If You've Been Tossing around the Idea...

Have you ever considered joining in the fun and creativity as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator?  

I started as a new mom, home with my sweet baby, missing my fifth graders and wanting a little creative time for myself. Thirteen (!) years later, I have

• had two more children (one by birth and another by adoption), 

• moved to a new city, 

• helped my husband start his own business and 

• returned to the elementary classroom part time. 

And I still stamp. Happily. 

In that time, I've 

• had countless encounters with generous and like-minded creatives, 

• made some of the best friends I'll ever know, 

• traveled to regional and national conferences that informed and *inspired* me, 

• had some lovely "Me" time both as a crafter holed up in my Studio and as a "teacher" among other grown-ups, 

• added to an embarrassingly vast array of supplies 

• and actually made a little $$ along the way!

I bring this up today only because we recelntly found out that tomorrow is the registration date for a Seattle event (in a movie theatre!) in celebration of our new 2014-15 Annual Catalog's upcoming release. The only way to attend is to be a demonstrator.  

If you've been giving this idea some thought, I thought I'd mention the catalog reveal so that you'd be further informed (you know how I *despise* pressure).  It is also a good time to consider this, as Sale-A-Bration gives you an additional $25 in merchandise for your Starter Kit (SAB ends March 31).  Finally, if you become a demonstrator now, Stampin' Up! will pay the nearly $300 registration fee for Convention. You just cover your own hotel, meals and travel. 

Some people become demonstrators simply to purchase the Starter Kit and its discounted merchandise for a great deal ($99!). Others join to add to their hobby supplies. Still others become demonstrators with the plan to build a long-term business. There's a place for everyone in Stampin' Up!

Please feel free to contact me through email if you have questions. If I don't know an answer, I'll call our kind, lovely and informative Demonstrator Support and get back to you (I've asked some doozies of them, I'm sure).  We are well-supported with all kinds of creative inspiration as well as basic business nuts and bolts. 

Thanks for reading and I hope your Sunday is as lovely and sunny as the one we're having today!  Hooray for Spring!

My January Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up! and a Video Tutorial

My January installment of my Paper Pumpkin subscription from Stampin' Up! arrived and I had fun creating my own set of note cards.  The kit is called "Love Notes," and the stamps and embellishments certainly lend themselves to being love notes, but with a change-up of the stamps used, one could make cards for any occasion!  Here's what I came up with:

Here is my newest video, giving tips and hacks for your own Paper Pumpkin subscription.

Want to join the fun?  Click {HERE} and choose "Sara Smeby" as your demonstrator.

Stampin' Up! is offering a free set of 2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (valued at $14.95) for new Paper Pumpkin subscribers (offer is good through February 10).  What a great time to take advantage of a subscription program that is getting better each month with kits of progressively better creativity and value!  I hear great things are on their way to us and I can't wait to see what Stampin' Up! is going to send.

Got Sale-a-Bration?  Click the Sale-a-Bration catalog on the right to see what the freebies are this year for each $50 merchandise purchase...  Click {HERE} to read my earlier post about Sale-a-Bration.

{12 Weeks of Christmas 2013: Week Four}: *GORGEOUS* New Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

**It's crazy, but please excuse how my blog is cutting off the right side of this column.

I'm working on it!**

Add a little festive flare to your holiday decorating with our new Festive Flurry Ornament Kit! Top presents, embellish cards, create a wintery garland, or trim the tree. How you use them is up to you! The kit includes everything you need (minus adhesive) to create 10 snowflakes, including 10 feet of Soft Sky Ribbon Printed cardstock - die cut and scored, ready to be assembled (Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Whisper White Cardstock and Silver Glimmer Paper) Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (40) Product name: Item #:  Price:  Festive Flurry Ornament Kit 135813 $14.95  Click {HERE} to order!
Don't delay -- these kits are only available for a *limited* time.  I spent a bit of time making one from scratch this weekend -- I'm thrilled to hear there's such a reasonable kit available for us!

{12 Weeks of Christmas 2013: Week Three}: October Paper Pumpkin for Organization!

Hello, patient visitors!  I've finished the video and it's ready to view!  I continue to battle through iMovie, but I'm getting better with every effort...  Enjoy!

Click {HERE} and {HERE} for the previous posts in this year's {12 Weeks of Christmas} series.

Click {HERE} to shop!

Want to join Paper Pumpkin?  Click {HERE} to do so now!

Thank You Thursday -- Punches on Sale!

Another way that Stampin' Up! is celebrating its 25th birthday is with its "Thank You Thursday" specials.  This week's special (available *today* only) is on five specific punches: Artisan Label (130920), Bitty Butterfly (129406), Hexagon (130919), Mosaic (131267) and Pansy (130698).

Each punch is regularly $15.95, but today they're $11.96!


Artisan Label:

 Bitty Butterfly:

Hexagon:

Check out {this post here} for a Hexagon project.

 Mosaic:

Click {here} for a project using the Mosaic Madness set and coordinating punch.

Pansy:

Click {here} to shop!

In other news, join the Stampin' Up! family for only $25!  This great deal is only available for four {4} more days!  Click {here} for more.

Surprise! It's a Tuesday Deal!

Starting today and while supplies last, Stampin' Up! is offering Weekly Deals on a few items.  Simply do your shopping on a Tuesday and then add the items from the Deal that you'd like to purchase.  These deals are available ALL WEEK LONG!  When you place the item in your bag, the discounted price will appear.  Hooray!

I'm thrilled because something I've been waiting to purchase is #1 on the list.  Without further ado, here we go...

#1:  Squares Collection Framelits, 130291  Discount:  $20.21  Regularly $26.95

#2:  Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 127749  Discount:  $5.96 Regularly $7.95

#3:  Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack,  126187   Discount:  $5.96 Regularly $7.95

#4:  Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, 127857  Discount:  $5.96 Regularly $7.95

#5  Petite Curly Label Punch, 129405  Discount:  $9.71 Regularly $12.95

#6  Today & Everyday Designer Photobook Template, 126157  Discount:  $7.48  Regularly $14.95

I'm also definitely picking up the Today & Everyday Designer Photobook Template, as there's no shipping with MDS downloads!  Woot!

The paper-piercing packs are both going to be highlighted soon in my {12 Weeks of Christmas} 2013 Series, so pick them up now while they're at a discount!

Click {here}  to receive these great discounts...

Finally, in other news, just like with Costco and Sam's Club, you can now purchase a "membership" to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for just {$25}.  

It's a full demonstratorship, bringing with it all of the benefits, including the fabulous discount on all of your purchases (I'll get my demo discount ON TOP OF these great Weekly Deal prices, too!).  

No strings attached!  If, at the end of three months, you don't want to continue, you're free to drop!  What a great way to make and purchase things for Christmas at a great discount.  Click {here} to go to join me!  My 12 years as a demonstrator have been nothing short of *F-U-N*!  Contact me if you have questions...

School's in and I'm back!

Hello, patient Visitors!  After a three-week roadtrip to Yellowstone, Colorado and Wyoming and a camping trip to the Pacific Coast, the dust is settling and I'm back in the Studio.  One of the things I'm doing today (my birthday, by the by) is making a list of items to order.  There are a slew of new delicious things to consider!

Here's just a smidge of what's been going on at Stampin' Up! lately:

A new photopolymer set!  Another Thank You (#133454), $13.95

I make more Thank You notes than any other type of card, so I'm thrilled at this new addition  I love the fonts and the little heart and gem images, too.

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Hooray for Thinlits!  Flip cards (which I've made painstakingly by hand) are now a snap with the Big Shot...  

Circle Card Thinlits die (133480), $32.95

 Label Card Thinlits die (133479), $32.95

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September's "Best of" Series stamp set is Best of Autumn (134390), $14.95

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Create 66 different sizes in envelopes for your projects (as well as simple inserts)!

Envelope Punch Board, (133774), $19.95

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Another fantastic Bundle offering is here!  Purchase the Papillon Potpourri set and the Bitty Butterfly Punch together to save 15% (use this item number: C135311, W135312 for the savings), $30.90C, $34.90W

There are more lovely things to share, so stay tuned!  Hope your summer was restful and fun and that you're ready to attack the fall with fresh vigor!