CAS FRIDAY, Paisley Chocolate Valentine...

Since it's CAS Friday, I have a super-simple little card for you today!  It uses the Paisley Print stamp set which is only available until Monday, January 3.  I love this stamp set because it covers several different holidays which gives you more bang for the buck.  For this card, just use markers to color the stamp, stamp, punch out and attach with a Stampin' Dimensional.  Easy-peasy!  Enjoy!

PAISLEY CHOCOLATE VALENTINE SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Paisley Prints (W#120817 $16.95, C#121121 $12.95)
• Card Stock – Chocolate Chip Textured, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette
• Ink – Real Red Classic, Real Red, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip Markers
• Punches – Full Heart (#119883, $16.95), Dotted Scallop Ribbon (#119275, $19.75)
• Ribbon – Real Red 5/8" Satin (#117286, $8.95), 
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Tools – Sponge Daubers

SNEAK PEEK, Medallion Christmas Wreath...

I have a sneak peek of some fabulous Red Glimmer Paper coming in the new Occasions Mini beginning January 4.  It's only a very small peek in this card, but I have to tell you that this paper is absolutely DELICIOUS!  I can't wait to use it for Valentine's cards, but for now I wanted to share a quick little Christmas card I made for my UPS man.  Yes, the poor UPS man is getting his card a little late this year.  :( 

I love all the mileage I get out of the Medallion stamp!  I seem to use it so often for so many occasions.  It is definitely one of my go-to stamps.  This time out, I am using it as a wreath with the Glimmer paper for the yummy berries.  Enjoy!

MEDALLION CHRISTMAS WREATH SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Medallion (#115223, $17.95), Occasional Quotes (Hostess Level 3)
• Card Stock – Real Red Textured, Whisper White (#121790, $3.95)
• Ink – Wild Wasabi, Real Red Classic, VersaMark
• Punches – 1-3/4" Circle (#119850, $16.95), Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95)
• Ribbon – Real Red 5/8" Satin (#117286, $8.95)
• Accessories – Iridescent Ice Emboss Powder (#101930, $4.75), Mini Glue Dots

DORA THE EXPLORER PUNCH ART CARD...

My niece Brianna is turning 4 soon.  She adores Dora the Explorer, so I promised her a Dora card for her birthday.  Since Stampin' Up! doesn't have Dora stamps, I decided to try a punch art card for her.  When I googled Dora images to use as a pattern, I found the one below the card.  Genius struck (if I do say so myself)!  The Bear Die would be perfect for Dora!  I just used punch art to turn the bear into Dora.  I can't wait to see Brianna's face when she sees it!

DORA THE EXPLORER TURNS 4 SUPPLIES:

• Card Stock – Whisper White, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Retired: Creamy Caramel, Only Orange, Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac
• Ink – Basic Black Marker, White Signo Gel Pen
• Ribbon – Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain (#109031, $4.95)
• Punches – 2" x 1-3/8" (Wide) Oval (#119859, $16.95), 1-3/4" x 7/8" (Large) Oval (#119855, $15.95), Two-Step Owl (#118074, $16.95), Scallop Circle (#119854, $16.95), 1-1/4" Circle (#119861, $15.95), 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95), 1/2" Circle (#119869, $5.95), Tag (#119866, $16.95), Word Window (#119857, $15.95), Eyelet Border (#119853, $15.95), 3/16" Corner (#119871, $6.95)
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), 2-way Glue Pen
• Tools – Big Shot, Scallop Square Die (#115950, $21.95), Bear Die (#117977, $23.95), Bear Essentials Die (#117978, $23.95), Timeless Type Alphabet Dies (#115951, $74.95), Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder (#117335, $7.95), Sponge Daubers, Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95)

Update:  I no longer have this card to look at for directions, but many have requested them.  These are the general punch directions from what I can remember.  Enjoy!

DORA PUNCH DIRECTIONS:
The body is the Bear Die with just the head covered with the Dora Punch Art head.  The clothes were all from the Bear Essentials Die, although the shorts were cut down and shaped from the pants.  The use of the Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker to shape and emphasis the facial features is crucial. 

Head:  This was either a Wide Oval or an Ornament punch upside down with the top trimmed off.

Hair:   Punch two Wide Ovals and two Large Ovals from Early Espresso. Position the two Wide Ovals on either side of her head as shown.  Cut the bottoms off to look like a bob as shown in the picture.  Overlap the Large Ovals behind the side hair pieces and the head as the "bottom" of her hairstyle.  Then punch a Wide Oval from Early Espresso and trim it down to a little less than half (lenthwise) and make cuts into it to look like the bangs as pictured.  Attach over the top of the head.  After adhering the head to the card, draw in the hair strands with an Early Espresso marker.

Eyes:  Punch a Word Window (it's possible it was a 3/4" Circle) from Whisper White.  Place on a post-it (on the sticky part) and punch the end of it with a 3/4" Circle to end up with the shape shown for the eyes.  Use the side of a Basic Black marker to color the edges black.  After adhering to the head, used the black marker again to go around the white and emphasize the shape of the eyes to match the photo.

Mouth:  Punch a 1/2" Circle from Real Red.  Place on a post-it (on the sticky part) and punch it again at an angle to produce the sliver shown. I can't really explain it unfortunately - you'd have to see it.  Use the side of a Basic Black marker to color the edges black. After adhering to the head, used the black marker again to extend the black lines as shown.

Bracelet:  Punch six of the smallest circles of the Two-Step Owl Punch from So Saffron for the beaded part and adhere to the wrist. Punch a 3/16" circle with the Crop-a-Dile from Tempting Turquoise. With a Tempting Turquoise Marker, draw in six filled in circles around the edge to look like a flower

Backpack:  Punch one Tag punch from Lovely Lilac. Round the corners with the 3/16" Corner punch. Punch two Word Windows from Lovely Lilac for the straps. Wrap them around the arms as shown and bend behind body. Attach the tag punch backpack.

Sock Tops:  Punch one punch length from So Saffron with the Eyelet Border punch. Cut and trim one "scallop" section for each sock top.

Draw the nose and hand lines on the body with a Basic Black Marker.

NEW WINTER BLOG UPDATE...

Time for a new blog design!  This one is for the winter months.  Once again I used My Digital Studio and pictures of punch art cards I had made to come up with the design.  Let me know which background (sides) you like better with the banner (Bashful Blue vs. Marina Mist) and closing I designed (you'll have to go to my block directly for the closing at the bottom of the page).  As always, click the photos to enlarge.

Bashful Blue Large Dot Background:

Marina Mist Dot Background:

This was my first banner attempt, but I ended up switching everything around.  What do you think?

Don't worry though, I still used the snowman - just in the closing (at the bottom of the page) instead which I think ended up with both of them looking much better!

LAST DAY TO ORDER HOLIDAY MINI PRODUCTS...

Only 7 days left to order products from the Holiday Mini Catalog!  You can order online with me or by phone for direct-to-you shipping through 11:50 pm (MT) on Monday, January 3.  If ordering with me locally to save shipping, I will be placing my final Holiday Mini order on Friday, Dec. 31.

There are some GREAT items you will not want to miss out on like some of my favorite stamp sets:  Day of Gratitude, Seasonal Sentiments, French Foliage, Bright Christmas and Tags til Christmas.  There are also some fun accessories like the Raven 1/2" Lace Trim and Tinsel Trim that you don't want to miss.

There are several items that will continue to be available after January 4.  To help you best plan your purchases, here is a guide to those items that will be carried over.

2010-2011 Mini Carryover Items

Item #	Description	Price
120890	Candy Wrapper Bigz L Die	$32.95
120903	Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die	$21.95
120893	Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die	$42.95
120901	Northern Frost Decorative Strip	$21.95
120902	Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$7.95
120889	Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$7.95
120982	Northern Trim Letterpress Plate	$5.95
120980	Trick or Treat Letterpress Plate	$7.95
120908	3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch	$10.95
120984	Waffle Paper (Assortment 1)	$9.95
122124	8" x 8" Page Protectors (20)	$7.95
120981	Joyful Season Letterpress Plate	$5.95
120910	Vintage Frames Décor Stencils	$14.95
122265	Uninked Craft Stampin' Pad	$4.95

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW...

Well, we got our White Christmas here!  The snow started at 8:00 pm last night and it's been snowing ever since!  So far, we're at 13".  I know that's not a big deal in many parts of the country, but it is in Virginia Beach.  Things pretty much come to a standstill when there's just a couple of inches.  Coming from New England, I am fine driving in the snow, but most people here have no idea how to and accidents are everywhere.  So I just stay home and hunker down.

We're having a Pajama day today, staying in and watching DVR shows and movies with Colleen.  Luckily, her work decided to close, so she was able to come back home.  Nice cozy day with the family!  As long as the power doesn't go out, we're good!  Here are a couple of photos from our blizzard.  In this shot you can see how all the branches of our big tree are so heavy with snow that they are actually laying on our car and the ground:

Here's a shot of the front yard under the tree.  Poor Santa and Mrs. Claus are even covered with snow under the porch!

Here's a shot of the front of the car from the garage where you can see the branches laying on our car.  Later in the day, two of the branches actually came down from the weight of the snow - luckily missing the house and vehicles!

Here's a shot from the deck.  The poor birdies won't be eating anytime soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Polar Bear Punch Art...

I'd like to wish the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year from me and my family to all of you and yours!   I hope it is a magical one that brings you many happy memories!

This project is a gift card holder for Jenni to hold her stocking gift cards.  I have seen polar bears around for a while, but haven't tried any out myself.  So I played around to come up with this mama bear and her cub.  Perfect for her and me!  I hope she likes it.  Enjoy!

POLAR BEAR PUNCH ART GIFT CARD HOLDER SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Contempo Christmas (W#118734 $15.95, C#120594 $11.95), Jolliest Time of the Year (#116584, $20.95), Serene Snowflakes (#115438, $20.95)
• Card Stock – Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Frosty DSP (retired)
• Ink – Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy Classic, Baja Breeze & Real Red Markers
• Punches – Ornament (#119847, $16.95), 1-3/8" x 5/8" (Small) Oval (#119863, $15.95), 1-3/4" x 7/8" (Large) Oval (#119855, $15.95), 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95), 1/2" Circle (#119869, $5.95), Word Window (#119857, $15.95), Boho Blossoms (#119858, $16.95)
• Accessories – Dazzling Diamonds (#102023, $4.50), 2-way Glue Pen
• Tools – Sponge Daubers, Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95)

PRESENT GIFT CARD HOLDER #3...

Thank you so much your comments and emails about my brother!   I appreciate them and your prayers so much!  Kevin has made it through the first 24 hours and is now off the ventilator.  He still has a rough road ahead of him with more surgeries, etc., but he's one more step closer and for that I am grateful.  We got our Christmas miracle!   Continued prayers are still appreciated though.

This is another of my Present Gift Card Holders I made for my daughter Colleen for her stocking to hold the gift cards we got her. Her favorite red is our Real Red, so I used one of the DSPs from last Christmas.  I also used one of the retired ribbons as she chose this ribbon for a simple little jingle bell wreath she made for Christmas (see picture following recipe).  I hope she likes it!

PRESENT GIFT CARD HOLDER SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Tags til Christmas (W#120847, $30.95, C#121169 $22.95), Gifted (W#116982 $27.95, C#120480 $19.95), Jolliest Time of the Year (#116584, $20.95),
• Card Stock – Real Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP (retired)
• Ink – Basic Black, Garden Green Classic and Real Red, Old Olive, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Basic Gray, Daffodil Yellow Markers
• Punches – 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 1-1/4" Circle (#119861, $15.95), 1-1/4" Square (#119865, $15.95), 1-3/8" Square (119877, $16.95)
• Ribbon – Real Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain (retired), Silver Elastic Cord (retired)
• Accessories – Sticky Strip (#104294, $6.95), Velcro Dots (cut in half)
• Tools – Paper Trimmer/Scorer

PRAYER REQUEST...

Tonight, I have a prayer request for all of you. My brother has been in the hospital all week with pneumonia and a hernia.  Tonight he was rushed into emergency surgery.  The next twelve hours will be critical.

He is my baby brother and only 35.  He just got married last year.  I ask for your prayers that he will pull through this okay.  We're praying for a Christmas miracle at this point.  Thank you - I really appreciate it!

12/24/10, 11:00 AM Update:  Kevin is still on a ventilator and we are waiting to hear more.  He made it through the night though, so that is one hurdle down!

JOLLY HOLIDAY CURLED DSP ORNAMENTS...

I had a couple of glass ornaments left after making my Glitter Glass Ornaments, so I decided to try a different ornament today.  I would have liked this better if I had used more of the Cherry Cobbler colored DSP, but I am saving the red pieces for Valentines Day and was just using up scraps from previous projects.  Be sure to use DSP in your desired finished colors when planning this project.

The ornament is very simple and quick to make!  Just cut 1/8" and 1/4" strips of DSP (depending on your desired look) and curl the strips around a thin dowel rod.  Just drop the curled strips into the glass ball.  Tie on your ribbon and you're done! 

JOLLY HOLIDAY CURLED DSP ORNAMENT SUPPLIES:

• Card Stock – Jolly Holiday DSP
• Ink – Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker
• Ribbon – Real Red 1/8" Taffeta (#120993, $7.95) dyed Cherry Cobbler w/marker
• Accessories – Clear Glass Ornaments (craft store)
• Tools – 1/8" Dowel Rod (craft or home improvement store)

CHRISTMAS LUNCH BUNCH GATHERING...

Yesterday, I shared the Glitter Glass Ornaments I made with you.  As I mentioned, they were for a group of ladies that I go out to lunch with every Wednesday.  Today we met for a delicious lunch in the private room at Romano's Macaroni Grill.  It was fabulous as always and we had such fun gathering together for the holidays and talking for a few hours (pour wait staff - we kept them jumping!).  Here is a picture I took of the "Lunch Bunch":

And here is a shot of the ornaments all dressed up and ready to give in a Longaberger Basket (of COURSE)!

GLITTER GLASS ORNAMENTS...

Aren't these ornaments adorable?  And they were SO easy to make!  I go out to lunch every Wednesday with a wonderful group of ladies and tomorrow is our Christmas lunch.  So I wanted to make a little gift for everyone and this is what I came up with. Caution:  use gloves or your hands with be quite colorful when done.  Oh, and you will definitely be GLITTERING no matter what! 

I made them in lots of rich colors and then added some little decals I cut out of our Decor Elements Sheets with my Big Shot:

GLITTER GLASS ORNAMENTS SUPPLIES:

• Ink – Various Classic Ink Refills:  Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Old Olive ($2.95)
• Ribbon – Clear Tinsel Trim (#120993, $7.95)
• Accessories – White Decor Element Sheets (#114335, $12.95), Stampin' Glitter: Fine Supernova (#114287, $13.95), Fine Galaxy (#114286, $13.95), Fine Cosmo (#108796, $13.95), Dazzling Diamonds (#102023, $4.50), Clear Glass Ornaments (craft store)
• Tools – Big Shot, Northern Frost Strip Die (#120901, $21.95), Join the Cheer Strip Die (#113452, $21.95)

GLITTER GLASS ORNAMENT DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove the cap and hanger from the ornament.
2. Add about 25 drops of classic ink refill to the inside of your ornament directly to the bottom.  Swirl around until it completely covers the inside.  This will take a couple of minutes to be sure it is evenly coated.
3. Empty any remaining ink by sitting in a small container for several seconds.  I used an empty Stampin' Glitter jar.  Perfect for this task!
4. Fold a piece of cardstock in half and then unfold (this will be you "funnel").  Pour some of our fabulous fine glitter onto the center of the cardstock.  Funnel it into the ornament about 1/4 teaspoon or so at a time.
5. Cover your opening with a paper towel or your gloved finger.  Quickly shake around the ball.  Continue until the inside is evenly coated.
6. Replace your cap and hanger.
7. Add ribbon, vinyl accents or rub-ons, if desired.

SNEAK PEEK, Got Cupcakes?...

Today I wanted to share with you a little peek at some of the adorable products coming up in the Occasions Mini Catalog that begins January 4.  This is one of the Make & Takes from Founders Circle.  Aren't the cupcakes yummy?  What makes them even better is that I didn't even have to cut them out.  All the cupcake parts can be punched out with the new Build a Cupcake punch!   And you know how I love punches! 

If you don't have a demonstrator and would like your own copy, email me your info and I will send it out to you along with the Sale-A-Bration Mini!

GOT CUPCAKES? SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Create a Cupcake (W#121915, $22.95, C#121982 $16.95 beginning Jan. 4)
• Card Stock – Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride
• Ink – Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler Classic
• Punches – Build a Cupcake (#121807, $16.95 beginning Jan. 4), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (#119275, $15.95)
• Ribbon – Linen Thread (#104199, $4.50) 18"
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)