Weeks start on Monday!
Days of the Week: M  T  O  T  F  L  S
Months are provided in Norsk (No)/Svenska (Sv)/Dansk (Da)
(Januar, Februar, Mars, Marts, April, Mai, Maj, Juni, Juli, August, Augusti, September, Oktober, November, December, Desember)

Great for super special gifts that last the whole year and then some! Create fully customized keepsakes to give for Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Days, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Just Because…

Created using various recent ztampfilicious kits, the Ztampf! CraftyCalendar Kit 2010 comes with so much goodies to give you a greater flexibility in creating your very own unique calendars.

Remember that the 30% OFF Discount Coupon given in the Ztampfever #58.2 is valid for all versions of the Ztampf! CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit! The coupon is good through end of this month, so don’t miss out!

Get yours now.

You can start early creating your super special holiday gifts for those special people in your life now. This is a gift that will last a whole year and then get treasured for years to come!

See what’s included in the kit:

Remember that the 30% OFF Discount Coupon given in the Ztampfever #58.2 is valid for all versions of the Ztampf! CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit! The coupon is good through end of this month, so don’t miss out! Get yours now.

Brand New Ztampf! CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit is finally here!

Start early in preparing super special gifts for your loved ones this holiday season with Ztampf! CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit! Currently availabe in US English with weeks start on Sunday. Global English and other languages with weeks start on Sunday will be available very soon – so make sure you follow Ztampf! on Twitter or Facebook to find out about firsthand!

Of course I have a special Discount Coupon for you! Use this code CraftyCalEarlies to receive 30% OFF when you purchase the Ztampf! CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit before this month is ended. Enjoy this benefit!

Aaand… Remember to tell all your fellow Ztampf! lovers to join Ztampf!@ Facebook. When we reach 500 fans, every single member of Ztampf! @Facebook will receive an Exclusive Mini Kit not available anywhere else! We are getting closer so go on and invite your fellow Ztampf!lovers to Ztampf! @Facebook.

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One day the 7 fairy princesses flew down to the earth to take a bath in a river near a forest. A poor orphaned cowherd accidentally caught sight of them bathing in the river. His name was Niulang and he had an old ox with him, the only worldly belonging that his parents left him when they died years ago. Niulang was a good man, he was hardworking and gentle. He was transfixed by the sight of seven beautiful fairy princesses bathing in the river, like any normal man would – don’t you think? But there was a particular fairy princess that he just couldn’t take his eyes off of her. It was Zhinü, the youngest one, the weaver of the clouds.

He hid behind the bushes and kept quiet while the fairy princesses finished their bathing and started to collect their fairy clothes that they left laying around on the rocks by the river. He saw them putting the glimmering clothes back on and how they then flew off to the sky, with their silky garment trailing and bellowing softly behind them. He was mesmerized. That night, he couldn’t sleep thinking about what he saw that day, and especially, about Zhinü. He has fallen in love with her.

Everyday after that he came back to the spot by the river, always at the same time of day when he saw the fairy princesses, hoping to see Zhinü again. Finally they came back for another bath. This time, Niulang hid closer to the rocks where the fairy princesses left their fairy clothes. Stealthily, he crept closer and took hold of Zhinü’s clothes, and moved further away. When the fairy princesses ready to fly back to heaven, Zhinü was left alone because she couldn’t find her fairy clothes. Her sisters had no choice but to leave her there by the river. Niulang approached her and lent her some clothing that he has prepared earlier on and offered her to come home with him. Well, she promptly feel in love with him! They got married and had 2 cute children: a boy and a girl. Niulang worked in the field and Zhinü wove beautiful tapestries to be sold on market days. They lived very happily together although they were not rich.

One day, when Niulang was away at work in the field, while cleaning the house Zhinü found a wooden box hidden in the corner under their bed. Out of curiosity, she opened it and was surprised to find her fairy clothes in it! She was overjoyed as she has been missing her parents and her sisters all these years. Without thinking, she put them on and before she knew what she was doing, she has flown back to the Heavens leaving her children behind! Uh oh!

Up in the Heavens, The King and the Queen Goddess were very happy to have their youngest daughter back and they forbid her to come back down to the earth. Back down there, Niulang was devastated when he got home to find the hidden box was now opened and Zhinü was nowhere to be seen. He immediately understood what had happened. He took their children with him to the river and waited there, hoping that Zhinü would come back. The old ox who was waiting with them finally told him that the only way for him to get Zhinü back was to take off his skin and use it to fly to the heavens. The old ox said that his time has come to leave the earth anyway, and that he has been very grateful of how well Niulang has treated him even when he has gotten so old and useless. He wanted to repay this kindness. And so he requested that Niulang took his skin off.  With heavy heart, Niulang sent the children to play further away and gently skinned the old ox and buried him.

Then he put on the old ox skin, gathered the children and flew off to the heavens to fetch Zhinü home. The Queen Goddess saw him approaching and she quickly drew a giant river in the sky with her pin to separate Niulang and Zhinü forever. Neither of them would be able to cross that river.  Zhinü pleaded and pleaded until finally the King took pity on her. Every year on her birthday which was the 7th Day of the 7th Month, he let the birds formed a bridge across the river so Niulang and Zhinü could be together again for a night. Once a year, on the 7th Day of the 7th Month.

This fairytale refers to constellations in the night sky. Zhinü is the star Vega in the constellation of Lyra east of the Milky Way, and Niu Lang is the star Altair in the constellation of Aquila west of the Milky Way. Under the first quarter moon (7th day) of the seventh lunar month (around August), the lighting condition in the sky causes the Milky Way to appear dimmer, hence the story that the two lovers are no longer separated in that one particular day each year.

The 7th Day of the 7th Month in lunar calendar is a festival day in China called QiXi Festival, also known as The Festival To Plead for Skills or The Night of Skills and fairly recently, as Chinese’s Valentine’s Day.

Now, some interesting coincidental bits:

1. 1. According to Numerology, my life-path number is 7.
2. 2. I am skillful with my hands – like Zhinü, I am good with various arts and crafts. I love to make things!
3. 3. My husband’s last name is O’Leary, which means ‘shepherd’, close enough to ‘cowherd’!
4. 4. When I was in my late 20′s, my uncle who lived in China told me that my birthday indicated that I would be separated a lot from my future husband.
5. 5.  Well, turned out that my husband has to travel a lot for various reasons, so yeah, we got separated quite a lot every year. But fortunately not as bad as Niulang and Zhinü!
6. 6. So far, we’ve been living very happily together although we are not rich. My husband teaches philosophy at the university while I create art, design stuff and make things.

In 2006, my solar and lunar calendar birthday were in alignment once again: it was my 37th birthday. But I wasn’t thinking about it then, I didn’t know it! I wonder if it only happens once every 37 years?

So there! A fairytale with nice coincidences . I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Source: Wikipedia, and similar tales I have heard throughout my childhood – not knowing it was the story about my birthday!

That’s right! A stylish spiffing brand new Intuous4 tablet!!! Yay!!! Thanks, Darling! I’ve been coveting for a while now since my 5-year-old Intuous2 started showing some aging symptoms lately. The Intuous4 is just sooo… beautiful with its sleek black interface and it is thinner and much lighter than the Intuous2. I can’t wait to explore the new features, especially the iPod-like wheels that you can set for various functions.

And then… the door bell rang! A delivery! Of what?! A surprise!!!

Quite a while ago my artwork was selected for inclusion in Patti Digh‘s new book called “Four Word Self Help” and very recently I heard that the book has been made available from Amazon and that some people have received their copy of it from the publisher! And now it’s my turn and it arrives exactly on my birthday! What a nice surprise!!! It’s a nice little book that I’m sure will help me (and many people) to appreciate life more and be more happy with themselves and their life. So thank you, GlobePequot! Thank YOU, Patti!!!

Here is a lil’ peek for you showing my part of the Summer Soiree Starter Kit! Like it? Want it?
Then join SBG @ Facebook to get the complete Starter Kit!
Don’t forget to join Ztampf! @ Facebook too:
when we reach 500 fans, every single fan will receive a brand new,
exclusive mini kit not available anywhere else!
So spread the word, will ya

See you there!

In a perfect world, I would be unveiling the new CraftyCalendar 2011 Kit here today! Alas, time flies faster than I expected it to so you’ll have to wait until the Part 2 of the Ztampfever #58 for it (and for the Special Coupon for it!). Most probably by next weekend! Meanwhile…

Have you heard about the GOLDEN OLDIES Sale at SBG running from Aug. 13th to Aug. 19th? I have released the revamped and improved Antiquest Series at 70% OFF and the mega bundle Tiny Ensembles Galore at 65% OFF – and put together a special FabulousFour Bundle at 50% OFF for you there! These are Super Saving Offers you wouldn’t want to miss:

Be sure to check them out now while the Super Saving Offer is still valid. The FabulousFOUR Bundle comes with a gift of 20% OFF Discount Coupon too! What a deal eh! Enjoy!

Do you love challenges? Have fun mix’n matching stuff from various designers with this new fun Challenge at SBG – and get a ztampfilicious Posting Bonus while at it too:

Have you seen the cool new product – Fly Rebel Fly Mini Kit?
You will get a 20% OFF coupon for the matching Template Set from Studio Dutchie with this Kit!

If you haven’t visited Ztampfilicious Blog lately, you might want to drop by to this post where I have a free QuickPage for you done with the Fly Rebel Fly Mini Kit!

Get inspired by these gorgeous layouts done by the Z!Girls – they never cease to amaze me with their creativity! Do you have layouts done exclusively with Ztampf! products that you particularly love? I would love to see them! Email me and I’ll feature them in the Ztampfilicious Blog!

Visit SBG Blog on Monday, August 16th (US Time) – it is Studio Ztampf! Play Day over there and you will get to play with a little something I have prepared for you! So be sure to visit it and enjoy the small but ztampfilicious gift .

Aaand… Remember to tell all your fellow Ztampf! lovers to join Ztampf!@ Facebook. When we reach 500 fans, every single member of Ztampf! @Facebook will receive an Exclusive Mini Kit not available anywhere else! We are getting closer so go on and invite your fellow Ztampf!lovers to Ztampf! @Facebook.

Ztampfest | Ztampfever | Ztampfaqs | Behind The Scenes | Studio Ztampf!
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The timeless Antiquest has been revamped and improved to give you even more goodies and options: The Antiquest Add-On Kit is now included in the Antiquest Kit which has been revamped and improved. The popular Antiquest AlphaSet now has separate 5 various stitches so you can use the alpha with and without the stitches. Plus, you can combine or mix’n match the stitches for an even more varied looks! This Package Saving also includes newly composed Ensembles and QuickPage Album Sets.

The Antiquest is great for various themes including spring, babies, romance, weddings, anniversaries, heritage and more! You will have a lot of fun and pleasant surprises in using this sort of DIY kit! 17 of the 22 papers are ‘solid’ with the subtle fabric-like texture. With the 10 unique overlays provided, you can create many ‘patterned’ papers. Mix’n match them, play with the transparency levels, get creative – you’ll be rewarded with uniquely yours patterned papers! Likewise, you can put together your own unique elements by dressing them up with the crystal and pearl jewels provided, or combine two or more elements together. Take a look at the Ensembles and QuickPage to see some samples.

And now it is on SUPER SPECIAL 70% OFF for the Golden Oldies through 19.08.2010 only! So don’t miss it!

But wait… I have two more SUPER SPECIAL OFFERS for the Golden Oldies:

These Tiny Ensembles and QuickPages are versatile with timeless designs to use for card-making, mini albums, hybrid crafts and even 12″x12″ layouts too! So here they are – made available for everyone who wants these versatile little gems in one huge bundled saving! And yes, just for the Golden Oldies it is now 65% OFF! It’s a fabulous steal that you will find many uses for!

Finally, for those new to Ztampf! who wanted a taste before jumping in, here is the FabulousFour Bundle – another fantastic steal at 50% OFF (PLUS a gift of 20% OFF Discount Coupon!) which is available ONLY during the Golden Oldies, that is from now through August 19th. So make sure to check it out!

These ever popular kits happened to be some of my all time favorites too. There are ample of unique and versatile beautiful things in these kits that you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody Kit
2. Phrench Phoebe Kit
3. China Blue Kit
4. Ghostown Page Overlays Set

Complementing products for each kit are also available: AlphaSets, Ensembles, QuickPage Albums – plus Accents Pack and Paper Pack for Ghostown.

OK, NOW you can go Ztampf!Shopping

P.S. Did you know that there are many free samplers that you can download from Ztampf! site? You can no longer shop there but you can still download the free samplers and gifts . To shop for ztampfilicious goodness, just head over to Studio Ztampf!