Chicks & Chocolate

I've got the chocolate, all I need are the chicks!

Chicks & Chocolate Stamp A Stack!
Friday, August 20th
6:00 - 9:00 pm
My house

$20

We will be creating 12 cards and a 3D project that will leave you wanting S'more!

Card samples will be posted next week!

Reserve your seat by August 13th!

I can't wait!!

July Hostess Club Projects

We had a lot of fun at our July Hostess Club! Here are the projects we made!

We created a masterpiece with the new Artistic Etchings set. We used the Silver Foil Smooch Spritz on Whisper White card stock. Layered Basic Black card stock, the new Cherry Cobbler card stock, and finished it off with a Basic Black Grosgrain ribbon. The girls used Dimensionals on the back of the beautiful tower and used the faux tearing technique to give it some more definition. I didn't get a picture of my original before I sent it to my friend - so this is an impostor! :)

A simple layer card using the Thoughts & Prayers set, Whisper White card stock, and the new Marina Mist card stock. We learned how to use our punches to make a stencil and used it to create our sky with Marina Mist classic ink and a sponge. We used Early Espresso to stamp the tree and sentiment. So simple, so elegant!

Our last project was created using a skinny tin. I wish these were still available through Stampin' Up! - but you can find them at other online stores - or try the technique on another tin! We used the Elements of Style set to emboss the large flower image on our tin. Wipe the Embossing Buddy over the tin. Stamp the image in Versa Mark, generously add clear embossing powder to the image, and use the heat tool until the image is clear. Let it cool!! Then you can wipe the powder from the Embossing Buddy off with a wipe or soft towel. We stamped a few 4x4 cards to go on the inside. And finished it off with some White Satin ribbon! A great and impressive gift!

Hey Big Shot!

I made these gifts using my Big Shot and Vinyl sheets! I used both Black and White vinyl. For this one I used the Flower Daisey#2 Die and the Alphabet Simple Numbers die. I also used my Serif Essentials Alphabet to cut a B - but it's on the opposite side of the bottle. I used a plastic water bottle to adhere the vinyl to. Ta-da! Done! I put my personal waterbottle in the dishwasher all the time, and it still looks brand new. Although - you will want to try yours out because all plastics are not created equal! :)

You have to give a cute gift bag, right?! So I grabbed this plain pink bag from my stash and dressed it up! I added a B cut from the Serif Essentials Alphabet in white vinyl. Cut more daisies Then added a fun butterfly using the Beautiful Butterflies die! The circles are from the center of the daisies!

I added some white tissue paper and some ribbon to the handles - but of course that was after the pictures were taken! Oops!

A few Hostess Club projects

Circle Circus 6x6 Scrapbook page using Rich Razzleberry Card Stock and ink, Melon Mambo Card Stock and ink, Old Olive Card Stock and ink, 1" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (retiring June 30). Firecracker using Real Red, Whisper White, Star punch (retiring June 30) and the Large Star punch. Oh, and of course M&Ms!!

Tea bag card/favor using Tall Tales Designer Series Paper (retiring June 30), Whisper White Card stock, Word Window punch, Large flower punch, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Brad (retiring June 30) and Favorite Thoughts stamp (from the Summer Mini Catalog).

Teacher thanks or gift bag using First Day stamp set (from Summer Mini catalog), Fancy Favor Big Shot Die, Green Galore Card Stock (retiring June 30), Yo Yo Yellow Card Stock (retiring June 30), and Whisper White Card Stock.

Sweet Music

I found this awesome project on Julia Bettencourt's blog. They were perfect for my son's Wednesday night music teachers! Too bad I found it on the day of their last class!! But I have to tell you... this was so simple and quick to do! The part that took the longest was going to the store for the candy!

Fold a brown lunch bag in half. Then fold one flap down about a 1/4 of the way to create a pocket. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch holes through all layers of the bag. I used Chocolate Chip ribbon to hold it all together. I found the sheet music online, and printed it on Whisper White Cardstock. I sponged the cardstock with Creamy Caramel ink to give it a distressed look. I used my large flower punch to create the flower accessory and used a brad to secure it to the ribbon. Added my Symphony bar, and printed Psalm 100 on Whisper White Cardstock, sponged with Creamy Caramel ink, and called it good! Julia's is more elaborate than mine, and I really could have used more color like hers but not bad for a quick teacher appreciation gift!

Who knew brown paper bags could turn out so cute?!

Last Chance!

The Last Chance lists are here! Please visit my website www.andreamason.stampinup.net to place your order. This will help you receive your order quickly and help ensure that you get what you want before they are gone forever!

Click on the link to view the items available!

Retiring stamps here

Retiring Decor Elements here

Retiring Paper here

Retiring Ink pads and refills here

Retiring Punches here

Retiring Sizzix Dies here

Retiring Ribbon here

Retiring Wheels here

Retiring Accessories here

Items that are 25% off here

Items that are 50% off here

Discounts will be applied after you add the items to your cart! Be sure you select me as your demonstrator to receive the Preferred Pricing and any discounts.

If you have any questions, please email me at ilove2scrap@cox.net

Color Renovation

Stampin' Up! has announced a Color Renovation!

These colors will retire on June 30, 2010!! Stock up now! You can order them directly from my website at www.andreamason.stampinup.net

select the Shop Now button and get your order delivered to your door!

We will get 5 new colors! Plus 5 more In-Colors with the new catalog in July!

Here are the 5 that have been announced...

Are you ready for more exciting news? Some of our favorite past In-Colors are returning!

If you've been collecting Craft Ink... you will want to know that all Craft Ink pads will be retiring with the exception of Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White. So be sure to add those to your order so you don't miss out!

I am very excited about this change! While I am sad to see some of my all time favorites go... I am equally excited by the new colors!

How about you? What do you think of the change?

Babies!

I have the awesome opportunity as a Bzz Agent to share a preview of the

Babies Movie with you!

A visually stunning and joyful new film that simultaneously chronicles the lives of four of the world's newest human inhabitants - in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo, respectively - from first breath to first steps, on a journey at once universal and amazingly original.

Watch the trailer, view photos, and even become a fan on Facebook!

Monkey business!

There's a baby due this week in NV! We are very excited to meet Tyler. This is a little gift that we will bring with us.

I found this clear paint can at a hobby store. I thought it was perfect to put my M is for Monkey Decor Element on! I put the M's on the lid. I personalized a few burp cloths using the Fox and Friends stamp set. The stamp coordinates with the new Decor Elements! YAY! And then I added a baby bag tag using the Go Go Boots letters. Fun! Simple!

Hostess Time!

No, I don't mean Hostess snack cakes (although they do sound really good). I mean Hostess Club time!

Here’s how it works:I will give you a Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalog for FREE (retail value is $9.95) and you agree to place a minimum order every other month until everyone in the group has been the “hostess”.

With 5 people in the club*, you will be the “hostess” once during our 5 meetings. When it’s your month to be “hostess,” you earn hostess benefits starting at $150 in sales – so when each of the 5 people places a $30 order, that month’s hostess will earn at least $15 of free merchandise AND a hostess set! The amount of free merchandise goes up if the total workshop amount goes up!
Just think . . . you can earn hostess benefits just by spending $30 every other month!

I will create a club once I have 5 or more interested people! Every meeting, participants will meet at my home to make projects and place orders, or you can email or phone your order in by the 15th of each month….

It’s that simple!Please contact Andrea Mason to join a club today!(623) 261-9613 ilove2scrap@cox.net

Got milk?

I am loving the new Big Shot Milk Carton die that is available in the Occasions Mini! It is so fun!!

Just for You neighbor gift

Stamps:
Good Neighbors* (Sale a bration catalog)
Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:
Kraft card stock
Old Olive card stock
Whisper White card stock
Welcome Neighbor Designer Series paper pad* (Sale a bration catalog)

Ink:
Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories:
Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Linen thread
Stampin' Dimensionals
1/16" Circle punch
1-1/4" Circle punch
Sizzix Big Shot
Mini Milk Carton Bigz L die (Occasions Mini)

It's Time!!

Stampin' Up! had an error with mailing everyone's Sale-A-Bration, Occasions Mini, and new Definitely Decorative catalogs!

So... they decided to post them all to the customer side of the Stampin' Up! website!

I've included the links here too!

Sale-A-Bration

Occasions Mini

Definitely Decorative

Please remember that you will not be able to order from these catalogs until January 5.

There is a BIG change to Sale-A-Bration this year! When you spend $50 you can earn an exclusive SAB set, paper pad, or punch. These are not available for purchase - you must earn them! If you acquire all of the items you want, or don't care for any of the SAB offerings - you can now select from a list of stamps that are in the 09-10 catalog! Woo hoo!

So on January 5 you can place your order

Color Combos!

Do you have a sheet of Bermuda Bay (or other Stampin' Up! color) that you want to use and aren't sure what colors coordinate? Try out the Color Combo Machine! It is awesome!! Just click the picture below. You will be able to select the colors you want to see. Hit search, and view all of the coordinating colors! Simple and fun!

Table Setting

Can you see these on your Thanksgiving table to greet your guests? So cute! This project is directly from my Stampin' Up! website. If you would like more great ideas please visit my site. You can also place an order while you are there and have your items shipped right to you!

www.andreamason.stampinup.net

Name Place Setting
Stamps• Autumn Splendor*• Calendar Alphabet & Numbers

Paper• Chocolate Chip card stock• Naturals Ivory card stock• Taken with Teal card stock• Autumn Meadows Designer Series paper*

Ink• Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad®• More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad• Really Rust Classic Stampin' Pad• Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker

Accessories• Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon• Stampin' Dimensionals• Blender pens• Sizzix Big Shot• Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz die

*From Holiday 2009 Mini Catalog

Licorice Wrap

Graveyard Gala Treat Holder
Graveyard Gala stamp set

Going Gray textured card stock

Pumpkin Pie textured card stock

Whisper White textured card stock

VersaMark® pad

Black Stampin’ Emboss® powder

Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

Linen thread

Spooky Treats Rub-Ons

Stampin' Dimensionals®

1/16" Circle punch

3/4" Circle punch

Sizzix® Big Shot™

Pillow Box Bigz™ die

Click HERE to place an order.

Introducing Hannah

Here is my excuse for not having my blog up to date!

Hannah Alyssa Mason
Born 07-08-09
3:36 AM
8 pounds 5 ounces
21" long

She is amazing! Her big brothers adore her. Daddy's little girl!

She is 3 weeks old, and still has wild hair!

We are still getting our schedule worked out, but I will be back to crafting and stamping soon! Be sure to check out my website for specials and great project ideas! www.andreamason.stampinup.net

Deal of the Week Q&A

Now through July 31, 2009 you can take advantage of the Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week!

The current Deal of the Week is only valid for 1 week. A new deal will be posted on my online website every Monday at 10:00 am (MT).

If you have visited my the Stampin' Up! website to view the Deal of the Week special you may notice that the price listed is different than the price advertised.

This is because in order to receive the special (Preferred) price of $49.99 you must select me as your demonstrator! So you must Login first.

After you Login... you will see the demonstrator you have selected. But the price will still show the same price as before.

Add the item(s) to your cart to view the special (Preferred) price! You can delete it from your cart at any time if you change your mind.

This scenario is the same for any purchase you wish to make on my online website. Just be sure you select me as your demonstrator, and you will receive the same pricing as the catalog or advertised special!

As always, if you have any questions, please let me know!

Lots of birthday's this week!

So much to celebrate this week! My nephew turns 10, my oldest son turns 11 on Thursday, our friends are expecting baby Max on Thursday, and my parents are celebrating their anniversary on July 4!

Here is the card I made for my nephew. He's having a Special Ops celebration. I used this image from the Free & the Brave, now retired (but not to worry - there is another awesome set in the new catty), on Old Olive card stock in VersaMark with clear embossing powder. I added the Old Olive ribbon to the bottom with a star punched from Old Olive card stock. Super fast and easy.

Thanks from Hannah!

Here are a few pictures of Hannah's nursery and a Thank You card.

Her room is painted Pale Plum!

The rocking chair is the same chair that I had with my first son 11 years ago!

We still need to paint her name letters to hang on the wall. The hold up is that I'm not sure if I want to paint them purple or stain them the same color as the furniture. What do you think?



She won't go naked - that's for sure!



And now for the thank you card...



I used a Whisper White base and stamped the carriage from the Fun & Fast Notes set in Basic Black, and colored it in with a Pale Plum marker and Pretty in Pink marker. I ran the card stock through my Big Shot using the Polka Dot textures plate. The top strip is Pale Plum (of course). The greeting is from the Heard from the Heart set. I added two gems to give it a little something.

Hannah will be here soon!

Not much time for crafting these days. I've been MIA because we have been preparing for baby Hannah. There is a very real chance that she could be here this weekend!

I am so very excited to meet my baby girl, but so very scared too! We have been praying for her health and safe delivery. Last Friday we received some test results that caused some concern and decided to induce labor to help protect her and myself. So, if you would... please say a little prayer for us.