Kindness Matters Bookmark

Kindness Matters was the first stampset in the new catty that caught my eye. I didn't have much time to craft this past weekend, but when I did sit down I couldn't help but reach for this pretty set to make this little bookmark for a friend. I also used the frame image from the Forever Young set and a key charm. Cardstock was natural ivory and wisteria wonder; ink was early espresso and wisteria wonder.

Sweet Life

My husband is far too sweet:) I made this project (you might have to click on the image to see the detail) for a silent auction for friends of ours that are fundraising for a missions trip (along with a separate cardset). You'll recognize that it is a variation on what we did in September's class. Well, during the auction my husband didn't think the bid on it was high enough, so he added his own and actually ended up winning/buying my project and bringing it home. When I asked him why he did that he said:

- it was his favourite item in the auction (awe:)

- I keep giving what I make a way and he wanted this for his bedside table

- and that because I'm his sweetheart he has a 'sweet life' (the sentiment of the project).

So this now sits on his bedside table:) I love that man!:))

Sneak Peek - Beau Chateau Class

Today I have a sneak peek for you of October's Beau Chateau class. This class has a lot in it, so I will be limiting the class size so that everyone can get their project completed in the time we have together. I have also moved the class from a Thursday evening to a Saturday afternoon to give us a bit more time since this project is BIG!

We'll be making a portfolio style sectioned stationary box that contains 3 compartments along with 6 greeting cards for in the largest compartment (envelopes included) and a small mini album for the second largest compartment. We'll be primarily using the new Beau Chateau DSP, which we'll be using a lot of! We'll also be primarily using the Elements of Style stampset (and a bit of Notably ornate). We'll also make 2 fancy flowers and play with lots of ribbon and embellishments AND the spritzer tool.

(Elements of Style stampset)

Registration will open on September 15th, so be sure to call or email me if you want to be on the list for one of the spots as they do tend to fill up quickly.

Here are the class details...

When: Saturday October 22, 2011 1:30 pm

Cost: $35 (we will be using a lot of DSP, ribbon and embellishments & this is a fairly large project, see list of what we're making above). However, I will discount the cost of the class by $5 for anyone who orders the Elements of Style stampset when they register...and then, you'll have your very own stampset to work with at the class and take home with you afterward:)

What to bring to class:

- scissors

- adhesive: glue runner, tombow mono multi (liquid glue), glue stick, sticky strip

- early espresso ink pad and sponge...we're going to be using this a lot!!

- paper piercing tool

- clear blocks if you preorder the stampset in clear

Friend Card

Just a card I made this last week for a friend. The sentiment reads: "time passes' on the front...and inside it continues "friendship stays right where its put" and comes from the Curvy Verses stampset.

The whole idea for this card came from that clock which is part of the new 'Forever Young' stampset and I just thought it would be fun to layer and pop out the clock. Cardstock used was marina mist and naturals ivory. I also used the tulips border embossing folker, the boho blossoms punch and pearl jewels.

Mini Technique Book

Our second project at technique club this week was this mini book with pockets to put the techniques we play with at each meeting. The book is made out of the scallop envelope die for the bigshot cutout of crumbcake cardstock. The word 'create' is black embossed on the cover and the cover is finished off with flocked black dsp from the mocha morning pack, the new cherry cobbler scallop dotted ribbon and a flower made with the smalled flower from the fun flowers die. For the flower you cut one flower out and crumple it up and then work it with your bone folder until you break down the fibers enough to separate the flower into 2 layers...this is what gives you that suede/brushed softer look. The flower was finished off with a black medium flower from the boho blossoms punch and a rhinestone brad. I chose to use this flower technique on the cover because I was asked about it by a couple of the girls in the group, so it was a bit of a bonus technique of sorts;) The stampset used on this project was the Creative Elements one which is quickly becoming a new favourite for me because it is so versatile!:)

Established Elegance/Faux Metal

On this card from last night's technique club we worked with the 'faux metal' technique of embossing. You press your cardstock into versamark and then cover it with embossing powder and heat set it, then repeat 3-4 times and then you press your stamp (preinked in versamark) into the hot embossed cardstock to create the impression that ends up looking like faux metal!

I knew I wanted this to be one of our projects when I saw the new holiday mini that started on September 1st where Stampin Up introduced its new pewter embossing powder. From the second I got my preorder I had to play with it and there are several images in the Established Elegance stampset that was used on this card that work beautifully with this technique!

Supplies used on this card include (all SU):

- cardstock: early espresso, very vanilla, cherry cobbler

- ink: early espresso, cherry cobbler, always artichoke, versamark

- dsp: first edition

- ribbon: chantilly lace, always artichoke seam binding

- punches: 1 1/4" cirlce & boho blossoms punch

- big shot: scalloped circles die & frames impressions folder

- pearl jewels:)

Pin Cushion Hostess Gift

Tonight marks the start of my new technique club and Ruth is tonight's hostess. I thought I'd make each month's hostess a little something for their month and this is what I came up with for Ruth. I decided I needed to stretch myself and come up with something I'd been meaning to try or learn in what I made the hostess, and I've been meaning to craft more with fabric, so from there came the inspiration for this project. That and I had just received the new beau chateau designer fabric and was in the love with it, and I thought Ruth would be too since she loves all things vintage:) The 'create' tag was stamped by using markers and I'd been wanting to combine those 2 stamps (the frame and sentiment) from the Creative Elements stampset ever since I first saw that in a sneak peek from the Stampin Up cruise that some of my fellow demonstrators earned. All the fabric elements for this project were cutout with the Big Shot (scallop square die and circle scallops die) and the cushion was stitched together by hand with linen thread. I finished it off with a pin with pearls and other pretties from the retired pretties kit and I added some chantilly lace, rhinestone jewels and pin from the vintage trickets pack (all available in the current catalog:)

This month's technique is embossing and I'll be back tomorrow and the next day to show you our projects, so come back tomorrow if you want to see 'faux metal' embossing:))

New Holiday Mini Catalog

The new Holiday Mini starts today. You can click here (and then select Holiday Mini) to see it online, but if you want to see if in person, contact me and I'll get you one!:) ......there will be a live link to the mini added to my sidebar once it goes live sometime on the 1st too:)

There are so many new and exciting things in this mini, like:

- the new Simply Scored Tool...I preordered mine and it is brilliant! (You'll have noticed in last weeks posts I was playing with it:))

- new stocking punch and coordinating stampset!

- gorgeous Christmas designer series papers...2 wonderful varieties (one with coordinating fabric) and both with coordinating stampsets!

- lots of fall and hallowe-en goodies

- a stocking die for the big shot!! I'm already playing with mine!

- jingle bells to tie on you projects, just too cute!

- how about the mica snow flakes?!!

- or the shaker frames?! (shaker cards have never been easier!)

- big beautiful buttons:)

- velvet stitched ribbon and quilted satin ribbon (this is not good, I already have a ribbon addiction!;)

- winter wishes stitched felt...the mittens are too cute!!

- pewter embossing powder (check out my blog tomorrow to see how I'm using this!)

- peek-a-boo frames bigshot die (how on earth am I going to watch my budget?!)

- stampin card keeper (why don't we all order one and then get together for an afternoon to decorate them?!! ...I mean it, call me up if you wanna:)

- lots of new digital downloads and content

- the prettiest new stampset called "You are Loved":)

- dazzling details glitter glue (and the glimmer paper is back too!)

- "The Sounding Joy' stampset...perfect for embossing or ornament making even...beautiful!

AND I have missed items on the list above, so you'll need to go and check out the new Holiday Mini on my Stampin Up website and discover what your favourites are!:)