A Birthday card from Shelli

Hello Friends,

I was thrilled to receive a handmade card from Shelli Gardner today.  She  makes a birthday card for EVERY employee at Stampin' Up! I was chatting with a co-worker today and I mentioned how special we are made to feel at work on our birthdays.  You only have to take a look at Shelli's blog www.soshelli.com
to see just how busy she is. 

This card is a 'pocket' card and here is the insert

Shelli's handwriting is as beautiful as she is :) What an honor to receive a card each year. "I'm grateful for you"  I have barely been told that by previous employers let alone had it in writing !  The fabulous thing is it is with meant with such sincerity :) The feeling is very mutual.  I am grateful for Shelli too.  Not only for providing me with a wonderful place to work but for allowing me through a wonderful company to make the most amazing friends.

Shelli enclosed a Target Gift Card on the back. 

I really love working for Stampin' Up! It is THE most fabulous place to work and it is a job I actually look forward to going to.

I started my new shift this week and now I have Fridays off.  I am so excited.  My plan today is to re-organize my stamp room and scrapbook.

If you are interested in becoming a Demonstrator, whether for your hobby needs or to build as a business, you are more than welcome to join my team.  Click here for more details.  My password when joining is stamptothemax

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Happy Friday :)

Hello Friends,

This beautiful picture is the Inspiration Challenge over on Utah Divas International - http://www.utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/

So beautiful!!!

Give it a try.  See what you can come up with when you look at this.

Send your submission to maxstamps@yahoo.com and have your name entered into a drawing.  All entries will be posted (with participant approval).

Click here for the Clearance Rack

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Have a wonderful day!

Color Renovation

Hello Friends,

I am soooooo excited.  Stampin' Up! has just announced a 'Color Renovation'.  I am all about color.  I love it.  My husband likes white walls - I hate white walls.  We recently had a good friend paint our family room and kitchen.  It was called Cherry Cobbler and as of July 1st, that will be one of our colors :)

Another exciting thing is the return of some of our previous 'In Colors'. Holy Hannah, this is great news for me. You may recognize some of these names.

~ Tangerine Tango

~ Pacific Point

~ Pink Piroutte

~ Baja Breeze

~ Wild Wasabi

~ River Rock

~ Riding Hood Red

These colors are new

~ Daffodil Delight

~ Marina Mist

~ Cajun Craze

~ Cherry Cobbler

~ Early Espresso

3 of this years In Colors will be staying

~ Melon Mambo

~ Rich Razzleberry

~ Soft Suede

5 new In Colors coming in July

~ Blushing Bride
~ Concord Crush
~ Peach Parfait
~ Pear Pizzaz
~ Poppy Parade

You will want to stock up on the colors that are retiring.  Contact me for a list of the ones that are going away.

Samples of the colors coming your way :)

 

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Have a great day!

Fifth Avenue Floral and Sunshine Award

Hello Friends,

This week I will be posting samples using the Stamp Sets that are available as part of this months promotion.  Click here for more details.
To start with here are a couple from the "Fifth Avenue Floral" stamp set.

We made this card at one of our classes in 2009.  Heat embossing is my favorite technique and this card is so very stylish. It was created by one of my very good friends, Gretchen Barron from Decatur, IL.

This next card was created by one of my friends and SAMee's, France Martin who lives in Cheyenne, WY.  Bonjour France :)

France sent me the SUNSHINE AWARD that is at the top of this post. 

When I visited her blog to see what it was all about, I saw this fabulous card.  How did France know I was spotlighting this set today? :)  France sent the award to me as my blog is one she likes to visit.

This fabulous card was created by my friend and downline, Edie Bunting.  Edie is a Rising Star 2009/10 and I am just amazed at her creativity.  Check out her blog -link below.

I am going to pay it forward and send the award to 10 blogs I like to visit.

Click on the names below to be directed to some fabulous blogs. All Stampin' Up! of course ;)

1) Mary Fish

2) Kimberly Van Diepen

3) Lisa Freeman

4) Heather Summers

5) Edie Bunting

6) Laura Widdison

7) Christie Daugherty

8) Cindy Petersen

9) Diana Gibbs

10) Patty Bennett 

Fifth Avenue Floral 113734 Price: $19.96

The beautiful, modern flowers in the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set share the sophistication and styling of its namesake. You can choose to watercolor these line-art images, or leave them uncolored and layer them for a refined floral collection. Set Quantity: 5

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Have a great day!

Mothers Day Card - Beautiful Roses

Happy Monday Friends,

I am so excited!  I get to spend Mother's Day with my Mom this year.  In England they celebrate Mother's Day in March and here in the US, we celebrate in May, so twice a year we celebrate my Mom.  That is only officially :)  Unofficially I celebrate her every day.
I have been thinking about what kind of card I should create for her.  Most of the time, I come up with my own creations but when I saw this card, I just knew I would have to use it. My dear friend Gretchen from Decatur, IL made it.  I have always been a fan of her creations and this card got mega WOWS from me :)

Isn't this just truly elegant?  The colors, the detail, the flowers, the sentiment, make this a truly amazing card. 

Click here for step by step instructions by Julie William's showing you how to make these beautiful dimensional roses.

Nothing like a hand made card.  Post a link to your Mother's Day creation.

Well Scripted - Clear Mount Stamp 118601 Price: $14.95

With six different sentiments, this stamp set is perfect for both the new and well-seasoned stamper. The beautifully scripted words will add elegance to any project. Available in both wood-mount and clear-mount. Set Quantity: 6

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Click here to visit Gretchen's Blog

Have a great day!

Utah Divas International - Saturday Sketch Challenge

Hello Friends,

Here is the challenge we were given for this week. 

I love creating projects with the 'Vintage Vogue' stamp set.  I decided to use this stamp set for the challenge.

Here is what I came up with

Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue

Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pad

Classic Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Jumbo Brad, Scallop Edge Punch

Vintage Vogue - Clear Mount Stamp 118598 Price: $17.95

If you love vintage clothes, vintage movies, or vintage art, you'll love the Vintage Vogue set! Use it to express love, thanks, or appreciation. Available in both wood-mount and clear-mount. Set Quantity: 8

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Click here to go to the Clearance Rack

To see what Ruthie came up with this week for the challenge, click here

To see what the rest of the team came up with, click here

Happy Easter my friends!

Two Step into Spring Promotion

Awash with Flowers created by Jackie Bolhuis

Hello Friends,

A fabulous promotion is here!  It is the Two-Step into Spring Promotion.  Click here for details. 

Next week, I will be posting samples from all these stamp sets.

Click here to check out the Clearance Rack - Fantastic Bargains

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Have a wonderful day!

A quick, easy and fun card

Hello Friends,

Have you ever wished you could make multiples of a card......one that was easy enough to re-create many but one that was cute too.
I came across this card on Lindsey's blog this evening and thought WOW this is one of those cards.

Very quick, very easy and very cute.

Heard From The Heart 111644 Price: $22.95

Nothing beats a kind word spoken from the heart. Send your sincere wishes and love with one of these stamped greetings on a card for someone special. Set Quantity: 4

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Bon Appetit

Hello Friends,

I am so excited to spotlight one of my fabulous and creative customers today.  Jeannette Siciliani from CA. 

Look at the cute flower in the top right hand corner.  LOVE it !  Black and White cards are so elegant.  Thanks for sharing your creativity with us Jeannette.  You are awesome.

Here's a close up of the rose so you can see the leaves. Punch a circle, then punch the circle in half to make the leaf.

Stamp Set: Compliments to the Chef, Bella Toile Background

Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Classic Ink: Basic Black, Going Gray Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories: Black Vintage Brads, 1-1/4" Circle Punch (to make leaves),

Scallop Trim Border

Sale-A-Bration ends today!!  Place an order or join our team.

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Have a wonderful day!

How about a challenge?

My Necklace, Charm and insert

Hello Friends,

What a fun filled day I had yesterday.  From beginning to end I had so much fun.  I had a lovely surprise.  My friend and fellow SAM, Natalie does a great job in taking care of us on our birthdays and she decorated my desk real good.  She brought in chips and salsa and cookies and 6 bottles of Sprite (My favorite drink at work).  Later in the day, my children came by with balloons and banners and flowers and candy.  What a lovely surprise :) NOW, I took awesome pictures of both these fun events on my birthday BUT I had something posted on my cubicle wall that is TOP SECRET and so I cannot post the pics.  My buddy, Kevin at work is an awesome photographer.......I will see if he can work his magic and then maybe I can post them.

Another highlight of my day was when one of my Stamp to the MAX team members, Cassie came into Stampin' Up! for a Focus Group.  She brought with her a dozen of the most FABULOUS donuts.  I told her they looked like 'Stampin' Up! donuts. I feel so special.  Thanks Cassie for thinking of me on my special day :)

So my fellow stampers, let's use this picture as an 'Inspiration Challenge'.  Post this picture to your blog, along with your creation, then link back to this post.  A winner will be chosen and will be sent a 'gift.' You have until Wednesday April 8th to join the challenge.  Be sure to e-mail me (maxstamps@yahoo.com) or post a comment right here once you have posted your challenge.

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Click here to learn more about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Have a great day!