Homemade Holiday Gifts

Q: I’m thinking of making gifts this year. What do you suggest? A: Handmade gifts are always popular because they show the heartfelt thought and effort that you put into choosing and creating the perfect, unique gift. Advent calendars are fun gifts to give and create ahead of the holidays, and gifts like a set of cards, homemade treats with decorated bags, holiday banners, and calendars are ideal for a variety of people and budgets. Advent Calendars The ever-popular tradition of opening a door a day to get a piece of candy, a special quote, or even a suggestion of a fun holiday activity can be made even more fun when you create a custom Advent calendar. The detailed Advent calendar on page 36 of the Holiday Mini Catalog uses the Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die (#124587) and the 25 & Counting stamp set (#123792 wood mount, #123794 clear mount). This makes a great format for sharing the Christmas story or suggesting holiday activities like cookie baking and decorating the tree. If you prefer a different type of Advent calendar, try the Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890) to die cut Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper (#124002). Stack and glue the boxes in a square or in the shape of a Christmas tree and fill each box with small gifts or candy. Budget-Friendly Tasty Treats For less expensive gifts that are perfect for neighbors, co-workers, or for children’s classes, you can make homemade candy or cookies and package them in our skinny Cellophane Bags (#124134). Add a stamped topper to the 1” x 8” tube and you have a unique and yummy gift that anyone will appreciate. For larger items, we also have rectangular cellophane bags in three sizes: 3” x 5” (#103104), 4” x 6” (#102757), and 6” x 8” (#102210). Or create quick & easy, custom decorated boxes using our Kraft Gift Boxes (#124106) as your starting point. Wrap with our 1-1/4” Striped ribbon and add a hand-stamped tag and you have a great gift. Personalized Gifts For those special people on your list, you can step it up a bit and create a custom holiday banner using the Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die (#124098) and coordinating Stocking Accents Originals Die (#124099). Use die-cut or chipboard letters to put a family name or a message like “Joy” or “Merry” on the banner with one letter per stocking. String the stockings on a Satin ribbon with the adorable and functional Mini Clothespins (#122942). And everyone needs a great calendar for 2012. You can create a custom calendar using our digital paper crafting software, My Digital Studio (#118108). The great thing about using My Digital Studio to make a calendar is that you can completely customize each page with your favorite designs or use one of our designer templates to save time. Make the calendars extra special when you add photos of your family members on their birthday or anniversary dates. Plus, you can design once and print as many as you like! Or design once and then just tweak it a bit to customize the calendar for different families! Handmade Joy There is a joy to creating and giving a handmade gift that is extra special. Store-bought gifts just don’t have the same heart as something that you designed and created with someone special in mind. Plus, you get the added benefit of slowing down and enjoying the experience of creating that gift without having to fight crazy mall crowds or stormy winter roads! Contact me today to plan your holiday gifts and you can get started with the fun and festive process of creating your heartfelt, holiday gifts!

Christmas Keepsake Box Stampin Up!

Christmas Keepsake Special Offer

As a special offer related to a recent advertisement in Woman’s Day Magazine, the Christmas Keepsake Box----is available for demonstrator or customer order from now until December 31, 2011 (or while supplies last). This box is an ideal gift, and is perfect for getting new customers papercrafting in time for the holidays. Unlike the original offer in July, this Christmas Keepsake Box does NOT include the Pines & Poinsettias stamp set.

Special Offer Details:

• Orders can be placed as demonstrator, customer, workshop, or online orders.
• There is no minimum purchase required.
• The Christmas Keepsake Box includes written instructions, but the following supplies are not included:
  • Pines & Poinsettias stamp set
  • Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Real Red  Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Adhesives
  • 3/16" Corner Punch
  • Paper Cutter
  • Paper Snips
  • Needle
  • Glue gun

Item #	Name	Price
129024	Christmas Keepsake Box	$19.95

 

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps

Sales period: October 1, 2011 - January 3, 2012 Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps are a brand-new product that will appeal to crafters and non-crafters, alike--not to mention kids! The easy-to-use cookie stamp has a solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images: a heart, a jack-o-lantern, and a snowflake. Just make your favorite shortbread cookie dough (or one of the two included recipes) and stamp away! Create beautiful, hand-stamped cookies in a flash. The stamp images are completely food-safe and child-friendly. Item Description Price 125152 Includes solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images, two recipes, and tips for use $16.95 Coordinating Products: Page Description Price 19 Simple Snowflake Single Stamp $8.95 20 Homemade Single Stamp $9.95 162 Creatively Yours Set $18.95 194 Baker's Twine $2.95 224 Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die Set $21.95 15* Kraft Gift Box (4) $2.95 *From the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog Start shopping here Shop NOW!

My Digital Studio News!

Just in time for the Holiday Season, we are pleased to announce our new bulk buy pricing. This means, the more you order, the more you save. Find great deals on Greeting Cards Postcards Trifold Cards Tags Swatchbooks  NEW BULK PRINT PRIICNG FREE UPDATE, New Print Products & Discounted Bulk Pricing The My Digital Studio software update is available today, giving you more print products and discounted bulk pricing. Wait until you see the new CALENDAR OPTIONS Update your software by: opening MDS, then clicking Help and then Check for Updates, or manually update with the file in the MyDigitalStudio.net Resources section click here Find out more about the print products offered on My Digital Studio.net Would you like to get an additional 20% off your printing prices?  Join Stampin Up! today as a demonstrator and enjoy a minimum of an additional 20% off your print prices and download prices!  Click here to start your Stampin Up career! Join Stampin Up. New MDS Holiday Hostess Option The hostess-only Savor the Season Ensemble Content CD is available beginning today!  Select this MDS Hostess CD with your order of $150 or more.. just type in 127752 in the hostess free merchandise section of your order.  This CD is only $16 as your hostess selection. Place your order here....Shop Now!

Stampin Up Big Shot Promotion

	Robin Traufler 803-788-4764 rtraufler@hotmail.com Visit My Site | Shop Now!

Simply Sent October Promotion

Buy Two Simply Sent Kits-Get a Free Stamp

Dates: October 1-31, 2011

Promotion Details:  Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Our Simply Sent Kits are the ideal choice for the beginning crafter. The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it's easy to create cards for any occasion.

Buy any two of the following Simply Sent Kits:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	122375	Simply Sent Great Day	$12.95
193	122377	Simply Sent Everyday Elegance	$11.95
193	122376	Simply Sent Sweet Moments	$13.95

And get a FREE coordinating stamp set:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	123682	It's Your Day	$8.95
192	124685	Es tu día (Spanish It's Your day)	$8.95
192	124800	C'est ta fête (French It's Your Day)	$8.95
193	123686	Everyday Wishes	$9.95
193	123684	You're Cherished	$8.95
193	124865	Chérissons les anges (French You're Cherished)	$8.95

Things to Remember

• Orders may be placed on any order type (customer, demonstrator, workshop, or online).
• Simply Sent kits ordered as part of a hostess's free benefits do not qualify for the promotion.
• There is no limit to the number of times a customer may participate. 
• Ordering deadlines:
  • Phone: Monday, October 31, 2011; 6:50 PM (MT)
• OEX or online: Monday, October 31, 2011; 11:50 PM (MT)

Stampin Up Big Shot Recruiting Promotion!!!!!

Hello All,
'
I am so excited about this promotion from Stampin Up!  If you have been sitting on the fence NOW is the time to consider joining the Stampin' Up! family.  Here are the detail.....

Big Shot Recruiting Promotion

Dates: October 1-31, 2011

Promotion Details: The Big Shot is a big deal! And during October, when you help your customers explore their own creativity by introducing them to the Stampin' Up! opportunity, they'll get a FREE Big Shot (or up to $100 in free Stampin' Up! products) when they join the Stampin' Up! family! Start your Stampin' Up! year strong, while sharing the fun and creativity of Stampin' Up! products with your friends, family, and neighbors.

Things to Remember

Product Bonus

• Any new recruit who signs up during the promotion period will receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or $100 in Stampin' Up! products of their choice from any of our current catalogs.
• New recruits who use the online IDA will be given access to the Promotional Product Bonus order type in OEX approximately one hour after they complete their online IDA (they will be provided a link to OEX for this redemption via e-mail). In this order type, they will either enter the item number for the Big Shot (item 113439) or the item numbers for up to $100 in Stampin' Up! products. Products can be chosen from any current catalog and shipping is free!
• New Recruits should ensure that their free total comes as close as possible to $100 without going over since the Promotional Product Bonus order type will not allow items beyond $100 to be added to the order.
• Those who mail in their IDAs can simply list the items they want for free on their accompanying order form.
• New recruits will have until November 30, 2011, to redeem their product bonus.

Starter Kit

• New recruits may purchase the standard or Digital+ Starter Kit, and may add the Stampin' Memories, Definitely Decorative, or My Digital Studio Software Add-On for the regular add-on price.
• New recruits may substitute a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ($7.95 or less; see pages 218-219) for the Always Bird Décor Elements (p. 233) that comes standard in the Starter Kit.
• New recruits who join Stampin' Up! during this promotion are still eligible for any programs available to a new recruit, including but not limited to the Extra 10% Instant Income offer, Stampin' Start, and the opportunity to purchase a Business Booster Kit.
• As always, the demonstrator Starter Kit is only available to new recruits and not to current demonstrators.
• Starter Kit order form deadlines:
  • Mail: Monday, October 31, 2011 (received in office)
  • Online:  Monday, October 31, 2011; 11:50 PM (MT)

Bows and Bows

Q: How do you tie great bows? I look at the catalog and see perfect bows, but mine never turn out looking that nice. What’s the trick? A: There sure are some amazing bows out there! You are right - there are a couple of tricks. First of all, there are many ways to tie bows. I’ll share a quick tutorial below with one of my favorite bows! Second, knowing which types of ribbons work best with certain bows is a big help. And lastly, once you’ve learned about the first two tricks, the last trick is just good old fashioned practice! Ribbons Picking the right ribbon for your size and type of bow is important. Our lovely 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is ideal for bows on 3-D items, décor, and gifts. It can be used to make bows on cards that you intend to hand deliver, but is too bulky for standard mailing. Ribbons that are narrower and have a thinner, softer texture work best on cards you intend to mail. Ribbons like 1/2" Seam Binding, 3/8" Taffeta, 3/8" In Colors Ruffled, 1/4" Grosgrain, and 1/8" Taffeta make smaller bows with less bulk and work well for mailing. Ribbons like the 5/8" Satin, Crochet Trim, and 5/8" Organza can also work for cards you are mailing depending on the type of bow you tie. Bows There are many different ways to tie bows. Some are basic bows like what you tie in your shoelaces, while some fancy bows can have double or triple loops. Some bows use a brad to hold the ribbon in place instead of a knot and other bows are tied around something, like fork tines, as a template. I’d be thrilled to teach you a variety of bow-tying techniques that you and your friends will love. One of the most popular I do at workshops is the “fork bow". It always gets “oh’s, ahh’s, and wows"! Book a workshop with me this fall and we can plan to include some great bows in the demonstrations and make 'n’ takes. You and your friends will love knowing how to make a variety of bows for cards, scrapbooks, crafting, and even basic gift giving! The Elegant Bow is one of my favorites because it is easy, flat, and looks like you know a secret bow-tying trick, which you will! I’ve included a quick tutorial for you below that I hope you enjoy! Elegant Bow Tutorial To create an Elegant Bow, you will need a 5" and a 2" strip of ribbon. 1. Lay a 5" piece of ribbon out flat. Add a dab of SNAIL to the center. 2. Fold in the right end of the ribbon and adhere to SNAIL. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end. 3. Fold in the left end of the ribbon and adhere to SNAIL. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end. 4. Place one end of a 2" piece of ribbon over the center of the folded ribbon creating an upside down “T" shape. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end that is over the folded ribbon. 5. Wrap 2" piece of ribbon around the folded ribbon until it overlaps and adheres to itself. Pull ribbon snug so it is flat, but not so tight that it causes the ribbon to gather. 6. Trim off excess ribbon. 7. The Elegant Bow is complete. Press it flat or push the ends gently to puff it up a bit based on your preference. Adhere the elegant bow to your project alone or layered on a strip of ribbon. Summary I hope you enjoy creating the Elegant Bow. I’d love to teach you and your friends a whole variety of bows, tips, and tricks that will really add that extra-special touch to your cards, scrapbooks, décor, and other crafting projects. Contact me today to book your workshop and we can decide what types of bows will “wow" you and your friends with!

August Stampin News

	Robin Traufler 803-788-4764 rtraufler@hotmail.com Visit My Site | Shop Now!

You are receiving this email from Robin Traufler because you may have purchased a product from me in the past or you have subscribed to my mailing list. To unsubscribe please see instructions at the bottom of this email. To ensure that you continue to receive emails from me, please add rtraufler@hotmail.com to your address book today.

I'm In Salt Lake City!

Hello Everyone,

I am in Salt Lake City for the Stampin Up Convention!  I will try and post some pictures during the week of all of the fun.  My friends are flying in today.  My family and I flew in on Saturday with some friends.  They left me this morning to head on to Grand Teton and Yellowstone.  My friends and I start our nonstop fun tomorrow morning with our group called the Late Night Stampers.  On Monday I will be in a stamp camp from 8am - 1pm..then a shoe box swap from 2pm - 4pm.  The a WOW party at 7pm  and thats just Monday.  Everyday is jam packed with great fun, great friends and creativity....Keep posted.

Robin

Stampin Up's New Hostess Program

Q: I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the new Hostess Benefits. What makes it so exciting?

A: You’ve heard right, there is a lot of excitement out there about the new Hostess Dollars program. People are excited because the new program is simple and hostesses get a whole lot more in terms of choices and flexibility. Based on the order total, you get Hostess Dollars to spend any way you want! Sounds worth getting excited about, right?


Hostess Dollars
    The old hostess benefits program used a chart that included a combination of exclusive hostess products and free merchandise based on the order total. Frankly, the whole chart thing could be a bit confusing, and getting the exclusive hostess products you really wanted could be challenging. The new Hostess Dollars program is all about simplicity, flexibility, and giving hostesses exactly what they want! Whether online, through a workshop, or even just a personal order, if you have a merchandise total of $150 or more, you get Hostess Dollars to spend on anything in any of the current catalogs. Simple as that!

Anything You Want
   Don’t you just love how that sounds? I do, too! With the new Hostess Dollars program, you earn Hostess Dollars to spend with any order of $150 or more (merchandise total before tax & shipping). Orders of $150-$199.99 earn $25 Hostess Dollars, orders of $200-$249.99 earn $30 Hostess Dollars, and so on. No complicated charts to worry about. Plus, once your order total reaches $400, you also earn an item at 50% off! (More on that below). So what do you do with your Hostess Dollars? You get to spend them on anything in any current catalog. Yes, you heard that right, anything! You want ribbons, stamps, Designer Series Paper, SNAIL, ink pads and re-fills — you got it! You can shop from both the Idea Book & Catalog and the current Mini Catalog. Definitely worth getting excited about! Plus, you can still choose from exclusive hostess products.

Exclusive Hostess Products
    Yes, we still have the popular exclusive hostess products like stamps, Designer Series Paper, and CDs with My Digital Studio content. We haven’t forgotten how much hostesses like to have exclusive perks, we’ve just improved the choices and value that you receive. With the new Hostess Dollars program, the exclusive hostess products are given a Hostess Dollar price and you can use your Hostess Dollars to purchase any exclusive hostess product you want with no more levels to worry about. The exclusive hostess products are specially priced at a discount so you get extra value when you choose them. For example: the highest value exclusive hostess product is a stamp set called Happiest Birthday Wishes. You can get the set of 11 birthday-themed stamps in wood-mount (#122615) for only $21 Hostess Dollars even though the actual value would be $36.95 if it were sold as a regular item in the catalog. It’s also available in clear-mount (#122617) for only $15 Hostess Dollars (valued at $25.95). Even though the hostess products have a regular dollar value listed, they can only be purchased with Hostess Dollars. Exclusive hostess products are available for as little as $8 Hostess Dollars and even the largest set is only $21 for wood-mount and $15 for clear-mount! So, with the smallest workshop order of $150 you could get the highest value exclusive hostess product and still have $4 left to buy some ribbon, ink, or embellishments. You choose if you want to spend all your Hostess Dollars on exclusive hostess products, on regular catalog merchandise, or a combination of both. Isn’t it great to be in charge?

50% off Items
    If you have a workshop of $400 (only a bit above the average workshop total), you’ll also earn any full-priced catalog item at 50% off! You can choose the Big Shot (#113439) which is normally $99.95, My Digital Studio software (#118108) which is normally $79.95, or your favorite stamp set, and pay only half price. It’s like making your own 50% off sale! Plus, as your order total goes up, you can earn even more 50% off items! The only exceptions to what you can choose as your 50% off item are the Professional Print Services for My Digital Studio which don’t qualify for the 50% discount since they are not catalog merchandise. What will you choose for your 50% off item?

Get What You Want
    It’s never been simpler or more rewarding to be a hostess! Call or email me today and you can be one of the first to benefit from the exciting new Hostess Dollars program! With so many new goodies in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog and complete flexibility, you’ll love how spoiled you can be!

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello Everyone,

Happy July 1st to you.  I am excited to start a blog.  My goal is to keep up with my stamping/crafting/classes etc here.  Please subscribe so that you can keep up with what is going on. 

There is a lot going on at Stampin Up!  Today is the first day of the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  It is awesome. You can check it out at my website....http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/robintraufler/.  If you would like to get a catalog in your own hands just shoot me an email.  The cost of the catalog is $15 ($10 + $5 s/h).  If you host a workshop...you get it for FREE!

Stampin Up! has also just announced a recruiting promotion for the month of July.  During the month of July you can join for $99. Here is a picture of the starter kit....

The $99 kit contains over $180 in products and business supplies--including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! All items below are recommended, but a new demonstrator can substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.

Page	Item	Description
57	123225	Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
69	122740	Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
177	102277	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
177	105216	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
177	103133	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
177	119706	Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
180	101179	Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
182	107311	Whisper White Note Cards (20)
185	124339	Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
195	124142	Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
203	122129	Blender Pen (1)
205	118486	Clear-Mount Block C
206	104332	SNAIL Adhesive

You will also get a great supply of business supplies to get you started with Stampin Up.  Here is a list...

• Getting Started DVD
• Getting Started Guide
• Guest Invitation Postcards (100)
• 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
• 2011 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
• Stampin' Up! logo vinyl
• Décor Elements applicator
• To My Hostess Envelopes (10)
• My Digital Studio Marketing DVD
• Recruit Folders (5)
• Recruit Brochures (20)
• Customer Order Forms (50)

You can't really go wrong for $99.  Plus if you join in the month of July you will receive a special Christmas Keepsake Project Kit.  These are only for those folks who join in July.  Here is picture of the completed project. 

The Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit--a $40 value--contains the following products (quantities are 1 unless otherwise noted):

• Pines & Poinsettias Set (wood-mount)
• Keepsake box
• Scallop borders (cut from Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die)
  • First Edition Designer Series Paper (3)
  • Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6)
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
• Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece*
• Real Red Top Note (cut from Top Note Bigz Die)
• Real Red Decorative Label (cut from Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
• Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
• Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric*
• Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
• Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
• Linen Thread
• Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter
• Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Bauble
• Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons*
  • Large Wild Wasabi
  • Small Real Red
• Mini Vintage Tags

Additional Supplies Needed

• Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
• Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
• Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Marker
• Adhesives
• 3/16" Corner Punch
• Scallop Circle Punch
• Paper Cutter
• Paper Snips
• Needle
• Glue gun

 I must admit that I love being a demonstrator.  I have been one for over 5 years and have enjoyed every moment.  Here are some of the great benefits of being a demonstrator

• A 20 percent product discount!
• A free monthly issue of Stampin' Success, Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator-only magazine!
• Sneak peeks at brand-new products!
• Invitations to exclusive Stampin' Up! events!
• Regular get-togethers to stamp!
• Free access to a community of 30,000+ crafters/stampers and creative artists, as well as 160,000+ project samples!

Speaking of the Stampin Up community...I will be leaving for Salt Lake City next Saturday (July 9th) to start my week of Stampin Up Fun at our yearly convention.  You cannot imagine the excitement being together with around 3,000 other people who love crafting/stamping as much as you do.  Not to mention the free stamps, projects, and surprises.   I will be in several pre-convention classes with a wonderful group of ladies and gentlemen called the Late Night Stampers.  Convention starts later in the week.  It will be pretty much non-stop crafting and fun for a whole week.  I hope that some of you will join me at convention next year...you will not regret it. 

I have several classes coming up in the next several months.  I have started a Technique Club called "Club 4T"...Third Thursday Terrific Techniques.  We will meet the 3rd Thursday of every month.  Each month we will learn 2 different techniques.  You will make a sample for your technique book and a full card featuring that technique.  The cost of the class is $15/month.  You only need to bring adhesive.  You can see details on my website.

I will also be hosting a class at the end of July.  The dates are July 22, 23, and 24th.  I don't have the specific cards designed yet because I want to use my new stuff from convention.  Keep posted and I will update in a few days about the upcoming class.

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July.

Robin