Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I realize Thanksgiving was LAST week and my last post was a MONTH ago! Better late than never, right? It's the thought that counts, right? LOL I have been busy, busy, busy! Family, work, life, crafting, you know the drill! But I wanted to check in here and post something!!

These are a couple pictures from Thanksgiving day:

This is my Thankful banner that I created and showed you a while back. I hung it on the mantel over the fireplace! It looked so nice!












Next is my beautiful table! I spend as much time on my table as I do cooking!



















And a close up of the place setting:

The flowers are not real :( but I did fill the vase up with some shredded card stock to add some color!

I ran out of time to make the napkin rings, so I just tied a bow around the top of the napkin using Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon. It looked great and worked perfectly with these napkins!

It was a good day filled with good food and family. Hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed as mine!

Remember Me?

I am alive :) Just been incredibly busy this last month. And of course we are embarking on the holiday season so it will remain busy. Can you believe it is November? Seriously? What happened to June, July, August, September and October? This year has gone so fast!

Here is a card I made recently. I hadn't done a criss cross card in a while and I had some of this paper left that I didn't know what to do with. This is a bright card!

I have more projects to post soon!

Thankful Banner

This is the last of my fall projects...a Thankful Banner! I used 4x4 coasters to make these.

It was very hard to get it all together, so I took pictures of two letters at a time. This was probably the hardest one to come up with because I had to decorate every square! LOL

Supplies for Banner
Stamps: Autumn Harvest
Card stock: Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Autumn Traditions DSP
Ink: Staz On Black, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Serif Essentials Big Shot Die, Leaves Big Shot Die, Scallop Square Big Shot Die, Button Latte, Linen Thread, Watercolor Crayons, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Vintage brads, 5 Petal flower punch.

Fall Class Projects

Here are some more of my fall class projects. These are for the table settings. For this class I am going to let everyone pick which projects they want do do and pay per project!


First up is the VERY simple napkin ring.
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Autumn Harvest DSP.
Accessories: Hemp Twine






Here is the place card:

Stamps: Autumn Harvest
Cardstock: Soft Suede; Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant; Dusty Durango; Crushed Curry; Soft Suede
Accessories: Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, sponge dauber



Next is a party favor.
Stamps: Matchbox Messages
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Autumn Traditions DSP, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Sizzix Matchbox Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Linen Thread.


Now a centerpiece.

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Soft Suede Ruby Red, Rich Razzleberry (oops, it was supposed to be Elegant Eggplant!); Autumn Traditions DSP
Accessories: Hemp Twine, Leaves Big Shot Die.

Happy Thanksgiving Card

I am sure I don't need to tell you how much I love My Digital Studio, but in the event you have not read any of my previous posts, let me tell you that I love Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio! It is truly a digital paper crafting wonderland! I was playing around one night and came up with an idea for a card for my upcoming fall themed class, but it was getting late and I didn't really feel like stamping (what???) it wasn't that I didn't feel like stamping, it was that I didn't feel like CLEANING my stamp room so I could stamp! You know what I'm talking about, right? Any who, I was already surfin' the net so I decided to open up MDS and put my ideas on there. This is what I came up with, basically a card sketch:

I made this a 6x6 card in MDS (not sure why) so, in my opinion, there is a lot of open space. My mission was accomplished!














Then a day later, when I did feel like cleaning, I decided to create it in real life! And here is what I came up with:
I did change the colors a bit and the stamp set, but the basics are the same. And I did make this a 5.25 x 5.25 card, which I never do!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Autumn Harvest
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Shimmery White
Ink: Staz On Black, Chalks
Accessories: Blender Pen, Chocolate Chip Corduroy brad, Modern Label Movers & Shapers Die, Modern Label punch, Word Window Punch




Do you see how versatile MDS is? Don't you want one? October 1st is the day for customers!!!

MDS Class Flyer

Does everyone know that Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio is awesome??? It will be available to customers on October 1st! It is just so much fun to play with. I was taking pictures of my projects for my fall class and I decided to do a layout of them to use on my flyer! I didn't add too many embellishments, but I really like the way it turned out.


Isn't it cute?? I'll post a closer look of the projects later with details!

Another Movers And Shapers

OK, I realize this is a very simple card, but sometimes that is a nice change, right?

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card stock: Cameo Coral (textured), Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Movers and Shapers Modern Label die and Modern Label Punch; Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

Movers and Shapers

If you have a Big Shot and you haven't purchased the Movers and Shapers Die you must do it NOW, it is so awesome! All you have to do is place a 6x12 piece of card stock through and it cuts it, scores it and makes the window of whichever shape you have placed in it! Awesome! I will admit I did not use the 6x12 recommended size, but you just have to make sure that your piece covers the cut lines.

Stamps: Simple Snowflake (another Under $10); Christmas Punch
Card stock: Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Shimmery White
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: 3/4" Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon; Snowflake Punch; Clear Rhinestone Brad.

So easy to make and such a great card!

Identity Crisis!

I mentioned the other day about the under $10 page in the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog and I'd like to direct your attention there again today! This beautiful stamp Dasher is located on that page, isn't it gorgeous? Love it! Except my dasher wants to be like Rudolph (hence the identity crisis!)

Stamps: Dasher, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card stock: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Merry Moments DSP; Shimmery White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die, Modern Label punch and Movers and Shapers Modern Label die, Real Red brad.

To make the Scallop Square card just cut your 8.5 x 11 card stock in half, like normal, and fold in half. You want to place the card stock so that open part covers the bottom of the scallop square and line the folded part of the card stock in between two scallops. Does that make sense? If not, let me know and I'll post pictures!

IT'S HERE!

My Digital Studio is here! I was one of the lucky ones that won a copy of My Digital Studio at convention and I am so excited!! It arrived today and even though I am not feeling well I had to install it an play! The possibilities with the program are endless and I cannot wait to learn more about it! This software will be available for purchase on October 1st!!!

Here are the projects I created:

A 12x12 layout:
These are some pictures I took on my first day in Salt Lake City.

















A simple Christmas card:


















and a Halloween Card:
















So basically I just started new projects and played around with adding images and embellishments. I have to say that when I heard Stampin' Up! was coming out with digital scrapbooking software I didn't really thing I would be interested. I am a traditional scrapbooker and I don't really like change ;) However, after seeing this software demonstrated at convention I knew I HAD to have it!!! (And that was before I won it!) I am not giving up "old school" scrapbooking! But I definitely see incorporating more digital scrapbooking!

Back to School!

I guess most kids are back in school already, but my daughter did not start back to preschool until today! I wanted to send her teachers a little something so I decided to decorate a frappuccino bottle filled with M&Ms!

Stamp set: School Set (? 1993 Stampin' Up!)
Card stock: Washington Apple, Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Crushed Curry, Shimmery White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Pacific Point
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch and 1 1/4 Circle Punch; Star Movers & Shapers Big Shot Die, linen thread and Pumpkin Pie 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.



I have to say I was very pleased with the way these turned out! So cute! I think I need to drink more frappuccino! LOL So lets just be happy these are cute and not think about the fact that this time next year my little baby will be going to kindergarten!

Definitely Decorative

When Stampin' Up! came out with the decor elements (now Definitely Decorative) line I honestly did not think I would have any purpose for it. We do not do much decorating in our home and most of our walls are white with very few pictures, that is just our preference. But after realizing that this line is not just for walls I decided I better try it! I bought the Spooky Expressions, it comes in a set of 3 for only $4.95, which is a great deal. Once I had them I had to figure out what to do. My first thought was to buy a glass jar and make a candy dish, but these are larger than I anticipated (5 3/8 x 4 1/4) and I couldn't find a jar that I was happy with. I found this candle holder and decided it would be perfect! The candle is a pumpkin spice candle. The Definitely Decorative products are very easy to adhere, although I admit I didn't read the directions at first so I tore my first smile :( But that was my fault. Once I read the directions (like a good little girl) I was able to adhere this to the jar with no problem! The great thing about this project is that after Halloween I just pack it up and use it again next year! The new Definitely Decorative brochure has A LOT of products to choose from!

Summer Gift Bag

I needed a gift bag for a prize at one of my recent events and I could not find anything that would really fit what I was giving away (one of the Mini Note Kits in the Under $10 section of the catalog). So I said to myself WWOSD? (What would other stampers do?) and my answer was, make something to fit around it! So I took the Mini Note Kit and put it on a piece of this beautiful retired Summer Picnic DSP and measured around it so that I could use one piece of paper and I scored around the edges so I basically wrapped the Mini Note Kit in the paper and left the top open, so you could take it out. I added two holes to the top and tied some Real Red 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon through the holes. For a little extra I added a flower from the pretties kit, and took the large Real Red button from the Playground designer buttons with some White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon through it for the center of the pretties button. Very simple and it was a huge hit!

If you haven't seen these Mini Note Kits, you need to look at them (sorry I don't have a picture, but I gave it away!) You can find them on page 208 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. They come with a couple of small stamps, note cards and a classic stampin' spot for ONLY $9.95! This is a perfect gift for anyone!!!

My Favorite Color Combo!

I LLLLOOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink together! I never thought I would like the color brown!!

Stamps: Asian Artistry; Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink; Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip; Pretty in Pink; Certainly Celery
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Another version of this card I did cracked glass on the image which turned out very pretty, but I ran out of time when I was getting my convention swaps done! I just love the stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes, so many sayings all in one place!

Card Candy

Yes, this is another convention swap! The funny thing about this swap is that I thought it would be so easy to do, but I had a VERY hard time with it, but when it was done, it turned out to be my one of my favorite swaps!! For those who may not know what Card Candy is let me just tell you DO NOT EAT IT! It may sound yummy, but unless you enjoy the taste of cardstock or glitter, just don't even try! LOL Card Candy is great for adding a special something to a card you make or a scrapbook page! I thought these would go great on a Halloween page!

Stamps: Halloween Frights
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie; Rich Razzleberry; Basic Black; Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie; Basic Black; Rich Razzleberry; Soft Suede; Crushed Curry; Versamark; Black Staz On
Accessories: Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; pumpkin pie button; library clips; red chunky glitter; Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon; 1 3/8 Square Punch; 1 1/4 Square punch; scallop square punch; photo corners punch; curly label punch; 1 1/4 " circle punch; 1 3/8" circle punch; 1" circle punch; Tag and Small Tag punch; horizontal slot punch.
Technique: brayered sky (Yes, I did brayered sky on the 1 1/4 " circle behind the bat. It was actually very easy, I did the sky across a piece of Whisper White and then cut all the circles at once!)

Another Swap

I haven't created much since convention, but that's OK I still have plenty of swaps to show you! Anyone coming to my Christmas in September class will get to make this card.

Stamps: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Real Red, Glorious Green, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: White Embossing Powder; Real Red Double-Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, distressing tool.

As soon as I saw this set I knew I had to use it for embossing! I envisioned using Night of Navy cardstock and silver embossing powder layered on Brushed Silver, but I just love this ribbon and I just don't think it would work with that color combo. :) Can anyone else believe we are almost to September? I am curious to know what happened to summer???? Please let me know if you find out! LOL

Just Right 3D

I'm back again! Sorry I ran out of time to set up posts while I was at convention and it's been busy since returning. I will say I had a great time at convention and learned lots of stuff. I do want to share some of my swaps with you. I found this year I was not as stressed about swaps and was genuinely pleased with what I did! This is a 3D swap I did, it is an altoid tin made into a first aid kit!
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Thoroughly Modern DSP, Sahara Sand
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Timeless Type Alpha for Big Shot; Word Window Punch (for "band aid"); filigree brad; Soft Sued polka-dot ribbon








and here is the inside: