A Rare Saturday Post

Because I promised I would post earlier in the week and didn't have time to do it ~ Here's a little project for Saturday!

This little Jelly Jar Pin Cushion went together pretty quickly. I really wanted to do it with the new Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric in the Holiday Mini, but I haven't received mine yet, so I went with the ever so cute Candy Cane Christmas Fabric in the big catalog. It's very cute too, and worked just fine.

I used the 3-1/2" Circle Die to cut the fabric with my Big Shot. Then, I put Sticky Strip around the edge, on the underneath side of the flat insert of the lid. I put a tuft of fiberfill on top, covered that with the fabric and wrapped it around adhering it to the Sticky Strip underneath. I Love Sticky Strip. When I am doing a 3D project, it is always my adhesive of choice. To finish the underneath side, I added a circle of Real Red Cardstock, punched with the 2-1/2" Circle Punch.

I filled mine with the new Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons, but you could fill it with colorful straight pins, a little sewing kit, bobbins, candy, the possibilities are endless! I have a couple of sewers in my family & think these will make cute little gifts.

The lady at the grocery where I bought the jelly jars was so excited. She asked me what I was canning. I think she thought I was a little nuts when my response was, "Ummm buttons?"

Thanks so much for stopping by today & enjoy this Holiday weekend!
dd

New Month - New Mini!

Just a quick post today to remind you that ~

Today is the first day we can place orders from the Holiday Mini Catalog! This catalog is 43 pages of total awesomeness! There are products for Halloween, Fall, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter & More!

If you don't have a catalog, you can check it out on my website HERE. If you'd like to have your very own copy, just let me know & I'll get one to you right away!

The sales period for this mini is September 1 through January 3, 2012. Book your Holiday Workshops now!

I have a busy day today, but I promise I'll share a project with you tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by & enjoy browsing through the new mini!
dd

Countdown to Christmas Calendar

I'm very excited to share today's project with you! It's another sneak peek at a couple of the fabulous products that will soon be available. A new die for the Big Shot, and you know how much I Love my Big Shot, an adorable stamp set and finally a One Inch Square Punch! Are you ready?

I pretty much squealed when I saw this sample and these products in the Holiday Mini Catalog. They went at the top of my Wish List. We are so fortunate as Demonstrators, to have the opportunity to pre-order items so we can prepare our samples and have them ready when the mini catalogs are released.

This project features several new products in the mini. The new Peekaboo Frames Bigz Die, the 25 & Counting Stamp Set & coordinating One Inch Square Punch and if you look closely, you'll see the new Mini Jingle Bells. I used the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper from the current catalog, but you know there is going to be Christmas DSP in the mini. Not just one series, but two! Oh yeah, you're gonna Love it!

I've used lots of other products on this project too, and I'm not going to list them all today. If you have a question about something you see, just leave me a comment. I'll be happy to answer any questions any one may have. One I know you're going to want to know is what size frame. This is a 12x12 Scrapbook Page frame that I found at my local craft store. I mounted my project on a piece of chipboard, and did not put the glass back in, so you can "peek" under the frames.

Here's a closeup of some of the details.

And how I completed day 25.

Thanks so much for your kind words about my Rosette Tutorial. I hope you have as much making them as I did, and Thanks today for stopping by!
dd

Stamp-a-Stack Card #2

Here is another card we made in my class. Another idea I altered from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

I used the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder on Baja Breeze Cardstock for the base of this card, and then randomly stamped the snowflakes from the Jolly Old Saint Nick Stamp Set in Baja Breeze Classic Ink. I stamped the cute little snowman from the same set on a tag from the Two Tags Die, cut with the Big Shot, added Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (discontinued) and adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I tied a bit a ribbon through the Big Designer Button and added it to the tag. The sentiment is also from the Jolly Old Saint Nick Stamp Set. It is stamped in Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink, my new favorite red. It is so rich and yummy! Then I punched it out with the Scallop Oval Punch and layered it on an Extra Large Cherry Cobbler Oval.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another card from my class. Thanks for stopping by today!

dd

Handmade Holiday

We had so much fun at my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday. I am very pleased with the cards that we made. I tried to keep them simple, but that's not so easy with beautiful DSP, large designer buttons that match, glimmer brads, new punches, and let's not forget the adorable stamp sets! I created 6 cards, and the ladies made 4 each of each design. I just couldn't stop, so they also got 2 Bonus cards that they made 1 each. They went home with 26 cards! They now have a great start on their Holiday Card List.

Most of the cards featured products from the Holiday Mini Catalog, but I did pull in a couple of old favorites. The first card was actually CASE'd from the mini. I just changed the colors up a bit and added a Glimmer Brad, and a different sentiment.

The base is Real Red Cardstock. The scallop square was cut with my Big Shot and the new Scallop Square Duo Die. This die has two scallop squares, this one and one that will layer with the Scallop Square Punch. The polka dot paper is from the incredibly cute, Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Paper. This paper is just too fun, with red glitter on two of the designs. It also coordinates with the Candy Cane Christmas Fabric and the Candy Countdown Calendar, also in the mini. The Garden Green design behind the ornament is the new Extra-Large Decorative Label Punch ~ Love this punch! The ornament is from the Tags til Christmas Stamp Set, stamped with Real Red Classic Ink, and punched out with the Ornament Punch. I added the Green Glimmer Brad in the center and used Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is from the Word Play Stamp Set.

You can create the perfect Handmade Holiday now at 20% off! From October 19 – December 16, choose from several different holiday bundles containing gorgeous Stampin’ Up! projects – prefect for creating cards, gift packaging, and gifts – and all at 20% off!

Contact me or check it out online!
Thanks for stopping by~

dd

Life is a Matter of Moments

Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's mid September already. The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Among all the madness, I did get to take a long relaxing weekend trip with my hubby to Marco Island Florida to celebrate our 35th Anniversary. It's actually not until next month, but we are expecting our third grandchild on our actual anniversary date, so we decided to take our trip early so we wouldn't take a chance of missing welcoming her into the world. Here's a picture of one of the beautiful sunsets that we enjoyed on Marco.

I thought this card was appropriate for today. I got this card in a swap and have made it again several times. Life is a matter of moments. Moments that pass by so quickly sometimes, we need to try to slow down a bit to enjoy each & every one of them.

This is the Elements of Style Stamp Set. I do love this set. It is so elegant, and is beautiful when water colored, or just as beautiful left alone, as I've done here. I also love the technique of Faux Mosaic. It adds just a subtle touch of texture to the background. All you do is score every 1/2" horizontally and vertically creating the mosaic tile look before you stamp your image. The bird was stamped with Rich Razzleberry & hand cut, then adhered to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. The base of the card and ink are Soft Suede.

The Holiday Mini Catalog sales period began September 1. There are so many great new products in it, you'll definitely want to check it out. If you need a copy, let me know and I'll get one to you right away. You can also look at it online. Don't forget, you can also order online, anytime!

If you are local, I will be teaching my Halloween Hoopla Class at the Comfort Inn Suites Hotel this Sunday, September 19. There's still room ~ contact me if you'd like to join us!

Thanks for stopping by today!

dd

New Month, New Stuff, New Special!

Oh ~ where to start? You can now order from the Holiday Mini Catalog. There are so many fun new products in this mini, it's a good thing we have until January 3, 2010 to get them all! If you haven't seen it, click on the picture and take a look. There's Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even Valentine's Day. You can get all your cardmaking & scrapbook projects prepared and ready to go for the next several months. Or, I bet you have crafty friends that would love to receive some new Stampin' Up! products in their Christmas stockings.

I promised I would share the cards from my last class, so here's the first one. I got a card similar to this in a swap & revamped it a bit for class. I try to use different color combinations, and one tool that is extremely helpful is my Color Coach. It is a swatch of each color of cardstock and has a guide on the back with the coordinating colors. If you find putting colors together a challenge, this tool is a must. You can check it out in the catalog. Sometimes I still do my own thing, just using it as a guide.

I've used Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla. The Marina Mist is embossed using the Big Shot and the Finial Press Embossing Folder. I love these folders, they make your embossing very crisp & clean. The little tabs are the Small Oval Punch, just folded over and attached with a Crumb Cake Brad from the Neutrals Collection. The friends stamp is from Vintage Vogue, and the sentiment is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set. The ribbon is Marina Mist Taffeta.

We have a fabulous incentive this month if you're thinking about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! September 1 through October 18, you will get this gorgeous Craft Tote FREE when you join Stampin' Up! as a Demonstrator. That's a $39.95 Value. This tote is patterned after the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper and is large enough to hold your 12" Paper Trimmer and 12x12 Paper. It also has lots of pockets to hold punches, ink pads, markers, and lots of other tools and accessories to help keep you organized while you travel to do your workshops! I'd Love to have you join my Team, and I'd Love to see you carrying this adorable tote!
Contact me if you have any questions, or if you need a copy of the Holiday Mini Catalog. Check my website for my classes, they are posted for the rest of the year. I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for checking in! Oh ~ I have been released from physical therapy & I'm almost back to 100% mobility with my shoulder. Thanks for all the well wishes ~ You're the Best!

dd

New Downloads & A Card

Stressing about your Christmas cards yet? Stress no more! As of today, there are seven new digital downloads for My Digital Studio available, including several holiday-themed kits that will make your Christmas projects a breeze! Click on the My Digital Studio Picture to the right, I have redirected it to take you right to the Newest Downloads available.

Remember, even if you haven't purchased My Digital Studio yet, you can still purchase downloads and use them later with MDS, or with digital software you are already using.

Item # Item Name Price 118117 Berry Christmas stamp brush set $5.95 118118 Friend by Definition stamp brush set $1.95 118119 Just Perfect Alphabet stamp brush set $9.95 120880 Christmas Cocoa II digital kit $9.95 120881 Write Stuff II digital kit $9.95 120882 Icicle digital photo card kit $3.95 120883 Merry Moments digital photo card kit $3.95 My card today is my favorite of all the cards I made for the Craft Bazaar. This one uses the Big Shot & Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder. I love these embossing folders! They make it so easy to add great dimension to your cards. You can find this one in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I used my Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen to color the centers of the poinsettias. I think it really makes the card. The saying is from the Heard From The Heart Stamp Set. The ribbon is the 3/4" Red Polka Dot Grosgrain. I hope SU adds this in more colors, I love it too! Here is a close up of the embossing. Thanks for checking in, hope you're having a wonderful day. The sun is finally shining here! dd

Treat Box

These Treat Boxes are perfect if you like to make Holiday Treats to share with friends & family. They are coated and food safe. They come 5 to a package for only $3.95, and ship flat. All you have to do is fold on the crease lines when you're ready to use them, insert your treat, small gift, or gift card, add a tag with coordinating ribbon and viola! You have an adorable gift bag in a snap!

I used the Large Metal Edge Tag, covered with Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP punched with the 1-3/4" Circle Punch. It just happens to be the perfect fit. I love that about SU products, everything works together! I stamped the deer image from the Winter Post Stamp Set in Soft Suede Classic Ink, punched it out, sponged the edges, and layered it on the tag with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the red nose with my Real Red Stampin' Write Markers. The Sweet Treats saying is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set, stamped with Real Red Classic Ink, punched out with the Word Window Punch, and layered on Real Red Cardstock punched with the New Modern Label Punch. I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch the hole in the tag, added the Sleigh Bells Ribbon, and tied it to my Treat Box.

These are so simple and fun to make. You can make up several at a time, so when you get that unexpected invite to a friends house, you can add your treats and have a nice gift to present to them when arrive.

The Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP, and Sleigh Bells Ribbon can be found in the Holiday Mini Catalog, along with lots of other fun Holiday stamp sets, paper & ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed today's project. Thanks for stopping by!

dd

Wood Block Calendar

Are you loving the Holiday Mini Catalog as much as I am? When I saw these Decor Elements Blocks, I just knew I had to have them. I didn't know at the time exactly what I was going to do with them, although I really like the sample in the catalog, but I had to have them! I also loved the Calendar Kit...okay...I pretty much love everything about this mini catalog.

At Regional they showed the calendar on the blocks, so I had try it! The calendar pages are bigger than the 3" blocks, so I had to trim them down. I painted the tops & bottoms of each block with acrylic craft paint. The Blocks come in a set of 4, but I only used 3. I put 4 months on each block. Just make sure you don't put 2 consecutive months on the same block, if you want to display them in a stack like this. The Calendar Pages come printed with some distressing marks. I stamped the swirly design from the Note To Self stamp set, also in the mini, randomly along the edge of each month with Old Olive Classic Ink. I used Sticky Strip to adhere the pages, and lightly sanded the edges with my Sanding Block. I stacked them up and tied them with the 1-1/4" Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

These would make great Teacher gifts, or gifts for a co-worker to set on their desk. I just love it! I came up with some other ideas while working on this, so I just had to order some more blocks. I can't wait until they get here!

Hope you're enjoying this Fabulous Fall weather. Thanks for stopping by!

dd

I'ts About Time!

Wow, I don't even know where to begin. My poor neglected blog. I quit working, and I feel like I am busier than ever! Rushing here, rushing there, doing this, doing that...someone told me it's because when you're working you can say "no", because you know you're working, and you know your limits. Any way, I decided today was the day that I was going to take the time to sit down with some sweet tea and try to fill you in on everything that is happening with Stampin' Up!

The Holiday Mini Catalog sales period is in full swing. This is a great catalog that covers Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentines Day. You can look at it online, or contact me and I will get you a copy.

Sweet Rewards -- From October 1 - November 30, get our all-new My Digital Studio^™ software for 50% off when you host a $400 workshop! Plus, get any one item from the Holiday 2009 Mini Catalog for just $10 when you host a $250 workshop. Contact me to schedule your workshop.

Deals of the Week--Throughout October, get all-new Deals of the Week—with select products up to 50% off! See below for this week’s Deals of the Week:

Dates	Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
October 1, midnight (MT) through October 12 (9:50 AM)	109183	186	Trio Flower punch	$15.95	$10.99
	109041	187	5-Petal Flower punch	$15.95	$10.99
	110709	187	My Way punch	$15.95	$11.99

Visit my Online Store today to take advantage of these great offers!

My Digital Studio -- Creativity goes digital with My Digital Studio! Use the same great artwork, colors, and accessory images found in our current product lines to create personalized cards, photo albums, scrapbooks, and other projects. Once you've created your personalized gift or heirloom, have it printed in our high-quality print facility and delivered to your door; or you can print your creation at home.

Watch the video at the end of this post for even more information on what My Digital Studio has to offer—and imagine the possibilities!

Digital + Starter Kit -- With the introduction of My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up! is now offering an all-new business opportunity with the Digital+ Starter Kit. Priced at just $185. You can see the exact contents of this kit by clicking on the picture on the right.

That's probably enough for today -- I'll be back tomorrow -- Thanks for stopping by!

dd

More Wandering Words

Well, I'm back, and the long weekend sure didn't seem long enough! We had a fabulous time though. Scott got to do some fishing, we took a leisurely boat ride, went to the beach, ate great sea food, and relaxed by the pool. Can't wait to do it again!

Back to business today. I just listened to some training information about the new My Digital Studio. I am so excited about this program. I am not a computer wiz, and was concerned that I would have difficulty learning this, or answering questions that my customers may have. But after today, I am not worried at all. It looks so easy...I can't wait to share it with you!

I do have a card for you today. This is another stamp from the Wandering Words Stamp Set in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I used Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Kraft, Naturals Ivory, and Very Vanilla Cardstock. I stamped the image twice, once with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, and once with Ruby Red on Very Vanilla. Then punched out Santa with the 1" Circle Punch and used Stampin' Dimensionals and adhered him right on top of the first one. I used the Jumbo Grommet to create the perfect hole to tie the 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon through. I created the textured background with my Big Shot and the Texturz Plates Kit #4.

Registration is open for our Holiday Mini Workshop. Thursday, October 8, 2009. If you want to join us in creating several fun projects featuring the products found in the Holiday Mini Catalog, contact me today!

Thanks for visiting today!

dd

On Vacation

I just wanted to let you all know that I am leaving today for a long weekend vacation with my husband to Marco Island. He has been working some incredibly long hours and is in great need of some R&R.

I had hoped to be so organized that I could schedule a couple of posts while I was gone, but that didn't happen. Please check out my Stampin' Up! website to view the Holiday Mini Catalog if you haven't received one in the mail. There are so many fun & exciting new products in it. New dies for the Big Shot, Specialty Designer Series Papers with Metallic and Flocked Papers. Pre-Glittered On Board Chipboard, Gorgeous Ribbons, New Decor Elements, and one of my favorite new additions, Simply Adorned Charms. These will make beautiful Christmas gifts! Also check out the new Build-a-Bear Workshop Dies and Accessories, they are adorable. Then, another favorite, I can't wait to get this myself! My Digital Studio. This is in the mini catalog, but will not be available until October 1, 2009. Stampin' Up! goes Digital. Use exclusive images in this innovative and easy-to-use software studio to make creating cards, photo albums, scrapbooks, and other projects even simpler.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll see you when I get back!

dd

Sweet Centers

Okay...I can't stand it any longer. I have noticed that some other Demonstrators have already shared some projects from the up-coming Holiday Mini Catalog. There are only a few days left before the sales period begins, so I decided that I too would share some of the things that I have been working on lately.

I was so excited when I saw this first item in the mini. These Sweet Treat Cups are perfect to hold little goodies, and coordinates with the Sweet Centers Stamp Set. The cups are self adhesive, which makes it even easier to create ornaments, treat bags, cards and more!

For my card, I used Basic Black Cardstock for the base. I stamped the Sanded Background Stamp on Rich Razzleberry Cardstock with Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink. I stamped the Ghouls and Goblins Stamp on Whisper White. This is one stamp, with the EEK in the center. I just punched out the center with the 1-3/4" Circle Punch, and added a Black Brad for the spider.


Hostess Promotion!
Beginning September 1--
Host a workshop* totaling $250 or more and choose any one item** from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!
* A workshop can be an in home workshop order, a group catalog order or a personal order with merchandise before s/h and sales tax totaling $250.
**Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

Contact me to schedule your workshop today!

Thanks for checking in...more mini samples tomorrow...

dd