I have been sitting here AMAZED at how quickly the retiring Sizzix dies are going on the Discontinuing List!

And then I looked at the Clearance Rack and saw that the Stampin’ Up! Sizzix ‘Look Here’ die was still available!  I feel very bad–I just told someone who emailed me a few weeks ago, that we didn’t carry it anymore! Now I have guilt!!!

So the moral to this story is that while you are checking out the Discontinued lists… be sure to check out Stampin’ Up!’s clearance rack for things you miss but SU still has inventory in. There are some awesome deals there!  And don’t forget my online order special through the end of May… earn 20% back on your online purchases towards an order in the new catalog… read all about it here!

How did I make this card? CLICK HERE for the video on how to work with the ‘Look Here’ die by Sizzix, made exclusively for Stampin’ Up!  and by the way, the snowflake punch used in this card is retiring with this catalog… but good news, the stamp set, Delightful Decorations,  and coordinating punch is staying!

Isn’t this lovely?!  Another awesome project made with Stampin’ Up!’s Petite Purse die… available as a pre-buy before it isn’t available until the new catalog in June.

And I’ve been asked by quite a few people what the dimensions and the purse (without the handle) is–it measures about 3 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches.

Crank out as many as you need of these lovely purses as a wedding favor… and while mine was made with our very cost effective Whisper White cardstock, if you really want to go ALL OUT, use our Shimmery White Cardstock (#101910)… it has a lovely sheen to it… very bridal!

Boho Blossom Punch (#119858); Bird Builder Punch (#117191); Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (#120175); Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (#117335); Clear Rhinestone Brad (#113144); Basic Pearls Jewels (#119247)

I have an even more lovely one tomorrow!

Okay, I TOTALLY you that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this die!!!   The good news–I’ve had a lot of fun and made some awesome petite purses on Sunday afternoon… the bad news–due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t do any laundry and dinner didn’t get made (ooops!).

I will be torturing you the next few days with some EXTREMELY AWESOME mini purses… for all occasions!  Be sure to come to this month’s Stampers Xpress… to make one!

Accessories used for these purses are the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper with Island Indigo cardstock. The Fabric Designer Button used on the front of the left purse is one of four designs that coordinate with the Summer Smooches Designer series paper and the buttons are only available during the pre-order period (now until April 30th).  Click here to pre-order the Summer Smooches Suite of products!

Petite Purse Bigz L Die #125606
122923 Island Indigo ’2012-13 In Color’ cardstock
125409 Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper
Embellishments for the purse on the left:
125589 Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads (only available this month)
125583 Daffodil Delight 1/2 in. Seam Binding Ribbon
122974 Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon
Embellishments for the purse on the right:
112577 Filigree Designer Brads, 109111 Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, 119858 Boho Blossoms Punch
123134 Houndstooth Embossing Folder with Sizzix Big Shot die cutter w/multipurpose platform

I absolutely LOVE when punches match a stamp set, don’t you?!

The Delighful Decorations stamp set shown here is a new holiday set in the Holiday Mini Catalog on Page 24.  The matching punch is on Page 25.

This was one of my August Christmas Card Club cards you can still order by mail here.

Altogether the supplies used are:

#116517 Delightful Decorations stamp set $21.95

#116794 Ornament punch $15.95

#116770 Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Specialty Paper (Holiday Mini Catalog, Pg. 21), $11.95

#109867 Gold Cording (elastic) from the Holiday Mini Catalog, Pg. 27, $4.95

#102935 Brushed Gold Cardstock

Versamark, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

#115963 Finial Press Embossing Folder with Sizzix Big Shot (and multipurpose platform and standard cutting pads)

This is most likely going to be my Christmas Card this year!  And it took only one $8.95 stamp called ‘Dasher’ (#116816).

This is another one of my Christmas Card Class/Club creations from last week’s September class and I believe that there is only one spot left for my October Class if at all.

You can see my August & September Christmas Card classes and download the supply list here. You can also order the step-by-step instructions for those class ‘in the mail’ on the same page.

This was a very simple card to actually make, the only ‘work’ was embossing the deer (and that was a snap).

The new Designer Series Specialty paper is Christmas Cocoa from the Holiday Mini Catalog and features flocking on some of its paper.  Very cool and very interesting colors… the snowflake design coordinates well with the Sahara Sand cardstock and the striped paper pulls in some red for flair.

Materials:

5 ½ x 8 ½ Whisper White cardstock
Two – 2 ¾ x 3 ¼ Whisper White cardstock
2 ½ x 3 in. Sahara Sand cardstock
2 x 4 inch white cardstock (top pressed strip)
1 x 4 inch Sahara Sand cardstock (#105328)
½ x 4 inch striped DSP – Christmas Cocoa  (#116770)
4 x 3 inch snowflake patter DSP – Christmas Cocoa Spec.2 x 2 inch red cardstock (for the snowflake)
Jumbo Snowflake Punch (#116628)
White Embossing Powder, Versamark, Heat Tool
Square Fire Brads (#109112)
Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ‘Finial Press’ (#115963)
Big Shot Die Cut machine, multipurpose platform
pair of standard cutting pads

Had an awesome time last night at the “Impress Me! Team Quarterly Meeting” at my home.  I loved seeing you all and wish that more of you could have attended.

I have a gift in the mail for my ‘long distance’ team members, so keep an eye out for it!

The theme this time was the Sizzix XL dies and we made a pop up Christmas Card with the Sizzix Bigz XL Die “Pop Up Look Here” Die and the new mini catalog set ‘Delightful Decorations’ with *matching* punch!!!

On the pop up card, I also used our new snowflake punch as well as the Sizzix ‘Textured Impressions Embossing Folder’ “Finial Press on the cover and inside layers. CLICK HERE for the video tutorial on how to make a pop up card using the Sizzix XL Die ‘Pop Up Look Here’..

Cover of pop up Christmas card

In keeping with the ’3D Die’ themed meeting, my daughter, Elizabeth (11 yrs. old) did her first demonstration (as an official ‘demonstrator-in-training’) of how to assemble the Sizzix XL pop up die ‘O Christmas Tree’ (something her mother has not quite mastered yet).

We also made a Thanksgiving card with the new ‘Gifts of the Season and exciting new designer paper ‘Autumn Meadows,’ that I will be sharing in my next post.

It was wonderful seeing everyone… thanks for the sharing from all those who demo’d their latest creations and got a gift from me for their ‘Five Minutes of Fame’!

Mark your calendar for Thurs., January 28th at 7:00 pm… but be on the lookout for a Shoebox Swap before that date!

Demonstrator In Training

Lynda's pop up card

I am having a wonderful time in Salt Lake City and awards night last night was awesome!  Amanda C. and I walked across the stage as cruise achievers, woo hoo!

Well I am seeing some awesome ideas and will be sharing the pictures with you soon. But here’s a photo of a few of us walking across stage.

Carol Nordquist, Susy Miller, Amanda Coughlin & Me--walking across stage as cruise achiever

So, this Sizzix XL Die ‘Box #2′ has to be the absolutely *easiest* stinkin’ box to make!

This quick box is just Taken With Teal cardstock (6 x 11 inches) and a strip of the Designer Series paper ‘Holiday Lounge’ (#115676).  In fact it is one 1 1/2 inch strip of trees that I added some *bling* to.  The 5/8 inch white satin ribbon (#114616) is extremely elegant as a finishing touch that is secured onto the box top, so it opens without having to untie it.  SECRET: there is a strip of ribbon across the top secured underneath and the box is actually glued to the strip of satin (it uses less ribbon).

I have also made a purse with this box.  Below is the box decorated with (retired) Raspberry Tart designer series paper and a false foldover made from the Sizzix Bigz Die Scallop Circle #2.

Instead of tucking in, I have it velcro coin closure and embellished it Stampin’ Up’s new designer hardware… a silver ‘Jumbo Grommet’ (p. 179 in 2009-10 IBC).

NOTE:  The new 2009-2010 Catalog will be online today by 5:00 pm EST along with a ‘Deal of the Week‘ (which is a new special offer every week for the month of July) as well as an incredible $85 Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Starter Kit is coming later this month (you can read about that offer here).

I got the Bigz XL die ‘Box #2′ (order #114518) several months ago and wasn’t sure what to do with it.  The end result box wasn’t very large (approx. 4 in. wide, 2 inches high and 1 inch deep).

In fact, this Kiwi Kiss rectangular box sat on my desk for a few months until I realized that the Scalloped Circle 2 die made a nice fold over wrap and gee, it could be a pocketbook!

Another accessory that I haven’t used at all until now was the large grommet (I used a silver one).  The grommet is just pressed into the paper (you need a sponge pad–not your fingers behind it, LOL!).  Then just bang down the little (razer sharp) points to hold it in place.  A 1/2 inch punch of coordinating paper will finish the look of a button or fastener for the pocketbook.

The coordinating designer series paper that I used here is Raspberry Tart (which is retiring today), but there are simply GORGEOUS new papers coming in the new catalog!!!

And on that note, I have 5 cases of catalogs looking for loving homes… come to my New Catalog Open House for fun and free stuff on Thursday, July 23rd at 7:00 pm.  CLICK HERE to RSVP (this event will fill, so don’t delay).

3D mania with your Sizzix!

The fun never stops with your Sizzix Big Shot just for Stampin’ Up! These pop-up dies are the first of their kind!

You can create perfect wedding, birthday, and party projects with the Pop-up dies that add dimension and depth!  I have both of them and can’t wait to play with them…

Three Tiered Cake – folds inside a card!  #116760 for $39.95.  Read more here.

Pop Up Ball Die – pops up an octagon ball suitable for photo holding. #116759 for $39.95.  Read more here.

Are you still a holdout?  Contact me about a tailored purchase of your own Sizzix machine!