Monday, May 29, 2023

Norwegian Fjords SU Incentive Trip - Day 1

 Sunday, May 21, 2023

I just returned from our amazing incentive trip - a cruise through the Norwegian Fjords!!*  As I do every year - I will be posting a series of posts this week sharing my experience.  I do this as both a travel journal for myself - and to thank all of you who helped me earn this trip.  Enjoy!

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As most of you know we were supposed to leave on Friday and spend Saturday in London, but our flight was cancelled by the airline; and we had to settle for flying out Saturday late and arriving at Heathrow Airport/London Sunday morning around 11AM.  We got there exhausted, and had to make our way through the airport and customs to the arrival site where SU! employees met us to take us to the Ship.  With the confusion of the flight change, we were not on the list - but they added us when they saw all our paperwork.  Then we got a text from the hotel saying we were supposed to be there on the shuttle - even though we were told the hotel had been cancelled.  Argh!!

So, it took some time to get this resolved, then the shuttle we were on had to take an alternative route due to a bad accident - so we ended up taking a lot longer going through several little villages (the roof of the bus scraped as we went through a little tunnel).  But we finally got to the ship around 3:30pm - to just make it on as one of the last ones.  Went through out safety check and headed to our room, as it was almost dinner and we hoped to get a little settled.  We found this adorable little welcome magnet on our door as we arrived and that brought a smile.
I was so happy to see a coffee pot in the cabin - but guess what?  I never even used it.  We had the refreshment package so went to the little kiosks for cappuccino's and latte's - but was still comforted by the fact it was there if I needed it :)

Stampin' Up! also welcomed us with a sweet card and a sweet treat!  These were so good - we ate very few sweets on the entire trip - just not our thing.  But I did eat these - one a day on four different days - they were light and the frosting was perfect!!

Just before heading to dinner I took a few pictures of the port from the ship, before we left - I asked Paul if we could shop at IKEA - but alas, he said no.

We did the assigned dining at 5:30 PM each night and were seated with four other delightful Stampin' Up! couples - I'll post a picture later this week.  Then in the evening SU! hosted a welcome reception with more food.  

Paul and I enjoyed a Strawberry slush - but were too full to handle anything else -

But I did want to share some pictures of what was offered - Starting with these beautiful fruit and veggie displays - they were all over and works of art -
Some yummy looking sliders, sandwiches and skewers of meat and shrimp.
And an amazing array of desserts - 
Just before we closed our curtains to get a good night's sleep I took this picture of the seas - this was just before 10 PM but the sun didn't set till much later - so it still was bright and beautiful.  Good thing they had black out curtains on the cabins.  We were exhausted by this time - so sleep was welcome!  End of day 1!  ~Maureen

*Less than 1% of Stampin' Up! demonstrators earn the Incentive Trip each year - so it was quite an honor!
~*~*~*~*~

You can check in the SHOP NOW tab at the top of this page to find my current hostess code at any time.

To order any of Stampin' Up's products you can go directly to my online store - www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net  and click on SHOP NOW.  Please use the Hostess Code TQ4BBRCY through May 31, 2023 to get full benefits from me-
*NOTE: If your personal order is not part of a current party and you are ordering over $150 in merchandise - please do not use this code; as your order without the code will qualify you to earn a minimum of 10% in hostess benefits.   
~*~*~*~*~
MAY BUNDLE BONUS!

 

Proceeds from every purchase of this bundle during the month of May 2023 go to support the
  Doors of Hope Ministry in Murfreesboro, TN 
Plus, you will receive a Bonus Tutorial PDF (sent within a week following your order) featuring great projects and ideas with this bundle. You must order using the hostess code above to get these benefits!

~*~*~*~*~

If you don't currently have a demonstrator, and would like a catalog or would like to learn more about Stampin' Up! and our products, please email me at crazystampinglady@gmail.com

*Note: Product pricing varies by market.  Check with your local demonstrator if you are not in the U.S. to find out your cost.  Product active to purchase at the time of this post.
_________________________________________

Always Stamping, Maureen - the Crazy Stamping Lady!


Sunday, May 28, 2023

Share it Sunday! Free tutorial - Beautiful Balloons

 
It's Sunday - and time to share another great card and free tutorial! Today I'm sharing bright and cheery card using the Beautiful Balloons Bundle - This is new in the new Annual catalog. Perfect for birthday - but how about here as a congratulations card.  After all it is graduation season.  Hope you like it too!  Enjoy!
#161457 Beautiful Balloons Bundle - $52.00

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Click HERE to find and print your tutorial sheet.

Beautiful Balloons May 2023

All images © 1990-2023 Stampin’ Up!®

Supplies:   

Stamp Sets: Beautiful Balloons Bundle (161457)

·       Card Stock and Paper: Bright & Beautiful DSP (161449); Boho Blue (161724); Azure Afternoon (161719); Vellum (101856); Berry Burst (144243); Lemon Lime Twist (144245)

·       Stamp Pads: Boho Blue (161650); White Craft Ink (147277)

·       Tools: Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (149653); Paper Trimmer (152392); Bone Folder (102300); Heat Tool (129053); Stampin Emboss Powders Basics (155554); Scalloped Contours Dies (155560)

·       Miscellaneous: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755); 23-25 In color Dots (161620); Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack (155475)

 Measurements:

 ·       Boho Blue 8 ½ x 5 ½ scored at 4 ¼

·       Azure Afternoon – 3 ½ x 4 5 /8

·       DSP – 3 ¾ x 5

·       Limon Lime Twist – Scrap

·       Berry Burst – Scrap

·       Vellum – 3 x 3 ½

 Instructions:

 1.    Fold Boho Blue and burnish with bone folder. Adhere DSP to front of card.

2.    Use the 2nd to largest die in Scalloped Contours and cut with azure afternoon.

3.    Cut out 3 balloon piece with vellum, medium balloon with berry burst and smallest with lemon lime twist.

4.    Using boho blue ink and working quickly, stamp sentiment on one of the balloons sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat until shiny.

5.    Adhere the balloons to the other balloons with glue.

6.    Using the balloons as a guide, stamp in craft white the tails of the balloons. Let dry.

7.    Adhere over the tails with dimensionals. Adhere on the card front.

8.    Tie bows with white baker’s twine and adhere over the balloon tie.

9.    Scatter the gems as shown.

~*~*~*~*~

You can check in the SHOP NOW tab at the top of this page to find my current hostess code at any time.

To order any of Stampin' Up's products you can go directly to my online store - www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net  and click on SHOP NOW.  Please use the Hostess Code TQ4BBRCY through May 31, 2023 to get full benefits from me-
*NOTE: If your personal order is not part of a current party and you are ordering over $150 in merchandise - please do not use this code; as your order without the code will qualify you to earn a minimum of 10% in hostess benefits.   
~*~*~*~*~
MAY BUNDLE BONUS!

 

Proceeds from every purchase of this bundle during the month of May 2023 go to support the
  Doors of Hope Ministry in Murfreesboro, TN 
Plus, you will receive a Bonus Tutorial PDF (sent within a week following your order) featuring great projects and ideas with this bundle. You must order using the hostess code above to get these benefits!

~*~*~*~*~

If you don't currently have a demonstrator, and would like a catalog or would like to learn more about Stampin' Up! and our products, please email me at crazystampinglady@gmail.com

*Note: Product pricing varies by market.  Check with your local demonstrator if you are not in the U.S. to find out your cost.  Product active to purchase at the time of this post.
_________________________________________

Always Stamping, Maureen - the Crazy Stamping Lady!

Friday, May 26, 2023

SF-2023 May Blog Hop - Celebrating Men!

 

Be sure to hop through all the blogs on the list near the bottom for tons of wonderful inspiration as we create some great projects celebrating the men in our lives.  

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I fell in love with all the new colors Stampin' Up! introduced in their recent color refresh - and took this opportunity to showcase them.  So many of them have wonderful gray undertones that works so well with nature cards - so I pulled out my "Wildlife Wonder" set - I was soooo happy this set made it back in the new annual catalog.  It is perfect for simple masculine cards for sure.
#157923 Wildlife Wonder $24.00
Here is the card I came up with using Pebbled Path, Copper Clay and Pecan Pie. I love how it came together.  
For the sentiment I stamped it and die cut using the circle in the "Labels Aglow" Christmas set - I loved it because I was able to weave the linen thread back and forth through the holes and then added a bow.  Cool look, and I added a few adhesive backed solid gems in Copper Clay.  Then finished the inside with the birthday sentiment and owl image.   
and of course - course - no NAKED envelopes!

 ~*~*~*~*~

Thank you for stopping by my blog.   Maybe you got some inspiration for creating something wonderful of your own.  I would love it if you would leave me a comment below and stop back soon.  Don't forget to click through on each name below to see even more awesome ideas. 


~*~*~*~*~

You can check in the SHOP NOW tab at the top of this page to find my current hostess code at any time.

To order any of Stampin' Up's products you can go directly to my online store - www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net  and click on SHOP NOW.  Please use the Hostess Code TQ4BBRCY through May 31, 2023 to get full benefits from me-
*NOTE: If your personal order is not part of a current party and you are ordering over $150 in merchandise - please do not use this code; as your order without the code will qualify you to earn a minimum of 10% in hostess benefits.   
~*~*~*~*~
MAY BUNDLE BONUS!

 

Proceeds from every purchase of this bundle during the month of May 2023 go to support the
  Doors of Hope Ministry in Murfreesboro, TN 
Plus, you will receive a Bonus Tutorial PDF (sent within a week following your order) featuring great projects and ideas with this bundle. You must order using the hostess code above to get these benefits!

~*~*~*~*~

If you don't currently have a demonstrator, and would like a catalog or would like to learn more about Stampin' Up! and our products, please email me at crazystampinglady@gmail.com

*Note: Product pricing varies by market.  Check with your local demonstrator if you are not in the U.S. to find out your cost.  Product active to purchase at the time of this post.
_________________________________________

Always Stamping, Maureen - the Crazy Stamping Lady!

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Share it Sunday! Free tutorial - Zany Zoo!

 
It's Sunday - and time to share another great card and free tutorial! Today I'm sharing a simple, fun card using the Zany Zoo bundle from the new Annual Catalog. Everything about this bundle shouts Zany and Fun.  Hope you like it!  Enjoy!

#161315 Zany Zoo Bundle $54.00
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Click HERE to find and print your tutorial sheet.

Zany Zoo

All images © 1990-2023 Stampin’ Up!®

Supplies:

 ·       Stamp Sets: Zany Zoo (161305); Zany Zoo Bundle (161315)

·       Card Stock and Paper:  Pebbled Path (161722); Basic White (159276); Zoo Crew 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper (161304)

·       Stamp Pads: Pebbled Path (161648)

·       Tools: Zany Zoo Dies (161314)

·       Miscellaneous: Pebbled Path Blends (161658); Lemon Lime Twist Blends (161682); Classic Matte Dots (158146);  Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Stampin’ Seal Adhesive (152813); Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)

 Measurements:

 Pebbled Path:  5 ½” x 8 ½”; 1” x 4”

  • Basic White: 5” x 3 ¾”
  • Zoo Crew DSP:  1” x 3” strips (4)

 Instructions:

 1.     Score and fold the Pebbled Path card base.

2.     Adhere the strips of Zoo Crew DSP along the front.

3.     Die cut the alligator from the Zoo Crew DSP.  Color in the tires with the Pebbled Path Dark Blends.

4.     Stamp greeting on the strip of Pebbled Path using Pebbled Path ink. Adhere this strip to the base using dimensionals.

5.     Adhere the alligator using dimensionals. 

6.     Color three of the white or vanilla Classic Matte Dots with the Lemon Lime Twist Blends.  Adhere these to the card front along with two black dots.

7.     Stamp Basic White piece for the inside, and your envelope, to match.

~*~*~*~*~

You can check in the SHOP NOW tab at the top of this page to find my current hostess code at any time.

To order any of Stampin' Up's products you can go directly to my online store - www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net  and click on SHOP NOW.  Please use the Hostess Code TQ4BBRCY through May 31, 2023 to get full benefits from me-

*NOTE: If your personal order is not part of a current party and you are ordering over $150 in merchandise - please do not use this code; as your order without the code will qualify you to earn a minimum of 10% in hostess benefits.   
~*~*~*~*~
MAY BUNDLE BONUS!

 

Proceeds from every purchase of this bundle during the month of May 2023 go to support the
  Doors of Hope Ministry in Murfreesboro, TN 
Plus, you will receive a Bonus Tutorial PDF (sent within a week following your order) featuring great projects and ideas with this bundle. You must order using the hostess code above to get these benefits!

~*~*~*~*~

If you don't currently have a demonstrator, and would like a catalog or would like to learn more about Stampin' Up! and our products, please email me at crazystampinglady@gmail.com

*Note: Product pricing varies by market.  Check with your local demonstrator if you are not in the U.S. to find out your cost.  Product active to purchase at the time of this post.
_________________________________________

Always Stamping, Maureen - the Crazy Stamping Lady!