Tin Cans and Tasty Treats

 I had started this post a few weeks ago, but have been so busy at the bookstore I wasn't able to post before now...but don't fret! You can can gifts ANYTIME of the year :) This is just a sample of one way to decorate a tin can that contains an unexpected surprise...and read the whole post for a tasty treat that you can make quickly to put inside if you don't happen to have pearls or diamonds to put into the can (which happen to fit nicely, or gift cards, or other small gifts)

The easiest way to make these is to use a clean-edge can opener and open the bottom of the can, clean it out and take off the wrapper (so you can add your own). Once the can is dry, put your gift in and use a thin line of Crystal Effects (from Stampin' Up! of course!) around the edge of the lid you removed and press down to re-seal can. Add a decorative cover and voila! A canned gift!

Interestingly, the gals over at Our Best Bites were sharing the same idea this week and if you want to just print off a label, click on the picture below for a link to their post and a free printable :)

Now ONE MORE TREAT for you...this is my favorite Christmas Candy, but be WARNED! It is EXTREMELY ADDICTING:

 Caramel Snowman Poop!

2 cups Butter

1 cup Honey

4 cups Sugar

1 cup Cream (I used whipping cream)

Combine all ingredients and cook, stirring frequently to soft ball stage. Pour over 2 large Tupperware bowls of popcorn, Chex or ~my favorite~ a large bag of puffed corn cereal (they sell it this time of year in a big bag at the grocery story, which reminds me to make some and then give it all away or else I would eat it all myself).

Friends & Family at Deseret Book

Clearance Rack Blitz at Stampin' Up!: December 15-January 5th

The Stockings Were Hung...

If you are stuffing your stockings for the Christmas Season, a MUST HAVE item is the new Holiday Stocking Die for the Big Shot (Item 120498, $32.95). Look at the adorable quilt (shown at Jill Olsen's St. George stamp day in September) made with some of our exclusive fabric and the above mentioned die:

 

And the creative possibilities are endless with paper and fabric:

Jill even got creative and turned the stocking into a Witch Boot for this quilt (yes, I'm backtracking to Halloween for a moment...)

 But wait! There are more fun ideas! Check out this adorable Rudolph treat holder we made at our Holiday Stamp Camp! Just turn the stocking over and use the heel and toe for his ears (his antlers are created from the Snowflake Die and he is embossed with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder):

 It's not too late to order for Christmas! Place an order on my website by December 14 for Christmas delivery!

Shop in your Pajamas!

 Online X Flyer US

Oh, Canada!

Finally have a few moments to share what I did with my bonus when I reached my Stampin' Up! Milestone in March!

For months, I pondered what to do...get a new dining room set? Put it toward Baby Step #3 that we are working on? New clothes? Food storage? Finally, about July, it came to me! Why not use it to begin working on my Bucket List? And at the top of the list (since I was 11 years old and my mother brought me Anne of Green Gables) was to visit Prince Edward Island! Hello Green Gables:

So, in September, that is what I did! I took my husband and we flew into Boston, MA, rented a car and drove up through Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick, across the Confederation Bridge to the Gentle Island and then back through Nova Scotia and back to Boston, where we flew home. It was a dream come true!

While I wish I could journal all of it here, I am going to create a scrapbook of the trip (using My Digital Studio, of course) and transfer the wonderful journal entries Cody kept along the way, too. Meanwhile, I want to share some of the highlights with you and thank you again for helping me reach that goal! My only regret is that I didn't lose 20 pounds and hit the tanning bed before taking any pictures :(

Did you know that the blueberry capital of the U.S. is in Cherryville, Maine?

 On the north shore of P.E.I...warm Atlantic waters!

 In the schoolroom where Lucy Maud Montgomery attended school:

 Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

 World-famous COWS ice cream, yummy even on a rainy day.

The ship Hector in Nova Scotia...made me grateful for my own Pilgrim ancestors and the sacrifices they made.

Rounding out my "literary tour" was Walden Pond and the Concord, MA home of Louisa May Alcott:

 On the bridge in Concord where the Revolutionary War began:

It was a wonderful vacation (the first one we've been on together alone that wasn't work-related since our honeymoon!) and we made many marvelous memories. The only downside is that my kids say that now we can't sing "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" song because we *have* been to Boston in the fall! I guess it is a sacrifice we had to make :)

Doing the Belly-(band) Dance

Sometimes all it takes to go from boring to WOW!  is a little belly(band) dance!

For instance, take a kraft box and wrap a strip of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper (DSP) around it and voila! A simply elegant gift without wrapping paper! A perfectly placed stamped tag always covers the seam perfectly, too.

By the way, this little box (from the Holiday Mini catalog) is the perfect size for giving a stack of cookies made with the new Cookie Press Stamps).

Consider the elegance of the belly-band as it dresses up a jar of homemade Apple Pie Filling:

And of course, a gate-fold card kept closed with the versatile and stylish belly-band wrap just piques interest as to what holiday message could be hiding within:

So if you find yourself needing a little "dancing" this holiday season, try the Belly-Band Dance...and then share a link in the comments showing off your own!

Calling all Digi-Divas!

 

I'd love to see what you create, so leave a comment with a link to your Digital Creations made with Stampin' Up!'s MY DIGITAL STUDIO products.

And...

Stampin' Up! has introduced BULK PRICING for you to print your Holiday Greeting cards, gift tags and much, much more! Can't wait to see what you design!

Some Things are Worth Waiting For...

I am so grateful my sister Mindi shared this beautiful video with me. This one is for my children...there are some things that are worth waiting for.

Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack Class

If you love to send hand-stamped cards during the holidays, but don't have much time, I am here to help! Come to my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack card class on

Saturday, November 12th at 10:30 a.m.

in Spanish Fork! I'll cut/prepare all the materials, you can come stamp and put the cards together in minutes!  Create cards in multiples of 6 for $10...(2 each of 3 different designs or request them to be all the same of your favorite when you register!) 

All you need to bring are your scissors and adhesive. I *highly* recommend SNAIL adhesive or Tombo Multipurpose glue...you can order them when you register if you need some.

Here are the designs! Christmas stocking:

 Poinsettia:

 Wisemen:

 RSVP to loni@sfcn.org or 801-376-8685 ASAP so I can get the supplies ordered!

Cookie, Cookie, Who's Got the Cookie?

I have a sweet tooth. My husband tells me I would feel better if I stopped eating sugar, but I think, "I feel great WHEN I eat sugar!" so giving up sugar just doesn't appeal to me. Nope. Nada. Not one iota.

But give me a way to combine stamping and sugar, and you have my attention. Thanks, Stampin' Up!, for giving me one more reason to love you: The new "Sweet Pressed" Cookie stamps are really fun, and require no ink, just sugar!



The cookie press comes with a solid wood handle and 3 interchangeable silicone "stamps" (jack-o-lantern face, snowflake and heart)


I'd love to show it to you in action...imagine hosting a "Cookie Exchange" and invited your friends to bring some of their favorite holiday cookies to share (along with their recipe) and we stamped a book for them to keep the recipes in like this:

Everyone goes home with cookies, recipes and learns how to use the Sweet Pressed Stamps!

To schedule a Cookie Exchange, call me: 801-376-8685 or to order the Sweet Pressed Stamps, visit my Stampin' Store

To Solve the "Bumpy" Mail Quandary

What is a beautiful card without a little embellishment? The problem: It costs more to mail a card with a bow or brad! I've been willing to pay the few extra cents to have my cards hand-cancelled at the post office, but if you are looking for an alternate way to add ribbon to a card without the extra postage, let me suggest a flat bow (or "mailing bow" as some call them). Here's a quick tutorial for you today, using Stampin' Up!s satin ribbon and some SNAIL adhesive:

'

To create more fun projects for Halloween (and Thanksgiving and Christmas!), plan to come to the Holiday Stamp Camps: In Spanish Fork on Saturday, October 15 and in Hurricane on Saturday, October 22. RSVP today to reserve your spot: loni@sfcn.org or 801-376-8685!

BIG DEAL! Free Big Shot!

What more do I need to say? Call me to today and I'll help you get started!801-376-8685

Do It for Yourself

I laughed when they showed this "commercial" at convention...made funnier because IT'S SO TRUE! Convention is a gift I give myself every year and if you are ready to do something for yourself, I'd love to have you join my family of demonstrators!

Ask me how to earn your starter kit FREE :) !!

Bring on the BOO!

I am so excited to share some BOO-tiful creations for the Holidays with you at one of our upcoming Holiday Stamp Camps...here is just a peek at one of the 6 projects you'll be creating:

There are six projects: 2 for Halloween, 2 for Thanksgiving and 2 for Christmas!
Tuition for the Stamp Camp is $35 and includes a SNAIL adhesive and all six projects!! But space is limited, so you'll need to RSVP for one of the events below ASAP:

Spanish Fork Holiday Stamp Camp
Saturday, October 15
1 p.m.
Down Spendlove Lane

Hurricane Holiday Stamp Camp
Saturday, October 22
2 p.m.
Hurricane Middle School Library

RSVP to loni@sfcn.org or 801-376-8685 as soon as you call your best friend to see if she wants to come with you!

A New Best Friend (in your Craft Room)!

9/25 Update...Apparently I had the wrong link which prevented you from visiting my blog...I hope this fixes it! Sorry :)

Hello friends! Apologies for being quiet for so long...my husband and I went on a much needed vacation, thanks to Stampin' Up! and I promise I will share some photos soon from Prince Edward Island :)

Meanwhile, we are still without internet at my house :( so it makes it challenging to update often here. I try to update my Facebook Fan Page (Creative Juice by Loni Spendlove) more often as it is a little easier. In fact, I shared this video there this morning...thanks to fellow demonstrator Robin Feicht, you can discover your new best friend (and what is better than a best friend WITH CHOCOLATE?)

Need one? This fabulous tool is available in the Holiday Mini Catalog and you can order one on my website or schedule a workshop and you could get it FREE with your hostess dollars! My fall calendar is filling fast, so call 801-376-8685

Stamp-a-Short-Stack Card Class: "Easy Events"

How cute is that snail? And so appropriate, too! It seems like I'm always slow in sending out my birthday cards, but I do get it done :) I love this new stamp set for every occasion called "Easy Events"

Come create some of your own adorable cards using the "Easy Events" stamp set at my Stamp-a-Stack class on Saturday, September 17th at 1 p.m. in Spanish Fork. For $10, you can create 6 sweet greeting cards (2 each of 3 different designs) including envelopes. I'll have all the supplies prepared for you, simply bring your scissors and SNAIL* adhesive!

Want more than 6 cards? Order a second (or third!) set when you register! Call today to reserve your spot: 801-376-8685

Pretty, Pretty Paper...more fun projects!

I have to thank Kira and Patty for this adorable project from our Late Night Stamper Pre-Convention Stamp Camp...it showcases the "Beyond the Garden" Designer Series Paper, but could be made with ANY of Stampin' Up!'s fabulous DSP (did I mention that DSP is Buy 3, Get 1 Free through August 31st?)

Apologies if the pictures are dark, since we are still "sans technology" at our house, I couldn't edit them on my Mac first!

Here is the "purse" for the cards...the handle was punched with the new Lace Ribbon Border punch:

It is filled with 4 simple and beautiful cards:

It's amazing how a little paper can cheer you right up, and this DSP is all sunshine and butterflies to me!

Would you like to come to the Late Night Stamper Pre-Convention Events in 2012? Click here for details and to register :)

DSP is for PAPER

As promised, here are some fun projects for you to use with Stampin' Up!s fabulous Designer Series Paper (DSP) and one more way to take advantage of the the BUY 3 GET ONE FREE August Special! Here is the first project:

and here is another fun DSP project that my 2010/11 Hostesses made at the Hostess Appreciation Party in July:

Stampin' Up! Supplies needed: DSP, Taffeta Ribbon, Fleurettes II, Antique Brads, Ink Refill, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensional.
Optional SU! Supplies: Jewelry Tag punch, stamps, ink.
Other Supplies: Small acrylic photo frame, post-it notes.

This super-easy project begins with DYING the fleurette (handmade, crocheted flower).

1. Place approx. 3-4 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Add a few drops of re-inker color and mix into the water. 
2. Drop your flower/fleurette into the water and submerge for 30-45 seconds. Hint: The longer you leave it in, the darker the resulting color.
3. Remove fleurette and place on a stack of paper towels. Blot, allow to dry.

It's really that easy!

Instructions for the rest of the project:

1. Cut a piece of DSP the same size as your frame and slide it into the frame. 
2. Place a line of sticky strip across the top (really the bottom) of the frame where your ribbon will be "pinched" or folded across. Note: The frame will be laid down horizontally instead of standing vertically like a frame.
3. Add an antique brad to your dried fleurette and attach with a Stampin' Dimensional.
4. Finish it off by adding a pad of post it notes.

Eat Ice Cream, Do Something Good!

There are two wonderful reasons I support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: Kayson (my son) and Gregory (my nephew). Most likely you know someone who lives with Type 1 Diabetes and it's complications...make your next Date night COUNT!! Click the "Buy Now" button to get your tickets today :)


If you can't attend the Desserts for Diabetes Fundraiser, you can still make a donation of any amount on my JDRF Walk Donation page:http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/loni

August Stampin' Up! Special

Check back soon for fun projects with Designer Series Paper!

Guessing Jars: A Family Tradition

A favorite tradition from our family reunions (on my dad's side) are the "Guessing Jars"! If you need a fun game that EVERYONE can participate in, this is it: Each family brings a container filled with something and we number each jar. Every person gets a piece of paper and numbers it with the number of jars that are on the table, then takes a guess at how many items are in each jar (or answer the related question on the jar/container)

Our family gets pretty creative: There have been piggy banks filled with loose change (guess how much $money is in the bank), pencil boxes filled with random school supplies (guess how many hours kids go to school each year) and even a package of Oreos (If Oreo cookies were laid side by side, how many would it take to cross the Golden Gate Bridge? Answer: 28,800)

But most of our "jars" are containers filled with candy, something like this:

This particular jar was one I created the Late Night Stampers Reunion Party at Stampin' Up! Convention and it is filled with taffy and rubber stamps! We wanted to start a new "family" tradition for the Reunion Party,and this fun game popped into my head. Here's a close-up of the sweet tag...I have to say I love these folded paper medallions and they are as addicting to make as the sugar in the taffy!

And of course, glitter makes everything cuter, so the edges are dusted with a little bling :) 

Update 5/28/13: Apparently I didn't finish my thought when I originally posted this! Each jar gets a number so that people can start anywhere on the table with their guesses (for instance, you could pick up jar/container #8 and write down the number and your guess, then move to jar #12, etc, until you had made a guess for each jar). Once everyone has made their guess, the M.C. reveals the correct answers and the person who guesses closest wins that jar/container!

This is a fun game for a crowd because there can be MANY winners :) You may choose to only allow a person to win ONE time. However, if they were the closest guesser on a future jar, they could choose to exchange it for their first jar, giving the original jar to the next closest guesser. 

To see how we modified it for a bridal shower, see this post. 

Loni's Convention Report

Sitting in the park at the library today (something good that has come from no internet at the house for the summer) enjoying music from a live band and the beautiful weather! Happily, I can also upload a few pictures from Convention and give you my report (finally!)

The theme at Stampin' Up! this year is "Come GROW with Us" and it was carried through our convention, too. This was the stage and the colors changed each day:

We started with High-Hat Fashion at the Kick-Off Party: 

This stamper was a little bit country:

 

AND a little bit city:

We loved the "Product Park" where our products were beautifully showcased like this: 

 and where we learned from some talented demonstrators fun ways to use them, too:

The next morning, the fun begins with swapping! Here is Sue trading the cards we helped her finish at midnight the night before:

 

Opening theme song performers:

Then it was 3 days full of non-stop fun:

The good news for you is that YOU can be there with us next year when you join my Stampin' Family this month for only $99...and here is what you get:

Just go to my website and click "Join the Fun"...and my recruit password is stampwithme :) I'd love to have you come to convention 2012 in Salt Lake City with me!