It's Almost Over

This is the last week to order product from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog. :( There are so many fun things in there I'm sad to see it go. I used the I {Heart} Hearts clear stamp set (#118571) on this layout. I LOVE Taken with Teal and so I bought a re-inker (#100550) so I could keep using it after it's retired. The stitched hearts on the layout were made with the dotted heart stamp in the set. I just used my paper piercer to poke every other hole and then stitched it with embroidery floss. I really love how it turned out.

The Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, and the On Board Heart Book are already gone so click on the Occasions Catalog link at the right to view the remaining products available and then click the Shop Now link at the top right to order by April 30. Your fun stuff will be shipped right to your door!

Be creative...it's good for you!

P.S. Come back tomorrow for a sneak peak at the 2010 Summer Mini Catalog!

It's Time for a Renovation

A Color Renovation, that is! Yesterday, Stampin' Up! announced a major change in their color organization and offerings.

This has been a long time in the making and SU! has done a lot of research to bring this exciting change about.

So exactly what does that mean? Well a few things. Some sad, but mostly GOOD!

Let's start with the sad. But actually, it's not too sad. 30 colors will be retiring on June 30, 2010. A few I will really miss like Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa, and Creamy Caramel. But I won't miss most colors like, Sage Shadow, Handsome Hunter, Yo-Yo Yellow (*ouch* that's bright!). You can download the complete retiring list here under the "Fond Farewell" pdf. And if one or more of your favorites is on that list, my suggestion would be to stock up on ink refills and cardstock now because I'm pretty sure it's a "while supplies last" kind of thing.

But now for the really exciting parts....SU! has re-organized their colors into "color collections" i.e., Brights (that are happy but not neon), Regals (which are very rich and warm), Neutrals (which are extremely versatile base colors), and Subtles (which are softer but not baby-ish soft like before). The neutral aspect I'm most excited about is this: A lot of my projects use Kraft cardstock as a base. They will still have Kraft but now they've changed the name to Crumb Cake. Same color, different name. Big deal, you say? Well, because now it has an official name, we'll be able to get stamp pads, markers, and accessories in the Crumb Cake color. YIPPEE!!! Also, there will be some new core colors that they will add to the "color collection" groups. You can download a copy of the new color collections here under the "New Colors" pdf.

Also, SU! will be bringing back some of the past "IN" colors. I'm SO excited to see Pacific Point and Riding Hood Red again! **AND** if you know about SU!s "IN" color program, you know that in the past they only kept those "IN" colors for a year before they were retired. Now they will keep them for two years. YAY!!

So does this change mean anything to you, my customers? Well, yes and no. No, because although the colors will be retired, you will still be able to use them on your favorite craft projects. They won't dissolve on your shelf come July 1! You bought them because you loved them so play away! And yes, because there will be new colors and accessories to love and play with. And because there will be fewer colors offered, SU! will be able to offer more accessories in those colors than ever before...A win-win situation!

So, basically, Stampin' Up! is updating their color palette to fresh, hip, colors. The kinds of colors you will want to create with over and over again. New colors, new color combinations, new inspiration! Change is good! :)

Go create something...it's good for you!

National Scrapbooking Day Retreat!

I don't totally consider myself a "scrapbooker". Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to collect scrapbooking supplies and look at scrapbooking magazines over and over, but, I can make a layout and then not do any "scrapbooking" for several days or weeks. And I've never "celebrated" National Scrapbooking Day. Ever.

That being said, I do like to preserve memories and be artistic in the process. So this year I thought I would "celebrate" National Scrapbooking Day. And make it a party!

May 1, National Scrapbooking Day, will be a day like no other for me before and I'd love to have you join me!

Retreat Description:

Our lives are more than just birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. They are mostly made up of everyday, seemingly routine events that make us who we are. So we will make a 62-page, 4 x 6 mini album entitled "Our Month in Moments". This album will document those everyday moments in your family's life that will be a treasure for many years to come. Let me say that again: It's going to be 4 x 6 album so there won't be any photo cropping or resizing! Just take a photo a day for one month, print out your photos in the 4 x 6 size and add them to your completed album! Easy!! Combine all that with fun and laughter, plus lunch and you have one great event! You don't need to consider yourself a "scrapbooker" to totally enjoy this project. :)

Info:

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010

Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Cost: $40.00

Place: My house

Misc: LUNCH INCLUDED!

Your tuition will cover:

6 sheets of 12 x 12 kraft cardstock

1 Chocolate Chip Stampin' Up! marker

1 The Write Stuff Scrapbooking Kit (Kit includes 3 textured sheets of die-cut journaling spots and 6 -12 x 12 double-sided pieces of coordinating patterned paper)

2 book binding rings

LUNCH

A *BONUS* project - a coordinating hand-made card.

PLUS: You will have plenty of supplies left over to make other scrapbook pages and/or cards at home and ideas on how to use them!

Details:

We will be using the Big Shot machine and Texture Plates to add dimension to our album covers and paper strip elements. Such a fun and easy detail that packs a decorative punch!

What you need to bring to the retreat:

*your favorite adhesive (I will have glue sticks available, but I find for albums that will be handled frequently, glue sticks don't work quite as well. If you don't have appropriate adhesive, you are more than welcome to use my glue sticks or let me know and I can order you some adhesive before the retreat.)

*a paper trimmer (you will be trimming all of your pages and elements so the more paper trimmers we have, the faster the album and card will come together!)

NOTE - You don't need to bring photos to class. You will be completing that part of the album at home during the month you choose.

Optional Add ons:

For an additional charge, you may order the Chocolate Chip Epoxy Brads (a sample of these is shown on the album cover, in the center of the flower, in the picture below) and the Assorted Clips (as shown on the "11" page below). If you want this option, please let me know at the time you register.

As always, **PAYMENT IS DUE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION**. NO REFUNDS, PLEASE. Registration and PAYMENT deadline is April 23, 2010, BUT, if you register and pay by April 16, I will take $5 off your class tuition PLUS I'll include 3 yards of ribbon for you to use on your mini album! There are only 8 more spots open for this class so don't wait. Register today!

Be creative...it's good for you!

Rebecca Fellows

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

rebeccafellows@mac.com

P.S. This album would make a great and unique gift! Imagine giving this as a wedding gift to let the newlyweds document their first month of marriage. Or to new parents to celebrate the first month of their new family. Or how about as a house-warming gift to the happy family to document their first month in their new house....They will LOVE you for it!!