Holiday Mini Blog Tour Stop #19

Welcome to stop #19 on Stampin' Addicts' Holiday Mini Blog Tour. This year’s Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini is chalk full of stamps, embellishment, new product lines and so much more. And they will all be available starting September 1. I am excited to show you the Decor Element line that is featured in the catalog: Holiday Mix and Decor Blocks. Holiday Mix is available in Black, White, Chocolate, and Red. Each sheet has 27 different elements including the letters to spell out JOY, SNOW, and NOEL – all for $9.95.

In my first project, I used the blocks to make two different letter configurations. The blocks are 3” tall and come four to a package for $9.95. I used the same blocks for both projects and just flipped them to put the other word on another part of the block.

Recipe: Decor Elements Holiday Mix, Real Red; Decor Elements Decor Blocks; Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Real Red Card Stock; Merry Moments Designer Series Paper; Old Olive 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain, Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain, Old Olive 5/8” Grosgrain; Ticket Corner and Scallop Edge Punches; acrylic paint.

For this project, I recycled a frame I had already. The paper, blue snowflake and ribbon are inside, and I applied SNOW to the outside of the glass to give it a 3D look. I still might add a photo to this in the upper right corner, but can you believe I don’t have a single snow picture of with both my boys?

Recipe: Decor Elements Holiday Mix White; Bashful Blue Card Stock; Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper; Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon; Snowflake #2 Big Shot Die; Scallop Edge Punch; Frost White Shimmer Paint.

And remember how I said there are 27 images on each sheet? The possibilities are really endless with all the other images. I used some of them to decorate up these Christmas Ornaments:

If you come back on Tuesday, I will tell you how to turn clear glass ornaments into these gorgeous sparkly ornaments and have a chance for some blog candy!

Recipe: Decor Elements Holiday Mix in Whisper White and Real Red; Old Olive and Real Red reinkers; Dazzling Diamonds; Old Olive and Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the tour. Next stop is Linda’s Olive Stamps to see a sneak peek at the Charming stamp set. If you’ve enjoyed this tour, come check out Stampin’ Addicts too.

September Ribbon Share

The holidays are just around the corner and what would Christmas presents, cards and goodies be without a little ribbon wrapped around them? My September Ribbon share focuses on the Stampin’ Up! Ribbons that are perfect for adding that special touch to all your holiday projects.

For only $18.60 (includes tax and shipping to me), you will receive a total of 19 yards of beautiful Stampin’ Up! Ribbon including the following:

• 2.5 yards of 1” Double-Stitched Grosgrain in Real Red
• 2.5 yards of 1” Double-Stitched Grosgrain in Rose Red
• 2.5 yards of 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain in Old Olive
• 2.5 yards of 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain in Chocolate Chip
• 2.5 yards of 3/4” Polka Dot Grosgrain in Real Red
• 2.5 yards of 5/8” Sleigh Bells Ribbon from the new Holiday Mini
• 2 yards of each of the ribbons featured in the Holiday Mini Mistletoe Bundle. (3/8” Old Olive Taffeta and 1/2” double-stitched grosgrain in Whisper White with Real Read stitching).

Deadline to order and pay for the share is September 26. If you don’t live in the Salt Lake Valley, please add $2.50 for shipping and handling. To order, contact me today at paula24@comcast.net.

BOLO: Holiday Mini Blog Tour

In my previous career (feels like another life time ago) I worked with lots of law enforcement types and learned how to speak Coppese. It is their very own little language and involves lots of acronyms. It also helped me communicate with my own Cop husband too. One of my favorite acronyms was BOLO or be on the look out. Probably because it reminded me of those bolo ties that were all the rage when I was in High School.

Stampin' Up's Holiday Mini debuts one week from today, (September 1). To celebrate Stampin' Addicts is having another Blog Hop featuring stamps and accessories from the new catalog. The tour starts at 10:00 am Saturday, August 29 and last through midnight, Monday, August 31. I will be featuring some new items in the Definitely Decorative Collection here on my blog.

In the mean time, here are some of my own Mini Catalog Sneak Peeks featuring a really fun set called Sweet Centers and the coordinating treat cups that go perfectly with the set:
To make this card, I folded a piece of basic black card stock and cut it with the new Clear Bigz Square Scallop Big Shot Die. My fellow SA sister came up with the idea to thread the ribbon through the holes in the side of the card. Adorable huh? I stamped the image in Pumpkin Pie and added a Crushed Curry layer behind it. To get the treat cup in there, you use the 1 3/4 inch punch to make a window and the cups just fit right into the window.


The Sweet Centers set isn't just for the holidays. I love this hot air balloon filled with yummy strawberry cheesecake jelly bellies. The colors are Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink. Coincidentally, these colors also remind me of the 1980's but more along the lines of junior high and not high school.

And now that my oldest is back in school, I am hoping to have more time to post to here. Watch for some blog candy coming up this weekend with the hop. Hope to see you back here then.

August Scrapbook Class

Summer is winding down and the kids are headed back to school. This month's layout celebrates those School Days. And there will also be a card to give to your student or some other special person in your life to let them know that they ROCK!!!

WHEN: Thursday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Red Robin Restaurant in Murray, 316 E 6400 S

COST: $6 for the 12x12 layout, $1.50 for the card or $7 for both. Free with a $30 purchase from the new Idea Book and Catalog.

RSVP: By Monday, August 24 to paula24@comcast.net or 801-967-3210

Here are the projects:With all these stars, you could change the title on this layout and it could easily work for a sports page (All Star) or use your imagination to come up with something else. It has space for five 5" x 3.5" pictures across the middle. The colors are Not Quite Navy, Real Red and Crushed Curry. It features the new Simple Letters Alphabet Dies and lots of star punches as well as the Classic Stars Wheel.
This fun card features the Just Jawing Stamp set which is featured in the Growing Up promotion this month. (See link on the side) It uses two of the new In Colors: Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo as well as a little Dazzling Diamonds and Rhinestone Brad.

Hope to see you there!

August Technique Class and Hostess Club

Whoa! I'm very late getting this posted. Sorry, Stampin' Up Convention kind of took over my life there for several weeks. But I am back and will be posting more frequently.

This months technique the baby wipe technique. Come to class and make two fun projects. You will also take home a recipe card to recreate the technique at home on your own.

WHEN: Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: My house. Call for directions

COST: $6 or free with a $25 purchase from the brand new catalog.

RSVP: By Tuesday, August 18 to 801-967-3210 or paula24@comcast.net

Here are the projects:
This card features a brand new stamps from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog (Autumn Splendor and Grateful Greetings) and some of our brand new In Colors (Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry). The baby wipe technique is what gives the leaves their variegated fall look.The second project is a bookmark that just fits so perfectly over the corner of your book to hold your place. Very simple and very cute. This one also features more of a tie-dyed look for the whale with the baby wipe technique. I will also show you how to use your scalloped edge punch to make a scalloped square. The whale is from the new Animal Stories and is one of the sets featured in this month's Just For Kids promotion. The colors are Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White.

Hope to see you there.

Stampin' Addicts Big Shot Die Pack Contest!

You all know my affinity to Stampin' Addicts right? Since launching the first part of March, this online stamping community has grown to almost 1800 strong. And now we will be holding our first official gathering at the Stampin' Up Convention in a little more than a week! (The anticipation is starting to kill me!)

Stampin' Addicts has tons of ideas for using the Stampin' Up Big Shot and all kinds of other Stampin' Up! products. Right now, Stampin' Addicts is also giving away a Big Shot Die Pack. All you have to do to enter is to post about the contest on your own blog or even on facebook, twitter, or Stumble Upon.

Wish me luck! I can always use more Big Shot toys!

Christmas Box House Fundraiser/Mini Stampin' Buffet/New Catalog Kick Off

Instead of my traditional Stampin' Buffet/Catalog kick off this month, on Saturday, July 18 I've been invited to participate in a very special event: A fundraiser for the Christmas Box House featuring several direct sales companies.

The Christmas Box House provides emergency shelter care, health services and programs to children who have been removed from their homes and families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. It is a cause close to my heart because my youngest son received shelter care as infant long before he came to be part of our family. This fundraiser will help purchase clothing and other essential items for the children who arrive at the center with little more than the clothing on their back.

How can you help? Join us Saturday, July 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Christmas Box House, 3660 So. West Temple. I will be in the boardroom. Here is what I will be offering from Stampin' Up! with proceeds benefiting the Christmas Box House:

• The brand new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog for a $5 donation to the Christmas Box House.
• A Mini Stampin' Buffet offering fun Make and Takes. See below for projects.
• A blowout of retired stamp sets and other products. Some are brand new and some are used, but they all need a new home.
• Handcrafted cards, scrapbook layouts and other items for sale.
  
• A drawing for free hostess set for those that place an order from the catalog at the event. (This is in addition to the other fabulous prizes that will be offered at the event)
  

Even if you can't come, you can still help. I will also be donating my instant income from all orders placed from July 15-21 to the Christmas Box House, including orders placed through my website.

All of the buffet projects feature brand new products from the new catalog. You be able to make how ever many you choose of the following projects:

This card features the brand new For All You Do stamp set, as well as new designer series paper and the new in color Rich Razzleberry. $1.50 each

You may have seen this stamp set before, but Stampin' Up! just gave us a matching punch. Also features the new In Color Melon Mambo. $1.50 each

Another treat Stampin' Up! gave us this year: In Color Markers! This card uses them with the new hostess stamp set, The More the Merrier and the Movers and Shapers Big Shot die to make a window. $1.50

The Matchbox die made it into the new catalog. Here it is in Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and some new designer series paper, filled with four chocolate nuggets. $4 each

And a 12x12 layout featuring the new Animal Stories stamp set as well the new Stampin' Up! Alphabet Simple Letters for the Big Shot. $6.00 each

Please let me know if you plan to attend. I will have extras cut that day just in case, but I'd like at have an idea before hand as well.

Other participating vendors include Layers Clothing, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Scensty, Squeaky Shoes, Modbe Clothing, Heritage Makers, Purse Party, Pampered Chef and more. You will receive a ticket for ever $10 in purchase from each vendor to enter to win great prizes donated by the vendors. Extra tickets will also be available with a cash donation to the Christmas Box House.

And parents can bring children 3 and over to the Kid's Outback Adventure. (Children under 3 will need to be accompanied by an adult.) Children will be able to play on the enclosed playground, make projects, and enjoy a treat all supervised by volunteers while you shop or create for a $3 donation to the Christmas Box House.

Hope to see you there.

July Ribbon Share

This month's ribbon share features the 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon. For only $16.75, you will get three yards of each of the nine exclusive colors that Stampin' Up offers (for a total of 27 yards) including:

• Very Vanilla
• Chocolate Chip
• Bravo Burgandy
• Real Red
• Regal Rose
• Brocade Blue
• Certainly Celery
• Old Olive
• Basic Black (just added in the new catalog!)
  

Remember all Stampin' Up ribbon is designed to perfectly coordinate with the inks, card stock, designer series paper and all the other embellishments Stampin' Up offers to make projects a cinch to put together.

I need to know by July 31 if you would like to take part in the ribbon share. All money is due that day too. If you need me to mail the ribbon to you, there is an extra $2 fee for shipping and handling.

Stampin Addicts Sketch Challenge #17

Sorry I've been absent this week. My family enjoyed some time at Lake Tahoe and I didn't get a chance to schedule the post before I left. But I did want to share this card because it features the new Razzleberry Lemonade paper that will be available July 1. Doesn't that just sound yummy? I was worried that it would be too bright, but I really do like it.

The sketch is based on a card Holly (aka CatRules) posted on Stampin' Addicts. It is simple, but it is perfect for using some printed paper scraps or to stamp a background on a piece of plain card stock. If you would like to play along with this or any other challenge, please visit the general forum section over at www.stampinaddicts.com.

Recipe:
Stamps: Oval All
Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, Razzleberry, Crushed Curry and Whisper White card stock
Ink: Razzleberry
Accessories: Scalloped Oval and Oval punch

Card Candy Winner!

Congratulations to MaryJo. She's the winner of the roll of 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon. Thanks to everyone who has visited and commented this week.