Hello stampers. It feels so good to be back here. It is already January 4 and I have not yet wished you a very happy new year. It doesn’t seem so long ago that 2017 had a futuristic feel to it. Now it is our reality. My key word this year is “focus”. I tend to easily go off on rabbit trails, so I am going to really try to focus this year. To focus on each day instead of always looking forward to or planning the next day. That is harder than it seems. In today’s world, and also in my job as a Stampin’Up! demonstrator it is very important to plan ahead so you stay on track with your classes, your clubs and your ordering. It is also very easy to get excited about the new incentive trip. I will still do those things of course, but now I plan to focus on each task, each class, each customer, each conversation. Less multi-tasking and more simplicity. Now, on to today’s post, end of sermon.

I have already shared with you how much I love the new stamp set Beautiful You. Today I am going to show how great this set is with a technique called paper piecing. With paper piecing you stamp your image twice- once on your card base or layer and once on patterned paper. Then you cut out the part you stamped on patterned paper and adhere it to your stamped image. Wow. You really have to try it to see how amazing this simple technique is. Pictures don’t do it justice but of course I will try.I also used this technique with the new set Moon Baby #143085. This set really called to me because of two things. Number one, we are expecting our first grandchild!! April 7 is the due date and we are thrilled. Number two, I love the song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I guess there is a third reason. It will be great to use with our new watercolour pencils. Did you know that you get a set of 13 for only $21 (#141709)I made a short video on how to paper piece so I will share it here. Let me know if you have any success and which stamp set you used to do this technique!!Don’t forget, today is also the beginning of sale-a-bration. Here in Canada you get to choose a free item from the sale-a-bration catalog with every $60 you spend before shipping and tax. Also, there is a great deal on the starter kit, and I would love to have you join my team, Beyond Pampered. You do NOT have to sell or do parties to get the kit. You can get the starter kit just to get your own discount. What you do after that is entirely up to you. Did you know that most demonstrators joined simply to get the 20% discount? Just go to www.thepamperedstamper.stampinup.net and click on join now. The kit is only $135 but you get to choose $165 worth of products AND you pay no shipping and tax. You also get to choose a bonus TWO stamp sets out of either the Occasions catalogue or the annual catalog.

Happy stamping and don’t forget to focus on this day, this gift you have been given to enjoy.

Hugs, Jackie