Stampin' & Scrappin' with Donna

HOLIDAY MINI: CARRYOVER ITEMS

Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalogue will expire next Tuesday (January 3rd, 2012) and since it is the best Mini they've ever published, be sure to check it out one last time before those awesome products are G-O-N-E!

For your convenience, I've added a link to the online mini - just click on the cover photo to the left.

While you're doing that, keep in mind that a few items from the Holiday Mini will still be available after the catalogue expires ... click HERE to see a flyer of the CARRY-OVER ITEMS

And while you're perusing the soon-to-be-gone items, check out the ONLINE CLEARANCE RACK for some bargains, too!

Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year! Cheers,

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN COOKIE SLEEVE

Here's a kewl project using our new cookie stamps (they're so much fun I can't stop baking, lol)

Product Highlight:
Stamp Set Sweet Pressed Cookie (#125152)

Take your love of stamping into the kitchen! Create fun and tasty stamped cookies for any occasion. Fit a silicone stamp over the bottom of wooden handle and press into dough—it’s that easy! Let the kids help! Food-safe, easy-to-clean (dishwasher safe). Suggested cookie recipes included. Each includes set of 3 silicone stamps (jack'o'lantern, snowflake & heart) and 1 handle.

For More Details: Visit My Gallery

cheers,

The Most Wonderful (and Busiest) Time of the Year

The Most Wonderful (and Busiest) Time of the Year

 Ah yes, it is that time of year ... back to school, then Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas ... and then there’s the new year and Valentine’s Day is not too far behind. It’s the time of year when the holidays seem to pile up on each other and our “To Do” List seems to keep growing. But don’t put card making or handmade gifts to the wayside.

Here are some reasons why:

It’s relaxing...

Take time for yourself to enjoy your hobby and check things off of your list of things to do at the same time. A fun gift to create are little treat boxes with the Matchbox Bigz XL Big Shot die (#114890), some labels, and the It’s a Wrap Holidays stamp set (#122770 - wood/#122772 - clear). Stamp the labels, wrap them around mini candy bars and put them into the Matchbox and they are ready to give. Embellish the Matchbox for an added touch. And don’t forget to enjoy some chocolate while you are stamping for some added relaxation.

It’s personal...

You can create cards and gifts that reflect your personality or that are personalized for the recipient. Handmade, stamped cards and gifts are the things that the recipient will hang onto long after the holidays are over. There is just something about the thoughtfulness of a handmade card or gift that makes it that much more special.

The new Stampin’ Card Keeper (#124107) makes a great gift filled with some handmade cards, and also makes a great way to keep organized during the holidays.

It’s festive...

Start a family tradition. Create wreaths for the different seasons or holidays as family and let each member of the family create and add a personal element. You can even incorporate Simply Adorned charms (#116799) into your project and family members can create different inserts to change with the seasons.

My pleated paper wreath class will be in Guelph on Mon Oct 17 and in Clifford on Thurs Oct 20; 7-9 pm. Visit MY EVENTS page to RSVP your seat online!

 

 

 

 

Pull out your catalogues, plan your projects, order your supplies, and then you will be ready for what the holiday season brings you. If you would like personal design assistance for your holiday projects, please contact me and I would be more than happy to help!

cheers,

 

 

 

SAY GOODBYE

... to Stampin' Up!'s HOLIDAY MINI catalogue; the last day to order is January 3rd (gasp, that's coming up fast!)

Why not take advantage of my ongoing BOXING WEEK SALE to get the last of your favourites from the best HOLIDAY MINI we've had to date - hey, it's a frugal-good time to stock up for next Christmas!

cheers

AWOL FOR A GOOD REASON

Did you miss me? I sure missed posting and chatting here with all of you too! But it was for a good reason ... I am married to a Hallowe'en fanatic! It took a couple of days to get all of hubby's decorations up - we're talking multiple strings of orange lights, eight or nine so big blow-up creatures, the haunted mailbox, the talking witch and assorted bits and pieces. Can you see my Stampin' Up! logo in the window?

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had so much fun with all the kids (and parents) who came trick-or-treating that we forgot to take any pictures of them  :(  The little ones were adorable - especially when they climbed the steps and discovered our little mummy by the front door - he's just their size and he would start to dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" whenever someone walked past him. A couple of the little ones just stood in front of him and danced right along; it was priceless!

 

We had fun with the older kids too - challenging them to cross the footbridge and take the trail down the side of our house to see what was down there. Most of the parents went for it, dragging their hesitant little ones along - it was dark, after all. But the best were the groups of young teens. After a bit of pushing and posturing in front of their friends, most of them declined to take the trail. Then they'd travel up the sidewalk and peer through the bushes to see what they missed ... a big Monster Truck was all, complete with roaring engine sound effects. I loved messin' with their heads, lol.

Now Hallowe'en is over for another year, and it's time to focus all my attention and creative energy towards ... CHRISTMAS!! See, up here in Canada we've already had our Thanksgiving, so Santa: here I come!

Here's a couple of Christmasy cards I don't think I've shared with you yet. These are cards that I've received in card swaps with other demonstrators or saw on display at Stampin' Up! events over the last eight weeks or so, and the little punch art mouse is a card we made at my CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY Class - last one is Nov 24th, folks. Have you signed up yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

cheers

 

IT'S LATE, BUT I JUST HAD TO SHARE

The last of the GIRLS NIGHT OUT stampers just left, and before I turn out the studio lights I wanted to share some of the things we were working on tonight ...

Diane made some gift bags for work,

Lynda played with the owl punch,

 

 

 

 

 

Lori experimented with masking and brayering,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I spent most of the night making this notebook cover, lol.

 

Hope you'll join us for the next GIRLS NIGHT OUT, Friday Oct 29th!

cheers

HAPPY "WORLD CARD MAKING DAY"

The first Saturday in October is "WORLD CARD MAKING DAY" - did you know that?

Stampin' Up! and many other companies have supported this day for several years now, and there are many online card-making events happening today. I hope you have the chance to check them out for inspiration .. and I hope you can take a few minutes today to make someone a card!

As for me, I'll be at a stamp party this afternoon with Linda and her friends - I've got four very kewl projects lined up for them to try.

Sorry you and I couldn't be together to stamp today ... but here are more pictures of just a few of the beautiful swap cards I received at Stampin' Up!'s Regional training event last month ... ENJOY!!

 

 

CARD 1: by Mary Rodgers, NY; CARD 2: by Samantha Forrest, ON

 

 

 

 

 

CARD 3: by Ruth Millard, ON (Can you see the shimmer mist on the purple background?)

 

 

 

 

 

CARD 4: by Brenda Lassaline, ON; CARD 5: by Lisa Jewer, ON

 

 

 

Happy World Card Making Day!

I'M NOT REALLY HERE, BUT ...

If you're reading this on Friday morning, I'm out and about with my mom, we each have a dozen different errands to run all in one morning - THAT should be interesting!

If you're reading this on Friday afternoon, I'm on my way to the Hamilton Regionals, hosted by none other than Stampin' Up!'s founder, Shelli Gardner! WAHOOOO!!

It'll be a weekend of swappin, stampin', and catchin' up with old friends; I can't wait!! On Monday, I'll have lots of samples and the latest from Stampin' Up! to share with you here.

In the meantime, I wanted to show you some more cards that my friend Dion & I got from a Canada-wide demonstrator swap we took part in, featuring stamps, papers and embellishments from the Holiday Mini.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

HALLOWE'EN HIGHLITES

I've spent a couple of hours today visiting some of my favourite blogs and trying out all kinds of fun Hallowe'en craft projects ... have a look! (Don't forget, you can always click on the pictures for a close-up look!)

Here's a cute Frankenstein Lantern designed by Julie Leblanc - I followed the directions on her blog and had this fellow made up in no time! I've promised the gals at Guelph Lake Commons that we'll make Hallowe'en Lanterns at next month's craft session instead of the usual cards, and I know that Frankie will suit the bill perfectly; all he needs is a battery-operated tea light. Hmm, wonder if I can make this into a witch lantern ...

Over on Creations by Patti, I discovered a new use for Stampin' Up!'s Petal Card Punch (page 202, IB&C) - I made the mummy character in a matter of minutes by following her instructions, but check out all her other Hallowe'en characters, too! Now to slip a little chocolate into this tiny treat box, and I'm all set.

And of course, a punch-art-lover and scrap-paper-saver like me can spend HOURS on Ellen Kemper's blog .. she is the QUEEN of PUNCH ART in my eyes! Here are a couple of adorable trick-or-treaters that are so easy to make - all the parts are from Stampin' Up!'s owl punch even their little feet peeking from under their costumes. L'IL ONE-EYED MONSTER  or  L'IL GHOST

I found another very kewl project on Ellen's blog - a pair of eyes staring out from the darkness ... creepy! Ellen shows how to use the butterfly punch and the small oval punch from Stampin' Up! to make all kinds of different eyes in this post.

I hope these projects and links help inspire you to get crafty soon ... we all need a little fun in our week! And if you need any of the punches you can always come use mine, or order 'em on my ON-LINE SHOPPING SERVICE.

cheers

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWE'EN

I know, I know .. it's the first day of school and we've just barely started the month of September ... but have you been in the stores lately? There are tons of Hallowe'en decorations, costumes and treats lining the shelves - October 31st will be here before you know it!

Stampin' Up! reported at this summer's Convention that Hallowe'en is the third largest party occasion after New Year's and the Superbowl - AND, get this: 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS are spent each year to celebrate Hallowe'en - can you believe it?

Well, decorating and partying DOESN'T HAVE TO BE expensive. Here's a fun and easy way to celebrate all month long with the kids - a Hallowe'en Countdown Calendar!

This project uses several new products from Stampin' Up!, including our Cork Sheets, Bitty Bat Punch, Petal Card Punch and the very spooky "Wicked Fun" Designer Series papers (pg 172).

I'm offering this as a new addition to my September class schedule so that we can have our calendars ready for October 1st. If you live in Ontario, click here for class details.

For everyone else (in Canada) who may live too far away to attend in person, you can still get the project instructions (complete with measurements, step-by-step instructions & colour photos) FOR FREE just by purchasing the following supplies from me:

• #117400 - WICKED FUN Specialty Designer Series Paper -  $14.95 and either
• #119279 - BITTY BAT Large Punch - $22.95 or
• #119273 - PETAL CARD Extra-Large Punch - $24.95

For maximum convenience, use my online ordering service to place this order and it will be shipped directly to your house. Once your order is processed, you'll receive the project instructions in an email. Just save the attachment to your computer and you'll be ready to go!

cheers,