Top Note Tags

Yes, today is Halloween...but I'm showing you Christmas tags. The kids have parties tonight, treats are made, so I'm moving on! Speaking of kids, thank you to all who left encouraging comments for Benjamin on his cake decorating. He was so excited!!

I've been wanting to play with the new Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, so decided to make Christmas tags with the Top Note die-cut and the folder. I love them!!

I stamped the ornaments in Real Red and Chocolate Chip, hand cut them out and used the punch to layer them on.

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Stamp Set: Delightful Decorations
Accessories: Top Note die-cut, Big Shot (you soooo need this!), Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder, Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile, Ornament Punch, Natural Cord (from last year), Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Remember a couple weeks ago I sent you over to Connie at Constantly Stamping to watch her video on My Digital Studio? Well, she has come out with Volume 2 in her series. Remember these are for the very beginner like me; this one is on Layering and is fabulous!! Give it a listen and leave her a comment. I really appreciate her approach to the basics.

Happy Halloween, be safe out there Trickety Treating!

Deal Of The Week #4

Deal Of The Week # 4 Is Here!

116214 Princess Party Kit regular price $15.95 Sale Price $9.99

116213 Pirate Party Kit Regular Price $15.95 Sale Price $9.99

You can order both of these kits and all your Stampin' Up! supplies HERE!
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Halloween Gum Wrappers

These are for Nicholas 5th Grade class Halloween Party tomorrow. It's his last year in grade school and probably my last year for making cute treats...it soon will be 'not cool'!!


I saw these on Splitcoast Stampers, made by Kreations by Kris. Great idea Kris!
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And another proud Mom moment...

Benjamin completed Course 3 of the Wilton Cake Decorating class last night and look at this beauty!! Now this is my kind of final exam!!
Here is he with Vickie his awesome instructor. She said she has taught a couple of children before but none as serious at age 13 as Benjamin. He will take his final course in February and can't wait!

Happy Birthday Joyce!!

A sliding Hershey bar for my good friend and neighbor Joyce!

Happy Birthday Joyce!

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive DSP
Stamp Set: Autumn Harvest

Accessories: Blender Pens, Ink Pads, Striped Grosgrain in Old Olive & Chocolate Chip. 5/8" button covering kit (non-Stampin' Up! gasp, I know!!)

Ornament Punch Ornaments!

I have been thinking about these for a while now and finally got around to actually making ornaments out of the Ornament punch! Sounds like that is what it's purpose is, right?

For this ornament, I used the silver cord to thread on pearls from the Pretties Kit. The bottom pearl is tied in a knot and cut real short. Then I applied a drop of Crystal Effects to make sure it didn't come undone! I looped the top and threaded it back into the pearl. I secured the cording to the back of the ornament with Mini Glue Dots. This one is attached to the card with 2 Stampin' Dimensionals so the pearls have room to stand off the card a bit.

Cardstock: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP

Stamp Set: Four the Holidays

Accessories: Ornament Punch. Silver Cord, Pretties Kit, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Top Note die-cut, Big Shot (you need this toy!), White Embossing Powder, Whisper White Craft Pad, Heat Tool for embossing the words.

Punch 3 ornaments, fold each one in half lengthwise, and attach to each other back to back with adhesive.

Here is one without the Pretties Kit. I wanted to be able to mail some of these. They will lay flat for mailing, then the recipient can pop them back up....well all except my mom! See this post.
I was talking to her yesterday telling her I had this idea I was going to try and she asked me to send her one to see. My response was something like 'Hell NO!'. I said it with a smile though Ü...then she remembered she had been cut off and we had a good laugh.

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Merry Moments DSP

Stamp Set: none!

Accessories: Ornament Punch, Silver Cord, 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

1st UStamp Project

Today, one of my two Holiday projects is being featured on UStamp with Dawn and Friends. I thought you may like to see it. If you are interested in participating in the Holiday Session of UStamp, you can get information and sign up here.

We are into it about 7 days so far and the projects have been fabulous!!! It's never too late to join, you will have access to all the projects for a long time, even after it closes.

My project is a Christmas Organizer.

It is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2", perfect purse size! You'll not only get the step by step tutorial , but all the templates for the inside pages for to print off too!!

Come join in the fun over at UStamp!

Deal of the Week #3 and a Halloween Basket

Week #3 Deal of the Week

114348 Basic Jumbo Grommets Special Price $4.49

109857 Mini Library Clips Special Price $8.99
112571 Circle Designer Brads Special Price $3.99

112581 1/2" Library Clips Special Price $3.99

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Halloween Basket
Here is a cute project! I used the Bigz Clear Large Scallop die-cut to create a Halloween basket.

Cut Basic Black cardstock to 12 x 5-3/4".

Score along the bottom at 1-3/4". Turn 90 degrees and score at 4", 5-3/4", 9-3/4" and 11-1/2".

Fold on the score lines. Cut on the score lines up to the intersecting score lines to create the bottom. Cut off the little piece on the end. Fold into a box, secure with Sticky Strip.

Adhere the die-cuts to the front and back with Sticky Strip and decorate!

This one has little ribbon handles!
This one has no handles.

What an easy idea for a quick gift! Change it up, this can work for any holiday or birthday!

Star Punch Wreath and MDS Help!

This card was for an assignment I was given and clearly not in MY colors! :) It actually does not photograph the colors as they are in real life and looks rather pale, but the star punch wreath is kind of cool!!

I started with a piece of Old Olive cardstock. I wadded it up in a ball and abused it well for several seconds then unfolded it and punched stars with the Small Star Punch. Arrange in a wreath shape or even a garland, ooh...I better try that too! It was so easy!

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Old Olive, Kraft, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Stamp Set: Four the Holidays
Accessories: Top Note die-cut, Big Shot (you need this!), Scalloped Edge Punch, Star Punch, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit

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Now, let's talk about My Digital Studio. Have you ever tried a Digital Scrapbooking Program? I have never tried it or been interested in it before. I like my paper and stamps and ink and all the toys I have invested in for 8 years!

However.....it's growing on me! Part of my problem is that I am just not familiar with it and I hate new things! As demonstrators we have the opportunity to have online training videos through Stampin' Up! in order to become Certified and be more knowledgeable for our customers. I think our customers are kind of left out of the training on this until we finish our certification.

Well guess what?? My friend Connie Collins and fellow Catty Cruise shipmate has developed a video for the REAL BEGINNER to My Digital Studio. It is a very simplistic video done in real-time (23 minutes long) on getting stared with My Digital Studio. She walks us through step by step on what is in the program, how it works and then creates a basic, simple greeting card. I found it very helpful. I am very My Digital Studio impaired and I could follow along with her! :)

Let her know what you think and if you would like to see more videos.

You can purchase your copy of My Digital Studio here!

Top Note Pocket Cards

After 12 Days of Christmas with absolutely no die-cuts or Big Shot (you need this), I was going through withdrawals...so I whipped out a couple pocket cards just to make sure it knew I still loved it!

Cardstock: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Set: Oval All
Accessories: Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Top Note die-cut, Big Shot (you need this !), Neutral Buttons, Linen Thread, Tall Tales DSP, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Back to Stampin'...

So much has been going on while we were enjoying the 12 Days of Christmas. Wasn't that fun? Thank you to all who have placed orders, I hope you are enjoying having some new things to make! Remember you can change those pattern into any holiday or occasion...it's not just for Christmas anymore! :)

During the month of October, Stampin' Up! will offer several discounted products as "Deals of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required.

So... catching up a bit, Stampin' Up! is now on week 2 of Deals of the Week and we're 'back to regular programming' just in time, because listen to this deal!

*****

Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die (Item #116760)

Special Price: $25.49 (regularly $39.95)

Perfect Setting Bigz XL die (Item #115961)

Special Price: $25.99 (regularly $42.95)

Flower Burst Embosslits die (Item #114515)

Special Price: $5.99 (regularly $11.95)

NOW THAT'S A DEAL!!

Deals of the Week #2 - no limits and no minimum purchase required - offer ends Oct. 19, 9:50 a.m., MT)

Place your ORDER HERE

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Last Friday, this is what we made at Stamp Club! If you are in the Boise area and would like to join my Stamp Club, we will be starting up again in January. Give me a call!

And look at this beautiful Milk Carton made by Amy Reinhardt! It's perfect for fall!! She used this tutorial found here.

Don't forget... My Digital Studio became available for sale to customers October 1st.

My Digital Studio is an AMAZING DIGITAL PAPER CRAFTING SOLUTION
which allows you to create cards, calendars, flyer's, scrapbook pages, professionally bound scrapbooks, DVD's, movies, interactive albums, custom blog banners, custom blog signatures and buttons for yourself, and much more!

Order your copy here today!

12th Day of Christmas

12th Day of Christmas

This little box is made of CD cases!! It can be a planter for a tree or poinsettia, make a divider for it and it would make a darling a desk caddy...or even a centerpiece for wedding tables! You can pop out the pictures and add new ones for an all occasion gift!

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I hope you've enjoyed the 12 Days of Christmas as much as I have! It has been so fun to see the responses and feel your anticipation for this tutorial!

As always, the tutorial contains photos along with patterns and cutting measurements to complete all 12 projects.

And for my foreign customers...I did this whole thing without the use of any die-cuts or my favorite Big Shot just so you can all enjoy it too!

The 2009 Edition of the 12 Days of Christmas is now available for order! The tutorial will be e-mailed to you as an Adobe PDF file following your purchase.

$12.95

11th Day of Christmas

Day 11

Look at all the fun things you can do with binder clips! They are so fun for standing up a recipe card, holding a Post-It note or clipping onto a lovely gift package! The possibilities are endless!

10th Day of Christmas

Day 10

Set of 4 Christmas cards in a book style gift box.

9th Day of Christmas

Day 9

More gift giving ideas with small treats of chocolate and tea...or whatever you can fit into this little slot!

8th Day of Christmas

Day 8

Gift tags made with the new Ornament punch.

7th Day of Christmas

Day 7

I love giving photo gifts and I love receiving them more! This little photo album is perfect purse size.

Just like last year, no detailed descriptions will be given in the postings.
Just like last year the complete tutorial of all 12 days will be released of the 12th.
And just like last year the cost will be $12.95 because you are getting 12 projects!