BIG NEWS from SU & True Confessions from Jan

Hi everyone!

Yes, it's been a while since I last posted....a LONG while! But before I get into that, did you hear the big news? On Dec 9th Stampin' UP! published the retiring stamp set list along with a big surprise! Not only have they offered 10% off all retiring stamps through Dec 23rd but they are throwing in FREE SHIPPING for any order of $70 or more. You can take advantage of this offer by ordering online through my website http://www.janhoyt.stampinup.net or by contacting me directly to place your order. And yes, this offer is also good for stamp club and workshop orders! WOW, what a lovely Christmas present from Stampin' UP! to all of us! I've been happily stamping with Stampin' UP! for 12 years and a demonstrator for 6 of those years and I have never seen them offer a discount on retiring stamp sets...to give free shipping on top of that is really a big surprise! The retiring sets will be available through Jan 18th but the last day to take advantage of the 10% discount and free shipping offer is December 23rd so don't forget to make your list and check it twice!

And now for the true confessions! Over the Thanksgiving holidays our family traveled to visit my parents in Ohio for a long overdue visit AND a big event. We helped my folks get downsized and settled into a smaller home just down the street from the home where I grew up. It was sad to say goodbye to all the memories of the other house since my grandfather had it built around the turn of the century in the early 1900's and my Dad grew up there as well but it was time to downsize for a variety of reasons. So, they are now all settled and cozy in a great spot giving us all much for which to be thankful at Thanksgiving! And of course, Mike and I are back home and the boys are back to class at their respective colleges.

Now, you may be thinking....ok, that was LAST month, where have you been since then and why no pictures of stamping stuff??? Good question! And here's the confession. In addition to the usual hustle and bustle of preparing for the Christmas holidays, I have been stamping a little and taking pictures a lot BUT my desktop computer, for some reason, doesn't seem to want to download any of my photos. That, coupled with the fact that I don't have an easy to use watermark program on my laptop (SU requires that any photos of SU product have a copyright "watermark" somewhere on the photo) has limited my photo sharing for the past month. To be perfectly honest, I DID find a new freeware watermark program for my laptop but I have yet to figure out how to use it. Yes, it's pitiful, I know...a grown woman and I can't figure out how to type "copyright Stampin' UP!" on a photo! But I haven't given up on that and when the kids get home from school for Christmas, I am hoping that they will be able to help out their poor old Mom and figure out the watermark program. Apparently the term "user friendly software" depends a lot on having the right user? In the meantime, I guess I could start handwriting the copyright info on paper and sticking it next to my cards before I take the pictures? See, I told you it was pitiful!

So, until I can figure out this photo copyright problem, I will try to keep you posted on what's happening without graphics. Boring, I know....but if you are local, please do "save the date" of Jan15th for a retiring stamp set party "stamp a stack" class! I will post specific times on the calendar of my website but I do plan to offer a class on Friday and possibly another one on Saturday, the 16th in the late afternoon or evening. Please take my new poll and vote on your preference for class scheduling. Jan