Christmas Stamp A Stack!

Get an early start making your own personalized Christmas cards!  

I will be holding a Christmas Stamp A Stack at my home in Sherrills Ford in November.  The dates that I have set up right now are:  November 9 (Friday) at 6:30 pm and November 14 (Wednesday) at 1:00 pm.  I may be adding more dates if needed. 

The price is:  $35 for 20 cards / $65 for 40 cards / $95 for 60 cards  (envelopes included)
(amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities)

You will pick the cards and how many you wish to make of each design in advance (sets of 5 please) so I can have the packets ready for you when you arrive. 

If you cannot come but would like to ordera kit, please contact me for details.

Let me know if you would like me to reserve you a spot.

Door Prizes will be awarded during the event!  Don't miss out on the fun!!

Time is running out so contact me ASAP if you wish to attend!

Don't Miss - Blog Candy by All Paper Craft Crew!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This is the Grand Opening of the Paper Craft Crew Challenges. Please check out the blog and leave us a take on the sketch for this week. If you do the sketch and leave us a link to your sketch you will be entered into a drawing to win a Grand Prize Basket full of goodies! The Grand Prize drawing winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 7 and posted at 9pm EST the same day.  Mention that you read this on my blog, Inkie Fingers please!

Wait - there's more opportunities for you to win BLOG CANDY!  Make sure you visit each of the Crew's blogs, make a comment and you may be the winner of stamps, watercolor crayons, embossing folders, etc. from their blogs!!  There are several opportunities so go check out the other blogs after reading mine.  You will find a link  to the blogs in my side bar.

 Look for the Paper Craft Crew on Facebook!  You can like us by clicking HERE!  You can also find the Paper Craft Crew on Pinterest.

And, yes, I have some blog candy for you too but you have to leave me a comment below!!  Just like Trick or Treat!!  Tell me what your favorite Halloween costume was when you were growing up.  I think mine was dressing up like a hobo.  I loved Halloween growing up, didn't you?  There was always one house in the neighborhood that gave away caramel apples and we would make sure we went there before she ran out.  Too bad you can't do that in this day and age.  I feel sorry for all the kids in the northeast today that won't be able to go Trick or Treating.

My blog candy is a jar of Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, a spool of Raspberry Ripple Ribbon, a chip-board clipboard and this card below made with the Ornaments Bundle that was on sale this month.  We will be drawing for the prizes next week so stay tuned!

Our sketch for the week is:

And my take on the sketch using MDS2 is:

My Supply List:

Background     Color = Real Red

Embellishments
    Satin Ribbon\Satin Ribbon - Basic Black
    _Designer Kits\Eventful Year - embellishments\Eventful Year - pennant banner (re-colored)
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - Crumb Cake bow (re-colored)
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - Crumb Cake bow (re-colored)
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - Crumb Cake bow (re-colored)
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - Crumb Cake bow (re-colored)
    Brads\Basic Black - brad
    Brads\Basic Black - brad
    Brads\Basic Black - brad
    Satin Ribbon\Satin Ribbon - Basic Black bow

Stamps
    Hip and Handsome Overlays\Hip and Handsome Overlays
    _Designer Kits\Twitterpated\Twitterpated - flower outline, Color = WHISPER WHITE
    _Designer Kits\Twitterpated\Twitterpated - flower outline, Color = WHISPER WHITE
    _Designer Kits\Twitterpated\Twitterpated - flower outline, Color = WHISPER WHITE
    _Designer Kits\Spring Fever\Spring Fever - enjoy life, Color = BASIC BLACK
    _Designer Kits\Spring Fever\Spring Fever - enjoy life, Color = CHERRY COBBLER

Punches
    Labels & Tags\Top Note shape,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Love Letter - designer series paper\Love Letter - pattern 3
    Basics\Storytime - triangle, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK
    Basics\Storytime - triangle, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK
    Basics\Storytime - triangle, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK
    Basics\1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK 

I don't know about you but I have been watching the news coverage about "Sandy" non-stop.  My heart goes out to the people in New York and New Jersey.  We got a call today from the Red Cross to see if we are available to deploy.  Unfortunately, I have a lot going on in the next couple of weeks so I can't go at this time.  I imagine they will be needing people for a while and maybe we'll be needed later.

OK - now leave a comment and go visit the other blogs!

How to take care of your Sizzix Dies

I am trying to get a head start on my Christmas cards as well as my samples for my upcoming Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack.  This card was so easy!  I used the Sizzlit die, Delicate Doilies (pg 191) for the wreath.  I adhered the wreath to a 2 1/2" Whisper White square of card stock and popped the square up on my card.  The DSP at the bottom is from the Festival of Prints stack.

The key to using these dies that have a lot of intricate work on them is to first wrap packing tape all over the the cutting side of the die.  That way, the little bits of paper don't get caught in the die.  It makes it so much easier!

Here is another card using a Sizzix die.  This one is the Large Paper Doily (pg 191).  The red circle is embossed with the dotted embossing folder and punched out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch.  The ornament is from an old favorite, Delightful Decorations (pg 10). 

Both of these cards are simple to make - just a few dies, paper and stamps!

I am still fighting my sinus "gunk".  I thought I would be able to sleep better by not taking the decongestant at bedtime.  Well, wrong!  I went to bed at 11:00 Sunday night and was still tossing and turning when Sonny came to bed at 1.Again, I was awake every hour.  I think I finally fell asleep for any length of time around 5 am.  Guess I just can not take any drugs with pseudoephedrine.  I have been reading about it today and notice that it can cause insomnia.  Well, in the trash this medicine goes!  I felt pretty crappy all day Monday but went ahead and played bridge since I had signed up to play.  Figured I couldn't sleep anyway so I may as well do something fun.

Winter Memories

Well, it's not winter yet, but I just got this set from the Holiday Catalog, Winter Memories, and have made my sample cards with the set.  My favorite stamp in the set (and the reason I couldn't resist buying it) is the ice skates.  I've never gone ice skating in my life (and don't foresee that I ever will) but I love those skates. 

I cut the skates out separately and adhered them to the embossed oval that is popped up.  The white piece is also embossed with the Sizzix embossing folder.  

I actually didn't even realize the snowmen were in the set I was concentrating so much on the other 2 stamps.  I stamped the image with Early Espresso on the Naturals Ivory card stock.  I used Watercolor Crayons to lightly color in the image.  The red Core'dination card stock was embossed with the Woodgrain folder and sanded.  But then, I put the tape on the wrong side!  So not much of the sanding really shows through but I think it is just enough.  Plus when I took the picture of the card, I realized I had adhered the image upside down (!) but I was able to pull it off without doing any harm and turn it around.

This card was the hardest one for me for some reason.  I kept coloring it too dark when I used my markers.  So, I finally just used my ink pads and my blender pens and it worked much better.  The DSP is from the Festival of Prints found in the Holiday catalog.

Life is better with your girlfriends in it!  I had a great time yesterday visiting with my girlfriends.  Everyone needs to have good girlfriends.  It's funny about our relationship - over the years we've gotten together whenever we could but with me living in Texas for most of my married life, a lot of the times it would be a couple of years in between visits and then it would just be for a quick lunch visit when I came home to see my family.  But when we are together, it's like we are still back at ECU living across the hall from each other in Umstead Dorm.  I find myself telling these girls things I've never told anyone before and we cheer and comfort each other in our trials and tribulations of life.  Last night as we sat and reminisced over our glass(es) of wine, I remembered a meal we ate at a local restaurant when we were in college.  It was pizza steak and I have never found it again.  It was ground meat with cheese and sauce on the inside and a type of pizza sauce over the top.  They both remembered it too and said they could almost taste it.  Who knows ... it would probably not be as good now as we remember it!  Next we discovered that all three of us have recurring dreams that we are on campus but can't find our schedule to know where our class is or can't find the building that our class is in and we are frantic.  Jackie said sometimes in her dream she has missed the entire course and doesn't find it until it is time to take the final exam.  My friend Brenda is going through a lot of medical tests right now and Jackie and I are praying hard for her.  She has been having some debilitating chest pains and they have not pinpointed the problem yet.  My guess is anxiety pain but I am not a doctor.  Hopefully, she will be given some relief soon.  She drove back early this morning for a test on her gall bladder and said she had to pull over shortly after leaving Jackie's because she started having one of the chest pains.  The test she had today turned out negative as did the heart test and scope test she had last week.  Her doctor increased her blood pressure meds today and told her to stop drinking alcohol for a while.   Brenda is one of these people that takes on way too much - in her family life and her social life plus the fact that she is the most high strung person I know which doesn't help.

Joy with Watercolor Winter

I was working on Christmas cards last week.  The Watercolor Winter set is so pretty.  I made this simple card in a flash.  Stamped the holly with black ink and use markers to color it in.  Stamp "Joy" at the top and wrap plaid ribbon around the middle  -  done!!  'Joy" is from a retired stamp set and the plaid ribbon is some ribbon I've had for a long time and have no idea where I got it but I have a bunch.  This is a one layer card which I don't usually do but this one works for me.

I have been watching football today while I cleaned house.  I can't believe how many games came down to the final seconds with field goals - Carolina & Atlanta with Carolina losing, Green Bay and Philadelphia.  I had mixed feelings about the Carolina game.  I bet against them in my football pool but they are my second team so I really wanted them to win. 

I have bridge at my house tomorrow.  I made my grandmommy's vegetable soup on Saturday to serve Monday for lunch and I made a type of Boston Cream Pie with Vanilla Pudding, Cool Whip, Graham Crackers and Chocolate Icing.  Yum!!

Have a good week!

Monday Mailer Cards

It's been a great weekend.  We went to a "pig pickin'" barbecue Friday night.  We took the boat and it was so nice.  I am so happy with this cooler weather .... what a difference between here and San Antonio!!   I'll be opening our windows and turning off the AC this week.  Saturday I didn't go anywhere and got some stamping done.  It had been awhile.  And Sunday I did more stamping while watching the Panthers beat up on New Orleans.  In the afternoon, we went to Big Al's to watch the Steelers beat the Jets which made me a happy gal.  It was good to see all our Steeler friends again and to chant "Here We Go Steelers." 

I got my last August Monday Mailer cards when we returned from Texas this week.  I actually got a bit of a bonus and Carren sent me two cards!

Both of these cards are stamped on Very Vanilla - layered onto Very Vanilla.  The stamp set is Scentsational Seasons from the Holiday Mini catalog.  The tree on the right is punched out with the matching framelit and DSP is behind the cut out.  The same thing is done with the mug card.  Very simple but pretty.  A good one for mass producing your Christmas cards.

Weekend Projects

How do like the new blog background and banner?  I had such fun designing it.  I'm taking an on-line class and learning so much!  I just love that I can recolor the DSP and embellishments now.  It makes matching everything so easy.

It was a beautiful weekend here in the Carolinas ... hard to believe it's August.  Sonny and I got some fried chicken and fixins' from the grocery store, gassed up the boat and went out on the lake in the late afternoon after I got home from playing cards.  We threw the anchor over near Queen's Landing and settled in to listen to the band that was playing, Too Much Sylvia.  They were really good and I would love to go hear them again some time.   I would highly recommend them if they ever play in your area.  We didn't cover the boat at night and went out again on Saturday for a few hours before it got too hot.  And I still had time to play on Saturday afternoon.  I saw this cute snowman card on Pininterest and just had to give him a try.  Isn't he so cute?   The card base is white and I just freehanded the black and red cardstock on the top and bottom.  I used the Star Punch for the nose (sponged with Cajun Craze).  I used my white gel pen for the accents on his hat.  The felt holly is retired from Stampin' Up.

Another project I worked on this weekend was making Sour Cream Containers.  These have been around forever but I have never made any.  I volunteered to make the name tags for our Southern Living Bingo Dinner.  We auctioned the dinner away at our Bingo Night in June and got $300.  So, our group is preparing and serving a dinner for 10 people next Thursday. Sonny and I will be on our way to Texas on Thursday so this is my contribution.  I decided these Sour Cream Containers would make great name tags.  I bought some dinner mints at the Dollar Store to fill them. 

I used a retired DSP to make them.  I cut the DSP 6" x 4 1/2".  Here is a tutorial for them if you want to make one.  Warning - they are addicting!!  I think we will be making them at Stamp Club soon.

Happy Christmas Eve

I'm in San Antonio now enjoying the holidays with Ashley.  We have been on the go ever since we got here Tuesday night.  Our first stop after dropping our luggage off was a Mexican restaurant .... of course!   On Wednesday, Ashley and I got our hair cut and then did a little shopping.  Some of our best friends from Dallas were in town for a funeral so we met them at their hotel for dinner.  It was great to see then - just too bad about the circumstances.  Ashley had to work on Thursday so I took her in and then went out to buy her Christmas presents.  I waited until I got here to buy her stuff so I wouldn't have to bring everything down in my suitcase.  Thursday was her birthday so we took her out for dinner when she got off work.  She was off Friday and will be off on Monday too.  On Friday, we took turns shopping - Sonny went with her in the morning so she could help him get things for me and she and I went out after lunch.  The traffic was horrendous at all the stores but what should you expect????

I think I already mentioned that we had the family Christmas before we left.  Marianne made us all the cutest thing!  It's a Redneck Wine Glass!

Aren't they cute?  The bottom is a candle holder and she hot glued the Mason Jars to them!  She made them for the whole family.

Today has been spent watching football and doing a little baking for tomorrow.  A friend of Ashley's who is in the Air Force came over for the day.  I was making the egg casserole for tomorrow and couldn't find the eggs!  We had gone to the grocery store yesterday and I know we had bought them and that they were in the car .... somewhere!!  Ashley and I looked everywhere.   For some reason, I decided to check the closet in the bedroom because I had brought some packages in along with the groceries that I was hiding in the closet.  Well, guess where the eggs were!!  Doesn't everyone store their eggs on the floor of their bedroom closet????  Crazy, huh??

We'll be going to church later tonight and then awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus!!  I hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas.

My Christmas Stamp A Stack

Get an early start making your own personalized Christmas cards!  I will be holding a Christmas Stamp A Stack at my home in Sherrills Ford in November.  The dates that I have set up right now are:  November 4 at 6:30 pm and November 8 at 1:00 pm.  I may be adding more dates in the future. 

The price is:  $35 for 20 cards / $65 for 40 cards / $95 for 60 cards
(amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities)

Sets of cards should be done in 5’s (of same card)

You will pick the cards and how many you wish to make of each design in advance (sets of 5 please) so I can have the packets ready for you when you arrive.  You will need to bring your own adhesive.  I will have glue sticks available for you to use.

If you cannot come but would like to order kits, please contact me for details.

Please call (828-478-9272) or e-mail me (smaranich@yahoo.com)  to reserve a spot.

I will also be offering a Hostess Appreciation gift if you book a Stampin' Up Workshop during the Stamp A Stack event.  You will receive one free package of 8 ½ x 11 cardstock in your choice of color!

Door Prizes will be awarded during the event!  Don't miss out on the fun!!

I have worked hard to make cards that are basically pretty easy to put together (no heat embossing, not a lot of coloring, etc.) but are not too basic in design.

Here are the card designs that you can pick from:
(you can click on the cards to open up another window)

CARD #1 - SNOW MUCH FUN
uses Silver Glitter paper and Snowflake embossing folder

CARD #2 - HOLIDAY GREETINGS
rhinestones on the ornaments

CARD #3 - STACKED SNOWMAN
Dotted embossing folder on white

CARD #4- WARMEST OF WISHES
Snowburst embossing folder with white gel pen

CARD #5 - PENNANT PUNCHED TREES
Dotted embossing folder -  glitter on snow - uses Pennant Punch to punch trees

CARD #6 - NAUGHTY-NICE STOCKINGS
Stocking Punch makes it easy!  Designer Label Die for sentiment

CARD #7 - PEACE LOVE JOY
Designer Label Punch (non SU emb. folder)

CARD #8 - TREE TRIMMINGS

CARD # 9  Dasher with Shimmer Spray

CARD #10 - SOUNDING JOY
Sentiments stamped on vellum over Vanilla cardstock with star - could also stamp "JOY"
Silver Glitter paper stars

CARD #11 - SEASON'S GREETINGS
non-SU embossing folder - could substitute the SU stripes folder
Stocking Die and Stitched Stocking stampset

CARD #12 - GIFT GIVERS
Isn't she sweet?  Punch out with scallop circle punches
A little Dazzling Details (glitter) around her makes her a WOW!

Card #13 - plaid stockings in Cherry Cobbler  /  Card #14 Dotted stockings in Real Red

Contact me if you have any questions.

Final Christmas Cards

I need to start the dreaded chore of taking down the Christmas tree and finding all the boxes the decorations go in.  Then hauling it all upstairs and into the attic!  Wish I had a closet that I could just put the tree into - decorations and all - and just pull it out next year!  Before I pack everything away, thought I'd share a few of the hand-made cards I received from my friends this year.

This first one is from my up-line, Carol

From Cathy.  She is in my card group and just started stamping this year.  Isn't she doing a great job?!

From Vicki.  She inspired me with this card and I made quite a few similar ones.  I also had to go out and buy this Just Rite stamp set!!

From Brenda who owns Stampers Alley.  This was also an inspiration to me using non-traditional colors.

From Margaret.  This stamp set was the most popular SU set this year I believe.

Another one using Greeting Card Kids.  This is from Jennifer who was in my Stamp Club in Gig Harbor, WA.

This beauty is from Sharon "girlfriend".  Love the jewel in the center!

Last but definitely not least, this is from Judy.  I just love the vintage cardstock.  No stamping involved (except inside) and it is a beauty!

I drove up to Hickory today and had fun just going from store to store!  I had to go by the Social Security Office so while I was in town, I took advantage and went to Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, Best Buy and the mall.  I left the house a little after 1 pm and didn't get home until close to 7:30 pm!!  Sonny said he was sure glad he didn't go with me!  I scored some good buys at Hobby Lobby that I'll be playing with tomorrow.  I also will be working on two name frames for new babies.  Ashley's best friends had twins yesterday - a boy and a girl.  I think this has been the hardest thing for Ashley while she has been in Iraq - not being in San Antonio to see Lisa and Danny's new additions.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow morning to a snow filled yard!  That's what is being predicted although not much accumulation.  It'll just be nice to see some snow - especially this time of year!  It has been bone chilling cold all week.  Today was the first day I dared to venture out without my long-johns on!  I was out most of the day and it was a very nice day weather wise - got up to the mid 40's and was not bad.  I got my hair cut this morning and then met a friend at Panera Bread for lunch.  After that, I stopped by Stampers Alley to visit with my stamping friends there and check out their sales.  A few more stops - Dollar Store, Best Buy, Staples, and Winkler Bakery where I had to buy some yummy Moravian cookies!  This store (where I bought the cookies) is just in town for the holidays.  They are from Winston Salem where we went last year to Salem Village and had the most wonderful Sugar Cake - hot from the oven.  I think Sonny has decided we may have to drive down to Salem next week!  

He made sausage balls tonight and put them in a tin to send to Ashley.  That is his and Ashley's Christmas tradition - to make the sausage balls together.  I helped a little bit but he did most of it.  I doubt she'll get them by Christmas but she'll have something to look forward to after Christmas.  It is not taking our packages very long to get to her at all.  She received a box from us yesterday that we sent Priority Mail on Dec. 10.  I have to take my hats off to the Post Office for their speedy service as well as to UPS.  I received a UPS package Tuesday but when I tracked it earlier in the week, it was due to be delivered on Thursday!  I was impressed.

I've made a few more Christmas cards in the last day or two.  Every time I think I'm through, I discover someone I left off the list.  Plus, when I was at Stampers Alley today, I bought a new Just Rite set and I had to use it.  A friend sent me a Christmas card using this set (hi, Vicki!) and it was such a pretty card, I had to have the stamp.

 This is the new set I just bought - isn't it nice?  Also, I love this ribbon trim.  Another friend was the enabler on it (you, Judy!)  I saw a card she made with it and I had to have it too!  Doesn't take much to persuade me to part with my money.

I love this Santa!  This is from a set in the Holiday Mini.  If you hurry, you still have time to get him.  The Holiday Mini expires at the end of December.

 These are a couple of stamps that I bought several months ago but hadn't inked them yet.  I used Versacolor Bamboo and Celadon for the trees.  Isn't the bear the cutest?  He has Stickles on him.
 

 Another darling snowman!  He comes in the same set that Santa is in - Jolly Old Saint Nick.  The paper is from the Candy Cane Christmas DSP that is now sold out.

This set is an older Just Rite set that I had.  I was trying to color the ornaments to match the Candy Cane DSP using my Copics.  I also dyed the ribbon to match.  I love this ribbon!