Before I get to my personal news, here's a few reminders about Stampin' Up!:

• Retiring Products are still available to order through 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 31.  
• The 2018-19 Annual Catalog goes live on Friday, June 1, no later than noon, MT. You can place your orders at my online store.
• Don't forget - the Paper Pumpkin kit will coordinate with a suite debuting in the new catalog...get your order in by June 10!

I'm both excited and sad to announce that I will be moving to Melbourne, Australia later this year, probably by the end of August.  My husband has accepted a position on the faculty of the Melbourne Business School, which is affiliated with the University of Melbourne.  

I'm excited because it is an amazing city, with a very vibrant arts community and many interesting things to do.  I'm sad, because I will be leaving many wonderful friends and customers behind.  

Some of you have known this was a possibility/probability for a while now.  Since it only became a definite thing once our immigration visas were granted earlier this week, I haven't posted it in writing on my blog or social media.

While my plan is to continue to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, company rules mean that I will have to resign my U.S. demonstratorship and re-join as an Australian one.  I fully intend to keep blogging, with both card- and Australia-related posts, so I hope you'll keep following along. I'll also keep my email address and Facebook accounts, so you might not even notice that I'm on the other side of the world, LOL!

If you'd like to learn more about Melbourne, click here to read a great article.
If you're not sure where Melbourne is located, here's a map:

Since I've know this was a probability for about 6 months now, I've been working with a member of my team, Nickie Liddy, to step up and become your go-to person.  She's already been team-teaching classes with me, and we're working together to get her all set to handle your orders and questions.  Look for more info about Nickie and how to contact her in the coming weeks.

I've had a few people join my team in the last few months...but instead of leaving them "orphaned" when I move, I had them join under Nickie.  I still consider them part of my team until I'm gone, and work with Nickie to support them fully.  Need more info?  Just let me know.

Since I am moving to the other side of the world,
I've dug even deeper than usual into my crafting stash for my
Rubber Rummage Sale on Saturday!  
Stop by between 8 am - 1 pm to get at least 50% off SU! catalog prices.
12083 E Wethersfield Dr, Scottsdale

Not in town but looking for some treasures?
Send me your shopping list
 I'll let you know what I've got and give you a shipping quote.

Yes, today is the 5th anniversary of my blog.  To celebrate, I've got pictures of my recent visit to Stampin' Up!'s manufacturing facility in Kanab, UT.  Also, there's some blog candy at the end of this post.

This rock sign is almost identical to the one found at the Home Office in Riverton, UT.  Unlike the time I visited there, I was alone at the Kanab facility (my family declined to accompany me) so I don't have a picture of me with the rock.  

The front of the facility is quite inviting...very mountain-lodge feeling.  There is a 30th anniversary flag flying, as well as decals on the doors.  I'd love to get my hands on those flower decals!

The reception area has a lot of samples made from Stampin' Up! products...though they are all several years old, LOL!

Unfortunately, I can't show you any pictures of the manufacturing sections of the facility...I wasn't allowed to take pictures there.  I did see the rubber "burning" process, where the rubber sheets are matched with the molds and heated in an oven/press to make 4 sets of stamps. The large sheets of rubber are then cut into rectangles, and then each set is die-cut.  The off-cuts of rubber are collected and shredded.  Look below to see how those shreds are used!  

I also saw the process for making the photopolymer stamps.  The stamp molds are a very large plastic sheet (maybe 5' x 3.5' to make 6-8 sets at a time?) laid on a table.  An arm sweeps over it to fill it with photopolymer "goo" (really - the technical term my guide used), then a mask is laid over it, and then a lid is closed and light is shined onto the goo.  Think a tanning bed for stamps!  Then they get washed in a separate machine, and more light curing before being cut.  

The day I was visiting there were 2 women working in the ink department filling ink bottles.  I had always envisioned a long, mechanized assembly line with hundreds of bottles of ink running through at a time.  In reality, there is a nice bit of automated machinery for filling a precise amount of ink, and for putting labels on, but bottles are hand-placed into the machines 2 at a time, and the nozzles and caps are put on by hand.  As it happened, ink pads weren't being worked on while I was there.

I did get to see some cardstock being cut on a huge, machine-powered (but human-aligned) paper cutter...all of us would love to have that machine for class prep!  I also saw the automated paper counting/stacking line that makes our paper packs in operation.  

As I love both Stampin' Up! and industrial tours of all kinds this was right up my alley!  I really enjoyed getting to meet several of the people who make our products, and to see the processes.  If you're ever passing through southern Utah I encourage you to stop in and see if you can get a tour!  

Comment on today's post no later than Wednesday, May 23 and be entered in a drawing for a mystery box of retired goodies!  Stamps, ribbon, embellishments, Designer Series Paper...who knows what assortment of stamping yumminess will show up?

Saturday, June 2
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale

Stamps, dies, ribbon, embellishments, cardstock, Designer Series Paper, ink pads/refills/markers and more!  Shop early for best selection.  Cash and credit card/debit cards only.

Continuing to share the projects we made in my Brusho Technique class in April.  

I CASE'd this card from someone...but now I can't find my pin!  I'll come back and edit this post if I find it.

Anyhow, I stamped the butterfly from Beautiful Day in VersaMark 2 times on Shimmery White Cardstock, then heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  I could have used Clear powder, but wanted to be sure that the outline would remain white even if some of the color were to bleed into the paper and get underneath the embossing.

Then, working one portion of a wing at a time, I laid down a good bit of plain water with an AquaPainter, doing my best to keep it within the butterfly outline.  Before it could dry, I sprinkled Prussian Blue and Yellow Brusho Crystals.  I let the water do its thing, and moved on to another portion.  I came back later and did a bit of blending or adding more color.

Then I spritzed the paper all over lightly with water, and surprise! there were stray color crystals all over that got activated!

Once dry, I stamped the sentiment from Thankful Thoughts in Tranquil Tide and mounted it on a card base the same color.

My next class in this series is coming up at the end of the month.  It will feature the Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit and Designer Series Paper.  Each participant will receive their own kit and portion of a package of paper, part of which will be used in making some very pretty projects:

Because I need to order the supplies in advance, an earlier reservation deadline and prepayment will be required.

Note:  the coordinating Cake Soirées stamp set and Sweet Cake Framelits are carrying over to the new Annual Catalog, but the DSP and Embellishment kit are not.

Cost is $20 - I will send you a PayPal invoice once you RSVP or you can mail me a check.

RSVP Deadline: Sunday, May 13. 

Wednesday, May 30
9:30 - noon in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
6:30 - 9:00 pm in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
This class is also available as a Class-in-the-Mail, with all card supplies and written directions supplied.  Send me an email to reserve your class kit.

This week I'm showing you the cards we made with the Brusho Crystal Colors powdered watercolors. 

This design was CASE'd from Jackie Bultje.  We masked about ⅓ of the piece of Watercolor paper with masking tape, adhering it to our grid paper.  We then used a DRY brush to put alternating dabs of red and blue Brusho powder along the edge of the tape.  Holding the grid paper at an angle, we spritzed the Brusho away from the tape, scattering and activating the powder.  Once it was dry we removed the mask, mounted it on an Elegant Eggplant card base and added the die cut word & rhinestones.  Jackie has a great video showing this technique in the link above.

May Monthly Card Class
Make 5 projects featuring a variety of techniques and great Stampin' Up! products. Perfect for experienced and novice crafters!
​$20 - all supplies included

RSVP Deadline:  Sunday, May 6

Tuesday, May 8
6:30 - 9:00 pm at Marilyn's house in Glendale
Wednesday, May 9
9:30 - noon in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
6:30 - 9:00 pm in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale

Stamp with Me, Get it Free!
Come make some projects featuring products from the beautiful Sweet Soirée Suite (OC pp.10-13) and take home the Sweet Soirée Embellishment Kit and a partial pack of Sweet Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper! Because I need to order the supplies in advance, an earlier reservation deadline and prepayment will be required.

Note:  the coordinating Cake Soirées stamp set and Sweet Cake Framelits are carrying over to the new Annual Catalog, but the DSP and Embellishment kit are not.

Cost is $20 - I will send you a PayPal invoice once you RSVP or you can mail me a check.

RSVP Deadline: Sunday, May 13. 

Wednesday, May 30
9:30 - noon in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
6:30 - 9:00 pm in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
This class is also available as a Class-in-the-Mail, with all card supplies and written directions supplied.  Send me an email to reserve your class kit.

Last week I finally introduced my customers to the wonder of Brusho Crystal Colors.  They are 5 colors of powdered watercolor pigment, which can be used in a variety of ways.  

They come in small canisters, and we were warned, "Do NOT open them!" since the fine powder will fly everywhere.  Instead, use a piercing tool or thumbtack to poke a hole in the lid, and use tape or a thumbtack to seal it when finished.

You may notice that the colors marked on the containers are not Stampin' Up! color names...but they did a good job picking out colors that coordinate well with our color palette.

For our first card we CASE'd a technique from Lonnie Schroder.  

We used one of the Petal Pair embossing folders, and started by sprinkling Red, Prussian Blue and Yellow powders on the side with "Sizzix" and "Stampin' Up!" on it.  Then we laid a piece of Watercolor Paper cut to 2 ¼" x 6" on top, closed the folder and ran it through the Big Shot 3 times to embed the powder into the paper as much as possible.

Then we removed the strip and spritzed it with water, marveling as the colors bloomed and ran together.  After it was totally dry, we took a Whisper White Craft ink pad (unless you have or want to buy a second one I STRONGLY suggest you use an ink spot) and lightly ran it over the embossed flowers to make them stand out.  This step also toned down the very bright colors.

Then we just trimmed down the 6" strip to fit the 5 ½" card, mounted it on a Melon Mambo mat and an Island Indigo card base that we'd stamped and heat embossed with this sentiment from the Special Celebrations set.

May Monthly Card Class
Make 5 projects featuring a variety of techniques and great Stampin' Up! products. Perfect for experienced and novice crafters!
​$20 - all supplies included

RSVP Deadline:  Sunday, May 6

Tuesday, May 8
6:30 - 9:00 pm at Marilyn's house in Glendale
Wednesday, May 9
9:30 - noon in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
6:30 - 9:00 pm in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale

Stamp with Me, Get it Free!
Come make some projects featuring products from the beautiful Sweet Soirée Suite (OC pp.10-13) and take home the Sweet Soirée Embellishment Kit and a partial pack of Sweet Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper! Because I need to order the supplies in advance, an earlier reservation deadline and prepayment will be required.

Note:  the coordinating Cake Soirées stamp set and Sweet Cake Framelits are carrying over to the new Annual Catalog, but the DSP and Embellishment kit are not.

Cost is $20 - I will send you a PayPal invoice once you RSVP or you can mail me a check.

RSVP Deadline: Sunday, May 13. 

Wednesday, May 30
9:30 - noon in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
6:30 - 9:00 pm in Nancy's Craft Room in Scottsdale
This class is also available as a Class-in-the-Mail, with all card supplies and written directions supplied.  Send me an email to reserve your class kit.