BLOG AWARD

I was tagged today. This means someone gives me a Blog Award because they liked something about my blog... either a project that I've made, or something I've written about, or just the overall design or theme, etc. I received this award from Nancy Riley at here . Thanks Nancy! Then I need to name a new recipient for this Award and link their blog to mine. It's fun! Let's try it. I am supposed to place a fall picture here on my blog, because that's the theme of this award. But I don't seem to be able to do that part... hehe Instead, I'll just show you a Thanksgiving card that I made last week. Will that work for you?

Here is a close-up of the turkey, which is made using double-sided Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! I punched 3 scalloped circles, then folded them each in half. After folding the circle in half, you un-fold it. Leave 5 scallops at the top of the circle, fold each side IN-ward to meet the center-fold line, then fold the remaining part of the piece OUT-ward to resemble the feathers shown here. I've seen some of these turkeys made using card stock. Because the card stock is heavier, the feathers seem to be more "poofy". But I like the double-sided paper because you can see both patterns when you fold it in and then out. Does this make any sense? I think you can figure out from the photo the punches that were used to create the rest of the turkey. If you need more help, just let me know.

I would like to pass this award on to Kim and you can see her blog here. She just started blogging, but her work is clean, creative and UBER cute! Remember I told you that I participated in a Swap at my Group Meeting this past Saturday? Well, here's the card that Kim made for the swap. See what I mean? Very clean and simple, but sooooo nice! Keep up the good work, Kim!

One last thing to show you before I leave. My friend Jill came over last week and showed me how to make these cute little candy holders for Halloween. Aren't they just ADORABLE? My grandchildren in NJ liked them lots, according to my oldest daughter, Kristie. But shhhhhh, my youngest daughter, Shannon, has two little boys and they're not getting their candy until they come over to trick-or-treat on Friday. So don't tell them about these, OK? It's a surprise! hehe

See you next time!

~Alice

HAWAII INK ANNUAL GROUP MEETING

I went to our Hawaii Ink Annual Group Meeting today. We had so much fun talking about business ideas, swapping cards, and completing Make 'N' Takes. Then we had lunch and talked some more. Lisa Curcio, the demonstrator who leads our Group (and my upline) designed 4 awesome projects for us. It was tough picking out a favorite, since all of the pieces were beautiful and taught us new techniques. "The "Faux Silk" technique was shown to us by Doris Davies, and the card it produced is just the first of many I will make using this easy process. :-)

This is my new downline, Francine. This was her first experience with swapping, and I'm sure she will agree with me when I tell you that the card fronts we received in our swap were all AWESOME! A swap is when you have a group of people who want to trade cards. Let's say we have 15 people who agree to swap. Usually there is a theme, such as Halloween cards, or cards using one of the new stamp sets from the Holiday mini catalog. Then a deadline is set, and everyone makes 15 identical card fronts using Stampin' Up! products. The swaps may be exchanged in person, trading one of your own cards with everyone else in the group. Or everyone mails their 15 cards to the "host" who sorts and distributes them into 15 piles, each with an assortment of one of each card front. Are you confused yet? hehe It's really much easier than it sounds. You end up with 14 new and different card fronts to give you ideas and inspiration. It's lots of fun! See you next time!

~Alice

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STAMPIN' UP!

Stampin' Up! is celebrating its 20 year birthday -- and we had a party! During the month of October, if you spend $20 on regular catalog merchandise you get 20% off select birthday stamp sets. We put our birthday hats on and ate cupcakes to help celebrate the occasion.

We also made 12 birthday cards (envelopes provided) using some of the discounted stamp sets, CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES and the CUPCAKES jumbo roller wheel. Watercolor was the technique of the day, and we learned lots of different ways to create beautiful cards.

Our first card was painted with an AquaPainter using new In-

Color re-inkers in Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red. The card was finished off with a ribbon created with the new 1-1/4" Pink Pirouette grosgrain Ribbon. Isn't it gorgeous?!?! I think this card was the favorite of the day.

But card #2 was lots of fun also. We used our AquaPainters again, but this time we used the Soft Subtles Watercolor Wonder Crayons to apply the color to our stack of cupcakes. Then we topped it all off with just a touch of Dazzling Diamonds to add a sparkle to the frosting. Can you see it?

Our last card used the Cupcakes Jumbo Roller Wheel with a black ink cartridge. Color was applied using blender pens and ink from the lid of Taken With Teal, Real Red, and Apricot Appeal stamp pads.

Remember, don't touch your blender pen to the actual surface of the ink pad!Before you open the stamp pad, hold it in both hands and press your thumbs on the lid, depressing it into the top of the ink pad. When you open the stamp pad, you will see a small area of ink sitting in the lid. Touch the tip of your blender pen into this area and you'll be able to color with the same ink that you used to stamp elsewhere on the card. Don't you just love how all the Stampin' Up! ink colors match their card stock?!! This has to be one of my favorite things about SU!

Here's my next-door neighbor, Amy, headed out the door after class with a bag full of goodies, a balloon, and one of the cards created at class. Thank you everyone for attending and making today such a fun event! I can't wait for our next class. Keep an eye out for more information here on my blog, or you can always check out the Calendar of Events on my Stampin' Up! website here.

~Alice

OCTOBER CARD CLASS

Card class was held just before the World Card Making Day event began. This month was a bit special, as we made 12 cards PLUS a box to hold 4 of the cards. This makes a nice gift set for a friend, as a hostess gift, or even to keep for yourself!

The cost for all this was only $15! Where can you get a bargain like that -- AND have fun at the same time?!! Check out my Calendar of Events on my Stampin' Up! website at www.alicehancock.stampinup.net to get more information on how and when to sign up for the next class. I hope to see you here!

~ Alice

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY

Wow! It's been too long since I've posted here. Let's try to get caught up on what's been going on around here. First, the 3rd Annual World Card Making Day was a great success! We donated over 30 handmade cards to our local Ronald McDonald House on Davis Island. We used -- of course -- the new Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set, SAY IT WITH SCALLOPS, and the new SCALLOP SQUARE PUNCH. We also tried out one of the new Stampin' Up! Simply Sent kits to make a few Christmas cards. Everything was provided in the kit, which made the cards super simple to create! The kits were on sale for 20% off during the week. Next year will hopefully be an even bigger event!