Friday, December 21, 2012

Christmas Gift From My Downline

Look at what I got at our last stamp club meeting from my downline gals! 
You're going to die when you scroll down and look at what they made!
 
Classic, cute explosion box, right?
 

Au contraire!  Look at this little gem!  It's a cupcake made of a
styrofoam ball and covered with paper.  Cute huh?
 
But that's not all ...

Pull on the cherry, and out comes a gift card ...  GENIUS!!!

I was so thrilled to get this.  These girls really are the besty best!!!
 
 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Our First Annual Downline Dinner and Swap

Yay!  I'm so excited to say that I have a "downline."  Really they're all my
sisters from other mothers!  I love these girls! 
So here are some details from our First Annual Downline Dinner and Swap ...
 
 
We started off with the menu that I put together using My Digital Studio.  It was way easier than I thought it was going to be to create this!  The "menu" template was already in my software, then I just added a few ornaments, input the text, printed it, then added a few rhinestones, and voila!

 
And here we are!  From left to right:  Linda, Janelle, me, Christy, and Gina.
My artsy creative mom is in my downline, too, but she scooted out early
before I remembered I wanted to get a picture of all of us,
so imagine that you see her standing beside us, too, because
I don't know how to Photoshop. :)
 
So here are our swaps ...
 
We started with Gina.  Isn't this a fabuloso idea?  She used the Snowflake Bigz die and made a tree with the Silver Glimmer paper and some Dazzling Details glitter.  Awesome job!


Next was Linda.  What a surprise this was!  She made some peppermint sugar scrub
and a butterfly-shaped lotion bar and tied some cozy socks on to finish the gift.  Too bad this isn't a smello-blog ... these REALLY smell yummy! 


Up next was my talented mom.  Isn't this adorable?  Little takeout box full of goodies!  And how smart to stamp the gingerbread man on that color paper to make it look like a real cookie!
 
After those swaps, I was starting to feel a little inadequate with mine that I almost decided to tell them, oh, I forgot to make any swaps!  But I went ahead and handed mine out.  These are the cocoa packet holders from a previous post.  They were really a hot seller in this year's craft fairs.
 

And for the grand finale, Christy's swap.  Mr. Claus himself made an appearance! 
Isn't it super cute with his buttons and embossed belt?
 
We had a wonderful time chatting and swapping and eating.  This has been the best year ever!  Looking forward to the Second Annual Downline Dinner and Swap!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Swap from Christmas dinner

Look at the cute gift I got last week at the Christmas dinner and swap that Denise put together for us!! I took my printer's tray frame as my swap. (Pictures in a previous post.)
Denise read a little exchange poem, we shuffled our gifts as the instructions in the poem were read. And I got to take home this little jewel.
The box and bow were handmade and the JOY frame inside is covered with Designer Series Paper.
Cool, huh? Thanks, Mary! And thank you April for inviting me!



Sunday, December 9, 2012

Candy bar snowmen

They're baaaaack!!!! I made some changes to last year's favorite stocking stuffers.

These ones have the faces and buttons made with different size circle punches instead of a printed version.

The hats and scarves are assorted fleece fabric. For the hat, cut a piece of fleece about 6" x 5", sew a straight line on the edge of the 6" side, turn the sewn fleece inside out so the raw edge doesn't show, turn up the bottom to form a cuff, put on the covered candy bar, gather at the top with twine, add a bell, tie a bow, then cut straight cuts in the top to form the frills.

The scarves are a piece of fleece about 3/4" x 12".



Friday, December 7, 2012

Santa's best friend treat

Santa's reindeer might get a little jealous on Christmas when he gives his other four-legged friends their gifts. Come see me and pick up one-of-a-kind gifts for your furry pals, and even those two-legged shaven kinds too!

I'll be at the Shop For Paws Retail Therapy for Rescues this Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It's at the Whole Foods shopping center at the SW corner of Coit and Beltline in Richardson.

See you there!!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Keller High School Craft Fair

Here at the craft fair jamming to Christmas carols!!! Come see me. I'll be here till 5:00.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Gearing up for next Craft Fair

Happy Friday!!!  I'm so excited ... I'm getting
ready to do another craft fair tomorrow and
Sunday at Keller High School.  I just love
craft fairs ... hearing the Christmas carols,
seeing family and friends shopping for
unique gifts, meeting and greeting
new faces ...
just the complete atmosphere.
 
 
Here are a few items I'm making to put on my tables:
 
These are mini candy bar stocking stuffers. 
Love the sparkly glimmer paper!

This is a hot cocoa packet holder with a chocolate covered peppermint stir stick.
Soooo CUTE!  I got the instructions from Dawn Olchefske's blog here:


 
These little guys are ready to lead Santa's sleigh. 
And they look SO enthused about it, too, don't they?
Another cute stocking stuffer idea.  And the sweater trim
from the holiday mini catalog is super soft and cuddly!
 
I hope you all have a great weekend, and if you're in the area,
stop by and see me!!!
 
Keller High School
601 Pate Orr Road North
Keller, TX

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Christmas Printer's Tray

Happy Saturday after Thanksgiving!  I hope you all goobled till you wobbled
and survived Black Friday if you braved the stores.  Not me!! 
 
 
I had an extra printer's tray from the Halloween promotion Stampin' Up! had
back in August-September and decided to try a Christmas one. 
I think I'm going to take it for the
gift exchange at the dinner my upline is having in December. 
 
With the cutest ever DSPs this year, it's super easy to
coordinate colors  and embellishments. 
This DSP is all from the Snow Festival pack from the
Holiday mini on page 10, except the green polka dots,
which is from the Subtles DSP stack.


It's kinda hard to see, but the snowflakes are cut from the silver glimmer paper,
and it REALLY sparkles in real life. 
 
I feel like it's missing something.  Any ideas?


Friday, November 16, 2012

Online Extravaganza!

Thanksgiving Week Doorbusters Announced!

Flyerheader_Extravaganza_demo_NA_rdax_574x227

The Online Extravaganza during Thanksgiving week is our biggest online sale of the year! Everybody's so busy with school, family, holiday shopping and baking, there's not really time to squeeze in Stampin' Up! parties. So during these 10 days only, Stampin' Up is offering incredible discounts -- up to 50 percent -- on some of your VERY favorite products!
 
 
AND CHECK OUT THESE INCREDIBLE DOORBUSTERS!
 
For the first time ever, three products will be 20 percent off for 24 hours only on both the first and last days of Online Extravaganza! 
 
Doorbusters for Monday, November 19 ONLY
  • #125586 Simply Scored™ Diagonal Plate --Reg. Price $11.95 SALE $9.56
  • #113439 Big Shot™ Die-Cutting Machine --Reg. Price $99.95 SALE $79.96
  • #113474 Big Shot Doctor’s Bag --Reg. Price $69.95 SALE $55.96
 
Doorbusters for Wednesday, November 28 ONLY
  • #118491 Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I) Reg. price $66.95 SALE $53.56
  • #120279 Clear Block Storage Caddy --Reg. Price $16.95 SALE $13.56
  • #109127 Stack & Store Caddy --Reg. Price $34.95 SALE $27.96
Totally awesome, right? Best doorbusters EVER!!!
 
But there's even more ... between Monday the 19th and Wednesday the 28th, there is a huge list of items on sale starting with select Designer Series Papers at 20% off, Accessories at 25-40% off, and going all the way up to a huge selection of stamp sets and MDS 2+ for 50% off!!
 
Click HERE to see the Online Extravaganza sale items! 
 
Think of all the ladies you can purchase Christmas gifts for, your mom, sister, niece, neighbor, teachers ... YOURSELF!!!
 
The sale starts Monday! Email me your order in advance if you would like--if you want any of the Monday Doorbusters, you must have your order to me no later than 12 noon on MONDAY the 19th. Or, you can order anytime on Monday at www.ready4stampin.stampinup.net and have it shipped straight to your door.
 
If you aren't going to take advantage of the Monday Doorbusters, then you can shop any time during Thanksgiving Week either by email or on my shopping website, or wait until the Wednesday Doorbusters on the final day of the special to place your order. Just don't forget!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Holiday Treat Holder

Good morning!  Another chilly day here in North Texas.  I love it!!
 
 
Does this look familiar?  It's the little treat holder found on
page 10 of the Holiday Catalog.
 
It was pretty easy to make after figuring out where to trim it so you
could have a flap that folds over for the closure.
 
The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler, the mittens are from the
Make a Mitten stamp set, stamped in Lucky Limeade ink
and punched with the Mitten Builder punch
I used the Nicely Knit Stampin' Around Wheel, stamped in
  
This is one of the projects I'll show you how to make
on November 27 at the Stamp Club Meeting. 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

BNHS Craft Fair

Here at the craft fair. Lots of vendors with lots of fun holiday gifts. Come see me!

Byron Nelson High School, 2775 Bobcat Blvd., Trophy Club till 6:00 pm.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Easy and Elegant Sympathy Card

Happy Election Day!!  That's not why I am making a sympathy card,
but it's kinda ironic, huh?
 
This, to me, is an all-purpose sympathy card.  It could fit
all sorts of needs.  I sent this in the box of care package items
for the East Coast friends in need.
 
 
I did a masking technique for the tree background. 
 
First, take a Whisper White piece of cardstock cut to the size you want for the front of your card.  Then take some of the long sticky notes, rip them longways, and position them to make a "frame" on the outside edges of the white cardstock so just the inside of the white cardstock is showing through. 
 
I then sponged Crumb Cake ink along the inside, making the outer edges darker and getting lighter as I got towards the center of the white cardstock.  Remove the sticky notes, and you have a white frame.  Then I stamped the tree from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set in Early Espresso ink.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set and also stamped with Early Espresso ink.
 
Simple and elegant!
 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Hostess gift

Hi, all! Hope you had a great weekend!

I just wanted to share with you a little wine tag thank-you that I made as a hostess gift for a friend who hosted a massage party at her house this weekend.

It uses the Wonderfall stamp set (128087) from the holiday mini and the coordinating Autumn Accents Bigz die (127812).

Fall is my favorite time of the year and these colors have a lot to do with it!

(I don't endorse this wine brand or have any affiliation with the company who bottles it.)

Friday, November 2, 2012

More Mason Jars

Good morning!  Happy Friday!  I'm looking forward to a weekend of crafting.  Tomorrow is the Christmas Tag Stamp-A-Stack.  I'll try to be sure and take pictures.  Sometimes I get busy chatting, crafting, and eating, I forget to take pictures.  ;)
 
Here are a few samples of some more mason jars I'm taking to craft fairs this year.  You can't really see it, but there's a battery operated tealight "candle" inside the jar.
 

I cut some adhesive vinyl with some dies from the Big Shot, adheared them to my mason jar, spray painted them with some Frosted Glass spray paint.  The paint dries pretty quickly, within like 15-20 minutes.  Once dry, peel the vinyl off to reveal the clear, non-painted design.


I added a strip of our fabric (still currently available in the CLEARANCE RACK), some raffia, and a few big, colorful jingle bells.


 
You can make these for any holiday with the wide array of Big Shot dies and framelits.  I made one with butterflies and flowers for an all-occasion option, like birthdays, Mother's Day, etc.
 
Thanks for stopping by.  Leave me a comment ... it sure makes my day!
Have a great weekend!
 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Fall thank you

Hello! Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Things have been a whirlwind around here!

Here's a pic of the little thank-yous I put with the orders from Stamp Club this month. Love the fall colors in this Orchard Harvest DSP from the holiday mini!

 
I used the Two Tags Big Shot die, cut two of the biggest tag, folded on the score line, adheared the two pieces together.  The stamp set is the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and coordinating framelits from the holiday mini.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Mason Jar Pedi Gift Set

Hello, fellow crafty people!  Today I want to share with you one of my items
I had for sale in last weekend's craft fair. 
 
It's a pedicure set in a mason jar!!
 
So here's all the contents laid out ... a pair of warm, cozy socks, one nail polish
in a fun, festive color, foam toe separators, a wooden orange stick,
and a muti-textured nail file.
 
 
And here it is all neatly placed in a mason jar, bow-tied with some
Stampin' Up! fabric and adorned with a few big ol' colorful jingle bells.
SUPER CUTE!!



 
I found this gift idea on Pinterest.  She had her sets in a clear cellophane bag.  Go to her blog here http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/12/cozy-toes-holiday-printable/
to print the little tags for FREE.  She's also got some other really cute ideas.
 
Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you got some inspiration for your holiday gifts!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

2012 NHS Craft Fair

Having fun at the craft fair this morning! Here's what my booth looks like.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cherry Birthday Card

Hi stampers!  Today's card is a cherry scented birthday card ... YUM!!!
And the color is super yummy too!  It's one of the new In Colors, Raspberry Ripple.  I stamped the cherries with the Raspberry Ripple, took a Versamarker to re-wet the cherries, and applied some cherry-scented embossing powder.  MMMMMMmmmmm, smells so good! 

The scented embossing powders are one of the coolest things Stampin' Up! has recently come out with.  There's also Vanilla, Melon and for the holidays, Peppermint!  Awesome!!
 
 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Flower Pot Card and Matching Gift Bag

This is from the vault!  It's a project we made about 5 months ago at our Stamp Club meeting. 

It's just a generic paper gift bag adorned with flowers stamped with the Mixed Bunch stamp set
and punched with the Blossom punch.  And for the finishing touch, stamped white tissue paper with the same Mixed Bunch stamp set.
 
For the flower pot card I used More Mustard cardstock, Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, and the
Itty Bitty Banners stamp set cut out with the Bitty Banners Framelits.
 
Here's what the card looks like when you pull the flowers up from the pot.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Oh, Christmas Tree ...

Well, you see, I thought I'd make a bunch of these for an upcoming craft fair, but I'm not too crazy about it.  I took a styrofoam cone and adhered strips of Designer Series Paper (retired) with lots and lots of straight pins.  Towards the top, you can see the tops of the strips of paper and the straight pin heads, and that's the part that's not so fabulous.  Guess it's back to the drawing board for me.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Christmas candy cane

A friend asked me embellish these really big candy canes so she could give them as Christmas gifts to her Scentsy downline. Here's what I came up with. What do you think?

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Ghoulish Treat Bag

What a fun weekend of crafting I've had!  The weather in North Texas was unseasonably cool ... I'd call it cold ... perfect for staying indoors and gettin' creative!
 
This is one of the "Thank-You" gifts I made to place in orders from our last Stamp Club meeting.  With the Ghoulish Googlies kit, it's so, so simple to create these fabulous treats!  The kit comes with the little glassine bags, pre-printed tags, baker's twine, and the googly eyes.  All you have to do is add a few stamps and the candy of your choice, and viola!