Heart-shaped Sweet Treat Cups!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Stampin' Up is offering heart-shaped sweet treat cups. Not only do the new Heart Sweet Treat cups work perfectly with the Full Heart Punch, there is a new stamp set that matches it. These items will be available for purchase on January 5th--only while supplies last. The item number for the heart treat cups is 120435. You get 12 treat cups for $2.95 plus shipping and tax. The stamp set is called "Sweetheart". The item number for wood mount is 120415 ($21.95) and the item number is 120780 for clear mount ($15.95). You can be sure these items will be on my order form first thing Tuesday morning!

Let It Snow!

On Saturday we were supposed to get 1 to 3 inches of snow. We actually received almost a foot of snow. It was beautiful looking out the kitchen window, so I snapped this photo to share with all of you. Since there was nowhere we had to go, my husband, son and I stayed in. Needless to say I had quite a bit of time to play with my new SU items--YEAH!

The first first card includes the image from the two-step bird punch. I truly like this particular punch. It is so simple to use and so pretty, too. I used Not Quite Navy cardstock and layered the front with Whisper White cardstock which I first embossed using the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. I absolutely am impressed with this punch as you can make the bird any color or pattern and mix or match the wing and the body. The wing can be up or down against the bird's body. The color of the leaves can change depending on the season. So many possibilities. And since the punch style has changed, it will take up less storage space. I will look forward to more of these two-step punches in the future. Now the colors don't show up that well, but once again, I am using the heart embosslit and the Well Scripted stamp set using an acrylic block versus the wood block. Between the Big Shot and dies that I have and want, the new style punches and the option of wood or acrylic mount stamp sets, I am very excited with Stampin' Up! and the upcoming sale-a-bration which begins on January 5th. I will be placing a large order, so with every $50 I spend, I will be able to get a free stamp set or item from the brochure (which many of you will receive in the mail shortly), I will be getting quite a few stamp sets I have been wanting and for sure the new Scallop Trim Border punch--for free!

Stampin' Up! Mini Sneak Peek

My Christmas was just perfect--spent with my hubby, children, granddaughter and grandpuppies! Last night I was able to play with some new "toys" that my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. The first photo I want to share is the new heart embosslit from SU! The heart on the left in the photo is what the image looks like after being run thru the Big Shot. Not only does the embosslit die cut the shape, it also embosses it. I just love the texture and the scalloped edge. I wanted to compare the SU! full heart punch to the embosslit and the punched image layered nicely on top of the embosslit die. The problem was that by layering the punched heart image it covered up the embossing. So I took that punched heart and placed it in the center of the embosslit heart, ran it thru the Big Shot and--perfect layered look! Isn't the blue bird too cute? This image was made using one of the new punches that will be in the new SU! mini catalog which goes live on January 5th. The punch consists of three cuts--the body of the bird, the branch and the wing. I used a pop-dot under the wing to add dimension to the bird. (Next time I will cut the wing from patterned paper to add dimension. ) If you look closely, the Not Quite Navy mat has a design in it. This design element was achieved using a SU! texture plate--another great gift from my mom-in-law. In the past I have used embossing folders, so I was interested in seeing what a texture plate actually does. A texture plate does not emboss--it adds a very subtle design to the cardstock. I will have to play with the texture plates before I decided yeah or nay! And last but not least for this morning, this is a card I quickly made using the SU! Elegant Bouquet impression embossing folder. (This is available in the current Idea Book and Catalog, and is not an item in the new mini.) I can say without a doubt that I am liking this embossing folder. Mom--thanks for the great gifts!

Gold & Silver

The Shimmery White cardstock embossed beautifully. Wrapped with gold ribbon and a little tag, this would be the perfect gift box for a small piece of jewelry or for a few pieces of candy and used as a place card setting. I thought this was very, very pretty. And then I used the brushed silver cardstock--so elegant. It also embossed beautifully and the silver ribbon was the icing on the cake! Either of these pillow boxes would be perfect for a small gift, as a place card or as a party favor, not only during the holidays but for a wedding or anniversary celebration any time during the year. And now I seriously need to go put away that Big Shot!