A Little Bit of Spooky and A Whole Lot of Fun!

I've been working on my Spooky Banner and having so much fun with it.  Today, I will show you only a little sneak peek.  I'm feeling a bit under the weather this week, so I'm working much more slowly than usual or I would have had it finished.  The good thing about going slowly is that you can think ahead and see if you want to add anything to your design.  This is one of the medallions that will be on my Spooky Banner.  I've added embellishments to both of his eyes.

How many times have you started a project or bought a kit and then never quite got it finished?  Probably a lot if you do much paper crafting.  Sign up for my October Stamp Club and you'll get to make 3 banners.  I will have everything figured out and laid out for you.  All you have to do is come and start enjoying the creative fun!  You'll go home with a banner for Halloween, one for Fall and one for Christmas.

Want to do even more?  Sign up for October, November AND December and you'll end up with a Spooky Banner, a beautiful winter wreath AND lots and lots of goodies all ready for Christmas.  Class size will be limited, so don't wait to sign up for the fun!!!

NOTE:
Sometimes it's easy to get ahead of yourself when planning exciting classes for the Fall and Holiday seasons.  I think that has happened to me BIG TIME!  I do not think we can make 3 banners in one sitting.  I goofed BIG TIME on figuring my time and goofed a bit on figuring my pricing, as well.  I am looking into this again and will re-figure a way that we can make everything that I want to make without it bankrupting any of us.  I want you to have fun in a class, rather than go home exhausted.  I think that trying to do 3 banners in one sitting would send you running out the door.  Please accept my apologies as I work on re-figuring this in a better way.  I want you to have as much fun as I've had working on these projects.  In my next post, I will share my completed Spooky Banner with you.  I hope you'll love it as much as I do.  It was super fun making it all.

- 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 click on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

Back to Convention -- What We Saw

We saw so many amazing things at Convention this year.  One of the most exciting things to see is when they show us new products that are coming our way.

We have TWO amazing new Thinlits Card Dies coming out August 1^st.  Trust me; you will love these.  They do folds and cuts all in one step.  We saw some amazing demonstrations using these new thinlits.  I can't wait to get mine and start creating.

Item # 133480        Circle Card Thinlits Die        $32.95
Item # 133479        Label Card Thinlits Die         $32.95

Aren't they fabulous?  They do all the work for you.  You just sit back and dream up creative ways to use them.  You will see these in use at my future classes --- a lot!  

We also saw a new product called an envelope punch board.  I got to play with this one a bit at the Product Fair booth.  It was easy and fun.  

You can make all different sizes of envelopes with it and even round off the corner of the top flap for a great finishing touch.  This will be coming out soon.  I'll let you know more details when I have them.

Another fun thing we saw was our new Undefined.  It's a kit to carve your own stamps.  There was a terribly long line at the booth where we could try this, so Jenn and I didn't get to carve anything --- yet.  I have a kit on the way and am trying to decide what to carve first.

Item # 133402   $19.95

Our friend Shannon gave a demonstration using this and she made a complete set for what she called The Perfect Breakfast.  It had doughnuts, diet coke, bacon and eggs.  It was so cute!  Wanna see it?  Take a look!  

Yesterday, I finally started to pull out of my Sienna lag (as opposed to jet lag) and really worked in my studio a bunch.  I started working on my Spooky banner for my October Stamp Club.  It is going to be so much fun!  With the accessories kit, I can't believe how quickly it goes together.  Of course, I changed mine up a tiny bit, but that's what I do:)  I'll share it with you soon.  

- 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 click on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

You're Too Kind / Special Technique

Here's another card I made with one of my favorite new stamp sets.  Do you notice something brand new on it?  Look carefully!

Did you find it?  It's my new embossing technique and it uses a brand new embossing folder!  Look at the card section below the stitched ribbon.  It is embossed both ways --- like a kind of plaid.  I got the idea while looking at a display board at Convention.  They didn't use the technique.  They had an embossed piece of CS on display, along with this embossing folder.  They way they hung the embossing folder over the embossed CS was with the stripes going the opposite direction.  I immediately thought of doing this with embossing.  It was so easy and so much fun!  The reason the embossed portion above the ribbon is only embossed 1 way is because of how it all is able to fit into the Big Shot.  I kind of like the look.

If you'd like to give it a try, I have 2 ways you can do it:

• Come to my Friday Night Cards Class on August 9 and make this card.
• Buy your own folder to play with designing using it.  It will be available on August 1.

- 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 click on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

More About Washi Tape

Today, I have a quick share with you.  It's a video by my good friend Shannon West.  It's all about the Washi Tape.  Enjoy!  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aFkKPlW6u9o

- 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 click on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

My Birthday Card from Sushi

Before July comes to a close, I want to share with you the birthday card I got from my good friend Sue.  (Sushi)  Isn't this great?

I really like this one a lot.

- 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 click on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

A Few Cards to Share with You

Today, while I continue sorting my photos and recouping from our trip, I have some cards to share with you.  These are 2 that were made for a special order --- 'must have bling and music' and were for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.  Enjoy!

Would you believe it?  I got the treble clef paper clip at Staple's!  I thought it added the perfect touch.

Now, would someone please slap me awake?  It seems like it's taking a loooonnnnnnng time to snap back into gear.  Maybe I'm suffering from shock from all the fabulous things we saw and did at Convention.  I plan to work all day in my studio.  We'll see how that works out for me:)  Have a good day and thanks for stopping by!

It's Almost Christmas Time!

It's almost here!

Christmas in July ... at Prairie Treasures

I have to admit it; I really like working on a bit of Christmas in July.  It's quite fun!  Here's a peek at some of the goodies I've been working on lately.  I thought I'd share these with you, to give you some ideas to start working on for Christmas.  These are for my Prairie Treasures booth.  At the Root Cellar, we're having a little celebration --- Christmas in July.  I can't wait to see what all the other booths have for Christmas in July.  Come on down to the Wildflour and check it all out!

The little treat bags clipped to the tiny Christmas tree can hold a treat such as a little candy bar, a container of coffee or hot chocolate, or even a gift card.

The 2 Christmas houses are designed to sit over a votive candle (battery only) and the windows glow with Christmas cheer.  These are so much fun to make that I made 2 more this year!  One is a Victorian style, with lots of details.  The other is a gingerbread house and has tons of cute little details on it --- all hand cut.

If you need to start early on Christmas cards, I have tons available.  I have different styles, different sizes, and varying prices.  Wouldn't it be great to get a head start this year?

The 2 decorative plates that you see are great for cookies for a gift or putting out that late night snack for Santa.

Need more gift ideas?  I have wine bottle gift bags that would be great to take to holiday parties.

My wreaths are designed to be used seasonally or year round.  I have several styles and sizes available.  There are lots of framed decor items that would make great gifts, along with decorative gift boxes.

Come on down and see all the fun for Christmas in July!  I'm off to make even more goodies!!!

Convention 2013 Highlights Video

As I said before, we had a lot of people at Convention this year --- nearly 6000.

Click on the link below and see the video.  I also posted it on FaceBook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkV-faplyLs

Welcome Home!

Toby Joe is sooooo glad to be back home.  Here he is already taking a break in one of his favorite spots.

Look who is on hand to greet him with a big, gentle hug.  I think Aaron missed him a lot!

Welcome home, Toby Joe.  We're all glad to be back here.

I'm not finished unpacking yet, but I've already started working on a bit of a project in my studio.  You can't let those ink pads gather dust, you know.  Come back soon for more fun stamping news.

Paper Pumpkin is Awesome

I am home.  I am numb.  I am recovering from Sienna lag (as opposed to jet lag) and I believe it is pretty severe:)  I had a fabulous trip, but I am so very glad to be home.  It's always good to find everything in good shape and ready to get back into your normal routine.  Now, to remember what that routine was!

 

Until I finish sorting all my photos and all, I wanted to share this with you.  It's an awesome promotion and an opportunity to give Paper Pumpkin a try.  You can opt out at any time you wish, so there's absolutely NO downside to this!

 

I posted a link to a video (on FaceBook) showing what the kit is for this month.  Each month, you get a new surprise in the mail.  Check out the video and then sign up for the promotion.

SALE! 50% Off My Paper Pumpkin Kits -- only $10!

From now until August 31, get 50% off your new My Paper Pumpkin monthly subscription for your first two months!

Go to https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=50776

and sign up with the following promo code: PUMPKINDEAL

to get My Paper Pumpkin for only $10 a month for the first two months*

This is your chance to try out this no-strings attached creative escape! Not happy with your subscription? No problem! You can skip a month or cancel at any time! You've got nothing to lose!

Don't forget to pay to register for Stamp Club!!!  
Here's what we will be making in August:

Here's all you'll get to take home, after the class:

That's a lot of projects, a lot of goodies and a lot of fun!  The August projects will make great gifts and the banner will look cute in your home!  

At each class, I will show you more ideas that you can use to create more projects at home.  If you did not sign up for the 3-month Stamp Club for July-August-September, you can pay $45. to sign up for just August.   
The payment deadline was Monday, July 22, but I am extending that date since I've been in Utah.  Please pay to register by Friday, July 26.   
Sign up now and join in on the fun. 

Convention Highlights, Part 2

I'm finally home and will sort photos soon --- must sleep first!  Here's a peek at more from Convention.  This is just a tiny glimpse of all the people there.  We had nearly 6,000 in attendance this year.  Trust me; that makes for a BIG crowd.  The other side of the banners are decorated.
Be sure to check out the video I posted on FaceBook of the Convention highlights on Making a Difference.  It's really good!

Getting to meet my good FaceBook friend in person was a real highlight of this year's Convention.  This is a shot of us (Jenn and I) with Janet Wakeland.  Her son recently got a job at ADM after his college graduation and so now we may see her face in the area occasionally.  She is a super neat person.

Although Jenn and I didn't get to meet with Ronald McDonald, our friend Sue and her 2 buddies did get to pose with him.  Did you know that Stampin' Up! has contributed over a million dollars to the Ronald McDonald House Charities?  Isn't that amazing!

Well, so far, I've given you just random peeks at Convention.  Tomorrow, I hope to get unpacked and back to normal --- if there is such a thing.  Come back soon to see more!!! 

Don't forget to pay to register for Stamp Club!!!  
Here's what we will be making in August:

Here's all you'll get to take home, after the class:

That's a lot of projects, a lot of goodies and a lot of fun!  The August projects will make great gifts and the banner will look cute in your home!  

At each class, I will show you more ideas that you can use to create more projects at home.  If you did not sign up for the 3-month Stamp Club for July-August-September, you can pay $45. to sign up for just August.   
The payment deadline was Monday, July 22, but I am extending that date since I've been in Utah.  Please pay to register by Friday, July 26.   
Sign up now and join in on the fun. 

Convention Highlights, Part 1

Convention is over and Jenn and I are about ready to hit the road for home.  It was a whirlwind of excitement.  I will need some time to sort my photos and make some sense of it all.  For now, here are 3 of the highlights of Convention this year.

Jenn and I actually got to pose for photos with Shelli TWO times, so yesterday we decided to do a silly pose.  She is the most amazing person you could ever imagine.  We love and admire her so much.

Jenn and I each won a prize.  Actually, everyone won a prize by the very end, but we were still happy with what we got.  Mine is mostly from the new holiday catalog, so I can't show you the actual products until the catalog goes live.  The stamp set is super, super cute and I will be showing projects I make with it very soon.

 

Gotta get on the road now.  Send good thoughts for our safe travel.  Be sure to check back soon and don't forget about signing up for the August stamp club.  You WILL love what we're going to do!!!  

Step It Up Series, Card 4

Today's post is the final one in my little series of using templates to design your cards and then making stepped up versions of them.
I am a little embarrassed at my sketch.  When we did this project, I was having some major technical problems and could not access my nicer sketches.  I chose one that I could design using a word document.  As it turned out, it is a good example of how you can start with a super simple template and take it as far as you'd like.  Here are my cards:

I actually used the stepped up version for the bonus card in my last Friday Night Cards class.  They really liked it a lot.
Here's my silly little sketch:

See what I mean?   It's super simple.  If you're really having a creative block, go for this image and it will really get you going.  Have you tried designing by starting with a template sketch?  It's really fun.


Don't forget about the Stamp Club deadline to pay to register for August.  If you did not sign up for the 3-month club (July-August-September), you can still pay $45. and take the August class.  
Pay to register by Monday, July 22.


Here's what we'll be making:

And here's what you'll get to take home:

I hope you'll join us.  We're going to have a lot of fun and I'll give you more ideas to try at home, using your take-home goodies.  

I'm off to enjoy my last day of Convention.  I will have lots to share with you.  We had an amazing day yesterday.  I still did not win a prize, but today could be the day.  Stay stamping until I get back!