Texture Boutique Embossing Machine - It's Back!

A while back, we had a pink version of this machine in limited quantities.  Well, it's back in black! 

It's only $29.95 and extremely portable due to it's size.  Click HERE to get yours and see a short video.

It's embossing made easy. Texture Boutique is the perfect, portable tool to create embossed cards, tags, embellishments, and more. Use it with Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  It is currently in limited supply and will be in the upcoming annual catalog.

In Fact, since it's Sale-a-Bration, the machine + the 3 new folders below would be just over a $50 order which qualifies you for a free Sale-a-Bration item (until March 31, 2014):

New Embossing Folders in the Occasions Catalog:

• Ampersand Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132970) 
• Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132187) 
• Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132971) 

The perfect Sale-a-Bration choice...the new folder in the SAB brochure so you have 4 new folders:

• FREE:  Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 133520)

Happy Stampin'

Banner Blast Make & Take Party

Friday night I hosted a table at the Make & Take party for the Stamp Scrap Art Tour.  I used one of my Stamp Night Projects for January which is inspired from a project Shelli did at leadership.  It was a sell out with 95 guests.

Getting used to the format was the hardest part.  I had figured my card would take about 15 minutes and when they started the projects, they announced that the groups had only 15 minutes at each of 8 tables and then the whole group would rotate around the tables together.  Beverly was my helper, and we had to hustle to keep the ink pads, stamps and punches moving around the tables.  We had it figured out around the third group of 12 ladies.  Next time I will bring a 10 minute card and duplicates of all the supplies so it will be more relaxed.

They had a wonderful display of desserts to eat at the break in the middle.  I wish I had taken a photo of that.  There was a chocolate fountain with fun fruit and cake bites to dip in the waterfall of chocolate.  Also, they had cakes, cobblers, and little fancy chocolate things (who cares what they were called...it was luscious chocolate!).  The break also gave us some time to talk to the guests.

Here's the whole card and the recipe:

Stamps:

• Banner Blast (Sale-a-Bration - Free)
• Four You (Annual Catalog)

 Colors:

• Crumb Cake
• Early Espresso
• Strawberry Slush
• Crisp Cantaloupe
• Bermuda Bay
• Whisper White

Tools / Supplies:

• Linen Thread
• Banner Punch (Sale-a-Bration - Free)
• Dimensionals & Glue Dots
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (flower punch)
• Merry Minis Punch Pack (star punch - carried over from Holiday Catalog)

I showed them the Easy Splatter Technique that Shelli showed us on stage at Leadership.  Here's the page in my Technique Journal for Stamp Night.

 Happy Stampin'

Rubber Stamp & Paper Crafting Convention! - Stamp Scrap Art Tour 2014

I've been looking forward to this show for several reasons.  While regular craft shows are fun, there's nothing like being surrounded by fellow stampers and scrapbookers.  I love talking and sharing stories with everyone at the show, and this year I'm doing the Make & Take party on Friday night too.  Also, I will be bringing a larger variety of items for sale this year based on feedback I got last year.  Not to mention, there's my BIG drawings!!!

They moved this year from Mesquite to Plano which is closer to me, so I'm happy about that.  I think the show will be a big hit in Plano,TX at the Plano Centre (see newsletter link for address and show times).

The Big Drawings*: I will be having 2 drawings this year.  One for a FREE Big Shot ($99.95 value) and one for a FREE Many Marvelous Markers set ($109.95 value).

You can qualify for the drawings four ways and earn extra tickets on top of that!

1 ticket   - Paper Pumpkin subscription with me (keep min. 2 months)
2 tickets -  for every $50 in catalog orders at the show
3 tickets -  for booking a home party held prior to May 27, 2014
5 tickets -  for joining my team of demonstrators by January 28, 2014 (day 1 of Sale-a-Bration)

*  You might want to bring address labels to stick to your tickets *
*  Only one prize allowed per person *
*  Paper Pumpkin subscription – Extra ticket if you sign up by Sat. *
*  Current demos and my family members are not eligible for the drawings *
*  Prize winners must have a local address.  I will deliver the prizes or you can stop by to pick up.*

I will have 2 boxes (1 for each prize).  You can put your tickets in whichever box you like or split them between boxes.  Only one prize allowed per person.  If your name is drawn twice, you will win the first prize that your name was drawn for.

Boost your chances with more tickets (must have already earned tickets by one of the four ways above):
1 extra ticket - Like my Facebook page: Facebook.com/BarbarasCraftCircle
1 extra ticket - Follow my Blog: BarbarasCraftCircle.Blogspot.com
1 extra ticket - Your Paper Pumpkin subscription goes in by Saturday night (January 25th).
1 extra ticket - Attend my Make & Take at the Friday night party (just heard this is full).

Orders: The tickets are awarded at the show when your order form is completed & turned in to me or my helper.  Orders will be placed January 28, 2014, so that you can take advantage of free Sale-a-Bration items.

Paper Pumpkin Subscription: Tickets awarded when I receive the email confirming your subscription.
Party Bookings:  Tickets awarded when you choose a date on my calendar.
Joining My Team:  Tickets awarded when I receive the confirmation email from Stampin’ Up!.

Drawings will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2014.  This allows me time to receive all confirmation emails for Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and joining my team.  See links on my blog in the right margin for Paper Pumpkin and Join My Team.  Winners notified by email/phone.  I will also send an e-card to everyone that entered to announce the winners.

Hope to see you there!

Sweet Paper Pumpkin Kit Deal - Free Markers & Extra Kit

At Leadership, we got a sneak peek at the next 3 months (January, February, & March) of Paper Pumpkin kits...WOW!  They have really increased the value of what we get in the kits!  They said that going forward we will be seeing this kind of value every month.  They were a good value before, but I am very excited about the upcoming kits.

I can't reveal photos of the upcoming kits, but I can show you the last 2 month's kits.  I took some photos of them laid out at Leadership.  Every kit has some type of ink and stamps or left over embellishments that you can keep after the project is done to use on other projects.

Anyway...now is the time to try it out and take advantage of the promotion.  Click the link below to get your welcome kit and start getting these monthly creative kits coming right to your door.

https://mypaperpumpkin.com?demoid=2016726

Dates: January 11-February 10, 2014

Promotion - FREE MARKERS:
New Paper Pumpkin subscribers who sign up at between January 11 and February 10, 2014, will receive a FREE set of 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers -a $14.95 value with their Welcome Kit.  Kits are only $19.95 which includes shipping but not tax.

Sweetening the deal:  I have extra kits from past months ... so for the first 2 people that subscribe before January 21st, I will mail you an extra kit free!  Sign up today, because after the 21st, I'm packing them up to bring with me to sell at the Stamp Scrap Art Tour in Plano.

P.S.  Click on my newsletter icon in the margin for news about the Stamp Scrap Art Tour if you live in North Texas.  I will do a post about this show soon.

Happy Stampin'

Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference 2014 - Oh Happy Day!

We had such a great time at Leadership.  My sister and I went to take last photos of projects and ideas in the Gathering Place before morning session.  Here's some of those.

Then, at morning session, they played a game on stage based on a real game I haven't heard of called Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me.  They called it Um Um...I Knew That.

It was hilarious.  They competed and prizes went to the demos with the bracelet colors that matched the teams.  Then, since they earned more than 20 points, we got an all attendee give away.

At closing session, Shelli did a presentation and some demonstrations using banners and we had another all attendee free stamp set.  All and all, I came home with 6 free stamp sets, a card kit, aqua painter, Make'n'Takes, small tote, Conference bag, package of salt water taffy and a T-Shirt.

We took a group photo at lunch in the Gathering Place.  It was so wonderful...I can't wait for Convention in July!

Happy Stampin'

Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference 2014 - Hooray for Today

Today after our morning general session, we went to the 3 classes we chose during registration.   Shannon West taught us about QR codes, Carrie Cudney gave us an insider view of the new Occasions catalog which is actually titled Celebrate the Everyday, and a demonstrator who is also a tax expert gave us some tax time tips.

We had a plated lunch: salad, vegetable lasagna, focaccia bread, and fancy apple tart thingy for dessert.  After lunch, we went to the Gathering Place and played with the Undefined stamp carving kit.  I made a hand doing the "Live long and prosper" sign.  Yes, I'm a SciFi geek too!

We also participated in the Paper Pumpkin challenge.  We had 20 minutes to design a card using designer paper and products from the Celebrate the Everyday catalog paired with stamps from past Paper Pumpkin kits.  Here's my design.  I love this new Fancy Foil Designer Vellum with the gold embossing on it.  It comes that way with stripes, dots, and hearts in the same package.

We settled on dinner at the hotel which was a little pricey, but very good.  The rolls were to die for.  I had red snapper with pasta.

Then we went to Stampin' Night Out which was full of stamping demonstrations, an all attendee give away (the Happenings Simply Created Card Kit), and make & takes.  Donna Griffith, Brian Pilling, and Brandi Barnard from the Stampin' Up! staff were the presenters and shared some great projects and techniques.  Here are the make & takes that I finished and the cute little tote they gave us with our supplies in them.

It was a great day.  We have 2 sessions tomorrow and our last chance to hang out in the Gathering Place for display board photos and playing with new products.

Happy Stampin'

Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference 2014 - Houston Happenings

We drove to Houston last night from 8pm to past midnight, settled into our room and woke up to a full day of fun at Leadership Conference.

We walked across the sky bridge to the conference center and checked in.  Check out the cool bag we received with our conference pen, program, logo pin, and prize patrol bracelet inside.  We'll get our free stamp sets later at Make'n'Takes.

General session started at 10am with Shelli.  She looks great and you'd never know that just 4 months ago she was thrown from her horse with multiple injuries and broken bones.

Sara talked about Photopolymer stamps and let us know that future sets will come in clear mount cases and a selection will be in the new catalog.  She gave everyone a free stamping related photopolymer set. 

After General Session, we had a boxed lunch, and went to the Share Fair.

I was asked to present at the Share Fair, and so I gave a 20 minute presentation on business tools in three back-to-back sessions in one of the classrooms.  All the presenters will be doing webinars too for the demonstrators who missed their presentations.  Mine is in February.

Then we poked around in the Gathering Place to see new products...you're gonna love it!  All I can say is it is awesome and comes in 12 colors.

Manager's Reception was tonight too!  This was Laura's first year to be eligible to go, and we had a great time.  It was at the Downtown Aquarium.  Here's some photos of rides, friends, sharks, sting rays, and food.  We fed the sting rays and rode a train through a tunnel aquarium full of sharks...so cool!

More fun tomorrow...can't wait!

Happy Stampin'

Follow My Heart Valentine's Day Card

In December, I designed this card for my Stamp Nights.  I love how the Basic Gray and Crumb Cake look together.  I had done a similar card for my last One Sheet Wonder class and loved it so much that I just had to re-create it using this new Follow My Heart stamp set.

Stamp Sets:

• Follow My Heart
• Postage Due
• World Map
• Creative Elements

Colors:

• Basic Gray
• Cherry Cobbler
• Crumb Cake
• Very Vanilla

 Tools / Supplies:

• Big Shot & Beautiful Baroque embossing folder
• White Tea Lace Paper Doilies
• Seam Binding Ribbon
• Postage Stamp punch
• Banner punch (Sale-a-Bration freebie!)
• Dimensionals

This card doesn't have to be for a Valentine.  It can work for an anniversary or a wedding too!

Happy Stampin'