Spring Online Retreat Recap

I thought we would do something fun today and recap the online retreat I did last month. This was the first time I tried this, and it was a lot of fun! I'm planning to do a Christmas-themed retreat in November, and I hope a lot of you will join me!
So what exactly is an 'online' retreat? Well, imagine you were going to an in-person retreat. You'd probably expect a table to work at, an entire day to craft and work on projects, and some fun surprises thrown in. The online version is pretty similar, but you're working in your own space, and you can decide which day you want to do it. I have a set day that I will post in a private Facebook group, but if that day doesn't work for you, you can come back and look through everything later.
The retreat has a base fee. Your fee includes a goody bag with $25 worth of product - this time it included the Needlepoint Nook Mini Buttons, Old Olive Linen Thread, a sheet of Stampin' Dimensionals, a package of Pearls, and half a package of Needlepoint Nook DSP. The fee also includes some make and take projects. This time, it was 8 cards using the Needle & Thread Bundle. The bundle wasn't included in the retreat fee, but could be added on. I also supplied a list of inks that you would need to complete the cards. The products included in the goody bag were used on the cards, with some extras left over for your own projects. Here are a few of the cards that were included in the make and takes.

I also included a fun pillow gift in each package. Who else likes to eat chocolate when they craft?!

On the day of the retreat, I posted in our private Facebook group. There were several sets of videos showing how to put the make and take cards together. There were prize patrols! I gave away the Happiness Blooms Memories & More Card Pack, a package of Corrugated Elements, and a Share What You Love Embellishment Kit. The posts were spread out throughout the day to give time to work on the make and takes, as well as your own projects.

I also had two optional add-on classes that you could purchase. One was a 12 x 12" sampler featuring the His Grace stamp set.

The other was a card class featuring the Little Elephant Bundle and Twinkle Twinkle DSP. (I am offering this as a class to go right now if you are interested.)

Everyone who purchased the online retreat really enjoyed it and said they would definitely be interested in the next one. I can't wait to see the Holiday Catalog and plan some beautiful projects for you!

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

#GDP186: You Jumpstart My Heart

The Geared Up Garage Bundle is not one that was at the top of my wish list. I challenged myself to create a class with it (coming soon!), and to use it in a Facebook Live. I needed some inspiration, so I used this week's sketch over at Global Design Project.

I think it turned out pretty well! I used all products from the suite, with the exception of the stitched heart - that is cut with the Be Mine Stitched Framelits.

If you are popping over from the Facebook Live for the measurements, here they are!
*Basic Gray card base - 4 1/4 x 11"
*Real Red - 5 1/8 x 3 7/8"
*DSP (cars) - 5 x 3 3/4"
*DSP (red) - 3 x 3"
*Whisper White - 2 x 2"
*Smoky Slate - 1 x 3", trimmed with the Triple Banner Punch

This bundle is carrying over to the new Annual Catalog, but will no longer be available at a 10% off bundle price, so make sure you buy it now at a discount!

Stamps: Geared Up Garage
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Black
Paper: Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White, Classic Garage DSP
Embellishments: Classic Garage Metal Elements, Black/Silver 1/4" Striped Metallic Ribbon
Tools: Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Big Shot, Triple Banner Punch
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Happiness Blooms Cards

Today's cards are so quick and easy - there's no stamping required! I made them using the Happiness Blooms Memories & More Card Pack, and just a few other supplies.

These are just four of the twenty cards you'll get to make in my Happiness Blooms class to go. Today is the last day to register, so don't miss out! This class is a great value at only $35 - you get four full-size products and the instructions to make 20 cards! Register here, and your class kit will ship by the end of next week.

Happy stamping!

Rachel

My Top 10 Retiring Products

The time has come to say goodbye to some of our favorite products. It can be hard to see those things you really like on the retiring list, but the longer I've been a demonstrator, the less I've cared about what's going. Give me all the new stuff! That said, I thought I would share my top 10 with you. Make sure you grab these things before they're gone! Stamp sets are guaranteed through May 24. Everything else is while supplies last.

#1: Thoughtful Banners stamp set

#2: Large Letters Framelits

#3: Up & Away Thinlits

#4: Big Shot

#5: Happy Birthday, Gorgeous stamp set

#6: Wood Textures DSP

#7: Soft Sayings Card Kit

#8: Garden Impressions DSP

#9: Share What You Love Specialty DSP

#10: Flowering Desert stamp set

Watch for some highlights of these products in the next few weeks! Which retiring products will you miss the most? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Happiness Blooms Class to Go

Oh, I guess I have to apologize for my lack of blogging recently. Did you know life with four kids gets busy sometimes? Haha! We also had company most of March, and it is taking me awhile to get back into the routine. But - today I have a treat for you! This class to go is quick and easy, and you get 20 cards out of it! Plus - no stamping required! This is the kind of class that is perfect for busy people, which is all of us, am I right?

For $35, you will receive the Happiness Blooms Memories & More Card Pack, the Happiness Blooms Memories & More Cards & Envelopes, Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine, and Corrugated Elements.

I will also send you a PDF tutorial with the instructions to make 20 cards, and then you'll even have some extra supplies left over for your own projects and designs. 20 cards for $35? No way can you buy cards like this for that price at the store!


If you are interested in this class, you can fill out this Google form and let me know. There is also a tutorial only option available for $10. The deadline to register is April 19, and kits will ship no later than April 26. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Quick & Easy Flowering Desert Card

Have you seen cards posted with the hashtag #simplestamping? Stampin' Up! has been challenging demonstrators to share cards that don't have much more than stamps, ink, and paper, and minimal layers. I have a hard time not using the Big Shot, but besides that little stitched heart, this card is pretty simple.

This stamp set is my favorite! I sure hope it sticks around!


Stamps: Flowering Desert
Ink: Granny Apple Green, Lovely Lipstick
Paper: Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick, Wood Textures DSP Stack
Accessories & Tools: Linen Thread, Stitched Labels Framelits, Big Shot

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Incredible Like You Stamp a Stack to Go

I have a fun new class to share with you today! This one has 4 options for you to choose from, which are listed below. You can see the cards up close and listen to more details in this video.

Here are the options for ordering. Per Stampin' Up! policy, please email me for a link to purchase.

Option #1 - $33

This option includes the following:
*Night of Navy baker’s twine
*A package of Rhinestones
*A 6 x 6” stack of Garden Impressions Designer Series Paper
*The other cardstock and supplies to make 10 cards, including envelopes
*A PDF tutorial with instructions for making your cards

Option #2 - $53

This option includes everything in option #1, plus the Incredible Like You stamp set

Option #3 - $62

This option includes everything in option #1 and #2, plus:
*A classic ink pad of your choice (I used Night of Navy and Melon Mambo on these cards.)
*A free Level 1 Sale-a-bration item (must fit in a padded mailer, unless you are picking up)

Option #4 - $10
This option is for the PDF tutorial only.

The cost for shipping your class kit to you is $8. If you are local to me, you can pick up for free!
If you are a part of my team, I'll be giving you the tutorial for free! It's a great time to join Stampin' Up! right now, so if you'd like this perk - and $76 of free product - you can purchase a starter kit here.

Deadline to order: March 23

Expected Ship Date: March 29

If you have any questions, please ask.

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Botanical Butterfly & Incredible Like You

Today's card has a lot of my favorites - my favorite color (purple), black and white, and polka dots! We made this card at one of my recent card classes. It's pretty simple, but the Botanical Butterfly paper makes it really beautiful!

Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather are the perfect purple combo, and of course I had to add a few rhinestones to finish off the card!

Stamps: Incredible Like You
Ink: Highland Heather
Paper: Botanical Butterfly DSP (SAB), Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape
Accessories & Tools: Gorgeous Grape Mini Striped Ribbon, Rhinestones, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Big Shot

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

#tgifc198: Sprinkled With Love Valentine's Day Card

The Hello Cupcake stamp set has seen a lot of ink in my craft room, but I think today's card is my favorite creation yet! I followed the sketch challenge at TGIF Challenges.

The highlights on this card are the white embossing on white cardstock for the frosting, the teeny tiny hearts cut from the Call Me Cupcake Thinlits, and the Lovely Lipstick Foil accents. If you have the Hello Cupcake stamp set, you'll definitely want to invest in the Call Me Cupcake Thinlits, available to customers beginning March 1, or now as part of your starter kit!

Stamps: Hello Cupcake (SAB)
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Lovely Lipstick (SAB)
Accessories & Tools: Call Me Cupcake Thinlits (available March 1), Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Polka Dot Basics EF, Big Shot, Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Silver Baker's Twine

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Flowering Desert Birthday Card

The card I have to share today uses the beautiful Flowering Desert stamp set. This Arizona girl loves the cacti stamps!

The sentiment comes from my standby birthday set, Happy Birthday, Gorgeous. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Stamps: Flowering Desert, Happy Birthday, Gorgeous
Ink: Berry Burst, Call Me Clover
Paper: Gray Granite, Berry Burst
Accessories & Tools: Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Linen Thread, Berry Burst 3/8" Mini Ruffled Ribbon, Classic Label Punch

Happy stamping!

Rachel

Facebook Live: So Hoppy Together Valentine's Day Card

This week's Facebook Live featured the So Hoppy Together stamp set and an adorable card inspired by Erica Cerwin.

 

The inside sentiments came from January's Paper Pumpkin kit.

Stamps: So Hoppy Together, Be Mine, Valentine
Ink: Memento Black, Lovely Lipstick, plus Light & Dark Granny Apple Green, Dark Flirty Flamingo, and Light Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends
Paper: Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick Foil (SAB), Botanical Butterfly DSP (SAB)
Accessories & Tools: Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Big Shot, Starburst Punch, 2" Circle Punch, All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack, Rhinestones

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Facebook Live: Hey Love Treat

For this week's Facebook Live, I thought I would point out a feature of the online store you might not have noticed. It is the section called Project Ideas. Here, you can see a variety of sample projects, and each one has all of the products you need to make that project. You can even purchase all of them together under one ordering code!

So the project I put together uses the Hey Love stamp set, and isn't it cute?

I think this is the perfect treat packaging for anyone you want to give a sweet treat to on Valentine's Day. If you want to make this project too, you can order everything you need here.


Then I decided to add in a few additional colors and use more of the cute animals in the stamp set.

Which one is your favorite?

Stamps: Hey Love
Ink: Memento Black, plus Light Flirty Flamingo, Dark and Light Smoky Slate, and Dark and Light Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends
Paper: Whisper White Thick
Accessories & Tools: 2 x 8" Cello Bags, Night of Navy Medium Baker's Twine

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Facebook Live: Meant to Be Non-Valentine's Card

For yesterday's Facebook Live, I thought I would use the Meant to Be Bundle for a non-Valentine's Day card. The beautiful Botanical Butterfly paper made it easy!

This bundle is the perfect purchase during Sale-A-Bration. It is priced at $53.00, which means when you purchase it, you get to choose a free gift! Add in the Whisper White cardstock, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, some Gold Foil, and Gingham Gala Sequins, and you'll have spent enough for two rewards. If you choose the Botanical Butterfly DSP and the Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack, you'll have everything you need to recreate this card!

Stamps: Meant to Be
Ink: Tuxedo Black
Paper: Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP (SAB), Gold Foil
Accessories & Tools: Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Big Shot, Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack (SAB), Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

#TGIFC194: Happy Valentine's Day!

I feel like I am still stuck on Christmas, but here we are less than a month away from Valentine's Day. I decided to get a start on my Valentine's cards by using the sketch challenge at TGIF Challenges this week.

Both Valentine bundles this year are gorgeous, but the Be Mine Stitched Framelits called to me (just like anything stitched does!). I used the coordinating Meant to Be stamp set, All My Love DSP, and that beautiful Lovely Lipstick Foil from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog. 

There are lots of little details on this card - I tried to use as many pieces of the Meant to Be Bundle as I could! Comment and let me know which detail you like the most.

Stamps: Meant to Be
Ink: Balmy Blue, Lovely Lipstick
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick Foil (SAB), All My Love DSP
Accessories & Tools: Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Big Shot, Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins, Pearls, All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack, White Baker's Twine

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Flowering Desert Desk Calendar

Flowering Desert is my favorite stamp set in the new Occasions Catalog! I am using it to slowly make desk calendars for my customers. I followed the template Erica Cerwin uses - a piece of 4 1/4 x 11" cardstock, folded in half. Then add a piece of 4 x 4" cardstock scored at 1/2", 2", and 3 1/2". That piece just adds stability and helps the calendar stand up better. On this calendar, I used our Thick Whisper White cardstock, which I think works really well! The calendar is from Taylored Expressions.

You might also notice the shiny paper I used on the scalloped oval. That is the Grapefruit Grove Foil Paper, one of the Level 1 Sale-A-Bration choices. It is seriously shiny! I also used the Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins. Although these are both Grapefruit Grove, I thought the shine gave them more of a pinkish hue, so I went with Flirty Flamingo for the ribbon and the sentiment. I love how Stampin' Up! stuff always matches!

Stamps: Flowering Desert
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green
Paper: Thick & Regular Whisper White, Grapefruit Grove Foil (SAB), Brights 6 x 6" DSP
Accessories & Tools: Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins, Layering Ovals Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Big Shot, All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack

Happy Stamping!

Rachel