This is my little creative get away spot in a very hectic world. I love to stamp, meet other stampers and share my inspirations. So come and, sit for a while, explore my site and leave a comment when you can.
What's the Problem? For the past few weeks I've been experiencing problems accessing my Blogger Account, my ability to post to my Penny Tokens Blog site, Stampin' Connection and a few other sites I use. I've been techno-challenged! How frustrating it's been! I wanted to start the New Year off with some exciting new blog posts, but nothing was simple. For example, I'd spend hours trying to compose a new post. Blogger would freeze as I typed and I'd have to wait in between each word. As well, I couldn't access the picture Icon to download pictures from my browser and could only rely on what was stored in Picassa. And, even after following a suggestion to used HTML mode to add pictures, the post would be corrupted and the paragraphs and photos would bounce all over the page. Grrrrrrrrrh! Asking for Help: I know I haven't been alone with this problem. When I put a call-out for help on theLate Night Stamper Forum several stampers advised they've been having similar problems. It's awesome being part of Late Night Stampers as the advice I received was almost instantly forthcoming and it was good solid information I could act on. Unfortunately I did not have a similar experience in trying to access and receive help for these issues from Blogger's help forum. Solution and Success! So if you've hung in with me this far I've got some good news, at least from my point of view. After trying several methods to recover my blogging access I was able to finally fix the problem by upgrading my browser from IE to Google Chrome. So far so good but my fingers are crossed. This week I'll be catching up with posts that should have been out a weeks or so ago. Please bear with me as I catch up. Thank you.
January is off to a good start with Stampin' Ups! "For You With Love" Valentine Promotions.
Bundle No. 1: From January 3 to 21st you will get a FREE Sealed With Love Simply Sent Kit when you buy the exclusive clear mount My Little Valentine Set.
This four-stamp set was created exclusively for this promotion and will not be available after January 21st. At $11.95 this great little set offers every valentine sentiment you need to share your love with those you care about!
There's no limit on the number of My Little Valentine sets you can order and for each one ordered you'll get a free Sealed With Love Simply Sent Kit. These would make great gifts! To get the promotion pricing using Order #132242.
Send
your love Simply Sent Kit makes 10 acid free love notes. This kit is a $9.95 value and includes 10 notecards: 5 ea. of 2 designs; 3-3/8" x 4-9/16".
10 double-sided envelopes: 4-3/4" x 3-7/16". 20 printed paper buttons.
10 pieces Whisper White/Real Red Baker's Twine: ea. 10" (color exclusive
to this kit). 24 Stampin' Dimensionals. Note: US Postal Service cannot
process or deliver. Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Real Red, Very Vanilla,
and Whisper White.
Bundle No. 2: VALENTINE TREAT
BUNDLE This special bundle
offer contains the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp (coordinates
with the Stampin' Up! Full Heart Punch, #119883 which is NOT included in the
bundle) and a package of 1" x 8" cellophane bags.
There's no limit on the
number of bundles you can order! The Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp and
bundle deal are ONLY available through Jan. 21. To get the bundle pricing, use
item #132771.
To order your Valentine Bundle specials simply visit my Stampin' Up! Website. Click here:
I love receiving cards in the mail, and Christmas time is just the best time of year for this particular treat!
Although I love all the cards that arrive, my heart understandably beats faster when I open the mail box and there's an envelope from one of my stampin' friends. I can't wait to get home and check out the treasure within . Here are some of the awesome cards I received in this year's Southern batch. I know you'll love them as much as I did.
Joni Metras sent me this beautiful card which features a telescope ink technique which is just jaw dropping! Joni's card was the first to arrive in my mail box as part of a Pre-Christmas Technique card swap that she organized for our Cal Am Convention Girls group. I was and still am blown away by this card which looks so awesome in real life...... the picture doesn't do it justice asthe blend of colours fairly dance off the page. Awesome card Joni!
Lighted Easel card
Diane Ison sent me an exceptionally beautiful easel card for our Cal Am Convention Girls Pre-Christmas technique card swap. This easel card was fabulous just as it was, but Diane added a special twist for her technique. She made this card into a luminary by adding a velum window where the big snowflake is stamped. I kept this on display with a battery operated candle adding cheery little light in the background. All my guests oohed and awed when they saw it.
Adel Klassen from my Cal Am Convention Girls group created a beautiful textured card for our card swap using the Coredinations Early Espresso Designer Card Stock and the Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set. She did a Shaving Cream Technique card to go with the swap.
My wonderful and uber talented sister Heather created this delightful card for me using the Textured Impressions Holiday Frames Embossing Folder and the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set andmatching framelits (available as a carry over in the Spring Mini Catalogue). As you can see from the closeup shot she added some cute detail to the top of the ornament with a little bird die cut from the Silver Glimmer Paper and some leaves from the Little Leaves Sizzlet die cut.
A dear friend, Betty Lee, created this beautiful card featuring the glorious tree and vintage sentiment from the Christmas Lodge stamp set. Although you can't see it clearly in this picture the sentiment is embossed in Gold embossing powder and the gorgeous double scallop trim was achieved by layering a piece of brushed gold and certainly celery cardstocks that had been punched out with the Scallop Edge Border Punch and then offset in layers. Very clever and oh so pretty!
This beauty from Jan Meyns took my breath away! She embossed a piece of metal foil with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder from the now retired holiday mini catalogue. Simply awesome. A Champagne and Silver Glimmer paper snowflake cut with the Bigz Snow Flurry Die Cut adds to the dazzle on this card.
Now that the holiday season is behind us we can look forward with anticipation to Spring! One great way to do that is to check out Stampin' Ups! just released Spring Catalogue. If you haven't received a copy check out this on-line PDF.
Here's how you can get your own free copy of all Stampin' Ups! catalogues:
Place an on-line, workshop or individual order with me (minimum $25.00) at least once a year and you will be added to my catalogue mail out program.
Host a workshop and you are eligible for this free catalogue program.
The Clearance Rack has been updated with over 300 new items! Check it out today. Just shop at my Clearance Rack Online Store and receive discounts of up to 80% off retail prices! And for the first time ever, STAMPS are included at up to 40% off!
Feel free to order both Clearance Rack and non-Clearance Rack items on the same order-we're flexible like that.
There's no minimum purchase required to participate in this special offer.
Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin' Rewards. Bonus!
Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last-so
don't wait! And sorry, but there are no refunds or exchanges on
Clearance Rack items.
On Friday I participated with my downline Ethel DeTemple in a Christmas Craft Fair at our local hospital. The Craft Fair was a fund raiser for the United Way Campaign and was quite a lot of fun with lots of different types of vendors and activities going on for the hospital staff and customers.
When Ethel invited me to participate I thought why not, this could be fun. Little did I know how difficult it would be to prepare for this event with only a week lead time. I had a lot of things on my plate and had to fit working on my projects in between all the other tasks I had on the go. Running out of creative time and energy I was very thankful for all the great craft item samples on Late Night Stampers, Pinterest, Stampin' Connection and Split Coast Stampers. I was able to find some simple and fun ideas to case.
My Table Set Up:
I had a small table, thank goodness, so all my merchandise managed to cover it. It wasn't until I began to unpack my things that I realized I'd forgotten a container that held my table cloth, price tags, scissors and other accessories and display stands. It was too late to go home and get it, so I just went ahead and set up, and even though it wasn't a pretty setup, life went on and it still worked. I've filed that oversight under "lessons learned" ..what happens when you rush! LOL!
Snowmen Treats:
I made several bags of these snowmen and they were a big hit. In fact I sold them faster than I expected. These little stocking stuffers were super fast to assemble. Just click on this great video by Diane Marie Chianelli to see how quick and easy they are to make.
The snowman shape is accomplished by punching out 6 scallop circles using the 1 3/8" scallop punch from bashful blue cardstock. These were adhered to a wrapped peppermint pattie with glue dots. Because I didn't have the stamp set Diane used to create the Snowman's face, I changed mine up by using Basic Rhinestones coloured with a Sharpie Marker for the eyes and mouth, and I cut out a nose from Pumpkin Pie card stock using my old large star punch (retired). They were so cute!
Snow Flake Pictures:
I used picture frames to show case the lovely new Bigz Snow Flurry Die Cut. These simple black and white frames were purchased from the local Dollar Store and were a great design. I cut a 5 x 5 square of Shimmery White Card stock for the opening,embossed it with the Fancy Fan Embossing folder and then mounted a layered snowflake that was cut from Champagne and Silver Glimmer Paper. I used large clear faceted buttons with a pearl mounted in the center for the center accent piece. For stability I assembled all pieces using my glue gun.
Gingerbread Treat Jars:
When I was at Cheryl Lefore's Stamp Club in November I spotted a cute little treat jar made by Martha Gusman for a gift exchange. It was so dang cute, I just had to CASE it. I changed up a few things on this one too, just to make it mine.
I was lucky to find the same jars at the Dollar Store. They were 2 for $1.25. I filled mine with Christmas M&Ms and Jelly Beans. The cute little mug is double cut and mounted with dimensionals, and the Gingerbread Man is from the Scentsational Season Bundle stamp set and cut out with the matching framelits. I embossed my Gingerbread Man with the Early Espresso Embossing Powder and it turned out really cute. The mug is stamped in Real Red ink and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The cute little Christmas Stocking is from the "Snow Much Fun" stamp set and is fussy cut by hand and coloured with Real Red and Olive Green markers. A little glitter was added with the cherry cobbler and dazzling details glimmer adhesive. These little jars were very cute and easy to make.
The original by Martha Gusman.
Two Tag Snowman Candy Holder:
These super cute snowmen were made using the Bigz Two Tag Die Cut from Stampin' Up. Cut two 3 x 4" pieces of Whisper White Card Stock, layer them on the tag die and run through the Big shot Machine. Score 1/2" from the bottom of each tag and fold. Add a small strip of sticky strip on the inside fold of one tag and then adhere the second tag fold over top of that. The hat was made by punching out Basic Black cardstock with the Curly and Modern Label punches. Some Whisper White ink was sponged around the Hat to give it some dimension and a small flower punched from Red Glimmer paper was added for some fun. The eyes and belly stones are Basic Rhinestones coloured with a Black Sharpie Marker.
Side View of the Chocolate Santa nestled between the two tags.
I also sold a number of retired stamp sets and All Occasion and Christmas Cards.
