Farewell 2015!

Can you believe it is the last day of 2015??  What a whirlwind year it has been...full of ups and downs and unexpected surprises. I am so thankful for the many blessings I have received this year and look forward to what 2016 has in-store.

Today I have one of the projects that will be on offer as a Make-n-Take at my upcoming Sale-a-bration Kick-off and Customer Appreciation Open House. It uses one of the limited-time-only SAB sets called Sky is the Limit...

Congratulations card featuring the Sky is the Limit Sale-a-bration stamp set.  (Available FREE with a qualifying order starting Jan. 5th!)

I think I mentioned in yesterday's post that the Sky is the Limit stamp set is my favourite Sale-a-bration product this year. It is perfect for the men in my life AND it has great sentiments in a fabulous font...perfection! A close second favourite is the Perfectly Artistic DSP pack. I love the marbled pattern on one side and the watercolour wash pattern on the other...so versatile! Both the Sky is the Limit stamp set and the Perfectly Artistic DSP are available only until February 16th, so you'll want to be sure to get your order in early!
 I used both of these fabulous products on this project. I die-cut a circle from the DSP using the Circles Collection Framelits and then stamped the plane image in Basic Black ink. I then layered that on a second die-cut silver foil circle, purposely off-setting them so that I had an uneven border.

The background Basic Gray card stock panel is embossed using the new World Traveller TIEF and layered on a Basic Black card base. The sentiment, which is also from the Sky is the Limit set, is stamped in Basic Black ink on Whisper White card stock. I added some little bitty confetti stars, punched from silver glimmer paper, by way of embellishment and because every card needs a little sparkle ;)

On the inside I stamped another one of the sentiments from the Sky is the Limit set in Basic Black ink and then added some little clouds in Basic Gray ink, stamped off once to create a faded image.

I hope you have a wonderful evening ringing in 2016 and I wish you all the very best in the new year! See you next year ;)

Here are the currently available products I used on this project:

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Manly Birthday

Happy second-last day of 2015! As the year draws to a close I always find myself torn between looking back at the year that was and ahead to the year to come. One thing I am very excited about in 2016 is the start of Sale-a-bration and the launch of the new Occasions Catalogue. There are so many awesome new products and not one of them has anything to do with Christmas...yahoo!  I'm so done with Christmas cards...on to something...anything...different!
Today I have a project that uses my favourite set from the Sale-a-bration brochure...

Masculine birthday card featuring the Sky is the Limit stamp set and Going Places DSP stack (both available January 5th).

I am always looking for new products to use on manly cards and the new Going Places Suite fits the bill perfectly. Pair it with the Sky is the Limit stamp set and it is a match made in (man-card) heaven. Here I used five different patterns from the Going Places DSP stack, layered on a Mossy Meadow card base, to create my background. I heat embossed the compass image from the new Going Global stamp set in gold on one piece to a little extra sparkle.

Both the plane and the sentiment are from the Sky is the Limit Sale-a-bration set. The plane is heat embossed in gold on vellum and then fussy cut. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black ink and punched with the XL Oval punch. I added some gold metallic thread and some itty bitty gold glimmer stars (punched with the Confetti Stars punch) by way of embellishment.

Inside view with sentiment from the Cottage Greetings stamp set.

On the inside I stamped the plane image again, stamping off once so as to get a faded image. I stamped the sentiment, from the Cottage Greetings stamp set, in Basic Black over top of the plane image.

I sometimes wonder if I should use sparkle and glimmer on man-cards, but my hubby (definitely a manly man) loved this card, so I guess I'm ok. After all, who doesn't like a little glimmer in their life???

Many of the products I used on this project aren't yet available, so I can't add them to my showcase just yet. Here are the currently available items I used:

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Celebrate with Cake

What occasion isn't made better with cake??  I can't think of a single one! Today's project is all about the cake and features more sneak peeks of new Occasions Catalogue products...

Birthday card featuring the Party with Cake stamp set

Now that's a card I can get excited about :) I can also get excited about all the new products I used! I started with some It's My Party DSP. I used the "Rip and Flip" method here, cutting my DSP panel slightly longer than needed, ripping it and then flipping the torn piece over and overlapping it with the original...voila...instant background. I layered the DSP on a Sahara Sand card base, which is the perfect neutral to allow the bright colours to pop.

The sentiement is from the Party with Cake set. I stamped it in Basic Gray Archival ink and then coloured it with a Crushed Curry Stampin' Write marker. I used the Lots of Labels Framelits to die-cut my label. On another strip of Whisper White card stock, I stamped the word "celebrate" again using Melon Mambo ink to create my banner and highlight that very important word. The slice of cake image is also from the Party with Cake set and is stamped in Melon Mambo ink, punched using the 1-1/4" circle punch and layered on a silver glimmer 1-3/8" circle. To add a little extra sparkle I used a few strands of silver metallic thread. I also added a few of the new It's My Party Enamel Dots by way of embellishment.

Inside view with sentiments from the Party Wishes and Party with Cake stamp sets.

On the inside I stamped this fun sentiment from the Party Wishes stamp set in Basic Gray ink and then stamped the slice of cake image again, stamped off twice, over top. I added the Happy Birthday greeting from the Party with Cake set, stamped in Melon Mambo ink, as well as a little silver glimmer balloon punched using the new Party Punch Pack, which also includes a wee cupcake and candle. Love how cute those punched shapes are!

Now, most of the products I used on this project will not be available until January 5th when the Occasions Catalogue and Sale-a-bration go live. Here is a list of the currently available items I used:

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It's Your Day!

Happy Boxing Day! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, filled with joy, laughter and time with those you love. Our celebrations are continuing today, as our home will be filled with lots of children with all of the cousins and Aunts and Uncles coming for dinner. Such fun!

Now that Christmas is over I can start getting serious about the new Occasions Catalogue and Sale-a-bration, which both launch on January 5th. Check out this sneak peek...

Birthday card fearturing the Party with Cake stamp set and It's My Party DSP Stack (both available beginning January 5th!)

Now, I have to admit, my mojo has been markedly absent of late. I have had so little time to create with all of the busyness of Christmas preparations and I always find that it takes me a little while to get back in the saddle, so to speak. What better way to find one's missing mojo than with new products?? I used a bunch of new items on this project. The DSP is from the It's My Party DSP stack...this is a HUGE stack of paper...48 12" x 12" sheets! Every sheet has fun party-themed patterns on one side and more subtle, any-occasions patterns on the other making it super-versatile. Here I stamped the sentiment from the Party with Cake set in Basic Black ink directly on the DSP. I added a little balloon, punched from Melon Mambo card stock with the new Party Punch Pack, to the "o" in Your.

The little banner at the top is punched from the same DSP stack using the Banner punch. The Baker's Twine is also new!  It comes in a pack with Melon Mambo/Black and Mint Macaron/Black combinations...perfect for both masculine and feminine cards.

On the inside is where the magic happens!

Here I used the new Party Pop-Up Thinlit dies to create this fun pop-out feature. Such a fun and unexpected element in a hand-made card. I also stamped the sprinkles from the Party With Cake set several times in Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron, Melon Mambo and Basic Black inks (which just happen to be the colours in the DSP), as well as the sentiment in Basic Black.

If you haven't yet received a copy of the new Occasions Catalogue and/or the Sale-a-bration Brochure, drop me a quick note and I will send one out to you free of charge. You don't want to miss these amazing new products!

Now, because many of these are new products that are not yet available, I can't include them in my showcase; however, here is a list of the currently available items I used (be sure to add the new items mentioned above to your Wish List!):

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Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, have a very merry Christmas! May today find you celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour with those you love. All the best from the Girsa family :)

Gift Wrapping Anyone?

If you're anything like me, you're doing just a wee bit of gift-wrapping these days. I thought I would share some ideas I used to add a little extra something to some of my gifts this year...

Firstly, I made these sweet little Baker's Boxes to hold chocolate treats in no time, thanks to two kits: All Boxed Up (from the Annual Catty) and the Oh What Fun Tag Kit (from the Holiday Catty). These two kits are a match made in crafting heaven! The boxes come already cut and scored in the All Boxed Up kit, which also includes that sweet Mint Macaron pom-pom trim. The Oh What Fun Tag Kit includes all of the pre-cut tags and tons of embellishments. Did I mention this fabulous kit (along with the Real Red Pom-pom Trim) is on sale right now in the Year-End Sale?  Yep...grab it while you can and save it for next year when you're pressed for time! It took me mere minutes to whip up several of these cute little treat holders.  It definitely pays to have a couple of kits on-hand!

Next, I made this cute little pillow box to hold some small gifts. I used some (retired) Under the Tree Specialty DSP (that I pick up during last year's year-end sale) to create my pillow box. The best part about this paper is that it is card stock weight AND it's printed on both sides, so even the inside of my box looks pretty! I used the Square Pillow Box Framelits to cut the box, which goes together in a snap. I used some Garden Green 1/8" striped ribbon to embellish the box. I added a little punched tree and a banner I had leftover from the Oh What Fun Tags kit to make my little tag...so sweet!

Finally, I whipped up some simple snowflake tags to go with this pretty cable-knit-patterned wrapping paper I found. I used the Festive Flurry (retired) stamp set and coordinating framelits to die-cut the tag and then added a wooden Snowflake Element and a Metal-rimmed Pearl. The ribbon is Smoky Slate 5/8" Natural Chevron Ribbon from the Annual Catty. It was the perfect complement for the gift wrap and tag.

I so love making my friends and family feel extra-special by beautifully wrapping their gifts. They so appreciate it and I love doing it! Happy wrapping!!

Here are all of the products I used to create these projects:

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Happy New Year for Sunday Stamps

Wow, it's been a hectic week! It is the last Sunday before Christmas and we have a new sketch challenge for you over at Sunday Stamps. Check it out:

Here is my project for the Design Team...I figured some of us might need to abandon the idea of getting Christmas cards out in time and aim for sending New Year's cards instead!

New Year's card featuring the Six Sayings stamp set and Hello You Thinlits

I opted for a gold and silver colour scheme, which just seems right for a shiny new year. I used the new, soon-to-be-available Confetti TIEF to selectively emboss the Whisper White background panel. I used the Hello You Thinlits to cut the "happy" from silver foil sheets. "New Year" is heat embossed in gold on a piece of Winter Wonderland vellum, which I cut into a banner. The image is from the Six Sayings Host set.

I added lots of sparkle with strips of gold and silver sequin trim and a few little rhinestone champagne bubbles.

Inside view with sentiment from Versatile Christmas

On the inside I once again embossed the Whisper White panel with the Confetti TIEF and then heat embossed the sentiment from the Versatile Christmas set in gold. I think it is the perfect sentiment for a new year.

If you're anything like me, your To-Do list is a mile long...why not take a break from the craziness of Holiday preparations and give this sketch a try? We'd love for you to play along with us at Sunday Stamps!

Here are the currently-available products I used to create this project:

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We Interrupt Your Regular Christmas Programming...

...for a new catalogue sneak peek!
I have been so overwhelmingly busy the past couple of weeks I haven't even unpacked my Occasions Catalogue pre-order! Last night I unexpected had a couple of free hours so I took the opportunity to unpack AND make a birthday card for my niece, who is turning two this week.  How many new products can you spot??

Birthday card featuring the Party Wishes and Greatest Greeting s stamp sets.

So, how many did you count? Here is the list of new products I used, all of which will be available in the Occasions Catalogue starting January 5th:

Party Wishes Stamp Set (pg. 5)

Greatest Greetings Stamp Set (pg. 23)

It's My Party DSP stack (pg. 5)

Party Punch Pack (pg. 4)

Aren't those bitty balloons adorable?  I think this is my favourite new punch in a long while!

I made this inside almost as fun as the outside with the new Confetti TIEF (pg. 5) and more cute little balloons.

My niece may be too young to appreciate the bling on this card, but I sure can!  One day she'll thank me ;)

If you haven't yet received your copy of the Occasions and Sale-a-bration catalogues, don't fret.  They are on their way if you are a current customer of mine. If you don't currently have a demonstrator and would like a complimentary copy drop me a quick email and I will pop one into the mail for you. 

Here are the currently available products I used to create this card. The rest will be available January 5th, 2016!

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The Year-End Sale is Here!

 It's a busy time of the year, and our Year-End Sale can help you finish your Christmas shopping for the crafters in your life AND get those final items from your own Wish List.  With more products on clearance and discounts up to 60%, you will want to take advantage of these amazing deals! All Holiday Catalogue products on the Retiring List are discounted up to 40%!!

During the Year-End Sale, you can find ALL discounted products in one location in the online store: under the Year-End Sale category. So don't fret if you don't see the category "Clearance Rack" on the online store right now--it has been integrated into the Year-End Sale.

Now, here are some important details to note:

• The sale runs from  December 10, 2015-January 4, 2016.        
• No minimum purchase required.
• No refunds or exchanges on Year-End Sale items.
• Items offered during the Year-End Sale are while supplies last.
• Year-End Sale orders are eligible for Stampin' Rewards with qualifying orders.
• Following the Year-End Sale, some remaining items may stay in the Clearance Rack. Other items may be removed from the Clearance Rack to be added at another undetermined time.
• Orders must be placed online. 

That last point is a big one. Because all items are offered while supplies last, orders must be placed online through my webstore. This is to ensure that you aren't disappointed by sold out items, as there will be no backorders on sale items.

So, are you ready to check out the deals?  Click the image below to start shopping!

Click the image to view the sale items.

Falala Pillow Box

As we continue the countdown to Christmas I thought maybe you could use some quick and easy gift packaging ideas. Today I want to show you the little boxes I made to package and gift the tree ornaments I made for the members of my Tri-City Stampers team (see yesterday's post if you missed it!).  I used the adorable square pillow box die....check it out:

Pillow Box featuring the Embellished Ornaments stamp set and coordinating Delicate Ornaments Thinlit dies.

I began my cutting two panels from thick Whisper White card stock. I then embossed each panel using the Softly Falling TIEF before assembling my box. To decorate the box I began with a length of 1-1/4" Very Vanilla Striped Satin ribbon, which I wrapped around the box and secured with Fast Fuse. I then added a length of 3/8" white glitter ribbon over top of the Very Vanilla ribbon and secured it with glue dots. I layered a silver metallic doily over the ribbon. The ornament is heat embossed in silver on gold foil sheets and die-cut using the Delicate Ornaments Thinlits. I adhered the ornament to the box using dimensionals.

The die cut sentiment is cut from gold foil sheets using the Christmas Greetings Thinlits and is secured by looping some silver cording trim through the loop on the "f" and tying a bow.

Here is the box with the ornament I tucked inside for my team members:

This little box takes very little time to make, but can make even the simplest little gift special. I am a big believer in the power of pretty packaging...it goes a long way in make the recipient feel extra-special. Give it a try this Christmas and you'll see what I mean :)

Here are the supplies I used to create this project:

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Peaceful Ornaments

So, are you ready for Christmas yet?  For the first time since...well, ever(!) I actually feel like I have a handle on things as we speed toward the big day. The house is decorated, the tree is up and I am almost done my shopping...I know...I can't believe it either!!
Last Saturday I held my team Christmas dinner as a small way of saying thank you to the amazing women with whom I have the privilege of sharing my Stampin' Up! journey. I wanted to give them a small keepsake, so I designed these ornaments for them to hang on their Christmas trees...

Christmas ornament featuring the Dove of Peace stamp set and the Christmas Greetings Thinlits.

I had several of these to make, so I needed to keep the design relatively simple. I found these little ornament frames at a local craft store and knew they would be perfect for what I wanted to do. I began by stamping the dove from the Dove of Peace set in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in gold. Then, because the opening in the frame was a 2" circle, I used my 2" Circle punch to punch out a portion of the embossed image. I removed the frame backing from the ornament, leaving only the plastic window. I used some of the long strips of dimensionals I had left over from the To You and Yours Shaker card kit to create a shaker frame for my ornament. I ended up having to cut the strips in half lengthwise so that they would be narrow enough not to show from the front of the ornament. I then added gold and silver sequins and stars from the Metallics Sequin Assortment before sealing my shaker with the punched 2" circles.

I added the die-cut sentiment, which I created using gold foil sheets and the Christmas Greetings Thinlit dies, by looping a piece of silver cording trim through the "p" in peace and then tying a bow. I removed the red ribbon that the ornament frame came with and added another length of silver cording trim with which to hang the ornament on the tree.
I have to say I am quite happy with the way these turned out...and my team were too.  I was so glad I could give them a small keepsake of the amazing year we have all had. Be sure to stop by tomorrow when I'll show you the cute little boxes I made to package and gift these ornaments in.  Till then, have a great day!

Here are the products I used to create this project:

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Peace on Earth

Happy Sunday!  I hope you are having a good weekend...it's hard to believe there are less than 3 weeks till Christmas!
Today marks the beginning of a new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  I am loving the cool shades of blue and gray in this challenge.

Here is my project for the Design Team:

Holiday card featuring the Dove of Peace and Holly Jolly Greetings stamp set.

With all that has been going on in the world the past few weeks, this card seems somehow even more appropriate.  I absolutely love the dove image in the Dove of Peace set. Here I heat embossed it in silver on Whisper White card stock and then coloured the patterns using Pool Party and Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write markers. I fussy cut the dove, added a swirl of silver metallic thread and adhered it to a panel of Pool Party card stock that I had embossed using the new World Traveller TIEF (available January 5th in the Occasions Catalogue). I accented the continents of the map with a dauber and some Pool Party ink.

The stamped portion of the sentiment is done in Basic Gray Archival ink on vellum. The die-cut is from silver foil sheets using the Christmas Greetings Thinlits.  The card is built on a thick Whisper White base. The only embellishments, in addition to the aforementioned silver metallic thread, are a few small rhinestones.

On the inside, using Pool Party ink, I stamped the globe image from the new Going Global stamp set (also available January 5th) and added a sentiment from the Peaceful Pines stamp set in Basic Gray.

I always love when I find ways to use new products with ones that I already own.  This embossing folder has so many possibilities...I see lots of projects in it's future ;)

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects and then give this colour challenge a try...it is a great one!  See you soon over at Sunday Stamps!

Here are all of the projects used to create this card:

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Silent Snowy Night

Happy December!  The countdown is on...just 24 days till Christmas!  Have you got your Christmas cards done yet??  Today I have some more inspiration for you.  This is one I designed for my team to create at our meeting last month...

Christmas card featuring the Wonderland and Kinda Eclectic stamp set and Sleigh Ride Edgelits.

Of all of the cards I have made using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits, I think this one is my favourite. I love the quiet serenity of it.  Just like a silent winter's night. To create the background I inked a piece of Whisper White card stock with Night of Navy ink and then, very lightly, with Black Berry Bliss ink. I love the hint of purple the Blackberry Bliss provides. Then I spritzed the entire sponged panel with my trusty Stampin' Mist to get the snowy effect. I also stamped the starburst image from the Kinda Eclectic set using Stampin' Mist as well.  I love the effect behind the Dazzling Diamonds glimmer star.

I used the the Sleigh Ride Edgelits with Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper to cut the bottom section and layered it over top of my sponged and spritzed background. I layered that on a piece of Night of Navy card stock before mounting it on a thick Whisper White card stock base. The sentiment, from the Wonderland stamp set, is heat embossed in silver on vellum. The only embellishment is a bit of silver cording trim.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment from the Six Sayings host set in Night of Navy ink. Clean and simple and so pretty!  This is one that is quick and easy to make but sure is pretty and oh, so sparkly!

Here are all of the products I used to create this card:

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