Eclectic Christmas

Today I have a funky Holiday card I came up with using two sets from the Annual Catalogue.  Check it out:

Christmas card featuring the Kinda Eclectic and Sassy Salutations stamp sets.

This one looks kind of retro, no?  I love that starburst image from the Kinda Eclectic set and thought it might make a fun background for a Christmas card.  I used a colour scheme of Smoky Slate and Coastal Cabana, along with Whisper White.  The background panel is embossed using the Snowburst (retired) TIEF.

The sentiment is from the Sassy Salutations set.  I highlighted the sentiment panel with a star frame that I die cut from silver glimmer paper using the Stars Framelits.  I added a little silver metallic bow and some Frosted and In-Colour Sequins.

On the inside I stamped the starburst image again is Smoky Slate and then added the sentiment from the long-retired Many Merry Messages set, which I punched with the XL Oval punch. 

Be sure to stop by on Sunday for the new challenge from Sunday Stamps.  In the meantime, have a fabulous weekend!

Fall Birthday

I have a private class coming up in a couple of weeks.  One of the projects that was requested was a birthday card, so I figured I would do something Fall-themed...

Fall-themed birthday card featuring the For All Things and Tag Talk stamp sets.

I used the leaf image from the For All Things stamp set, layering the image in Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and Cherry Cobbler inks.  The background is embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots TIEF.  The label is from the Tag Talk stamp set and is stamped in Mossy Meadow is and punched with the Bracket Label punch.  I layered it on a 1-3/4" circle in Champagne glimmer paper. 

I added some natural fibres with a bit of burlap ribbon and some linen thread, as well as a Naturals Button.  It needed a bit more bling so I added a few strategically placed gold sequins.  I'm happy with the result...hope the guests at my class are too!

Back from our second honeymoon

We're back!  My hubby and I had a lovely weekend getaway celebrating our 10th anniversary.  We visited Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls and spent some wonderful quality time together.  Unfortunately I was feeling a little under-the-weather, but we didn't let that ruin our time together.  Yesterday was our Canadian Thanksgiving with way too much food and more family time.  All of this means I didn't even see my craft room this weekend, so I thought I would show you one of the Make-n-takes from the recent Stampin' Up! conference in Kitchener.  Check it out:

Holiday card and gift box featuring the Happy Winter and Petite Pairs stamp sets.

I love this colour scheme!  I think it is the way the Real Red pops agains the cool Coastal Cabana and Whisper White.  The card is a shaker card filled with Frosted Sequins.  The background is embossed using the Lucky Stars TIEF.  The stamped image from the Happy Winter stamp set is coloured using the Coastal Cabana Blendabilities set.  

The little box was made using the Gift Box Punch Board...didn't own that nifty little gadget before, but I sure do now!  It is so quick and easy to make boxes...no more measuring and trial and error!

We added some Real Red 3/8"Satin Woven Ribbon and an All is Calm Snowflake embellishment to pretty it up, not that it needed much...it is so stinkin' cute!  The tag is stamped using the Petitie Pairs stamp set.

The best part about this project was that we all got the Happy Winter set to take home with us...so we can recreate this one again and again!  Love it!

Now for this week's Weekly Deals...don't forget these prices are only good till Monday at midnight.  There are a few items going on my order this week!!

Darling Doily Thinlits Die Price: $30.95  Sale: $23.21	Decorative Window Gift Box Price: $5.95   Sale $4.46	Floral Frames Framelits Die Price: $32.95   Sale: $24.71	Mustache Framelits Die Price: $9.95   Sale: $7.46
Perfect Print Numbers Bigz Die Price: $30.95   Sale: $23.21	Spooky Treats Designer Template - Digital Download Price: $13.95  Sale: $8.37	Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $9.95   Sale: $7.46	Truly Grateful Wood Stamp Set Price: $33.95  Sale: $25.46

TEN years!!

Ten years ago today I married a tall, dashing blonde man who made my knees go weak.  He is the father of my dearest son and my partner in life, for better and for worse.  I am so blessed to have married a truly good man, and today we celebrate the day our journey together began.  Here is the card I made to give my dearest husband on our tenth wedding anniversary...

Anniversary card featuring the You're Wonderful stamp set.

I kept this one simple and fall-themed, as that was also the theme of our wedding ten years ago.  I used the new You're Wonderful photopolymer set and heat embossed the sentiment in gold.  The background is Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock that I embossed using the Woodgrain TIEF and then sanded lightly.

The leaves are die-cut using the Fun Fall  framelits and are embossed with the Decorative Dots TIEF.  I added a bit of Linen Thread and a faux wood button (retired) for additional texture.

I didn't take a shot of the inside...that's between my DH and I ;)

We won't get to celebrate our big day until this weekend...I have Parents' Night at school tonight and will be lucky to even see my hubby today!  Such is life!  We are getting away this weekend for a couple of days, which I am SO looking forward to.  It is so rare for us to have couple time these days.  For anyone who is interested, here are a couple shots from our wedding day...oh, to be that young again!

Happy Anniversary, Johnnie!  I love you!!  XOXO

Wonderful Friend

Did you know that on the second Tuesday of every month Stampin' Up! releases a brand-new photopolymer stamp set?  These sets are not in any catalogue, so if you miss the announcement each month you might just be missing out on a fabulous new set of stamps.  Today I have a project I made using September's photopolymer release called You're Wonderful.  Here is what the set looks like:

...and here is my project:

Any-occasion card featuring the You're Wonderful photopolymer stamp set.

I designed this one for this month's kit for my Blendabilities club.  My club members now own the Calypso Coral and Old Olive sets, so I stuck with those for this project.  I love that this set is so versatile and easy to customize for just about any recipient.  (I think I might even use it to make my darling hubby's anniversary card...we're celebrating TEN years on Thursday!)  The flowers and leaves are a breeze to colour, as are the banners...no paper-piecing required here ;)

I left the inside without a sentiment so that I can use this card for any occasion or even just to let a friend know I'm thinking about her. 
Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see what new photopolymer set Stampin' Up! has for us this month! 
Now for this week's Weekly Deals...prices are in effect until Monday at Midnight :)

1/8" Circle Handheld Punch Price: $11.95   Sale: $8.96	Apothecary Accents Framelits Die Price: $31.95   Sale: $23.96	Geometrical Wood Stamp Set Price: $36.95   Sale: $27.71	Monster Munchies Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $13.95  Sale: $8.37
Mosaic Punch Price: $21.95   Sale: $16.46	Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon Price: $8.95   Sale: $6.71	Silver Glimmer Paper Price: $5.95   Sale: $4.46	This And That Epic Day Journal Price: $13.95   Sale: $10.46

Flurries of Joy

Happy Belated-World Cardmaking Day!  I was so busy with papercrafting events yesterday I had no time to post, but I sure do have LOTS to share with you!
First of all, I have a new project for you that I designed for our new sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  Here is the sketch:

...and here is my project:

Holiday card featuring the Festive Flurry (retired) stamp set and Wonderful Wreath Framelits.

For this one I pulled out my beloved Festive Flurry stamp set and framelits.  These were, by far, my favourite products from last year's Holiday Catalogue and I couldn't resist using them for this challenge.  I stamped various-sized snowflakes in Bermuda Bay, Pool Party and Wild Wasabi ink and die cut them using the coordinating framelits.  I also die cut a couple of snowflakes from Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper to layer between the stamped flakes for added sparkle. 

The sentiment is die cut from silver glimmer paper using the Wonderous Wreath framelits.  The DSP in the background is from the Nordic Noel pack and the embossed panel was done using the (retired) Snowburst TIEF.  I added some silver stretchy cord I had in my stash and some rhinestones for added bling.

Inside view with sentiment from Christmas Messages (retired)

On the inside I stamped the snowflakes again and added the sentiment, which I stamped on a die cut Whisper White snowflake.
I love this week's sketch...so many possibilities!  You may just see another inspiration card or two from me on this one!  Why not play along with us and link up over at Sunday Stamps?  We'd love to see you creation!

Now for more on what kept me so busy the past couple of days.  Friday and Saturday was Stampin' Up Canada's Fall Conference.  It was held in Kitchener, which is only 20 minutes away from me, so I was plenty excited to attend.  The event was great fun, as members of my team and I got to do cute make-n-takes. play fun games and enjoy chatting with other demonstrators.  Oh, and did I mention we won FREE product??  I came home with over $150 in free stuff with another $20 to come!  I love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!!  Here is a shot of me with the FIVE sets of Blendabilities I won playing Let's Make a Deal!

I was just a wee bit excited...I NEVER win anything!  Sure is a nice feeling!
My fabulous day ended with a private class for some high school friends who get together every year for a girls' reunion weekend.  They rented a beautiful cottage and invited me to come and do a mini-stamp-a-stack of Christmas cards with them.  It was the perfect way to celebrate World Cardmaking Day!  Here they are, hard at work:

Everyone had a great time and I got to introduce three of them to the wonderful world of card making!  Have I mentioned how much I love what I do??

Now don't forget that the World Cardmaking Sale ends tomorrow at midnight.  Don't miss the chance to stock up on card stock, ink, envelopes and more at the sale prices!  Click HERE to shop now!

Stamp, Stock and Save NOW!

I have REALLY BIG news for you!!  This is one of the most exciting promotions I've seen Stampin' Up! offer in quite some time. Stampin' Up! is so excited about this year's World Card Making Day (coming up this weekend), that they're having a ridiculous 15% off sale on some of your favourite products! From  October 1-6, you'll be able to purchase select ink, paper, envelopes, and adhesive-all at a 15% discount! Select stamps are 20% off!  Now is the time restock your supply...sales like this don't come along very often!

Click the flyer to view

 You can place your order by emailing me or directly through my webstore...just make sure you get your order in by midnight on Monday, October 6th!