Time for the Red & Pink

I was a bit tired of Christmas cards, so this week I finally got to pull out my new products from the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog!   I paired my new products with the sketch from Mojo Monday and here was what I came up with.  I had been wanting to try the emboss resist technique FOREVER and finally did it!    Now if I can only learn to tie a bow!

Stamps: Valentine Defined
Paper: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Love Patterns DSP
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Other: Pretty in Pink 1/8" taffeta ribbon, white embossing powder
Tools: Modern Label punch, brayer, embossing tool

For Mojo Monday Sketch 171: http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/12/mojo-monday-171.html

Christmas, Christmas

Here are a couple of cards that I made this week.   I don't love either of them, but it did feel good to get back in my room and stamp.   I was a bit let down from the results of my craft fair, so I took some time off to feel sorry for myself and mope around the house.   I finally shed the negative attitude this week and straightened up my room and stamped.    Hopefully my mojo will come back soon and I can be making cards that I actually LOVE again.    :)

Guess who got a new toy?

I was going to buy myself My Digital Studio for my birthday, but thankfully Stampin' Up! had a Thanksgiving sale and I snagged it for 50% off then!   I was so excited when it got here this week and spent the whole day making a calendar for my brother.   I took so many pictures of his dogs while we were together in October and it was great to turn them into a gift for him.    Do you think he'll like it?   I know I do and they aren't even my pets!  

Decor Elements....take three!

Here is another take on making Christmas decorations with the Decor Elements.   I purchased a small shadowbox from IKEA, added a DE, some designer paper, bells, and a bit of ribbon!   It took me less than 20 minutes and I think it is awesome!  

More Craft Fair stuff...

Here is my collection of the Hershey pull candy.   I think they make adorable stocking stuffers!    I had a blast making all of them; I think I did 14 in all.

Fun things to do with Decor Elements

What do you think of my new Christmas decoration?   Well, it might be mine if it doesn't sell at my craft fair this weekend.   I love it, so I won't be too sad if I end up stuck with it.   It's such a easy project that looks like it might have taken loads of time.  

Did you notice the ribbon?   It was some I scored in the Clearance Rack Blitz and it rocks!

Christmas Cards by Mail!

As a new service, I'll now be offering kits by mail to help friends and family who aren't able to make it to my local classes.   Part of November's kit is pictured above; in addition to the 4 cards pictured, you'll also receive supplies to make 2 bonus projects!    The cost of the kit, including shipping, is only $20!

The kit will include instructions and all card stock, designer paper, and ribbon needed to complete the projects.    You will need to supply your own stamp set and inks.   I will be more than happy to put in an order for you for the supplies and mail them and your kit out together or you can order online and SU will ship your supplies and I will mail your kit.

Supplies Needed:
Olive Olive Classic Ink Pad (102277) $5.95, Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink Pad (119669) $5.95, Contempo Christmas stamp set, clear (120594) $11.95  wood (118734) $15.95, Old Olive Marker (100079) $3.50, Cherry Cobbler Marker (119681) $3.50

Another great option for this kit is Stampin' Up!'s current promotion, Handmade Holidays, where you can purchase the Contempo Christmas stamp set and Jolly Holiday designer paper in a bundle for 20% off!
Contempo Christmas Clear Mount Bundle (124072) $17.52
Contempo Christmas Wood Mount Bundle (124071) $20.72

I will be taking orders for the kits and/or supplies until November 22nd; the kits will ship out approximately 1 week after the order deadline.   Contact me today to get your kits reserved!

More Craft Fair stuff...

 I finally finished off my tile coasters and got them all packaged up and ready to sell.   I think they turned out great!   I <3 Circle Circus!  

I made up a couple of card kits for the kids because I would hate to leave anyone out.  I love how they turned out and I am probably going to make up a few more before my next attempt at an event.   This project was one that was easier for boys than girls!   That rarely happens as I find masculine/boy things difficult to come up with, but this was so easy!

OMG! I love it!

When I saw this sticky note holder I HAD to make one for myself!   Isn't it adorable??   It is my new favorite project and I am totally keeping it for myself!  :)  

Bookmarks

It feels like forever since I sat down and made a card and today is no different!  I tried this tutorial today and here is what I came up with.   They have to dry for a while so I can't embellish them with some ribbon until tomorrow.   I don't think I'll get all the glue off my hands before then either.  :)     Not sure if I love them yet, but they might grow on me.  :)  

Projects from the past few days....

 Sorry about the bad pictures.   I worked pretty much all of the daylight hours today and didn't have any sunlight to help with the photos.    How cute is this snowman Tic Tac holder?   Love it!

 I made up a couple of sets of my lunch box notes using Fox & Friends.   Can you imagine the look on a child's face when they open up their lunch box and find a cute card from mom or dad?    Priceless!   Having been though the loss of a child and looking at the prospect of not being a parent again,  I know how important it is that your child knows how loved and appreciated they are.   Be sure you take a minute to tell them today...and tomorrow...and every day!

Here are a couple more tea bag holders that I made up this week.   Very cute stocking stuffer or gift to go along with a gift card.  

Fancy favor boxes make adorable hostess gifts!   I filled this fall-themed one with some yummy chocolate!

Catching up....

 Here is one of the first projects I made this weekend.   I had never stamped on tiles before, but I saw a set made with this cool stamp set and just had to try it.   I love Circle Circus!   Add in some tiles and Staz-On and wow!   This will be one of the projects we make at my gifts class next month...with a matching card of course!  :)

 Here is a fall version of the Hershey candy slider.   I think French Foliage is one of my new favorite sets because you can do so much with it!  

 Here is a Christmas version of the Hershey candy slider.   I used two of our awesome Christmas designer papers for these and I think they turned out so great!

 Here is a little something different.   I was sick most of last week and a little down in the dumps.  I think someone giving me a little treat like this would have been a great pick-me-up.   I plan on making them up in a variety of occasions for my vendor fair!

 Here are two of the cards for my Christmas card class and those going with the Candy Cane Christmas option.   They were CASED from some cards I found on Stampin' Connection and Splitcoast.

Christmas Card Class

Ready to get those holiday cards made for the year?  Come by and make your choice of 8 cards (2 each of 4 designs) and a decorative box to hold them!   If you purchase one of the promotional bundles before or on the day of the class, you get free envelopes with your cards!   If you do not wish to purchase a bundle, envelopes will be available for an additional $2.  

All supplies will be provided, but if you prefer an adhesive other than glue sticks, please bring it with you. Cost is $25 and includes light refreshments.  Please RSVP and submit payment at least 3 days before the event and indicate if you would prefer the Jolly Holiday or Candy Cane set.  

Dates and times are as follows:  

Thursday November 4th from 11am to 1 pm

Friday November 5th from 6 pm to 9 pm

Stay tuned for pictures of the Candy Cane set!  :)

Workshop #1

Here are some pictures from my first real workshop!    I had a blast doing one for my very sweet cousin Kelly while we were on vacation in Kentucky.  Here is my display table with my poster and lots of projects and ideas.

Little bit of a close-up...

And another...  (Everyone loved the swaps I received at Regionals!  Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to swap with me!)

Kelly did an amazing job with the food.   I felt so spoiled and I know her guests did as well.

Doesn't that all look yummy?

3 boxes of goodies!

Look at all that stuff!   I know everyone will have a blast with all their new goodies!

More Gift Card Holder Ideas

 Another set of gift card holders.  This one uses the Northern Hearts hostess set from the 2010 Holiday Mini. It doesn't show up in the picture, but the white strips of card stock under the stamped image have been run through the Big Shot with the Northern Trim letterpress plate.

Here is another type of gift card holder that I found on Andrea Walford's blog.   (I love her style and creativity so I frequent her blog regularly for ideas.)   It uses the Top Note Die and swivels on a brad to open and close.   The stamp set is retired, but there are always current ones with snowman images you could substitute.   I am a bit of a snowman freak, so I have quite a few old sets that I just can't part with.    

I have one more style of gift card holders to show you tomorrow and then we'll move on to some new ideas for the holiday!   Stay tuned!

Gift Card Holders take 2!

 

I decided to try a different type of gift card holder today.   I pulled out my new A Cute Christmas stamp set and went to work.   I like this design better than the one I made yesterday.   I LOVE ribbon, so that addition just makes it seem nicer to me.   The in-color ribbon is AWESOME and I hope they will make it in the core colors later.  

Today's Project: Gift Card Holder

A major gift-giving holiday is coming up (I don't want to mention any names for fear of starting a shopping panic) and I wanted to start focusing on a few ideas for gifts.   We end up purchasing quite a few gift cards, which seem like a pretty boring gift to give.   I decided to find a better way to give them and found this tutorial by Andrea Walford.   I love it!   It makes the gift seem a bit more personal and I like that.    I can't wait to make more for birthdays, Christmas, Just Because...the possibilities are endless!  

Reorganization and a new project!

 I really wanted to get my room more organized, so today we did a run to IKEA and Target and here are a few pictures of my new stuff.   I looked at a lot of stamp rooms online and tried to pick out some of the things that were in my budget right now.   I got this shoe organizer at Target to hang on the door and store my punches in.    It works great and was only $7.99!

 Here's my bar and baskets we found at IKEA.   They were very inexpensive and work great for storing the older style punches.   The baskets work wonderfully for ribbon and adhesives.  Now I have a ton of my desk space back!

 Below is my old Target shelf that I decided to use to store my stamps and dies.   

 Finally, here is my project for today.   I borrowed a crimper from my friend Rebecca just so I could try out these cute favors.   I did a few Halloween ones tonight, but they work great for any occasion.  

Just a shout out and special thanks to my cousin Kelly for having a great workshop while I was home in Kentucky visiting my folks.   It was such a pleasure to spend some time with her and her great friends.   That's what Stampin' Up! is all about...sharing what we love!

Let it snow...

We finally got some cooler weather here in Texas this week so I pulled out some Christmas stamps and worked on an idea I got from my upline.   I love embossing folders and this one was a blast to play with.  I think I will do it again in red because I'd love to add my red satin ribbon to the top.  

Stamps:  Northern Hearts, Contempo Christmas
Ink:  Versamark, Night of Navy
Tools:  Northern Flurry embossing folder, heat tool
Other:  silver embossing folder, very vanilla ribbon