Merry Christmas!

decor elements

If you have been flipping through decorating magazines lately, you will have seen similar wall decor as the one I photographed at Stampin' Up! head office this summer.
For this collage idea, simply adhere Decor Elements to the wall and "layer" with various picture frames. Most of us have used frames stashed away, because we can't part with them - here is a great way to put them to good use!
Or, adhere the Decor Element directly onto the picture frame glass, remove any mat or backing from the frame and hang! Beautiful!
Click on the link below to browse Stampin' Up!'s Definitely Decorative catalogue of vinyl wall decor.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cathyjohnstone/catalogs

Gift Card Holder Idea

With the Pillow Box die it's VERY easy to make a quick gift card holder.
After running my Real Red cardstock through my Big Shot with the Pillow Box die, I added some texture with a Texturz Plate. Nice touch.
The rest is easy too - I stamped stamped Dasher onto Very Vanilla cardstock and sponged some Soft Suede ink around the edges to add some "vintage".
The ribbon runs through slots make with the Horizontal Slot punch, then is tied into a bow. There you have it!

all materials from Stampin' Up!
Shop for these products at my online store.

Make Merry!

I had to order this stamp set - it's SO cheery! This card idea is one from Stamping School - love her!
I used Old Olive for my card base, layered with Real Red - isn't it cute the way the layer shows through the centre of the wreath?
The stamp set comes with the little bird which you could cut out, but I used the Sizzlet
Merry Details which coordinates with this set - so much easier!
Quick and cute card!
Stay tuned for more Christmas - just a little over 3 weeks to go!

All materials are Stampin' Up!
Order these products from my online store.

new stamper!

My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their latest grandchild soon, and the baby's room decor is sock monkey - love it! My sister-in-law and I spent the morning having a great time creating a baby card sock monkey style!
I think that she did a fabulous job on this card considering it was her first! I may have recruited a new stamper!!
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

vintage Christmas tags

I love anything vintage. When I saw these Christmas tags on Kimberly Van Diepen's blog I grabbed my Kraft cardstock, my Two Tags die and went to work. Kraft cardstock and Soft Suede ink certainly give a sort of sepia look when used together. I added some Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and a Felt Flurries snowflake ( now retired ), you could add some old lace, buttons..... it's endless.
Love them!
Stay tuned for more Christmas ideas this week!

all materials except the "button" stamp are from Stampin' Up!
Shop my online store for these products.

bargains galore!

With just over one month until Christmas, everyone is looking for gift ideas and bargains! Stampin' Up! is running an Online Extravaganza beginning today November 23rd until November 30th.

Items have been discounted with up to 50% off - wahoo!!!!!!!!
To view the many items for sale click here to go to my demonstrator website.
When you get there click on "Shop Now" then "Online Extravaganza". Grab yourself a cup of something delicious and go there now!
Happy shopping!

If you prefer to email or call me directly with your order, use the link to the sale I have added above to select your items first.
Enjoy!

sweet season

Need to make quick and easy tags for your packages? I can help you out - Stampin' Up! has an exclusive Sizzix die called Two Tags which can do the job for you!
Taking some Very Vanilla card stock I stamped out the scallop snowflake from Sweet Season twice. Using the Scallop Circle punch I cut out one of the stamped images and the second image with the 1 1/4" Circle punch. With the 1 3/8" Circle punch I cut out a Garden Green layer, and added two Dimensionals for pop. Lastly, I held all the layers together with a twinkly Rhinestone brad.
Beautiful and easy!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

all materials are available from my online store.

tree trimming

I love to use Stampin' Up! Kraft card stock for my projects. This card is one that we made at convention this summer, using Kraft card stock and the Tree Trimming stamp set. First you will need to stamp the ornament hangers in Chocolate Chip ink. Next stamp out the ornaments in Real Red and Garden Green ink onto Very Vanilla card stock. Cut out with scissors and place Dimensionals on to the back of one or both pieces. Add a Rhinestone brad for twinkle then line up the images with the ornament hangers that you already have stamped and adhere to card front.
I stamped a greeting from Season Of Sweets, and added 3/4" Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon.
There you have it!
Remember there are only 6 1/2 weeks until Christmas!

All materials used are available at my online store.

View- master card

Remember the View-Master? Ours at home was from around the 1950's and made from bakelite. The View-Master came into homes during 1939 as entertainment for children and adults alike.
View-Master was an improvement over the stereoscope, popular in the 19th century, as it had seven views on the reel versus the one view stereo graph card. The View-Master images were also in colour, thanks to Kodak's then new film, Kodachrome.
That is a little background information on the View-master, now onto the details of today's card.
I spotted a View-master card on Patti's blog, and tried to follow her tutorial but failed - so I ended up creating a look-alike, but in my own way. You can see on the left hand side of the card a "dial" which when turned displays various images I have stamped on the wheel on the inside of the card front. Hence the name, View-master card.
VERY fun to make, if you don't mind a little challenge.
I hope you like it!
Stay tuned and have a great day!

stamp set: Things I Love; card stock: pixie pink, chocolate chip,pumpkin pie,whisper white.
designer paper: sweet always. ink: chocolate chip.
all materials used are from Stampin' Up! and are available from myself or my online store.

1.3-d stereo.com

easy peasy Christmas card

Want to make an easy, yet charming card to send out this season?
You can with Stampin' Up!'s new ornament punch - no cutting by hand required here - just grab some of your favourite designer paper such as Merry Moments, and punch out two ornaments. I popped these ones up with Dimensionals to give them a little extra pizazz, then attached some of the silver cord using adhesive.
I previously ran the white card layer through my Big Shot die cut machine and Petals A Plenty embossing folder, giving the Whisper White card stock some texture.
Simply add to the Garden Green card base, and your done!

Note: Stamp your greeting onto card stock before embossing.I use the greeting from the Snow Swirled set.

Stay tuned for more seasonal ideas, because there are only 8 weeks left until Christmas!

all materials are available from Stampin' Up! from my online store or by directly contacting me.

Holiday Gift Guide!

Holiday Gift-Giving Guide Promotion

Dates: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010

You'll love the convenience of our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! With gift ideas for kids, teens, neighbours, and more, it's your one-stop shop for all your holiday needs.

Plus, when you spend $65 on products in the guide, you'll get a Décor Elements for FREE (up to a $22.95 value)!

christmas shimmer

I have had so much fun experimenting with the new Shimmer Paint from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini catalogue.
To obtain the shimmery look on these trees, I mixed a couple of drops of Old Olive re-inker with a drop or two of Shimmer Paint. Using a sponge dauber I applied the mixture to the Patterned Pines stamp and then stamped it onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock. Set it aside as it will take a few moments to dry.
Prepare the rest of your card while you are waiting.
8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Real Red card stock, scored at 4 1/4"for your card base.
3" x 3 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock,(for stamping).
4" x 5 1/4" piece of Merry Moments designer paper.
4 1/4" x 1" Old Olive card stock, punched with the Scallop Edge border punch.
Red Gingham ribbon.
The greeting I chose is from the Snow Swirled stamp set.

all materials are from Stampin' Up! and available in my online store or by emailing me directly.
My thanks to Andrea Walford for her tutorials using Shimmer Paint.
Only 9 weeks left until Christmas!

christmas jingle simply scrappin' kit

Stampin'Up!'s Simply Scrappin' kits are amazing, and the Dasher stamp is one of my favorite stamps for the holiday season.
They have combined the two in the Christmas Jingle kit - what fun!
For this card I used the Dasher image from the kit as my focal point. The images are self adhesive - so easy to use - which I layered on to a piece of the Merry Moments designer paper. My card base is Old Olive cardstock. Super simple and effective.
Only 10 weeks left until Christmas!
Stay tuned for more Christmas ideas to come.

all materials are available from my Stampin' Up! store.

rudolph treat box

Rudolph is pretty cute don't you think?
This is an idea of Heather Summer's from her holiday online class.
The box idea is very clever and has lots of possibilities. Flip it the opposite way to the Rudolph box and you have a tree shaped box to decorate, fill with treats,and hang on the tree. Placing one of these at each dinner plate would be soooo cute for Christmas.
You may have noticed that the reindeer "features" are created using various punches.
Hope you have enjoyed seeing this idea, and remember there are only 11 weeks left until Christmas!

all materials are available from my Stampin' Up! online store.

punches used: large oval, small oval, 3/4" circle and
cardstock: close to cocoa, whisper white, basic black and real red.
ink: close to cocoa for sponging edges.
white gel pen for eye highlights.
ribbon: red gingham

12 weeks of Christmas #2

Welcome to my 12 weeks of Christmas #2!
I saw a similar card idea in the new Papercrafts magazine, and decided to use it as inspiration for a card using the new "Dasher" under $12.00 stamp from Stampin' Up!
I began with a card base of 5 1/2" x 11" in Old Olive, and scored at 5 1/2".
Next I added a piece of Merry Moments designer paper 5 3/8" x 2 1/4".
The "Dasher' stamp is one of my favourite because it stamps a nice clean image, and adds the "WOW" factor to a simple card design.
Here I stamped with Versamark ink onto Real Red card stock. Next I sprinkled on white embossing powder to add colour, and then set with a heat gun.
The dimensions of the Real Red cardstock are 3 6/8" x 2 3/4". It is layered upon Chocolate Chip cardstock cut to 3 7/8" x 2 7/8".
Lastly, is the 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, wrapped around the front of the card and tied into a bow. I made a custom envelope for this size of card. You could easily make this card in the standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" size.
There you have it - thanks for stopping by!

all materials are from Stampin' Up!

great ideas!

If you haven't visited my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website lately, you should!
Here is the link
On the menu bar, click on "Ideas" and there you will find all kinds of inspiration with recipes!
Enjoy, and have a great day!

visit the clearance rack

Stampin' Up! has just announced that they are adding a "Clearance Rack" to the online store. Yes! It sounds like a sale to me!
Retired surplus products will be available to the online store only, and available only while supplies last.
You can visit my online store here.
Then click on "Products", then "Shop Now" and then "Clearance Rack".
While you are there have a look at the ideas in "Projects", complete with recipes!
Have fun shopping!

Christmas bucket

Here is the first 12 weeks of Christmas project I have for you. This is a very clever idea using the Sizzix Pillow Box die. You can find the tutorial for it here.
I used Real Red card stock, Merry Moments designer paper and the Sweet Treats stamp set. Here are instructions to make my tag for the bucket.
Cut out the image you stamped with Garden Green ink using the Wide Oval punch. Then re-stamp the image in Real Red. Now punch out only the house with the
Small Oval punch, add a dimensional to the back, and adhere it to the centre of the green image - hope that makes sense. After punching a hole in the tag run some elastic silver cord through and tie it in a knot. Now it's ready to be filled!
Hope you enjoyed this week's project. Stay tuned for more ideas!

all materials are available from Stampin' Up!

12 weeks of Christmas

My 12 weeks of Christmas posts will begin September 30th. I will be posting a Christmas themed card or 3-d item with recipe every Wednesday for the following 12 weeks.
So stay tuned for some holiday ideas!