Friday, December 24, 2010

See you all in 2011!

I don't know if I will get time to post anything new the next couple of days because I just want to spend this last week of the year spending it with family and friends.  What a wonderful job I have - I get to make time for myself!  So to all of you who read my blog I hope to see you all back in 2011 and look forward to another great year of sharing and creating.  But even though I may not be on with  new post, my online store is always available, and I am still just a phone call or e-mail away.   And, thank you for letting me indulge a little bit with my pictures and posts of my family.  See you in 2011!  Merry  Christmas and  Happy New Year!             

                                                                  Eileen

Thank you for a wonderful year!

 To all of my readers, I want to say thank you for a wonderful year.  For those who prayed for my grandson Thomas this summer when he was sick, I thought I would show how all of our prayers were answered.  While it was a very scary two weeks of the unknown, he has recovered fully from encephalitis and is now once again a happy, healthy three year old who fills us with so much joy.  The doctors, nurses, and therapist at both Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA, and at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania were all so wonderful and brought him back to us.  My family, friends, and Stampin' Up! demonstrators who all prayed daily brought us the miracle we all prayed for.  So thank you from the bottom of my heart, and from all of my family I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Picture of Thomas relearning his motor skills at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania.

And now, our happy little boy all smiles enjoying a weekend with Grandma and Poppy while mommy and daddy got a much needed weekend away in New York City.
And our little Evey who came into our lives in February 2010.  Thomas is very happy to have a little sister.

My husband who supports me in all I do.
And my children - Jen and her husband Brennan who are all smiles once again as their family is all back home, happy and healthy, and my son Greg and his girlfriend Katie. 

Now I hope you all get time to spend the holidays with your loved ones, and I look forward to 2011 and another year of creating and sharing with all of you.

Merry Christmas everyone! 






Friday, December 17, 2010

Peaceful Season

I love how Stampin' Up's! stamp sets have everything you need.  Along with the Peace on Earth sentiment written in beautiful script, how clever was it to have another stamp in the set with a picture of the earth made to look like a tree ornament.  These are just two of the 6 stamps in the Peaceful Season set that are a Level 2 Hostess set that lucky hostesses could earn free with a qualifying workshop held during the holiday mini period which ends January 3, 2011.  If this is a set you wish you could of received but didn't have time to book your workshop, don't worry, there are still beautiful hostess sets available in the Idea Book and Catalog and still more in the upcoming mini coming out in January 2011.   However, if this is a set you would like to earn you can always place your own qualifying order through my on-line store and receive hostess benefits even though I will not be holding anymore home workshops from now until the beginning of the new year.  E-mail me if you have any questions on how you can make this happen.

For today's card I started with Always Artichoke cardstock for my base and added a layer of Cherry Cobbler and a stamped and embossed layer of Very Vanilla.  If you are going to emboss a layer that you are also stamping on, make sure to stamp your images first.  Once the layer is embossed your stamped images may not cover some of the embossed designs.

For today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Always Artichoke #105119, Cherry Cobbler #119685, Very Vanilla #101650
Ink:  Always Artichoke #105219, Cherry Cobbler #119669
Stamp Set:  Peaceful Season #120819 wood mount, or #121124 clear mount (Level 2 Hostess Set - Holiday Mini Catalog)
Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine #113439, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824
Punch:  Ticket Corner #119867

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Card Ornament Card

I love getting Christmas cards that I can easily display, and this is one that can be put right onto the Christmas tree for all to see.  

To make today's card I started with a piece of 11" x 5"  Always Artichoke cardstock that I folded in half and cut using the Scallop Circle Bigz Die, leaving the top four scallop circles exposed so I would not cut two single circles, rather two circles held together by the crease which created the top for my card.  I then cut a circular piece of DSP using my Circle Scissors Plus, added the cut out holly leaves and sentiment, and used the Round Tab Punch to create the top holder.  A brad was used to place this tab onto the top of the card and some retired silver cord created the hanger. 

To make today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Always Artichoke #105119, Very Vanilla #101650, Cherry Cobbler #119684
Designer Series Paper:  Deck the Halls #120810
Stamp Set:  Peaceful Season #120819 wood mount or #121124 clear mount (Level 2 Hostess - Holiday Mini)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler #119669, Always Artichoke #105219
Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine #113439, Scallop Circle Bigz Die #113468, Circle Scissors Plus #112530, Glass Mat #112531, Dimensionals #104430
Ribbon:  Silver Cord (Retired)
Embellishment:  Neutral Brad #119736

Monday, December 13, 2010

Masculine Birthday

Need some masculine birthday cards and afraid to add ribbon?  I solve that problem by laying the ribbon flat over my layer and not tying a bow.  This way I still get to add the embellishment to dress up the card, but it seems less feminine to me this way.

For today's card I used a Polka Dot embossed piece of Old Olive cardstock for my card base, and added two layers of Designer Series Paper from the Bright Patterns Pack.  To the Olive Green DSP I added a backing of Whisper White to make it stand out.  I added some bitty buttons over three punched circle of the same DSP, added the ribbon, and used dimensionals on my Eat Cake sentiment.    Coordinating your ink with your cardstock, Designer Series Paper, and ribbon makes it so easy to pull it all together.  Just another reason I love my Stampin' Up! products.

To make today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Old Olive #100702, Whisper White #100730           
Designer Series Paper:  Bright Patterns Paper Stack #1171155
Stamp Set:  Cute by the Inch #116992 wood mount or #120130 clear mount (Hostess Level 1)
Ribbon:  Old Olive 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain #115618
Ink:  Pacific Point #111837
Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine #113439, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335, Dimesionals #104430
Embellishment:  Bitty Buttons #118761
Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309, 1 1/4" Square #119865, 1 3/8" Square #119877

Friday, December 10, 2010

Idea Book Inspiration

Not only is the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog your resource for ordering all of your Stampin' Up!  products, it is also full of great ideas.  My inspiration for today's card was taken right from the book.   On page 109 of the catalog I liked the card so much that I tried my own version, just added a different sentiment to fit what I needed, stamped a few more flowers, got a little creative with two different inks, and tied my bow on the other side. 

For today's card I started with a card base of Pear Pizzazz cardstock.  To this layer I used my Color Spritzer Tool and misted some Early Espresso ink on the front.  Next I stamped the flowers first with Whisper White craft ink, and then I stamped again with Crumb Cake ink.  I didn't stamp the images right on top of one another because I wanted to get a shadow effect.  I tore a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and added it to the bottom and stamped my sentiment and sponged some Pear Pizzazz ink around the edges.   I put my bow on the other side because I didn't want to cover the saying. 

For today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Pear Pizzazz #119795, Very Vanilla #101750
Ink:  Whisper White Craft #101730, Pear Pizzazz #119784, Crumb Cake #121030
Marker:  Early Espresso #119680
Stamp Set:  Just Believe #116948 wood mount or #120453 clear mount
Ribbon:  Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta #109070
Accessories:  Stamping Sponge #101610, Color Spritzer Tool #107066


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Fancy Favor Box Snowflake Luminaria


I made this luminaria the same as the one I posted awhile back, just tried it with different images and colors. 

I ran a 6 x 12 piece of Night of Navy cardstock through my Big Shot Machine using the Fancy Favor Bigzx xl Die.  Before I assembled the box, I punched a hole on both sides with the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle.  I stamped the snowflake image on a piece of 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" Vellum cardstock with versa mark ink and then heat embossed the image with silver embossing powder.  Using glue dots I attached the vellum to the inside of the box covering the scallop circles.  I also stamped more snowflakes using Whisper White craft ink all over the box in random order and then put it together using Sticky Strip for extra hold.    I used a battery operated tea light instead of a candle so it is safe to use anywhere.

To make today's post I used the following:
Cardstock:  Night of Navy 12 x 12 #119932, Vellum #101856
Stamp Set:  Snow Swirled #111689
Ink:  Whisper White Craft #101731, Versa Mark #102283
Punch:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle #118874
Embellishment:  Silver Embossing Powder #109131
Accessories:  Heat Gun #100005, Glue Dots #103783, Sticky Strip #104294

Monday, December 6, 2010

Masculine Birthday


I needed a masculine birthday card for tonight.  Going out to celebrate with my husband and his childhood friend who both have birthday's this week.  I think a few martinis will be served, so I thought this would be an appropriate card for the occasion.

I started with a base of Pear Pizzazz cardstock, followed by a layer of Whisper White and cut pieces from the In Color Designer Series Paper Pack (Level 1 Hostess).  I stamped the martini glasses in metallic silver ink (retired), and colored the olive with Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade markers. I added a layer of Basic Gray cardstock behind the layers because I thought they looked too washed out without it against the white cardstock. 

To make today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Pear Pizzazz #119795, Whisper White #100730, Basic Gray #121044
Designer Series Paper:  In Color Designer Series Paper Pack #121028 (Level 1 Hostess)
Stamp Sets:  Cheers to You #114944, Upsy Daisy #111710
Markers:  In Color Pack #119801
Punches:  1 3/8" Extra Large Square #119877, Modern Label #119849
Accessories: Dimensionals #104430

Friday, December 3, 2010

Holiday Notebooks

I found these plain notebooks at a local craft store and thought they would make cute Christmas gifts with a little bit of embellishing to dress them up.  Nice teacher gifts too!

To embellish the notebooks I took Whisper White cardstock and stamped snowflakes in random order.  I added different ribbon, buttons and jewels, along with a pen or pencil tied on the side.   A quick and easy project that anyone can do.  These tend to sell well at craft fairs too.

Stampin' Up! products used to embellish the notebooks:
Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730
Stamp Set:  Snow Swirled #111690
Ink:  Real Red #103133, Metallic Gold and Silver (retired)
Ribbon:  Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain #109052, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain #111368, Real Red Striped Grosgrain (retired)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones #119246, Brights Designer Buttons #119747, (plus some retired buttons also)
Accessories:  Sticky Strip #104294, Snail Adhesive #104332
 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

One little baby

I don't know how may times I think I am finished with a card and then I go to post it to my blog and I think it needs a little something more.  As usual, that is what happened today after I saw the original card.  I thought I needed to break up the brown photocorners so I punched another set using the Brights Regal Rose DSP and trimmed them to layer over the brown corners.  I then also added Crystal Effects to the center of the bear.  Not sure if I like this one better, I still might change the card base to Whisper White. 

I started with a card base of Pretty in Pink cardstock, followed by a layer of Chocolate Chip  and a piece of the Regal Rose DSP from the Brights Paper Stack.  Before I placed the Regal Rose DSP on the card I punched a hole with the Scallop Circle punch and then with a scrap piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock I punched a circle large enough so the bear stamped on Whisper White cardstock would show through. Now I know I could of just punched this circle right through the Chocolate Chip layer, but to make it easier for perfect layering I did it on scrap paper so I could just lay it behind the scallop circle in the proper place. A few more punches for the sentiment which I sponged with some Pretty in Pink around the edges, the photo corners and some crystal effects were used on the finished card. 

Stamping Tip:  If you touch an area of your card that has Crystal Effect on it before it dries (yes, I did it again), a trick I learned today because I really didn't want to do it all over again, is that if you take your finger and dab it over the entire image it makes it looked like cracked glass.  Nice save on a card that had one big blob in the middle because I touched it when it was wet.  It actually gives it a nice effect. 

For today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Pretty in Pink #100459, Chocolate Chip #102128, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Bright Paper Stack #117155
Stamp Set:   Baby Bundle #118525 wood mount or #120576 clear mount, Curvy Verses #114948
Punches:  1 3/4" Scallop Circle #119854, Scallop Oval #119856, Photo Corner #119878, 1 1/4" Circle #119861
Ink:  Chocolate Chip #100908, Pretty in Pink #111838
Accessories:  Stamping Sponge #101610
Embellishment:  Crystal Effects #101055