Mini Scrapbooks

I promised I would show you some of the things I have been working on for the upcoming craft fair. One of my favourite things to make is a mini scrapbook - they are fun, easy, relatively fast, and make a great gift or keepsake.

Here are the styles I am making for the craft fair:

I used Simply Scrappin' Kits to decorate these scrapbooks, and you can decorate 3 scrapbooks from them easily - two can be the same and the third will be using up the extras.

This one uses the Christmas Cheer Simply Scrappin Kit:

The baby ones feature the Nursery Suite Quick Accents and the Nursery Suite Specialty paper:

If you are interested in coming to a class or purchasing a kit to make these mini scrapbooks please leave a message at the bottom of this post, or send me an email.

Thanks for visiting!!

Polls, Surveys, and Getting to Know You

Hello again - I know, I've been 'missing in action' but I've been getting ready for a big craft fair here in the Truro area - the Festive Craft Market held at the Langille Athletic Centre at NSAC (Nova Scotia Agricultural College). And I will be showing you some of the projects I've been working on for that in the next few days leading up to it (November 13 and 14)

But in the meantime I want to get to know you better. We've already talked about the Birthday Club, and if you haven't sent me an email with your birthday month, do it soon!

So look to the left...I have a Poll!! Just click on the answer that is closest to what you do and we'll see the statistics pile up (I hope!) It's all anonymous too. I'll be changing the poll on a bi-weekly basis and keeping the info here for all to see.

Also - you should have received your Christmas Wish List if you've signed up for my newsletter (sign up in  the column on the right), and I hope you've started to fill it out!! When you send it back to me I'll get in touch with your Santa and I'll make sure it's a fun Christmas for both of you!!

AND today is the day you will receive your Fourth Week of Christmas bulletin (if you've signed up for my newsletter it comes to you automatically, so sign up now!) Which means, are you ready, there are only Eight Weeks left until Christmas!

Finally, just so we're on even ground, I will tell you my birthday month - it's December, the 25th to be exact. Which maybe explains why I'm such a nut about Christmas!

Now, so that you can have a peak at some of the things I've been up to, here's a scrapbook page...

This uses a sheet from the Deck the Halls DSP in the Holiday Mini, plus  a bit of accent in Cherry Cobbler for matting and the Swirly Sizzlit Decorative Strip Die.

What! You don't have a catalogue or a mini?! Well you can go to my Stampin' Up! Store and see them right now!

Enjoy!

For All You Do

Here is a card using one of our most versatile stamp sets For All You Do. I've only used three of the ten stamps in the set, along with Lap of Luxury DSP.

The base cardstock is Naturals White, and the contrasting dark colour is Basic Gray. The smaller white pieces are Whisper White. Of course I also used my favourite punch Scallop Trim Border. The inks are Basic Gray and Pretty in Pink. And the butterfly has a segmented body of pearls from our Basic Pearls Package. I even added a bit of paper piercing!

This is an easy layout that looks good, and as you can see you can add bits here and there that really notch it up!

Hope you like it! If you do leave me a note (I love reading your notes!!)

ASI Team Meeting

We had our Atlantic Stampers Ink quarterly meeting over the weekend. What fun! It's so great to get together with everyone and share ideas. Creativity is at an all time high and we come away re-energized and happy. (If you think you might like to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, read about our team on the link above. We'd love to have you join us!)

So here are some of the projects that we made and shared:

Don't you just wish you could have been here too?!

First Maree got us to made quick and easy ornaments using the Scallop Circle punch and DSP, and the bead at the top just gives it that extra bit of pizazz!

Linda impressed us with the emboss resist technique. Aren't those colours beautiful:

Then it was my turn and I showed how to use our Frost White Shimmer Paint to create a 'Mother of Pearl' look on Glossy White cardstock:

 

Sandi showed us how to make the cutest little book to hold tea bags, or chocolate, or other things that fit...

Plus this totally adorable memo pad:

AND this tea light holder using aluminum flashing, the Big Shot, and the Snowflake die:

There were more ideas too but unfortunately I don't have photos of them all!
Thanks Ladies for being such wonderful inspirations!

MORE OCTOBER EXCITEMENT - STAMPIN' UP! BUNDLES

20% OFF!

From October 19-December 16, 2010 ONLY

HOLIDAY PRODUCT BUNDLES

Vintage Christmas Bundle #124067 wood $29.96
Vintage Christmas Bundle #124068 clear $24.36
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Contempo Christmas Card Bundle #124071 wood $25.96
Contempo Christmas Card Bundle #124072 clear $21.95
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Tags Til Christmas Bundle #124077 wood $49.52
Tags Til Christmas Bundle #124078 clear $41.52
_____________________________________________________________________

Gift Packaging Bundle #124083 wood $31.92
Gift Packaging Bundle #124084 clear $24.72
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Simply Adorned Gift Bundle #124076 $52.32
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Frame Gift Bundle #124075 $23.12

If you would like to take advantage of any of these great specials, you can order on-line at my Stampin' Up! Store or contact me.

The Royal Blog Tour Jester Game

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
By Royal decree, Jasper Jester has been appointed to bring you some fun and entertainment preceding the Royal Blog Tour. Get thee quills and ink, put on your thinking caps, and click on this link to follow the Jester's game!

Have fun!

More Bells & Boughs

I love the 'old fashioned' Christmas...or at least the illusion it presents! So of course, Bells & Boughs is one of my favourite sets. I've used it again in this card, which showcases the bells:

I added the Crystal Effects again to give the bells some shine.

The DSP is Jolly Holiday and I ran it through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

I'm doing a Craft Fair in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia tomorrow - maybe I'll see you there! I will have photos of what I'm taking tomorrow!

New Digital Downloads for My Digital Studio

And they are beautiful!

Of course I couldn't resist the Deck the Halls kit!! (Resist is not in my vocabulary!!) And this is what I made with it today:

I opened My Digital Studio, pulled up the Christmas Collage stamp - resized it to fit a card, printed it on Very Vanilla in River Rock. Then I coloured in parts of the image. Punched a 1 3/4" circle from River Rock. Cut the 25 using the Big Shot and Timeless Type Junior Alphabet. The mat is Cherry Cobbler (also the 25, coloured berries and poinsettias, and the 'Merry Christmas' from Teeny Tiny Wishes) The scallop border along the bottom was punched with the Scallop Border punch using Old Olive Cardstock. The basic card stock is River Rock.

There are so many things you can do with the My Digital Studio software, it is a complete package that allows you to make digital scrapbooks (with audio & video), cards, calendars, and more! If you already have digital scrapbook software the MDS downloads are probably compatible! I hope to show you more samples soon!

If you have any questions about MDS (My Digital Studio) be sure to contact me!

I'm A Princess!

You've probably noticed the logo on the right hand column of my blog - it means I am a princess (participant) in The Royal Blog Tour taking place November 5th to November 8th, 2010. Be sure to mark it on your calendar because it is going to be one awesome blog hop! There will be 78 blogs to visit - yes! But you will have four days to view them all. And it will be worth it. Each blog will have a different stamp set highlighted, and you're sure to find something you love.....

Now back to stamping! And for your viewing pleasure here are my team's September swap cards. The theme was Christmas in blues and white with some bling.


This is Sandi's card:

This is Maree's card:

And this is Linda's card:

Thanks Ladies, for you great inspiration!
 

DSP Makes It So Easy

When I first started making cards I never used DSP (Designer Series Paper). Then when I became a Demo I thought "I really should give this stuff a try", and I haven't stopped using it since!

First of all it makes it so easy to create an attractive card. It also solves the 'what colours will I use' question - just use the ones in the DSP which look so great together! It adds another layer of dimension than solid colours, plus it's lighter than card stock (something to consider when you are mailing cards.)

Here are a couple of quick and easy cards using the Jolly Holiday DSP (p. 174) and the sentiment from the Bells & Boughs stamp set in the Holiday Mini. I hope you like them!

And of course, if you would like to give Designer Series Paper a try, or your supply is getting low... give me a shout!

Bells & Boughs & Crystal Effects

Bells & Boughs is one of the most popular new Christmas sets, and I couldn't resist it either! Below is a card that I was experimenting with in a few different ways.
1) The Crystal Effects on the bells - which I really like
2) Using the two largest ovals from the Ovals die placed horizontally and vertically to mat the largest circle from the Circles die - which I like
3) Creating a border with the holly stamp from Bells & Boughs - which I'm still working on....

So here it is:

Let me know what you think!
And if you would like supplies to create a card like this, just contact me.

PRIZES FOR YOU AND ME!

Here’s the Scoop, Stampin' Up is offering a contest for Stampin’ Up! demonstrators to see if we can hit a certain number of workshop/party bookings as a group. The grand prize drawing is for a $100 gift certificate--but the sweetest part of the deal is that if we participate and the group hits the goal--All Demonstrators who participated on October 12 will WIN a free stamp set from the Spring Mini! Can't you just see me doing the Happy Dance!

We have only ONE DAY to hit this goal--Tuesday, October 12th. So I'm going to try and call as many people as I can on that day to see if you want to book a workshop in the next few months.

And there are Two Fantastic Reasons & Times to book a Stampin’ Up! Workshop 

1. SALE-A-BRATION PARTIES!!! So start thinking about what days and times would work for you, January 25-March 31!
2. HOLIDAY MINI BUNDLE BLOWOUT-October 19-December 16 -selections of Holiday Mini merchandise that coordinate with each other will be offered together as bundles at a discount! Fall is a great time to get together with friends and have a Stamping Workshop.  School’s back in session and everyone is ready for a time out with friends.

BUT - here's where it gets fun for YOU!
If you call me before Tuesday to book a workshop, I will give you FREE SHIPPING on your personal Hostess order, plus a paper crafting gift that I will make especially for you. This is in addition to the regular Hostess benefits.


We can plan a workshop ideally suited to you and your friends - morning, afternoon, or evening, or even lunch time at work! I will bring samples of cards and scrapbooking items, plus everyone will make their own special card to take home, and we'll have a lot of laughs along the way. All you need to do is provide the chairs and a small snack. I'll help you every step of the way, from invitations to 'good-nights'!



Why wait? Get your preferred date. Call (893-3885) or email me now!

And have a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!

GIFT CARD/TAGS HOLDER

I love this simple little Gift Card/Tag holder, and I hope you will too. It's not my original design and as soon as I search out where I got it I will add it to this post.

 

Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2" x 4 3/4". 

Score and fold at 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 6 3/4", and 7" as shown below:

 

Using two note card envelopes (4 3/8" x 2 7/8"), cut off the flap, use the Extra Wide Oval punch placed half way into the open side of the envelope to punch out a thumb pull. Place two sided tape on the back of the envelopes and attach to the inside of the holder.

Decorate your envelopes with the stamp set of your choice (I used the holly from Bells & Boughs, and the sentiment from Grateful Greetings.) Actually it would probably be better to decorate the envelopes before you attach them to the inside of the holder, but I didn't so I couldn't photograph it that way....

 

To decorate the front of the holder cut a piece of coordinating cardstock to 4 1/2" x 3/4", and coordinating DSP 4 1/4" x 1/2". Center the DSP on the cardstock, glue together, then attach the finished piece to the flap of the holder. Cut another piece of coordinating card stock to 3" x 2 1/2", and Whisper White at 2 3/4" x 2 1/4". Stamp the Whisper White as desired and attach it to the folder on the bottom half only so that the flap will tuck in behind to hold it closed, as shown: 

Quick and easy, great for gifts, or to make for craft fairs. Hope you like it!

BIRTHDAY CLUB

Remember a few posts ago I mentioned starting a Birthday Club for all my customers. Just send me an email with your birthday month and when it rolls around I will have a little gift for you! Why? Because I like you - I haven't met a papercrafter I didn't like!

Now I've received some names but I know there are more of you out there...

September was Krista's birthday month and this is what she received...

 

This is a Fancy Favor bag using the Autumn Spice DSP, and filled with treats - some new, some retired. Every bag will be different - and made especially for you!

So if you order from me, or come to my classes, be sure to send me an email with your birthday month!

CHECK OUT STAMPIN' UP!'S CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ

Clearance Rack Blitz

As you know, the Clearance Rack has been operational for over a year now, and demonstrators and customers alike are finding it a great place to discover discontinued Stampin' Up! merchandise for fantastic prices. Now, from October 5-18, we're adding over two hundred more discontinued items--some at up to 80 percent off--to help us make room in the Distribution Center for new products!

Things to know about the Clearance Rack Blitz:

• Orders for Clearance Rack items can be placed through my Online Store.
• Qualifying orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin' Rewards.
• While the Blitz lasts from October 5-18, some items, depending on availability, may be made available in the Clearance Rack in the future.
• All discontinued items are available only while supplies last.
• All sales of discontinued items are final.

These are all discontinued items and are only available in the Online Store!

If you have any questions just email me!

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

Today is World Teachers Day, and before you do anything else, send a note to a teacher who made a difference in your life, or the life of one of your children. They need to hear it.

Our oldest daughter was a teacher for eight years before she had our second perfect granddaughter (the first one is perfect too!). We are so proud of the work she did and the lives she touched in a positive way. And now we're proud she is giving her full attention to her daughters.

I remember several teachers who made a huge difference in my life. One of the most important was my elementary school teacher Mrs. Fancy. I went to a two room school (yes, I'm THAT old!), and Mrs. Fancy taught grades primary to three. She could do anything! Besides the regular subjects she taught us art (she was an artist in chalk and oils!), she taught us music (she played the piano and organ and sang), she taught us manners, and birdwatching, and constellations, and probably a hundred other things that I've forgotten. I had an urge to write to her one day after I had children of my own, and reminisce about those school years. Some time later I received a letter from her daughter who told me Mrs. Fancy was ill, but had thoroughly enjoyed hearing my letter read and talked with her daughter about those times. I don't know what inspired me to write, but I'm certainly glad I did.

Mrs. Fancy encouraged me in art and singing, and if Stampin' Up! had been around in her day she would have been a fan!

Now - a little treat because you've written your note already....
here are two more tags:

 

They are done in Basic Black (left) Night of Navy right) and Bashful Blue card stock. I used the Rough Type (retired) for the letters, and the silver snowflake on the left is cut from Brushed Silver card stock using the Northern Frost die in the Big Shot. This time I've used the Round Tab Extra Large punch for the top.

Mrs. Fancy passed away many years ago and I was honoured to be asked to sing at her funeral. Today she lives on in every child she taught. Thank you, Mrs. Fancy, for everything.

TAG ALONG WITH ME.....

I'm back at it again - making more tags! These are big tags (4 1/2" x 2 3/4") and I just put a bunch of my favourite stamp pads on the table and let myself play!

 

The snowflake/Season's Greetings tag uses the Snow Swirled Stamp set with Night of Navy  and Whisper White cardstock and Night of Navy and Real Red ink. My favourite part is the Basic Rhinestones that glitter in the middle of the snowflakes!

 

The next one is a C.A.S.E. of the tag on the blue card on page 26 of the Holiday Mini catalogue. It's done in Crumb Cake and Certainly Celery cardstock, the ink is Crumb Cake and Real Red. The glitter is the new Glass Glitter in Silver and Sticky Strip is the perfect adhesive.

 

Finally this is a super quick tag using Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Paper and the "must have" Tags til Christmas stamp set - both in the Holiday Mini.

 

A quick tip if you don't have large eyelets on hand, you can give the illusion of eyelets with punches. Using whatever colour of cardstock you wish punch a hole with a 1/4" punch, or the largest punch of the Crop-A-Dile, then centre a 1/2" punch over the hole and punch it out. This will give you a donut-shaped piece that you can glue over the hole in the tag to look like an eyelet.

Hope you like them - thanks for visiting!

Remember to contact me if you need supplies to make your own tags.