**Tomorrow’s Stampin’ Saturday class is at full capacity!

Thus, RSVP’s have been closed, but never fear! More stampin’ happens here on a regular basis! My schedule is always available at my Stampin’ Up! website , or email to ask to be on my Evite list!

Today’s Activities:
Planning
Cutting
Anyone volunteer to tidy the studio?
Oh wait … snipping + cutting still ongoing … too early to tidy. Whew!

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Seriously!
For years my private “rule” has been:

• Do not answer the home phone. It is 99.9% certainly a spammy caller.
• Exception is from one precious family member who consistently uses this number.
• ONE exception, see above.
• Said phones “announce” whatever is shown on caller i.d., so I know from across the room that it’s another spammer.

Well … today it announced a call from “….myself … my phone number …” in the correct words, of course. Countless possibilities dashed across my mind while picking up the handset … but naturally, it was spam …. (First mistake of the day, here. …. Next time, FOLLOW my own rules!)

You’ve all heard it before as well … It’s your final notice! We have important info about your credit cards … blah, blah, blah.
I was invested now.
Already broke my own rule … committed to sharing some ruffled feathers now.
Wait a few minutes for the “representative” to answer.
He answers.
I ask for his supervisor.
Supervisor answered before the expected 10-minute wait while they probably laughed hysterically! Wow!
I was not harsh at all … just firm. “I stayed on the line to complain about the unethical method you’re using for these calls. Your caller i.d. claimed to be ‘me’ calling from my own phone number. That is unethical .. wrong .. and I want my number removed from your calling list.”

Supervisor: “Well, we are in Afghanistan, so our number does not show up correctly.”
Me: “It doesn’t matter where you are … that is unethical business practice.”
Supv.: “But ma’am, we’re in Afghanistan. The numbers are different here.”
Me: I interrupted him here …. I don’t care where you are. I’m complaining about the practice of identifying your company with my own information.
Supervisor: Go _ _ _ _ yourself. We’re in Afghanistan so it doesn’t matter!
Me: What a shame.
Supervisor: Go _ _ _ _ yourself, lady.

Lesson for today:

Do Not Answer that Phone Call from Yourself!
How sad that people in 2015 live in such ignorance.

So moving on to much sweeter deals that make a stamper smile …

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So just what is this Paper Pumpkin you’ve been reading about??

If you haven’t tried Paper Pumpkin, now is a great time to sign up … You’ll get 50% off your first two months. With a deal like this, you’ll want to invite wanna-be-crafty friends to give it a try too!

Offer Dates: May 12-June 10, 2015

Offer Details: Use the code SAVE50 to join Paper Pumpkin before June 10, 2015, and get 50% off the first two months! After that, keep the creativity coming for only $19.95 + tax per month (shipping included).  So let’s check out April’s Paper Pumpkin kit video and see what it’s all about!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTmzlNsLp8M[/youtube]

Paper Pumpkin is perfect for those who have very few stamping supplies, yet want to sit down for creative fun without gathering & buying a bunch of unrelated supplies, then wondering what to do with them!

Tex’s Tip:  This can be an easy way to share some crafty time with a friend.  i.e.  Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun day!

What now?
**I’d love it if you’ll use my name, Beverly Gerard, when you go to www.paperpumpkin.com .  The special code for 50% off the first two months is SAVE50 .

Ready …

Set …

Create!

Inky (((hugs))),

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Good Morning, everyone!

Today I have the latest Weekly Deals that are currently online … and … there’s more!

You’ll also find samples of another retiring stamp set, Label Love.  So if its one you’ve had in mind … now is the time to grab one for yourself, before it becomes a mere SU memory on June 3.   😉

Here are a couple of delightful cards created with the retiring stamp set, Label Love!  One of the things I sincerely adore about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is the fact that we have constant inspiration available from Stampin’ Up!’s own concept artists.  I always admire the cards designed for us by Jen C.  I think you’ll enjoy these as well …

As I was tidying around my stampin’ zone, I came upon another TY card to share … …
and guess what it features … … …

Did you ‘guess’ the Mixed Bunch stamp set? Yay! Is there anything else?
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Most of us can be creatures of ‘habit’ at times, but this time mine just steps right out there and “shows”!
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Strangely, I have never ever in my life been a fan of coral colors. And then it happened … Stampin’ Up! brought out Calypso Coral. The very first time I used this color, I could sense “the change”. YKWIM … not ‘the change’ relating to women, but ‘the change’ that happens when your eyes are “opened” to new realities. The result? Enter Calypso Coral as one of my favorite stampin’ colors.
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This one has just a smidgen of dimension, so it’s perfect for creating a few for a card stash. No extra postage or careful packaging required for mailing.

The dotty background was stamped with one of the small stamps in the Petal Potpourri stamp set using Calypso Coral ink, just as on the punched blossom image. The Early Espresso-inked sentiment is from a retiring stamp set that I’m going to miss, Four You. If you like a bit of glitz, I’ve used Gold Stampin’ Glitter here, then popped the blossom up with Stampin’ Dimensionals. (My opinion? Straight on … I must have a steady supply of Dimensionals … must!) Finally, the designer series paper is from the Sweet Dreams collection.

It is a privilege to be your Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator!  Please know that I welcome your questions and/or comments.  You are always welcome to use my Contact button in the left side-bar near to top area of this blog to email a message.

My Stampin’ Up! store is available right here for shopping or exploring!  Remember to check out the Clearance Rack while you’re there!

Thank you so much for your visit!

Inky ((((hugs)))),

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