Simon Says Stamp Blog!: July 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Glitz It Now! Owl Chipboard Eye Candy!

Guess what just came! ? I am so excited! We carried this product for literally 3 days, Sold out, and couldn't get any more. BUT GUESS WHAT!? We visited with the Glitz folks in Chicago, told them how desperate we are to get more into stock, and Glitz was able to get us some of their last inventory for these wonderful little sticker owl chipboards. OH MY! Seriously! REALLY AMAZING High quality. One of these babies would make you whole card or page! As if the gemstones being on the pieces already weren't enough, they are stickers too! SWEET! Birds, Owls, even a glitzed up tree are part of the Feathered Friends set shown here. We have more styles available in our online store.

Simon Says: YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH GLITZ! Glitz Eye Candy Stickers are made of thin chipboard with adhesive on the back. Just peel and stick to add a little sugar to any of your projects. And because you can never get enough glitz...these stickers come already accente

d with frosting (gems)! The sticker sheet measures approximately 6" by 8".

I am putting one set aside for you bloggers! Whomever posts the tenth comment can have a whole sheet of these eye candies for *BLOG CANDY* ALERT! Free!

Why do we give away so much Blog Candy, you may ask? Well, we have lots of stuff to share! We carry high quality items that we find really cool. Our philosophy is, if you try them, you will love 'em and then maybe you will like us too! Why do we ask you to comment to our blog? Well, it's kind of our way of seeing if anybody is "listening" to us. Since we're new to the blogging thing, it's our only way of knowing if it's worth our time. So far, so good! Thanks for looking, listening, and responding! At Simon Says Stamp, we are a family, and we consider our customers part of the family too!

We would LOVE to see what you make with these beautiful Feathered Friends chipboard sticker candies! If you buy a set from us and email us a picture of your project, card, scrapbook page, anything, we'd be thrilled to post your work and anything you'd like to share about yourself in our blog.

Toodaloo for now! ENJOY the *CANDY*!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists! What We're Doing Today!

WOW! The CHA Show orders are pouring in! The first to arrive is our Glimmer Mist box! Isn't this a beautiful box of product? Packaged so neatly and perfectly, when our Simon Team Member, Hallie, opened the box, I heard her say "WOW" from the other room. I came in and saw what she saw and told her "Don't move, we gotta get a photo of how pretty this looks!". We will be listing the product later today for you to buy at http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/.

A few minutes later, I snapped a photo of her unloading the box and labelling the product. I am sad you can't see the "MADE IN THE USA" Label on the side of the box. Have you tried Glimmer Mists yet? Click here for directions on its use! Glimmer Mists are hot right now and so fabulous, fun and cool to work with! You can click here for some great project ideas!

This artwork created by Trisha Ladoucer. Glimmer mist gave it the "aged" "antique" look.

Artwork "Seriously" is by Vicki C

Would you like a FREE container of Glimmer Mist with some fabulous stencils! *BLOG CANDY ALERT*? Be the first to comment on this post to let us know what you think of Glimmer Mists and we'll send you some Mist and Stencils!

Monday, July 28, 2008

You Deserve a Cupcake Today! Great Clear Stamps from Hero Arts!

It's not your birthday? That's Ok! It's SOMEONE'S Birthday today! Treat yourself to a fat free, sugar free, sticky free treat! Hero Arts has a fabulous clear stamp set called CUPCAKES.

The images are so fun to add glitter, liquid applique, buttons, color, use your imagination! 14 Stamps in this clear stamp set makes it an EXCELLENT value for your money too!

We love cupcakes so much, our artist, Sara D, even created a special stamp set exclusively for Simon Says Stamp!

Artwork samples are created by Sally Traidman

Want some sprinkles for your own cupcakes? Be the 25th comment to this blog entry and we'll send you a package of buttons, glitter, and more for decorating your cupcakes! *BLOG CANDY* ALERT

Sunday, July 27, 2008

My favorite Thing: Prima Flowers Bucket of Blooms

Fresh! Lively! Fun! Versatile! Colorful! Whimsical!

I just love the variety of flowers in this bucket of blooms. There are 500-800 flowers in each bucket in lots of sizes and colors! The bucket itself is nice too because it can be used for storage or be decorated and turned into a party favor or fun project!

Prima Flowers has done a splendid job creating goodies with which we can be creative! Keep up the good work Prima!

(artwork by Christine Middlecamp)

It is a beautiful time of year and celebrating beauty with Paper Flowers from Prima just seems so.......appropriate.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Sneak Peak of Simon Says Stamp Idea Gallery

Greetings!

Typically, we try to keep Friday our lightest Simon Says Stamp work day of the week. Most of the staff gets the day off as we work long hours in the warehouse on Saturdays and Sundays.

Since today is Friday, I was able to put the world on hold for just a bit and just soak up extra time with my family. Our baby boy has just learned to walk. Does that mean we no longer have a baby, but a toddler? My heart melts whenever I think of this little guy and warmth literally wraps around my spine. Is there a word to describe the joys of *m*o*t*h*e*r*h*o*o*d*?

We'd love to give you all a sneak peak of what our Design Team has been working on lately. I can't say enough about how lucky we are to have such creative stars working for us! Simon Says Stamp's Design Team is comprised of 21 members from all around the globe!

Soon their work will be featured in our online catalog and we hope to feature each of them in the blog too! Check out the fabulous work they've been creating with our Simon Says Stamp exclusive stamp line.

Comment on your favorite Simon Says Stamp set and we will give the first 10 comments some splenderific* blog candy. There are still lots of sparkly things, rub ons, stamps, books, rollerdoodles, and so much more in our blog candy suitcase from CHA Chicago!

You can view our current catalog of

"Simon Says Stamp" sets HERE

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Tim Holtz autographs grungeboard project for Simon's Team Member, Amber!

Simon's Team member, Amber, accompanied us to the CHA Show in Chicago and had a front row seat to Tim Holtz's grungeboard creative process! She is a real joy to have on our team and her contagious smile brightens us all! Amber writes:

"Our trip to the CHA show in Chicago was absolutely amazing!! It was my first show and it was a great education for me because after 18 months at Simon, I am still learning so much about stamping, scrapbooking, and card making. The most excellent part of my weekend was meeting Tim Holtz for the first time. Yes, you heard me correctly! TIM HOLTZ! He was so nice and just as spectacular as you would imagine him to be. I snuck in between the crowd and got a front row look at his creative demonstrations. He was showing us how to use his new products and demonstrated different techniques for using grunge board, blending solution, and his alcohol inks.

I was so impressed with his creativity and willingness to teach us how to be better crafters. I stood in amazement along with everyone else crowded around him and watched as he whipped out one amazing thing after the other. While at his booth I asked him if he designed his own stamps. He told me that he designs them on photo shop and actually creates each and every one of them. I told him I was new to stamping but I had sold a lot of his products in our store. He thanked me for carrying his products and I responded with “no...no...no... Thank YOU!” He was so nice, laid back and easy to talk to. He gave me one of his tags that he created and signed the back for me to take as a souvenir. It is hanging in our office."

It says, "live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it is worth remembering. WOW! We sell the stamp in our store: Simon Says Stamp!

Click here to see stamp.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Simon Says Stamp Team Designer Kathy uses FROGS JUMPING FOR JOY Stamp set

Welcome to our first guest blogger and member of Simon Says Stamp design team, Kathy! Kathy lives in California, is retired, and has a splendid sense of humor! We are lucky to work with her!

Kathy writes: "When I first saw this frog stamp I immediately wanted to create something fun and exciting with it and what could be more fun and exciting than a baby announcement? I love the surprise of a pocket card and this happy frog needed to be front & center on one. This is a standard A2 size card [5 1/2" x 4 1/4"]; I cut the card stock 4 1/4" x 9", scored at 3 1/2", top corners rounded. Before stitching the card on 3 sides, I adhered a 1" piece of patterned paper to the front, wrapped 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around it & tied on bows. I stamped the frog on white cardstock, colored, cut out & paper pieced him, adding google eyes, then finished the card by stamping on 'Jumping for Joy'.

The tag is 3 7/8" x 4 1/2" with top corners cut, then inked all around. I stamped the announcement stapled a piece of ribbon on top. All the frogs on Simon Says Stamp's 'Jumping for Joy' set make me smile and I hope you enjoy this pocket card as much as I enjoyed making it! "

Great Work Kathy!! Thanks for contributing to our blog and creating for our design team. Many more product samples will soon be available for viewing and inspiration in our online catalog.

The stamp set is available exclusively in Simon Says Stamp store: www.SimonSaysStamp.com. Here are some more of Kathy's designs made with Simon Says Stamp Set FROGS JUMPING FOR JOY:

Congratulations to Chris in Canada, the first winner of our blog candy contest! She received Cardstock from Core'dinations and If you want to receive some roller doodles and

sparkly gemstones from Glitz, be the first to comment on Kathy's cards!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Free * Blog Candy from CHA Chicago for You!

We finally made it back safely from the drive to Chicago! Toting our goods across 3 states required some muscle, but we were happy to do it so we could fill up our "blog candy" give aways!

This is a photo of just ONE of our suitcases full of goodies from Crafty Secrets, Glitz, Martha Stewart, EK Success, Inkadinkado, Tim Holtz, Core'dinations, Hanna Stamps, Karen Foster, My Sentiments Exactly, Melissa Frances, Hero Arts, and even more! Be the first to comment on our new blog and we will send you blog candy from our suitcases!

Tomorrow we will host a surprise guest blogger featuring FROGS JUMPING FOR JOY stamp set exclusive to Simon Says Stamp!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Mark Montano's New Book THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS

Don't we all love to get something for FREE! Oh yeah! I visited Mark Montano's promotion booth yesterday at the CHA Chicago Tradeshow. Have you seen this guy? His freakin' resume includes hosting TLC's WHILE YOU WERE OUT, Hosting LOOK 10 Years Younger, and even fashion designer! His New book is super COOL!

I almost peed my pants (literally, now that I belong to the mom's club I understand that this phrase "almost peed my pants" is really worse than previously imagined). Mark was giving free stuff to the loudest audience member who could gather the most attention. ME ME! Anybody who has met me is not surprised that I garnished a prize book of 80 sheets, 80 pound weight, 6.5" by 4.5" Super Assortments Elements Earth tones Cardstock from Core'dinations . We'll give it away to the first person who comments to this blog!

Anywho, Mark has a cool book and here is a review:

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is packed with ideas for sprucing up your living space; concocting fabulous, all-natural body products; designing your own unique stationery; and creating countless other crafts that will convince your friends and loved ones that you're the secret love child of Martha Stewart (only much, much cooler).

Forget crocheted doilies and itchy knit sweaters -- TLC's While You Were Out top designer Mark Montano has created stylish and imaginative projects that range from a Warhol-esque Ultrasuede iPod case to photo-adorned boxer shorts to African mask patio chairs to wooden night-light boxes. Divided into sections that include Outdoorsy (ideas to enhance your backyard), Dishing It Out (decorating plates using different techniques), You've Been Framed (innovative picture framing ideas), and Can I Have a Light? (creating and decorating lamps, lanterns, and chandeliers), it's as entertaining to read as it is endlessly inspiring. With more than one hundred and fifty inventive and fun projects, The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is the perfect activity book for readers of every mood, budget, and skill level.

Tonight I'll be back in the warehouse sinking my teeth back into Simon Says WORK! I apologize to all of our customers as 5 members of our team were out of town at CHA Chicago Tradeshow this past week and weekend and only a skeleton crew was left behind. They got Slammed, so I apologize for the hiccup in our customer service and speediness!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

CHA Chicago Banter with Tim Holtz

It's just after 2 AM and our Team has just begun to wind down. We've had a busy day at CHA Chicago and can't wait to share our new finds with all of you! Tim Holtz never ceases to amaze us! Our "hippest" team member, Amber, met Tim for the first time and actually bantered with him today at the Ranger Booth! She has the quirkiest and freshest sense of humor, I stomped my foot with disappointment that I didn't get to witness their interaction! BWAAA! Amber watched him do a grungeboard project (Have you seen his grungeboard!?) during the slow hour of lunch when it was easier to get peak! Front Row Seat Baby! Tim even signed the project for her and she got to keep it! I'll ask her to post a picture when she guest blogs this week! Amber asked him what inspires him to create stamp images, and some other witty hillarious banter. Look for more details in her guest blog!

I had the best time at the Crafty Secrets booth today. Seriously, I would have LOOVed to grab a glass of wine and just gaze at their product all day long! They have the coolest vintage clear stamps that you have EVER Seen! The Kewpie dolls are my faves, maybe because my favorite Hamburger joint (in Lima, Ohio) is called Kewpee! Deliciouso! But seriously, they even do the Campbell's Soup Cans. Vintage All the wAy!

So Long, farewell, gotta steal some shut eye before our last day in Chicago!

Click here to see the GRUNGEBOARD VIDEO from Tim!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Simon Says Stamp goes Live

Thanks to the inspirations of Claudine Hellmuth, Simon Says Stamp is now a blogger! Blogging landed Claudine on The Martha Stewart Show!

We can't wait to share our ideas with you and recipes for feeding the soul with creativity.

Be sure to visit our online store to see what else we are up to!

Simon's Team

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