Free Set with Purchase

Oh its almost here!! The New Mini Catalog comes out September First and I am SO excited by the great sets and accessories! My pre-order has arrived, and I am LUVING it!

BUT **MR** MidnightCrafter has declared that as the new sets come in, so must some of the old sets move on - there is a premium on space in the craft closet. So for you crafty folks who would like a deal:

I would like to offer a FREE set from my own personal collection for the first $25 order, the first 4 $50 orders, the first 4 $75 orders, the first 2 orders over $100, and the first order over $200 placed online at my Stampin' Up! website. These are retired sets from my own collection. These sets are no longer sold by Stampin' Up! You can not order them from the new fabulous catalog, but when you visit my website at www.midnightcrafter.stampinup.net and click on the Shop Now button in the upper right corner, and purchase $25+, $50+, $75+, or $100+ (in merchandise only, before Tax and Shipping) in Stampin' Up! New Products, you can choose one of these great sets! I will send it right on out to you! Speaking of mailing,
Prefer to look through a beautiful, in-person, Idea Book & Catalog to do your shopping? Enter your info HERE today and I will mail out to you your very own Free copy of the 2009-2010 IBC and the newest Mini-Catalog which will go live 9/1/09! I will include order forms if you'd prefer not to order online.
All sets come from a smoke free home, are lovingly and gently used, mounted and cleaned, and may include a bonus idea sheet or sample, as I have them. There is nothing wrong with these great sets, I simply can not keep every set I have loved. Once you place your order email me with your choice! Please include an alternate (I will update as sets are removed, but) in the event that there is a duplication. The first order placed receives 1st choice.

*Please note that retired items are shipped separately and do not count towards Stampin' Up! hostess benefits as they are provided by me, and not by Stampin' Up!.

*As sets are given away with orders, they will be removed from the choices-- so if you want a set, order and email me right away. Early birds get the stampin' worm!

Opportunity Knockin' -- its Stampin' Up!

While anytime is a great time to join the Stampin' Up!family as a demonstrator, joining during August is especially sweet!

Starting your own Stampin' Up! business means free and discounted products, plus a little extra cash --and who couldn't use that? And now, thru August 31, you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for only $85!

Just thought I'd mention, since it *IS* the last week for this fabulous Mini-Kit offer... The special, limited-time Mini Starter Kit contains many of the items you need to get started in your new business, including: • For All You Do stamp set ($28.95 value)• Six In Color Classic Stampin' Pads ($5.95 value each)• One pack of 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White card stock ($7.50 value)• One pack of 8-1/2" x 11" In Color assorted card stock ($7.95 value)• Business forms and tools (approx $65 value)

• Do you want a discount on Stampin' Up!® products?


• Do you plan to buy more stamps in the future?


• Would you like to earn some $$ to pay off a bill, buy new stamps and more?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, contact me for more information about the Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator Starter kit. There is also a special bonus for those interested in starting with the Standard Kit for $199: along with all the items pictured below,

Stampin' Up! will send you a BONUS GIFT OF ALL SIX IN COLOR INK PADS & ONE PACK OF IN COLOR CARD STOCK!

Both the Standard Starter Kit, and the Mini Starter Kit, are completely customizable. You can choose the default options pictured in the kits, or order the stamp sets, ink colors, and paper colors you want! (A great way to get everything you need for Holiday Crafting now!) Both Starter Kits come with the same amount of business supplies and tools.

The fastest and easiest way to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, is with a credit or debit card. Just click on MY ONLINE RECRUITING PAGE and enter my Recruiter Authorization Password: midnightcrafter (If you need to mail in a check for your Starter Kit, please email me and I can send you all the forms you'll need!)

Contact me for more details.
Or Find Out More online at my Stampin' Up! website HERE

Easy Simple Bag - o - Candy Gifts

I love making these little gifts - they make a good stocking stuffer, are great for kids or co-workers, for a holiday boutique or fundraiser; and they are Easy! Shown above are ones I did last year -- Snowman Kisses and a Rudolph Repair Kit. The bag toppers are super easy using the Top Note die and my Big Shot!

Here's the "recipe" for two of my Favorites: Snowman Soup and Magic Reindeer Food

Snowman Soup --
Warm the hearts of good little boys and girls with a packet of Snowman Soup! Take a packet of hot chocolate, chocolate kiss, marshmallows and candy cane, package in a holiday-themed goody bag, then add a gift tag for a cheery winter gift. Easy enough for children to make, Snowman Soup is perfect for a stocking stuffer, office gifts, Secret Santa presents or 12 Days of Christmas gifts.
This works great as shown, options instead of bagging it might be to decorate a plain mug with some fabulous Rub-Ons from Stampin' Up! They have a great variety of themes and with 2-4 sheets each depending on the pack, you could make a few or a fa-la-la-la-lot!

Assemble in a gift bag, gift mug or small zipper food storage bag:1 individual packet hot chocolate mix 2-3 chocolate kiss candies 10-15 mini-marshmallows small candy cane

Print in a fun font onto card stock and cut out using the Big Shot and Top Note Die and create bag topper, or hand-write this poem and attach to gift:

Snowman Soup
Was told you've been real good this year. Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little Snowman Soup Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow. It's sure to do the trick!

Magic Reindeer Food:
Many families leave cookies and milk for Santa, but what about his reindeer? Sprinkled on the lawn on Christmas Eve, Magic Reindeer Food leaves a glittering path--and a sweet snack--for Rudolph and friends. Perfect for the little ones to help with! An inexpensive stocking stuffer, Magic Reindeer Food makes a great classroom or Secret Santa gift. Package this simple recipe in zipper food storage bags or treat bags, and add a bag topper.

In a small zipper food storage bag or empty shaker container, mix:1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/4 cup sugar
Two Tablespoons red or green sugar crystals (as used for cake decorating)
Print in a fun font onto card stock and cut out using the Big Shot and Top Note Die and create bag topper, or hand-write this poem and attach to gift:
Magic Reindeer Food

Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn,
On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn.
The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way
And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!

Need more cute Bag Gifts?

try:

Halloween - Witches Brew

Thanksgiving - Blessing Mix

or if you like them, check out the Poop gift bags (Ghost poop - mini marshmallows, Pumpkin poop - cheese puffs; Kim has the scoop on ALL the poop at her site :-)

Cards For Heroes card making

What a great weekend! CardsForHeroes.org had a GREAT Christmas Card Inspiration mini-Blog Hop, and I had the girls over for some Card Making for CFH -- yielded 50 cards! Should have a great package to send off this week!

Check out the Blog Hop

Thanks to my crafty friends for supporting a great cause!

Someone remembers, someone cares

Someone remembers, someone cares;
Your name is whispered in someone’s prayers.
~Author Unknown

Welcome! I am participating in the Mini-BlogHop for CardsforHeroes.org, a great organization that supports our nation’s armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. Please click HERE to visit this amazing organizations website and learn more about them! Want to get involved? Click HERE.
Have no idea what I am talking about and want to start the Hop at the Beginning?!? Start Hopping HERE on August 15th, and all weekend long!

What could be better than doing what we love—making beautiful cards—and helping our nation's brave heroes at the same time? Thousands of card makers across America are joining forces to share their gifts and talents to bless those deployed far from home, and in return are bringing smiles to families and friends across the country! -- CardsForHeroes.org

In honor of the Holiday deadlines approaching -- NOVEMBER 1st is the last day CardsForHeroes.org can accept Christmas and Hanukkah cards in order to get them to our troops so that they can be sent out to families at home -- I am sharing a bit of Holiday Inspiration with an easy technique to get you in the Spirit (and Ahead of the game - let the countdown begin!!)

Have you tried the KISSING TECHNIQUE lately? It makes for some mighty unique and coordinated stampin'! This basic technique adds texture to solid stamps. Want to add some pizazz to your Alphabet sets? Get more from the sets you have been using alot? Add spice to otherwise plain ole stamping?This is the trick!

From my Favorite Stamper : BEATE
To try this technique you will need:

Solid image stamp (most alphabets, the Extreme images, Petal Pizazz, or Cheep Talk or Good Friend, and the Medallion would be really pretty in this style)

Two coordinating colors of dye ink

Cardstock Small image or background stamp

Darker color ink marker (optional)

To use this technique:
Ink a texture stamp (one with lines, dots, etc.).

Place it face up on your work surface.

Ink a solid stamp with a lighter color.

Press the solid stamp into the texture stamp so they "kiss" each other.

The background stamp leaves a pattern on the solid tamp.

Stamp the combined image on cardstock. The result is a subtle or textured version of the solid stamp.

(Optional) To add a darker border around the image, run your marker around the edge of the image.

Stamp image on cardstock & Finish your card.

You can also press inked stamps onto a background stamp and then stamp either stamp for an interesting effect. Or instead of using a background stamp, ink up a small stamp with dark ink and stamp it directly on your solid stamp.

View Some Samples HERE and some more samples & a really cool blog HERE

Now get out and try it - and start setting aside those cards for CFH and our men and women far from home!! For more inspiration visit the NEXT STOP ON THE BLOG HOP <-- click on it!

Blessings on our Nations Armed Forces, and the families that support them! Lets bring some bright spots to the holidays this year for them!

Happy Crafting! ~angie

August - halfway through the Year

I am thinking about calendars more and more these days. Not just because I manage one in my day job, but also because I need to manage the one at home more skillfully! We are so caught up in the whirl that I am often amazed we remember anything at all! I love that there are people out there (GCL and MDE) that maintain beautiful calendars and always have the Birthday cards ready a week or two ahead of time AND manage to get the cards out in the mail with time to spare for delivery. I think calendars are the best gifts - but the personalised ones with all the dates already noted, with pictures or quotes, with some character, are the very best!

Stampin' Up! Has two pre-made calendars,
Days-To-Remember Calendar 6X6 -- personalise in so many ways!
Item #104144 for $9.95
and
Whisper White Birthday Calendar -- Birthdays and Events in a perpetual calendar.
Item #101398 for $7.95
And coming out September 1st, in the new Mini Catalog, an adorable calendar kit and coordinated stamp set I can't wait to show you!

A great Scrapbook layout using a calendar is a featured project this month. (Image to the Right) This would be a great way to scrapbook milestones or

If you want it to be a more traditional calendar, you can use some of the great coordinating paper and embellishments to create a beautiful calendar to treasure.

Some ideas to add character & make a very Giftable Calendar:

• Preserve happy memories. For the month of November or December use a photograph of Uncle Harve carving last year's turkey or a closeup of the family Christmas tree with its collection of ornaments gathered over the years.
• Relive significant moments. Put Mom and Dad's Wedding Photo on the Month of their Anniversary.
• Honor a lifetime of achievement. The year Grandma turns 100 give a calendar to everyone at her birthday party that is full of significant dates and photos of her life from birth to present.
• Coordinate your calendar. Give a gift set of personalized calendars along with matching birthday, anniversary, and other special occasion cards. Use a family theme or decorate with your own artistic creations.
• Keep family history alive. Use photos and birth dates of long gone ancestors. Create a collage of all the 'Juniors' or other family members -- past and present -- that share the same name, the same birth month, or the same occupation.
• Watch baby grow. Make a Calendar Baby Book. Start with the month of the child's birth and for each month provide a place to record 'firsts' measurements, and other milestones. Decorate with appropriate graphics or baby photos of the parents.
• Don't forget the cranberry sauce. The absent-minded Chef in the family would appreciate a custom daily/weekly meal planner for the holidays. Put in reminders for ordering the Thanksgiving turkey, when to start baking and freezing cook ahead dishes, or the best times to stock up on seasonal ingredients.
• Never forget another birthday. Keep birthdays and anniversaries handy with a business card size calendar listing significant dates for family and friends. Make it a folded business card style and add a birthstone list, favorite colors, or sizes.

Make it Super Giftable, even if you are not using personal photos or dates: Attach a Gift Card

• Add it to that special someones birthday month, or to signifigant holidays.
• For your kids, maybe a monthly card for allowance or iTunes downloads.
• For a Boss or special Co-worker, maybe a coffee card of the month or a gas card for when you know they'll need one - vacations or holidays.
• For that family member with a new baby, maybe a diaper card or different gift card for each month - dinner out or movies (with a note of baby-sitting included :-), home or baby store cards for baby-proofing, box of candy for the new parents.
• For your sports fan - tickets for a game, or season.

There are countless cards out now, and a thoughtful addition to a simple calendar could make for a Wow gift! Some of these ideas are quick and easy, but others you may want to add time to your calendar NOW to be able to complete them by the gifting season.

Some Cute Calendar Crafts to do with Kids can be found HERE and HERE
Calendar templates for to print and assemble can be found HERE.

Happy Crafting!
~angie