Using up the old making room for the new.

I remember seeing these adorable ornaments on Kimbery's blog last Christmas and thought I would make some to use up some retired materials I have (remember I like to collect pretty things in case they no longer make it). I am thinking if I whip up a box using the backing of the DSP packages, I could give these away to a neighbour.

The ornaments were purchased from a craft store and the top is removed and I inserted about twelve rolled strips of paper (1/2" x 6" wrapped around my paper piercer). I added a snowflake felt flurry to the top for added appeal. If you look real close, I even added some retired rub-ons to one side of the ornament.
In case I don't make another post before December 25th (kids are home from school for Christmas Break) I wish all my followers a very Merry Christmas filled with sparkle, joy, and warm memories and a Happy New Year filled with stamping and new goodies from the Celebration/Occassions Mini which starts January 4th, 2010.

Simply Perfect

As I mentioned earlier this week, Heather prepared a 'Make and Take" for each one of her team members attending the Christmas Dinner a week ago. Can you believe it? It is so adorable and would be appropriate for a guy or girl. Now the Tim Horton mug did not come with the package but everything including the candy/chocolate did; Heather is so sweet, kind, thoughtful and so caring. You know, adding a Tim mug and/or Tim card to this adorable package would be perfect.

I love the colour combination Heather chose for this make n' take; Soft Suede and Kraft. The chocolate bar wrapper is the perfect addition to a good cup of coffee, hot chocolate or while stamping.

This kraft envelope (didn't know SU offered kraft envelopes) houses a package of hot chocolate waiting to be enjoyed of a cold snowy day.

Now the Strawberry Kiwi candy cane is pretty yummy, but imagine a traditional candy cane in this wrapping used to stir the hot chocolate. The wrapping for the candy cane is made from the Two Tags Die.

Candy Cane Hershey Kisses (7 of them) in a small cello bag fits perfectly with a Top Note topper. What I especially love about this is the small piece of cardstock that is stamped and inserted into the cello bag as a backer.

Thank You Heather for this Special Gift of Love.

Run, Run Rudolph

The Reindeer above was at each place setting from Heather and her daughter Emma. It is my understanding that Emma and her cousin Monica made the reindeer.

Rudolph was not alone at the table either.

Renee, a fellow team member of Simply Stars made everyone a reindeer and placed it at the table as well.

I think they are both adorable.

Thank You Renee, Heather and Emma for these cute table favours.

By the way, I want to get at the treats inside the sweet treats cups but don't want to damage his bright shiny nose.

Snowflake Ornament

Besides being a beautiful Snowflake Ornament can you guess how it was made?

I have to say "Thank You: Janey for this beautiful ornament. Janey, a Simply Stars team member, made everyone in attendance of the down line Christmas Party a snowflake tree ornament; she is so sweet!

Janey took the time and endured a few minor cuts to make these snowflakes. Each snowflake required one wahsed and dried pop can. She had to cut off the top and bottom of the can and cut the cylinder to open flat. Carefully she place the piece of aluminium on the snowflake die and ran it through the Big Shot. Each ornament has two snowflakes adorned with a rhinstone brad in the center and a piece of silver cording.

Everyone was so facinated with this little treasure.

Thank You Janey for thinking of each one of us with a gift hand made with love.

Secret Santa Gift

This picture is the Secret Santa gift I made for our down line party. I used retired DSP from Stampin' Up! becasue it was perfect with the Chocolate Chip Vinyl "SNOW" from the Holiday Mix Decor Elements found in the Holiday Mini. To add a bit of bling, I stamped a silver snowflake with a rhinstone brad in the center of the "O".
"Simply Stars" enjoyed our Christmas Dinner Party on Friday night.
Heather Summers is my upline extroidanaire and she plans a fabulous get together for us every month may it ibe business or celebration.
Our dinner was held at Wimble Hall at Kings College and the dinner was catered by staff at Kings. We enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner, turkey and all the trimmings and chocolate mouse cake for dessert. Oh, did I mention the table favours at each place settting made by Heather and her daughter Emma (who is 9 years old). I will show you those later on this week as well.
We started the eveing off visiting with Simply Stars team members whom I call friends. I look forward to sharing ideas and getting to know every lady who loves everything Stampin' Up!.
Before we sat down for dinner, and everyone had arrived, we started the eveing off with a game; Heather loves games; but then so do we as Heather always has prizes.
After dinner, we proceeded to the other room to do our "make and takes". I will share Heather's fabulous creation with you tomorrow.
Heather also arranged a Secret Santa gift exchange for those who chose to participate. This is so much FUN!
Thank You Heather for the care, kindness, encouragement, and love you show us; You are SImply the Best.

Paper Bag Scrap Book

My fabulous upline Heather Summers gave us two brown lunch bags at our last meeting and said, "Here is your challenge". Decorate it.

I have to admit, I put it aside and forgot about it...until last night.

I have not put any photos on or journalling as I thought this would make an adorable little gift for someone this Christmas.
I used the Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP as well as cardstock in Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, Kraft, Soft Suede, Confetti White and Sahara Sand. I embellished with ribbon hardware, brads and punches.
There are two pouches which I have inserted journal tags or you could attach a photo.

You could easily make your brown bag scrapbook fuller by adding an extra bag or two.

I was pleased with how it turned out and I hope you like it too.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend.

In the Pink - PPA14

"The PPA Design Team are in the pink for Breast Cancer Awareness...celebrting cancer survivors, and remembering those that continue to battle, as well as the countless number of families and friends that have been touched by theis disease.

The PPA Designe Team is honoured to dedicate this weeks challenge to Karol Harris, and her loving daughter (and PPA Design Team member), Kris Kilcoyne. Karol cherishes her family and friends and has a zany sense of humour. She was diagnosed with breast cancer over three years ago and continues to battle its relentless invasion of her body. We hope this simple tribute brings a smile.

During Breast Cancer Awareness month, we would like to encourage everyone to be proactive in early detection and steadfast in your hope for finding a cure."

So I have created this tree ornament in pink (and a little silver) to hang on my tree this Christmas to honour and remember woman and their families who have endured this terrible disease.

Here is to the HOPE we all have to find a cure for Breast Cancer.

Kind Thoughts

I have never had the desire to stencil until I saw Shelli demonstrate on a video tutorial.
It looked easy enough! I decided to order the Small Kind Thoughts Brocade specifically with France in mind. I thought it would be nice to stencil on scrapbook pages as it would be fitting of the theme.
I find it best to journal about my day when I travel becasue as much as you think you will remember everything, you don't. I made this travel journal using the stencil with versa mark, white craft ink and white embossing powder. Clearly I didn't know what I was doing becasue I wouldn't use the white craft ink again if I was going to emboss with white embossing powder. The finished product was pretty cool and I like it. Now that I look at it I should have tried using a background stamp on the card stock first and then used the stencil image...next time.

Travel Journals & Scrapbooking

I have a bad habit of buying stuff and then not using it; not because I don't like it but because I want to save it...just in case they decide not to make it more.

Since becoming a demonstrator I have learned to use the product.

As you can see, I am using up retired DSP from Stampin' Up!

Hey! You know, just becasue Canada no longer has this beautiful DSP anymore, doesn't mean it is not "in" somewhere else so it's ok. Right?

I thought it would be nice to make up a travel journal for Justin & Nicole. Not just becasue they will be missing school but becasue they will have a daily journal of everything they did so when they scrapbook their photos the information will be in one place and at their finger tips.

I am making one for muself too and this way we will all have our own ideas and thoughts of our family vacation.

Recipe:

Composition Book (found at the dollar store)

1 sheet 12" X 12" DSP cut in two 6" X 10"

Card stock 4" X 10" do not score, just mold it on to the spine of the book to shape and then add adhesive and stick on.

Becasue the composition books can be off in measurements, I have cut the paper to be a bit larger. You can trim it after adhereing and using your sanding block in a downward motion to make it flush. Decorate as desired.

Stamps: Headline Alphabet, Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet

Ink: to co-ordinate with DSP

I also decorated a "R.S.V.P." pen (found at Staples) by rolling a piece of co-ordinating DSP around the barrel of the ink refill and inserting.

Birthday Tote

I wanted something really special to go along with the gift for my good friend and hair stylist JoAnne. I know it is not the same as getting a cake baked for you but I think this is super cute and fun. I made this with the new "In-Colours" but I used a limited edition designer paper (meaning it is no longer available) just becasue JoAnne is special.

I am not the genius' behind this project, (that would be Heather and Nichole) but I love it. I am so excited to offer this as a Birthday Class that I couldn't wait to show this to you and I don't even have the details such as the "when" and "cost" and which designer paper we will use figured out yet. I will stay with use a colour scheme suitable for male and female alike.

The Birthday Package Class consists of a cake tote which holds the cake mix, sprinkles and cupcake picks to decorate the cake. An icing wrapper and a birthday card.

Another clever idea is that the cake mix and icing container slips right out of the packaging which allows the recipiant to reuse this for someone else. The gift that keeps on giving.