SALEabrate!

Ever have one of those days / weeks / months (!) when you just can't seem to get going?  That's where I'm at this month.

Maybe it's coming off the holidays, maybe it's the dull and drab weather, I'm not sure.  But I tell you something -- I am having the hardest timing starting and finishing anything!

One thing that does have me all excited though, is some new and exciting things going on at Stampin' Up!  (Not familiar with Stampin' Up!?  Head HERE!)  As a demonstrator, this is one of the most fun times of the year -- and I have lots of exciting things to share with you!

It's Sale-A-Bration time again at Stampin' Up!, and friends, fresh ideas, and free product is what it's all about! 

Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new demonstrators the opportunity to earn fantastic, FREE (my favorite word!), limited-edition products they'll enjoy for years to come.

Here's how Sale-A-Bration works:

Spend
When you spend $50 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you'll receive a FREE item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. And there's no limit!  For every $50 you spend, you can select another FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

Host
When you host a workshop of at least $300 (before tax and shipping), you'll receive a FREE Sale-A-Bration item in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

Join
During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set--a value of up to $47.95--from Stampin' Up's current Idea Book and Catalog or Occasions Mini Catalog. Plus, for a limited time, get 15% off the price of the standard Starter Kit or Digital+ Starter Kit!

Plus, this year's Sale-A-Bration event gives you more free products than ever before! Choose from our exciting selection of exclusive Sale-A-Bration products, or choose a $15.95 set from the Idea Book & Catalog--you've got over 80 choices!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on January 5 and runs through March 31, so don't miss your chance to earn free products!  Check out the Sale-A-Bration brochure online.

Interested in placing an order?  If you're in Michigan and want to save on shipping, just drop me a note at joanneroehmm(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll place your order for you and hand deliver (within reason of course!)

If you're NOT in Michigan, you can head over to my Stampin' Up! Website and click on "Shop Now"  Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about any of the products!  I'd be more than happy to help!

You can view all of the Stampin' Up! catalogs online HERE and I'll be highlighting some of our new items over the next few weeks.  You just can't beat the selection and quality of paper crafting tools Stampin' Up! offers.  Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

From one crazy crafter to another - happy Thursday (it's almost the weekend!) and Happy Stamping!!!

Lemonade Stand Award

Many thanks to Crafty Chic Mommy for awarding me the Lemonade Stand Award.  It's awarded to bloggers who show great attitude and gratitude.  I'm so flattered!

Please, take a moment to head over to Crafty Chic Mommy's blog and check out what she's got going on!  Be sure to tell her Joanne at Ready, Set, Craft! sent you!

In return for this award, I have to nominate at least ten blogs with great attitude or gratitude.  I have to tell you - this was a piece of cake and the list could go on forever!

Meg @ Megacrafty


Abby @ Steinway Street


Angie @ angelina la dawn tomato


Joanne @ Craft Passion


Katie @ Love & Lattes


Marie-Jolie @ Permission to Unwind


Caroline @ Salsa Pie


Beth @ a little bit of us...


Carrie @ Making Lemonade (appropriate, no?!)


Lolly @ Lollychops


I've "met" so many wonderful folks friends throughout the blogging community, and re-connected with some old ones from "real life" as well.  It's nice to have the opportunity to leave them a little love.  I appreciate you all (and many more of you, too!)

What are you waiting for?  Go and check out their blogs!

(Official award rules... put the lemonade logo on your blog or within your post, nominate at least ten blogs with great attitude or gratitude, link the nominees within your post, let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog, share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award)

January CUPKINS: Light Lemon Cupcakes

... now don't get confused.  By "light" I do not mean "healthy" or "low calorie" I simply mean "delicate" ... ha!  This actually means you'll want to eat MORE of them, because they're so light and sweet.  YUM!

A new year is a fresh start for us all, and while our attitudes may be bright - the weather may not be.  We've been blessed with sunshine the past few days here in Michigan, but not warmth.  It is bitterly cold!  January always gets me daydreaming about tropical vacations and laying on the beach with a fruity adult beverage in my hand!

These lemon cupcakes are delicious, and not overly filling.  With a light lemon flavor they're sure to perk you up amidst the grey winter weather!

Light Lemon Cupcakes*

Ingredients:  1 box of yellow cake mix, 1 cup buttermilk, 1/4 cup veg. oil, 4 eggs, 1 tsp grated lemon peel, 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Combine cake mix, buttermilk, eggs, and oil in a mixer on low speed.  Mix until combined.  Add lemon juice and lemon peel.  Beat well.

Prepare cupcake tin lined with (extra cute) cupcake liners (thanks, Alison!)

Oh wait - what's that red thing in the background?

Check out that beautiful cupcake holder Santa brought me for Christmas!  That Santa I tell you... he's smart.  You'll be seeing that again soon, that's for sure.  But I digress...

Fill your cupcake liners 3/4 full.

And bake at 350 degrees for about 16 minutes.  Hey look!  Santa also got me those tiered cooling racks I wanted!  Sweet!

Quick Lemon Frosting*

Ingredients:  1 container (16oz) marshmallow fluff, 3 sticks unsalted butter, 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup powdered sugar.

Whisk marshmallow fluff for about 1 minute, then add butter about a tbsp at a time, until smooth.  Beat in lemon.  Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.

Frost those babies up, adding some yellow sugar sparkles if you wish... then enjoy!

Now hop on over to Meg's place to see her Pineapple Orange Sunrise Muffins.  Yum!

And for more about the CUPKINS collaboration... head HERE.  Happy baking!

* Recipes adapted from the wonderful book Hello, Cupcake!

Hot Mess...

... and that's an understatement.

My craft studio has suffered some abuse over the holidays, and is a disaster area.  I'm taking this messy opportunity to go a step beyond cleaning and re-organizing.  I want to overhaul the space.

I'd like it to be brighter, cleaner, more organized, and I'd like to better use the space.  I'd like to have enough room to hold small stamping classes and workshops down there.

Now you have to know there are some limitations here...

1)  Since we live in an old house (circa 1920) and my craft studio is in the basement - it's pretty chilly down there in the winter time, and can get a little moist during the summertime. 

2)  The space is long and narrow. 

3)  A full-out entire basement overhaul is in the works sometime in the next few years, but not quite yet.  My craft studio overhaul needs to be a temporary, but functional fix.

4)  My budget is next to non-existent.  I don't want to spend much money on this project, especially since we'll be re-do-ing the entire basement at a later date.   

So here's a quick tour of the space...

View from the doorway as you enter the room... technically my sewing area.  Can you see the sewing machine in all that mess?  Barely!

So much mess!  Crooked shelving units with no backs so I lose stuff behind them... I love my long table, and want it centered in the room so I can use it for aformentioned stamping events...

 

 Check out all the wrapping paper I got 75% off at World Market!  And remember those tutus from the dance recital?  Oh, sorry, getting distracted...

More clutter... note the ugly (circa 1980) paneling on the walls.  Gag.

 

Boxes tumbling out of the closet!  I for sure need to use this closet for something other than boxes!

 

See?  I told you hot mess was an understatement!  So tell me, reader, how would you go about revitalizing this little bit of craft space?  What would you do if you were in my shoes?  What tips and tricks can you share from YOUR crafting and storage space?  How can I turn this (on a budget) into my little slice of crafting heaven? 

Leave me a note and lemme know what you're thinkin'!!! 

The Alison Bag

 I attempted my first full-out handbag for my lovely friend Alison for Christmas, and although it's by no means perfect, I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out!  Not bad for a first attempt I'd say.

I used this pattern, but changed it quite a bit along the ways.  Partially because I made some mistakes (oops!) and partially to make things a little easier on myself.

I *think* that this post concludes the holiday gift project shares - and we're officially moving on to 2010!  I'll be back Monday with a peek into my craft studio.  Until then, Happy New Year to you all -- we're enjoying the new year with lots of couch time and movies today... aaaaaand relax....   : )