Time for some more Cherry Cobbler!

Today's post is brought to you by the color --- you guessed it ---
     Cherry Cobbler!!!

If I'm not playing with all my Spice Cake colors, you'll probably find me creating with Cherry Cobbler.  I love it like no other red!!!  Geez, Spice Cake, Cherry Cobbler --- now I'm hungry!

I wanted to share with you a beautiful card that my daughter made for me.  I just love it.

Here's a close-up of the medallion she made with our crochet lace trim.  Isn't it gorgeous?

For more Cherry Cobbler inspiration, here is a candle I decorated with some of the Frostwood Lodge DSP.  I also used some of the new ribbon from the Holdiay mini.  I adore this ribbon and then some!
(The coaster is NOT part of the project.  I just sat the candle on it to take the photo, so I wouldn't get wax everywhere:)  The little decorative 'picks' are something I had in my stash of 'stuff' and thought they'd go nicely on it and help secure the papers so they won't slide down.

Well, that's it for September.  Tomorrow, I'll post my October class schedule.  You'll see that there are tons of opportunities for you to join in some stamping fun for the holidays.  Sign up soon!

My Digital Studio Project

I have become almost obsessed with working on a special project of mine.  I am making an album for my husband -- of his dad's life.
This didn't just involve making some digital pages.  Oh no, it meant getting out all those odds and ends of boxes that people give you (to clear their own house and their own conscience for not doing anything with them:) and actually sorting them all.

Once sorted, I had to scan them all into my computer, something which I confess that I just learned how to do.  With my new Mac, that part was super simple, but took a lot of time.  I enlisted the help of my husband and we got a rhythm going.  Then, I had to photo edit them all.

I soon realized that I needed a plan to organize the nearly 200 photos.  I started exporting them into organized folders onto my desktop.  It feels so GOOD to have that part finished.  Finally, I got to start working on the album.  I chose Downtown Grunge and it lends itself quite well to a vintage/heritage album look.  Because the photos span 91 years, some were in color -- much of which was old, faded color.  I edited these by changing them into antique or sepia or black and white, depending on which looked best for each one, and then faded the color a bit.  I did all this in my iPhoto on my Mac.  By adjusting the colors, all the photos work well together.

Wow, I'm tired just typing about what I did.

Anyway, here is a sneak peek at my project.  It involves layers and layers of images, to give texture and dimension.  I'm absolutely loving the look and am so excited about being this far along.
If the program will let me do it, I think my book could be about 70 pages long!  I am then going to try to edit it more and scale back on some of the photos so it won't be so long --- maybe.

This was a learning process as the album grew.  I would encourage you to try this because, the more you work with MDS, the better you get at it and the more you discover all that you can do with it.  I've always chosen to scrapbook IRL, with tons of layers and embellishments but, with over 200 photos, I would NEVER get finished that way.  The beauty of using MDS is that, once you have them printed for you, you can add embellishments anyway and create hybrid pages.

By the way, the photo sorting and scanning was so successful, that it has renewed my ambition to get caught up with the old photos from my own children.  I did not scrapbook when they were little and I was feeling like I was drowning in photos because I am now scrapbooking for my 3 grandchildren.  I truly did not know if I would ever finish the albums for my own children and really wanted to do so.

Now, I have renewed hope that this is a possibility, if I do a good chunk of it with My Digital Studio.  This gives you the opportunity to enhance the old photos and actually get the pages finished.  Yay!  I have actually been working on sorting photos for my own children.  Hey, Jenn and Matt, you may have albums yet!!!

Got Treats?

Well, everyone loves treats so I have some for you today.  Enjoy!

These treats are cute, fun to make, fun to give and have ZERO calories!  I used Old Olive, Cajun Craze, and Basic Black CS.  The stamp set is Howl-o-ween Creeps.  It's in the Holiday mini on page 11.

I embossed the 'creeps' and then colored them with markers in coordinating colors.  Yes, it was a lot of cutting but well worth it and I find cutting to be relaxing.  Yes, I really do!  To get the first layer, cut your CS at 1 3/4 X 3 1/2."   Score at 1 3/4" using your Simply Scored tool.  Use a place marker and you can quickly score a bunch of these for your treats.

Once you have it scored, add some Liquid Tombow glue to the inside of your little folded piece of CS and lay the cello bag (pencils or treats already inside) in the middle.  Close the folded CS around the cello bag and weight it down with something (stamp box or punch) to hold it closed until it dries.

Using the 1 1/2" scallop square punch and the new 1" square punch, you can quickly create the layers to go behind your cute little 'creeps.'  I found a large bag of pencils on sale at that red and white bulls-eye store I like so much.  You can use an endless variety of treats in place of pencils if you really want something edible.  I attached my little 'creeps' onto the squares using dimensionals.

You can easily see how these same projects could be adapted to Christmas or Easter projects, too -- just change out your colors and your stamps and add color coordinated treats or pencils.

TIP:  When cutting out smaller pieces to layer over projects, leave a tiny white edge showing around your shape.  It makes it easier to cut and helps it to stand out on your project.

These are some treats I made last year with a variety of punches, some new and some retired.  I never, ever, ever get rid of retired punches because you just don't know when you may need them for some creepy project:)

I hope today's post will inspire you to get going on your Halloween projects.  Enjoy!!!

We did it!

Well, Toby Joe is doing a happy dance this morning.  He wanted this site to reach 5000 hits before the end of September, in honor of his 5th birthday and we nailed it!!!  Thanks to all who helped make the count happen.

My goal, in hosting this blog, is to share with you my love for creating, my joys, my inspirations and some of the 'happenings' in and around my studio.  I hope I can teach you how to try something new, bring you a few laughs and smiles and inspire you to go create on your own.

Thanks for stopping by and here are some sloppy kisses from Toby Joe.   By the way, I love this photo of him because you can actually see how soft he is and yes, if you pet him, his fur is as soft as it gets.  If you'd like a sample, I'm sure I could arrange that for you.  He leaves quite a lot around for me:)
Have a great day and I hope you'll take time to stamp something and share it with someone else today.

Spice Cake, Spice Cake, Spice Cake!

Happy Monday!  You didn't think I'd run out of Spice Cake projects, did you?  Here are a couple of cute projects that I think you'll enjoy.

This card is all about rich layers of texture.  It has a pool party base, layered with an embossed (square lattice embossing folder) piece of soft suede.  I tied a torn piece of Spice Cake fabric around the soft suede layer and topped it with a more mustard (Spice Cake) button.  Hemp is tied inside the button.  The little scalloped edge (scallop border punch) of more mustard helps tie it all together.  I also added a focal piece with Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped on an oval and then stamped off some seeds in more mustard with the Gently Falling stamp set.  I added a layer of more mustard punched with the oval scallop punch and punched a curly label shape out of pool party to go behind that.  All these little pieces are on dimensionals.

You need a cute jar to store your extra Spice Cake buttons.  This is a little canning jar that I found on sale at my favorite store with the red and white target on it:)  I added pool party ribbon --- love this new ribbon!!! -- and then decorated the top with a large scallop circle (Big Shot) in soft suede.  I topped the scallop circle with a beautiful medallion made with Spice Cake DSP and added punched circles in the center (soft suede and pool party), topped off with a beautiful antique brad.  This jar is so pretty that it could house endless possibilities for little gifts that your friends would love!

Pear Pizzazz in the Fall

On this card, I used one of my favorite stamp sets for fall stamping  -- French Foliage.  In using the pear pizzazz and other soft colors, I was once again taking my cue from the colors in our Spice Cake collection.

To create this fun fold, cut your card base at 4 1/4 X 11" and create your score lines with our wonderful Simply Scored tool.  Score at  2 1/4 and 5 1/2" and fold as shown.
For added interest, I spritzed my card with my frost white shimmer paint/alcohol mist.
The focal piece is very vanilla and soft suede CS.  The inks are pear pizzazz, soft suede, more mustard and pool party -- Spice Cake colors:)

Happy Fall!

It's here officially.  Yesterday was the first day of fall, so here are some more fall projects for you to enjoy and, hopefully, inspire you to try some of your own.

I got this basket in some bargain bin last fall and it's quite nice and sturdy.  This year, I realized that I must decorate it.  The leaves for the pears were cut on the Big Shot and inspired from Stampin' Up! displays I've seen.  The candlestick holder is an old spool.  I don't know why, but I have a love of collecting old spools.  They come in so many different sizes and shapes and are so interesting.  I wrapped Spice Cake fabric around the spool and decorated it with a DSP medallion.  I used more mustard CS and then Spice Cake DSP to decorate the candle.  I won't burn it with the papers that close to the top.  It's just for decoration.

Close-up of the leaves on the pears.

I just tied a tiny piece of linen thread around the little pears.  The leaves would have been too big for the proportions.  I added a tiny dot of Liquid Tombow glue to each of the threads at the knots, to help secure them.  They can still be gently pulled off if I want to change my decor.

Here's a close-up of the tag on the basket.

Here's a close-up of the medallion.  It has pool party and more mustard circles (CS) layered in the middle and then I added an antique brad.

Here's the spool top without the candle.  I tried to heat up the soft suede taffeta ribbons a bit, to make them crinkly and give them a vintage look.

Field Flowers

This card was made with pear pizzazz and soft suede CS and stamped with the Field Flowers stamp set.  It also features some of our Spice Cake fabric.  I just tore a strip of it and tied it around the front of the card.  I added more texture by using the Color Sprizter tool with a soft suede marker in the top right corner of the card.

Exciting Class News!

How would you like to take a class for $4.25

or even free?

Yes, that's right, you can take a special class for $4.25!!!  With the purchase of a Simply Scored tool any time between now and Oct. 22, you can take a special NEW class on Oct. 28.  At my Simply Scored class, you'll learn how to use it by making a beautiful wreath.  You've seen the one in the mini catalog and you know it is gorgeous.  Now, you can have your own!!!  

Now, how would you like to take the class for FREE?  If you order an extra stylus + an extra package of place markers for the Simply Scored, you can have this same class for absolutely FREE!!!
The NEW class will be from 6:00-9:00 on Oct. 28 and we'll make a beautiful fall wreath.

Here’s how the totals come out:

Order the Simply Scored and take the class for $4.25 --- your total fee is $40. and you'll go home with the gorgeous wreath + a great new tool. 
Order the Simply Scored tool, an extra stylus and an extra set of place markers and your total is $44. and you take the class for free!!!

Have you already purchased the Simply Scored from me?  Then you can still have the class for $4.25.

Are you in my downline?  You can purchase the Simply Scored through your own sales and take my class for $6.00.

New additional class dates for favorite classes:
Are you feeling down because you wanted to take a special fall class but the date didn't work?  Well, you may still be in luck.  I am offering an additional time to take the following:
Wed., Oct. 19 / 6:00-9:00 / $25. (Pay to register by Oct. 17.)
Fall Frenzy class alternate date --- We'll make 5 cards + 5 projects, some for fall and some for Halloween.

Bonus Saturday Catch Up Camp:
Sat., Oct. 29 / 10:00-4:00 / See individual class fees. / Pay to register by Oct. 27.

Note:  You may finish well before 4:00, depending on what classes you're taking.

• Fall Frenzy Class / $25.
• OR
• Village of Cute Class / $35.
•      TAKE BOTH FALL FRENZY CLASS AND VILLAGE OF CUTE CLASS FOR $45.!!!

• OR
• Simply Scored Class
•      Simply Scored Class / $40. 
• (Includes Simply Scored + class for $4.25.)
•      Simply Scored Class / $44. 
• (Includes Simply Scored, extra stylus and extra package of place markers + class for FREE.)

Hint: 
I'll be showing you what you can do with the extra stylus and you'll love it!!! 

Meet Bob!

Meet Bob, my favorite crow in the neighborhood:

Yes, I had to jump onto the make a crow bandwagon.  After seeing some at Convention and the one in the Holiday Mini, I just had to make one, too.  Every time I ran errands, I returned empty handed as far as finding a crow.  One day, I went into the kitchen to find one sitting on my place mat.  My sweet husband knew I was looking for one and brought home one for me.  On his own errands, he stopped at the dollar store and found a really good one.  That's a good Stampin' Up! husband for you!

On my own errands, I did manage to find this bargain candlestick holder and thought it was perfect for my Halloween display.

Bob liked it, too.  By the way, it's difficult to see it but I spritzed Bob with my shimmer paint/rubbing alcohol mixture.  Just add a few drops of Frost White Shimmer Paint to a little travel sized spray bottle and fill it with rubbing alcohol.  It makes the most beautiful mixture and it works beautifully.  Once you try it, you find yourself wanting to spritz most every project that you make.  NOTE:  Shake well before using.

On one of our antiquing treks, I came across this cute little box.  It was made from a cut down old drawer from a sewing machine.  I love little boxes and containers that you can add to your crafting projects.

Other news:
We’re excited to announce that Creating Keepsakes magazine has named Stampin’ Up!’s wood- and clear-mount rubber stamps as one of its Top 10 Tools for 2011!

While Stampin’ Up! has long been recognized in the stamping and crafting industry for producing high-quality rubber stamps and exclusive images in a variety of artistic styles, being recognized by Creating Keepsakes is just another validation that when you choose Stampin’ Up! products, you are choosing the best!

More Halloween Fun!

I am still working on more Spice Cake projects and will have more to post soon, but let's take a break from it today so I can share some of my recent Halloween projects with you.

Are you thirsty?  How about an eyeball martini?  Sometimes it's just fun to do something silly:)

We don't need olives for these martinis, just use an eyeball for each:)

When my grandsons were visiting, Benjamin finished up a jar of mandarin oranges.  As I was rinsing it out, I realized that it was never destined for the recycle bin.  What a cute little jar this is!  I knew I would have to decorate it.  If you're hungry, there are more eyeballs inside!

Don't forget that you can emboss your little coctail napkins.  How fun is that!  It's difficult to get a good photo of it, but the entire spider web is clearly etched into the smooth part of the napkin.

I can't seem to stop making these medallions.  With our new scoring tool, they are so quick and easy.  You'll be seeing lots more projects with medallions!

I made a couple of decorated plates using our Decor Elements.  Shelli had the cat on an oval platter on her blog and I loved it.  I already had a round plate and realized that the cat would fit perfectly on it.

I wanted a bit of bling on mine, so I added our rhinestones to his eyes.

A few days after I'd made my Scaredy Cat project, I received my Stampin' Success magazine in the mail.  It's our magazine for demonstrators and is a real perk for being a demo.  They had this owl project that I just loved.  I literally brought the magazine in from my mailbox, sat down and read it and came immediately to my studio to make my own version.  There are mini rhinestones all around the outside of the plate.

I added rhinestones to his eyes, too. 

The Stampin' Success project had a little medallion over his heart but I decided to make a larger one and put it on his tummy.  The 'happy halloween' is embossed with our new pewter EP.  You saw it in an earlier post on my owl card that we made at my Team Meeting.  I added 1 more touch of bling on the medallion.

Important info:
You'll find the Scaredy Cat on page 228 in our Idea Book and Catalog.  It comes in a group of fun Halloween Decor Elements that includes 2 spiders and 2 more Halloween greetings.  It's only $11.95 and comes in black or pumpkin pie.
You'll find the owl in the Holiday Mini on page 13.  It comes in a Decor Elements group of 7 pieces, including a large limb (so your owl can perch on it), a Halloween sign and more spiders!!!  The set is called Out on a Limb.

Button, button, who's got the button?

It's no secret if you know me at all.  I LOVE buttons!  I confess that I have jars and jars of them in and around my studio.  It all started when I was a child and my mother let me play with her button box while she was sewing.  She had all kinds of mismatched and wonderful buttons in there and I loved them all!  I inherited them from her and have been collecting more ever since.
I thought I was in heaven when they came out with the wonderful buttons in last year's holiday mini, but I was wrong.  Heaven is the new buttons in THIS year's mini that coordinate with the Spice Cake suite.  How wonderful it is to have fabric, CS, DSP, stamps AND buttons that all coordinate!!!  I am trying to make myself use them more, rather than hoarding them, but it is a difficult task for me!

Today's projects include a coordinating card and little treat container.  How fun it is to give coordinated items to a friend or loved one!

The card features a strip of torn fabric, pinched in the middle and tied with hemp.  Leave longer ends of hemp, so you can tie on a button and a tag.  I used the scalloped oval and the large oval punches for the tag.

Fall cards, to me, need lots of layers and texture so I added an embossed layer of more mustard over the more mustard card base using the square lattice embossing folder.  In this close-up, you can see that I lightly stamped a more mustard and a pear pizzazz leaf over the stamped tag.  Stamp off to achieve a very light color to your stamp. 

I call this little twisty treat container a sour cream container because it mimics just that.  I embossed a 4 1/4 X 5 1/4" piece of CS with the square lattice embossing folder.  Roll it over the edge of a table to break down the fibers a little and it will be easier to shape it into a tube.  Roll it so that your tube is 4 1/4" long.  Attach the ends with sticky strip.  Glue 1 end shut (Liquid Tombow) and let it dry a bit.  Crimp the end for a fun look and to help hold it firmly shut.  Drop in a few treats (I used 3 kisses.) and close the opposite end the same way, but turned differently -- to give it that sour cream container look.  I then tied a torn strip of fabric around it, added a button and a tag with hemp, attached the cute little punched shape I shared with you in my previous post (over a curly label punched shape) and added a cut out leaf.  Now that's a fun treat!

Here's a close-up of the tags and leaf.

Tips:
Place your sticky strip where you see my scribbled ink line.
To get a good, rounded shape easily, bend your CS around a Stampin' Mist bottle and hold it there while you attach the sides with the tape.  It really helps make the job a LOT easier.  After you've attached the sticky strip, remove the cylinder from the Stampin' Mist bottle and use your bone folder to go inside the cylinder and smooth it down tightly.

Here are some other views of the container so you can see the crimped ends a little better.

Here's a tip on tearing fabric:
Open your fabric piece all the way, cut a tiny notch at the position you want to start tearing.  Now, gently tear it all the way down to the opposite end.  (You are tearing it length-wise.)  It tears easily and gives a wonderful, frayed look that I love.