Delightful Decorations Movers and Shapers Card - Christmas Stamp-A-Stack

This summer I've really used my Big Shot a lot and one of my favourite Big Shot die cuts has been the  Magnetic Movers and Shapers Curly Label  (114506 pg. 208 IB&C).  It's very easy to use and adds a beautiful window design to a card front.   There are also two accompanying sets that can be used with this set.  The one I ordered is called Holiday Windows (116821 pg. 208) and it has an ornament, a dove, a circle and a curly label die shape.  This set is absolutely perfect for the holiday season and I think will add some real versatility to my cards.

Initially I was planning on using it to make a card with a window in the front corner, but let me tell you all that changed in a flash when I happened across a video tutorial on  Glenda Caulkins blog site .  She demonstrates some unique and interesting ways to use the Movers and Shapers magnetic die cuts not only for this card project, but for others.  She's awesome! 

I was intrigued by her floating ornament card and as soon as I saw it I shamelessly wanted to CASE it.  My intention was to use the Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP from the Holiday Mini catalogue (SOLD OUT) along with the Merry Crittermas Stamp set I had on order.  Imagine my disappointment when the stamp set arrived but not the DSP. I was fortunate to get my order in just before it sold out but  the last I checked, it's still in transit. Oh well, my fingers are crossed it'll arrive this week and then I'll make this card again and post it for you.

Okay, so not to be defeated and because I was dying to make this card, I rummaged through my scrap DSP and found some retired SU paper that looked like it would work, and I teamed it up with Creamy Caramel and Real Red Cardstock.  I loved the simplicity of this card, the few supplies required and how quick it was to make.  It kind of reminds me of Hansel and Gretel and/or gingerbread houses....what do you think?  Here's a view of the full card from a couple of different angles. 

The trick to making this card is to ensure that the fold is centered on the die cut and the Big Shot plate only covers to the fold line when you run it through the machine.  If you watch the video tutorial it is self explanatory. 

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The sentiment which is from the retired Christmas Punch stamp set is stamped in Early Espresso on the inside of the card.  I initially stamped the sentiment on a post it note and used that to make sure of the placement before stamping to ensure the sentiment didn't show when the card front was closed.  That worked perfectly.

Snowflake Card - Christmas Stamp a Stack Card 2

Here is the second card in my series of Christmas Stamp a Stack cards.  I chose a simple layout to showcase the Snowflake die cut.

This card begins with a Whisper White card base that has been layered with  Real Red.  If you look closely you'll see that the Real Red layer has been texture embossed, to provide some detail.

The large snowflake has been punched out with the Stampin' Up! Snowflake die cut and then run through the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Dazzling Diamonds were added using the 2-way glue pen, to make the snowflake come alive.  

A second snowflake has been punched and again texturized in Real Red, and then layered on with dimensionals.

To complete this card I've stamped the December 25th stamp in Real Red on Whisper White cardstock.  This stamp is again one that I love and can't stop using even though it's from the retired Spotlight on Christmas stamp set.  A small red rhinestone finishes it off.  Here is the full card.  Here's a view of the full card.  Hope you like it. 

Time Is Running Out - Starter Kit and Online Spectacular Promotions End Today

Today is the LAST DAY for the simply AMAZING deal on the Starter Kit & the Online Spectacular!! These specials end at 11:00pm tonight so don't delay!


Deal Number One - Do You Fit Any of These Catagories? If So I'd love to have you  Join My Team

Hobby Demonstrator:
A Hobby Demonstrator is someone who basically purchases the starter kit, and uses the discount for her own purchases and occasionally for family and friends who might ask about it. She is not a demonstrator to earn money for her family, and simply loves the products and wants the discount.   
Short-Term Demonstrator:
These crafty ladies sign up for the starter kit, and demonstrate for a pre-determined length of time. Their goal is often to earn enough money on the side to finance a major purchase, help her family through a rough financial time, or to fill the gap between employment periods. She may or may not continue as a demonstrator after this time period is through, and she can join for as little as a few months if she chooses.

Casual Business Demonstrator:
A Business Demonstrator is someone who demonstrates to make a bit of cash on the side or to earn her stampsets for free or at a major discount. She might have a club that meets her quarterly minimums, and might do the occasional workshop, but only chooses to devote one or two nights a month to her demonstrating.

Career Demonstrator:
This is a Demonstrator who runs several clubs a month, and several events. She has an active downline, and works to help them succeed. Her goal is to earn a signficant income from stamping, and while she still may have a 9-5 job outside of stamping, she also does workshops and classes for her customers on a regular basis, as well as attends SU! events. She plans to stay a demonstrator long-term, and wants to move up the career ladder.


For $107.50, there are 2 kits to choose from...a digital scrapbooking & more kit or the standard starter kit. There is no shipping & no HST!!  Can you believe that????  That alone is a good reason to take advantage of these truly spectacular savings.  So don't miss the boat! 

If you want to take advantage of this special offer, click on my Stampin Up button and then click on "Start Your Own Business", click on "JOIN NOW". My recruitment password is "stampendous". Don't forget to send me an email at pennyhanuszak@telus.net to let me know you signed up and I'll help you get started.

Deal Two: Online Spectacular Specials 
For items on the Online Spectacular list, you can place your order online ($200 gets you free shipping) or call or email me to place your order today. There are some GREAT deals, including the MY Digital Studio for 50% off!! Visit my online store to see the complete list of discounted items

Patterned Pines Christmas - Christmas Stamp A Stack

I absolutely love making Christmas cards - don't you?  If you're like me you probably surf through a lot of blog sites looking for that perfect card or ideas that you can incorporate into your own design.   Often I spend more time surfing than stamping.............easy to do!  Anyway, after looking at many, many, wonderful sites I decided on the cards I would make for my Stamp a Stack Class.  So, over the next four or five days, I'm going to share my ideas and cards.  Hope you enjoy!

My first card I want to share with you is made with a retired set called Patterned Pines. I wanted to simulate a crisp walk in the forest while it's snowing. I chose the Patterned Pines set even though I know it isn't current because my customers and I love it.  I also know that some of my customers who purchased it last year didn't get an opportunity to really ink it up.  Here was their chance.

I used Whisper White for the card base, layered with Chocolate Chip.  Because I love background texture I ran this layer through the Big Shot using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963 pg.214), before adhering to the card base. To me, that little bit of texture around the main image seems to make everything look more interesting and pulls it together.  And of course, being a texture person I just want to reach out and touch it.  What do you think?

For the next layer of the card, I stamped the trees from the Patterned Pines Stamp Set (retired) in Olive Green ink on a 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 piece of Whisper White cs.  I then cut around the pines with my scissors, leaving a little big of white mid way up the trees to simulate snow drifts and just a little edge around the trees to give depth.  To finish off this piece I took my two-way glue pen and ran it along the top drifts (between the trees) and then squiggled it through  and below the pines. And you know what's coming next, right?  Yes, Dazzling Diamonds...........I had to add a little bling!!! 

I wanted just a tiny little sentiment that wouldn't over-power the front of this card so I chose the "merry christmas!" sentiment from the Merry Crittermas  Stamp Set (121181(A)/120855(W) pg. 39 2010/11 Holiday Mini Catalogue), and stamped it in Early Expresso.I know I'll use this sentiment over and over again on my cards and tags, because it's just so teeny and perfect!  

To finish off this card I wanted a snowy background in a mid-blue, so I chose Baja Breeze (retired).  At first I was going to stamp snowflakes on the card stock, but then I went through my paper scraps and luckily found a small piece of Baja Breeze DSP that worked perfectly.  I punched out a larger snowflake (non SU) in Whisper White and sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds and then mounted it with dimensionals in the top corner. A red button was glued in the center.  The finishing touch, is a piece of 5/8" of real red grossgrain ribbon tied with a tuxedo bow. The ribbon was added to this card layer before it was mounted to the chocolate chip layer.  And here is the finished card.  What do you think? 

Please come back tomorrow to see the next card in my series of Christmas Stamp A Stack Cards.  See you then!

Sneak Peak - Christmas Stamp a Stack Class

Here`s a sneak peak at my Christmas Stamp a Stack cards...................they were so much fun to do.  Starting tomorrow, I`ll be posting pictures of each card along with the recipe for making them, so stay tuned and come back daily for a visit! 

Wonderful Presents from Wonderful Friends

What a great week this has been for surprises!  On Friday when I picked up my mail I was so excited to see a parcel from my friend and fellow stamper, Kathryn Mangelsdorf who lives in Woodside, South Austrialia. She'd already given me a heads up that something was coming, but not what or why, so the excitement was building as I rushed home to open the package. Here's a peak:

Love that fold over withthe butterfly and button.............too cute!

Just to give a little background before I show you what I received, I met  Kathryn on UStamp With Dawn and Friends during the first session that I signed up for.  Kathryn's become one of the shining lights in terms of her fantastic tutorials and designs and I so look forward to chatting with her on the open chat line.  During our chat's we've gotten to know each other a little more personally and Kathryn shared that she had tragically lost members of her family to breast cancer.  Since Kathryn is not one to sit back and do nothing, she decided to sponsor a Breast Cancer fund raiser called "Kathryn's Girls Afternoon", and it's become a great annual event.

As you'll know from my earlier posts I am a big supporter of Breast Cancer and have been involved in the Walk for Life events here in Abbotsford, so when I heard she was doing it again this year I wanted to jump in and help out too.  I spent a few hours going through my stack of Stampin' Up! card swap fronts to find ones that would make "good sellers" and made them into full cards, packaging them in cello wrappers and sending them off with some breast cancer stickers and other goodies.  Kathryn was delighted to receive the package from me and sent me this wonderful appreciation gift, along with the fantastic news that the Kathryn's Girls Afternoon had raised $969.00+ for the Cancer Council as a result of their card sales and donations.  Isn't that fantastic???  

Congratulations Kathryn...........you go girl!  And thank's for the appreciation gift, which I'm now going to share.  Fabulous card, and love the chocolate bar wrapper so much!!!!

This is a Lindt Dark Chocolate Bar...........mmmmmmmmmmm yum!  hidden beneath this clever little cover.  I'm tempted to eat it cause I love dark chocolate, but I don't want to take it out of the wrapper!  Talk about diet control!

Isn't this card fabulous.  I think I'm going to case it for one of my Christmas designs. 

We ate the chocolate bar before I had time to take a photo
and it was delish.........................YUMMY!!!!

Okay my second surprise of the week came from our lovely neighbors Linda and Barry who arrived for my Wednesday night dinner party with a surprise hostess gift.  How thoughtful and how exciting!  They filled the bag with goodies that my mom, who was visiting, and I would enjoy during this snowy weather spell..........hot chocolate, winter tea, some great napkins and a to die for Milean's Demerara Butter Crunch White European Chocolate Bar (local choclatier). Yum, Yum!!!  What lovely gifts!



Now I have to tell you I would have been totally happy to have received just this gift bag........ and that's the truth.  I just found it totally awesome and couldn't take my eyes off it.  Isn't it amazing?


Here's a closeup of that deer.  He's so stunning..............covered in glitter (Dazzling Diamonds or Irridescent Ice Comes to mind) and I love the Baroque Motif styled swirls in the background in the gold and white.  Just beautiful.  Here's a closer view.

I also loved this little Tea Box with it's Jolly old snowman!  Isn't this a cute idea. 

Well now I have to go and spend some time in my studio seeing if I can use these ideas........................  see you!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

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Northern Flurry Spinner Card

Recently I've been looking at some cards that featured "spinner" designs and I thought it would be fun to try out this technique for a magical Christmas card.

Since I love snowflakes I decided to combine one of my favourite ones from a retired stamp set called Holiday Collection and the Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Whisper White and Bashful Blue cardstocks provide the perfect winter backdrop for this design. 

Two snowflakes are stamped in Bashful Blue ink, punched out with the 1 3/4" circle punch, and glued together so the design is the same for both the inside and outside of the card.  Before I glued the circles together, I used a versamark pen to go over the design and dusted it with heat and stick powder, and then lightly heated the heat and stick powder with my heat gun and coated the snowflakes with dazzling diamonds.  I glued a piece of very fine fishing line, about six inches long, between the two snowflakes.  Some basic rhinestones completed the effect. 

Finished Card Front

Inside view of the card and sentiment