FINAL DAY TO ENTER - What's Retiring Contest!

Last Chance List Contest

Here's the details:
· Go through the current Idea Book and Catalog and pick out the 12 stamp sets that you think will most likely retire. Plus #13 which will be used as a tie breaker.
· Send the list to me by May 31st. Please use this email: mrauchfuss@aol.com (no attachments)

· Whoever gets the most right will get a $25 gift certificate for SU merchandise from me.

· The retirement list comes out June 1st and I'll announce the winner around June 3rd or 4th. See FULL rules below.

You must be a customer of mine to participate (A customer is someone who either places their Stampin' Up! orders with me or online orders through my Stampin' Up! website). To qualify as a customer for this contest you can also place a minimum $25 order in your email with your guesses.

Good luck and have fun looking through the catalog!! Remember - what ever goes away just leaves more room for NEW STAMPS!!

Last Chance List Rules:
Open to all of my customers
Compile your list in an email (no attachments)
List your top 12 retiring stamp sets + one more from the Big Idea Book & Catalog (#13) is for tie Breaking purposes only
Do not include hostess sets - as all of those will be retiring
Put "LAST CHANCE CONTEST" in the subject line of your email
Email mrauchfuss@aol.com
One entry per person
Deadline to enter is May 31st at midnight

Memorial Day Thoughts...

MEMORIAL DAY 2010 I received this in an email from my brother Greg last week and saved it to post today - I think it says it all. Enjoy your day and thank a veteran!!


It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom
of religion.

It is the

VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom

of the press.

It is the

VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom

of speech.

It is the

VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom

to assemble.

It is the

VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right

to a fair trial.

It is the

VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right

to vote.

It is the
VETERAN

who
salutes the Flag,

It is the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,


ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them all!!!

Anything But a Card.....

We had our May ABC Stamp Camp last week and the focus was on coordinating masculine projects that could be given for graduation, Father's Day, etc.....Here's what we made.

The first project was a stand up desk frame made from two coasters. We covered it inside and out and added ribbon for a hinge. Here it is closed - and here it is open - you can add your pictures to the brown matted areas. The striped cardstock is only taped down on each end to allow you to slip your picture under.

Then we made this cute little gift card holder using one of our notecard envelopes - it's the perfect size. Here is the envelope folded up with a belly band - Here it is with the belly band removed and opened - And finally here it is with a gift card sticking out - just so you can see how it works. Cute huh!?

We also made this gift box full of peanuts and a matching card -

It all turned out great - and we had a wonderful group stamping. Hope you can join us next time!!

Paisley's 7th Birthday

I cannot believe it - but my oldest grand-daughter Paisley is 7 years old!! How is that possible. Here she is with her baby sister Zamarah - she is such a great helper. We celebrated her 7th birthday with a family dinner at Claim Jumper last week. Here she is her Papa and cousin Kamili, getting ready to blow out the candle on her birthday cupcake. Here's her Uncle Aaron being - well Aaron :) and Papa! Here are Kamili and Paisley again -

and Makai and Heidi - And Paisley's Mommy, Jenee with Zamarah and brother Prince. Everyone had a great time celebrating, but it is quite a handful having dinner with six kids under 7 years old. June 6 she's having a pool party with her friends from school, and then we have a break in grandchild birthdays till August.

SSS's hit again

So Lyn's Secret Sister sent her an amazing card this week - all folded up on the outside - it just looke plain green with a ribbon wrapped around it - but open it up and WOW - you have a tri-fold scenic view that is beautiful. Check it out. And here's a close-up of one of the butterflies - the coloring is beautiful. Nice job SSS!

Stampers 10 3-D Project

Here's the 3D project we did for this month's Stampers 10 Club - check it out. It's a cute little box made with our Top Note Die Cut. Here's a view of the back of the box. We cut out the topnotes and stamped the beautiful flowers from Elements of Style - then colored and scored to wrap around a small red box base. The Top Note is attached to the bottom and side of the box, leaving the top open when you untie ribbon. This is our amazing satin ribbon in real red - it is beautiful! Here is the front - it would be perfect for putting that expensive piece of jewelry in. Maybe I can give it to hubby and see if it gets filled :) See you soon!

Stampers 10 Card

Card of the month! Here is the card we made recently in our Stampers 10 group. It was cased from a couple examples on SCS with some changes from me - and I love how it turned out. The awning is made from the striped sheet of DSP in our Old Olive color, scalloped and rolled around a marker to get the curve. I put a couple of dimensionals under the awning at the top to help it stand out a little. The shelf is a piece of Old Olive card stock scored and scalloped. We watercolored the pots and foliage and shaded a little under for a shadow. The foliage is cut out and set on top of each planter. I think it turned out wonderful.
I'm taking sign-ups for my next round of Stampers 10 that will begin in August. You have a $15 purchase commitment per month for 10 months and for that you get a FREE Idea Book and Catalog; FREE mini catalogs; 10 workshops to attend where you'll made two projects at each and see all the newest products; and one month to hostess where you'll get a hostess gift and all the hostess benefits - plus you get to stamp on a regular basis with friends - what could be better! If you live in the Simi Valley, CA area and are interested in joining this group email me!!

Blog Candy Link

My daughter Heidi is giving away some terrific blog candy on her blog as a thank you for her 5,000 hits on her blog - check it out and try to win -

http://stampinking.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-candy.html

Stampers 10 Hostess Gift

Here are the Hostess gift cards for the month of May - I did three different designs in bold colors using our Party Hearty set - it's perfect for birthdays!! Each card has dimension as some of the elements are popped up - they also each include some of our bold brights buttons! Here there are in the cute little cello bag and topper as I presented them. Cute huh!! Hope they liked them.

May Discontinued Set Sale Reminder

Hi all - a couple sets have sold but there are a few left. Check them out and see if you'd like to add them to your collection at this NEW discounted price. They will be sold first come/first served and I will try and update as sold as soon as they are. I've been selling SU for a long time now and have lots of old sets to sell so check back each first of the month to see what new offerings I have. Each set is listed with it's price below it - if you live near me and can pick it up - then that is the total cost. If you are out of the area - it will be an additional $3.95 for shipping costs and I will mail within 48 hours of receipt of your payment. You can pay by Credit Card, Money Order or through PayPal. Email me to buy, or to ask any questions you might have. If you click on the images, they should enlarge to let you see more close up. Sale ends May 31st - come back June 1 to see what new sets I'll have for sale.

Let the SALE Continue -

SOLD - Unfrogettable - 10 stamps - Well Loved! Cost: Was $14.00 Now $13.00

This set contains the following verses: "you're unfrogettable" "hoppy birthday" "sorry i frogot" and "have I toad you lately that I love you?"

SOLD - The Snowflake Spot - 7 stamps - Well Loved! Cost: $11.00

Verses: "Cheers" and "Joy"

Sweet Dreams - 6 stamps - new & unmounted - Cost Was $12.00 Now $11.00

This was a 2008 Hostess Set in the Spring/Summer Collection

Verses: "thinking about you because you're so nice to think about" and "sometimes on the way to a dream, you get lost and find a better one."

SOLD - Polka Dot Punches - 4 stamps - new & unmounted - Cost $7.00

This was a former Sale-A-Bration set made to coordinate with several of our punches - 5 Petal flower, Scallop Circle, Heart and Circle.

Love Ya Bunches - 6 Stamps - New & unmounted - Cost: Was $12.00 Now $11.00

Verses "love ya bunches" "happy bird-day to you!" "thanks a bunch!" and "of all the gifts life could send - the best is knowing you're my friend!"

Another May CSL Secret Sister Gift

This SSS gift was dropped off for Bobbie at my house - but she didn't actually get it till we got together for our Shoebox swap. It is from her Secret Sister and it's amazing - beginning with the gift bag. Followed by a fantastic card - and ending with this lovely gift plate. Can you believe it!! I hope whoever did this gets me in the secret sister drawing next year :) They used some wonderful flowers of their own plus the ones that Heidi and Julie made and have shown on their blogs - so you can check those out at -

http://stampinking.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-lilly-tutorial.html and
http://simistamper.blogspot.com/2010/02/instructions-for-paper-rose.html

More Secret Sister Gifts

Here is a lovely card Sandy received from her SSS this month - And Julie's SSS dropped off this cute package

With a decorated candle inside. I'm not sure of the fragrance - but man did it smell good when I opened the package. Nice work ladies.

May Shoebox Swap Part II

As promised here are the Great Cards We Made at our Shoebox swap - it was so FUN seeing what the ladies came up with - the cards were diverse and wonderful and now I have nine new cards to add to my stash!! Woo Hoo!!
Theresa's - Sandy's -

Mine -

Lyn's -

Karen's -

Kathy W's -

Heidi's -

Carrie's -

and Bobbie's -

Aren't they great! Nice job ladies - can't wait till our next Shoebox Swap!

May Shoebox Swap Part I

So last Saturday was our May CSL's Shoebox Swap hosted by myself, Heidi, Theresa and Bobbie - there were nine of us swapping and we had soooo much fun. Thank you Heidi for opening your home. Here's a picture of the great food we enjoyed. Here's a picture of the special prize drawing we did for those who donated cards for our troops. Lyn made this adorable patriotic gift to give away and Karen was our winner!! Thank you to those of you who donated cards to this worthy cause. Here are a couple pictures of some of the group enjoying the afternoon of fun and stamping. These are the little thank you's the ladies got to pick from just for attending. Everyone there also received a doorprize, but I forgot to get a picture of them :(

A close up of thank you gift.

Tomorrow I'll post all the great cards we did! Be sure to check back

Another Mother's Day Gift

Here is a cute card my daughter Heidi gave me for Mother's Day - and here is an additional gift she gave me - each year she makes a scrapbook page that I display in a frame, and when the year is over it fits right in a scrapbook. Isn't that a great idea - think about it for your Mom! She'll love it.

This year she gave me a picture of all the grandkids at Easter - what a nice idea!