Amour Banner

I just love making banners for the seasons, and with valentine's just around the corner, I certainly couldn't resist making this *amour* banner!:)

This banner was made out of the SU tablesetting die for the bigshot. I cut all the flags from portions of the die. I love it when you can use dies, stamps, etc. for more than one purpose!

This banner is also my second challenge over at ACP this month. I've set out the challenge to be making a love themed item for home decor:) Any excuse to celebrate love delights me!;):)

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

Stamps - very vintage wheel, artistic etchings, notably ornate

DSP - deck the halls (love it when you can repurpose patterned paper too;)

Cardstock - naturals ivory, cherry cobbler

Ink - versamark, basic black

Ribbon - cherry cobbler seam binding and black satin

Last Night's Frame Class

Oh we had so much fun last night! Here's one of the frames we made:) ..and I think everyone enjoyed learning how to make a paper rose like this:)

Recipe (all SU, except for charm with is ACP):

DSP - botanical gazette

Cardstock - cherry cobbler, early espresso

Ink - early espresso

Die - table setting die

Ribbon - chantilly lace, twill

Stamps - baroque motifs

My favourite new set from SAB

Below you'll find a video of some projects with the new BLISS stampset which you can earn from free during SAB. BLISS is my favourite new set this year - and I'll be posting some projects using it later next week:))

If you want to place an order during SAB or host a SAB workshop, just contact me and I'd be happy to help you out:)

Sale-A-Bration: Bliss Project

Altered Frame Class

This is the class I'm doing on Thursday evening - an altered frame. It's also the first challenge I've posted over at ACP this month.

Supplies (all SU except for heart charm with is ACP):

DSP - botanical gazette

Card stock - cherry cobbler, old olive

Ribbon - victoria lace

Stamps - baroque motifs

Ink - early espresso

BS Die - table setting

Presto Patterns DSP Demonstration

At each workshop I try to do a demonstration before the make & takes. This weekend I thought I'd highlight the use of texture on projects. First I did a quick bookmark and dry embossed it with texture plates, and then I highlighted presto patterns DSP as another alternative...particularly for those who don't have a Big Shot...yet.

The background for this page is on presto patterns DSP. First I inked it direct-to-paper...then I came back in with sponge. Then I sprayed the bottom with log cabin smooch spritz...then I used a foam brush...then I let it dry. Then I smooched the word 'Paris' with vanilla smooch spritz...and this was the result:)

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

DSP - presto patterns

Card stock - basic black, very vanilla

Ribbon - striped grosgrain

Ink - close to cocoa, chocolate chip

Smooch spritz - log cabin, vanilla

Workshop Make & Take #2

Ohhhh yesterday's workshop was fabulous!! I had so much fun with all of the ladies!!

And this card was our second make & take project. Well actually, as you can see, there were two choices as to how this card was finished. I just recall how through the years when I was in other clubs some of the ladies would groan when we got near Valentines and the demonstrator would show the valentine we were about to make. I didn't want that to happen, so this 'amour' card came complete with a 'friend' option!;):)

Recipe (all SU):

Stamps - define your life, i {heart} hearts, artistic etchings (and for those with the 'friend' option, fabulous phrases)

Cardstock - cherry cobbler, early espresso, naturals ivory

DSP - neutrals designer series

Accessories - cherry cobbler seam binding OR crumb cake taffeta

Ink - crumb cake, cherry cobbler, early espresso

Punches - designer label

SAB Workshop - Make & Take #1

Today is my SAB workshop! I love sale-a-bration and can hardly wait for the free goodies to arrive!

At my workshops I try to demonstrate one project/technique and then I have 2 make & take projects that everyone gets to make and take home:) I figure that you prefer creating your own rather than watching me the whole time;) Usually one of the make & takes is a 3D project and one is a card.

This is today's 3D make & take - see what you're missing! It's a little treat holder made from elements of the two tags die (see this post for more details). AND it's filled with chocolate! I've set this entry to post at 2pm just as we're beginning:)

If you want to have a SALE-A-BRATION workshop of your own, be sure to contact me. During SAB my theme is chicks and chocolate - in other words, you bring the chicks (guests) and I'll bring some chocolate:) At a workshop you'll get to make 2 projects you can take home with you and learn some techniques and visit with some great people...plus as a hostess you'll get your own Idea Book and Catalog and a small gift from me! AND during SAB you can earn free merchandise from the SAB catalog, so it's the best time to book a workshop of your own (and it's an awesome time for your guests to attend one too)!! Just email me or give me a call and we'll find a date & time that works for you:)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - chocolate chip, crumbcake, vanilla

Ink - chocolate chip, ridinghood red

Stamps - Eat chocolate, I {heart} hearts

Ribbon - striped grosgrain

Punches - three heart, decorative label, scallop trim border & small oval

Friend Valentine

I love this time of year...I can indulge myself and use as many hearts as I like on my projects!:)

Recipe (all SU):

Stamps - I {heart} hearts & Very vintage jumbo wheel

Cardstock - crumb cake, early espresso, naturals ivory

DSP - neutrals specialty pack

Embellishments - chantilly lace, twill; three heart punch & decorative label punch

Not-my-style Valentines

Today I'm posting two valentine cards that aren't really my style - they are based on colour schemes that I don't gravitate to but some people I know really like. I think it's of value to create at times with recipient in mind:) That being said - while they may not be totally my style there are certainly elements of me in each of them.

The colours in the first were inspired by the marina mist satin ribbon on my craft desk that hasn't been used alot. I laid a piece on a sheet of the springtime vintage paper and that's where the green/blue/vanilla colour scheme was born. Ribbons & bows are definitely me...as is that little *love* tag:)

For the second card, so many of my friends *love* purple so I sat down with some razzleberry paper & ribbon and my dsp hostess pad with all the in colors and picked the pear pizzaz to *pear* it with (no pun intented;) I pulled out my scallop envelope die for the big shot because I haven't used it in a while and made the little hearts from my 3 heart punch spill out. I love those hearts:) ...which is probably why I used the i {heart} hearts stampset on both cards.

Both of these cards were pretty quick and simple & here are the supplies (all SU) if you want to make them yourself:

Cardstock - Pear pizzaz, very vanilla, razzleberry

DSP - Vintage sprintime, in color designer series hostess I pack

Stamps - i {heart} hearts; tiny tags

Ribbon - marina mist satin, rich razzleberry grosgrain (the dotted version was in last year's catalog but there is an undotted version in the current catty and if you love the dots check out my website as there were still some colours of it available on the clearance rack last time I looked;)

Seam Binding Ribbon & Windowpane Share!

Want to get 10 yards of the new seam binding ribbon in the new colours from the Occasions Mini, but want it to NOT all be of 1 colour, then this share is for you!

Curious about the new beveled windowpanes debuting in the Occasions mini, but want to try them out before committing to buy a full pack yourself, then this share is for you!!

What you get:

2 ½ yards of baja breeze seam binding

2 ½ yards of rose red seam binding

2 ½ yards of crumb cake seam binding

2 ½ yards of very vanilla seam binding

PLUS

3 beveled windowpanes...one in each size available. Ribbon side slits sized perfectly to fit the seam binding ribbon perfectly. Use the on your cards, scrapbook pages or even try making a necklace with one!

Get all of this for $14.50 (shipping & handling and postage included!) Payment must be by cash/cheque. Available to Canadian residents only. Out of town participants welcome and I will tac on whatever Canada Post charges me for actual postage to mail it out to you.

Sale-a-brate Good Times!!

Sale-a-bration starts today!! See the link to the sale-a-bration flyer in my right sidebar. Items from the flyer can be earned for FREE...

There are 3 easy ways to earn FREE products:
1 {spend} Spend 60$ and earn one FREE sale-a-bration product of your choice from the brochure. Email me your order or place your order online with me on my business website (see button on the right)
2 {host} Host a workshop of at least $395, and earn one FREE Sale-A-Bration product in addition to the generous hostess benefits. Host a chicks and chocolate party, you provide the chicks & I the chocolate, in my studio or your home
3 {join} Join Stampin'Up! by becoming a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration and get 15% off your Starter Kit. Plus, get a bonus bundle filled with over $60 in FREE products. Want it all, email me to join my family

I'd be happy to help you with any of these just contact me (see links to my website and my business email on the sidebar:)

Blog Awards!

I was so fortunate to receive some blog awards this week from Sparkly Pink Star. You really need to check out her blog...which even includes videos of some of her creations!! She is exceptionally creative!

Thank you so much for thinking of me in such a sweet way!

The Sunshine Award

The Magical Blog Award

The Stylish Blogger Award

Kim - Stampin by the Sea

Erica - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Kimberley - Procrastistamper

Dawn - Raspberry Suite

Nadine - The Beautiful Ordinary

Be sure to go and check out the blogs of these fabulous ladies!!

Who doesn't need a little chocolate?!

These treat pouches are made from the SU Two Tags die for the Bigshot & each is filled with 4 choco- lates!:) I just *love* the new Eat Chocolate stampset in the Occa- sions Mini!

I saw Kim use the die for treats back around hallo- ween, but I didn't have the die then.

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - ridinghood red, crumbcake & very vanilla

Ink - chocolate chip & ridinghood red

Stamps - Eat Chocolate, i {heart} hearts

Ribbon - 1 1/4" striped grosgrain

Accessories - jumbo eyelets, scallop trim border punch, small oval punch & decorative label punch

Love Letter Scraps

As you know I've taught several tri-shutter mini album classes over the last two months and the dsp we used was love letter, so I had a bunch of half inch to inch wide pieces of dsp scraps sitting on my cutting bench. What to do, what to do? :) The idea for using strips came I think from Kim maybe a month ago - thanks!!

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - basic black, very vanilla, ridinghood red

DSP - love letter scraps

Stamps - artistic etchings

Embellishments - vintage brad, vintage trinkets & chantilly lace

Also - just a reminder that the deadline for registering for my Sale-a-bration workshop which will be on Saturday January 29th is tomorrow (ie. Friday) - so if you are interested, be sure to email me. OR...if you're interested in hosting your own Sale-a-bration workshop and earning extra free stuff, contact me and we'll set up a date:)

Sale-a-bration is just 1 Week Away!!

Have you heard of Sale A Bration? It is the VERY best time to be a Stampin' Up Customer! Basically, this is the gist:

1. For every $60 you spend, you get a FREE stamp set. This is cumulative. So, spend $120, get 2 free stamp sets, and so on.

2. Host a Workshop and earn a FREE stamp set for every $395 in Workshop sales.

3. JOIN ME! Become a Demo and receive $60 in FREE products, plus 15% OFF YOUR STARTER KIT!! Plus, receive all the fabulous benefits SU offers their Demos!

If you are interested in ANY of the Sale-a-bration fun, please email me at sherriBstampin@yahoo.ca ! I have a few dates still available for Workshops! OR consider yourself invited to my own Sale-a-bration workshop on Saturday January 29th at 2 pm (please RSVP by Friday January 21). Also, if you want to join in the fun but can't do a workshop at this time, please feel free to order directly through my website or call/email me with your order and I'll include it in my workshop!

I will post a link to the Sale-a-bration flyer as soon as it is available to the public. In the meantime, if you just can't WAIT, then contact me and I can give you a peak at mine!;)

Don't miss out on all the FREE fun!

January Challenge #1 at ACP

Each month I try to complete at least two of the challenges over at A Charming Place (ACP). The first challenge for January was just that - a challenge. I had to scrapbook a page of myself which as I sat down to do, I realized that I don't usually scrapbook about me. So here is what I came up with.

Recipe (all supplies SU except for charms which are ACP):

Cardstock - early espresso, naturals ivory, basic black

DSP - love letter

Stamps - artistic etchings

Punches - word window, small oval, label, square & eyelet border

Ribbon - victoria lace

Other - hodgepodge

Occasions Mini Accessories Share

There are some adorable new accessories in the new Occasions Mini. Some have said they want them all but don't need a full pack of them all, so how about this!

Fabric designer brads

- 1 each of 6 designs

Big buttons (springtime vintage)

- 3 each of 4 colours

Rosettes (vanilla)

- 2 each of 3 sizes

Adornments

- 2 each of 3 colours

_____________________________

Total cost includes taxes & handling $12.95

...and if you are from out of town and would like to participate and have your accessories mailed to you, I will add on whatever Canada Post charges me for actual shipping (not available to customers outside of Canada). (Note all payments must be cash, cheque or money order).

So in total for $12.95 you will get 30 accessories, including the most popular choices from the new Occasions Mini.

Please email if you are interested at: sherriBstampin@yahoo.ca

Also, if there is enough interest I'll also be putting together a ribbon or seam binding share, so let me know in your email if you might be interested in that too!

A Card for Les

I recently noticed that I never posted the card I made for my husband's birthday at the end of November, so I thought I would since I'm often asked about masculine cards - and I think this one counts as that as my husband informed me it was 'very rock & roll'!;) ...and apparently he isn't just referring to the guitar image...dots and herring bone are rock & roll he says;)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - basic black, very vanilla

DSP - love letter

Stamps - music notes wheel, extreme guitar, artistic etchings, broadsheet alphabet

Ink - basic black, crumbcake & versamark

Ribbon - black satin

Pardon the blog while I'm redecorating...the finishing touches should be complete in the next couple days!:)

Desk Calendar

I'll share just one more of the calendars I made - this one for my husband as you can see by the sentiment:)

The design is similar to the easel card I posted a couple of days ago, but the idea of the drawer below was inspired by this post I saw on Mary's blog.

Today is January 4th as as a new SU demonstrator, I am participating in 'book-a-thon- to try and book as many workshops during the sale-a-bration period as possible. I have copies of the the sale-a-bration flyer for anyone who'd like apeak at what's coming up, so contact me today to book your workshop and earn extra free product during sale-a-bration! Sale-a-bration runs from January 25th - March 31st.

Also, with today being January 4th, that means the new Occasions Mini is out. Here is a link! I'm 'in like' with so many things in this catalog. One of them being the paper I used in yesterday's post. If you'd like your own copy of this catalog, please contact me:)

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - basic black, ridinghood red, very vanilla, crumbcake

Stamps - artistic etchings

Ribbon - seam binding

Ink - crumbcake, ridinghood red, basic black

Punches - scallop trim border

Purse Calendar

This is the purse calendar that I made for my MIL who loves pink. I just made a basic matchbook design. If you haven't done one of these, there are instructions in the resource section over at Splitcoast (link is in my sidebar). I think their instructions are based on making a post-it note pad holder, but that is something I like to do, adapt things:) Also, you can find monthly calendars that you can printout all over the web, just do a search. The one I printed for each of the calendars I made this weekend was this one. I tried to make the cover fairly flat since it was going in a purse, so there isn't as much dimension between the layers created on the cover on this one.

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - rose red, naturals ivory, crumbcake

DSP - Vintage spring ***new in the Occassions Mini coming out on January 4th:)

Ribbon - Chantilly lace

Ink - Rose red, early espresso

Punches - eyelet border, curly label

Happy New Year

For new year's I made 'crackers' for everyone around the table. My crackers don't end up looking like crackers or cracking really - it's just kind of a package that commemorates a new year before the new year's day meal - and in it I put a new magazine that I think the person will like, a couple of their favourite chocolates and something I've made. This year I made everyone a desk or purse calendar. I'll show you a couple of them over the next few days.

This desk calender is what I made for my FIL who loves clocks. The design is an easel card (if you haven't done one before there are instructions over in the resource section on splitcoast).

Recipe (all SU):

Cardstock - soft suede, whisper white, basic black

Ribbon - dotted grosgrain, this was from last year's catty, but I have seen some on the clearance rack online

Stamps - Sense of Time

Accessories - silver hodgepodge

Ink - basic black, versamark (the phrase banner was black embossed)

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:))

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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