Thinking Ahead to Christmas 2014

I know, we just got past Christmas, but I don't want to go through what I did this time.  I waited until the last minute to finish up the handmade presents.  I was up late at night wishing I had started earlier.  This year I am starting earlier.  I did stockings for my husband's family.  I did several treat bags with different kinds of candy and a memory/scrapbook for each family.  I see so many wonderful videos and posts for treat containers through the year, so I thought I would make something every week or so and put them in stockings.  The candy I will wait until December to add.  I purchased some stockings today.  I love clearance and getting them at 75% off is great.  I will buy a few more if they still have them next time I go.  Hopefully they will be marked down even more.  This past Christmas I made the nugget box I saw on Connie Stewart's YouTube and blog, a post it note holder I have seen on several YouTube channels, a mini album that can be spread out on a desk for display, and some various treat bags with candy with cute toppers made with Stampin' Up! punches.  I wish I had remembered to take pictures of everything.  Too little sleep I guess.  As I complete projects for the stockings, I will post them here.  Most if not all with be CASE'd (copy and share everything), and I will be posting back to where I found the inspiration.

Fabulous Florets #1

This is the first card in my new series spotlighting one stamp set each week.  This week, however, I will be spotlighting two stamp sets.  I have chosen Fabulous Florets and Gifts of Kindness.  The ingredients for this card are:

Card Base:
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 piece of Soft Sky scored at 4 1/4
Border Strip:
2 x 5 1/2 piece of Marina Mist
1 1/2 piece of Whisper White
Focal Image:
Base 2 3/4 x 4 1/4 piece of Marina Mist
Layer 2 1/2 x 4 piece of Pear Pizzazz
Image Layer 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 piece of Whisper White
Flowers:
Scrap of Soft Sky

Fabulous Florets  W 23.95  128574   C 17.95  123027
Gifts of Kindness W 25.95  130441  C 18.95  130444
Marina Mist Ink 5.95  126962
Marina Mist Cardstock 6.95  119682
Soft Sky Cardstock  6.95  131203
Pear Pizzazz Ink  5.95  131180
Pear Pizzazz Cardstock  6.95  131201
Whisper White Cardstock  8.50  100730
Scallop Edge Border Punch  15.95  119880

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As I wish 2013 Good Bye and prepare to to greet 2014 with a big Hello, I want to do more with my stamping.  I am going to focus on a different stamp set each week.  This will motivate me to use the stamp sets I have.  One week a month I will pull out retired product for my focus.  I just love some of my older stamp sets.  The remaining weeks I will focus on current products that are available for purchase.  A new thing for me will be filming tutorials.  I have been meaning to do videos for a while now, but I am so intimidated by them.  I see so many wonderful videos out there.  Be sure to check back on Friday, when I will hopefully have my first post in this series up.

Book-A-Thon Goodies

I participated in a Book-A-Thon with Stampin' Up! recently.  We were given a prize package for booking a large number of events.  I want to give some of the goodies out to my customers.  I will be offering prizes for those who submit orders between now and December 31st.  Want to know what you can get for free?  Here goes.

Holiday Stocking Die

The first person to order a Big Shot from me gets this die.  You have a few days left to order a Big Shot and get it in time for Christmas. (Stampin' Up! has December 17th as the deadline for Christmas shipping, but you should order early.)  Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder

The first person to place a $50.00 order (before taxes and shipping) will received this embossing folder.  You will need a Big Shot or other Die Cut/Embossing machine to use this folder.  I have heard that some crafty individuals have been able to use other methods, but I have never tried any other method. Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

Cloudy Day Embossing Folder

The second person to place a $50.00 order (before taxes and shipping) will received this embossing folder.  You will need a Big Shot or other Die Cut/Embossing machine to use this folder.  I have heard that some crafty individuals have been able to use other methods, but I have never tried any other method. Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

Happy Whale Clearlit

The third person to place a $50.00 order (before taxes and shipping) will received this Sizzix Clearlit Die.  You will need a Big Shot or other Die Cut/Embossing machine to use this de. Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

Blossom Petals Builder Punch

The fourth person to place a $50.00 order (before taxes and shipping) will receive this paper Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

Vine Street Embossing Folder

The fifth person to place a $50.00 order (before taxes and shipping) will received this embossing folder.  You will need a Big Shot or other Die Cut/Embossing machine to use this folder.  I have heard that some crafty individuals have been able to use other methods, but I have never tried any other method. Remember, I need you to allow me to contact you in order to be able to contact you and send this out to you.  If you mark no contact, I will not have your information.

My fine print details are:

One (1) free gift per person.

United States only.

You must allow demonstrator contact.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

It's a Dragon Christmas

So my cousin messages me on Facebook and asks me to make her some Christmas cards.  No problem right.  Well, she wants dragons or fairies and she wants them in black and purple.  Well, Stampin' Up! has lots of stamps, current and retired, but I only found one with a dragon on it.  It would make a great birthday card, but not much for Christmas.  I searched my collection of stamps and found no Stampin' Up! fairy stamps.  Pinterest is my friend this time.  I was looking through all the lovely posts for punch art and I found the perfect thing.  A full bodied dragon.  After making one, I knew I would never put together 15 of them.  So from the same designer I found a dragon poking through a cut out in the card.  Perfect!  If you want to find the instructions to make the dragons, please visit http://alexscreativecorner.blogspot.com/2013/05/baby-dragon-punch-art.html for the full body dragon or http://alexscreativecorner.blogspot.ca/2013/05/dragon-punch-art-card.html for the dragon I used on these cards.  I did have to substitute a few punches for my cards.

New Specials this week

Santa's List Gift Card Holder

Christmas time is quickly approaching.  Knowing how hard it is to shop for some of the loved ones on your list, I know you probably give out gift cards.  I know I give them out.  The nephews are so hard to buy for.  I never know what to get them.  This is a great way to dress up the gift cards you give.  I just love the Santa's List stamp.

1. I started with a piece of 4 1/2 x 11 inch Read Red Cardstock.
2. I punched one inch in from the side with the Envelope Punch Board, turned the paper and punched again. 
3. I stamped the image with Black StazOn and trimmed it down.
4. I then matted with Wild Wasabi Cardstock. 
5. I scored the bottom of the cardstock at 1 3/4 inch and used wet glue to seal the sides. 
6. I folded the cardstock over to meet the bottom and creased it with my bone folder.
7. I attached a 1/2 inch strip of Season of Style DSP to the bottom.
8. I attached the image to the top.
9. I measured the inside of my card and cut a piece of Whisper White Cardstock to stamp my sentiment on.
10. I stamped and attached the sentiment to the inside of the card. 

The oval stamp is from a retired stamp set.

Products Used:

Santa's List Stamp Set -  W 131808  $15.95  or  C 131811  $12.95
Season of Style DSP Stack - 132181  $6.95
Christmas Wishes Stamp Set  - W 131790 $28.95 or C 131793  $20.95
Real Red Cardstock  - 102482 $6.95
Wild Wasabi Cardstock - 108641 $6.95
Real Red Reinker - 103287 $2.95
Gumball Green Reinker - 126855 $2.95
Real Red Ink Pad - 126949 $5.95
Wild Wasabi Ink Pad - 136959 $ 5.95
Whisper White Cardstock - 100730 $8.50
Envelope Punch Board - 133774 $19.95
Blender Pen - 102845 $9.95
StazOn Black - 101406 $7.95