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Here are some benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator

• Enjoy a discount of 20 or 25% off all Stampin' Up! products.  Don't we all love discounts?  
• Get a Sneak-Peak of all upcoming catalogs.
• We can pre-order from all the upcoming catalogs.  This way, when the catalogs become live, we can show our customers the brand new products.
• Meet a whole new group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators that share your enthusiasm for this great company.
• Attend monthly meetings if you are local in Wisconsin.  These are held by my up-line.
• Belong to a fabulous Facebook group.  They will answer your questions, show their projects and continually to inspire anyone.

If you are considering becoming a demonstrator, Stampin' Up! has two great options for you.  This is the first time they have offered options.

 

Option 1 - Choose a Starter Kit of $175 worth of product and pay only $99. The Starter Kit is completely customized by you. There are no guidelines to follow and no product is off limits.   Order strictly to what your needs are.

Option 2 - New!  Choose the same Starter Kit of $175 worth of product and pay $129,and receive an exclusive Stampin' Craft & Carry Tote.  This tote is available for a limitied time only to new demonstrators and is valued at $50.  I was able to order a tote, and let me tell you, it is great.  It's made with high quality and durable material.  It's pockets gallore, inside and out,  and will even hold 12 x 12 paper with no problem.  At totes go, it is fabulous.  This is the option I would highly recommend to anyone.  

We were able to pre-view the tote in Orlando at On-Stage.  Here are some pictures I took.  Look how much this tote holds!

           

Oohhh,

Another perk on either option...shipping is free!  You are saving money right from the start.    

Being part of Stampin' Up! has been incredible journey.  I have met two groups of people.  One is those who are out to build their business and make money.  The more you put in, the more you get out.  The second are those hobbiests.  These people are just enjoying the product themselves and maybe placing an order for friends, but not active in the business aspect.  They are their own best customers!  Being in either group is just fine.  It's your business, run it the way you want.

I'm here if you have any questions.  Just contact me at ckcharland@charter.net

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

It's Sunday night and is anyone else proscrating?  I am doing just that.  Putting off this blog post by going on Pinterest and anything else I can think of.  

My honey-do-myself list went pretty good.  There was one thing I didn't start, but that's ok.  I went overboard on other things that was on the list.  For example, instead of just vaccuuming my stamp room, I decided to re-do parts and re-organize.  This wasn't planned but totally necessary.  Now I need my husband's help in putting things on the walls.  Since he is travelling again this week, I'm hoping for next weekend.  By then, hopefully it will be vaccuumed.  It really needs it.  

I made this card especially for Megan.  Before she left for England, I tucked it inside her suitcase.  Megan found it the next day when she was unpacking.  It brought a smile to her face, knowing she was so far away from her family.  I received a Snapchat right away for a thank you.  The picture is not from my usual place in my stamp room.  That's because I forgot to take a picture!  Duh!  So, this picture comes all the way from England.

The stamp set is in the Annual Catalog and is called En Route.  When I saw this set, I knew it was a must.  With the travel we do, someday I will get back to scrapbooking and this set will definately come in handy.

Did you get the new Rectangle Stitched Framelits?  They are sooo awesome.  I'm having trouble NOT using them on all my cards.  I contained myself and only used them around the three travel symbols.  Very tempting to use them around the sentiment too.

The neutral cardstock is from othe All is Bright DSP pack.  It's now retired, but don't throw it away!  This particular pattern is not Christmas related and works perfectly.  I wanted a very subtle pattern, but not enough to take away from the rest of the card.  The Blueberry Bushel and Lemon Lime Twist really pop out against it.

The "map" had to be fussy cut out with the paper snips.  I was so glad it was pretty much straight lines.  Made it much easier and tolerable to cut out.  At least the globe could be cut out with the 3/4 Circle Punch.  

I have her address, so now I can send her another card.  We Skyped today and Megan is doing fine. The highlight for her was being able to see her cat and dog.   She adjusting to the English way of living and trying to make some travel plans. We can't wait until we can start making our travel plans to go and visit her.   

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stamping' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

Product List

 

 

This week I had my monthly demonstrator meeting.  I participated in the card swap and was sooo pleased with the cards I received.  You aren't going to see my swap card tonight.  It's also my club thank you card and I don't like to show that before they receive it in their order.

First up:

The first card is the SAB So Hoppy Cling Stamp Set.  I'm not very big into frogs, but...aren't they so cute?!  There has been some adorable cards I've seen on Pinterest.  It's very tempting to purchase this set.  Especially since it's FREE with a $50 order.  Hmmm.  Something to think about.  

The birthday card is using the Piece of Cake Photopolymer Stamp Set.  I really like how they did a wash of Daffodil Delight unde the cake.  It really grounds the cake against the Whisper White, like it belongs there.  The cake is cut out with a punch and is sold as a bundle.  I do love my punches!  They are even easier than framelits.

Next up:

The "Thinking of You" card is made from the Wonderful Romance Cling Stamp.  I was tempted with this set.  But, I did get the Floral Romance Speciality DSP.  What really caught my eye, is that the pack includes regular cardstock paper, but also vellum!  Yes, paper and vellum together!  I was so glad to see this.  The paper used is the vellum.  I'm not sure if it's cut out by hand, or with the framelits because this stamp set does come in a bundle. 

This Gear Up Garage Cling Stamp Set makes masculine cards easy!  The cogs framelit is awesome.  It's one of my favorite things about this Bundle.  Don't you also love the key that is on the sentiment?  It is metal, not plastic.  So cute.  Masculine cards are sometimes hard to make, so I love it when I get a good one from a swap!

And lastly:

What a fun stamp to color!  Is is the By the Bay Cling Stamp.  The best thing about this set, is that you can earn it FREE with a $50 order!  Wouldn't you want to be in this house on the water?  I would take it, even just for a vacation.  This is a great stamp to color with  the Stampin' Blends.  They would give this image tons of possabilities.  Do you like the Buffalo Plaid on the mat?  I'm kind of digging it.  

Hope you like my swaps as much as I do!

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

I'm always looking for good side dishes that are low carb.  This one came across my feed on Pinterest and intrigued me.  It's a low carb recipe, but also it's gluten free!  Bonus for those people are gluten free.

We do like zucchini.  Usually it's sauted with onions, garlic and Italian Seasoning on the stove top.  It's best when the zucchini is not completely cooked through.  I like it a bit firm.  When it is fully cooked through it's soft and almost transparent.  It's still good that way, but it's not my preference.  

So, I tried this recipe last week.  I liked it.  My husband thought it was ok, which means he will eat it when I make it again.  We had this with some chicken (I can't remember what kind), and it was enough for dinner.  We both didn't miss a side dish of potato, or pasta.  

LOW-CARB EASY CHEESY ZUCCHINI BAKE 

• 2 medium-sized zucchini, cut in slices or half-moon slices
• 2 medium-sized yellow squash, cut in slices or half-moon slices
• 2 – 4 T chopped fresh basil (more or less, depending on how much you like the flavor of basil)
• 2 T thinly sliced green onion
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 3/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup grated mozzarella or other mild white cheese such as Monterey Jack (Use low-fat or full-fat cheese, whichever you prefer. Use a little more cheese if you like it extra cheesy!)
• 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan, plus a little more for the top if desired
  (I would use less Parmesan if you only have the very finely grated Parmesan from a can.)
• salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C.  Spray an 8″ x 8″ or 8″ x 11″ baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.  (I originally used the small size, but now I prefer a slightly bigger dish.) Wash the squash and cut in slices or half-moon slices.  Wash basil, spin dry or dry with paper towels and finely chop or slice. Slice green onions.
2. Combine the sliced squash, chopped or sliced basil, sliced green onions, dried thyme, garlic powder, 1/2 grated mozzarella and 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan and stir together until the veggies are coated with cheese and the herbs are well-distributed.  Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Put the mixture in the baking dish and bake uncovered for about 25-30 minutes, or slightly longer. (Pierce a piece of zucchini with a fork to be sure it’s mostly tender.)
3. When the zucchini is nearly cooked through, take the casserole dish out of the oven and sprinkle over the remaining 1/2 cup of grated mozzarella, plus a little more Parmesan if desired.  Put the dish back in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted and nicely browned and zucchini is fully cooked.  Serve hot.
4. This kept well in the fridge overnight, but mine was gone the next day so I don’t know if it would last longer than that!

You can see the original post here: https://kalynskitchen.com/recipe-for-easy-cheesy-zucchini-bake/

I will agree, the leftovers are fine.  None went to waste in my house. 

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper 

 

 

 

 

I finally dug out my Stamparatus again.  It's one of those things that is great, but I am not in the habit of using it on a regular basis yet.  This time it didn't take long for me to learn my lesson. 

The large tree on the Golden Afternoon Cling Stamp Set wasn't working in my favor.  I started by stamping the leaves in Mint Macaron, followed by the tree trunks in Soft Suede.  Neither one stamped to my liking the first time.  No way was I going to try and stamp over and make it look good.  Out came the Stamparatus.  I sponged or daubered on the colors using the ink pads.  It took two stamps for each color, but I liked the outcome.   No way I could have done it the normal way.  

Here is the card I was working on:

Instead of using the sponges or daubers, the markers would have worked too.  They give the image a softer look.  I also sponged some Soft Suede around the edges of the Very Vanilla.  I also dabbed just a little on the Mint Macaron, but hardly any.  Didn't want to make the card look too messy.

The leaves I also sponged in Mint Macaron.  The right side is a little heavy in sponging.  I prefer the light look on the left side.  No card is ever perfect.  

In my stash, I found this Nature's Twine pack.  Completely forgot I had it!  Bet that never happens to you.  Just a coincidence there was Mint Macaron twine in the pack.  I usually don't get that lucky.

The Stamparatus really did work great.  Saved me a lot of frustration today.  I really need to get in the habit of using it more. And you can store it in the awesome bag Stampin' Up! now offers.  It keeps the stamparatus, magnets, plates, grid paper, and more all together in an adorable bag.  Plus... it has that awesome floral pattern on the outside.  I love that pattern!

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 tams# 29257

Product List

 

 

Another Sunday has come and gone.  But, I did get my livingroom back.  As much as I love Christmas, I love getting my house back in order again.  One thing checked off my honey-do-myself list.  Tomorrow I will get a few others checked off.  Mostly phone calls to make and have to get ready for my demo meeting.  

Last week I was playing with the Humming Along stamp set.  It's in the new Occassions catalog.  I received it at On-Stage.  This is not a normal set that I would gravitate towards, but I'm starting to really like this flower.  

The flower is perfect to color with your Stampin' Blends.  Here I used Calypso Coral and Old Olive.  I'm always afraid if I start with one color, by the time I finish and get to the next, the first color will be dry and not blend with the next.  Therefore, I went petal by petal.  My preference is start with the dark and go towards the light. But, I don't think there is any rules as to which one you should use first.  

The Calypso Coral square is adhere directly to the card base with the flower and Basic Black is adhered with dimensionals.  I found it easier add the flower to the Calypso Coral and then add the entire piece to the card front.  This way it's centered exactly where you want.  You can use regular SNAIL on the Calypso Coral.  

The circles are glued right to the flower piece.  If you are worried about the ends might bend, just a mini dimensional if necessary.  

The framelits to this set have been ordered.  I can't wait for them to come, maybe by the end of the week they will be here.  One can hope.

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

Product List

 

Humming Along Cling Stamp Set [148758] $20.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $9.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00
Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00	Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144044] $4.50
Calypso Coral Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144042] $4.50	Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144045] $9.00	Crumb Cake Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144581] $4.50	Dark Pineapple Punch Stampin' Blends Marker [147030] $4.50	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

 

Ready for the weekend?!??  I sure am.  Next week I only work 1 1/2 days so I'm making myself a honey-do-myself list.  Chris is ravelling next week, so it's just myself and Alyssa home.  Starting tomorrow, the first thing on my list is to finish getting my house back together from Christmas.  With Megan leaving, I had to put this on hold.   Dinner out at least once is also on the list.

Frogs aren't my most favorite animal, but isn't he cute? 

The stamp is from Animal Outing.  He matches perfectly with the frogs from the Toil & Trouble DSP pack.  Unfortunately, it's now retired, but you might have a scrap laying around that is begging to be used.

After I stamped the frog and cut out with the oval framelit, I noticed the tree limb didn't reach the end of the oval.  That bothered me.  So, I took my journalling pen and continued the lines myself.  Now it looks finished.  

Get out the Stampin' Blends!  I used Crumb Cake and Old Olive, both light and dark.  Don't forget to color inside the lines!

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

tams# 29123

Product List

 

Animal Outing Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146600] $21.00	Toil & Trouble 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [147531] $11.00	Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245] $8.50	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102584] $8.50	Whisper White 12" X 12" Card Stock [124302] $7.75
Journaling Pens [145480] $5.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00
Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $9.00	Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50	Crumb Cake Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144581] $4.50
Crumb Cake Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144582] $4.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

 

I'm pleased to say the Megan made it to England finally.  It was a little rough since she had no help getting from the airport to the university and then to her room.  She was tired and frustrated, but ok.  As a mom, it's so hard not being able to travel with her and make sure she arrives safely.  Problem is, she doesn't want me to hold her hand.  Guess those days are over.

Time to dig out the new stuff!!

Here I used the new Golden Afternoon Cling Stamp set.  It's available in the new Occassions Catalog.  This is the smaller of the two trees in the set.  It gives a peaceful vibe to it.  Perfect for a sympathy card.

The tree is colored in Lemon Lime Twist and Crumb Cake.  I colored the stamp itself with markers to get both colors.  Then, I took a Blender Pen and lightly colored in with the same colors.  

Do you like the checkered paper?  It's from the new Gingham Gala DSP.  One side is this smaller checkered pattern and the other side is a larger checkered pattern.  I love how they have the two different sizes.

Don't forget when taking the cling stamps off the acryllic block, gently peel the stamp off.  You don't want to risk breaking the stamp.  I have heard other demonstrators are using a little piece of Washi Tape on a corner of the stamp so that's their go-to spot when removing the stamp.  Cool idea!  I need to try this.  I have plenty of Washi Tape around. 

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

Product List

 

Golden Afternoon Cling Stamp Set [148772] $21.00	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $7.50	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [147145] $7.50
Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [147158] $30.00	2017-2019 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [144033] $15.00	Blender Pens [102845] $12.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00
Lemon Lime Twist 3/8" (1 Cm) Mini Striped Ribbon [145611] $8.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $7.00