Gift Cards

In this day and age, it seems like it is so easy to give gift cards to family and friends for birthdays and Christmas or any occasions.  That way the recipient can purchase what he or she wants.  I have thought in the past that gift cards were just too impersonal.  But the older I get, the better gift cards seem to me!  I like getting them and I like giving them.  I usually keep a list on my personal Amazon site of things I want, books I'd like to read, etc. so anyone who wanted to give me a gift could check out that site and either give me a gift card or find the item I have listed somewhere and buy it for me.  I try to keep it up to date.  I think that would be a good idea for everyone to make shopping easy.   But buying gift cards sure eliminates the hustle and bustle at Christmas time - fighting the crowds in the mall and resisting the temptation to buy something for yourself as well as for that special someone you are shopping for!!  Don't get me wrong - I enjoy shopping as well as the next person and it really gets me in a festive mood at Christmas time but there are some people that are just impossible to buy for because they seem to have everything they need or you don't see them enough to know what their likes and dislikes are - that is when gift cards come in handy.  So ..... I have made a few gift card holders to make those impersonal gift cards much more personal!

Using the Bow die and Square Sizzix Die

Gift Card open

Perfect Blend - perfect for that Starbucks gift card!

Uses Card Base Pop N Cuts



Pop N Cuts Gift Card - open

Festive Flurry Stamp and Framelit (Holiday Mini)

If you would like to make these gift cards, I will be doing a class for them at Hobby Lobby next Tuesday at 6 pm.  The price is $15 to make all three.  I will be supplying all the materials using Stampin' Up products - you just need to bring scissors and adhesive.  Contact me if you are interested!


ALSO - don't forget the new Weekly Deals starting today!

Weekly Deals!

A new round of weekly deals has started. Make sure you head on over to get great product at a discount!

	Adorning Accents Textured Embossing Folder Item # 125601 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$10.95 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$8.21 CAN
	Autumn Accents Die Item # 127812 Regular Price: $21.95 US/$26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon Item # 132135 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$12.50 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$9.37 CAN
	Cupcake Punch Item # 121807 Regular Price: $16.95 US/$22.95 CAN Discounted Price: $12.71 US/$17.21 CAN
	Day in the Life Kit MDS Download Item # 128876 Regular Price: $14.95 US/$16.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.97 US/$9.90 CAN
	Dress Form Pop N Cuts Item # 130100 Regular Price: $21.95 US/ $26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Simply Created Goody Gear Pumpkin Pie Item # 132792 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.95 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$5.21 CAN
	Rhinestones Large Item # 129324 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.50 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$4.87 CAN

Amped Up Ampersands

Don't forget to check all this week for the specials and samples Stampin' Up has in store for us for My Digital Studio.  These are the specials that will be on sale.  It's all happening at MyDigitalStudio.net.

11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit

11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set

11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template

11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit

11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards

11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template

11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit

11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

They are also offering 30% off  print services for the projects you create with MDS.  

Have you wanted to try MDS?  You can Try it FREE for 30 days!!

I purchased the Amped Up Ampersands Kit on Friday and here is a page I made of Alabama's concert on the first day of our cruise.

Ashley went to Seoul, Korea Saturday to teach a class this week.  Isn't that crazy?  By the time her body gets used to the time change, she'll be back home.  That life is definitely only for the young!  It is a 14 hour time difference!  She sent me a quick email this morning to let me know she arrived safe and sound.  She said she was going to bed - trying to convince her body it was bed time and not 6 a.m.!!

FREE Moments Ago

It's official-Digital Scrapbooking Day 2013 has arrived! And with a bang we might add.  One of Stampin' Up's talented concept artists, Jen Campbell, created the FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set and today she's sharing some project ideas. Plus, we have more guest bloggers to highlight our daily deal, the Hello There Kit- a fan favorite!



Here's a quick page I did on MDS using the FREE set above.



My grandson doing his best Dracula face!

Best of and MDS News

It's Digital Scrapbooking Day  TODAY - Saturday, November 2, 2013. But one day just isn't enough, so we're celebrating for eight days, November 1-8, 2013!

Here's what we have lined up:

• Guest bloggers: A talented group of demonstrators, customers, and designers from around the industry will share project inspiration on the blog.

• FREE download: Be sure to check in on Saturday, November 2 to get your freebie.

• Videos: We'll share some more ideas with training videos to help you get started.

• Daily deals: Every day, we'll feature a new download for 50% off!

• Challenges: Use the daily deal download to create a project for your chance to win free downloads. (Upload your samples to the gallery with the matching tag to enter.) 

Here's the list of the 50% off daily deal downloads:

• 11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit
• 11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set
• 11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template
• 11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit
• 11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards
• 11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template
• 11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit
• 11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

So, head on over to the MDS Blog and check it all out.

****************************************************************


And in other good news - the Best Of 25 Years stamp set was announced.  I just love these little hedge hogs!!




To order this set, go to my Online Store (see link at top) or contact me and I will put the order in for you.     Best of Snow 134387 - $14.95

Use the hostess code please when ordering - KYR7ZKH9

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

 

 

How is that for a cutie pie?  This is my nephew's little boy and is he cute!!

 

 

We have a low key Halloween at our house.  We don't get any trick or treaters at our door so I don't even buy candy or turn my lights on!  Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays.  I would go all out with decorating the house when my kids were little - inside and out.  But now ... not so much.  Plus I don't have to sacrifice my diet by eating all the candy that Ashley and Jeff would bring home.  Ashley doesn't like chocolate so Sonny, Jeff and I would get all that goodness.  I can close my eyes and picture them coming home from trick or treating in their cute outfits and dumping their buckets out on the floor and then bargaining with each other and trading candy.  When they went to bed, Sonny and I had the job of testing the candy to make sure it was ok for them to eat!!

 

This year I did make a cute Halloween picture that I framed and have sitting in my kitchen.  I used paper, punches, stickers, embellishments, etc. that I found in my stash.

 

 

This was one of my favorite squares - candy corn made from the Pennant die.

Frankenstein looks pretty scary too - a little punch art and a black Sharpie helped.



 

CONGRATULATIONS to the Boston Red Sox for winning the World Series tonight!  We have friends that are really happy about now.

 

Cruising

We made it home Tuesday afternoon and picked up Sammie from my mom's. Mom really liked having her visit and I don't think she wanted to see her go.  But I think she missed me a little bit!  While I was trying to type my blog posting, she jumped up in my lap and stretched out in my lap so I couldn't type anything on my laptop. 

Our cruise was awesome!  Alabama put on their first concert out on the pool deck as we were pulling out of the Miami port.  They may look pretty old but they can still belt out the songs.  We were all having a great time singing along with their familiar songs.

 

Alabama Concert .... day 1

 Day One was the first theme night - Rep Rally Night.  We showed our Steeler pride and got lots of attention!

Sonny & Ashley at Alabama concert - day one

When we woke up on Friday (day 2), we were in Nassau and docked next to us was the Disney Dream cruise boat.  I don't know if this is the same one Jeff and Darcie sailed on last month but if so, too bad we didn't plan our trips so we could have met up with them.

 

 

 

This was the view from our balcony of the Disney ship!



 

Day 2 - we woke up and saw this next to us!

Day 2 - Ashley and I showing off our tees

 Day 2 we disembarked in Nassau.  It was drizzling a little bit making it pretty hot and sticky.  But that didn't stop us. 

Day 2 MDS tees
 

 Ashley and I made tees using My Digital Studio.  On the front are flip flops and the caption "Alabama and Friends Festival at Sea" and on the back is the picture of my feet in the sand and the caption "Dance Barefoot"

Norwegian Pearl

I'm on my way back home.  We had a great trip / cruise!  Made lots of new memories.  We dropped Ashley off at the Ft Lauderdale airport about 11:00 this morning and made our way through Florida to a hotel in Brunswick, Georgia.  So, tomorrow's trip should not be too long.  I am going to try to share a couple of pictures but the internet in this hotel is pretty slow!

Our ship - we were on the 9th floor - one of those rooms up there with a small balcony.

Waiting to go through Customs - at Miami cruise terminal

The view from our Miami hotel - just beautiful!

Night View from our hotel window in Miami Wednesday night

We made friends with the Security Guard at the Miami Marriott and he gave us vouchers for drinks Thursday a.m.  He didn't realize we were checking out that morning for our cruise.  Ashley and I couldn't let them go to waste though!  So we headed over to the bar and had mimosas and bloody Mary's!!

The 3 of us as we pulled out of Miami on Thursday

Have a Holly Jolly!

I have been working on the cards for my Christmas Stamp a Stack which will be Saturday, Nov. 16.  This is one of the cards that did not make the cut.  I really like it though.

 

I used Real Red cardstock that is embossed with a Script embossing folder.  The tag is from the Chalk Talk dies and the "Holly Jolly" label is stamped from the Tags 4 You set and punched out.  I used a piece of Coredinations card stock in Early Espresso that I sanded to look distressed along with half of a doily that I sponged with a little Espresso ink so it would not be so stark white.  I love the Season of Style DSP made into a bow with the Biggz Die!!  Love that die!

 

 

 

Banner Kit

At Stamp Club last week we decorated the little canvas bags found in the holiday catalog.  I used Stampin' Up's new Banner Kit to sponge and to spritz the bags.  This kit makes it sooo easy!!

Here is the full kit.  You get a full set of alphabet stencils, some background stencils, jute twine, 18 canvas pennants and a spritzer.   Although the kit comes with a spritzer, you can also use a sponge or a dauber.   This kit is just $19.95!!  item # 133407.  you get 18 canvas pennants. 

This is the refill kit.  You get 18 canvas pennants and some jute twine (approx. 9 feet).  The refill is just $9.95 item #13699.




Here is the bag that one of the gals made stenciling her initial on it.

Pretty cool huh?

I'll be making a Christmas banner when I return from my cruise and will be sharing it.

Envelope Tag Bookletenvel

 This is the project that I taught the gals to make at the Quarterly meeting in Shallotte.  The tag book is made using the Envelope Punch Board!  The front and back covers are just cardboard (from packages of DSP) that I covered with Designer Series Paper (retired).  I used this retired DSP because I love it!  I think it is probably my favorite that Stampin' Up has ever had and I still have 2-3 unopened packages!!  When it was in Clearance, I really stocked up.  I'm not sure if it is still in the Clearance section or not.

Front Cover using Expressions Thinlits and the stamp set from Truly Thankful.

I used Shipping Tags that I bought at a local office supply store to fit in the envelopes.  I just measured the shipping tag and found an envelope that was closest to it in size on the board.

I printed out a bunch of quotes from My Digital Studio to decorate the pages of the book

Add caption

Each tag had an inspirational quote that I printed out from MDS
 

I also made a second tag booklet from my SU Convention trip.  I put pictures of Marianne and I at convention in each little pocket.  It really turned out cute.

Made it to Florida!!

I had a pretty uneventful 65th birthday yesterday.  I got a wake-up call from my mom at 8:30 am but she actually didn't realize it was my birthday.  She knew it was on Tuesday but didn't realize that it WAS Tuesday until later that night!!  She told me later that was what I got for waking her up 65 years ago wanting to make my appearance into this world!  Later in the morning, Ashley called to wish me a happy birthday and while talking to her, my girlfriend called from Texas.  To top it off, I got a phone call from my son, Jeff and his family Tuesday night just as we were checking into our hotel in St. Augustine, Florida.  That made my day!  It was so great to talk to all of them.  Monday was Darcie's birthday (my daughter in law) and we had texted back and forth Monday night when I couldn't reach her by phone.

Yes, we made it to St. Augustine  - leaving home around 11:30 and arriving here about 7:30.  A long day rainy in the car - especially for Sonny who did all the driving.  Today I am excited to be meeting up with Karen, my college roomie, after 40 years!!  I wonder if we will even recognize each other.  After our reunion, we will be driving to Ft Lauderdale to pick Ashley up at the airport and then heading on over to Miami to our hotel.  Thursday morning, we will find a place to put the car and head on over for our cruise.  Super excited! 

So you might not hear from me for a few days.  Internet is too costly on the ship so I will be waiting until Monday to do more posting .... except for the posts I have scheduled in advance.

Ta-Ta for now!!

Happy Birthday - Let the Party Begin!!

Happy Birthday to me!  Guess Stampin' Up planned this party in my honor!!  Since I am now officially on Medicare, I can use the savings!!  We are heading out today for Florida.  We will pick Ashley up at the airport in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday and spend the night in Miami before boarding the Norwegian cruise ship and the Alabama Festival At Sea!!  Whoo Hoo!!

 

I always love when Stampin’ Up! rolls out a wonderful promotion.  We’ve been celebrating Stampin’ Up!’s 25th anniversary all year-long.  It all started with an amazing Sale-a-Bration with Silver Glimmer Paper as a bonus for certain hostess orders.  It continued with Best of 25, monthly limited-edition collections of stamps from the last 25 years.  Customers earn an additional $25 of hostess rewards on orders greater than $250 in October.  For the past two weeks, we offered you the opportunity to join Stampin’ Up! for just $25 (and we’ve added more time for you to join - more on that later).  Those are all great, but the promotion that launches today will surely send fireworks into the night sky. 

 

 

Starting today (October 22) and through Monday (October 28), Stampin’ Up! is offering a 25% discount on 25 pre-selected stamp sets.  Wowzers!  There are some amazing sets here – gorgeous holiday sets, great sentiments, single stamps and even an alphabet set.  I’ve already made my wish list – and I know some of these are on yours, too. 

 

Click on the flyer HERE and see all the great deals!! 

 

Go to my Online Store (link at top of blog) and order away!!  Please use the hostess code  KYR7ZKH9.

 

WEEKLY DEALS

We’re not done yet.  Today is Tuesday, which means we are starting a new week of Stampin’ Up!’s Weekly Deal, typically a selection of five products at discounted prices.  This week is no exception. 

 

And don't forget the new items added to the Clearance.

 

Too many great deals to pass up!!

The Present

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $36,400.  It carries over no balance from day to day.  Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.  What would you do?  Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank.  It's name is TIME.  Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.  Every night, it writes off, as a loss, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance.  It allows no overdraft.  Each day it opens a new account for you.  Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.  There is no going back.  There is no drawing against tomorrow.

You must live in the present on today's deposits.  Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success.

The clock is running.  Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

Treasure every moment that you have!!
Remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called The Present.

Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit - Awesome!

Stampin' Up! recently introduced this AMAZING Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit and although it's intended for true-blue beginners, I say it's for EVERYONE!  




It's great for those of us who occasionally forget someone's birthday (don't we all???) or when we don't necessarily have the perfect handmade card ready to give or put in the mail.  It comes with everything that you'll need to make 20 cards, PLUS an adorable stamp set that you can use FOREVER! 



Here's what's included:

• Cardstock and envelopes for 20 cards
• Twine, buttons and clips
• Full-color Tips & Tricks brochure
• A cool, storable, giftable box (put a bow on it and give it as a gift!)
• Die-cut paper embellishments
• Stampin' Spots (mini ink pads)
• 7-piece Occasions Stamp Set & clear stamp block

All you need aside from all of the contents in the Kit is a bone folderand some adhesive. Talk about EASY!

 I hope that I have inspired you to get your own Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit and get crafty with it, as well as buy one or some as a gifts for friends and family members who has been too afraid to play with paper.  

How Short Life Is

Wow!  It's already Friday??  Where does time go?! 

I have been trying to wrap my mind around a tragic event that happened this week.  One of my son's high school friends committed suicide.  He went to a park and put a gun to his head.  What led up to this young man's death?  What demons was he fighting?  Why did he not get help?   I heard from another friend of my son's last night who is struggling to understand this tragedy also.  He and James had parted ways several years ago over a disagreement and now, he is realizing how short life can be. He is now trying to reach out to other friends who have become estranged (one being my son).  So maybe some good can come out of this tragedy.  We are reminded how short life really is at times like this, and how we are just passing through. So, all the people you haven't told you love lately, tell them, and live your days like you mean it.

I want to share with you the muslin bag that Joy did at club this week.  She decided to make the bag her own and stenciled her initial onto the bag.  I think it turned out really cute.

 

Also - SAVE THE DATE!!  I will be sending out info soon about the Christmas Card Stamp A Stack.  I will be finishing up the cards for the event this weekend.  I have one date so far - November 16 (Saturday).  We will also be picking a weekday evening which has not been determined yet.  This is always such a fun event.  You don't want to miss it if you live in this area!!

Here is one of the cards I made this week.  Will it make the cut?  Not sure  - what do you think?

Paper Craft MDS Card

It's time for another Paper Pals sketch challenge.   Again, I used My Digital Studio to create this fun Halloween card.

I used Candid Frames for the photo strip frames and inserted the Halloween images in the frames.  I used a strip of designer paper for my ribbon.  All in all, a pretty easy card this week.

Today was one of my stamp club days.  Joy was the only one who came today so we had a one-to-one stamping day.  A couple of the gals were out of town and another gal had a dr. apt and will be coming on Thursday.  But, Joy and I had fun.  After she finished the cards and muslin bag, she cut and stamped some leaves and letters so she can make a Fall plaque like the one HERE.  I can't wait to see her finished project!  She did her little muslin bag so cute.  Instead of making it for Halloween, she used the dauber and did red polka dots and did her initial (J) in the center.  I'll be sharing the picture I took of it later.  We came up with the idea that the little muslin bags would make a cute little tooth bag for the grandkids.

October Club Cards

This is my week for Stamp Club and we have a variety of cards to do.  First off, since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought it appropriate to do a card for that.  I lost my sister to breast cancer so the cause is near and dear to my heart.  This card is for you, Deb.

I made a heart mask from a window sheet and used the spritzer (filled with alcohol and pink ink refill) to lightly spritz the heart.

Since it is almost Halloween, a couple of Halloween projects are in order also.

This card uses Summer Starfruit, Wisteria Wonder and Tangerine Tango.  I stamped the candy from Halloween hello on the card in the different colors of ink.  I stamped a single stamp onto colored cardstock, cut it out and adhered it with dimensional tape.

I used the stencils from the holiday mini catalog that comes with the banner kit to color these muslin bags (also from the Holiday Catalog).   For the polka dot bag, I used a dauber to make the Pumpkin Pie dots.  For the other bag, I used the spritzer again filled with alcohol and Pumpkin Pie ink.  It was so easy!!  Won't these be cute filled with candy for the munchkins who come trick or treating at your house?

Our final card is an early Thanksgiving card.  I CASEd this card from the wonderful Jan Tink.  I used the DSP, Sweater Weather and sponged all the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  I used Crystal Effects to glaze the acorns.  The ribbon and button are both retired.  I used a marker to draw a faux buttonhole.

So .... would you like to join my club??  I have a couple of gals who are long distance members.  I would love to have more!

Pleasant Poppies

Here is a card I made quite some time ago but I don't think I have shared it yet.  The Top Note die is the first Sizzix die that Stampin' Up offered us.  I don't even remember when - probably 3-4 years ago.  I remember thinking I didn't need a Big Shot and dies!  HA!!  Was I wrong!  I don't think many of us make cards anymore without using that great machine!  It has definitely taken card making to another level. 

 

The base of the card is Very Vanilla, run through the Polka Dot embossing folder and adhered to the Marina Mist card.  The Very Vanilla piece is also trimmed at the bottom with Edgelits Finishing Touch.  I cut a little more than half of the Top Note from Marina Mist and another one from Very Vanilla.   I stamped the poppy flowers (Pleasant Poppies) in black and used markers to color the flowers.  I trimmed the Very Vanilla on the dotted lines around the edges, glued it to the Marina Mist Top Note and adhered the whole thing to the top of  my card.  The wide pink grosgrain ribbon is retired but I thought it looked great on this card.  What do you think?

 

 

 

Sonny and I went to the movies Saturday and saw Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks.  If you get a chance, GO see this movie!!  It was so good.  I was crying at the end - and even saw tears in Sonny's eyes which I am sure he would deny.  The movie is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of The Alabama (a cargo ship) by Somali pirates.  The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips, and the Somali pirate captain, Muse, who takes him hostage.  

 

Good news for Sunday ..... my STEELERS won their first game of the season!!  I know it is week 6, but it was good to have a win against the NY Jets.  Our ex-neighbors (in Gig Harbor) weren't very happy since Joe is a big Jets fan, but hey, I was happy!!  Plus, I picked the Steelers to win in the football pool!!

Gorgeous Grunge Gift Card

If you like deals, check out the Clearance section.  New items were added today.  Just click on the clearance tab at the top of my blog to check them out.

I have a great little gift card for you to make and it's so easy!! 

I used the Sizzix Scallop Square die (retired) to cut 2 scalloped squares with Modern Medley DSP.  I used red liner tape around all the edges and taped them together.  On the top, I cut off a couple of inches and used a brad to attach the cut off piece to the other part of the scallop square making an opening to insert the gift card. 
Use the Bowz Die and make a bow (I used Polka Dot DSP).  Attach the bow to the front of the scallop (on the top part).  I cut a couple of flowers from the Flower Sizzix Die and stamped them with Gorgeous Grunge and made flowers and leaves to attach to the bow.

Stampin' Up has a contest where you could design the next stamp set for the company!   

• Participate in stamp set design challenges by drawing and submitting your original artwork
• Help choose new stamp sets by voting on submissions
• Post comments and interact with others in the community
• Earn badges for your activity in the community

SU will produce and sell one or more stamp sets from among the top-voted submissions in each challenge. Plus there are fabulous prizes for top designs. 

If this is something you are interested in, click here for more information.
So far, there have been 2 stamp sets designed in the "In With You" challenge.

SPREAD THE JOY

and the newest set - MONSTERMANIACS STAMP SET

I just love the saying in the Spread the Joy set and will be ordering it real soon.