SALE-A-BRATION IS COMING!

Stampin'Up! just released their 2008 Salebration catalog and i wanted to share it with you! Salebration you say? Well, this is our annual FREE STAMP sale that everyone looks forward to each year. FREE you say? Yep, that's right! And with our new 2008 Spring/Summer Collection release it's even better this year. Simply purchase $50 and you get to choose one of the six FREE stamps sets. Yes, it's that easy! Purchase $100 and you can choose 2. You get the idea....purchase $150 and get three! The sale goes on until March 17 so you have plenty of time to get all 6. As a reminder, any order (it doesn't have to be during a workshop) qualifies during this time.

Even better, host a workshop and with $300 in sales earn a FREE set in addition to all your other hostess benefits. It can't be any better that that!

Have you thought about joining Stampin'Up!? Sign up during Sale-A-Bration and choose any current set (up to $47.95 value). Contact me today for details.

So, start planning now! Remember, All Sale-A-Bration products are exclusive to this promotion and will never be offered again.

A letter from Loretta in Iraq

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Lynne-

WOW!! many gracious thanks to you and your friends, I appreciate the support as do many of my army buddies. As Marion has mentioned we take items of need to the Wounded Warrior Wing at the Balad Air Force Hospital and hand them out to Soldiers who have illness or have been wounded in action and receiving treatment most are non serious to serious but not enough to warrant medical evacuation to Germany or the states. Many of these Soldiers have injuries are caused by flying debris to vehicle accidents most are a result of Improvised Explosive Devices IED's. Others are burns, gunshots small arms and multiple trauma injuries caused by the vehicles rolling over to avoid or hit by IED's. These are the Soldiers who deserve the thanks. I work for a Logistical General Command that is responsible for all areas of supply for the entire theater of Iraq. This means our Soldiers in our Brigades send Soldiers on the road to protect the supply routes and clear the routes for the transportation of the supplies via Air and Convoy. The Command coordinates the movement of the supplies with transportation battalions and air wing groups. We control and monitor the amount of supplies to include bottled water, fuel, mail, vehicles...you name it we are able to order it and ship it to its final destination. Think of it as the worlds largest Wal Mart supplying all sustaining items to operate a large city (at war).

My piece of the puzzle involves the personnel aspect; my office manages all the personnel that it takes to run the operation and maintains the operating strength above 70%. We conduct a huge audit of Soldiers on the battlefield every day and package it and present it to the commanding
general in a formal briefing each day. We manage 20-26 thousand Soldiers in our office. It has its days but even the bad days are not the worst it could be, we always consider ourselves fortunate that we are not on the road daily dodging IED's or flying in Blackhawk helicopters that are being targeted for high value kills. My staff and I work in an office, it's sparse but adequate with little or no excitement unless we are under attack with mortars or VBIED vehicle borne IED's.

Please know that I will share in the kindness of hearts with all that I have contact with here at LSA Anaconda in Balad Iraq and also know that Soldiers do appreciate the thoughtfulness especially items like yours that are hand made.

I will take some pictures and send to you showing a little of what its like here with this I attached a few of myself with some of my fellow comrades in arms.

Thanks again
Peace and most of all love
Loretta Vandeborne
Sergeant First Class US Army

Swap cards ready for PMS nights!

And this is what's left over for my PMS nights beginning in January. Did I say card swaps? Yep, boxes of them just ready for making cards from. So, make sure to join me beginning in January for an evening of stamping relaxation, popcorn and music as we create cards for the troops in Iraq! Make sure to check out my calendar of events but i'll also be sending emails to keep you informed.

Packaged and ready to go to the Post Office and on their way to Iraq

Addressed and ready to go to the Post Office destination Iraq!

Packaged cards ready to go to Iraq

With over 200 cards it took 2 Priority Mail Bulk Rate boxes to send them in!

The cards just kept coming. Everyone was on a roll so by the end of the day I was able to package up over 200 cards! That was just from one afternoon of stamping. Only got a chance to take one picture of our day but many thanks also to Teresa Saunders, her mom and aunt for a fabulous addition to our cards.

World Card Making Day Update

On World Card Making Day several of us gathered for a day of stamping. By the end of the day, we had stamped a pile of cards to be sent to the troops in Iraq. What started as a one day event will now continue at our monthly PMS (Popcorn, Music and Stamping) night on the second or third Friday night of each month beginning in January. Come stamp and destress from the week and life in general by recreating cards from my six years of card swaps. The cards will be sent to Iraq once again. Thanks to those who came and stamped that day. It will be truly appreciated by the troops.

Holiday Glitz Promotion

The Holiday Glitz Card making kit includes precut textured card stock, Designer Series Paper, Zig Zag stitched grosgrain ribbon, rhinestone brads, and envelopes for 15 cards! (Full-color Instructions are included too!)

Purchase this kit one of two ways: The kit by itself for $28.95 -OR- buy one of the four holiday stamp sets listed below and purchase the kit for the special price of $24.95.

Qualifying stamp sets include:

Item	Stamp Set	Price
109234	Snowfall	$23.95
106786	The Snowflake Spot	$20.95
109266	Big on Christmas	$18.95
110359	Love & Joy*	$23.95

* Holiday Mini Collection 2007

Contact me for more information or to place an order or visit the Stampin' Up! website for more details.

Here are all the projects you'll be making. Hope to see you in class!

But, there's more to the class than just the Planner! You will be receiving half of the Simply Scrappin' kit with more textured cardstock and die cuts so you'll be making 10 Holiday cards also. You'll be receiving the envelopes too so why not get your Holiday card list up-to-date so you can go home and start addressing.

Need more cards? Then make it a point to join me for my annual Christmas Card Extravaganza on Sunday, October 21st!

Holiday Planner & Cards

This is the first of my Holiday projects. Just in time to get you organized for this busy season. Create this planner and the following cards from just 1/2 of our Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit found on page 176 of the current Fall/Winter Collection 2007. Included in the organizer is an envelope for all your Holiday receipts, a wish list for everyone on your list, a memo pad and a mini calendar to keep track of all your Holiday events!

Craftin' for the Holidays

It's been a while since i've posted but life has really been nuts. Our store move is complete now so i can concentrate on stamping. The holidays are just around the corner. Can you believe that? So, what better time to start craftin'! I've been busy with Holiday projects to share with you. Come join me for a class or two or for that matter, all of them! There are some great gift giving ideas so let's get started.

Punch A Bunch Promotion samples

Thought i'd share some mini card samples. If you look real close, notice our new Textured cardstock now available in all our fabulous colors!

FREE Punch Ring with Punch A Bunch Promotion

As a special to all my customers purchasing the Punch A Bunch promotion during the month of August, I will be including a punch ring. This ring is laminated and allows you to place the punch over different stamps and see how they'll look punched.

August Punch A Bunch Promotion

For those who believe that stamping is too complicated or that you don't have the time to hand stamp cards, the Punch a Bunch promotion proves you wrong! Not only are the 30 Love Notes free, but they're in our new textured card stock, and come in colors that are not available outside of this special offer.

Saw this idea recently and thought how cool a class would be using our new designer series papers. I really have had my eye on the Viola stamp set and ordered it only to find out that Stampin'Up! was adding a new accessories stamp set called Viola To Go. Looking at the designer series paper on the computer does the paper no justice. It's so vibrant in person. I've also used our new double stitch ribbon that coordinates with our new In Color. This is our new River Rock. During the class you'll use our new Spiral Punch that was introduced earlier this year in our Spring Mini catalog. The recipe book is constructed from our recently introduced 5x5 journal. Class will be held on Sunday, August 26 so look for more details in a week or so after i return from convention.

Fall/Winter Collection has arrived!!!!

I am so excited! I can honestly say that it is their best yet. Not only are all of the new stamp sets and accessories and the samples fantastic, but the layout of the catalog is the cleanest and easiest to look at since I became a demonstrator 6 years ago. Finding the info on any given item is very simple. They have also indicated when any certain item coordinates with anything else in the book. That is a great help!
I could go on all day about what I LOVE about this new Fall/Winter Collection, but I'd like to get this announcement out to you all who have been waiting with bated breath to hear of the arrival of the new book.

Retiring Accessories from Stampin' Up!

As we bid a fond farewell to this year's retiring stamp sets, we also say goodbye to our retiring accessories. Products are usually discontinued based on current trends or lower product sales to make room for new and exciting products. Please keep in mind that discontinued accessories are available until June 30. Quantities are limited to stock on hand, so once they're gone, they're gone! Retired stamps and Stampin' Around wheels will be available through June 30.

Don't panic!
You'll see some items on the discontinued list that will still be available. In addition to discontinued items, many years we also have a number of items that are being offered in a different quantity or assortment in the upcoming catalog. This year, we're offering the following items differently in the Fall-Winter Collection 2007:

Select individual color packs of 12 x 12 card stock
Confetti White & Kraft Tiny Takeout boxes & tags
Select embossing powder colors
Select 1/4" grosgrain ribbon colors
Corner Rounder punch
These items appear on the retired list and will be retired in their current quantity or assortment, but you will be able to purchase these or similar items in a different configuration, quantity, or assortment in the Fall-Winter Collection 2007.

Click here to see the retiring accessories list.

Don't delay in stocking up on any of these retiring accessories that are a must for your collection! E-mail me or call at (925)783-8338 to place an order. I would like to get all orders in by Friday, June 29.

Look what's coming in the new Fall/Winter Collecton!

Stamp sets:
Build a Flower (but looks like Pick a Petal... guess we'll see!)
Ginormous Flowers
Fundamental Phrases
Polka Dot background
Sweet Sampler
Think Happy Thoughts
Wanted

Papers:
Certainly Celery Prints
Cutie Pie
Outlaw

Ribbons:
River Rock double-stitched grosgrain
Soft Sky double-stitched grosgrain
Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain
District Ribbon Originals
Fairytale Ribbon Originals
Jersey Ribbon Originals
Sherbet Ribbon Originals (also seen in preview brochure)
Theater Ribbon Originals
Chocolate Chip taffeta
Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain (looks like maybe 1" wide!)
Regal Rose narrow grosgrain (probably same as current grosgrain-- with a new name)

Punches:
Star punch
Scallop punch (circle, looks like about 2")
3/8" Corner Rounder punch (looks like current Small Corner Rounder... maybe we'll be getting another?)

Other cool stuff...
---On Board Clipboards!!! Yep....you're reading it right! Clipboards, not Chipboard.
The one featured is a landscape format with three clips across the top. Way cool!
---New product lines of coordinating sets, papers, and punches!
Boho West (featured-- Wanted set, Outlaw paper, Star punch)
Corner Office
Tapestry
---New Simply Scrappin' kits! Will include double-sided Designer Series Paper and Textured card stock in SU colors.
Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit
---New Simply Sent card kits! Will include supplies for 10-20 cards, depending on accessories and card sizes. Some accessories will be exclusive to card kits!
---Pretties Kit! Kit of pretties! j/k.
fabric flowers (think white Primas-- can be dyed to match!)
halfback pearls
hatpins
beads
rhinestone brads
and more!
Now are you excited for the new catalog??? I can't wait for it to get here!

Only about 2 weeks until the catalog is expected to start arriving!-- but now I am positively drooling in anticipation! Watch out for more updates! New stamp sets......New colors!



Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Holidays &Wishes
Ink: River Rock, Purely Pomagranate, Timber Brown Stayzon
Paper: Whisper White, River Rock
NOTE: Flower is up on a dimensional and has a brad in the center.

The list of retiring sets has been out for quite some time now, allowing you the opportunity to purchase those retiring sets that you've had on your wish list. Be sure to get them before they are gone for good! Once the current catalog ends at the end of this month, these sets will no longer be available - not even to demonstrators! On or around June 20th, Stampin' Up! will also be releasing the list of retiring accessories, which I will be posting here on my blog as soon as I receive it from Stampin' Up! These retiring accessories could be anything at all - inks, papers, embellishments, tools - you never know what is going to make the list. Last year, for example, they retired some ribbons, brads, eyelets, tools, Scrappin' Kits, tags, boxes, etc. The list was rather extensive, but it made room for all of the wonderful additions to the catalog that we saw this past year and it has kept Stampin' Up! on track with current trends. While these retirements are sad news for those of us who love absolutely EVERYTHING in the current catalog, here's the good news - you will have one more opportunity to purchase any of these items before they are gone! I will be placing ONE more order before the end of June - on Saturday, June 30th. I recommend that you take a look through the current catalog and Spring Mini Catalog and be sure to order the retiring stamps and accessories that you love, as well as whatever "essential items" (adhesive, envelopes, paper, etc.) you buy on a regular basis - don't forget - prices will increase slightly in the next catalogue. Why not save a little by stocking up on those essential items?! Please contact me by Saturday, June 30th to place an order, and keep your eye out for the retiring accessories list, coming soon to a blog near you!

The new 2008 In Colors Have Arrived!

I'm so excited to share the new 2008 In Colors. Get ready for an unbelieveable year with the new In Colors from Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate!