Retired List is coming soon!

Stay tuned for more info on the soon-to-be-unveiled Stampin' Up! Retired List! Click on the photo for a closer look at info and projects. Some items on the Retired List (recently renamed and now known as Last Chance List) will be 50% off. Wow! What savings! Look through your 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog now to see what you can't live without. If you do not have a current Idea Book & Catalog, contact me today (210-492-3218, crattray@sbcglobal.net) to receive your copy and be on your way to stamping AND saving:) Go to candystamps.stampinup.net to start shopping and to view stamps and supplies online.

Chef Thanks

One of my sons is a chef at Le Reve restaurant here in San Antonio, and he and one of his co-workers came to our home to prepare an authentic Italian meal. It was wonderful! Here is my card of thanks for Luca, executive chef of the soon-to-be-open Il Sogno restaurant in San Antonio. The card is simple and clean, masculine in color and feel, and this chef is perfect!

Voila and Sincere Salutations Sets; Basic Black, Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Pads; Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Basic Black Card Stocks, Jackpot Designer Series Paper (chef's pants); Hodgepodge Hardware, Metal Eyelets, Crop-a-Dile, Blender Pens, Photo Corner Punch

Sign up for the upcoming Occasions Card Class, and you, too, will make great cards like this for every occasion of your life! Saturday, June 13th, 9:30-11:30 a.m. is the next class. Make 6 cards, 2 each of 3 exclusive, custom designs. All supplies and hands-on instruction are included. The class is held in my Stamping Studio. Once I receive your class fee, I will contact you with the address and answer any questions you may have. Come stamp with me!

Earn more FREE stamps than ever!

There has never been a better time to hostess your own Stampin' Up! workshop and earn FREE stamps and supplies. During the month of June, Stampin' Up! is sweetening the already great deal. Here are the details:

• Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
• Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

You can hostess at my house or yours, whichever works best for you. Contact me today at crattray@sbcglobal.net or call me at 210-492-3218 to book your own workshop, and let the fun begin! The following dates are up for grabs.

1. Friday, June 19th, June 26th
   
2. Saturday, June 20th, June 27th
   
3. Monday, June 22nd, June 29th

These available dates won't last long, so book today and get your Wish List ready. FREE stamps and supplies are coming your way!

48- Hour Memorial Day Special

Place an online $50 order (before tax and shipping) in the next 48 hours and receive, absolutely free, the complete, full-color, step-by-step instructions (31 pages, 98 color photos) to the Fifth Avenue Floral Class! This class, features 4 different card designs and a nifty window tote box for storing or to make a fabulous gift. Think Christmas and birthday gifts!

Go to the Catalog in the sidebar to the right. Click and you will be on my Stampin' Up! website. There are lots of great things to see, but click on "Shop Now" to place your order. Don't forget about the Designer Series Paper Special (buy 3 get 1 free) to get even more freebies! Once your order is placed, you will receive your class instructions within 48 hours. (The materials and supply list for the projects is listed below for your convenience.)

This special runs from Monday, May 25th at 8:00 a.m.-Wednesday, May 27th at 8:00 a.m.

Materials and Supply List
Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral, 113734, $24.95 and Thank You Kindly, 111700, $13.95
Ink: Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad, 109120, $5.95, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, 111833, $5.95, Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Pad, 111835, $5.95
Paper: Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper, 113978,$9.95, 8 1/2 x 11 Card Stocks: Whisper White, Kraft, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray
Accessories: Basic Gray and Kraft Taffeta Ribbons, Kraft Corduroy Buttons, Window Sheets, Linen Thread, Wide Oval and Large Oval Punches, Bone Folder, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Blender Pens, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue dots, Whisper White Envelopes

Creating with Scraps

Do you save all your scraps? All the bits leftover from scrapbook pages, cards, favors, you name it! They make great pieces for further projects. Here is a simple layout showcasing 5 leftover strips of Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper. Each page of a package of Designer Series Papers coordinates with the others, so I just laid strips from different sheets side by side and adhered them to my Whisper White card stock card base. They make a lovely background! Through May 31, You can purchase any 3 packages of Designer Series Papers (12 dbl-sided sheets of 12 x 12 paper, 6 different designs), including the Specialty Designer Series Papers (textured, 12 dbl-sided sheets of 12x12 paper, 6 different designs) and get an entire package free! What a deal! The deal also includes the Textured 12 x 12 Card Stocks in each of Stampin' Up!'s great color families. Your projects will coordinate as if a pro designed them! These papers are all sized at 12 x 12 to give you the maximum number of options. They scrapbook beautifully, make great cards, home decor items, gifts, and more. The weight is perfect for layering, and the textured papers make you want to reach out and touch them. Go straight to candystamps.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." You will see some squares of paper. Just click on one. All the Designer Series Papers will be there for your shopping pleasure. Then choose 4. The last one you select will be free, so choose wisely to get the best value:) Call me at 210-492-3218 to come by my Stamping Studio and see the Designer Series Papers for yourself. I have a sample of each one. Happy paper shopping!

(Recipe for above card: Doodle This and Happy Heart Day stamp sets; Whisper White, Basic Black, Cameo Coral Card Stocks; Black StazOn Stampin' Pad; Rose Red, Cameo Coral, and Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Pads; Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper,Blender Pens, Clips Assortment, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon.)

Clean Stamps

For successful stamping, you must have clean stamps! Seems easy enough. If you already have the Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist, you know how quick and easy it can be. If you are still using wet paper towels, go to candystamps.stampinup.net and click on Shop Now! This is one of the very first purchases I made when I began stamping. And my first Stampin' Scrub is still going strong 6 years later:)

The Stampin' Scrub is double-sided; on one side you spray your Stampin' Mist then rub your stamp on it and on the other side you dry your stamp. You are immediately ready to stamp again! Sure, you can use a baby wipe or paper towel to clean your stamps, but that takes longer and is messy. Plus the Stampin' Mist has a conditioner in it that ensures your stamps remain in great condition. Once you are finished with your stamping session, simply close your Stampin' Scrub and put it away. It's flat and easy to store.

Both of these products are located on page 189 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. The Stampin' Scrub is $16.95 and the Stampin' Mist is $4.50, so for just over $20 (before shipping & tax), you can purchase a convenient, durable tool that will make your life soooo much easier!

Wish Lists

A Stampin' Up! Wish List is a wonderful thing! I keep an ongoing Wish List at all times. As I run out of certain supplies or come across something in the catalog I can't live without, it goes on the Wish List. As I order those items, they come off the Wish List, making room for other items! In this way, I don't get into the middle of a project and come up short because I ran out of something that I regularly use. And I keep track of the new things I want so that I can prioritize my stamping dollars.

Email me at crattray@sbcglobal.net and I'll send you a nifty email that has a Wish List with catalog helps on the side. You know how you want to find something in the catalog quickly? That is what the "catalog helps" are for. And they are right there, next to your Wish List, where you need them. Print several and give one to a friend or two. Then start dreaming and wish big:)

pssst! Give a copy of your Wish List to your hubby and/or kids. Makes gift-giving easy for them and fun for you. I deliver gift-wrapped items to your home if you live in San Antonio--a fabulous service for husbands. All part of delivering great service and products to you in my Sweet Stampin' business!

More Fifth Avenue Floral

I made this simple but elegant card using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set that will be showcased in my class on May 29th. Do you like it?

Here are the layout measurements so you can duplicate: 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 base (1/2 sheet card stock), 5 1/4 x 4 layer of Designer Series Paper, 5 1/4 x 1 strip of coordinating Designer Series Paper, 2 1/4" square of card stock, 2" square of card stock. That's it! Easy peasy! Substitute your choice of papers and stamps for a quick, easy, yet sophisticated card.

Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set; Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pads; Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White Card Stocks; Urban Garden DSP, Flower Fusion (felt flowers), Vintage Brads, Blender Pens, Tombow Multi-purpose Adhesive, Silver Bead Duo, Stampin' Dimensionals

Only 5 Days Left for 5th Avenue Floral Class!

Don't miss out! This class has only 5 days remaining for RSVP. Using the beautiful and very popular 5th Ave. Floral stamp set, we will create a medley of 4 gorgeous cards featuring a coordinating Designer Series Paper, the new corduroy buttons, taffeta ribbon, and more. They look like they came off the runway at a posh fashion show in New York! AND we will make a nifty box with a window to hold all the cards. A great gift--for yourself or someone special. It's on Friday, May 29th, 7-9, in my Stamping Studio, and you must RSVP by Wednesday, May 20th--so I'll have all your stamps and supplies ready:)

There are two options for this class.

1. Option 1 ($20.00): You make all the trendy projects shown above in this fun girls' night out.
2. Option 2 ($40.00): you make all the trendy projects shown above in this fun girls' night out AND you take home full instructions so you can reproduce this (think Christmas gifts:) AND you take home your very own 5th Avenue Floral stamp set ($24.95 retail). The possibilities with this set are endless, AND you save money!

Hurry because time is running out!

5th Ave. Floral Class

Option 1 $20.00 Option 2 $40.00

May Hostess Club Projects

Cameo Coral, Vellum, and Whisper White Card Stocks, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Oval Alls Stamp Set (Occasions Mini), Scallop Oval Punch (Occasions Mini), Large Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper, Pretties Kit, Big Shot, Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die

Two groups of ladies gather in my Stamping Studio once each month for an evening of creative fun and de-stressing. Here is one of the three projects we just completed. It uses Designer Series Papers which are on special this month--buy 3 pkgs and get 1 FREE! The above card is super-simple and literally comes together in minutes. Thanks to the Big Shot (by Sizzix for Stampin' Up!--the best, easiest-to-use die cutting machine on the market), there's lots of wow with minimal effort. The "wow" is largely due to using the exclusive Stampin' Up! Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die. It is so easy to use and is just gorgeous! Click on the photo for an up-close look at the card. You will see the pearl (from the Pretties Kit) as well as the texture on the vellum. Elegant. Lovely. Hand-made!

Mother's Day scrapbook card

This super-cute card was given me by me daughter, also a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, for Mother's Day. It's made like a mini-scrapbook with pockets for extra notes. It shows the progression of her being a young girl with mom, then there is a page where Tiffany has grown older and we have added our pet dog, Sugar, and then the last page has her, all grown up, with her own dog. (We are an all-Corgi family. My daughter and one of my sons have Pembroke Welsh Corgis and I have a Cardigan Welsh Corgi.) This card uses the fabulous All in the Family stamp set that is just a blast to use and makes personalizing things super-easy! To order this stamp set and more on line, go to candystamps.stampinup.net
or contact me to learn how YOU can earn FREE STAMPS at crattray@sbcglobal.net

My Mother's Day Card

I received this lovely card today from my daughter-in-law, Nicole. She did a great job with this card. Click on the photo to get a larger view and notice the paper-piercing around the center piece--it gives a lovely texture, draws attention to the flowers, and mimics the tiny dots in the flowers. The glitter on the centers of the flowers doesn't really show in the photo. It's even prettier in person! Best of all it was made by hand, especially for me! I had a very special Mother's Day, surrounded by my kids, their spouses, my hubby, my dog, and one granddog. A great day!

Free Mother's Day Card Class

This is a picture of the free card making class I taught at Bannwolf Library. At a public event, you never know who will come or what will happen. 51 people showed up! Adults, teens, children, all having a great time being creative, making something for our moms on their special day. Handmade, heartfelt.

Jumble Alphabet A-Z

Having done several posts highlighting this fun, newly-released Jumble Alphabet stamp set, I thought it was time to show it to you in full. Isn't it super?!! I love the quirkiness and the fact that nothing matches. To me, that spells C-R-E-A-T-I-V-I-T-Y! The options for using this set are endless. You can order it today AND it's on sale! (Regular price: $43.95; Sale price: $35.16--a 20% savings) Don't you love buying things on sale:) Check it out at:candystamps.stampinup.net. Click on "shop now" in the upper right hand corner and then click on "stamps." Click on "alphabets" and add to your shopping cart to purchase this fabulous new set. Enjoy!

1 Week into National Scrapbooking Month

One week in, and I am thoroughly enjoying National Scrapbooking Month. My first part of the celebration was the purchase of the newly-released Jumble Alphabet stamp set, on special this month. You can order it, too! Online ordering is available through candystamps.stampinup.net. Or book a party and you could earn this set FREE. To see Jumble Alphabet in action, scroll down to see two pages I completed this week. Happy Scrapping!

May Stamp Parties

I still have a few dates available for a party in May if you would like to quickly gather some people for a fun, creative party. I have the following dates open:

• Friday, May 22
• Saturday, May 23

Contact me asap, and we will get the party started! All you do is gather some friends and loved ones and supply a few snacks. The rest is up to me--pretty easy party, huh? I do not charge a fee to do a party, so it's cheap entertaining and a great time for all. After we set the date, I will give you invitations and some other info.

Parties typically run for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. That is up to you--how many projects would you like to make, and how much time do you and your guests have? Personally, I could stamp all day:) Alas, other responsibilities beckon.

Spanish Stamps

Having met several ladies tonight at my free class at Bannwolf Library that are interested in Stampin' Up!'s fantastic line of stamps in Spanish, I wanted to give you the guided tour to find them. Go to candystamps.stampinup.net. Click on the 3rd tab, "Stampin' Up Products" and click on "Shop now." In the left side bar, click on "stamps." Find the square that says "en espanol." Click and you will see the beautiful Spanish stamps.

Contact me to book a party to stamp with your friends and loved ones. I have Spanish stamps, too! (Scroll down to see my Cumpleanos Feliz card.) English or Spanish--the choice is yours. Stamping is wonderful in any language!

Let's Have a Party!

Never been to a Stampin' Up! party/workshop? Host your own! Now is the time to plan a gathering of friends and family to have some creative fun. You supply the guests and refreshments, I supply the entertainment, door prizes, and fun. Who supplies the house is negotiable--yours or mine, doesn't matter to me.

You will earn fabulous free stamp sets and catalog merchandise, just for being the hostess! I have the following dates in July open for bookings. Contact me quickly to secure your date and get the party started!

• Saturday, July 3
• Saturday, July 18
  
• Friday, July 17
• Friday, July 31

Once we have a date, I will send you everything you need to get the party started: invitations, current catalogs and other pertinent information, and a big envelope to keep all the bits and pieces in and a place for your guest list. Get in on the fun! Earn free stamps! Inspire. Create. Share.

Jumble Alphabet Again

I am loving this alphabet! It is so easy to use! I love the look as you can dress it up as in this page or dress it down as in my last posted page. These photos of my youngest and his wife (this is last fall when they were still dating) absolutely pop with the Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black color combo. Again, simple layout, simple embellishments, great style:)

Occasions Card Class-hurry!

It's this Saturday! What a great way to start a Saturday--stamping! This popular class meets in my Stamping Studio from 9:30-11:30 on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Don't be caught without a hand-stamped card for all the occasions of your life. This month's cards will be 2 feminine birthday, 2 masculine birthday, and 2 baby cards. Join us for a fun-filled morning of creativity. Class fee of $20 covers all supplies and must be in by midnight Thursday, May 7th. As always, bring your own adhesive. Here's a sneak peek (click on the photo to get a closer look) and the Paypal button. See you Saturday!

Stamping in Foreign Languages!

Following on from yesterday's Cinco de Mayo post highlighting my Cumpleanos Feliz card (birthday card in Spanish), I thought I might mention that Stampin' Up! has an entire line of Spanish language stamps. Many of them are in the Idea Book and Catalog, signified by the oval symbol with the letters "ESP" inside, followed by the name of the stamp set in Spanish. There are additional Spanish stamp sets, shown in the Celebrando Creatividad catalog. Do you or your friends/relatives have interest in Spanish stamps? I can help you! Hablo poquito espanol:)

Cinco de Mayo

Today is Cinco de Mayo, and in San Antonio, that is definitely celebrated. This is my card in honor of Cinco de Mayo and is my first creation en espanol. I will be visiting friends in the Texas valley later this month and will bring this for them as Spanish is their first language. A little gift of a hand-stamped card en espanol. Que bonita!

Scrapping with the new Jumble Alphabet

Here is a page with the great new Jumble Alphabet. I love it! It is so easy to use and, because many different styles are joined together, it adapts to many looks. I purposely stamped the letters out of alignment. I think this alphabet lends itself to this more casual look that is, by the way, super easy to do. This is my Alex several (!!!) years ago. (Click on the photo so you can see it up-close. Can you tell that the page base is our Textured Cardstock in Riding Hood Red?) This page uses a simple layout and color scheme, highlighting my cute kid in his costume. It took less than 1/2 hour to design and execute. Simply stylish!

Scrapping with Stamps

As we are in National Scrapbooking Month, I thought I would chat with you about scrapping with stamps. Stamps can easily be incorporated into your scrapbooking. Stamps make for a great title, an addition to your title, or you can even use letter stamps to stamp your title, with perfect placement. Stamps are so versatile because they can be tailored to any layout or color. No need to buy your favorite stickers a hundred times, in every color imaginable. Buy stamps in the font you like and use them over and over and over, making them any color or combination of colors to suit your needs. Gone are the days of running out of the letters you need. With stamped letters, you always have the letter you need. Stamps are such an economical solution for scrapbookers. A set of quality letter stamps can last a lifetime and a pad of ink or set of markers to customize your letters will last virtually forever. With Stampin' Up's color families plus in color options, your color choices are virtually endless!

The brand new Jumble Alphabet stamp set has premiered! Stampin' Up! is offering it at a 20% discount as a sneak peek to the 2009/2010 Idea Book and Catalog. I have this great set and love it. In fact, I'm heading up to my Stamping Studio to make some projects with it. Stay tuned for photos.

May Occasions Card Class

Don't be caught without a hand-stamped card! Join us for this month's class. You will make

• 2 feminine birthday cards
• 2 masculine birthday cards
• 2 baby cards

$20 covers all supplies and must be in by Thursday, May 7. Use a variety of stamp sets, papers, inks, and embellishments in unique, custom designs. This very popular class is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. Use the paypal option below for easy payment.

***Standard class protocol: bring your own adhesive.***I can't wait to stamp with you!

May is National Scrapbooking Month

Would you like to see a great tutorial on scrapbooking using Designer Series Paper? Check it out by going to my website; the link is just below. Click on the "Featured Project" and watch one of Stampin' Up!'s corporate staff show you how easy and rewarding scrapbooking can be.

candystamps.stampinup.net

Fifth Avenue Floral Card Class

Aren't these great projects?! Make these great cards and the super-cute window box at the Fifth Avenue Floral Card Class on Friday, May 29, 7-9 p.m. in my Stamping Studio. There are two great options for you to choose from:

Option A: The 4 great cards and matching box shown above, all supplies included, $20.

Option B: All the projects PLUS the 5th Avenue floral stamp set (retail $24.95) and
the printed instructions so you can recreate more of these sets, $40.

5th Ave. Floral Class

Option 1 $20.00 Option 2 $40.00 Option 3 $0.00

You must rsvp with payment by May 19. Reserve the spot on your calendar and mine quickly as this fabulous class will fill up fast.

Favoring my hostesses

Aren't these bookmarks cute? I wanted to make a little something for my Hostess Club hostesses. This is what I came up with. A perfect little something for a child or grandchild. Change up the images and you have a special something for someone in your life.