We had a very nice Thanksgiving.  We truly are blessed!  The majority of my posts lately have been holiday-related.  For a little change of pace, today's card is a "just because" card created using Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight.  The Daffodil flowers are from the Flower Shop set and the little Tangerine flowers are from the Summer Silhouettes.  The color combination is bright and cheerful and since I used the sentiment "just because" from the A Dozen Thoughts set, the card is versatile and can be sent for a variety of occasions.  I left the inside blank and will add a little handwritten sentiment when the card is needed.  Now I am debating on whether to go shopping or stay home where there is peace, quiet and warmth!  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Hanukkah

Have a wonderful day with family and friends.  I appreciate your friendship and support today and everyday.  Thank you!

And to those of you who are of the Jewish faith, Happy Hanukkah!  From what I understand, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah overlapping is a rarity and will not happen again for something like 80,000 years!!  Did I hear and read that right? 

Wishing all a great day! 

Whole Lot Of Love

Yesterday Stampin' Up introduced us to their Valentine stamps and such.  These items will be available beginning December 1st thru January 27th or while supplies last.  The first item that jumped out at me is the little polka dot treat bag set.  I don't know about you, but I am stocking up on these little bags as I like them a lot!!! The little note cards are cute, too.   I am still not sure about the stamp sets/stamp, as I am waiting to see if the final "Best of 25" stamp set will be Valentine-related. As soon as I see that set, I will pass it along.  After the way the Endless Wishes stamp set sold out, I will not be taking my chances on those items I really like; i.e., Sweetheart Treat Bags.  Have a great day and if you are traveling for the holiday weekend, be safe and take your time!!

Festive Flurry Ornament

Mr. Brown brought my Stampin' Up order yesterday afternoon--yeah!  In that order was the Festive Flurry Ornament Kit (#135813 @ $14.95 plus tax and shipping) that is available for a limited time.  Needless to say, I just had to make an ornament right away.  If you purchased the kit, the first thing to remember is that the points of the snowflakes are dainty so you need to be careful when you are punching them out.  I didn't get thru the first snowflake without ripping one little point.  So, I made a mental note to slow down!  The folding of the scored lines is a little more challenging with the glimmer paper snowflake. Once again, just take your time.  For some reason, neither of my snowflakes is completely level, although the
second one is better than the first.  The ornaments are a beautiful addition to packages, as you can see from the photos.  I will be back at it later on so I can perfect my Festive Flurry Ornament making skills!  Have a great day! 

My Thanksgiving Favors

Today's photos are of the favors that will be on the Thanksgiving table this year.  For the first time in a few years, we will all be sitting at the dining room table and that meant I only needed ten favors.  A few weeks ago I was at Hobby Lobby when there was a 50% discount on all their glass containers.  I purchased quite a few not knowing what I was going to do with them.  I just knew the price was right.  Shortly thereafter I saw the Autumn colored M&Ms and purchased a bag.  What was I thinking when purchasing only one bag?  After washing all of the little jars I started filling them with the Autumn M&Ms and I needed more candy.  Unfortunately, at the stores around me the Autumn M&Ms were already replaced by Christmas M&Ms.  Therefore, some of the favors contain Sixlets.  I added the little stamped sentiment on the top of the jar, made simple name tags and tied ribbon and raffia around each jar.  In a  little while I am off to do the grocery shopping for Thanksgiving.  Have a great day! 

Silver & Gold

As I was going thru my embossing supplies , I noticed that I own both silver and gold Stampin' Up embossing powder.  I don't think I have ever posted a card that was embossed with gold.  So I decided that this holiday season is the perfect time to do so.  And to give equal exposure to silver, I made one of each--lol!  All of the images/sentiments were stamped in Versamark prior to adding the embossing powders.  The silver embossed layer was matted on Smoky Slate cardstock while the gold embossed layer was matted on Crumb Cake cardstock.  On the inside of each card, I stamped the corresponding image in the lower right corner and on the envelopes.  In other words, Crumb Cake snowflakes on the gold and Smoky Slate poinsettias on the silver.  The cards are both really pretty. So if you have not yet started your holiday cards, you might want to consider a silver or gold embossed card.  I think the single evergreen tree from Lovely As A Tree would be very elegant stamped and embossed in either silver or gold.  I will have to try that later.  Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Sympathy Cards

I was in need of sympathy cards and I had none.  So last night I went down to my scraproom and got busy.  I used a combination of stamp sets: En Francais, Simply Sketched and Love and  Sympathy.  The background on the white cardstock was first stamped off on a scrap piece of paper. I then dabbed the stamp with a paper towel to create a more faded image on sections of the background before stamping on the white.  For the flower on each card, I inked up the stamp using my markers. After completing the stamping, I tore and sponged the edges of the white cardstock.  I like both cards, but the Early Espresso/Chocolate Chip is my favorite of the two.  Which do you prefer?  Have a great day!

  

A Little More Chalk Talk

 Yesterday I posted a card using the Chalk Talk Framelits and stamp set and decided that I would follow up on making a few more cards using the same products.  I will say that I spent a little more time on these cards than I thought I would, but all three cards in the grouping to the left were created using the same stamp set and framelits as yesterday's card.   While I stuck with the Chalk Talk framelits for the fourth card, I totally switched gears on the images and sentiment. The "drinks" are from Happy Hour; "a little dash of" is from Endlesss Wishes; and "Christmas cheer" is from Sweet Essentials.  So if you have those Chalk Talk framelits sitting around, use them!  They can certainly be used with a number of stamp sets, not just Chalk Talk!  Have a great day!

Holiday Sale Clarification

Stampin' Up has up-dated the Holiday Sale flyer to clarify that the 24-hour-only doorbusters are on sale November 20 only. These include 30 percent off the Stampin' Trimmer, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate and Many Marvelous Markers.  The remainder of sale items are on sale from November 20 through December 2, 2013. Here is the link to the up-dated flyer:

http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/docs/holiday_sale/Holiday_Sale_Flyer_US.pdf

Stampin Up's big holiday sale begins tomorrow and I don't want you to miss out on the 24-hour-only doorbusters happening on the first day of the sale:

• 30 percent off the Stampin' Trimmer, reg. $29.95 but tomorrow only $20.97
• Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, reg. $11.95, but tomorrow only $8.37 
•  Many Marvelous Markers. reg. $109.95 but tomorrow only for $76.97

Click on the following link to see all the items that are included in the sale which begins tomorrow and ends on December 2nd.

http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/docs/holiday_sale/Holiday_Sale_Flyer_US.pdf 

If you have any questions give me a call or send an email.  And don't forget, you can shop online by going directly to www.stampintimesomewhere.stampinup.net

Can't Thank You Enough

Someone asked if I had any ideas for a more masculine thank you card.  And today's card is what I came up with.  I thought that black and gray would set the tone and the card came together after that.  The sentiment is from The Chalk Talk stamp set, stamped on white,  punched using the Extra large Oval Punch and then layered on a black Chalk Talk framelit tag.  The Basic Gray cardstock was embossed with one of my favorite embossing folders, Stylish Stripes (Holiday mini).  Later today I plan on using the same design and products but different colors and sentiments to create another gift card set.  That might be tomorrow's post! Have a great day!

Simple & Elegant

Today's cards are quite easy to create.  First decide what shape you would like to have as the focal point.  I chose rectangles  and for one card I cut a template using my paper trimmer and a piece of cardstock the same size as the top layer of my card.  For the other I used a framelit to cut the rectangle.  (Save the rectangle for a future project.)  Temporarily adhere the template (the negative piece of cardstock left after cutting the rectangle out) on the white layer.  Sponge using your favorite ink color, going from the inside edge of the template and working your way into the negative space. Once the rectangle is sponged, remove the template and stamp both the tree and the sentiment off the edges of the sponged rectangle.  The Peace on Earth card was created using only Night of Navy Ink.  The Season's Greetings card was sponged using Chocolate Chip ink and the tree and sentiment were stamped using Early Espresso.  You can add a little Dazzling Diamonds to the branches of the tree if you want add a little sparkle.  So make yourself a template, get out your favorite sentiment and image and happy stampin'!   Have a great day!

New Photopolymer Stamp Set

Today Stampin' Up released a new photopolymer stamp set, Ikat.  This ikat photopolymer set will give an exotic fabric-like texture to your projects. The ikat trend is all over the home décor and fashion industries, so use inspiration from what you see around you and take it to your papercrafting! Mix and match the patterns together in a multitude of colors to create endless ikat looks.  The cost is $13.95 plus tax and shipping.  Have a great day and a great weekend, too!

 

Washi Tape Assortment

I need a couple sets of assorted cards to give as Christmas gifts and worked on that yesterday.  I created 5 cards using the Gingham Garden Washi tape and the A Dozen Thoughts stamp set.  The cards can be as quick and simple as the Melon Mambo "just because" card.  Stamp the sentiment and a little image, add some Washi tape and adhere to card base.   Or you can add more detail to the card by using an embossing folder, punches and the Simply Scored tool.  Either way use one of your favorite stamp sets and Washi tape and in no time at all you can create a pretty set of greeting cards!  All the tape in the Gingham Garden trio stand out very nicely on white.  But if you look at the Melon Mambo "wish big" card you can see that the Washi tape is not that impressive.  It just kind of sinks into the Melon Mambo cardstock.  The next set I make will all have white layers on the card base.  Have a great day!

Holidays Using Gorgeous Grunge

We have a couple of "not yet teens" great nephews and nieces and I wanted to create a Christmas card they might enjoy, but not the usual Santa or snowman cards.  Using Gorgeous Grunge came to mind, but how would I use it?  So I went down to my scraproom and starting playing around.  I used  one image from the set and alternated using Garden Green and Real Red inks.  The sentiment is from none other than Endless Wishes.  (I might wear that set out before Christmas even gets here!!)  I added the retired Garden Green ribbon and layered it on a Real Red card base.  In my opinion, this card is pretty darn cute for a young person.  If I can make a Christmas card using GG, what can I do for Thanksgiving?  So, I alternated Perfect Plum and Cajun Craze inks for the lines and then decided to go one step further and use the "splattered" image to add a little Soft Suede to the card.  After stamping and sponging leaves using the image from Best of Autumn and the acorn from Truly Grateful,  I cut them out and adhered them to the card front.  Not necessarily my style, the card does look okay and someone will appreciate it!  Now who could that be?  Have a great day!

Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

Today Stampin' Up has released this pretty little Festive Flurry Ornament Kit. I am considering the purchase of this item as I can see these as pretty additions to gift wrapping this year. I also see this as a fun project to work on with Sydney. The kit is available while supplies last. The cost of the kit is $14.95 plus tax and shipping.  Once again, in order to save on shipping, if anyone else is interested, let me know and we can order at the same time.  And now I hope the video works!!  I see that it is not showing up on the automatic emails that go out when I post. I am sorry, but not sure how to fix it! 

Christmas For Teacher

Yesterday we had our first measurable snow.  Well, not that measurable but the snow covered the grass!!  One minute it was raining and the next it was snowing--large beautiful flakes.  After I watched the snow for a while, I went downstairs to clean things up from Sunday's workshops, and I saw those snowflake images in the Endless Wishes stamp set.  I would make just one more Christmas card with it~~a teacher card using the chalkboard technique.  My Christmas cards aren't usually black, but in this situation, black is just fine and I keep repeating that phrase in my head: black is just fine, black is just fine!  The snowflakes and sentiment are from the EW set and the "teacher" is from the retired Family Reunion, all stamped using Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.  When the embossing was finished I used a little sponge and white craft ink to create the smudges.  I layered the black on red cardstock and then onto a white card base.  On the inside I stamped black snowflakes in the lower right-hand corner.  I set it aside and then last night I am looking at SU's  demonstrator site and there is a card very similar.  But, the person who created that card outlined a frame using the Chalk marker that is in the Holiday min and added red rhinestones to the snowflakes.  I added those two things to my card and it is a great teacher card--black and all!!!  Have a great day!

Thank You!

Today is Veteran's Day~~ a day to honor a group of very special people.   As you know from reading previous Veteran's Day posts, I have a special place in my heart for our military.  So once again, I am asking that when you have the opportunity to thank a Vet, you take it.  Believe me, our Veterans deserve and appreciate a simple thank you from a stranger.   The sentiment on today's card is from Lots of Thanks and the stars are from Simply Stars , both sets in the annual catalog.  The edge of the card was cut using the Adorning Accents Edgelits.  This card will be going to Operation Write Home as my "Any Hero" card.  When you have a little time, check out  www.operationwritehome.org  and see how you can participate in the Any Hero mail program and provide a little greeting from home to brighten someone's day.   Have a great day, find yourself a little stampin' time and enjoy your freedom!

Expressions Thinlits

Well, not exactly!!  One of the items that I like in the Holiday Mini but did not purchase are the Expressions Thinlits Dies on page 36.  Since I own many Cricut cartridges that include sayings/phrases, I decided to spend my money on other things in the mini.  Viewing cards created using Expressions Thinlets inspired me to create cards using one-word phrases that are on the Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  I found  "merry" and although it is not quite as thin as the SU thinlet  "merry",  I was able to create a pretty Christmas card with it.  Then I cut  "love" from the same cartridge using Strawberry Slush cardstock.  The banner and little heart were cut from Strawberry Slush DSP.  I am missing a "thankful" card, but time got away from me.  I do like the look of diecut words on cards and I should create cards using them more often! Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Available Again!

Endless Wishes is back in stock!  Yeah! 

Holiday Hexagons

I have been making a variety of Christmas cards recently when it hit me that since all of this "holiday" stuff is out, I should create Christmas thank you cards.  So I reached for the Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler ink, Six Sided Sampler stamp set and coordinating hexagon punch.  After stamping and punching, I adhered the hexagons to coordinating cardstock, added a sentiment and in no time I have two thank you cards ready for sending!  Don't have the hexagon punch and stamp?  No problem.  Punch a variety of green and red DSP circles, adhere to a card, add a sentiment and there you go!  Have a great day and thanks for visiting my blog!

Perfect Blend Gift Card Box

I have all the projects sorted and ready to go for the Christmas Workshops.  And then I come up with a new idea! So, I am sharing my latest idea in today's post.  This is a small box that measures approximately 3-7/8" x 2-7/8" x 3/4" and fits a Starbuck's gift card very nicely.  The box itself was made using the Envelope Punch Board and a 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  My husband and I often go to Starbucks and it is getting to be the time of year during which the coffee is served in red cups.  With the red cups in mind, I stamped and hand cut the cups and cup wraps to give a holiday feel to the box..  In addition to the Perfect Blend stamp set, I used the Endless Wishes set for the sentiment and the snowflakes.  You can personalize the cups to be any color your local shop uses.  Or stamp the cup image three times~~on a piece of DSP, on a piece of white for the lid and on a color you would use for the wrap~~assemble and you have a designer cup! Have a great day!

Wreath Leftovers!

Sunday, November 10th, will be the first Christmas Workshop and everyone will  have left over DSP.  So, I thought a couple Christmas card ideas using  leftovers would come in handy.  The sentiment on both cards is the same one from More Merry Messages.  You can cut squares or strips or just about any shape you prefer and once layered on coordinating cardstock (or not),  you can create a variety of unique cards.   I will be placing an order for white cardstock that I use for my white card bases.  If you are in need of either the white or the ivory, please let me know in the next few days and we can combine orders, possibly saving a little on shipping costs.  Have a great day!

Endless Wishes Popularity!

Last week I posted two cards made with the newly released Endless Wishes stamp set.  Well, low and behold, guess what was on backorder the next day?  You got it!  Endless Wishes was so popular that it flew off the shelves quicker than Stampin' Up even imagined. We will still be making our workshop cards using this set as SU expects another shipment to arrive on or about November 6th and also because I just see endless possibilities using the set~~even beyond the holiday season.  Today's cards were created using Endless Wishes for Christmas cards.  But then how about snowflakes for a winter birthday?  Or maybe you know someone who is having a winter wedding? The snowflakes would be a pretty background on your scrapbook pages.  And this stamp set is clear so you can see exactly where you are stamping without the use of a stamp-a-ma-jig!  Whether it is Endless Wishes or another Christmas set you have in your collection, think outside the box and use it for other occasions, too.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!

So How Cute Are These?

I think they are absolutely adorable!  I wish I could say these little houses were my idea, but I can't.  A Stampin' Up demonstrator from France shared a photo of her assorted houses which got me thinking back to the little "bird houses" we made back in April.  I am not sure how exactly she created her little houses, but I used the Milk Carton die and added little stamped and cut images from the retired Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set.  The sentiments are from my much used Teeny Tiny Wishes set and the Itty Bitty Framelits.  These little houses just might be my Christmas dinner favors.  Have a great weekend!

Best of Snow

Time for the newest addition to Stampin' Up's  "Best of" stamp sets, Best of Snow, Item No. 134387.  These are the images included in the set of 4 images. (The little hedgehogs are adorable!)  As with all "Best of" stamp sets, this will be available until March 31, 2014.   Now do I need this or not?  I have to think about that.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!