Last Look at 2009

I have been without a camera since October so wasn't able to take pictures of my cards Okay even though Christmas is now over I did promise to post pictures of the cards I made so here goes:

This was one of my favourite cards to make.  I saw this card on the fabulous Diana Gibb's blog, and just couldn't resist.  The pine branches are made from the "Lovely as a Tree" (115026) stamp set and the Merry Christmas Sentiment is from the "A Cardinal Christmas" (111760).  I used Whisper White for for card base layered with Old Olive, Real Red and Whisper White.  Miscellaneous ribbon and buttons were used for accents.

The next card is loosely based on one I saw on SCS and again uses stamps from the "A Cardinal Christmas" and is made with Close to Cocoa,  Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Very Vanilla cardstock.  The Close to Cocoa layer was run through the Big Shot with the Finial Press, textured embossing folder.  I loved doing this card.  Quick and easy but big impact. 

My third card utilizes one of my favourite Stampin' Up christmas stamps "Dasher" (116816).  This stamp which was presented on page 208 of the IB&C at $8.95 was one of the best deals Stampin' Up offered this year............... don't you think?  I've see so many beautiful renditions using this stamp.  Here is mine:

This card has a vanilla base and a layer of Old Olive which is stamped with a small snowflake image.  Dasher was stamped with Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla and heat set to bring out the ink.  He has a small red rhinestone for his nose and Dazzling Diamonds on his beautiful antlers.  5/8" Real Red grosgrain ribbon was added over a strip of dsp from the Christmas Jingle (1156960 - Simply Scrappin kit).  The Eyelet border punch (113692) was used on a each side of a 2 1/2" strip of very vanilla cardstock. 

My fourth card uses the Ornament punch and Delightful Decorations Stamp Set that was featured in the Holiday Mini Catalogue.  The base cardstock is Whisper white with layers of Black and Kraft

cardstock. I used the So Swirly jumbo wheel and Whisper White Craft Ink to add a decorative background on the Kraft cardstock layer. The ornaments were stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink on a separate piece of Kraft cardstock, embossed with a layer of clear embossing powder, and then punched out with the Ornament Punch.  The ornaments were mounted on dimensionals.  The  Merry Christmas sentiment from the "A Cardinal Christmas" was stamped in Black Ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  Four cyrstal rhinestones were added for embellishment below the sentiment.  I used gold cord for the ornament hangers and tied small bows with 1/8" satin ribbon.  I wish the picture wasn't such poor quality, as these were really stunning, and got lots of rave reviews from the lucky recipients. 

Here is the 5th and final card I made.  Quite a stunner, if I do say so myself.  I used one of the snowflakes from the Winter Wishes stamp set and the sentiment was from Heard from the Heart.  The card base was Whisper White and I added layers of Pomegranite from last year's In Colors and Brushed Gold.  I embossed snowflakes in clear embossing powder on the Brushed Gold cardstock to add some additional glamor.  The Snowflakes on the Whisper White were stamped in Pomegranite then I applied Heat and Stick and Dazzling Diamonds for some glitter.  The hearts were punched using the Heart to Heart Punch (113694).  Other punches used were the 1 3/8 and 11/4" circle punches and the 1 3/8" square punch.  Here's a close up of the detail on the card.  I used the snowflake stamp and versamark ink on the large heart and then dried it with the heat gun to give it some definition too.

Some of my ideas came from looking at Split Coast Stampers, and liking the Mojo Monday sketches. 

I hope you like these. 

Free Gift Giveaway..............................

Thanks everyone for responding to my "Free Gift Giveaway".  I received 7 wonderful comments on your New Year's Resolutions for Stamping.  Unfortunately, I've already broken some of my resolutions:
1.  Haven't blogged since before New Year's Eve
2.  Didn't draw the winner and announce in a timely manner............... you get the picture!  LOL! 

 

Anyway today the company is gone, flying over head as we speak.  The laundry is on and my house is getting back to normal from all the visitors.  Best news is we are starting back on our renos today and  my dh is installing our new kitchen windows.  So, life is good!!

 

I have two announcements............ one the winner, and second my good news!   Okay drum roll please........... my winner is #1 (Random numbers generated Jan 7 2010 at 9:46:21 by http://www.psychicscience.org/).    Congratulations Kathryn Mangelsdorf  from Austrailia who said " Hi Penny, wow you are going to be busy in 2010! I look forward to chatting with you more on UStamp, I have found that this round I have mainly only chatted with Australians as the time difference is important when we are having such a busy time. Take care and I hope you have a great time with New Year Celebrations.".  

 

And now for my second announcement which ties in with the prize giveaway.  Kathryn has won a free pass to the UStamp With Dawn and Friends "With Love..........2010", which starts January 15th!  Kathryn I know you'll make good use of your pass, and I will be in touch with you by email to confirm details.   Also if you haven't checked out the Guest Designer Blinkie on my Blog that's my exciting news.  Dawn Rapsas has invited me back again and I've completed a wonderful project for this next round.  I can't wait, and hope to see you there.  For registration details click on: http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/
UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "withLove... 2010" will deliver all same opportunity to do something REALLY FUN, even if only or a few minutes a day, to check out a project or peak into the chat room to say hello to some friends around the world. Come each day to the website and stay as long as YOU like!!

  Here is what you can expect:

• New projects shared everyday, for 31 days!!
• Several "Double Designer Days"!! 2 projects on 1 day!! Woohoo!!
• All projects include a step by step tutorial, including LOTS of Photos!!
• EVERY Tutorial is available in English, Spanish, German and French
• All measurements are available in Inches and CM
• Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!
• Live Chats
• Friendships around the world...happens every event!!
• Way Cool SWAP!! (Optional... but really fun!!)

Some Christmas Cards from My Friends.............

This post should have been done in December but I didn't have my camera when these arrived.  Even though it's now January I wanted to share these two very special Christmas cards from my friend Betty Lee and my very special sister Heather.  I know you'll be happy I did. 

 Here is the card and envelope from Betty Lee........isn't it gorgeous!  The set is called Scenic Season (115354).  A beautiful rhinestone glistens on top of the first tree and the star and the Season's Greeting sentiment are in Gold Embossing Powder. 
Betty Lee has layered Brushed Gold and Handsom Hunter Cardstock on Whisper White and has stamped her beautiful crisp images with Handsome Hunter Ink. 

Along with stamping the envelope Betty Lee has embossed the middle tree in gold on the inside of the card cover and added the sentiment May the peace and Joy of the season be with you throughout the new year, which is also from this set in Handsome Hunter on the base card.  As if all this wasn't good enough, imagine my delight when I flipped the card over and on the back read the following:
Paper and Embossing Powder..... $18.65
Stamp Set and Ink ........$32.93
Making Christmas cards for my friends.........Priceless!  

Thanks so much for making my day Betty Lee.............this card was fantastic!



My next Christmas card I want to share with you came from my very special sister Heather, who I adore........can you tell!  Heather loves card making and is honing her talents and stretching her skills.  I know this card was made with pure love as it just glistened on the shelf..   She's used one of my all time favourite stamp sets "Loads of Love", to set the scene.  It wasn't hard to envision her and Ken in the front seat of the truck, after a fun day in the snow picking their tree.   Thanks Heather........... loved this card and you're the best!

My last little post is a small treat pouch I made for friends in Palm Springs when we were entertaining.

The treat pouch was made with the Holiday Lounge DSP.  I embossed strips of Taken With Teal card stock for the front and layered a Sahara Sand scallop punch with Taken With Teal and Whisper White Circle Punches.  Mu little snowman's face was all a glitter with Dazzling Diamonds.  When you open the pouch it holds one Ghiradelli square.  What would Christmas be without Chocolate Treats!!!  Hope you enjoy.

Are You Ready for a Free Give Away???????????

Hi everyone!  I've been absent for a long time now.  Coming back to California the beginning of December I found myself overwhelmed with our kitchen renos and unexpected visitors.  And, with all the Christmas entertaining and visiting we've been doing, I just haven't been able to get my stamping and creative mojo on.  Well it's back now after my much needed hiatus and I'm ready to get those creative juices going again! To add to that excitement I now have a new camera (thanks mom) and a card reader I've just purchased, so I should be able to start posting pictures again real soon....... maybe tonight!   I want to share my Christmas cards with you and some of those kitchen reno pics before the New Year arrives.

Since I've been so out of touch with everyone, I'm hoping all of you faithful readers have had a wonderful Christmas and you're looking forward to 2010 and the excitement and wonder that a new year brings. I know I am and I want to add to that excitement by offering something free. 

I've been thinking a lot lately about ways to improve my stamping and blogging skills and do more creative things in 2010, and since it's almost New Years, why not make some resolutions:  Here goes...........

1.  I am going to make time to stamp or create more than once a week.
2.  I am going to post to my stamping blog every Sunday.
3.  I am going to take more photos of things I make and share them with you.
4.  I'm going to enter more challenges and try out more new things............ UStamp with Dawn and Friends, Mojo Monday, Kerner's UGirls............. here I come.
5.  Play with My Digital Studio more and share what I've learned............
6.  I'm definitely going to have more fun!!!

Okay that's enough about my resolutions.............how about you?  Will you be making any New Years Stampin Resolutions?  If so send me a comment with your resolution(s) or plans and I'll enter your name into a draw for New Year's Day.   The value of my free draw gift is $24.95 US so it's well worth your while............... stay tuned for more details and don't forget to send me your comments by Dec 31st............... let your friends know too!

12 Days of Christmas - December 11 - 22, 2009

These might be the most exciting 12 days of December with select Big Shot dies and vinyl sheets for the Big Shot on sale! The 12 Days of Holiday Sales began on December 11th and runs through December 22.

Some of the items introduced in this sale are new colors of Décor Elements vinyl sheets. There are 18 new colors to choose from, and they make great projects when you use them with Big Shot dies. Consider pairing the Clear Décor Elements vinyl sheets with the Tulipe Bigz die to create an etched-like design on a vase. Or use the Decorative Accent Bigz dies with the Old Olive Décor Element vinyl sheets to enhance a frame. The combination of Big Shot dies and Décor Elements vinyl sheets is sure to take your creativity to a new level! Make sure you visit my website and click on my on-line store and check out the 12 Days of Holiday Sales!

Only Seven More Sleeps until Blowout 2009........... I Can't Wait!!!

Only 7 days remaining until UStamp With Dawn's big year end BLOWOUT begins..................... are you excited?  I know I am! If you're a stamper like me you are going to really enjoy this amazing
online WORLDWIDE event.  Every day a NEW project/video is posted with downloadable step by step tutorials, that you can work at in your time.  You also have an opportunity to chat with folks from around the world who like to have fun and stamp too.  Such value for so little money................ only $24.98 US.  
If you haven't signed up yet or if you need more information about this exciting stamping event you can get all the details and FAQ info at this link: http://ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/   Hope to see you there!!!

I have some very exciting news to share with you today. I’ve just heard that opening day for "UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Year End Blowout 2009" will be December 1st. This is going to be another fantastic World Wide event…………….. NOT to be missed!!

Dawn and her fabulous Design Team will be offering 31 days of new project tutorial downloads and prizes everyday!! As always there will be live Chats and more. One of the many great things about UStamp is that YOU create when YOU are ready. LOVE the projects, but don't have time to make them yourself during the crazy holidaze?? No worries!! The website remains open for many months, ready when you are to create so you won't miss out Fun project themes of "Parties, Celebrations and Gift Giving" will totally hook you up for all your upcoming celebration needs right out of the gate for 2010!! Once all the hoopla of the holidays dies down, you will be thrilled that you can fill your January making creative projects from the Year End Blow Out event.

From now until November 17th you can sign up and take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing of only $19.98. CLICK HERE TO JOIN. After November 17th the fee to join goes up to $24.99.