It's Sale-A-Bration time!

I love this time of year! Sale-A-Bration give you an easy way to get even more free stamp sets and accessories! All you need to do is order $50 and you get a FREE Sale-a-Bration, limited offer, stamp set or accessory bundle. If you order $100, you get two; $150 and you get three; do you start seeing the trend? Plus, there are other great benefits if you host a workshop or join the Stampin' Up! team during Sale-A-Bration. Hostesses: host a workshop with $350 in total sales and get a FREE Sale-A-Bration set or bundle - that is in addition to any you earn with your personal order in the workshop. Join my team: get 15% off the starter kit, plus a free stamp set from the current Idea Book & Catalog (a $47.95 value). See below post for more details on joining my team.

To give you a peek at the fabulous products offered only during Sale-A-Bration, here is one of the projects I am doing for my February club meeting. I used both the Sale-A-Bration designer series paper bundle (Delicate Dots) and the Sale-A-Bration ribbon bundle for this 6x6 scrapbook page. I picked this size, because for my club members who are not scrapbookers, they can easily turn all the exact same supplies in to an adorable 3x6 card.

Supplies:
Define Your Life stamp set
Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Baja Breeze textured, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette card stock
Delicate Dots DSP (Sale-A-Bration)
Certainly Celery ribbon (Sale-A-Bration Ribbon Bundle)
Key Tag punch
Wide Oval punch
Linen Thread
Silver Brads
Clear Buttons
Stampin' Sponge
Stampin' Dimensionals

Join my Stampin' Up! team

Have you been addicted to stamping for a long time now, or just getting into this fabulous craft? Are you looking for something new to do, either as a full time job or just want to earn a little extra cash? Becoming a Stampin' Up! independent demonstrator may be the perfect answer for you. I have a fabulous time sharing what I love to do with others, not to mention the great opportunities and trips Stampin' Up! offers where you get to meet other amazing demonstrators and, of course, stamp!

Now is a great time to join my Stampin' Up! team. During Sale-A-Bration (SAB - Feb 1 - Mar 31), if you become a demonstrator you get the Starter Kit for 15% off PLUS any stamp set from the Spring/Summer '09 Idea Book & Catalog (IBC) for free! That is an awesome value! If you are interested, e-mail me at memoriesbyvanda@gmail.com. It is easy to sign up - it can be done on my Stampin' Up! website!

Joining Stampin' Up! Frequently Asked Questions:

What comes in the Starter Kit?
The starter kit contains almost $350 worth of fabulous supplies for $199 - and now until March 31 you get it all for 15% off: so only for $169! You get the following:
- You choose FIVE stamp sets, this price or lower: 21.95, 30.95, 27.95, 35.95 and a bonus until March 31 of one at 47.95.
- One Stampin' Around regular wheel ($6.50)
- One Stampin' Around handle
- One Stampin' Around ink cartridge - your choice of color
- Stampin' Pastels - a full box of 51 colors!
- Two packs of assorted 8.5x11 card stock (72 sheets total) - your choice of color group
- One pack of Whisper White or Very Vanilla card stock (40 sheets of 8.5x11)
- SNAIL adhesive
- One Decor Element of your choice valued 20.95 or lower (vinyl wall decoration)
- Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist - awesome stamp cleaner!!!
- VersaMark ink pad (clear ink used for watermarks or embossing)
- pack of Blender Pens (3 pens in the pack, each pen is double sided)
- 5 Classic Ink pads, you choose the color
- PLUS all the business supplies you need to start your business: box of 8 catalogs, mini catalogs, order forms, our demonstrator magazine and more.

What are the minimum sales requirements?
You only need to have $300 in sales per quarter. That is only $100 per month - less than an average workshop! I know I can do that in an order for myself most times, so it really isn't that difficult to meet the minimum. PLUS, if you join during the month of February or March, you don't have to meet your first minimum until the end of your first full quarter as a demonstrator. What does that mean? If you join Feb 1st - you actually have until the end of June to make your first $300 minimum sales. After that, it is $300 per quarter. Also note, the $300 minimum can be done in any increments over the quarter - it doesn't have to be all in one order.

Do I have to hold workshops and classes?
Absolutely not. Stampin' Up! is extremely supportive of ALL types of demonstrators; whether you want to make this your sole career, just need a little extra cash, or just want an extra discount on your own orders! There is no problem with having your $300 quarterly minimums entirely your own orders or with a few from family and friends. By the way, you can even be your own Hostess anytime you want! Just invite friends and family over for a night of stamping and you get all the Hostess benefits PLUS receive your demonstrator benefits of instant income & commission.

Do I have to recruit other demonstrators?
Again, not if you don't want to. All you have to do is maintain your $300 quarterly minimum and Stampin' Up! will love having you as a demonstrator. There is no requirement to recruit other demonstrators into your downline.

What are the incentives and benefits associated with being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator?
Stampin' Up offers all sorts of incentives and benefits - here are just a few:
- You get 30% off your first demonstrator order (that's 10% more than your normal 20% discount/instant income) if you place it within 45 days after signing up.
- With the Stampin' Start program, you have the opportunity to earn more FREE stamp sets from the current catalog within the first 3-4 months of being a demonstrator
- You can earn up to 40% commission on personal purchases & customer orders.
- You can pick even more free items (both business and product options) each quarter through Great Rewards (does depend on sales amounts each quarter).
- You are eligible to earn a FREE cruise each year!!
- The opportunity to meet other demonstrators, learn awesome business tips, and STAMP at Convention and/or Regional seminars.
- FREE catalogs throughout the year.
- Monthly demonstrator magazine (Stampin' Success) which includes great project ideas and business tips. PLUS find all sorts of ideas and support on-line with Stampin' Up!s demonstrator support site.
- Get to pre-order new stamp sets and accessories before they are available! :-)

Why would I sign up just to get a discount?
Here is an example of why you should think about signing up even if it is just because you have a big order you want to place. Say you want to order a lot of Stampin' Up! products for a big project, or something big like the BIG SHOT. First of all, you get all the fabulous products listed above for pretty close to 50% off (about $350 worth in supplies for $169). Then, with your first demonstrator order placed within 45 days of signing up, you get 30% off your first order over $150. Since it is over $150, you also get all the hostess benefits: free hostess stamp set and $15 in free product! Plus, every order you place after that you still get a 20% discount. Just think of all that savings!

What if I decide I don't want to be a demonstrator? Is there a minimum required time, or will I get penalized?
There is no minimum time requirement or penalization of you choose to stop being a demonstrator. All you have to do is no longer place the $300 minimum quarterly. You can stop any time you choose.

Do you enjoy being a demonstrator?
ABSOLUTELY!!!! I have a blast stamping and teaching others all the wonderful techniques and designs that are available with Stampin' Up! products. As your upline, I will be here for ideas, questions, and any and all support you need to get your business (or hobby) off the ground. Stampin' Up! is so great to its demonstrators - I've gotten numerous free stamp sets, the opportunity to travel to Salt Lake City for Convention. I had a blast last year with all the demonstrations, learning about new products, and getting to stamp with thousands of other demonstrators from all over. I even got the opportunity to tour the Stampin' Up! headquarters just outside of Salt Lake City. I can't wait to go again this year! I hope you come join me as part of my downline!

Thank you to other Stampin' Up! demos who I borrowed from to compile this list of questions and answers; especially Lisa Freeman and Angie Kennedy Juda.

Shelli's Valentine's Day Challenge

It's been a couple of months since I entered something in Shelli's challenge on her blog. Of course, due to procrastination and our computer issues - I'm entering this on the last day possible! :-) This month's challenge is for Valentine's day, so I thought I would get in on this challenge because I love Valentine's Day - even if my husband isn't that big on the holiday! ;-) For those who don't remember or know, Shelli is the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! She has a blog (link is on the left) and will every month or so post a challenge for demonstrators and customers - note: you don't have to be a demo to enter!

I did both of these cards a couple of months ago for a swap for the Holiday Mini. I was very happy to see that the stamp set I used is in the new catalog since I thought it is adorable. The set is A Happy Heart. I had fun using it for both a more masculine-flavored card (the 3x3 I"Heart"U card) and the regular sized card. A note about the Designer Series Paper (DSP) that is one of the layers - I used the Kraft Patterns paper that was part of the Fall/Winter Hostess Level 1 pack. The colors have been changed for the Spring/Summer Hostess Level 1 pack... but the Basic Gray that is in the new pack would be a great substitute. Or, you can use the Manchester DSP since that has a Kraft background color in some of its designs.

For the second card, I also used the Wonderful You set as both a background and used Stampin' Write markers to create the saying I wanted out of the word stamps from the Wonderful You set. I will admit, I need to work on getting those lined up better! Perhaps I should have used the Stamp-a-ma-jig. :-) By the way, the Wonderful You set is not in the catalog, but you can still order it. It just made its way over to the dormant list. It is kind of hard to see, but for the background, I embossed the outline of the leaves in clear embossing powder. Also, the three hearts that form the diagonal "win" are popped out with dimensionals.

Supplies:
3x3 card -
A Happy Heart stamp set
Always Artichoke, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla card stock
Riding Hood Red Classic Ink Pad
Patterns Level 1 DSP or Manchester DSP (see note above)
Designer Label punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Cutter Kit (distresser tool)

"won heart" card -
A Happy Heart and Wonderful You stamp sets
Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla card stock
Riding Hood Red and Regal Rose Classic Ink Pads; VersaMark Ink
1/2" circle punch
Ticket corner punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Cutter Kit (distresser tool)
Blender Pen
Clear Embossing Powder
Embossing Buddy & Heat Tool
Stampin' Dimensionals

NEW SPRING/SUMMER IDEA BOOK & CATALOG

Sorry I've been MIA for a little while. We've been doing the rounds of "sick" in our house. First it was me with migraines last week, then my daughter with the stomach bug over the weekend, now it's my husband. So, I don't have a ton of time tonight... I promise I will get back to posting some projects soon!

I just wanted to announce that the new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog is available to order from. If you haven't gotten your copy - contact me to get this awesome book. Not only is it filled with amazing stamp sets and other accessories, but there are a ton of great projects in the catalog as well. The cards, boxes and scrapbook pages are amazing and great ways to jump start your creativity!

If you are interested in getting a FREE Idea Book & Catalog - there are a couple of ways to do that. 1) Host a class with me! Hosting a class is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with your friends. All you need to do is get together a group of your family or friends. I do the rest! For a $5.00 class fee, you and your guests will make 3 projects (cost and project type and number can vary depending on what you are interested in). If your guests place an order, their class fee is waived. You, as hostess, do not have the class fee, get a free catalog, and may be eligible to earn hostess benefits! If you are interested in more details, or booking a class with me, just drop me a line at memoriesbyvanda@gmail.com.

The second way to earn a FREE Idea Book & Catalog is to join my monthly Stamp Club. I'm signing up folks now for a 6 month club to run February - July. What is a Stamp Club, you ask? A stamp club meets once a month on a set day each month (i.e. the 3rd Thursday or 1st Saturday). You agree to a minimum order each month, even if you cannot attend the club meeting. In addition to the great projects that I will provide each month, including the ability to try out great new products and techniques, the hostess benefits will rotate amongst the club members each month. If you are interested in more details, or signing up for my Spring/Summer Stamp Club, e-mail me at the above address.

Spring/Summer IBC New Sets!!!

**NOTE: if you had visited my site earlier this month, I accidentally posted these images prior to the catalog release date, which is against Stampin' Up! policy. I apologize!**

I love the new catalog and stamp sets!! This is a card that I am making for a swap with my upline. It uses a new stamp set, new designer series paper, and a new BIG SHOT accessory! Yay!!!! It's probably hard to tell in the card scan, but I embossed the three flower images from the Sweet Stems stamp set in silver embossing powder and then colored in the middle image using aqua painters. The silver embossed flower at the bottom middle used the new Sweetest Stem Embosslet for the Big Shot. I can't wait to see all the new accessories they have for the Big Shot! I love the embosslets! Enjoy the sneak peek. :-)

Supplies:
Sweet Stems stamp set
Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, and Brushed Silver card stock
VersaMark, Rose Red Classic, and Regal Rose Classic ink
Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
The Big Shot
Sweetest Stem Embosslet
Silver Embossing Powder
Embossing Buddy, Powder Pals, Heat tool
Silver cord (from Holiday Mini)
Silver brads
Ticket Corner punch
Aqua Painter
SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals

A second Sneak Peek...

**NOTE: if you had visited my site earlier this month, I accidentally posted these images prior to the catalog release date, which is against Stampin' Up! policy. I apologize!**

Here's is a sneak peek of one of the awesome hostess sets that are going to be in the Spring/Summer '09 Idea Book and Catalog. I needed to make a masculine birthday card for a good friend of ours and was looking through my stamp sets to see what I could come up with. I saw the birthday greeting in the "Goody Goody Gumdrops" Level 3 Hostess set in the new catalog and thought it would be fun to use the sundae and cherry with a window card. (Is that the correct term? I'm not really sure). So, I used the large oval punch to cut a window in the front of the card and then lined up the sundae and cherry so that you can't see the cherry on the front. I used Stampin' Write markers to have half of the greeting on the front and half on the inside. Oh - and I added the extra dimension with a "h" from one of the on-board chipboard letter sets and the Not Quite Navy patterns pack paper (a level 1 hostess item from the Fall/Winter IBC). (and yes, I need to work on my ability to stamp straight as you can see on the bottom picture which is the inside of the card!)

Supplies:
Goody Goody Gumdrops stamp set (Level 3 Hostess set available 19 January)
Party Hearty stamp set
Kraft and Night of Navy card stock
Patterns Pack (Level 1 Hostess set in F/W IBC)
VersaMark and Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red and Going Gray Classic Ink
Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
Large Oval Punch
Blender Pens
On Board Loads of Letters
Whisper White Note Cards
SNAIL, Sticky Strip and Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

Extra! Extra! The new catalog is here!!!

I received the Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalogs yesterday! I've been reading all the previews in the blogs of folks who attended Leadership - but after seeing it in person I'm even more "wow'd"! There are some great new stamp sets, AWESOME accessories (corduroy buttons/brads, textured designer series paper, and new ribbons!!), as well as amazing new Big Shot accessories (textured plates)!!! Don't wait, contact me to get your copy!!!

As an additional note, unfortunately we are having some issues with our primary computer. My husband is working hard getting everything fixed (and getting frustrated when things that should work, don't) but until then I can't post any projects. Just wanted to give you an idea of why I haven't posted... although the migraine I've had for the past two days hasn't helped either!