Christmas Traditions Mini Album Class

Edited July 28th - If you've come here from the Practical Scrappers Blog, Welcome! I've added a few more pictures to this post to show you guys more ways to accent the most simplest of titles - ones you print off yourself! If you find yourself needed a title but are short on alphabet stickers (is anyone ever short on alphabet stickers?) or alphabet stamp sets (as I was last Christmas), it's really easy to find a font you like in your word processing software of choice and with a few clicks you've got totally unique titles for your pages. I chose to print all my title onto Whisper White card stock for continuity but you could easily print them onto patterned paper and cut out each letter for a more varied look.
For your convenience. all added content is in red italics.


Hey everyone!
I have been a busy little bee in my craft room this month. For the second year I completed a December Daily album (started by Ali Edwards, check out her blog for more details) which is posted on my personal blog. I have a pile of non-Stampin' Up! product still to use up so this album is mostly made up of old products but I did use some SU inks, stamps, and punches.

It inspired me to create a mini album (which is a class I will be teaching on January 5th - go here to sign up) talking about our Christmas Traditions. Here are some sneaks, if you want to see all the content you will need to sign up for the class! :)

Here on the title page I used Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to fill in the letters and add sparkle.

On the title here I added the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details just along the bottom edges of the letters to create the look of depth or shadow. Below I used Dazzling Details in a similar way but on top of the letters this time to mimic the look of snow or ice sitting on top of the title.

The pages below don't have any significant examples of my use of Stampin' Up's version of Stickles  but I added them for your enjoyment anyway. Looking back at this post I think I may use this year's version of this Simply Scrappin' Kit to make my 2012 December Daily! (BTW it's called Merry Moments Simply Scrappin and will be available on August 1st.)

I am using the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit (plus various other things I have in my stash.) It is a beautiful kit and will be gone soon so you will want to snap yours up now!

The class is $42.00 which may seem like a lot but here is what you get:

- The Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit

- A 6" x 6" Designer Printed Ring Album in Cherry Trim

- Complete templates for all my page designs

- Access to all my stamps, inks, punches, Big Shot and dies, ribbons, brads and other accessories.

- Customized titles (if mine don't work for you!)

- My help and the company of other fun, creative scrappers who I know will take my designs to new heights!

If you would like to make one of these (or just get the products so you can make it later), go here to register for my class. Hurry though as registration MUST close on Dec 31st otherwise I cannot guarantee the product can be shipped on time. Also, these items will ONLY be available with Stampin' Up! until January 3rd!!

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours, have a very merry Christmas! We are thick into family gatherings which means lots of young kids running around high on sugar and excited about the whereabouts of Santa! Hope your homes are as filled with love as mine is right now!!

What's new?

Wow! Has it really been a month since I posted?! I've been busy with other projects - kids, Holiday Season activities, non-Stampin' Up! projects (gasp!) - and kind of forgot to keep everyone updated. My apologies!

So ... how's everyone doing? Ready for Christmas? We are mostly there. The girls and I are heading to Richmond Centre today to visit Santa and collect trading cards from his elves. They have a fantastic program over there that has completed enchanted my girls so every year it has become tradition to "Elf Hunt" (i.e. collect as many trading cards as we can!)

I've been busy crafting some Christmas decorations - check them out.

On the Stampin' Up! front, they are having a HUGE Clearance sale right now that you have very much got to check out. Clicking on the link above takes you to an info page on my SU site. From there you can go to the Products - Shop Now tab and browse the on-line store. The products on sale are discontinued items and old-stlye punches but the prices are amazing! Oh and while we're on the subject of discontinued items, I just heard that they will NOT be continuing the Stocking Builder Punch so if you were thinking of getting one, I'd snap it up now before stock runs out. It's pretty versatile - stockings (obviously) but I've seen it turned into baby booties, sweaters, hobby horses, and check out this cute Canucks Card.

I've been busy updating my Class Calendar on my site too - check it out here. Join me on January 5th as we make a mini album documenting our Christmas memories. I'll be holding an Open House on January 7th to show off the new Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration Catalogues. And on January 20th is the Inaugural Stamp Club class - we'll be playing with emboss resist techniques. As soon as I've got samples to show you I will!!

That's all my kids will allow me to post right now (sigh). Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. Can't wait to see what 2012 holds in store for me and Stampin' Up!

Online Extravaganza!

I promised you details and here they are!

Dates: November 21-30, 2011

Details
Get a jump on your holiday shopping and be prepared for the holidays! During these 10 days only, you can get incredible discounts--up to 60 percent--on some of your favourite products!

In addition, two of our brand-new products will be discounted 20 percent only during the first 24 hours of the sale (November 21, midnight - 11:59 PM [MT]):

Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour  Sale Price
122334	Simply Scored	$38.95	$31.16
125152	Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps	$20.95	$16.76

You can visit my Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

There are some amazing deals in that PDF so be sure to check it out.

Have fun shopping!!

Thanks.

Christmas Card Making Class

Need a few ideas for fun and easy Christmas cards this year? Come on out to my class!
We will be making 3 different designs - normally I would add the previews for you right here but my computer has chosen to have a few death spasms this week so .... I'm using my hubby's computer and having to transfer files back and forth and, well, it's annoying! So, check out my Facebook album here for those previews.

I've added a button to my sidebar with a link to my Eventbrite site. Click on it and then register by Visa or Mastercard. If you'd prefer to send me a cheque my address is under Additional Ticket Info.

Thanks! Hope to see you there!

Hallowe'en Treats

Just a quick post to show you my kidlets and a little something we cooked up together for their classmates yesterday.

Starting with the cutest (read: youngest) - this is Christine (aged 2.5), my Kitty Cat.

Next is Paige (aged 5.5) my Angel (?) - actually she's a Fairy.

And last but not least, Marley (aged 7.5) my Wicked Witch (how true, how true! LOL!)

All ready to raid the neighbours candy stashes!

3 little pumpkins for my 3 little cuties!

And these are the treats we made. These are Paige's batch and I'll be honest, the only reason I have photos of them is because she forgot to hand them out on Monday. Yup, we slaved over these and then I forgot to take pictures to show you all. Doh! Forgetfulness must run in the family, eh?

Paige stamped the image of her choice from the Batty for You stamp set onto her choice of card stock (Basic Grey and Always Artichoke) and then I punched them out using my 1 3/4" circle punch. They were then layered onto a piece of Frightful Sight DSP (her choice again) which I punched out with the scallop circle punch. 

I let her do all the stamping and gluing and I did all the punching. Marley got to do the stamping, punching and gluing as she's that bit older. Some of theirs were a bit off but ... it's supposed to be from them so I think it should actually BE from them! 

I did take charge of attaching the embellishments to the bag toppers - another piece of Frightful Sight DSP cut to 1 1/2" x 4" and folded in half. The girls tried to stuff the cellophane bags (the 1"x8" ones) with the licorice but found it a bit tough so I took over that eventually.

Anyway, that's it for tonight. Take a look at the new buttons on my sidebar. Stampin' Up! has got a new promotion that runs until Dec 15th. It offers our wonderful Hostesses the opportunity to get more FREE PRODUCTS if their workshops have high enough sales. I know I'm excited to share this with my November Hostesses - if you want to be one of them, click on the Email Me button and we'll set something up.

Thanks everyone. Hope your Hallowe'en was as fun and fright-less as ours was. Now, where's that chocolate? :)

See you soon!

Free Big Shot Promotion Extended!

Stampin' Up! Just announced that they are extending their AWESOME (sing it out, it sounds better!) Big Shot Promotion until November 11, 2011.

11-11-11!!

What is this promotion you ask? How can I get a free Big Shot? (THE most amazing die-cutting machine out there, if I do say so myself!) Simply sign up to be a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! The starter kit contains over $400 worth of products (see picture below) for the low, low price of $215 and then, on top of that already amazing deal, Stampin' Up! will GIVE YOU a Big Shot. Or, if you are already the lucky owner of a Big Shot, $125 in free product. Trust me, if you are even remotely considering making a large purchase or wanting a way to earn some extra cash while having fun stamping with your friends (old and new), this is the deal for you!

Check it out.

This kit includes (click on them to view):

Easy Events

For All You Do

Create a Cupcake

Triple Treat Flower

Cupcakes Stampin' Around® Wheel

Clear Block C

Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

Assorted colour Smooth Card Stock (8-1/2" x 11") - Getting Started pack

Card Stock (8-1/2 x 11) - Whisper White

5/8" Satin Ribbon

VersaMark® Pad

4 x  ® (Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red, and Pumpkin Pie)

2 x Stampin' Write® Marker (Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist)

Marina Mist Classic Refill

SNAIL Adhesive®

Stampin' Mist®

Cupcake Punch

Always Bird Décor Elements®

Medium Envelopes (40)

Color Coach

Substitutions are allowed (for items at the same price point) which makes the kit is completely customizable (is that a word?) For digi scrappers and card makers, the Digital + Starter Kit includes the full My Digital Studio® CD and His & Hers Collection DVD as well as some of the items above. 

So right now you can get $550 worth of Stampin' Up! products for only $215!! What are you waiting for? Grab the deal! Start creating and stamping with your friends and it will pay for itself in no time flat.

Okay, sales pitch is over. Have a Safe and Happy Hallowe'en tonight!!

Fun Make and Takes

Last week at my upline group meeting, we made a couple of really cute cards. I'd like to share them with you now if I may (mwa, ha, ha, ha!! Like you have a choice here!)

First up, this adorable little guy.

He actually folds up - well, twists up - on himself and I realize now that I should have taken a picture of that.  Tomorrow. Maybe. Hopefully. :)

Next up is this one. It was a little more complicated than I'd anticipated. The woven technique is something I will have to pull out at my new Technique Club. What's that you say? A Technique Club? Tell me more!

Come to my Open House on Saturday and I will!!

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon!!

Blog Award

My friend Roxy let me know she'd given me a Blog Award. That is just so like her! She's a sweetie. She's one of those blog friends that I have yet to meet in real life but I know we'd gel instantly. Our lives have apparantly been running in parallel for awhile. It's kind of crazy!

Anyway, here's the award.

Liebster is a German word that means beloved or favourite. This award is for blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

Here are the rules to accept this award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun!

So my picks are:
1 - Apron Strings. Lori puts up some pretty awesome challenges that I highly recommend checking out.

2 - My sister-in-law Jonina. She's currently running for School Board Trustee in New Westminster (BC) and would be such an asset to the school system there. She's passionate about kids, education and (the subject of her blog) getting kids outside to play ... even in the city.

3 - An old Ultimate Frisbee team mate Andrea. I love and admire her attempts to feed her eldest daughter good, healthy food. I try as well and know how hard it is when you're stuck with a picky kid. Her recipes are super yummy!

4 - Next is my friend Beth. She is battling breast cancer again and taking us along for the ride. She is a mom of 3 kids, ages with my own, living here in Ladner. The parallels are undeniable and force me to thank God on a daily basis for my continued fair health.

5 - And last but not least is an old Sorority Sister (Go Kappa!) of mine, Andrea, who is bravely documenting her trials and tribulations of motherhood. She's just had her second daughter so I look forward to those spit up posts!!

All right, that's it.
It was actually hard to find blogs with fewer than 200 followers! I've been so swamped lately that IF I'm blog surfing it's usually a few of the more well known ones. I rarely have time these days to sit down and check out all the fantastic blogs out there - even of those that regularly check me out! Anyway, thanks again for the recognition Roxy!! I'm now more determined than ever to be a better blogger friend to all!

I'll be back soon with some more card eye candy for you.

I'm still here!

I may have been MIA from the Blogosphere lately but I've been working hard behind the scenes. Want to see what I've been working on?

(Like you have a choice! LOL!)

First up, my card for my Colourful Impressions group meeting.

Actually, it's only a card front - that's what we were swapping this time not full cards. 

I used the Delightful Decorations stamp set with matching Ornament punch and my new obsession, embossing. The top right ornament is embossed with Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Emboss Powder and the bottom one with White Stampin' Emboss Powder. The left hand ornament is stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink. 

Other items of note: Card stock - Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler; texture plate - Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine and Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to showcase my business at a Momcafe event. My sister in law Christine Nielsen owns the Vancouver and North Shore franchise of Momcafe and for my birthday last month she gave me both a membership and a table at October's meeting. It was a really neat opportunity! I hope to be able to do this again sometime. Here's a picture of my set up!

And last but not least ... have you heard yet that I'm having an OPEN HOUSE next Saturday? For all the details visit my web site here. Here's a little sneak peek of what I'm giving away to anyone who books a workshop with me or signs up for one of my upcoming classes or club nights. You know you want one!!

All right, that's all for now. I'll be back this week with more card swaps and the make and takes from my meeting last week. We made this incredibly cute snowman card! Wait til you see it!!

Late night inspiration

I'm participating in a live webinar that Stampin' Up! is putting on as part of their World Wide Week of Workshops (I'll be calling you once the sun comes up again, don't you worry!) They took a break so that those demonstrators in parts where it actually IS daytime can make some booking calls. Since I can't do that (seems like a sure fire way to get shot down - calling at 11:20PM) I thought I'd do up a quick blog post to share another beautiful card I made at the Let's Stamp Out Breast Cancer event last month.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it seems appropriate to be sharing these with you now.

Isn't this gorgeous?! I can say that without any false pride as all I did was follow the instructions Kari laid out. And very carefully too I might add. I'd never embossed before and I gotta tell say ... I'm hooked! Watching the embossing powder melt and give you this ...

... AWESOME! (sing it, it sounds better!)

I went ahead and purchased the official Stampin' Up! Heat Tool and several different embossing powder colours so look for them in upcoming workshops!

All right, I think we are about to get going again so I'd better run. Thanks for checking in! Talk to you soon!

Welcome Baby card

How's this for a cute card?

I made this at the Let's Stamp Out Breast Cancer event I attended last month. We made several projects - all more lovely than the last - which I plan to share with you over the next few days (although, if you clicked on the link you'll have already seen Kari's versions.)
This card is destined for an old high school friend of mine who recently had her very first baby. She's supposed to be buying our old crib but her busy schedule is making it hard for us to meet up. (Hear that Traci? When are you coming?!) This, the crib plus many other baby goodies we no longer need, are waiting for her whenever she gets here.

The cute elephant stamp is called Elebration. Isn't is sweet? We painted it with Stampin' Up!'s Watercolor Wonder Crayons and the Aqua Painter. Together these products give such a lovely, soft effect to your stamped images.

Well, it's Thanksgiving this weekend up here in Canada so I'd better head off and make my dish for dinner tonight. Last night we went to Greg's sisters for a turkey dinner and tonight we are heading to my parents for another turkey. Always a good year when you can score two turkey dinners with no clean up!! Bummer, of course, is no leftovers. Oh well. Next year I'm sure we'll be back on the hook for hosting duty.

Simply Sent Promotion and a Little Something Sweetly Wicked!

Ages ago, I promised you something Hallowe'en themed. Um ... sorry for the long delay. This whole juggling family, kids activities, and new business thing is all a bit overwhelming. Plus I am finding it hard to get some actual crafting into the schedule! So, here is something I made at my Upline meeting a few weeks ago.

These are the new 1" x 8" cellophane bags from the Holiday Mini catalogue. I have purchased enough of these that Marley and Paige's classes will be getting little treats in them!

The great thing about them is that you can put anything in them! Not just candy, but pencils, rolled up colouring sheets, glitter (don't worry Moms of my kids classmates - I will not inflict a house full of glitter on you but ... could be fun as a wedding favour!) and all sorts of things.

The spider is a bit too creepy for my taste but hey, if you can't creep out your kids on Hallowe'en, when can you?!

Now for something completely different.

This is another of the fabulous Stampin' Up! promotions going on this month.

Promotion Details:  Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Our Simply Sent Kits are the ideal choice for the beginning crafter. The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it's easy to create cards for any occasion.

Buy any two of the following Simply Sent Kits:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	122375	Simply Sent Great Day	$15.95
193	122377	Simply Sent Everyday Elegance	$14.95
193	122376	Simply Sent Sweet Moments	$16.95

And get a FREE coordinating stamp set:

Page	Item	Description	Price
192	123682	It's Your Day	$10.95
192	124685	Es tu día (Spanish It's Your day)	$10.95
192	124800	C'est ta fête (French It's Your Day)	$10.95
193	123686	Everyday Wishes	$11.95
193	123684	You're Cherished	$10.95
193	124865	Chérissons les anges (French You're Cherished)	$10.95

Follow the links above to see the products in my online store. These kits make things so easy. If you are at all under the impression that you aren't crafty (say what?!), this is what you need to get started. I'll be sharing them in my workshops this month so if you want to host a workshop and find out about these, now is the time!

Okay, off to make lunch for me and the 2 year old then it's early dismissal, Hallowe'en costume shopping, ballet class, shove dinner into the younger ones (and me!), soccer practice, feed the athletes, home reading, bedtime, soccer practice for Greg and then maybe, maybe do some crafting before passing out for the night! Whew! Have a great Wednesday everyone. 

BIG news from Stampin' Up!

On Saturday, after recovering from my birthday dinner out (really, that makes it sound like I was drunk or something - actually, it was the multiple interruptions from the 2 y.o. that gave me a rough feeling in the morning!) I logged onto the Stampin' Up! site and was blown away by all the promotions on this month! Click here to check them all out, or wait and I'll share them with you over the next few days.

First up ... Be a Big Shot.

Sign up to be a demonstrator between now and October 31st and you will receive a Big Shot included with your KIT! Already have a Big Shot? No worries, you can choose $125 in FREE products! WOW! Now is a GREAT time to become a demonstrator. Earn a little cash for the holidays or become a hobby demonstrator and enjoy some of the best crafting supplies around. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain with Stampin' Up! If you have questions, please never hesitate to ask.

I wish this deal had been around when I joined. I LOVE my Big Shot!!

Okay, speaking of the Big Shot. Here is something I made at a recent meeting with some of my fellow Demonstrators using the Big Shot and the Holiday Stocking Die.

Isn't it cute? It's also a card. Wouldn't you just love to make this for your friends and family this Christmas? Ask me how! :)

Walk for the Cure 2011

Walking for the Cure!

Today was the day! Team Pinkalicious Pandora had fun walking through the streets of Vancouver in support of an excellent cause. As soon as I get the team photo I'll pop it into the post here ...

Edited Oct 12 - Beth sent me this picture of Team Pinkalicious Pandora. Aren't we a gorgeous bunch?!

... until then, here are some other shots from the morning.

Pre-race energy - mmmm ... Timbits!

Tanya, myself and Shannon.

Approaching the start line - finally! With all the people it took ages to get moving. It was worse than the Sun Run for congestion! But we were there to walk, support Beth and her family and enjoy the sunshine so the slow pace was not a problem.

Pinkalicious Pandoras in all their Pinkalicious glory! Beth with her daughters Kate (on left) and Emma. Beth's husband Mike is the man walking behind with the stroller and in the bottom of the stroller is their son, John. The kids did amazingly well - considering. There were a few melt downs and Kate need a piggy back a few times but all in all, they were awesome!

Then there was this guy.

He did the walk with his cat on his hat. A real live cat! 

Apparently this was their 3rd year doing the walk like this.

It truly takes all types!!

The walk took us under the Chinatown gates.

And here we are approaching the finish line!

It was a moving experience. Seeing everyone with names on their pinnies - Moms, Aunts, Sisters, Grandmas, friends, co-workers and even the odd man's name too. This is truly a disease that needs to be defeated! I was so glad I took part and hope that next year I can turn it into a family affair. It's on my birthday next year so it seems destined!

It's not too late to donate to this walk and the cause in general. To donate to my team please click on this link. (Hope it works!) Thanks!

CIBC Run for the Cure

Or in my case, Walk for the Cure!

I'm participating in support of my friend Beth Heras who is battling breast cancer for the second time. She is now in Stage 4 so prognosis is grim but hopes are high. If you'd like to support me please go here to make a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

I have (in typical Alison fashion) left this to the last minute! Life around here tends to swirl at such a pace it's easy to get swept along and forget to do things you've resolved to do. It's terrible and I'm not trying to make excuses. Supporting Beth and all the women who are fighting, will fight and especially those that have fought bravely and lost is important to me. The older I get the more my own mortality plays a role in my every day decisions. Not to say I dwell on it, but I'd like to be there for my kids when they are "all grown up". Beth is my age - younger actually - and her children are ages with mine so the parallels are unavoidable. The thought of leaving Marley, Paige and Christine right now freaks the living daylights out of me! They are so young! I have so much more that I want to teach them, share with them, experience with them. I can only imagine what Beth is going through!! If the little money I can raise can help find a cure that can save her or other young Moms like her, then it will be a job well done. Late or not!

I also want to sell some cards I've made with a stamp set Stampin' Up! released in the summer to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Here are some pictures of them. Once I figure out how to do this (paypal? etsy store? eBay?) I'll let you know. If you're interested, please leave me a comment.

Thanks. Think Pink!!

Last 2 Card Swaps

Just a quick post as my 2 year old is being particularly 'difficult' today. Right now I'm bribing my 7 year old with the promise of pop if she keeps an eye on her littlest sister! Yep. I'm a fantastic working Mom!! :)

Anyway, I decided to post both these cards together as I'm not sure where to give credit for them as there were no names on the backs. (If any of my Upline knows who these cards belong to please leave a comment  and I will edit the post to give credit where it's due!)

I love the colour combination on this card. It's so soft and simple! I also learned a new technique here (which I have yet to try.)  Before you score your paper strip to make the flower, run one side through an edge punch and then ink it. Voila! Softly rounded  and inked 'petals'!

Love the 3-D aspect of this card!

Well, there you have it. All the cards from the Card Swap last Monday night. Hope you enjoyed them? Some of you have been so kind as to insist that mine was your favourite (your cheques are in the mail - LOL!) Thank you. But really, I think they all deserve recognition for their creativity and excellence!

I was supposed to work on my Business Plan today (hubs and I had a chat!) but life with the 2 year old did not go as hoped so the Plan will have to wait until tomorrow. I'll be back on Thursday to share more projects with you. How about something spooky?