Stamp-a-Stack

Well, I guess all this snow was too much for everyone cause I only had one student come to my Stamp-a-Stack class on Friday. Luckily, it was Frances, who missed last month's stack class, so I just repeated the projects!

This was one of the cards we made at Stampin' Up!'s Regional Convention last month in Arizona. I just love this new Vintage Vogue set (we got it for free!).

She also made four of the little Valentine love notes that we made at the kids class (see my last post).

And, for the 3rd card, I had to dig up an oldie but goodie ...

I just adore this card ... the Regal Rose ... tearing the vellum ... the beautiful, wide grosgrain ribbon ... everything!

Kids Class

My neighbor asked me to start up my Kids Class again for her twin girls (they're in 4th grade ... that makes them 10?) and a couple of their friends. These girls are very sweet and just as talented. We had a great time at class ... they brought along Esther, who I'd had in a class last year at the grammar school (also, very talented, and she's a whiz at following instructions), and Kristie. This was Kristie's first time stamping with me, and she did great! All the girls made wonderful projects, and the class went very well. So well, in fact, that I think we're going to make it a monthly event!

Fun Technique

Here's one of the cards we made at Friday night's technique class ... the card is based on one I saw on our new Stampin' Up! Connection site (for demonstrator's only--sorry) by Elizabeth Ann Rehn. I changed the cardstock color, and added different embellishments, but the basic design & technique I got from her.

I stamped the Medallion image on black cardstock using White Craft ink. Then, I dabbed color all over using Stampin' Up! Pastel Chalks & Sponge Daubers. After the whole image was basically covered, I went back over everything with more chalk, this time rubbing it in and blending the colors together. I used a spray fixative to set the colors.

For the brad in the center, I added a drop of Pixie Pink Craft reinker and wiped off the excess leaving the ink in just the recessed areas of the brad.

Finally, I used the Ticket corner punch on the black cs and added a Modern Label punched saying with silver brads popped up with Dimensionals. Beautiful, quick card!

Christmas Swap Gift

I can't believe it's the end of January already! Sheesh!

OK, so I just had to send someone a photo of my swap gift from my downline Christmas party, so I thought I'd post the photos here as well. It's decorated with flowers made from Tim Holtz's Grunge Paper, which I'd usually ink w/Distress Inks, but since it was a Stampin' Up! gift, I thought I'd try it with SU Classic inks & products. You've got to excuse my PJs ... I'm in them most of the morning! But, you can see my new camera my wonderful DH got me for Christmas! lol

The colors came out totally different than I expected ... the frame was colored using Bordering Blue ... I wanted it lighter, but I love the way it turned out! I stamped the roses using Studio 490's 6-petal flower and cut them out. Then, I embossed the flowers with the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder in my Big Shot & inked with Pumpkin Pie (I know, it's looks like More Mustard). The leaves I cut out using the Little Leaves Sizzlit--the Sizzlits have wires instead of steel blades, so it didn't cut all the way through, but I just clipped it with my Paper Snips. I inked the leaves with Old Olive ink and then stamped with En Francais using Basic Black ink. I also distressed the edges of the frame & flowers using Close to Cocoa ink.

After creating & molding the flowers & leaves, I attached them to the frame using Aleene's Tacky Glue.

Project Order class was cancelled

Well, if you're looking for photos of the projects from last night's class, they aren't here ... in fact, I didn't even make the projects. I had my 2nd exercise class with this Nazi instructor, and I was sooo sore, that I notified all the "maybes" and decided to cancel. All I wanted to do yesterday was soak in a day long HOT bathtub!

No Christmas cards this year

Sorry everyone, but I never got my Christmas cards made this year. I've been apologizing to everyone I've been talking to, and I feel soooo guilty. I thought I'd get them done this week after coming home from Arizona, but my house is a wreck, and I've just go so much to catch up on. Rick wants me to just save the supplies for Christmas 2010 (Ahhhhh! use old supplies?!). I do still have to get my little gifts out to the nieces & nephews who I don't get to see over the holidays, and I might have to actually *ack* buy *ugh* some cards to send the money in. All I know is, if I don't do it soon, they'll be Valentine's gifts!

I'm home

Just got back last night from a wonderful week in WARM Phoenix. Stampin' Up! held their Leadership convention and a Regional there, and not only did I finally qualify to go, but it was the perfect location ... warm weather and half my relatives live in Arizona! I went for a whole week and had a wonderful time visiting relatives in haven't seen in years (and I mean years ... some I haven't seen in about 30!). I finally got to meet my beautifully sweet great-niece Kaydence (wanted to put that one in my suitcase!), and got caught up with my big sis Karen. She was just the best hostess all week too! I can't believe how many relatives she contacted to come and visit me while I was in town! She's just the best!

Well, right now I've spent half the day trying to just catch up on emails ... guess I should get in the shower! Anyway, I'll post photos from Leadership and family soon as I get caught up!