Rising Star Trip

I am so blessed to have achieved the Rising Star award this summer! The trip to the home office this week was amazing!!


Day 1: We travelled all day and got together for supper at an adorable Italian restaurant. It was so pretty in Utah with the snow...unlike South Dakota snows ha! It was our first chance to meet the other Rising Stars! Here is the group of achievers...

In true Stampin' Up! style, the table was decorated with lots of personal touches. I love the coordinating projects -- the menu, the flower brooch, and awesome new business cards with the Rising Star logo!

And it is always a fun time getting to meet the demonstrator training team that we always see in videos or events -- they really are just as friendly and funny in person as they are at events!





Day 2: We got to work right away in the morning at the home office in Riverton. All the corporate team was there to greet us at the door...they always make you feel welcome! We toured the offices and the distribution center. They even let us fill the boxes of orders on the pick line...hectic! It's amazing more orders don't have problems. We got to meet with other people in the company too. These are a few of the illustrators for all the stamp sets -- I couldn't even imagine being that creative! I remember the gal on the left came up with Lovely as a Tree set and lady on the right designed Greeting Card Kids.

We also met with one of the designers that pick the colors and all the patterns that are in style for the catalog. Then it was more business training the rest of the day!

 

Day 3: The last day came too quick! We had more training in the morning with lots business tips and times to share with the other Rising Stars. Then we got to do make and takes with some products from the spring catalog that doesn't start until January! The project designers that make all the samples that are shown in catalogs helped us make them (what a cool job!).

We spent a little time out on the town in Salt Lake City and closed the trip at a Brazilian steakhouse eating with the corporate team again. Shelli and Sara -- they are so nice!

And of course we had to finish off the trip with even more awesome gifts to spoil us! A super nice leather bag, a personalized stamp with the Rising Star logo, and a journal made in MDS to write down all our new business ideas! I just barely got everything back in my suitcase to bring home :)

 

Stampin' Up! always treats their demonstrators amazing -- and thank you to all my customers, family, and friends that encouraged me and helped me get this award! I couldn't have made it without you and I enjoyed every minute of sharing what I love :)

New Product Shares!

The 2012-2013 Stampin'Up catalog is making its debut June 1st and it is bursting with new ideas, new stamp sets, new colors and new accessories. It’s time for a couple of Perfect Product Shares. This is what I’ve put together for you:


The Perfect Paper Share
The Perfect Paper Share includes a 6x6" square of all of the designer series paper in the 2012-2013 SU Idea Book and Catalog. It includes 12 new packages of designer series paper. In total, you will receive 144 pieces of 6x6" paper. And the price? Only $35!!!!

The Perfect 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Share
The Perfect 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Share includes 2 yards each of the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon from the new 2012-2014 In Color Ribbons. This share will be only $10!!!


The Perfect 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Share
The Perfect 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Share includes 2 yards each of the 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon from the new 2012-2013 IB&C. This share will be only $12!!!

More Details
Everyone is welcome to participate and I will take orders ongoing in groups of four for the Paper Share and groups of five for the Ribbon Shares. You can place as many share orders as you wish. The best way to get on the list is to e-mail me at simplisticstamping@gmail.com. When the order arrives, I will split it out, wrap the ribbon and get it out to you as soon as I can. Can you hardly wait? Me neither! Let's fill those share spots asap!

(PS - I know the images of the products load a little funny - but it was the best way for you to see some detail of the papers & ribbon. Contact me to pick up your new catalog!!!)

New Catalog Sneak Peek!

It's been a few weeks since my last post but the good news is I have a new card to show...with NEW products! I was so excited to get my preorder late last week and tonight's demo meeting was the perfect excuse to start using the products.  This will be one of the cards that we make at the get together...after a fun time swapping and sharing some fun news!

There are great new framelits available June 1st! These are called Apothecary Accent framelits. I used the large framelit to cut out the sentiment from the new stamp set called Layered Labels. The Comfort Cafe DSP is VERY cut and ripping a strip of the coordinating fabric is a quick way to 'make' your own ribbon. I love the Midnight Muse in color and the firm foam stamp pads make a great stamped image. So excited for the new products!!!

I can't wait for tonight's get together - and did you know you can join the SU family just to get the discount? With the new starter kit for only $99, you get to pick $125 of product...that's WHATEVER you want!! And then you will be on your way to all the awesome benefits of being a demo :)

Retiring Accessories

Good morning! I finally got the munchkin to take a nap for hopefully long enough to get this blog post up. Today was another BIG day of announcements for SU! The retiring accessories list is posted and there are lots of items on the list -- some discounted up to 70%!!! Catalog transitions can be a little overwhelming so I will try to break it all down.

Retiring Stamps - Click HERE for the full list
1. These stamp sets can be ordered through May 31st and then will no longer be available.
2. Stamp sets are not discounted.

Retiring Accessories - Click HERE for the full list
1. Accessories are ONLY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!
2. If SU doesn't run out of any of these accessories, they will still no longer be available after May 31st.
3. SOME but not all items on the list are discounted.

Make sure you don't wait until the last day if you see something you need! You can start shopping by clicking HERE. Feel free to email me at simplisticstamping@gmail.com if you have ANY questions about this stuff or need help with shopping.

ALSO don't forget there are only a few more days for anything in the Occasions Mini catalog! We never know if they will carry anything over from it until after it is over (April 30th) so don't wait!

Here is a card I made for a bridal shower this weekend. It uses one of my favorite sets from the mini catalog - Love & Laughter - not to mention the super pretty doily die in the mini as well. I love the glimmer paper - adds a lot to any project.

Retiring Stamp List

The big list came out on Sunday so I know I am a little behind schedule here. I went through the list and it is scary how many sets I have that are retiring at the end of May. But I am excited to see the new catalog and all the new sets they have coming out. Stampin' Up! couldn't disappoint me! Click HERE for the whole list. The list is a little small to read - so it helps if you zoom in.

I'm a little sad Loads of Love is retiring. I made this card awhile ago but it is such an easy set to use for any type of 'man' card. Get it while you still can!!

The retired accessory list will be coming out April 25th so stay tuned! Accessories are ONLY available WHILE supplies LAST!! But stamp sets can be ordered no matter what until the end of May 31st. Check out my online store and start shopping :)

Scented Embossing Powder

I've been busy trying to round up projects to work on at our stamping retreat this weekend. We are also having our monthly demonstrators club out there. We do a swap and I also give a challenge sketch for each month. This is what I came up with for the Mojo Monday Sketch. It looked like this...

I drew some inspiration from cards I had seen on Stampin' Connection (a demonstrators online site with over 200,000 samples!!) But ended up changed so much, I couldn't say who really inspired me.  The Mouthwatering is a great summer set - and since it has been colder this week, I'm really hoping it'll warm up again soon! I embossed the cherries with the cherry embossing powder that is in the mini catalog which ends APRIL 30th so you won't want to miss out on any cute things in there! I was a little hesistant at first of the cherry embossing powder because I thought it would be SOOO strong on the cards from the way the container smelled. But it smells GREAT! My husband even thought it smelled great...and was rather amazed you could have cards SMELL :)

Stamps: Mouthwatering

Ink: Lucky Limeade marker, Calypso Coral

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Calypso Coral cardstock, 2011-2013 In Colors DSP

Misc: Scallop Squares Duo die, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, 3/4 in circle punch



Mickey Mouse!

I made this card for my nephew's birthday that we are celebrating this weekend! He is turning 3 and is a big fan of Mickey :) I got this idea on Pinterest and with all my Big Shot dies, it was super easy! The big black circle is the clear circle die, along with the red for his pants (just cut in half), the ears are the biggest circle on the circles #2 die and the buttons on his 'pants' are the 3/4 inch circle punch. I lined the inside with the big scallop circle of the scallop circles #2 die so I can write him a little message.
It went very fast! I was able to finish it up in one nap time.....and my lil stamper takes VERY short naps :)

My new resolution is to get some kind of post every Wednesday...which is my usual day off. It might be 10:15 but at least I got it done for this week!!