Stamp By the Light of the Moon

New Catalog Open House Project Show and Tell: Treat Boxes

Planning for my Open House each year is interesting.  As with every event I plan, I try to think of what my focus will be.  For the Open House, I obviously want to focus on new things.  I want people to get to try out things that they do not already have at home, that I have maybe never done with them before.  I might focus on new stamp sets, new paper colors, or new products.  This year, my scrapbook page focused on the new In Colors.  My hostess gift focused on a product I'd never used with them before (rub ons) and my next project that I'm sharing with you now was a project brand new to Stampin' Up!. 

As I thumbed through the catalog, I noticed, way back in the accessories section, these cute little chocolate colored Treat Boxes (see page 159.)  I instantly liked the looks of them.  They looked easy, they looked pretty but could be masculine or feminine, which is hard to find, and when I checked the price, they were affordable:  just $3.95 for 5 boxes!  I ordered three packages.  Here's how my sample project came out:

 

In my last post I talked about inspiration and copying projects.  Well, if you look on page 159, this is a totally copied project, copied right out of the Idea Book and Catalog.  This is why our catalog is such a great value in itself! 

I changed the color of ribbon from red, to use a new ribbon that my customers had never used before, the 5/8" Whisper White satin ribbon on page 183 (which is included in my ribbon share so sign up today!!) and I also added a rub on, since I thought that after seeing the rub ons on the magnetic frames, they'd want to try them out themselves.  (I was right, they all wanted to!)

I usd the linen thread, often overlooked on page 183 in the catalog, so that my customers could be introduced to that product as well, and I used the metal edged tag, just like in the catalog.  I liked the red with the chocolate though, so I used Rose Red Classic Ink on the tag.  I incorporated the 4 pc. stamp set Flower Lines from my Level 3 Hostess Bundle, and I actually used two of the stamps, one on each side of the tag.  Here's the other side:

 

I get a kick out of the fact that when I carry my box from one place to another, the tag flips over, back and forth (I'm very easily entertained!) 

This was a quick project, but a hugely popular project.  Everyone loved the Treat Boxes.  We talked about how they'd be good for teacher gifts, favor boxes, cookies, gift cards, chocolates, men, women, and just about anyone and anything we could think of!

As a demonstrator, you know your projects have been successful when your customers order what you've demonstrated that day.  At the end of my Open House, I sat and checked out what everyone had ordered.  I was so pleased to see that so many of my guests had ordered the Treat Boxes and the Rub Ons and linen thread and the new In Colors.  My Open House was a success in many ways, but that's an important one. 

You can order these Treat Boxes any time, by calling me or by going to my Demonstrator Business Website and ordering 24 hours a day.  They're quick and easy to put together and you'll find a million uses for them, just as we all did that day!

Convention is coming up next week, and although I won't be there, I am sure that there will be lots to report.  I'll update anything I hear, that is public knowledge, as soon as I can!  I wish I could be there!  I reached a career milestone in March of this year:  $100,000 in Career Sales and I get a bonus of $1000 and I'd get to walk across the stage at Convention if I were there.  However, they're mailing my check and maybe next year I can go, when again I'd get to walk across the stage marking my 10 yr anniversary with Stampin' Up!. 

Believe it or not, I still have one more project from Open House to share with you!  Be on the lookout in my next post for a new technique that we tried!  You'll want to try it, too!

How I get my inspiration

I thought I'd take a minute and share with you some of the ways that I get inspired when it's time to come up with a project.  I was at my Open House the other day and a customer said, "Oh, I'm just a copier."  So many of us are, including me! 

When it's time for me to plan an event or even plan a birthday invitation or a Christmas card, I immediately start looking through things.  I look through the Stampin' Up! catalog.  I look through the Stamper's Showcase cards on the demonstrator website.  I look on Splitcoast Stampers, I look at cards I've received as swaps.  Eventually, something strikes me.

I mentioned the other day's blog post of my 6x6 page, that I was inspired by the plant in the photo and that led me to the paper choice for my DSP paper.  The plant later got cut out, but that was one thing that helped me plan my project.

For the layout of that page, I also had inspiration.  I'd received a Weekly Inkling in my email inbox, of this card:

When I saw it, I immediately knew that I'd found the layout for my scrapbook page make and take.  I saved it to my desktop and when I got my order in with the DSP, I chose it, (using my photo for inspiration) and looked at this photo to lay out my page.

And you can see, it's pretty similar!

 

When I post my next project sample from the open house, I'll let you know where that project's inspiration came from as well. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?  Leave me a comment to let me know!

My first Product Share of the Summer: A Ribbon Share! Only four spots left!!

There are so many ways to be budget conscious these days.  One of the things I try to offer to my customers and my downline, is all different ways to share products between them, in order to stick to a budget.  Instead of purchasing an entire product and paying full price for it, several people pitch in and share the product, making it less expensive for all. 

This weekend, at my New Catalog Open House, I announced several product shares that were going to begin in August.  This week, I will start sharing them on my blog and hopefully the slots will fill and the product sharing can begin. 

The first product share is a Ribbon Share.  Here's how it works:

A ribbon share needs five people to participate.  It's a one time only payment of $35.  For your $35 you will receive a sampling of ALL14 of the new ribbons in the catalog.  Since the ribbons come in 10 yd or 15 yd spools, you will get either 2yds or 3yds each, depending on the amount on the spool.

Here is the description I gave to my customers on Sunday at the Open House:

Would you love to get a sampling of all 14 new ribbons found on pages 182-183, PLUS a 1 yard sampling of each of the Masterpiece Ribbon Originals?

If so, then join my Ribbon Share!

It only takes FIVE people to run and it’s a one-time payment of just $35.00!

 

(If you need your ribbon mailed to you, there is an additional $5.00 postage charge.)

 

What's involved?

I’ll order all the new ribbons, I will split them all up into 5 equal lengths

(2 or 3 yd sections depending on whether it is a 10 yd or 15 yd spool.  The Masterpiece Ribbon Originals will be split into 1 yd. sections.)

 

** See the new ribbons on pages 182 - 183 with (n) for new!  (Orchard and Elementary Ribbon Originals NOT included.)

 

When they arrive, I'll cut them and sort them all out and give you your share of all 14 colors/styles of ribbon plus the samplings of the Masterpiece Ribbon Originals.

 

You'll be getting a total of 39 yards of NEW ribbon in 17 different colors/styles all for your $35 order!

 

There will be 5 participants in each group, so it's first come first served and if I get enough for a 2nd group I’ll start one.

 

 

The types and lengths of ribbon are as follows:

 

Real Red 1” Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon  $8.95  10 yds   (2 yds. per person)

 

Rich Razzleberry,

Bermuda

Bay

, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Dusty

Durango

, Melon Mambo  ½” Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon  $9.95   15 yds.   (3 yds per person)

 

Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Basic Black 1 ¼” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon  $8.95  10 yds, (2 yds per person.)

 

Real Red ¾ “ Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon   $8.95   10 yds.   (2 yds per person)

 

Whisper White  5/8” Satin Ribbon   $8.95   10 yds.  (2 yds per person)

 

Basic Black  5/8”  Grosgrain Ribbon   $7.95   15 yds  (3 yds per person)

 

Masterpiece Ribbon Originals  1 yd each of each style

 

 

 

Right now, I have one person signed up already, so there are only FOUR spots left in this share!!

 

I will take the first four people to respond (customers OR demonstrators) and fill the club.  If I have enough to run a second ribbon share, I will. 

Don't delay!  Sign up right away, the spots go fast!  Last winter, I ran a ribbon share and two shares filled up immediately!

 

1) Val L.

2)

3)

4)

5)

Call or email me today to reserve your spot!!  You'll love having all the new ribbons, you'll have ribbon of all colors, for every project!

New Catalog Open House show & tell: Hostess Gifts

Every year, I treat my New Catalog Open House as a customer appreciation event.  I have snacks and drinks, lots of make and takes, and gifts for all of my past hostesses.  Each year I try to make my hostess gift different and unique, and each year I think long and hard about what to give my hostesses.  A hostess is anyone who's hosted a club, a class, or a home workshop (party.)  This year I had nine hostesses.

I got it in my head that I wanted to incorporate rub ons into my hostess gift this year.  I initially thought of mugs, because a fellow demonstrator gave me a mug with a rub on a year or so ago and I love it. 

I went shopping on Wednesday, the week of the open house, still unsure what I was looking for.  I entered Christmas Tree Shop with an open mind, and sure enough, as I walked down the picture frame aisle, I found what I was looking for:  4x6 photo sized refridgerator magnet frames.  They came two to a pack for $1.00.  Very affordable, a great gift, and a perfect project for rub ons.  Here's how they came out:

 

I did all different ones, but here's two that I made as extras in case of a surprise guest or a mistake when I made them.  I used retired rub ons, I had so many of them!  They came in black, white, chocolate, and sage.  I used chocolate and black because I thought they'd stand out the best on the backdrop of the white frames.  I made them all different.  I'd never used rub ons before, and they were SO easy, I was instantly addicted to them!!

Here's an example of what the frames look like with an actual photo in them.  It's important not to put the rub ons too close to the middle of the frame or you'd cover up where the photo goes!

We have lots of rub ons in our catalog now.  They come in black, white, chocolate and even multicolors that have never been available before!  You can find them on pages 176-177 in the Stampin' Up! catalog.

You can add them to your order 24 hours a day, seven days a week by going to my Demonstrator Business Website! 

I guarantee, once you start playing with the rub ons and you see how fast and easy they are, you'll want to put them on every project, every surface, just like I do!!

Final Deal of the Week: Another great one!

Here's Stampin' Up!'s final Deal of the Week, and it's my favorite yet, as I love anything with hearts. 

Period	Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
July 27, 10 AM (MT) through July 31, 6:50 PM (MT) via phone or 11:50 PM (MT) via OEX or Online Ordering	113694	187	Heart to Heart punch	$15.95	$10.99

This is a great deal for a punch, especially a punch with three images on it! 

To place your order 24 hours a day, you can go to my Demonstrator Business Website and order anything you'd like!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my next Open House project sample!

Couldn't wait to share: New Catalog Open House Projects!

What a perfect day it was today!  My New Catalog Open House took place beginning at 11:00 am and ending at about 3:30 pm.  I had three time slots and everyone had a wonderful time!  I've been working on the projects all week and wishing I could share them here, but I just had to wait until everyone who came to the open house could see them!

Now that it's over though, I just couldn't wait to share.  I'm starting first with my scrapbook page that we did.  It's my favorite of all the projects for many reasons, which I'll share below.

 

Here's Project #1.  It's a 6x6 scrapbook page of my new niece, Maya Lynne Cerbo, out in California.  I cannot wait to meet her when she and her parents visit here in September.  She obviously is the first reason I love this project, because I love her!  After I got more information about when the photo was taken, I added the words "Week one: June 2009" to the journaling under her name.  But, I'd already taken the picture of the page before I did this.  I sent a copy to Maya's mommy my sister in law and fellow stamper/scrapper.  I also made her a page for her scrapbook.

I love this page because it uses some of our new In Colors, specifically Rich Razzleberry which so far is my favorite, and Crushed Curry.  I used the textured card stock also, and I just love the rich look and feel to the paper.

I also love this page because it uses gorgeous Designer Series papers.  These are from the Level 3 Hostess Bundle on page 18.  The paper is called Lovely Flowers, and it truly is lovely.  The funny thing is that originally, before I cut the photo to fit the page, there was a tall plant with pink flowers on the side table behind the baby's head.  I thought how well those flowers would match the flowers on the paper, until I realized, I'd cut them right out of the photo!  So they were part of the inspiration, and part of the reason I chose this particular photo out of the 100 photos I have from Maya's first few weeks of life. 

Everyone at the open huse made this page, but they were going to go home and put their own photo on, obviously, so I offered them the chance to use a button or a brad in the center of the flower, rather than the Hello Baby stamp from the new Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, that I used.  This stamp set is fabulous, it contains every single holiday all in one set, plus additional greetings such as the Hello Baby stamp.  I loved that little greeting though, it was a perfect match for my page and it fit perfectly on the 5 Petal Flower punch.  Several people chose to do a Crushed Curry flower instead of white, with a green or lavendar rhinestone brad in the center, or a button.  They were beautiful!!

This scrapbook page was a very versatile page, any photo could go in the middle since I chose not to use "baby girl" colors.  Some people did all of the DSP with the flowers facing up, some did all with the Curry side facing up, some did half and half like I did, and some did three floral and one curry.  Every single one was beautiful. 

I always try to include a 6x6 page because you don't have to own a scrapbook to use it.  You can use a plate stand to display it on an end table, as I often do before putting them into my scrapbooks, or you can put it on a refridgerator, or you can take a 6x12 piece of card stock, adhere it to the front, and make a card for someone.  There's so much you can do with a 6x6 page without being a scrapper.  I also like 6x6 pages because they're quick and easy.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the first of the projects I shared today.  I'll be sure to post some more over this next week! 

I'll also being posting sign ups for some of the product sharing clubs that I'll be starting in August.  I always give first dibs to those who come to the open house, and make them public after that.  So, be on the lookout for marker clubs, ribbon shares and in color clubs coming up this week as well!

This week's deal of the week, I can't wait to take advantage of this one!

Oooh I love this promotion!  I can't wait to make this purchase!

The third deal of the week is.....

Period	Item	Page	Description	Regular  Price	Special Price
July 20, 10 AM (MT) through July 27, 9:50 AM (MT)	112454	178	Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware	$29.95	$18.99

Here's a beautiful Stampin' Up! sample using the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware:

 

Isn't it so beautiful?  To place your order, you can go to my Demonstrator business website 24 hours a day! 

Happy shopping!

This just in...Stampin' Up!'s Deal of the Week!

I love these deals!  This one is a great one:

Period	Item	Page	Description	Regular  Price	Special Price
July 13, 10 AM (MT) through July 20, 9:50 AM (MT)	109112	179	Square Fire Rhinestone brads	$10.95	$6.99

I use these brads all the time.  I have purchased rhinestone brads in Clear, Fire, Ice, Round, Square, etc.  If they're rhinestone, I have 'em!  I find brads to be an easy and inexpensive accessory to add onto a project to spice it up.  Love them! 

You can purchase them online or by calling me or emailing me if you are interested in this week's deal.  Online purchasing is available through my Demonstator Business Website 24 hrs. a day!  There are lots of neat projects featured on there as well.  It's a great resource and complements my blog well.

Happy shopping and accessorizing!

Embrace Life Mini Pizza Box Stampers' Club Project

Well, I officially finished the entire two week session of Girl Scout camp with my girls yesterday.  The weather wasn't fantastic, but it ended with two full days of great weather, so that was a great send off for us.  My girls were disappointed that it rained so much, but they got to do all the neat things you do at an outdoor camp like archery, boating and campfire cooking, so they didn't feel like they missed out on very much.  They already can't wait to go back again next year.  So for now, until then, I'm back down to just two jobs again.  Whew...

In the meantime, I have not been able to post any projects to this blog, just the necessities because I've been away so much during the the two weeks.  I've been dying to post the project I did for my Greenville Stamper's Club's last meeting of the season.  I found the project in my Inbox, courtesy of Splitcoast Stampers Weekly Inkling a few weeks back.  It's called a mini pizza box and it's so cute I knew I had to try it.  It's very easy.  At the meeting in May, one of the members of the club had commented on the Embrace Life stamp set, so I incorporated it into the project.  Here are some photos.

  

This is the top of the box.  I used one of my favorite Soft Subtles color combinations:  Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Mellow Moss, along with my standard Whisper White.  I accented with the 1/4" Whisper White grosgrain ribbon.  After I finished my project, I thought that it needed another accent, so when I did the project with the club, I offered them the option of putting a brad through the ribbon at the top of the box.  They could either use the green rhinestone brads, the amethyst rhinestone brads or an artichoke mini brad.  A couple of people opted to keep theirs plain like mine, and a few others opted to use one of the brads.  I liked the amethyst rhinestone brad in it the best, but any would do. 

You can also see that I used the Scallop Edge Punch around the Mellow Moss card stock as an additional accent.  I often prefer straight, square, clean lines, but in this instance I thought the curves would go well with the flower stamp that I used to create the background of the Pale Plum card stock.  Here are some additional photos.

 

Here is the box partially open.  This photo gives you an idea of just how big the box is.  It's the perfect size for gift giving purposes.  Jewelry, gift cards, gift tags, 3x3 note cards, candy and more would all fit into this box, and it would make a perfect favor box for a shower or party.  The grosgrain ribbon is on the front, adhered with a mini glue dot.

 

Here is what it looks like all the way opened.  You could stamp the inside and outside, both sides of the card stock, but I opted not to do that.  I wanted some contrast between the inside and outside.

 

And here it is, all closed and ready to go.  Such a pretty gift even just as it is!  Here are the dimensions, so that you can make this cute mini pizza box yourself! 

For box:

 

1 pc Pale Plum  8 ½ x 11” cut to 6 x 11

 

Score at 1” and 5” (short side at the top)

Turn and score at 10”, 6”,  5”  and 1” (with the tall side at the top)

 

Using the score lines, cut 4 cuts on each long side, making flaps.  Do not cut the perpendicular score lines.

 

Place sticky strip tape on all the flaps.

Stamp your design all over the scored paper before adhering flaps together.

 

Adhere flaps.

 

For top of box:

4” x 4” Mellow Moss (or less if you are not planning to use the Scallop Edge Punch.)

2” x 3” Pale Plum

1 ¾” x 2 ¾” Whisper White

 

2 sm. pcs. white gingham ribbon approx. 2” each

Mini Glue Dots

 

Embrace Life Stamp Set

Mellow Moss, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum Classic Ink pads

I hope that you've enjoyed seeing this project as much as I enjoyed making it!  Let me know what you think of it! 

On Monday I'll post SU's next great deal of the week, and in the meantime I'm starting preparations for my New Catalog Open House, so I'll have those photos to post for you after it takes place. 

Stampin' Up!'s second Deal of the Week...it's a good one!!!

Each week for the month of July, Stampin' Up! will be discounting a featured item.  Drumroll please....

This week's item is:

The second deal of the week is

Period	Item #	Page #	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
July 6, 10 AM (MT) through July 13, 9:50 AM (MT)	113474	194	Sizzix Big Shot Doctor's Bag	$69.95	$49.99

What a great deal!!  If you're interested in this item or any other for that matter, the new Idea Book & Catalog is featured in the top right hand sidebar of my blog.  It connects right to an online ordering option.  Choose me as your demonstrator upon signing in, and order away, 24 hours a day!  It's a very convenient way to place your order!

If you're not comfortable ordering that way, then feel free to call or email me your order and I'll place it for you.