So Long Farewell to the Spring Catalog…Project Parade!

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We’ve had so much fun at The Creative Grove with the Spring Catalog this year.  The CG Crew felt this year’s mini catalog was the best one in 25 years.  So if there is anything that you were holding out on, don’t wait – tomorrow starts the brand new catalog year which means that today is the official LAST day to order from the Spring Catalog.  Some products made it into the new catalog, but most unfortunately did not.  So we bid good bye to several favorites.

Click on any image to see the card details and creative tips.

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Ciao Baby – I didn’t get to stamp with this set as much as I would like, but here is the first actual creative scenery card I’ve ever made actually based off a real life photo or experience.  It brings back such great memories of a wonderful day in St. Barts. Click Here for card details, creative tips and more photos

By the Tide – This was by far my most highly anticipated stamp set out of this year’s catalog.  I was dying to do an underwater scene like the one above and below.  The images were just begging to be brayered.  I love all the projects I’ve made with this set, and there were many more, just made as exclusive content for clubs and classes.  The top right one actually was a CG Crew project in January.  Click each photo for card details, creative tips and more photos.

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Collage Curios – This is a fun set that I was shocked didn’t make the new Catalog.  Here are a few easy projects that highlight this stamp set in a great way.  This project was acutally a CG Crew project in March.  We loved making this along with a necklace out of Soda Pop Tops.  Those little flowers from our 5/8” Flower Trim and Soda Pop Tops also didn’t make it, which makes me glad I’m stocked up!  The Soda Pop Top card features all the best from the Spring Catalog – Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Pool Party Core’dinations Paper, Paper Doilies, Hearts a Flutter Bundle, Oval Framelits, Collage Curios, Soda Pop Tops and 5/8” Flower Trim. Click each photo for card details, creative tips and more photos.

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Hearts a Flutter – This set I had a ton of fun with around Valentine’s Day.  I love the coordinating framelits that come along with it as well.  As a bundle you save 15% which I just love!  And the framelit set has a banner flag die in it.  Below you see my use of the new Occasions Paper Piercing Templates in the Spring Mini – I just love all the different sizes of Hearts on the one of three templates.  The first project was my actual Anniversary card for my sweetie Michael and was a Just Cards Class card.  Smile Click each photo for card details, creative tips and more photos.

Swallowtail – okay, I think we can all agree that this ended up being my surprisingly favorite stamp set out of this years Spring Catalog.  There are so many projects you didn’t even see with this amazing stamp too.  But this is still probably one of my top five cards I’ve made over the past five months.  My favorite detail is the Banner Flag.  Look closely – that’s the butterfly image stamped tone on tone under the Thanks.  I’ll miss that Thanks too – it’s part of the stamp set Kindness Matters which is retiring from the big catalog – and at $8.95 for the clear set is by far the best Stamp Set deal you’ll find.  I think that one stamp has gotten almost as much usage as Thinking of You from Sweet Essentials.  Click each photo for card details, creative tips and more photos.

Some more favorites from the Swallowtail Stamp Set.

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Creative Grove Exclusive Customer Rewards

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You may be wondering why you would want to shop with The Creative Grove?  For one – you will immediately become a Preferred Member* of the Grove!  What does this mean?  Know that I truly appreciate your business and greatly value your loyalty as a Creative Grove customer. 

So what exactly is a Preferred member*? This means that you have placed an order with me within the past year.  To renew your membership status here at The Creative Grove, simply place another order through me!  This way you will continue to enjoy all the benefits of your preferred status.

On-line Ordering

      • Easy On-line Ordering that gives you a secure way to shop for all your paper crafting products including from the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack!
      • Expect a prompt Thank You with online notification of expected product delivery dates.
      • You can expect personal follow up to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchases.

FREE Catalogs

    • FREE seasonal catalogs mailed directly to you.  We have a new seasonal catalog for the holidays and the spring each year filled with on the trend new products and cool new project ideas.
      • FREE annual catalog filled with over 200 pages of project ideas and color combinations to inspire you.  Preferred Members get a FREE annual catalog shipped directly to their front door!

Grove Rewards

    • Earn special Grove Rewards for all on-line product purchases in $50 increments (shipping and tax excluded) towards free stamps and products.
    • Preferred members also get Exclusive Promotions that can earn you DOUBLE Grove rewards for free products.  Who wouldn’t want that?!
    • These programs are for all on-line orders place through The Creative Grove.  In-home parties classes and workshops are excluded.
    *Please note that this is an exclusive offer only available through The Creative Grove and does not apply to Free Digital Downloads or the Free 30 day Trial Offer.  To receive your newest editions of each catalog you must have placed your last order through me and within one year.  If you place an online order through another demonstrator, Stampin’ Up! automatically removes you from my customer database and I will not be able to verify your preferred status for any Preferred Member rewards such as free merchandise or catalogs. To re-activate your Customer Status with The Creative Grove, simply place a new order through me.  
    Orders do not include: Class fees, online classes, specials such as Cyber Monday and Black Friday.
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Topsy-Turvey Celebration Case

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I just love this card from the 2012-2013 Annual Catalog.  I had to recreate it with of course a little twist and flair!  Don’t be afraid to CASE (Copy and Steal Everything) a great project, but turn it into your own!  So what exactly did I do differently, read on to find out.

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Creative Tips:

  • I immediately changed the base of the card to a gate fold and threw a So Saffron panel on the inside.  I kept the main image mostly the same because honestly, it rocks!
  • The bottom layer is stamped in Raspberry Ripple, the middle in Primrose Petal and the Top in Pink Pirouette.  The candles were colored using a Pumpkin Pie marker and Daffodil Delight Marker.  I stamped each one individually.  Tip – It’s easiest to start with the middle one for spacing purposes.Topsy-Turvey Celebration 001 CU
  • The flower is actually a So Saffron flower and two petals of a Wild Wasabi flower. 
  • I added the cake base in Pumpkin Pie.
  • Instead of Rhinestones, I used Dazzling Details on the circles and the center of the flower.  Dazzling Details go a long way!Topsy-Turvey Celebration 001 Inside
  • I stamped Celebrate on the inside in Raspberry Ripple.
  • The Celebrate panels were stamped tone on tone in Pink Pirouette.  The only real major change is  the gate fold.  So to not take too much away from the beauty of the cake, I kept the panels to a 1/16” border of Whisper White.
  • The card needed a little something, so I edged the Celebrate Panels in Pink Pirouette with the Direct to Paper technique.  I also added a little paper piercing in the corners using the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack. Topsy-Turvey Celebration 001 Side

While I can’t take conceptual credit for the cake center, the rest of the card was a little twist on the original.  I hope this gives you a little inspiration to put your own twist on a good idea yourself!

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Stamp Sets – Topsy-Turvey Celebration (125822c, 126470w)  Ink –Raspberry Ripple (126859), Primrose Petals (126858), Pumpkin Pie (126945), So Saffron (126957), Pink Pirouette (126956), Wild Wasabi (126959) Paper – Whisper White (100730), Pink Pirouette (111351), Raspberry Ripple (126842), So Saffron (105118) Cool Tools – Paper Piercing Tool (126189), Stampin’ Pierce Mat (126199), Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (126187) Finishing Touch – Dazzling Details (124117)

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Free Shipping April 6-8th

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Who doesn’t like a good bargain.  And let’s be honest, I’ll take something for free any day!  Stampin’ Up! has offered their first Free Shipping promotion ever for this Saturday April 6th – 8th.  And the best part about it, there are no limitations – so any order size, large or small and you save big!  Expedited shipping is excluded, and your orders must be in by 11:50 pm MT on April 8th. 

So, what are you going to get?  Here are my Top 12 must have’s for every stamper.  The first six are tools I use each and every day when I paper craft – Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Tabletop Paper Trimmer, Stampin’ Scrub & Mist, Stampin’ Up Inkpads & Refills stored in the Color Caddy and my #1 must have to stamp and create with – Grid Paper.

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These next six are tools that I use quite frequently and most stampers can not live without – Big Shot die cutting system, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Stampin’ Sponges, Stamp-a-Majig, Paper Piercing Tool (I use it with the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack and Stampin’ Pierce Mat) and last, but definitely not least, my #1 used punch – 1” Square Punch.

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Be sure to take advantage of this awesome special!  And don’t forget to sign up for my Creative Tips Newsletter to get my special project tips on the last project – Sunset Boardwalk this Saturday at 12 noon!  Happy Stamping.

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Dreams Coming True

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I know, I live in the same town as Walt Disney World.  You may say Dreams come true here, but I’m not chatting about Amusement Parks today, rather my personal dreams coming true instead.

Many of you come here for creative inspiration, or just to see what I’m up to today, but did you know that this is my actual J-O-B?  That’s right, as I like to say, I’m so lucky, because I play with stamps, paper and ink all day!  Yes, there are actual business things involved too, but how many of us actually get to say that we love what we do for a living – well…I DO!

We all have our story in life.  Some of us have small kids and need to adjust to a different schedule.  Others aren’t happy with their current line of work and need an outlet.  Stampin’ Up! came into my life when I was at a crossroads.  I was a restaurant manager and had major back surgery that went every way but the right way.  I was left with needing to find a new line of work – all at the tender age of 30.  That was 13 years ago.  I had started teaching scrapbooking since it was my hobby and ended up a few years later introduced to stamping through one of my students.  Well…the rest is history.  I have enjoyed many years of creative juices, creative and personal growth, more friends than I can possibly imagine, and of course a real honest to goodness job that I love!

And all that without even knowing how to stamp.  Yes, that’s right.  Here is my first ever cards.  I thought you’d enjoy that!  Nothing too crazy – not sure about my color decisions…lol!

I’ve earned national awards some years, some not.  Earned incentive trips some years, some not.  I’m realistic about what my business can bring me.  But most important – I have a corner office, and all the vacation days I want.  I do keep in mind that if I choose to take a day off, I also realize that’s a choice to not work.  So I do keep those to a healthy amount.  After all, this is my business, and my goal is to succeed.

These days I have integrated more and more of an online business.  I like working out of my Creative Studio.  And after all, the virtual world is a much bigger one!  I love teaching and mentoring online.  Videos, blogs, classes – the possibilities are endless.  So if you’re into Social Media, it’s a great opportunity to turn your craft into some cash!

My favorite part of my job is mentoring others to have their own businesses.  I coach both creatively and around their businesses – part and full time, virtual businesses and traditional.  I love seeing others grow professionally and personally. 

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If you too are interested in having your own slice of something – be it part time, full time, virtual, traditional or know someone who could benefit from creating their own economy, I would love to help.  For more information on how to have your own Stamping Business Click Here. 

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Images courtesy of Stampin’ Up! and Ingrid Blackburn

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Sneek Peek Feeling Sentimental

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I’m in love with the New Feeling Sentimental Stamp Set.  The images are large and have that vintage feel to them.  I find them easy to stamp with and coordinate with embossing folders as well as several of our Designer Series Papers.  The two stamps I used are two of four in this great stamp set. These cards can be made in a matter of minutes.  Here are a few samples I quickly put together. 

Creative Tips:

  • This old fashioned set looks great stamped.  Best part, it has that blurry edge so perfection isn’t needed!  The images are a good size as well.
  • I made two types of samples, one with the Parker’s Patterns Designer Series Paper, and another with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing folder.
  • I found that the saying Celebrate looks great either on a banner or just stamped directly on.  Some sayings to me need a little something, but this one stands alone just great.

  • Here I popped up the Vanilla panel for a little added depth to the card.
  • This is one of the two subdued papers in the Parker’s Patterns DSP collection.  I just love the old fashioned feel of this card.

This stamp set is part of our Sale-a-bration exclusive collection only available January 22 – March 22, 2013.  You will not want to miss out on this special offer.  All Sale-a-bration products are FREE as a thank you for your $50 product order.  To see the collection online January 22, 2013 click here.

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Stamp Sets – Feeling Sentimental* (129630c, 129627w) Ink –Not Quite Navy (126971) Paper – Whisper White (100730), Very Vanilla (101650), Not Quite Navy (101722), Riding Hood Red (111348), Parker’s Patterns (131021) Cool Tools – Hexagon TIEF (129378), Big Shot (113439), 1” Square Punch (124094) The Perfect Finish – Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

*Available Jan 22 – Mar 22, 2013

Filed Under: 10 Minutes or Less, Cards, Clean and Simple, Masculine, Specials Tagged: , , , , , ,

Ornament Elegance Kit and Class

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You’ve been admiring it for months now and have wanted to make it, but didn’t have the time or materials – well here’s your chance!

The ornament on the cover of our holiday catalog is such a hit that Stampin’ Up! has made it available–just in time to deck the halls with terrific trimmings you’ve made yourself! We’ve simplified this fun project so that you can quickly and easily achieve the same results.

In addition to the kit, all you need is a glue gun, scissors, and adhesive. (Our Anywhere Glue Sticks [104045] are perfect for assembly.) Want greeting or place cards to go with those ornaments? The Ornament Keepsakes stamp set (W 128048 C 128051) gives you perfect coordination. Fancy a little sparkle and shine? Sprinkle on our Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023)!

Take advantage of this amazing offer–just in time to create 10 heirloom ornaments–or stunning tags to attach to a special neighbor gift. Click here to order

The Ornamental Elegance Kit (132832) includes:

  • Die-Cut Cardstock Elements
  • Cherry Cobbler 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon
  • Natural Linen Thread
  • Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons 
  • Large Pearl Basic Jewels

Order these now so you will have plenty of time to make them for Christmas gifting–or for your family tree! Available while supplies last.

Want to just make one and get the hang of how to do it?  Join me for a new class – Holiday Gifts and Tags on Monday December 17th.  Choose from either day or night class! Click here to register

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Filed Under: 3D Projects, Christmas, Specials Tagged: , , , , ,

15% off Wicked Stamp Sale – One Day Only 10/29

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Hot off the press – Stampin’ Up! is having its first ever One Day Sale!!  I’ve never seen this in 10 years, how cool is that!  On Monday October 29th – Stampin’ Up! will have almost every stamp on sale for 15% off!  You don’t want to miss out on this one day sale.

Here are the details:

Starting at 12:00 AM (MT) and ending at 11:50 PM (MT), almost every stamp we sell will be 15 percent off.

Stamps that are 15% off:

    • Practically every stamp set and single stamp available in the Holiday Catalog and Annual Catalog.  Click here to see Catalogs online
    • Personalized name stamps
    • Incentive stamp sets from the supply list
    • Cookie press stamps
    • Single-image stamps

Stamps excluded from this one day sale:

    • Hostess sets
    • Bundled stamp sets
    • Digital stamp brush sets

There is no minimum purchase, and no limit to the number of stamps you can order.

For card ideas – be sure to check through my blog using the search feature.  If I’ve stamped with it – you’ll find plenty of samples!

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Single Stamps – Do you love that Greeting set, but wish you could buy just the one or two stamps?  Well, now you can from these select stamp sets: Perfectly Penned, Word Play, Seasonal Sayings and two more Collections that include some never before seen images!  Buy some of our best Greetings Stamps individually!   Hurry, this special is good for a limited time only through Jan 2, 2013! For more details, click here.  

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