you use it with the Multipurpose Platform instead of the Magnetic Platform. Another tip for success is to flip your cutting pad after each run through also avoiding the same spot you've placed your die...especially when using the same die repeatedly. =)

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Here's a few links. Download a .pdf copy of the full catalog where you can browse page by page and see all the cute projects featured in this publication. Or just pop into my store and check out all the Bundle options as well as all the new Holiday stuff!!

Holiday Catalog

Holiday Store

Holiday Bundles








And with that I leave you with...

Weekly Deals!! 

Good through 9/21/2015 (new offerings every Tuesday)

http://tinyurl.com/SUweeklyDeal

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Happy stampin'

Sally

It's Tuesday!

Check out what's on sale!

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http://tinyurl.com/SUweeklyDeal

Micro Easel Card

I found this idea on Pinterest, but even with Google translate, and a link to another blog from the pinned image, there really weren't any directions I could find. I was determined to try it though, I mean really...it's so cute!! Since I had to figure it out on my own using my wits and a ruler, I'm sharing it with you here! =)

I made a trip to the dollar store where I was able to find matchboxes and birthday candles. The matchboxes were shrink wrapped together in groups of 10 for a buck! I assume they can be found in varying sizes, so if you follow my directions to make one, make sure you measure your box and adjust accordingly.

So the first thing I did was to pull out the little drawer and dump the matches out. I dabbed my little drawer front directly into Crushed Curry ink, turned it around and dabbed the other side in Cucumber Crush.

Then I measured the box shell and came up with approx 2-1/8" x 1-3/8". This is my measurement for the DSP I adhered to the top before layering on the Easel Card. For the Micro Easel Card, I cut 4-2/8" x 1-3/8" from a piece of Bermuda Bay Card Stock. Score it at 2-1/8" (half) to create a mini card, and then score one side in half again, and score another line halfway into the half...clear? Maybe this visual will help.

This is your card base, and the you will want to create a mat with Whisper White for the front of the card. Mine measures 1-1/4" x 1-7/8" and I also cut another piece of WW for inside the little drawer, 2" x 1-1/4" although it needed a tiny trim to fit. There is also a small WW piece inside the card. This is where you'll stamp "Happy Birthday."

Make sure you adhere just the very end...the smallest scored section on the end. This will allow the card to be propped against the candle holder and displayed open. The candle holder was added by cutting off it's "stabby part" and inserting it through a hole I punched on the box top. Just use glue dots on each side of the holder to make it grab on and stay put in the hole. Put a pearl on the drawer, tuck a candle and a match inside the drawer, tie the whole thing up with a bow, and Voila!

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Weekly Deals 6/2/15

Get them at a discount and you can now shop the NEW 2015-2016 annual catalog! These select items are on sale until next Tuesday.

Weekly Deals 6/2-6/8/2015

Check out all the other goodies that were unveiled today:

http://tinyurl.com/112971inspire

Digital Departure

It was announced with the release of the retired list that My Digital Studio was being discontinued. TODAY is the LAST day to purchase downloads and print orders. June 9th is the last day SU! will support MDS, after that day the MDS website, and respective social media related pages will be removed with the exception of YouTube. They are considering leaving this intact for now.
MAKE SURE YOU UPDATE/DOWNLOAD/BACKUP your downloads and software before 6/9/2015. For assistance regarding this process, see here>>http://www.mydigitalstudio.net/backup

For those of you that have the software and would like to keep using it, this post has some beneficial information shared from Stampin' Up!

Software

We have worked with excellent partners to make the My Digital Studio product line. We're pleased to announce that StoryRock, the partner who worked with us to develop the MDS software, has made an offer to Stampin' Up!'s customers and demonstrators. Some MDS users may know that the original MDS software was based on StoryRock's award-winning MyMemories Suite software. While the two softwares have diverged over the years, there are still many similarities--which we feel confident will enable MDS users to experience an easy transition to MyMemories Suite.

MyMemories version 6 software is normally available for $39.99 USD, but StoryRock has cut the price to $19.99 USD for anyone who purchases the software via this special offer. See more details about the offer here.

Print

Starting on June 3, StoryRock will make a number of additional print products available through the latest version of the MyMemories software. Stampin' Up! has worked with StoryRock to introduce some of our most popular print products, like additional card, photobook, and calendar options and sizes. We will post a detailed list of those products and StoryRock's prices on MyDigitalStudio.net on June 3.

Artwork

While Stampin' Up! will not sell any digital downloads after June 2, we have reached an agreement with StoryRock to offer a limited number of our existing digital downloads for sale via a Stampin' Up! section of the MyMemories.com online store. You can expect to see a limited selection of digital downloads appearing on the MyMemories.com online store over the next few months. The price for downloads through the MyMemories.com online store may vary, but it will definitely be in your best interest to purchase the downloads available through Stampin' Up! at a 30 percent discount until they are no longer available after June 2.

This content will not be new to you, but it will give you the opportunity to catch additional digital downloads you may have wanted and missed while our digital downloads were available for sale. 

Do I need to switch to MyMemories Suite?

Stampin' Up! will no longer support the MDS software after June 9, 2015. MDS will continue to work on existing computers for the foreseeable future. However, you will no longer be able to print directly from MDS after June 2, and it is very probable that the software will not work with the upcoming Windows PC and Mac operating systems. It is also possible that other critical component updates like Java may cause the software to stop working as intended.

In short, if you would like to continue with digital design on a supported platform, we recommend that you switch to the latest version of MyMemories Suite. MyMemories Suite consistently rates very high, we know and recommend the developers, and as we have mentioned, it is very similar to MDS. Stampin' Up! will not provide support for switching your MDS projects and files over to MyMemories Suite, but StoryRock will be more than happy to help.

xoxo,

Sally

Birthday Bundle

The May Paper Pumpkin includes supplies to make 6 Birthday cards and 4 Celebrate bags! Really cute kit, love all the pieces!  =)

Watch the video and see them all come together...

To subscribe visit: http://tinyurl.com/leetwwa and enter the Promo Code SAVE50 to get 50% off your first 2 months!! Last day to sign up is June 10th 2015.

Paper Hugs,

Sally

It's THE List

It's here, the 2015 list of retiring Stampin' Up! stamps and accessories has been posted!
You can download a .pdf of the list HERE!!! This list will be updated daily by 4:00pm (MT) to show availability, so make sure you check back for the most up to date information!

DISCOUNTS

Many of the items are discounted too, some of them 50% off, so make sure you get what you want soon, because the accessories are only available while supplies last. Stamps, on the other hand, will continue to be produced through May 26th. The availability officially ends for the entire list on June 2nd.

Check out some of these GREAT kits that are on the list!

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MY DIGITAL STUDIO

http://tinyurl.com/ohysuck

All MDS products are 30% off retail, and since they're digital, you can snap a bunch of these up and pay no shipping! lol Here's the complete list, it's almost overwhelming.
MDS List

Here also, is a video highlighting some of the favorites on this years list, have a look:

Are you on Pinterest? There's even a board dedicated to this years list, LOVE it!!

https://www.pinterest.com/stampinup/retiring-list-2015/

One last thing, there are 7 hostess stamp sets on the list, the only way to get one is as a free gift with a qualifying order of $150 or more, so if one of these is also a "must have" item for you, make sure you add adhesive, paper, and everything you'll need to bump that order up and get that extra stamp set for free!

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XOXOXO

Sally

Weekly Deals 3/24-30/2015

The Weekly Deals below are listed with their sale prices. Always some good ones, and new ones every week. And until the end of the month we are still doing the Sale-A-Bration promotion. For every $50 spent you get something free!! Click on any item below and check 'em out!

Artisan Label Punch

$11.96

Epic Day Designer Washi Tape

$3.71

Crushed Curry Baker's Twine

$2.21

Fringe Scissors

$7.46

Gold Fancy Designer Vellum Foil

$8.21

Petite Petals Punch

$9.71

Label Love Clear Stamp Set

$13.46

http://tinyurl.com/SUweeklyDeal
 
Happy craftin'
XOXO

Sally

Sad News

I'm sad to let you know that Stampin' Up! has made the difficult decision to discontinue the line of Blendabilites alcohol markers. In short, the welding process of attaching the marker tip to the barrel of the marker can result in microscopic holes in the tip of the marker. This can lead to accelerated evaporation of the alcohol in the ink, resulting in a dried up, unusable marker.

I've included a brief Q&A about this problem posted below.

Please note that this defect does NOT affect all the markers that are out there. It's estimated that approximately 30-40% of the markers were affected by the defect. Thankfully my markers are fine, and I will continue to use them to color images on occasion. If you have purchased any Blendabilites, or earned some as a free Sale-A-Bration item, I encourage you to test your markers and make sure they are in working order. If they are unusable, or you find anything questionable about them, please contact me by June 15, 2015, so we can determine whether to get you a refund or exchange for a different product.

The success of the Blendabilites line has certainly opened a door. Stampin' Up! is very aware that alcohol based markers, and all the crafting possibilities that they allow, are a high demand product. They are continuing to work on finding a new manufacturer or method of producing these markers that will result in a high quality, stable product line that meets SU!'s high standards while remaining affordable.

Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. I know this is disappointing and frustrating news, but I am very glad that Stampin' Up! has acknowledged this issue, and I must applaud SU! for their ethics in business practices.

Q&A

Q: Are all Blendabilities markers defective?   

A: No. Most Blendabilities markers work as intended. We ask that you use your best judgment to determine whether your product is in good condition or if you need a refund. 

Q: What are the quality problems with this product? 

A: When the tip is welded to the barrel, the welding process can leave microscopic (invisible) holes in the marker tip. This leads to accelerated evaporation of the alcohol in the ink.  

Q: Will the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad (item #132708) and the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad Refill (item#133456) still be available for purchase?  

A: Yes. These items will also be featured in this year’s 2015 – 2016 annual catalog.  

Q: Can I replace my Blendabilities for non-defective Blendabilities?  

A: No. We’re returning our entire inventory of Blendabilities to the manufacturer.  

Q: If I selected Blendabilities as my Sale-A-Bration item and it is on backorder,do I have to choose another Sale-A-Bration item?  

A: Yes. We have fourteen other Sale-A-Bration items from which to choose.

 

Hope this was helpful, and again, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hugs,

Sally  

 

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals

Here's the Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals ... you have until next Monday night, February 23rd to order these items with the sale price!! =)

• What's Up Punch [Item # 133781]
  Get it for only $12.71 
• Celebration Basics Kit [Item # 133007]
  Get it for only $11.21 
• Mosaic Punch [Item # 131267]
  Get it for only $11.96 
• Pansy Punch [Item # 130698]
  Get it for only $11.96 
• 2014-2016 In Color Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack [Item # 133705]
  Get it for only $16.46 
• Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Cotton Ribbon [Item # 134565]
  Get it for only $4.46
• Daffodil Delight 1/4" Cotton Ribbon [Item # 134559]
  Get it for only $4.46 
• Amped Up Ampersands Kit - Digital Download [Item # 134844]
  Get it for only $5.97

See them all here>>> http://tinyurl.com/SUweeklyDeal

XOXO,

Sally

 

Building a Building

This is my daughter's Valentine's Day box this year. I think we may have overdone it a little this year. Just a little though. Once I get an idea and I have her approval, we give it 110%!

I literally found a big long box on the side of the road, and stopped to pick it up knowing it would be PERFECT!

To create the Empire State building, I cut about a foot off the top of the box to reduce the height and have extra cardboard to use for added layers. Here is how I cut and scored a piece to add on one side...

We did use a picture of the building as inspiration, and opted to make our version similar, but not exact...but if I'd had another box for the base part of the building, we would have added it too.

Natalie was right there helping through the entire process, and she took my picture too. =)

Here the bottom part is completed.

Then with the center section scored and folded inward I taped panels behind it down the middle until it was filled in.

The top was scored and folded down toward the middle of the box, then we pieced together and inserted a rectangle into the hole on top. Then two little rectangles on top of it to give strength and allow a place to add the next series of layers for the top.

After the box was all taped together, I used the hot glue gun to reinforce the top piece we inserted and to glue the stack of cardboard on top with a vitamin bottle. lol

It's not pictured, but I cut a large slot in the back so kids can put her valentines in there. The whole thing was spray painted gray...and the tip of the buiding is a pencil (also added using hot glue)!

We waited about an hour after the base coat was painted and Natalie did all the windows herself using a stencil I made for her.

The finishing touches include a gorilla stuffed toy, Polly Pocket, and two paper hearts we cut using one of my Stampin' Up! Punches. I would estimate the whole thing took about 3 hours to make. And I only spent $3.99 on a can of spray paint, we had all the other supplies on hand.

Here's a photo of Natalie at school with her box the next day. She is very proud of her box this year. I don't know how we'll manage to do better in 2016!

Hope you have an awesome Valentine's Day!!
XOXO
Sally