It's almost New Years Eve and time to take stock of my life and times.  This last year had a lot of good times and a few not so good times.  But with a new year comes a new chance to straighten things out.  I know that I've neglected this blog and my Stampin' Up! customers but I promise that things will get better.  I have a lot of new stuff from Stampin' Up! but I just haven't had time to do any stamping.  But that will change soon.  So to tide you over and get your year off to a good start here's an idea I want you to try, maybe you've done this before.  It's called a Joy Jar or a memory jar or a happiness jar.  It doesn't really matter what you call it.  You just take an empty jar and decorate it however you want.  Then, every time that something happens that make you smile or laugh or just feel good you write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.  Then, on New Year's Day you pull out the pieces of paper and read them.  It serves to remind you that life is good and you did have a great year.  Sometimes it's to easy to forget the good times and only remember the bad times. 

 

 

This is not a jar that I made but I like it.  Here the lady made two jars and the smaller one is full of slips of paper so that there's no excuse for not writing something down.  So I challenge you to make a joy jar and send me a picture of it and I'll post the pictures here. 

Happy New Year everyone.

 

Here are the deals from Stampin' Up! for this week.  Check them out and let me know if there's anything you want.  Also, check out the clearance rack for newly added items.

Here's this weeks deals from Stampin' Up!  Let me know if there's anything you want. 

 

Online Extravaganza

 

                  

 

 

I hate to change the date of card class but for my own wellbeing I'm forced to do it this week.  Normally card class is the 4th Thursday but because of Thanksgiving class is usually moved up a week.  Well, that is this Thurs but I'm totally overwhelmed by the fact that my building in Ashley is still not ready and I have a feeling that Thurs and Friday are going to be very busy getting ready for Sat.  So class is postponed until Monday, Nov 24th.  The class that day will be a tag class and I'm combining it with a customer appreciation play day.  You're all invited to come and play with my stuff.  There's lots of things that we never got to play with yet so come that day and play.  Here's a card using the Holiday Home stamp set and the framelits to cut the image out.  Come and use it next Monday.  Just be sure to let me know by Friday, Nov 21 if you are going to do the tag class.

 

 

This beautiful card was made by Karen Colburn.

Time is flying past way to fast.  I've been feeling totally overwhelmed with the Country Christmas stuff and trying to get my building ready.  But things are finally looking up and I've decided to stay home today and get things ready for my tag class next Thurs.  It's also going to  be a customer appreciation day where all of my customers can come and play with my stuff.  I've got things that we've never gotten to use at class so here's your chance.  These pictures show some of the cute ideas for using the Curvy Keepsake Box framelit. 

 

 

This cute snowman is by Monika Metzler.

 

How about this cute lady bug?  It's by Lynn Starzl.

 

And I love this Santa box from Deborah Smart. 

I still haven't had time to play with this framelit but I hope to get some time this week.  So if you want to try it out just come to the Paper Palace on Nov. 20th.  And if you want to take the tag class just let me know. 

I'm so far behind with posting that I decided to give you all of last month's card class at one time.  Christmas is fast approaching and there's so much that we haven't been able to do in class that I've decided to add a "Customer Appreciation Day" where you can come and play all day with my stuff.  I'll have lots of pictures of projects and hopefully some samples.  If you only want to make one of each thing you can use my supplies but if you think you might want more than one then you'll need to bring some of your own card stock with you.  I'll try and post some pictures so that you can see what you might want to do.  My biggest problem is picking a date.  I'm afraid that once my last class is over my craft room will get trashed with crafts for the Country Christmas.  So I'm going to say that play day will be the same day as the tag class, Nov 20th.  So on that day you can come and make tags or you can just come and play. 

Here's this weeks deals from Stampin' Up!  Let me know if there's anything you want or you can always shop online.  My favorite thing this week is the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.  I love it when I don't have ribbon to match my project.

1/16" Circle Handheld Punch Price: $8.95 $6.71 Autumn Traditions Kit - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97 Blue Ribbon Wood Stamp Set Price: $28.95 $21.71 Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96 Large Scallop Edgelits Die Price: $7.95 $5.96 Regals Designer Buttons Price: $7.95 $5.96 Word Bubbles Framelits Die Price: $24.95 $18.71

Look what you missed when you didn't come to card class last week.  We made this cute décor item by using the bow tie die.  How, you ask.  There is a video about it but I seem to have deleted it by mistake.  You'll just have to wait until I find it or write a tutorial.  But don't hold your breath.  It's been crazy busy around here.  I'm working like crazy on the Ashley Country Christmas committee, writing press releases and working every Thurs in Ashley getting things ready.  Would you like to help?  We meet every Thurs and Sat.  And we're looking for lots of volunteers to work during the Country Christmas.  If you would like more information please check out our Face Book page or our blog.   villageofashleycountrychristmas.BlogSpot.com

 

 

 

Here's this weeks deals from Stampin' Up!  Let me know if there's anything you want.

Here's another card made with the Festival of Trees stamp set.  It's very similar to the one from yesterday, just different colors.  This one is brushed gold and shimmery white card stock.  The trees are embossed in gold and I added a few gold foil stars.  When I first saw this set in the Holiday catalog I didn't think that I would get it but then I started seeing cards made with it and decided that I really needed it.  And the punch that goes with it. 

 

Went to clean my craft room and ended up playing.  Here's one of the cards I came up with.  This is the Festival of Trees stamp set out of the Holiday catalog.  It doesn't show good but the tree in the middle is embossed with Iridesent Ice and the tree on the left is Night of Navy with the dots embossed in white.  That was a trick and a half.  First the Versa Mark got all over the tree and messed it up.  Then I tried putting the Versa Mark on the stamp with a pen.  Not good.  Finally the light went on and I dried the ink and then used my embossing buddy and it came out much better. 

 

 

Now I'm out of here.  After a very stress full evening last night I'm going out to eat and then the cure all for a bad day.  Shopping.

 

 

Here are the weekly deals for Oct 14th.  Let me know is there's anything you want or remember that you can shop 24/7 on my blog.

Here's this weeks deals from Stampin' Up!  Let me know if there's anything you want or need. 

 

Boy, I really fell off the wagon this time.  I always have the best of intentions about updating this blog and then real life lifts it's ugly head and I get sidetracked.  So today I'm showing you three Halloween cards that I brought back from Creative Convention last month.  Not sure who made these but they're really cute.  Have you made any Halloween cards or are you one of those people who just doesn't get into Halloween? 

 

 

Now that I've looked at these cards again I know that I made the last two but someone else designed them.  They are from the shoebox swap that we did. 

There are so many things going on at Stampin' Up! right now that I'm afraid that I'll miss something.  So that's why I'm posting so much information for you.  Today I want to tell you about a new recruit special.  If you sign up to be a demonstrator in Oct you'll get a package of Designer Series Paper once a month for six months Totally FREE.  That's a $65.70 value that's free to you.  Combine that with the sales from yesterday and it's a great week for you.  Why?  because you can take advantage of the sale to stock up on supplies for your Christmas cards and  maybe get a present for someone who like to make cards.  Add on a pack of the blendabilities for my class next week and look at your total.  If it's anywhere close to $100.00 then you should consider signing up.  Because then you'll get a discount of 20% on everything you order and lots of social opportunities with me.  And your first order after you sign up you'll get 30% off.  And you'll get the free Designer Series Paper for six months.  If you have any questions please email me or call me.  I'll be glad to help you figure out if this is a good deal for you.  BUT the sale is only until next Monday so act fast. 

Sale! Sale! Sale!  Starting tomorrow and until Monday there is a big sale going on at Stampin' Up!

All of the color family ink pads are on sale for $5.06 each.  Normally they are $5.95.  There's card stock on sale.  The 20 sheet mixed bundles are only $5.91.  These packs contain 20 sheets of card stock, 2 each of each color in the family.  Whisper White is on sale for $7.23 and it's normally $8.50.  That's more than a $1.00 savings.  Regular medium envelopes are on sale $5.53.  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Whisper White and Clear Translucent.  My new favorite adhesive, Fast Fuse, is also on sale.  $8.46 and $6.38 for the refill.  If you haven't tried this new stuff then you should.  It's between snail and sticky strip and it works great. 

And then these stamp sets are on sale. 

 

 

Big News. wood - $35.16 and clear  $25.56

 

Playful Pennants. wood - $17.56 and clear $13/56

 

Choose Happiness.  wood - $19.95 and clear $14.3

 

 

Petite Pairs.  wood - $23.16 and clear $16.76

 

So Very Happy.  wood - $19.96 and clear $14.36

 

Remember that this sale only lasts until next Monday, Oct 6th.  So let me know what you want.

 

Why do you need blendabilities?

Why do you need blendabilities?  First and foremost, for blending.  And they work great.  This is one of my first tries and I have gotten better.

 

 

And if you just want to color they're great because they color very even.  No streaks and lines.

 

Blendabilities work great on an embossed image.

 

You can color pearls so now you can match any of our colors.

 

Here is a metal button colored.

 

Or here is a white button.  And if you go over it more than once the color is more intense.  The top half of this button was colored twice and the bottom half only once.  

 

You can color on candles.

 

And one of my favorites, rhinestones.

 

Blendabilities will also color on cloth and wood.  So even if you don't want to try blending with them there are lots of other uses for them.  Mainly to make things match the Stampin' Up! colors.

Weekly deals - Sept. 30th.

Alphabet Rotary Stamp Price: $14.95 $11.21	Banner Punch Price: $12.95 $9.71	For The Birds Wood Stamp Set Price: $32.95 $24.71	Hearts Border Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96
Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit Price: $19.95 $14.96	Sweet Details Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $17.95 $10.77	Ticket Duo Builder Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96	Very Vintage Designer Buttons Price: $5.95 $4.46