New site

I will no longer be posting here. Be sure to check out my new Stampin' Up! website at www.creativemaniacs.stampinup.net

Soup and Stamps night!

On Friday, January 4th, from 5pm until 9pm I am inviting you to a Soup and Stamps night. If you have pre-ordered a 2008 Spring Summer Collection Catalog, either spiral bound or not, I will have your copy of the catalog, next quarters class schedule, a free make-n-take project, not to mention warm soup and snacks!

Come by and enjoy looking through the new catalog with your friends, or just swing by to pick your copy up. If you haven't yet, and are interested in pre-paying for a Spring Summer Collection Catalog, the RSVP date is by Thursday, December 27th. $7.00 for non spiral bound, and $10.00 for Spiral bound. Plus pre-paid catalogs get some fun goodies to go along with there copy!

And if you would like a non-spiral bound catalog for $7.00 you can always call or email me and I will have them after the 4th.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me, leave a comment here, or call me at 815.521.9723

Happy Holidays everyone!

Hello my Creative Maniacs,





Just a few notes to you on this Christmas Eve. First off, I hope everyone is enjoying time with there family and loved ones, I know we have had a relaxing weekend, and will be heading out to see family the next two days.





So in Creative Maniac Stampin' Up! news. I am excited to say I have received MY personal copy of the new 2008 Spring Summer Collection Catalog, I am patiently awaiting my cases that I have ordered for you.


I am also very anxious to show off the new Website that will be replacing this one. Stampin' Up! has a phenomenal site that has been in the works for months, here is a sneak peek at my events page...



I love the colors and the layouts, I can't wait to have a nice website with everything you will need to check my upcoming class schedules, promotions and samples! Keep an eye out for more information to come around January 8th! (Until then this is the site to go to!)

A note from Shelli Gardner

Just a nice note from our Co-Founder, CEO Shelli Garnder. You can find it on the front page of http://www.stampinup.com/

Happy Holidays!

During this particularly festive-and busy-time of year, I'm grateful that you've taken the time to visit Stampin' Up!

We're a company that celebrates people and relationships and creativity. We bundle all those essential parts of a rich life together by offering products that allow you to share your love with others. When you create something handmade, whether it's a card or a gift or an invitation, you're taking the time to show someone you care. And the recipients of these heartfelt expressions are touched; their lives are brightened, and your relationships are strengthened.

We've seen the "magic of a rubber stamp" happen over and over, and we invite you to experience it yourself. As you browse through our catalogs and check out the projects, you'll see the exciting potential that hand-stamped art from the heart offers. That's what we're about, sharing what we love with you and encouraging and supporting you in your own efforts to express your creativity and build and strengthen your own relationships.
May your holidays be full of time spent with those you care about!

Shelli Gardner

Stampin' Up!

Co-founder, CEO

Retirement Party!!

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_Retired_List_PGNUM_1207.pdf



Above is the link for the Retirement List. You can also check it out on www.Stampinup.com

If you have never been through this before, every time Stampin' Up! comes out with a new Idea Book and Catalog, we retire stamp sets to make room for new! So if any of these stamp sets on the Retired List is a must for you, or as a gift to someone else, you have until January 1st to order, then they are no longer available!!


Here are some Retiring Stamps Details:

The retired list includes stamp sets that will retire as of January 1, 2008.

There is no limit to the number of retired stamps you can purchase.

Retiring Wheels and Accessories Details
The retiring wheels and accessories list is available online beginning December 10. You can order items from this list through January 1, 2008 or until supplies run out.

Dormant List Details:

dormant list posts December 1, 2007 and includes stamp sets from the Fall-Winter Collection 2007 that are not included in the upcoming Spring-Summer Collection 2008. These sets can be found online and are considered current Stampin' Up! product. Items from the Holiday Mini will not appear on the dormant list, but they are not retired.
Stamp sets and wheels from mini catalogs will not be included on the dormant list.

Again don't forget for those of you who have your December coupon, now you can use it! If you have any questions on the above, please contact me!

Check back on December 10th for the retiring accessories list, and those items are only while supplies last!!

Retired List in the morning

From the gossip I hear, the Retired list for the current Fall/Winter Collection Catalog will be up tomorrow morning (not at midnight) so I will get up nice and early and post it here.

Don't forget your December coupon for those of you who have them!! If you have any questions on the retirement list, or the retiring accessories (Coming December 10th) feel free to email me or call me!

Happy Retirement Eve!

Rub on's and there price

I have a bit more on the rub on preview...

I have seen them (awesome!) the one in the preview catalog (you will be getting in the mail as of December 1st) The Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons offer a variety of coordinating images, letters, and phrases. 2 sheets per pkg, 1 ea. black and white. 5-7/8" x 12".$10.95.

$10.95 sound like a lot to you? Compared to some of our other competitors...

Autumn Leaves: $0.17
Basic Grey: $0.06
Hamby Studios: $0.14
7 Gypsies: $0.11
Stampin' Up: $0.09

That would be per rub on. Looks like were right up there in awesome price right?!? Can't wait to see what you all thing of the new sets!

Rub On's!!

I am very excited to say that as of December 1st, you will be receiving in the mail the Spring Summer preview brochure. Which is a sneak peek of what is to come in the NEW Spring Summer Collection Catalog coming out January 2nd!!

So a little birdy told me that Rub On's will be in the new Spring Summer Collection Catalog!! If you have not used them before in scrapbooking or card making, you are in for a treat! These are easy, easy, transfer made from Stampin' Up!'s high quality. I can not wait to try these out myself!

I will be posting a retired list and dormant list on here as of December 1st, and a discontinued list of accessories as of December 10th. A little about each list...

Retired List - A list of all the stamp sets from the current Fall-Winter Collection Catalog that we will no longer have available after January 1st.

Dormant List - This is a list of stamps sets that will be available still but not published in the new Spring Summer Collection Catalog.

Discontinued Accessories List - This is a list of accessories that we will no longer carry in the Spring Summer Collection Catalog. This will be updated often, these items may run out, so if you see something on this list, do not hesitate, they will go fast!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me, or leave me a comment below!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

3M's Scotch and Stampin' Up!

Scotch Joint Marketing Venture with Stampin' Up! October 11, 2007

At our recent convention we announced an exciting marketing venture with 3M's Scotch® stationery products division. Beginning early next year, anywhere around the world where you see a 3M stationery product sold--places like Target®, WalMart®, JoAnnTM, or Michaels® --you'll see Stampin' Up! artwork.

Stampin' Up! projects will be featured on the front of the package with text crediting Stampin' Up! that invites people to visit our web site where they can find more fabulous crafting ideas. Above is a sample of the packaging.

Just wanted to share! Have a stampendous day!

New Catalog Preview!

Good Afternoon my Creative Maniacs!

I will have to say I was browsing the internet and came across some new Spring Summer Collection Catalog. Here is the new Bali Breeze paper...

A new stamp set called "It's a Beautiful Thing"

And a new wheel, called "Beautiful"

So I know we are still enjoying the current Fall Winter Collection Catalog, but I am still excited about the new Spring Summer Collection Catalog.

Build-a-Brad is available!!!

Build-A-Brad Available October 5, 2007!

We are thrilled to announce that starting October 5, 2007, Build-A-Brad will be available for you and your customers to order! Find Build-A-Brad on page 189 of the Fall-Winter Collection 2007. For more detailed information about Build-A-Brad, see the Product Guide.

We've Resolved the Quality Issues, we appreciate your patience in waiting for us to resolve issues with this product. We worked with the manufacturer and have finally accepted a replacement product that meets our rigorous quality standards. We are confident that the manufacturer will continue to ensure that the product meets our high expectations.

If you order Antique Brass Build-A-Brad (item 109108), you may notice tiny pieces of grain (rice shells) in the tin. Our manufacturer uses this grain during the unique finishing process. This grain does not pose any safety issues. Be assured that the manufacturer goes to great lengths to remove all visible grain inside the kits. However, now and then, you may see some grain stuck under the prongs of the brad bases. Feel free to remove them.

Spread the word to hostesses and customers alike that these fabulous, versatile brads are now available!

Diva Night

I am very proud to say I have earned a fun filled night in Mokena at Connie's house, for "Diva Night" depending on your sales for the quarter, you could be able to make 2 projects and up to 5 great projects for free! I am so excited that I will be making all 5 projects!!

I will keep you posted! Have a very crafty day!

October through December 2007 classes

Stampin’ Up!’s
Creative Maniac’s Class Schedule
October – December 2007
Hosted by Jacki McHale

Hello my Creative Maniacs,

I know we are well into enjoying the new Fall-Winter Collection Catalog, and now the awesome Holiday Mini with so much fun holiday stuff!

As always when you come to class you will need to bring with you, your favorite adhesive (snail, mono, double sided tape) and scissors to work on projects.

Also the prepay date is 2 weeks in advance. (unless noted otherwise) You can let me know via phone, email or snail mail. If you have any questions on any of the classes, please do not hesitate to contact me! Hope to see you at class!!
Have a Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Just a note, December is a crazy month for me this year, so there will be no classes this month. But stay tuned to my website for the Fall-Winter retirement sale, and don’t forget to tell your loved ones you want a Stampin’ Up! gift certificate through Jacki McHale for the Holidays! (good for merchandise or classes)

“Boo”
$15
Wednesday, October 17th 2007
RSVP date by October 3rd 2007
6:00 p.m.

This will be a fun Halloween class, making some fun decorations, and a few cards using the Creepy Crawly double sided scrapbook paper. Hope you can make this class for some bootiful projects!!

“Christmas Card Buffet”
$20 for the first 15 and $1 each after
Wednesday, November 7th 2007
RSVP date by October 17th 2007
5:00 pm (I am starting this class earlier for your convience)

This class is something new this year. It is like a stamp-a-stack, but with a twist. I will come up with 8 different Christmas cards for you to choose from. You can choose from the 8 samples up to 3 different ones to make.

If you would like to make more than the 15 cards. Each card after is $1 each. I will be working on these cards and will have them up on my site @ http://creativemaniacs.blogspot.com/ for you to choose from. For this project you will be needing to bring your own adhesive (with a refill) and scissors. This RSVP is 3 weeks in advance.

“Voila’”
$5 a set
Wednesday, November 14th 2007
RSVP date by Wednesday, October 31st 2007
6:00 pm

Get ready to make a great gift for someone or to just keep it for yourself. Using the Voila’ Stamp Set and accessories set, we will be making 3-D fridge magnets. This is such an easy project, using paper, ink, some glue and Krylon spray. In this class you can make more than one set. Price will be per set. Hope to see you there!

And again if you have any questions on any classes please feel free to email me @ gack1978@aol.com!

New Creative Maniac's class schedule

I know many of you are interested in next quarters classes (October through December) I will post them soon!

If you have any idea's or classes that you want let me know, below this post you can click on "comment" and leave me a message!

Over a month

Well I have been called out by a few people on not blogging here. I have really been hoping that Stampin' Up! would have our new site up and running by now, but who know when we will get that. I can not wait to have that up and running!!!

Anywho, if you have not heard through the grape vine yet, I have been feeling sick alot these days, I have been tired, and I have been pregnant! Yes we are 7 weeks already. So baby McHale has been taking what it needs from me.

But I will post here. I have some pictures below of one of my customers workshop she had set up. There was 14 ladies in all, my hostess, Linda, made all of these purse favors each one different, too cute! With mints inside! Below is a picture of one of them close up.

When I take pictures of what I have been up to lately I will post them here! Sorry again it has been so long!

Have a good weekend!

Ode to Stampin' Up!

I just wanted to say how proud I am of the company I have been a part of for close to 3 years.

Just lately my business has been really busy, I have a lot of orders, business and customer coming in, and I swear my UPS man has it out for me. Twice now, in the past couple weeks I have had boxes in the shape of an accordion delivered to my door. Stampin' Up! is awesome, I just call and tell them if anything was damaged and the send it out right away.

They are always super friendly, and empathic towards my situation. I am proud of a company that has a Co-founder, Shelli Gardner, that is as down to earth as possible. I met her in Salt Lake City a few years ago, walking to dinner with her husband Sterling. Countless times my upline has told me stories of Shelli and her staff. They are so nice. Makes you want to go to Utah and live in the land of Stampin' Up!

Speaking of my upline. I have to give a shout out to the most amazing uplines. You ladies are amazing! You always inspire me every month at our meetings, it's great getting all of us together for projects and business. Sharing ideas, techniques, I can't forget the swaps that we do every month!! I look so forward to them! I love the challenges that you give us, it has inspired myself and my downline to challenge each other, not only in our businesses but in our own lives too. Thanks!

So I just wanted to share just a small reason why, I love Stampin' Up! so much. I guess now is the time to tell you if you are interested in becoming a part of what I do. Ask me a lot of questions, I can answer them or get the answer for you.
Want to just ask and not be pressured into this?
Want to know how much I make?
Want to know what my requirements are as a demonstrator?
Want to go to a meeting to see what it's like?
Want to meet for coffee just to know what I do?
Want to know how I have the time?

Hopefully I have inspired you to love Stampin' Up! and know that not only are you working with top of the line product you are also buying from a company that I fully stand behind. And just maybe you are interested in become a part of our family.

Have an amazingly creative day.

Sophie is in Denver!!

Can you find Sophie? She is at Stampin' Up!'s 2008 Convention in Denver! They have display boards with thousands of cards and scrapbook pages that we send in.

My 6x6 of Sophie made it! Sadley I am not there, but I saw these pictures on another demonstrator website, thanks to Jen for seeing this one! I got all teary eyed! Hooray go me!

The 3 Spaces

I found the below article on scrapbooking spaces. From a website link... http://www.simplescrapbooksmag.com/specials/preview.ihtml?promo_idx=42
I thought it would be interesting to read on the different kinds of scrapbooking spaces that there are. I think I have had all three...sometimes at once! But now I am at Dedicated Space stage and I love it! Enjoy!
Jacki

TEMPORARY SPACE
Almost every scrapbooker starts at a temporary workspace, most often the kitchen table. Obviously, this makeshift workspace accommodates non-scrapbooking functions (eating, homework, bills), but when it comes time to scrapbook, you can temporarily pull out your supplies and work for a while before packing everything up again.


While this packing and unpacking can be cumbersome, effective storage solutions can actually make a temporary workspace ideal for many scrapbookers. There is freedom and simplicity that comes with containing your scrapbooking universe in a single rolling case or a plastic box. it easier to spend time with your family while you scrapbook.





SHARED SPACE
Having a shared space means you have a room in your home dedicated to two or more activities—one of which is scrapbooking. This shared setup offers a more permanent solution than the temporary space because there’s no need to haul supplies in and out.


Within a shared space, scrapbooking is just one of the full-time functions of the room. Depending on what else the room is used for, you might have a work surface and open storage solutions always available for your scrapbooking pursuits, or you might need to store your materials in closed containers, keeping everything hidden away when the space is being used by others.

DEDICATED SPACE
A dedicated space is devoted solely to scrapbooking and other creative pursuits, and it generally has only one occupant: the scrapbooker.


This arrangement offers a variety of benefits—you can integrate permanent storage into the workspace, keep inprogress pages and supplies out between scrapbooking sessions, and, ultimately, you have the freedom to design every aspect of the space so that it best meets our own scrapbooking needs.

Host a Workshop for this one!

Have friends that love to stamp and scrapbook? Invite them over, serve some refreshments and let me do all the work! Host a Workshop, have a great time with your friends and get all the great benefits Stampin' Up! has to offer our Hostesses!!

Check out the Hostess benefits chart in the Fall-Winter Collection Catalog on pages 16-24 to see what you could earn, based on your Workshop totals! (before shipping and tax)

This card is using the Hostess Level 2 set "Perfect Presentaion" which has 11 holiday stamps, many of them are punch friendly!

I also used the Purely Pomegranate Plika Dot Jacquard Ribbon, I received it in the very awesome Level 3 Hostess set "Happy Me Simply Scrappin' Bundle" LOVE IT! But this ribbon is also available in the Sherbert Ribbon Origionals found on page 191.

The rest of the goodies are:

Whisper White Card stock

Wild Wasabi card stock and Classic Ink

Purely Pomegranate Classic Ink and Card stock

1/8 circle punch (on my new Crop-o-dile, ask me about my special!)

White Taffeta ribbon

Tag punch

Small Tag punch

3/4 square punch

Let me know when you would like to book your workshop!!

I'm Alive!

Sorry I have been absent for a while, I had 3 viruses attack my computer, one ate my Kodak software. So I had all these awesome pictures and they were trapped. Anywho, here they are. Some fun with new stamps!!

I love this set! I got it for free beacause I did well last quarter and Stampin' Up! rewards us well!!

It is called "Priceless" (it is on page 117, for $25.95) I love the swirls, and the cute fonts with the words! With this card I used:

So Saffron card stock

So Saffron Prints Designer Series paper

Mellow Moss Cardstock and Classic Ink

Always Artichoke Classic Ink

Whisper White Cardstock

Dazzling Diamonds

Slit Punch for the scalloped edge (take off the guard)

To bad this picture dosen't do this card justice!!

So on the card below I again used the "Priceless" stamp set and the coordinating Brass template (page 187 for $15.95) to use with a light box (see sample below!) for the raised swirls in the background.

Supplies for this card below are:

Sky Blue (In Color) card stock and Classic Ink

Blue Bayou (In Color) card stock

Very Vanilla card stock

Twill Tape (1 1/2")

Pop up glue dots and Mini glue dots

Half back cream pearls (from the Pretties Kit!)

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween and could not wait to use my new "Batty for You" set (page 27 $22.95) check it out in the catalog Stampin' Up!® - Online Catalog - shopmain there are really cute sayings that circle each of the images, I just used a marker to color what I wanted.

Here is the recipe for this card:

Old Olive card stock, Stampin' Write Marker, and Brad (Earth Elements)

Orchid Opulence Card stock and Stampin' Write Marker

Bashful Blue Stampin' Write Marker and Brad (Soft Subtles)

Basic Black Classic Ink

Pumpkin Pie Stampin Write Marker, Brad (Earth Elements)

Black Gingham Ribbon

White Taffeta Ribbon (love it!)

Creepy Crawly Designer Series Paper (page 172)

Sanding Block to distress the paper

Crystal Effects to adhere the Designer Series paper to the On Board Chip Board

On Board Chip Board Accents (pg 181)

Happy 29th Birthday Sara! I was so excited to send my girlfriend in L.A. this card for her Birthday. I cased it right out of the Fall-Winter Collection Catalog, I love the chef!

I cut his hat and coat out, using dimensionals gave this card the extra pop it needed!

Ingredients are:

Blue Bayou (In Color) card stock and Classic Ink Pad

Not Quite Navy Ink pad and card stock

River Rock card stock

Purely Pomegranate Card stock and Classic Ink

Blender Pens for coloring with In Colors

Pumpkin Pie (cake & candle), Creamy Carmel (tray), Bordering Blue (jacket outline) Blush Blossom (skin tone) Water Color Wonder Crayons

Aqua Painters

Brass Brads (Vintage)

Ticket corner punch

Canvas background stamp for pants in Creamy Carmel Classic Ink

Hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them. Leave a comment below on whatcha think! Thanks!