More Art Party Pictures

Painted Figures

Hand Prints on Canvas

Candy Centerpieces!!

Candy Buffet!




Art Supplies for the Children's Hospital!

We had an Art Party!

My daughter turns six today. She is a self proclaimed artist, so of cours we had to have an Art Party to celebrate. I made art palletes as the invitations with all of the party info. printed on the back. I used my 1&3/4" circle punch to cut out different color circles to look like the paint and used a glue dot to stick a paint brush to the front. She decided on her own that she did not want to recieve any gifts for her birthday. Instead, she wanted to collect gifts for "the sick kids in the hospital". So, we decided to collect art supplies to donate to a local Children's Hospital. We will be delivering them soon.

At the party, the kids rotated through stations to complete their art projects. They painted a figurine, used spray bottles filled with colored water to "tye dye" a coffee filter to make a butterfly, and they painted their handprints onto canvas. Before the party, I used food coloring to dye three pitchers of sprite into the three primary colors. Before the kids ate their snack, we experimented with mixing two colors of Sprite to see what colors we could make! I think the kids were the most excited about the candy buffet! I filled different colored containers from the Dollar Store with colorful candy and other snacks and used colorful icecream scoops as serving pieces. The centerpieces were mason jars filled with Skittles and floral foam with DumDum lollipops sticking out. It all looked so cute. I think the best part, was the rainbow cake! Even though, we had a minor "caketastrophy" and had to lose the blue and purple layers, it was adorable and so YUMMY!

As favors, each child got to take home their finished art projects and a bag of homemade crayons. The tag attached to the bag said, "Thanks for making my birthday a Masterpiece". The kids were definitely on a sugar high when they left, but I think they all had a lot of fun!

Whoopsy Daisies Now Available at SuzAnna's Antiques in Raleigh!

If you live in Raleigh and have never been to SuzAnna's Antiques on Durant Rd., let me tell you ... You are missing out!! It is one of my favorite places on earth, and one that I have to visit any time that I make a trip back to Raleigh! It is owned by a long time dear friend, Jenny Sellars, and her mom, Susie Foster. You never know what you are going to find there. From great antique furniture, to vintage clothing and art work, to old windows and doors. Now, you can add to the list, Whoopsy Daisies!! I am so excited to tell you that I have several of my pins and hair bows, including my new fleece designs, available in B&K Collectibles' booth! Go check them out and if you don't see what you want, call me today for a custom order! Thanks for looking!

Holidasies!

Look at these super cute Christmas daisies. What a perfect addition to your little girl's Christmas outfit. Thank about how cute they would be in a Christmas photo. Let me know if you would like one for yor little girl this Christmas.

Jessie

Whoopsy Daisies- Ever Girl's Gotta Have One!

I started making these adorable hair flowers for Sydney last year. After seeing people's reaction to them, I decided to try selling them. They are so fun!! You can wear them in your hair, clipped to a headband, or as a super cute brooch! I even love to wear them in my hair. They are so cute on girls of all ages. I have seen so many newborn photos with tiny babies wearing large flowers attached to headbands. This one is a three layer flower.

Single Layer: $4

Double Layer: $6

Three Layer: $8

Four Layer (includes pin back)-$10

I can customize to match any outfit. Just let me know what colors you are looking for!

Jessie

Cottage Wall Card set

Last weekend, I did a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation with Laura. She is doing lots of fundraising for a run that she is doing in April and when she approached me to help, I was so excited. We decided to do a card holder and assorted cards to go in it. Since the ribbon color for Leukemia is purple, I just new the Cottage Wall DSP would be perfect!! I was really happy with the way the projects turned out. I think Laura and her friends had a great time and were all really happy with the end result.

I will be offering these projects as a stamp camp in April (date TBD). If you are in need of some fundraising help, contact me today!

Each guest also created this card to be donated to patients fighting Leukemia.

I need some Sunny Day fun!!

I don't know about you, but I am really getting tired of all of the rain, clouds, and snow! I am anticipating warmer, sunnier weather! To brighten my mood, I have been working on my Scrapper's Express pages. I love this Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit! The colors and patterns scream "HAPPINESS!" As I was designing the first page, I was so excited when I discovered that the little birdie die cuts coordinate perfectly with our On Board So Tweet Chipboard! (If only I had read the full description in the catalog, I would have known this!!)

If you would like more information about joining my Scrapper's Express club, contact me today!

12 Days of Christmas Sale begins TODAY!!

I bolted out of bed this morning to see Stampin’ Ups’ 12 Days of Christmas Sale. It’s Big Shot Stuff! woohoo! Visit My Stampin' Up! Website to see everything that is on sale and place your order. Click Shop Now. Be sure to read on to the end for more details on this promotion.

Looking for a gift idea? The Holiday Gift Giving Guide is available through January 4. You can get a $16.95 or less Decor Elements product for free when you purchase $50 from the guide

My favorite item in that guide? The Big Shot Dream Come True Bundle. Purchase this item and get hostess benefits on your order! This would be a great gift to tell your husband about to make sure that you get something that you really want! If you order the Dream Come True Bundle before December 25th, I am offering FREE Shipping!! This offer is only available through me, so please email me or call with your order (order cannot be placed via my website to take advantage of this special)!

12 Days of Christmas:

These might be the most exciting 12 days of December with select Big Shot dies and vinyl sheets for the Big Shot on sale! The 12 Days of Holiday Sales begin today and runs through December 22.

Some of the items introduced in this sale are new colors of Décor Elements vinyl sheets. There are 18 new colors to choose from, and they make great projects when you use them with Big Shot dies. Consider pairing the Clear Décor Elements vinyl sheets with the Tulipe Bigz die to create an etched-like design on a vase. Or use the Decorative Accent Bigz dies with the Old Olive Décor Element vinyl sheets to enhance a frame. The combination of Big Shot dies and Décor Elements vinyl sheets is sure to take your creativity to a new level!

Altered Paint Can

I was approached by one of my customers about donating an item to the "Purses With Power" auction to benefit the Arthritis Association. Since my mom suffers from rheumatiod arthritis, of course I said yes. I really wanted to create something that would go along with the purse theme of the event. Everything that I came up with was too small to hold the items that I wanted to donate (a stamp set, catalog, paper assortment, and gift certificate), so I decide to alter a paint can. Micheal's sells these great clear paint cans that are easy to decorate with patterned paper and ribbon. I used my Daisy die for the Big Shot to create all of the flowers. I love how full they look when you layer different colors and sizes. It is so fun to create beautiful packaging for gifts using your stampin' supplies. I always feel that the presentation is one of the best things about gift giving. Contact me to order supplies to make your holiday gifts extra special with hand made wrapping paper, gift bags, or other creative containers!

Holiday Gift Giving Promotion

Dates: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010

Details: You'll love the convenience of our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! With gift ideas for kids, teens, neighbors, and more, it's your one-stop shop for all your holiday needs.

When you spend $50 on products in the guide, you'll get a Décor Elements for FREE (up to a $16.95 value)!

Printer Friendly Version of Gift Giving Promotion - Download Holiday Gift Giving

Things to Remember:

• There is no limit to the number of free Décor Elements a customer can earn. For every $50 purchased from the Gift-Giving Guide, you will receive a free Décor Element valued at $16.95 or less.
• Upon spending $50 in qualifying merchandise, you may enter the Décor Element of your choice. If you forget to enter the free Décor Element, OEX and Online Ordering will prompt you to add your free item.
• Deadlines:
• Phone: Monday, January 4, 2010; 6:50 PM (MT)
• Online Ordering: Monday, January 4, 2010; 11:50 PM (MT)

FAQs
Q: Can a customer earn more than one FREE Décor Element?
A: Yes! For every $50 a customer spends on products in the Gift-Giving Guide, she can choose a Décor Element valued up to $16.95.

Q: Does a customer have to spend $50 on products in the Gift-Giving Guide to qualify or can she spend $50 on any Stampin' Up! products?
A: In order to qualify for the free Décor Element, a customer must purchase $50 worth of products from the Gift-Giving Guide.

Q: If a product is shown in the Gift-Giving Guide, but is not listed, does that product qualify for the promotion?
A: No. Only products listed in the Gift-Giving Guide qualify for the promotion.

Click here if you would like to place a Stampin' Up! order

My Digital Studio Details...

• My Digital Studio is very user friendly (if you can navigate Word, you'll be okay).
• You do not need Photoshop experience.....nor do you need Photoshop.
• It works on a Mac or a PC.
• You can load it on two computers in your home.
• You can use the software to create blog design & banners.
• The software comes with over 2,000 images. That means when you purchase the software you do not need to buy any additional downloads until you're ready for more.
• You can create Photo Albums, Cards, Calendars and Scrapbook Pages.
• You can print them yourself or have them printed with the service Stampin' Up! will provide.
• The Photo Albums are high quality. You'll be surprised at how professional they look. When you give one of these albums as a gift, they will not believe you made it yourself :)
• You can design your projects from Scratch or use the amazing templates provided.

My two cents.....

Unlike Photoshop, which is a photo software that allows you to Scrapbook, MDS is a Design Software....what that means is you're directed to what step comes next.

My copy of MDS should arrive on Monday, and I can't wait to play with it. I was certified when I was at Founder's Circle in September, but there is so much more that I want to learn about it! As your demonstrator, I am committed to learning all that I can about this software so that I can help you when you get yours! If you have a question and I do not know the answer, I will do my best to find out.

If you would like to place an order for your copy of MDS, click here!

Happy Stampin'!
Jessie

New My Digital Studio images

New Images Available for My Digital Studio!

Seven new My Digital Downloads are available for purchase with your My Digital Studio software or other design applications. Several of these images are just in time for Halloween!

Item #	Product Name	Price
118114	Cast A Spell Designer Series paper - digital download	$4.95
118115	Night & Day Designer Series paper - digital download	$4.95
118124	Medallion stamp brush set - digital download	$1.95
118126	Circle Circus stamp brush set - digital download	$5.95
118116	School Days II stamp brush set - digital download	$9.95
118121	Great Moments II stamp brush set - digital download	$9.95
118122	Pumpkin Patch stamp brush set - digital download	$5.95

Click Here if you would like to place a Stampin' Up! order

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week #3

I love hardware…clips, brads, grommets. They really add something special and interesting to your papercrafting projects, and now they are available at a considerable discount.

Stampin’ Up’s 3rd Deal of the Week is available through Oct. 26, 11:50 AM (ET).

Price

114348	179	Basic Jumbo grommets	$6.95	$4.49
109857	179	Mini Library clips	$12.95	$8.99
112571	179	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$3.99
112581	179	1/2″ Library clips	$6.95	$3.99

Here is a darling little card from Stampin’ Up using the Mini Library Clips and the Berry Christmas Stamp Set.

Stamps: BERRY CHRISTMAS STAMP SET	Paper: Card Stock Old Olive 8 1/2X11 Card Stock Whisper White 8 1/2X11 Card Stock Real Red 8 1/2X11 Card Stock Textured Earth Elements 12 X 12
Ink Stampin Write Marker Real Red Stampin Write Marker Chocolate Chip Stampin Write Marker Old Olive CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD CRUSHED CURRY	Accessories: Punch 1 Inch Circle Library Clips - Mini Punch 1 3/4 Inch Circle

1. Color stem and leaves image with Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write markers and stamp on Whisper White card stock (2-3/8″ x 2-3/8″). Stamp berries image in Real Red ink. Adhere card stock to Real Red card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
2. Punch hole in Chocolate Chip textured card stock (2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″) using 1-3/4″ Circle punch, and attach to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
3. Stamp bird image in Crushed Curry ink on Whisper White card stock, cut out, and adhere to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
4. Color “Merry” from “Make merry” stamp using Old Olive Stampin’ Write marker, and stamp on Old Olive card stock. Punch out using 1″ Circle punch. Attach clip to circle, and adhere to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Another sample using the same supplies, but a bit simpler:

If you would like to place an order, click here or email me at jbenjamin@3monkeyscreations.com

Deal of the Week!

Deal of the Week #2 - October 12 - 18, 2009

Item Page Description Regular Price Special Price

115961 200 Perfect Setting Bigz XL die $42.95 $25.99

114515 195 Flower Burst Embosslits die $11.95 $5.99

116760 201 Pop-Up 3-Tier Cake die $39.95 $25.49

Founder's Circle Day 1!

I was up until after 12:30 last night packing and working on my swaps. When I got up this morning, I was feeling a little anxious about leaving the kids for 5 days and about going on a vacation with 125 women that I don't know. I was really afraid that Will was going to have a rough time with me leaving, but he surprised me. He said, "don't be nervous, Mommy", then he took my hand and kissed the palm and said, "when you feel scared, you can just put your hand to your cheek and know that I love you!" How sweet is that??

After a long flight, we arrived in Las Vegas around 1:00 and then loaded into the shuttle for the 2 hr drive to St George. I was so amazed by the beautiful scenery and how wonderfully nice all of the other demonstrators on my shuttle were. Upon arriving at the hotel, we received our first gift, a new stamp set from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog!

When we walked into the dining room, my breath was taken away! In true Stampin' Up! fashion, the tables were beautifully decorated. As my upline, Catherine, and I were making our way to the table, I turned around to be face to face with Shelli, the founder and CEO of SU. I have never gotten to meet her before tonight, and as I knew I would , I started to cry. I was so overwhelmed, that I could hardly even speak. Like an old friend, she just wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big hug. She assured me that we would have plenty of time to talk throughout the weekend. She is just so sweet!

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and then headed to the lobby for the Rising Star meeting. None of us knew that we were going to be asked to speak to a large group about what we did to achieve Rising Star, and then they were able to ask us questions. I was so nervous waiting for my turn, but then as usual once I got started I could have gone on all night! (I know that is shocking!!) We finally finished up and I headed to my room (I am exhausted!). When I got off of the elevator, who was standing there right in front of my room?
None other than Shelli and her daughter, Sarah. To top off the amazing day/evening, I found a present waiting for me on my bed, another new stamp set, 3 spools of polka dot ribbon, and a set of In Color markers! Wow, I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

My little boy went to Kindergarten today!

Well, it is official, Will is a kindergartner. I cannot believe it, where has the time gone? Last night, I listened to him cry himself to sleep because he did not want to go. He was afraid that "they" would not like him and that "the letters and numbers were going to be harder in Kindergarten". This morning, he was upside down in his bed with his head under the covers and he said that he was going to stay in bed until 3:30. After much prodding, we finally got him dressed and suddenly he was not scared anymore. He walked into school and the classroom, and did not even cry when we left him! I cannot believe how brave he was. I am so proud of him.

Last night, I made this little sucker cover to hide in his lunch box. He wanted me to make a paper airplane, but I did not think that that would be such a great idea for the first day of school! This morning, he wanted to know what his surprise was. I wouldn't show it to him, but I told him that I had made him a card. He looked up at me with a huge smile and said, "you are the sweetest Mommy in the world!" He absolutely loves getting handmade cards from me. I used Sweet Centers, a new stamp set from the Holiday mini catalog (available September 1st). If you have not received a copy of it from me in the mail, let me know and I will get one to ya! It is such a wonderful feeling to brighten someone's day with a simple project created by you. I can't wait to pick him up and hear what he has to say about his first day of school!

Rising Star #8!!

Me with my sister (and downline) Ragan, Lisa (my first recruit, and friend), and Kim (my upline, and friend) at the Ale house on Awards night.
I am # 8 Rising Star!!!!!
Lisa, me, and Ragan
Me and Kim


I can't believe it! Last Thursday at Stampin' Up's annual convention, I was named Rising Star #8!! For those of you that may not know what that means, let me explain. Each year, Stampin' Up recognizes the top 15 new demonstrators ( demos in their first FULL year with Stampin' Up!). I went out o dinner with my upline, Kim, and two of "my monkeys" (members of my downline), Lisa and Ragan (also my big sis!!). We waited for the phone call from our friends in Salt Lake City that were attending convention (SLC is 2 hours behind, so it was pretty late!!). They called and I got to hear Kim repeat, "She is not 15, She is not 14..." until I finally heard her say, "She IS number 8!!" This was such an exciting moment for me!! In October of 2007, I set a goal for myself to make Rising Star, and it felt so good to reach it! As part of the award, I now get to attend Founder's Circle, a very prestigious retreat for the 15 Rising Stars and the Top 100 Demonstrators in the company where we get to hang out in St. George, Utah with Owner and Founder of SU!, Shelli Gardner!!! I am so excited to meet her, I hope I do not ball my eyes out when I do! I have to thank my family, my friends, and ecspecially all of my customers for all of your support.

Oh! The Memories!!

Well, the big moving day is fast approaching. For me, change is exciting. New places to explore and new people to meet! Even though I am excited about the adventure, I am sad to leave all of my friends and family. I have lived in the Raleigh area since I was in the 3rd grade (minus the 4 years in Greenville for college). My mom is here, my sisters, and many of my oldest and dearest friends. Since I started my Stampin' Up! business just under 2 years ago, I have made SO many new friends in my customers and fellow demonstrators! I am going to miss everyone of you. I hope that you all will stay in contact with your "Stamp Lady"! If you need anything, I will just be a phone call or email away, and you never know when I might pop back to Wake Forest for a class or something!
My stamps, paper, and inks are all packed up in boxes, so... no stamping for me for a while (boo hoo!!!) I wanted to share my latest scrapbook pages with you. These are from my Scrapper's Express club. Each month my Scrappers get an entire kit of fabuloust SU goodies and 6 12x12 pages designed by ME! All of this for only $25. I love to scrapbook, so this club has been so much fun for me. Even though I am moving, you can still join the club! I will just be mailing the kits and copies of the pages to everyone, and... I think Jenny even offered her living room so that everyone can still get together and scrap! (All scrappers know that getting together with other scrappers is half of the fun!!) Let me know if you are interested, and please keep in touch with me. Please know that I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say, " I will miss each of you tremendously!"