Happy Monday!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to scoop some AWESOME deals from the Online Extravaganza!!!

CLICK HERE to see the entire list of products on sale

THESE are the Door Crashers specials for today … (*** have the magnetic platform yet???  35% off!!!)

Canadian Customers - CLICK HERE to go to my online store to have your items shipped directly to your door.  Every customer (placing an order less than $200) who enters the hostess code 2CU9FPDK at the checkout will receive a special gift from me.  (Orders over $200 still get a gift but please don't enter the hostess code or you won't get your free spending!!)

Don't wait!!  Order today, get some great deals and have your products next week!

I'm off to work the book fair at Alicia's school so I guess MY Cyber Monday shopping will have to wait! *lol*

Have a stampy day!


Tam

2017 Paper Pumpkin Desk Calendar Download

Happy Wednesday!

Not too much to report today - few errands to run then doing some Project Life at the Senior Residence.  Nice, relaxing, heart warming day :)

I DO have a nice little gift to share with you today …

Did you manage to scoop one of the ADORABLE desk calendar kits from Paper Pumpkin last year? 

If you weren't a subscriber you likely didn't get one - they sold out FAST - like record time fast!

If you were one of the lucky ones SU has a little treat for you … an updated, 2017 calendar, you can download, print and decorate to use again this year. Heck, even if you DIDN'T get the kit this is a cute little calendar you can use. Free is my favourite!


CLICK HERE to download yours.  Post a picture under the comments and let me see what you do with it!

Pop in again soon.  Have a stampy day!


Tam

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA STARTS TODAY!!

Happy Monday!!

Today is the day!  The one-week-only sale starts, with select items up to 40% off!

Today ONLY scoop these door crasher deals!!!

CLICK HERE to see the entire list of products on sale.

Canadian customers CLICK HERE to go to my online store to have your items shipped directly to your door.

Every customers (placing an order less than $200) who enter the hostess code 2CU9FPDK at the checkout will receive a special gift from me!

Don't wait!  Order today, scoop some great deals and have your products next week!!

Thanks for popping in. Come back soon to see that last Stamp-a-Stack card that I finished with 19 hours to spare.  I kinda love it :)

Have yourself a stampy Monday!


Tam

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA STARTS MONDAY!!

Happy Saturday!

I'm thrilled to report I'm "this" close to having my final crd designed for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack … which is tomorrow … in 25 hours *lol*.  Ya, ya … flying a little close to the sun this month.  I ALMOST cracked it last night but by 9:00 pm I was actually dizzy I was so tired.  Apparently 3 hours of sleep a night isn't enough for me!  Go figure lol.  Stay tuned for a post on what I come up with.  I the mean time I totally forgot to actually POST my draft of the upcoming Online Extravaganza.  (Sheesh Tam - wonder why you haven't made your first million yet!! )

So … without further adieu I present to you the annual, ONE WEEK ONLY, Online Extravaganza that starts on MONDAY ...

As always, there are 24-hour Door Crasher items available the first day and last day of the sale.

MONDAY ONLY these items are on offer…

Check out the FULL WEEK LONG SALE ITEMS here

The LAST DAY DOOR CRASHER ITEMS (Nov 28th) are these …

If you are ordering through my online store here please use the hostess code of  2CU9FPDK at the checkout and I will send you a little something in the mail.   If your order is $200 or more do NOT use the code - I will still send you a gift, but at $200 you will earn free spending and if you enter the code you won't be able to redeem it!

I'm off to finish that last card.  Pop in again soon … and have a stampy Saturday!


Tam

Ombre Stampin’ Pads by Stampin’ Up!

Happy Friday!

I know I've been ignoring you lately.  Sorry!  It has REALLY been "one of THOSE weeks" … and today will be no better … running until bedtime.  Actually, I should have woken the kids 5 minutes ago so I'll type and run ..

The Ombre pads just HAPPEN to be on the BIG SALE that is happening next week.  Check out the video and text/email me with how many you want!

Have an awesome weekend - Ill post as soon as I can!


Tam

Plaid Christmas Pines

Happy Saturday!

Had a FAB night with a grey group of seven ladies last night.  Seriously.  What is it about women getting together with women that just "resets" everything??  LOVE my ladies!

Today I wanted to share my new all-time favourite Christmas card.  Yes.  I know.  My favourite is ALWAYS my most recent.  I figure this one will be my favourite until some time tomorrow, when I create another one *lol*.  I'm so transparent hee hee.

Ready?  I'll start with Version I … which I loved ...Here it is …

I LOVED it … until I looked at it for an hour.  After an hour I decided I strongly LIKE it but it just needed a LITTLE something more .. nothing too crazy … just a LITTLE … but what???  … and then it came to me … it needed some Christmas Pine ...

BAM!  NOW I love it!!  … just keep staring at it.  Love it.  Love it.  Yup.  Love it.  That PLAID!  The plaid is what makes my soul happy!  (Wow.  pretty intense emotion there … I blame the upcoming Supermoon *lol*).

"Tamara!  Where do you come UP with these fantastic ideas??!!", I hear you cry.  Well … I spend a lot of time doing R&D (Research & Development).  A LOT of time.  (** R&D actually translates into Facebook and Pintrest … don't judge me … it works lmao!)

This card started OFF when I saw this lovely card made by Cat Christella …

Sooooo pretty!  I went down to the Craft Cave to see if I could make something similar for my Stamp-a-Stack next Sunday morning (still room for more stampers Edmonton peeps!).  After playing around this is what I ended up with …

TOTALLY different!  The only thing that is the same is the plaid DSP.  I love how one design can inspire others to either copy 100% or to use as a jumping off point.  I seriously started off with 100%.  I punched out a circle of the plaid DSP and a green tree, just like Cat's …. and then it changed and changed and changed.  LOVE that process (mind you my desk looked like a tornado had blown through it within the hour but so be it!).  Thank you Cat for the inspiration - I hope mine inspires others too!

Now for the deets on my version.

Standard card base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Whisper White
Whisper White top layer of 3 1/2" x 4 3/4"
Basic Grey layer of 3 3/4" x5"
Basic Grey, Plaid and Whisper White Stitched Ovals made using the NEW Stitched Shapes framelits (A must own and only $40 for all these …)

The DSP is the Warmth & Cheer DSP Stack …

I stamped the ornaments in Cherry Cobbler and Basic Grey from the Be Jolly, By Golly set …

(the string is from this set as well))

The pine is stamped in Smoky Slate from the Christmas Pines Set (25% off until the end of November 2016)

Finally, the banner is from Stitched with Love …

The ovals are attached to each other using good old snails adhesive but then the trio are popped up n dimensionals.  The banner is also popped up but just on the left hand side, so it is the same height as the trio.

I added clear Wink of Stella to the ornaments and the entire banner.  I was surprised the black didn't bleed, as I had stamped the sentiment in Memento ink … but I was happy.  The little pop of dazzle, along with the single rhinestone rely makes the card.

Love.  Love.  LOVE!

I THOUGHT I was done designing for my SAS … alas, I have deeply fallen OUT of love with one of the cards I designed (which I haven't shared yet).  Pop in again soon to see my "fallen from grace" card along with its replacement.  Until then, have a super stampy Saturday.  Thanks for doing by :) xo


Tam

Snappy Birthday!

Happy Friday!

… would be a little happier if I wasn't up at the crack of stupid-o-clock this morning.  Ugh!  Woke around 4:30 am (I KNEW I shouldn't have had that cup of tea at 8:00 pm!!) then wondered "did Craig put the soup in the fridge?"  at 6:00 am I couldn't take it anymore - I had to check *lol*.  Yes, he had.  Good thing - the soup was freaking delicious!  (I'll share the link at the end of the post - seriously yummy!)

So last week I was in the mood to craft … but needed a change from Christmas ANYTHING!  Just wanted to create.  Scanned my stamp collection and spotted one that had yet to be inked up.  GASP!  Unacceptable! … so out came the Hostess Set "Pun Intended".  Check out the cards I made with it ...

Fun!!!  The second one is kind of "meh" but I LOVE the first one!  It came together so quickly! 

 I stamped and cut out the camera from Pun Intended (I used Basic Grey ink and cut it out with my paper snips "old school")…

It's a Celebration and Calling all Heroes were used for the flashes (stamped in Crushed Curry)…

I then used my Basic Grey maker to ink up just the "Snappy" and stamped inside the flash images.

I used my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen to bling the inside of the flashes … and added rhinestones to the smaller flashes.

I attached the top layer (4 3/4" x 3 1/2") to a Basic Grey layer (5" x 3 3/4") and popped the grey up on dimensionals.

For the second card I used the starburst from Kinda Eclectic.  

The card is ok - doesn't blow my hair back but it was fun to play and make a super quick card.  Might be a good one for a fella - nothing too fancy or busy.  I think it would be "Craig approved".

That's it for now - think I'll head to The Cave and see if I can make my last Stamp-a-Stack card for next weekend while everyone is still sleeping and before we head out to the Remembrance Day ceremony.  I just got my Stiched Shapes framelits and have a few ideas brewing.

Oh!  Before I got, here is that soup recipe I made last night.  It was a hit all the way around.  It goes in the "Keeper Pile"! (I just made it on the stove top, not the slow cooker)

Have yourself a stampy day!


Tam

Winter Birthday with Weather Together

Happy Wednesday!

I needed to step away from social media this morning - I'm all "trump"ed out … and am starting to feel stressed and cranky from all the negative vibes …. so thought I'd go to my "happy place" and blog about pretty cards :)

Last week I was writing out all my November birthday cards and realized I was out of "winter" birthday cards.  Off I went to my Craft Cave.  This is what I came up with ...

LOVE!  I CASEd the layout and colour scheme from Mary Brown at www.stampercamper.com and this card (which we made last month) …

The colour scheme just screams "WINTER" … and I love that.

I ran the base through the "Festive" embossing folder (main catalogue).  I often forget to check the main catty for winter/Christmas products but there are quite a few folders and sets that work for the season so don't forget to check them out!

My base is the standard 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  The coloured layers are Sweet Sugarplum and Pool Party, both cut at 4 1/2" x 2 3/4".  The top white layer is 4" x 2 1/4".

I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry and Sweet Sugarplum using the Endless Birthday Wishes set … This is a GRET little set that makes a quick, cute card with SO many sentiment possibilities.  I highly recommend it …

I like it so much I actually bought it in French as well! ...

For the presents I used the set Weather Together, of all sets!

 The set DOES have coordinating thinlits, but I didn't use them on this card.  If/when you buy the two together you save 10% on the price!

I punched the presents out with my 1 1/4" circle punch and then coloured circles using my 1 3/8" punch.  I coloured the ribbon with my Stampin' Write Markers and then with my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I popped the coloured circles up on dimensionals and added a rhinestone to the centre presents.  Wa-low!  A cute winter birthday card.  This is one of the cards we are making in class this week and yup, I cut 10 extra templates so I can add them to my stash!

That's it for today.  More to share to pop in again soon … and have a stay day!


Tam

Double Embossing Technqiue

Happy Monday! 

First week of November down.  Ack!  It will be December before I know what hit me!  Bit of a busy week - hair at noon (yay!  Looking a LITTLE bedraggled these days!  A new do should fix me up!) - ortho appointment for Becca, volunteering at the Senior Residence, funeral, Remembrance Day and two stamping classes.  Not OVERLY busy but definitely have to be on my game to get it all in AND feed the family *lol*

Today I'm sharing a SUPER new technique I re-found - dunno if it's what it's called but I'm calling it the Double Embossing Technique 'cause … well … you emboss it two ways … so … ya.  That.

Here is the card I made ...

Now this picture really doesn't do it justice because when you see it "in person" you REALLY want to touch it.  The ornament is REALLY bumpy …

I found this technique via a blog hop when I landed on a site for "Jennifer McQuire Ink".  Check it out as she explains things a lot better in video that I can in text ...

I loved her ornament card and wanted to create something similar.  I had a few failed attempts.  Why?  Because my Big Shot "sandwich" was a little too thick which made the paper wrinkle a bit.  See the picture below?  My ornament was up high on the paper … and when I ran it through the Big Shot the paper wrinkled.  My solution was to a) use a less intricate thinlit (I don't know if that helped but went with it) and b) I kept the ornament lower on the layer.

So … this ISN'T the thinlit that I used (from Delicate Ornaments) - I used the long, thin one … but I snapped a picture of my "sandwich" using this one so ...

Did you watch the video?  DO IT!

One key to success is to make sure you use your embossing buddy on your card stock.  The other is not to apply pressure when"inking" your thinlit with your versa mark pad!  You don't want to get versa mark any wear but on the raised parts of the die.

So the sandwich I used was:

• Big Shot Platform.  I sued the new one that is in the catalogue but it DOES work with the "old" platforms … just open all the tabs.  (don't use the magnetic platform …. use the one that came with your machine)
• Clear Cutting Plate
• TWO of our silicone rubber sheets.  I tried using just one but the impression wasn't as deliciously deep as with two
• Paper
• Thinlit (which has been EVER SO GENTLY "inked" with a juicy versa mark ink pad)
• Another clear cutting plate

Once you run it through the folder you then sprinkle it with the embossing powder (I used silver).

Before heat setting the powder make sure you dust off any stray powder from places you don't want it to be!  I use a fine paint brush and/or q-tips to wipe away the strays.

Once you heat set it you can then go in with your clear Wink of Stella pen and glam up the bump parts.

Once the ornament was done I stamped the sentiment and pine branches with versamark and heat set (silver again).  Now it's time for the string and bow.

I've often rejected cards I've seen on Pinterest because of these darned things … but, if you watched the video above you'll find a trick that makes this totally doable for me!  I poked a hole in the top layer (Night of Navy) and threaded the ribbon through it and secured it to the back of the card with Tear-and-Tape.  I wrapped it over the top of the card and secured that down too.  I then made a simple bow and attached it using a glue dot.  Not following?  Watch the video - you'll know what I mean!

I used a Night of Navy layer of 5" x 3 3/4" and then a Smoky Slate layer of 5 1/4" x 4", all popped up on a standard card base.

SUPER sparkly, SUPER textured and SUPER "wow" factor.

This is our Technique Card for class this week.  If you are in the Edmonton area you should come!  Drop me a message to RSVP!

That's it for today.  I'm off for a coffee date and for that new do.  Hope you have a stampy day!


Tam

Gold Embossed Pines

Happy Sunday!

A sloooowwwwww start to the day today - thank you Day Light Savings Time!  This is always one of my favourite days of the year as it seems to go on fo-evah!!  Given that I don't SLEEP anymore (thank you cat, kids, snoring husband and or bladder!) I fully expected to be up at 5:00 am … however I really MUST have been tired because I actually slept until 7:00 am (which would have been 8:00 am "old time")  I stayed in bed and didn't come down until 9:00 … and am now enjoying my coffee and some quiet morning time.  LOVE Sundays!

Today I'm sharing a card that has been pretty darned popular on the Stampin' Up! demo-only website … my Gold Embossed Pine card.  Check it out ...

I've gott admit - I kinda love it!  … ya, ya, I know … I love the all.  You're not wrong!  I love the simplicity but WOW factor of the gold on black for this one.  Yes, it is one we will be making at my Nov 20th Stamp-a-Stack.  Quick, easy, elegant.  The trifecta for a good SAS card!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a new obsession with the Christmas Pines Bundle.  I thought it would be too "fussy" for my liking … but it's not.  Love.

Not much to report on this one.  I simply stamped the pine image in Versamark (after using my Embossing buddy to de-static and de-fingerprint/oil the black card stock) and embossed it with gold embossing powder.  I punched out two pinecones from my gold foil and attached with glue dots.  The sentiment is also gold embossed and the sequins are attached with glue dots.

The black layer measures 4 3/4" x 3 1/2" and the layer behind it is actually So Saffron!  It really does look gold behind the black but is much less expensive than using gold foil.  Love!

I popped the whole thing up on dimensionals … but rather than just using 4 in the corners I used the outside edge from the dimensionals ...

That's it!  Quick and easy!

I'm off to walk my Doodle Dog.  Haven't posted a pic of him in a while … so here ya go! …I call it the "Some days it's all just too much" photo.  *lol*

Have yourself a stampy day!  Pop in again soon :)


Tam

Peaceful Christmas Pines

Happy Saturday!!

I have SO many awesome projects to share with you … if only they didn't take so much time to post!!  

Tonight I was just DYING to share this card with you … a) I freaking LOVE it and b) it was the quickest one to post about *lol* so … here it is ….

Ahhhhhh - isn't it beautiful???  So … peaceful! *lol*.  After placing, like, 10 orders from the time we got to preorder this holiday catty and now I FINALLY ordered the Christmas Pines Bundle.  It caught my eye right from the start but, for some reason, I wasn't sure if I would use it that much.  The framelits are lovely, and the pine stamp images are lovely …. but I just wasn't convinced.  Finally, last order, I was running out of things to order (lmao  rough problem to have, eh?) and I convinced myself I deserved a "treat" (rather than just ordering cards stock and envelopes) so I bought it.  Best.  Decision.  Ever.  TOTALLY addicted to this bundle … as you'll see by how much I use it!

First off, here are the items involved …

Christmas Pines … (which just HAPPEN to be 25% off this month!!!)

Pretty Pines Thinlets …

Pine Bough Textured Embossing Folder …

… and Gold Foil Sheets

I used a Whisper White layer of 4 3/4" x 3 1/2" and ran it through the Pine Bough folder / Big Shot.  I wanted the embossing at a different orientation so I angled the paper a little before running it through ...

This is the first time I've used the folder but I LOVE it!  It give a nice, deep embossed image and you just want to touch it.  LOVE me some texture!

I then used the Pretty Pines Thinlits to cut some gold branches from the gold foil.  I punched out two pinecones from Whisper white and a gold bow from the Pretty Pines set.  What took me the longest on this card was deciding the final positioning of the branches and pine cones!  After laying for about half an hour (yes, seriously, I decided on what you see.  LOVE it!  I did try stamping a few different sentiments on the front … but couldn't find anything I likes.  Black ink was too harsh, gold embossed words weren't shiny enough.  I stumbled across my Christmas Greetings Thinlits and the Peaceful sentiment was perfect.  I cut it out from the gold foil, used my fine tip glue pen to attach it and then popped the entire layer up on dimensionals.

Love.

This.

Card.

SOOOO glad I bought this bundle.  Highly recommend it!

That's it for tonight.  Pop in again soon - as I said, lots of great cards to share, and tips/techniques to show!

Have a stampy night :)


Tam