BIG Stampin' Up! News!

Stampin' Up! is throwing another "Deal of the Week" promotion this month. The items below are available at discounted prices today through October 12th. Here are the items currently on sale:



Trio Flower Punch (109183) usually $15.95, currently $10.99
My Way Punch (110709) usually $15.95, currently $11.99
5 Petal Flower Punch (109041) $15.95, currently $10.99

And as if that's not enough to get ya excited....

My Digital Studio is now available to customers, you can see all about it HERE. There are also 2 more promotions to go with the release.

•Sweet Rewards Hostess promotion: Our Sweet Rewards Hostess promotion is well under way. Hostesses who hold a $250 workshop can choose any item from the Holiday Mini for just $10. (Yes, that means the Sixxiz dies, too!) Now, with the release of My Digital Studio, Hostesses can also get 50% OFF My Digital Studio when they host a $400 workshop--that's nearly $40 in savings!

•Digital+ Starter Kit: Introducing a new Starter Kit option that includes My Digital Studio! The Digital+ Starter Kit ($185) includes the My Digital Studio software program with Stampin' Up!'s exclusive artwork in a digital format, as well as two rubber stamp sets and many of Stampin' Up!'s traditional embellishments. This Starter Kit is a new option, and is not an add-on to the standard Starter Kit.

Here's a look at what you'll get in the new kit (over $295 worth of supplies!):
•My Digital Studio software
•Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
•Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
•Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
•Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads®
•Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write® markers
•Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
•Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
•Button Latte Designer buttons
•Stampin' Dimensionals®
•Mini Glue Dots
•SNAIL Adhesive®
•Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

Combining My Digital Studio with traditional embellishments and other Stampin' Up!® products allows you to not only effectively showcase hybrid projects, but also demonstrate projects using non-digital elements. Contact me today to get started or to take advantage of any of these promotions!

Love a sale?

Okay, not only do I love a sale but I lurve a clearance sale...the prices are always amazing!

Get some amazing great deals on CLEARANCE ITEMS...click HERE. You are going to find fabulous deals on ribbon, designer series paper, and much more! And here are a few details for ya...

Q: Why does the order have to be placed online?
A: Because the products are only available while supplies last, promoting and taking orders for these items in a workshop setting can result in problems for you and your customers in figuring workshop totals, hostess benefits, and actual delivery of the product. It is very possible that when a customer places an order for one of these items in a workshop, that item will be sold out before you have the opportunity to place the order.

Q: Is the Clearance Rack a promotion?
A: The Clearance Rack is not a promotion and has no end date. The intent is for the Clearance Rack to be a permanent part of the online store.

Q: How often will the Clearance Rack be updated with new items?
A: There is no set schedule. Clearance Rack items will be posted and removed based on inventory levels. Because there is no schedule, encourage your customers to check back regularly through your DBWS for new postings.

Q: If you run out of a certain item, will you restock your inventory and post it for sale again?
A: No. Clearance Rack items are retired, discontinued items and are only available while supplies last.

Q: Where can I see a list of available Clearance Rack items?
A: Because items will be posted and removed based on inventory levels, a list of Clearance Rack items will not be posted on the Demonstrator Web Site. To see the available items, simply visit the online store.

If you have any questions at all please just let me know! You can reach me via e-mail through the button on my left sidebar.

Mr. Frankenstein

Morning friends! Just a quick little post today to let ya know that yes...I'm still alive. I'm so excited today because my new Mini Netbook arrives today! And the best part? It is being delivered by FedEx which means I'll have it earlier in the day...yay! I was hoping to be able to put some Decor Elements on my new Netbook but the one I chose looks like THIS pink one (scroll down a bit and you'll see the lid of the computer)...it doesn't really need anything, huh?

Anyway, onto Mr. Frankie. This is a card that I've seen made by others for the last couple of years and I just love him! I think he is just adorable and SO easy to make with one stamp and a couple of punches. I also think, though it may be a little weird, that you could send this at any time of the year to your friend with a sentiment like that.

If you need some instructions on how to make this cutie just go ahead and send me an e-mail (button to your left). You can find all products HERE if you need anything to make the card with.

We are about 10 days away from my birthday trip and I'm getting SO excited! We are going to sit down and plan out our actual route at the parks this week sometime. I just checked out the food and wine they are going to have at the Food and Wine Festival and it sounds amazing! The weather looks to be in the upper 80's at least for when we arrive so it will be WONDERFUL!

Alright...that is enough dribble from me. I hope that you have a wonderful Tuesday. Although it is supposed to be cool and rainy here today I still think it will be a great day!

Birthday Gift

Good Saturday morning everyone! Today I have a birthday gift I'd like to show you. I saw on Michelle Wooderson's blog the gift that she made for a friend of hers and decided that my friend would like something like that. Funny side note...the cup and plate are the same manufacturer, although I didn't know that until I bought them. Great minds I guess.

I'm going to guess this is pretty self explanatory for you. The sentiment on the front is not what I had wanted but the stamp I waited and waited for came the day after my cut off date to finish this up. That is always how it works, huh?

The stamping products I used from Stampin' Up! are Soft Suede, More Mustard, and Autumn Traditions DSP. I also used some Soft Suede polka dot ribbon. The gift inside the cup contains two tea bags and two more pieces of the candy. Inside the Top Note gift card holder is a Starbucks gift card for her traveling tea needs. I used sentiments from On Your Birthday to complete the gift set. You can see (almost) all of the products I used HERE.

I do have to say that I will probably make more of these gift sets as I think they are something I'd enjoy getting. I will start to look for special mugs and salad plates (they are just a little larger to have tea/coffee on and a snack or two) so to make the gift set itself a little more unique.

That is it for today ladies. My posting over the next week or two will be a little more sporadic as I craft to fill both the next couple of weeks and for while I'm on vacation. Please be patient with me.

Have a super Saturday everyone!

Blogger's Challenge

Happy Friday! I'm so glad we are finally at the end of the week! We have a fun weekend that includes Third Day and TobyMac coming up...oh, yeah!

Today is the first day I've gotten to play along with Blogger's Challenge. This week's challenge is Designer Series Paper. Uh, yah...what could be easier than that? First, I decided to use the Utah Divas International sketch for this week. Does the designer series paper I used look familiar? Well, it is Autumn Traditions paper that I've used on several of my cards recently. I just can't get enough of it for my fall cards! The layering card stock is Ruby Red and Soft Suede and I used Always Artichoke for the leaves. The sentiment is from the Level 1 Hostess set called Holiday Best. What a wonderful set that is for four different holidays...love it! Anyway, I just tied some ribbon around the center and tahdah...done! If you want to see what the other Blogger's have done check out the list HERE. Enjoy!

So, I'm off to get my day started. Have a wonderful Friday !

So happy for you...

Morning all! Welcome back to another week of 3 Clovers Designs Challenges. Today's challenge is to use numbers on your project. I must say I had a hard time figuring out what to do with this...until I saw MJ's sketch for this week AND I thought about the card I wanted to make for a wonderful blogger friend of mine that I know that is having her third child in a few months.

So? Do you like it. I love the the Tall Tales paper for a kiddo/baby card. The animals are so elementary...don't you think? Anyway, obviously the three is for the third child and the sentiment...well, I don't think I have to tell you. She already has two boys so I think a girl is wanted but I'll tell ya what...I sure do love and appreciate the wonderful dynamic that my family is with three boys!

Anyway, I hope that you can play with us for this challenge. If you do...go ahead and link it up at Kerry's blog HERE.

See you tomorrow with my Blogger's Challenge card! You can find all the products I used HERE!

One set...one idea...two cards

Good morning all! Sorry I've been away for a couple of days. I have cards to show you but have been pretty busy so today...you get two!

I belong to a couple of demonstrator groups on Yahoo and when the idea for the wreath on the right came through I knew I had to try it. You all know that I love fall so it was natural for me to make that one. First the stamp set is Pocket Silhouettes (just $18.95!). Some Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, and Dusty Durango along with the sign make this a wonderful Thanksgiving card. I decided I would like to try one for Christmas too so out came the Real Red and some of the Shimmer Paint that you can purchase in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini. I added some white Taffeta ribbon and a Fire Rhinestone brad for some bling. I also stamped it on Shimmery White paper so it is all pretty and frosty looking...love it!

I'm working on my card for the 3 Clover Designs challenge right now. I was sure I was going to be able to come up with something but it is working and I'm happy with my (almost) end results. Then on Friday I'll have my first Blogger's Challenge card for ya. Yep, I joined another challenge site. You know I love them and really I find they grow me in my stamping so that is good too!

So far...the three of us that are up in my house are all having some sinus issues. Could it be that the weather was 75 yesterday went down to 40 something and is supposed to go up to 90 today? Sheesh! That's enough to make anyone sick! I just wish the weather would level out a little but this is typical for this time of year around here.

And one last thing...if you are reading this and are a part of my stamp club our order is.... Yippee, huh!

Alright, have a super day everyone! See ya soon!

It's Talk Like A Pirate Day

Ahoy!, ye mateys! I thought that you all might like to know that today is Talk Like A Pirate Day. See HERE for all the official lingo! It's a little late to make cards now but SU! has some super fun pirate products for your favorite shipmate. Be it party invitations or just a fun "love you" card we've got ya covered. Click HERE to order!




Now go...find yourself some grog and have a wonderful Saturday!

Mocha Club

Morning! Some of you may have noticed the new badge I have on my left side bar. It says "I gave up 2 mocha's for Africa." What am I talking about now? Well, Mocha Club members are helping to rehabilitate women in Uganda and Ethiopia so they can be healthy and live in safety, freedom, and hope.

Are you asking why? Often, the women and children of Africa are the most exposed and abused, especially in areas where there is war. The young women in Gulu, Uganda are called “child mothers” because they were only children themselves when they were abducted, trained as fighters, and given as sex slaves to rebel soldiers in the “Lord’s Resistance Army,” a rebel paramilitary group in Northern Uganda. Now that they have escaped or been excused as expendable, the community at large rejects them and their children.

The Village of Hope provides homes, a school, clinic, job training, counseling and support for these women. Several of the Child Mothers from Village of Hope who are being rehabilitated are now helping serve and lead clubs for other Child Mothers at local Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in and around Gulu...In Ethiopia, the face of prostitution is often linked with deep poverty. “Women at Risk” is a group we have partnered with to rehabilitate former sex workers in Nazaret, Ethiopia. Women think prostitution is their only hope and enter that world because of a lack of family support and a lack of income. From our experience, the women are desperate to leave this occupation, but are trapped by the lack of opportunities and rehabilitative support.

How can you help? Well, for the cost of two mocha's a month you can completely change the life of women and children in Africa. That's right...for a pledge of just $7 a month you can help child mother's and women at risk. I have formed a team called Stamping Sisters For MC. As crafters our talents allow us to be able to make some money through the sales of our products. I challenge you to sell just one or two extra items a month to support Mocha Club. Don't want to go about it that way but would still like to help? GREAT! I'd love for you to be on my team. All you need to do is click HERE or on the photo to the left in my sidebar to find out more about Mocha Club.

How am I going to motivate you? Well, I'll be sending a card to each person that joins my team and I'll be holding monthly Stamping Sisters for MC challenges each month. It will be fun...I promise! Even if you don't stamp...please join us...it is a great cause to give your $7 to!

Please let me know if you have any questions at all...I'd be happy to answer them!

Happy AND Sad...

Morning all! Today is a happy day and sad day all at one time. Happy...today is limeLIGHT Papercrafts sketch and product challenge day! Yay! Guess what today's challenge is? Patterned paper...who doesn't love patterned paper and just use it all the time? You must play along because if you do...you could win the Hauntingly Sweet stamp set from Unity Stamps! Wow, huh?

So, onto my card. I had so much fun making this card! I got to use the Jolly By Golly paper by Cosmo Cricket again. LOVE it! You have got to see this paper...it is SO cute! All of the patterns you see here are from that Mini Deck! I also used the Pink Cat Studios set called QT Hooty Owl. If you like owls this is the perfect set for you as it has an owl stamp for every occasion. Finally you will see the beautiful Island Lagoon Rhinestones. They are the perfect final touch to this layout!

So, I'm thinking you'd like to know how to win the Unity Stamp Set right? Okay...here you go...

The Details:
**Use the sketch HERE and dress it up with your favorite PATTERNED PAPER!!
**Key word for SCS upload is LLPC030
**Post a comment with a link to your card right HERE on this post by Sunday, September 20, at midnight (or before winner is drawn Monday a.m.).

I know you all love to see the limeLIGHT DT inspiration so I'll link y'all up! Ann (guest designer), Amy, JenMarie, Lee, Lisa, Ryann, and Mandy. And, while you are hoping along be looking for some EXTRA blog candy! You will have TWO chances to win this time! One of the design team members blogs has a second chance to win candy so be on the look out!!!

Now, for the sad part of my post. Due to the fact that I'm going to sign the new IDA that Stampin' Up! has I have had to step down from the limeLIGHT Papercraft design team. I just can hardly believe it when I type that. Mandy has just been amazing to work with...she is sweet, has an amazing online store, and really gave me a wonderful chance to use my creativity. Thank you Mandy! You and your store are the bomb! To the other design team gals... you guys have all been so wonderful...visiting my blog, leaving comments, and working together to make limeLIGHT a great success. I will be visiting you all often and, hopefully, playing along with the LLPC challenges!

So...go...make a card with the sketch Mandy has provided and win that Unity set! See ya soon!

A Sneak Peek

Morning all! Just stopping in to give a sneak peak to my stamp club members. We meet for the first time of our stamp club year tonight and well...these peppermint patties are just too cute not to share!

I'm sure you've seen the peppermint patty spiders before but I decided that I wanted to turn them into something not so "Halloweeny" so I thought maybe a pumpkin. I just used the large oval punch for the body of the pumpkin and the small oval punch for the stem. Then I just sponged Dusty Durango on the pumpkins and Old Olive on the stem for some depth. Aren't they cute? I think the spiders are pretty self-explanatory too but if you have any questions just let me know! You can purchase everything you need to make these cute peppermint patty pumpkins and spiders on my demonstrator website. You'll find the link in the right column over there ----->

So, stamp club members...you'll be making one of each of these this evening! I'm excited to see you tonight!

Have a great day everyone!

More Build A Bear

Morning everyone! For at least a year now I've been following the fabulous Dawn Griffith's blog. She is a Stampin' Up! demo with talent galore! Anyway, I was over there checking things out when I saw her make a Peek Through Window Card (her name for this card) and I just had to make one. Sooo...

Here it is! I used two of the super Build A Bear sets, Seal of Pawthenticity and Beary Nice Wishes. The patterned paper is the Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper that is perfect for boys or girls cards. This is very clean, simple and perfect card for a quick thank you note for a child's gift/baby shower thank yous or the like. I don't think I need to type out the deets but if you have any questions let me know!

Tomorrow night is stamp club and guess what? Yep, I have everything planned out and almost ready to go...woohoo! I'll share with you soon. Now, to get my swap cards done...yikes!

Anyway, have a super Tuesday everyone! See you soon!

Gnome for the Holidays

Morning everyone! It's supposed to be another hot one here today...89 degrees and today is our all church picnic. Good thing there are wonderful big trees with lots of shade, huh?

To cool things off a bit in my stamping area I just had to get this gnome stamp from limeLIGHT out. When I saw it and the sentiment as the perfect addition...I knew they would be so cute! I also had to use the super cute Cosmo Cricket paper called Jolly By Golly again...I love how happy and fun it is! To top it off I added some yummy Kaisercraft Pearls in red and green. And the sketch is from Techno Stampers Lunchtime Sketch for this week.

You have got to get over to limeLIGHT to check out all the great, NEW products in the store. Mandy even has the new Unity Stamps Store Set....which you can only get at select stores and LLPC is one of them! Woot!

Well, that's all I've got for you today. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday! See you soon!

Crafty Post Of A New Kind

Morning friends! I just have to tell you that the first couple of days of school have gone well for the boys. They both like their teachers and it sounds like there will be lots of new things to do. Now, ask me again in 6 months how it is going...lol!

Onto my craft for the day. You need to know right at the start...I am not a sewer. I would LOVE to be a sewer but that would require practice and I just haven't done it. However, when I saw THIS I wanted to make some of those and I knew exactly who I wanted to have help me. So, I e-mailed my friend, Jen, a link to the blog and set up a date to make them. Okay, these are supposed to be one hour to make bags...nope, didn't happen with me...it was the first time for me though and being a non-sewer...well...that is how I make myself feel better...lol! I do believe I could possibly make more bags all on my own though so that is good right? Oh, and my bags...they are a little smaller than if you were to use the directions they give you as I'm a dork and cut it at the wrong spot. DUH! I'm so glad Jen is one of the most patient people that I've ever met!

Well, anyway...here are the bags. I'm going to put things like tissues, lotion, hand sanitizer, candy in one of the bags and give it to Kyler's teacher as a beginning of the year gift. Just have to figure out which one to pick for her. Maybe that should be Kyler's job, huh?

Oh, gosh you guys...I was just looking for a smiley and look at what I found...That is just WAY to cute! I hope I get to use that smiley soon! LOL!

Anyway, have a super weekend everyone!

Do You Remember?

Every year I post about this so I really hope that you don't get tired of it. Do you remember what you were doing when you heard about the terrorist attack on our nation? We had just moved to Washington state the beginning of August, only married for about 6 weeks and we were asleep...until my phone rang and my girlfriend was on the phone crying telling me to turn on the television. We did...my husband immediately called he boss to see if the day would change. Nope, come to work as usual...4 years later he was deployed to Iraq. And experience both he and I will never forget. Tears still come to me as I think of all the ways that the men and women that deploy to conflict will change. It may be a little change or a big change but they change and how could they not.

Every night we eat dinner together my husband prays for the troops that are serving our country in foreign or domestic places, we thank them, ask God to guide and protect them, and support them as we can.

Please don't forget...don't let those who perished that day and in the conflicts since be lost in a distant memory.

Thank you to all who are serving our country in uniform this Sept 11th! And even though we are retired Army...once Army always Army...Hooah!

Story Time...School Time

Happy Thursday all! Where did the week go? I know...we missed a day at the beginning of the week! Today is the first day of school for my boys (well, not the college boy though). Welcome to 12th and 6th grade! It's kind of amazing that we are already at middle school for my youngest...the years really have gone by quickly!

Today is Thursday which means it's 3 Clovers Challenge day! Today's challenge is to use letters on your card...not words only letters. So what do you have in books? Letters...which, of course, form words but that's just being picky...lol!

Wanna play along with the challenge? You can check out all the deets HERE.

I'm off to put egg casserole in the oven (it is the traditional first day of school breakfast), get a cup of coffee, and probably shed a few tears. Thankfully...I go to Care Net today to volunteer so that will keep my mind off of missing my boys!

Have a super day everyone!

Thank you....

Happy Tuesday! I'm going to have a hard time keeping track of what day it is having been off yesterday. How about you guys?

I was asked to make some thank you cards for my youngest son's school's parent association yesterday and they asked for them by Wednesday so I got to work right away. I didn't even think about it until now but the theme for the school year is...Grow Deeply Rooted Colossians 2:6-7....is this card not perfect? I used the tree from the Thoughts & Prayers set and a thank you from Thank You Kindly. I used last weeks Stamping 411 sketch as it fit this image perfectly. I just used my SU! markers to match the leaves on the tree to the leaves in the paper and added a knotted ribbon (reverse side of Soft Suede polka dotted ribbon) at the bottom. Each Schmesy yet perfect for the occasion!

I forgot to add what paper to the inside so that it is easier for the PA to write their note but that will only take me a second although...I may see if I have a Big Shot Die that might work for a little extra decoration. Sometimes ya have to dress it up just a little inside, ya know?

Anyway, I'm working on my 3 Clovers Challenge card for this week and have an idea in mind for a Late Night Stampers challenge (to use my Big Shot) so hopefully I'll have some fun stuff coming up for ya soon!

Have a super day everyone!

limeLIGHT Project for September!

Happy Sunday all! I'm excited to show you my limeLIGHT project for September. Mandy asked us to make a treat box and card for fall. Well, at our house fall means...football! So I thought it might be fun to make a card and box for our family Fantasy Football League.

The most important part of this project is...the football player image. For that I knew I had to use the football player Billy from Pink Cat Studios. Any football player at our house must have green and gold on...yep, that is right...Green Bay Packer colors. So what makes this a fun project? Well, inside the bag in the box are little slips of paper that have a "job" on them. Whomever the lowest point getter is for the week will have to pull a piece of paper and do that "job." I put things such as "run around the house three times", "kiss your mama on the cheek", "wear one shoe to church the next week"...stuff like that. Too, fun...right?

So, what other things did I use from limeLIGHT? Well, see that fun DoubleMates Luscious Lime green paper? Yep, limeLIGHT. And the White Gel Pen for the field? Yep, limeLIGHT. I just love the variety of products you can find at limeLIGHT!

I bet you'd like to see more of these fun combinations, huh? Well, all you have to do is check out the limeLIGHT design team...links are on my sidebar so check 'em out!

Have a great rest of your Labor Day weekend everyone!

Am I or am I not?

As most of you guys know Stampin' Up! asked it's demonstrators to sign a new Independent Demonstrator Agreement by Oct 1st. I'll have to be honest with ya that at first, some of the content of my blog that they were trying to control was too much for me and apparently for other people as well as lots of people were complaining. Well, happily for me they changed their mind and revised a couple of things. The following is an excerpt from the fabulous Janine Tinklenberg's blog post that will explain the changes much better than I ever could (it is long!). Please read it all...it will probably answer all your questions, too!

***Start JanTink's wonderful explanation***

So what did they say last night, Shelli (may she live forever!), Dale Fillmore (that old guy, LOL!), and Pam Morgan? They said that YES we can link to our friends blogs, YES we can link up to sites like Splitcoaststampers, Stampin' Addicts, and Craft Critique! We can link anywhere that does NOT sell competitive products and have a shopping cart or Buy Now button on the site.

We can even design for other companies, we just can't blog about it. While there are many internet companies that would not accept this for design team members, there are still more traditional companies that are always looking for display stampers. Your creations can go on their boards at stamping convention and even be posted on their websites WITH YOUR NAME ON IT and this is not a violation of policy. You can also submit them for publication just as before.

So what are the don'ts? It's fairly simple:

1) Don't link up to places that actually sell on their site. So SCS? That's fine. Scrapbook.com? Nope...they have a web store. Your friend's blog who sells a competing product? Link away! Your friend's business website where she actually sells that product? No linky. Easy peasy, lemon squeezie!

And this includes only competing product. So your friend's website where she sells handcrafted tomato cages autographed by an NBA superstar who loves tomatoes, each one painstakingly created from gen-you-whine copper imported from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with tiny beads made by Hungarian peasants with their own crafts cooperative hanging off the wires that chime gently in the breeze and organically scare away insects?!?! YES, you may link to that website.

But if she adds a line of stamps depicting tomatoes, or NBA superstars eating tomatoes, or patterned paper with tomatoes on it...then you have a problem. Not just with SU!, but with tomatoes...you need to eat something else for a balanced diet. Because too many tomatoes will....well...never mind!

2) When you post a project using other companies stamps, or supplies, there are particular rules that apply. SU! encourages it's demos not to be too specific about who the manufacturer is, what the price was, and where you bought it. That's it. If you happen to mention it, you will not suffer a painful death while Pam Morgan turns the rack. Probably, nothing will happen at all. People who ABUSE the policy are the ones that will have their turn on the rack! (I AM KIDDING!) There is a bit of a gray area here and its called "incidental use".

Now, if I use someone OTHER company's embossing folder on the card I post and I say, "Swiss Dots embossing folder" that is just fine. What I can't say is "Provocraft Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder bought at Michael's with a coupon for 40% off, here is a link to their website, here is a link to the coupon, OMGosh go buy one today!!!' Then I have a problem. But when have I ever said anything like this? NEVER. Doesn't bother me.

And look, I just mentioned a competing company on my blog! And it's okay, because a) it's INCIDENTAL and b) I did not LINK to those companies. And the STAMPIN UP! police have not shown up!!! WOW!

Of course, if one of my lovely readers sees my reference to the "Swiss Dots embossing folder" and says, "OMGosh I NEED TO KNOW WHO MAKES THAT!!! I want to buy one today, this minute, I will sell all my children's Pokemon cards on Ebay so I can buy it!!!!", all that lovely reader needs to do is to email me and ask, "Who, O who, Jan (insert Lorie here), my idol, my queen, makes that beautiful embossing folder you had on your card of yesterday? I really REALLY NEED TO KNOW!!! PLEASE! PLEASE! I'll send CHOCOLATE!!! I'll DO ANYTHING!!!" and I will, of course, tell you who makes it and I will be perfectly in compliance. Ask me where I got it and I will direct you to Google, where I am sure you will be able to find a vendor without a problem. If you do have a problem, just email me back!

I've also seen some people saying, "But if I don't list a stamp manufacturer when I post a card, I violate their angel policy!!" Angel policies cover commercial use of stamps, not personal. If you are making and posting? No violation not to put a name and/or copyright on your picture. Making and selling? Yes, not putting the copyright info on there somewhere would be a violation.

I know there are people who are complaining that it violates their right to free speech. This is the thing: there are situations everywhere that take way your right to free speech. Anytime you sign a contract, chances are there is a clause in there to prevent you from saying something to someone about something. If you are a demo and you signed the old IDA, you already traded away your ability to say whatever you want in a workshop. You did it to get a discount on the best stamps on the planet (well...that's just MY opinion). You can't walk into a customer's home, say, "I know I'm a SU! demo, but I really want you to buy my friend Sally's stamps from her company instead!" It's in your contract already. If I had a problem with signing contracts that prevent me from saying what I want, I would probably end up staying in my house all day and never leaving. And someday, they would find me, half-eaten by Alsatians.

Now how is SU! going to police this? Are they going to go around reading my personal emails, Facebook page, newsletters, posts on web forums, letters to my cousin Patti (hi Patti!) and this blog?

The answer is a resounding NO. This is all based on the honor system. It will work much as the old way of monitoring Ebay used to be. They will deal with referrals for abuse and only come down hard on the rampant violators of the policy. . And I'm talking about people who regularly link to competing websites. Not people who list the occasional other company's product in their ingredient list.

***End JanTink's fabulous explanation!***

As you can see the new contract is more restrictive but still allows the freedom for me to stamp with whatever I want, post it to share with you all, and even link to all of my friends blogs...perfect for me as you guys were the biggest consideration. I did not want to lose the ability to link to my friends!

So, what does this mean for limeLIGHT Papercrafts and I? Well, it means that after I sign the new IDA that I can no longer be on a design team for them as it is my agreement that I design for them in return for product in their store AND I will link to the product in the store for your easy reference in where to purchase it. So, with that information the sketch and product challenge of September 17th will be my last official act as a design team member with LLPC. I am excited though as I can still play along in the challenges on the blog...woot!

And, since you've read this far...I've started thinking about how I'm going to celebrate my 40th birthday with you all so even though it is still a month away start anticipating now!

One last thing...I'm sure you've noticed that I haven't been posting quite as much recently. I believe that will be a new trend for me. I love ya all but with school starting and new things happening for me I will be a little more limited with my time.

Now, go...have a wonderful Labor Day weekend but DO NOT FORGET to stop back here on Sunday to see my limeLIGHT Papercrafts big project for the month!