FREE SHIPPING!!

That's right - you read it right!!! From now (December 9th) through the 23rd of December, Stampin' Up! (R) is offering FREE SHIPPING on ANY order of $70 or more. This is the first time I've seen Stampin' Up! (R) offer a special like this so you won't want to miss out! You can contact me: joyfully_stampin@gra.midco.net to place an order or you can order directly from my Stampin' Up! (R) website at http://www.joyfullystampin.stampinup.net/. What a great way to either stock up on supplies or order some great Christmas presents for your stampin' and scrappin' friends and family! PLUS, the new retired set list is out and you get 10% off any stamp set that is on the list!!! So, if there's one on there you've been wanting, NOW is the time to get it!! So, contact me soon to take advantage of these great specials!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Craft Fair Items

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted - life has been a flurry of activity! I made the last minute decision last week to do a craft fair that was happening locally so although I knew I wouldn't be able to mass-produce things, I did take orders. It went pretty well. There wasn't a huge amount of people that came but I did get some orders and made back my money on the table plus some. Here are some pictures of the things I made:

These are some hershey bar goodies - you pull up the ribbon (without untying) and the hershey bar comes up. Great little stocking stuffers!

This is a little stationery set - it can be personalized with different patterned paper and colors/initial.

These are some journals - a couple had matching pens.

Here's a picture of my best selling item of the day:

It's a monogrammed bow/barrette holder. I have quite a few of these I still need to make! If you would be interested in ordering any of these items, please let me know by leaving a comment with your contact info and I'd be happy to get back with you with more information!!

This was the first craft fair I've done as a "crafter" instead of a "business". It was a lot of fun and something I would definitely consider doing again. I just wish I'd had more time this time to mass produce but people didn't seem to mind ordering from me.

Home Decor

Well, like many other demonstrators that attended convention this summer, I was determined to make one of the home decor things I saw. I finally sat down and did it a week or so ago but just took a picture of it so I can share it with you. I love this time of the year and the yellows with the reds. Some ideas others have mentioned is replacing the inside for every season because, I don't know about you, but I am very blessed and should be thankful in every season! Enjoy! (I'm attaching two pictures because although I'm not really pleased with how either of the pictures turned out, together they are okay.) The saying is "Season of Thanks, Season of Blessings, Season of Love.

Christmas Cards for Stamp-a-Stack

Well, I finally have the samples done of the cards we'll be doing at my Christmas card stamp-a-stack being held at the Arts and Crafts Center here Thursday, November 6th from 7-10pm and Saturday, November 8th from 10am-1pm. If you would like to attend, you must call the A&C center at 747-3482. The cost to attend is either $15 for 10 cards with envelopes (2 of each design) or $25 for 20 cards with envelopes (4 of each desing). This will be the first "class" I'm doing at the Arts & Crafts center and I'm really excited about it! If you need more information, just leave me a comment and a way to get in touch with you and I'd be happy to send you more info! Here are the 5 cards we'll be making:
I think it's a good variety and a little something to please everyone! I hope to see you at my class!!

Fall Projects

Last weekend I had my fall projects class. I always have such a hard time narrowing down the projects I want to do and this time was no exception!! I ended up doing a bag in a box (got the idea from Amy), kit-kat goodie wrappers (LOVE THEM AND SOOOOOO EASY!!! I got the idea from Erin.), a card and a potpourri bag. The potpourri bag and the card coordinate - I was trying to give examples of how to use all the parts of the Big Shot Top Note die cut.

I almost like the back of the potpourri better than the front!

I'll be having a Christmas card stamp-a-stack soon so be checking for projects soon!!!

The Rest of the Eastern Blooms Swaps

Okay, I've decided just to post the rest of the pictures of the swaps I made.

I love this set - it's so versatile and easy to work with!

Eastern Blooms swap

I got this idea from our Idea Book and Catalog. I love the simplicity. It's hard to tell but I used the brushed silver cardstock and it adds a little touch of elegance.

Inspired by my cousin's wedding thank you's

A couple of weeks ago I received a Thank you card from my cousin for the wedding gift I had given. Within a couple of days I was working on some swaps that me and my roomies from convention were doing for one another. I knew I wanted to do something with black and white and remembered the thank you card and just kind of took off with it. Although I don't have a picture of the thank you card to share (which is a bummer, sorry!) here is what I did come up with!

I will post each of the swaps I made individually over the next few days. To see the great swaps I received from my roomies, check out Amy's stampin' blog!

Mr Big Shot, Who do you think you are?

I had my Open House today and although it wasn't quite the turn out I was hoping for, it still went really well and the ladies who did come are excited to get stamping so that's a good thing! One of the things I had out for it was a sign up sheet that I entitled the same as this post - Mr. Big Shot, who do you think you are? (Please tell me you know the song I'm referring to in this title?!) Anyway, here's what the rest of the sign up says:

Okay, you've had a chance to acquaint yourself with the NEW Stampin' Up! (R) Big Shot and NOW you have a dilemma... You WANT IT!! But, how, when it's so expensive and your husband wouldn't approve if you bought it all at once? Well, what about a "payment plan" where you'll be able to get the Big Shot PLUS earn other stuff FREE??!! Sounds good, right, where do you sign up? By signing below you are indicating that you are interested in being in a big shot club for 4 months! Each month you'll spend $50 and with-in 4 months you will have your new big shot ready to play with. Plus, because you'll be earning hostess benefits, you'll be able to pick something from the catalog for free plus get a hostess only stamp set. Now, that's a great plan! There will be four members (although if I have more that puts the price per month less!) and each person will be hostess once. I can't wait until you get your Big-Shot!!

I have three ladies who indicated that they are interested in being in the Big Shot club. So, now all I need is 1 (or more) other person to indicate that they would like to be in the club and we can get it started. YAY!! If this sounds like something you are interested in, please let me know and I'll get you on the list and we'll be able to get things going!

The photos I've included are of the project we did today at my Open House. It features the Big Shot topper, Fall Flair hostess set, plus the new Riding Hood Red In Color! I thought it'd start to get us in the mood for Fall since it is right around the corner!!

RAK from my downline, Amy

I am blessed to have wonderful ladies in my downline. My good friend, Amy, is part of my downline and she sent me some cute stuff! We try to send each other samples of cards/projects we've done and she's been better at it lately than I have but this week in the mail I got another goodie! She took all the pictures she's taken from convention and put them on a cd and had a cute little cover on it (pictured). Along with it she had a cute pop-up kind of card and I was just tickled pink! I love getting stuff in the mail!! On top of all that she did a great roomie gift for us (her roomies) at convention. It's a little purse with matching stationery. You can check out her website for more samples plus the link to where she got the idea! Thank you, Amy, for these wonderful goodies and please know that I have something in the works for you but I don't want to spoil it by putting it on here!

Exciting Stuff In the Stampin' Up! (R) World!

There are so many new and exciting things happening in the world of Stampin' Up! (R) and I'll try and share as much of it with you as I can!!!!!

First, Stampin' Up! (R) has partnered up with Sizzix to create our VERY OWN Big Shot!! Along with that we'll be carrying our own line of exclusive dies that will coordinate with our exclusive stamp sets. Click here to see the complete flyer of all that is available!!! The picture is one I took at convention of the Big Shot with accessories plus a great bag you can get to fit it all!!

The above pictures are just a couple of took of some fun things you can create using the Sizzix!

Second, there are going to be three starter kits options available starting August 11th at just $99! You can choose between the Stamping, Scrapbooking or Home Decor Options! Click here to see the flyer with all the details!! These kits are especially designed for those of you who've been Stampin' Up! (R) customers for years and don't need everything that's usually included with the Standard Starter Kit. OR if you're new to Stampin' Up! (R) and choose to start your Stampin' Up! (R) career with the standard starter kit option, you will be able to choose a stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler or Idea Book and catalog FREE!!

Third, starting August 11 (the day the new catalog is available) there is going to be never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary!!!!! Click here to see the stamp sets that are featured!!

Convention was GREAT!!!

Wow time has flown by and it's been a while since I've posted anything. We have finally arrived at our new home in North Dakota and are getting things settled. In the midst of the chaos of boxes, I got to go to Stampin' Up!'s yearly convention in Salt Lake City. It was a great time getting to see friends, downline, uplines, sidelines, etc. plus 6000 of my closest demonstrator friends!! (Plus, I took the opportunity to get my picture with Shelli - the CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up! (R)) There are some exciting things in store on the Stampin' Up! (R) front and I can't wait to share them with you! I've also started a new Stampin' Up! (R) website and you can check it out by clicking here. One of the exciting things coming this fall is the ability for you, my customers, to be able to order directly from my demonstrator website!! How cool is that? Any time, day or night you'll be able to order those supplies you need to make whatever project you might be working on!

So, more about convention. Well, first of all I realized the day before I left that my return ticket was scheduled for Saturday and not Sunday as it was supposed to be. NOT GOOD!!!! My wonderful husband tried to work some things from home for me but the cheapest we could find was a $345 ticket home. Unfortunately, that means I had to keep my original ticket and miss the last day of convention. I must really be in a chaotic state because not only did that happen but one of the days I was there I realized, while walking to the convention center that my engagement ring was not on my finger and I didn't remember taking it off. Well, when I returned to the room that afternoon we searched all over and couldn't find it. My friend, Dana, kept saying, "Joy, you were digging around a lot in your bag this morning, keep looking there." Well, sure enough, there it was in the bottom of my bag! I was so relieved and thankful - thankful not only to have found it but to have such good friends who were just as worried about not being able to find it as I was. THEN, that same night we were at a group meeting and I realized I didn't have my camera that had my ID and credit cards in it. I went back to the room thinking I had left it there but couldn't find it. I went back to the meeting room to find it and it wasn't there. I had to walk back to the convention center and PRAY that someone would be there that could help me. Well, the Lord was listening because I saw one girl coming out from one of the rooms that was on staff and asked her where I might be able to find a lost camera. She asked me what it looked like and if I'd had make and takes that day. I had, indeed, had make and takes and she told me they'd found one in that hall. Well, she walked with me all the way there and helped me to convince security to let us in. We looked all over where she thought it was there but couldn't find it. We then went back across the convention center to the Gathering Place to see if there was a lost and found at the Info Booth. She looked all around for me then came out and said, "Is this is?" I was so excited because, yes, it was!! I gave her a great big hug and thanked her for staying with me and helping me. Even funnier, I was looking at my pictures from convention and came across a picture I hadn't taken - it was the group who found my camera and she's in the picture!!! (The one who helped me is the 2nd one in from the left). The staff at Stampin' Up! (R) truly are amazing and I really do think the Lord was looking out for me because she doesn't normally help in the make and take area but they had needed extra help there that day so she'd come over to help! If that hadn't happened, she wouldn't have known what I was talking about! So, THANK YOU!!!

There was so much that happened at Convention and so much I learned and am excited to start trying to implement in my business but, to be honest, my favorite part was hanging out with my downline and other roomie (Amy's friend that joined us) and sharing ideas and trying to motivate one another. Plus, seeing my uplines Beverly and Mimi and being encouraged by them - especially while out running with them one morning! I hope you'll stay posted for more information about the exciting things going on with Stampin' Up! (R) and if you're up for making some great new friends and being part of a fantastic company - contact me on how to become part of the Stampin' Up! (R) family!

Ellie's Birthday Invitations

Once again it has been a while since I've posted on here. We are gearing up for our move and the craziness is beginning but in the meantime we are having a little get together for our daughter's first birthday this weekend! I wanted to make something girlie and fun and I found a great card design on split coast that I knew I wanted to duplicate. Click here to see the original design I liked. I also knew I wanted to use the Berry Bliss patterned paper and here's what I came up with:


Here is a close up of the flower on the band:I used the scallop punch, cut out the flower from "One of a Kind" and used a build a brad for the center. Let me know what you think! I will say I'm totally loving the Purely Pomegranate and will be sad to see it go!

The Jars are DONE

I cannot believe how long it's been since I last posted anything - WOW!! Life has been a little crazy and I haven't been doing much stamping so there wasn't much to post. I did get the baby jars finished for my bunco gals and, as promised, I took some pictures so I thought I would share! I just gave them to them last night and they all said they were cute. I ended up filling them with wint-o-green lifesavers. There was a total of 20 jars and I did two of each style so there ended up being 10 different designs. Because I included myself, by accident, in the number count, I had one left over to keep! (I'm kind of glad because I'd had the thought that I should make one to keep so it all worked out!)

Birthday Card Class

Somehow last week I was able to pull together a birthday card class. I had planned it the week before and knew I'd only have a few days to get the projects together after getting back from a few days at the beach but figured I'd be okay. What I didn't figure on is that Ellie would get sick on Monday and then Josh and I would get sick the next day! My class was Thursday evening and I was wondering if I was going to have to cancel. I was feeling better Wednesday although still not 100% but I was able to put together 5 projects plus all the prep work (enough materials for 10 cards each). Now, the nice thing was I was able to pool from projects I've done before but I tried to do some original things, too. One of the projects was one of the "simple" cards I've already posted using the She's All That set with Rose Red and So Saffron. Another one is just like the monogram Baroque Motifs card I did with a twist. It's the first time I've used my Build-a-brad pack and I really like how it turned out!

I had two feminine cards, so I needed a "manly" card. The only good "manly" stamp set I have right now is Noble Deer so I, of course, had to use it again. This card came pretty easily from another card I've done before using a different set.

I then wanted a good "kid" card so using a design by my friend Amy I came up with a card that used some great "kid" colors - Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, and Brilliant Blue with a little Bashful Blue thrown in.

The hard part was then deciding what kind of card to finish with. I finally decided to do another "girlie" card. What's funny is the previous card uses the design of my friend, Amy's card, but I used the color scheme from her card for this one. I would include a picture of Amy's card but I didn't take a picture of it and my camera is not available for the next couple of days! When I get it back I'll be sure to take a picture and include it. Here's the final card:
I charged $1 per card and the 3 ladies who ended up making it to the class (two ladies had to cancel at the last minute) each made two of each. My mom participated and made one of each. It was a fun night getting to know those ladies a little better and it was especially fun to do a class again!!

Save on Shipping Until March 31st

Place an order with me of any amount from now until March 31st and save on shipping! For any order under $40 the flat rate shipping is $3.95. As of April 1st Stampin' Up! (R) is increasing the flat rate shipping fee to $6.95. In order to take advantage of the rate as it is right now, I will waive the shipping fee for any order over $20. If your order is under $20, I will do half price on shipping. For orders over $40, shipping is usually 10% of your order total. If your order is $50, the shipping is $5 SO, that's a savings of $5!!! The savings only goes up from there based on your order total!! So, email or call me now to take advantage of the savings before Shipping goes up!!!

More Simple Cards

I was on a role with making cards so I did a few more over the weekend. I tried to shake it up a bit and came up with these three designs. The "Here comes the Bride" one is for my cousin who just got engaged and is getting married in August. I, unfortunately, won't be able to make it to the wedding so I thought I would at least send a "congralations" card for now. The others are "just for fun" cards!

Scrapbooking

In order to get rid of some "dead weight" for our upcoming move I'm going through back issues of Creating Keepsakes dating all the way back to 1999!! What I've been doing is tearing out pages of layouts I like, making notes as to why I like them and then just putting all those pages in a folder. Then, I'm able to throw away the magazine. I'm now up to 2003 and have another years worth of magazines to go through and then I should be done! Anyway, because I do have stacks of ideas piling up, I really wanted to scrapbook over the weekend. I haven't done any since a couple of weeks ago when I did Ellie's opening page. We just had Ellie's pictures done around Valentine's Day and I have some really cute pictures of her PLUS I found a cute title from one of the tearout title things Creating Keepsakes used to do so I did a layout. It's only one sided right now because I can't decide which pictures to put on the opposite pages: other pictures of her in her Valentine sweater OR one of the other pictures from her photo shoot. If you have a suggestion, let me know. Here's the page:

Simple Cards

Okay, I sat down yesterday and finally made some cards!! I have been in need of some birthday as well as pregnancy cards. I had a design in my head and finally brought it to life yesterday. Now, for those of you who have never stamped before or think stamping would be too hard, etc. then these are the cards for you. These are so simple but, I think, classy and nice. You can make them elegant, fun, retro, etc. This stamp set "She's All That" really lends itself to a nice, clean design and I just used patterned paper to help with color and texture. Remember from an earlier post I mentioned that patterned paper can really help you out and it did so again for me with these. Let me know what you think!!