Happy Birthday Alana!

Today is a dear friend & tea-lover's birthday! When you are born around Christmas I'm sure it sometimes just gets mixed in, but this is a very special lady, so I always make sure to separate it in my mind & heart and, of course, in her gifts and card. This is this year's special birthday card.

I took some inspiration from Artistic Avenger in terms of coming up with the idea for what to use to make the tea bag. It's a piece of ivory cardstock, with the punchouts from the eyelet border punch and a heart punchout and then a piece of vellum which is folded around:)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - natural ivory, early espresso, cherry cobbler, old olive

DSP - jolly holiday

Stamps - take a sip, occasional quotes, tiny tags, very vintage

Ink - cherry cobbler, old olive, early espresso, versamark

Buttons - button latte

Ribbon - victoria lace

Santa Stockings

I saw this idea last weekend on Becky's blog and decided to make my own for my neighbour gifts this year since I was running out of time but still wanted to make something a little special. Usually I give a bit of my baking, but since I haven't had time to bake yet, this year it's store-bought, so at least I made the stockings - kwim! I also loved that it gave me an idea of how to use some of my punches in new ways like the ornament punch!:)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - old olive, cherry cobbler, naturals ivory

DSP - jolly holiday

Ink - early espresso, versa mark, old olive, cherry cobbler

Punches - ornament, xlarge oval, small oval, 1 3/4 circle, 1/2 circle (and bird punch if you have it; if you don't use ornament punch and trim down for the moustache!)

Noel Banner

I made this 'Noel' banner this weekend using an early Christmas gift from my hubby. He gave me a Bigz alphabet for my Big Shot and gave it to me early because he wanted me to make a Christmas banner. The initial idea for this banner was a fall banner - see this link (and it's original inspiration came from Kimberley as linked in that post:)

The dimension of each flag of the banner are 3 1/2 x 8.

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - crumbcake, cherry cobbler, early espresso

DSP - deck the halls

Stamps - medallion, tiny tags, winter post

Ribbon - cherry cobbler seam binding, chocolate taffeta

Accessories - vintage brads, vintage trinkets

Punches - ornament, label, tag

Buttons - button late

Filled with Love

It's never to early to start thinking about valentines or love by any means! Stampin' has started a new promotion when you pick up the new Love stampset and the Love patterns paper, you get the coordinating buttons for free:))

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And fellas, if you need a last minute Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for your wife or girlfriend for Christmas, contact me by December 22nd and I can provide you with a Stampin' Up Gift Certificate. Just call or email me at: sherriBstampin@yahoo.ca

December Non Traditional Challenge

One of the challenges over at A Charming Place (ACP) this month was to make a Christmas card using non-traditional colours. I chose marina mist & early espresso. My inspiration came from the fact that I hadn't even used my new marina midst ribbon & ink yet.

Recipe (all SU except for charm which is from ACP):

Cardstock - early espresso, baja breeze, natruals ivory, crumbcake

Stamps - winter post, contempo Christmas, baroque motifs

Ink - crumbcake, marina mist, eary espresso

Ribbon - marina mist satin & chantilly lake & linen thread

Snowflake is a la a sizzex die

Punch is large oval

Buttons are from button late

Right corner uses vanilla smooch spritz

Christmas Post-it Notes

I was helping my daughter get her secret santa gifts ready for next week and made this little post-it note pad for her friend. The ornament punch sure made quick work of it!

Well, I placed the last SU order with guaranteed delivery for Christmas this week! I actually taught a mini-album class to a group of fun ladies Wednesday evening as well. At it, I was asked if I could "help" if one of their husband's contacted me for a Christmas idea for them - and I can!....

If your husband or friend wants an idea for you send them my way and I'll put together a Stampin' Up Gift Certificate of almost any amount so you can go shopping after Christmas or into the new year when the new Occasions Mini comes out! I might even be convinced to wrap it! (Any gift certificates sold are only redeemable with me as SU does not directly offer certificates.)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - old olive

DSP - jolly holiday

Stamps - baroque motif

Ink - old olive

Simply Adorned Bundle

This necklace was made with the Simply Adorned bundle that SU has on sale until December 16th. It comes with the charm, a 24" chain and the coordinating stampset 'Charmed' which can be used for making charms and so much more.

I love the simply adorned charms - the quality is amazing and the bevelled glass on the front adds such dimension (hard to see in the picture)- and can accomodate some layering. These are such quality pieces (so much better than memory glass which shattered when I tried to make a necklace).

If you are interested in ordering the bundle you can click on the link to my website on the right bar and click 'shop now' or contact me before December 8th because this will be the last non-online order that I place before Christmas. Stampin' Up is recommending ordering by December 8th if you want delivery before Christmas.

I plan on making of of these for my sister for Christmas and making a number of inserts that she can switch out throughout the year depending on seasons or outfits.

(back)

Recipe for inserts above (all SU)

Stamps - artistic etchings, charmed, tiny tags

Cardstock - natural ivory

DSP - naturals dsp pack

Ink - basic black, cherry cobbler, crumbcake, bravo burgundy (on the create charm back), always artichoke

Accessories - black bauble & vanilla satin ribbon

Hockey Night in Canada

Saturday is Hockey Night in Canada - our team, the Canucks, isn't playing tonight, but we recently celebrated my father-in-law's brithday and his team, the Habs are. He is their best fan and if they would only listen to him they would win the cup every year!;) It's sometimes hard to come up with card ideas for male family members, but I just always try to go back to what they love. I may love romance & vintage, but that definitely isn't my FIL, so I made him this card using his favourite team's colours. I used SU's All in the Family stampset along with the Family Accessories and came up with an equation that made him smile. My FIL + hockey = winning combination. I tied a piece of striped taffeta around the bottom and attached a computer charm from ACP on the bottom since he does most his coaching from his computer!;) It's not my favourite card I've made, but it was one of my FIL's favourites so I achieved my goal!:)

Recipe (all SU except for charm which was ACP):

Cardstock: cherry cobbler, not quite navy, very vanilla

Stamps: All in the Family & Family Accessories

Ink: basic black, cherry cobbler + markers

Jolly Holiday Contempo Christmas

This is a card that we've been making in my workshops lately. It uses a stampset & paper pack that are part of current bundle Stampin' Up has that is still 20% off until December 16th. If you're interested in the bundle or learning about any of our other current specials, be sure to contact me!:)

Recipe (all SU):

Stamps - contempo Christmas

DSP - jolly holiday

Cardstock - old olive, very vanilla, cherry cobbler

Ribbon - cherry cobbler seam binding

Accessories - rhinestone

Fabric/Sewing Challenge

I made this journal for a challenge over at A Charming Place this month. The base of the journal cover is one of Stampin' Up's new fabrics as is the skirt. I love it! I've used it to make ribbons and flowers and now a journal. It's fun to paper-craft with a different supply.

If you might want to try it out, it's on sale right now in the online spectacular...50% until November 30th. Here's a link. (There are 2 designer packs of 3 to choose from!) There are a lot of other great things on sale too at 30, 40 & 50% off and don't forget to check out the clearance rack while you're there!

Recipe:

Cardstock: SU crumbcake & naturals ivory

Designer fabric: SU deck the halls

Ribbon: SU cherry cobbler seam binding & ivory satin

Charm: A Charming Place

Dress form: Ooh-la-la designs

Brad & pin: SU vintage brads & vintage trinkets

Lace: Old remnants from my tickle trunk

Ink: SU Early espresso, cherry cobbler, crumbcake

Stamps: Notably ornate & broadsheet alphabet

Tri-Shutter Album Class from the Weekend

I held my first tri-shutter album class last weekend and have 2 more to go (both full!) I'm game for another though if you are interested - all we need is a minimum of 5 people to sign up!

In the class I teach you how to make a tri-shutter mini album (all paper is precut and scored for you). I also teach you the technique to make this flower on the front.

You can fit 3-4x6 pictures & 2-3 x4 pictures in this album - I prefer to matt them down though (so 1/4 inch smaller)

Cardstock - basic black, naturals ivory, ridinghood red

DSP - love letter

Ribbon - black satin

Punches - eyelet border & scallop

Stamps - vintage vogue

Bigshot used for letters & swirl

Vintage Brad

Tag book for class

Here's the tag book we'll be making on December 4th.

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - very vanilla (although there will also be old olive & cherry cobbler)

DSP - jolly holiday

Stampset - Winter Post

Online Spectacular

From now until November 30th - Stampin' Up just announced online order specials with discounts of 30, 40 and 50% yesterday! Here's a link to shop online and get the savings!

Part of the upcoming tag class...

Just a couple of the vintage tags for the class on December 4th. I'll post the contempo tag book too in the next couple of days.

Recipe for these:

Cardstock - crumbcake, cherry cobbler

DSP - deck the halls

Ink - Cherry Cobbler, always artichoke, early esspresso

Ribbon - chantilly lace & artichoke seam binding & linen thread

Stamps - contempo Christmas & music notes

Two tags big shot die & peace joy & love decorative strip

Vintage Peace, Joy & Love

Just playing around with some vintage paper, a frame and my Big Shot this morning. If you are looking for a holiday gift idea and would like to make one these, get in touch with me and we can maybe set up a class in December if there is enough interest:)

Recipe (all SU except charm which is from A Charming Place):

Cardstock - crumbcake, cherry cobbler

DSP - deck the halls

Ribbon - crumbcake taffeta

Other - clear embossing & versamark

Stamps - winter post, tiny tags

Simply Adorned

I've been interested in these ever since they debuted last year, but at first I tried the memory glass option available at a local craft store thinking it was cheaper...it was cheaper alright...the glass breaks and the final result wasn't wearable:(

This was my first attempt with SU's Simply Adorned - this one is the largest charm and the longest chain (34") - and I'm loving it! I just love the beveled glass and the way you can even add dimension in the element you create for inside! AND I love that you can change out your inserts and create all sorts of looks!!

Recipe (all SU!):

Cardstock: naturals ivory

DSP: Neutrals

Stamps: Charmed, Artistic Etchings, Broadsheet Alphabet, Tiny Tags

Inks: Crumbcake, Early Esspresso

Embellishments: rhinestone jewels, pearl bauble, chantilly lace:)

Hostess Cone

Just a little cone I made for my workshop hostess on the weekend:) We had a fun time on Saturday...the ladies really enjoyed all of the projects and I enjoyed meeting, creating and chatting with all of them! If you're in the Saskatoon area and would like to book your own workshop, contact me and we'll set something up!

Recipe (all supplies, SU!):

Paper: Deck the Halls

Ribbon: Striped Grosgrain (red), chocolate chip tafetta

Embellishments: Champagne glass glitter, vintage brad, buttons, vanilla smooch spritz (the holly looks so much cuter in person because of this part;)

Interested in Becoming a Stampin Up Demonstrator?

If you've ever thought about it, there's a special coming up later this month that might interest you...contact me for details:)

8 Years!

8 years ago today I married the man of my dreams...and I'm still struck, even more today actually, at how gracious and extravagant God is to have blessed me with such an amazing husband! Happy anniversary Les, Je t'amour!!

Recipe for anniversary card (all supplies SU):

Inks - early espresso, cherry cobbler, versamark

Cardstock - cherry cobbler, early espresso, crumbcake

Stamps - artistic etchings, music notes, en francais

Accessories - vintage brad; square punch

(Picture taken this week when he surprised me one afternoon with a walk along the river...and then a trip to Earls for one of my favourite meals:) ...our anniversary date night this weekend was spent at The Granary as has become the tradition:))

Tri- shutter Album Class

I spent the morning preparing some of the paper for my upcoming tri-shutter album class. Here is an example of what we will be making, but we'll be updating my previous album to current SU paper designs (using several papers from the love letter dsp pack). The cover will be customizable to various titles...'family', 'travel', 'you & me', 'paris'... and I'll also teach you how to make a 3 dimensional vintage flower embellishment with one of our vintage brads on the front.

When: Saturday November 20th 2 pm

(a further class may be scheduled in December or January if this one fills up and

there is enough interest)

Where: My home

Cost: $25 (includes all paper to construct album; project will be pre-cut and scored)

Supplies to bring: Adhesive (tape runner, sticky strip), scissors, any extra embellishments you might want to add, pictures (if you already know which ones you're putting in), black ink pad, any distressing ink & sponge you may have if you want to distress the dsp.

Contact me at sherriBstampin@yahoo.ca if you would like to register or have any questions. Registration deadline is November 13th.

Also, if you can't make it to the class but would like to by the cardstock base for this album (cut & scored), contact me and I can put something together for you.