Stamp with Tracie

Holiday Hoopla - Sign up now!

New opportunity to go "digital"

With the launch of Stampin Up!'s much anticipated My Digital Studio software, SU is offering a limited time exclusive Starter Kit that includes My Digital Studio, in addition to stamps, inks, and accessories.  Until March 31, 2009, you can get the Digital+ Starter kit for only $239 - value of the kit is more than $385!

What you'll get in the Digital+ Starter Kit:

• My Digital Studio software
• Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
• Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
• Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
• Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
• Button Latte Designer buttons
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Glue Dots
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies (product catalogues, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

To find out more about becoming a demonstrator, contact me today - I'll be happy to sit down with you and share!

A busy month!

All I can say is wow!

With temperatures in the very low single digits (somewhere around 5 C/ 42 F) today, my thoughts are turning to what seems to be a good time to stay indoors with my craft supplies and a sweater to keep me warm.

Today, Stampin Up! released My Digital Studio - and I have to say what a great tool this is.  I purchased it about a month ago and have enjoyed learning how to use it.  It is so easy! I've never been much of a scrapbooker - I've had grand plans over the years to create a multitude of books for my daughter, my new house and have only completed one - for my parents 40th anniversary almost ten years ago - but have already got at least two projects completed with the MDS along with two additional ones in the works and plans for at least one more in the works! As many of you know, I have an hour commute in the morning and about an hour and a half commute in the afternoon. I'm always looking for a way to "kill" time at the bus stop and MDS has been the answer for the past few weeks!  In the time that it takes me to wait for m bus on a daily basis, I've been able to create several gifts, cards for a variety of occasions as well as organize, plan and start to create several photo albums. 

As well, due to the success of the deal of the week offers that SU! made earlier this year, Stampin Up! is offering a new set of deals starting today.  Check back here or on my Demonstrator's business website every Thursday during the month of October for your deal of the week - this week's deal is 25% off on three use and fun punches!

My Digital Studio on YouTube

My first card using MDS

What do you when you feel like creating and all you have is your computer?  If you have My Digital Studio (MDS), you have a tool at your fingertips that will allow you to create a card, a photo layout, a photo album, a calendar and so much more. 

In less than ten minutes, I created this card using the basic images that come with MDS. Embellishments, ribbon, designer series paper, card stock and a variety of stamps come with the initial purchase - and more releases are planned. 

Want to find out more about My Digital Studio? Call or email me today to arrange for a demonstration and create your first project using MDS today!

My first Digital Studio Creation

In less than five minutes, I created this page with some pictures of my daughter's first day at Senior Kindergarten...if you know how to insert pictures, move your mouse and have fun, you can easily and quickly make cool scrapbook pages, cards, calendars and a multitude of other projects.

Sweetest Rewards - now until November 30, 2009

From now until November 30, host a $330 Stampin’ Up!® workshop, and choose any one item* from the Holiday 2009 Mini Catalogue for just $14.

Choose from our award-winning stamps, beautiful new Simply Adorned™ jewelry, exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop® products, or latest dies for the Sizzix® Big Shot™.

Make plans to host your own Stampin’ Up! workshop and take part in this sweet reward. Call me today to schedule yours!

My Digital Studio

My Digital Studio Benefits:

Exclusive Stampin' Up! Content

• Stampin' Up! artwork and accessories available in a digital format.
• Stampin' Up! colours allow for perfect coordination when embellishing professional print projects with traditional embellishments. Add depth and dimension when you combine digital with handcrafted.
• With My Digital Studio, your favourite images and colours need not retire--you can keep using them for years to come!

Software

• My Digital Studio starts with nearly 2,000 unique elements--stamps, embellishments, templates, kits, punches, Designer Series papers, card stock, borders, and more.
• Intuitive design for easy navigation and project creation.
• Plenty to do for more advanced users including
  • Customizable stamps and embellishments
  • Photo, background, accent, and page editing
  • Multimedia features including music, videos, and links
• Automatic photo fill for effortless design.
• Program is on 3 DVDs, making downloading quick and simple.
• The program is stored on your computer, not on the web, so you can take it with you.
• PC and Mac compatible.
• Training and quick start materials available to help you learn more.
• Use My Digital Studio as a design tool--create projects digitally before crafting it in paper, or create flyers to print or e-mail to customers.

Digital Downloads

• Download new embellishments, stamps, kits, and templates to My Digital Studio on a regular basis. Digital downloads are also compatible with other design tools.
• Digital downloads feature exclusive Stampin' Up! artwork and colors.
• Embellishments are true to size, making it easier to combine digital projects with paper crafting.

Print * (Not available until later this fall)

• Professional print service available--print your photo albums, calendars, cards, and individual pages.
• Stampin' Up!'s professional print services ensure that printed colours match with our paper products. Because personal printers and other print services use different settings, their prints may not match Stampin' Up!'s exclusive colours within acceptable tolerances. Stampin' Up! has worked to make sure that our professional print services match our colours perfectly!
• Don't limit yourself to print projects! You can also create digital projects like DVDs, interactive albums, and e-cards.
• With My Digital Studio, you can print your projects from your home printer (depending on your printer's settings, printed colours may not match Stampin' Up!'s exclusive colours).
• Stampin' Up!'s professional print services use only the highest quality products--papers, album covers (linen, leather, and photo covers).
• My Digital Studio is competitively priced at $106.95.

YouTube Sunday - Home Décor Projects with Shelli

It seems funny, on this Sunday morning, to think how far we've come since last year at this time: a year ago, our house arrived on two flatbed trucks and we began the finishing process - and moved in, very early on, on September 20, 2008. 

We are still in the process of finishing some of the interior - especially, the loft area which will eventually become my stamping studio and our family t.v. and games room.  It's taken us longer than we'd planned - it's hard when you have a five year-old trying to help!

Here is a short video of Shelli, the co-founder and CEO of Stampin Up!, talking about how to use Stampin Up in home décor projects around the house.

My Labour Day Plans

I'm looking forward to enjoying this long weekend - I hope to spend a big chunk of it being creative: I'm working on a new project for this fall, I have several birthdays as well as other gifts that I need to be be making and I hope to get a jump on my holiday cards.  Here are some of the stamp sets that I'll be using:

 

Check back early next week to see some of the results!

Coming Soon: My Digital Studio

This week, Stampin Up's newest mini catalogue, their 2009 holiday mini, reveals two new product lines for Stampin Up: Simply Adorned, a jewelry line, and My Digital Studio.

Extremely intuitive, My Digital Studio allows crafters of all skill levels to easily navigate the program and design their own digital project or use hundreds of templates to create professionally designed cards, photo albums, scrapbooks, and more. New artwork and templates will be available on a regular basis for download via Stampin’ Up!’s Online Store. In addition, My Digital Studio will offer professional print services where customers can purchase bound photo albums, cards, individual scrapbook pages, and calendars.

The design studio offers perfect coordination when embellishing digital output products with traditional Stampin’ Up! embellishments, as well. Users can produce exquisite, multi-dimensional projects that marry the ease of digital with the beauty of handcrafted projects, creating what are known as hybrid projects.

 

Offering its products in a digital format with My Digital Studio is an extension to Stampin’ Up!’s product offerings and not a replacement of the traditional paper crafting products. Stampin’ Up! will continue to deliver innovative products using traditional formats, too.

Upcoming Class - September 23, 2009

Looking for a fun way to spend an evening? Want to get a jump on your Christmas cards? Do I have the class for you: Dashing through Christmas. 

Featuring a darling $10 stamp, the Merry Moments Designer Paper along with some great embellishment, the Dashing through Christmas class will challenge and delight you. 

Interested? Call or email me today to sign up! Learn how to make these cards and get everything you need to make these cards as well as a delightful holder - you even get six envelopes, too! All for $15.  Sign up today!

Quick card

Bless the lives of others the way they have blessed yours. Give this note to a special friend just to tell her that she brightens your world.

 

This is a true quick and easy card that features a delightful design that you can make in a snap.  Why spend a lot of money on a card when you can make this beautiful little card.  Want to learn how to make this and other cards? Contact me today to book a workshop party or hold a virtual party - learn how to make some interesting projects and earn some freebies, too! Have I mentioned how much fun these workshop parties are - invite some of your best friends, offer them some snacks and let me entertain you with some great card, scrapbook and home décor ideas that you can use. 

Don't have the time to host a party? No problem. You can get the materials you need via my demonstrator website and I'll give you free project instructions.

Today's Youtube Sunday Offering: The Big Shot

Happy Sunday!

Here is a video that Stampin Up! prepared for demonstrators to show how to use the Big Shot, a die-cutter.

Today's Project: A Kind Word card

Inspire a close friend to take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life with this laid-back card. Its vine images, muted colors, and simple scallops evoke a calm, relaxing mood.  This makes a great birthday card; by changing the greeting on the front of the card, you could also turn it into a thank you note, a get-well card - even a sympathy card.

To find out what you need to complete this card and to order the supplies, click here.  Contact me today and I can show you how to make this masterpiece today!

Convention News

Here are a few items which might be of interest to you:

• My Digital Studio:  later this fall, creativity will be going digital - using Stampin Up!'s exclusive images, this innovative and easy-to-use software studio will make creating cards, photo albums, scrapbooks and more even simpler! 
• Hostess Promotion starting September 1: Hostesses who hold workshops of $330 or more can order any one item (excluding hostess sets and My Digital Studio) from the Holiday Mini Catalogue for only $14! This is in addition to the regular hostess benefits outlined in the Idea Book & Catalogue.
• Partnership announced with Build-A-Bear-Workshop - New sets, dies and paper will be available in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalogue.
• Simply Adorned jewelry line to be revealed in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalogue - create beautiful jewelry with stamps, paper and ink - available soon!