Project Life® by Stampin' Up!

Happy Friday - and Happy Halloween!

Busy day hauling treats and hot lunch to school, then helping out for the class party … so another video today on my favourite Stampin' Up! product line … Project Life.  You think I'm kidding?  Yesterday I received my order with ALL of the remaining PL items - yup - now I own them all.  Every.  Single.  Item.  I think I need an intervention *lol*

Check out the video … go eat some candy and have a stampy day!


Tam

Seasonal Snapshot Project Life Card Collection by Stampin' Up!

Happy Thursday!

Half day for the kids today … that translates into me getting "not a lot" done day so another video for you!

You KNOW how much  love Project Life.  You get SO much product in one little package!  It is SO quick and easy to simply put your photos in the sleeves, add a journalling card and IF YOU HAVE TIME a little embellishment.  Seriously.  I don't know why anyone would use an ordinary photo album any more.  These rock!

Busy day tomorrow with Halloween … so I better TRY to get a few things done before the kids' pottery classes tonight.  Pop in again soon - and have a stampy day!!


Tam

Christmas Bliss

Happy Wednesday - again!

OK - I missed posting actual projects!  Videos are great but come on … you wanna see more cards, right? *lol*

I have 20 minutes to spare between loads of laundry, doing dishes and making dinner so I figured it was time for some mind candy for all of us!

Here is yet another card I made for my Stamp-a-Stack last month.  Gotta say - LOVE it! (ya, ya, I know, I say that about every card *lol*).   Ready?

Wa-low!  Fan-flippin-tastic, I say!  I'm just LOVING lots of white space, minimal stamping and large shapes - this one just makes me happy!

"Why Tamara!  How did you get those adORable little tree shapes?", I hear you cry!  Well!  Have you looked at your package with the Snowflake Card Thinlit Die closely?   It has an adorable little Christmas Tree thinlit in it …

I used that little cutie to make the trees out of the Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack (from the Holiday Catalogue).

"Why Tamara!  What set is that fantastic sentiment from?" I hear you cry again!  That, My Friend, is from the much forgotten photopolymer set "Christmas Bliss".   Yes, you SHOULD order that set - it has great sentiments for the season this year (really the ONLY sentiment set this year!)

I stamped that bad boy in Crumb Cake - added a few sequins from the Frosted Snowflakes sequins in the Holiday Catalogue (with glue dots) and Ta-DA!  One quick, easy fantastic Christmas card.

You're welcome :)

Pop in again tomorrow for another video *lol*.  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Gratitude for Days Simply Created Kit® Alternate Sample

Happy Wednesday!

This is a little kit available in the Holiday Catalogue.  You can use it in so many different way - here is an album idea:

Thanks for popping in!  Have a super stampy day :)


Tam

Many Merry Stars Simply Created® Kit Additional Ideas

Happy Tuesday!

As promised, here is a video showing you some alternate uses for the new Many Merry Stars Kit.

Pop in again tomorrow for another video.  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Many Merry Stars Simply Created® Kit

Happy Monday!

Thought I'd take a break from the usual ramble and post some videos of some new products.

This kit is one that has just become available in the new Holiday Supplement (click on the image over on the right hand side to access the full brochure).  this kit has SO much product in it!  You can make (26) 3-D stars… or use the pieces to make other projects or cards.  They are easy to put together - I know the girls will love it!

Pop on again tomorrow when I'll share another video with some alternative ideas for this kit.  Until then, have a stampy day!


Tam

Making Spirits Bright

Happy Sunday!

Phew - yay for Sunday …. a MUCH needed down day for me today!  Yesterday was SO much fun making freezer meals with friends.  I'm really loving getting out of the house more, socializing and doing "out of the norm" things … but it has really taken its toll on me this week!  I suppose waking t 5:00 am everyday doesn't help and yesterday I was seriously counting down the minutes until I could go to bed.  I WOULD have gone at 6:30 pm … but of course I'm at *that age* where my back on allows 8 hours maxim of being horizontal *lol*  Luckily I have about 10 projects on the go at any one time so I went to my cave and crafted until I couldn't stand it anymore and collapsed into bed.

Today I *should* take the kids shopping for winter coats.  For the first time in 11 years I am unprepared for the inevitable snow that is on the way - no winter coats and only one pair of boots.  See?  I AM relaxing more in these areas.  The *old* me always had winter sorted in July … when these things go on sale at Costco … not this year!  Of course now I have to head out with the other thousands of unprepared moms looking for things … but that's ok.  In the grand scheme of life, right?  So yes, I *should* go shopping … but I may just stay home instead and do it tomorrow.  Momma needs a home day!

So today I'm sharing a card I made at LEAST a month ago.  Here it is ...

I love this set - it's great for all year round - "Making Spirits Bright".  You can tell I designed a whole swack of my Christmas cards in one day tis year - they all have a very similar look, del and layout.  I'm loving clean, simple and sentiments in the bottom right hand corner.  For this one I ran the layer through the large circle embossing folder, stamped the image with Memento Black ink then coloured it with my Blendabilities and added a little Dazzling Diamond glitter (haven't used that stuff in for EVER!)  I added some ribbon and wash tape then popped the image up with dimensionals.  So quick and easy … and I got to colour, which always makes me happy :)

That's it for now.  The family is still sleeping so I think I'll sneak down to my cave and create something fabulous.  Yep - I love Sundays!  Enjoy yours - have a stampy day!


Tam

Calling All Super Heroes

Happy Saturday!

Ever tried blogging with a cat's head on your laptop keyboard?  Good times! *lol*  Yes, my lovely fur balls have joined forced to ensure that they wake me up at 5:00 am everyday and then thwart my efforts to be even mildly productive at that time.  They take turns.  Seriously.  Every.  Day.  This.  Week.  I ask you … is it REALLY necessary a) to lick yourself for 10 minutes straight and b) to lick yourself for 10 minutes straight at 5:00 am?  That sound drives me crazy in the DAY time, never MIND when I'm in the middle of a romantic dream with George Clooney!!!!  Dumb fur balls!

Well … despite being up ay stupid-o'clock AGAIN I'm looking really forward to today.  I'm spending most of it cooking with friends.  We're getting together to make 10-20 freezer meals so I can offer my family better options than Kraft Dinner on those nights when we have things going on.  Notice I say "offer" because let's face it - they aren't very likely to EAT these lovely offerings, now are they?  Nope.   The little *angels* will likely wrinkle their noses and decide they don't like it before it ever hits their cute little tongues … cause that's what they do *lol*.  But thats ok.  I've decided Mom's Restaurant is closed from now on as I can't seem to figure out the rules of what they do and don't like.  Seriously.  They will eat, say, lasagna, … but not on a Wednesday of a full moon in a month that ends with the letter Y … but they'll eat pretty much anything if they get to do it in front of the TV … or if grandma is over … or if they are wearing their lucky socks.  Ya.  Whatever.  So I decided a few months ago since I can't please everyone I'm gunna please myself! (hey, isn't that a song?).  I make what I think Craig and I will like and if the small people can't *possibly* gag it down because it's soooooo horrible … well … the toaster is over there!  They HAVE used the toast option a few times but really … they're pretty lazy and rather than get up and make the toast they usually gag down my food.  Score one for mom!  Sooooo - to sum up a rather long, rambling post (hey, give me a break, it's 5:30 in the morning!!!) I'm going to make 20 meals that I'M looking forward to eating!! … once I can eat carbs again, that is!

Right - enough psychobabble about my pets and kids - on to an actual card!  Here is what we made at Technique Class last month:

Sca-WHEEL!  Don't you just LOVE it???? I sat and stared at it for EVER when I first made it.  LOVE it!  I got the inspiration from Laura-Lee Doucet over at www.lauraleestamps.com.   Here is her card that I loved:

I just loved the colours she used and the city line image … so I set out to make my own version.

As much as I loved the reflection aspect of her card Watercolor Paper is expensive … and I didn't have a lot on hand so I needed to make it a lot smaller.  I just used a 2" piece for mine, matted on a piece of Island Indigo card stock on a Very Vanilla base.  For my image I used the "Calling All Superheroes" photopolymer set and inked it with finger daubers using Blackberry Bliss, Tempting Turquoiseand Crushed Curry inks.  Once I had the stamp inked I used a very light spritz of water on the stamp so the colours would blend slightly.  I stamped it on the watercolour paper and then used my aqua painter to blend the colours more.  I waited for it to dry completely before mounting it on the card and adding a few rhinestones to make sure everything would stay attached.  I used the Million and One stamp set, inked in Blackberry Bliss.

I absolutely LOVE this card … but let me warn you … if you MAKE this card only make one … EVER!  You will love that card … but you will never, EVER be able to make another one quite as lovely.  Trust me … I tired … 17 times!  There were two problems when I tried to make this again in class.  1) I forgot how I did it the first time (took 5 attempts of daubing and spritzing to find out what I did!) and 2) that Blackberry Bliss ink stains your stamp quite completely.  What that means is that I wasn't abled to get the same colour of yellow and/or blue ever again … the pink tint altered the colours slightly … and those colours are what I loved about the card.  Now don't get me wrong, I made some really NICE cards after the first one - but the first one is the best one.  You've been warned.

Right!  It is now 6:32 am and I think it is reasonable to make a cup of coffee!  Pop in  again soon.  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Lego CASE Card

Happy Friday!

TGIF!!  I know, being a SAHM, my weekends don't look ALL that different than my week days but this week has been super busy.  This weekend is more fun and I'm looking VERY forward to it!

I thought I'd kick things off today with a fun little card that my Rebecca made last month for Alicia's birthday (oh!  That reminds me … I never DID make her a card.  Wow.  How crappy is THAT??!!)

Alicia is quite into Lego lately so I suggested Rebecca make her a Lego card … which she did.  Check it out:

She did such a great job!

She can't take credit for the design of it.  It was 100% CASEd from the internet.  Nonetheless she nailed it with punching each square with the square punch and the tiny circles … using the dimensionals and then the gel pen for shading.  Alicia loved it!  The original design we copied was from Tina White over at www.timetoinkup.blogspot.com, fellow demonstrator in Queensland Australia!  Gotta love the internet - copying cards from designers half way around the world.  Awesome!

Right - guess I should go get the small people up and off to school so I can go to work.  I need to come up with and make 30 treats for the orders.  Yay!  I love my job!

Have a stampy Friday!


Tam

2014 Holiday Supplement Now Available!

Happy Monday - again!

It totally slipped my mind this morning (lets blame the 5:00 am wake up!)… but today is the day the new 2014 Holliday Supplement goes "live".  What does that mean?  More great holiday crafting stuff to buy!  Click on the image over on the right hand side to access the supplement.  It's kind of confusing to view on line - the majority of the document are ideas of what you can do/make with the products that are for sale.  You want to check out pages 8, 9, 10 and 11 for the actual products and prices.

Drop me a line if you have any questions about the products.  Can't "talk" .. have to go order all the new stuff!

Have a stampy day :)


Tam

Ornamental Pine

Happy Monday!

Yup - doing the happy Monday dance … although this Monday will look a little different than most.  Craig has part of the day off for a doctor's appointment and there is a chance my wee one may be home sick today BUT it's still Monday … back to routine … which I love.

Despite waking at 5:00 am and actually UP at 5:32 am (stupid back of stupidness - grrr) I'm in a GREAT mood this morning.  I think I'm still high off the fun at yesterday's Stamp-a-Stack.  I seriously love getting together with women.  Sure I love crafting with them but I just love the social aspect of it.  There were two new stampers in the group yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them!  

As always, I asked the group which card was their favourite.  It was fairly unanimous.  This one was the winner:

Everyone loved how quick and easy it was to put together but they mostly loved the pattern on the ornament.  It IS fabulous!  They liked the layered aspect of the stamped images (the pine design on the base) and he colour combination - that Mellow Moss really is delicious!

Of course the stamp set used was Ornamental Pine and Christmas Bliss (photopolymer set).  For our class we actually had to use a different sentiment as I used the "Christmas Bliss" at another stations (we used the "joy" from "The Sounding Joy" retired set).  The pine was inked in Mellow Moss and then I wiped the moss off the branch and coloured it with m Chocolate Chip marker.  The sentiment is in Mellow Moss and the ornament is in Baked Brown Sugar (as is the mat) … oh and the hook is Chocolate Chip.  The whisper white mat measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4"so there is lots of white space (totally into that right now!).  I added 3 rhinestones under the sentiment and 3 on the ornament for a little sparkle.  I love how the Baked Brown Sugar actually looks gold when paired with the Mellow Moss.  Much more economical than using the Brushed Gold card stock or Gold Foil.

So there you have it - this year's winner of the most popular Christmas card.  Pop in again soon to see some more Christmas card fun.  Until then - have a happy Monday!


Tam

Warmest Wishes

Happy Sunday!

I'm up and at 'em today, waiting for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack stampers to arrive.  OK - so maybe I didn't need to get up at 6:23 for a 9:30 am start … but I DO need my morning coffee/quiet time to wake up!

Thought I'd post one of the cards we're making today.  

Love it!  I realize in hindsight this is NOT a Stamp-a-Stack-friendly card!  It's lovely, but fiddly … alas - once I design a card I love I can't "not do it" … so I spent 2 hours yesterday punching out the snowflake so my guests aren't here until dinner time *lol*. 

I started out by punching a 2 1/2" circle in the 5" x 3 3/4" Whisper White layer.  I then ran it through the polka dot embossing folder for some texture.  I then grabbed the "Warmest Wishes" from my Christmas Bliss photopolymer set - as an aside I don't think anyone realizes this set exists - I LOVE it … and it really is the only Christmas sentiment set available this year … only $1995 CDN (plus s/h/gst) … here it is …

I'm ordering tomorrow (Oct 20th) - let me know if you want one!

OK - back to our card.  See the Warmest Wishes stamp?  It has 3 trees attached to the sentiment.  Ya - not anymore!  I took my exact knife and my paper snips and I cut those little trees right off so I could use the sentiment solo … and the trees!  I actually did he same with the Merry Christmas sentiment and ornaments … cut 'em off so I could use both alone … or I could line them up and use them as they were originally intended … expands the usefulness of them!

So!  Once I cut the trees off I inked the sentiment in Early Espresso ink and stamped it through the hole I punched out.  It JUST fits - yay for see-through photopolymer stamps!  Next I took the large and small snowflake framelits that came with my Snowflake Thinlits die …

.. ran the large one through with Island Indigo card stock and the small one through twice with Soft Sky card stock.  Yes, after the first 30 I wanted to poke myself in the eye with my pokey tool - would have been less painful than poking the snowflake out of the metal thinlit!  … but then I started using my wax paper between the thinlit and the card stock.  Life was better then and I saved myself a trip to the emergency room!

I used glue dots to attach each snowflake and added a rhinestone to the centre of  each one.  I love the clean, simple look of this card.  Labour intensive, but lovely all the same :

Right - another cup o' joe and I should be human enough to greet my stampers.  I love my stampers … they make me happy :)

Pop in again soon - and have a stampy day!

Tam

Angel Ornaments

Happy Thursday!

Yep - have ridiculous amounts of work to do today … and am procrastinating like CRAZY!  I have to go get the girls in 15 minutes and can't be bothered to do anything until then …. so thought I'd post for ya (do you ever feel like I'm using you??? *lol*)

Yes, I have 8 or 9 cards in the queue to post … but I can't be bothered to do that either … so instead I'm going to a re-take of one of my most popular gift items last year - my paper angel ornaments.  So.  Sintking.  Cute.

I did up a picture tutorial to show you how I made these little cuties … or should I say *angels* - BAHAHAHA - I kill myself!!!  … but I digress … you can find the original post here.

I actually have a show box with all the pieces to make 10 more of these … I cut them last year then ran out of time before Christmas to put them together … guess now I'm ahead of the game for Christmas 2014!  Yay me!

Right.  That's all I've got.  Hmmm - still 8 minutes to kill.  Think I'll go eat some cheese.

Have a stampy day!


Tam

Festival of Trees

Happy Tuesday!

With yesterday being a holiday Tuesday is the new Monday for me … a day to play catch-up on cleaning and paperwork.

Today I wanted to share another one of my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack cards with you.  As always - LOVE it!

This card is SO quick and easy thanks to the Festival of Trees set and punch.  Well, I SAY quick and easy but truth be told this card probably took a grand total of about 6 HOURS to actually come into being.  Yes - 6 hours.  Why so long?  Because I was fighting my creativity and trying to rush the process.  Kinda backfired in that regard, I'd say!  I TRIED to CASE a card designed by Tara Bazata.  Check this out:

Isn't it great?  This card has been HUGELY popular on Pinterest and amongst demos everywhere.  I love it … and I made it … but it wasn't mine … and I kept trying to tweak it to MAKE it mine.  I came close (I'll share that version soon!) but still didn't love it for a Stamp-a-Stack.  So I kept reworking it … and reworking it … and reworking it … and 5 1/2 hours and a WHOLE bunch of cards later I decided to scrap the whole thing and start tom scratch. this was the result … and yes, I loved it:

You can't see it very well, but the 5 1/2" x 4" Whisper White layer was embossed with the tree embossing folder from the holiday catalogue.  LOVE!  I then used Soft Sky ink to stamp a tree from the Festival of Trees set, then punched it out with the coordinating punch … and punched another tree out of plain Soft Sky card stock.  I just HAD to use the "Mingle All the Way" sentiment from the stamps et of the same name (also in the holiday catty).  I inked it up in Cherry Cobbler and punched it out with my 2" circle punch. The trees are taped down, I wrapped some White Bakers Twine around it (20" worth), popped the sentiment up on dimensionals and added 3 silver glimmer paper stars.  PERFECT!  Love everything about it, thank you very much!  The Festival of Trees set and punch are the top products being scooped up from the holiday catalogue.  Fantastic, quick and easy samples are all OVER the internet.  I love dimension on my cards and punches are SO quick and easy!!  You really can't go wrong with this bundle!

Right - I'm off - pop in again soon - and have a stampy day!


Tam

Wondrous Wreath

Happy Monday!

It's a holiday up here in Canada today - Thanksgiving.  I love this holiday.  Not only is it in the Fall, my absolute favourite season, but my brother and Sister-in-law always come to town from the Sunshine Coast, BC for a week.  That translates into lots of get-togethers, lots of food and lots of laughs.  The girls positively ADORE their "Unkey", Auntie and dog, Olive.  Yesterday the clan headed over there for moms big turkey dinner, lots of catching up, games and giggles.  A perfectly relaxing day that gave me LOTS of time for crafting!  I spent a few hours tweaking my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack cards and came up with five that I LOVE!  

First up is the LAST one I made … a quick, clean, traditional card ...

LOVE it!  I was inspired by some cards created by fellow demonstrator Debbie Currier over at www.artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com  Check out all the great projects she came up with using this set:

I was looking for a quick, easy, clean card to make using my Wondrous Wreath stamp and framelit bundle.  I found what I was looking for!  I had watched the SU video on using this set but just hadn't gotten around to inking it up … until yesterday.  Gotta say - I FREAKING LOVE IT!  Now photopolymer isn't my favourite type of stamp … especially when I use red/purple inks on them - they stain the stamp so badly!  … however, for two-step stamping they are the BOMB!  In this axe, the making of the wreath is THREE-step stamping … and the see-through photo polymer stamps are the ONLY way to go for perfect, easy placement, withOUT having to pull out your stamp-a-ma-jig.  Let's look at my little piece of loveliness again, shall we?

Ahhhh - love it … still :)

I inked up the first wreath stamp in Pistachio Pudding (have to admit I haven't used that colour much so far!)  The second stamp was inked up with Garden Green … and then the berries were done in Real Red.  I also stamped the adorable little bow in Real Red and punched it out with the coordinating framelit.  Fabulous!  All was going well until I decided to try to keep my desk tidy (there's a first for everything!), went to close the red ink pad and promptly dropped it … on my new black and WHITE leggings.  ARGH!!!!  HAD to be red, eh?  … but I digress :)

I mad a banner from a 1" x 3 1/2" strip of Whisper White and stamped the sentiment in Memento Black Ink, using the new, exclusive hostess set, Good Greetings.

It needed a *little* something else so I inked up the berry stamp again and stamped it on the banner … then added a large rhinestone to the centre of the popped up bow and 2 smaller ones to the banner, which is also popped up with dimensionals.  Quick, easy and PERFECT for my upcoming Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks and fundraisers.  This is an awesome set/bundle to own - I highly recommend it!

That's it for now but pop in again soon - I have 9 more projects to share!  (Yes, I've been a busy girl!)  Until then, have a stampy Holiday Monday if you're blessed enough to have the day off!


Tam

Mini Presents

Happy Saturday!

Having a VERY relaxing day today - in fact I thought I'd blog while I wait for my batch of cookies to bake.  Yup - baking - cookies - ME!  NOT a common occurrence at my house a) I suck at baking cookies b) if I make them I tend to eat them c) my current eating plan is no carb/sugar … so I CAN'T eat them so it really is like torture to have these little bites of yumminess in the house.  Alas - I'm a mom … and kids HAE o have cookies!  … well, that and I'm procrastinating on cleaning my craft room (I need to find the desk before I can make my last 2 cards for next weekends' Stamp-a-Stack) … so baking wins!

I have 8 minutes to do this so here we go!

thought I'd share a few tips on how I made all these little presents that I put under my Origami Christmas Tree:

Presents

These were all made with the Nordic Noel DSP and the new box punch board.  Just follow the direction on the board and/or watch the SU You Tube tutorial on how to use it. 

Boxes pictured here from left to right are box #11, (#9, #2), #3, #5, (#1, #4 and #12).  I used a low heat glue gun to adhere the box sides – I found it quicker and easier than with other adhesives.

For the stacked 3 boxes (sizes 1, 4 and 12) cut a piece of Lost Lagoon Ribbon 33” long.  Hot glue/adhere the3 boxes together – tie the ribbon around all 3.

For the present with the red ribbon (box #5), cut a piece of Real Red Woven Satin Ribbon 40” long, wrap and tie in a bow.

For the stacked 2 boxes (#9 and #2) cut two 12” pieces of Night of Navy Seam binding and wrap around box #9 and adhere (I used hot glue gun).  Wrap a 10” piece around box #2 then wrap and tie a bow with a 20” piece of Night of Navy Seam Binding. Hot glue the 2 boxes together

For the Soft Sky Paper Bow: 

Cut a 1” x 6” strip of Soft Sky cs, a 1” x 3 ½” strip and a ¼” x 1 ¼” strip

Using the ENVELOPE punch board, punch the centre of the 6” strip on both sides (i.e. punch at 3”). 

Turn the strip so it is now the 1” width against the board.  Align the end of the strip with the middle of the punch.  Turn the strip and do the other side. 

Repeat with the other end of the strip.

Place a glue dot in the centre of the strip and fold over each end towards the middle to form a bow.

Now the bow is complete – we need to make the tails.

Take the 1” x 3 ½” strip and along the 3 ½” side punch at 1 ¼”. 

Flip and do the same to the other side.  (oops – forgot to take a picture – it’s just like this bigger piece …)

Turn the strip so the 1” width is against the board use the envelope punch board to punch both “tails” by centering the 1” strip right in the middle of the punch.

 Adhere the pieces together with glue or glue dots

For the white paper rosette: 

Cut a strip of Whisper White card stock 11” x 2”.  Using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool, score every ½” all the way along the strip. 

Mountain and valley fold it then hit glue it together in a semi circle.  Use the silicone rubber mat for ease – place a blob of hot glue on the mat then place the folded piece into the glue and hold until it sets

Trim any visible glue with scissor snips.  Hot glue the half-rosette to box #11

Ta Da!  Done!  … and so are my cookies so I'll sign off to pop in the next batch!  Have a fantastic Thanksgiving for all my Canadian peeps.  My brother and SIL are in town for the week so we're heading to Mom's for the big feast tomorrow (naturally I'll be bringing my own mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes … no carbs for me!  I'm down 20 pounds and going strong!!

Pop in again really soon - lots to share!  Until then - have a sunny, stampy day!

Tam