Linda's Creations

I apologize for not posting sooner but we've just arrived home from a lovely visit with friends in Yarmouth, NS. (Hello Eric & Barb!)

Now I want to show you more of the fun and beautiful things we did at our ASI meeting last weekend!

These are the items that Linda brought to share (and I even missed photographing another one!)

This is a project using Decor Elements for the sentiment plus DSP, snowflake die cuts, and Winter Wishes stitched felt items from the Holiday Mini. And the stocking die. I don't have the exact dimensions but it was at least 12" x 12". Don't you love how she placed photos inside the felt wreaths?!

This next project is so quick and easy but so versatile for any occasion! Linda used DSP and made the folded medallion, then glued a decorated bottle cap to the center. She then attached a loop made out of red ribbon so the napkin could slip through.

You must have noticed by now that I'm obsessed with mini scrapbooks so I was excited to see Linda's:

 

What a lovely momento of a Christmas visit!

And this is the shoebox swap item that Linda brought for all of us to make. How adorable is a card with a candy cane tucked into a fold!! I never would have thought of that!

Plus the beautiful scoring done with our new Simply Scored Scoring Tool!

Thank you to Linda for sharing her special creations!

Be sure to check back to see the projects from the rest of the team.

Happy Stamping

Carol

Amazing ASI

This past weekend we held our Atlantic Stampers Ink meeting and the creativity and the laughter flowed! What an amazing bunch of demos - I'm so proud to be part of them:

I'll be posting all the wonderful projects we worked on - everyone brought a shoe box swap, starting with the first one (mine). It's the one the team is working on in the photo above.

I've 'tweaked' the Santa's Magic Key poem, and printed it from the computer on regular computer paper to use it on this little door hanger.

The DSP is from the Holly Berry Bouquet with Real Red and Wild Wasabi coordinating card stock. The stocking is punched using our new Stocking Builder punch and Red and Silver Glimmer paper.
The key is from the Trinket Keys collection.

Here is the poem:

Santa’s Magic Key

You have no chimney

And do fear

Santa may not visit this year.

But there’s a legend

We hope it’s true

Of magic only Santa can do.

If you leave out

This special key

And  whisper  “Santa, I believe…”

His magic

will make the key fit right,

And Santa will visit you

Christmas Eve Night!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Welcoming Autumn

Probably by the time you read this it will be officially autumn. And I can't think of this time of year without thinking of Thanksgiving so here is a banner celebrating just that:

 

I used chipboard coasters for the background, covered them with four different designs of DSP from the Well Worn package. I sponged the edges with Soft Suede. The scalloped circles are cut with the Big Shot and the Scallop Circles #2 die, which I then embossed with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. And then I used my Serif Essentials Alphabet dies for the first time!! I have been coveting this alphabet set for two years and finally convinced myself that I 'needed' it. And I love it! The letters are 2 inches tall and almost as wide and they are great for banners and such.

Here's a close up:

I punched holes in the corners of the coasters and tied them together with Peach Parfait 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon. That's 10 bows... almost the same.

I used Peach Parfait card stock to make the flowers - with chocolate chip centers, and Peach Parfait DSP to make the medallion in the unlettered square.

The banner came together quickly after I finally decided what I wanted to use, and you'll probably see some more celebrating other holidays too!

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Masculine Birthday...

Today is my husband's birthday! Happy Birthday Honey!

Since he retired he has become a real golf addict (I've heard it happens...?) But that's OK because I'm a real craft addict so we each have our own passions, plus passions that we share - like travel and gardening and reading and children and grandchildren and making preserves and pies (but that's another post).

So here is the card I made him for his birthday, with special thanks to one of the ASI team for pointing it out to me on-line (Thanks Louise, it's perfect!).

 

Aren't those golf shoes just the cutest! I wish I could take credit for them but you can find out how to make them here:    

 http://www.youtube.com/user/vadeler#p/u/1/5me4JTK1ICU 

And here's the birthday boy himself - opening presents - which he wouldn't do if I didn't force him to, you know guys!!!

That's a golf shirt from his favourite Trust Company (Thank you Dean!), and he was hoping that was what it was!

Thanks for stopping by!
Carol

I Can't Stand It Anymore!!!

OK, I said I wouldn't post anymore Christmas projects or cards before October, but I can't take it any longer!! I love Christmas projects, I love the Holiday Mini, and I love to show you the stuff I've made. So here are a couple of my projects.

Aren't these just the cutest little stockings!!! And the mini clothespins!!
The DSP is from the new Frostwood Lodge package and it kind of looks like Birch Bark. Two of the stockings use other designs from the same package. I stamped the trees in Garden Green and the stamp is from the new Christmas Lodge set. The stockings are "punched" (yes!!) using the new Stocking Builder Punch, and the centre one is embossed with the new Snow Burst embossing folder. All these wonderful products and tools are from the new Holiday Mini (see column on the right). I know this stocking punch is going to get a lot of use, and you might be surprised to see what it is used for! (Stay tuned for future posts!)

And then there's the other snowy lad in the "Snow Much Fun" stamp set in the IB&C. This guy is kind of long and lean but I won't hold that against him...

He's obviously a bird lover so he can't be all bad. :0)

OK, now back to regular programming...

Happy Stamping!
Carol

It's Almost Over

The End of Summer

Oh no! Where did it go? It seems that it was just the long weekend in May, and now in the blink of an eye, summer starts to come to a close with an onslaught of Back to School sales. As kids are getting ready to go back to school, I also get the itch to get back on a schedule. Just doing a little bit each day can help you to get organized and ahead of the game before the busy schedules of fall are in full swing. Need somewhere to get started? Check out these fun and practical ideas:

Stamp up cards to replenish your stash.

            Look ahead for the next 4-5 months to see how many birthday cards you’ll need to have on hand. Stamp up some extra thank you, thinking of you, get well, and note cards, too. You can use the Medium Die Box (#122220), with or without the insert, to keep your cards organized. (The box fits the standard-sized cards on end nicely.) You can even create some dividers for the different kinds of cards that you use. The Medium Die Boxes come with a nice label plate on the outside so that you can mark what’s inside. And don’t forget to make it pretty with a little bit of ribbon, and maybe a paper flower or two. Also consider getting yourself a personalized address stamp and postage stamps to keep with your card stash to make sending out cards a breeze.

Start your school year scrapbooks.

Or if you have one big scrapbook that you add to each year, start by making some general pages - first day of school, school pictures, sports, fall fun, etc. to get a start on the pictures that you’ll be taking throughout the year, This will make it easier to keep up with your scrapbook as the year progresses. The Simply Scrappin’ Kits are a great way to make scrapbook pages come together quickly. Check out our new kits, like Party Animal (#122372) and Tickets & Tags (#122373). If you are a digital scrapbooker, My Digital Studio software (#118108) can have scrapbook layouts ready for your pictures or you can create your own custom pages right on your computer.

Some other ideas you might like include decorating and embellishing plain old file folders with Designer Series Paper like the Pocketful of Posies (#122354) or Domestic Goddess (#122355), using Chalkboard Decor Elements, like Days of the Week (#122298) to keep the whole family organized, and creating mini bulletin boards with an inexpensive frame and our Corkboard (#119819). And if you are really motivated, you might even want to start thinking about and planning your holiday cards ...

So get ready and be ready! I know it’s hard to think about fall when summer is still lingering, but a little bit of preparation can ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy each moment in the busy months to come.

Another "Maree" Creation

I can't keep this girl down, she's always up to something - usually something cute or beautiful! Here is a card she made for me the last time she was here.

This card features some of the new products from the Holiday Mini Catalogue. See those adorable windows? That's a new die!! The Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die has 5 different sized windows! Now you can use them to create an amazing Countdown to Christmas calendar (as shown in the mini) or you can use them on cards as shown by Maree! She used the Jolly Bingo Bits for the images.

Now I know you did a double-take on that ribbon... isn't it gorgeous! It's 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon and comes in Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso. The DSP is from the Letters to Santa package in the large catalogue.

Thanks Maree!

Happy Stamping everyone!
Carol

It Really is The Best on the Market

In case you haven't heard, Stampin' Up! has come out with their very own scoring tool...finally!! We (demos and enthusiasts) have been waiting and waiting and hoping and finally it's here. But it was worth the wait - I promise!!

As a demo I really needed a scoring tool to score all those 80 or so cards per class that I prepared. Plus it makes any project look more crisp and professional. So I purchased the only product available at the time. Later another different and improved product came along and I purchased it as well.

But now, NOW, I have the best scoring tool on the market:

 
Don't let the quiet gray colour fool you, this baby is for happy times! The Simply Scored Scoring Tool’s base fits paper or card stock up to 12" x 12" and features score tracks every 1/8". It also features two easy-to-read rulers (with inch markings down to 1/8") along the top and left side for perfect scoring. (One standard left-to-right ruler and one zero center ruler.) Plus it includes three markers to make scoring fast and accurate and one stylus - the perfect tool for making perfect lines. The bottom of base has nonmarking and nonskid feet to secure it on your work area. The base measures approximately 15-1/8" x 13-1/4" x 1".

You will be able to make dozens of those fancy medallions shown above in no time! Stay tuned for more projects using this terrific tool!

Happy Stamping!
Carol 

Dress up Your Desk

I love inspirational quotes, and puns, and zingers. Actually I love words, especially when they are strung together in a witty way. So what does this have to do with dressing up your desk? Well I thought I'd use quotes on the covers of the Post-It Note holders that I am making... Stampin' Up! has a nice collection of quotes in their stamp sets, and many of them are small enough to work for this project.

Here are a couple of samples:

The Scalloped Square background was made with the Scallop Squares Duo die (the 3" x 3" square) with a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square of Whisper White on which the quote and image are stamped.

For directions on how to make this quick little project visit Dawns Stamping Studio.

And if you have any favourite quotes or puns or zingers you would like to share just leave a message below - I'd love to see them!

Here are two of my favourites:
“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  (Elizabeth Stone)

"I held my daughter to my breast
And now her sleeping child there rests
Daughter, granddaughter
I am twice blest."  (Unknown)

I guess I'm in a mothering mood...

Happy Stamping!

Carol

A Kiwi Thank You

Don't you love getting unexpected Real Mail in your mailbox? Well I did last week and it was such a treat! First of all because it was a real surprise! Secondly - it reminded me of wonderful moments with a new friend, and thirdly - it gave me a whole lot of ideas and inspiration for new cards. Now how's all that just for the price of a stamp!

A little background info: I've mentioned my friend Maree in my blog several times and Maree hails from New Zealand. During May one of Maree's friends visited with her for a month, and I was lucky enough to have a visit from both of them.

Carol, Maree, Suzy

We had a fun, crafty, and crime filled visit (we weren't the perpetrators!!), but that's another story. Today's story is about the card I received from Suzy. Imagine coming all the way from New Zealand!

Here is the card, and I love it for several reasons. It's very simplicity packs a wallop. There are so many elements of texture, in the paper design, in the raised matting, in the buttons and strings. And finally Suzy used my absolute favourite colours, pink and green ... now how did she know that?!

Isn't it lovely? And it's even better when you can hold it in your hands!

The textured letters are individually cut and then attached to the background squares which are popped up:

And I really like how Suzy gave the buttons a background too, it makes them stand out even more!

So thank you Suzy for your lovely card, and for the gift of inspiration that came along with it! You're a sweetie and whenever you're ready to come back to Canada we'll have to plan another get together - hopefully without the uninvited visitors!!!

Thanks Maree for introducing me to your friend, and as you  know, "my door is always open"!

OK, Group HUG!!!

Happy Stamping

Carol

I Think You'll Need to Sit Down

You probably know that I'm somewhat of a Christmas nut - well, okay, a certifiable Christmas nut! But there are so many gorgeous new products in the Holiday Mini Catalogue that I think you'd better sit down... Grab a cup of your favourite liquid because it might take a while, and oh yeah - there's Halloween and Thanksgiving products too! Don't miss the bee-you-tiful new Silver Glimmer Paper (think snowflakes!!!) and the new Stocking Builder Punch (it's adorable!!) and the Peekaboo Frames die (countdown to Christmas!!!) and - oh, you'll see - take a look!

 

Click here to see all 44 pages!

Have fun! And when you can't stand it any more contact me to find out about classes using these great new products or to place an order!

Happy Stamping!
Carol