Candy Wrappers

As I am deciding if the charitable event is a plausible undertaking for me right now, I continue to shop around for ideas to CASE. I return to a blog that I find inspiring and have found a wonderful tutorial   I thought that you may get some enjoyment out of the craft project, too!

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stamping_thoughts/2007/11/snowman-wrapper.html

The first card that I designed for card class

Today I am preparing for my first card buffet. A card buffet works just like a Chinese restaurant buffet - you choose only what you want from a wide variety of Chinese foods. For my card buffet, I am going to offer at least 10 varieties of different cards. The attendees can pay a flat rate of 10$ for 5 cards and simply make additional cards for 2$ each.  I'm doing this largely because I want people to create what they love - cards that they are proud to give away.  I tend to have themes for my parties - as the last one was Patio Party.  What if someone hates Patio Party?  The night is sort of rubbish for them.

As I prepare, I am pulling out my first creation, the Thank You card using the Easy Events stamp set.

This picture is only of the card front (for my how to post which you can find here ) yet it gives you a clear view of the card. The base is embossed with clear embossing poweder with only the floral aspect of the stamp.  We place the dots indigo paper from the stack in the Holiday Mini, emboss hearts on some indigo and then place our watercolored image over it.

 I truly liked the coloring aspect of the card.  The guests enjoyed choosing different variations of colors. One guest drew grass with a marker around the sentiment, another did dots to indicate seeds. The act of being creative with the card was fun and I think that will shine in card buffets. There is also the idea of 'party in a bag' where someone can take the cards (placed in bags) and host their own parties. Sort of trying on the demonstrator hat without shelling out the cash first. Going to give it a whirl, see how it goes. Pics to come!

Breathe for Tiffany Pratt’s 2nd Annual Operation Hope Fundraiser

Hello!
 I have been told of an excellent way to help out with  Breathe for Tiffany Pratt’s 2nd Annual Operation Hope Fundraiser. There is a booth open that I could run and share Stampin' Up at the event.  I am wondering if I should do it. The bad thing is that its only 10 days away - not much time to prepare.  Yet its a charitable event - maybe I don't need to prepare much!  I could have a 'donate cards to the Operation Hope fundraiser' event.

Have you ever rented a booth in a charitable cause? What sort of events did you do?

Patio party

Good morning,
I hope that today finds you well.  I had a great time at the card party last night with Marisela, Samantha and Tiffany. I had planned the card line up with an order that I had placed a week earlier, but it took an unusually long time to arrive! I was forced to make do with the Patio Party designer paper that I received in my very first Stampin' up order and my favorite paper, Primrose Petals.  I CASE'd a card that I had saved from the showcase of Stampin' up that used layers of Patio Party paper to create banners.  Without enough of the paper, I designed a card with only one banner in primrose and a cake stamped on a label framelet.  I'll upload a picture a little later today - its 6 am and I'm going to try and go back to bed for just a little bit.

Hunger Games book meets world of darkness

Hello,

One of my hobbies is roleplaying online - specifically, the Hunger Games book transformed into an RPG where you write as a tribute. If you enjoyed the book or the movie, come read the interactive story that several writers have woven together.
You can read the #25 Hunger Games here.
http://shadowclaw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=25hg

You can read the book version of the #26 Hunger Games reapings written by Cutelikemurder & Kulvar here:

http://shadowclaw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=zfanworks&action=display&thread=9502&page=1

The RPG involves creating a character with a history, entering the training center and then the arena together. For the first time, we are also having a Feast and a Tour of last years arena.
If you are interested, you can sign up here!
http://shadowclaw.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=zsignups&thread=9498&page=1#75908

Stampin Up Embellishments!

Hello, today I'm talking about my favorite card technique, adding embellishments.
Embellishments make the card.  You can assemble and stamp a five minute card very easily - but adding an embellishment gives the card the put together look that the receiver of the card will treasure.

My favorite embellishment by far is ribbon - and right now, the 3/8 ribbon in Wisteria Wonder or 3/8 in Island Indigo. They coordinate together and complement each other for a put together look. They coordinate with the In Colors color set and just about every other color set as well. I brought the ribbon to my last Free Stamping event and saw it paired with three colors not in the InColors family and it looked great!

Remember that with every 40$ of product, you get a free spool of this versatile ribbon!

You can order 24/7 on my site.
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx

Thanks for reading!
~Anne

Christmas card

Good evening, every one! I've been working on some Christmas cards with normal stamp sets - Betsy's Blossoms & Easy events!  Here is a favorite from my first card class:

This was a quick & simple Christmas card using Easy Events 'Merry Christmas' stamp.  I'm working on some Christmas cards with my new holiday products!

This card uses Joyous Celebrations 'Sending Christmas wishes' with Betsy's blossoms leaves!

This card is Primrose Petals & Gumball Green with 'Merry Christmas' from Easy Events.

Card Party

I am planning cards for the September 25th Card party - loving the inspiration that I get from the demonstrator blog. It is such a  great benefit of being a Stampin' Up demonstrator :)  Now I am trying to decide between Patio Party or a Christmas theme. Both are on my mind!

The first Free Stampin' Day was fun!  It was designed to be a free day where guests bring their own projects and create freely. My guests arrived without ideas so I pulled out two cards that I made entirely out of punches. I didn't have enough card fronts cut, but the guests cut their own card stock and used the opportunity to select different colors! There wasn't one card that was the same and it looked great. I wish that I had brought my camera :)

Card Swaps

Hello,
Do you ever have a creativity slump? Are you in a rut in creating?  Consider doing a card swap!
I was on the demonstrator web site last night and saw so many lovely, inspired cards inspired by card swaps!  I've decided to host a swap with my customers this month! The cards will be due 10/11 - exactly one month to be creative!  I am deciding whether to use Betsy's Blossoms or Easy Events.  Easy Events is truly inspiring to me.

I also am remembering 9/11 and thinking we should host a charity stamping day where we donate cards to the troops. I'm going to be bringing a retired stamp set supporting the troops for guests to work with tonight to send to their loved ones and perhaps even donate!

Have you ever done a card swap? Do you stamp, sew or draw your cards?

~Anne

Giveaway

Hello,

I want to thank you who read my blogs and inspire me to keep creating! I'd also love to hear from more people and share our crafting ideas together.  I am going to offer ANY of my cards in my shop (for free) to one of my followers when I reach 70 followers!  (Thats 20 more than I have now!)  Can you help me reach more people?

For every tweet, facebook post and share, thats one entry! Just comment here with links to where you are sharing. Many thanks!

Where can I get that card?

Hello,

If you don't have the time to make the lovely stampin up cards yourself, I offer my cards for sale on my Etsy shop.  These cards are fine in every way and were likely used as a sample for my card classes!

Back to 'spool' time!

Hello, I'm happy to share with you the new Stampin Up promotion -With every $40 order, you will receive a free spool of ribbon of your choice!

126848

Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

$ 8.95

126847

Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

$ 8.95

126844

Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

$ 8.95

126845

Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

$ 8.95

126846

Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

$ 8.95

Here is all of the promotion info
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/flyer_us(2).pdf

Let me know if you have an order you want to place to get your free ribbon!  Post here, access my DBWS 24/7  
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/annecaulfield/
or call me! ~Anne

Earn free stamps from Stamping up by throwing parties!

Hello,

Stamping Party

Today we're going to talk about how Stamping Up can be fun for you - and doesn't cost you an arm and a leg! In this economy, spending 20+ dollars on a stamp can be expensive. You need to really justify spending money on hobbies nowadays.. unless its free. Let me repeat that - you can get things FREE. How do you get stamps, paper and embellishments for free? Its simple - throw a stampin up party!

Simply invite 6 or more of your friends to come spend a night stamping with you.  I will demonstrate how to make two beautiful cards to your friends and then make a more elaborate demonstration of one card. You move around the room and help your friends make the beautiful cards. The event usually takes about an hour and a half. We could use the hall at my complex, allowing you to invite more people and not worry about having to clean up before and after the party!

What do you do as a hostess?

1. Invite your friends - 6 - 10 is a good number. I would invite at least 15 friends two weeks before the party and see who RSVPs. With cancellations, its a good idea to encourage people to bring their friends - you have more fun in groups!
2. Help your friends make the cards by sharing my instructions with them
3. Offer a drink and snack once the card making is completed!

Pair hosting the party night with a catalog party to up your sales!

Catalog party

A catalog party is not truly a 'party' that you host. You share Stampin' Up with your friends by bringing in a catalog and samples of Stamping Up - cards that you have made at card class, for example! You share the annual catalog and the fun Holiday catalog and hand out order forms. You and I help your friends choose the projects that they would like to make. This is a good option for people who want to get into Stamping Up but who can't attend your party.  You can invite them to one of my card classes and stamping parties at a more convenient date- or suggest that they host a party to earn free products.

We enter the orders from your catalog party in with your orders from your hosted stampin' up party, helping you reach a higher sales for more free product! $150 in stamping up sales = $35 of free stamping up product for you!

You could even reconnect with them before the party to see if any one in thier family is having a life event - getting married, having a baby or were hired on at a new company. I can bring 'wedding wishes, 'welcome baby' or 'congratulations!' product to fit the theme and make it even more enjoyable for your friends.

Free Stamping

Hello,
I want to remind you that on Tuesday, the 11th, there will be Free Stamping day at 6 PM. Bring your Stampin' Up paper, stamp sets and products for a day where you create freely! I will have the Big Shot! set up for you to make butterfly embossits & a flower folder for a simple and fun card! I will also be modeling some of the cards that we will be making on September 25 Card class. Please remember to RSVP for the Sept 25 Card class by the 22nd so that I have enough materials! Class is 10$ OR a 20$ order, please bring your own adhesive & scissors, thank you

Patio Party creativity!

Hello,

I have been having some creative issues coming up with new card sketches. I finally cleared off my table and got out Patio Party designer paper, make a cake stamp set and the 'Happy birthday' stamp that goes with the suite. Things finally flowed together easily! I modeled some examples of the versatility of the stamp set - made a cake with a pinwheel, butterflies and the flag pennant. I'll get out the embossing materials when I get home!

We've been house sitting for a friend and perhaps reorganizing everything and stamping out of boxes through me off :P

I also attended a 'how to make an ornament' class hosted by my upline, June Switzer. She taught us how to make the ornament featured on the cover of the holiday catalog! It was quite the undertaking and looks so pretty! I am definitely getting that framelet and ornament sent, its well worth it!

Hope all is well with you!
~Anne

Elmo & Fluffy

This is my stamping manager, Fluffy.  Fluffy walked into our house a few weeks ago while I was at work.  My husband presented her as 'Baby, I have a surprise for you! Look what we have!" and carried out this white and tan fuzzy affectionate cat in his arms.  She was a big hit! She literally followed my husband in from outside and helped herself to Elmo's - our other cat- food bowl.  Needless to say, Elmo isn't as thrilled with 'Fluffy' as we are.

I'm off to work on some new color ideas - the In Colors are singing to me, tonight! Love to you & yours!

September Events

The first free Stamping Day will be Tuesay, September 11th. Bring your own Stampin' Up product and ideas and stamp the day away with friends! This is a great event to invite a friend to.  The event is *free*

The card class will be meeting at September 25th at 5 PM. We will be making four cards during the class.
 I have also added a Ten Dollar Tuesday option.  If you are not sure you want to join a club just yet, but want to make the projects, please come to the July Ten Dollar Saturday meeting on Saturday, September 29th at 2:30pm.  Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend!

  If you are a non-member thinking of joining, I always give one FREE try-it-on-for-size class.  You are welcome to come and make the projects with us at no charge, no pressure, no strings attached.  This will give you an idea of what we do and will let you decide if you want to join without having to commit beforehand. All I ask for is an RSVP at least three days ahead of time!

Those who have already taken the free class, but aren't sure they want to commit may attend, but you will be charged a $10 materials fee each time.  However, you will not be eligible for any of the great Hostess Benefits our club members enjoy unless you commit to join.  Just one more reason to join our fun club!

What benefits do my club members receive?

• FREE seasonal catalogs and Sale-A-Bration Brochures throughout the year
• FREE projects each month.  NO materials fees.  Just come and create 2 to 3 make and take projects!  
• You get to use my materials, my punches, my ink, ribbon, etc....  You only have to bring your own adhesives, scissors and catalog to each meeting.
• Rotating Hostess Benefits!  When it's your turn to hostess, you will receive a minimum of $25 in free product!  The more members we have, the more you earn!  This is a good reason for you to join and bring a friend!  You will know ahead of time when it's your turn, so you can bring a friend or two or collect outside orders to boost your sales! 
• Time to learn how to be an effective hostess! Learn about easy catalog parties, private card classes and other ways to share Stampin' Up with your friends while earning free products for yourself.
• A FREE Classic stamp pad of your choice if you as a club member bring a friend along who joins hostess club!
• Flexibility. Can't make it to club?  There are two to choose from and you may attend either!  
• Snacks!  Each month, the hostess of the month brings snacks for everyone to enjoy!

An afternoon/evening of friendship, relaxation and fun!  Get away from the kids and relax!

We are looking forward to having you join us!  If you would like to attend, please contact me to RSVP so I have enough materials cut for everyone!  RSVP's are open until 3 days before the actual meeting.  Comment here, call or email me!  Thank you!