"Inchie" Countdown Project

OK, you all are going to love, love, love this one and say, 'Why didn't you show it earlier?' Well, I just didn't, don't ask me why! But, you can just drop everything and make it tonight. Hey, that is what I did when I saw it! There is a full tutorial on Qbee's website. You will need lots of card stock and a little patience. It took me about 2 hours to make it. Get going...time's a wasting. Call me if you need any supplies and I can get a rush order together for you provided that I have it all.By the way, each number opens to a little box that holds a candy kiss!

Create with Connie and Mary color challenge - CCMC 177

Funky colors for Christmas but hey, I gave it a whirl!

 

Ok, I used a sketch I had used once before and made the colors match the challenge. At first my snowman was just the River Rock color but it looked so dirty that I took my Signo gel pen in white and colored him blurring it as I went. Then I took the 2 way glue pen and added glitter to the accents on the snowman and on  the snowball.

 

Sorry about the late notice...I have just gotten back from my holiday cruise with hubby and just had time to get on the website and find this special. 

Click here for more details.

Christmas Postcards

Seems like everyone is trying to save money and lots of people have dropped the Christmas cards. This really is sad as a card is not too expensive and sometimes the only time old friends even communicate on a yearly basis. I have a suggestion, how about postcards. They are less expensive to mail and use less materials to make. They are just one layer and you get 4 out of one sheet of card stock. Need ideas, just ask me. I am sure we can find one to your liking. For this card I printed the back side then stamped the front using my old standby set, Lovely as a Tree and the sentiment came from the Welcome Christmas set.

A Tiny Tea Ornament

What is a tiny tea ornament? Well, I didn't know what to call it but I can see making lots of these and hanging them on a little tree and having them available when friends come calling at Christmas time. They can choose one off the tree, add hot water and steep and voila, you have a cup of hot tea!

A Candy Countdown Box

Yummy and functional, what could be more perfect for the holidays? This is a cute little countdown box I made using the Kraft gift box from the mini and the new 25 & Counting stamp set. I embellished it with Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green card stock and used the Letters to Santa DSP. The numbers are hidden in a panel behind the tree panel and you fill the front of the box with kisses or mints or whatever you like. This took a while to make but it was fun! I have 2 grandchildren so I know I will be making another one soon.

Is Anyone Ready for Christmas?

If you are still on your turkey hangover, just sit back and relax. However, you may very well be one of the crazy ones who shops til they drop all day today. Whatever is fine with me. I am still on my cruise (and sticking my tongue out at you). However, I wanted to start posting holiday projects and cards...so, here goes. I will be posting for Christmas everyday from now until Christmas and then the Techniques will end in January all at once!

Remember the Thanksgiving frame that I said was able to be changed. Well, here it is again but now it is showing Christmas sentiments.

Technique - "U" Project

It is hard to believe that this beautiful glittery card was made using something that we normally throw away, but alas, it was. Save those dryer sheets and have a little fun with them.  P.S. Happy Thanksgiving. What a great card to get you in the mood for Christmas!

Technique - U is for Used Dryer Sheets

A Give Thanks Pillow Box

I haven't used this little die in quite a while. I almost forgot that I had it. I made this cute little box for a take home for your thanksgiving guests. I always like to invite extra people to our table, like widows and people whose family is very far way. What fun to give them a little remembrance of their dinner. Supplies used: pillow box die, Big Shot, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Cajun Craze card stock. The leaves were stamped using Gently Falling on Very Vanilla. The Give Thanks is from the It's a Wrap Holidays set in the current mini. Have a blessed day!

Just Believe Fall Card

This is one of my favorite sets because it has so many possibilities. For today's project I made a fall card. I saw the inspiration on splitcoast and immediately cased it for my own. The colors used are very fallish. I used Just Believe and Tiny Tags for the stamps. The card stock and inks I used were: Cajun Craze, Early Expresso, Old Olive and Very Vanilla (I am seeing a pattern here). Seems like so many of my fall projects were combos of these colors. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and remember to give thanks for all our blessings!

Thanksgiving Place Card

I have to say that our family holidays are not so organized as this but if yours are, go for it! My immediate family consists of my mom, her 5 children and spouses, and 25 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our holidays are more of a free for all! But, I couldn't resist making this great place holder for the table. It was easy and quick. I used the Big Shot and the Top Note die in Very Vanilla and Old Olive. I trimmed the Vanilla piece on the dashed lines. I then scored them both and stamped before I snailed them together. The stamps sets I used were: Hand-Penned Holidays (mini), Inspired by Nature and Lovely Letters. The inks are More Mustard and Early Expresso.

Thanksgiving Table Setting

Again, I will be on my cruise for the holiday this year but the ideas may help you. I do not have the new Petite Pocket die but if you do this will be a snap to make. I had to sort of make up my own. I used  Soft Suede, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla card stock. The DSP is from the beautiful Autumn Spice. The stamps are from the set Day of Gratitude. I used matching Pear Pizazz seam binding ribbon on the utensils. Great idea for a quick and easy clean-up!

Thanksgiving Frame

This is a fun frame that I bought a long time ago and hoarded for no particular reason. It came as a set of 3 and I guess I was hoping to find more just like them for a group project. Anyway, I was flipping back through files and came upon this one, an idea for a changeable frame. The picture is over the glass (or in this case, plastic) so that I can simply pop this one off and put another one on. Be looking for my Christmas one coming up soon!
To make this I used: Retired DSP (have lots of it!), Old Olive, Early Expresso,  More Mustard and Very Vanilla card stock. I stamped the leaves using Gently Falling and the Happy Thanksgiving is from the always useful Teeny Tiny Wishes. The inks are: Early Expresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.

Technique - S Projects

This is a great project to make some quick and inexpensive gifts. I love to make magnets and coasters and that is what this technique is all about. Everyone I know and love has a set of my handmade coasters and who does not need a few more magnets for the fridge??

Technique - S is for Shaving Cream

In case you cannot read this one it says:

Step up for some real clea fun! Use a glass

casserole dish and add some shaving cream.

Now add a few drops of 2 or 3 colors of ink

refills. Stir gently with knife or stick. Lay 

your card stock into the shave cream mixture.

Pick up card stock and wipe off the shave cream 

with a paper towel. Ta Da!! You have a 

beautiful background.

You can stamp right over or use as a background layer.

A Very Vintage Christmas card

Today I am playing with Connie and Mary for their color challenge. It has taken me all week to come up with a card for these colors. I have finally got one and it has a Christmas theme even though it is before Thanksgiving. As you can see the colors were a bit weird for me. So, I made it vintage!

I used Welcome Christmas and Hand-Penned Holidays along with some chunky glitter and the antique lace and brad.

This tiny pumpkin box was made with the oval punch. You have to punch 10 ovals and sponge the edges and then put them together so that it is pleasing to the eye and resembles a pumpkin. I covered the candies with the Frightful Sight dsp and see how perfectly they fill the pumpkin? This will make great gifts for the table for Thanksgiving on my cruise!

The Gerbera Daisy

I have seen these on different websites and blogs and wanted to make some for myself. I love flowers but hate to see them die! This way I can have my flowers and they will never wilt. I found a great you tube video that you can click to here for the full tutorial. My flowers are made using this technique but I changed my colors to make them the way I wanted them and you can too. Have fun with them. Now I have some pretty little flowers sitting on top of my computer monitor (yes, it is an antique monitor).

Autumn Banner

I don't think banner is the right word for this project but that was all I could think of today. I am actually taking a 'mental health' day as I make this project. I am doing some much needed housecleaning, laundry and stamping! This is one of the great projects that I got from last year's Create with Connie and Mary Holiday edition. I guess I am kinda behind if I am just now doing last year's projects! It is going to look great on my mantle.

Mmm! Apple Cider Bags

This was a project that was featured with Connie and Mary last year and I have just gotten around to doing it. Of course I changed a couple of things and made it using current SU stuff but the design was all theirs. Do you remember the little craft bags that were in the mini last year? Well, I just found a whole package of them and being a good steward well, I just can't waste them! This project holds 2 little packages of the apple cider powder for making a nice warm drink. (Especially good if you don't like coffee)! If you want to make it extra special...stir in some caramel sauce, top with whipped cream and drizzle on more caramel sauce. MMM!

Day of Gratitude Card

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here! Another year has nearly passed and what can I show for it? Well, I have made no less than 1000 cards and projects and have sent out at least 600 of them to friends and family! That is a lot, but I think I can do better next year. Today I am showing a card that I saw in October and put away to make later for the holiday. This is it. It features the Day of Gratitude set with Pool Party card stock and the wonderful Spice Cake DSP. I used Pumpkin Pie, Pool Party and Very Vanilla card stock and the inks are Pumpkin Pie and Early Expresso. This was another quickie as I had all the supplies just sitting here ready to be used.

P.S. Today is 11/11/11, this date won't happen again for 100 years!

Technique - R Projects

As you can clearly see, this project takes some time to do but with the right images it can be so pretty. It kind of makes me want to do another one right now...maybe for Christmas!

Technique - R is for Retiform Grid

Butterfly Bookmark Video Tutorial

http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/10944_21376.asp

Click the link to see a video on how to make this very cute bookmark.

This would be a very fun project to make at your party. Let's book one today!

Thanksgiving Table Box

Here is another little box that I have made for the Thanksgiving table or maybe to give the servers at our table for Thanksgiving. I mean, while I am enjoying myself for the holiday, not having to cook or clean, the wait staff for us on the cruise is taking care of us with little to no thought of the holiday for themselves! OK, I have talked myself into doing something special for my servers (besides the usual tip). And, although this is not retired paper, I can certainly used some of my retired stash of DSP's to make the gifts for the table!

'Tis the Season to be Sneezin'

How about a cute card for all those sniffling folks out there. Flu and cold season is upon us and who couldn't use a few more 'Get Well Soon' cards. Here is a great one for your copying pleasure.

Stamps
Button, Button Set
Thoughts & Prayers Set

Paper
Whisper White Card Stock
Wild Wasabi Card Stock
Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper

Ink
Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
VersaMark Pad
Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Marker
Peach Parfait Stampin' Write Marker
Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker
Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories & Tools
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon
Stampin' Dimensionals
Crystal Effects
Modern Label Punch
Ornament Punch
1/2" Circle Punch
1" Circle Punch
1-3/4" Circle Punch
Spray bottle and water

Shh! It's a Secret

If you have been following me, then you may remember that I took my hubby out for a 2 week hike through the woods on Saturday the 22nd of October. Well, he is coming home today and while he was gone I made this painting to commemorate his trip. I am saving it for his Christmas gift so don't tell him. I know this is not stamping related but it is crafty and since this is my blog...I can post anything I want!

Free Digital Downloads

Celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day with Stampin' Up! for a four-day online event designed to introduce more of our demonstrators and customers to our digital content. Digital Scrapbooking Day is November 5, but we'll keep the celebration going from November 4-7! The event will include free downloads, blog posts with exciting project ideas all weekend long, and the announcement of the 2011 My Digital Studio Contest winners.

Brand-new, never seen before FREE downloads include:  Click here to get your downloads. Remember, you don't have to have My Digital Studio for them to work. They are compatible with many programs on your computer!

• So Typefelt Stamp Brush Set
• Neutral Delightful Digital Tape
• Home for the Holidays Ensemble
• Delight in the Day Photobook Template  

Technique - "Q" Project

I have done several workshops using this technique and although it is very simple, it still makes a big hit with the gals. With very limited supplies you can go home with 10 different cards! I am only showing 2 of the quick cards today but if you want more info or the patterns, drop me a line and I will get back to you!

Technique - Q is for Quick Cards