It’s a brand new catalog year and that means all kinds of excitement and updating happening at Stampin’ Up! and right here, on my site! While I am waiting on my new catalog graphics, I thought I would make a quick post about one of the most exciting changes coming this year! Changes to the Hostess Program!!!! Exciting changes that I think every hostess will love.

As you can see on the chart, the Hostess set program has changed to give you much more flexibility in your choices of FREE product! Now you will earn a hostess cash amount when you reach certain levels in your workshops.  There will still be exclusive sets for hostesses only, but you have the option to choose them or spend your cash elsewhere in the catalog! These sets have been given a dollar value that is deeply discounted, and you have the option to choose those exclusive sets or spend your hostess dollars on any other product you may prefer.  I love the flexibility that gives us!

Of course there is more! We also have a new hostess feature. Half price products! When your workshop totals reach $400 in sales, you can choose any product in the  catalog for half price. As your totals increase, so do the number of half price sets you can earn. Can you imagine getting the Big Shot machine or the Markers set for half price? Well now you don’t have to just imagine it, you really can!

The new program also does away with hostess levels needed to earn hostess sets. So if you love a set that would have previously only been available to hostesses with $500 in sales, that set is available for you to purchase with your hostess dollars at any sales level!!  I can’t wait to place my first order today, and take advantage of this fabulous new program!!

I have to sweeten the pot just a little bit more, by announcing a new referral program that will be offering for even more opportunities to earn FREE product. Those details will be revealed at Stamp Camp next week!

I will load the new catalog link in my sidebar, just as soon as it goes live. Ordering begins at noon MDT,  or 1:00 PM CDT.

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I made this card with my daughter in mind,  she always has some kind of a coffee drink in her hand. She loves pinks and pearls as well, and I am pretty sure she has been using this quote for years!  This is a clean and simple design that would work with many different images. I love using Crumb Cake, it looks amazing with just about any color combo.

Stampin’ Tip: Create any color of pearl accent by simply coloring our Basic Pearls with your Stampin’ Write markers. I let them dry for about 30 minutes between coats, after 2 or 3 coats I let them dry overnight before adding them to my projects. Mmmhmm, it’s a Fab thing.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Morning Cup

Ink: Baja Breeze, Regal Rose and Crumb Cake classic inks, Baja Breeze marker and Black StazOn

Paper: Crumb Cake and Whisper White card stock and Subtles and Brights DSP Stacks

Fun Stuff: Circle dies and Big Shot, Basic Pearls, Blender pens and Aquapainters

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There are so many cute things you can do with this set! I love this little bug box made using the pillow box die. This would make a cute birthday party favor , summer picnic or party favor or a fun item for a scouting hike (lots of badges that this would come in handy for). You could also fill this box with kisses and use the bugs and kisses sentiment stamp. This set makes really cute valentines cards and a myriad of other kids and out of the box cards and items.

There is a window sheet covering the circle window inside the box. The tag sentiment was printed from the computer.I used a retired River Rock grosgrain ribbon, (love having a stash of ribbon to choose from). I have to mention that there is a new ribbon coming in the catalog that would have been perfect here as well. You are going to love it for masculine projects and beyond! Oooooohhhhh, I can’t wait to place my first order in just one week! That means you only have a few days to get great sets like these that are going away forever!

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Bugs and Kisses

Ink: Real Red classic ink and Black StazOn

Paper: River Rock, Whisper White and Basic Black card stock

Fun Stuff: Pillow Box Bigz Die and Big Shot, Window sheet, River Rock grosgrain ribbon (retired), Extra large tag punch and Large tag punch, 1 1/4 in Circle punch, .sticky tape

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This set is currently in the Summer Mini Catalog, but I was thrilled to see that it made it into the big catalog for the upcoming year. Of course, the postage stamp punch made it in there too. So many possibilities for these items!  The punch frames all kinds of small images that you may already have in your collection as well as the stamps created especially for it. You’ll see a lot of this one, it’s on my FAB list!

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Pretty Postage and On Your Birthday

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive classic Inks

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock

Fun Stuff: Square Lattice embossing folder, 1 3/8 in square punch, Postage Stamp punch, Eyelet Border punch, Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon

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Now through the end of June, I am offering a special to kick off my retired sets sale! I am finally downsizing my extensive stamp collection. In the past 15 years that I have been collecting stamp sets, I have only let go of one set!  I have set up some permanent pages on my blog and I will continue posting new sets over the next month until I have them all loaded. Keep checking back to see what is available.

You can earn discounts on these sets this month when you make your final purchases for the current catalog year. For every $25 you spend on regular catalog merchandise between now and June 30th, I will give you a $5 credit on stamps in my retired set gallery. You will earn $5 to spend with every $25 in catalog purchases and when you reach $50 in sales, I will give you the new catalog FREE!

Here is a sneak peek of a new set coming in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog! It coordinates with the current Party This Way set and there is a new punch that will work with both of these sets as well. Love, Love, LOVE this one!  I cut up some of my embossing folders to be able to create smaller borders with them. I embossed the polka dots across the center of the white piece to leave a flat area for stamping my sentiment and attaching a strip of DSP.  I stamped and punched the pennants and then strung them on a piece of our teensy Taffeta ribbon. Sweet and Simple.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Pennant Parade and Curly Cute

Ink: Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink and Wisteria Wonder classic inks

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White card stock and Subtles Patters DSP Stack

Fun Stuff: 1/8 inch Taffeta ribbon Pretty in Pink, Polka dot embossing folder cut, and Petite Pennants builder punch

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Another favorite that is going away too soon!! I love this set! The style is classic, one of those that works for all kinds of events. It has a masculine feel which is great, but it is also perfect for scrapbooks. I also use my beloved Sanded background, which is going away. I will still be using it though, so don’t let these two get away from you. I will be so sad when I have to tell someone, I can’t order it for them anymore. Good news though, there are some fabuliscious new backgrounds in the upcoming catalog! Only two weeks to go!

I wish I would have grunged up my newsprint piece a lot more for this card, but I love the way the clock face looks covered in clear embossing powder. Love the antique brads. I was glad to see they were not retiring.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Sanded and Sense of Time

Ink: Crumb cake, Early Espresso

Paper: Crumb Cake and Early espresso card stock and First Edition specialty paper

Fun Stuff: Antique brads, Vintage trinkets, Glassy Glaze EP and heat gun, sponges

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Well, if this card doesn’t cheer you up, I don’t know what would! This was a stamp camp card this month. We embossed the orange slices from the Tart and Tangy set and now that I think about it, I should have added Crystal effects to the drink glass. Hmmm…. I think I will be doing that before I send this one! This bright and cheery paper is from the new Flirtatious Specialty DSP. It includes laser cut doilies! Too Cool. And if you noticed that yummy green, it is the new In Color, Lucky Limeade! The Tart and Tangy and Cheers to You sets are retiring this month, so get them while you can.

Here is my Don’t Miss list for this catalog, I really could add about 20 more sets, but these are the tops on my list! These sets are tried and true, wonderful additions to your stamp library.

Don’t Miss…….

Bugs and Kisses Tops my list as the most versatile and darling kids set we have offered in my 13 years as a demonstrator. This set is great for cards for kids and adults, valentines, gardening and picnic/BBQ invites, or 3D projects and I have seen tons of quirky, funny cards for all occasions done with this set.
On a Pedestal and
Tart and Tangy will be stylish workhorses in your stamp library for many years
There are some holiday sets that have artwork that is timeless and wonderful and will work for years to come.
A Cardinal Christmas
A Wish For Peace
Home for Christmas
Harvest Home
From the Crypt Love the artwork on this set and
Graveyard Gala
Sanded and
Bella Toile are two of my favorite backgrounds in my library
Other great sets worth considering are
Always

Friends 24-7
Choo Choo
Cheers To You
Sense of Time
Simple Friendship

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: Cheers to You, Tart and Tangy

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Lucky Limeade Classic Inks, Versamark Ink

Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade card stock and Flirtatious Specialty DSP

Fun Stuff: Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon 1/4 inch, Clear embossing powder, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die and Big Shot

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For the remainder of the month, I’ll be highlighting some of my favorite, can’t do without sets. Sadly, these sets are retiring  and I just hate to see them go! This set has some key images that work wonderfully with other sets, including Got Treats and Create a Cupcake which are remaining in the new catalog. I also think these bold image sets are great because they survive the outdated factor very well.

In deciding which sets I purchase, there are usually three factors that I look for and this set has them all.  First it has to be a versatile set, one that I can use for multiple occasions and themes. I also look for images that will stand the test of time,  as well as one that will work great with other sets that I own or plan to own.  I will occasionally buy a set just because it thrills me so, or it may fill a void in my collection while lacking one of these qualifiers, but this one was a no brainer. Plus it is a solid image which are my favorite images for quick and easy cards.

This card was very quick and easy. The cute paper is part of a collection from the new catalog appropriately called Just Add Cake, The ribbon is a retired stripe in Baja Breeze. I just stamped the image and then layered it on a piece of Baja Breeze with a scalloped border on one side.

Stampin’ Stuff

Stamps: On a Pedestal

Ink: Baja Breeze, Peach Parfait and Blushing Bride Classic Inks

Paper: Baja Breeze and Whisper White card stock and Just Add Cake DSP

Fun Stuff: Baja Breeze striped ribbon (retired) and Scallop border punch

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