Unloading a LOAD of Stamps on Ebay!

well... the time has come. I sorted and sorted and sorted again through my 250 Stampin' Up stamp sets. All from my very first set (Greetings Galore I bought in 2000) to the newest additions.
From those I have managed to whittle down my "keepers" pile to about 50.  I also have about 75 Papertrey Ink sets that I have not sorted... oh the pain...!

So I have started to sell my sets at bargain prices on ebay. So far I have sold approx 44 sets! So there's about 150 odd sets left!

These stamp sets have been my source of income, joy, comfort and creativity at times. It's hard for me to let them go, but it's comforting to know that they will end up in homes of other crafty people who love to stamp!

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing stamp sets, you can check out my ebay page. there you will find auction style listings as well as reasonable BUY IT NOW prices that reflect the average completed (sold) prices on ebay.  my seller name is IPPYHOLLERMOM and I have been on ebay since 2003 :)

Many of my listings start at $1 or $5 and I do combine shipping as well as ship overseas!

AHHHH! It's a jungle in here right now. taking pics, sorting, listing, packaging and shipping... it's a real store in here!
The kids are helping me and we are making a few bucks for fun summer activities! At least they benefit... :)

As for school, things are going great! FAST and GREAT! I am halfway thru the summer semester and actually keeping up with all the work. I think I might actually be able to do this!
I had my first lab practical last nite and I was able to identify all the pig parts! YEA! Now that's LIFE!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer! See you soon!

New Father's Day card

I'm loving Tim Holtz stamps for Father's Day cards. It's really a challenge for me to make masculine cards... and I find that many Holtz images are perfect! Coupled with Stampin' Up card stock and vintage brads, I think it's about ready for that special dad!Spending the rest of the tidying up in here. I can't seem to find my mind in all this clutter.
Hope you are well!

a week and a half just FLEW by!

Gosh! I realized today that I haven't posted since the 11th.
Like last year... I found myself submerged in all the beautiful garden plants and fresh mulch my car could carry!
I did spend several (rainy =) ) days making cards and prepping more for the FINRA show next week.
Here's a ducky get well card I made today (among some other designs).
I juts love the "Minnie Mouse"-esque red polka with white polka dots.
Everything is raised on dimensionals... by far my FAVORITE Stampin' Up accessory.
The inside says, " Hope you're soon feeling... Just ducky!"

Well. Hope you are all enjoying this new spring! See you soon!

Santa Claws!

I spent a fun fun day with Stacie working on our art journals. We each have one and we do one page. Then we pass it to each other where we make another page. Back and forth until our traveling journals are complete. Too bad that Stacie got caught up with some backed jewelry work... but she did finally get a couple hours in there at the end...
As for my card today: Ho Ho Ho - Here comes Santa Claws!
This is a stamp set by SU, some ultrafine glitter, Designer paper, scallop punch, cardstock and chipboard letters. All SU. Alcohol Markers to color in crab.

I did get all the FOOD ATCs swapped today and they will go out in tomorrow morning's mail. I was really happy with the cards. They were so creative and such a wide variety of techniques, images and media!

after a couple of years of hosting... I have decided not to continue my monthly atc swap as I have started to feel the crunch of time lately. But I will on occasion continue to swap thru SCS and ATCsforall. Thanks to all who have played along with me!

Well that's all for tonight. Have a great one!

Chirstmas ins the air...

Here's a quick post of a card.
This set is from Papertrey Ink and the striped paper is DCWV SWEET. Polka dot paper and ribbon are both Stampin up.It's raining pretty hard today... I hope for a nice, warm and sunny week for all of you next week... Thanksgiving.

See you soon!

crabby

OW! How fast a week can go! In a blink of an eye it's Friday again.
I mentioned calendars last week... I have some pics for you. They are not the greatest... but it's a gloomy day (I need perfect lighting =) )and my camera is too complicated to figure out.
This crab card is one of many different I made for the stores and online. Being from MD, I thought I needed to add crabs to my fall line!

Well, Hope you all have a great weekend. Next week will be a bit busy for me. We have some family birthdays to celebrate and a few days off from school (Thank you FAIR DAY!).
See you soon!

A note about Stampin Up.

A couple days ago I emailed all my customers and friends about a change that is about to take place for me... as a Stampin Up demo.

Recently (as many of you may have heard), Stampin Up placed new restrictions on their demos regarding personal blog content. And although I understand why they felt like they needed to do this, I don't think it's the right choice for me. SU is limiting what I can and can not put on this blog and my other personal website. This is not the website I have thru SU... (that one is directly supported by SU). Under this new rule, I can not link or give credit to other people, blog or companies that I use and are inspired by if those sites either sell or promote competing products. This is not right for me as I love to use all products available to me - Stampin Up included.

So as I informed my current customers, I will be leaving SU after 6+ years of being a demo.
I am sad to leave SU, but have been contemplating it for some time now, and this was perhaps the little push I needed to jump! I did sign the new IDA to give my customers til the end of December to place any orders for items on their wish list. After that point I will let my demonstrator status run out.

THANK YOU to all those who have supported me thru the last 6 years. I appreciate all the business you have given me and the friendships we have built throughout!

So my friends and customers know where I stand. I hope you will continue to visit me here... as this is in no way a farewell to creating! In fact I am excited to be starting the fall off with a bang!

Isn't this what growing up and evolving is all about?!?! =)

Next week i will be posting a few pics of the calendars I made for the stores this week!
See you then!
Have a wonderful weekend!

more peeks

I am working on some more cards this week for sale.
Both images are from an older Stampin Up set.

The cakes have lots of Fine glitter and the bunnies are soft and fuzzy (flocking).

More looks...

Today's offering...A twist on a past favorite!
etsy store is open... but not fully stocked yet! More everyday!
Have a great weekend!

Fall Preview... here we go!

So with the kids back at school and the house safely tucked in... I am resuming greeting cards for etsy (www.allisonpapercrafts.etsy.com), the Muse (downtown Frederick, MD) and Art Partners (Clarksville, MD).

Here's a sneak peek at a card I am working on... some younger themed cards for kids to give to kids! This is a Stampin Up stamp set and designer paper. Shimmery silver cardstock with vellum and dimensionals. The penguin layer has a frosty white glitter all around the edge.
My etsy store will reopen on or about Sept 1 and the stores will start to stock the first week of Sept.

Hope you are all enjoying your day! Check back often this week for more sneak peeks!

birthdays!!! Love'em!

Recently I was asked to make some cards for the younger peeps to buy for their friends. Altho this one can go either way... I thought I'd share it. It's a cute glittered butterfly (cut with SU exclusive BIGZ die) card with linen thread, glass beads and a perfect scalloped edge! the inside is lined with paisley designer paper.

I added the second (more blurry) picture to show some of the inner lining. I must've taken 50 pics this am of this one card and I was just having a crazy moment. So I apologize for the poor quality of foto...

I plan on making lots more tween-age and teenage card themes in the weeks to come!

Today is open house at the school... get to meet the teachers and drop of our supplies.

June ATCs are finally ready! And Catties R Here!

Well .after a long delay... here are the atcs we have for June! Thank you to all the players this month.
The theme was PLACES and there were certainly lots of different places!

Next month we are trying something new. You make only 3 - one of a kind cards with the theme - ALTERED PHOTOS. You send in those 3 and you get 3 entirely different cards back. You can alter them as you please. With paint, ink, distressing, stamp on them, use gesso... anything you would like! Please post a comment or contact me for for more info.

There are lots of books you can check out at the libraries and browse at book stores. Also, if you try to enter ALTERED PHOTO TECHNIQUES in an online search, you are bound to come up with tons of ideas!
HAVE FUN! And sign up by posting here or on my other site! I will email you my mailing address. There is no limit to number of places. Only that you need to sign up before JULY 15th - since swaps are due by JULY 2oth.

One other note! THE CATTIES have ARRIVED! IT is GREAT! I have already read thru it several times and have dogearred page after page of new and very cool items!

If you preordered one from me, I have contacted you already by email. Some have not picked up your copy yet. Also... I do have a couple catties left over for thet $5 price. If you are interested, email me - allison@stampinwithallison.com. There is very limited supply left! So contact me QUICK! You won't want to miss this incredible price! It more than half off the regular list price!

ONE MORE THING: Stampin up is offering a DEAL OF THE WEEK for the month of JULY. If you want to check out the new deal every week, please visit my SU Demo site at www.allisonlee.stampinup.net!

That's it for now!
HAVE A HAPPY 4th of JULY! Stay safe and have FUN FUN FUN!!!

Tile Coaster... God's Beauty

I was just spending some time playing this am... and made this tile coaster. Stamped with Stampin' Up hostess set - God's Beauty in Staz On ink and colored in using a blender pen and Stampin' Pastels. The color is very vibrant. Just love it!
For the final step, I will seal it with a matte or glossy spray varnish. (you can get that at any hardware store.)
Anyway, I had joined a altered photo atc swap a while ago and they are due soon, so that's what I'm working on today. This is my first attempt at altering a photograph, so I am a little anxious.

Hope you are having a great day!

New Baby Cards!

Just a couple more cards! off to the Muse tomorrow!
For every boy card there must be a girl card!

Tomorrow we are supposed to go on my daughter's field trip to the zoo. The weather forecast is 70% chance of rain... perhaps with thunder and lightening. I hope it doesn't storm. Rain we can handle!

more Birds!

I am really loving my time stamping these days. I feel more free and not pressured by time... for now. Looking forward to the summer with kids and enjoying each day...
(can you believe there are only 10 days of school left!?!)
Here's one of many cards I made today...
Ok... Back to the drawing board!

Father's Day card!

I made several more Father's Day Cards for Art Partners and The Muse. I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by.

Don't forget to scroll down to the post from earlier today. there's info there on retired SU list and pre-ordering your new 2009-2010 Catty!

See ya!

Just a Quickie today... info!

Two big STAMPIN UP things:

FIRST : I have posted the LAST CHANCE Accessories items list for the 2009 Spring/Summer Catty on my www.stampinwithallison.com website. You can also access it directly for real time in stock/out of stock list at my SU site- www.allisonlee.stampinup.net. (you can also order the items direct from there and ship direct to you). CHECK IT OUT ASAP! The sale is only until supplies run out! And there are items up to 50% off!!!

SECOND: I am now taking PRE-ORDERS for the 2009-2010 Idea book and Catalog . The regular price is $9.95+tax and ship. I sell these preordered to my customers for $5+ $4.95 shipping - if needed. Or just pick it up for no ship charge - of course!)
Just shoot me a comment or email and I will put you on the list. This offer is for my customers only. my email address is allison@stampinwithallison.com.

That's it for now. Have a great one!

May ATC photo and info

Thanks to all who swapped this month in the WINGS ATC swap.
I really enjoyed looking at all the different cards and how everyone interprets things differently.


NEXT MONTH: Theme is is PLACES.
The details and sign up is here.

While you are there, why not sign up for JULY? I will have a theme ready soon. ANY SUGGESTIONS????

Also... starting AUGUST we will change the format entirely. 3 total cards. All have to be ONE OF A KIND. You send in 3, you get 3 back. There will still be themes. # of players can be unlimited.

I will post all the new into on the www.stampinwithallison.com website soon!!! (you can always check there for tutorials, tips and all current Stampin Up Info. Don't forget~ you can purchase Stampin Up Items 24/7 on my www.allisonlee.stampinup.net website!)

The new SU year is going to start soon (JULY1!). We will go back to the 1 catalog per year format with lots of minis along the way! I will be calling for catalog pre-purchases for $5 each very soon - so stay close!

Hope you have a great day!
See you soon!

Here it is... MOM's DAY!

So I made a card using the BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY sizzix SU die. I had to make mom a mother's day card. I used the new SU Designer paper TEA PARTY and the pretties kit for the pearls. I pulled out a bronze straight pin for the body. Slightly folded the wings up a little for flight.
What a great SU product. I haven't raved about a product in a while. I love it so much that I may invest in some other dies too. We'll see.

Hope you have a great day...
See you soon!

LOOK at what I MADE!!!

I finally decided that i could not live without the Stampin' Up SIZZIX BIGZ BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY DIE. I got it in the mail a little while ago and finally had some time to play with it today. Oh my goodness!!! I LOVE IT!
Here's what I made!~
I cut them out in vellum cardstock and strung them on fishing line! Then I made a wire frame out of old thick gauge wire and tied the strands of butterflies on!
I am submitting this project to a magazine for kid's room decorating using Stampin' Up!
If you only buy a few things this year, I have to say this is a must. I'm moving onto cards as soon as I finishing posting this! SO EXCITING!!!