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Friday, December 26

January Newsletter

I know I am a little ahead...but better to be a HEAD then BEHIND! :)

Another year is upon us. It’s been a rather rough winter thus far, with lots of snow and freezing rain. This year is a new year with lots of hope. The economy has been rough and will not heal over night. However, I am hoping with the new year, new stamps and new promotions, you will each be able to enjoy something new!

Stampin’ Up! Promotions

Love You Much Promotion
December 23, 2008 - January 31, 2009
Get ready for Valentine's Day with the exclusive Love You Much Bundle (item 115405). The Love You Much Bundle includes the following:
Description Retail Value
Love You Much stamp set $25.95
Candy Lane Designer Series paper $9.95
Heart To Heart punch $15.95
Bundle Retail Value $51.85
Love You Much Bundle $41.48
(20% off; item 115405)

Sale-A-Bration
February 1- March 31, 2009
Our Sale-A-Bration promotion gives reason for everyone to celebrate!
Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase.
Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product with a $300 or more workshop, in addition to the normal hostess benefits.
Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up during the promotion.

My Specials

New Catty Special
Because of the difficult times we are having this year I will be selling the books at my cost plus shipping. Your cost this year will be $4.65 ~ a 53% savings. You will still receive a certificate for $6.00 off when you host a workshop of $150 or more! The catalog retails for $9.95 ~ so after your workshop you will have saved over 66%! How cool is that!

Reduced Shipping Special
On all parties over $150 I will give a 50% savings on shipping on all orders.
On all parties over $300 I will give 75% savings on shipping on all orders
On all parties over $450 I will give FREE shipping on all orders.
This special will run through January 31. Depending on how it goes it may be extended through Sale-A-Bration.

Calendar of Events:
January 1 ~ Love You Much Promotion Cont’d
January 1-10 ~ Round Robin Sign Up
January 5 ~ Retiring Accessory List Released
January 9 ~ 5-4-$5 Card Class
January 10 ~ Love Ya Stamp Camp ~ $15
January 15 ~ Round Robin Mail Out
January 17 ~ Card Ministry Mass Card Making Day
January 18 ~ Last Day to Order From F/W Catty
January 19 ~ First Day to Order From S/S Catty
January 31 ~ January Thaw at Savory’s in Sturgis
January 31 ~ Love You Much Promotion Ends
February 1 ~ Sale-A-Bration Begins
February 1-10 ~ Round Robin Sign Up
February 7 ~ New Catty Open House
February 13 ~ 5-4-$5 Card Class
February 14 ~ Sale-A-Bration Stamp-A-Stack ~ $10
February 15 ~ Round Robin Mail Out
February 19 ~ Card Ministry

Event Details
January 10 ~ Love Ya Stamp Camp ~ $15
Five 3-D projects using the Love You Much Bundle set, includes a light lunch. RSVP by January 3! If you pre-purchase the Love You Much bundle, you can attend for FREE!
January 17 ~ Card Ministry Mass Card Making Day
We will be meeting at Crossroads Missionary Church to be making up cards for the card ministry from 10 am – 3 pm. Please bring soup, sandwiches or finger food to share. Bring along a standard kit: cutter, scissors, glue adhesive and what ever else you may want to use. I will be bringing a Big Shot if you have any dies or embossing folders to use. I have very limited dies at this time.
January 31 ~ January Thaw at Savory’s in Sturgis
We will be meeting at Savory’s Resturant on S. Centerville Road at 11:30 for a Red Hats get-together.
It doesn’t matter if you are not a Red Hatter!
Join us in the fun as we fill the room with "sun"!
Bring a little thing that will remind us of spring.
Spread a little "ray" in this friend-filled day!
February 7 ~ New Catty Open House
You can pick up your new catties today, put your name in for a drawing and do two make ‘n’ takes!
February 14 ~ Sale-A-Bration Stamp-A-Stack ~ $10
10 cards and matching envies using Sale-A-Bration sets, includes a light lunch. RSVP by February 7!
5-4-$5 Card Classes ~ $5
Each month we meet the 2nd Friday of the month to make 5 cards for $5 using one stamp set.
Round Robin
I will send out enough cards for whoever signs up. It will go to the first person to add their layers, embellies (ribbons, brads, eyelets, flowers), etc. That person will then send it to the next person in the list. You have three WEEK days to do your thing and send it back out. When I received them back, I will make a copy of the recipe and mail each of the participants a card.

New Kits for Sale this Year!
Card Kits – Enough pre-cut cardstock and emellies for 10 cards, including envelopes and directions for $15.00, which includes shipping. These will be available every other month beginning in February. February’s kit will be “Spring Flowers”. I will also give you a list of alternative stamp sets.
Scrapbook Kits – Enough pre-cut cardstock and embellies to do a 2-page spread (12 x 12), with directions for $9.00, which includes shipping. These kits will be available every other month beginning in March. March’s kit will be Easter related. I will also give you a list of alternative stamp sets.
3-D Kits – Enough card stock and embellies to make one 3-D item for $8.00, which includes shipping. These kits will be available as ordered and will be seasonal. They could be from a gift bag to a box, to a moving card, etc.
All orders and payments must be received by the 10th of the month. The kits will be mailed by the 15th of the month.

Card Swaps
I will be hosting a monthly card swap. You must sign up by the 5th of each month, mail out your swaps by the 10th of each month and I will mail them out as soon as I receive them all. There will be monthly themes, starting with February being – BE MY LOVE. Card must be a minimum of TWO layers and use a minimum of TWO embellies (ribbons, brads, eyelets, etc.)

Faithbooking
Buy yourself a 6 x 6 scrapbook and join us for faithbooking! Each month I will give you a “word” to faithbook. You will find a verse that best describes that word and make a 2-page layout using that word as the basis of the page. If you send me a picture or a copy of your pages, I will scan and place them on my website for all to enjoy! What a wonderful way to get those pictures scrapped and to get into the Word of God! This month’s word is…FAITH.

Technique Corner

Masking
Masking makes it appear as though one image is behind the other.
1. Stamp your image on a thin piece of paper, typing paper works wonders!
2. Cut around the image as close as possible.
3. Stamp your image on your cardstock as normal.
4. Place the cut image over the top and then stamp the image you want to appear “behind” the main image.
5. Repeat as needed.
6. Color, layer and finish your project!

Project Corner
Visit my website on or after the 15th of every month this year and see special projects with directions that you may wish to make! If you make them put in a link on your comments under the post!

Thursday, December 25

Blog Candy for a Cause II ~ Francesca

Please visit Crafty Engineer Andrea here to learn more about Blog Candy for a Cause II and little Francesca!

As you know we had a similar situation in our family three years ago with Makaya, who is now a beautiful three year old, with lots of spunk!

Saturday, December 20


Thought I would share this picture that was taken at Thanksgiving with the grandkids. This was the best out of several poses we took.

From left to right: Jasmine (7), Chad (10 1/2 months), Stephen (9) and Trenton (6).

Sunday, December 7

Some cards I had been working on....and a few more to come!

Here are a couple of cards I have been working on for Christmas - a couple for Secret Santa/Rowdy Reindeer, one for my mom's Christmas cards. Not gonna say which is which! hehe

The Poinsettia stamp is not Stampin' Up! I picked it up at a local stamp store between Shipshewana and Middlebury.

Cute Little Purse Photo Books




I made three of these cute little photo books - great for a grandma to carry in her purse! So easy to make!

1. Take a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock and cut it into three equal parts (4").
2. Score each at 4 and 8"
3. Fold each and "work" in the folds.
4. Tape together one end of two of the sheets. This will give you five blocks in a row.
5. Tape the center block of the five to the center block of the one with three.
6. Cut your layering squares as follows: 3 3/4 x 3 3/4, 3 1/2 x 3 1/2, 3 1/4 x 3 1/4.
7. You will find, as I did, the top squares will need to be cut 3 3/4 x 3 1/2, 3 1/2 x 3 1/4, 3 1/4 x 3 otherwise it will overlay the edges more because of the "binding" edges of the cover.
8. Cut a piece of ribbon approximately 16". Tape to front and back before applying the layers.
9. Taa daa! So quick and cute!

Have fun and let me know if you try this cute and easy little book for your family gift this year!