A Cute Christmas Gift Bag with Cards - Workshop

Join for "A Cute Christmas" Workshop

Hard to believe that Christmas is fast approaching but the signs are all there. Shopping centers are getting busy not only displaying Halloween decorations but also Christmas ones. Sears Wish book is getting warn by tiny little hands and people are already planning festive parties.

For me I love this time of year, I have been working very hard getting all my workshops done and organized. I will continue with my traditional Stamp-a-Stack or Lots-of-tags, and will be introducing new ones like today's Xmas Gift Bag with Cards.


Inside of bag showing pockets which holds 5 cards and envelopes in each pocket.

Card No. 1 Christmas Ornaments

Card No. 2 Mr. Snowman

Let me help you get ready by showing you how easy it is to make this one of a kind bag with 10 matching cards. Each bag comes with 2 different designs of 5 cards plus a matching bag.

The 35$ fee includes all the supplies necessary (except for your adhesive) to make the 10 cards, as well as the accompanying envelopes. Please bring your own favorite adhesive all others will be supplied. Spend $50 CAN before taxes and get the class for $10.

When: Sunday November 7, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: 144 Patterson Cres. Carleton Place, Ontario

Space is limited so register today. Simply click on the Buy Now button to register today.

NOTE: Only those who have paid in advance for the event through PayPal will be registered. You don't need a PayPal account to register; simply click on the button above and follow the instructions.

Cancellations: 48-hours notice is required for ALL cancellations a refund in the form of a credit for a future class will be given. No refund will be given after this 48-hours notice and no re-schedule will be allowed.

Number of Guests

1 Guest $35.00 2 Guests $70.00 3 Guests $105.00

Contempo Christmas Scrapbook Page

Building a Scrap Booking Page One Size at a Time

So I am trying to be a good blogger and have been working on so many projects I had to schedule one day on the weekend just for a photo shoot. I always wanted to create a progressive scrapbook page but never had the time to do this until last weekend. I have done many 12 x 12 scrapbook pages and decided to change it up. I starting by building a 6 x 6 to a 11 x 8.5 to a 12 x 12 page. Using the Contempo Christmas stamp and the Contempo Wheel from Stampin' Up I began my little adventure.

6 x 6 Page with a small area for a 4 x 6 photo.

11 x 8.5 page with message, trees, and ribbon and of course some bling! Before adding the 6 x 6.

I love adding my own messages, poems or quote to my pages it makes it more personal, I generate these on the computer, print and cut.

11 x 8.5 with 6 x 6 attached looks pretty good just with this.

Close-up showing those beautiful trees and their bling.

12 x 12 page before adding the 11 x 8.5 and 6 x 6 page, almost done.

Close-up showing the cute little squares, which you could add photo's or not but the option is there.

The finished product looking pretty nice!

Close-up of the front showing more of the design.

Just Can't Get Enough Christmas Stamps!

Every year I tell myself the same thing, "no more Xmas stamps you have enough" and then I go to either a workshop or do a swap and see a card made and that's it I just have to have it.

If you are to buy only one stamp set (like that's possible for me) I would say this is the one. I love the clean lines the look and feel of this stamp. It is a stamp set that can be used over and over again and will never age. It is what it is contemporary. Absolutely one of my favorites from this years Stampin' Up catalogue. I have done to versions of this card, I have cased this one but can't remember where, but have changed the design to a different format, for both a horizontal and vertical style, you decided which is better.



Supplies Required:

Note: (w) = wood blocks (c) = clear stamps required clear blocks

Stamps:

Contempo Christmas Item # 118734 (w) # 120594 (c)

Contempo Item # 120324

Card stock:

Old Olive

Cherry Cobbler

Very Vanilla

Inks:

Old Olive Stamp Write Markers Item # 100079

Cherry Cobbler Stampin Write Markers Item # 105109

Misc:

Stampin Around Handle Item # 102971

Stampin' Around Uninked Cartridge Item # 101529
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refiller # 100531

Word Window Large Punch Item # 119857

Big Shot Item # 113439

Embossing Folders Perfect Polka Dots Item # 117335

Sponger Daubers Item # 102892

This will be one of the cards that guest will make at my Xmas Open House Sunday November 7.

RENO Done and Baby Birds

The New Deck Isn't the Only New Edition We Have

And we are done and extremely happy with the final results of our little edition. I must say it was great sitting out and enjoying the sunshine (when we had it) on our new deck. Cooking is so much easier also, no need to go up and down to get to the BBQ now, it is right where it should always have been. I must say it certainly adds more space to the family room (not that we needed it) allowing the outside in. Can't wait till next spring so we can enjoy it even more!

And Then There Were Eight

This year for my birthday I decided to buy myself some birds, Society Finches to be exact. Lee-Anne, my wonderful neighbour next door has two and I absolutely fell in love with them this spring and decided that I too want some. So off to the local pet story we went on a mission to get two male finches a cage and some odds and ends.

Here is where it began. I don't know about you but I'm not an expert in sexing birds but you would think the pet store could seeing this is their field of experts or it should be. But like anything buyer beware, it is very difficult to sex birds.

I asked the nice very young obviously high school student that I would like only males and was told that was all they carried. So I choose two lovely MALE birds named Coco and Ginger. Weeks go by and they settled in, adjusting to the fact that it was just the two of them, Coco singing his songs and Ginger (slightly more shy) just sitting silent checking things around him.

Two months pass and everything is going fine, still a shy Ginger, still Coco singing until one day... when my husband runs into the bedroom wakes me to tell me we have eggs in the nest. Sure enough there are 6 pretty little eggs no larger than your tip of your baby finger. And if I didn't know better a smirk on Coco's little face.

We kinda knew something was up couple of weeks ago when JC got a kick out of watching Coco on Ginger making these weird sounds and movements, "I think they are having sex" he said... I myself roll my eyes... men. I mean we were told they were both males, shouldn't they know the difference at the pet store?

Now we are happy to say we have baby birds. When first born they are really ugly all fleshy with no feathers or eyes, even there wings were these sad little stumps. Within two weeks they have managed to grow more than 4 times in size, they have lots of feathers and pretty little eyes and tiny little beaks that make a big sound when they are hungry. Unfortunately out of the six eggs laid we only have 3 survivors but they are happy and definitely health.

Proud Mom and Dad Ginger and Coco

First picture of one of the little baby birds peaking out of the nest.

RENO UPDATE

Well the reno has been going great when I got back from my weekend away, I came home to a deck and stairs already done. And today we got a big hole in the house and then it started to poor. I felt so bad for the guys working in that cold rain but they kept on going and then before I knew it we had ourselves some kick as french doors! Tomorrow, railings go up and Friday the final unveiling.

The door construction.

So when we bought our new house a year ago (yes hard to believe time has gone by so fast) the only thing we didn't understand was why they didn't build a deck to enjoy the wonderful view and as you will see fantastic sunsets. So we decided to add a deck, remove a window and add french doors from the kitchen/family room.

Over a month ago we were happy to see that the house two doors down were replacing their deck and loved what we saw. I am always a believer that word of mouth is the best advertising and asked for the companies name. Meet Andy the handy man. He understood everything we wanted and more and we took the plunge into our first ever real reno, and are enjoying the progress that is taking place.

Outside the window that is going to be taken out and replaced with french doors.




Artistic view of the deck from the backyard.


Moving further back same angle.

Further back in the garden different point of view.

From the right side showing where the hot tub will go shhhh JC doesn't know yet...

Thanks for stopping by look for pics from my weekend away coming Tuesday!

Creative Escape Weekend Retreat - Oct 1 – 3, 2010 Le Viceroy Auberge & Spa

This weekend I will be attending an event that I have been looking forward to since the beginning of the summer "The Creative Escape Weekend Retreat". This event is going to be so much fun not only are we staying at a fantastic place see here but its a weekend just being creative and relaxing.

We also get:

• A Fabulous Goodie bag with $60 in Stampin' Up! product from the Fall Holiday Mini catalogue.
• We'll design fabulous make and takes that you will make using your goodie bag products!
• Two breakfasts, one 4 course Lunch and a 5 course dinner!!
• Access to the Nordic Baths on Saturday from 4 – 7 pm!! Spa Treatments available for extra fees
• A Candy Bar to help the creative juices flow! lol!
• Pillow gifts throughout the weekend
• 4 demonstrations during the weekend
• 4 optional classes (for additional fees)
• Space to work on your creative projects! 2 people per 6" table
• Draws for fabulous Stampin' Up! products from the holiday mini.

Use of our Stampin' Up! inks, punches, stamps, Big Shot and dies!!!

Plus I get to spend a weekend with friends I have met through Stampin Up, and do nothing but have fun!

To help get myself in the mood I decided to create a little something for each person who is attending so I came up with a these cute little vintage treat boxes all using Stampin Up products. I like to call it the Late Night Emergency Snack Attack. These treats are full of everything you need for a sugar fix, all you need is a glass of cold ice milk. See the recipe here.

I made enough for 40 people and baked 6 trays of Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars and trust me my husband has been enjoying one almost every night I have been making them. So if you are attending this weekend retreat don't for get to get your little treat!

Late Night Emergency Snack Attack Just Aadd Milk

What I used:

• Riding Hood Red, Crumble Cake, Very Vanilla Card Stock
• Riding Hood Red, Early Expresso ink
• Lover Letter Designer Series Paper
• Decorative Label Extra-Large (mini), Modern Label Extra-Large, Petal Card Extra-Large Double Punch
• 5/8 Satin Ribbon Expresso
• Artistic Etchings, Notably Ornate, Bella Toile Stamps
• Antique Brads, Basic Rhinestones

Where Has the Time Gone...

Gosh it has been so long since I have blogged, in fact it has been over two months and I have to say I am sorry I haven't posted more but a lot has been going on. First I would like to thank those of you who have sent me private e-mails asking me if I was OK, wondering if I was still designing, how my Dad has been doing and reminding me very gently about my FREE blog candy that was very late in getting out. If you have not received your blog candy please e-mail me privately here.

Lately I have been working hard on my next Wedding Workshop Class and getting ready for Xmas Workshops, traveling and of course weddings, weddings weddings. So things have been very busy and I will be posting everything I have done over the past 2 months in the next few weeks.

As for my Dad he has completed his radiation treatments and is doing very well, in fact he has had his first ALL clear and will be returning in November for another MRI, and if all goes well another 3 month ALL clear. Lately we have been very happy and taking advantage of the downtime that has been allowed since his first diagnosis. Just trying to have some normality after the last 7 months. With all that said my Mom however has seen better days, 1 week after getting Dad home she had a fall and ended up breaking her arm really bad and required surgery. She is now proud to say she has metal plates and screws in her arm and is taking physio one day at a time. Needless to say it has been a busy time looking after all their needs and trying to have a normal balance of home life.

My first post is a birthday one, for my lovely Miss Olivia or Missy "O" as I like to call her who celebrated her first birthday about 3 weeks ago. I was absolutely honored to help and attend such a wonderful event and like everything Kimmie does it was fun and fantastic.

For the initiation I created a really cute cup cake card which I have now misplaced but when I find I will post in hot pink and turquoise. A sweet Happy 1st Birthday Olivia banner, water bottle sleeves, cupcake toppers and a absolutely adorable shadow box with wish cards. Here are some pictures of her big day! All created in shades of pinks, turquoise, and lime green.

Miss Olivia AKA Missy "O"

Here absolutely beautiful mother Kim (Kimmie to me)

Kimmie wanted to create something that Miss Olive could keep and a reminder of her special day. What better then to create a shadow box that sends her wishes for the future. I created little cards for guests to write their wish for Olivia on her first birthday, these will be placed inside the shadow box for when she gets older. This we created in beautiful cherry blossom design and on the left branch is the date and place the event took place. On the right are is the following message ...

"May these wishes guide you on your journey through life..."

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mohammad Gandhi

Each wish that is given will be tuck into the pink band with chocolate ribbon at the bottom ready to be taken out and read at anytime. Isn't this a cut idea? Everything was made using Stampin' Up products except for the shadow box.

Close-up of the message card and the wish card.



Sign to match the shadow box asking guests to leave a wish for Miss Olivia on her first birthday.

Happy Birthday Banner




Memory Tree

I absolutely love this idea very simple yet elegant. This actually branch was used at Kim and Nicks wedding holding beautiful crystals and the place tags for the guests that attended the wedding, so it has some history also.



Water Bottles, very simple and personal such a great idea!




Cup Cakes

Absolutely yummy with little lolly pop sticks with Olivia's personal silhouette!