Happy New Year!!

Well, not according to the calendar. But ask any parent, child, or teacher, and it's a new year. Even me - I attended classes for 17 years, then I had children in school for another 25... I can't help myself - I have to start something new every September!

And there are so many new things this month from both Stampin' Up! and me, that I have to list them:

1. The Holiday Mini Catalogue is 'live'.
And it's full of gorgeous stuff. I'm in big trouble because there is so much that I simply HAVE TO HAVE! So you can look forward to classes using new sets and paper and die cuts. If you're as excited as me you can place an order any time by clicking on the "Order Stampin' Up! On-line" button here on my blog, by going to my SU website http://www.attherookery.stampinup.net/, by sending me an email carolmatthews@ns.sympatico.ca or by giving me a call 902-893-3885. Check #2 for even more exciting news!

2. Hostess Promotion
Host a workshop from September 1 to November 30 totaling $330 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalogue for only $14! That's right! Even the $48.95 Grateful Greetings Stamp Set, or the $57.95 Movers & Shapers Curly Label Die for the Big Shot.

*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

AND after My Digital Studio is released (October 1, 2009), this offer will become even sweeter:

Host a workshop of at least $525 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $106.95; promotional price: $53.47)!

Isn't that cool!

3. My classes are scheduled from September through December!
And you can check them out by clicking on the here or on the Classes icon in the column on the right.

4. I will be posting projects/challenges/cards/scrapbook pages on a regular basis starting tomorrow. That's regular as in 5 times a week!! Can you believe it....?!
I hope you'll enjoy this week's theme - Punch Characters for Cards.

5. And last but not least - visit the Staples store in Truro to see a display of my work.
Staples is honouring small businesses who deal with them by providing display space for a month - so I chose September, and now you all know why (Happy New Year!).

Here's hoping September is as exciting a month for all of you as it is for me!
Cheers
Carol

One of a Kind Christmas Wreath

I call this a one-of-a-kind because it's not a 'wreath stamp' but a combination of stamps stamped several times to make a wreath - clear as mud?!

Stamps sets used:
Autumn Days (#115452 $31.95 p. 92)
You can position the pine cone stamp so that it makes a perfect circle, and the red berries are also from this set.
Christmas Classics (#111566 $32.95 p. 33)
I used the holly from this set, although I would also suggest using the holly from Good Cheer (p. 34) or the small stamp from Gifts of Christmas (p. 37).

Inks used:
To give the wreath more fullness and substance I used Old Olive and a piece of stampin sponge to dab colour amongst the cones and a bit in the centre.
The cones were stamped with Close to Cocoa and coloured in with Creamy Caramel marker. I also coloured the pine needles with Old Olive, and stamped the holly leaves with the same. The berries were stamped in Real Red.

Cardstock used:
Whisper White, Soft Suede, and Old Olive on a Real Red card base.

Ribbon:
Very Vanilla Taffeta

Hope you like it!

SUDSOL Design Challenge #56

Summer has arrived in Truro - the temperature is 30C and the sun is shining! This is beach weather for us Maritimers. Oh Boy!

The card I have for you today is one I made for the SUDSOL Design Challenge:

I used the Level 2 Hostess set "Asian Artistry" and the new 'In Colour' Soft Suede for all the ink as well as the base of the card. The DSP is in Soft Suede from the 'Thoroughly Modern' package. The sentiment "Embrace Life" is from the set of the same name. I rounded all the corners to keep the Asian/organic flow... At least that's the way I explained it! :0)

Hope you like it!

Cheers
Carol

Gift Journal for Baby

Sorry it's been so long since I posted - summer has been busy and although I've been stamping I haven't been photographing much of it!

However I wanted to show you this - a Baby Shower Journal that I was asked to make. The hostess wanted a journal where she could include photos of the people attending the shower as well as photos of the baby later, along with little messages, etc.

This journal is approximately 6 x 9 inches including the coil. I purchased it at a local craft supply store as the hostess requested 25 pages and it came the closest at 30.


I had some leftover DSP from the Sale A Bration mini, and it was a perfect colour combination with Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand. I first attached a solid piece of cardstock to each page - rotating the colours. On the first page I added a space for the hostess to write in a note.

The next several pages I decorated with DSP and embellishments, and used "Welcome Little One" and "So Happy For You" using both stamps and rub-ons. I also used star, heart, and scallop circle punches for embellishments. The train above and the teddy bear below are from the "Teddy and Train" stamp set in the new catalogue.

I also added our Big Shot Scallop Envelope to a few pages so the new Mom could tuck in little keepsakes or journalling.

This was really fun, although now that I've done one I will know to charge a bit more next time!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

Carol

New IDEA BOOK & CATALOGUE Launch

Here's your opportunity to see the wonderful new book with all the ideas and supplies you'll need to make your fantastic creations!

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2 - 4 PM

At Carol's Stamping Studio

Truro, NS

You will also be able to participate in a Make and Take ( or what I like to call a Stamp and Punch in this case) It's a set of Christmas Tags made with the new Level 2 Hostess Set that matches six of our punches.

I also have over three dozen retired stamp sets for sale, some are from the last catalogue, but a few are from several years ago. They are all priced at either $10 or $15.

And of course there will be door prizes, and yummies. And if you make a catalogue purchase or book a workshop on Sunday there are special incentives, free "Last Page Item", "DSP", and "Cardstock".

Sure hope to see you there!

Carol

SDC52 Challenge Card

Hi Folks:

Today I have a card for you that I made for the Sudsol Design Challenge #52.

It was a sketch challenge and I used the new Rich Razzleberry 'In Colour' for the base, then matted the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP with white and another 'In Colour' Melon Mambo. The largest flower from the Pretties Kit is sitting on top of a circle of the same DSP (I wasn't satisfied with it so I added the flower) and I used more Rich R for the flower centre, topped with a half pearl from the Pretties. The message is from the Level Two Hostess gifts 'Kind & Caring Thoughts', and is matted with more Melon Mambo.

Hope you like it!! You can check out more of the challenge cards at www.sudsol.org, and you can have a two week free membership if you are not already a paying member. (PS I find the fee is definitely worth it!)

Be sure to check out the NEW items on the right hand column of this blog - a lot of things have been changed.

Happy July!

Carol

Stampin' Up! Introduces the Deal of the Week during July

Every week during the month of July, Stampin' Up! will offer one discounted product as a "Deal of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required.

You will find this week's deal on the right of my blog.

Each Monday in July, starting July 6th, a new deal will be posted by 3 pm here on my blog. Be sure to check back and discover what's on special each week.

Deal of the Week products are only available at their discounted price during the specified time. At any other time during the month, the item will sell at the regular price.

Hope whatever you're wishing for becomes a "Deal of the Week".

The New Idea Book & Catalogue Goes Live!

Well, it's here at last - the new 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalogue. It has new stamps, new colours, new Designer Series Papers, new punches, new dies.... and even more - it's gorgeous!
You can see it on-line, OR come by my Stamping Studio on Sunday July 19th, 2-4pm and see it in person! Along with some samples of new products, a quick Make and Take for you to try, and a chance to win a door prize!

If you book a workshop to be held in the next three months you will receive a catalogue free to take home, and a free package of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock - colour of your choice, added to your workshop order.

If you would like to purchase a catalogue - $10 redeemable on your first $50 order - let me know ASAP so that I can have it there for you on July 19th.

Oh, we're going to have so much fun!!!

Chat and a Card

Well I just discovered this morning that the comments left on my blog for the past couple of weeks were not getting to me for some reason. I must admit I'd been feeling a little lonesome for my blogger friends... But then I discovered you all in my 'spam' folder (I'll have to fix that!) and now I feel much better! :0)

One of the messages was from Sharon Johnson, and I'm so thrilled because I love Sharon's work. You must visit her blog No Time To Stamp. Whenever I need inspiration I scroll through Sharon's creations and the mojo rubs off (just a little unfortunately...) when I 'grow up' I want to create like Sharon!

So here is today's card. More new sneak peek DSP , "Tall Tales" that goes with the new sneak peek stamp set "Animal Stories". The animal stamps include a giraffe, an elephant, a whale, and an owl - which I used on this card. The colours in the DSP are all regular 'family' colours: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Brilliant Blue, and Rose Red. The base card is So Saffron, the DSP is matted with Chocolate, the ribbon is Old Olive, and the button is Chocolate Chip from our cute Corduroy Buttons collection. I used the scallop border punch, the scallop circle punch, the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch circles punches, and the corner punch as well.


It's a happy card - it makes me smile - I hope it does you too!
Happy Stamping
Carol

SUDSOL Challenge Card

The SDC51 over at www.sudsol.org was to make a card using Bold Brights. So this is my creation:


I used a whole bunch of stamp sets to make this - Lovely As A Tree in the background, the foreground tree is from Le Jardin Botanique, 'bloom' is from Bloomin Beautiful, and the flowers are from Pocket Silhouettes. Cardstock colours are Glorious Green, Brilliant Blue, Pink Passion, and my one neutral is Whisper White. Ink colours are Orchid Opulance, Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore and Yoyo Yellow. The sky and grass are done with Stampin Pastels.

New Colours! New Stamps! New DSP!

As you know, there will be a new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue released on July 1st... As a lucky demo I get to see a Sneak Peek of what is to come, including our new In Colours for 09/10. I am so excited to be able to share some of this with you!

The cards I made below use three of our new In Colours: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, and Crushed Curry. There's nothing pastel about these three colours, they are rich and strong and beautiful!

The first card used the new stamp set "Razzle Dazzle" - two large and two small images and one sentiment. while the second one uses a new Level Three Hostess set "Kind & Caring Thoughts" with 3 plant images and nine sentiments.

I must point out that while the flowers below don't look like a solid stamp, it is the textured card stock that is giving them lines. On regular cardstock they would be a solid image.

The Designer Series Paper on the second and third cards is from the new Razzleberry Lemonade collection.

And last, but definitely not the least of which I have to share, is the gorgeous polka dot ribbons in all the In Colours - this one is the Melon Mambo.

Later this week I'll have a whole new selection of colours and paper and stamps to share with you - stay tuned!

Country Living Cook Out Kit for a Limited Time

Stampin' Up! has a new "Cook Out" (or as we say in Canada - "Barbeque") Kit just in time for your special summer get-togethers. This kit has such neat stuff that it will make any barbeque get-together a special event, and if it's already a special event, then this is just what you need:

The exclusive Country Living Summer Cookout Kit includes the following products:
8 die-cut table tents (2 each of 4 colors)
Die-cut components, bamboo skewers, and envelopes to create 8 shish kabob invitations
12 die-cut coasters (3 each of 4 colors)
16 die-cut tags (4 each of 4 colors)
24 12" x 12" printed food wrapper sheets (12 each of 2 colors)
4 printed recipe cards
5 yards linen thread
Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Spot
Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Spot
Dig In stamp set (item number 116700)
Note: the kit does not include tablecloths, plates, or flatware

June 15 - August 31, 2009 or while supplies last

Item # 118070 $32.95

And here's a little tip on how you can turn the 12 x 12 food wrapper sheets into serving boxes for potato chips, or cheesies or anything you can think of!

You can order on-line (see button on top right), or zap me an email carolmatthews@ns.sympatico.ca and I will order it for you on Monday, June 15th.

Carol

To The Nines!

While I was preparing the "For The Men In Our Lives" workshop, I fell in love with the "To The Nines" designer paper! I really like the extra heavy weight, the colours, the designs. So with the leftovers I made the following cards. Some are for Father's Day, others can be used for any occasion, but I think they all would suit a male.

The first card uses the fish from the "Backwoods" set, and the second card uses the bird from "Friends 24-7". The third sentiment is from "All Occasions".



The paper designs are so attractive you really don't need a lot of stamping, sometimes just the sentiment! The next one uses the Happy Father's Day from the "And Many Mower" set. The stag and sentiment are from "Nature Silhouettes".

Finally, the next two cards use stamps from the "And Many Mower" set, while the last card has the tools cut out from the "Totally Tools" stamp set, and the sentiment from "And Many Mower".

Hope you like them!

Cheers

Carol

Sympathy

I attended the funeral of the mother of one of my high school friends on Friday. She was a wonderful, fun lady who had contributed a great deal to the community over the years - through her job as a hospital nurse, mother, farmer, and friend. The service was a celebration of her 85 years.

The silver lining to the day was the opportunity to see Bonnie (my friend) again! She lives in another province and we hadn't met in about 30 years. We both looked the same as 30 years ago of course! Now that we've reconnected we plan to stay in touch.

I wanted to make a card that was elegant and sophisticated, but also pretty and friendly. Here's what I came up with:

The beauty of the card rests totally on the Bella Bleu DSP, the colours used are Kraft and Very Vanilla and the punch is our eyelet border punch. I also lined the envelope with the DSP.

My sneak peek order is on its way to Nova Scotia, but will not arrive until next Thursday. Until then I will be posting projects from some of my favourite retiring items.

Happy Stamping!
Carol

My Stampin' Up! order was delivered today and I was so excited to try out the "To the Nines" Specialty paper - I know, it's about time. And I'm so glad I ordered it. These specialty papers (see page 158 of the Idea Book & Catalogue) are heavier weight and also many are textured which gives them such a WOW quality.

My husband needed a sympathy card for a business friend so I used a sheet from the "To the Nines" package and the "Close as a Memory" and "Inspired by Nature" Stamp Sets to create the following card. Because the Specialty Designer Paper is two sided, the inside of the card presented a beautiful design as well, and was definitely a heavy enough weight to use for the card base. The colours of the ink and DSP include Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow.

And I must confess the reason I ordered more DSP is because of SU's May special. If you're interested you still have until May 30th to order!

Buy three packs of Designer Series paper

(including our Specialty Designer Series paper)

or 12" x 12" textured card stock,

and get one FREE!