HAPPY NEW YEAR!

These past couple of weeks have been bitter sweet; I have loved the holidays with my family, but I have had feelings of sadness too.  I realized that I've been feeling "off" because I was afraid of next year; weird huh?  I realized I was worried about my mother not being here next Christmas because of her persistent infections; I was worried about being able to continue as a SU Demonstrator; I was worried that my creations weren't nice enough, etc, etc....    I've literally been making myself sick with worry! 

I know that it's silly to worry about things I have no control over!  I should just enjoy each good day I have with my mom and others.  It's like "good day, bad day" with my mother's health, but I thank God that my husband, father, and other members of my family are well because I think I would really lose it if I had more to bear!

So, remember to enjoy the moments and choose to be happy this next year!  It's so easy to fall into a hole and forget about all the good things.  And don't be a worry wart like me; you live longer when you don't worry!  Have a Happy New Year and see you next year (hopefully with projects you like)!

2012 My Digital Studio Calendar

Example of how I used the 2011 Calendar; instructions to make the below easel with drawer can be found at a previous blog post here:

Hi everyone - I hope your holiday festivities were wonderful!  I put together these 2012 Calendars using SU's My Digital Studio software and thought I'd offer them for sale.  The calendars measure 5" x 5" and are printed in color on 24lb, 96 brightness white ink jet paper.  

I'm offering them at $7.50 for 5 calendars plus the cost for shipping & packaging.  Shipping costs may vary depending on where you live, but will be about $2.00 (5 oz) for 5 calendars to US addresses.  I can send you a PayPal invoice after you email me letting me know your name, address, and how many calendars you'd like to purchase.  If you'd rather not deal with PayPal, I'm happy to accept checks or money orders.  Calendars will get shipped once payments have cleared.  Please email me at stampingmaria@yahoo.com with your order.  If you live outside the US and are interested in these calendars, email me and I'll see what I can do.

Added 12/28/11: If you want to purchase more than 5 calendars, please email me for discounts.  I'm offering shipping discounts and/or quantity discounts; depending on the quantity ordered.  Thanks for your inaterest!

Thanks for visiting and your orders are greatly appreciated!  Have a Happy New Year!

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who helped me this year; without you I couldn't continue to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!!  I especially want to thank my Hostess Club members who have supported me throughout the year and been patient with me even when I had issues due to my mother's health.  And another big Thank You to my Upline and Sidelines for their emotional support!

This year my mother's health has continued to decline (and so has mine unfortunately), but we were lucky to have only 3 hospital stays this year compared to 10 last year!  So, I thank God for his help and strength.  Sometimes I think I can't continue, but I get a second wind and keep going.  As our Archbishop Michael Sheehan says: "Tomorrow is another day". 

So, I pray that you all have a healthy and joyous holiday season with your loved ones!  Thanks for your visits this year and I hope we can share more in the year to come.  Merry Christmas!

Warmest of Wishes Christmas Card

The more I use the Holly Berry Bouquet DSP, the more I LOVE it!  Here's another CUTE and QUICK card made using it.  My sideline, Eva Davalos, and I were exchanging Christmas card ideas, and I just loved the design of this card.  There's Red Glimmer Paper and embossing to give the card some BLING! 

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Hostess Set in Holiday Mini Catalog Warmest of Wishes.

Ink: VersaMark

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Garden Green, Red Glimmer paper, and Holly Berry Bouquet DSP.

Accessories: Cupcake Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Clear Embosing Powder, Star punch (retired), Mini Brads, Paper Piercing tool, Mat Pack with guide, Dimensionals, and Mini Glue Dots.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget about the GREAT savings at the Clearance Rack Blitz here!  I really encourage you to purchase the "old style" thumb punches on the Clearance Rack; they are easy to use and greatly discounted!

Snow Much Fun Gift Certificate Holder

I had 1 hour to make this Gift Certificate Holder for my sister; power stamping time!  The name of the recipient was whited out in the above photo; explaining the strange white spot.  And yes, I do offer Gift Certificates and am happy to make you a festive and fun holder for Christmas, a Birthday, Mother's Day, or any occasion!

The size of the Gift Certificate is 8" x 3 1/4", so I used a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock that measured 8 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 2 1/2" and 6".  Then I made a border using the Ribbon Border punch and Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  It was attached using SNAIL adhesive and the opening on the flap for the Gift Certificate was made using the Wide Oval Punch.  I used Sticky Strip to adhere the edges of the certificate flap.  Finally, I stamped the snowball on the front flap using Crumb Cake ink.

For the Snowman (Snow Much Fun stamp set), I stamped the image using Stazon Black Ink onto Shimmery White cardstock that was die cut using the 3" circle die and backed it with a Cherry Cobbler cardstock scallop circle I die cut using the Scallops Circles #2 die. 

I got the inspiration for this card from fellow Demonstrator, Diana Gibbs; she is a fantastic artist; thanks Diana!  I colored the snowman using Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, and Pumpkin Pie Markers.  Then I used 2-way glue and Dazzling Diamonds on some parts of the image to give it some BLING!

I hope you like the holder and feel free to contact me at stampingmaria@yahoo.com if you'd like to purchase a Gift Certificate!  Have a great Monday!

Dasher Christmas Card

I made this card with the Dasher single stamp.  I embossed Dasher using VersaMark ink and Gold Embossing powder then added highlights to his antlers with 2-way glue and Red glitter from the Fine Galaxy Glitter Pack. 

I die cut the main circle (for Dasher) using the 3" Circle Big Shot Die and Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used the Scallop Circles #2 Big Shot Die for the Red Glimmer paper layer.  I stamped "merry" in Real Red classic ink and punched it out with the 3/4" punch and layered it onto a 1" Red Glimmer Paper circle.  The "merry" image is from the Pennant Parade stamp set.

I ran a piece of 4" x 5 1/4" Very Vanilla cardstock through the Big Shot Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder and cut a strip of Holly Berry Bouquet DSP to 2"x 5 1/4" and adhered the 2 pieces together.  Then I adhered this background piece to the card base (Wild Wasabi cardstock cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half) and tied Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around the card.  The Dasher image is layered onto the Red Glimmer Scallop Circle with Dimensionals then that is layed onto the card over the ribbon with Dimensionals.

 Have a great weekend and don't forget about the CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ here!

WOW - Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack Blitz!!

Dates: December 15, 2011-January 5, 2012

Details:
Nearly 200 new Clearance Rack items are being added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail--while supplies last!

Things to Remember:
•Only Online Orders qualify for this promotion. Orders can include non-Clearance Rack items, as well.
•The Clearance Rack Blitz includes old-body style punches (YIPPEE; I'm getting extras personally!).  NOTE: There will be some identical punches that have two different item numbers; this is because we are using inventory from both our American and our European warehouses. We will indicate which punches this affects in the product description.  So, there shouldn't be a difference in the sizes. 
•There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
•Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin' Rewards.
•Following the Clearance Rack Blitz sales period, some blitz items may remain in the clearance rack; others may be removed and reappear at an undesignated time in the future.
•Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last. There are no refunds or exchanges on Clearance Rack items.
•You may view Clearance Rack Blitz items in the Online Store here.
•Deadlines:
◦Thursday, January 5, 2012; 6:50 PM (MT)

Be sure to check out the Clearance Rack here and order quickly while the selection is best!!  Also, select me as your Demonstrator when you create, or log into, an Online Account to get "Preferrd Pricing" and take advantage of my Frequent Shopper Program!  See you tomorrow!

Pines and Poinsettias Stamp Set Card

My sideline, Eva Davalos, made this card from inspiration she got from the Christmas Keepsake Box I posted yesterday (click here).  You can see that she used the Pines & Poinsettias stamp set just like SU did on the Keepsake Box.  She also used Real Red and Wild Wasabi cardstock and the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper and colored the pine cones using Stampin Up Markers.  Finally, Eva used the Mat Pack and Paper Piercer to poke holes in the card corners and in the Scallop Circle.

The pine cones and banner were cut out using paper snips and the punches used behind the pine cone image are the 1 3/4" circle, the 2 3/8" scallop circle, and the 2 1/2" circle.  The Mini Vintage Tag meaaures about 3/4" diameter; it's hanging from the Christmas banner.  The 3 panels measure 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" and overlap.

Thanks for visiting and have a happy Wednesday humpday everyone!

Christmas Keepsake Box now on CLEARANCE RACK!

Just a reminder about this great Christmas Keepsake Box Promotion!  These are available until December 31, 2011 (or while supplies last). This box makes a great gift; but please note that the Pines & Poinsettias stamp set is NOT included in the set.  Also, the box itself is larger than it looks; it measures about  7 1/4" x 5 1/4" x 1 3/4".

Added 12/15/11: This Box Kit is now available on the SU Clearance Rack for only $11.97; I stocked up!!

Special Offer Details:

•Orders can be placed as customer, workshop, or online orders.
•There is no minimum purchase required.
•The Christmas Keepsake Box includes detailed written instructions, a box, ribbon, material, cardstock, Designer Series Paper, Simply Adorned bauble, Pearls, buttons and tag, but the following supplies are NOT included:
         ◦Pines & Poinsettias stamp set
         ◦Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
         ◦Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker
         ◦Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Marker
         ◦Adhesives
         ◦3/16" Corner Punch
         ◦Paper Cutter
         ◦Paper Snips
         ◦Needle
         ◦Glue gun

To order, use the following Item Number:

Item #    Name                                 Sale Price
129024   Christmas Keepsake Box    $11.97

You can order Online by clicking here and choosing me as your Demonstrator when you create, or log into, an Online Account.  By choosing me to be your Demonstrator, you get "Preferred Pricing" and points toward my Frequent Shopper Program!  Thjanks for stopping by!

From Santa stamp on Petite Pocket Die Treat Holder

Look at this CUTE treat holder; it was stamped with the single stamp in the Holiday Mini Catalog called From Santa; I love it!  We used the Petite Pocket Die for the treat holder, ran the die cut through the Stripes Embossing Folder, then stamped and layered the Santa and added him to the front.

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  From Santa (holiday mini catalog page 43)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Garden Green, Real Red, whisper White
Ink: Garden Green and Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot machine, Petite Pocket XL Die, Circles #2 die, Perfect Pennants die, Stripes Embossing Folder, 1 3/4" circle punch, Organdy ribbon, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 2-way glue and Dazzling Diamonds

Thanks for visiting and click here if you'd like to order any of the Stampin Up products I used to make this project; your orders are GREATLY appreciated!  To get "preferred pricing", be sure to include me as your Demonstrator when you log into, or create, your Online Account.  And while you're there, don't forget to check out the goodies in the Clearance Rack section for discounts up to 60%!

Beautiful Season Stamp Set Card Redo

Here's another card I made using the Beautiful Season stamp set; I really do LOVE this stamp set!  I made the last card using Garden Green and I wanted to make another using Old Olive; this one is more vibrant I think. 

I used the Frostwood Lodge DSP with Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Whisper White cardstock.  For the inside of the card I used the Scallop Envelop Big Shot die for the gift card pocket.  And for the front of the card, I used the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder for the Cherry Cobbler cardstock layer under the main image.  I quickly colored the image using both a Blender Pen and an Aqua Painter with Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, More Mustard, and Basic Gray classic ink refills.  Finally, I add a piece of Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon as an accent.

Thanks for visiting and have a great Thursday!  If you'd like to see a video on how I colored the image, let me know!

My Digital Studio Digital Downloads for December 6th

These are the MDS downloads for this week and they look great!  You can see pricing and better images by clicking here and opening the December 6th tab.  The Stampin' Up! website Store now has new downloads listed by week so they're easier to access!

If I can find the pictures I need, I'm going to make my sister a Cook Book of her favorite recipes using the Made From Scratch Recipes Template; it'll look great when it's professionally printed, just like a published cookbook! 

Well, take care and have a great week!

Video Tutorial showing 4 Basic Easel Card Folds

This video is for Rachel and the other folks who asked how to make an Easel Card; butterfly easel posted here, scallop circle easel posted here and calendar easel posted here.  The video shows how to make the 3 easel folds I listed plus a Twisted Easel card for a total of 4 differeent basic folds and each fold is shown quickly to fit into the maximum 10 minute time frame!  Please let me know if you need more info or have any questions.

Thanks for watching and don't hesitate to place an order for Stampin Up products; your business is greatly appreciated!!