Cocktails & Banana Splits PJ Party

Even though Regionals was canceled last weekend, a handful of didn't get word until we had already driven out and checked into our hotel room. So we did the best we could do and made the most of it… the Cocktail & Banana Splits PJ Party went on!!!!

I had made up these little cards for everyone to have when they checked in at the front desk…

After lots of cancellation/snow storm drama and dinner, the evening started off with Banana Splits and Cocktails…

We had stuck the ice cream outside in the snow before we went to dinner so it would stay cold… only when we got BACK from dinner there was about another 8 inches of snow and the ice cream was BURIED… here's the sight out our window trying to uncover the ice cream!

After we loaded up on those, we played a game… have you ever played "SPOONS"? Well, we played that but with stamps instead of spoons and called it "STAMPS"!

I made a cute little jar to hold the stamps in, and covered the deck of cards to look pretty and match

The top winners got these chocolate candy bars, they were all done with the Kaleidoscope DSP, but there are a couple variations…

Then I had some door prizes, here's the first, a basket with lotions and such…

This water bottle reminded me SO much of the image from Friends 24-7, so I just had to get it and stamp a tag with that stamp set to coordinate!

And then in keeping with the ice cream theme, I picked up these little ice cream coasters and address book and made a coordinating tag with an upcoming stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog!

So much fun despite the snow!!!

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the Sweet Pea Scrapbooking Class! Click Here for more details – DEADLINE in 2 DAYS!!!!
  
• To order your March Card Kit of the Month! Click Here for more details!!
  
• To Sign Up for the Spring Card Class! Click Here for more details!!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Finally!! I can share my mom's Birthday gift with all of you!!! Her Birthday is the same as mine, January 17th, but our family Birthday party just kept getting pushed back and back, finally we got together yesterday to celebrate January & February Birthdays so she's received it and I can share it!

First, here is the card:

And a close up of the card…

Then here is the box for her gift that I made to match the card:

And a close up of the box…

And then what was inside the box…

And a look at the Simply Adorned Bracelet & Charms!

A close up of this side of the charms…

The charms are reversible, here is the other side!

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• This set is ALL about vintage stamping!! Shelli gave a Vintage Stamping Presentation and Leadership and I fell in love… ever since, I've been ALL over it! In fact, I'm going to be teaching a Vintage Stamping & Stencils Class as part of our Spring Retreat in April!
• The thing I've been using most in my vintage stamping is the "Color Spritzer Tool" and a Chocolate Chip Marker. That's how I've gotten the splattered look you see here and there, see the flower pictured to the right for a sample of what I mean.
• I've also been using the heck out of the Pretties Kit with Vintage Stamping! I just love pulling in some pearls and "bling". While the Pretties Kit has some fabulous Rhinestone Brads, I've actually been using the Self-Adhesive Rhinestones in the Egg Decorating Kit right now. I just love the ease of peeling and sticking them on!
• Another great element to Vintage Stamping is creating some Shimmer Paint Mist by combining Rubbing Alcohol and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in a water spritzer and spritzing your cardstock or DSP with it.

WHAT TO ORDER:

Tiny Tag Stamp Set (118091 – Wood, 118592 – Clear), Charming Stamp Set (116519), Bella's Bloom Stamp Set (111600 – Purchased, 120228 – Code to take it FREE During SAB!), SAB Exclusive Set Vintage Labels (118392 – Wood, 119122 – Clear), Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (115680), Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch (118073), Medium Jewelry Tag Punch (117190), Eggcellent Eggs Kit (117179), Chocolate Satin Ribbon (117287), Simply Adorned Bracelet (117342), Simply Adorned 5/8" Circle Charm (117349), Simply Adorned 5/8" Square Charm (118476), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), Rose Red 12×12 Cardstock (107086), Gable Green Cardstock (102795), So Saffron Cardstock (105118), Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650), Basic Brown Classic Ink (104315), Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker (100071), Rose Red Classic Ink Pad (101778), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (111325), Pretties Kit (109114), Designer Label Punch (107590), 1 1/4" Square Punch (104400), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Mini Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439) and Stampin' Up! Blossom Party Die (115971)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To order your March Card Kit of the Month! Click Here for more details!!
  
• To Sign Up for the Spring Card Class! Click Here for more details!!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Shoebox Swap for Maria!

I can hardly believe that Regionals are coming up on Friday!! It seems like I had SO Much time to prepare, and now I'm of course scrambling to get everything done that I wanted to do.

Friday night after Regionals & Dinner we're doing a Shoebox SWAP with some fellow Demonstrators and a couple of Stampin' Up! Staff Members. I have a customer attending with me, and she wanted to attend but wasn't sure about designing her own project so I offered to do it for her. So here's what Maria is going to be bringing for the Shoebox Swap!

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• These adorable little images come from the stamp set "Forest Friends". Priced at just $14.95, this is one of the stamp sets that you can take for FREE during Sale-A-Bration, now through the end of March!
• I just love using Dusty Durango and Sahara Sand together for a "woodsy" feel – they look so sharp and have such contrast!
• The "Mini Library Clips" just go perfectly with the images – a Mini Clip for a Baby Animal!

WHAT TO ORDER:

Forest Friends Stamp Set (113748), Pocket Silhouttes (111672), Sahara Sand Cardstock (105328), Sahara Sand Classic Ink (105208), Whisper White Cardstock (100730), Neutrals Textured Cardstock (108693), Dusty Durango Classic Ink (115654), Dusty Durango Cardstock (115321), Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon (115609), Old Olive Cardstock (100702), Old Olive Classic Ink (102277), Mini Library Clips (109857), Linen Thread (104199), Curly Label Punch (112208) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To Sign Up for the Spring Card Class! Click Here for more details!!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Congrats from Terri

I've been so busy stamping things that I can't post yet, that I'm scrounging up things to take photos of to be able to show you!!! This little gem of a card is one that I never posted and should have – it's darling! This card was made for me by my Service Account's Manager (SAM) over at Stampin' Up! as a Congratulations Card for earning Founder's Circle this year.

I want to pass it on and consider this a "virtual" congratulations card to two FABULOUS Heartfelt Stamper's Team Members – Amy Rist and Pam Kane! Amy and Pam have both just promoted to Senior Associates – and in their first month as a Demonstrator!!! They're on FIRE!! Congratulations, Ladies!

The "Congrats" Card also fits in perfectly with it being a Thursday – Thursdays are "Toot Your Horn Thursdays" over on our Heartfelt Stamper's Yahoo Group – it's a day where all of the fabulous ladies are able to share what accomplishments they're proud of! Mine for the day? Hmmm… I'm quite proud of the fact that my Studio isn't a COMPLETE mess!!! I have also finished all of my SWAPs and Shoebox SWAP for Regionals… those are big pluses!

WHAT TO ORDER:

Seeing Stars Stamp Set (115352), Fundamental Phrases Stamp Set (114968), Dusty Durango Cardstock (115321), Dusty Durango Classic Ink (115654), Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon (115609), Bashful Blue Cardstock (105120), Bashful Blue Classic Ink (105209) and So Saffron Cardstock (105118), So Saffron Classic Ink (105213), Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (100908), Whisper White Cardstock (100730), Rich Regals Brads (106953) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Banana Split & Cocktails Pajama Party Invite!

Yupp! Still gearing up for Regionals!!! Here's another look at where my Stamping Time has gone — I made up 35 of these Banana Split & Cocktails Pajama Party Invitations!

And I thought I would show you how I bundled all of the Regional Packets that I put together for our group — This was all of the information I had for them, invitations and info for special events & the Regional itself…

And then I folded a piece of 12 x 12 Designer Paper in half, put all of the info and invites inside and tied a piece of ribbon around, so this was what they got in the mail to open:

Phew! What a ton of work! Now that all of that's done, and all of my swaps are done, I've got lots and lots of stamping and creating to do for gifts and prizes for Regionals and all of the special events we're doing around it! Plus, I have to get designing some Shoebox Swaps! Needless to say, It's going to be a busy two weeks!

WHAT TO ORDER:

Cheers to You Stamp Set (114944), Introducing Stamp Set (Earn it FREE During SAB! 114443), So Saffron Cardstock (105118), So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker (105114), Regal Rose Cardstock (105130), Regal Rose Stampin' Write Marker (105223), Cameo Coral Stampin' Write Marker (100074), Gable Green Cardstock (102795), Gable Green Stampin' Write Marker (100049), Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Marker (105106), Basic Grey Classic Ink (109120), Whisper White Cardstock (100730), Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (115680), Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads (109110), Whisper White Satin Ribbon (114616), Corner Rounder Punch (109047) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the "Let's Sale-A-Brate" Card Class! Click here for more details! – 4 Days Left to register!
  
• To sign up for the "For the LOVE of Scrapbooking" Class! Click here for more details! – TOMORROW is the DEADLINE!!!!
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Paris Nights Dinner Invitation

I shared my Regional SWAPS with you a few days ago — on to share one of the other things that's been taking up much of my stamping time! I'm putting on a "Paris Nights" Dinner for my gals who are attending Regionals, and wanted to send out an invitation to them all! Here it is!

I was SO HAPPY to have an excuse to purchase this stamp set, I had been loving it but had nothing to justify the purchase… now I'm using the heck out of it! This is what the invite looked like with the inserts…

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• I really wanted to rough up the edges of the Eiffel Tower cardstock piece, so I used the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit to do that – it goes so fast with that handy tool!
• I've been trying not to tie ribbon all the way around the card so much, and love this slot punch as an alternative way to use ribbon – it uses much less ribbon and looks great at the same time!
• This "Lattice" Die used on the background is my new *favorite* Stampin' Up! Exclusive Die — I'm wanting to pull it out for everything! I just love the subtle design that it creates – a little added interest!

WHAT TO ORDER:

Chic Boutique Stamp Set (113744), En Francis Background Stamp (109521), Sincere Salutations Stamp Set (115068), Real Red Cardstock (102482), Chocolate Chip Cardstock (102128), Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (100908), So Saffron Cardstock (105118), Chocolate Chip 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (111849), Elementary Ribbon Originals (116231), Horizontal Slot Punch (105089), Wide Oval Punch (112082), Corner Rounder (109047), White Embossing Powder (109132), Heat Tool (100005), Embossing Buddy (103083), Cutter Kit (106958), VersaMark Pad (102283), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439) and Lattice Die (115958)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• TODAY is the last day to purchase the February Card Kit of the Month!! Here's a peak at the cards, to order and for more info  Click Here!

• To sign up for the "Let's Sale-A-Brate" Card Class! Click here for more details! – 5 Days Left to register!
  
• To sign up for the "For the LOVE of Scrapbooking" Class! Click here for more details! – This FRIDAY is the DEADLINE!!!!
  
• To contact me about registering for the Syracuse, NY Regional Seminar!! – 1TODAY IS THE DEADLINE!!!!!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!

Syracuse Regional SWAP!

Here's a glimpse at where my stamping time has been spent lately! I just finished up 70 of these bad boys for the Syracuse Regional Seminar coming up at the end of the month here. There's still room for YOU to join us!!!!! This Regional Seminar is open to BOTH Demonstrators and Guests for just TWO more days — until this Wednesday February 10th!! If you want to come along, let me know right away so that we can get you in! (No, you don't HAVE to make 70 SWAPs yourself to attend, that's an if you want to type of thing!)

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• Don't recognize the images I used here? They're all part of FABULOUS new stamp set called "Element of Style" that is coming out in the Summer Mini Catalog on May 1st!! I was fortunate to receive this stamp set early and for FREE by attending Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference in January. I'm already in love with it, I think it's going to be a "most used!"
• At Leadership Conference Shelli Gardner gave a presentation on "Vintage" Stamping. I'm glad to have a name for what I think I love!!! I've always loved collage stamping but never felt I was quite Shabby Chic. Well, I'm vintage!! Though I don't always stamp that way by any means, it's what I love the most. So I allowed myself to go natural for myself and BE VINTAGE for this card.
• Getting to my Vintage roots, I discovered my MOST FAVORITE Stampin' Up! product, and it's one that I haven't hardly touched — the "Color Spritzer Tool" — oh my GOSH to I love spritzing marker on my cards!!  I just can't stop myself!! We'll be putting this tool to good use at my Let's Sale-A-Brate Card Class coming up on February 20th, so be sure to register!
• A little tip for Color Spritzing: You're going to use up the ink in your marker… a lot. But the tips do NOT get ruined when you use it properly! So to get more ink out of my markers, when it started to "go dead" (which it did a lot making 70 of these cards!) I soaked up some of it's coordinating re-inker into it's tip. Voila! New Marker!
• The white you see on the Creamy Caramel Background is a White Craft Pad that I dragged across the cardstock — fun, fun! Give it a try!
• You have permission to make PAPER WADS! You can even throw them at someone if you really want! Paper Wads are the best way to distress your cardstock. I let Landon and Brad HAVE AT IT with my pile of Brocade Blue Cardstock to make less work for me – and more fun for them!

WHAT TO ORDER:

Elements of Style (Contact me on May 1st to get this awesome set ordered!), Brocade Blue Cardstock (101166), Bravo Burgundy Cardstock (105123), Creamy Caramel Cardstock (102514), Confetti White Cardstock (102028), Bravo Burgundy Classic Ink (105214), Bravo Burgundy Stampin' Write Marker (105109), Basic Black Classic Ink (101179), Whisper White Craft Ink (101731), Rich Regals Brads (106953), Modern Label Punch (116630), Mat Pack (105826), Paper Piercer (116631), Color Spritzer Tool (107066) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• There's just 2 days left to purchase the February Card Kit of the Month!! Here's a peak at the cards, to order and for more info  Click Here!

• To sign up for the "Let's Sale-A-Brate" Card Class! Click here for more details! – 1 Week Left!
  
• To sign up for the "For the LOVE of Scrapbooking" Class! Click here for more details! – 5 Days Left!
  
• To contact me about registering for the Syracuse, NY Regional Seminar!! – 2 DAYS LEFT!!!!!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend!! Click Here for more details!
• To place your qualifying orders to earn FREE Stamp Sets, it's Sale-A-Bration!! Click Here for more details!