Beloved Old Favorite Stamp Set

What is our very oldest (and beloved) stamp set?  It's Lovely As A Tree.  It's beautiful, versatile and has been super popular for a long, long time now.  I've pulled it out for today's card and I think this card was the top favorite at my October Christmas Retreat.

To create the background, I used Pear Pizzazz, Lost Lagoon and Mossy Meadow markers on an acrylic block (size D), spritzed it 3 or 4 times with water and stamped the background.  After it dried, the tree was stamped in Basic Black ink, along with the sentiment.

The tree was then dressed up for Christmas, using our 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter --- gorgeous and simply elegant.  The card base is Mossy Meadow.  I added a layer of black behind the top layer of the card, to pull it all together.  If you haven't tried the Acrylic Block Technique yet, you just don't know all the fun you're missing.  Each time you stamp it, you get a unique surprise.  I have several previous posts using this technique, so you can do a 'search' to learn more about it.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Square Pillow Box Party Favors

Before I share more cards from my Christmas Retreat, I want to show you the party favors that everyone got with their lunch.  Even though we were all about Christmas in my studio, it was still Fall in my dining room, so I kept the lunch favors within a Fall theme.  I love how they turned out.

I made them in 3 colors.  Each person got one in Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow or Rich Razzleberry.  I've already given away all the Rich Razzleberry favors.

Here are some ideas from Stampin' Up! for using the Pillow Box Thinlits.  I love how they cut off the top of the middle one and used it to hold 3X3" cards!

Click here to enjoy a video about making these adorable pillow box favors.

Here's a peek at my Fall centerpiece.  I love decorating for Fall almost as much as decorating for Christmas.

With my Christmas Open House just around the corner (November 1) I am already starting today to turn my studio completely into Christmas.  This is the crazy time of year for me when my porch and upstairs are beautiful Fall and my studio becomes all Christmas.  It's pretty fun... and a bit crazy!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

I'm ready for a fun party!

I really wanted to make our Christmas Retreat special today, so I made little gift bags for each person.  They hold their class kits and some special surprises.  When the Retreat is over, they can carry home all their finished cards in the gift bags.  Here's a view of some of the bags. 

I really like how they turned out.  Each person gets a little bag of more goodies, as well.

I'm almost finished cleaning, putting the finishing touches on our lunches, and I think we're ready to begin the fun!  Why do dog toys multiply when you turn your back?

I look forward to these kinds of classes.  Yes, they're a ton of prep work, but so well worth it for the fun we have.  I love having a class where I can really make everything special for my attendees.   

Everyone will go home today feeling like they have a real head start on their Christmas.

In another post, I'll share how I made the gift bags.