Cold Play

This is a fun favor I have been handing out this month. My favorite part is how adaptable the basic technique is to ANY occasion where you need a "little something". This hot chocolate holder is made from a large Whisper White Stampin' Up! envelope. I used the Large Tag Punch to cut the sides out and make a little "handle". It's just the latest in a series of envelope tricks shared by Stamping Goddess Amy Celona !

I fixed up the outside with some torn, coordinating Whisper White for "snow", a little Dazzling Diamonds on the edges, because you can never have enough *sparkly* snow, and my favorite snowman set, Cold Play. This is the set where you an build all sorts of snowmen in all different shapes and sizes because each piece is a separate stamp. I cut the sentiment with my Designer Label Punch just to well, punch it up!

I'm afraid Cold Play might be ready to melt away forever. It's THAT time of year again, time for Stampin' Up! to retire my old favorites to make way for my new favorites. I'll have the list for you very soon. Remember, we get a new catalog January 1st loaded with great goodies for '08!

Tag Box

As you probably know by now I often get sidetracked by a stamping project while I should be paying attention to another worthwhile, yet not crafty, endeavour. Such is the case with this little box that is holding my package tags.

I was in the carpool line the other day thumbing through the latest issue of Papercrafts Magazine (at this rate I will be finished with it sometime around February of 2009). I saw that someone had made a little box for their tags and since I had just made all my tags with that --- have I mentioned it today -- fabulous Tags for All set that is actually on sale now -- I figured I'd go home and whip up a box myself!

I went to my "alter me someday" box (which is camouflaged as toy storage -- shhhh and don't tell Joe!) and pulled out this little white lunch tin. Then it was off to the "craft with me someday" paper stash (you can tell him, this he has seen!)-- and I spotted some of last year's Stampin' Up! "Holiday Thyme" Designer Paper.

A few coordinated (naturally) scraps later, my "Big Deal" alphabet, assorted ribbon, a Jumbo eyelet (can you say Crop-a-dile?) and some Old Olive ink and I was done. It is holding all my finished gift tags plus tape and scissors. A spiffy addition to the wrapping station if I do say so myself.

Only problem is now that it's done I actually have to wrap. Unless I can design something you can roll around in ink and glitter to hold wrapping paper... Hmmmmmmm...

Wrapping up the Holidays Sale!

Stampin' Up! is offering some great specials right now on items that will "wrap up the holidays" for you. Discounted prices on wrapping paper, accessories to make cellophane bags with toppers, my favorite Tags for All stamp set and that luscious satin ribbon.

The specials are good through December 15th -- or while supplies last.

Click HERE to see the colorful flyer!

Or read the black and white here:

Holiday Tag Bundle (item 112409) A new item just for this promotion!
This bundle includes several pre-cut pieces from the Holiday Glitz kit and makes 15 quick and easy toppers for gift giving.

Empty Accents and Elements Tin-3 Pack (item 112410) A new item chosen just for this promotion!

Tags for All Stamp Set* (item 110380) 20% off!

Hand Selected Accents & Elements (item 110228) 25% off!

Designer Gift Cards* (item 110264) 30% off!

Purely Pomegranate (item109863) and Chocolate Chip (item 109862) Satin Ribbon* Buy 1, get 1 free!

A Pocket for Your Thoughts....

I was inspired by a card in the Splitcoast Gallery to craft up this little pocket full of Thankful Thoughts. This style of card really comes together quickly, especially when you keep the sides together with a simple brad treatment!

Stamp Set: Thoroughly Thankful
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red
Accessories: Earth Elements Brads, Blender Pens, Tab Punch

Thankful for Patterned Paper!

Have I mentioned today how thankful I am for yummy patterned paper and that it's still Buy 3 packs get 1 FREE until November 30th? Stampin' Up!'s Fall Flowers is what I used here and I love the way the layers work together!

Stamp Set: Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Kraft Cardstock, Fall Flowers, Old Olive Cardstock, Soft Sky Designer Prints, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive
Accesories: Wide Olive Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thankful Thoughts

I am still really all over this Christmas thing. The first of the teacher gifts are finished. The supplies are here so I can get busy on the Christmas Card I have already designed. I divided the gift shopping into manageable lists and plan to handle 2 more of those this weekend while Joe can give me a hand with the girls. I even cleaned out the refrigerators -- both of them -- because Cynthia had it in her Monday plan over at Organized Christmas. So what was missing in this entire picture???

HOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING?

Well, I am caught up there now as well after a few days of hustle. The cards have been completed, addressed, stamped and mailed. I made mini loaves of Pumpkin Bread for the teachers and stamped tags to go along with them. I have three classroom feasts over the course of the next three school days. But I'm ready! I even managed to stash a few extra meals in the freezer to keep me together while company is here next week and I'm making my sides for the family feast. Oh, and the kids will underfoot and out of school!

Stamp Set: Thankful Thoughts
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Wide Chocolate Grosgrain, Blender Pen, Crafters Tool Kit, Sponges

November Stampin' Club Projects

Here is what the Stampin' Club will be making this weekend:

*A mini-album with front and back covers that are 4 x 4 chipboard coasters. (Done in Wintegreen Designer Paper.)

*A Christmas Card featuring the Big on Christmas Stamp Set and Dashing Designer Paper.

*An dramatic acetate card in black and white.

Guests are always welcome to join us -- use the email link for details!

Stamp-a-Stack

It's time for a little speed stamping! The Christmas Stamp-a-Stack is here!

In 2 hours you'll make 15 cards, a gift bag with coordinating card, and stamp three 8 1/2" x 11" pages of tags for your gifts.The photo of the cards and the gift bag is attached. You'll be "freelancing" on the tags selecting Whisper White or Very Vanilla Cardstock along with your favorite ink colors. The tag set we're using is HERE.

Dates and Times:

Thursday, November 29, 8:00pm
Friday, November 30 10:00 am & 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 2 2:30 pm

***Please RSVP by November 18 so that your materials are prepped***

Cost: $25.00 Stamp Club Members attend for $20.00. Not a club member? Place a $20.00 order at the workshop and pay $20.00 for the Stamp-a-Stack. As always, bring along someone new to me and you receive a Classic Ink Pad in your choice of color.

A Sparkly Christmas

Since I am in the midst of an organizational "flurry" -- I thought I would share this Christmas Card that incorporates a few flurries.....

The Stamper's Club made it two weeks ago at our regular meeting. We used that fabulous Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder to completely "bling" that Baroque swirl!

I had 10 minutes yesterday between Kindergarten Centers and Preschool Pickup, so I dashed into a Post Office and bought my Christmas stamps. (Postage, not rubbah!) Guess what? They had plenty and there was no line. Now while I tap my foot impatiently waiting for my card supplies to arrive, I am going to make sure my card list and address database are current. I followed my Christmas planner and made a list of all the gifts I plan to craft, and I have ordered all of those supplies as well. So far , so good this organizing business......

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, Cold Play, Party Punch
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Ink: Bleu Bayou, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Versamark
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Designer Label Punch, Sponges, Pomegranate Stitched Ribbon, 3/4 circle punch, ticket corner punch

The Countdown to Christmas....

Remember when I told you just how verstile the Stampin' Up! patterned paper is? Here is an example of what you can pull together when you've got paper on hand.

November 1st is always a big day of planning for me. Halloween is over -- and it is full steam ahead toward Christmas. Part of my planning this year included creating two different organizational binders. One is for Household/School, etc -- the other is strictly Christmas. The binder idea is from Organized Living and its sister site Organized Christmas and so are the printable forms. I purchased $2.00 binders at Target. I fixed up the first one with the Notations Designer Paper. (I especially loved the sentiment on the one sheet -- "Balance Your Life".) I'm feeling good about taming the piper tiger around here and I feel really good about Christmas. 52 more days and my card has been designed and the supplies are on the way. So is some of that yummy Wintergreen and Dashing Paper. I bought it on sale (see Paper Party below!) and plan to fix that Christmas binder right up! The best way for me to tackle an organizational project is to turn it into a craft project. Now THAT's what I'm talking about.....

It's a Paper Party!

All this month Stampin' Up! is offering a "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" deal on packages of patterned paper. The paper is so versatile -- useful in card making, scrapbooking and crafting gift items.

Grab your big catalog and turn to pages 170 -173 to see all the choices!

Let me know how many packages you need.....