Stampin Up's New Demo Agreement - I'd Like to Hear Your Opinion

What does everyone think about SU's New Rules / New Demo Agreement?
I have only heard a couple comments about this, b/c my Yahoo Group is very heavily moderated. I just don't know how I feel about it yet.
For those of you who don't know...since I am a demonstrator, I won't be able to list on my blog where I purchased my non-Stampin Up items, since I am sort-of like a Stampin Up Employee. I sell their stuff...even though I don't have any customers yet, lol, because I do this just as a hobby. Although I would like to have a customer or two (or three)...it just hasn't happened yet. So, they are saying when I list out something such as "I bought this embossing powder at Archiver's" - that is pointing people to a different store, and that is now a "no no".
So, in the future, when I make a card, and if one of my card ingredients is from Michael's or Archiver's, I will just say "embossing powder - other retailer."
And, I am confused about Split Coast Stampers. Someone said we can't put stuff on there now. Does anyone know if that is true?
I am also hoping I don't have to go back to all my old posts and take out all the retailers I have listed, since the posts were made prior to this rule. If I have to do that - I will be pretty upset.
Please feel free to leave me your comments. I won't judge you for your opinions. I am not sure how I feel about all this yet.
Thank you.

There is Blog Candy on Janice Webb's Blog

Here is someone else's blog - she is offering a chance to win blog candy.
http://www.sunnysideofcrafting.com
I am posting this in hopes of winning!
Good luck!

Free Card Friday!!!

This Friday I will give away a card to one of the people who is so kind as to leave me a comment between the dates of August 31st to Sept. 4!
I will announce which card I'm giving away soon.
Please leave your email directly after your comment so I can email you to ask for your address (so I can mail the card). US only, please.
Hope you win!

Eat, Drink, and Be Scary Spider Card

I am excited about this one! I thought of the idea when I was laying in bed last night. I am really hoping I am the first that thought to use Daisies 2 Bigz Die on a Halloween flower. Probably not, with all the millions of creative people out there - but, wouldn't that be so cool?!
I really like this one! Enoy!

Supplies (all Stampin Up, except the cuttlebug folder and spider punch):
Flower Daisies 2 Bigz Die (in Stampin Up Catalog toward the back) and Big Shot machine
Sizzix Embosslits Sweetest Stem (the black leaf)
Top Note Bigz Die
Cuttlebug folder: I think it is called spider web
Stamp Set: Eat, Drink, and Be Scary
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Grey, and Black Linen
Ink: White Craft Ink sponged on the spider web, Black stazon for the sentiment, and Black classic sponged on the flower
Other: Martha Stewart Spider Punch - and then I covered it in Crystal Effects to make it shiny, dimensionals, snail adhesive, pop-up glue dot (to hold down the flower)

Hostess Promotion

We're excited to bring you this sweet deal for hostesses September through November:
Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!
*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio
You would also get the usual additional $25 in free stuff and a free Hostess Level 1 stamp set as well, with a $250 order.
This includes a catalog party, single order, or party order - any way you can reach $250.
Call or email me if you are interested.
To view a catalog, either call me, or log on to http://www.stampinup.com

My New Zing Embossing Powder

Wow - can you believe it? Two consecutive posts? I am shocked, myself.
I wanted to try my new Zing embossing powder tonight. I went to Archiver's on Thursday or Friday, and they had buy 2 Zing ep's, get 1 free. It is used on the "Halloween" in Orange. It is much sparklier and prettier in person. Photographs never do our crafts justice. And the two shades of orange look nice together in person...but in the photograph they look a little "off".
Enjoy!

Supplies Used:
Skull Scrolls Cuttlebug Folder and Cuttlebug Machine (after embossing the paper, I hand trimmed out the middle design)
Top Note Bigz Die Cut (in the back pages of the Stampin Up catalog)
Stamp Set: Scary Words by Dimensions Crafts (in the $1.99 Hot Spot at Archiver's)
Ink: Versamark and Zing Embossing Powder in Orange. Also used Back Stampin Write (marker) to "stitch" around the edge, and white craft ink (Stampin Up) to sponge on the black cardstock.
Cardstock: Black Linen and Last Year's DSP by Stampin Up
Other: Jewels by Doodlebug Designs (from Archiver's)

Happy Owl-Oween

Inside of card:

Wow - can you believe I made something? FINALLY. Sorry for this very long delay. My son did go back to school...but has already missed several days of school due to the flu. So, I have not been crafting yet again. Until tonight.

Well, I finally broke out the papercrafting supplies! I promise to make lots of things for Halloween. It is sooooo much fun to make little Halloween goodies! Although Christmas is my favorite holiday by far...Halloween is perfect for little gifts and little goodies - so I always make lots of Halloween things. Plus, it is more quirky - perfect for papercrafting.

Supplies Used:

Hero Arts Stamp Set: Happy Owl-oween

Paper: White linen, black linen, last year's DSP Stampin Up, Basic Grey

Cuttlebug folder (I think it is called Haunted House) and cuttlebug machine - also the Top Note Bigz Die Cut

Ink: Whisper White applied with a sponge on the bats and haunted house, Basic Black sponged on the moon, variety of markers and metallic pencils on the owl and broom, Black Stazon for the sentiment, Black embossing powder and versamark for the owl.

Punches: 1 1/4" circle punch for the moon, Martha Stewart Bat Punch

Other: Dimenstionals and snail adhesive

Halloween Make and Take

Yes, April - we will definitely do that! Thank you for your comment!
I will start working on fun Halloween treats for kids and teachers soon and then I'll email you on what day or night works for you.
I'm sure Jess will want to come, too (and anyone else who wants to come).
We are finally back from our summer vacation. And, Eli starts school on Thursday. I can finally start stamping, soon!

Summer Vacation

OK - I obviously can't get any stamping done this summer, with my son home from school.
I am so sorry I haven't made any new creations!
Please stay with me and don't stop following my blog.
I promise once my little man is back in school, I will post some good stuff.
We are just having too much fun this summer!
I do miss stamping, though - and can hardly wait to make some great stuff once he is back in school. Just a couple more weeks...

Stay Tuned...

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a month! We were out of the country. Please stay tuned...I promise I will get back to blogging very soon. I turn 40 tomorrow, and we get to go to a Royals game. Hopefully, after that, things will calm back down, and I can get back to making cards.

Thank you for being patient!

In the meantime, here is photo of my son with KU Basketball player Cole Aldridge, 6'11"! It was quite the exciting weekend for my little guy - we got to meet lots of KU players and the coach at KU Basketball camp. He is a really great guy, and the camp was fantastic!