Easter Class coming up!

Wow - time flies when you're busy and having fun!!  I hope you've been enjoying yourself, too!
Tomorrow the boys go back to school - spring break is over for them (which is kinda funny, since spring has barely started around here!) - and so we all get back in to our routines. 

I'm looking forward to my upcoming Easter class, for which I've been busy preparing.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how the group likes my selection, as it uses several dies and stamp sets that are new to me, plus the BRAND NEW - not available to order until April 1st! - Petite Purse Die and Designer Series Paper from the Summer Smooches collection!  

Here - have a look, and tell me what you think!

These are the 4 cards the class will be making.  Ideas for 3 of them were CASE'd from other wonderful Stampin' Up!
 demo's - Jean Fitch, Danielle Rivard and Michelle G.

This is the adorable Petite Purse (left), and a small basket.

This is the inside of the centre Easter card (above).

If you'd like to join in and make these wonderful cards and 3D gift items, just leave a message here, or email me at stampandcreate@shaw.ca to register!  Classes will be held Thursday march 29th 9:30-11:30am AND Saturday March 31st 7:00-9:00pm, in Burnaby.

Talk to you soon!

Until then - Happy Stamping!

~Deborah

Getting Ready for Easter Card Classes!

Hello Every'bunny'!  haha!  I've had bunnies on the brain this week - working on my Easter cards, and putting together the projects for my Easter classes next week.

Sorry I don't have any pictures for you today - but I will be completing my samples, and posting the dates and info for my classes either tomorrow or Saturday.

Stay tuned - you're in for a treat!

Til then
Happy Stamping!
~Deborah

Sale-a-bration and Occasions Mini Cards

In my last post, I reminded you that the Sale-a-bration ends on March 31st, and the Mini Occasions Catalogue ends on April 30th. 
Today, I thought I'd share with you some cards that I have made with some of the wonderful Designer Series Papers and Stamps from these 2 catalogues. 

This card is CASE'd from another wonderful demo named Mary Fish.  I loved her card so much, I had to make one of my own!  This card is made with the 'Tea Shoppe' stamp set in the Occasions Mini (item#125545(w)$42.95 or 125547(c)$33.95 set of 10)

This stamp set 'Packed for Birthday' is also in the Occasions mini (item#125746)(w)$11.95)  Here, I chose to highlight certain parts of the stamp by double stamping, colouring, cutting out & adhering them on top.

I love this new set from the Occasions called 'Mixed Bunch' (item#125535 (w)$33.95 or 125537 (c)$26.95 set of 6)  You can use the flowers seperately or layer them. The great thing is there is a matching Punch for the flowers - the 'Blossom Punch' (@125603 $22.95) which makes using these a cinch! You'll notice the lovely scalloped edging on the right side - done with the wonderful new 'Adorning Accents' Edgelits Die (#125595 $11.95 2 styles).  Here I've layered the 'Everyday Enchantment' striped DSP (#126154), the 1/8" Organdy ribbon in Calypso Coral and 3/8"Printed Designer brads(combo ribbon & brad pack #127279)-all which can be earned for FREE from the SAB Catalogue!

Can you tell I love the 'Tea Shoppe' stamp set?! The sentiment was stamped using 'Loving Thoughts' set (#125843 (w)$36.95 or 12845(c)$28.95 set of 11) onto the banner stamped & cut out from 'Take it to Heart' set (#125520(w)$35.96 or 125522(c) $28.95) Behind these is the DSP 'Twitterpated' (#125406 $13.50-12 sheets; 2ea of 6 double sided 12x12 papers) and the gorgeous 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon in Blushing Bride (#125570 $9.50 approx.5yds) To achieve that wonderful scallop edge on the DSP, I used the 2nd of the two Adorning Accents Edgelit dies (#125595 $11.95)  Everything used for this card is from the Occasions Mini Catalogue.

'Gnome Sweet Gnome' is a cute set from the Occasions Mini (#126535 (w)$33.95 or 126537 $26.95(c) set of 12) I punched the clouds using the Cupcake Builder punch from the Idea Book & Catalogue(#121807 $22.95) -the centre cloud is from the Everyday Enchantment DSP (#126154) FREE from the SAB Catalogue.  I used the #125572 Lucky Limeade and #125573 Calypso Coral Baker's Twine ($3.95ea, 25yds) from the Occasions Mini.

So you see, there are many, many wonderful products available (this is just a tiny sampling!) which can be used in many different ways!  We won't know which items may be carried over to the new Annual Catalogue in June - wouldn't you rather get it now, than be disappointed later?   And if you can earn it for FREE now - even better! 

Until next time,

Happy Stamping!

~Deborah

15 DAYS LEFT OF SALE-A-BRATION!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Wow - I can't believe  we're half way through March already!  That means we have only 15 days left of our Sale-a-bration Catalogue, and 1 1/2 months of the Occasions Mini Catalogue!

What - you don't know about the Sale-a-bration?  Well, let me explain....

With every $60 order placed (before taxes, shipping/handling) you receive 1 FREE ITEM OF YOUR CHOICE from the Sale-a-bration Catalogue!  That's right - free!!  And it's cumulative - which means if your order total $120 - you get to choose 2 free items!  The items in the SAB catty are gorgeous - regular full price items ranging from $12.95 and up, and include papers, embossing folders, stamp sets and digital CD's.
Your order can be for any item from any of our current catalogues - the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalogue (the big one!) or the Occasions Mini, or both!

Wait - there's more!

 If you host a workshop where your total order for the group is $200, you, the hostess will receive a FREE Stampin' Up! Tote. 

If your workshop totals $525, you will receive FOR FREE

• the Fresh Vintage Stamp set (5 stamps) item 125115(w) or 125117(c), PLUS
• the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper pack (12 sheets of 12x12) item 126154, PLUS
• the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack (2-10yd spools of ribbon 1 Lucky Limeade, 1 Calypso Coral) and 3/8" Printed Designer Brads  (6ea of 5 designs-30 brads total). 

ALL FOR FREE!  What a deal!

Feel free to browse through the Catalogues by clicking on the pictures here on my blog, or go directly to my online store and browse before ordering.

So, there's not much time to decide...contact me now to place your order (or order online directly by clicking the 'Order Now' button on the right hand side), or to book your workshop. 

Want to have a workshop, but not at your home?  No problem - we can use mine!  You supply the friends and a simple snack; I'll supply the room & the fun! 

Either leave a message in the comment section, or email me at stampandcreate@shaw.ca or call me at 604.298.0472 

Do you love it all, and want it all now?  Well, there's something else special about our Sale-a-bration; if you'd like to join my team as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can join before March 31/2012 for the special price of only $150 (regular$225) PLUS you'll receive your choice of a FREE PAPER PACK of Designer Series Paper OR a FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (make your choice each month) EACH MONTH FOR THE REST OF 2012!  This is a fabulous, never-before offer by Stampin' Up! 

I'm looking forward to talking to you soon about helping you earn YOUR FREE PRODUCT!

~Deborah

Masculine Card

Happy Pi Day, everyone!  Yes, it's March 14th, also known as 3/14 or 3.14, which in math, is Pi!  I guess my son's grade 11 Mathematics teacher wasn't thinking of the date when my son said 'Happy Pi Day' to him, as my son actually had to explain it!
So, on the topic of sons, or males in general - do you find it difficult to make a card that is suitable for a 'guy'?  I always find that I have lots of 'pretty' stamps and embellishments, but to make a card that won't embarrass the men in my family, I have to work at it!

I find the key is to keep it clean and simple (or CAS).  Knowing the colours your recipient likes helps, as well as if you're able to incorporate one of their hobbies or special 'likes'.

Here's a birthday card I made recently for my youngest son's 14th birthday:

Obviously, knowing what my son likes was a big boost here!  He plays bass guitar, he likes music, and being a teenager, likes to be an individual while not sticking out too much!  So here, I started with a basic A2 card base (5 1/2 x 4 1/4), layered a Real Red on top of that, then layered DSP (Designer Series Paper) from the 'Well Worn' collection on top of that.  To make the coloured squares on the smaller Whisper White mat, I inked directly onto my clear blocks - using the colours to match those in the DSP. I sponged around the edge of the WW mat with 'Early Espresso' ink, to soften the edge so it blended better with the card.  I then stamped and cut out the 'Extreme Guitar' stamp (it's retired - I bought it from another demonstrator 'specially for my son's card!) and popped it up on dimensionals next to the colour blocks.  Then I used the Scallop Oval punch & punched a Real Red oval, and topped that with an oval stamped from another retired set 'Birthday Wishes'.

The good news is that he liked the card!  Of course, everyone knows that a hand-made card has a lot of time and love spent on it, and that makes it extra special :) 

Let me know if you have had any challenges with making masculine cards, and how you've solved them!  I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time,
Happy Stamping!
~Deborah

Are you a 'Big Shot' fan?

Stampin' Up! sells the fabulous Big Shot, which is an embossing and die cutting tool made by Sizzix.  One of the great things about purchasing your Big Shot through Stampin' Up! is that it comes with a no hassle 3 year warranty.  Not all the 'big box' stores can offer you that!  Plus, Sizzix has partnered with Stampin' Up! to make exclusive dies, and not only that - you get me as your demonstrator to show you all the great ways to use it!!

Yesterday I posted the Garden Decor stakes I made using aluminum and copper, which I die-cut and embossed with the Big Shot.  Here are some glass Votive Candle Holders that I've embellished by die cutting aluminum flashing tape again with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.   Can you tell that I'm in love with the butterflies?! 
These are super-easy to make - the aluminum flashing tape comes with a self-adhesive backing so you just stick you butterflies onto your votive holder - which I purchased at the dollar store for only $1 each!  How's that for a quick but beautiful decor item that you could proudly display in your home, or give to a friend!

Here they are:

Here's the recipe again:
Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine Item#113439 $122.95, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die Item#118138 $14.95
Non-Stampin' Up!: Aluminum Flashing Tape (Home Depot), Votive holder (Dollar store), Candles

There are endless ways to use your Big Shot - do you know it can cut over 50 types of materials? - and Stampin' Up! is coming out with new dies and embossing folders all the time. 

If you're interested in seeing a Big Shot in action, give me a call or email, or leave a comment, to set up a time to get together!  If you'd like to go ahead and order one, just click on the 'Shop Here' button, which will take you to my on-line store, open 24/7!   By the way - here's a reminder - with the Sale-a-bration going on until March 31st, if you were to order a Big Shot, you would get to choose 2 FREE ITEMS from the Sale-a-bration catalogue!!  And who doesn't like free stuff?!

See you tomorrow - until then,
Happy Stamping!
~Deborah
                                   

Welcome to my New Blog!

Hello stampers!  Welcome to my new Stampin' Up! blog, where I'll be posting my latest creations, 'how-to' directions for you to follow along, new Stampin' Up! specials, and many other things!
Since I'm new to blogging, I'd love to hear your suggestion on what you'd like to see - projects, blog hops, tutorials - whatever interests you! 
I'll also be posting upcoming class schedules for you to join in the fun.

Just to get things started, this is a project I did recently, and will be including them (or something like them) in an upcoming Spring workshop - 'cause we're all wanting to get outside into the garden!

These are 2 garden decor stakes (shown without the stakes). The one on the left is made from copper, the one on the right from aluminum.  Both were cut using the Big Shot Top Note die, then embossed with the Garden Flowers embossing folder.  I then die cut the butterflies with the Big Shot Beautiful Butterflies die, embossed those, and attached them with colourful brads!  Can't you just see these in your garden, winking in the sun?  Aaahhh...I feel warmer already!

Let me know what you think!  I'd love to hear from you.
Happy Stamping!
~Deborah