What’s New for the New Year?

Let’s see…..

• Class dates and times
• Freestyle Club

I think that about covers it.  Except maybe it’s also a whole new year of discovering just how creative you can be!

2011 Classes

Cards - 2 each of 2 different designs: 1st Friday 7pm For $10 you'll create 4 cards total. This class can be free with a $20 order or you can join the Freestyle Club* and commit to one class a month for 6 months with a $25 order each month.  (*see details for Freestyle Club below)

“To Die For” Big Shot Techniques: 2nd Thursday 7pm Create 2 projects with the same die, specialty cards, gifts, or add a unique item to your home decor. This class is $10, or free with a $20 order.  Join the Freestyle Club* and commit to one class a month for 6 months with a $25 order each month. (*see details for Freestyle Club below)

Last Chance Class: last Friday 10 am & 7pm If you missed a class earlier in the month, join us for a make-up class. I'll have the kits ready to create anything you missed. $10 per kit, or a $20 order and a free kit. (Specialty class not included)

Specialty Classes: Looking for a challenge or a more involved project?  I’ll be hosting specialty classes approx. every other month where you can create 3d projects, gift sets, fancy cards, jewelry, decor items, or whatever else I can think up!  Cost for these classes will vary depending on the type of project.  January class will be a Birthday Card Stamp-a-Stack.  Details coming soon!  March will be a class creating a Vintage Magnetic board.

*Freestyle Club:  Learn new techniques, get fresh ideas, and slowly build up your stamping, crafting, and/or scrapbooking supplies.  What a perfect way to learn new things and purchase supplies without breaking your budget!  This is especially helpful in today’s economy. 

Here’s the details on what being a Freestyle Club Member is all about: When you join, you commit to be a member for 6 months and place a $25 order each of those 6 months from any of the current catalogs.

1. Level Benefits for everyone! In your hostess month you will get $25 in FREE product and a Level 1 hostess set.
2. Bring in outside orders for your Hostess month and boost your benefits!
3. ”Freestyle” Club means anyone can join anytime and attend any one of the available classes each month. And when you invite a friend that joins you get $10 in Free product!
4. There will be several dates for you to attend club during a given month. You must RSVP for the date you wish to attend.
5. All orders will be due (in an e-mail) by the last Friday of the month. You must have a credit/debit card on file since I will not always see you when the orders are due. You can place your order at anytime during the month but it won’t actually go in until the last Friday.
6. You may bring a friend to any of the classes. Their projects will cost $5 (FREE if they place a$20 order) They can attend 2 classes with you in 2011, or they may join at anytime.  See #4
7. If you can not attend any of the dates (or you live out of town), I will send the cut pieces and the directions with your next order.
8. You will also receive any new catalog that comes out during your 6 month membership.
9. No cleaning your house when it’s your month to be the Hostess! (it's always at my house so I do the cleaning!)

WHEW, I think that about covers it! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

Love That Owl!

Can you believe this paper is from the same pack as my last post?  Yep, it’s the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, isn’t it great?

I like the other gift set I made so well, that I had to make another!

Owl Memo Cube

He looks so cute perched on top!

 

These blocks are the perfect size for Post It notes.

  

He’s sitting up on my desk right now,  and don’t think I can give him away.

You can find the Decor Blocks on page 22 of the big catalog and the vinyl chalkboard sheets on page 205.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Daisy, Daisy Give Me Your Answer Do….

…I’m half crazy, all for the love of you.  Oops, I’m way too young to know that song!  Anyway… here are some projects I’ve done with the Daisies #2 die.

In October, every year, we hold an all day crafting event.  This year we also had a nametag contest.  As a demonstrator I couldn’t enter the contest but just had to make one myself!

I admit, it is over the top….

The daisies are coated with Chrystal Effects.  It looks time consuming, and hard, but it was rather quick and easy.  I just coated them and let the sit till the next morning.  I used the Baskets and Blooms for the base along with the Textured Lattice impressions folder.  It took 3 badge pins to keep that thing on!

Decor Memo Block

Also at our fall crafting event (Gifts Galore), we made memo blocks with one side covered in chalkboard vinyl. This is my version of that memo block.

Stationary & Holder

This is such a great and easy stationary holder, and the daisy just finishes off.

  No daisies here, can you believe it?  This stationary holder is 1 piece of 12 x12 card stock for the base and 2 more to decorate it.  A few score lines, some ribbon, and you’re done!I love the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper!  Which really surprises me!  I don’t even like orange…

All of these together, make a wonderful gift ensemble.  Now, who do I know that’s getting married soon?  Doesn’t this look like a perfect shower gift?

Thanks for looking!

I’m still here!

Whew!  Sorry it’s been so long since my last post.  Lots of life just seemed to get in the way (surgery, family, holidays…).  Well, not in the way, it just pushed other things farther down on the list…Like posting to my blog!

I’ve got lots to catch up on and although Christmas is upon us, I thought I would post some of the fall stuff I’ve made first.  Since I’m so far behind there probably won’t be any rhyme or reason to my posts for awhile. lol

Photo Block

 

This was fun and easy to make.  Well, figuring out where I wanted to put the leaves took me way longer than it should have!  I covered one of the Stampin’ Up! decor blocks with Autumn Spice - Specialty Designer Series Paper. It’s “Special” because it’s a heavier weight than our normal Designer Series Paper and it has a texture to it.  It’s hard to see the texture in these pictures but in person it looks wonderful.  Autumn Spice is one of my favorites.  Maybe it’s because I love fall colors!  It’s also great for masculine cards.  You can find it in the Holiday Mini Catalog - pg 13.  This catalog is only good until January 3rd, so stock up for next fall, or the men in your life!

The leaves were cut out using the Leaves #2 die on the Big Shot.  I punched the piece that says “family” with the Decorative Label punch and the Decor Elements Chalkboard Sheets.  I love the chalkboard sheets! They really work like a chalkboard.  You can write on them and then erase as well, and they already have adhesive!  Since they’re Decor vinyl you can put them your walls, mirrors, blocks, paper, you name it. And they won’t hurt your walls when you want to take it off.

I’ll list the supplies for all these projects at the end of the post.  Please feel free to send me a note/post if you have any questions on these projects.

Fall Candle Vase

I found this vase at one of those $1 stores along with the stones, making this a very inexpensive center piece or gift.  You can change the card stock and ribbon color to fit the season or occasion.

 

If you look closely at the picture above you can see what looks like frosted leaves.  Using the Leaves #2 die I cut leaves out using the Decor Elements Clear vinyl sheets.  They’re prefect for a frosted look.

Tea light holder in a “flash”

I was inspired by Chera Wiest’s candle holders.  I would link to her but I don’t think she has a blog.

These are so easy and fun and make great gifts.  Since our Big Shot will cut just about anything, roof flashing is a great choice for these holders. The flashing is thick enough to hold it’s shape but thin enough to cut with Craft & Rubber scissors or our Tabletop Paper Cutter.  It will actually sharpen the blade!  I cut a piece to fit on the Flower Folds die and ran it through the Big Shot.  I would add a piece of cardstock as a shim.  It will help the die to cut completely through the flashing.

I added a strip of DSP to the tea light to jazz it up a bit.  I used the Scallop Circle die to cut the base and then ran it back through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder.

Here is a second, larger tea light.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude (Holiday mini - pg 12)

Ink:  Early Espresso classic ink

Paper:  Autumn Spice Specialty DSP (Holiday mini - pg 13), Cajun Craze and Naturals Ivory card stock (Idea Book & Catalog - pg 168 & 170), Chalkboard and Clear vinyl sheets ( Idea Book & Catalog - pg 205)

Accessories:  Early Espresso 1/8 Taffeta ribbon, Natural Hemp Twine, and Old Olive 1 1/4” Striped grosgrain ribbon ( Idea Book & Catalog - pg 190-191), Cherry Cobbler 1/2” Seam Binding & Big Designer buttons - Deck the Halls (Holiday mini - pg 21 & 16), Antique Brads (Idea Book & Catalog - pg 187), Decor Block (Definitely Decorative catalog - pg 9)

Tools:  Big Shot die cutting machine, Leaves #2 die, Flower Folds die, Textured Lattice impressions folder, Scallop Circle die (Idea Book & Catalog - pg 204-217), Decorative Label punch (Holiday mini - pg 25)

View any of these items by clicking the catalog in the right hand column.

I hope you were inspired!  Thanks for looking.