Simply Scored Borders: Spring Catalog Peek!

This fun addition to the Simply Scored will be available in the Spring Mini catalog (which goes live NEXT WEEK!)

Holiday Hiatus and Fancy Friends Kit

With all my kids home this holiday and trying to plan a wedding, I've taken a bit of a hiatus from my blog...I hope that you've enjoyed family time this season and created many happy memories, too!

But I don't want you to think that I'm gone for good, so I'll be sharing a few videos over the next few days from SU! ~ starting with the new Fancy Friends card kit!


You can order this in my store for just $15.95 and includes EVERYTHING you need to create these cards (except glue dots) AND don't forget about the Clearance Rack Blitz there, too...15 new items were added TODAY!

Mary, Did You Know?

Shimmer & Shine

If I were a drinker (I'm not), I would try champagne just because I love the name. Come on, say it with me: "SHAM-PANE". Champage, Champage, Champage...say it three times and click your heels together and you'll be taken to a wonderful castle in a cloud! Okay, maybe not, but drink in this beautiful card created with the Champagne Glimmer Paper (Item 127885) and Very Vanilla card stock (this week's color challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary~CCMC230):

Must say I adore how the Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon (Item 122332) matches so beautifully, tying all the elegant elements together :) I used the Stripes embossing folder (Item 123128) for the background, used the Label Collection Framelits to cut the focal points and embossed the New Year's single stamp (Item 132336) in gold. This stamp is fabulous because you can use it year after year. I'll be using this card for many upcoming events!

Check out more of the single stamps by clicking on the link on the right (only available through January 2, 2013) and of course, the Clearance Rack Blitz!

The Blessings of Procrastination: Clearance Rack Blitz!

Well, if you've waited until now to do your Christmas shopping, your procrastination has paid off! It's time for the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack BLITZ!

Over 300 new Clearance Rack items are being added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail ~ only while supplies last! And for the first time ever, stamps are included at up to 40% off! Just a note: the classic stamp pads that are on sale are the fabric ones, NOT the new firm-foam pads.

Still looking for some great gifts? Check out the Simply Sent or Simply Scrappin' Kits that make paper crafting super SIMPLE (hence the name)...these are just a few examples:

Sweet Moments Simply Sent Kit

Originally $13.95...Preferred Pricing $5.59 in the Clearance Rack!

 

Party Animal Simply Scrappin Kit

Originally $21.95...now $8.79!

 

Ready to move past the holidays and think about Valentines? We've got you covered in the Clearance Rack...imagine the possibilities with these supplies: 

Designer Cuts Cards and Envelopes 

(picture these with some Red Glimmer paper peeking through the laser cut images...WOW!)

 Originally $9.95...now just $1.99!

 

Pleated Satin Ribbon

(Multiple colors available)

Originally $6.95...in the Clearance Rack for $1.39

 

 S.W.A.K. single stamp, wood mounted

Originally $5.95...now only $3.59

These are just a SAMPLING of what has been added, so go to my online store and get the biggest bang for your buck when you click on the "Clearance Rack"!!

Dress Up a Holiday Gift Card

The sketch over at Create with Connie & Mary this week gave me an idea: A hidden gift card pouch! Here's my card for the CCMC 229 sketch:

 But here is the fun little twist: It swings on the Rhinestone Brad!

 And here is the back closure:

When you untie it, surprise! A pocket to put a gift card in!

I created the pocket/envelope using the Simply Scored tool and Diagonal plate from Stampin' Up!: Cut a piece of Designer Series Paper (from the Candlelight Christmas pack in the Holiday catalog) to 6 1/2", then score on two sides at 3 1/4" and on the other two sides at 2 3/8".

Curled Paper Bows

Welcome back to my creative wrapping week! If you've missed some of the posts this week, make sure to catch up so you can get your Christmas Gifts wrapped in style :) And I'd love to have you join me for the TP Tube Challenge I posted yesterday!

Years ago my mom started a wrapping paper business where she sold industrial-sized rolls of gift wrap, the metal cutters and oodles of ribbon. As a paper-addict, I was in heaven! Eventually I followed in her footsteps and worked the business for a while until I found Stampin' Up! Anywhooo...that's where I learned this lovely little technique to make a curled paper bow from your gift wrap:

Wrapping paper is super-easy to curl because it is light-weight paper, but I am teaching you the technique using SU! Designer Series Paper (Be Of Good Cheer~126896)

1. Start with a piece of wrapping paper or DSP. This is a 12x12 piece of DSP and you begin by folding it in half. If using a rectangle, fold it in half the long way, or "hot dog" fold. My favorite size is about 18" x 12" for a large package, but don't worry about the measurements...just grab a piece of paper from your printer and follow along!!

2. Take the open edge and fold it up toward the folded edge, leaving about 1" along the folded edge.

3. Cut from the bottom fold up toward the center fold, just through the open end edge, all the way across, about 3/4" to 1" wide. No need to measure, just start cutting :)

4. Once you are finished, unfold the whole paper and you will have "spider legs" on both sides with a fold down the middle, like this:

5. Now the fun begins! Use your scissors and "curl" the paper as you would a ribbon, with the pattern you want to show the most of on the opposite side of your scissors. As you are curling, you may pull off one of the "legs" (see the one in the background of the picture?) No worries: You will never notice it when it is finished!

 6. When you are done curling, your paper or gift wrap will look like this:

 7. If you are using gift wrap, just SCRUNCH it together up the middle fold to gather it. Using DSP (which is a little heavier) you may find it easier to fan fold it as you go along. The cuts you made make it pretty simple to do quickly. Again, this isn't rocket science, so you don't have to be exact, just fold it and go! Then grab an old bread twist tie (doesn't matter what color...mine is BLUE!) and wrap it around the gathers/folds and twist to secure.

8. Once your bow is secure, just mush it around until looks like a big fluffy bow and tape it to your gift and add a tag! This tag was stamped in Cherry Cobbler Ink (126966) with the Dec. 25 image from the Tags 'til Christmas stamp set (wood~120847 or clear~121169), punched with the Decorative Label Punch (120907) and adorned with Champagne Glass Glitter (120997), all of which can be ordered from my website

TP Tube Wrap: Another Up-cycled Project and Challenge

Nothing is more annoying than going to the restroom to find an EMPTY roll of Toilet Paper in the holder.

"WHO do they think is going to replace this??" I grumble. "The TP Fairy? SHE DOESN'T EXIST!!"

Well when you see today's wrapping project, you may imagine I've changed my attitude and now I'm like: "Hooray! Another craft project waiting for me!". Okay, you could IMAGINE that, but it still annoys me that nobody else will change the paper. And when I got to work the other day, there was NO TP on the double rolls in either the men OR the women's restroom and it bugged me. Big time. That's just crap. Literally.

But let's look on the bright side here: You can get back at them by using the empty rolls to create really cute gift containers!

In case you can't figure this out, here are some simple instructions:

Cut a piece of Designer Series Paper 4.5" x 6.5" (I've used some from the Be of Good Cheer pack, 126896). Cover one side with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755) and roll it around your TP tube.

 Once the roll is covered, just push in one end like this:

 

Then the other side on the same end.

Now would be the time to put your gift into the open end of your tube. Chocolate and caramel fit nicely inside this little container. As does money. And diamonds. I guess I'm preaching to the choir since there aren't many men who read my blog, I suspect. So make it to this point and demonstrate to the man in your life how to fill it and make some not-so-subtle suggestions.

Now all you need to do is decorate it and tie a ribbon around it to keep it closed:

You know, these are small and light enough you could decorate your tree with them!

So now it's your turn. Share your TP Tube creations (SU! products always preferred) in the link tool below by December 13th at noon (MST) and I'll choose a winner who will get this gift mailed to them filled with something fun!

It's an Ornament! It's a Gift! It's a Kit!

The ornament on the cover of the SU! holiday catalog is such a hit that we are making it available to you--just in time to deck the halls with terrific trimmings you've made yourself! We've simplified this fun project so that you can quickly and easily achieve the same results. Each kit makes TEN (10) ornaments...what a great deal!!! In addition to the kit, all you need is a glue gun, scissors, and adhesive. (Our Anywhere Glue Sticks [104045] are perfect for assembly.) Want greeting or place cards to go with those ornaments? The Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set (W 128048 C 128051) gives you perfect coordination. Fancy a little sparkle and shine? Sprinkle on our Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023)!

The Ornamental Elegance Kit (132832) is $14.95 and includes:

• Die-Cut Cardstock Elements
• Cherry Cobbler 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon
• Natural Linen Thread
• Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons 
• Large Pearl Basic Jewels

These are available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, so get yours today by calling to place your order or online in my Stampin' Store!

Up-cycled Treat Tubes & Luminaries

You know these little plastic containers that Stampin' Up! buttons and brads come in?

Have you ever hesitated before throwing an empty one away thinking, "There must be some way to use this..." or, if you are like me, you just save them knowing that inspiration will strike and you'll find a way to Up-Cycle them :) Then you'll love this idea!

This is a container I made by cutting an 8.5" x 4" strip of the flocked window sheet from the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper (126901) and making it into a tube with Sticky Strip. Fit the tube into the bottom piece of the plastic button/brad container and then decorate as desired:

 

The top of the button/brad container makes a perfect lid for your tube! I created a Real Red paper flower for this one using a few scallop circle punches and added a little bling with our Rhinestone Jewels (119246):

While my tube was 4" tall, you could create any height tube, keeping the width 8.5" to make your tube, which is the perfect size to create a tube to fit into the containers you are up-cycling. Depending on how close to the edge you glue your tube, it may fit perfectly inside the bottom of the brad/button container OR if it is too large, slide it over the outside of the container. Then decorate it as desired and fill with something delicious, like home-made fudge!!

I also created a luminary by punching out a shape before making the tube and covering the opening with vellum and a stamped image. I left off the lid on this one...just drop in a battery operated tea light and you are good to go! This one has a ribbon handle so I can hang it somewhere:

 See you tomorrow for more fun Holiday packaging and gifts from your Stampin' Up! stash!

A Disney Proposal

I have a good reason for being absent for a week: I've been in the MERRIEST Place on Earth!

 

It was a wonderful vacation with my whole extended family and while we were there, my son Kayson arranged this for his girlfriend Whitney:

 

She's the one in the front, oblivious to what is unfolding behind her until she sees the preview picture:

 

So yes, there is a wedding in our future!

Here are a few more highlights of the vacation, and then come back every day for the rest of the week  for some creative gift wrapping and gift giving ideas from Stampin' Up!

Getting into Shape for the Holidays

Jumping into the special creative challenge over at CCMC227 which is to make a shaped card...so taking my inspiration from a few other ideas, I turned the Grinch into an easel card and the saying says "Even the Naughty Deserve Something Nice". Appropriate for a guy whose "brain is full of spiders and (has) garlic in his soul", at least according to his theme song :)

Card Recipe (All from Stampin' Up!): Big Shot, Top Note Die, Perfect Pennant Die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and Tags for Christmas stamp set. Card stock/Ink: Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Early Espresso. Punches: Scallop Square, Stamp, Scallop Border, 1" and 1/2" circle

Luckily for Mr. Grinch, he discovered that Christmas doesn't come from a store: Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more! And they say that the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day!

Ahh...one of my favorite Christmas stories (that I can recite from memory) and even my adult kids will sit down to watch the video :) What is your favorite children's Christmas books? Share it in the comments below and I'll send my Grinch card to one of you!

Gather and Gobble

Hooray for Turkey Day! While I'll be going out to eat this Thanksgiving, I still wanted to share this idea for saving your spot at the table: This cute little gobbler uses the SU! Treat Cups (116802) and a few different punches to hold a tasty treat: Pull the slider and out they come so you can re-use it year after year!

I gave a talk in church a few weeks ago on Gratitude and the question I asked at the beginning of the talk was this:

I've been trying to be more specific in my prayers for those things I take for granted: Being able to breathe and smell, a hot water heater, contact lenses, chapstick, the internet, scissors, my local library, public school, etc. etc. The list is long, but think about what you are doing right now and what blessing you aren't even considering that allows you to do it? If you had to gather or hunt for your food every meal, you wouldn't be sitting here reading my blog! Gather to Gobble AND give Gratitude to God this Thanksgiving!

Online Extravaganza: Starts Today!

Online Extravaganza: Steal of a Deal!

You know how you scour the internet to find a coupon or a great deal? You won't find anything as awesome as the Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza which starts MONDAY, November 19th and lasts through Wednesday, November 28th!! Don't miss the two 24-Hour-Only Sales on the first and last days... here is an advance notice of some of the steals you can score!

So start your shopping early this Monday, November 19th by clicking here: And grab that MDS 2+ Steal of a Deal!!

Hang On to Your Hats! Texture Boutique & Talking Tags (and that's just the beginning)

Hang on to your hats because there are SO MANY new announcements from Stampin' Up! it might blow you away (I've been completely amazed many times the past few days!!) I've shared a few videos to tell you about these new products:

First, A LIMITED NUMBER of the Texture Boutique Embossing Machines are available while supplies last...


'Tis the season of giving, and the Texture Boutique makes a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to create their own elegant embossed art. To help you with your gift-giving needs, we're offering a special value bundle that saves you $5.90. If you prefer, you can also purchase the Texture Boutique alone. Looking for stocking stuffers? Pick up some additional embossing folders.

Texture Boutique Bundle
Item 132700
$39.95 (a $45.85 value)
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 Pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim
• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive
• Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
Item 132657
$29.95
Includes

•  Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim

***AND***

Talking Tags!!

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words!

How to Buy Talking Tags: Buy 'em by the sheet! You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723). How to record a voice message: Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google PlayT. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure you're ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message.
To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code.  Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE STAMPIN' UP! ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA BLOWOUT SALE!

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

 

When I saw these frames on sale at Shopko last week, I knew I had to do SOMETHING with them, so I pulled out my Festival of Prints DSP (126901), some Glimmer paper (Silver~124005 & Red~121790), the Big Shot and a few dies (Typeset Alphabet~127553 & Snow Flurry~127813) and of course, some stamps and ink :) 

Once you've created your frame-able art, take a Stampin' Spritzer (126185) filled with rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), shake it up well and spritz glitter all over the finished project...even on the frame!

Even more fun was that I got to share this with my Seasonal Sensations Stamp Club who each made one of their own last week and they loved it too!

Holiday Helper: 12 Days of Stamping!

The holidays are just around the corner, and I have a wonderful opportunity for you! I am going to be sending out 12 Days of Holiday Helper Projects that will not only put you in the holiday mood, but help you enjoy a handcrafted holiday season. With each mailing, you will receive not only a picture of the finished project, but you will also receive a complete supply list with a step-by-step tutorial that shows you exactly how to do the project.

This special newsletter begins on Monday, November 26 and runs through Friday, December 7th. Subscribing is FREE and painless and if for any reason if you wish to stop the Holiday Helper (or future newsletters) I have a link on every email page to unsubscribe. Why not click away?

Here is a sneak peek at just one of the 12 projects: 



If you are in the Utah County area, I'd also invite you to attend the Christmas Stamp Camp this Saturday in Spanish Fork: Register by Wednesday to reserve your spot!

I am looking forward to "Helping" you through the Holidays...and beyond :)

Gift of Reading

There is nothing better than a new book to give (or receive) at Christmastime! Aside from stamping, I've also worked in a bookstore may years (to support my OTHER happy habit) so as the holidays are coming up, I want to share a few of my favorite recommendations AND a coupon for your shopping pleasure :)

TO READ TO YOUR CHILDREN:

A beautifully illustrated story of a boy learning that to give is better than to receive (or keep), this book will become a treasured tradition for your family to read aloud for the holidays. You can also download the interactive App for your Ipad and while supplies last when you buy this at Deseret Book, you get a free CD of the book being read President Monson :)

BOOK MADE INTO A FAMILY MOVIE:

Christmas Oranges

A LESSON IN FORGIVENESS:

The true story of a man whose expectant wife and 2 of their 4 children were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk teenage driver. I wish I could give this to everyone I know: It made me think about how willing I am to follow God's will for me, rather than insist that I know better than Him and about how forgiving truly frees us to live a life of purpose.

A BOOK TO COOK WITH:

My go-to blog in a book format! I love that they divide it into 4 seasons and another fav feature: The Roll-Over Ingredients, an index directing you to other recipes that use up ingredients when you bought more than you needed. Genius! Not to mention that my family has loved ANYTHING I have made from their first cookbook.

A FUTURE CLASSIC:

When we moved, I purged a lot of books, but this is one that I'll be keeping because it beautifully defines what a glorious gift the ability to read truly is! It is based on the true story of Sang Ly who helps her husband collect trash on the largest municipal dump in Cambodia to keep their family alive. The reader journeys with Sang Ly as she discovers a secret about the grumpy old woman who collects her rent that will free both of them from the past. I read parts aloud to my husband and bawled out loud on the couch as I finished it. Click on the cover to see a video that tells you more! Seriously: Get this book now. One for you and one for your best friend.

There are many more I could recommend, but this post is getting too long as it is :)

So here's the coupon (good through November 30) and hope it helps you get your shopping started: