Well, Christmas is almost here and this is the last weekend of the Ashley Country Christmas so it's time to get back into the swing of things.  So here's a card that I made using some of the new things out of the Occasions catalog.  Do you see the new stuff? 

 

I think that I might have time now to get back to doing some stamping.  I hope.  I haven't even started on my Christmas cards.  No decorating done.  But I'll get them sometime.  But in the meantime here's something new for you.  I didn't do it but I think that it's really cute.  Valentine's Day will get here before we know it.  This card is from a shoe box swap that the Rubber Queens had on Tues night and I didn't get the name of the person who made this.  Sorry about that.

 

 

And if you're wanting to do some stamping just come to the Paper Palace tonight and stamp with me.  We're making a mailable photo album and envelope.  Or if you don't want to stamp just come and visit and enjoy a girls night out.

 

Well, today is the day that we've all been waiting and working for in Ashley.  The first run of the North Pole Express.  Hopefully everything will go wonderful and everyone will have a great time.  And hopefully next week I'll get back to a somewhat normal life.  And maybe do some stamping.  In the meantime I hope you'll all have a great weekend and if you're looking for something to do please come to Ashley and look around. 
And I want to invite you all to a workshop at the Paper Palace next Thursday.  We'll be making a mini photo album and a box (holder, envelope??) to put it in.  So if you're just looking for a girls night out just come and join us Thurs. at 7:00.  I'll have everything ready for you to just assemble the project.

I'm still going 90 miles an hour working on the Village of Ashley Country Christmas.  So here is a beautiful card by Mary Brown using the Joyful Christmas stamp set.  And the good news for you is that this stamp set is on sale right now in the Holiday Sale.  Check your email for a flyer that shows everything that is on sale. 

 

I think that this card is beautiful and I love the Winter Frost DSP. 

I'm still super busy.  Worked three days this week at Ashley getting ready for the Village of Ashley Country Christmas.  It's beginning to look like Christmas there.  And a week from yesterday there will be a dress rehearsal complete with the steam engine 1225.  So we have to have everything in place by then.  Hope you can all come sometime and see what we've done.

 

 

So I took one of Tami Ackerson's ideas.  When she doesn't have time to stamp she goes to Stampin Conncetion and finds a card that she likes.  And believe me, there's lots to choose from.  So this card is one that I found there.  I totally forgot to look and see who made this card but I think it's beautiful.  Sorry that's it's blurry.  It's a little bit of work to cut out the flower but it's worth the effort. 

Look at this cute wreath I made with Designer Series Paper.  I used some retired paper but I've seen these done with the current Winter Frost paper and they're beautiful. 

 

 

Here's a close up.  You just cut your DSP in 1/2" strips and then curl it with your bone folder.  And don't ask me how many strips I used.  I just kept adding until it looked the way that I wanted it.  All I can say is to only cut so many at a time and when you're getting close to having it full then don't cut to many more strips.  I just attached my strips with straight pins.  I didn't use any glue but you could and it would last longer.

 

For this wreath I used a green foam base but if you use the Winter Frost DSP then I would definitely use a white base.  Because it does show through some what.

Thursday was my Christmas tag class.  Thanks to Jill March for taking the picture.  The red tag in the upper right corner and the snowman tag were designed by Ronda Wade.  The other three I did. 

 

It doesn't show up very well in this picture but the snowflake was embossed with a mixture of silver embossing powder and silver glitter.  It give the embossing powder a lot of glimmer.  You can mix any embossing powder and glitter and see what you get.  It's 1/3 glitter and 2/3 embossing powder.  I'm going to be doing some experimenting with glitter. 

I know that it's been to long since I've posted but here's another Christmas card for you to look at.  This card was made by Helen Owens and I got it at a swap at Creative Convention.  She used the peek-a-boo die to cut out the red frame.

 

 

And look what happens when you pull the tab on the right.  Isn't that cleaver.  How come I never think of things like this. 

 

If you want to get some stamping done this week just plan on coming to my Christmas tag class on Thurs.  We'll be making 20 tags, 4 each of 5 different designs.  And there's a few that didn't make the cut that are on display for you to look at.  This year it seems like there's a lot of stamps that would make really cute tags.  I had a hard time picking just 5 designs. 

Here's a couple more Christmas cards for you.  I want to tell you what I've been doing lately so you'll understand why I haven't been blogging like I should.  I don't know how many of you have ever heard of Ashley, Mi but we're trying to get it on the map for everyone.  This year the Steam Railroad Institute in Owosso put a proposal to the village and they accepted.  So the North Pole Express is coming to Ashley for four weekends starting on Thanksgiving weekend.  The train is the one that was featured in the movie Polar Express.  Or if you're old enough you might remember when it sat on a track outside of Spartan stadium.  Anyway, the village has been cleaning, sprucing up and getting ready to greet anywhere from 1400 to ??? train riders each weekend.  If you're interested in riding the train you can check www.michigansteamtrain.com for more details.  Or if you don't want to ride the train then just come to Ashley.  We've got lots of things planned.  And if you really want to get involved we can use lots more volunteers.  Just let me know if you're interested and I'll get your name to the right people.

Now here's the cards.  I don't know who made these and it's to early to run out to the Paper Palace to find the names.  So if one of these cards are yours I apologize for not knowing.

 

I haven't been posting lately and for that I apologize.  It just seems like there's not enough hours in the day to get everything done.  So I've taken lots of pictures of Christmas cards (I didn't make all of these) and I'll post some when I can.  I hope you've all got your Christmas cards started.  Or at least got an idea of what you want to make. 

 

 

This nativity card was made by Carrie Juhas.

 

I think I made this one myself.

 

Not sure who made this one.  I got it in a swap. 

 

And Sandi Dailey made this one. 

Today I'm going to be at the craft show at the ZCBJ Hall in Bannister.  If you have time come on over and see what you can find. 

There's so much going on in Stampin' Up! right now that it's hard to keep track of everything.  But you can always go to my Stampin' Up! page and click on the "shop" button and then you'll see everything listed on the left hand side of the page.  Right now there's a short time deal where there are 25 different stamp sets on sale for 24% off.  Be sure to check it out.  You can just click on this address.  http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx
Have fun looking at all of the sale items.

Here's the Tues specials for this week.  Remenber, these are only on sale today, Tues. Oct 22.

Dress Up Framelits Die Item # 130101
Regular Price: $24.95 US/$30.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $18.71 US/$23.21 CAN

Sweet Press Cookie Handle Item # 132290
Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.96 CAN

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps Holiday
Item # 132292
Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.46 CAN

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps Special Events Item #132291 Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.95 CAN Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.46 CAN This and That Rotary Stamp Item # 130133 Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.95 CAN Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.96 CAN Wicked Fun Digital Download Item # 127609 Regular Price: $9.95 US/ $10.95 CAN Discounted Price: $4.98 US/ $5.48 CAN

So here's the card that I was going to post yesterday.  It's a pretty simple card and a great way to use up scraps.  It's just a tower of presents.  I just used scraps to make the presents and then put a ribbon around it with a bow at the top.  This would work for any holiday.  Just change the paper that you're using.  And if you're like me you've got tons of scraps.  I hate to throw paper away.

 

Christmas elves.

I have a card all ready for you this morning but one of my fellow Rubber Queens, Sandi Dailey, had trouble with this card over the weekend.  She posted the final project last night and it's so cute that I just had to show you.  The shoes are made with the Top Note die and the ruffles on the socks are the 5 petal blossom punch.  I'm not sure that's what it's called but you know what I mean.  Isn't this just the cutest card? 

 

 

And I promise that tomorrow I'll show you the card that I have ready for you.

Halloween treat.

 

 

Here's a cute treat holder that I made for Halloween.  I got the idea online somewhere.  It's a little box that I made sing the retired match box die.  But you can make any little box.

 

Inside the box I divided it into two sections.  I put candy on one side and these little stamped pieces on the other side

 

Here's the pieces.  They can be laid out face down and used to play Concentration.  Or the Match Game or whatever you call it.  And I'm thinking that this will make a great Christmas stocking stuffer if you use the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set. 

My Paper Pumpkin

I've had some questions about My Paper Pumpkin and so I decided to walk you through the whole thing with pictures.

 

 

Here's how Paper Pumpkin comes to your house.  This nice, shiny red box is a great recyclable item.  The box is very sturdy and very well made. 

 

When you open the box you'll see the cute Paper Pumpkin logo on a big piece of card stock and on a sticker that is keeping the beautiful tissue paper closed over your stuff.

 

Here's what's in the box.  The stamps and Stampin Spots that you'll use to complete the cards. 

 

Complete instructions on how to make the card.

 

The instructions are in English and Spanish.  So here's a chance to practice a foreign language.

 

You'll get four of our beautiful envelopes.

 

You'll get four cards already scored for you.  You can't see it in this picture but these cards have polka dots all over them.

 

You'll get embellishments that you need to finish the cards.

 

And two pieces of chip board which is heavier than cardboard.  Keep these for a future project.

 

And here's two cards that I did with this kit.  You don't have to follow the instructions if you don't want to.  And now you're probably thinking where's the clear block to use with the stamps.  Well if you join My Paper Pumpkin the clear block is in the first kit that you receive.  Every kit is different and it's not always cards.  I've had a journal and a mini scrapbook.  So if you think that this is something that you might want to try just go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com and sign up there.   And it's only $19.95 a month, shipping and handling included.  And you can quit at any time.  This might not be just right for you but do you know someone who is just getting started or is not sure that they'll even like stamping.  It's perfect for the beginner.  Let me know if you have any questions.  I'm here to help you.

Wow, what a deal.

 

Wow!!!  Stampin' Up! has done it again.  In celebration of 25 years in business they're now offering a recruit special for only $25.00.  You can join Stampin' Up! and get all of the benefits for only $25.00.  For your $25.00 you'll get $26.95 worth of Stampin' Up! product.  It must be more than $25.00 but less than $26.95 before tax.  You'll also get these business supplies.  A box of annual catalogs, a package of the current Holiday catalog, a Getting Started DVD, the Starter Kit Business Brick and some customer postcards. 

Now for the bad news.  This offer is only good from Oct 7 through the 21st.  So think hard and act fast.  You don't want to miss out on this great deal.  Just go to my Stampin' Up! page (http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lynnschulz/ ) and click on the Join the Fun button at the top right of the page.  If you have any question give me a call or an email and I'll be glad to help you out.

 

 

Halloween is coming.

Halloween is coming and it's coming a lot faster than I want it to.  Every week it seems like there's nothing to do and I'll have lots of time to stamp.  And then the real world sticks it's nose in and there goes the time.

Here's a Halloween card that we did last week at card class.  Do you like the Boo?  It's made by just writing the word with a glue pen and then pouring the glitter on.  You'll have to shake it pretty good when you're done to be sure that you have all of the loose glitter off.  But I really like the look of glitter. 

 

 

The stamp set is Halloween Hello and the DSP is Witches' Brew.  They're both in the Holiday Catalog.

Boy oh boy, I've got to figure out a better way to photograph my cards.  This one has pretty good color but it's blurry.  Anyway, here's another card from last weeks card class.

 

 

It's a pretty simple card but what I wanted to showcase is the background.  I just cut up the rubber that is left over from mounting stamps.  Cut the rubber into random shapes and put them on a clear block.  I would like to have them in circles but I don't cut good enough.  Do you know of any easy way to get circles?  I thought that this background looked like giraffe skin so I used the giraffe stamp.  I did the first one in Pistachio Pudding and I think it makes a really cute baby card.  This card is So Saffron.  There's no greeting so you can make it anything you want. 

Well there.  I just spilled a cup of tea on my desk.  Guess it's time to quit and do something else.  Going to Ashley today to work on things for the Country Christmas.  If you're looking for something to do today come to the Community Center and see what's going on.

Wow!!  Here is the Best of 25 stamp set for October.  It's all Christmas.  And Dasher is back.  I've been looking for this stamp everywhere and now here it is.

If you want to order this set just let me know.  The item # is 134384.

Winter Frost

 

This is the Christmas card that we made at card class last week.  I love the Winter Frost designer series paper.  I've seen so many beautiful cards made with it.  And I love the ornament and the embossed snowflake.  A simple card but oh, so pretty.

Envelope Board.

At card class on Thursday we made a Christmas card, which I'll show you later, and then we made an envelope to match.  So here's the envelope.  It was white and we stamped an ornament on the front of it.  Sorry for the rotten picture,  I don't know what happened.

 

 

And here's the inside of the envelope with a liner that we made using the new envelope liner framelit.  It's made to fit the Stampin' Up! envelopes that have a curved flap.

 

And then yesterday I saw an envelope liner by Mary Fish that fits the envelopes made with the envelope board.  I don't think of these things but I'm sure glad that someone does.  It's just a 4 x 4 piece of the Designer Series Paper.  When you adhere it be sure that it's down far enough so that the side flaps cover the edge of the paper. 

 

And of course the best way to make a beautiful envelope that is lined is just to use Designer Series Paper for the envelope.  You just have to be sure to use a white label to write the address on.

 

So do you have an envelope board yet?  Making envelopes is so easy and you can make beautiful envelopes to match your cards.  Think of the beautiful invitations, Christmas cards or just regular cards that you can make.  It's also a wonderful value.  It's only $19.95 plus shipping and handling.  And in my opinion the best part is that the instructions are printed right on the board so there's not much chance of losing them. 

Christmas cards galore!!!

If you need some ideas for Christmas cards then come to card class on Thurs and check out this display.  And bring your camera with you.  These are not all of the Christmas cards that I have for you to see. 

 

 

Here's close up's of a couple of the cards.  Come and check out all the others.

Wow, two new photopolymer stamp sets.  The top one is Map It Out and the bottom one is Greetings.  These are great for people who love to travel.  I'm going to order mine next week.  If you want one or both of these let me know.  The price for each one is $13.95. 

Bigz bow die.

Have you seen the new bigz bow die?  It's on page 37 of the Holiday catalog.  It make  a bigger bow than I thought it would but I think it'll be great on presents this Christmas.  Here are three cards with bows on them.  You can see how big a bow it makes.  You can also see how different the bow looks depending on how you place the tails. 

 

 

Sandi Dailey made this last card.  I love how she did the tails on this card. 

About a week and a half ago I showed you a frame with Christmas décor in it.  Well, when I was making that one I kept thinking that Halloween would be a great holiday to do some more décor.  And here it is.  I need to get a frame for it. 

 

 

Here's close up's of a couple of the elements on it.

 

I used the new orange glitter on the shoe and I really like it.

 

This haunted house stamp is in the Best of 25 series.  Do you remember a few years ago when this was current?  It was bigger then but I like this smaller version.

 

More Christmas stamps

Here's a card that I received in a swap last week.  Carrie Juhas made this using a new single stamp called Wonderful Blessing. 

 

Here's the rest of the new single stamps.  You can order any or all of these Christmas stamps from me.

The prices are as follows.  And they are not in any order.  They are all clear mount stamps.

Be Merry   $8.95

Joy and Love  $6.95

Prince of Peace  $6.95

A Gift for You  $4.95

Cheers  $5.95

Christmas Star  $9.95

Magical Season  $5.95

Wonderful Blessing  $8.95