Online sales, in-home workshops and the home-based business opportunity with Stampin' Up! crafting products

This post will primarily focus on photos of new product that we saw demonstrated at Stampin’ Up’s OnStage convention but first I want to share a photo with my traveling buddies.

Catherine Harwood and Carol Hall, both friends and fellow demonstrators from here, are on both sides of the photo. Heather, who is Carol’s sister-in-law, came by herself from Massachusetts and joined us for most of the sessions. It was so nice that they could spend time together. We were photo bombed by an astronaut.

It was a nice start with a special message from CEO Sara who was actually at the event in Australia. 

We had stamping demonstrations live on stage and also via recordings. It was especially fun to see the male CFO and CTO stamping. 

This is a fun technique adding ink to a window sheet with a Blend marker then spraying with 91% alcohol and drying. No two are alike but all are WOW!  From this to this …..

I love this new stamp set (Charming Duck Pond) and it is already on my “I have to have it!” list.

The Unbounded Beauty dies have two long dies that cut out 8 flowers in a long row. Put colored strips of cardstock behind the cutouts to create this card. What do you do with all of those white die cut flowers? Check out the next card.

Another favorite from the new catalog is called Attention Shoppers. When I first saw it in the catalog I skipped right on by not giving it much thought. Then when it was demonstrated I totally changed my thinking and I have already ordered it. That’s one of the perks of being a demonstrator and going to OnStage. You can order early. I can’t show images from the inside of the catalog right now but I can show you these great cards that were demonstrated.

See why I love it. There is a cake, wine bottle, shopping bag, flowers, a plant and that shopping cart along with some great sentiments.

Adventurous Sky is another one of my favorite new sets. 

This reminded me of that great movie Aviator about Howard Hughes staring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Stampin’ Up has the best color coordination and starting any card I pick a stamp set but then go for the DSP and pick my colors for that card from the DSP. You won’t be disappointed in the new line of DSP. Here are a few samples:

Remember anything from the new catalog won’t be available for order until May. I will let you know when I have them to give out. April is the month to stock up on retiring ink refills, anything that was on your wish list that you didn’t get, and those items that are going up in price in May. I posted the most significant increases on the previous post. I plan on stocking up on cardstock, mini glue dots, and envelopes since I use a lot of these things.

There has not been an in-person convention (OnStage) since before Covid so I am excited to be heading out later today for Houston and this event. They really are such fun connecting with other demonstrators, some who have become friends over the years. 

Thank you to all who kept me as your demonstrator and supported my little business. It helped me earn the following recognitions:

Many who go make cards to swap. I use to do that but stopped a few conventions back knowing that if I did see a Wow card I could usually take a photo of it. And besides it takes a lot of time to make those swaps.

I did make some small gifts for my roommates and will share photos of those later after I have given them.

This is a card I made in my friend and downline Betty Herring‘s class. The Trusty Tool set has been very popular and the free coordinating DSP from Sale-a-bration made it easy to create this card. All of the tools were cut from the DSP although there are stamps and dies to stamp and color your own since the DSP is no longer available.

This reminded me of individual charcuterie that I made several years ago at Christmas. They were so much fun to do in a small mason jar.

Oh boy I have several months to catch up on stuff. It’s been very busy ever since Christmas. 

First I will post the CD calendars I have missed.

Of course we don’t get snow here in Florida but this Iowa raised gal still misses it. The snowflakes were dusted with some ice crystals.

I was determined not to use red for the February calendar. I love the pinks and purples.

March is one of the hardest months to do but when Stampin’ Up came out with this set and a punch for the large shamrock I knew it would be perfect.

Get ready for some new Online Exclusives that will be available March 5th. There are several new items that can only be found online. 

Here are just a couple of what will be available.

I often shy away from floral sets because I have so many but this new set is calling out to me. The DSP that coordinates with it is gorgeous. 

Be sure to go check out all of the new products (and all of the other great things only available online) on March 5th in my online store. 

Easter is early this year (March 31st). Have you made any cards or Easter treats?

Excellent Eggs stamps and dies are available in the mini catalog and in my online store.

A couple of recent class cards:

This card was cased from demonstrator Erica Cerwin with just a few edits. The stamp set and dies were part of the free product from Sale-a-bration.

One of the biggest highlights of the past 3 months was the wedding of my oldest grandson, Alex, and his new bride Morgen. They got married January 5th. It was a beautiful wedding and Morgen was stunning. 

With my three children.

I also had two trips in February which added to not having time to blog. I will post more on those trips in my next post (hopefully soon!).

Well another year is almost over. I hope it’s been a good one for you. It has been for me for the most part. I was fortunate to take two big trips this year. The first to France to see my nephew and his wife and to meet their new baby. It’s been years since I held a baby. I remember my mother saying that as you get older women miss having a baby to hold. Some nursing homes even have women bring in babies so they can hold them. She also said it’s why so many elderly women like stuffed animals. Something to cuddle. I actually understand as I found myself wishing I had a baby in the family so I could hold it. Turns out I had to go all the way to France but so worth it. Baby Harry just turned one year old last month.

When I was there Harry was not crawling and couldn’t sit up. So many changes in just a few months time. 

In October a friend and I went on a Tauck coach tour called Freedom’s Footsteps. It started in Philadelphia where we saw the Liberty Bell and more. Then on to Gettysburg, Amish Country, Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg and ending with three days in DC. It was a fabulous tour, my first on a bus, and only 16 people on the tour. But after 11 days I was ready to get home. Not only physically exhausting but also so much history that my head was full of information. Here are just a few highlights.

We were hoping to see color and were not disappointed with trees of red, orange, and yellow.

I had been to Philadelphia many years ago for a work conference and saw the Liberty Bell but it was great to see it again.

George Washington’s actual tent. Before the curtains were opened I imagined that it would be green. As you see it is not. It is in a museum and very protected from elements that could hurt it. After the war the tent changed many hands and wasn’t really taken very good care of. Eventually a minister bought it and donated it to the museum. One of the favorite things I saw.

I had been to Colonial Williamsburg about 35 or 40 years ago so it was almost like seeing it for the first time. Our tour director surprised us with tickets for a carriage ride.

Such interesting patterns on the wall made with the swords and guns. This tour guide was so dramatic and played the part well at the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg.

Our hotel in DC was right across the street from the White House. 

The Korean War Memorial. Since I had been in DC a few years ago I had seen most of the memorials and museums. I decided to post this picture because of the beautiful trees behind.

Included in our tour was Monticello and Mt. Vernon, a tour of a recreation of an Amish home followed by the most amazing Amish buffet. Anything and everything you could think of to eat. 

Tauck is known for all of the fine details, stays in 5 star hotels, and amazing food. Because of our DC hotel being right across from the White House it is said that when dignitaries come to town that is where they stay. I kept looking for anyone important but probably wouldn’t recognize someone if they were standing right in front of me.

I collect snow globes from places I have traveled. I already had one of the Liberty Bell and one from DC so these are my newest ones from this trip. 

Coming in January there will be a new mini catalog out and it will be Sale-a-bration so look for links to those catalogs in January. And if you want the catalog let me know. I will have them soon.

I wanted to share with you the way I repurpose the stamp cases that come with photopolymer stamps. I started doing this because I like to turn the stamp case over and see what is inside without having to open the case. Call me lazy if you want but when I am searching for something this is so easy and saves time.

This is the front of the case. This is a new stamp set that coordinates with the Bough Punch.

When you turn the case over this is what you see.

The images of the stamps are on the right side of the paper insert.

I simply get out my trimmer and cut the right side off and inset it behind the front sheet.

Now when I turn the stamp case over I can easily see if all stamps are there or what might be missing. In this case you can see that there is one missing in the middle.

Be sure to check out my online store for several new Stampin’ Up specials including Bonus Days, New Online Exclusives, Clearance Rack refresh, Paper Pumpkin discounted refills for subscribers, and this new card kit below which makes 8 cards and is only $13.

Blossom Wishes Card Kit     #162431

Thanks for stopping by and stay cool. It’s hot out there!

July is not one of the easier months to do so I usually just try to go with stamping in red and blue. 

There are a couple of specials coming up. The first is Stampin’ Up is bringing back Bonus Days. Any order between July 6th and July 31st of $50 or more earns a $5 coupon that you can use in August towards another order. It doesn’t matter if you place the order yourself or if I place it as part of a workshop order. You will get an email from Stampin’ Up with the coupon code so be sure to save that code.

The other special is a new Online Exclusive that will be available starting July 6th and will be available while supplies last. Did you even know there are online exclusives that are not in any catalog?  You can find them by going to my online store.

There are stamps, dies, that cute car punch, DSP and embellishments. Check back July 6th to see more.