Coming Up Roses!

This is one of the creations we will be making at my New Catalog Bash on the 29th! I found the inspiration from a fellow demonstrator, Patty Bennett.

I used the following supplies for my project:
114517 Stampin' Up! Manhatten Flower Embossing Folder
114319 Whisper White Organza Ribbon
101839 Vellum Cardstock
100459 Pretty In Pink Cardstock

I hope you join me on the 29th. There will be several other projects to make as well.

Check out the deal of the week! Click on the link on the left and get the details. This is a great dea!!!

Interested? Contact me today!

Hi Stampers! I just wanted to take a moment and show you the cute display I made for the Vendor Fair tomorrow evening at Washington Jr. High in Rock Island.

Don't you just love it?! The suitcase is made by Provo Crafts so I am sure you can find them wherever their products are sold. I don't remember where I bought mine but had to make it when I saw one on the front of the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog.

Happy stamping!

Door Prize

Don't fall out of your chair....yes I am blogging today! I just wanted to give you all a quick view of the item that I am donating at a vendor fair on May 1st.

This door prize includes a set of 8 notecards and matching envelopes, a cone filled with a Black Stampin' Spot, an mini incentive stamp and of course chocolate! Come visit me and do a quick make and take and have a great time visiting some of the other vendors too!

Here are the details: Vendor Fair Friday, May 1st from 6-8 P.M. in the large gym - Free admission, raffles, and door prizes. Location is Washington Jr. High in Rock Island.

FYI - Do you stamp green?

Do you stamp green? If you use Stampin' Up! products you do.

Those of you that know me and my family know that we are a recycling family (thanks partially to the Army). My husband owns a green company and a quick look in our garage at the always full recycling containers will give you a clue.

That being said I can tell you I was so excited to find out exactly how "green" Stampin' Up! has become. Below you can read an article from our demonstrator magazine Stampin' Success, January 2009 issue. I have permission from Stampin' Up! to print this word for word. I hope you learning about it as much as I did.

Stamping "green" - A Quick Look at Stampin' Up!'s Eco-conscious Practices

These days, everywhere you turn people are "going green" and putting into practice ideas that can make a difference in the environment and conserve energy. But what is Stampin' Up! doing to "go green"? Your customers have been asking this question, and we want to help you answer them!

Rubber
Rather than dumping our excess rubber in a landfill, we donate it to Courage Reins, a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding therapy for physically or mentally challenged children. They take our ground rubber and sell it to groups and individuals for use in playgrounds and horse stables. The money they receive from the sale of this rubber goes to fund their programs. You can find more information about Courage Reins at www.couragereins.org.

Wood Blocks
Our wood blocks are not only created from a renewable resource, we engage in a sustainable practice to get those wood block. We work with a tree farm in which the maple trees are grown specifically for the purpose of harvesting wood!

Card Stock and Paper
You're probably already aware that the paper we use for shipping is 100 percent recycled. Bud did you know that our card stock includes recycled material? It's true! Our card stock includes recycled paper that's left over from other paper runs, which would otherwise end up in a landfill. The darker the color of card stock, the more recycled material is in the card stock. (Who would have thought that Basic Black is our greenest color?)

In addition, we work with a paper broker who ensures that the mills we use for our Designer Series paper and card stock engage in environmentally friendly practices. Our broker is even certified through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Program for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC). These certifications help us know that our paper comes from sustainably managed forests and mills that are taking steps to lessen their carbon footprint. One of our mills even generates its own power.

Our Buildings
We are very fortunate to have wonderful facilities at Stampin' Up! that help us reduce our environmental impact. First, systems in both the Riverton and Kanab buildings filter any pollutants that may result from stamp production. Second, our buildings are designed with energy conservation in mind. Both buildings have geothermal wells, which help us maintain building temperature, cutting down on our use of heating oil or natural gas. In addition, all lights are on sensors and timers, so we don't waste electricity when employees are away from the office.

In our desert climate here in Utah, it's also extremely important that we watch our water use. For this reason, we've incorporated native, water-wise plants in our landscaping. If you've visited the home office, you may have noticed that we have wildflowers growing in front of our building instead of grass! Our sprinkler system is timed to minimize evaporation, which helps reduce the amount of water we use to maintain our landscape. indoors, artificial plants mingle with the live ones in the area around our atrium water feature. This allows us to have a lush garden while minimizing the amount of water we use.

Carbon Footprint
At Stampin' Up!, we strive to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. This means that we try to engage in shipping practices that will require fewer greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, to be released into the atmosphere. First, UPS picks up shipments from our Distribution Center each day during nonpeak traffic hours. This cuts down the amount of gasoline UPS needs to use to get our orders out the door. You can learn what UPS is doing to make their practices more eco-friendly at http://sustainability.ups.com.

For stamp shipments from Kanab to Riverton, we "carpool" with companies who are sending shipments from the Salt Lake City area to Kanab. For example, Sysco delivers food to Kanab and surrounding towns and, normally, their trucks would return empty to Salt Lake City. Instead of driving back without cargo, Sysco trucks bring stamps from Kanab to Riverton!

As you know, one of our guiding principles at Stampin' Up! is Change, and with that principle in mind, we are always looking for ways to improve our business practices to do what's right for our demonstrators, employees, community and environment. --end

I hope you are as impressed as I was after I read this article. If we all do our part, the planet will be habitable for decades to come!

Woohoo!

Most of you may have heard and if you were at my February Card Class you definately heard, Stampin' Up! is going back to just one catalog per year! When the new catalog comes out in July 2009 that will be the only Idea Book & Catalog until July 2010. There will be mini catalogs offered throughout the year just as before.

Happy Stamping!

New projects

Happy March Everyone! I'll bet you all thought I forgot about you. Nope, just haven't had the time to stamp. Yes, I know....that's a crime!

I wanted to show you all what a cute hostess gift that I gave out in February. I made it using our new box die.

Isn't it adorable? I love this new die. Of course the paper, stamp set & ribbon are all in the Sale-A-Bration catalog. You can get them for free by placing a $50.00 order (before S & H). That's one free for each $50.00 order. Contact me if you would like these items. This is a special so you only have until March 31, 2009 to order! So here is a list of what I used.

• Bigz XL Die Box #2 114518
• Whisper White Cardstock 100730
• Kraft Cardstock 102125
• Bashful Blue Classic Ink 105209
• Sale-A-Bration Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper 114674
• Sale-A-Bration Ribbon Bundle 114618
• Sale-A-Bration Polka Dot Punches 113788

This box was filled with chocolates. Yummy! It will hold 12 Hershey's Nuggets perfectly.

Okay, now for the next two projects. I CASED (copy and share everything) the one with the bird from Margaret Raburn a fellow demonstrator. I made 8 of these....six for a swap I participated in, a second for me and one for a couple from church celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary. Well, after doing the first one I decided I didn't want to cut out 8 birds so I changed it up a little. Please forgive my photography, I am working on it. I purchased a photo box to help but for some reason these came out blurry, but you get the general idea. Oh, please note that you cannot tell in the photo, but there is paper piercing on the photo corners, the blue strip down the center and around the scallops.

This is what I used:

• Stamp Set Always 113620
• Always Artichoke Cardstock 105219
• Whisper White Cardstock 100730
• Sale-A-Bration Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper 114674
• 5 Petal Flower Punch 109041
• Bigz Die Scallop Circle #2 113469

I hope you have enjoyed these projects. I had fun making them.

Happy Stamping!

New Card

Hello All. I made this card quite a while ago. I really like it and I thought some of you might enjoy it too.

This is a simple card, it just takes a bit of time.

I started out with a 8 1/2 " x 5 1/2" piece of Brilliant Blue cardstock. Scoring at 4 1/4".

Then for the next layer there is a piece of Green Galore cut at 4" x 5 1/4".

You will scraps of Tempting Turquoise, Glorious Green, Real Red and YoYo Yellow. Cut Green & Yellow 4" x 1" and Turquoise and Red 2 3/4" x 1". Attach them to the Green Galore leaving a little of the Green border showing.

Next you need a 2 3/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Whisper White. Don't you just love that crisp Whisper White? It's my favorite neutral to use.

In Classic Basic Black, stamp the rocket image from the Pun Fun set on page 48 of the Stampin' Up! catalog. Using a Tempting Turquoise & Only Orange marker, color your image. Sponge Tempting Turquoise around the edge and attache a Turquoise brad in the center. I finished the corners off with the Ticket punch.

Next you will need a piece of Only Orange cut to 3" x 3 1/2" and finished the corners with the Ticket punch also. Attach all of your layers and Viola! And adorable quick card for you to send.

I hope you like this. Let me know if you have trouble when you make yours and if not, email me an image of your finished card. I would love to see it!

Bye for now!

New Toys

Good Evening All!

I just wanted to make a quick post. Mr. Brown brought me a box of fun toys a few days ago. Don't they look fun?


I haven't had time to play yet, but I am hoping for some time this week.

Wouldn't you just love to get a box like this delivered to your home? If you answered yes to that question, contact me and I will tell you how you can do it!

Have a good evening!!

My Semi-Annual New Catalog Bash & Customer Appreciation Event

Last night I had my Semi-Annual New Catalog Bash and Customer Appreciation Event. These are the projects we made. They weren’t my original ideas and I don’t remember who I received the inspiration from on all of them. If you were the original creator, please contact me so I can give you the proper credit.

I had 5 stations set up. Everyone could make all or one. The bookmarks were a big hit! What a great idea for an end of year gift for your favorite teacher.

I think everyone’s second fave was the coaster calendars. I sent extra coasters and paper home with anybody that wanted them. Too cute with Stampin’ Up!’s Rasberry Tart Designer Series Paper.

We also made these adorable Top Note treat bags. I found a tutorial for this idea made by Angie Kennedy Juda over at Chic n’ Scratch.I wanted to let everyone create a simple notecard. My feeling is this; if you know how to do something simple and quick you will make them again and again. I believe the inspiration for this came from Patty Bennett.

Last but not least we covered a simple sucker. What fun we had!! These are the gifts I gave everyone as they left. The little cones are made from the scallop Bigz dies available through Stampin’ Up!. I filled each one with an incentive stamp. The other gift is a little Ghirardelli® chocolate in a pouch made using the Petal Bigz die. I have a few pieces of glassware that are antiques so I like to use those to hold the little treats. I love making things look somewhat girlie. Finally, as a part of my customer appreciation gifts, everyone was able to choose a retired stamp set to take with them.When I do this in January, I always serve chili. It’s a big hit especially since we have had some very frigid temperatures in Illinois. I hope you have enjoyed learning about my event....maybe next one you will be able to attend.

Welcome!

Thank you all for checking in on my new blog. I love the work that Michelle Laycock and Heather Wright-Porto did on my blog and graphics. If you are looking to set up a blog or have an old blog updated, I would highly recommend these very talented people.

My goal here is to keep everyone in the know about we are creating. Who knows, you might find something you would like to participate in as well. You can contact me if you would like to sign up for a class or click on the Join My Team link at the top. I hope you enjoy reading my blog and looking at some pictures. Bear with me on my picture quality while I do a little practicing. Have fun!

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog, Stamping With Penny. I'd like to recommend Michelle Laycock, http://www.laycockdesigns.com/, who designed my new banner and Heather Wright-Porto, http://www.blogsbyheather.com/, who helped me setup my blog.

Please come back and visit soon!