Waiting for Santa - Advent Calendar Frame

I saw this frame idea once and knew it would be perfect for our "25 and Counting" stamp set.  I love that it's elegant, small, and that it doesn't involve coming up with any treats…just marking the day.  I used the set for all the tags except I swapped out the "25" stamp with the one in the Merry & Type stamp set since I wanted something more elegant.  There's also a "25" in the Joyous Celebrations stamp set, so you have 3 options if you own all 3 of these sets!  The 25 and Counting stamp set is also on sale for 50% off during Stampin' Up!'s Online Extravaganza just through Wednesday, the 28th, so it's a great time to pick up this set.

The clothespin is a small craft one hot glued to the glass.  I used glue dots to attach the December banner and the ribbon, but you could also hot glue them.  Any soft or big ribbon would look great…I used Always Artichoke Seam Binding ribbon.  Then I just got out all my punches, embossing powder, Champagne Gimmer paper, Red Glimmer paper, embossing folders, and ink so I could make all the little tags.  I did use a few retired items to add to the variety.  The colors are Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer, Red Glimmer, Marina Mist, and Always Artichoke.

The easiest part was the inside of the frame.  I used the Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock embossed with the Holiday Frame embossing folder and then sanded to reveal the inner core of the paper.  To display, just put a Christmas mug, little tin, or candy dish by your frame with all the tags in it ready to change out each day.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Online Extravaganza Starts Monday - 10 Days of Discounts up to 50% with Doorbusters!

Stampin' Up! is having their annual Online Extravaganza from Monday, November 19th through Wednesday, November 28th.  It's 10 days of saving up to 50% on our favorite crafting items.  Doorbusters are on the first and last days of the extravaganza.  Click here for the list for of all the items on sale and the 24 hour doorbuster items.  The Big Shot is 20% off on the first day (Monday) so if you've been waiting to get a Big Shot on sale, the wait is over.   Also, don't forget that hostess awards start with orders of $150 and more.  For online orders, they are called Stampin' Rewards but are the same thing.  So, make sure you click the "Claim Rewards" button before you finish your online order.

Also, as always, you earn points with me on your Online Shopper's Reward Card for all online purchases through my website.  I start a card for you after your first purchase and keep track for you.  Your card expires 2 years after your first online purchase which is plenty of time to cash in on the $50 in free items of your choice when you fill your card (good in the US only).

Happy Shopping!

Talking Tags - Record Personalized Messages for Cards, Scrapbooks, Games, Everything!

Stampin' Up! announced so many new things all at once...I'm trying to get all the information out to you asap!  Look for more information in the next day or two about the Online Extravaganza next week!

In the meantime, check out this cool new way to leave messages or instructions in a greeting card, on the back of a photo, in a scrapbook, on a gift tag, in a letter, for babysitters or dog sitters, for scavenger hunts, for Easter egg hunts, for murder mystery dinner games...the list goes on.

They come in sheets.  You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723).

How to record a voice message:

1. Download the FREE TalkingTag App on your smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes(r) or Google Play.

2. Adhere the message tag to the flat surface of your choice.

3. Open TalkingTag 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 message.  Instructions for the recipient to play the message are right on the tag.  Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

This is too cool...I'm ordering some for myself today!  You can too by clicking on my Shop Now link on the sidebar or wait until Monday for the start of the Online Extravaganza (NOV 19th - 28th) which includes the Big Shot for $79.96 (Monday only)!  I'll post separately with more about that.

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine - Video

Hummm...can you say cute and portable?  This is a limited item that Stampin' Up! is testing out.  There are only 4000 available, so if you're interested, order it online asap.  Here's a video of it in action from Stampin' Up! home office.

2 ways to get it:

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

Happy embossing!

Stampin' Up! has an App for That! - Simply Sent App for iPhone!

Stampin' Up! has created a free card-making app for your iPhone.  They will release an Android version soon too.  The app is called Simply Sent and it allows you to create an e-card from a template or on your own and send it through e-mail or post it on Facebook.  It's not an app using My Digital Studio, but it has similar artwork and gives you a taste of the digital side of Stampin' Up!

You can download it from iTunes or the App Store free!  I don't have an iPhone so you'll have to try it out and let me know how you like it!

More announcements coming...stay tuned!

November Stamp Night Projects – The Joys of Tinted Glimmer Paper

My Joy card uses the Holiday Frame embossing folder.  This folder looks like it won’t be carried over into the big catalog, so get it before January 2nd if it’s on your wish list.  I used Silver Glimmer Paper tinted with Lucky Limeade reinker for the ornament top.  The ornament is made with the Ornament Punch and the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  I also made the banner shine by covering it with Illuminate ink using a dauber.  {See technique book below for how to tint your Glimmer paper.}

Here is the technique book page for instructions on tinting.  I used Melon Mambo reinker for the pink heart with the Affection Collection stamp set.  Becky said in class that she’s never seen me use Melon Mambo before.  I know it’s a stretch for me…I usually don’t go so bright.

This birthday owl card was inspired by a similar card shared by another demo on our demo site.  I used Crumb Cake and Soft Suede with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  The “Happy Birthday” is from the You’re Amazing stamp set, but also available as a single stamp until January 2nd.  The owl is, of course, made using our Owl Builder Punch.  {TIP:  Put a dimensional right where the hat and owl’s head meet to help keep his hat on and raise him out of the tree in just the right spot.}

Our third project was this cute mitten gift tag using the Two Tags die and Mitten Builder Punch (this punch looks like it won’t be available after the Holidays either).  The mittens are the Orchard Harvest designer paper from the Holiday catalog.  So, to match, I used Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, and Early Espresso.  The background is Crumb Cake (I don’t know what I’d do without my Crumb Cake cardstock!).  I also ran the mittens through the Square Lattice embossing folder to make them look knitted and added a strip of embossing on the Crumb Cake with the Delicate Designs folder.

Happy Stampin’

Sneak Peek Demo Only Monthly Magazine & Ink-redible Promotion

Click here for a small sampling of the magazine I receive every other month as a demonstrator.

The bimonthly Stampin' Success magazine is filled with project ideas, business ideas, advice, and recognition for demonstrators.  If you want to see more ideas call me and plan a party to gather your friends for a girls' night out.   Our magazine is just one of the many perks of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  Let me know if you want more info.  If you’re interested in joining my team, you can sign up online through my website.  This month only, you get to choose an entire color collection of ink pads as a thank you for joining!  

You can also get the free ink with a $450 online order.  You have to select your qualifying ink collection using one of the following item numbers.  

      132652 Brights Classic Stampin' Pads 

      132653 Subtles Classic Stampin' Pads 

      132654 Regals Classic Stampin' Pads 

October Stamp Night Projects – Bootiful & Tulle Snowflake

Well, better late than never…Here are the other two projects from October Stamp Nights.  I already posted the third one in October which you can see by searching for Treat Window Envelope Tutorial.

Does it really need to be Halloween to give this witch boot card to someone…I think not!  I used dazzling diamonds to make the boot extra sassy, and actually, you could do this card in any color scheme.  I love the saying on this Bootiful stamp set stamp.  I also used the Black & Gray Striped Satin Ribbon and the Designer Ribbon Slides from the Holiday catalog.  {TIP:  Use a glue dot behind your ribbon slide if the weight of it makes your ribbon droop.}

The Tulle Snowflake Christmas card is one I designed at Craftaway Studios and then finished figuring out the Tulle after I got home.  It uses the Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, 1 ¼” Scallop Circle punch, Snow Flurry Bigz die, and Mixed Medley & Greetings of the Season stamp sets.   The Tulle Ribbon is tied to the snowflake behind it (snowflake layers are on top of tulle).  I used the top scallop embellishment to hide the tied cord.  The brad is for show and only in the scallop circle which is on dimensionals.  The whole tulle snowflake is then hot glued to the card front.  {TIP:  The best way to keep the Tulle Ribbon from rolling up is to pinch it together and tie it with cord or string.  This is 3 strips each 4” long all pinched together in one bundle and tied.  Then I pulled each piece of the Tulle up through the snowflake branches and spread them out.}

Reminder: My Digital Studio photo book and calendar gifts need to be uploaded for printing by December 6^th!  So, start these soon.