Valentine's Day idea!

Here are two more ideas to make for the ones you love on Valentine's Day.

You can never go wrong with candy, right? But these new Heart Treat Cups can be filled with any little thing you want! I found some old buttons collecting dust, so I added them here.

But I must admit, I would prefer pink M&M's any day! I love chocolate, and pink is my favorite color! This stamp set, SWEETHEART is available in wood mount stamps or in the new Clear Mount format. I have lots of these new clear mount stamps here for you to try out. The deadline for January Card Class has already past, but next month's class will be held on the third Saturday of the month, February 20, at my home in Covington Park, Apollo Beach, FL. The cost is only $17, which covers all the supplies needed to create 12 cards with envelopes. All you need to do is R.S.V.P. two weeks prior to class, and bring your adhesive.with you.

These cards are quick and easy to put together. Would you like to make some yourself? Just go to my website here and place an order whenever it's convenient for you -- 7 days a week, 24/7. Or, if you'd like me to place an order for you, just contact me and I'll be happy to help you choose the right products you will need to make whatever you'd like.

~ Alice

SUPPLIES:

Heartfelt Thanks Card:

Stamps: Sweetheart (Item# 120780)

Card stock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Bashful Blue, Pixie Pink

Accessories: Heart Treat Cups (Item# 120435), Full Heart Punch (Item# 113693), 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Bashful Blue (Item# 110717), Scallop Trim Border Punch (FREE SAB Item# 118402)

Be Mine Card:

Stamps: Sweetheart (Item# 120780)
Card stock: Melon Mambo Textured, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper (FREE SAB Item #118401)
Ink: Melon Mambo
Accessories: Heart Treat Cups (Item# 120435), Full Heart Punch (Item# 113693), Pinking Hearts Border Punch (Item# 117649), Pinking Hearts Corner Punch (Item #118072), Heart to Heart Punch (Item #113694), 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon Melon Mambo (Item# 115611)

NEW Heart Treat Cups

Do you remember these Sweet Centers cards from last fall? Well, Stampin' Up! has brought them back -- with a twist. Instead of a circle cup we can now use Heart Treat Cups (Item# 120435, 12 cups $2.95). The Sweetheart Stamp Set is perfectly coorrdinated with the Full Heart Punch. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post to see a photo of a card I just finished making using the new Heart Treat Cups and the Sweetheart Clear Mount Stamp Set from the New Occasions Mini Catalog.

I made this card for my granddaughter, Madelyn a while ago. Now I can use the Heart Treat  Cups to make her a Valentine filled with confetti (as seen here) or any other small treat. When filling with candy or chocolate, I recommend lining the back of the insert with a clear transparency to prevent the candy from melting into your cardstock and leaving a stain. Or, you could possibly include confetti, buttons, hair barettes, or some other treat for your loved one. :-)

~ Alice

12 Days of Christmas Sale

Stampin' Up! is hosting an AWESOME Christmas sale -- just in time for Christmas! These prices are 15-25% lower than the regular price -- but will only be available until Dec. 22. So contact me right away to place your order for a scrapbooking friend, a card-making neighbor, or for yourself! Santa knows you've been a very good girl this year, so why don't you have HIM contact me to order a special something to fill YOUR stocking? :-) Orders placed by Dec. 15 (that's THIS Tuesday -- only 2 more days!!!) will arrive in time for Christmas.

Item      Page#   Description                                  Reg Price    Discount Price


114515   195      Flower Burst Embosslits die           $11.95               $8.96


114516   195      Cherry Blossom Embosslits die       $11.95              $8.96


115957   195      Thanks Embosslits die                    $11.95              $8.96


114513   195      Sweetest Stem Embosslits die        $11.95              $8.96


115952   195      Hi Embosslits die                            $11.95             $8.96


115951   197      Timeless Type Junior Alphabet         $74.95             $59.96
                              Medium Sizzlits die

113446   197      Build a Flower #2 Set Sizzlits          $19.95             $16.96
                              4-Pack die

114509   197      Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlits             $21.95              $18.66
                              4-Pack die
113448   197      Hearts Set Sizzlits 4-Pack die         $19.95             $16.96


113457   198      Tulipe Bigz die                               $21.95             $16.46


115954   198      Two Tags Bigz die                          $21.95             $18.66


114524   199      Fringed Flower Bigz die                  $19.95             $15.96


114523   199      Decorative Accents Bigz die            $19.95              $15.96


114534   199      Flower Bigz Clear die                     $19.95              $15.96


113473   199      5-Point 3D Star Bigz die                 $19.95              $16.96


113472   199      Circle 3D Ornament Bigz die           $19.95              $16.96


113470   199      Flower Layers w/Leaf Bigz die         $19.95              $16.96


113465   199      Bird w/Leaves and Flower Bigz die   $19.95             $16.96


115961   200      Perfect Setting Bigz XL die              $42.95             $32.21


113483   200      Pennant Bigz XL die                        $39.95           $29.96


113484   200      Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die  $39.95          $31.96


116760   201      Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die  $39.95          $29.96


116759   201      Pop-Up 3D Ball Bigz XL die              $39.95           $29.96


114890   201      Matchbox Bigz XL die                      $42.95           $36.51


113458   202      Flower Layers Originals die               $15.95           $13.56


114336   158      Kraft Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24"(2)       $12.95          $10.36


114334   158      Dark Gray Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2) $12.95          $10.36


114337   158      Chocolate Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2) $12.95         $10.36


114335   158      White Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)     $12.95         $10.36


118797   n/a      So Saffron Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2) $12.95        $9.71

118798   n/a      Rose Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)  $12.95        $9.71


118799   n/a      Taken With Teal Décor Elements  15" x 24" (2) $12.95        $9.71


118800   n/a      Pretty In Pink Décor Elements sh 15" x 24" (2)   $12.95        $9.71


118801   n/a      Bashful Blue Décor Elements sh15" x 24" (2)   $12.95        $9.71


118802   n/a      Real Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)  $12.95        $9.71


118803   n/a      Old Olive Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)  $12.95        $9.71


118804   n/a      Black Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)       $12.95       $9.71


118805   n/a      Night of Navy Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)    $12.95       $9.71


118806   n/a      Cert Cel Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)   $12.95       $9.71


118807   n/a      Tempt Turq Décor Elements Sh 15" x 24" (2)   $12.95       $9.71


118808   n/a      Clear Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)      $12.95       $9.71


118809   n/a      Pumpkin Pie Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)    $12.95        $9.71


118810    n/a      Pixie Pink Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)     $12.95         $9.71


118812   n/a      Sahara Sand Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)   $12.95         $9.71


118813   n/a      Gable Green Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)   $12.95         $9.71


118814   n/a      Basic Gray Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)      $12.95         $9.71


118815   n/a      Chalkboard Décor Ele sheets 15" x 24" (2)     $14.95         $11.21




Orders may also be placed by going directly to my website here and click on the SHOP NOW under my name in the upper right corner. Keep checking back to see the new classes being offered in the New Year!
                                         Merry Christmas!
~~Alice

Bridal Specialty Paper

I fell in love with this beautiful Bridal Specialty Designer Series Paper when I first discovered it in the new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog last summer. I have worked before with the Groom Black on Black paper. But this Bridesmaid Very Vanilla was a special treat. I guess this could be a Christmas card, or maybe a Thank You card. I didn't put any wording on the front, and thought that would keep it open to be used for a variety of different purposes, depending on my need. The finished size is 4-1/4" square, which allows it to be enclosed in a medium Very Vanilla envelope. I used the Textured Impressions Elegant Bouquet and the Big Shot  to create the subtle embossing along the top and left edge of the card. Then the Nestabilities Labels One die was used to cut and emboss Kraft card stock. The next layer is a piece of the BridesMaid Very Vanilla Striped DSP. The only stamping is on the top layer and was stamped in VersaMark Watermark Ink using the largest snowflake from the Snow Swirled Stamp Set. I covered that with Heat & Stick Powder, heat set it briefly to make it sticky, than generously covered it with Dazzling Diamonds and heat set it briefly again. I love this technique when I want to create an entire snowflake with glitter. Since Versamark isn't glue, Dazzling Diamonds won't stick to it permanently. This very simple technique is one I only use rarely, but I love the final look.

I added the Pretties Kit hat pin with pearls and crystals, knowing that this card would probably be hand-delivered rather than mailed, due to its fragile nature. Thus I was able to top the focal image with a flat-back Very Vanilla pearl and a piece of Kraft Taffeta Ribbon.

I know this sounds like a lengthy process for what appears to be a rather simple card. But it really wasn't difficult at all. Contact me if you would like to purchase the supplies to re-create this beauty yourself. Would you like some help pulling it all together? Beginning in the New Year, I will be "renting" out time in my art studio. For just $20 for the first two hours, and $10 for each hour after that, you can use all of my stamp sets, ink pads, punches and other tools and I will help you design your own cards, scrapbook pages or other projects. You will only need to bring your own paper and adhesives. This way you will have my supplies and my skills working for Y-O-U!  Time is limited and will go fast, so contact me SOON to reserve your spot.

~~Alice

CHRISTMAS IDEAS

Well, hello there strangers. Actually, I guess I'm the one who has been a "stranger" around here! hehe I think now might be a good time to share some Holiday gift ideas with you. This Stampin' Up! Matchbox XL Die makes an adorable little box and cover. The die provides a punched out and scored template which can be folded into a box. It also provides three different tag shapes which can be stamped and placed on top of the box cover, which is also scored and cut to size. Just some simple folds and a stamp here and there and VOILA!... a great little gift!

There are lots of different looks you can create using different types of Designer Series Paper and card stock. Maybe you could enclose a small piece of jewelry, some matching mini note cards, or some candy, like I did in the next photo.

Hershey's Mini Nuggets are wrapped with a 1" x 3" piece of Designer Series Paper which is adhered in the back. This is a cute last-minute gift idea for neighbors who stop by unexpectedly, or a nice treat for a teacher.

Check back often during the next couple of weeks for more helpful hints on how to be prepared for those last minute holiday gift needs.

~Alice

Here are some more ideas using this wonderful MEDALLION Background Stamp. I just can't seem to get enough of it! This time I used In-Color Melon Mambo, a wonderful, bright pink (which is my favorite color!), but I "stamped off" to get a lighter image. "Stamping off" is a technique that is easy to learn and has many applications.

This detail includes some Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. All the In-Colors have matching Polka Dot Ribbon. I used a Filigree Brad anchored with a white brad from the 5/16" Neutrals Assortment Brads.

Here are another couple of samples using the "Stamping Off" technique and matching card stock and ink pad. The Eyelet Border Punch gives a nice bright white border to the sentiment, don't you think? Both cards were embossed using White Embossing Powder.

On this last card, I added some butterflies from the FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLY Stamp Set. I love the Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon against the soft color of Sahara Sand on the card base. I also stamped two butterflies onto Vellum Card Stock to adhere on top of the card stock butterflies for a nice 3-dimensional look.

So there you have it. I think this is the end of my MEDALLION card samples. Next time, I'll try something different!

~Alice

It's been way too long since I've posted here. This month has been crazy busy, so I've had to focus on designing and prepping for classes. But I have a few days before I leave to visit my sister for a long weekend (WOO HOO I can't wait, Sandy!!!) so let's see what we can update with, OK?

First of all, here is a copy of a swap I made for Amanda Coughlin's Holiday Mini Catalog Swap. It's been awhile since we traded cards, but I never did get around to showing you what I made for it, did I? I had lots of fun with this card. I got to use the beautiful new stamp set, SERENE SNOWFLAKES and some of the SHIMMER PAINT in the Holiday Mini Catalog. That paint is very different than anything else Stampin' Up! has to offer. I combined a little of the paint with a little bit of water in a small spray bottle. I used this to deliver a few short squirts onto the background Bordering Blue card stock, and topped it with the largest snowflake, embossed with silver embossing powder with a clear brad in the center. All other supplies are listed below. I made over 30 of these cards, and traded with 30 other demonstrators. I received 29 different card fronts using all the different stamp sets in the Holiday Mini Catalog. 

Swaps are a great idea, don't you think? And they're LOTS of fun, too! Thanks, Amanda, for letting me be a part of your Holiday Swap! I did have a little trouble with the post office. It seems they sort of lost my package, and it wasn't delivered in 2-3 days Priority. It came a week later! I was so worried it was lost and that I wasn't going to get the other card fronts I had been waiting for (impatiently). But I contacted Amanda, who is such a sweet person, and she helped me out until my package FINALLY arrived! I just love Stampin' Up! and all the demonstrators I have met through this wonderful company!! Everyone is always so nice... and will try to help out whenever possible. If you would like to order any of these supplies, or if you'd like to learn more about how to use the Shimmer Paints, just contact me and I'd be happy to help. :-) Have a GREAT week!

Stamp Sets: Serene Snowflakes, Four the Holidays

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Brushed Silver, Whisper White, Bordering Blue

Ink: Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, VersaMark

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Eyelet Border Punch, Jumbo Snowflake Punch, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Silver Elastic Cord, Whisper White Organza Ribbon

~Alice

A Different Idea

Hi all. Do you remember the project we made at my Open House a few months ago? It was a small folder which held 3"x3" notecards. We used the new In-Colors card stock which were just being released with the new catalog, the RAZZLEBERRY LEMONADE DSP, and the WINGS OF FRIENDSHIP Hostess Set. Well here's another look at the same design -- with a different DSP. This version was made by my upline, Lisa. Isn't it awesome?!?! This first photo is of the outside cover of the holder.

This view shows the inside of the open holder with a couple note cards.

And these last two are of the individual note cards. I think I'm going to have to order some of this beautiful NIGHT AND DAY SPECIALTY Designer Series Paper (Item #116768, $11.95). The holder is held closed with a piece of 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon (Item# 114319, $5.95).

~Alice

MEDALLION BACKGROUND STAMP

"MEDALLION" (Item #115223 $17.95) is currently my favorite stamp set. It's also currently the #1 best selling stamp set at Stampin' Up!. A customer and very dear friend of mine, Susan, purchased this a couple of months ago. I sort of hinted to her that it would be very cool if I could try out this stamp before I gave her the package of goodies she had ordered. She very graciously offered this and any other stamps she owns! Can you believe that? WOW! THANK YOU, SUSAN!!! You're AWESOME!

Well, I had LOTS of fun with this one. In this first sample I used Very Vanilla Textured Card Stock and a technique called "STAMPIN' OFF" to get the distressed, faded image of the Medallion shown here. I would be happy to show you and some of your friends exactly how to replicate this technique at a Girls' Night Out at your home or mine. You bring the friends and I'll bring the stamps! Together, we'll have lots of fun making projects designed especially for you.

I loved this color combination of the new In-Colors Soft Suede and Melon Mambo so much that I used it on this next card also. The MEDALLION was again stamped off -- this time onto Very Vanilla Textured Card Stock. The central image is from the Level 1 Hostess Set, Of the Earth. Markers were used to color directly onto the stamp, which were then re-moistened using the "huffing technique" before stamping onto Very Vanilla card stock which was punched out with a 1-3/8" Circle Punch. This circle was then mounted on a Soft Suede Scalloped Circle Punch and placed into the center of the Medallion stamp using Stampin' Dimensionals. Would you like to learn more about the "huffing technique"? Would you like to have this Of the Earth set in your own private stamp collection? The only way you can is to invite me to meet with you and your friends for a Girls' Night Out at my home or yours.

Here is yet another MEDALLION card. Are you tired of seeing them yet? I'm not tired of making them! hehe This was one of the cards from last month's Card Class. We used the "stampin' off" technique to create the flowering focal image using another stamp from the Level 1 Hostess Set, Of the Earth. Isn't this a pretty set?

Well, I still have more samples to show you, but I think this should suffice for a little while. Thank you again, Susan, for your generosity! I thoroughly enjoyed using this set -- as I think is obvious here, don't you?

~Alice

SEPTEMBER SCRAPBOOK CLASS

Our September Scrapbooking Class was lots of fun this past weekend. We worked on two separate page spreads, as we usually do. The first was a layout about Back to School. Most of those attending the class have young children who returned to school in the past couple of weeks. (School starts in August here in Florida -- rather than after Labor Day as up North.) We had been discussing how to get good photographs of the children on their first day on school, subject matter, poses, lighting, etc.; so now we needed some pages for our wonderful photos.

But the real focus for this month's class was JOURNALING. We had a Guest Speaker, Ann, who opened our eyes to the fantastic world of JOURNALING on our scrapbook pages. THANK YOU, ANN!!! :-) I'm not an avid journaler, myself. I don't know about you, but I just never seem to know what to say... other than names, place and date... rather elementary (hehe... elementary... hehe... Get it? Back to school? Elementary?... A-hem.) Anyway...

Ann gave us many examples of different styles of journaling, including, but not limited to:

• lists
• tell our own thoughts and memories
• record someone else's observations
• letter writing
• interview/dialog

Ann encouraged us to write about how we felt seeing our children leaving for school, or maybe about their feelings about returning to the classroom. There was a hand-out with lots of Journaling Prompts to get our brains jump-started in the right direction. She showed us some fabulous pages from her own personal scrapbooks in which journaling played a major part. Ann pointed out that, many years from now, a page with a story would be much more meaningful than a page with only photographs. So we are all going to do some journaling and bring back our layouts next month to share with each other. We will all read each others' stories, and vote on our favorite. The scrapper with the "best" journaling on her page will be rewarded with a copy of the book Simple Scrapbooks 2, by Cathy Zelsky, an award-winning scrapbooker and Contributing Editor to Creating Keepsakes magazine. Thank you, Ann, for both your thought-provoking presentation and your contribution of the journaling contest Reward!

This is our "Back to School" layout:

As you can see, our journaling will be entered onto the "notebook page" on the right side of this spread. But that is no ordinary notebook page... nooooo. It was created by computer-printing horizontal blue lines and one vertical red line onto Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock. We then punched the left edge using the Spiral Punch (Item# 108341) and the right sides with the Corner Rounder Punch (Item# 109047). The layout uses primary color card stock and Designer Series Paper from (retired) Simply Scrappin' Kits.

We also learned how to get more than one color of ink on a stamp by using Real Red, Old Olive and Close to Cocoa markers to color in the apple with its' leaf and stem from the Tart & Tangy Stamp Set (Item# 111514). Color directly onto the stamp, then huff by breathing air directly onto the stamp, then stamp onto Whisper White card stock. Voila! Tres jolie! (That's very pretty in French.) We cut out the apples using the 1-1/4" Circle Punch (Item# 104403) to be used as photo accents after our photographs are cropped and mounted onto the page. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment here, or you may contact me directly.

~Alice