Thank You, Sparklers!

The Sparklers got together a few nights ago for a "Shoe Box" swap. Everyone designs a project and prepares enough card stock and accessories for everyone who is attending to make one of your cards. Then we pass the shoe boxes around and stamp! It's a lot of fun and one event we need to do more often!

Because this was the first time I was seeing everyone (well, almost everyone) around the holidays, I had a small gift for each of them and gave them this 3 x 3 card with a note from me.

Supplies used: Pretty in Pink & Real Red card stock; Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper; Real Red Classic Ink; Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches; Rhinestone brad.

I will post my Shoe Box swap tomorrow!

Happy Bearthday Lexy!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! Ours has been great - we have had out of town kids and grandkids here so while things can get a bit hectic, we love having everyone here! And of course, my daughter and I are finding some time for stamping!

Our oldest grandaughter, Lexy, turned nine a couple of weeks ago. This is the card I made her. The Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack is from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog. I stamped the bear on watercolor paper with Black Stazon ink and watercolored her with our Watercolor Wonder crayons and Aquapainters. The pink flower she is holding is from our Flower Assortment brads.

I {Heart} Hearts stamp set

The rest of the family headed out to see "Avatar" this afternoon and I decided to stay home and "play" with some of my new stamps! I was sent the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog for FREE about a month or so ago. I am still in "Christmas Card" mode so came up with this idea.

(Garden Green and Real Red card stock and classic ink along with Heard From the Heart )

Here are a couple of more samples using a Bordering Blue and Always Artichoke color scheme on the first card and Melon Mambo and Whisper White on the second card.




Stay tuned for more samples with new stamp sets!

One More Sneak Peek!

The Sweet Treat Cups have been so popular, Stampin' Up! is carrying them over to the Occasions Mini Catalog. Also available will be heart shaped Sweet Treat Cups!! They will be 2.95 for a box of 12 and coordinate with our large Heart Punch! Because crafters will want to use these for Valentine's Day, I am anticipating that these will go on back order very quickly! If you would like to place a pre-order with me, please let me know by January 1st! I am leaving for Phoenix on January 2nd and will place my order while I am gone!

Another Sneak Peek!

It may be hard to see but to coordinate with the Valentine products are Pretty in Pink and Real Red Corduroy Buttons, Sending Love Epoxy Brads, and 5/8" Satin Ribbon in nine colors!!

Last minute Christmas Cards!

I am working feverishly to get my Christmas cards out! I have finished our brief Christmas letter and have the address labels printed. But I realized that I haven't made enough cards. So I pulled out my Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit. These kits are ideal for putting together cards in a hurry! Simply cut the 12 x 12 card stock into four 6 x 6 pieces, and voila! You have 4 cards! Embellish with the designer series paper and die cut adhesives. Maybe add a little ribbon or a few brads. Stamp a greeting or write a quick note on the inside and you are done! These fit into our Open End envelopes and use regular postage.


Check out our other Simply Scrappin' Kits on pages 164 - 167 for card making ideas for all your card sending needs!

More Sneak Peeks!

As I mentioned in my newsletter, starting with Sale-A-Bration and the Occasions Mini Catalog, stamps will be available in both the wood mount and clear acrylic block styles. The rubber stamps for the acrylic blocks come in these DVD size cases for easy storage.

I'll be working on some samples in the very near future and will post them!


I am loving these new punches! They are easy to use and they lock and stack for easier storage!

Thank You, Hostesses!

As many you know, every year I hold a evening of fun (stamping, games, prizes, food) for anyone who has hosted a workshop for me during the year. This year, we met last Sunday evening. Silly me had the camera upstairs and I didn't take one photo! But I will share the projects we made!

Everyone who attended received this gift box filled with goodies!






Here are the projects we made:




Both projects are easy to make! The first projects uses a paper lunch bag. Cut off the top of the bag so that is measures 8 1/2". Fold in half. Randomly stamp snow flakes (we used Serene Snowflakes from the Holiday Mini) with Soft Suede Classic Ink. Attach Soft Suede ribbon to front and back of bag. Randomly stamp snow flakes on Very Vanilla card stock and sponge Soft Suede ink over it. Mat on piece of Soft Suede card stock and adhere over ribbon to the front of the "card". The inside greeting is from Sweet Seasons.



This cute little gift card holder was made using the 4 Petal Card Die and Merry Moments designer series paper. Simply fold up the bottom petal and fold in the two side petals. Attach card stock and embellish a desired.


I just love hosting this event! And I would love to extend an invitation to you! All you have to do is host a workshop! Sale-A-Bration runs from January through March and is the perfect time to hold a workshop! Everyone can earn FREE stamps!! I still have a few spots in January and am booking into February and March!

Build-A- Bear Workshop™

A week ago I held the first of two Build-A-Bear workshops. Everyone had a great time! I thought I would share some of the photos of the night!

Here are the prizes that were given away!

We started off the evening watching the new animated story of "Hal and Holly Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure"



The kids colored pictures and dressed Die Cut Bears while the adults stamped a Christmas Card with Beary Best Friends.

I invited Stephanie Doran, a mom who lives in the area and has a great blog to bring her kids and come over. She took some great photos and posted about the event on her blog, www.timeslidesby.com. I hope you will check it out!

Here is Stephanie working on her card:


The winner of the video:


Unfortunately, crummy weather forced a cancellation of the second event. So watch my calendar on my web site for a re-schedule! I still have more prizes to give away!