You have asked and I listened.  You wanted an entire weekend of stamping fun well here it is.  I just viewed the Holiday mini and already started planning wonderful projects, activities and more.  Book soon, spaces have already started filling up!

Creative Escape Weekend Retreat
Oct 1 – 3, 2010 Le Viceroy Auberge & Spa

We are so excited to announce the First Creative Escape Weekend Retreat by Kim and Marlayne!  We have arranged a fabulous event where you can relax and enjoy true down time in a luxurious atmosphere!  Treat yourself to a creative weekend where you can stamp, sew, scrapbook or make jewelry! Whatever you choose.  Bring your projects with you and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and amenities!

At LeViceroy Auberge and Spa - a picturesque inn near Lac Simon – you'll love the relaxing atmosphere and their famous fine cuisine. Let yourself be pampered in the spa (for an extra fee), and relax at the unique natural-rock Nordic Baths, available to CE attendees from 4-7 on Saturday Oct 2! (included in the retreat fee)!

Registration

There is a two-step registration process to register for the Creative Escape Weekend Retreat.  You'll need to register to attend the Creative Escape and then contact the hotel directly to reserve your room.  Payments are done separately – see details below for pricing and what it includes and feel free to email or call me with any questions.

Early Bird Registration for the Creative Escape Weekend Package

Early Bird Registration for this event is $169 if you register before August 15, 2010 and $189 if you register after Aug 15.   Only a $60 deposit is needed upon registration, and the remainder is to be paid on Sept 1, 2010.

This fee assumes a 2 night stay at Le Viceroy Auberge & Spa and includes:

- A Fabulous Goodie bag with $60 in Stampin' Up! product from the Fall Holiday Mini catalogue.  We'll design fabulous make and takes that you will make using your goodie bag products!

- Two breakfasts, one 4 course Lunch and a 5 course dinner!!

- Access to the Nordic Baths on Saturday from 4 – 7 pm!! Spa Treatments available for extra fees

- A Candy Bar to help the creative juices flow! lol!

- Pillow gifts throughout the weekend

- 4 demonstrations during the weekend

- 4 optional classes (for additional fees)

- Space to work on your creative projects! 2 people per 6" table

- Draws for fabulous Stampin' Up! products from the holiday mini.

- Use of our Stampin' Up! inks, punches, stamps, Big Shot and dies!!!

Click on the link HERE for more details and to register

WEEKLY CHRISTMAS IDEAS ARE HERE….

For the past couple of years, I’ve been wanting to do a 12 Weeks of Christmas program!   This year, I have decided to start this journey. This week starts the 2009 12 weeks program! Subscribers to my email newsletter will receive a new holiday card, gift idea, ornament or tag idea in their email inbox. 

Make sure your signed up to receive these great holiday ideas as they are exclusive to my newsletter subscribers!! The subscription box is in the upper left corner of the blog.  Each week will bring new projects that are sure to inspire! 

Sign up now by sending me an email at kim@riverfrontstampin.com

Here is a sneek peek of week 1:

 Week One  Home for Christmas

If you would like to order these items click on my order online button on your right or email me!  Don’t wait until December there are only 12 weeks before Christmas!

Well I have to share that I’m having way too much fun with the Christmas products from the holiday mini catalogue and the 2009-2010 idea catalogue.  I decided to sign up for Chrystal’s tag swap for the third year in a row.  Here is what I created for my fellow swappies!

This is a tag for those large gifts that you just can’t wrap properly.  I used my favorite bigz clear die, scallop square and used the on board book basics as my background chipboard #110713 and the specialty designer series paper, christmas cocoa specialty from the mini catti.  Glued them together using my tombo glue.  I took the vintage ornaments I stencils from the definitely decorative catti and dabbed chocolate chip ink in my stencil.  I then added my second stencil and put some stencil paste to create a 3D image.  Why?  Because my husband said it wasn’t popping out enough… And he was right!  I hate to admit it but he is pretty good at commenting on my projects.  Try it with your husband let me tell you some interesting ideas come out.  My stencil paste was white but when it dried it had a little greenish color which I didn’t like at all so I dabbed some chocolate chip ink on my paste and needed to also add a little champagne mist shimmer paint.  And voilà!

 Here is my close up picture!  Vintage it is.  Then I added a mini tag from the stamp set Four the holidays and I added 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon in chocolate chip.

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Second tag was very simple and quick to do.  I saw this die at convention and had  to order it.  It’s exclusive to stampin’up!, Stampin’up! Two tags.  I decorated it with the specialty designer series paper, christmas cocoa specialty from the mini catti. When you touch this paper it feels like felt.  I punched out a snowflake from the Jumbo snowflake  punch and added some frost white shimmer paint.  Let me tell you, you can go a long way with that shimmer paint.  I have been using it like crazy!  I had to add my final touch a pearl from the pretties kit and 5/8" satin ribbon.   And for all the ladies in my group, I personalized all your tags.

I printed the names on my computer matching my ink to the stampin’up! colors RGB codes.

That is my share for the day, have a great one!

Tonight my daughter Megan was skating in Montreal (45min) from my home and when we came out of the arena it was dark already!!  8 o’clock and it was pitch black!  It made me think that the holidays are fast approaching.  So when I got home, I decided to make these quick cards.  It took me 2 minutes…. Really!

Are you getting ready for the holidays?

I have a few suggestions for you:

1.  Use this Simply Sent Card kit (Holiday Photo card Kit) It holds a 4×6 photo.  You can create 12 cards. It includes all the cardstock, envelopes and self adhesive die cuts.  I stamped my greeting with the new stamp set from the mini FOUR THE HOLIDAYS in real red classic ink.  And I had to add dazzling diamonds to my die cuts!  There is never enough glitter!

2.  Call me to attend one of my Holiday card classes in my studio.  I am having one event per month.

3.  Book your own party in your home so we can create with your friends the best cards ever!  Hurry my dates have already start filling. 

4.  Invite your coworkers to stamp with me during their lunch time.  If you book early, I will organize a fun time lunch and learn Christmas extravaganza!

Here are my daughters in their naughty phase!

And here is the nice…

Actually got to say I prefer the nice!

 I am so excited that September is here!!!  Why? because I’m happy to present you with the best mini catalogue ever….Stampin’up has made me very proud to be part of their family.  If you haven’t received one from me, stop by my studio or view it here.

Here are a few  Highlights: 

p.6-7 they have gorgeous new Sweet Treat Cups and Sweet Centers stamp set.  Best of all they coordinate with the 1 3/4" punch.  Do you want to hand out the cuttest treats for Halloween?  You can fill the cups with candies, spiders (what ever your imagination desires)  The cups are only $3.95 for 12 … what a great deal!

on p. 12-13 it’ s fall extravaganza!  Autumn Splendor  coordinates to perfection with Autumn Meadows designer series paper.  And the Big Shot Dies  Table Setting will have your home decorated with elegance for thanksgiving! You can view one of my sample cards here.

p. 20-21 Stampinup textured Impressions folder Petals-A-Plenty is one of my favorite folders.  Check out my card here

Again I get super excited when products coordinate. They really got me with the Ornament Punch & Delightful Decorations stamp set on pages 24-36. How fun and easy, my kids have been creating Christmas cards already! 

But what my kids were really excited about is the BUILD-A-BEAR products on pages 34-37. You can purchase the stamps, the Big Shot Dies, the designer papers…send me your kids wish list or even your own! 

There’s so much more I could say….you will be seeing lots of samples on my blog. 

And if you are as excited about the mini than me and want it all !!!  then just book a party:

Host a workshop totaling $330 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalogue for only $14!

       (Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.)

Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio Software will be available for customers on Oct. 1st!!! 

Demonstrators were able to order theirs starting yesterday…and of course mine is on it’s way!  I just can’t wait to see the UPS man at my door so I can show you samples on my blog.  

I know many of you wanted MY DIGITAL STUDIO for a long time and I have been saying wait it’s coming!  If you want it in September… just sign up to be a demonstrator and you can take advantage of the pre-order! 

I’m planning a HOLIDAY MINI CATALOGUE and MY DIGITAL STUDIO event…I’ll let you know the date as soon as it’s finalized!  

October 1, when My Digital Studio is released to customers, this offer will become even sweeter:

Host a workshop of at least $525 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $106.95; promotional price: $53.47)!

Since My Digital Studio is not available in Quebec, hostesses can choose to purchase a Loads of Love/Loads of Fun stamp bundle at 50% off. Hostesses may choose one of the following in place of My Digital Studio:

KIM’S EXCLUSIVE SWEET DEAL

Place an online order with me for $75 or more in product by Thursday, September 10th, and receive your choice of a FREE roll of Ribbon. (up to $13.50 value).

Spend $150 or more in product and receive two rolls of Ribbon. : Additional hostess benefits begin at $200.

• Click here to ORDER ONLINE. Look for the Shop Now button.

• Product total must be $75 or more. (before taxes and shipping)

• E-mail me your choice of ribbon by Friday, September 11th. (*pg. 182-183 of the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog, value of each spool up to $13.50)

• Your free ribbon will arrive separately from your order at the end of September.

It rained all day and the breeze was chilly.  I love fall, love cooking comfort food, apple picking, taking pictures of the kids in the leaves… Today inspired me to make my second swap a Fall card.  Sorry if you never want summer to end…  I’m in a fall frenzy!

Again, Sherida’s swap is about the holiday mini catalogue.  I used the autumn splendor and the wandering words stamp sets.  I also used autumn meadows designer series paper.  Have you ever noticed that Stampin’up! advertises which color is used in the designer paper.  That is what inspired me to used chocolate chip, really rust, very vanilla and more mustard card stock.  I also used these inks and markers to add speckles with the spritzer.  Just love the rustic look.  I tide the nuts and my greeting with linen thread. 

More pics..

To make your leaves look like real ones, stamp the image.  cut it out then crumble your leaf.  You can even wet the paper and crumble it up. 

Well it’s 1o’clock in the morning.  Just can’t sleep.  I went with my 3 girls and my husband to the movies and we saw G-Force, a Walt Disney movie.  Then we went the chapters to look at some books, card magazines and scrapbooking magazines.  Can you believe that the Halloween stuff is out already! I made a mistake by having a starbucks Chai latte. (which I know if I drink it past 3pm that I can’t sleep)  But I couldn’t resist!  Anyway, I am participating in a holiday mini catalogue swap and I just can’t decide which card to do.  I started playing with products from the mini.  It’s the best mini ever!!!  Help me to decide!

I just wanted to create a classy simple card for Sherida Giddings’ swap.  I used the Stampin’up! petals-a-plenty folder and four the holidays stamp set from the mini catalogue.  I also used the stamp set tree trimmings, the specialty paper bride, whisper white paper.  I dazzled it up with the pretties kit and whisper white taffetas ribbon.  My images were stamped in soft suede.

Here is a close up of my ornaments (these are only stamped in soft suede)

On this card, the ornaments look lighter because I stamped my ornament with soft suede then I added shimmer paint in champagne mist with my dauber on my stamped cardstock.  I just love the new shimmer paint in the holiday mini!

I know it is kind of hard to see.  It is much better when you look at it in person but I need to make a decision before monday.  Also my husband is very good at making compliments and adjustments about the projects I stamp but he would be very critical if I wake him up. lol

Help me out!  With the shimmer paint or without??