Stampin' Up!'s biggest event of the year ─ Sale-A-Bration ─ is ending....TONIGHT at 11:50P (MT).  Did you take advantage of the promotion?  Did you get one of these awesome freebies?  If you haven't gotten your personal copy of the Party Pants stamp set, you need to get this set.  Place a $50 order, and it's yours!

LAST DAY....

With Sale-A-Bration ending tonight (Thursday, March 31), it’s the perfect time to stock up and take advantage of a number of FREE product offers!

• Earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift for every $50 you spend (total before shipping and tax).  See what you can get during Sale-A-Bration here!
• Stock up and spend $150 (before shipping & tax) and you’ll earn 3 FREE Sale-A-Bration gifts PLUS $15 (10%) in Stampin’ Rewards.  Stampin’ Rewards may be redeemed for your choice of any available Stampin’ Up! products and/or the exclusive Stampin’ Rewards stamp sets on pp. 178 – 181 of the Annual Catalog or p. 51 of the Occasions Catalog.  Read more about Stampin’ Rewards.

AMAZING PERKS! 

Stampin’ Rewards are available with individual and online orders of $150 or more – not just workshops, parties & Girl's Night Out gatherings!

• Spend $250 (before shipping & tax) and you’ll earn 5 FREE Sale-A-Bration gifts PLUS $50 in Stampin’ Rewards (includes a $25 Stampin’ Rewards bonus only offered during Sale-A-Bration).

• Purchase a 3-Month Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Kit Subscription for $55.  Add #137859 to an on-line order (along with any other products you want to order) and you’ll qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift PLUS get a FREE All about Everything bonus stamp set when you redeem for the April kit (an added value of $17).   More details.
• For every $30 you spend, you’ll earn a Dreamers Loyalty Reward point from me.  Earn 20 points and you can redeem for a FREE $40 shopping spree with me.  Learn more about my Dreamers Loyalty Rewards.

BEST VALUE OF ALL!

It's the Ultimate Stampin' Up! Bundle of them all!  The $99 starter kit allows you to build a personalized bundle of your favorite Stampin’ Up! products up to $155 in value.  That’s up to $56 FREE (includes a $30 free product bonus that ends when Sale-A-Bration ends) and it ships FREE for another 10% savings.  I welcome hobbyists to my private stamping community when you purchase the kit and join Stampin’ Up! through me!  There’s no risk and no obligation to spend another dime!  Kit does not qualify for Sale-A-Bration gifts. 

Here is a small number of members representing Lori's Dream Team.  We have been very blessed to grow our Stampin' Up! family with members residing across the U.S.  This picture was taken during our December 2015 Holiday Gathering with one of the challenges to wear an ugly sweater.  hahaha  We have so much fun talking business, sharing ideas and experiences with teaching stamp classes, holding workshops, vendor & craft fairs, AND, the best part...stamping projects together.  I am sooo humbled to have them in my Stampin' Up! family.

Soooo, which set will you miss the most???  I have to tell you....that little chick is AH-MAY-ZING!!  I've seen it popped up, colored as a blue bird, representing party hats, and added to baby shower table favors.  Waaay too CUTE!!

        

LAST CHANCE!

SALE-A-BRATION AND 50/50 BOARD UPDATES

My special Sale-A-Bration Celebration invitation list is growing!  SQUEAL!!  It doesn't take much to earn your ticket!  Jump on board REAL soon because there are only THREE (3) weeks left to Sale-A-Brate and earn free gifts from Stampin' Up!.  Plus, earn your ticket and have some fun with me as I spoil you with food and gifts...I have a wonderful afternoon planned.

Get your exclusive invitation to this event by doing one of the following:

• Spend $150 with me during Sale-A-Bration (January 5th – March 31st)
• Host a party, workshop or private class during Sale-A-Bration (Hostesses earn $25 MORE* during Sale-A-Bration!)
• Join my Stampin' Up! Family during Sale-A-Bration between January-March

*Your party must reach a minimum of $250 in sales to qualify for the extra hostess dollars

I am sooo excited that the 50/50 board is almost filled!  Since this picture was taken, a few numbers have been chosen.  YEAH!!  Don't know what the 50/50 Board is?  Check out the details here.  You are going to want to get your name on the board....but, don't delay!  Sale-A-Bration ends in TONIGHT (March 31, 2016).

Hello stampers and crafters!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate; and Happy Day to those who don't.  Just a quick note to share a fun little project that I did a few weeks back for my Stampin' Up! team members....Lori's Dream Team.  We get together once a month to discuss a little business....what accomplishments we have achieved, what projects we are working on, what tips and tricks we can share with everyone, and then end the meeting with a little stamping project.  Before everyone arrives, I like to set out their projects and a little handmade gift.  With Easter coming early this year, I made these little cuties for everyone.

Aren't these the CUTEST thing you've ever seen?!!  When the ladies arrived, they ooo'd and awww'd over them and then immediately started trying to figure out how to make them.  Was it a punch?  Was it a die?  As much as I wanted to, I couldn't hold back the secret for long. haha

Creative Tips:

• Using the main pyramid frame of the Pyramid Pals Framelits dies and the Big Shot, I die cut one pyramid frame from Tangelo Twist cardstock.  To form the carrot, all I needed were the 2 triangles.  So, I snipped those off and discarded the square to my scrap box.

• The Tangelo Twist zig-zag's come from the Stamp a Bag stamp set (#138680).  I repeated the stamping from the top of the tiangle all the way to the tip.

• I folded the scored edges of the one triangle and used Multipurpose Liquid glue to adhere it to the other triangle.

• Next, I cut some of the green Cotton Paper (#138308) into a 2" x 6" strip, folded it into thirds, then used my Fringe Scissors (#133325) to cut and make it look like grass.  I added liquid glue to the back of the grass and set it inside of the carrot.

• To finish it off, I wrapped the carrot with some Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (#125583) and tied a knot.  This ribbon is retired, but is currently available on the Clearance Rack for $2.78 for 10 yards.  That's a STEAL!!  The sentiment comes from the Circle of Spring stamp set (#138964), inked with Wild Wasabi, stamped onto Whisper White cardstock, punched out with a 1" Circle punch, and tucked under the ribbon knot with a Stampin' Dimensional.

• Fill your little carrot treat package with your favorite little candies.  I found these cute little chocolate eggs to tuck inside.  NOTE:  I added a Stampin' Dimensional to the back of the wrapped candy to keep it from slipping/falling out.

Stinkin' CUTE, right?!!  These were perfect to tuck into my customer order sacks, mail to new members of my Stampin' Up! team, and  sell at a craft fair.  Definitely a big hit!

Sale-A-Bration ENDS in Just 5 Days!!  

THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE WAYS TO SAVE ON STAMPIN’ UP!

• Sale-A-Bration – Earn a free gift for every $50 you spend ($50 = 1 free, $100 = 2 free, $150 = 3 free, etc.)
• Paper Pumpkin – $55 for 3 months + a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift!
• 15% Off Bundles – Save moolah when you pair up a coordinating stamp set with a select tool
• $99 Starter Kit (the Ultimate Stampin’ Up! Bundle – I highly encourage hobby stampers & papercrafters to purchase the kit -- why not get your favorite products at a great discount?)!
• Clearance Rack – up to 60% off

JUST RELEASED – SAVE 25% on Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals -- March 8-14, 2016

Welcome stampers and crafters to my humble blog abode.  Here it is March (already) and it's almost a thing of the past....in like a lamb and, for some states, it's going out like a roaring Lion.  I have family that live in Colorado and are well over knee-deep in their share of snow....more like 25+ inches!!  YIKES!!  So, not to throw salt in their wounds, but this month's Stamp It Blog Hop theme is....wait for it.....can you guess?  C'mon, I know you know.  Yep!  We are focusing on the beautiful season....Spring! I have a creation that will put a little pep into your step, so if this is your first stop on the blog hop; or you have come from the blog prior to mine noted on the list below....either way....Welcome!

OMGosh!!  I can't believe how adorable and fun this card turned out to be!  I have to admit that I held off for the longest time getting my hands on the Botanicals bundle.  Not sure why, but I'm really happy that it is part of my crafting stash...soooo much fun to play with!

Creative Tips:

• The card base is a half sheet of Cajun Craze cardstock (5" x 8-1/2") scored at 4-1/4".

• To be honest, I was not a huge fan of the Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper when I first saw it in Occasions catalog....something about the big bold designs.  I think it's growing on me, because now I want to create so many other things using this paper.  squeal  Similar to other designer series paper packs that Stampin' Up! offers, there are large prints on one side and smaller prints on the other.  I love to mix a little bit of both on my projects, and matting them to Basic Black cardstock really enhances the colors coordinated in the pack...Mint Macaron, Hello Honey, and Cajun Craze.

• I added a strip of 1-1/4" White Jute ribbon to tone down the larger print and help bring more focus to the flowers and sentiment.  I used a thin layer of Multipurpose Liquid Glue that I zig-zagged across the large patterned paper to hold the Jute in place.  You want to be careful not to use a heavy flow of glue as it will seep through the Jute strands.
  
  
• The focal panel is made up of Cajun Craze cardstock using the 2-1/2" Circle punch and a layer of Whisper White that has been stamped with the decorative circle stamp image from the You're So Lovely stamp set inked in Cajun Craze die cut with a Circle Framelit.

• I added flowers and leaves using the Botanicals Builder Framelits.  The colors chosen coordinate with the designer series paper...Mint Macaron, Hello Honey and Cajun Craze.  The leaves (from the Botanical Blooms stamp set) were stamped with the solid images in Old Olive ink and the veins are Mossy Meadow.

• To finish off the card, I added Basic Pearls to the flower centers, and inked the sentiment from the Party Pants stamp set (a free Sale-A-Bration set with a $50 purchase) with Basic Black Archival ink and stamped in place.  This circle and flower ensemble was popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Pretty, pretty, pretty!!  and, so stinkin' easy!  I hope you will give this a try.  You are going to fall head over heels in love with everything Botanicals...I'm sure of it!  If you were affected by the snow storm that masked the mid-West, I especially hope that this brings a smile of hope that Spring is just around the corner!

STAMP IT BLOG HOP GIVE AWAY

Good Luck!! One very lucky person will win this awesome Build a Bouquet Project Kit!

Get the biggest bang for your buck when you shop and combine any of the specials/sales with your non-sale items.  Thank you for Shopping with Lori

• SHOP | VIEW: Stampin' Up! Annual 2015-16 Catalog online
• Visit the Clearance Rack - up to 80% off
• Don't forget to check out this weeks 25% off Weekly Deals
• Save 15% on a large selection of Stampin' Up! Bundles
• Subscribe to a Paper Pumpkin
  
• Lori's Catalog Product Shares: to review your options Download CatalogProductShares-2015-2016
• Orders of $30 or more receive Dreamers Loyalty Rewards Points, accumulate and redeem for free stamps...print your copy!
• Use Hostess Code 9X9XEMTG to get a FREE GIFT from me when you order $50 or more.
• STAMPIN' REWARDS:  Orders over $150 receive $15+ additional free product (you do not want to use the Hostess Code noted above...this is so YOU receive the Hostess benefits).

Hello Stampers!  It's that time of the month...March 20th for the Creative Inking Blog Hop!  The weather has been all over the place this last week...upper 70's for a couple of days, then 30's and sporadic snow flurries.  Lots of flowers popping out of the ground, Magnolia trees blooming and yards are turning green.  I am very ready for Spring to stick around for a while.  With the Spring season comes a number of birthday's for my nieces.  Can you guess what the theme for the hop this month is?  Yep!  We are jumping on board with Shannon West's #imbringingbirthdaysback campaign and featuring birthday celebrations.  I was excited to start creating birthday cards because I have about 9 of them....Eeeek!  And, when it comes to family, I cannot get myself to give any two relatives the same card.  That's just a no-no in my book.  haha

You may be starting from here at my blog, Lori Mueller - Stampin' Dreams, or you may have come here from the talented Sandy Mott's blog. Please be sure to click the 'Next' button to move along the blog hop. If you get off track at any time, the full line up below will help you move along from blog to blog.  So, here is my #imbringingbirthdaysback card share.

I am so giddy over this card!  squeal  I have to tell you that a good friend of mine was helping me come up with a layout....in fact, we came up with more than one layout...our visions were jumping all over the place.  So, do you think that I went with any of those visions when I created this card?  Hmmmm....NOPE!  Totally different than any of the sketches we drew up.  Gotta love a good creative MOJO hyped up on a triple espresso Mocha!  haha  It could also be because I have been on a shaker card craze lately, not sure which.  Either way, I am so excited to share this fun one with you!

Creative Tips:

• Sahara Sand is one of the neutral colors that coordinates with the It's My Party Designer Series Paper Pack, so I started with the card base (4-1/4" x 11") scored at 5-1/2".

• To tag along with the card base, I chose one of the patterns from the paper pack in Sahara Sand and matted onto 2 scrap strips of cardstock...Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry...two more colors that coordinate with the It's My Party paper pack.  I strayed away from the typical 1-color-matte and went with a 2-color matte to make it fun and whimsical.

• I love our Framelits that nest with each other (Squares, Circles, Ovals, Labels & Tags, etc.) because they inspire the ability to create 'frames'.  The shaker sections are created using Mint Macaron cardstock, White Vellum cardstock, and Window Sheets.  The Square Framelits (2nd and 3rd from the smallest) were nested together and run through the Big Shot to create the Mint Macaron frame.  After stamping the sentiments from the Party Pants (FREE stamp set with a $50 order) and Party Wishes (Occasions catalog) using Jet Black StazOn ink onto the window sheets, I adhered them to the frame using Fast Fuse.

• To build the 'shaker', I used a couple of punches to create the confetti....the Cupcake Builder punch and the Confetti Stars punch.  I could have easily chosen the Metallic Sequins as the confetti, but to build up the whimsical appearance of the card, I punched circles and stars to coordinate with the Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry matte layer.  The framed layer will need to face down on your work space so that you can build a wall of Stampin Dimensionals around the border of the frame.  NOTE:  Your dimensionals need to touch each other all the way around the border.  This is so that none of your confetti will leak/escape.  That wouldn't make it a fun shaker if you lost the confetti.  Eeek!  Peel the paper off of the dimensionals and lay the same sized layer of Vellum cardstock onto the wall of dimensionals.  Pick it up from your work surface and...shake-shake-shake!

• I set the shaker frames in place by adding Multipurpose Liquid glue to the border of the frames only.  If you streak any type of adhesive to the entire back, it will show through the Vellum and be seen through the Window Sheet.  The finishing touches consist of a Crushed Curry Bitty Banner, a Melon Mambo Ampersand from the Little Numbers Thinlits dies, some Gold Metallic thread, and a few Sequins from the Gold Trim.

Super, super CUTE!!  My favorite (FAVORITE) part is that I made a "smarty pants" sentiment by combining 2 stamp sets..."put your Party Pants on & Make a Wish"!!  Kind of sassy, huh?!!

For more Birthday ideas, you will want to hop on over to Dena's blog...I know she will have something simply amazing to share with you.  So, to 'shake-shake' your way around the hop, click on the 'Next' button and you'll be at your next stop.  If you get lost or sidetracked, please come on back and follow the list of participants shown below.  Have fun filling your inspiration bucket...don't forget to come back real soon.  :)

Blog Hoppers

1.   Sue Lehrer

2.   Diane Evans

3.   Susan Campfield

4.   BJ Peters

5.   Amber Swift

6.   Kristine Lutrario

7.   Colleen Vassos

8.   Lynn Streifert

9.   Phyllis Shepherd

10.  Sandra Mott

11.  Lori Mueller <= (You are Here)

12.  Dena Rekow

13. Linda Bauwin

I hope you enjoyed my shaker card share and that you will try making one...they can be addictive, but fun!  I think anyone, at any age, would enjoy a fun and cute shaker card...it's an entertaining conversation piece.  :)  Please holler if you have any questions.  I love and appreciate your comments.

If you are on Facebook, I would love it if you would "Like" my Lori Dreams Stampin page.

If you enjoy Pinterest, you can find my creations on Pinterest, too.

Related articles

Stamp It Summer Lovin' Blog Hop

Custom Class Of 2015 Graduation Card for Paige

Welcome to another One Stamp AT a Time (OSAT) Design Team Blog Hop!  There are 20 of us from around the States who will be sharing our handmade projects with you this month.  All you need to do to follow along is click on the link at the bottom of each post.

For this blog hop, we are focusing our projects on nicer weather and sunny days...in other words...Spring has Sprung!  I’m really glad we were given this theme for this hop because I am in desperate need of some bright sunny days and warmer weather.  You see, my husband is a thermostat control freak!  He is warm (HOT) blooded and can handle the colder temperature better than me. ugh!! 

So, what did I do to celebrate the Spring-like weather we are getting these days?  I thought it was good to pull out my Wildflower Fields designer series paper that I got as a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift with a qualifying product order; and my Suite Sayings stamp set found on page 41 in the Occasions catalog.  I absolutely LOVE all 10 sentiments in that set!  Plus, since my hubby keeps undoing my change to the thermostat (it's hooked to wifi!), I thought it was only fitting that I include some "Hello Honey" cardstock in my creation.  *giggle*

Creative Tips:

• The card base is a half sheet of Whisper White cardstock (5-1/2" x 8-1/2") scored at 4-1/4".

• I love the Wildflower Fields Designer Series paper pack!  There is not a bad (or ugly) design in the pack.  The colors in the pack focus on Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Calypso Coral, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, and Whisper White.  I'm hitting 3 of those listed...two are from the Neutrals Color family.  Setting the mood for Spring, Hello Honey is a nice muted yellow and looks very striking with the Basic Black cardock used to matte the patterned paper and the sentiment layer. die cut using the Tags & Labels Framelits

• The Hello Honey die cut circle was needing a little something.  I have a really hard time leaving some surfaces untouched, clean, untextured, so I inked up the speckled image from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set  with Hello Honey ink, stamped off the first time onto scratch paper, then stamped a 2nd time onto the circle.  The reason I stamped off first is because I did not want the speckles to over power the floral image of the designer paper.  This technique is called Tone-on-Tone stamping.

• I really love the Hello Honey striped ribbon.  It is a rustic style ribbon (right up my alley), but so soft and easy to tie knots and bows with.  LOVE it!! I wrapped it around the Basic Black Tags & Labels Framelit die and tied it off with a fiber from the 1-1/4" Jute Ribbon.

• The sentiment comes from the Suite Sayings stamp set and was inked using my Basic Black and Hello Honey Stampin' Write markers to coordinate with the color scheme of my card.  If you don't have any of our markers, you really need to get you some!  Just sayin'!  To compensate for the bulkiness of the ribbon, I added Stampin' Dimensionals to the sentiment (also cut using the Tags & Labels Framelits) so that the little bundle lays smooth.

My Spring-y creative project is a super simple one using Stampin' Up!'s 4 x 6 Cello bags.  I bought a huge bag of Starburst jelly beans to use for several treat bag projects, and the yellow ones were the left-overs.  haha  So, what better way than to color the sentiment from the Sunburst Sayings stamp set with some Stampin' Write markers (Hello Honey, Tangerine Tango, and Bermuda Bay) to create a tag that coordinated with the leftover Yellow jelly beans?  The tag was created using the Label Bracket, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle punches and stuck to the front of the bag using a Stampin' Dimensional. The ribbon is from the Occasions catalog...1/8" Bermuda Bay Stitched Ribbon and is LOVELY!!  So soft and easy to work with. 

Well, on that note, I think that Spring has Sprung!!  You’re ready to hop on over to Sara Levin’s blog.  I always love seeing what she makes!  If you prefer to work your way backwards, you can jump back to Andrea Tracy-Tucker’s blog.  Either way, be sure to work your way through all of the blogs so you don’t miss a thing!

1. Pam Tetreault
2. Alisa Tilsner
3. Melissa Davies
4. Anna Smith
5. Tina Riddle
6. AJ Bodine

7. Wynne Grob

8. Christine Pennington (Guest designer) -

9. Megan Thompson
10. Justin Krieger
11. Dena Rekow
12. Andrea Tracy-Tucker
13. Lori Mueller <-- You are HERE
14. Sara Levin
15. Kelly Acheson
16. Elizabeth Jeanne
17. Jeanna Bohanon
18. Marisa Gunn
19. Renee Ondrajka
20. Martie Hillyer

Please holler if you have any questions.  I love and appreciate your comments.

If you are on Facebook, I would love it if you would "Like" my Lori Dreams Stampin page.

If you enjoy Pinterest, you can find my creations on Pinterest, too.

UPCOMING RETIREMENT:  If you are in love with the In Colors that were released in 2014, you are going to want to make sure that you get stocked up on cardstock (comes in 8-1/2x11 and 12x12), ink pads, Stampin' Write Markers, Designer Series Paper Stack, coordinating ribbons and embellishments, AND reinkers for those ink pads.  Nothing is more disappointing than pulling out an ink pad and no way to juice it up if you forgot to order the coordinating reinker!  Eeeek!  These GORGEOUS colors are set to retire May 31st, or while supplies last once the Retirement List is released.  Don't miss out!

SALE-A-BRATION AND 50/50 BOARD UPDATES

My special Sale-A-Bration Celebration invitation list is growing!  SQUEAL!!  It doesn't take much to earn your ticket!  Jump on board REAL soon because there are only THREE (3) weeks left to Sale-A-Brate and earn free gifts from Stampin' Up!.  Plus, earn your ticket and have some fun with me as I spoil you with food and gifts...I have a wonderful afternoon planned.

Get your exclusive invitation to this event by doing one of the following:

• Spend $150 with me during Sale-A-Bration (January 5th – March 31st)
• Host a party, workshop or private class during Sale-A-Bration (Hostesses earn $25 MORE* during Sale-A-Bration!)
• Join my Stampin' Up! Family during Sale-A-Bration between January-March

*Your party must reach a minimum of $250 in sales to qualify for the extra hostess dollars

I am sooo excited that the 50/50 board is almost filled!  Since this picture was taken, a few numbers have been chosen.  YEAH!!  Don't know what the 50/50 Board is?  Check out the details here.  You are going to want to get your name on the board....but, don't delay!  Sale-A-Bration ends in 3 short weeks (March 31, 2016).

THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE WAYS TO SAVE ON STAMPIN’ UP!

• Sale-A-Bration – Earn a free gift for every $50 you spend ($50 = 1 free, $100 = 2 free, $150 = 3 free, etc.)
• Paper Pumpkin – $55 for 3 months + a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift!
• 15% Off Bundles – Save moolah when you pair up a coordinating stamp set with a select tool
• $99 Starter Kit (the Ultimate Stampin’ Up! Bundle – I highly encourage hobby stampers & papercrafters to purchase the kit -- why not get your favorite products at a great discount?)!
• Clearance Rack – up to 60% off

JUST RELEASED – SAVE 25% on Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals -- March 8-14, 2016

Happy, Happy Birthday to Paper Pumpkin!!

Will you get your special Anniversary Paper Pumpkin Kit this month? It’s not too late to receive your own Paper Pumpkin kit and help Celebrate 3 years of fun! You’ll receive the special celebration kit this month as long as you create your account by the end of the day Thursday, March 10th.  Click HERE to subscribe.

Right now when you purchase a 3-, 6-, or 12-month Prepaid Subscription you can earn FREE Sale-a-bration products, too!  The giving just never ends!