Time sure flies!

Here we are, almost two full months into 2011 and this is my first post of the new year! So much for my resolve (I don't make New Year's resolutions) to post more frequently. You may ask what I have been doing with my time? Well, one thing I have been doing is trying to use up some of my retired supplies - such as Designer Series Paper. I've also been trying new techniques I have wanted to do for a long time.

This project combines both. It is known as a tri-fold card. While it looks complicated, it is really very easy to do and a lot of fun. Most of the tutorials that have been posted on various blogs use 12 x 12 cardstock. I found instructions for using 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock on Splitcoast Stampers in the resources section. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom to find it.

Here is my version:

I used Basic Gray for the base. The DSP is from Tea Party (retired), but any DSP you like can be used. I made the candle flames using the Two-Step Bird Punch, punching just the wing part out of So Saffron card stock and sponging with Daffodil Delight. The candle part is strips of DSP sponged with Concord Crush. Stamp sets used were: Birthday Bakery, Messages for Mom and Whimsical Words. Also used the scallop circle punch and 1 3/8" circle punch. Some of the candles are embellished with Basic Pearls.

This type of card has lots of possibilities for embellishing. I can see more of these in my future! Give it a try and have a Very Stamping Day!!

What a year! What a month!

Earlier this year I moved from the province of Alberta out to the west coast. This was my first Christmas here on the Sunshine Coast. And it was a wet one. The rain did let up a bit on Christmas Day, which was good as I was in charge of 12 dogs here at the Mountain and Wave Dog Resort. We were able to spend some time outside in the afternoon. When it started getting dark, we headed inside for nap time.

This is in the huge dog room. There are dog beds covering the floor as well as various pieces of furniture for the dogs to relax on.

They don't look like it in these photos, but they were actually a pretty lively bunch! It was fun to spend the day with dogs and a welcome break from my job. Yes, I now have a job. After a 4-month break I decided it was time to go back to work. I am a part-time cashier at a very, very busy pharmacy. I started on Halloween. The whole month of December has been extremely busy and I had to work the 23rd, 24th and 26th.

Also, one of my sisters and her husband made the move out here at the beginning of Dec. Other family members came out to visit and help them get settled in. Needless to say, I haven't had a lot of time for stamping or blogging!

Just want to share one of my few Christmas projects - a gift bag, sometimes called a Bag-a-lope, made from a large business size envelope. This is a technique I love to demonstrate at workshops.

Here's what I used for the envelope:

Stamps: En Francais background stamp, Bells and Boughs

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

For the card;

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Always Artichoke

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls DSP

Now it's time to focus on spring projects. There are some delightful stamps, DSP and embellishments in the new Occasions Mini Catalogue which is coming out January 4. Later in the month, starting January 25, it's Sale-a-Bration time! This is a great time to earn fabulous FREE stamp sets!!

In the meantime, have a Very Stamping Day!

In stitches ...

Knitting stitches, that is! Like many stampers, I have in the past done many other crafty-type things. Such as knitting. I love this set called Hand Knit. It can be found on page 65 in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue. While doing some blog surfing, I came across some very cute things done with this set. Sorry, I don't remember who to give credit to for the originals. I try to keep notes of designs I CASE (copy and share everything), but have misplaced the note for these.

With winter - and Christmas - approaching, I'm sure many knitters are busily working on wonderful creations destined to be cozy gifts for someone special. What better way to make it extra-wonderful than to include a hand-stamped gift tag such as one of these:

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Hand Knit
Paper: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Confetti Cream, Bella Rose DSP (retired)
Ink: Real Red, Marina Mist
Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Modern Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Round Tab Punch, Extra-Large Tag Punch, Crop-a-Dile, Corner Rounder Punch

Now, I must get back to creating. Have a Very Stamping Day!

A sad card to make

I had a request to make a sympathy card for someone who had lost a pet. I was given a picture of Arnie to use and this is what I did:

Stamps: D is for Dog

Paper: Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, River Rock, Very Vanilla

Ink: Always Artichoke

Other: Texturz Embossing Plate, Big Shot, brads

I had actually met Arnie a couple of times. He was a very sweet springer spaniel who had been rescued from a bad situation and was lucky enough to spend a few years with people who really cared about him.



Holiday a la Carte

The eagerly awaited Holiday Mini Catalogue has so many gorgeous stamps, ribbon, Designer Series Paper and even fabric that it is hard to keep my wish list from growing! If you are a fan of vintage or love the Christmas cards you remember from childhood, you will love the stamp sets in this catalogue. I had to order a few and then it was tough decided what to try first.

I finally decided to show you what I did with one of the stamps from the a la Carte collection. This is an assortment of single stamps that are very affordably priced and ideal for stampers at all levels. This stamp is called Christmas Postcard and is perfect for my favourite technique of watercolouring.

Stamps: Christmas Postcard
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake and markers in Cherry Cobbler, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight, River Rock, Old Olive and Always Artichoke
Other: Victoria Crochet Trim, Newsprint DSP, ticket corner punch

Click on the Holiday Mini on the left to go to my Stampin' Up web site, then click on Shop Now to place an order on-line. Or contact me if you would like to know how you can get some of these gorgeous products free by hosting a work shop!

Check back for more Holiday Mini projects and have a Very Stamping Day!

The Higgledy Piggledy Parade

I got to see my very first Higgledy Piggledy Parade! The little town of Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast does things in a big way for its annual Creek Daze celebration. I had enquired earlier this month about putting a table in the craft fair but had been told that all the spaces were booked. Then I got an email the day before the event asking if I was still interested as there had been some cancellations.

Well, it was a scramble but I managed to pull some things together and my Mom donated a few items, such as the Flower Power Bags. My Mom and my sister Kathy also spent the day with me. It was a blast! My spot was right on the bridge of the road that leads down to the ocean and what a view we had. Check this out:

View of the Pacific Ocean from the bridge in Roberts Creek. That's Vancouver Island you can see in the distance.

Apparently over 200 people took part in the parade. Here are just a few of them:

There were decorated bicycles ...

... and people on stilts ...

... and a "float" from a local business featuring the signature emblem of Roberts Creek - the gumboot ...

... and dogs ...

... and hula hoops ...

... and what parade doesn't need a ghost??

After the parade, everyone headed down to the Mandala where the entertainment went on all day with local musicians and singers performing all day:

The Mandala is freshly painted every summer.

There were lots of booths selling a wide variety of products and food. Here are a couple of my favourites:

Street food, Asian style.

Wind chimes - Roberts Creek style.

I met a lot of interesting people, such as this young woman in her delightful hat:

All in all it was a tiring but very fun day. I sold enough to cover the fee as well as the table I bought to display my wares. I am on the list of vendors for the Christmas Craft Fair and I'm really looking forward to that! I'm planning for it already.

I have some projects to share with you next time, so be sure to check back. Have a Very Stamping Day!

My Mom!

Today's post is dedicated to my Mom. She is a master recycler! Give her almost any object and she can make something out of it. For a few years now she has been taking plastic shopping bags, cutting them into strips and then crocheting them into other useful objects. She has made a round, 4-ft. in diameter rug for a deck, numerous fishing hats and over 200 tote bags. Everyone in the family saves plastic bags for her as many businesses out here on the Sunshine Coast either don't use them anymore, charge for them, or use biodegradeable bags. This is a messenger bag she made and gave to me. Lucky me!

Since I am still unpacking, I have been going through clothes that I know will never fit me again in this life! So, I took a bunch of jeans and my Big Shot and the Scallop Square die and the Bigz Island Floral die and the Bigz Clear Flower die and the Beautiful Butterflies die to my Mom's one day and this is what happened! I call them Flower Power Bags.

Bag #1

Bag #2 Front

Bag #2 - Back

This is a great way to recycle old, worn out denim jeans and clothes that would otherwise be thrown away.

Have a Very Stamping Day!