Sale-A-Brations Starts Today!

Promotion Dates: January 5-March 31, 2010

Promotion Details
Our Sale-A-Bration promotion gives reason for everyone to celebrate!

Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping).

Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $300 in workshop sales, in addition to our regular hostess benefits.

Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (valued up to $47.95) from the current catalogs when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+)!

Starter Kit	Regular Price	Sale-A-Bration Price (15% off)
Standard Starter Kit	$199	$169
Digital+ Starter Kit	$185	$157

The Stampin' Memories Add-On can be added to these kits, but will not be discounted.

New Definitely Decorative Catalog Debut

As of today there is another Definitely Decorative catalog with great new home decor ideas!  Some of the new products even include a chalkboard coating so you can write, erase, and then write on them again! Get your copy of the new Definitely Decorative catalog here.

New Occasions Mini Catalog Debut

Today is the first day that products are available from the new Occasions Mini Catalog for 2010!  It has great new products so make sure you download a copy and place your order soon. (Download your copy here) These products are only available through April 30, 2010 so don't wait!

New Stampin' Up! Punch Design

Starting with the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and continuing with all new punch designs going forward, Stampin' Up! has adopted a new body style for our punches!

A few features of the new punch style:

* Low-profile, rectangular punch body allows for easier stacking and storing
* Punches lock shut for easier storage and transport
* Dual labels on top and end allow for easy identification and selection when stored
* Available in three sizes: small, medium, and extra-large
* New punches allow for larger punched images and more intricate designs while providing greater ease of use.
o Extra -large punch images also allow for two-step designs like the Two-Step Bird punch in the Occasions Mini Catalog
* Corner punches allow you to punch a corner design along the inside edges of a page, not just corners
* larger, whole-hand handle design provides better leverage for easier use
* Available in an exclusive Stampin' Up! color

My thoughts on the new punch design from Stampin' Up!
The new puch design is awesome!  They are quite heavy and sturdy.  The ones that I have produce clean cut edges with a bit less effort than the old punch style.  Finally, they are a dream to store since they lock into a flat position.  Try they out, they are great!

New Clear Mount Stamps from Stampin' Up!

Over the past few years, there has been enormous demand from demonstrators and customers alike for a line of repositionable clear-mount rubber stamps. Well, you asked for it, and now you have it! Starting with stamps in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and the 2010 Sale-A-Bration Brochure, Stampin' Up! now offers our exclusive stamp art in both traditional wood-mount, and the new clear-mount option.

Our new clear-mount rubber stamps are the result of extensive research with the intent to maintain the very best image quality in the stamping industry, while at the same time offering the ease-of-use and storability inherent in repositionable clear-mount rubber stamps.

Clear-Mount Rubber Stamp Features

• Nine different sizes of clear blocks available individually or as a discounted bundle.
• Blocks have ergonomic grooves on all four sides for easy grip and traditional wood-mount feel.
• Stamps and blocks are durable and easy to clean with your Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist.
• Optional image labels on stamp backs let you decide if you want to see the image through the block or not.
• Tight die-cutting for easy image positioning.
• Large clear blocks can be used to create collages or spell words with alphabet sets.
• Stamps store easily in standard, DVD-type cases with artwork on front and spine, making organization easy. 

My Thoughts on Clear Mount Stamps from Stampin' Up!
Overall I REALLY like these stamps!  They are easy to use, clean, and best of all store!  The DVD style cases take up a lot less room than the wood mount cases and the quality of the stamp is every bit as good as the wood mounted stamps. 

The only downsides that I have come across so far are minimal and will probably just take some getting used to.  First, mounting the sticker to the rubber so you can see the image through the acrylic block is a bit cumbersome.  I had a hard time getting them on straight and once they are one that is it.  You can't pull it off and redo it.  Second, the acrylic blocks are a bit weird with the Stamp-a-ma-jig, a tool that I use almost every time I stamp.  The grooves on all four sides of the acrylic block make it a little bit tough to square the stamp in the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  After a bit of practice, though, I was getting better at it.

Like I said, I really do like the new clear mount stamps.  I think I will continue to grow my stamp collection with these.  The upsides really do outweigh the small downsides that I have experienced.  Check them you, you'll probably love them too!

A Gorgeous Birthday Card

This past weekend was one of my friend's birthdays and of course I had to make a card for her.  I love the way it came out!

The colors I used were Bravo Burgundy and Kraft.  All products are Stampin' Up! The stamps used are all from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

Odds and Ends

I haven't had a lot of time to craft since I finished up my Christmas cards, but I have been able to do a few projects here and there.

A candle that I decorated using the new designer paper in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Isn't it adorable?

On this one I gave the polished stone technique a try.  I think it turned out well!  I also used a stamp from one of the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

The final card here is one I did for a workshop late in December.  Since it was too late for people to order supplies to make Christmas cards I thought I'd showcase a way to creatively thank people for the Christmas loot I was sure they'd receive.

The last of the Christmas Cards

My last batch of Christmas cards were for my craft friends.  I had to come up with something cool since I think they expect that of me. :)  My design had a good wow factor, but was still pretty simple to make, which was important when making several of them.  I hope you like them!

All products used are Stampin' Up! For a list of materials please contact me.