Hey Girls.........."with Love...2010" is ALMOST here!!

Wow, only 2 more days to go before - UStamp with Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010" begins!  I'm thrilled that I've been invited to be a guest designer again and I've designed a simple gift project that I know you'll enjoy making. 

So, if you haven't already registered there is still time to do so. Just click here to go to Dawn's website or paypal and sign up.

I also thought since it's almost a month until Valentine's Day, and this session is all about "With Love 2010", that Ii would offer my final "free pass" to join this event.  If you want to be the winner, just send me a note tellling me what you love about Valentine's Day or something you love to do for it, by 8:00 pm on January 14th, and I'll enter your name into my random integer draw for a free pass to this event!  So don't delay send your comment today....................... hope you're the winner!

Special Promotions

"15% Off Starter Kit"

During Sale-A-Bration, join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator and get 15% off your Starter Kit—plus, you can choose between the standard Starter Kit and the Digital+ Starter Kit!  Contact me today to get started!

Special Offer: Heart Treat Cups


Just in time for Valentine's Day, our new Heart Treat Cups coordinate perfectly with the Sweetheart stamp set and the Full Heart punch. Contact me to learn more about this fantastic new product and to place your order!"




Country Living Cards à la Carte

Once again, Stampin' Up! has partnered with Country Living magazine to bring you the Country Living Cards à la Carte stationery kit. This beautiful French-country kit contains:
•Dinner Party stamp set (set of 3)
•Ballet Blue Classic Stampin' Spot
•Preprinted stationery (24 sheets: 4 each of 6 designs)
Use the kit for letters, invitations, or a special dinner menu—there are so many possibilities!

In addition, Country Living is offering Stampin' Up! customers a special deal: get 10 issues of Country Living magazine for just $26! For $2.60 an issue, you'll receive great craft projects, articles on collecting, makeover features, recipes, and entertaining ideas—all delivered to your home each month. Click here to learn more or contact me for extra savings!.

Sale-A-Bration ........... It's Here!!!!

Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up!'s biggest event of the year, means friends, fresh ideas, and free products! And with three ways to earn exclusive Sale-A-Bration products, there's something for everyone.
Spend: Buy $65 worth of Stampin' Up! products and get a FREE Sale-A-Bration reward!
Host: Host a $395 workshop, and get a FREE Sale-A-Bration reward!
Join: Become a demonstrator, and get a FREE stamp set (up to a $56.95 value)!
This promotion ends March 31, so contact me today to spend, host, or join! Or click here to see the Sale-A-Bration brochure."

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!