CARD CANDY

Just Punchy Class - Coming Up February 19

Join us for Just Punchy!  You'll create twenty 3 x 3 cards using our punches! These adorable cards are perfect to tuck into a child's lunch, slip under your husband's pillow, or leave on your co-worker's desk as a little encouragement!

The class is only $20 and light snacks will be served.

Where:   Tracy Blakely's - 3318 S Country Club Rd, Garland
 Date:     Feb 19, 2010
 Time:     7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Central

Valentine Treat

My friend Georgia gave each of us in stamp club one of these adorable boxes. I'm trying to get her to sell her stuff on Etsy...she is SO talented!!!

Crop, Drop and Roll

My friend Melanie has a wonderful scrapbooking retreat which overlooks beautiful Lake Texoma.  (I am going in March!) I offered to put some info for her on my blog. Here is a little blurb she wrote, and please check out her site!

I recently had a conversation with a group of gals who want to stay at my scrapbook retreat. They asked if I served food, to which I replied, "no because I cannot find a reliable caterer."   They proceeded to tell me how spoiled they were...staying at places where you eat constantly.  They also told me that when you go to a retreat that offers catering, you tend to eat more than you would if you had to make the food yourself. And by the time you are gorged out on food, who wants to scrap?

I had the fantastic opportunity to stay at CROP, DROP AND ROLL, my own retreat!, this past weekend with some gal pals. The best part about the weekend was the food!  Friday night, one of the gals threw a casserole in the oven for 30 min while we scrapped; a ready-prepared meal she had picked up at central market. The next night, another gal thru a Cost-Co lasagna in the oven while we scrapped; in 30 minutes we were eating. Someone brought a chocolate cake and we all enjoyed that late at night. I prepped a veggie tray early on in the week and we snacked on that. Someone else brought a dip.  Needless to say, no one lost any time scrapping by "having to cook."  We all took turns and made one meal; most of which were stuff we picked up at Sam's or Cost-co.  It was wonderful not to have to pay a SMALL FORTUNE for catering. And as the economy gets worse, we can all use that extra money (upwards of $85 per person over my much lower rates) to spend on other necessities.

So when you are planning your next scrapbooking retreat, think about the amount of money you will save if you DON'T have expensive catering.  

Stay at Crop, Drop and Roll on the shores of beautiful Lake Texoma. Only a 1 hour drive from Plano/Frisco/Allen.  www.cropdroproll.com

Foldie Holdie....An Oldie But Goodie

My friend Vickie, who used to be an SU Demo, coined the phrase "foldie holdie" for the little treat holders a lot of us make at Halloween (if you know of someone else who also uses that phrase, my apologies...Vickie is the first one I heard use that term). I made this one today using some paper from our "Welcome Neighbor" 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper Pack and Scallop Borde..unch in the Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog,
(it's not too late to earn this paper pack for free!)

Now THIS is SNOW!!!

Just got off the phone with my dear friend Karen who lives in Arnold, MD. She had sent me this picture a little bit ago and I was just checking on her. She said the Governor of Maryland was on TV and said this snow storm dropped the most snow EVER in the state's history!

I thought I was cold today here in Richardson, TX!

Bloggin' Buddy

My friend just bought one of our Sizzix Big Shot Die Cut machines and has been going to town using the Top Note Die on her layouts. I love her use of different shapes and colors to really bring attention to her photos.

To see more of her pages, please visit Pat from LaJoliePaperie

Baby Shower Card Share

One of my talented stamper friends sent me a picture of this card that she made...isn't it SO cute? Thanks to Kathryn Mitchell for sharing!

Tuesday Tip

I'm excited to start offering my "Tuesday Tips". Each Tuesday, I will share a "tip of the trade" relating to stamping, scrapbooking and, from time to time, general crafting. If there is something you'd like to know, leave me a comment and you just might see it in a future post!

Today's tip involves Shimmer Paint. For a different look on your cards and layouts, fill up a small spray bottle half way with 70% Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (it HAS to be 70%, not 90%). Pour in a few drops of your favorite Shimmer Paint (in this sample, I used Frost White) and spray over your finished project. Your piece will sparkle with a shimmery glow. I tried to capture in this photo (on the small Chocolate Chip piece), but the light reflects off the shimmer so it isn't the best, but hopefully you get the idea!

 

Passin' The Time On Sunday...

without my Cowboys! As you can tell by some of my posts, I am a rabid football fan, especially when The 'Boys are playing. But, since THAT won't be happening anymore THIS year, I have much more time for my other favorite pastime...stamping!

If you've never tried the "shadowing" technique, check out this card.
This little bird and his "reflection" in the water was so easy to create using my Stampin' Sponge and a little Taken With Teal Classic Ink. I learned a great little tip the other day for my sponges; cut your sponge in quarters and then in quarters again. Each time you use a different ink color, use your Round Tab Punch and punch out a little tab from a small piece of coordinating Card Stock. Then, fold in half and adhere to the point edge with a stapler. You can tell at a glance what color is on your sponge and you can use each sponge for only that color.

We Had SO Much Fun!

Just started a new hostess club last night with a great group of ladies. (they love Disney stuff as much as I do!  Have not laughed so much in while...yes, we DID get some stamping done. Look back a few days in my posts to see our projects! If you live here in the Dallas area (specifically Richardson, Plano, Rowlett), I have a couple of openings in the clubs that meet in my home. If you live a little farther out, I'd love to get one going for you and your friends in your area. Contact me and we can chat about all the details! It is Sale-A-Bration time at Stampin' Up! so this is a great time to start a club OR start your own business!

Fun Project

I mentor a little girl each week and I wanted to make her something for her birthday. Since she loves to draw, I cam up with this covered notebook and matching pen. I used some of our chipboard letters and embossed with Pumpkin Pie Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder. What do you think?