This week's free downloads

                    

Isn't this so pretty, flowery and wow!  it could be used for so many, many projects! It's one of the newest Digital Downloads available from Stampin' Up! It also coordinates with the FREE download below!

View all the new downloads here.

 

Each Tuesday, Stampin' Up! presents us with brand new downloads and this is quite likely the prettiest one yet.

 

So, I'd love to know. What would you use it for? I can easily see a monogram inside the wreath of flowers, darling postcards to wrap up in ribbon and give as a gift and great floral patterns to use as borders. How about you?

                  About to Blossom Digital Download 134860

 

Download includes:
* 13-piece SVG stamp brush set
* 12 Designer Series Papers
* 60 embellishments

Features:
* Digital exclusive
* Relax in an intoxicating array of blooms and see what inspiration blossoms for you
* Coordinates with the About to Blossom August Wallpaper

 About to Blossom August Wallpaper 134861

Download it for FREE here!

Kind and Cozy Digital Download 134854

Tuesday, Tuesday .....

 

A great card, a great swap, a great stamp set and a great gal. Thank you, Becky Roberts for the beautiful addition to the swaps! Had such a good time with amazing friends.

 And here's how I spent part of my Saturday.... with two of my daughters and youngest grandson (Isn't he the cutest?) at the Farmer's Market in downtown Boise. Loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget -

 

Paper Pumpkin is on sale!

 

Holiday Product Shares!

Holiday Product Share & Convention Swaps

 

It’s a Holiday Product Share!

The 2013 Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog is right around the corner and I wanted to let you know that I will be offering Product Shares as I did for the annual catalog. The Holiday Catalog will be available for online viewing August 1^st, 2013 or email me to receive your free copy.  Product shares will begin mailing on August 5th

The Holiday Catalog showcases three new Designer Series Papers, One Specialty Designer Series Paper, Textured card stock, Silver & Gold Foil Papers, ribbons, clips, muslin treat bags and tags.

What is a Product Share? A Product Share allows you to purchase a few of each of the new consumable items in the catalog, so you have a nice helping of each of them for a price that’s affordable. It also allows you the opportunity to work will all the papers, ribbons and embellishments without ordering complete packs or spools of each. A great savings and so handy. It also makes a wonderful gift!

The 2013 Holiday Product Share includes:

·        24 – 6” x 6” pieces of Designer Series Paper

·        12 -  6” x 6” pieces of Textured Cardstock (3 each of 4 colors)

·        2 – 6” x 6” pieces of Foil Sheets (one gold, one silver)

·        2 Mini Muslin Treat Bags

·        7-1/2”yards of ribbon (2-1/2 yards of 3 different kinds)

·        6 embellishments

·        6 tags

Only $26.95 plus 5.95 s/h

Click here to view the flyer or ordering information or contact me at stampsnsmiles@gmail.com

 

 

 

The card that won first place in our convention swaps. Isn't it simply beautiful with multi-colored water coloring used as a backdrop? Thank you, Patricia, your work is outstanding!

 

I love the hand-drawn detail Patricia added to this Wetlands stamp set. It truly sets it apart from other cards.

 

 

 

 

Wetlands 126695w 126697c

Happy Birthday, Kaylee!

 

Happy Birthday to our beautiful grand-daughter, Kaylee! You truly are a princess ..... kind of like your Mom!

 

And here's her card to celebrate turning nine. Remember so well the day you were born and how positive I was that you were a girl.... because we just needed a girl! I wasn't even swayed by your Dad presenting you to us all dressed in blue with an "It's a Boy" tag on the end of your bassinette. Nope, we knew!

 

 

 

My Paper Pumpkin for July

So what did you think when you opened your My Paper Pumpkin surprise this month? Did you love it? Banners to celebrate you! I hope you're making yourself a banner and planting it on the most gorgeous cupcake and sharing it with exactly nobody but yourself. Celebrate you this month!

 

As you know, each month I supply my personal My Paper Pumpkin customers with a tutorial for five exclusive projects they can make with their kit, along with a small package of embellishments that I used on my creations. So..... I'm always kind of holding my breath when I open my package because I know some kind of magic has to happen for me to transform it from what I see in the box to five unique creations my customers will enjoy (well, me too, of course!)

 

So the tutorial is written and sent, the embellishments are ready to be mailed and I keep looking at my four cards and sweet jazzed up banner and I'm, well, pleased.

 

 

Please join me next month on our mini magical get-away using paper, ink and bling! And for brand new subscribers there's a great promo going on that allows you to enjoy a discounted price.... $10 a month for your first two months!

That's an awesome deal - for $10 you'll receive your kit, a tutorial for five additional projects and a bit of bling! Check this out here!

 

The fine print:

 

• For new subscribers only
• Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After receiving two month's worth, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price of $19.95
• You and your customers need to visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join
• You must click "Add Promo Code" and then enter the promo code PUMPKINDEAL in the "Promo Code" field when you sign up on the mypaperpumpkin.com website to take advantage of this promotion.
• You must join by Saturday, August 31, 2013  11:50 PM (MT)
• To receive the free tutorial and bling, choose myself, Penny Smiley, Star ID as your demonstrator. Thanks!

 

 

Just a quick shot of the swap that I took to the Stampin' Up! convention .... simple and sweet!

I'd like to thank each of you for your helpful tips on my Swaps post and have chosen

 

Cynthia Simpson 

 

to be a winner!

Send me an email at stampsnsmiles@gmail.com so I can send you your gift!.

Check out their tips - they're great!

 

And now on to some very luxurious swaps - aren't these gorgeous?

I received these from two great gals, Heidi and Jan, and know that I'll be re-creating them myself. How about you?

 

Modern Medley is one of my favorite DSP's and I love the beautiful folds on this card with a great belly band to hold everything in place. Thank you, Jan!

 

 

Check out the sale that's going on for Designer Series Paper - buy 3 get one free! The perfect time (until July 31st) to get your favorite DSP's. Click here for the details.

 

 

And one more, because I know it's hard to get enough of it. If you've never been to a Stampin' Up! convention - well, you're just missing out. Hundreds of swaps, hundreds and hundreds (dare I say thousands?) of samples. Inspiration that you can't believe! Won't you join us next year?

Undefined - carve your own stamp!

Okay this is the coolest new item! We were able to play with it at the 2013 Stampin' Up! convention and were given one as a gift!

 

Carve your very own stamps! 
Have you ever wanted a stamp but couldn't find the perfect image? Maybe one of your customers has a special family logo or a sketch she'd like to have as a stamp. Well now she can! Undefined is Stampin' Up!'s new stamp carving product line. You define the rubber stamp any way you want.
When you carve your very own stamp, you have will have an entirely new and different creative experience. And when you're finished, you will have created a one-of-a-kind stamp!
How exactly do you carve a stamp? Watch the video for a tutorial.

 

Item #	Description	Price
133402	Undefined Stamp Carving Kit	$19.95
134808	Undefined Refill Kit	$9.95
124236	Clear-Mount Cling Foam*	$10.95

 

Download the flyer here!

 And now for a few of this week's MDS downloads - see the rest of them here. They're very cool!

 

Hello Lovely Download 134852

 

Party Premiere Ensemble 134762

 

Rise and Shine Pocket Cards 134841

Stampin' Up! Convention 2013

Well, I'm just back from an amazing trip to the 2013 Stampin' Up! convention. And, if you've ever wondered what it would be like.... click here for an opportunity to see the opening session!

I hope you take a few minutes... to watch this to get a feel of what Stampin' Up! is really all about.... it's so much more than stamps. It is Being the Difference, making incredible friends and spreading wonderful creativity around the world.

 

 

 

I also thought I would show you a picture of some of the gifts that we received.... can you even imagine? Seven stamp sets, kits, make and takes, a punch, brand new product and a beautiful backpack to carry it all!

I'd love to have you share this amazing experience with us next summer! Join my team here to begin your incredible journey today!

 

Our beautiful sunset last evening - as seen from our front porch. Wish you would've been here!

 

And the not so beautiful sight looking 90 degrees north! Feeling for those who had to evacuate and so very glad it wasn't us. So no stamping last night.... just keeping an eye on the wildfire with dry BLM land between us and it.

 

And now a great video about Stampin' Up! embossing folders, enjoy!

 

Something Old, Something New....

 

Something old, something new,

something borrowed, something blue.

And absolutely nothing to do with a wedding!

 

So, I was looking at this card as I was photographing it and realized that I had used something old, quite a few things new, something borrowed?.... (yep, I cased the card right from page 105 of the Annual Stampin' Up! catalog), and it has a splash or two of blue. So it qualifies on all counts - well, except the wedding part, but I guess we could always change the sentiment to fit, right?

 

Where do you go for inspiration when the Mojo gets a little low? I hope you're loving Pinterest as much as I do.... and please, pin away while you're browsing my blog. I'd love it!

But do you ever go to the Stampin' Up! homepage? Almost every day there are new posts that have great ideas, news, specials, etc. I hope you're checking it out often!

 

 

Meanwhile, back to my card. A little washi tape, chevron ribbon, a doily, two candy dots and three of my favorite stamps. And I don't know the last time I created a card without using my Big Shot! So this time a pretty tag with the new Chalk Talk Framelit.  Shop here today!

Chalk Talk Framelits

Candy Dots

Off the Grid 130736

A Great Time to Get Started!

 

Have you been thinking, just thinking,

about joining Stampin' Up?

 

Well, now is a wonderful time! Back to school projects, holiday cards and home decorating is just around the corner and wouldn't it be great to purchase your stamping supplies at a discount .... or maybe earn a little extra to take the crunch out of gift giving this year?

 

Stampin' Up! is making it extra sweet by offering a free project kit when you get started. So, for $99 you can choose $125 of your choice of product plus one of the four project kits listed below, along with a business pack valued at $65 brimming with everything you need to get started on a fantastically fun journey.

 

 The first three projects listed are from the new Holiday catalog.... that's right, you get one of them early! The fourth is from the annual catalog.

 

Click here to view the flyer! It will give you a sneak peek of the bundles.

 

Wondering about all the fantastic benefits of joining my Stampin' Up! team - check it out here! I'd love to chat with you to answer any questions you may have - reach me at stampsnsmiles@gmail.com or click here to get started now!

 

Here's what you can choose from:

Option	Kit Description	Item	Total Value
1	Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132698	$29.90
2	Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132697	$29.90
3	Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit	133463	$19.95
4	Tag a Bag Bundle AND Tag a Box Bundle	131371 131372	$22.45

 

 

Option #4 is pictured below

Tag a Bag and Tag a Box Bundle

 

Girlfriends!

 

I'm so excited ... in the planning stage of going to visit a few very good girlfriends back in California during August.

 

It'll be  a quick trip but certainly look forward to a long coffee on the front porch, eating at our favorite Chinese restaurant, a special Friday night birthday dinner and a laid back Saturday catching up and visiting the Ripon Farmers Market where another friend has a fresh flower booth. 

 

So have gotten a start on some cards and gifts ....  here's one of the cards today. Is Chalk Talk one of your favorite new sets also? I absolutely love it! This great little tag is embossed in Pool Party which I think goes quite nicely with this delightful Basic Grey Chevron paper from I Am Me.

 

Speaking of wonderful Designer Series Papers - check out the sale here! Buy three get one free!

 

And the ruffled ribbon - have you seen the product shares I have available? Click here for more info.

 

Have you used the Framelits with the new Magnetic Platform yet? Super, duper cool!

Magnetic Platform 130658
check out the video here!

I Am Me Designer Series Paper 130138

Chalk Talk Bundle
132731w
137730c