Last Day for Buy 3 get 1 FREE

Today is your last chance! So you must act fast!

Promotion Details: During August, My wonderful customers will get a FREE package of Designer Series Paper when they buy three! I absolutely encourage you to use this limited-time offer to stock up on all your favorites, including brand-new designs from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!!!

A few thing to keep in mind:
•There is no limit to the number of free packages of Designer Series Paper you customer can earn.
•Designer Series Paper ordered in Hostess free does not qualify for the promotion.
•Specialty Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Paper are not part of this promotion and cannot be redeemed through this offer.
•Ordering deadlines:
By Phone: Wednesday, August 31, 2011; 5:50 PM (PST)
Online: Wednesday, August 31, 2011; 10:50 PM (PST)

So go HERE to my online store, pick out your favorites and start creating! Don't forget to email a photo of your finished product. I would love to share it here for everyone else to enjoy!
Happy Shopping!
Melissa

Stamp Camp is coming!!

Hello Stampers!
It is that time of year where we host our annual Stampin Up Holiday Stamp Camp. Before I became a demo this was a highlight for me! I got to chat with Stampin friends (new and old), see AMAZING projects, and create new ones.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15th, from 10:15 am to 2:45pm
WHERE: Aurora Church of the Nazarene (ACN)
I will send you a confirmation with the directions after you register.

For only $35 you will have a great day of fun plus all these extras!
• All of the supplies and handouts you will need to complete 6 projects.
• A $15.00 Gift Certificate (to be redeemed that day for Stampin’ Up! Merchandise)
• Lots of door prize drawings
• Optional card swap (Make several cards of the same design and bring them to trade.)
• Beautiful samples, bring your camera and your catalog if you already have one

Some logistics:
• A treat will be provided, but please bring lunch or whatever you need to be the most comfortable. We will be allowing a half hour break.
• Please bring your own adhesive and scissors, this contributes to your efficiency and we’ll maintain our high standard of teaching and paper crafts.
• If you are planning on coming with a group of friends, please register together. (Contact me so I can get you together on the list while I wait for your confirmation checks to arrive.)

To secure your place for a day of crafting just call me at 425-503-6980, email me melissa_chapman@comcast.net or complete the form below and mail it with your check (made out to me) for $35.00. Please feel free to make copies of this invitation to share with your friends who may also be interested in attending. Reservations should be received by September 24th, but we continue to take stampers until the camp date, or until we’re completely full. I will send you a confirmation card after you register.

Here is the flyer

Contact me today to get registered. You definitely don’t want to miss out!
Happy Crafting!!
~Melissa  

Thanks, that was so cool of you!

Over the summer my daughter was fortunate enough to go spend 10 days in Sandpoint, Idaho. She went on a float plane tour, rode jet skis, went to Silverwood theme park, made tie-dye shirts and so much more. I wanted to make her hostess a card that she would love and this is what I came up with. I love this punch and stamp set together! So super cute!!!

Paper:

122925 Calypso Coral paper
100730 Whisper White paper
122922 Wisteria Wonder Paper

Stamp Set:

122742 Pennant Punch
123042 Sunny fun

Ink:

122935 Lucky Limeade
122939 Calypso Coral
122937 Island Indigo
122936 Wisteria Wonder

Accessories:

122361 Pennant Builder punch
119882 Scallop trim border punch
177335 Polka Dot embossing folder
122976 Calypso Coral ribbon

College send off, vacation, & then back to reality!

Since my last post 10 days ago I have been crazy busy! We have moved our daughter into her dorm, visited with my newest nephew, traveled to Canada, camped, wakeboarding, went to the spa and more!
Day one of our journey started with us dropping off our daughter at her new home for the next 9 months. I will tell you it wasn't what I expected. I had thought that maybe we would shed a few goodbye tears and lots of hugs & we'll see you soons, but no, nothing like that.

We moved her into her dorm on Sunday afternoon. We helped her unpack and get her room put together. We then had a parent orientation meeting that we had to attend so we left her to finish putting away her stuff. When we came back she had a list of things we needed to purchase so while we went to the store to get the last remaining items she had a sorority meeting. When we brought back all her goodies, she had another meeting that she had to go to so it was a quick kiss on the cheek for me, a kiss for her dad plus a hug after he slipped her some cash, she said Thank You, Goodbye, and I love you. That was it. No tears, no nothing. I am happy that she was so excited because the night before she was so nervous that she didn't sleep or eat anything. I am also a little proud of myself for not crying!

After leaving her at college we headed east to visit my brother and his new bundle of joy. Hunter James is so yummy that I just want to kiss and hug him all the time! I can honestly say that I have never seen my brother so happy! I am so proud of the two of them! Here are a few photos of the yummy bundle!

Each year we head to British Columbia, Canada to visit our dear friends. Day 3 had us venturing north! We arrived in Vernon, BC just about dinner time. We seriously spent 7 hours driving to get to our wonderful destination! I am happy to report that I can read my Nook in the car without getting motion sickness. This is not something I could do with a real book, just another reason I love my Nook! We visited with our friends and prepared our activities for the week. Day 4 took us to the Shuswaps where we camped. It was crazy that in Vernon it was 90+ degrees and the Shuswaps were cold and rainy! We toughed it out for one night and called it quits. We packed up the next morning and headed back to Vernon where the warm weather was! We spent the rest of the week boating on Lake Kalamalka, Wake boarding (Yes I got up but no one took photos because that is usually my job!), golfing, playing cards & Taboo, the girls went to the spa while the boys golfed again, we hiked Silver Star mountain, and around Predator Ridge. We also had a good deal of adult drinks and some wonderful food!

This trip is always a bitter sweet trip for my husband and I. It is not only the vacation that just he and I take, but when it is over it signals the end of summer for us L We have to come home and get our son ready for school, close up our garden for the year. And start putting away the summer toys. While I look forward to a great snowboarding season I am sad to send summer off so fast because here in the Pacific Northwest summer seemed to have just arrived and now we are saying goodbye!

On the crafty side, just a quick reminder that our Buy 1 get 1 promotion is almost over. Hurry and get your Designer Series Paper for your holiday projects!

Happy Creating!!!
~Melissa

More Convention highlights!

Just a quick post today. I am packing up our truck to move my daughter into her dorm! I will have more posts to come on that adventure! In the meantime enjoy this great video recapping our wonderful convention! I cannot tell how much I love what I do!

Happy Creating!!
~Melissa

Happy Birthday Aiden!

Today is my youngest nephew’s birthday. I had the extreme privilege of holding my sisters hand (and leg) during his birth and watching him come out was one of the most amazing experiences of my lifetime. That may explain what he and I are so close!

I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said very quickly, a tank that is remote control and shoots missiles! Ah he is all boy and frankly finding a toy like that was near impossible (At least for a 5 year old) I happen to stop in our employee store at Microsoft and low and behold they had the Halo Warthogs! I thought to myself, close enough! He was so excited to get it and it made me happy to see him and his friends get excited with they saw it.

His birthday card

Pinwheel birthday treats for his party. I used Brights Designer Series paper, Brads, and our new 1x8 cellophane bags! Filled them pixie sticks. I loved teaching all the little ones how to eat them. Not so sure the parents loved it but I know the kiddos did!

Chocolates wrapped with "It's a wrap" stamp set using the 2011-2012 In Colors!

Happy Creating!!
~Melissa

My new bling...

When I was younger I had to wear glasses to school everyday and I hated them! They were large and ugly. It took my parents sometime to figure out that as soon as I got on the school bus I took them off!
Well about 6th grade they wised up and told all of my teachers that I had to wear them.
Well fast forward 24 years and I am back to wearing glasses again. This time I understand the importance of them, I can now read my Nook (Which by the way I LOVE LOVE LOVE), I can see the computer screen better, and best of all my crafting is much clearer!! Here is the new me!

Fancy Fold Cards!

My brother's girlfriend will be celebrating her 20th birthday in a few weeks and I wanted to give her something that would make her feel special. I can't believe that she is 16 years younger than me! Boy it makes me feel old!

I have been dying to try this new card technique and the Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper was just the perfect match!

This is the card folded up

This card is by no means a beginner card but I promise you that if you want to make it I can teach you. If you are interested in directions please leave a comment and I will send them to you. If you are local to the Seattle area I would love to help you and your friends make this AMAZING card so email me or leave me a comment!

Happy Creating!!
~Melissa

On the look out for new business!

So I ran across a video from a fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator that talked about how she rebuilds her business whenever she moves. Her husband is in the Navy so they go when the Navy tells it is time to go. What inspired me was how she really has to start all over each time they move and that she is so successful in her business. Her name is Kimberly Van Diepen. I was so motivated after watching her videos that it is time to start fresh! So here are my new business bags! My goal is to hand out at least one a day.

This bag has a mini catalog, my business card, a 3x3 card, & our latest promo (buy 3 get 1 FREE).

3x3 card using the new Raining Flowers set.

The inside of the card.

Everything that will go into the bag.

I am so excited to share my love of this craft & this company. Seriously, I just love to teach friends (old & new) how to create something homemade that they are proud to give away. This is a great time to start thinking about Christmas cards. Yes, I know summer just arrived in Seattle but there is something to be said for planning ahead! Please call me if you are interested in scheduling a private workshop.

Happy Creating!!
~Melissa

My craft room redo!!!

I can't tell you how long I have waited for a room that was all mine to hide away and be crafty for as long as I wanted. I can leave stuff where I want it (note that really means I can be messy and close the door when I am done) and I don't have to share with anyone :-) My husband and I used to share this room. It was the office. Well as it turned out his computer broke and because he had his X-Box (gaming was the only reason he had a computer) he decided he didn't need to replace his computer. Well after some convincing and having to clean up the garage to give him his space I finally got my room. Here are the before photos. This photo was taken before we moved our furniture in. I never liked this room so I never took photos of it again once we moved in.

Yes it is small but I have now added great storage so I made the space work.

Here are the after photos! Don't you love the colors :-) This is my happy place and now that I have it, I barely come out of it!

This is the whole room shot. It sure does look crowded!

This is the right side of the room. The shelving unit is Martha Stewart from Home Depot. And I promise the Create definition is straight even though the photo doesn't make it look that way.

This is the left side of the room. I will be added some towel racks from Ikea to hold my punches.

This holds my cricut cartridges and some non-SU stamps and punchs.

Here is my create station :-)

This is my computer area. Enough said!

Thanks for browsing through my before and afters. I would love to have you over to craft with me anytime!

Happy Creating!!!
~Melissa

Welcome New Baby.

I found this beatuful card on Jackie Topa's website. She is such an inspiration to me right now! If my instructions below are hard to follow just check out her blog, she did a video explaining the steps!

My little brother is having his first child any day now so I can't wait to send this card to them. I already have a little gift pile started just waiting for the phone call that lets me know he has arrived!

Here is the card!

Supplies Used:
105120 Bashful Blue
101650 Very Vanilla
102128 Chocolate Chip
105209 Bashful Blue Ink
101179 Basic Black Ink
105115 Stampin Write markers Pumpkin Pie
100058 Stampin write markers Tempting Turquoise
100052 Stampin Write markers Real Red
119677 Stampin Write markers Daffodil Delight
118481 Crochet Trim Victoria 5/8 ribbon
122941 Mini Brads
121006 Brights Glimmer Brads
123225 Easy Events Stamp Set
120006 Heard from the Heart Stamp Set
121952 A slice of Life stamp set
101610 Stamping Sponge
119851 Curly Label Punch
116631 Paper-Piercing Tool
104152 Paper Trimmer

1.Cut the Bashful Blue card stock to 5½ x 8½ .
2.Using your paper trimmer cut in the center (2¾ ) from 1” to 5¼“.
3.Turn the paper to the long side and score 1” and 2” from the edge to the cut line.
4.Fold the step and then fold the card in half and use your bone folder to make your folds sharp.
5.To create the drawers cut Very Vanilla at ¾ x 2” sponge the edges with Bashful Blue ink. Using your paper piercer poke holes for the mini brads.
6.Adhere the drawers to the large side of the dresser.
7.Cut one piece of chocolate chip cardstock to 2¾ x 2¾.
8.Cut one piece of very vanilla 2½ x 2½, adhere to the chocolate chip card stock.
9.Stamp the “For Baby” in basic black ink.
10.Color the duck using the Stampin write markers.
11.Stamp the baby outfit onto whisper white and color using Stampin Write markers.
12.Using tombow glue the “for baby” to the step.
13.Cut shape out with Paper Snips.
14.Attach baby outfit to the top of the “for baby” side of the card.
15.Create a bow push the brad through the bow, adhere to dresser.
16.Punch the bottom of the large dresser with the curly label punch to create the “legs” of the dresser.

Convention 2011 Make & Takes

One more reason I loved the convention was the make-n-takes they provided us. We were able to make 11 projects! They provided everything! All stamps, embellishments, adhesive, paint, etc. The best part was we got to keep everything!!!

Here are some photos of those projects!

All projects hanging on a vine :-)

Super cute 2x3 card. So quick and easy to make.

Because of this project I now understand the importance of the Stampa-ma-jig. Getting all those dots to line up without it is a pain in the rear end. I have ordered the Stampa-ma-jig and will be recreating this card so I can get straight rows!

I love the statement this card makes! It would be a great garden party invite.

I can't believe how easy these pinwheels are to create. I can't wait for my nephew to come down so we can make some for his mom!

This card box it too awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on a few more!!

Flower view on top

Box full of cards!

Here is the house that Stampin' Up! built :-) these are just 2x4's cut into the shape of houses, painted, distressed, and decorated the SU way! My mother in-law loves birdhouses so I this as a gift in her near future!

Convention was AMAZING! I can't wait for next year.
Happy Creating!!!
~Melissa

Convention Swaps.

I just joined the Stampin’ Up! Family in April of 2011. And while I am brand new to Stampin’ Up! I am not new to paper crafting. Stampin’ Up! holds a convention every year in Salt Lake City, UT where its corporate headquarters are located. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend this year. I have attended other conventions but never a craft convention so I was super eager to prepare for this one! The gals and guys of SU love to swap cards. Meaning they trade the card they made for yours so they can take it home and recreate it or get inspiration from it. I had decided that I wanted to make four different styles of cards ranging from a WOW factor to a basic card. I wanted to create 25 of each design. What I didn’t count on was the sheer amount of work it took complete. You see I work in the Finance group at Microsoft and May, June, & July are crazy busy times for us, so my hours were long and I had little time to get my swaps completed. Thank goodness I have a crafty daughter, niece, and mother! They helped me put my cards together of the month. I designed each card early so I wouldn’t have to do it last minute.

Here are my designs!

Sick? Feel better soon!

Supplies I used:
120651 Word Play
124297 So Saffron cardstock
124290 Real Red cardstock
124284 Old Olive cardstock
124267 Basic Black cardstock
101179 Basic Black Ink
113439 Big Shot
121812 Fun Flowers Die
114511 Little Leaves Die
119277 Elegant Lines Embossing Folder
119858 Boho Blossom Punch
117273 Antique Brads
119267 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon – Basic Black
104332 Stampin Dimensionals
104332 Snail Adhesive
116631 Paper-Piercing tool
105826 Mat Pack

Christmas Card

Supplies I used:
100730 Whisper White cardstock
105120 Bashful Blue cardstock
101179 Basic Black Ink
Ba105209 shful Blue Ink
119677 Stampin Write Marker – Daffodil Delight
121074 Stampin Write Marker – Melon Mambo
100052 Stampin Write Marker – Real Red
123002 Stampin Write Marker – Indigo Blue
105115 Stampin Write Marker – Pumpkin Pie
122677 Polar Party stamp set
124325 Bashful Blue ribbon
119246 Rhinestones
101610 Stampin Sponges
104332 Snail Adhesive

Forever Young

Supplies I used:
124267 Basic Black cardstock
101650 Very Vanilla cardstock
122366 Morning Mocha Designer Series Paper
101179 Basic Black Ink
122572 Forever Young Stamp Set
122941 Mini Brads
Sponge 102892 Daubers
104332 Snail Adhesive

Birthday Present

Supplies I used:
122925 Calypso Coral cardstock
101650 Very Vanilla cardstock
122342 Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper
122939 Calypso Coral Ink
104430 Stampin Dimensionals
122976 Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon
104332 Snail Adhesive
119876 1 inch circle punch
104294 Stick Strip

If you would like more direction on how to create these cards please leave me a comment and I will be happy to provide written instructions.

Happy Creating!!
~Melissa