New Stuff, FREE Stuff and Swap Cards!

Here is a picture of some of the free things I have gotten from Stampin' Up the past month. I love it when they give me free stamps and stuff! The company is so good to it's demonstrators, that is another great reason for you to join my team! I got the 6 new colors of ink pads and cardstock and 13 markers, the 6 new colors and 7 from the past In Colors that are returning as permanent (at least until the next color renovation) colors to our palet. Since there were problems in production (not Stampin' Up's fault) they gave everyone a new hostess stamp set called Because I Care. That helped me be more patient while I waited :~)

I also got 2 free stamp sets from the Sale-a-Bration promotion we did Jan-March. I could have ordered something sooner but I wanted to wait until I could get some of the new sets when the catalog pre-0rder came out. I ended up getting an alphabet set and a level 3 hostess set. I used the alphabet set on the July layout that I will be posting in a few days, keep your eye out for it!

As much as I like to get free goodies, I love to give them away too! I'm going to be giving away free stuff starting June 30. I'm getting my post ready for the details of my 35th wedding anniversary give away. I have ink pads, markers, reinkers, wheel cartridges and stamp sets - 35 gifts for you! Check back Wednesday to see how you can earn free Stampin' Up products too. These products will be retired but they still work!

In the mean time, enjoy a few of the swap cards I got last week at my Stampin' Up team meeting. There were lots of cards with that beautiful free set Because I Care. I love that hydranga, I'm seeing so many ways to color the flower, I can't wait to try them all! The pink and purple hydrangia is from Sue Erickson. She used the 2 colors of ink to show the highlights and shadows as well as the different colors you can get from hydrangias depending on the soil, sun and moisture. Her flower is beautiful on a Crumb Cake embossed background.

Top right is another beautiful card. the creator didn't put her name on the back which is a shame, it is so beautiful I'd love to give her credit. I love how she made a lacy border and used the little long stamp in the Because I Care set down the middle of it.

The other 2 cards weren't signed either but show some other great ways to use this stamp set. Notice the background blue paper on the lower right one? It is stamped with a single hydrangia bloom stamp from the set. did I mention that I really like this set that I got free, hey, you can get it free too! It is a level 1 hostess set!

4 more swap cards and then I reckon I'll go start supper. Another no-name card on both the left ones, isn't the top on nice with it's neutral colors and simple design? And the talented lady who made the lower left one did a great job of coloring the Courage stamp. On the right side, the beautiful card on the top was made by Stacy Bowers. She used the new Greenhouse Gala paper and the Friends Never Fade stamp set which are both so pertty but her ribbon treatment makes this a fantastic card! I need to get my sewing maching out to use on cards more often!

The last card is a fun card that Linda Cathey cased from Mary Fish. I love the lollipop flower with the butterfly sitting on it, what a fun touch. I like how she embossed the Old Olive paper with the polka dot embossing folder before cutting the leaves and stems from it. Very nice touch.

New Catalog!!!

I got the new Stampin' Up catalog a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed looking through it, seeing the new stamp sets and dies as well as all the great card samples. I love the new "In Colors", that is 6 colors of ink, paper, ribbon and markers that are only available for the year that this catalog is current. All the new goodies in the new catalog will be available for purchase beginning on July 1st. We are down to the last 2 days of the old catalog so if there is a set you want that is being discontinued, lmk asap so I can place it on my last order from that catalog.

I have a couple of sneak peeks today. We had a Stampin' Up Team meeting Saturday and I got some cards in our swap that were made with new stamp sets from the new catalog. The first one is my swap. I used the Big Shot machine to cut the new Rich Razzleberry cardstock with the scalloped circle die. I folded it in half first so there is a fold at the top which I tied the organza ribbon around. I cut circles of Bermuda Bay and white and I also ran the white cardstock through my Big Shot with a polka dot texture plate. I love the texture that the texture plates add. I used gold ink to stamp the bamboo with a bird stamp from the Asian Artistry set. This is a new level 2 hostess set. I love the little bird but decided to go with the dragonfly from the set instead. I stamped him in Bermuda Bay and punched him out with the 1 1/4" circle and matted it on a Rich Razzleberry circle. I stamped the quote from this set, also in gold, on Rich Razzleberry cardstock and punched it out with the new modern label punch. I love this punch and it is even better because it works perfectly with the word window punch. I'm sure I'll be making more cards from this set soon so you can see how sweet the little bird is and you can see the other stamps in the set.

The card beside my card is made by Nancy Reeves using another level 2 hostess set called Wings of Friendship. I love that little bird! He is embossed with black for a very elegant look. The Thanks So Much sentiment is so lovely, it came from a level 3 hostess set called Kind and caring thoughts. I wish I could write that pretty! My handwriting has always been terrible.

Here are 2 more swap cards made with a new stamp set called Circle Circus. It is a great set, perfect for lots of backgrounds and flower centers. The one on the left was made by Leslie Allen and the one on the right didn't have a name on it. They both use Bermuda Bay cardstock as a base. I'm loving the new "In Color" colors. The only one of the 6 new colors not represented on Leslie's card is Soft Suede, a nice medium brown that is on the next card.

These last 2 cards are the cards we made at the meeting. I'm very tempted by the Autumn Days set that the pheasant and the wheat shafts come from. It is a wonderful set for cards that will be sent to men but it also has fall-like stamps and pine cones and a berry bough that could be used on Christmas projects. It is a very versatile set. The other card also uses the Circle Circus stamp set. This set is great to make a background for your card as in the previous picture or to use as accents as demonstrated in this card. I'm imagining all kinds of scrapbook pages using this great stamp set!

I was going to post these Saturday night but my camera wasn't talking to my computer so I tried again Sunday, nothing. It finally decided to cooperate today so I'm finally getting a post done. I have been so busy that I haven't posted as regularly as I'd like to. We are getting good veggies out of the garden but I'm thinking the weeds are winning sometimes! I picked a few yellow squash and zuchinnis last night and steamed them to go with our supper. Yummy! We have lots of lettuce and the tomatoes are growing good. The corn is almost waist high so another few weeks and we will be eating fresh corn on the cob. I am most disappointed in the beets. I don't know if I planted them too deep or what but only 2 plants came up. Beets are my favorite vegetable but I only like them fresh from the garden, not canned. I'll have to go to the farmer's market to get my beets this year I guess.