LAST CHANCE TO ORDER FROM SUMMER MINI CATALOG...

REMINDER:  Today, Tuesday, August 31, is the last day to order from the Summer Mini Catalog!  There are some products in this Mini that I will really miss sharing with you.  Some of these are so perfect for Masculine projects that many of us struggle with.  Others are just FUN!

Here are a few of my favorite must-have products you won't want to miss out on:

Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper (#122343, $10.95) - Our Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper features old world maritime imagery. Perfect for travel-themed and masculine projects with classic appeal. Includes 12 sheets total: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs. Acid and lignin free. Created to coordinate with the Nautical Expedition Suite, this Designer Series Paper is a must-have for those who covet the vintage look!

Sail Away (#123013, $9.95) - Pair our new Sail Away stamp with Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper and Baker's Twine for rugged, masculine-themed projects with a bold, vintage look. Perfect for large gift tags, summer-themed scrapbook pages, and birthday cards!  I have done several projects with this stamp on my blog and so many more that I didn't share because I didn't want to be too repetetive.

The Open Sea (W#123030 $26.95 C#123032 $18.95) - One of our most spectacular stamp sets ever, The Open Sea gives you a full range of images for designing masculine or travel-themed projects with old world appeal. Created to coordinate with the Nautical Expedition Suite, this five-piece set is a must-have for those who covet the vintage look!

Strength & Hope (W#118100 $17.95, C#123660 $13.95) - Offer strength and hope to those dealing with breast cancer by purchasing the Strength & Hope stamp set. Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

Travel Log (W#123080 $29.95, C#123082 $21.95) - Whether you're traveling to a South Sea island -- or to that quaint bed & breakfast down the street -- this fantastically detailed stamp set has all of the elements you need to amp up your vacation and travel scrapbook pages!  Use it to create a mixed media scrap box.  So fun!

Hello Blossoms (#123102, $7.95) - Say hello with this fresh and fun stamp set--a stand-out choice for quick and easy cards!  Use it to decorate envelopes -- or stamp it on a note to send with a plate of cookies for the new neighbors!  And so economical!

CREATIVE CREW, A Pocketful of Friendship...

Okay, today I discovered that I totally spaced on posting my other two Creative Crew projects on my blog or ANY of them on Splitcoast!   Sigh... I'm so sorry!   Between vacation, the Charlotte Regional, making 100+ swaps, the earthquake, Hurricane Irene and the ongoing major construction on my house, my brain has been AWOL for the last couple of months.  And now I can't even find the 4th one!  Grrrr...

Here is Challenge #3.  For this one, we actually had to incorporate 3 different challenges all while meeting the theme of friendship as well.  We had to use certain colors (from the Pocketful of Posies DSP), use the paper-piercing tool and use a sketch (at the end of the post).  This is a pocket card.  They are always cute!

I used one of my Fancy Flower Roses for the flower.  A video tutorial for those are coming soon... As soon as I figure out how to edit, etc. a video!  :)  I embossed all the DSP with the new Houndstooth Embossing Folder to give it a little more texture.  The faux stitching was done with the paper piercer and the White Signo Gel Pen.  Hope you enjoy my Pocketful of Friendship Card!

A POCKETFUL OF FRIENDSHIP SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Happy Greeting (W#123311 $18.95, C#123313 $14.95 thru Aug. 31 ONLY), Love & Care (Hostess thru Aug. 31 ONLY)
• Card Stock – Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, DSP Patterns Stack Subtle
• Ink – Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, So Saffron Classic, VersaMark, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze Stampin' Write Markers,
• Ribbon – Whisper White 5/8" Organza (#114319, $5.95), Whisper White Baker's Twine (#124262, $2.95)
• Punches – 1-3/4" Circle (#119580, $16.95), Fancy Flower (#118073, $16.95), Scallop Oval (#119856, $16.95), Large Oval (#119855, $15.95), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (#119275, $15.95), Decorative Label (#120907, $16.95, Extra-Large (Wide) Oval (#119859, $16.95)
• Accessories – White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (#105021, $3.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Houndstooth Embossing Folder (#123134, $7.95), Paper Piercer (#116631, $3.50), Mat Pack (#105826, $9.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), Sticky Strip (#104294, $6.95), Sponge Daubers

Here is the info if you would like to play along:
CCREW0811HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Holiday Focus: Friendship Day, Family Day or Sisters Day are all celebrated the first Sunday in August. Celebrate one of these special days by creating a project that combines the paper-piercing tool, the Pocketful of Posies dsp. (or any 3 of the above listed colors) AND the attached sketch! Add this card to the creative crew gallery then send it to a family member, a sister, or a friend. Tell us who you sent it to and why.

STORAGE SATURDAY CARD STOCK UPDATE...

We made it through Irene okay!  Our roof sprung a leak and it's only a few years old.  But, we didn't lose power for long, so that was good.  Internet was down and there is lots of debris to clean up, but all in all, we were pretty lucky!  Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.  It was very much appreciated!

Following up on my Storage Saturday post on storing card stock, Kristi asked me what I keep in the bottom drawer of my lateral filing cabinet to keep it from tipping over.  First of all, I have a countertop over all my drawer units, so while it can tip a little, it can not tip over.  However, my bottom drawer is fully loaded!  I file everything I possibly can - if it is flat enough or will fit, I file it!  Okay, I will share a shot of my messy bottom file drawer.  It definitely needs some going through...

I have regular hanging files and box hanging files of 1" & 2".  All are legal size folders like the card stock folders.  Many of the folders contain business items like catalogs, hostess info, forms, instruction sheets, etc.  That is a lot of weight in itself.  Also, I have files for Decor Elements, Stencils, Cello Bags, templates, manuals (from stampin' products and appliances in my studio), Window Sheets, acetate (collected before we had window sheets), On Board, Labels, and yes, even plastic bags. 

I know, I'm pathetic.  Just ask my daughter.  What can I say?  My psyche can only rest when everything is organized, color-coded and exactly where it belongs!   Okay, now I have to go clean that drawer or I won't rest a bit tonight...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM GUEST DESIGNER BARBARA MOCK...

I am pretty sure that I won't be online Sunday due to the Hurricane here (and maybe not for some time after), so I am scheduling a post from one of my downline, Barbara Mock.  She had been doing so well with her business and I can see her creations blossoming as well!  This is a Halloween card that Barbara sent me to share with you.  Isn't it absolutely ADORABLE?  Too, too cute!

This is a Center Step Fold Card.  You can find my tutorial for it here:  Love Birds 60th Anniversary

Here is how Barbara made the card in her own words:

For the base I used Basic Gary. On the sides I used a piece of Basic Black card stock that was run through the Big Shot in the Spider Web EB after I had brayered the EB with Craft Whisper White ink. Then I cut it in strips to fit on the sides. I used a piece of Basic Black run through with the new Stripes EB on the middle section. I stamped the house from House of Haunts in Versa Mark and used black embossing powder. I colored the moon with Daffodil Delight Stampin Pastels and I used Basic Black Pastels on the background. The DSP on the bottom is Night and Day from Holiday Mini year before last. The spiders are from Spooky Bingo Bits stamped on Whisper White and cut with the small 3/4 x 15/16 oval punch. The "ghost" is of course the owl punch. The smaller pumpkin is the same 3/4 x 15/16 punch and the larger pumpkin is the retired small oval punch (which by the way, I can't really understand why they would retire that punch...I use it all the time!).

BARBARA'S HALLOWEEN CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – House of Haunts, Spooky Bingo Bits
• Card Stock – Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Night & Day DSP (retired)
• Ink – Whisper White Craft, Basic Black Classic, VersaMark, Pastels
• Punches – Two-Step Owl, Large Oval, Small Oval, Modern Label, Word Window
• Accessories – Black Stampin Emboss Powder
• Tools – Big Shot, Stripes Embossing Folder (#123128, $7.95), Spider Web Embossing Folder (#120889, $7.95)

STORAGE SATURDAY, Card Stock Storage...

Today's Storage Saturday is in response to a couple of questions from readers.  One wanted to know how I store my card stock.  I have touched on part of this in the past, but I will be happy to share again.  I have tried several different systems before settling on my current methods.  While these work well for me, they may not be for everyone.  I tried paper racks which looked great, but light fades the paper even though I have absolutely no direct sunlight in my room and dust was a problem even with page protectors over each stack.

Ultimately, I decided on a hanging file system for my 8.5" x 11" card stock.  I find lateral filing cabinets the easiest to use.  I found a 42" wide cabinet at an office superstore which fits all my card stock in the top drawer perfectly.  Mine is immediately to the left side of my desk chair and easy to use without having to get up.

I use legal size hanging file folders, so that there is plenty of extra length.  This keeps my card stock from getting dinged up and allows me to file my 12" x 12" scraps in the files as well.  In each hanging file, I also have a plain file folder in the front in which I keep the matching color scraps.  This way, I can easily check the scrap folder in each file first before getting out a new sheet.  See next photo

Another great tip is that I keep a large paper clip on the front of the hanging folder if I have an extra pack of the card stock.  When I use the extra pack, I remove the clip.  That way I can tell at a glance which colors need to be reordered.

I use color coded tags for my hanging folders to make finding the correct color a snap.  I have updated the file I shared with you all last year with the newest In Colors.  If you are interested in printing off your own labels for hanging file tabs, I made these labels and printed them off using Avery 5567 Hanging File Tab Labels.  Be sure to print using the highest quality.  Note:  I do not use them folded over like a tab as I find them too flimsy for that.  I cut them on the fold line and get two labels out of each that I then insert in the plastic tabs.

You can download my the PDF file HERE.   There are four sheets to print - each sheet will look like those below and the labels will peel off.  If you don't have the labels, you could just print it out on paper and cut out the color portions to insert them in the plastic tabs.  Thanks for the reminder to update this file, Janet!  Hope you all find these useful!

I would love to use a similar hanging file system for my 12" x 12" card stock.  However, there are not many makers of these and I haven't found one that will work for me.  Either they are too small (I have a LOT of paper) or too ugly, etc.  I have yet to find anything attractive that matches my decor.  So I opt to keep my 12x12 card stock in the 12x12 Paper Holders from Stampin' Up! (#105528, $7.95).   Right now, I keep the Paper Holders in cubes.  With one cube for Smooth Card Stock, another for Textured Card Stock and another for current DSP and retired DSP.  I did have metal tags labeling each Paper Holder, but since they retired, I took those off and am trying to come up with new ones.

I use lots of 12x12 Dividers (#105529, $5.95/4) for each color or DSP to make everything quick and easy to find.  In the photo at the left, you can see the dividers in one of my retired DSP Paper Holders.  For DSP, I organize them alphabetically (I don't know what happened to this one!).  For Card Stock, I organize them by ROYGBIV (rainbow) order.  I like being able to go to the Reds when I need a Red and see them all together to chose one from.   For more on ROYGBIV organization, check out another post on that subject HERE.

Sorry for the LONG post, but I hope that helps some of you to organize your card stock.  I always feel better when my stampin' supplies are color-coded and organized!  Enjoy!

STAMPIN' STUDIO HURRICANE PREP TIPS FOR IRENE...

Okay, first we have an 5.9 earthquake in VIRGINIA of all places!  Definitely not something you think about living here.  And now it looks like Hurricane Irene is making a dead run for us in Virginia Beach!  So we spent the day battening down the hatches for the hurricane.  We have been through this before as we lived in Charleston, SC when it took a dead on hit from Hurricane Hugo, so we know what to do.  Luckily we are just out of the storm surge zone, so we're not evacuating, but it will be a BUMPY ride!  I'm still holding out hope that it will move east and go out to sea...

Besides hurricane prep, I also spent time cleaning up my studio, labeling and putting away new products received (LOVE it!) and getting more Dauber Cases ready for when the daubers arrive Monday (if Irene doesn't intervene).  I figured I better not start any new projects and have stuff out all over the room just in case our big tree decides to fall on my studio.  Okay...like it would matter if things were out when a tree falls on you!  But, it feels better being put away when you're expecting a storm!  :o)

Someone posted this on SUDSOL and I just HAD to share it with some personal tweaks!

STAMPIN' STUDIO HURRICANE PREP TIPS:

1. Overnight any necessary stampin’ supplies needed to lock myself inside safe from the storm.  DONE! - lots of new things to play with from the upcoming Holiday Mini.
2. Purchase battery operated lamps for my studio.
3. Stock up on batteries for the lamp, my battery operated fan, radio, etc.
4. Purchase necessary crafting sustenance – lots of water, Sprite Zero, pretzels, yogurt and CHOCOLATE!
5. Download and print ideas I have saved to CASE on my computer in case the power goes out
6. Charge cell phone, iPod (to jam to music while stamping), laptop, etc.
7. Wash some comfy short sets, so they are ready to live in for the day or many days as it may be.
8. Charge camera battery (consider purchasing extra camera battery) because you know we need to take pictures of the storm to scrapbook it!

Of course, this is all tongue-in-cheek!  PLEASE be sure to take all the necessary precautions to keep you and your family safe throughout this event!

I'll leave you with a picture of the uber-cute bat treat cone that Shelli made at the Charlotte Regional last weekend.  I will be working on a tutorial for this as soon as the storm passes...

LOTS OF NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE...

Six new digital downloads were released this week (and five last week) including five new stamp brush sets and the gorgeous Paisley Petals DSP I've been waiting for (shown at left)!  Check out the Aug. 16 PDF & Aug. 23 PDF for more recent downloads, and then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get yours today!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

PLEASE NOTE:  You don't have to have My Digital Studio to use our digital images.  You can download them as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!

SNEAK PEEK, Sweet Friend Card from Charlotte Regional...

Today I have another Make & Take from the Charlotte Regional to share with you.  This one has more of a Vintage feel--very different from yesterday's Love Card.  I love that Stampin' Up! included the envelopes for us to stamp to match as well.

Once again, I pretty much stuck with the design - shocking!  But, it was a cute card and a little different from my regular style, so nice to have something different to show.  Hope you enjoy it!

REGIONAL SWEET FRIEND CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – You Are Loved (W#123777 $31.95, C#123779 $23.95 beginning Sept. 1), Good Grid (#122630, $9.95)
• Card Stock – Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler Textured, More Mustard Textured, Old Olive Textured, First Edition Specialty DSP
• Ink – Soft Suede Classic, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, Tea Stain (from the Distressing Essentials Kit)
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding (#120992, $6.95)
• Punches – 1" Square (#124094, $15.95 beginning Sept. 1)
• Accessories – Vintage Trinkets (#118764, $5.95)
• Tools – Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95), Distressing Kit (#118762, $19.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

SNEAK PEEK, Love Card from Charlotte Regional...

Are you ready to be shocked?  Today I am sharing one of the Make & Takes I made at the Charlotte Regional Event this past weekend.  And I made it almost exactly as designed!  In the past, I have always taken my Make & Takes home and changed them up - I have to be different, ya know!  :)  However, since I don't have this stamp set and time was limited, I actually made it mostly as is.  And I like it!  It was a cute design.  I hope you like it, too!

LOVE CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – You Are Loved (W#123777 $31.95, C#123779 $23.95 beginning Sept. 1)
• Card Stock – Pool Party, Whisper White, Old Olive Textured
• Ink – Soft Suede, More Mustard Classic, VersaMark, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Old Olive, Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
• Ribbon – Old Olive 1/2" Scallop Dots (#124139, $7.95)
• Punches – Decorative Label (#120907, $16.95), Large Oval (#119855, $15.95)
• Accessories –Basic Pearls Jewels (#119247, $4.95)
• Tools – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

EXCLUSIVE BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN STAMPIN' UP! & MY DIVALICIOUS DEMOS GROUP...

Yesterday I promised you a special offer and here it is... 

Stampin' Up! has given all demonstrators who attended the Charlotte Regional Event an exclusive bonus to share with YOU.  Anyone who joins my Divalicious Demos team by September 4, will receive the Sweet Cake stamp set absolutely FREE!  This is an exclusive sneak peek at a brand new stamp set that will be in the Occasions Mini Catalog (beginning January 2012).  Demonstrators cannot even purchase this set until December and you can get it now for FREE!

Here are some fun samples with this adorable stamp set:

For more information on becoming a demonstrator, please check out my Join My Team page.  Or call or email me with any questions you may have!  Take advantage of this special offer and you will not have to meet any minimums until December 31.  I would LOVE to have YOU in my group!