YEAH!!!  My blog is back!  I have been unable to post any new shares or announce all of the wonderful goings on with Stampin' Up! with you due to a massive outage with Typepad, my blog platform.  Sunday night and the last 2 days, I was a busy-bee sending out emails, text messages, and making phone calls to get the word out about the newly released Retirement Stamps and Accessories Lists along with FREE Shipping.  **SQUEAL**

FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING HAS BEGUN!  There is no order minimum and the promotion includes all available Stampin' Up! products...even the Clearance Rack, retiring merchandise, personalized stamps, etc.).  This Stampin' Up! FREE shipping offer ends Friday, April 25.

STAMPIN' UP! RETIRING STAMPS AND ACCESSORIES LIST NOW AVAILABLE:  Discover which Stampin' Up! stamps and accessories (including the 2012-2014 In Colors) are retiring by clicking the links below.  Retiring products are only available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST so order your favorites as soon as you can.  You don't want to miss out!  Many items are already selling out.

Retiring Lists

• Retiring Stamps (Available April 21-June 4, 2014, or while supplies last)
  • PDF
  • Excel file
• Retiring Accessories (Available April 21-June 4, 2014, or while supplies last)
  • PDF
  • Excel file

I'm Hosting a party! and YOU are invited.  As a special "THANK YOU" for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I am sharing the Hostess dollars earned with 2 guests now through April 25th.  In order to participate in my FREE Hostess benefits share, you must enter the following Hostess Code:  PP7JRB4E before finalizing your online order.  With the help of Random.org, I will contact 2 guests and collect your Wish List. If my party sales grow well, I’d love to share the Hostess benefits with more guests....the more the merrier!  I am so grateful for your support of me and my family.

NEW WEEKLY DEALS!  END April 28, 2014!  
Check out the latest batch of Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals in my on-line store!

Get ready for a scrapbooking revolution with Project Life! It helps busy people (so basically all of us) document life using photos and journaling in a quick, simple, and fabulous way. We've partnered with Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, to offer a complete line of elite products. 

Becky explains, "It's called Project LIFE because it's about YOUR LIFE. Whatever your life is. Whatever your stage of life. Whatever your family circumstances. Whatever your lifestyle. Project Life is designed to help anyone and everyone get their pictures into a book."  In a nutshell, it's all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

For more details about Project Life, see this post.

Paw Parade Kit - Digital Download Price: $9.95

The Very Bestest Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $8.95

BRAND NEW MY DIGITAL STUDIO DOWNLOADS are available.  LOVE the Paw Parade Kit....so many cute products to play with to create a wonderful memory book for your 4-legged, furry friends. Purchase through my store, download to your computer, and let the creativity begin. Get yours today!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!

So, how many Easter bunnies do you have running around your house?...hiding in the bushes waiting to nibble on those beautiful tulips and daffodils that have decided to come out of hybernation when you aren't looking?  UGH!!  The one thing I miss about living on a farm is the family dog that lives to chase those cute little fuzzy creatures away from the beautiful flower beds.  LOL

Well, today, I have a super CUTE project to share with you....a Hoppin' Retro Easter Egg with a surprise middle!  YUMMY, right?!!  I know I've said this before, but the Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper is my ultimate favorite right now....and all of the other products in that line....Washi Tape, Retro Fresh This and That Journal, Journaling Tags, Designer Stickers, and the Make Note Rotary Stamp.  All of these items are found on Page 19 in the Occasions Mini catalog....you REALLY need to get some and play.  ;)  Check out this little cutie!

**squeal** Isn't this the CUTEST thing you've ever seen?!!  I used my Oval Collection Framelits Dies (the largest oval before the scalloped die in the set) to cut out two 'Easter Eggs' from Very Vanilla cardstock.  Before cutting one of the ovals, I randomly positioned strips of the Retro Washi Tape, then die-cut.  This way, I didn't have to hand cut to trim the excess....the oval framelit did that for me.  YEAH!

Next, I took that same Reto layer and die cut the middle in half using the pretty scallop die from the Adorning Accents Edgelits die set.  I positioned the die a smidgin below the half-way point across the egg....this is to show off the 'surprise middle'.  Teehehehe  I scored the top half of the egg at 1/4" using my Simply Scored Tool and used Mono Adhesive Glue to stick it to the 2nd oval die cut.  The bottom half of the egg is attached using Mono Adhesive glue....buuut, only put a thin line of glue on the exterior border of the half so that you leave an open pocket for that 'surprise middle'.  I sponged all edges with Crumb Cake, including the Small Ovall punch that is nesting the little bunny from the Eggstra Spectacular stamp set in the Occasions Mini.  Don't you just love the little pearl for the bunny tail.  CUTE!!

Are you ready to see the 'surprise middle'?

The little So-Saffron chick-a-dee is made using the Bird Builder punch and is nestled behind some homemade Gumball Green grass using my new Fringe Scissors (page 31-Occasions Mini).  The sentiment comes from the Delightful Dozen stamp set inked in Early Espresso, stamped onto a piece of Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper, and punched out with the Wide Oval punch.  Everything is glued to a 1" x 3-3/4" strip of Very Vanilla cardstock.  The last accent is the 1/2" Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon tied across the top.

On your mark, get set! **squeal** Stampin' Up! will be offering FREE shipping on any orders placed beginning Monday, April 21 (after 12:01 a.m. Mountain) through Friday, April 25 (deadline is 11:50 p.m. Mountain).   Expedited shipping is excluded from the free offer.

THE BEST PART . . .

• Stock up!  There is NO MINIMUM ORDER for the Stampin' Up! FREE Shipping offer!  It doesn't matter if your order only includes a single package of Stampin' Dimensionals and a pack of cardstock or an order that blows out your bank account (not recommended, of course!)....Shipping is FREE!
• Perfect timing!  Stampin' Up! will be releasing the retiring stamp and accessories list on Monday, April 21--the same day FREE shipping begins.  Watch for details on the retiring product list on my Stampin' Dreams Blog.   Please note:  The retiring products (both stamps and accessories) are only available while supplies last.  Don't get caught empty handed....be sure to order your favorites early!
• Take advantage of getting those favorite In Colors that are retiring (Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit). PLUS, add items from the Weekly Deals, the Clearance Rack, Personalized stamp....anything we are currently selling can be shipped free!

• Join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 and hand-select $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product from any of our current catalogs.  PLUS, your Convention Registration is FREE!  Contact me for more details.
• Project Life by Stampin' Up! kits available for purchase May 1st.  Super excited about Stampin' Up!'s new partnership with Becky Higgins.
• Join me at www.mypaperpumpkin.com and get your Paper Pumpkin Kit delivered right to your door every month.  Don't forget....the subscription will ask for a Demonstrator's name....I'd love it if you chose me...Lori Mueller, as your Demonstrator.
• Shop the Clearance Rack for bargains up to 80% off!  New additions to the list....get them while supplies last!
• Stampin' Rewards = Free products with $150+ orders.
• Check out the latest downloads for My Digital Studio, these can now be added to Customer and Workshop orders!

NEW CATALOG DATES:

• Monday, April 28: New Catalog Premiere Events for demonstrators
• Thursday, May 1: Demonstrators can pre-order from the New catalog
• Thursday, May 1-30: New Recruits will receive a case of both new and old catalogs with their Demonstrator Starter kit.
• Monday, May 19: All Demonstrators will be mailed a free catalog from Stampin’ Up
• Mid-May: Customers who’ve earned a free catalog, or pre-ordered will be shipped (as soon as they arrive to me)
  • Details for earning free and pre-ordering new catalogs will be announced soon
    
• Monday, June 2: CATALOG PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMER ORDERS

May God Bless You and Your Family!!  Always take the opportunity to HUG the ones you love in your life!

Stampin' Up! Catalog Transition

Sale-a-Bration is over, and just when you think there might be a lull in Stampin' Up!'s calendar, lo and behold, it's Catalog transition time!  What does that mean for you?

• The Retiring List comes out on Monday, April 21st.  You'll want to go through your 2013-2014 Catalog and see if there are any items you've been meaning to order, but didn't get around to doing so. 
• The 2012-2014 In Colors will be going away.  Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, and Summer Starfruit. 

• The good news is that we'll have a whole new set of In Colors to replace them that will be available for two years.
• Be sure you have refills for any of your ink pads that are retiring, so you'll be able to continue using your favorites!

You'll find a link to the retiring list in my online store, on my Facebook Page, and here on Stampin' Dreams on Monday, so be sure to take a look.  I'll be doing blog posts showing samples of some of my favorite retiring stamp sets over the next month as well. 

So, because saying “Goodbye” is always so hard to do, how about getting your favorites shipped FREE to your door!!  **SQUEAL**   Yes, that’s right….get FREE shipping on EVERYTHING in our catalogs (excluding expedited orders) April 21-25!  Perfect timing with the lists of retiring products will be available on Monday, April 21, so you (and ME, too!) can take advantage of free shipping by ordering all your favorites right away....retiring products are only available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST (including stamp sets)! Any products we have available to sell through my online store....current product, clearance rack items, Weekly Deals, Photopolymer stamps, the BIG SHOT....everything ships to your door for FREE!!

MORE EXCITEMENT TO SHARE!  Enter Hostess Code PP7JRB4E with your online order, and I'll share the Hostess benefits with 2 crafty friends. If my party sales are of greater size, I'd love to add 1-2 more crafty friends to receive free goodies! YEAH!! So, get your Wish List together this weekend and let's get your new goodies shipped FREE starting Monday!  **squeal** This offer of sharing my Hostess benefits is only available through me during Free Shipping promotion period (April 21-25, 2014) via Random.org.

NEW CATALOG DATES:

• Monday, April 28: New Catalog Premiere Events for demonstrators
• Thursday, May 1: Demonstrators can pre-order from the New catalog
• Thursday, May 1-30: New Recruits will receive a case of both new and old catalogs with their Demonstrator Starter kit.
• Monday, May 19: All Demonstrators will be mailed a free catalog from Stampin’ Up
• Mid-May: Customers who’ve earned a free catalog, or pre-ordered will be shipped (as soon as they arrive to me)
  • Details for earning free and pre-ordering new catalogs will be announced soon
    
• Monday, June 2: CATALOG PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMER ORDERS

Have a wonderful weekend celebrating the Easter holiday with family, friends, neighbors and all those that love to hunt for hidden eggs!!  Happy stamping, crafting and scrapbooking!!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!

We are so so so excited to let you know we've partnered with the amazing Becky Higgins to bring you the real deal-authentic Project Life products, now in exclusive Stampin' Up! colors and designs. If you've somehow missed the Project Life craze and are wondering what it's all about, we'll fill you in: it's a super simple, totally affordable way to get your photos into albums: you just slip your photos into Photo Pocket Pages and add designed cards. It's a back-to-basics approach to documenting your life. In a nutshell, it's all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

You’ll be able to order a selection of Project Life products starting May 1! And with the launch of our new annual catalog on June 2, you’ll be able to buy from our complete line of Project Life products.

Can’t wait that long? Stampin’ Up! demonstrators will be able to order the limited selection starting April 21. So if you’re a demonstrator make sure to check the demonstrator website that day; if you’re not a demonstrator, sign up and you can order the products early too!

Here are the items you’ll be able to purchase on May 1:

Project Life provides an ultra-simple solution that helps us get those pictures into albums without draining our time, energy, and wallets. The idea is simple: Photos + memorabilia + journaling together in an album - everything slips into pockets. No requirement to cut or glue or embellish a thing. And yet - the results are stunning. Project Life is back-to-basics scrapbooking at its finest.  LOVE it!!

WHEN IS IT AVAILABLE?  You will be able to order the selection of products starting May 1. And with the launch of our new annual catalog on June 2, you'll be able to buy from our complete line of Project Life products!

DO YOU LIKE DISCOUNTS AND PRE-ORDERS?  Are you an avid fan of Project Life products?  Would you like to continue purchasing these products....at a discount?!!  AND, get to PRE-order these products, too?  Well, then....let me share with you how this can happen for you.  When you join my Stampin' Dream Team family, you get instant access to buy your future Project Life products at a discount AND make money from selling Project Life to others.   This is ONE of my favorite PERKS as a Demonstrator...to pre-order new products before the customers sales period!!  YEAH!! Check out all of the benefits HERE.  My Dream Team includes both hobby stampers and business demonstrators from across the U.S. We all love discounts and have a passion for stamping, crafting and learning new techniques that help us become better artists! 

READY TO SIGN-UP ON-LINE AND GET BENEFITS INSTANTLY?  Awesome!!!  You will LOVE it!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!

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Stampin' Up!'s Petite Petals Bundle Fun

Stampin' Up!'s Soothing Peaceful Petals

Stampin' Up! Punches -- What a HOOT!!

I am sooo excited to see several of the items offered at a discount on the Weekly Deals.  I have grown to love the Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper....very, very elegant.  You can see some of the patterns on the card I shared in this blog post.  The Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon is so soft and easy to work with....LOVE it!!

NEW WEEKLY DEALS!  END 4/21!  
Check out the latest batch of Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals in my on-line store!

SAVE UP TO 80% while supplies last.   **squeal**  I love shopping for wonderful bargains.  The Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack has new merchandise!

EARN FREE PRODUCT!  Host a Stampin' Up! party and earn Stampin' Rewards (Hostess Rewards) -- FREE shopping! - Learn more here.  You can see all of the exclusive Stampin' Rewards by clicking here.

Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $4.95

Hello Spring Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $8.95

Simply Celebrate Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $2.95

BRAND NEW MY DIGITAL STUDIO DOWNLOADS are available.  LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the Gorgeous Grunge set of images....I can't wait to use them!  Get yours today!  Oh, and let me mention....were you aware that there is no shipping cost when you purchase digital products?  Shipping is applied only when you purchase physical product (stamps, ink pads, cardstock, etc.)  No question is a dumb question!! **squeal**

May God Bless You and Your Family!!

Related articles

Thinking of You with Peaceful Petals

I thought I would create a little burp in the programming of my latest Sympathy card shares using the lovely Peaceful Petals stamp set and share with you a couple of videos that feature other fun ways to Watercolor.  Is it a coincidence, or am I insinc with Stampin' Up!?  Hahaha  I thought these were timely considering I have been doing a lot of watercoloring on my stamped images...next adventure....watercolor with my clear blocks!

I have played around with spritzing my inked stamps, but it's been quite a while.  I really need to play again because I can't get over how beautiful the end result turns out.

I'd love to hear....what is your favorite watercoloring technique? And, when is the last time you played around with it?  Please do share....your comments will be wonderful inspiration for me and my readers....I foresee an epidemic of a newfound love for watercoloring!  ;)

• Join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 and hand-select $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product from any of our current catalogs.  PLUS, your Convention Registration is FREE!  Contact me for more details.
• Join me at www.mypaperpumpkin.com and get your Paper Pumpkin Kit delivered right to your door every month.  Don't forget....the subscription will ask for a Demonstrator's name....I'd love it if you chose me...Lori Mueller, as your Demonstrator.
• Shop the Clearance Rack for bargains up to 80% off!  New additions to the list....get them while supplies last!
• Stampin' Rewards = Free products with $150+ orders.
• Check out the latest downloads for My Digital Studio, these can now be added to Customer and Workshop orders!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!

Today, my heart weighs heavy....I learned that one of my bestest friend's Mom passed away last night.  Tonda and I had LOTS of crazy, teen fun in high school....I spent many hours cracking jokes, laughing and having fun with her parents.  So, it goes without saying that I have shed many tears this morning, but I have reminisced on SO many more memories.  Cathy was a wonderful wife, a loving and supportive Mom and Grandmother, and full of fun and spunk for each of the friendships she had created through her long life.  I'm truly blessed to have known such a kind, caring, and super wonderful woman.

This is card #2 from a Sympathy card class I held a few weeks ago.  When I first saw Peaceful Petals in the Occasions mini catalog, I wasn't sure that I *needed* another flower stamp set in my stash, buuuut, there is just something about this set that I find very soothing and elegant.  These are flowers that will render themselves as stamped silouettes or enjoy the therapy of water coloring with my Aqua Painter.

I just love how the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper compliments and softens any vibrant colors of Gumball Green and Tangerine Tango.  The flower image was inked with Jet Black StazOn and stamped onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  My go to sentiment-filled stamp set is Petite Pairs....there are 18 stamps in this set....a wonderful sentiment for sooo many occasions.  Even though I did not add any embellishments such as ribbons, buttons, or hardware, I think the elegancy of this card was polished with the main focal points (flower and sentiment panels) popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

• Join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 and hand-select $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product from any of our current catalogs.  PLUS, your Convention Registration is FREE!  Contact me for more details.
• Join me at www.mypaperpumpkin.com and get your Paper Pumpkin Kit delivered right to your door every month.  Don't forget....the subscription will ask for a Demonstrator's name....I'd love it if you chose me...Lori Mueller, as your Demonstrator.
• Shop the Clearance Rack for bargains up to 80% off!  New additions to the list....get them while supplies last!
• Stampin' Rewards = Free products with $150+ orders.
• Check out the latest downloads for My Digital Studio, these can now be added to Customer and Workshop orders!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!  Always take the opportunity to HUG the ones you love in your life!

Well, Sale-A-Bration has gone into hybernation for the rest of the year and Spring is suppose to be in the air.  Not sure what happened to Spring, but weather in the low 30's is not very Spring-y to me.  Come on rain and warm weather!

So, on that note, my regular stamping ladies requested to have a class creating Sympathy cards.  I know, I know....it's not the favorite subject, but everyone needs a small (I did say small) stash of Thinking of You cards amongst the Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Valentine's Day, and the favorite 'Hello' cards.  I decided to focus on the Peaceful Petals stamp set found in the Occasions Mini catalog.  I find this set to be very soothing....especially, when it comes to watercoloring.  Let's take a look....

I really love the color combinations found in the Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper.  There are a few busy-type designs, but I think I found a good mix to settle them down and create a very elegant and soothing layout.  The card base is Very Vanilla and I used the Envelope Punch Board to corner punch the right-hand side of the card. I used Very Vanilla to matte each layer of designer paper, too.  I love vintage-y styled cards, so I did a lot of distressing of the designer paper using a sponge and Soft Suede Classic ink.  The flower image is inked and stamped using Jet Black StazOn ink onto Stampin' Up! Watercolor Paper.  StazOn ink is permanent ink and it will not smear nor smudge when I use my Aqua Painter to color in the flower.  I used a combination of Tangerine Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crushed Curry, and Soft Sky to watercolor the image.

EASY WATERCOLORING TIP:  before opening your ink pad, press the lid against the ink pad so that you have ink on the lid when you open it up.  Then take your Aqua Painter to pick up the ink from the lid versus trying to get ink from your foam pad.  When the ink is in the lid, you have the opportunity to pick up the ink color to transfer and color dark shades, or water it down a bit for lighter coloring.

The sentiment (also from Peaceful Petals) was inked in Early Espresso and stamped onto Very Vanilla and layered onto Soft Suede cardstock that was punched with the 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch.  Both the flower panel and the sentiment were popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The finishing touches included our lovely 3/8" Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon and a little bit of bling with a Basic Rhinestone Jewel.

There you have it....what do you think?

• Join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 and hand-select $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product from any of our current catalogs.  PLUS, your Convention Registration is FREE!  Contact me for more details.
• Join me at www.mypaperpumpkin.com and get your Paper Pumpkin Kit delivered right to your door every month.  Don't forget....the subscription will ask for a Demonstrator's name....I'd love it if you chose me...Lori Mueller, as your Demonstrator.
• Shop the Clearance Rack for bargains up to 80% off!  New additions to the list....get them while supplies last!
• Stampin' Rewards = Free products with $150+ orders.
• Check out the latest downloads for My Digital Studio, these can now be added to Customer and Workshop orders!

May God Bless You and Your Family!!