Hand Stamped Cards with Josee Smuck-Stampin' Up! Canada Demonstrator – Page 377 – Stampin' Up! Canada Demonstrator; Rubber Stamps & Supplies for Cardmaking & Scrapbooking in Stittsville, Ontario (near Ottawa)

Stampin’ Gals Gone Wild Wednesday

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Josee

Stampin' Gals 3 Connie and I have been gone for the past week enjoying some much needed relaxation courtesy of Stampin' Up! This retreat, called Founder's Circle, is by special invitation only to the the demonstrators who ranked in the Top 100 in the USA and the Top 20 in Canada. We were both SOOOO honoured to be in this category and hey, we have YOU to thank! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

Today is Connie's turn to take over my blog…enjoy!

Josee has been sharing some pictures of her time in St. George, Utah. I will be sharing some as well…. but FIRST, I just HAVE to share my AH HA moment with you. Do you ever have those AH HA moments? This one has already changed the way I look at color and it's so stinkin' simple!

I really struggle with color. I tend to put myself in a box and choose 2 colors that look nice together and stop there. I hate that but I just can't get my mind to FIND that perfect 3rd or 4th color.

I was working on my video for STAMPIN' GALS GONE WILD WEDNESDAY and this idea came to me (and it was much better than the idea that I had for the video for today). I created a very SIMPLE swatch book with quarter sheets of all the Stampin' Up cardstock colors. Why quarter sheets? So I can lay my stamped image on the different colors and FORCE myself to choose a color DIFFERENT than what I stamped. It's AMAZING how many colors I found that really looked nice with my stamped image that I would have NEVER put with it. See? Simple idea but it solves a huge problem for me….and I hope for YOU too!

Now, if this little book would just solve my coffee problem, life would be grand. This morning, my coffee machine bit the dust. Those of you who know me KNOW this is a MAJOR problem! Connie and Coffee are like Peanut Butter & Jelly, Biscuits & Gravy, Chocolate and well, everything goes with chocolate so that's not a good example…. but you get where I'm coming from! I was DESPERATE so I had to resort to some of those Starbucks coffee single packets. NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!! This is NOT real coffee people! It's coffee flavored water and it's not the same! I will be out of my office for a couple hours as I run to Target for a new machine. If I don't get coffee and get it quick, someone could get seriously hurt. Just sayin'.

Well, while I'm out buying a coffee machine, enjoy today's STAMPIN' GALS GONE WILD WEDNESDAY video!

If you are reading this in an email, CLICK HERE to view the video online

Josee & I LOVE being your USA and Canadian Stampin' Up demonstrators! We LOVE sharing new ideas with you every day and thanks to your loyalty in ordering from us, we are able to keep the videos coming! THANK YOU!

If you are from Canada, ORDER HERE from JOSEE

If you are from the United States, ORDER HERE from CONNIE

Don’t let the deadline for our Stampin’ Gals Gone Wild TRY-IT for $5.00 special expire before you have a chance to see what it’s all about!

CLICK HERE to give Stampin’ Gals Gone Wild a test drive for a mere $5

SG-sneak peek

Hope you guys have a WONDERFUL day and listen, if you're enjoying a cup of coffee while you read this, kiss your coffee machine and tell him how much you love him. If he doesn't get the unconditional love he needs, you could be in the same boat I am. I love you all too much to let that happen to you.

Founders Circle Wrap Up

Posted on September 24, 2013September 24, 2013 by Josee

Last week was our Founders Circle Trip with Stampin Up for the Top 20 Canadians and the Top 100 US demonstrators. The week went by so fast and I'm still exhausted from all the fun.

I have to admit, I don't sleep enough on these trips and with that and the time change, it takes me a while to recover.

Here's a re-cap of my week!

Day 1

I went in a day earlier to spend the night in Vegas with some of the Canadian achievers. I always find with the time difference, it helps to get there before everyone else and then meet up with everyone in St. George Utah the next day.

So, on Wednesday we returned to the Vegas Airport to meet up with Stampin Up! and were shuttled to St. George. When we arrived, we were welcomed by the event team and of course got started with winning prizes. This year, we had the horse shoe toss and apparently I do not have very good aim….but, they are so nice to us…we win anyhow!
Next we got settled into our rooms and then had our welcome dinner where I got to meet new friends! On our tables was a home made jam for each of us. One of the perks of earning the trip is the PILLOW GIFTS we receive each night on our beds….tonights gift is a big pack of new products…we got a new stamp set, washi tape, designer paper, embossing folder, ribbon, and lots more…that will be in the Occassions Catalogue.

Day 2

The second day of Founders was quite relaxing. I slept in….yippee! The hospitality room was filled with treats, so I had to go down and check that out. We got to do the horseshoe toss again and win another prize…I know, it's a hard life!

Next I actually did my make and take projects. We used our NEW PRODUCTS that we received as a pillow gift. I can't show you the actual products…but, I can show you the projects we made. Check out the display board below!

I took it pretty easy for the rest of the day…and then we had our PJ Party and Card Swap. I love exchanging cards with these amazing ladies. You should see the beautiful projects I got!! 🙂

Day 3

On our third day, we went to the Kanab Facility where Stampin' Up! manufactures their stamps. I love going every year to see the amazing staff and to see the changes.

Yes, Stampin' Up! is all about changing for the better, and it amazes me each year to see all the progress they've made.

See those HUGE ROLLS OF RUBBER…that's the start of the magic that is a stamp set! We got to see some sneak peeks of the new Occasions Catalogue along the way…lots of fun new sets coming your way in 2014! Day 4-final day

The highlight of the final day is always the surprise event that Stampin' Up! plans for us. Each year it's different and since this year's theme was a western theme….they brought us to a Ranch.

We played a ton of really fun games and WON PRIZES at each station. We each left with a bag FULL of products! Thanks Stampin' Up!

There were cowboys…young and old and they were all so much fun to hangout with. The final dinner was yummy and kind of sad that I knew it was nearly time to go home. All in all, it was an amazing week and I'm thrilled to have earned this trip…thanks to my amazing group, the Inky Divas and to all my customers. I truly LOVE YOU ALL and I couldn't have earned this without your support!

REMINDERS:

Stampin' Gals Online Club– try it this month for only $5
Crafty Girls Retreat– 2 rooms left!

“My Crafty Friends Monday” – 23

Posted on September 23, 2013September 22, 2013 by Josee

Welcome to week 23 of "My Crafty Friends Monday!"

Each Monday, I will be featuring different projects that have inspired me and I know they'll inspire you too!

Each project was created by different & amazingly talented stampers- make sure you check out their blogs for more details and to check out their other amazing projects!!

(**Note…don't worry- I've contacted each of these stampers and allowed them to decline if they choose.)

This week's "Crafty Friends" theme is: Holiday Catalog

Special Season (WOOD mount, CLEAR mount

>>Love these ideas, you can purchase the Special Season stamp set through my ONLINE STORE ! AND better yet, join my ONLINE C LUB to get SIX EXLUSIVE VIDEOS, earn FREEBIES….and more!

Sandy Mathis
http://www.stampwithsandy.com/2013/07/special-season-sneak-peek-pp153-ffc12.html

Andi Potler
http://www.absolutekreations.com/2013/08/02/holiday-catalog-convention-swaps/

Kathleen Wingerson
http://kathleenstamps.com/special-season-stamp-set/

Wendy
http://weebeestampin4fun.blogspot.com/2013/09/merry-monday-week-73.html

Chris Glebus
http://www.mystampladychris.com/my_stamp_lady_chris/2013/09/september-card-making-class-special-season-christmas-card.html

Remember to check out the Special Season stamp set IN MY STORE

I hope you've enjoyed this week's "My Crafty Friends Monday!" Make sure you visit the talented artist's featured on this post!

Come back next Monday to see more talented stampers!

Were you featured here? Here's a badge you can add to your blog is you choose!

September Hostess Code of the Month: use 6WTBXE39 to be entered in a draw for hostess benefits.
>>How to use the hostess code:
a. Enter your first item into cart
b. Look under "Special Offers" (bottom left)
c. Enter HOSTESS CODE in box and hit apply

Try It-795

Stampin’ Up! Mosaic Gift Box

Posted on September 20, 2013September 13, 2013 by Josee

Happy Friday!!!

I'm still in Utah today, hopefully soaking up the sun and relaxing!! I can't wait to share with all of you more about my trip.

Today is the day where I post a card or project and then will offer the Exclusive "How-To" Video FREE in my Weekly Stampin' News the following week. I hope you'll enjoy this fun Friday Feature.

Sign up now to get this FREE VIDEO coming out Sept. 24th

Build a Banner Simply Created Kit

Posted on September 19, 2013September 23, 2013 by Josee

Have you seen the Build a Banner Simply Created Kit in the Holiday Catalogue?! It's easy to overlook but I'm here to say-it's AWESOME!!!

I've been using it to create a fun class for my retreat ladies but I'm also using it to make some gifts for some very special ladies in my group who earned the Founders Circle Trip along with me.

Three Inky Divas, Maggie Patterson, Marlayne Hardy & Jennifer Dimarco will be getting this special gift from me.

I can tell you now since I've already given it to them by now.