Stampin' Up's own Black Friday Event

Stampin' Up knows this is one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year.  And they are offering a great sale on some products that I know you will love.

I know it's cheating to repost somethings I've already posted, but I have a good reason.  Remember these little cuties?

Right now the Candy Wrapper Die is on sale during Stampin' Up's Online Extravaganza for $26.36.  That's a 20% savings.  How much do I love this die?  Remember, I made 25 of these little guys.  (See this blog post: Candy Wrapper Countdown.) It really is one of my favorites.  It's my go-to die when I need a cute little box for a quick treat.

Stretching way back into the archive now -- anyone remember this one?

Colors: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette.  Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly.  Punches: Butterfly and Scalloped Border.  Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta (retired).

Isn't that a fun card?  Flight of Fancy is on sale for $15.98 -- that's 50% off!  One of the great things about this set is Stampin' Up sells a punch to go with so you don't have to cut out that butterfly.

There are several stamps sets on sale, including a couple of Christmas sets as well as Big Shot items, fabric, My Digital Studio downloads, embellishments, Decor Elements and much, much more.  So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to paula.stampinup.net and place your Online Extravaganza order right now!   Sale ends November 30 at midnight.   You can combine sale items with clearance rack and other merchandise too on the same order (like maybe the things to make my Christmas Card Kit).  For my local customers, I will be placing an order on Saturday evening if you'd like to save a little on combined shipping.

And if you are venturing out to the bricks and mortar stores this weekend, good luck and stay safe.

My Digital Studio for your Thanksgiving Table

Happy day-before-Thanksgiving!  I know I won't be back to my blog until after the holiday so I just wanted to let all my blog readers know how thankful I am for you!  I hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, food, (maybe some football) and fun.

I also wanted to share two fun items I made for the Thanksgiving table a few weeks back.  (I will admit, this isn't what we're having for Thanksgiving this year.  This Thanksgiving it's just the four of us so we're going out to eat this year.)  But if I was having dinner at my house, these name tents would be on the table:

Colors: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, More Mustard and Pool Party. Digital Kits: Hand-Penned Holidays Stamp Set, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Grosgrain Ribbon and Antique Brads.

The second thing is a menu card.  Several years ago, I worked in the Governor's Office here in Utah.  One of the things I learned to love there were menu cards on a table for a formal luncheon or dinner.  They just add such a special little touch to the table and make it feel more formal.

Colors: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, More Mustard and Pool Party. Digital Kits: Hand-Penned Holidays Stamp Set, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Grosgrain Ribbon and Antique Brads

Don't forget, now through November 30, you will get $40 in free downloads if you purchase the My Digital Studio Express software.  The difference between Express and the Standard My Digital Studio is the amount of content that comes with it and the fact that you can download it from my online store (NO SHIPPING!).  With the free downloads, it's like getting the full version for half price.  Visit my store at www.paula.stampinup.net and click "shop now" to get yours today.  And don't forget to check out the other great deals happening during Stampin' Up's Online Extravaganza!

Christmas Card Kit

Would you like to send out handcrafted Christmas Cards this year but feel like you are running out of time?  I have a quick and easy solution for you!  Using the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit from the Holiday mini and a few other supplies (some you may already have on hand) you can easily create 48 Christmas cards in just a few hours. Look at the stack that I made in one afternoon:

Here are just four of the 24 different cards I made. Because the kit contains two of each of the sticky die-cuts, you make two of each card to get 48.

But you might be thinking, of course you made them quickly, Paula.  You make cards all the time.  But I have a deal for you that will make it just as easy for you.  If you order the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit from my online store or directly from me, I will email you a .pdf file with directions and a picture of each card so you can copy them if you'd like.

Here is a list of all the supplies I used to make the cards.  I tried to limit myself to just a few supplies so you could easily make them at home (and you may already have some of these things in your stash):

Christmas Lane Simple Scrappin' Kit (item 124007) $21.95
Whisper White Card Stock (item 100730) $8.50 
Cherry Cobbler 1/2 Seam Binding (item 120992) $6.95
Basic Rhinestones Jewels (item 119246) $4.95
VersaMark Stamp Pad (item 102283) $7.50
Cherry Cobbler Stamp Pad (item 119669) $5.95

I also used the small "Merry" stamp from Pennant Parade (clear mount item 122742 $16.95, wood mount item 122740 $21.95) stamp set and the "Merry Christmas" from Christmas Greetings (item 115448 $10.95) but you could easily substitute other holiday greeting stamps you already have on hand.  One has to be fairly small but the other can be any size.

You will have leftovers of pretty much everything when you are done with your cards to use on other projects as well.  And you could substitute a Cherry Cobbler marker for the stamp pad to save yourself a little money too.  Don't need 48 cards?  You'll have even more leftovers to make tags, scrapbook pages and much more.  And don't forget the envelopes.  Stampin' Up sells them in packs of 40 (item 107301) for $6.50.

So head on over to my online store (and check out the fabulous Online Extravaganza sale while you are there), give me a call or drop me an email and order yours today.  I will be placing an order on Saturday of this week if you would like to save a little on shipping.

Online Extravaganza - November 21-30

It's back!!  Stampin' Up's! annual Online Extravaganza begins today!  Don't miss out on these amazing deals. Hurry, because two of the items are only on sale for 24 hours: The Simply Scored tool and the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps.

Other items featured on the sale include a ribbon bundle, several stamp sets, four different Designer Series Fabrics, decor elements, digital downloads and much, much more!

One of the items I'm most excited about is the My Digital Studio bonus offer.  Purchase My Digital Studio Express for $39.95 and get your choice of three download bundles valued at $40 each FREE!  That's like getting the full My Digital Studio for 50% off.

You can browse all sale items at my online store (click SHOP NOW) or view a .pdf list of all sale items. (requires adobe acrobat - a free download).  Local customers: if you'd like to take advantage of combined shipping for your order, contact me ASAP.  I will be placing an order on Monday, November 21 and on Saturday, November 26 to take advantage of these great deals. My Digital Studio offer must be placed online only (but no shipping is charged since you will just download it to your computer). 

My Digital Studio Contest

About a month ago, I entered the My Digital Studio Contest on MydigitalStudio.net.  I had to submit a scrapbook page and a card. It was right before I was leaving for vacation and I never did quite get the page the way I wanted it, but here is what I submitted:

Colors: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo and Whisper White.  Digital Designer Series Paper: Night and Day. Digital Punches: Decorative Label. Digital Stamps: Daring Adventure. Digital Accessories: In Color Buttons, Silver Brad.

Colors: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Basic Black and Whisper White.  Digital Designer Series Paper: Night and Day.  Digital Punches: Key Tag and Wide Oval.  Digital Stamps: Bliss.  Digital Accessories: Satin Ribbon, Antique Brads.

One of my favorite techniques in My Digital Studio is to play around with the opacity of objects. You can see how I did that with the stamps, but I also did it with the Night and Day Paper on both projects. After I picked the background colors, I laid a punch over the top of them and filled them with a patterned paper from Night and Day.  This one works best because it's black and white.  Then I adjusted the opacity on it so it looks like a completely different Designer Series Paper in a different color.

I learned that technique from MyDigitalStudio.net.  There are all kinds of videos and tips there for you to learn too.  Don't own My Digital Studio?  You can download a basic version of the software from my online store.

And just a reminder:  if you are making My Digital Studio Christmas gifts like I am, the deadline to get those projects to the printer is December 7 for guaranteed Christmas delivery.  I know I need to get busy.

Also, Stampin' Up's Online Extravaganza is almost here.  Starting Monday, November 21, Stampin' Up! will have amazing deals on several items and bundles and maybe even a deal on My Digital Studio?  You'll have to come back Monday to see!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

I know a lot of people complain about how Thanksgiving gets overlooked in our rush to Christmas. Halloween comes and goes and then it seems like everyone starts to focus on Christmas.  As a crafter, I do that as a survival tactic.  Holding a Christmas Class in December isn't going to cut it most of the time.  So I start my Christmas crafting even before Halloween.

But I do LOVE Thanksgiving.  There is something about a day set aside to thank God for all the goodness in our lives, to gather with family, friends and feast on our bounty.  It probably doesn't hurt that my birthday sometimes falls on Thanksgiving too.

So today, I'm sharing with you a Thanksgiving project instead of a Christmas one.  I made these turkeys for the Sweet Treats Cup Swap I hosted at Convention this year:

Colors: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Early Espresso.  Big Shot: Scallop Circle #2. Punches: 2-1/2", 1-3/4" and 1-3/8" circles, modern label, Owl and Cupcake Builder Punch. Accessories: Sweet Treat Cups.

I know I looked at a few other punch art turkeys to inspire this but took ideas from all of them to create this.  I used the Owl Builder Punch for the eyes and beak (it's the heart) and the cupcake punch (the flame from candle) for the waddle. I inked all the pieces to give it a bit more dimension too.  Wouldn't they be cute sitting on your Thanksgiving table?

And it's been a while since I shared with you a song.  So in honor of the Christmas crazies that strike earlier and earlier each year, I'm going to share a song by one of my favorite acappella groups, Straight No Chaser, that celebrates the time between Halloween and Christmas.  Enjoy!

WWSD?

WWSD?  That's become my new mantra in my stamp room.  It means "What would Shelli Do?"  See, I like to think that I'm a pretty OK stamper when it comes to basic cards and 3D items for my class participants to recreate.

But, when it comes to the vintage/shabby chic look, I need some more practice and Shelli Gardner, the founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! is a master at these things.  She makes the most beautiful creations with all the little extra special touches on them.  She goes a few steps further on things than I usually do.  So when I've been working on some over-the-top projects the past few weeks, I ask myself, what would Shelli do? And then I try to add a few extra special touches to the projects just like Shelli would. How has it worked?  I'll let you be the judge with these ornaments:

Colors: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Always Artichoke.  Stamp Set: Pines & Poinsettias. Big Shot: Square Scallop Duo.  Tools: Simply Scored. Punches: 1-1/4" circle punch, Curly and Modern Label, Jewelry Tag.  Accessories: Markers, First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper, Champagne Glass Stampin' Glitter, Antique and Metallic Brads, Victoria Lace, Velvet Stitched and Quilted Satin Ribbon, Seam Binding, Pearl Jewels and Vintage Trinkets, Shimmer Paint.

Just the list of accessories I used alone is about twice what I would normally have used on any given project. So maybe that is a step in the right direction. It's hard to tell from the picture, but when these were all put together, I spritz them with a combination of Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol so they really do just sparkle.  They'd look so pretty on a tree or as an extra special gift tag.

These were inspired by some ornaments I saw on Kimberley VanDiepen's stampinbythesea.com.  I'm offering them at my class this next weekend if you want to make some of your own. Last day to RSVP is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15.   I also plan to make several more both for my own tree and as gifts this holiday season.

So when you find yourself with a project in front of you and you just aren't sure what it's missing, just ask yourself, WWSD?  I hope it works for you too.

Merry & Type

I have a confession to make.  I love stamps.  (Maybe you already knew that?)  But not just any old stamps, but Christmas stamps.  I have a lot of them.   And every year I swear I am NOT going to buy a single new Christmas stamp set because I already have more than I can show during one holiday period.

This year was no different.  Stampin' Up didn't retire a lot of Christmas stamps last year so I still have several current, perfectly nice Christmas images.  But when I started planning for my Christmas card class, I just couldn't bring myself to use the same stamps I've had for years.  I wanted NEW and I wanted it NOW!

Thank goodness for FREE rubbah!!!  Through a few fortunate turns of events, I won Christmas Lodge at convention, then got Snow Much Fun for the So Shelli challenge and Polar Party for a focus group.  So three new Christmas stamp sets should be enough, right?

WRONG!!!  On my order for supplies, I had hostess dollars to spend (yep, demonstrators get hostess benefits too.  I love this company).  I debated what to do with them and looked at a lot of other non-Christmas stamp sets that are still on my wish list.  But guess what I ended up with instead  -- another Christmas set:  Merry & Type.  And I'm so glad that I did because I just LOVE it.

Here are two cards we'll be making with it at my Christmas Card and Gift Crank next weekend:

Colors: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red.  Stamps: Merry & Type.  Accessories: Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearl Jewels.

 You probably notice that this isn't a regular cut card.  It is a modified kick stand card.  Kind of a fun design that is simple to make but adds just a bit of "wow" to the card.

Colors: Whisper White, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red.  Stamps: Merry & Type.  Big Shot: Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder.  Punches: Postage Stamp and 1-1/4" square.  Accessories: Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, brads, markers.

For this one, I just wanted a simple card that would be fast to produce.  I love the stamp that looks like a postage stamp.  And it matches the paper so wonderfully.


Also, November 11 is a big day in my family.  This would have been my grandfather's 94th birthday but he isn't here to celebrate with us any more.  But it is also the 15th anniversary of me becoming and aunt for the first time. So Happy Birthday wishes to my cute niece Emma today too.

And of course, a big thank you to the men and women who have served our country so valiantly over the years, and to their families as well.  Not a day goes by when I am not amazed by the sacrifices of so many on my behalf.  Happy Veterans Day.

Stocking Die for the Big Shot

I was stamping with my friend Missi several weeks ago and I was talking about what I was going to do for my Christmas class.  I had just finished my Halloween banner and I knew that I wanted a different banner for Christmas.  That's when the idea hit me: string stockings together from the brand new, super cute Holiday Stocking Big Shot Die.  I finally had a chance to get it on paper:

Colors: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White.  Big Shot: Holiday Stocking Bigz L, Serif Essentials Alphabet.  Punches: Five Petal Flower, Large Oval, 1/2" Circle, Postage Stamp.  Accessories: Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon, Old Olive Scallop Polka Dot Ribbon, Brads, Mini Clothes Pins, Brights Buttons, Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, Glitter Paper.

I love the little clothes pins that hold the stockings in place on the ribbon.  I forgot I bought these and almost ordered more before I found them in my extra embellishment drawer.  And I need to give another shout out to Missi for suggesting the embellishments on the cuff of the stockings too.  It needed a little something and her suggestion was right on.

I also wanted to offer a card made out of this cute die but then came across one on the internet that turned it into a gift card holder.  I wish I could find it again so I could give credit to the creator. (I really need to be better about writing down where I see things.)

Colors: Marina Mist, Cherry and Whisper White on Left.  Real Red, Garden Green and Whisper White on right. Stamps: Four the Holidays. Big Shot: Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die, Snowburst Textured Embossing Folder. Punches: Word Window, Scallop Border Punch, 1-1/4" Circle.  Accessories: Buttons, Bakers Twine, Ribbon.

On the back side of these, the Word Window punch creates a slot for the gift card to slide into like so:

Isn't that clever?  I will be offering both of these projects at my Christmas Card and Gift Crank on November 18 and 19.  You can check out all the details here: http://paulastamps.blogspot.com/p/christmas-crank-class.html

Snow Much Fun!!

Remember a couple of months back when I won the So Shelli challenge?  Maybe not?  Well, the only really important part of winning it was the free RUBBAH that came with the honor. I told you almost six weeks ago to stay tuned to see what stamp set I won.  Well, I'm finally ready to show it off: Snow Much Fun!  It's also fitting that I share these today because we had our first snow of the season this weekend too.  We don't get as much snow in Farmington as my Salt Lake Valley friends do, but we did get enough for my boys to get out and play. 

Colors: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White.  Stamps: Snow Much Fun. Punches: Snowflake. Accessories: Markers, Glitter Paper, Crop-A-Dial, In Color Designer Brads, White Grosgrain, Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon and Riding Hood Red Taffeta.

I based this on a really cute swap I got at convention from my good friend, Missi.  Her's was Halloween-themed and held pop rocks.  I modified it just a titch to put a cocoa packet and candy cane inside for a cute little gift for a co-worker or friend.

Colors: Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Stamps: Snow Much Fun and Curly Cute. Big Shot: Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Crystal Effects, Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon

The colors for this card were based on another swap I received at convention that I just loved from my friend, Mary Ann. I loved how the black really makes the card pop.  I changed her layout quite a bit but the stamped scene is pretty close to hers too. 

I will be offering both of these projects at my Christmas Card and Gift Crank on November 18 and 19.  You can get all the details here: http://paulastamps.blogspot.com/p/christmas-crank-class.html