More Tummy Aches!

Today was the Make Your Own Valentines Drop In Class at my house. I had thought I would make Maci Ellen and Edward's while everyone was making theirs but just couldn't get motivated. Everybody is SO good at making theirs!!!

Well, I took a nap and left the mess to clean up later then came back this evening with Emily and her friend, Katie, and the MASS PRODUCING began. See the pictures below!!!

Looks like a million??? Well, Emily and Katie are sixteen and think they have about a million valentines. Then, Maci Ellen needed them for her class, her ballet class and her gymnastics class. And Edward passes them out to the entire senior class it seems to avoid school work and try to bribe teachers. So - - yeah, it's about a million!

We had a good time making them and spending time talking and laughing (Edward and his pal, Holly, too!) BUT --- little Maci Ellen has eaten candy all day and run herself crazy ---that's where the tummy ache comes in!

Want to make your own valentines too??? We used the following to MASS PRODUCE the ones in the pictures. They are low cost, really cute and you can make a million for everyone you love, like or just barely know!

Card Stock: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Stamp Sets: Love You Much, Happy Heart Day

Ink: Riding Hood Rood

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin Write Markers, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Crystal Effects

The ones in the pictures are like some that Dawn at http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/ and Colleen at http://www.stampincolleen.com/ have shown. Check them out too!

Dream du Jour Stamp - So Lovely!

This is a card shown in one of the Stampin' Up! catalogs/brochures. I LOVE the colors from the In-Colors inks and papers available until June 2009. The butterflies were stamped with the Dreams du Jour stamp set which is so versatile!

If you missed the Dreams du Jour class tonight, it's okay! It's still available as a Class-To-Go. See below for pictures of the class. The kit includes a complete tutorial to create all of the cards and the purse to hold them in. It also includes the Dreams du Jour stamp set.

Dreams du Jour Stamp Set and Class Tutorial

Click here to order

Announcing Monthly Scrap and Stamp Club

*Want to earn a FREE STAMP SET and at least $15.00 to spend on any item in the Stampin’ Up! Catalogue?
*Want to learn more stamping techniques to “WOW” your friends?
*Don’t want to host your own workshop?
*Want to gradually build up your Stampin’ Up! supplies without spending too much?
*Want to escape for a girls’ night out once a month and make some really special friends?
______________________________

*Come along to a FREE MONTHLY CLASS and simply commit to spending $30 each month for a 6 month period (along with 5 other members)
*Each month one club member will take a turn to choose & keep the hostess benefits for that month’s sales.
*If you are interested in joining my Scrap and Stamp club then please contact me at 864-848-3349 or cjbrasher@aol.com

YOU MAY EVEN LIKE TO GET YOUR OWN GROUP OF 6 FRIENDS TOGETHER … AND USE THIS TIME AS AN EXCUSE TO GET TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH TO HAVE A GIRLS NIGHT OUT at my place …

… OR I CAN BRING SCRAP AND STAMP CLUB TO YOU! JUST ORGANISE A GROUP OF 6 FRIENDS ND LET ME KNOW! I am happy to travel to you!
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS …

*This club will have 6 members
*I will be running a FREE technique class (1 - 1 1/2 hrs) for JUST club members on a Tuesday evening once a month at my home at 7.30pm (or at another arranged time at YOUR home)
*Each month we will learn a new stamping technique & will create 1 - 2 cards using this technique (depending on difficulty) or a scrapbook page (your choice of cards or scrapbook page)
*There is NO COST to attend the class … BUT each member must commit to buying $30 worth of Stampin’ Up! product each month. (not including postage)

HERE’S THE BEST BIT …

*Even though the class is held at my home, each club member will take their turn to receive the hostess benefits - once each during the 6 months that the club is running. That means you will *Receive a FREE level 1 hostess stamp set & at least $15 of FREE product!
*The first hostess will be the first hostess to join up! the order of subsequent hostesses will be drawn at random.
*If you choose to spend $100+ (product) on a single order - you will also get to choose ONE FREE classic stamp pad to add to your order
*Take advantage of Club Specials each month
*Build up your Stampin’ Up! products gradually without great expense!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE CLUB? …

Contact me at cjbrasher@aol.com or Phone: 864/848-3349 if would like to book a spot in the next class or if you have any questions.


Hope to see you at Stamp Club soon!
Stampin’ Hugs,
Carla

Birthday Sparkles

Here's a cute preppy looking birthday card for today! It's base is Pink Pirouette Card Stock. Layered on top is another piece of the Pink matted onto Chocolate Chip Card Stock and edged using the Scallop Edge Punch. The "stripe" that looks like ribbon is another piece of the Chocolate Chip Card Stock layered with one of the stickers from the Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin Cute. It is the weight of the card stock and die cut to look like ric rac ribbon. (I LOVE THIS SET!!!) The stamped imge is from the Crazy for Cupcakes set. The matching envelope is sporting paper from the Sweet Always DSP. Hope you like it!

Magnetic Personality

Gotta love these yummy little magnets Emily and I made by altering DOMINOES! This was so fun and I have to admit the final look is kinda artsy, don't you think? To make these, just clean the finish off of a domino with alcohol and then cover the domino with ink. (Dry the layers of ink with a heat tool.) Stamp the image and using a blender pen, remove the ink and color in. Dry the layers of ink again! We finished ours by spraying a thin coat of glossy acrylic sealer. So cute and so fun! Click here for a video tutorial you can follow to make your own!

Sixteen Candles

My middle daughter and dearest friend, Emily, is turning sixteen today. She is such a beautiful person and sweet girl. Two of her friends are celebrating birthdays too and their party is tonight so Emily wanted to make something special for them.

Here are the cards she made along with one of the little gifts. The cards are very simple using the new Raspberry Tart designer series paper, the Pretties kit and Designer brads. I think they are really pretty and girly!

The little pouch is just a 6"x6" piece of the Raspberry Tart designer series papers folded. We've all been folding these since grade school but here's how: Fold the paper in half diagonally. With the folded edge closest to you, take the left corner and fold it UP to the right edge making another triangle shape. Repeat with the right side and fold over the flap - VOILA!

Inside the pouch is this really cute little Mini Post-It Note keychain. It's just a piece of the DSP covering the post-its and then punched with the Crop-A-Dile so a book ring could be inserted - - too cute! Emily and her newly driving friends will all appreciate a keychain and a way to jot down a phone number, tear it out and give it away. WAIT A MINUTE! What was I thinking?

Valentines

The simplest things bring the most pleasure, don't they? These are a couple more samples of the valentines we'll be making on Saturday, January 31. The small round valentine has a Peppermint Patty sandwiched between scallop circle punches. The sucker is just a rectangular piece of card stock with a hole punched for the stick and the same scallop circle punch and stamped design. These are probably the designs that Maci Ellen (my four-year-old) will be making for her class. My teenagers like to take treats too so one of these might be a good choice since they can be "mass produced!" These were made using Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red Card stock along with the Love You Much stamp set. Don't forget that the Love You Much bundle is available packaged together at 20% right now. Cick here to see the details.

The Make Your Own Valentines class will be a drop-in format from 10am-2pm. (Of course, you can stay later if you'd like!) There will be several stamp sets available and at least six samples and directions to complete each project available for you to mix and match your own valentines. OR JUST MASS PRODUCE THE SAME ONE! The cost will be $10.00 per dozen and includes the candy. This is the perfect class to bring your child/children and make your own valentines.

Tip! Dress your sweet babies in valentines colors, take some pictures of them making their own valentines and plan to use the pictures at the upcoming February Scrapbook class! TBA

NEW Idea Book/Catalog is HERE

It's finally here and my copy already looks a year old! There are so many wonderful things in the new catalog. Click here to download a copy or click on the button below to order one and I'll ship it out the same day!

Don't miss:
*The new COLORED rub-ons on page 172
*The textured papers "Taste of Textiles" on page 156
*The textured Designer Series Papers and the printed gloss papers on page 158
*The SUPER YUMMY Pink Flamingo Designer Papers on page 160
*The Designer Hardware on page 175
*My personal favorite: The Fleurettes crocheted flowers on page 177
*The New Designer Buttons on Page 176
*The Ribbon Originals sets on page 178
*The Build-A-Fairytale Die cuts on page 181
*The Eyelet Border punch on page 185
*And "Ta-Da" (drumroll, please!) The new dies for the Big Shot Die Cut Machine on pages 193-203

Have fun! I love to shop and so will you....To get your own copy, order now!

Patchwork Punch

Here's a technique to give your project a patchwork look. (This is a great way to use up those scraps - Waste not, Want not!) Using the square punch, cut full size squares. Then cut triangles by positioning the paper in the punch to get the right angle. Each piece of the Candy Lane Designer Series Papers was cut from the punch and adhered to the card. The papers are part of the Love You Much Bundle.

Tip: Leave a little space between the shapes to allow for error in the angles and give the overall dimension.



**The sentiment is from the Best Yet Hostess set.

Scrapbook Your Way

Next month's scrapbook class is going to be all about learning how to convert smaller elements into a larger page. (Or it could be all about minimizing a layout you like to a size that fits that perfect 6x6 book you're making for Grandma!) Here's the idea:

1. This is the 6x6 page I showed you about a month ago using the Love You Much Bundle. It's a simple layout for one picture and some journaling on the left on the solid pink.

The papers are all from the Candy Lane DSP set from the Love You Much Bundle. The heart was stamped in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and is from the Love You Much stamp set (also from the Love You Much bundle.) The little tab at the top right was punched from the word window punch, folded over and finished with a silver brad.

2. The picture to the left is an 8-1/2 x 11 page (perfect size for storage!) The entire 6x6 page is adhered to a piece of Close to Cocoa card stock. Now there's room for more elements and another picture! The "stripe" across the top is a piece of Candy Lane DSP. The hearts were stamped in Riding Hood Red Classic Ink on Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red card stock. The stamp is from the Love You Much set. The hearts were then punched out with the Heart to Heart punch which is again part of the Love You Much bundle.
The bottom frame is just pink cs matted onto the DSP with another of the punched hearts adhered with a stampin dimensional. To the right is another image stamped from the Love You Much stamp set and punched out with the 1-1/4" circle punch. The outer mat around it is DSP punched with the 1-3/8" circle punch. THe bird is colored in using a blender pen and pink and red inks.

3. Last is the final conversion to a 12x12 scrapbook page. Notice the same elements have moved to a larger page. The Close to Cocoa 8-1/2x11 page has moved to the left and now has two more frames. The elements were all adhered to a 12x12 piece of DSP from the same Candy Lane DSP. This technique easily creates a visually pleasing page for your scrapbook.

Have Fun!! I would love to see some of your pages using this or other techniques!

Distressed

I sat down to play with some of the new stuff stamping stuff and kinda lost myself! I must have alot of frustration built up because I realized I was sanding and distressing and beating up on my project!

Seriously, distressed papers and collages are probably my favorite "artsy" look. Here's how to make this card:

1. Cut a piece of Pink Pirouette Card stock 8-1/2x5-1/4". Fold it in half to make the card. Tear the right side of the front.

2. Using Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Classic Stamping Pads, ink up the background stamp, En Francais. I randomly stamped the ink on so that it would have a little dimension.

3. Using a sanding block, distress the edges and front of the card. Be sure to press a little harder in some areas and lighter in others to give the aged look.

4. Sponge Close to Cocoa ink heavy on the edges and randomly on the stamped card stock.

5. Cut out a heart (your own design! who can't cut out a heart? LOL) out of paper from the Candy Lane Designer Series Paper. This is the paper from the Love You Much Bundle. Sand and ink to distress the heart.
6. Using a two-way glue pen, adhere Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the edges of the heart and then adhere to the card.

7. Punch out the pink pirouette shape from the True Elegance Accents and Elements set. Distress and ink to distress again. Punch out a small heart out of the Candy Lane DSP with the Heart to Heart Punch (from the Love You Much bundle). Sand and ink heart and ahere to the shape. Attach a clip from the Clips Assorment and then attach the whole thing to the large heart shape on the card.

8. Cut a strip from the red "flowery" paper from the Candy Lane DSP and then punch out the edge with the Scallop Edge punch. Distress and ink and adhere to the card on top of the heart.

9. Glue a button from the Button Bouquet set to the edge of the strip.

10. Stamp the sentiment from the Dreams du Jour stamp set in Close to Cocoa ink on a piece of the Candy Lane DSP. Tear it out, sand and ink it too--(Get a little frustration out!!)

11. Cut a piece of 1-1/4"Pink Pirouette Grosgrain Ribbon and staple it in half. Adhere it to the back of the Sentiment piece and adhere the whole thing to the card.

The stamp sets Dreams du Jour and En Francais, the Scallop Edge and Heart to Heart punches, and the Candy Lane Designer Series Paper are all elements that will be used at some of the upcoming classes. Click here for more information on the Stamp Your Heart Class Bundle.

Click here to go to this month's newsletter for more information on Background Stamping.

Raspberry Tart Tag

I LOVE the Raspberry Tart Designer Series Papers that will be released in the new Catalog January 19. This is a tag I made out of Very Vanilla Card Stock and the Raspberry Tart papers.

I cut out a rectangle, then used the Tag Corner punch on the top edges. I just tore a couple of pieces of paper and adhered them to the tag, then cut out the flowers with my VERY COOL paper snips. The flowers are adhered with Stampin Dimensionals. The sentiment is from the Best Yet Hostess Set from the Fall-Winter Catalog and was stamped in Kiwi Kiss. I punched a hole in the top of the tag with the Horizontal punch and threaded the 5/8" striped Kiwi Kiss Grosgrain Ribbon through it.

To set the pink brad from the Soft Subtles brads, I used the Crop-A-Dile to punch through the ribbon. Probably overkill but I LOVE using that tool!

Life can be a Dream!

You might have noticed that Ame from Dream Dinners is hosting a workshop on February 1 at her store but DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA how great her store is? I love the service she provides! Basically, you pick out your meals, assemble them all at one time, (all the ingredients are right there and ready to go) and throw them in your freezer/refrigerator!! The dinners are all easy to make and taste great. I know you're thinking it's probably expensive but NO! It's comparable to grocery shopping and cooking it all up and definitely cheaper than eating out ALL THE TIME which is what I'm really really guilty of.

Be sure to check it out! Click here to see her newsletter or go to DreamDinners.com to get a much better explanation of what Ame can do to make your Dinner hour a Dream!

My Baby is 18!

I can hardly believe it but Edward, my oldest, will be eighteen tomorrow. I am so proud of him and yet sad too. He is a senior this year and planning on going off to Charleston to attend the Citadel next year. What in the world will I do without him?

If you look close at the card I made him tonight, you might see the tear stains!! LOL This card was cased from one made by Beate using the Urban Garden DSP, Baja Blue and Kiwi Kiss CS and the Big Bold Birthday Stamp Set. It is accented with silver brads, kiwi kiss ribbon and punches.

Hint: The "sewing" on the edges? It's just drawn on there using my Not Quite Navy Stampin Write marker. Cool Huh?

January Workshops

(Preview of this month's projects you and your friends will make at this month's workshop)

Now's the best time to host a workshop! When you book a workshop during the month of January, you will receive the January Ribbon Share for FREE, and the Dreams du Jour Class By Mail Kit (stamp set not included) for FREE. That's a $45 value! The Ribbon Share is 1-1/2 yards of each and every color of the 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon. Wonderful for creating all kinds of projects. These promotions are only available this month and are IN ADDITION to the hostess sets and free merchandise you earn as a hostess.

Don't worry! I'll help you get it all together and you and your friends will have a ball!

Schedule your workshop today!

Be My Valentine!

Just been planning away for Valentines Day! These are a couple of the samples with instructions that will be available at the Make Your Own Valentines Drop-In. It will be alot of fun because you can come and stay as long as you like and play with some of the stamp sets and supplies! These are the stamp sets that will available for your use and creativity:

Dreams du Jour, Love You Much, Happy Heart Day, and the new hostess set from the 2009 catalog available on January 19: Goody Goody Gumdrops. It is the CUTEST set of stamps!

It has a little ice cream and cherry I just love, an owl and heart and little gumdrops with the sweetest little sayings. It is so WORTH having a workshop to get this set for FREE!

All of the valentines shown here hold little packets of sweet tarts of M&Ms or something similar. They will be so cute to give to your children's friends, neighbors and co-workers. (A little something to show how much you love them all!)

Stamp Your Heart Out Package

Stamp your HEART out for Valentine's Day this year! There are three classes scheduled for Valentine's Day and you can take ALL of them! Included in the package is:

1. Dreams du Jour Cards and Box Set Class, January 27

The best things in life grow out of our dreams don’t they? Why not encourage someone to follow their own dreams when you send them one of these beautiful and inspiring cards featuring Stampin’ Up!’s new “in colors”, the Dreams du Jour stamp set and Bella Rose designer paper. In this class you’ll create these four cards, and a custom-designed box to hold them in. This card set also makes a wonderful gift for a friend or special someone! INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS IS THE DREAM DU JOUR STAMP SET--YOURS TO KEEP!

2. Love You Much Stationery and Purse Set Class, February 8

What better time of year is there to express your love and appreciation to your family and friends than Valentine’s Day? In this class you’ll create four love & friendship cards, four 3” x 3” friendship notes and 9 tags that can be used when packaging up Valentine’s treats for your kids, teachers, friends &/or co-workers. The whole collection is packaged in this one-of-a-kind Stationery Purse. INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS IS THE LOVE YOU MUCH BUNDLE (Love You Much Stamp Set, Heart to Heart Punch and Candy Lane Designer Series Paper)--YOURS TO KEEP!

3. Make Your Own Valentine's Drop In Class, January 31

Make valentines for your children, teachers, co-workers, etc. Create a dozen valentines including candy. This class is FREE when you attend the Dreams du Jour and Love You Much classes! Also free to Stamp Club members.

CLICK HERE for class times, descriptions, costs and registrations.

DEADLINE FOR PACKAGE is JANUARY 18 because the Love You Much Bundle promotion ends on that day. The classes will still be available but at a higher cost.

ALSO AVAILABLE--CLASSES BY MAIL

Can't attend the classes but still want to play? CLICK HERE TO PURCHASES CLASS KITS. Dreams du Jour Kit includes the Dreams du Jour Stamp Set, Card stock and Designer papers, and embellishments shown. NOT INCLUDED in the kit are the inks and tools needed to complete the project. The Love You Much kit inclues the Love You Much Bundle, card stock and Designer papers and embellishments shown. Again, NOT INCLUDED in the kit are the inks and tools needed to complete the project. BOTH KITS COME WITH COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS WITH PICTURES AND DIMENSIONS TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE PROJECTS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES ABOVE. Allow 10-14 days to receive kits by mail. Instructions will be emailed immediately. Click here to order.

These classes are not available for purchase to other Stampin' Up! demonstrators. If you are a demonstrator and are interested in this class, please email me at cjbrasher@aol.com.

Flower Power Scrapbook Page

I'm finally getting some of the old pictures of my babies out and getting them put into albums. This is a page from 1997!! My cute little babies are all grown up now--they are going to be 16 and 18 in January. (Good thing we have little Maci Ellen still!)

The page was inspired by a sketch designed by Julie Bonner. See her sketch challenge below and create your own! Mine was made using the Flower Power Card Elements Set, buttons from the Designer Buttons Set, paper from the New Raspberry Tart DSP and die cut letters from On Board Timeless Type.

Raspberry Tart Basket

Here is a cute tiny basket I made following Dawn's video tutorial. She is the most talented stamper and I hope someday to meet her! The basket was made using the new Raspberry Tart designer series papers and the new Petal Pizzaz stamp set. Both will be available January 19 when the catalog is released.

New Years Petals

I've been playing today with some of the new stamp sets from the catalog that releases on January 19. This card was made with the new Raspberry Tart Designer Series Papers (also in the new catalog) and card stock in cameo coral, real red, pretty in pink and rose red. I wish I could capture the colors for you on my crummy camera!

I used the new Petal Pizzaz stamp set on the flower and Wow Flowers stamp set on the sentiment. The piece of real red sandwiched between the two flowers was punched with the scallop circle punch to add some dimension. The top flower was embossed with clear powder to highlight the rose red.

Did I mention how fun it is to be a demonstrator so you can preorder all the new "stuff?"