Calendar Class Offered!

As you know, Christmas is coming and it's time to start planning your projects and gift ideas!  These darling calendars are perfect for gift-giving!! And they are very affordable!

The calendar is just under 4" square and is perfect for a desktop.

There are 12 calendar pages, 1 for each month of 2011. You will get to decorate the pages to reflect the theme of the month! All 12 pages fit nicely in the case which can be left flat or swiveled open to stand up.

 Here is an example of what your decorated pages might look like:

Class fee is $20 and includes your first set of calendar pages and case.  Additional sets may be added for $5 each.  You will have plenty of time to complete the first set and with working efficiently, you may be able to complete as many at 3 sets during the time allotted.

2 dates are available. Sign up today!

Date:  Saturday October 9
Time: 4:30 pm - 7:30pm (unless you finish sooner)

Date: Saturday November 6
Time 4:30pm - 7:30pm (unless you finish sooner)

Stamp Club Swap

Here are just a few of the projects from our recent Swap:

 This was my Swap. I copied the idea from a post on Patty Bennett's site. It is made with the new Candy Wrapper die (I twisted only one end and sat it upright instead). The Tangerine Tango card stock was also given some texture with the Texturz Plates Backgrounds (#114512) and a 1" circle punch created the "window".  A piece of Window Sheet creates the clear part of the window.  For the bat, I used the new Bitty Bat Large punch (#119279) and then added the fantastic sparkle with Heat & Stick Powder (#100625) and black Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter (114286). The ribbon on top is from the Holiday mini catalog and is called Raven 1/2" Lace Trim. Sweet Treats is from the stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370) and is stamped in Basic Black ink, then punched with the 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval Large punch (#119863). A little bit of sponging around the edges finished it off.

 This adorable Bat was made by Mary.  Her inspiration came from CreationsbyPatti but she added her own twist. Something you can't see is the functional little trap door on the back so that you can easily get to the treats!

This creepy crawly card was made by Sandy. Note the Fabulous new Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. And here is another web card, made by Dee:

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

As always, I am happy to help you order the materials needed for these and other projects!
Julie

I Want My Mummy!

Thursday night we had our Stamp Club meeting at my house.  The theme for projects was "Halloween/Fall" so we made 2 projects for Halloween and a Fall /Thanksgiving card.
The swap theme was the same, and the items were fabulous!! Ladies you are SO creative!

This mummy treat-box was something I found and copied. I believe credit for the design goes to Patti Lee another Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Finished size is 3 3/4" x 4 5/8".  
The size of the box portion is 2 7/8" x 4" x 1 1/4". 

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

 
You need: (2) top notes (cut with Top Note die) in Whisper White card stock
                (2) strips of 1" x 8 1/2" Whisper White card stock
                (1) 4" x 1/2" strip Whisper White card stock for knot
                (2) 1 1/4" punched circle in Basic Black card stock for eyes
                (2) 1" punched circles in Whisper White card stock for eyes
                (2) 1/2" punched circles in Basic Black for eyes

To make the Box you need: (1) 8 1/2" x 5 1/4" Whisper White card stock
Score along the 8 1/2" side at 1 1/4". The next section will be 2 7/8", then 1 1/4" again and then 2 7/8" leaving 1/4" at the end.  Score along the 5 1/4" side at 1 1/4". See illustration and cut as shown. Remove the tiny 1/4" x 1/4" section at bottom right corner. Crease with bone folder. Assemble box.

Assembled box should look like this.

Distress the edges of all strips. Using a Stamping Sponge and Close To Cocoa ink, sponge around both Top Note pieces as well as all strips.

Using a Real Red Stampin' Marker, create blood-shot eyes as in photo.

Adhere eyes to Top Note front.
Cut long strips into 4 1/4" lengths.
Place strips on Top Note Front as shown. Use SNAIL adhesive to attach.

Turn Top Note over and trim edges of strips.

On the front, sponge the freshly trimmed edges with Stamping Sponge and Close to Cocoa ink

 Apply Sticky Strip to the box so you will be able to attach the Top Note front and back.

Last step - tie the 1/4" strip into a knot and attach with a mini Glue Dot.

This little spooky treat is made with the Matchbox Die.  We used a variety of paper colors and designs. The box bottom is made out of colored cardstock (Basic Black in this example) and the box top is made out of DSP (retired DSP is shown, but at Club we used the new Wicked Fun DSP). A band of Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon. is wrapped around box and secured with mini glue dots. The little tag is made with Batty for You stamp set (#116576) and punched out with 1 3/8" Circle Punch.   A Scallop Circle is punched out of Old Olive card stock and used to back the tag. Googlie Eyes can be added for extra fun!

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

 view from side

Candy Corn inside...

An optional Scary Eye-ball can be attached to inside of box.  The eye is attached to a 1/2" x 2" strip of Window Sheet and then attached to inside of box bottom with Sticky Strip. When the box slides open, the eye-ball pops out!!

This project was made by me, but with inspiration from both Patti Lee and Patty Bennett.

Here is the Fall/Thanksgiving card we made:

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

Materials used include: Cajun Craze card stock, More Mustard card stock, Old Olive card stock, Autumn Spice DSP, Full of Life stamp set (#111500) and Autumn Harvest stamp set (#110372), Watercolor paper, Staz On Black ink pad  Watercolor Wonder crayons, Early Espresso Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and mini Library Clips.

These products are all available through my Online Store. Or email me if you have questions or need my help! 

Thanks for dropping in!

Julie

Halloween projects from the past

Today I am working on my Halloween and Fall creations for this year.  As they come together I will post them for you.  But I wanted to go ahead and post a few photos from past years.  These are projects that were done for Halloween 2008 and 2009.  I hope they will begin to inspire you (even though you are going to LOVE what I'm working on for this year!)

My Pumpkin Patch card from 2009. Retired stamp set and retired DSP but you can copy the idea with your choice of current items!  All images Copyright Stampin' Up!

 

This project was copied from some website that I must have been surfing. Credit is definitely due to someone!

 Top Note Die, Circle Scallop Die, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 5-petal flower XL Punch, small cello bag. All images Copyright Stampin' Up!

This one too!

Eat, drink and be Scary stamp set (retired), Large Tag Punch, Gingham ribbon (retired), Batty For You Jumbo Wheel (retired), Versamark ink cartridge, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Pumpkin Pie cards stock, Basic Black card stock, Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad. All images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Scaredy Cat jar, Ghost Peeps in cello bag, Caramel Apple sucker, Jumbo Paper Clip and Halloween envelope. Batty for You stamp set (still available!), Kiwi Kiss card stock (retired), Only Orange card stock (retired), Whisper White card stock, Basic Black card stock, scraps of retired DSP.  All images Copyright Stampin' Up!

This collection of items was from 2008.  The little glass jars (too cute!) were from Ikea, but I've heard that the Dollar Stores sometimes carry them.  I probably copied this idea from someone - if it's you, please let me know so I can give credit!!

This next idea is from Sandy Weigel who used this as her Stamp Club swap!!  Very cute! The mini popcorn bags are from Sam's Club.

Medium cello bag, 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon in Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black card stock, Top Note Die, Texture Plates kit #4, Sizzlits Die Pumpkin #4.  All images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Be sure to check back soon and see what fun, spooky, creepy-crawly thing I might be working on!
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Shower card for Megan

Yesterday was a wedding shower for my "niece" Megan. (It was a high-tea party, and was perfect in every way!)  In deciding what card to design for her, my decision became easy due to the fact that I'd been drooling all over this card that I received in a recent Stamp Club swap.

Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (Neutrals collection), Basic Black card stock, Whisper White card stock, Modern Label Extra Large punch, Word Window Large punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' pad, Fabulous Phrases stamp set, Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, Silver Brads. All images Copyright 2010 Stampin' Up!

The card, (designed by Christine Cornelius and pictured above) is so neat, clean and delicious!  I knew I had to copy it.

I reached for my Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color, which is currently a Level 1 Hostess Gift, but can be purchased  in a 12x12 version in the current Idea Book & Catalog (item 117158, page165). I skimmed through the colors and landed on Blushing Bride (how appropriate!!)
Since it was for a Bride-to-Be, I couldn't resist adding the tiny pearls as accent.  Please forgive the low-quality photo, as I was literally running out of the house to attend the shower and thought, "Oh! I'd better snap a picture of this card so I remember what I did". You can click on photo to enlarge it and see the detail.

 Designer Series Paper Stack (In Color), Basic Black card stock, Whisper White card stock, Modern Label Extra Large punch, Word Window Large punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' pad, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, Artistic Etchings stamp set, Silver Brads, and Jewels (Basic Pearls). All images Coypright 2010 Stampin' Up!

I hope you enjoy!

Back in the School Routine

In the old days (when I was in school), the school year didn't start until the day after Labor Day.  That would have been today. But for most of us, our kids started school last week, or 2-3 weeks ago!  But with Labor Day officially behind us, we have to admit that the School Routine is now in full swing!

There came a day, a couple years ago, when I began to wonder just how many more sack-lunches I was going to have to make before I could retire from this chore!  Do you ever get sick of making those PB & J sandwiches? Ever wonder if the chips even make it to lunch time, or are smashed to crumbs long before? Get tired of adding the obligatory "fruit" into the sack (because good moms do) even though you doubt it ever gets eaten?  Well, I've been there too.

How easy it is to forget the blessing-side of having to make sack lunches!  Afterall, we make the lunches for our children - blessings from God. We pack the bread, or lunch meat, or string cheese, or fruit, or pudding cups, or cookies...out of our ability to have fresh food. We send water bottles, or Capri Sun, or juice boxes because we are blessed to have funds to pay for it! 

Even though it may seem mundane, and oh-so-never-ending, we have the opportunity to show a little love to our children, in even the littlest things we do, like pack their sack lunches.

3 RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) for school lunches:
Tuck a "love note" to your child inside their lunchbox, or lunch sack.
Use a cookie-cutter to make a unique shape out of their sandwich.
To send a cupcake (and have it survive), split the cupcake and flip the frosting side down, so that it is now in the middle like filling. It may still be messy, but all the frosting won't be stuck to the plastic bag.

Happy lunch-making!
Julie

Stamp Club Review

Last Thursday was 1 of our 2 Club meetings this month (we are making up for a missed Club in August).
The new DSP Greenhouse Gala is a favorite already! This card was CASED from Tara Bilbao (tarabeeink.blogspot.com) and just changed up a bit:

Image © 2010 Stampin’ Up!
  Three Little Words stamp set;  Baja Breeze and Whisper White card stock;  Real Red Classic Stampin' ink;  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch;  Greenhouse Gala DSP, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Corduroy Button;    

This card was inspired by several projects I've seen using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The texture it provides is rich and delicious.

Image © 2010 Stampin’ Up!
Full of Life stamp set; Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush and Blushing Bride card stock; Scallop Border Punch, Scallop Circle XL Punch, 1" Circle Punch and 1/2" Circle Punch; Build-a-Brad, White grosgrain ribbon.

And the third card we made was also inspired by several projects I've seen where the background is completely stamped and then run through the Big Shot with the Backgrounds Texturz Plate (small dots). The detail is difficult to see in the photo:

Image © 2010 Stampin’ Up!
Friends Never Fade and Heard from the Heart stamp sets; Poppy Parade, Whisper White and Pear Pizzazz CS; Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz ink pads; white organza ribbon;

 Thanks for stopping by!

Ready to Launch

I am so excited to finally get my Blog launched!  This is a place for me to share thoughts and  ideas about things that I am passionate about: Marriage, Family, Fun and of course, Stamping!
Paper Desserts describes how I (and stamp-crazed friends) feel about stamping and paper-crafting.
Some color combinations are luscious. Some papers are so beautiful you could eat them!  Sometimes an idea is so inspiring it makes you hungry to stamp! Sometimes a project is so rich in detail and design that it is simply delicious! And then there is that full and satisfying feeling you get when you complete your project!
It's so yummy! It's Paper Desserts! WELCOME!