SALE-A-BRATION is here!

Sale-a-bration is here! This is the best time of the year for Stampin Up - lots of chances to get free merchandise and Stampin Up has outdone themselves in the beautiful products they put together.

These is what greeted me when I got home last night. Although I was tired from a lack of sleep the night before (just could not sleep) and a trip to the airport after work with DH to transport some relatives to the in-laws for the weekend celebration of his parents 60th anniversary (can you believe 60 years!), I had to dig into the boxes instead of crawling into bed like I planned.



I had orders for two workshops to sort so I spread everything out on the floor.


The two hostesses really got some deals. For a $150 dollar or more workshop they received a beautiful tote bag - exclusive to the 2012 Sale-a-bration. One of the hostesses used her money to purchase the color caddy - a good choice!
So - that accounts for 3 of the boxes (2 orders plus the color caddy was shipped in it's own box) - so what was in the fourth box????




Yep! More stuff - and this is all mine! I made sure to stock up on all my papers and adhesives - plus embellishments I plan to incorporate into workshops over the next couple months - so I got the beautiful tote too! Now - can't wait to play with some of it - but that will have to wait until tomorrow as we have to celebrate the 60 the anniverary first. Oh, I do have to decorate a basket for the cards - I knew I could find an excuse to play :-)

CASE-ing Masculine Cards

Recently I hosted a Masculine Card Swap with some other SU demonstrators. Each demonstrator that participated sent me 5 masculine cards. I sent them back 4 cards made by other demonstrators. The extra card from each will be donated to Operation Write Home or another charity if the card does not fit the OWN guidelines.
The best part about hosting the swap was I got to see all of the cards (I believe there were 23 different cards).
The other night I was trying to come up with some ideas for using the new Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper (DSP) and copied (or CASE-d) some of the masculine cards.


This card was made by Jane (my sister and upline). It is so simple yet appealing to the eye.


Here is my card using the Sweet Shop DSP in the squares.
Card Stock - Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Sweet Shop DSP
Embellishment - In Color Brad
Tools - Simply Scored, 1 inch square punch, 1 1/4 inch square punch
I think I'll be making more of these to use up scraps of DSP.


This card was made by Kate. I love how she used three different designs of the DSP.


Here is my copy using the Sweet Shop DSP
Card Stock - Soft Suede, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Sweet Shop DSP
Tools - Decorative Label punch, Medium Oval punch
Embellishment - Soft Suede 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon
Stamp Set - On Your Birthday
Ink - Lucky Limeade


And here is one that Susan made. I really like the use of the Big Shot Scalloped Envelope die.


And here is my take on it using the Sweet Shop DSP.
Card Stock- Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Sweet Shop DSP
Embellishment - Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon
Tools - ??? Punch, Scalloped Envelope die
Ink - Soft Suede


And here it shows the little card pulled out of the envelope. This would be a great design to use for a single layer card like a post card.

It was fun working with the Sweet Shop DSP but then I enjoy all the DSP designs!

Homemade Pizza - my favorite!

I love making homemade pizza and it is really easy to mix up the dough in the bread machine. My daughter requested whole wheat pizza crust so thought I would give it a try it this week. I found a recipe online here



The dough was very easy to work with. The recipe says it will make two 14 inch crusts but I got 3 crusts and one of them is really thick so may have been able to get another smaller one.


My favorite pizza toppings are fresh vegetables. I really like carmelized onions on my pizza so I cooked up some sliced onion and added some red bell pepper. I did not have any fresh mushrooms, so I added some canned ones (a poor substitute but you do what you gotta do).


That was all topped with some slices of provolone cheese. YUMMY!



On the other two crusts my daughter used pepperoni slices, canned mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. Both pizzas were delicious! (I ate too much)

Technique Tuesday is back

After taking a break in December, Technique Tuesday is starting again on January 17.

The technique for January is Chalk Background (for want of a better name). I used it for the tree. It is hard to see in the photo but there are reds, oranges, yellows and greens in the tree image added using the pastel chalks in the background behind the stamped image.


February's Technique is Baby Wipe Inkers. This gives a vivid mulitcolored image. For the cards here I used Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard and Garden Green.


Technique Tuesday is the third Tuesday of the month. Drop in between 6:30 and 8 p.m. The $5 fee covers the sample, a card make using the technique, instructions and a sheet protector.

Menu Monday - a day early :-)

I know I won't have time to post the menu tomorrow so am doing it tonight. I am beginning the Wellness Challenge at work this week so meals are going to have to be healthier!
Sunday - Spinach Lasagne
Side Salad
Grapes

Monday - Chicken Alfredo Rigatoni (Schwan's frozen entree - maybe not so healthy :-)
Peas
Orange Sections

Tuesday - Homemade Whole Wheat Crust pizzas
Fruit Kabobs

Wednesday - Turkey Burgers
Italian Potatoes
Applesauce

Thursday - Crock African Chicken and Noodles
Stir Fry Vegetables

Friday - Baked Fish
Ramen Slaw
Corn

Saturday - Raspberry Balsamic Chicken
Baked Potato
Salad

Sunday - Club Salad
Crackers and Cheese

Club Cards for January

These are the items we made at the club this weekend. It was a fun time!



Gnome Sweet Gnome -
Card Stock - More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Ink - Basic Gray and Watercolor Crayons
Tools- Edgelits, Adorning Accents embossing folders, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Blender Pens
Stamp Set - Gnome Sweet Gnome


Here is a close up of the embossed and trimmed edge on the Very Vanilla. You can also see the hearts embossed in the Cajun Craze.



Take it to Heart -
Card Stock - Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink - Blushing Bride, Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler
Tools - Full Heart punch
Embellishments - Pleated ribbon in Riding Hood Red
Stamp Sets - A Word for You, Take it to Heart


This is a closeup of the pleated ribbon. It is so pretty and easy to use!


Ain't Love Grand - candy pocket
Card Stock - Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Real Red DSP, First Edition DSP
Stamp Set - Ain't Love Grand
Tools - Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Large Oval punch, Big Shot, Scalloped Envelope die cut
Ink - Stazon Black
Embellishments - Real Red taffeta ribbon, Real Red flower brad



These valentine cards were very popular. You can see more about them on yesterday's post.

Hearts Abound

My favorite new 'toys' are the heart framelits and the fashionable hearts embosslits. I've been playing with these making some cute heart shaped cards.

The base of the card is Blushing Bride card stock. I fold the card stock in half and place the framelit on the card stock so one of the straight edges hangs over the fold in the card stock. I run it through the Big Shot and have a little heart shaped card.
Card Stock - Blushing Bride, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray, Nursery Nest DSP
Embellishments - Large Pearls, Pearl Jewels, Victoria Crochet Trim, Marina Mist 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
Ink - Cherry Cobbler, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz
Stamp sets - Take it to Heart, Tiny Tags
Tools - Embosslits Fashionable Hearts, Full Heart Punch, Heart Framelits, Eyelet Border punch


This one uses the same supplies - just played with different layouts. The background is a piece of Whisper White card stock that I covered with scraps of Nursery Nest DSP. After covering the card stock, I cut out a heart using the framelits.


This is how the card looks opened. It is a cute card that can be used as a valentine or for a wedding, engagement, shower - almost anything.


The large pearls look great with the pearl jewels. The smooch spritz gives is just the right touch!


This closeup shows some of the embosslits hearts - they are adorable. The embossing adds so much to them. And they are so easy to make with the die. It embosses and cuts out 5 hearts in different designs and sizes at one time. A great way to use up scraps too. The hearts look great layered.



I stamped one of the hearts from the Take it to Heart set and trimmed it down close to the image then layered it on card stock punched from Basic Gray using the full heart punch. I added a little tied knot of Marina Mist with a mini glue dot. The 'love' is stamped in Cherry Cobbler using one of the Tiny Tags punches.


This one is mounted on Basic Gray. I like the look of the intersected ribbon with the pearl accent.


I added a white heart inside for the note and decorated it with a couple of the extra embosslit hearts.


This one has a Pear Pizzazz base. I like the tiny pearls along the curve on this one. These cards were a big hit at the club today.

Technique Tuesdays are back!

Technique Tuesdays are back! I took a break in December but am ready to do again. Check out my calendar blog for dates and techniques I have scheduled.



We will kick off 2012 with Chalk Backgrounds. It's a great way to add some color and depth without layers.
Stamp Set- Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Basic Gray, Basic Black
Pastel Chalks
Card Stock - Rose Red, Basic Black, Bashful Blue
Tools - Blender pen, Scalloped Oval, Medium Oval
Embellishment - Neutral brads


Here is a close up of the chalk background image.


A clean and simple card with some color and depth added by creating a chalk background.
Stamp set - Elizabeth, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink- Soft Suede
Tools - Pastel Chalks
Card Stock - Sahara Sand, Soft Suede and Pumpkin Pie
Embellishment - Daffodil Delight 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon


Another card with the chalk background - a variety of color in the tree.
Stamp Set - Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink- So Saffron, Early Espresso
Card Stock - So Saffron, Early Espresso, retired DSP
Embellishment - 3/8 inch Very Vanilla taffeta dyed with So Saffron
Tools - Pastel Chalks, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch


A close up of the tree. See the color peeping through the image.

Wedding or shower favors

I was playing with an idea for a small project for the January clubs - and came up with some cute wedding or shower favors. These could also be used for a Valentine's treat so I probably will do something similar to these for the clubs.


This was my first idea. You could slip a miniature candy bar, gift card or a love note inside.
I used two of the Scalloped Envelopes and glued them together.
Card Stock - Whisper White, Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Ink - Real Red
Tools - Heart to Heart punch, Scallop oval punch, Small oval punch, Crop-a-dile
Embellishments - Real Red 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon, Real Red flower brad
Stamp set - Tiny Tags


This one also uses two of the Scalloped Envelopes but is adhered to make a narrow box. This one would hold a couple of the square Ghardelli chocolates (or similar candies)
Card Stock - Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Ink - Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade marker
Stamp Set - Ain't Love Grand
Ribbon - Daffodil Delight 3/8 inch taffeta


Here is a side angle shot to show the dimensions.


And for a little different look I added a piece of Whisper White trimmed down to look like a liner inside the box.