Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Last Minute Halloween Goodies




I always have such good intentions of getting things done early...doesn't usually happen that way in the end. Tonight I finished the treats for the kids' classes at school and realized I had no teacher gifts. So, I whipped up these square candles using Booglie Eyes. Each side has a different "character". They turned out pretty cute. The spider lollipops worked out well. With the chocolate coins being recalled I had to find an alternative and these did the trick. I chose to only do one layer and set of legs...otherwise it would have just been too much! Jenna helped me out with the spiders and we now have them ready to go to school tomorrow. No school here on Friday (PD day for teachers) so Thursday is party day. Hope everyone enjoys their treats!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Holy Pop Can, Batman!

These beautiful silver snowflakes were made using the Big Shot and a cut up pop can! Yup, Sprite to be exact. There are 50 different materials that the Bigz Dies will cut through. They say just cardstock and paper for the Sizzlets (small thin ones) but I thought I would give it a try and it worked! Took a little bit to get the little one to pop out but I did it! Now I just need to figure out a project to make with these! They would look pretty just hanging (the opposite side has the sprite logo, etc. on it so I would maybe double them up but how cute is this?!

An Old Favorite

Since I have not had time to stamp I thought I should at least post something! I have been fighting a cold/flu for 2 weeks now. I am sick of being sick! Hopefully I am almost over it. Anyway, with not feeling well and being busy with work (although I really think it may slow down after this week!) I just haven't had time to stamp. However, I need to get Halloween treats done this week for the kids' classes so I will get something done.
This card is an old favorite. The snowflakes are embossed in white and the sentiment is embossed in sliver on a torn piece of vellum. This is the card that gave me the inspiration for my large snowflake card that I made this year using the snowflake #2 die for the Big Shot.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

More From Regionals


Here are 2 more great cards I got at the regionals swap. The green and red one is from my downline (and friend!) Jodie. I love how she sort of curled up the edges of the green and kraft paper! I have had almost no "free time" this week to stamp. I did start a baby album for one of my best friends who had a little girl a couple weeks ago so hopefully I will be able to post that soon. TGIF tomorrow! I am teaching a course tomorrow night and then I hope to have some time to stamp this weekend between Parker's basketball game and Jenna's cheer practice. The girls get their uniforms on Saturday so I am excited for that. Hope you had a good week and I really hope to get back to some regular posting very soon!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Punch Box Tin



This was my "reward" project that I worked on today. The reward was for re-organizing and cleaning up my stamping space (again!). Even though we will not be in this house much longer I really needed to change up my space as it just wasn't working. I am also trying to figure out how I will set everything up in my new studio so this is a partial test drive. Anyway, SU sold off these punch box tins a few months back and I bought a whole bunch...but didn't know exactly what I would do with them. Well, this is it! These will be gift tins that I give to family, friends, teachers...pretty much anyone. Inside this tin is a covered note book with matching beaded pen, 4 coordinating cards, 2 votive candles (in glass jars), a clear envelope brag book and a little cello bag with some Hershey kisses. On the front of the tin I will add something...perhaps the initial of the recipient or something along those lines. Gotta say I love my Big Shot more every day! I really want to get an alphabet set...maybe soon! I may also make a few of these to sell. We'll see how much time I have.

Fave Swaps from Regionals






Sorry I have been MIA this past week. I came down with a nasty cold/flu thing that would not go away. Still not 100% but better. Yesterday I attended the SU Edmonton Regionals and I thought I would share my 4 favorite swaps that I received. I will have some projects to post later, too.
Popsicles: Wendy Elmer
Merry Christmas with trees: Barb McCheyne
Pink/Red Christmas: Brandi Mah
Friends: Shauna Feller

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

My Little Cheerleader

I hope to have a project to share later but for now I had to post this picture of my daughter, Jenna, in her new cheer uniform. Isn't it too cute? I was waiting all day for UPS to arrive with these! She is on a mini team consisting of 15 6-8 year olds. I coach the team and it's so much fun. I have many years of coaching under my belt but never with a group this young. While it is challenging it's also really rewarding and they are so cute. Can't wait to see the whole team in their uniforms!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Missing My Friends


I miss my Flaky Friends. Why oh why did I sell them? They were my faves and I sold them. How dumb was that? And SU did not "replace" them. This was one of my favorite cards I made with this set. The front layer of white was a torn piece added on and I used dazzling diamonds to make it look like sparkling snow. I also love the stamping off technique for the forest.


On another (and happier) note, our new house is progressing nicely. They finished the basement walls last week. I am so anxious for them to get it framed so I can walk through it. We have never walked through a house like ours (I chose the design from the internet and made some changes so it was just what I wanted) so I am so looking forward to getting a feel for the house.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Happy Turkey Day!

This is the invitation for my son's 9th birthday party. I literally whipped them up in about 10 minutes. We are going swimming so I thought the crab was appropriate. Colours are Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Vanilla, and Riding Hood Red for the crab.



We ended up doing this card at Friday's stamp-a-stack instead of the elf card. I was worried it would take too long. As it turns out the other ones took longer than I would have liked, too, but everyone seemed to like them so that is what's important. This card uses White with Pacific Point. The snowman tag is from Two Cool Dudes, the sentiment is from Many Merry Messages, and the snowflakes are from Wishing You Cheer.

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada so I am looking forward to eating a delicious turkey dinner at my parents' place. I am so fortunate to have such a great family! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Loonie for Spiders


Aren't these little guys adorable? I got the idea from a couple of blogs (Creative Treasuers and I think Impressions as well). They used York peppermint patties but I just used chocolate loonies from Dollarama. (10 for $1!) This uses the scallop circle punch, the photo corner punch, as well as the 1/2" and 1/4" circle punches. I also used a white gel pen for the eyes. I just think they are so cute. I actually giggled after each one was assembled. I have 12 people coming to my stamp-a-stack on Friday and I thought I would give one of these to each of them as a little thank you. I had hoped to make these for my daughter's grade 1 class but the darn chocolate may have traces of nuts. I am hoping to find something else to use. My original idea was to use the circular gum containers (like the Hubba Bubba tape gum only about 5 for $1 and smaller) that I found at Dollarama around Valentine's Day but they didn't have any when I was there today. I will have to keep checking back and hope that they get more in or something else that is circular!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Using the Negative

This card uses the negative image created by the Snowflake #2 die from Stampin' Up. I made a card the same as this using the positive image. When cutting the positive image use a piece of cardstock that is 5 1/4 by 4. Centre it on the die and then cut. Now you can make 2 cards from one die cut! It is hard to see in this picture but I used some pastels (blue) with a sponge dauber to soften the look around the edges. I also used the cutter kit to rough the edges of the white layer. The vellum is 1 1/2 inches and then the edges ripped after embossing in silver. I used silver brads to adhere the vellum to to the white and then snailed the white to the Night of Navy. This way you can't see the back of the brads. I also added some dazzling diamonds to the exposed parts of the snowflake. Click here to see the card I made using the positive image. (I hope that works!) If not look for it under Christmas cards! I will be using this card at my stamp-a-stack on Friday. SU Edmonton regionals are next weekend and the positive version of this card is my swap so I have lots of negatives to use up!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Elves in a Row

This set (Holiday Lineup) is sooo cute! I did a card with the snowmen first but it may be *my* card so I can't upload it yet. This is another card we will do at the Stamp-a-Stack. I usually try to avoid cards with colouring at events like that as some people take what seems like forever to colour but I am hoping this one will be ok. The card is Pacific Point and I sponged that colour around the white. The strip is Real Red and I used the scallop border bunch along with some gingham ribbon. The sentiment is from Many Merry Messages. I also used a little pastel on their faces to give them a little colour. All markers were from the Bold Brights.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Sponging


I designed these two cards for this Friday's Christmas stamp-a-stack with some help from Splitcoaststampers. I saw several cards like this but none used the topnote for masking. This is the negative of the topnote die from the Big Shot. I have a zillion of these from my last stamp-a-stack! I used an SU sponge with Old Olive to start and then used a sponge dauber with Old Olive pastel to emphasize the outer edge (on Very Vanilla). I stamped the trees on the right using the stamping off technique and did not ink the bottom of the stamp. The bold tree was just stamped normally using Old Olive. The sentiment is in Ruby Red. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to get it straight. (Love that thing!) I have so many people coming again that I did not have enough of either the red or the green so I decided they can make 2 of each colour.
It feels so good to stamp again! I have done a few other cards that I will share throughout the week. I am trying to decide which one will be *my* Christmas card that I send to friends and family, especially those who stamp. That card will not be posted until after Christmas. It's just deciding which one it will be...

Friday, October 3, 2008

My Birthday Present

So, today is my birthday and I got the best present ever...a giant hole in the ground! Yes, they finally broke ground on our new home. I am sooooo excited! They got it about half done today, will finish that Monday and pour the basement on Tuesday. Yahoo! It is so beautiful out there right now with all the leaves changing colour. And our weather this week has been unreal. Not sure what the official temp was today but my car said 25 Celsius. I remember birthdays with snow so this is amazing. I will be posting more pics as the house progresses. So exciting to think that in about 8 months we will be living there! My brother and his wife just moved into their new home this week. It is 162 steps from our house (at least according to my husband's measurements!) It will be fun to be so close to them and my nephew.
I hope to have something stamped to post tomorrow. Just spent too much time at the acreage today to get in any stamping.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

I Stamped!


This card uses the scallop envelope from the Big Shot die. It's just so cute. I used the now retired Ginger Blossom paper on River Rock. The little note is Very Vanilla with Rose Red ink. Ribbon is vanilla grosgrain. I used versamark for the flowers in the background (Embrace Life).

Boo!


OK, so this doesn't really qualify as stamping but I did use a stamp at the bottom! I am still not caught up at work so once again stamping is at the bottom of the list but I did get downstaris last night for 5 minutes and made this cute little mummy card. Just ripped whisper white and used some pastels along the edges. Added some googlie eyes and "boo" from the "Happy Boo to You" stamp from Booglie Eyes.