My Sweet Stampin Spot

Just the Right Words

If you're like me, you sometimes struggle with finding the right words to put in your cards and scrapbook pages. I'm not particularly clever with words, so I rely on several sources for for finding the perfect words. My sentiment stamps are the first place I look. Song lyrics and poems can provide sweet, silly or memorable phrases for you to use. You can also utilize online quotation and greeting sites. Here are a few I use:

Quote Garden

Wisdom Quotes

Quotations Page

Another tip: Since I make more cards than I use daily, I often leave the inside blank until I'm ready to send the card. That way I can personalize the card to the occassion.

Scrapbook in an Evening

Ho Ho Ho! The holidays are over. Now what do you do with all those holiday photos and keepsake cards? Create a quick and easy scrapbook for your Christmas memories! Come join the fun at my Scrapbook in an Evening class.The class includes the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit plus a Linen6x6 Ring Brag Book album in your color choice. Our Simply Scrappin' Kits make putting together a coordinating album so easy. Thanks to the high quality die-cut cardstock stickers, Designer Series Paper and Textured cardstock, this entire album can be complete in about 2 hours - photos optional during class. Each album uses about 60% of the Simply Scrappin' Kit materials, so you'll even have lots of leftovers for more projects. These albums are perfect for beginner scrappers, grandparent gifts, or simply a great way to scrap those Christmas memories and photo cards into a single album. The class will be offered in 3 sessions or as a To Go Kit. Interested in a different them for your album? Simply substitute one of our other Simply Scrappin' Kits.

Participants must provide their own adhesive and embellishments. You can bring your own or add them to your Kit order. Paper trimmer is also highly recommended.

Substitution Options:

~Post 6x6 Brag Book album - $3.50 additional
~Leather Black Post 6x6 Brag Book Album - $9 additional
~Your choice of a different Simply Scrappin' Kit - no charge
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Session 1:  Saturday January 24 from 10am-12pm

Session 2: Saturday January 24 from 4pm-6pm

Session 3: Monday January 26 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Cost: $46

Registration and payment for the class is due by January 14. After January 14, your payment is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend after this date, you will receive the class supplies in a To Go kit.

I accept cash, checks, Visa and Mastercard. Send form and payment to Kandice Williams, 150 Bentcreek Dr., Elizabethtown, KY 42701, or call with credit/debit information.

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Name_________________________________  Phone______________________
Email_______________________

[  ] January 24 MORNING Scrapbook in an Evening $46

[  ] January 24 AFTERNOON Scrapbook in an Evening $46

[  ] January 26 Scrapbook in an Evening $46

[  ] To Go Kit Scrapbook in an Evening $46

Album Color Choice:

[  ] Natural    [  ] Mellow Moss    [  ] Real Red    [  ] Navy    
[  ] Other - please indicate substitution choice ____________

Enclosed:
[  ] Cash
[  ] Check
[  ] Charge
# ______________________
Exp Date: _____________

Photo Sneak Peak:

   

       

Merry Christmas

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas Day.

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 14"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(copied from www.biblegateway.com)

Blue Birthday

A triple challenge card! This card combines 3 Splitcoast challenges - a sketch challenge, limited supplies challenge and a Dirty Dozen challenge. Monday's Limited Supplies Challenge to create a Blue Holiday card. What a perfect way to tie in the Dirty Dozen challenge of Obscure holidays? Did you know that November 26 is National Cake day? YUM! Since this is for my nephew's bday, I decided to add the bday sentiment to it. The Baja Panel was supposed to be embossed with clear, but I grabbed the white by accident lol. Only 1 embellishment allowed besides paper. I chose brads instead of ribbon since it's for a boy (I hope EP doesn't count as an embellie!). Main image is colored with aquapainter and inkpads then popped on dimensionals. Corners are pierced.

 

Stamp sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, Canvas (retiring)

Paper: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Basic Gray

Ink: Basic Gray, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Borderign Blue, Yoyo Yellow

Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Brads, White embossing powder, heat tool, embossing buddy, aquapainter, crafter's tool kit, dimensionals

Green Christmas

I made this card for 2 splitcoast challenges - a sketch challenge and a limited supplies challenge. For the limited supplies challenge we were to use a recycled item on our project. I used the kraft packing paper that comes in my Stampin' Up! orders. I rolled it flat with my brayer, white embossed snow flakes from Snow Swirled. It's adhered to the red layer with the Anywhere Glue stick and brayered to get good coverage. The ribbon is part of the Alpine Ribbon Originals found in the Holiday Mini Catalog and was the inspiration for the color scheme. It's beautiful and soft - very easy to work with. The sentiment is from the Season of Cheer rubons. These add an easy lovely touch to your holiday cards and projects. I punched a circle scallop, cut it in half, then adhered it to the back of the sentiment piece. For a finishing touch I added piercing to the scallop and card base corners.

Hostess Club Projects

Tis the season - for sickness. Due to my daughterr's illness, I had to cancel tonight's Hostess Club meeting. Since we won't be meeting again until January, I wanted the members to be able to see what we were going to be making tonight. We will double up the January projects so they'll still be making these, just a few weeks late. 

 

Ingredients: Canvas*, Eastern Blooms, Warm Words* stamp sets; WHisper White, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red Cardstock, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red inks; Build a Brad, Rock N Roll Technique.

* retiring stamps

 

Ingredients: Happy Heart Stamp set, Ski Slope Designer Paper, Real Red, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip cardstock, Fresh Cuts Notecards, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Red Striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals. Markers.

   

Catalog Sampler Promotion

Not only are the retiring stamp sets on sale, but so are the sets featured in the Catalog Sampler brochure - found HERE. From now until January 18, spend $20 and get 20% off any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler. And don't forget - free shipping on all orders over $70 until December 23!! One of the stamp sets in the Catalog Sampler is Flight of the Butterfly, featured in the card below. This card is one of the 3 cards my Hostess Club will be doing tomorrow night. I really like the soft blue/gray color scheme. The little butterfly got some bling with the 2 way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter, then is popped up on a dimensional. Dots are added to the scallops with the Signo White Gel Pen. If you think you would enjoy meeting monthly for stamping and socializing, consider joining my Hostess Club. Registration is now open.

 

Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly

Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Basic Gray

Paper: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Accessories: Signo White Gel Pen, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle unch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop punch, scallop edge punch, dimensionals.

Spring Hostess Club Now Forming

I am excited to announce that registration is now open for the spring Hostess Club! This club will run from February to August 2009 to coincide with the Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog. Spring Hostess Club members will meet once monthly for 7 months. At our meetings you will create a technique booklet with a new stamping technique each meeting and make fun projects. Each member receives a free catalog and agrees to purchase at least $25 of product from a current catalog each month. In return, the each member is a Hostess for one of the months. This ensures that you will receive the great free Hostess benefits offered by Stampin' Up. Being a Hostess Club member is the perfect way to build up your stamping and scrapping supplies while being friendly to your budget.

 

Worried about space? Workshops can be held in your home or mine. Meeting day/time will be determined by club members.

 

Have questions or ready to register? Contact me. I look forward to hearing from you! 

** Early Bird Special - Register by January 5 and receive a free gift at our first meeting!**

Going Green

My household has made several changes this past year in our attempts to "go green". A recycling program was introduced in our community. We've taken full advantage of that and have significantly reduced our weekly garbage that heads to the landfill. We've been changing our lightbulbs to compact fluorescents as they burn out. We also try to reuse and repurpose many of the everyday items around our home. We've been collecting small shipping boxes to use for packaging our Christmas gifts (the rest go to recycling). For wrapping, we had a fun family project to reuse the brown paper filling that comes in my Stampin' Up! deliveries. I ironed the paper to make it mostly smooth, then the whole family spent time coloring Christmas wishes and pictures on the paper. It was a fun family memory and a great way for the kids to learn about environmental responsibility.

Stampin' Up! also employs several eco-conscious practices.

* Excess Rubber is shredded and donated to Courage Reins (www.couragereins.org) which then sells it for use in playgrounds and and horse stables

* Wood blocks are created from sustainable practices - trees specifically grown for harvesting

* Cardstock and Paper - the brown paper used for shipping is 100% recycled (this is the paper we used for our Christmas wrapping!) Cardstock also includes recycled materials - the darker the color, the more recycled materials it contains. Also - the manufacturers of the Designer Papers engage in environmentally friendly practices. The broker is even certified through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Program for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC).

* Buildings - the Kanab and Riverton facilities utilize filtrations systems, geothermal wells, and timers and sensors for the lighting. Native plant materials and sprinkler systems are used to reduce the amount of water consumption.

* Carbon Footprint - UPS picks up shipments during non-peak hours and stamp shipments are carpooled with other delivery trucks from Kanab to Riverton.

Stampin' Up! is always looking for ways to improve their practices to do what's right for their demonstrators, employees, community, and the environment. It's a company you can feel good about supporting.

 

I'd love to hear how you are going green as well! Are you reusing stamp supplies for other projects? Repurposing containers for your home or office? Please share your ideas for "going green" in your lives by leaving a comment.

Teacher Gifts

Each year I try to craft gifts for my kids' teachers and caregivers. My gift of choice this year is this lovely jar of homemade lotion. The lotion recipe can be found on the internet, but I came across it on a splitcoast forum. These adorable jars are 1/2 pint Contemporary Ball canning jars and can be found in the canning or housewares department of your favorite discount store. I can't take credit for the lid design - I CASEd (copy and share everything) them from Faith Hofrichter, better known as Markie's Mom on splitcoast. She's an amazingly talented stamper! I used the Coluzzle cutting tool to cut the cardstock circles. The artichoke circle is just a hair too big for the lid. Using the distressing tool on my Cutter tool makes it slightly smaller. The edge was sponged with Always Artichoke Ink. The smaller circle is  Apricot Appeal sponged with Pumpkin Pie. The sentiment is from a great set called God's Blessings. It's then embellished with a few Flower Fusion felt flowers attached with brads. These particular brads are retired, the new ones are all round. I hope the receivers enjoy their gifts. I appreciate all they do for us!