Happy Halloween!

Well, the big night is finally here!  My little guy has been SO excited to go trick-or-treating this year...a far cry from the kid who wouldn't even put on a costume last year!  Yesterday afternoon was spent carving pumpkins...here is a photo of my DH's latest masterpiece:  Lightening McQueen...

This year's CARS character:  Lightening McQueen. 

This evening, right after supper we suited up our little Mario and headed out to collect some loot. 

Our little Mario...ready for Movember tomorrow!

Heading out to collect the goods.

We did just enough houses to fill his bucket with candy and still got home before dark...my kinda Halloween!  He had fun and was thrilled when we let him "exchange" the candy he didn't like for Kit Kats from our stash!  All in all a great night!  

Speaking of great things...Stampin' Up has just announced an extension to the Free Big Shot promotion!!  You now have until November 11th to purchase your starter kit and receive your free Big Shot or $125 in extra product.  Don't miss out on this fabulous deal!  Click on over to my website for more information or to order your kit.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what is new for the month of November...till then have a happy Halloween!

Another Quiet Sunday...

...that's two in a row!  I feel spoiled.  Today marks the second Sunday in a row that I've been able to spend with my family.  We are heading to church and then this afternoon its all about the pumpkin carving!  Max is super excited about Halloween this year...a huge switch from the boy who wouldn't even put on a costume last year!  Of course, it helps that his pre-school has been hyping Halloween since the beginning of October.  He is dressing as Mario (appropriate since his life is all about Mario Galaxy for the  Wii these days) and he sure looks cute in that big black mustache!  I'll post photos of his big night on Tuesday. 
In the meantime I have another project I designed for the mega-Stamp-A-Stack  I did last weekend.  See what you think...

Cute, vintage-inspired Christmas card using the Snow Much Fun set with sentiment from Petite Pairs

Inside view

Now, I am not generally a "cute" Christmas kinda gal.  I love all things vintage and my home is decorated in a Victorian style during the holidays.  But I have to say that this set has really grown on me.  If I have to do a cutesy Christmas card this is my go-to choice.  I was faced with a challenge on this card, in that I couldn't have 12 ladies all colouring their snowmen at the same time, so I had to design a card that didn't require colouring!  I stamped the snowmen in early espresso on crumb cake cardstock...and I quite like the look!  With a bit of distressing and some sponging one of the ladies commented that it almost looked like leather!  The rest of the card is pretty straightforward.  The colours I used are always artichoke and riding hood red.  I used the snowburst embossing folder on the cardbase and added the little ribbon treatment with some of those cute little mini jingle bells to finish it off.  The ladies at my SAS really like this card and I do too...I surprised even myself!

Bright Hopes for Christmas

Tonight my Christmas Club meets and before they arrive I thought I'd do a quick post to show you one of the projects we'll be doing.

Holiday card using the Bright Hopes set from the Holiday mini

I also used this card for a Stamp-A-Stack I did for a large group of 12 ladies on Saturday.  It is simple and comes together quite easily, yet is rather elegant...a perfect SAS project!
I'm not sure if you can tell in the photo, but I used the Fancy Fan letterpress plate to give my real red background a hint of texture.  I embossed the tree image using the pewter embossing powder...it truly is my new go-to favourite for heat embossing.  The cardbase is very vanilla which I preferred over whisper white as it adds a level of richness without the stark contrast that whisper white would give.  For my SAS tonight I am actually using very vanilla ribbon instead of the old olive...I ran out of old olive after my big class on Saturday!  It actually does look just as elegant with the vanilla satin ribbon.  I hope my Christmas Club folks like this one as much as I do!

Finally...a family day!

Today has been the BEST day!  It is the first day in weeks that I have been able to spend entirely with my family.  I got to sleep in until 10:00 (!!) am this morning and then we took our little guy to see The Backyardigans Live this afternoon.  It was so good to just spend time together without feeling like I am on a deadline.  This is what every Sunday should be like!  I actually (almost) feel ready to go back to work on Monday.  
Today's post is a card I designed for the Stamp-A-Stack I did on Wednesday.  It was the only card that wasn't chosen ahead of time by the ladies.  They requested a snowman card using traditional Christmas red and green.  See what I came up with:

Holiday card using the Snow Much Fun set and Frostwood Lodge DSP

Inside of card with sentiment from Many Merry Messages

You know, when I first saw this snowman set in the new catty it really didn't do much for me.  Perhaps it was because I was in the midst of planning swaps for convention during the heat of July, but whatever the reason I just wasn't all that excited about it.  I am happy to say that I was DEAD WRONG about this set!  It is just the cutest and all the many amazing designs I have seen featuring these images are just so inspiring!  In designing this card I tried to keep it simple, knowing that my ladies would be doing three other designs in the same evening.  In the interest of time, I avoided watercolouring the snowmen, though they would look even cuter with a little colour added.  The early espresso baker's twine wrapped around the cardfront and tied in a bow with the tiny little jingle bell as the perfect finishing touch reminds me a little of a package wrapped up ready to go under the tree.  I actually used this design as the inspiration for a card I designed for another SAS I did yesterday afternoon.  I'll show you that one later this week.  In the meantime I'm going to go spend some more quality time with my family!

Its Time...

...for me to stop commenting on how fast time is flying by these days, I know; but really, where is the month going?  Here it is the 18th and I'm still on the 4th in my head!  It sometimes scares me just how fast our lives can pass by.  This week is another busy one...and so I again have had little time to stamp; however I did whip up a cute little card last night for a stamp-a-stack I am teaching tomorrow evening.  More on that later...for now I have a card I made a while back that my SAS hostess also requested we make tomorrow night.  Have a look...

Holiday card using Letters to Santa DSP and the Tree Trimmings stamp set.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Inside of card using the sentiment from the Christmas Greetings stamp set.

I designed this card intending to use it for a techniques class on masking.  I stamped the green ornament on the front of the card and then masked it while I stamped the red and brown ones.  The result gives the illusion of depth.  The rest of the card is fairly straightforward as it features some of the gorgeous patterns on the Letters to Santa DSP.  I finished it off with a bit of old olive satin ribbon and a real red glimmer brad to add a bit of sparkle.
On a completely different note, I just wanted to remind everyone of my upcoming Mini Album class on Saturday, October 29th at 9:30 am.  This little album makes a beautiful Christmas gift for just about anyone, but is especially appreciated by grandmas (my mom gets one with photos of my son ever year).  There is still room remaining if you would like to join us.  For further details click HERE.

A Walking Zombie...

...that's what I am today!  I am SOOOO tired after my crazy weekend at the Rockton Fair!  It was really busy, but SO much fun!  I met a ton of new people and introduced some who had never stamped before to this wonderful hobby of mine.  It was a very tiring weekend too...a total of 40 hours at the fair will wear a person out and having to get up at 5:00 am this morning for band practice was NOT easy!  Let's just say I will sleep VERY well tonight!  I am excited to share some photos of my booth with you...check 'em out:

Here I am in my little booth...not looking too tired yet...this was taken after we set up on Friday!

My display samples

My class samples and sign up lists

My promo table.  After Friday, I actually decided this wasn't getting enough attention and changed it to a Make-n-Take area instead...great call!  Lots of folks stopped and stamped with me!

I can honestly say this event was terrific!  As tired as I am, I had such fun and was thrilled to meet so many new people.  I also got to reconnect with many people from my childhood, as I grew up just outside of Rockton, and ran into past teachers, principals, baby sitters and neighbours.  What a fantastic event and a great way to spend such a gorgeous weekend!

Rockton Fair, here I come!

Well, so much for doing a better job of keeping up with my posting this week!  Between getting ready for my booth at the fair, teaching full time and dealing with my sick child (which included a trip to the emergency room on Wednesday night), I've had no time to sleep, never mind blog!  So you'll all just have to come and visit my booth at the fair this weekend to check out what I've been up to!  To hold you over till I come back up for air (whenever that may be), here is another project I created for my Gift Boxes for the Holidays class coming up in November:

Cute little box created using the matchbox die and some Pines and Poinsettias DSP. 

Top view

This is part of a class in which we will be making 6 different gift boxes of varying sizes.  I'll have samples for this class and all of my other holiday offerings on display at the fair.  Plus if you sign up for a class at the fair, you'll be entered in a draw to win your class for free!  For more information about my holiday classes click on the Upcoming Classes and Events tab at the top of this page.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, all my Canadian readers...see you at the fair!

All Stamped out!

I never thought I would ever say this, but I am truly stamped out!  I have inked more rubber this weekend than I ever have in my life!  My fingers actually hurt!  It was a very productive weekend, though!  I got a ton done in preparation for my booth at the Rockton Fair next weekend.  I have lots to show you but I need to pace myself...I likely won't have much stamping time this week and DEFINITELY won't have any next weekend!  So, for now, I have this cute little box to show you.  It is really just one of our Kraft gift boxes from the Mini that I dressed up a little...see what you think:

Christmas gift box using a Kraft box from the Holiday Mini and Frostwood Lodge DSP as well as the Christmas Lodge stamp set.

EASY paper bow...I'm definitely making more of these this year!

 Cute, huh?  This was so quick and easy to do and that bow...a piece of Christmas cake!  I used a tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers but changed it a bit.  Instead of using a different brad to assemble each layer, I used one long one and added all the layers but the final loop in the middle to it.  It made for less bulk and super-easy assembly.  I also changed the width of the centre loop, increasing it to 1 1/4" so that it filled in the centre more.  I LOVE this...my hubby and four-year-old were even impressed!  Here's hoping the fairgoers will like it and sign up to take my class!