12 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS WRAP IT UP COUNTDOWN, Snowman Coffee Treat Holders...

What do you do when you totally forgot that you need 12 small gifts for your Bunco group the NEXT night?  Luckily, it was the Petite Pocket Die to the rescue!  Starbucks had a great sale on their Via Christmas Blend coffee packets on Thursday, so I bought a couple of boxes and decided to design a holder for them. 

Since some of our members are Jewish, etc., I wanted to stay holiday neutral.  I knew I wanted to use snowmen and the Snow Much Fun stamp set is one of my favorites!  I did some of the coffee holders in a blue version as well, but I forgot to photograph them before bringing them to my Bunco Friday night.  Oops!

I used the same coloring method with the Dazzling Diamonds that I did with my Shimmery Snowman Buddies card.  To add a little more bling, I even added some Dazzling Diamonds on the edge.  But there still wasn't enough bling!  So I cut two more flaps from Silver Glimmer Paper for the inside and outside of the flap.  Here is a shot of the back, so you can see it.  I opted to use a half velcro dot for the closure.

SNOWMAN HOLIDAY TREAT HOLDER SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Snow Much Fun (W#122560 $27.95, C#122562 $19.95), Pennant Parade (W#122740 $21.95, C#122742 $16.95)
• Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink – Stazon Black, Basic Gray Classic, Lucky Limeade & Pumpkin Pie Marker, Cherry Cobbler Refill
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (#125056, $9.95), Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine (#123125, $2.95)
• Accessories – Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons (#123636, $8.95), Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.50), Crystal Effects (#101055, $6.25), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Velcro Dot
• Punches – Jewelry Tag (#117190, $10.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Petite Pocket Die (#123131, $42.95), Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95), Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (#120901, $21.95), Aquapainter

STAMPIN' UP!'S CEO SHELLI GARDNER'S APPEARANCE ON TODAY SHOW...

Did you miss Stampin' Up!'s co-founder/CEO Shelli Gardner's appearance on NBC's TODAY Show?  This was Shelli's third appearance on the TODAY Show in recognition of Stampin' Up!'s participation with the Direct Selling Association (DSA) in the annual TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive. 

Here is a video clip of Shelli's appearance.  It was only a few moments, but I know you will want to see Shelli.  She is just so adorable and such a genuine, positive person!  Sorry about the commercial.  It's an NBC clip, so I have no control over that.  If you are viewing this post via email, please CLICK HERE to view the post with the video clip.

Since 2005, Stampin' Up! has been honored once again to give back during this holiday tradition and participate in the TODAY Show's Holiday Toy Drive. This year, Stampin' Up! will be donating over $500,000 worth of stamping and paper crafting products to the following organizations:

• Action for Boston Community Development Inc.
• Alliance for Children's Rights
• Boys & Girls Clubs Harford County
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
• Community Partners of Dallas - Rainbow Room
• Diocese of Saint Augustine
• Friendship Project
• Help USA
• Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN)
• Kids In Need Foundation
• National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section - The Dignity Project
• Operation Homefront
• Puerto Rican Family Institute
• St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital
• Stephen Siller Foundation/Katrina Fund
• Welcome House
• Youthbuild USA

STAMPIN' UP! HOLIDAY ORDERING DEADLINES...

Stampin' Up! recommends you place your holiday orders by Wednesday, December 14, 2011, by 11:50 PM MT to receive your orders before Christmas.  Delivery times will vary depending on where you live.  If your personal experience indicates that it takes longer for packages to reach you, you will want to allow a little extra time for shipping during the holidays. Call or email me your orders until 10:00 PM (ET) or place your orders on my Online Store.

All orders received by December 14, 2011, will be picked, packaged, and delivered to our courier in plenty of time to arrive by December 24, 2011.  However, we cannot control delivery times; holiday mail volumes are high, and our delivery services encourage you to ship as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

REMINDER:   Don’t forget to tune in or record the TODAY Show (NBC) tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 6.  Shelli Gardner’s will appearance during the fourth hour (check local listings for times).  She’ll be talking about Stampin’ Up!’s annual participation in the show’s Holiday Toy Drive.

TERESA JACKSON...

Sorry to post this, but I'm trying to reach Teresa Jackson.  I have been trying to send you your files, but all my emails to you are being returned by your provider saying that I have been marked as spam.  I am receiving your emails, but I have been trying for several days now to respond to all your emails with no success.  I even tried using my alternate YourStampTeacher@gmail.com address and I have received no reponse from you from that address, so I assume that one is not reaching you either although they have not been returned.

For anyone having difficulty in reaching me, if you do not receive a timely response from me, first check your spam folder.  If there is nothing there, be sure to add my email address to your address book or "safe list".  Just emailing me does not automatically do so.  If you still do not get a response, please call me at 757-463-2714.  Email is a wonderful thing when it works, but sometimes it does not.  I find real emails in my spam folders at times and other times, they just never arrive.  :(

FANCY FOLD FRIDAY, Come Let Us Adore Him Joy Fold Card...

For today's Christmas card, I wanted to use a religious theme, so I used the Come to Bethlehem stamp set on the front and The Sounding Joy set inside.  And Concord Crush and Brushed Gold seemed like the perfect "royal" combo for the theme.

 

The Joy Fold card is one of the simplest Fancy Folds and one of my favorites.  It is basically a mini card folded inside a larger card. The larger piece is cut to 4-1/4" x 8-1/2" and scored at 5-1/2".  The mini card is cut to 3" x 8" and scored at 4".  You simply adhere the back of your mini card to the back inside of the larger card as shown in the inside picture above.

I used Shimmer Mist on the Mini Card and let it dry before embossing it. I have posted the recipe for the Shimmer Mist before, but have included it again at the end of the post.  I embossed the back wall of the main card and the gold layer with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  Yes, I know it has been my go-to embossing folder for Christmas cards this year, but it's a new toy... and it's so pretty!  :)

The inside star image is stamped in Concord Crush, but I stamped off once before stamping it on the card.  Then just emboss all your other images with VersaMark and Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder.  Oh, and I needed a little more bling, of course, so I added a Rhinestone Jewel to the star.  Who couldn't use more bling?

Here is an alternate version I made when I was trying to decide between making it in silver or gold.  Which one do you like better?

COME LET US ADORE HIM SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Come to Bethlehem (W#118732 $19.95, C#120591 $14.95), The Sounding Joy (W#121967 $24.95, C#121979 $18.95)
• Card Stock – Concord Crush, Whisper White, Brushed Gold
• Ink – Concord Crush Classic, VersaMark
• Accessories – Basic Rhinestones Jewels (#119246, $4.95), Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109129, $4.75), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806, $5.95)
• Tools – Heat Tool, Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95)

SHIMMER MIST RECIPE:

1. Take a Mini-Mister (sold in packs of three at craft stores).  Remove spray head and straw of mini mister and set aside.
2. Fill the Mini Mister with 70% rubbing alcohol to 1/4” below the screw-threads of the bottle.
3. SHAKE Shimmer Paint vigorously until it is WELL mixed.
4. Carefully remove the lid of the shimmer paint and pour a bit of it into the mini mister.  Not too much, I would say about 1/8 tsp.  If you desire more shimmer, you can always add more.
5. Insert spray nozzle into the Mini Mister, make sure it is on tightly with the cap.
6. Replace lid on shimmer paint, and set aside
7. Shake the filled mini mister vigorously to ensure it is well mixed.
8. Place your cardstock in a Color Catcher and spray with the mist.
9. The paper will curl up, but will relax and flatten when dry.  It if is still warped, just put it under a heavy book for a while.
10. Store the mini mister in a vertical position.
11. The paint will settle/separate from the rubbing alcohol after a while, so be sure to shake well before using again.

MY DIGITAL STUDIO NEW RELEASES & UPDATED CATALOG...

There have been so many great downloads lately and it's been a while since I posted the weekly releases.  Five new digital downloads were released this week including a new Holiday stamp brush set, two Spanish stamp brush sets, a Designer Series Paper set and a kit.  The You're My Sunshine Kit shown at left is a great value with a 10-piece stamp brush set, 18 embellishments and 5 DSP patterns - all for $7.95!

Check out the up-to-date MDS Catalog to see all the wonderful holiday downloads we have like the awesome Very Merry Twenty-Five Designer Tags at left for fast and fabulous gift tags.  Then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get your favorites today!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

PLEASE NOTE:  You don't have to have My Digital Studio to use our digital images.  You can download them as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!

SHIMMERY SNOWMAN CARD WITH COLORED DAZZLING DETAILS...

The weather has been so gorgeous in Virginia Beach, that it seemed strange when Jenni and I designed this snowy card, but I loved it all the same.  We cut the snowflakes from the Silver Glimmer Paper which I LOVE! 

We also used Dazzling Details to give the snowman and his bird buddies some shimmery sass.  We mixed a drop of Marina Mist Reinker into a little bit of Dazzling Details and used an Aquapainter to "paint" it on the birds, snowman buttons and scarf dots.  We also used it straight out of the bottle on the snowman himself.  It added the perfect glittery touch to the card.  Enjoy!

SHIMMERY SNOWMAN BUDDIES SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Snow Much Fun (W#122560 $27.95, C#122562 $19.95)
• Card Stock – Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink – Stazon Black, Night of Navy Classic, Bashful Blue & Pumpkin Pie Marker, Marina Mist Refill
• Accessories – Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.50), Basic Rhinestones Jewels Accents (#119246, $4.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Punches – Modern Label (#119849, $16.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95), Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (#120901, $21.95), Punch Windows Movers & Shapers Dies (#115953, $29.95), Aquapainter

LAST DAY - WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30 is the LAST DAY of our HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA SALE.  Don't miss out on this event!  CLICK HERE for all the details.  You can visit my Online Store to see all discounted products or CLICK HERE TO VIEW PDF OF ALL SPECIALS.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY STOCKING CARD...

Another Christmas card for you today.  This one has more of a country feel to it.  The Frostwood Lodge DSP is one of my favorite Christmas papers that we have this year.  I really love the tone on tone look of the Cherry Cobbler, the matching plaid DSP and the Cherry Cobbler Ribbon.  Just the stocking body has a bit of green in the plaid.

The Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon is available in a special bundle with several other colors for 30% off during our Holiday Extravaganza through Wednesday ONLY.  It can be used on the dotted side or the solid side giving you two ribbons in one!  Enjoy!

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS STOCKING SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Four the Holidays (#116921, $13.95)
• Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP
• Ink – Cherry Cobbler Classic
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon (#124138, $7.95), Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (#123125, $2.95)
• Accessories – Mini Jingle Bells (#124116, $2.95), Basic Rhinestones Jewels Accents (#119246, $4.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Punches – Stocking Builder (#124095, $16.95), Modern Label (#119849, $16.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (#116824, $7.95)

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT - WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30 IS THE LAST DAY OF OUR HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA SALE.  Don't miss out on this event!  CLICK HERE for all the details.  You can visit my Online Store to see all discounted products or CLICK HERE TO VIEW PDF OF ALL SPECIALS.

CAS FRIDAY, Mambo Flower Thank You

I spent all day (and last night) doing the Black Friday shopping thing and then had a 3 hour nap - luckily I have a super nice, understanding boss!  LOL.  So no stamping today, but I thought I would share this thank you card that Jenni and I made at some of our workshops last month.  It's a super quick card that showcases two-step stampin' and is so cute.

The 3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon is available in a special bundle with several colors great for the holiday and fall seasons for 30% off during our Holiday Extravaganza.  Check out all the details and links HERE.  Enjoy!

 

MAMBO FLOWER THANK YOU SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Awash with Flowers (W#117062 $39.95, C#120549 $27.95), Petite Pairs (W#122495 $28.95, C#122497 $20.95)
• Card Stock – Melon Mambo, Whisper White
• Ink – Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz Classic
• Ribbon – Melon Mambo 3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon (#122985, $7.95)
• Accessories – Jumbo Brads 5/16" Neutrals (#112534, $7.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder (#117335, $7.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

A BLESSED THANKSGIVING TO ALL...

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful thanksgiving!   I am truly thankful for the many blessings in my life - most importantly the people in it.  Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for each and every one.

I especially want to express my gratitude to the men and women serving in our military and their families.  I pray for their safekeeping!  For those serving overseas, I hope that they will be able to share this day of Thanksgiving with us next year surrounded by their families and friends!