Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Sale-A-Brate!

 The best time of the in Stampin' Up! year has arrived - SALE-A-BRATION!

Sale-A-Bration is the biggest sales event of the year, and this year there are four great Sale-A-Bration sets for you to choose from--as well as a Designer Series Paper & Quick Accents pack, a Ribbon & Button pack, digital downloads, and Décor Elements!

There are three ways for you to earn free products:

1. Spend: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 you spend (before tax and shipping)!

2. Host: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $300 in workshop sales*, in addition to the regular hostess benefits! *Note: This benefit is only available on qualifying customer, demonstrator, and workshop orders. Online orders do not qualify.

3. Join: Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and receive 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+), plus a special Sale-A-Bration bonus bundle valued up to $50!

Sale-A-Bration lasts until March 31. Contact me or visit my website to take advantage of this awesome event. 
~Cita

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Look who is Turning One!



My daughter is turning one in three weeks!! Aagghhh!
AND I haven't gotten her birthday invitations/announcement sent out (bad mommy).

So tonight, after Sybella went to sleep, I sat down with my husband, "watched" a movie, and created this invitation using My Digital Studio. I was so happy and impressed with myself and the invitation. I ordered a crap load of these babies, and hopefully they will all be sent out by the end of this upcoming week. I couldn't wait to share it with you, so here I am blogging instead of going to bed.

Positioning the pictures wasn't as painful as I originally thought it would be, especially if you turn on the guides. I also like how you can add a border around the pictures, like I did with the main picture. They call it a "Mat" in MDS. I originally thought that I was going to purchase a few downloads to create the invitation, but everything I used for this project comes with the MDS software, so I didn't have to purchase anything. It worked out great. Have I told you lately that I love MDS?

Ok. Off to bed. I have to rest up for the football games tomorrow.

Happy Digital Crafting!
~Cita
PS - Don't I have cute baby? :-p

Friday, January 21, 2011

The Joys of My Digital Studio

I wanted to take a moments to write a few points about the wonders of My Digital Studio. It truly is a great product and I have enjoyed making many digital scrapbook pages with it, and I tend to use it a lot for making invitations to my Stampin' Up! events. Check out my Facebook page for samples. And while your there, "like" me. :)

Anyways...My Digital Studio....

What is My Digital Studio? 
MDS is an intuitive digital design software featuring Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive art, designs, and colors. You can create an array of interactive digital scrapbooks, cards, calendars, and more—which you can then print using Stampin’ Up!’s professional print services, or save to DVD, e-mail, or upload to the Internet. 

What about the software? Is it hard to use?
No, it is not hard to use. The great thing about MDS is that it was designed to accommodate users with all levels of ability and experience. The software will also run on a PC or Mac. 

What does the software include?
 The My Digital Studio boxed version includes nearly 2,000 elements–stamp brushes, embellishments, pre-designed templates, punches, Designer Series Papers, card stock, and more. That’s an over $500 value!

Don't think you're creative or don't have enough time? 
No worries, use the designer templates for inspiration.You can also start with a blank canvas if you are up to it.

What kind of content is available for the MDS?
In addition to the content that come with your MDS you can purchase additional content from my website. There's dynamic digital content offerings available for purchase monthly, which includes exclusive content only available in digital format.
 
Can I use the images from MDS in other programs?
Yes, multiple file formats allow for seamless install with My Digital Studio or other design programs.

What about printing?
Stampin' Up! has professional print services that use high-quality, sewn-reinforced binding, printing, and paper. Visit my website for pricing. 

How much does MDS cost?
MDS is competitively priced at $79.95.
Visit my website to order yours now. 

Contact me if you have any more questions about My Digital Studio. Take the leap from traditional scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking. It's a great experience!

Happy digital crafting!!
~Cita

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Little Bird Told Me

A little birdie told me that if you host a qualifying workshop (at least $150 in sales), you can get free stamp sets that you can use to make cute cards like this one. I used the Punch Potpourri hostess stamp set to make this card. Since this stamp set is a hostess set, you can only acquire this set by hosting a workshop or purchasing a minimum of $150 of product.Hostess stamp sets like this one are a great reason to host a workshop. In addition to a free hostess stamp set, you also qualify for at least $15.00 worth of Stampin' Up! products. And all you have to do is open your house up, invite your friends, and provide some refreshments. I'll take it from there and do the dirty work. Contact me if you are interested in hosting a workshop or if you have any questions about the whole thing. .

Stampin' Cita's Tips:
  • Colors used: Baja Blue, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, and Old Olive
  • Stamp sets: Punch Potpourri and Teeny Tiny Wishes 
  • Accessories: Two-Step Bird Extra Large punch, Ticket Corner Small punch, Greenhouse Gala DSP
  • Base is 3x3. Cut a 3x6 inch piece of cardstock and score at 3 inches. 
  • Stamp the bird twice in Pink Pirouette on Whisper White cardstock. Using the bird punch, punch out the first stamped bird image. For the second stamped image, use the wing part of the punch to punch out a part of the stamped image (preferably the part with the swirlies). Adhere the wing to the bird using a Stampin' Dimensional.
  • Take a strip of Old Olive cardstock and use the bird punch to punch out the branch. 
  • Use Chocolate Chip to stamp "Friend to Friend" or any of the other awesome sentiments in the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

~Cita

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

New Downloads for My Digital Studio

Have you used My Digital Studio recently? I have been hard at work using MDS to digitally scrapbook Sybella's first year. I have three more weeks to scrapbook before it's done (she turns 1 on Valentine's day). I'm hoping to share some of my pages with you when I'm done with the book.

Today, Stampin Up! released several new items that you can download and use for your MDS projects. Check them out and then head on over to my website to purchase My Digital Studio or these awesome downloads.

Item  Description   Image  Price  Content  
124030  Tempting Turquoise Patterns Designer Series Paper             $1.95  Four Tempting Turquoise
Designer Series Paper Patterns  
124031  Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper         $1.95  Four Old Olive Designer Series Paper Patterns 
124033  Pretty in Pink Patterns Designer Series Paper              $1.95  Four Pretty in Pink Designer Series Paper Patterns   
124022  Sweet Stitches Designer Buttons     $2.95  Three button styles in Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, and Daffodil Delight. Total of 12 buttons.  
 
124028  Pattern Pieces Stamp Brush    $1.95  One oversized fabric pattern. Coordinates with the "Oh Sew Suite" product line. 
 
124018  Blossom Petals Punch            $0.95  Four-piece stamp brush set and one 5" x 7" greeting card designer template.
 
124019  Build a Blossom Stamp Brush Set     $5.95  Twelve-piece stamp brush set. Coordinates with the digital Blossom Petals Punch. 
124027  Eat Chocolate Stamp Brush Set     $3.95  Four-piece stamp brush set.
125161  Top 10 Photo Book Template     $14.95  This 24-page designer template (11" x 8-1/2") was used to make the My Digital Studio Professional Print Product Sampler, demonstrator supply item #124261.
 
125162  2011 Pennant Desktop Calendar             $14.95  This 25-page calendar template (5-1/2" x 6-1/2" calendar with easel) was used to make the My Digital Studio Professional Print Product Sampler, demonstrator supply item #124261.
 
125623  Baja Breeze Flower Bouquet Birth Announcement            $1.95  Double-sided baby boy announcement postcard designer template. Colors are Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, and Basic Gray.
 
125163  Regal Rose Flower Bouquet Birth Announcement             $1.95  Double-sided baby girl announcement postcard designer template. Colors are Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, and So Saffron. This template was used to make the My Digital Studio Professional Print Product Sampler, demonstrator supply item #124261.
 
125164  Play Date Invitation Designer Template             $1.95  Birthday greeting card invitation template. Front and inside of card are pre-designed. Template includes nine embellishment pieces and was used to make the My Digital Studio Professional Print Product Sampler, demonstrator supply item #124261.
 
125165  Snowflake Flurry Holiday Trifold Card Designer Template             $1.95  This 4" x 9-1/4" trifold card designer template was used to make the My Digital Studio Professional Print Product Sampler, demonstrator supply item #124261.

 
124542  Chat Room Rock Star Stamp Brush Set     $5.95  Ten-piece stamp brush set.  
124543  Chat Room Friend Stamp Brush Set    $5.95  Ten-piece stamp brush set.  
124486  Chat Room Baby Stamp Brush Set     $5.95  Ten-piece stamp brush set.  


Enjoy!
~Cita

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Missing Christmas Already

I loved this past holiday season, and I'm kind of sad that is over; it went by too fast! I'm also kind of in denial that we are not in the holiday season anymore. I'm still jamming out to my Glee Christmas album.

I made quite a few Christmas cards this past year and was unable to share all of them on my blog. Not wanting them to be forgotten, I decided to post them anyways ( I know, I know. Christmas is over :( ). I hope you enjoy them anyway, and maybe they will be an inspiration for next year.

I was really proud of this card. I thought it was simple, but it turns out that my lovely stamp-a-stack attendees showed me that it was the most time-consuming card that I have designed in a while.


This card was CASEd from a fellow demonstrator that I found on Stampin' Connection (a benefit of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator).  Even though the Northern Flurry Textured Embossing folder was featured in the now expired Holiday Mini, it is a carryover item and is still available for purchase (120902, $7.95 US). 


This card is another one that I CASEd and offered it at my stamp-a-stack in November. I love the new Rhinestones. They are the perfect touch to this card.


In October, I held a gift card holder class where we made two different Christmas gift card holders. This was the first holder we made.

And here is the second gift card holder. This one was my favorites. I love the Baja Blue and Chocolate Chip color combo.

Hope you enjoy my throwback to Christmas. You know, it's never to early to start preparing! :)
  
~Cita

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Hello Occasions Mini Catalog


Were you a little sad that yesterday was the last day to order from the Holiday Mini Catalog? Probably not since today the Occasions Mini Catalog is available! It’s here and it’s online for your viewing pleasure! Click here to look at all the awesome products and new stamp sets feature in the mini, and then head on over to my website to make your purchase. The Occasions Mini Catalog will be available until April 30, 2011. Stay tuned for my Occasions Mini Catalog List of Awesomeness. Enjoy the new catalog!  

~Cita

Monday, January 03, 2011

Last Day to Order from the Holiday Mini Catalog


It's been a great catalog, but today we must say goodbye to the Holiday Mini Catalog. You have until 11:50 pm (MT) to place your order. Remember, not all products in the mini catalogs carryover, so this may be your last chance to get that awesome stamp set you fell in love with earlier. Shoot me an email if you have any questions or head on over to my website to make your last minute purchases.

Happy Stamping! 
~Cita

Snowed In

It's like we were destined to not go to school today. I woke up to a beautiful 6 inches of snow in my yard. We are in the lower elevatio...