BUSY GETTING READY....

to head out to a Scrapbook Retreat with a group of friends this weekend and I CANNOT WAIT!! Amid all the craziness of the holidays it is going to be nice to have a weekend of FUN! I am going to do some personal proejcts - something I need to start making more time for so that I can enjoy making my family stuff too, LOL!! When it gets really busy like this, I forget to take care of "me" but I think that is a common occurrence amongst us women, heeehee!! However, I HAVE been making some Christmas cards so I can get those in the mail and so I am sharing one of those with you today! It's another simple card because when you send as many as I do you have to keep them simple or you will never get them done!!  I pulled out one of my favorite sets, this is totally what Christmas is for me - family, reflection, thanks to God, and time spent together - and yes, I get that all from this image, LOL! The stamp set is called Welcome Christmas and it has some wonderful images included that are very reflective of what a traditional Christmas might be.  I paired the stamp wet with some Holly Jolly Designer Series paper and some Early Espresso card stock - added some yummy taffeta ribbon and done! I love the simple prettiness, it makes me smile!!! I hope you are all enjoying the festive feeling in the air and trying to maintain some balance - I know it gets hard!!! Enjoy your weekend and I will have some fun pics to share when I get back!! And, hopefully a whole lot of scrappin' because I have an entire book to get done, heeehee!  Until then, happy stampin'!!
Card recipe:
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stock, Holly Jolly Designer Series Paper
Ink - Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green stampin' write markers and classic ink pads
Stamps - Welcome Christmas
Accessories - Whisper White taffeta ribbon, designer buttons
Tools - Ticket corner punch

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK..

a lot like Christmas!!! WHEW! I spent 16 hours Christmas shopping yesterday with a friend and I have to say it was a wonderful day!! I am still smilin' from all the fun we had!! And, I was able to put a dent in my Christmas list - a small one, but hey, that just means I need to do another day!!  Great fun, I just love this time of year!!!  So, in keeping with my mood, I am sharing another Christmas card with you all today - loved all the bling I was playing with from yesterday and so I made another card with  more bling :-)  I love this Cardinal stamp - it is one of the prettiest stamps I have, I just think it is very elegant! The set is called Cardinal Christmas, isn't that bird fabulous??!!!  I enjoy coloring him in with my stampin' write markers, he is just so fun to color! I used traditional colors on this one - reds and greens all th way but with a splash of gray that I love! I kept the card simple because I wanted the focuse on the image - I stamped him in Black Stazon, colored him in with Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Early Espresso stampin' write markers, and then ran the whole piece of Whisper White card stock through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - love it!! The sentiment is stamped on Old Olive card stock and is punched out using the Fancy Label punch.  I then added some of the fine red glitter using my two-way glue pen under the words and also on the berries on the branches! I have to say, this was a fun card to make - I love getting all glittery, LOL!  I am leaving the recipe of everything I used below so if there is something here that catches your eye and you HAVE to have it, you can order it in my online store!  Have questions??  Feel free to email me and I will get back to you with an answer :-)  Today I am working on some more cards for my workshop on Saturday and then my Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday so lots of stamping fun for me today!! I hope you are all having as wonderful a week as I am!! I will be back tomorrow with more to share- until then, Happy Stampin'!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Old Olive, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White card stock, Holly Jolly designer series paper pack
Inks - Black Stazon, Early Espresso classic inks, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Early Espresso stampin' write markers
Stamps - A Cardinal Christmas
Accessories - Going Gray taffeta ribbon
Tools - Scallop Edge punch, Extra Large Fancy Label punch, Corner Rounder punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

BLING MAKES ME SING!!

Hi All!! WOW! We had a wonderful time on our vacation in Mendocino - the ocean was beautiful but it sure was COLD there, LOL!! We had great fun hiking and climbing all over the cliffs and exploring the tide pools - the kids had a BLAST! We stayed in a wonderful, cozy little home overlooking the water, the view was amazing! We explored all kinds of different beach areas, and our little Bella (mini weiner dog) got her first taste of the beach and she seemed to really love all the new smells, LOL! As soon as I am done organizing my pics (over 1000!) I will post a few for you all to see, it really is beautiful there!  But now, I think I probably owe you a card so I thought I would share one I did for Christmas, my favorite time of year!

Oh, how I loved making this card - look at all the bling!!! Bling really DOES make me sing - it makes me feel so happy, I just love it! The glitter, the brads, the pearls, I love it all!!!!! On this card I used some of the fine red glitter and I adhered it to the tree using my two-way glue pen. If you have never used this wonderful little pen, you HAVE to try it, I swear you will wonder why it took you so long, I did, LOL!!  The stamped images are from the stamp set called Snow Swirled, and I just absolutely love this set, it is one of my favorite ones to pull out for the holidays! And, look at that yummy patterned paper from the Holly Jolly designer series pack - YUM!!! I could see me using this paper all year long for all kinds of things :-)  Of course, no card for me is complete without using my Big Shot and my punches and this card is no exception! The Chocolate Chip Card Stock is embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder and then the sentiment is mounted on Cherry Cobbler that has been punched out using my Extra Large Designer Label Punch.  The sentiment itself is stamped in Garden Green on Very Vanilla card stock that is punched out using the Modern Label Punch, then popped up on dimsensionals! I love it!!! I also used the Eyelet Border Punch along the bottom of the DSP, I just think it really adds to the card! And of course, every card deserves a bow so I added that as well :-)  Pretty simple but sooo fun to make - it will definitely be one that goes in the "to send" pile, LOL!  I have been stamping quite a bit since I got back on Sunday and have TONS to share so I will be back tomorrow with another fun project! 'Till then, happy stampin'!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla card stock, Holly Jolly Designer Series Paper
Inks - Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler Classic inks
Stamps - So Swirled stamp set
Accessories - Very Vanilla thin grosgrain ribbon, Red fine glitter
Tools - Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Extra Large Fancy Label punch, Eyelet Border punch, dimensionals

OFF TO THE COAST!

Good morning my friends! So sorry I have not been posting - seem to be off my regularly scheduled program lately, LOL! We are leaving today to head to the Mendocino Coast for the Thanksgiving Holiday and will not return until Monday! I will be taking my computer with me so I may upload some of the pics but I will not be creating at all, just hanging out with the family and enjoying a much needed vacation! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I will be sure to share some fun stuff when I get back!!!

CARDS FOR THE TROOPS EVENT - CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

Where have I been??!!  I bet you all are wondering, lol!! I have been up to my eyeballs in cards!!! This past Saturday was my Annual Cards for the Troops Event and I have been madly cutting, stamping, punching, tying bows, and prepping kits for all the wonderful people who signed up to help make these cards to send over to Afghanistan to our sponsored unit NMCB 3 who left recently and will be gone for a long while.  Sooooo, I have had no time at all to post, but I thought today I would share the pics from Saturday and show you all the hard work definitely paid off!!! 

The way it worked was each table had 4-6 card samples and then the kits to go with them.  Each person did one type of each card and then rotated to the next table to make different cards.  This worked out wonderfully since everyone got to make all different types of cards, and we got them all stamped and put together, ready to go!!! 

I was so gratified to see how many people came - we had over 50 people in and out all day although many stayed the whole time and enjoyed going table to table making all the different cards! Even the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary got into the act! None of them had ever stamped or made cards before, but they jumped right in and were wonderful! Here are some of the pics of the different ladies and gents that showed up!

 Even the guys from the Post joined in, stamping and assembling alongside their wives from the Auxiliary! I felt so good about this - seeing people come together to make an event like this a success is amazing and one of the main reasons I stamp - I have met soooo many wonderful people!!! 

 And, it was definitely a family affair in the Hobson household - my wonderful husband Tony, and my two kids Tyler and Kayla were all there, making cards alongside our good friends Les and Cyndi and some of my club gals Lori and Elle - it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I saw them all stamping away!

I am very proud of my family, especially my kids, who recognize and understand the sacrifices military members and their families have to make - they have done it many times themselves!!! 

Here is a picture of my man making cards - I am going to have to enlarge and frame this one since I dont' get him in my stamp space too often, LOL!! He is a great supporter of my business, but stamping is just not his forte, heeheee!! He was a great sport on Saturday though!!! 

Two of my favorite people in the world were there helping me with this event - Angelina (not pictured) and Wendy! They are both members of my downline and I would not have been able to pull this off without them!! Wendy and I were up many a late night creating, cutting, stamping, and singing - yes, singing!!! LOL - we do tend to get silly :-)  Here is Wendy at the main table cleaning stamps and sorting all the finished cards.  It was nice to see the attendees come up and check out the fruits of their labor - many of them had their favorite cards and enjoyed coming up and taking pictures of them and checking out some they may not have gotten to!

Finally, here is a picture of all the completed cards - don't those stacks look beautiful??!! I love it - I have soooo many cards to match to envelopes now and with all the generous donations of supplies such as baby wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. there will be quite a few boxes heading over!!!  Just look at this gang - don't they look proud??! I wish everone had been able to stay until the end as I would have loved a picture that incuded them all, but this group stuck it out and I just had to have a picture!!!  It was a great day and I am looking forward to doing even better things next year!! And, if you are still reading this post, you ROCK!!! I know it is long, BUT it was a great story to share! Tomorrow I will be back with my Christmas Canvas that I just taught - till then, Happy Stampin'!!!

A PRETTY BIRD FOR CHRISTMAS

Good morning all and Happy Friday!  I have had a long week, I am not gonna lie!! The flu has been going around the house and I think I have been moving fast all week just to avoid getting it, LOL!  So far so good, so keep your fingers crossed!  I cannot get sick, I have waaay too much to do and too many things going on.  Today I wanted to share a workshop card using the Cardinal Christmas stamp set.  I love this set, the bird is soooooo purdy and fun to color!  The card is fairly simple since I always have a wide range of experience levels in my workshops, but I think it turned out pretty!  I used the Jolly Holiday Designer papers on a Cherry Cobbler base and all I can say is YUMMO!! Love these colors - this paper pack is full of great designs and rich colors!  The Chocolate Chip card stock is embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder  using my Big Shot - I think this is perfect for the holidays although it goes well with just about anything to put it on, lol! I colored in the image using my stampin' write markers and then added some chunky red glitter using the two-way glue pen.  This pen is amazing - I got them for my kids too because they are so easy to use and really allow you to pinpoint exactly where you want something glued.....this comes in handy when working on those school projects teachers are famous for giving out during the holidays!  Like I said, a simple card, but one that makes me smile - it was fun to make and fun to teach! I hope you like it too! If you are interested in any of the products used on this card, you may purchase them in my online store and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help!  I am putting the finishing touches on my Christmas Canvas class tonight (very large canvas, 20x24) and then I have to put my workshop projects together for tomorrow so another busy day ahead!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! I have something fun in store for you all next week so stay tuned!!  Until then, happy stampin'!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla card stock, Jolly Holiday designer series paper
Inks - Black Stazon, Cherry Cobbler classic stampin' pad, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip stampin' write markers
Stamps - Cardinal Christmas
Tools - Scallop border punch, Big Shot, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Wide Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Two-way glue pen, stampin' dimensionals
Accessories - Chunky red glitter, Victoria crochet trim ribbon

BIRTHDAY CARD FOR SIS

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday!! WOW! I cannot believe how fast this week is going by - I have been really busy as I have three events this coming up weekend - I just love to stamp though so no hardship here :-)  Today I am sharing the birthday card I made for my sister to go along with the frame I showed you all on Monday.  I made a square card - this is actually my favorite size to make as there is more room to play on the card front, LOL!  I used Big Shotthe same color scheme as the frame - I just love these colors together! The base of the card is Old Olive card stock with Greenhouse Gala Designer Series paper - YUM! The chocolate chip card stock is embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder on my .  Isn't it purdy??!!!  The stamp set I used is called I Believe and the stamps are absolutely gorgeous! I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the stamp in Baha Breeze and Old Olive to get the colors on the image I wanted and I am very happy with how it turned out! And, of course I had to add a touch of bling to my image so there are points of Dazzling Diamonds on there (click on the image to make it bigger so you can see too!) I used my eyelet border punch on a strip of Baha Breeze card stock and then embossed it with the Square Lattice Folder, one of my favorites! I also punched the edges of the DSP to that they matched :-)  The sentiment is from the Perfect Punches stamp set and I added a small rhinestone for the bling effect! Lastly, I added some Pear Pizzazz ribbon (yes, it works well with the Old Olive!) and a designer button that I blinged up with some pearls, and then I was done! I also did the inside of this card but it is full of mushy stuff so I can't share that *wink* but it matches the outside of the card pretty much! I enjoyed making this card since I knew it was for someone special in my life - I just love my sister, she is a fabulous, beautiful, smart, and funny woman who is also my closest friend! If you have a sister, make sure you tell her what she means to you - it's important!! Now, I am off to stamp land as I have miles to stamp before I sleep, lol!! If you like the products that I used here (and you know you do!) you can purchase them all through my online store.  And, as always, contact me if you have any questions - I love to hear from you! Have a wonderful day and I will be back tomorrow with some fun cards!  Until then, Happy Stampin'!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Old Olive, Baha Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stock, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper
Inks- Baha Breeze, Old Olive stampin' write markers, Chocolate Chip classic stampin' pad
Stamps - I Believe, Perfect Punches
Tools - Eyelet Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper embossing folders
Accessories - Pear Pizzazz ribbon, designer series buttons, pearls, rhinestones

BIRTHDAY GIFT FRAME

Hi all!!! I am back from my vacation and I have to say I had a wonderful time spending time with my mom and my sister.  We went shopping, played bingo(no laughing, it's fun, LOL) ate, talked, laughed, and had a great time! We celebrated my sister's birthday while I was there and I wanted to share the frame that I made for her.  The colors match her room and I think she really liked it, which really made me smile - I wanted it to be special :-) The frame is a 12x12 frame that comes unfinished so I added all kinds of fun elements.  First, I covered the base of the frame with Baha Breeze cardstock - love it, such a soft color!  Then, I added some patterned paper the Greenhouse Gala Designer series, which was perfect for this project because it has all the colors of Jeanne's room! Each strip of paper is punched with the Eyelet Border punch and then layered on both the top and the bottom of the frame.  Then, I used some retired rub-ons (Jeanne doesn't care) that I have been saving for that special project - they go just wonderfully on here, don't you think??!!  There are some really fun embellishments on the frame as well and I took come closer pics so you can see the details. 

First is the flower that I made out of waffle paper- too too fun and I LOVE how it turned out! I ran the waffle paper through my Big Shot using the Flower Folds Die.  I then layered four of each size flower together and secured them with a vintage brad. Then, I added some texture to the whole flower by cutting each petal in half - this makes the flower much fluffier and fuller, which is the look I was going for.  Lastly, I sprayed the flower with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, and it really sparkles and shines in the light! The waffle paper gives this flower such a wonderfully different look, I can't seem to stop making them, LOL! 

Next, I used one of our chipboard birds, and covered it with some of the Greenhouse Gala DSP, adding a pearl for the eye and attaching it all with red sticky tape.  I just love the dimension this adds, and it is so easy to do!  The last thing I want so share with you is how I did the letters.  I used Stampin' UP! onboard chipboard letters; I love these packs because you get so many letters and different shapes and sizes too! It's fun to mix and match the sets when you get down to your last letters too so there is never really any waste when using these! I took the letters and covered them in monoadhesive, then coated them with the Olive glitter from the Stampin' Glitter Fine Supernova set that comes with five different colors, and lots of glitter, all for $13.95, which is an amazing deal! After I was done using the glitter and had poured the excess back in the container, it did not even look like I had used any! 

 I set the letters aside to dry, then used red sticky tape to adhere them to the frame - here they are, aren't they purdy??!!  The last couple of things on this frame are some extra-wide chocolate chip satin ribbon (retired), and some buttons from the designer series regals collection.  I had a lot of fun making this frame and I was so happy to see her smile when she saw it!! Giving something handmade is so much more rewarding, don't you think? Speaking of, I am off to work on some more class projects that we are doing in my Santa's workshop class coming up so I will leave you with the recipe and then I am off to get inky!! Meanwhile, if you saw something or things you have to have in this post, head on over to my online store where you can purchase everything you see here!   Have a fabulous day - I will be back tomorrow to share the card I made to go with the frame!

Frame Recipe:

Paper - Baha Breeze card stock, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper

Inks - none

Stamps - none

Accessories - Chocolate Chip wide satin ribbon(retired), Onboard chipboard letters, green Super Nova glitter, regals designer series buttons, twine, chipboard bird(retired), waffle paper, smooch spritz(log cabin), vintage brads, rubons(retired)

Tools - Eyelet Border Punch, Red Sticky Tape, glue dots, mono adhesive glue

LEAVIN' ON A JET PLANE :-)

Hi all!!! I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that I am leaving to visit my mom and sister in Southern California tomorrow and will not be back until Wednesday night of next week BUT I will be posting while I am gone AND I have a special post coming up so stay tuned *wink*  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I know I will!!!!  It is my sister's birthday on Saturday so we are going to party like it's 1999 - LOL!!!!  I will share her birthday card on Saturday AFTER she has seen it - she DOES read my blog ya know, LOL!!!  Be back with you all soon - until then, Happy Craftin'!!!

STAMPIN' UP! HOLIDAY BUNDLES - SAVE 20%, WHOOOHOOOO!!!!

Announcing the ABC's of the Perfect Handmade Holiday. Starting TODAY, Stampin' Up! is offering an opportunity to purchase select products--perfect for Amazing cards, Beautiful packaging, and Cherished gifts--at a 20 percent discount! 

If you would like to open and print the holiday bundle list, click this link and it will take you to a page that is printer friendly.  Both French and Spanish options are included.

Things to Remember:

• Additional products from current catalogs may be purchased on the same order.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
• You must use the bundle item codes provided otherwise the 20% discount will not be applied.   

•Order at my online store by Thursday, December 16, 2010; 11:50 PM (MT)

This is a fabulous deal so get yours today :-)

PUT YOUR PINK ON!

Happy Friday all! I don't know about you but I am sure glad this week is OVER!! I am ready to start fresh on Monday, LOL! Meanwhile, this weekend I will be working both days at Hodges Nursery at the First Annual Fall Festival in support of Breast Cancer!  I am a member of the Durham Blossoms Relay for Life team and they will also have a booth where they are cooking up food to raise money in the fight against this awful disease! I am doing my part as well:  I have made several pink items that will be sold and all monies made given to the Blossoms as part of the fundraising effort this weekend! If you are local, you REALLY need to come on out - there will be TONS of vendors there as well as fun demonstrations and lots to see and buy :-)  This cute little luminaria is just one of the items I will have for sale at my booth! Each one has a battery operated tealight in it and they look soooo purdy all lit up!  I have made several of these in all different shades of pink.  Luminarias are a wonderful way to remember those that are going through treatments or have lost their battle to this awful disease.  I am hoping that these will help those in remembering their loved ones. 
Here is a side view so you can get a better idea of how they look.  They really are easy to make - there are samples all over the web so I just took a look at some of those and then  made this one my own by tweaking some measurements to fit what I was trying to do!  I am not going to leave a recipe for these but if you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have! Have a wonderful weekend and I sure hope to see lots of you out at Hodges Nursery this weekend!

A LITTLE BIT OF CHRISTMAS

Happy Wednesday all!!! I got to play my first game of Bunco last night - what a fun night out that was!!! And, I got to meet lots of new people, and they were all really nice and fun to be around! I did not get home until after 2am - too much talking, lol!!!  But, worth it, I really enjoyed myself!!!  And, as you can see by the picture, I actually got to wear the crown because I got BUNCO, lol!!!! 

Really fun!!! Today I want to share a card with you that I made for my downline meeting shoebox swap - love doing these, I have a very talented group of ladies in my downline so there are always some beautiful cards I get to make! I chose a Christmas card since our theme was holidays.  I used one of my all-time favorite stamp sets called Welcome Christmas because it reminds me of all the things I love during the holidays - family time, decorating the tree, hanging the stocking, and playing in the snow!  And, the sentiment is just beautiful! I stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock, trimmed around it, and popped it up on dimensionals - one of my customers asked me during a workshop (I took it as a sample) if we had the punch, lol!! It WOULD make a great punch, wouldn't it??!  I paired the set with the Jolly Holiday designer series paper - sooooo pretty!!! The bottom of the DSP is punched with the Scalloped Edge Border Punch.....looooove it!   And, if you look really close, you can see that the tree shimmers - that is because I added some Iridescent Ice to give it some sheen and it looks great IRL! Very simple card, but I think it turned out pretty and my gals really liked it.  This is definitely a card that could be mass produced for everyone on your Christmas card list because it is simple enough to to do a lot of them and pretty enough to bring a smile to their face!! I will leave you with the recipe and if you would like any of  the products used on this card, you can go to my online store right now and order them

:-)  And, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me, I am always willing to answer any questions you may have!  Now, I am off to work on projects for the weekend Harvest Festival at Hodges Nursery - we are holding this wonderful event to raise money for the Durham Blossoms Relay for Life Team of which I am honored to be a part.  Come on out and support us in stamping out cancer! There will be lots of vendors, prizes, make 'n takes, demonstrations, and the Blossoms are going to have a booth serving fabulous Tritip sandwiches of which all proceeds go to the Team.  I hope to see you all there!!!

Card Recipe:

Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla card stock, Jolly Holiday designer series paper

Inks - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler classic inks

Stamps - Welcome Christmas

Tools - Scalloped Edge Border Punch

Accessories - Whisper White narrow grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

WENT CLUBBLIN' THIS WEEKEND!

Hello all! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  Mine was super busy as I had three events this weekend, but it was fun - filled with stamping :-)  It was Club day on Sunday so all my Scrap Club gals were at the house - they decided when Club first started that they wanted to Potluck every month so there is always a TON of food when they come! It's a great group, I just love them to pieces - they make me laugh so hard, half the time I forget what I am talking about, LOL! 

Here are some pics of them from yesterday. We did two two-page layouts so it was a very busy afternoon but I think they really liked the layouts.  I try to keep them general enough where several different occasions would work for any one layouts since they don't add pics until later! I was excited that one of the gals actually brought hers back from last month and they had pics on them - and I am kicking myself that I did not take pictures because they were stinkin; CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!  Here they all are raising their glasses in a toast to our group - we DO have some fun together!! 

One of our group was celebrating a birthday so I made a cake to celebrate - what's a birthday without cake??!! She is such a beautiful person inside and out - I feel very blessed that she is part of my life! And yes, there are only four candles on the cake - once you reach a certain age that's all you need since they represent youth, beauty, friendship, and love!  At least in my world they do *wink*  And, I certainly hope that whatever she wished for comes true because she deserves it!!  It was a fun way to spend Sunday - lots of laughing, great food, fun projects to complete, and most of all, GREAT company!!!  So, after all that, would you like to see one of the layouts they completed during Club yesterday?? They actually DO get to create amongst everything else, LOL! 

Here is one of the double layouts they completed yesterday.  I always add pictures to them because they told me they like to see how it looks once it is completed.  And, it helps me get some of my own scrapbooking done, which is great because I am really far behind, LOL!  The title of this one is Best Friendsstamped with the Broadsheet Alphabet set, and as you can see, that will fit just about anything someone wants to use these pages for.  I chose my husband because he IS my best friend and these pictures make me smile :-)  There are lots of products on these pages, so I will highlight the main ones so that you get the idea of what was used.  The designer series paper is Blueberry Crisp, probably one of my absolute favorites out of the catalog.  Fun patterns, and really rich colors that are very versatile! There were a couple of stamp sets used on this layout - Friends 24-7 and For All You Do, both of which are wonderful sets with lots of possibilities.  The sentiment on the journaling pocket as well as all the bordering stamps are from these two sets.  The buttons are from the Deck the Halls buttons in the Holiday mini - just goes to show that you can use them for lots of different occasions, not just Christmas. 

 I wanted to share a couple of closeups on this layout.  This first one is the journaling pocket.  We made this using one of the mini lunch sacks in the holiday mini - isn't it cute??!! We actually cut it down shorter and then rescalloped the top of the bag.  Inside is a piece of DSP from the Newsprint collection - there is actually a whole sheet in there of lined paper that is perfect for journaling! We just punched along the edge with the Spiral Border punch to make it look like notebook paper, added a tab punched with the Extra-large round tab punch, and then decorated the front of it with some Marina Mist and Pacific Point card stock that has been punched with the Scallop Edge border punch, then run through the Big Shot with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The sentiment on the bag is from the For All You Do stamp set stamped on Very Vanilla, punched out with the 2 1/2 Circle punch and then mounted on a piece of Real Red card stock that has been punched with the 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle punch.  It fits my journaling perfectly! (and no, I am not sharing - it's private *wink*)  I love how this turned out - what a great way to use those little bags and just sooo perfect for this layout!

This next close up is the stamped image of the bird from the Friends 24-7 stamp set.  We stamped it in Early Espresso classic ink on Very Vanilla card stock, then trimmed around the whole image.  Then, using the 2-way glue pen, we added some Champagne glass glitter to give the bird some beautiful gold feathers. Then, we attached him to the page  using dimensionals on a length of Very Vanilla satin ribbon. The glitter is from the holiday mini and is really fun to play with! And, for some added fun, we used some of the filigree brads - aren't they purdy??!!!  There are lots of punches, embossing, and such on this layout so if there are any particular questions you have regarding this layout, please email me as I am happy to answer any questions! And, if you see something you have to have right now, head on over to my online store where you can order it right now :-)  Thanks so much for stopping by, and if you are still reading this, you get extra kudos for sticking with me through this long post, LOL! I will be back tomorrow with some cards from my weekend workshop - until then, Happy Stamping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FALL WORKSHOP CARDS

Happy Friday everyone!! WOW! This week flew by, I still have sooo much to do, lol!!! I guess that is just the nature of the beast, never enough hours in the day!!! The weather here is so beautiful - 70s, sunny, and a light breeze - I just want to be outside!!! But, I just open up the windows and enjoy the sunshine from my craft room :-)  Today I want to share with you two cards we made in one my recent workshops.  With fall in the air, I wanted to create something for the season and the stamp sets Days of Gratitude and  Autumn Days really seems to fit this for me.  I just love the pheasant and the leaves in Gratitude are so purdy!  It's hard to see in the picture but on the Early Espresso base we stamped the small leaf from the Autumn Days set in the same color.  The More Mustard card stock was run through the Big Shot and embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder, which I love because it looks sooooo good!  We punched both sides of the Autumn Spice Specialty paper using the Scalloped Edge Border punch, a favorite of mine since it came out during Sale-A-Bration!  I love using this DSP because the colors are so rich and warm - perfect for the season!! The main image was fun to stamp - we created a little fall scene using several different stamps from the Autumn Days set.  And of course, the card had to be topped off with some Early Espresso thin ribbon - just perfect! Fun, fun card to make!  Here is the recipe for this one.
Card Recipe:
Paper - Early Espresso, More Mustard, Very Vanilla card stock, Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper
Inks - Early Espresso, More Mustard classic inks, Cherry Cobbler stampin' write marker
Stamps - Autumn Days
Tools - Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Scalloped Edge Border punch, Scallop border punch
Accessories - Early Espresso thin ribbon

This second card also uses the Autumn Days stamp set but the background uses one of the leavs from the Days of Gratitude stamp set - love it! Notice how different the card looks when using different colors.  This one seems a little more carefree than the first one because of the brighter colors used.  The base card is Cajun Craze and is stamped with the leaf in the same color.  We used the same Autumn Spice Specialty paper, but this piece has lots more colors and really brings out the main image, again stamped using Autumn Days.  The sentiment is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set which has a fabulous selection of sentiments.  It is stamped in Early Espresso classic ink on Very Vanilla card stock, punched out using the Large Oval punch, and mounted on a piece of Old Olive card stock that has been punched out using the Scalloped Oval Punch.  Another fun card and even though a lot of the same products were used, the cards look totally different.  We enjoyed making these cards, lots of laughter all around!! If you are interested in making some cards with your friends, contact me now and we can set up a workshop for YOU!  Then you can earn your own Hostess benefits and get some FREE stuff - who doesn't like FREE?!!  See something you like and you want it right now? Check out my online store where all of these products can be purchased with a click of the button! Have questions? Feel free to contact me, I am always available to help out! Thanks soooo much for stopping by, I will leave you the recipe for the second card and then I am off to finish my workshop projects for tomorrow! Busy weekend but lots of fun involved - have a great weekend and Happy Stampin'!!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla card stock, Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper
Inks - Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Old Olive, More Mustard classic inks
Stamps - Autumn Days, Days of Gratitude (background stamp), Grateful Greetings (sentiment)
Tools - Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval Punch
Accessories - Old Olive and Early Espresso thin ribbon

VINTAGE CANVAS

Good morning all!!! I hope you are having a fabulous day!! The weather her is gorgeous - 70 and sunny with a slight breeze - I just love fall!!!! I wish I could be outside today but nope, lots of work to be done :-)  Maybe a walk later!!  Today I want to share with you the canvas we made in our Vintage Canvas class a couple weeks back.  I used pictures of Tony and I when we went to the Western Mystery Dinner which is why we are all dressed up :-) Everyone brought their black and white pictures and went home with a gorgeous canvas to hang up or use as a gift!  I offer this class once per month and it is one of my most popular classes!  I have several of these canvases hanging throughout my house and my whole family just loves them!  This one is one of my favorites, I just love the vintage look and feel it has and the pictures make me smile :-)  Lots of grays, silvers, and blacks with the accent color of Cherry Cobbler which really makes this canvas pop! We used lots of techniques and fun embellishments on this canvas.  The Cherry Cobbler card stock is punched along the edges using the Scalloped Edge Border punch while the Eyelet border punch is used along the edges of the Nite Owl designer series paper - just goes to show, you can use this beautiful paper for any project, not just Halloween! All the letters are cut out using the Big Shot and the Simple Alphabet set of dies - love them!!! The hearts are from the Hostess stamp set Punch Potpouri - they were stamped in versamark, covered with black embossing powder and heat embossed with my heat tool...... sooooooo pretty!! Of course we did add some pretties as well with the Basic black satin ribbon and our new pearl accents.  The scalloped circle die and the Big Shot made all the frames for our pictures and they turned out fabulous! I do want to show you some closeups as I want you to be able to see the embossing done on the die cut pieces. 

This close up shows the daisies that were cut using the Big Shot Daisies #2 die and then embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder. See how beautiful it looks??  I love this look, really adds to the whole flower - and of course, the vintage brad in the middle just adds to the vintage look.  We actually cut out four of each size of the daisy so it is very layered and makes the flower look very full - love this!!!  

This next picture shows the letters and the Scallop Circles - they are also embossed using the same finial press embossing folder and they really stand out on the canvas.  Not to mention, my handsome husband you see in this picture - he totally makes the canvas *wink*  Lots going on here with this project but the end result is a beautiful piece for your home, office, or to give to that special someone as a gift!  I will leave you with the recipe for this canvas below and if you have the urge to rush off and get some of these fab products, head on over to my online store and you can order them right now :-)  Have a question? Contact me, I am happy to help! Now, I am off to finish up some projects for my classes and workshops this weekend - lots of stamping and paper cutting in my future, LOL! Have a wonderful day and until tomorrow, Happy Stampin'!!

Canvas Recipe: (products only)

Paper - Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Going Gray card stock, Nite Owl Designer Series Paper

Inks - Versamark

Stamps - Punch Potpouri

Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Scalloped Edge border punch, Big Shot, Scalloped Circle Die, Simple Letters Dies, Daisies #2 Die, Finial Press embossing folder

Accessories - Basic Black satin ribbon, Basic Pearls, Vintage brads