Merry Monday Challenge #28

I tried to play the Merry Monday Challenge last week, but something happened (called life) and I totally forgot to upload my card..oops.

This week I am going to get in early and upload my card tonight, maybe right now, depending on the timing of "life", aka kids in the bath, dinner on the stove and the phone will probably ring. You know what happens, when you try to sit down and do something for yourself, everything that can happen, usually does. 

This week's challenge can be found over at Always Playing with Paper. It's challenge #28, and like I said last week, if I had have started playing this challenge at week #1, I would have 28 cards neatly stashed away for Christmas. 

My card this week uses Elegant Eggplant - a colour I never use. I loved Concord Crush and Wisteria Wonder, so never really ventured into the realm of purple out there. I think I like this one. Obviously, it's not a traditional Christmas colour, but sometimes we all need a shake up :)

I embossed with silver embossing powder, after stamping with Snowflake Soiree and Versamark. Added some rhinestones to the centres of the snowflakes for extra sparkle. For the greeting, I just punched the shimmer paper with the Ornament Punch and added my greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

And, just to show you that not everything goes as planned, this is the back side of my card where my 3 year old son decided to add a little more to the design. It was a surprise for me, from him. Gotta love it! Someone with kids will receive this card at Christmas time - from my family to theirs, and I am sure they will understand the importance of 3 year old art!

Come and join me for a workshop in Barrhaven, and you may just meet this 3 year old of mine! 

Stamp Set: Snowflake Soiree, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer Paper

Punches: Ornament Punch, Word Window Punch

Other: Basic Rhinestones, Sponge Dauber, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensions, Snail Adhesive

Enjoy!

Wish Lists

Seriously, this is the best idea ever for the upcoming holiday season. I received this as a swap at Convention, from Gwen Edelman, and I thought that I would share it. I am going to make these for my customers (in holiday themes) for my upcoming classes. This way they can fill them out and either give them back to me, or pass them onto a family member to purchase on their behalf for under the tree on Christmas morning. Great idea, right!

And look, there is a handy reference on the back side as to where all the products are located in the current Idea Book. Such a wonderful idea.

If you register and attend one of my classes between now and Christmas, I will have one of these Wish Lists waiting in your spot when you arrive.

Just a reminder - my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack class is coming up quickly on August 24 at 7pm. I would love to see you!

Enjoy!

My Convention Swap

Another Christmas card for you to start getting inspired with. You can't tell so much in the picture, but the Whisper White layer is embossed with the Stripes Textured Embossing Folder (lengthways). This was my swap for convention. I thought I was keeping it simple, but after making 100, I realized there was more work here than I first imagined. Oh well, I had fun making them and swapping them, and will do it again next year!


Stamp Sets: Perfect Punches, Tiny Tags,  Merry Minis
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Early Espresso
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green
Punches: 1 3/4" Scallop Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Jewellery Tag Punch, Merry Minis Punch Pack
Big Shot: Stripes Textured Embossing Folder
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, 3/16" Gold Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip



Don't forget to check out my classes here in Barrhaven, Ottawa.

Halloween Spooktacular Workshop where we will make candy based projects for handing out on Halloween - perfect for school friends and neighbours! Friday, August 17 at 9am or 7pm.

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack coming up on Friday, August 24 at 7pm. We will be creating 10 cards (2 each of 5 designs). You can see new product from the Holiday Mini in one night!

Enjoy!

Merry Monday #27

Another Christmas card, I know. I know. It is my favourite holiday of the whole year, and when I received the Holiday Mini from Stampin' Up, I could not wait to get creating.

While I took my "sabbatical" I came across a challenge called Merry Monday over at Always Playing with Paper, where each week the challenge is to create a Christmas card. Not only does this challenge aim to keep the most festive of us calm all through the year with a touch of Christmas each week, it really builds up your supply of Christmas cards - ready for giving in December. Imagine if I had have started back in January, I would already have created 32 cards. Crazy, huh!

Back to my card. I fell in love with the silver and red glimmer paper last holiday season, so then the champagne colour came out, it was the very first thing I bought. I knew I needed it! I love the new Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies (actually, any punch or die that co-ordinates with a stamp is wonderful). I used the Finishing Touches Edgelits to create the bottom edges. And, the greeting is from More Merry Messages - great words for both the outside and the insides of cards.

It's a pretty straight forward card, but the glamour from the Glimmer Paper really makes it sparkle.

Stamp Set: More Merry Messages
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red
DSP: Candlelight Christmas
Ink: Real Red
Punches: Modern Label Punch
Big Shot: Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits
Other: 1/4" Taffeta Ribbon in Real Red, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Glue Dots (oh and you will need your paper piercing tool to get the little bits out of the Edgelit Die - just sayin')

You an purchase any of these supplies, right here, at my online store. Send me an email if you have any questions at all.

Enjoy!

Creating Pretty Cards #14

It has been such a long time since I have done any creating, let alone blogging, that I was a bit overwhelmed as to where and how to get started,

Of course, I didn't stop acquiring (aka buying) new stamps, ribbons, embellishments, DSP and cardstock, so it was a lot of fun to get in my craft room and get stamping. And what would be a better way to start off my day than with the Craft Project Central card challenge? I've missed quite a few while I was back at work, but now I am ready to start crafting all over again.

I hope you enjoy this card, as much as I enjoyed designing it.

Stamp Sets: Daydream Medallions, Snowflake Soiree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
DSP: Candlelight Christmas
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Ink: Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Big Shot: Floral Frames Framelits Dies
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

Enjoy!

Just a couple more swaps...

So, I keep finding swaps I really like in my stash - here are the next few, and then I think I am done. Although, there are two more wonderful swaps, which I will share tomorrow. Then, I will be back to creating my own designs - I finally have some time!

This gorgeous card above was created by Lana Horton and uses the stamp set Everything Eleanor. I love the combination of blues, and I am taking a guess with the colours she used - Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy - love it. 

This cutie pie card was made by Monika Davis, super super cute. I may need to acquire that stamp set soon. The DSP is from the new Polka Dot Parade - another fun paper I will need to order. The stamp set is from Animal Talk. Everyone of those stamps are cute.

My final card for today is a Christmas one made by Bertina Maloy. The Midnigth Muse layer has been embossed with the new Fancy Fan Embossing Folder - I need to use that one more! The Top Note is cut from Crumb Cake and spritzed with the Frost White Shimmer Paint. I need to do more spritzing!

I wish I had time to stamp all day, don't you?

Enjoy!

More swaps...

As promised, a few more swaps from Convention 2012, some more of my favourites...they all feature Daffodil Delight and lots of Whisper White - very crisp and clean, just my style!

The first one uses that (crazy) Elegant Bird Bigz Die, which I never ever thought I would like in a million years. Kind of a little creepy, if you know what I mean. But, I saw so many wonderful samples and swaps made with this die, that I am reconsidering. Sometimes you just have to see lots of good ideas, and it grows on you. It is created by Janet Bell in California.
Both the body of the bird and the Whisper White layer are embossed, a pearl for the eye and a sprig of green in the beak. Nice touches.

My second choice for today was created by Carol Nordquist and shows the flower from Blooming with Kindness using the emboss resist technique. The first layer is embossed with the new Chevron Embossing Folder (got it free at Convention - gotta love that!).

And my third choice for today was created by Andrea Furtivo from Los Angeles. She used Bordering on Romance, some mini pearls and the new Daffodil Delight 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon. The DSP is from Floral District, in Baja Breeze. Love that colour combination.

The daily breakout sessions were very well done. I only skipped one to get a bit of shopping in..shhhh..but Convention 2012 was so well organised that there was hardly a minute to myself - jam packed with information, ideas, new product demos, stamping demos and fun. Not to forget Memento Mall which I visited a couple of times. 

My favourite breakout session was with Bonnie, Ronda Wade and Tami White - they were so inspirational and honest. And, just normal and lovely. Both had fabulous tips on expanding our businesses, and shared what was working for them. From listening to these ladies speak, I really do have to just concentrate on doing business My Way, as both of them had very successful businesses, but completely different approaches.


I have only been back home since Sunday night, and I am already looking forward to next year's 25th Anniversary Celebration. I think it's going to be spectacular. Better start saving....


Enjoy!