Stampin' Up!'s Online Spectacular

 Starting today, Stampin' Up! is offering great deals on products.....some of them up to 50% off!!!!!!  This is an ubelievable sale.....I have never seen this before....what's even better is that if you place an order of $150 or more you receive free shipping AND hostess benefits!!!!!!!!!  Wow....

Now is the time to get ready to start making your holiday cards and gifts and what better way to start is by saving on the products that will help you start creating!!!!!  

Need help getting started to create?   Why not take this opportunity to jump on board and take advantage of the 50% off starter kit....with the starter kit not only do you get the products you need to get started BUT you also get the techniques and ideas that will make your cards and gifts a snap!!!!  Stampin' Connection is the best way to find card and gift ideas for the holidays from other demonstrators and techniques galore!!!!!!!  The half off starter kit runs through November 30th.  Just think.....$310 worth of Stampin' Up! products and ideas AND up to 50% off of products.....I am going straight to the website to check out all the new deals.....I love being part of this family......get on board and you can join in my elation too!!!!!!!!

It's the Hap, Happiest Time of the Year!!!!!

 This is the most exciting time of the year for me....I love the holidays.....my house has been decorated since September with Halloween, converted November 1st to Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend the Christmas decorating will commence.   But before I start decorating for Christmas, I need to start CREATING.  Remember that word?  In this economy, handmade gifts and cards are making a comeback.  Not that they have ever gone away, but it's getting back to connecting to the relationships that we hold dear in our hearts that are so important, especially this time of year. 

My passion for creating a gift or card for someone special in my life is that once I see that reaction on their face, it makes the work all the worthwhile.  When I tell people what my passion is, they say that it's because you are so creative.  Not true, I am given the tools to become creative and it makes me so proud of myself to know that I love what I do and love to share my passion.   Wouldn't you love to show the ones you love by creating a gift or card and seeing the great expressions on their faces when they see how much care you put into your creation........and to reward yourself by saying "I can do it.....and I love it!"  It just takes one class or workshop to get on the band wagon and better time to do it is right now.

 Wouldn't you love to create this house and have it on your mantle to show off?  Or have handmade decorations and ornaments on your tree like this one.....you may look at these projects and say that they are so difficult....but guess what?   They are so easy and I would love to help you.....Stampin' Up! has several promotions going on right now.....as I posted earlier that we have the holiday bundles promotion....we have bundles several products together to help you start creating for the Holidays.   And the best part is that we also have directions and ideas to help you create them.   The greatest thing that Stampin' Up! gives to their customers is to share what we love and they never leave you hanging.....directions and samples galore!!!!!!!

Today kicked off the 50% off the starter kit.....in my last post I explained in length what joining Stampin' Up! is all about.  If you have ever wanted to see what the buzz is all about in creating cards and gifts, now is the time to find out.  Everything that you see in the above picture is everything you will receive if you decide to join our passion.  The best part that not only will you receive everything you need to get started, you will also be connected with other people who love and share the same passion that you do.   Stampin' Up! demonstrators are connected to a wealth of information and instructions on how to create beautiful, yet simple cards and also handmade gifts that will having everyone buzzing.....I really suggest that you go onto the SU! website and see what we have to offer....also go onto my website and explore all what the company is offering right now for the holidays.....if after seeing everything still doesn't get you excited.....just come over to my house and make a card or gift with me.  If you have something in mind that you would like to see or do, my door is always open.....I would love for you to see what makes me so happy!!!!!!!

Can You Say 50% Off??!!

 I couldn't believe it when I went onto the Stampin' Up! website this morning to see if there were any new articles and BEHOLD there is the greatest promotion that will start on Monday, November 15 - November 30th.  This has never promoted since I have been a demonstrator for over 4 years.  LOOK at the picture above....see how much is in the basket?   That's what my order looked like when I first went to a workshop over 10 years ago.  Wouldn't you love to have all that for half the price?   What you see in that basket is worth $310......I know that's alot of money.   Well what if I told you that you can get all of that for just $87.50???????   I was floored when I read the article.....what a great idea.  When I joined the starter kit was over $200.  In July, the company decided that the price should be lowered to $175....NOW FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY  you can get it all for HALF the price.

Now I know you're saying to yourself.....I don't have time to hold classes, I'm not creative and I know I would get all the products and just let it sit there....

I too said those same things but once I started looking into it more, I realized that I could do it just because I know I have a passion for making people happy by giving them MY handmade cards and gifts........Play Santa to yourself or ask someone special to give you an early Christmas present!!!! 

By signing up you not only get the products but you also will get..................................
*You can choose between the standard starter kit or the digital starter kit.
*Dec. 1st - demonstrators get to preorder from our new Occassions Mini catalog and Sale-A-Bration catalog, you can save 30% or more on all new stamps, ribbon flowers, pom pom trim and red glitter paper, new sizzex dies, new fabrics and so much more.
*Access to our Stampin' Connection - our exclusive demonstrator online forum with over 120,000 searchable card and project samples and hundreds of technique videos. ( I love this website and it's where I get most of my ideas!)
*Why not? NO required starter parties, you can simply take advantage of a great deal and walk away or just submit $300 in sales each quarter (that's every 3 months)....your purchases count at full retail even though you get 20-40% discount on them.
*You can be your own hostess and get all the hostess benefits and still also get your 20-40% discount.......YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOST CLASSES TO FULFILL YOUR PASSION TO CREATE....TAKE IT FROM ME.....I have a class when I want to and I make cards and sell them.
*You will have me to help you with all you want to do to create or have a class.....

So if you would like to join and have questions, just email me or call....
I suggest you go onto my SU! website and browse around....come Monday you decide to join....just go onto my website and click on the join icon.  You will need to have my password to sign up.....castellini. 

I would love to hear from you....come see how much fun I'm having....

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to all of my followers and customers for your continued support in helping me promote my business....I appreciate all of your comments and know that I read them all.  Since the creation of my blog, I have had over 2,200 visits.....I was floored when I looked at my stats.  I have been wanting to showcase this stamp set french foliage (p. 14 of the holiday mini catalog) for a while now.   The leaf images are so life like, it looks like you made an imprint from an actual leaf.  The watermark images lend that added vintage touch to the card.  The base of the card is old olive CS.  The leaf and watermark images were stamped on very vanilla cardstock.  The colors used were cajun craze, so saffron, old olive and elegant eggplant.  To add some depth to the card I used the square lattice EB folder and ran a piece of so saffron through the big shot.  The layer of cajun craze that is under the so saffron was run through the crimper and sponged with early espresso ink.  One of the new products I have grown to love is the distressing essentials kit (118762 for $19.95).  It comes with all of the tools, from files to distressing ink, to give your projects that aged look.  I love how distressing the paper softens the card.  Just remember, the simpliest techniques go the longest way.  The thanks sentiment comes from the thank you kindly stamp set (p.158 in the IBC...idea book and catalog...111700).  It was stamped on the new specialty  Autumn Spice DSP (p.13 in the holiday mini....120808).  The great aspect of this paper is that it is textured and heavy weight so it can be used to make 3D projects and gifts...

I am getting ready to get my Christmas stamp a stack card classes ready and will be posting in the next few days what I will be offering as Holiday classes....this is a great time of year before the Holidays really kick in to get organized with cards to send and gifts to make for coworkers, teachers, neighbors, friends and family.  Keep checking in to see what classes will fit into your schedule.  Again, thank you for your continued support!!!!!

Another Purse......

 Since I have had this purse template, I just love making these adorable purse sets.  The purse can hold up to 6 cards with envelopes.  The front pocket of the purse could be used for small gift tags or cards.  Cherry Cobbler is my most favorite color right now.  I tend to pick a piece up everytime I make a card.  The designer paper is called Love Letter.  When I first ordered it, I had no idea what to do with it since black and red aren't really in my color schemes.  I definitely had to think outside of the box.  Once I started putting the purse together (you can purchase the template on Becky Robert's blog), I really liked how the DSP looked.  Using the cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon and the vintage brads gives the cards that extra special touch.  I loved the vintage feel of each card and would definitely use this designer paper more often.  Thanks for stopping by!

Need Last Minute Halloween Ideas??

 I just came across the greatest blog ever!!!!   A fellow demonstrator Diana Ball-Seitz has some AMAZING Halloween treat ideas and great Halloween decorations.....you definitely need to check out her blog, Stamping Moon.   You will not be dissappointed....I am definitely subscribing to her blog and following it.  I just love getting ideas from other talented demonstrators since I tend to not have the greatest creative gene!!!!  Enjoy her website and I hope she can inspire you as much as she has inspired me!

Cards For Sale

I had stated in an earlier post that I have been making cards to sell in a local gift shop.  I am so excited that they are doing extremely well.  What's nice about selling the cards is that it gets your name out and as long as you have the SU! logo on your card, you can sell them.  The card to left is using the watercolor trio stamp set.  I colored the stamp using the pear pizzaz and concord crush markers.  The pear pizzaz poly twill ribbon adds that special touch on this clean and simple card.  

This next card was using the fifth avenue floral stamp set and on the lily I added some dazzling diamonds glitter.  This is again a very simple and clean card and theglitter adds the special touch.  

I love this next card using the circle circus stamp set.  This card is used with the new in colors....pear pizzaz, concord crush, peach parfait, poppy parade and blushing bride.  There is no rhyme or reason to this card, just random stamping of the circle stamps and a simple sentiment.  This last card is a little busy for my taste but I liked the lay out of the card.  Using the greenhouse DSP I was able to compliment the card with the friends never fade stamp set.  Using pear pizzaz, daffidol delight, poppy parade and pumpkin pie ink pads I stamped the scalloped squares and adhered them to the marina mist cardstock.