Blog Candy - don't forget to comment

Don't forget to leave a comment on my post on September 25 - Blog Candy
Anyone who leaves a comment on this post is eligible to win the blog candy - fifty 6 x 6 inch sheets of retired and current Stampin Up Designer Series Paper. So leave your comments and on 10/10/10 I will choose a winner using a random number generator. I will leave the first comment because you know #1 is never chosen :-)

Thanks! Mary

Children's Ornament Workshop

Children's Ornament Workshop
Monday, December 6 and Tuesday, December 7 - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
$5.00 per child

Children 4 and older - Younger if accompanied by an older child or adult.
Make this cute 'diaper fold' ornament - choice of colors and paper.

The fold creates a little pouch that could hold some candy, currency or a gift card -
or a wallet size school picture :-)
These would make a great gift for mom, dad, grandparents, teacher, babysitter.
If my dates don't fit your schedule - contact me, we can come up with a date that does.

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I have also set the dates for the Cardinal Christmas Set workshops - check out my calendar blog to see the details by clicking HERE

Blog Candy

Just reached 1000 hits - so I am offering some blog candy. Anyone who leaves a comment on this post is eligible to win the blog candy - fifty 6 x 6 inch sheets of retired and current Stampin Up Designer Series Paper. So leave your comments and on 10/10/10 I will choose a winner using a random number generator. I will leave the first comment because you know #1 is never chosen :-)

Good luck everyone!

Christmas Offers

Christmas is just around the corner - no time like the present to get started on some cards and gifts. I am offering a couple special events with a Christmas theme.

Christmas Stamp - a- Stack in October.

Cost: $15.00
$10.00 if you place an order for $30 or more
$10.00 if you bring a friend who has never been to my workshops
FREE - if you place an order for $30 AND bring a friend who has
never been to my workshops

Dates:
Friday, October 8, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 9, 9:00 a.m. - noon
Monday, October 11, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

These are the cards we will be making:
This one is Punchy Rudolph. He is so cute! Every part of him is done using a punch (one of the punches is not SU - something I had prior to becoming a demo). The pieces will be ready for you to trim and assemble - and you get an instruction sheet to take home so you can make more.

This one is called Really Wild Ornaments - it uses Real Red and Wild Wasabi - aren't I cute?

I've even decorated the inside for this one - and you can stamp one of the cute
ornaments on the envelope as well.

Scalloped Tree is one of my favorites. My trick for cutting and trimming the tree
make it fast and easy

Pacific Joy uses one of my favorite papers - Pacific Point- which is a past IN color that is now a standard color. I got the idea for this one from a fellow demonstrator, Shari Winterstein (Thanks Shari!) Here is her blog showing all the brightly colored cards. Southern California Stamper



Christmas Cardinal Gift Set

This is a cute set that makes a great gift. I will be offering these as a workshop, kit and completed set.
The striped paper may vary but all designs have the same colors and coordinate with the card stock and stamped image.



Workshop - dates pending - $15.00 for everything to make the folder,

4 matching cards, and envelopes

Kits - $12.00 - includes everything except adhesives, tools (punches etc) and the image.
I cannot sell the image but am offering the Cardinal Christmas stamp set
at a 10% discount when purchased with this kit
Completed Set - $20.00 - I will make a complete set for you - folder, 4 cards and envelopes
The cards can have a Christmas sentiment, Thank you or left blank - your choice.


If you are interested in either or both of these, Email Mary

Fast and Fun Notes makes fast and fun cards!

I have been playing with the Fast and Fun Notes stamp set. It certainly is Fast and Fun! Makes quick cards for almost any occasion and the images can be stamped and left as is or they make great watercolor cards.


I got the idea for the multiple cakes from a card I saw on the Stampin Connection (demo only) website. Thanks Rachel Verbrugge for sharing. After all, you can never have too much cake ! I stamped two of image on the card stock and another image on a scrap piece. I colored them using the markers and a blender pen - then cut two of the cakes from the scrap and glued them among the two images on the main piece of card stock.

Card Stock : Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Gray ink pad, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait markers
Ribbon: Daffodil Delight 3/8 inch taffeta
Punches: Decorative label, Ticket Corner, 1 3/4 x 7/8 oval, Word Window
Blender pens and an acrylic block


This idea came from Diana Carr on Stampin Connection. Isn't that a cute idea?
Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Sunny Garden DSP
Punches: Ticket corner, 3/4 inch circle, Fancy Flower, 1 3/8 x 5/8 oval
Ink: Basic Gray ink pad, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive markers
Blender pens and an acrylic block

The corners of the larger pieces are punched in an unusual way - anyone venture to guess which punch was used? I would have never tried this but saw the idea on another blog and it is definitely going to show up in more of my cards.
Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
Ribbon: 5/8 inch Very Vanilla Satin ribbon
Punches: Ticket Corner and ???? (you tell me)
Ink: Basic Gray ink pad, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Always Artichoke markers
Pearl jewels

Here is a close up of the pearl jewels - love them!


This did not use the Fast and Fun Notes (although you could) but this was definitely fast and fun! I saw the diaper fold ornament at Ellen's Stampin Corner This is such a quick and easy - just fill it with some chocolate or a gift card - or both!
Card Stock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler ink pad, Old Olive marker
Punches: 2 3/8 inch scallop circle, 1 3/4 scallop circle, Ornament punch, Crop-o-dile
Ribbon: 1/8 inch taffeta Very Vanilla
White gel pen
Blender pen (to 'remove' the Cherry Cobbler ink from the To and From before inking with the Old Olive marker - a great trick!)

I got all these ideas through Stampin Connection (found Ellen's Stampin Corner from that site too). It is a great place where demonstrators share their ideas and can discuss anything related to SU. That is just one of the benefits of being an SU demonstrator - on top of 20% commission which increases as your monthly totals increase, a rewards program based on sale (last year I was a demo for only 9 months and had enough rewards to get a free SU demo bag. This year I am shooting for the Color Caddy to store all my ink pads and refills - almost half way there and it is just the first quarter!)
If you would like to learn more about being an SU Demonstrator and enjoying the many benefits, Email Mary
- you can be a hobby demo (just buy for yourself) or a business demo (do workshops etc). Either way you can't lose!

Keepsake Box for Charity

This is another Keepsake Box that I made for a fundraiser for a former co-worker. Her baby was born prematurely after she had been hospitalized for weeks - and only lived for a day. He was so very tiny! Her friends and co-workers planned a fundraiser for this weekend. I am donating this for the silent auction. You can find the directions for the Keepsake Box here.

The box is filled with 25 handmade cards. Here are a few of them. It was so hard to choose which of my cards to put in the box but I have a good mix of holiday, thank you, birthday, friend to friend and blank notes. This was a good way to use up some of the retired papers - but still a great item for the silent auction.

I have also been playing - this card was inspired by another demo who used the Presto paper and the French Foliage stamp set to make some fall-inspired designer paper. Don't you love it?
Stamp Sets: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Cajun Crush, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Presto Paper
Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
Punches: Large Oval, Two Step Bird, Decorative Label, Modern Label
Ribbon: Retired Chocolate Chip 1 inch double stitched

Here is another one with the designer presto paper.
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Presto Paper
Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
Ribbon: Early Espresso 5/8 inch taffeta
Punch: Modern Label

This one was the result of playing with vellum - stamping one leaf on one side of the vellum, another leaf on the back of the vellum and the third leaf on the white card stock. These were layered behind the punched hole and them a piece of the card stock was placed inside the card to cover the back of the white card stock.
I also colored the ribbon using my ink pad and a sponge dauber, then rubbing it with rubbing alcohol to even out the color.
Stamp Set: French Foliage
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy and More Mustard
Card Stock: More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Punch: 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle, Scallop Oval

So, I am ready for Thanksgiving and starting on some Christmas cards later this week! Be sure to check out my calendar blog for the Christmas Stamp-a-stack and the Technique Tuesday for October - you won't want to miss those!

More Masking cards

Here are a couple masking cards I came up with after the technique class Tuesday evening.



These both use the Silhouette Sentiments stamp set (hostess gift level 1 - ask me how you can earn it free). It is a simple stamp set but sure does make some lovely cards.
Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist , Early Espresso and Not Quite Navy
Card Stock: Whisper White, Marina Mist and Not Quite Navy
Punch - 1 3/8 inch circle

Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy and Early Espresso
Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy
Punch: 1 3/8 inch circle

This is one CASEd some time ago and made a bunch of these this week.
Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi
Punch: Ticket Corner

I tore a piece of scrap card stock and used it to mask and daub the sky with the Marina Mist making a 'cloud' design. I hope you can see it in the photo.

Cards for OWH

I am so excited! I have 263 cards ready to go to Operation Write Home. Most were donated from my customers and their friends as they cleaned out their stash. They are like me, love to make the cards but have way more than they will ever use! Thanks to everyone who donated some cards and for the monetary donations to help pay postage costs. Can you believe it - I was able to get all the cards in a large flat rate box! Tomorrow it will be on it's way.

If you missed the opportunity this month, don't despair! I will have more OWH workshops and will continue to collect cards to send. Just remember the guidelines:

No glitter!
A2 (8 1/2 x 5 1/2 folded in half) only

Holiday cards need to arrive there 8 weeks prior to the holiday so I won't be sending any Thanksgiving or Christmas cards after this shipment. I will try to have my next workshop in January so we can send some Easter cards - and then another one in March or April to concentrate on July 4th cards.

Envelopes are appreciated - as well as monetary donation to cover the shipping. I have 2 of the OWH stamps to use on the backs and will 'tuck' the cards and sort them before shipping.

We can also include Any Hero cards which are thank you or encouragement cards for the soldiers themselves.

Looking forward to doing this again!

Virtual Yard Sale

I have some retired stamp sets that I am wanting to part with - never use them and need the space for current products.
You can view the stamp sets in my Webshots album Stamp Sets . They are priced in 3 groups
A - $7.50
B - $8.00
C - $10.00
If I have to ship them,you would need to add shipping costs (approximately $5 per set but will only charge you actual shipping costs and I will try to combine as much as possible into a priority box.)

If you are interested in any of these, post here or Email Mary.

Decorative Label Punch - Love it!

I am loving the new Decorative Label Punch (Holiday Mini Catalog) and have been experimenting with some different ways to layer it with other punches. Here are a couple simple cards using some of my retired paper and rub-ons.
This one layers the Word Window and Modern Label (perfect fit) over the Decorative Label.
And here I turned the label vertically and added the Scalloped Oval and Word Window.

This is another one I made to use up some of my old stash. Shows how the Word Window fits so well in the Decorative Label.
And some more old stash - with the Scalloped Oval on the Decorative Label.

And the 2 x 1 3/8 oval works well with it too. Do you have other ideas for this punch - let me know!

OWH #1 (and why I'll keep my DH)

Last night, 6 of my stampin buddies came over and helped use up some of my surplus and retired stash to make cards for Operation Write Home. We wouldn't all fit in my craft room so I drug out lots of stuff to the living room and dining room.

Several also went through their stash at home and pulled out cards they know they will never use. What a bunch of cards!I could kick myself for not taking some pictures of the ladies - had my camera laying out but never picked it up!
This is one of my favorites of the donated cards. I plan to CASE it with the Fast and Fabulous stamp set and the 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon.


Today, I am so thankful for my hubby - here's why -

My living room is still in complete disarray from the workshop last night - not to mention the dining room table is still covered with cardmaking supplies!
There is a 6 foot long table in the middle of the room with the kitchen chairs still around it. The couches are both covered with boxes of paper, stamp sets, ribbon, brads, and all sorts of scraps and die cuts.

I had to pile up things for him to sit and watch his morning TV while eating his cereal. Not a complaint! He just came through and noticed that he had not taken his bowl and spoon to the kitchen - not a comment about the rest. And most of this will stay in the living room until Sunday afternoon. DD#1 and SIL are going to sleep here tonight and it just gives them more space in the craft room/spare room without my table set up.

Here is DH's to-do list for today - (Someone once corrected me and said it is a honey-do list - not in this house - he makes a much longer list than I would ever dream of)


And not a complaint about my 'stuff'
Now, you all know how I have so much time to stamp and play. Of course, I do have to do some grocery shopping and cook a few meals over the weekend - but he cleans up after me :-) I think I'll keep him!