Sweet Pressed Cookie Box & Card

Today is the day I can finally share the project I created for Craft Project Central! I used one of my favorite sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog...You Are Loved. Your Valentine will know they are loved when you give them this pretty window box filled with cookies along with the matching card! 

This project is versatile enough to use for any holiday or occasion – just change the colors and stamps that you use! To get the instructions for my project (along with a recipe for my mom’s yummy shortbread cookies), just subscribe to December!

Have you tried the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps yet? They really are a fun way to beautify your baking! I had so many nice comments on the Christmas cookies I baked using them...even my Dad noticed and said he like them.

Martha may not live at my house(and that's a GOOD thing!;-) but it looks like she does when I use the Sweet Pressed Cookie stamps! Have a sweet day!

Lots of GREAT Projects

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was very nice, but it went by way too quickly as usual! Stevie enjoyed the Christmas tree (climbing it and getting down ornaments to play with!), all the ribbons tied to packages and the wadded up wrapping paper. Here is a cute photo of him with his stocking on Christmas morning.

Have you signed up on Craft Project Central yet for the month of December? What are you waiting for? Look what you are missing...

This gorgeous Birthday Calendar Desk Set can be used for many years to come! When you open it up you will find a perpetual calendar where you can write in Birthdays and other important dates to remember. Also inside are six birthday cards (three feminine and three masculine) with envelopes! This project is a great gift idea and a fun class or club project! This fun and functional project comes to you designed by Glenda.

Above is the December bonus project and it’s a pretty one! If you live in an area that is getting some storms this week, hopefully this project will give you a little sunshine! Project includes a box with a unique folding top and three bright and happy cards!  This cheerful project comes to you designed by Sharon.

Are you in need of a quick and easy gift for your crafty friends, downline, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, etc.? Here is a great project that shows you how to take an inexpensive index card box and turn it into a gift of note cards and envelopes. Includes a selection of sentiments that can be adhered to the note cards later as needed. This quick and easy project comes to you designed by Regina.

Before you know it, it will be 2012 and you’ll be thinking of cute things to make your Valentines! Your Valentine will feel extra special when you dress up fancy candy in these cute mini circle boxes and pair them with the coordinating card. The boxes are so quick and easy to make and every piece of candy is its own little gift! The Ferrero Rocher candy is a great choice for Valentine’s Day, but if you want something for your younger Valentines, try stacking mini peanut butter cups in the boxes! This project is also a great club or class project. This sweet project comes to you designed by Julie.

To get the full, step by step tutorials for these projects & more, get on over to Craft Project Central and sign up for the month of December.

Beautiful Season Pair

I like to make a few different card designs each year to send out for Christmas. I showed you one of them the other day, and this is the other card I sent this year.

I did some with the Cherry Cobbler embossed background (shown above) and some with an Artichoke embossed background (below) just to change things up a bit.

You cannot tell so much here, but I used Dazzling Details mixed with Cherry Cobbler re-inker to color the berries...it gave them a nice sparkle. In the new Occasions catalog they have Dazzling Details in Cherry Cobbler, so this would make it even easier because I wouldn't have to mix it! Here's a closer look to see the sparkling berries.

Have a beautiful day!

Vintage Ornament With Gift Box & Card

This vintage inspired ornament is a perfect gift for a teacher, co-worker, or friend! Project includes instructions for the pretty vintage ornament, a keepsake box for it, and a matching card! This is a fun and easy project that you can do with your friends (while sipping on some eggnog or how about a peppermint martini!!) or do for a class project!

This beautiful project comes to you designed by Heidi. To get the instructions for Heidi’s project, just go on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to December!

Clearance Rack Blitz

WOW! I cannot believe how many great items are on the Clearance Rack right now!

Go on over to my online store and check it out...you just might find yourself a Chistmas present or two...I know I did! ;-)

Sparkly Tree Trimmings

It's such a busy time of year! Yesterday I got my Christmas cards in the mail, so that's one major thing I can cross off my list! I've got my Christmas shopping about done...except for a few odds & ends, the house is decorated and I've started my baking. But....I still have all my gifts to wrap! In the meantime, here is one of the Christmas cards I created to send this year.

As you can see, I used two different color combos...Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler & Wild Wasabi. I even had some satin ribbon with a silver edge in my stash that is a pretty close match to Baja Breeze. The Glimmer Paper and the rhinestones make these cards really sparkle!

See how the rhinestones shine when the light hits them...

Which color combo do you like best? I think I'm partial to the blue & silver myself. Here's what I used:

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Delightful Decorations & Season of Joy
Card stock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Silver & Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Not Quite Navy & Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle & Ornament Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon (retired)

Thanks for visiting me today!

Snowman Gift Box Tower

This adorable snowman gift box tower is the perfect way to shower someone special with gifts! Finished as shown this box is over 16 inches tall! Make just one hexagon box, a stack of three, or make it into a tall stack of four boxes and decorate it like a snowman!

This cute snowman gift box project comes to you designed by Amanda. To get the instructions for Amanda’s project, visit Craft Project Central and subscribe to December.

Gingerbread Treat Box & Card

Give someone special something sweet! This gingerbread style treat box holds up to 10 Ghirardelli chocolate squares perfectly, or other treats and trinkets. This project is so quick and easy to make that you’ll want to make it for everyone! Great idea for teacher gifts, secret Santa, stocking stuffers, stamp camps and workshops!

This sweet project comes to you designed by Kim. You can get the instructions for this adorable set plus lots more fabulous projects when you go to Craft Project Central and subscribe to December.

Mr. Snowman Treat Box & Card

Isn't this snowman treat box just adorable!? This is the newest project posted at Craft Project Central.

Just subscribe to the month of December and you'll get the complete instructions to make this darling snowman box and matching card created by Julie, plus all the other great projects shown for the month!

Birthday Pears

Here's a masculine style birthday card created using the Always Thankful set from the Holiday Mini along with Well Worn DSP.

Stamps: Always Thankful & Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess set)
Card stock: Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla & Well Worn DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Not Quite Navy & various other Classic Inks for watercoloring
Accessories: Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Top Note Die, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Aqua Painter & Regals Brads

Thanks for visiting today!

CPC Christmas Projects

I'm delighted to say that once again this month I am a guest designer on Craft Project Central! My project won't be shown until later this month, (so make sure to check back!) until then I can show you the first two festive projects that are available for the month of December.

Our first project for December is a a pretty little quick-and-easy ornament that you can hang on your tree or use as a pretty 3D gift tag. The matching mini gift bag and greeting card will make this a fabulous gift set for anyone! This project is also a fun class or club project!! This festive project comes to you designed by Monika. 

This packet of hand made cards makes a perfect hostess gift during the holidays.  They are so easy to make, you could make several sets to give to co-workers, friends, and even as teacher gifts! This pretty card set comes to you designed by Laurie.

To get the instructions for Monika & Lauries's fabulous  projects, just subscribe to December!

Embossed Heart For the Newlyweds

My niece got married over the weekend. I made this card for her and her new hubby using the You Are Loved set from the Holiday Mini.

The heart is embossed on Whisper White in Silver EP and then I cut it out. Makes me wonder if the new Heart Framelits that will soon be available in the upcoming Occasions Mini will work with this set? I cannot wait to get the framelits! Here's a closer look at the embossed heart.

The Very Vanilla layers are dry embossed using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate and the Big Shot. To create the scalloped square I used both the Scallop Trim Border & Scallop Trim Corner punches. I started with a piece of Whisper White cut into a 3-13/16" square, punched the corners first and with that measurement, it lines up perfectly. (most of the time! ;-)

The "For the Newlyweds" is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. It's also embossed and punched with Word Window & layered onto a Modern Label punched out of Brushed Silver card stock. Some White Organza Ribbon and Basic Rhinestones added the finishing details.

A Wheelbarrow Full of Wishes

My wish to you is that you can spend the day with those you love, enjoy a delicious dinner together and maybe even find some time to enjoy a little stamping!

Stamps: Always Thankful
Card stock: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla & Well Worn DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Not Quite Navy & various Classic Ink to watercolor
Accessories: Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Word Window Punch, Linen Thread, Top Note Die, Perfect Details Texturz Plate,

On this day of giving thanks, I am thankful for you stopping by to visit my blog...and especially thankful to those who leave me a comment. Happy Thanksgiving!

Triple Treat Spice Cake

When I first saw the Holiday Mini catalog, I knew I'd love the Spice Cake DSP because it coordinated with the Triple Treat Flower stamp. Combining the two, makes it easy to create a quick, yet super cute card for any occasion.

Stamps: Triple Treat Flower & Tiny Tags
Card stock: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla & Spice Cake DSP
Ink: More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party & Early Espresso
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Seam binding Ribbon, Linen Thread, Perfect Pennants Bigz Die (scalloped circle shape) Basic Rhinestones, Fancy Flower, Five Petal Flower, Jewelry Tag & Scallop Trim Border Punches

Again this year, Stampin' Up! is offering some great deals during the Online Extravaganza!

You won't want to miss out on these exciting deals...just in time for holiday shopping for that crafter on your list, or maybe a gift for yourself! Happy shopping!

Rose Tiles

The You Are Loved set from the Holiday Mini is much more versatile than just for Valentine's Day. I love the beautiful floral designs and the sentiments included. I used the pretty rose image to create this faux tile focal point on this card.

The Simply Scored Scoring Tool makes it easy to score the 3" square into a 1" grid to do the faux tile. Then stamp and highlight the edge of each "tile" with some sponged on color. In this case I used Crumb Cake. The background is rolled on with the Love Blossoms wheel.

I recently got the Ovals Sizzix Die, so now using the oval Embossed Designer Frame is so much easier. No more cutting out the oval shape by hand! The medium sized oval is the perfect size for the outside and the smallest one fits inside the frame. (as does the Wide Oval Punch)

The butterfly was cut using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and then I sponged it and spritzed with Vanilla Smooch for some shimmer. A few Basic Pearls and some Chocolate Scallop Dots Ribbon and you have the finished card.

Enjoy your weekend!

Spicey Cupcake

Mmmm...I just made myself hungry with that title! I've been craving apple spice cake like my Grandma used to make. This card using the Spice Cake DSP and the Cupcake Builder Punch might not taste as good, but it's definitely fat free and looks way cuter than any cake I could make. (Unfortunately I did not inherit my Grandma's cake decorating skills.)

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set)
Card stock: Peach Parfait, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla & Spice Cake DSP
Ink: Peach Parfait, Soft Suede & Pool Party
Accessories: Top Note Die, Perfect Polka Dots EF,  Cupcake Builder & Boho Blossoms Punches, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon & Basic Pearls

Thanks for stopping by today!

Grateful

There's always something for which to be thankful. ~Charles Dickens
Today, on Veteran's Day, I am thankful for all those who have served our beautiful country, and for those who still do.

Stamps: Always Thankful
Card stock: More Mustard, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla & Spice Cake DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Early Espresso & various other Classic Ink for watercoloring
Accessories: Two Tags Bigz Die, 1 3/4" Circle punch, Aqua Painter & Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon

Have a wonderful weekend!

Always Thankful

I've had the Always Thankful set and the fun Spice Cake papers for quite some time now and I've been dying to find some time to play with them. A couple days ago I went down to my rubber room to stamp and it was such a chaotic mess that I had to spend my "stampin' time" cleaning & organizing...that was quite a bummer! However, it sure was nice yesterday to spend the day in my clean space coloring the beautiful images in this set.

Not only are the images great in the Always Thankful set, but I couldn't agree more with the quote included..."There's always something for which to be thankful". At the moment I am thankful for the nice, hot cup of coffee I'm sipping while writing this post and my warm, cuddly kitten purring on my lap. Life is good, but it's cold this morning!

Stamps: Always Thankful, Teeny Tiny Wishes & Fall Harvest Wheel
Card stock: More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla & Spice Cake DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Early Espresso, More Mustard & various Classic Ink for watercoloring
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Word Window & Decorative Label punches, Antique Brad, Linen Thread & Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots Ribbon

Have a wonderful day!

BOO!

Today I have a BOO! banner to share with you. I created this to hang from my antique buffet.

I used my favorite SU! Halloween papers...Cast A Spell which are available as a digital download through My Digital Studio. I still have some left in my stash and love that it has purple in the prints, and it goes well with my other Halloween decor. The pennant and the letters were cut using my Big Shot and the Perfect Pennants and Serif Essentials Dies.

Embellishing my pennant was the fun part and I used all kinds of goodies...including plastic spiders hanging from the end of each pennant using fishing line. Glimmer Brads and Black Flourish Rhinestones added some sparkle to my project. I had just enough black ribbon with spiderweb design left in my stash to string the pieces together. Here's another look at my buffet decorated for Halloween.

I've recieved several nice emails & comments regarding my sweet kitten Stevie and how some of you love to see photos of him. Today I did a fall photo shoot with him in honor of his 1st Halloween. So for my fellow cat lovers, here's one of my favorite shots.

Happy Halloween!