Monday, October 24, 2011

A Little Over the Top!

Did you notice the fun new cello bags in the Holiday Mini?  They're 1x8 and a steal of a deal at $3.50 for a pack of 50!  There are so many ways you can use these bags...you're definitely going to want to order some today!

Check out what my clubs did with them this month...


It's a little over the top, and I wouldn't do something this involved for my kids to give their classmates, but for someone special it's totally worth it!  The bag is filled with Holiday Tic Tacs (the cinnamon and mint ones) and then I used a bunch of punches to create the topper.  Here's a closer look...


I love the button in the middle of the snowflake!  That button is from the Holly Berry buttons in the Holiday Mini.  It's a great pack of buttons...you get a bunch of Real Red and Wild Wasabi buttons in the pack.  I tied a piece of Whisper White Baker's Twine through the button...love the Baker's Twine!  Did you  notice the little bit of bling around the dec. 25?  That was done with another of my favorite products in the Holiday Mini...the Dazzling Details!!!  When you order some treat bags, you're definitely going to want to order a bottle...or two...of the Dazzling Details!

That's all for today.  I will be back tomorrow with another idea for these fun little bags.  Have an inspired day!




Sunday, October 23, 2011

Simple Leaves

Today for Simple Card Sunday, I have a quick and easy card using my favorite new stamp set (Gently Falling).


It's a 3x6 card with a fantastic layout that's easy to adapt to almost any occasion.  I stamped some leaves from the Gently Falling set and then added a great sentiment.  I accented my card with the new Early Espresso ribbon in the Holiday Mini, but when my clubs made it I let them choose between the Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso ribbon...the card looks great with either color!  Add a few brads, stick it all together and you're done!

Next Sunday I'm going to start showing simple Christmas cards each week.  Hopefully you will be inspired to get some Christmas cards made using my quick and simple designs!

Have an inspired day!


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Stockings!

I {heart} stockings and was thrilled when I saw the line of stocking products in the Holiday Mini.  Recently I featured the Stocking die at my To Die For Class and the class participants got to make 2 projects with the die. Check out the info on the To Die For class on my Events & Classes page (link at the top!) to see all the details!  If you have a Big Shot it's a FREE class and I feature a different die each month.  Next month is the Petite Pocket die and I have some fabulous ideas with that die that you don't want to miss!

Today I'm going to show you the card my class participants made!


We placed the folded cardstock onto the die just under the top of the stocking so that it would have a fold at the top and create a shaped card!  The cuff, heel and toe were cut from Whisper White cardstock...I love how the die makes the little stitching lines!  The holly leaves were cut with the Stocking Accents die and the sparkly berries were punched from Red Glimmer Paper.

The only downside to this projects is that the card ends up being too big to fit into a standard envelope!

Stop by tomorrow to see the other project the class did...it's super fun!

Have an inspired day!


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2-4-6-8...

2-4-6-8...who do you appreciate... Do you remember that chant?

I always wanted to be a cheerleader when I was a kid...I was never coordinated enough and I don't remember us even having cheerleaders at the schools I went to. Well, I am WAY off topic! This post isn't about cheerleading, but about a quick and easy box!


This is a 2-4-6-8 box and it's super easy to do with the new Simply Scored Tool.  You need a piece of cardstock that measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 (to make this box...you can change that second measurement to alter the height of your box).  Line up your cardstock so the 8 1/2 side is along the top of the Simply Scored and score at 2, 4, 6 & 8.  Then turn your cardstock a quarter turn and score it at 1 1/2 or 2.  Then you just fold it into a box and you can embellish and fill with treats!

I used the Square Lattice embossing folder on the More Mustard piece and to accentuate the embossing pattern, I brayered my embossing folder with Early Espresso ink before embossing the cardstock.  This way, the ink goes into the recessed parts of the design when it's embossed...one of my favorite things to do with the embossing folders.

That's all for today!  Have an inspired day!


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

October is a BIG Deal at Stampin' Up!

October is a BIG deal at Stampin' Up!.  Check out this video to see why!



You heard right, all new recruits in the month of October get a FREE Big Shot with thier Starter Kit!  This is an offer to "die" for and you definitely don't want to miss out on this opportunity.  Stampin' Up! is a perfect way to make some extra $$$, meet some new friends and do something rewarding and creative.  I would love to sit down with you anc chat about how you can make Stampin' Up! part of your life.

Please contact me today for more information or to get signed up!


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Pumpkins!

Did you know that Stampin' Up! has come out with a line of cookie stamps? I'm super excited about this product and can see a LOT of stamped cookies in my future! The set of cookie stamps comes with a wooden handle and three interchangeable silicon stamps. The stamps are a jack-o-lantern face, a snowflake and a heart...perfect for this time of year! And, let me tell you, they are SO FUN to use!


Aren't those the cutest little cookies!  I used my new cookie stamps and one of my favorite sugar cookie recipes.  Usually my sugar cookies aren't orange, but this time I added some orange food coloring to the dough so they would look more like pumpkins.  What do you think?

I decided to package them in a cute little package so you could see a fun way to give them as a gift.  I put my cookies in one of our large cello bags and made a cute little topper.


I started with a Lucky Limeade base and then layered on a Concord Crush piece which I embossed with the Spider Web embossing folder.  To make it kind of pop even more, I gently rubbed my Whisper White sponge over it.  My pumpkin is stamped on Naturals White cardstock with Black StazOn ink.  Then the fun started!  I went over the lines with my Pumpkin Pie marker and then used my favorite new product to color it in.  I used the new Dazzling Details (found in the Holiday Mini) and added a few drops of Pumpkin Pie ink to it before applying it with a dry Aqua Painter.  In real life, it sparkles and is fantastic!

And, because I know I'm gonna get requests, here is the recipe I used.

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
1 pkg (8oz)  Cream Cheese
1 cup Butter or Margarine (softened)
2/3 cup Sugar
1/4 tsp Vanilla
2 cups Flour

Beat the Cream Cheese, Butter, Sugar and Vanilla until smooth.  Add the flour and mix until well blended.  Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.  Roll out dough to 1/4 inch in thickness and cut out shapes*.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Cool and enjoy!

**These cookies don't expand when baked so you can put lots on your cookie sheet and have them pretty close together.  They are really good with Buttercream frosting!

*I found that it was easiest with the cookie stamps to roll the dough into a log shape, chill and slice it before stamping.  I got 36 cookies when I sliced it...but some of my slices were a little on the thick side!!!

And, today I'm going to leave you with a fun pumpkin picture of my family from this weekend and our visit to the corn maze.


The looks on the boy's faces make me laugh...but at least they were all looking at the camera!! Have an inspired day!






Saturday, October 8, 2011

My Family

YAY!!!  It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.  I love Thanksgiving...I love making and eating turkey dinners and it's the one time of year that I make Pumpkin Cake (which my family looks forward to ALL year!).  We have family visiting with us this weekend and have a fun weekend planned...Farmer's Market, Corn Maze, season opener for the Oilers (my dad, husband and kids will definitely enjoy this) and of course, turkey!!!

After the year we've had (especially the last few months), I have a lot to be thankful for!  I have a wonderful and healthy family and I fully intend to make the best of the time we have together...because I have learned that life can throw you a curve ball when you're least expecting it and change things forever.
One of our family traditions is to get a family picture each year.  In the past we've done this around our anniversary in May, but the last few years we've done summer and fall pictures.  I have a special album that I put all our family pictures in.  As much as my family complains about pictures each year, it's so fun to look back and see how our family has grown and changed!  The pictures we had done last year were some of my favorites (although this year's are pretty awesome too!) and I just had to do a scrapbook layout of some of my favorites.


My scrapbook club always comments how coordinated my family looks in pictures.  For our family pictures I always make sure we all have coordinating outfits because it makes the pictures so much better!  When they saw this layout they commented that even the dog is coordinated...that wasn't planned!!!
I did some really fun stuff with this layout.  I made a great leaf background with the Gently Falling set just like I did with my pumpkin frame here.  I also used the new Simply Scored tool (I *heart* this tool!!) to add some visual interest to one of my photo mats.



I also accented with some of the new Spice Cake DSP from the Holiday Mini and one of those big beautiful Spice Cake buttons (you need some of these...trust me!!!).


See that tiny Pear Pizzazz scallop edge?  I did that with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch and just positioned my punched piece under the DSP so that just the scallop edge would show.  Cute!

To my Canadian friends...enjoy your weekend and turkey dinner and remember everything you have to be thankful for!  Have an inspired day!



Thursday, October 6, 2011

FREE Big Shot!

Yes, you read that right...FREE Big Shot!  You have the chance to get a Big Shot FREE...read on for more details!  Today is announcement day on my blog and I have all kinds of fabulous news to share with you!

Stampin' Up! recently added more product tot he Clearance Rack.  RUN...there are fabulous deals to be had people (star punch, ribbon, chipboard houses, etc)!!!  You definitely don't want to miss out on the deals and they tend to sell out quickly so hurry to my online store to place your order TODAY!!!


This past Tuesday, Stampin' Up! released some fabulous new Digital Downloads.  You can find them here.  There was also an important update for MDS that included new print products.  You're definitely going to want to update your version...if it doesn't prompt you when you open the program, go to Help/Check for Updates and follow the prompts.


In addition to a program update and new downloads, Stampin' Up! also announced new bulk print pricing just in time for your holiday printing.  You can find the new print pricing here.


And, if that weren't enough, there is also a brand new hostess content DVD available.  It's FULL of fabulous digital images perfect for creating fun little projects for a holiday party.  In this kit you will find...


  • 10 Designer Series Paper patterns
  • 4 new punches exclusive to this ensemble
  • 36 piece stamp brush set
  • a variety of embellishments
  • 2 greeting card templates
  • 1 postcard template
  • templates for tags, labels, boxes, and a banner

  • It's priced at $20 Hostess dollars.  To get this fabulous ensemble, you need to host a qualifying workshop or place a qualifying order ($200 before shipping & tax).  Contact me today to book your workshop!

    In celebration of World Card Making Day, Stampin' Up! is offering a fantastic deal on the Simply Sent kits.  For the month of October, when you purchase 2 Simply Sent Card Kits, you can get a coordinating stamp set FREE!  You can find all the info on this special on my Specials & Promotions Page, or by clicking on the picture to the right!


    And now, about that FREE Big Shot!  For the month of October, any new recruit will receive a FREE Big Shot (or $125 in product of their choice) with their Starter Kit!  WOW!!!  I would love to give you a FREE Big Shot...contact me today for more information about the Starter Kit and becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!  For more information, please see my Specials & Promotions page or click on the picture to the right.

    Have an inspired day!




    Wednesday, October 5, 2011

    World Card Day Fun!

    Before I go into the fun we had at my World Card Day event, I need to announce the winner of the Stocking Challenge!  Stocking #1 received the most votes...so, congratulations Angela!!!  I will have a prize for you at our next Group Gathering!  Thanks to everyone who voted!

    On to World Card Day!  The first Saturday in October is World Card Making Day...a day set aside to celebrate the craft of making cards and kick off the busiest greeting card season (Christmas!).  Each year I do a fun day long card making event.  This year we had a small group, but what we lacked in size, we make up for in fun!!!

    We started our day with a really fun game of speed stamping!  To choose participants, we had a round of Stampin' Up! Trivia.  The winners were Kelly and Kristi-Ann so they got to play the game!  We gave them each a blank BINGO card and they had to fill the squares with images from the Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set.  Each image in the set had to be used once and completely inked and stamped in a square on the card.  The one who filled their card first won.



    We also gave a prize for the best cheerleader during the game...Kim won that one!  All winners got to choose a prize from the prize basket!

    After we got everyone's blood flowing we started a project like nothing else we have done before at World Card Day.  Did you notice the new Card Keepers in the Holiday Mini Catalog?  Well, each participant got to make a card keeper during the morning!


    We stamped some First Edition DSP with the tall leaf image from the Just Believe set and added some small punched flowers which were embellished with pearls!  They got to choose between three different colors for their ribbon and flowers. 





    Janet was the only one who chose pink!  Since our event raises money for Breast Cancer Research, we gave Janet a prize for doing a pink one!!!!

    Right before lunch we did another game...Blind Stamping!  Sherri made a Halloween card and our two participants (Kim and Shelley) had to recreate it blindfolded!!!  They were great sports and did awesome!





    Our day continued with a delicious lunch...we had Slow Cooker BBQ Beef on a Bun and a mini Salad Bar (so fun!)...and some visiting time with each other!



    During the afternoon, we made cards...16 total!!!  Here are the 8 that I contributed (Sherri did the other 8).  I was inspired by cards I've made in the past, some convention swaps and so many cards on Stampin' Connection (the online demonstrator community).



    We had a fun start to our afternoon!  Sherri and I began by telling them about some of the new products from the Holiday Mini that they would get to use and how much we loved these products...especially the new Dazzling Details.  Then we surprised everyone with their own bottle of it...it was like Oprah's Favorite Things, only it was Lisa and Sherri's Favorite Things...and we didn't give away a car!!!

    We had a fantastic day and I'm pleased to say that we raised $150 for Breast Cancer research through our silent auction and the donation we made from each person's registration fee...fantastic considering we had such a small group!  Thanks ladies for a great day...can't wait until next year!

    Have an inspired day!