October 2008

I promised that I would put up a good card today & I hope you like it!  It's got that funny bear from the Under the Stars set.  Ann only has one or two original thoughts a year and this is one of them.  (Don't tell her I told you, but I come up with most of them.)  Just click on the picture to see the real deal or here to look at the inside in the Under the Stars Gallery.  Ann loves to do Christmas cards with non-Christmas sets.  You stampers are so versatile! 

She used the Stampin' Up! Write Me a Memory Journaling Fonts CD #105813 and the Santa Hat from the Sock Monkey Accessories #111552.  There's more, but then I'd have to ask you for the super secret password.

Today's the last day of the month!  Last day to get 20% off the Birthday sets.  Hope you don't miss out!  The new board we just started is about a quarter full.  You people just love that Big Shot, don't you? 

Have a safe & happy Halloween.  And remember...no chocolate for dogs!  Be sure to review the Halloween tips for dogs in the 2 posts below before you do anything that might embarrass your pooch.

P.S.  There's a video coming soon.  This picture is a hint.  Alternative ways to make it is going to be featured in the November newsletter so be sure you're on the list!

I just know that *I* didn't eat it!  Not this time!

Talk to Ann to find out why this is the best time of year to become a demonstrator.  Believe me.  You'll WANT to be on our team!

Here's the last part of the Halloween tips for your pets courtesy of Bark Busters:

* Check your dog’s ID tag. Be sure identification tags are secure on your dog’s collar-just in case.

* Reassure your dog. The best thing you can do for your dog when he is feeling unsettled by Halloween activities is to act as you normally would. By over-reassuring your dog or giving him an unusual amount of attention, you inadvertently can communicate to him that because you are acting differently, there must be something to worry about.

* Keep candy away from your dog. Many candies-especially chocolate-are toxic to dogs. The severity of the toxicity depends greatly on factors such as breed, age, size, and how much candy was ingested. Problems may range from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea, or even death. If you have any concerns at all, consult with a veterinarian immediately. If you want to keep your dog safe, make certain that sweets, including their wrappers, are kept well away from your dog.

* Protect dogs from candles and pumpkins. Excited or agitated dogs can easily knock over a lit candle or pumpkin. Be sure those items are away from your dog’s reach, or consider a battery-powered candle that does not burn

* Be prepared. If you take your dog with you while trick-or-treating, be prepared at all times. Do not let your dog approach the door of a house, and stay clear of possible gags or gangs of goblins who will gather at the door. Dogs do not understand that the person jumping out at you will not hurt you; they often think they can only help you by acting aggressively. Neither children nor adults in costumes should approach a dog without the owner’s consent.

* Have fun but think of your dog’s safety. Finally, if you want your dog to be included in Halloween festivities, think about his safety much as you would the safety of a small child. Your dog does not understand Halloween, so he needs you to provide the guidance and safety that you always do.

Now - back to stamping!

Many of you like to see all us cute little puppies in our Halloween costumes.  Let me take a moment to help you AND your beloved 4 legged friend to have a happy and SAFE Halloween.  You may think I'm joking, but Cecil lost his favorite cat on Halloween.  Poor guy.  Only cat he ever liked.  I'm still looking for one I like.

So here are a few tips courtesy of Bark Busters.  I'll have a few more tomorrow:

* Have your dog get used to costumes. Your dog may see his family members as strangers once they don their Halloween costumes. Before the kids put them on, allow your dog to scent the costumes. If your costume has a mask, keep the mask off when you are with your dog because dogs can become confused when they can’t see our faces.

* Think twice about dressing your dog in a costume. While some dogs might enjoy being dressed up, many don’t.  (I'm a T-Shirt & Coat guy myself.  Keeps me warm in the wet California Winters.)  Experiment first to see if your dog likes being in a costume. If so, fine-he’ll most likely enjoy himself and the extra attention it brings. However, if he shows any resistance, don’t do it. Dogs feel enough stress around Halloween without also having to endure the discomfort and peculiarity of wearing a strange costume.

* Don’t leave your dog outside. Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where it is safe. If your dog is usually kept outside, bring him in a few times before the big night to get him used to being indoors. Your dog may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. Remember also that it is a natural instinct for dogs to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.

* Keep your dog restrained. If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to love people a little too much, it is best to put him in a separate room away from the front door to limit his excitability, aggression, and chance of running outside and becoming lost.

Even has a professional photographer named Abby come & take their picture!  That's Abby & her demonstrator mom Rachael on the left.

Congratulations to Jessica Luther who won the best swap award.  We've added a couple of the other cards into the gallery & will keep adding them throughout the week.

Don't you think you should be part of Ann's team?  They're a fun bunch and are growing every day!  Lotsa good stuff that you won't get anywhere else PLUS my super secret hideaway for things that help 24/7 Stampers everywhere.  Just talk to Ann.  She knows everything I know.  But I DO know that you can find lots of answers here.

Congratulations and a shout out to Karen Johnson, the 24/7 Stampers newest supervisor!

Here's a picture of Mary's box she made in the Crazy 4 Cupcakes class on Saturday.  Yep.  That's a little cupcake in the back.  It's VERY VERY chocolate & VERY VERY not for me.  All the stampers (& Cecil) ate the little cake and then all the stampers took a cupcake home for their favorite person (or to devour later).  It was a very cool cupcake event.

Only a few more days to get this cool set for 20% off!

Talking about cool events....we've got one coming up on ELECTION NIGHT!  It's the start of Technique Geeks!  Two techniques & Two projects!  You'll make mini pages with a sample of each technique & a card using the technique.  Hot stuff for youse stampers! 

This will be a fun night for those of you who don't want to talk about the election.  It will be a safe haven for to avoid all the rhetoric.  And you'll learn something new too!  It all starts at 6:30p!  Hope you've voted by then!  You can register here.

Isn't she a looker?  Almost as pretty as me.  I think we'd make a great pair.  She could be the beauty.  I could be the brains.  They sure know how to grow nice pups in Texas.  That's where Zoe's girls are too.

But then.....it could be like one of those online dating services.  I could invite Doodles over only to find she's a Sharpei!  Or maybe a Rottweiler!  Or maybe this was her in her "younger leaner years".  Mmmm.  No "bait & switch"!  No sir-ree!

Gotta run fast to keep up with me!  She's an Agility Champ so she could probably run circles around me!  I do best with straight lines.

I'll be sharing more stampin' stuff soon.  Ann's doing a Cupcake Class today.  My stampers will be here any minute.  Can't wait to hear what they think about our latest installment of the 12 Weeks of Christmas ideas.  If you haven't signed up for the Newsletter, you're really missing out!  Sign up this weekend & we'll even send you the first 4 installments.

Click on the video below to play it.  When you're done, check out the instructions & shopping lists here and then go shopping!  Oh yeah - the commercial that starts it off is very brief.  Please be patient.  You can wait 10 seconds, right?  Just about my time limit for a treat.

Just zip up here on the left & DO IT!

OR come make it with me & Ann on Saturday November 22nd.  But you've got to get in before it fills up by registering here.  It'll be a blast!  All I have to do is work on that opposing thumb thing & I am ON IT!

P.S.  Hugs & smooches to Doodles.  I was drooling over your picture recently.  You're almost as cute as me and pretty quick on your feet for a girl!

No stampin' during the daylight today.  I'm supervising Ann as she cleans the carpets from my cushioned chair on the patio.  (that machine is way louder than the vacuum!)  If she does a good enough job, I'll let her go to her team meeting and she can stamp with my girls.  They're having a shoebox swap so she'll have some fun stuff to show tomorrow.

Hey, Ann!  Can you peel me a grape?

WOW!  Stampin' Up! must really be impressed with me!  Now they're putting videos on Ann's part of my site!  If you want to make this project, just click on the picture & it will take you to the project.

Just when I think that I'm about as impressive as impressive can be, someone goes and pats me on the head & makes my day!

And Ann... my house is called CENTRAL BARK!

You can get your name on the next board.  That $100 is not something to sneeze at.  You can use it towards stamps, classes or even to join our team of demonstrators!  One never knows where this little piece of luck will lead!  We're already starting a new one.  Perhaps next time it will be YOU!

See a close up of the winning portion of the board here.  Get your name on the board for every $50 you spend &/OR when you host a home workshop (party).  Contact Ann or shop online today to get a head start!

I put my Director's hat on again & we put out another video tutorial in the wee hours of this morning.  Just click on the picture & it'll take you to the Video Gallery where you can enjoy it and the other 16 video tutorials we've done over the last 6 months.

The girls had such a good time making this on Saturday that I put Ann to work on the film right away.  This video's so new that I haven't even put the pictures in my art gallery yet!  But they will be soon!  Maybe later today if I forgo my nap.

We should have another one in the next day or two as well!  There are only a couple more squares left on the board & I have a feeling that tomorrow night is the lucky night for some stamper out there!  You get your name on the board for every $50 that you spend OR when you host a workshop so don't miss out!

Look what I had at the door to greet them!  Well, it wasn't there when they got here, but it was there shortly after they left!  That Big Shot sure can do anything!  Ann found the perfect pumpkin and brought it home for me.  Under my careful supervision, she made the pumpkin face with her Big Shot (named after me) & her Decor Elements roll of vinyl.  The eyes were made with the Stampin' Up! exclusive Pennant die and the mouth was made with the Big Scallop Die. 

Stop by & see it soon!  We keep her in from time to time so that the elements don't kill her off too soon.  This is my very first pumpkin so if you have suggestions on how to keep my pumpkin girl healthy, please share it with me.

Ann stopped by her demonstrator friend's home to show her what they made.  Karen loved this card even more than the club members did!

So what are YOU waiting for?  If you love stamping and want a backstage pass to all of Ann's stuff, become a demonstrator today!  If you have a lot of cool Stampin' Up! products already, then try the $99 kit that is only available until tomorrow, October 11th.  If you want the best bang for your buck to get started right, choose the standard kit and Stampin' Up! will throw in your choice of any stamp set of your choice in the whole catalog because it's their birthday! 

Be the demonstrator that you'd like to have.  You're only limited by your imagination.  Ann rents a part of my blog for me that she only shares with her team.  It's got lots to help you no matter what your goals are. 

Got questions?  Ask me.  I know everything!  BUT THE DEADLINE IS October 11

Anyway, I was minding my own business only to come in to see that Ann had tried one of those layout inspirations.  Paper was flying everywhere!  And she was supposed to be getting ready for the Taste of Home Cooking Show!  I think she's going to change this one up a bit, but not bad for the first try.  Those reindeer look pretty yummy to me.  Wonder what that red nose tastes like.  Alas, I don't think I'm tall enough to quite make it.

Only 3 days left to join our team and save money!  You can be the big dog and have your own stamping business.  You just never know where it will take you!  You should chat with Ann because the thought of having a new demonstrator on the 24/7 Stampers just chokes me up!  Or get some of your questions answered here.

Isn't that one purdy?

I'm going to try to jump in Ann's trunk to go to the Taste of Home Cooking School at the Fairgrounds tomorrow.  Cecil could use some help in the kitchen.  I think I could learn something there.

Of course, the Health Department may have a different view.

For this whole week, the cool Simply Sent kits are on sale for 20% off!  Ann did these 3 cards really quick, but you can put them together however you'd like.  It SAYS it makes 9 cards, but you can make even more if you work it right.  Just ask Ann.  She knows all about it!

Hope you can come see her on Wednesday at the Taste of Home Cooking School.  She's not cooking, but she'll have some fun stampin' stuff. 

Ann spent much of the day talking to my girlfriend's mom.  They're really trying to fix us up.  My little Stinker Doodle Bug caught my eye when she sent me a birthday card.  My, oh my!  Everyone around here has been woman handling my little Doodle's card.  I'd love to meet face to face, but until they move Texas closer to California, we'll just have to correspond by hand stamped cards!

We had so much fun yesterday that now we're multi lingual!  Whenever you want to brush up on your French, German, Russian or Spanish, just look down the left in the links bar.  There's a Babel Fish box that will help you turn the site into the language of your choice.

I looked for a British flag but didn't see one.  That's where Jack Russell's hail from so perhaps we need to add one.  Or at least an Oregon one....that's where I'm born.  (I'm just pulling your leg.  Bet you were thinking that I was practicing for Jay Leno's Jay Walk All-Stars!)

The specials are on until tonight at 10pm Pacific.  Better grab one while you can!

P.S.  I understand that AOL was having problems yesterday.  If you ever have a challenge with shopping, let Ann help you!  Just drop her a line & she'll be there lickety split.

Happy World Card Making Day!

Here's our specials & 2 dynamite ones from Stampin' Up!  Guess that's one for our hearts:  one for me & one for Ann.....in that order.

   Chow, Baby!
        Stamper
 

Here's the first favorite for me.  Bet that bird is mighty tasty too!  Not just for lookin' at!  We're planning a special Big Shot class just for you stamper-ettes that have purchased the Big Shot.  As soon as we set a date, you'll know.  It'll be fun, fun, fun!

It's not too late to sign up for the online newsletter & get 12 Weeks of Christmas Ideas every Thursday from now until Christmas.  There will be cards, gift card holders, gifts all with instructions & a shopping list so you can throw me a bone once in awhile.  :-)  Just use the box at the top left of this page.

Off to nap like a good little dog should.  I only have 2 speeds:  lightning fast & ASLEEP!  I just added 4 or 6 cards to the Art Gallery.  Why don't you mosy on over there & check them out?

Got something special planned for you for World Card Making Day this Saturday.  Be sure to check back!

Check out the birthday card on the right for the ink to the latest Stampin' Up! special!

Be sure to check out her new classes too!  And get registered early to be sure you get a seat!  The Early Bird special is over on Saturday for the Jingle All the Way class.  What is an Early Bird anyway?  Gotta get one of those things.

Did you get your Holiday mini yet?  Just ask Ann.