Monday, December 28, 2009

Snowman Soup


Just a quick post today.  This is the card I made for my grandson for Christmas.  Inside is the Snowman Soup poem with a packet of instant cocoa and a peppermint stick for stirring.  That's the new Perfect Polka-Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder that Stampin' Up! is releasing in the new Occasions Mini Catalog (starts Jan. 5th).  Isn't it mah-velous?

The SU embossing folders are so superior to anything else I've found.  They emboss an ENTIRE A2 card front!  Yup, the whole 4¼" x 5½".

Since I'm going in for surgery later today, I won't be posting again until Friday, when the Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Blog Tour starts.  Be sure to check back then!!!

Friday, December 18, 2009

O Holy Night


That is my all-time favorite Christmas carol!  It brings me to tears, when sung with the reverence it deserves (Can you tell I'm not too fond of more modern versions?  Two or three divas come to mind...trilling all over the place, which sounds like they're trying to find the right note. I'm not impressed with your vocal range, sweeties!) 

Anyhoo, this is the card I CASEd from Maria Bell's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog.  I just love the richness of the colors, and the tenderness of the image.  The spotlight technique really makes the highlighted part special, don't you think?

I didn't have a stamp for the sentiment, so I just printed it off the computer onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  (That's the Monotype Corsiva font.)  Also, I tried the card with the Stampin' Up! Brushed Gold, but it was too muted for the look I wanted, so I used a brighter gold foil cardstock I had on hand.  The image was colored with Copic markers. 

Stamp: Holy Triptych
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, gold foil
Ink: VersaMark, Bravo Burgundy, Copic Sketch markers
Accessories/Tools: Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Punch Windows die, Finial Press Textured Impressions die, gold organza ribbon

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Spreading Love




I saw this on Kerry's blog, Three Clovers Designs, and feel it is worth sharing here:

*****************************************

This is Ethan. Ethan is 7 years old. He has neuroblastoma (cancer). And it is spreading.
Ethan is the cousin of my best friend, Kristen. You can read his entire story on her blog.

Ethan also has an older sister named Sierra who who worries about him and takes such good care of him.

Both Ethan and Sierra love to get mail. Do you have an extra card or even two that you can send them this Holiday Season? It doesn't have to be a handmade card. It would really make their day!!!

Ethan & Sierra's mailing info:
Ethan & Sierra Smith
27 Donna Street
Nashua, NH 03060

Please feel free to share their story. Help us spread the love!!

Thank you and God Bless.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Challenge Winner!

I almost forgot to pick a winner for last week's challenge (use those scraps).  Sally, you were # 2, so I will send your paper pack out in Monday's mail!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
2
Timestamp: 2009-12-12 22:00:07 UTC

I'll be starting the Friday challenges again after the first of the year, since I'm up to my neck in holiday stuff right now.  Anyone have an idea of what I should call them?  Friday Frenzy Challenge?  Fab Friday Challenge?  TGIF Challenge?  I'm open to suggestions!

Friday, December 11, 2009

12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY SALES!


Stampin' Up! is having 12 Days of Holiday Sales! Find great deals on Big Shot dies and select Big Shot supplies—December 11-22 only! The sale begins Friday, December 11, 2009, 12:01 AM (MT), and ends Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 11:50 PM (MT). Visit my Online Store to find great deals today. Clicking on the logo above will take you to the sale items!

Monday, December 7, 2009

December Swaps


I hope you all enjoyed the Dormant Retiring Blog Hop this weekend.  There were some amazing creations from some very talented ladies!!!  I'm looking forward to the next hop in January, featuring goodies from the new Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs coming out.  Woohoo!


This past Saturday was the stampin' club meeting and card swap.  The theme for December was "Time", and I gotta tell ya, that one REALLY gave me trouble.  I have the Sense of Time stamp set, but didn't want to just stamp the clock and sentiment - too plain. 


The Designer Label Punch has always reminded me of a watch case, but I couldn't figure out how to make the watch face to fit it, not having a stamp that small.  My upline, Rosalie, came to the rescue and suggested finding an image of a watch face online and printing it out.  Duh!  I never would have thought of that; I was stuck in stamp mode.


After finding the image I wanted to use, it was easy to re-size it to fit the 1" Circle Punch.  I also punched a piece of acetate to imitate the crystal covering the face.  Crystal effects was the glue that held the face to the crystal.  I don't know if you can see it, but there is a silver brad glued sideways at the side to look like the winding stem.  Anyway, I'm please with the way it turned out.  It's not your ordinary chronometer. :-)


Off topic: Please pray for my mom and her husband. They were involved in a rollover accident yesterday, and she has a concussion (for the third time in two months) and he has broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

WELCOME TO THE HOP!


I'm so glad you stopped by for the Stampin'Addicts Retiring Dormant List Blog Hop today! Stampin' Up! has issued notice of the stamp sets on the Dormant list that will be retiring on January 4th, so some of the very talented ladies at Stampin' Addicts put together this hop showcasing TEN of the stamp sets that will be going, going, gone!  I am honored to be a part of the hop! :-D  All the links should be up and running by noon Eastern today, and will run through tomorrow (Sunday), so be sure to tell your stampin' friends to check it out!

This stamp set is called 'Ocean Commotion', and is perfect for the summer, beach, fishing, fish bowls, etc.  You can even use the swirl for other porpoises, I mean purposes - it looks almost Victorian, doesn't it?

It's a four piece set which includes the swirl and the conch shell.  You don't see the shell (get it, sea shell)?  Look closely at the bottom in the water.  I stamped it on a clear acetate sheet using StazOn Cotton White ink, then cut it out and added it to the water along with some green micro beads.

If you're following the hop in order, you just visited Yapha's blog, and saw her magic using the 'Man's Best Friend' stamp set.  Next on the hop is Kim's blog, Stitchin n Stampin' on Paper, where she will be knocking your socks off with the 'Quilt Quips' stamp set!  If you just stumbled into the middle of the hop, you can keep going until you end up back here, or click on the blog hop logo on the upper right to go to the first stop.

Thanks for coming by today!  Remember, any of these stamp sets are still available from any Stampin' Up! independent demonstrator (including me). ;-)  But after January 4th, they'll be gone!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Challenge Winner and a New Challenge!

Congratulations to Krystal for winning last week's challenge.  Random.org chose #2 out of the 6 entries, and your first card was number 2 (Sally posted the first card in the comments section).  So, email your address, Krystal, so I can send the paper pack!

Today's challenge is to use up some of those paper scraps you have hanging around.  Come on, you know you have them, and they're threatening to take over your craft space!  I know I have lots of scraps that I obsessive compulsively hoard frugally save. :-p

So, here is my card, using scraps of Merry Moments Designer Series Paper.  I love all of it, and just can't bear to part with any little piece.  Making a patchwork card is a good way to use those scraps!  With the exception of the Very Vanilla card base and the Chocolate Chip mat, ALL of the rest of the card was made using scraps.

Let's see what you can come up with!  Use Mr. Linky to link to your creation.  If he's being temperamental, post a comment with the link.  The challenge will run until next Friday, Dec. 11th.  You can post as many cards as you can create.  Just remember - you must use your scraps!

Reminder - tomorrow is the Stampin' Addicts Dormant Retired blog hop!  You'll be able to click on the logo on the upper right to go to the beginning of the hop.  Hope to see you hopping!

Stamp: Sentiment from Snow Swirled
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke
DP: Merry Moments DSP
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories/Tools: Real Red ¼" Grosgrain Ribbon, Sizzlets Little Leaves die, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Pearls from the Pretties Kit

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Christmas Post



I finally got out this stamp set and inked it up for the first time.  The push is on to get all my Christmas cards finished by next Wednesday and get them mailed.  No flaking out this year and sending them the day after Christmas!  (Woohoo!)

Since I'm in a bit of a rush*, I decided not to color the image, so I stamped it in Old Olive to match the ribbon.  See that little strip of DP down the left side of the card?  That's the scrap that is left over after you use your border punch.  Don't throw those away!  They make nice little accent pieces.  (Heads-up: Tomorrow's challenge involves using your scraps!) 

* Son's b.day card, finish Christmas cards, make cards for this weekend's blog hop, make cards for card swap at club meeting day after tomorrow, make gifts and Christmas cards for club members, make Christmas presents for family members, making anniversary cards for mom and hubby, and daughter-in-law's parents.  I'd be okay if that pesky need for sleep didn't get in the way, lol!

Stamps: Winter Post, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
DP: Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
Ink: Old Olive Classic
Accessories/Tools: Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Dormant Stamp Sets Discontinued in January

These stamps sets are still available, but have been on the dormant list for the past year.  Stampin' Up! has just announced that as of January 4, 2010, they will be retired.  As in, no longer available.  Gone with the wind.  If you want them, now is the time to get 'em!  Or you can wait, and when you figure out that you really did want one of them, pay an outrageous price on ebay.  I'm just sayin'........  ;-)