A Christmas card album.

This is an idea that I got from Janet Wakeland.  If you love your Christmas cards and hate throwing them away then try this idea.  Put them in an album and save them to look at in the future. 

 

 

Measure your biggest card and cut two pieces of chip board just slightly larger.  I used this retired paper because I love it.  I put the year on the cover and then covered the corners. 

 

Lay your cards together from smallest to largest.  I used a template to punch the holes in the cards and the front and back covers.  Then put your album together with binder rings. 

 

And here's the back.  I've been saving this paper for something special and I guess this qualifies. 

 

Here's the latest offering from Stampin' Up!  The Texture Boutique Embossing Machine.  It's smaller than the Big Shot and so doesn't take up much room or weigh as much.  It's only $29.95 and it's available in a limited amount right now.  It will be in the next big catalog.  But if you want it right now this is a great time to buy it.  Because it's Sale A Bration time.  With a $50.00 order you get to pick something free out of the Sale A Bration mini.  And if you buy this little embossing machine you're more than 1/2 way to the $50.00.  Just a note.  This machine ONLY embosses.  So if you want one please let me know because I'll be sending in an order this evening. 

Card Class

These are the cards that we did in card class this week.  Except for the moose these are all new stamps out of either the Occasions mini or Sale A Bration. 

 

 

This valentine card is using the Language of Love stamp set and the paper is the Fresh Prints paper stack.

 

This cute baby card uses the Baby We Grown stamp set out of Occasions.

 

This is Vivid Vases and the paper is Watercolor Wonder paper.

 

This moose is from Walk in the Wild set which is in the annual catalog.

 

The hooray greeting is from Geometricals in the Occasions catalog and the banner stamps and punch are out of the Sale A Bration catalog.  I got those free. 

 

This stamp is also  a Sale A Bration stamp but since I don't have the Sale A Bration mini in front of me I can't recall the name of the set.  But I know that you can get it free.

 

And this last card is a total case of one that I got at Leadership.  Again it uses the black print out of Sweet Sorbet.  The stamp set is called Happy Watercolor and it's in the Occasions catalog.  We also did the little treat holder that I showed you earlier in the week. 

Now if it would just quit snowing I would be very happy.

Burlap and Blooms wreath kit.

 

 

Ronda always has a raffle at the meetings and at the last meeting I won this Burlap and Blooms Simply Created Wreath kit. 

 

Here it is open showing all of the pieces.

 

These flowers are my favorites.  The paper was all ready to make the flowers.

 

Here's the finished wreath.

 

Some of the flowers in the kit.  I have to say that I'm not real wild about this wreath.  It's just not my style so maybe I'll use it for a door prize.  Or maybe someone will come along who loves it. 

Here's two more cards made with the Sweet Sorbet designer paper using the black print.  I've decided that it's now one of my favorites. 

 

 

The card above was made by Lorrie Skinner.

And this card was made by France Martin.  She does great work and you can check it out here.
www.frenchiestamps.com

This is a card that I got in a swap at Leadership.  Not sure who made it but I want you to look at the designer series paper.  It's the Sweet Sorbet that you can get for free out of the Sale A Bration mini catalog.  When I first saw the paper I thought that this black paper was something that I would never use.  But then I started seeing cards made with it and guess what?  Now I love it.  In fact we're going to use it this Thurs in card class.  And I'll be showing you some more cards made with this paper over the next couple of days.  The flowers on this card were made with the new Petite Petals stamp set and punch.  They are in the Occasions catalog. 

 

 

If you need an Occasions catalog or a Sale A Bration mini please let me know and I'll get in the mail ASAP.

Valentine treat holder.

This is the little Valentine treat holder that we'll be making at card class next week.  Actually you'll be making three of these.  It uses the new scallop tag punch and the new gold washi tape.  Inside there's a treat, either a peppermint patty or a mini Hershey bar.  I got this idea at Leadership from Lorrie Skinner who said that she got the idea from Mary Fish. 

 

 

Let me know if you can come so that I can have everything ready.

How about this?  I'm posting two days in a row.  Maybe things are looking up.  So here's the cards that we did Tues night at our Rubber Queens meeting.   On this first one we used Sweet Sorbet designer paper and the stamp set is You're Lovely.  Both of these items are in the Sale A Bration mini, which means that you can get these free.  Anytime that you order $50.00 worth of product then you get to pick something free out of the Sale A Bration mini.  

 

 

This next card is made with the See Ya Later stamp set out of the Sale A Bration mini and the glitter paper was punched out with the Banner punch which is also in the mini and can be your free.  

The next card uses the Petal Parade stamp set and the Sweet Sorbet designer paper.

 

And here's the See Ya Later stamp set again. 

 

And if you come to card class next week I'll be showing you a lot more new stuff.  Love the new stuff. 

Last night was our regular Rubber Queens meeting and Ronda couldn't be there so she asked a few of us to fill in.  She asked me to show what we got at Leadership so here it is.  We always get a bag at Leadership and at convention and the light gray bag in the back is the one that we got this year.  The little orange bag is what our make and takes were in.  We got 5 stamp sets and a card kit.  One of the stamp sets is so new that it won't be in a catalog until July so I can't show you that one but I'll be showing some cards made with it.  As soon as I find time to make cards. 

 

 

We also got a pen that is really cool because it has a stylus on one end.  And we always get a pin and Ronda gave us really cool tags to put on our bags.  And then there are always the swaps.  You get as many swaps as you take with you and this time I only made 40 cards so I've got 40 new swaps to show you if you come to a class. 

 

Here's one of our make and takes.  These cute tags are made with the stamp set Geometrical out of the Occasions catalog.  We used the new Scallop Tag Topper Punch on the top of the cards.  And it doesn't show good in the picture but there little wooden cut outs on each of these tags.  The arrow, heart and the chevron pieces.  And the orange trim on the blue tag was made with the new Fringe Scissors.  And we used the new Kaleidoscope designer series paper.  Do you like these?  They're really bright and cheerful.

 

And this card was our second make and take using the new Vivid Vases stamp set.  The white paper is water color paper and we used blender pens to do the coloring.  And we got to keep the pens for ourselves. 

So tomorrow (hopefully) I'll post the make and takes that we did last night at Ronda's meeting.

Blendability markers

So at Leadership they introduced some new "Blendability Pens" that will be released sometime in the first quarter.  Here's the color chart.  Each color has three different pens.  One is close to our color and one is lighter and one is darker.  They will be three in a pack for $11.95.  And they are alcohol based.  And they had a new black ink pad to use with these pens. 

 

 

And here's the cute bag that we got.  It's vinyl with a cloth lining.  And of course Ronda got us some really cute tags to put on them. 

 

 

 

I've taken lots more pictures but I just haven't had time to edit them.  But I will.  I'll be home tomorrow night so hopefully Monday I can get them loaded. 

These pictures were taken from our room on the 18th floor of the Embassy Suites in Houston, Tx.  As you can see there's no snow here.  In fact the high today was 71 degrees.  I can hardly wait to get back to the snow and cold.  NOT!!!

 

Today at general session we saw some new "Blendability" pens demo'ed.  They're really cool and I can hardly wait to get some.  Stampin' Up! is also bringing out a new black stamp pad, a new personialized stamp, a photopolymer alphabet set and we all got a new stamp set just for demonstrators.  Can't hardly wait to see what the next two days bring.  Oh, and of course we all got a new bag.  I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Well, I don't know about you but I didn't make it to midnight to welcome in the new year.  I celebrated in the afternoon by going to see the Hobbit movie.  I was surprised that the theater was full because the movie has been out for a couple of weeks.  But when I talked to some people they said that they always watch movies for New Years Eve.  I loved the movie but 3 hours is a long time to sit still.  And the time line for this movie is 50 years before the Ring movies but Orlando Bloom is 10 years older now and he looks it.  He was so thin when they did the ring movies and now he's a little heavier and more mature. 

So I could make some New Year's resolutions but why bother.  I never keep them for long.  But I've made this promise before and I'll try it again.  I'll try to keep my blog updated.  So here's my first update.  I was going to make these memory jars for all my family and friends but it didn't happen.  So I want you each to make one for yourself.  The idea is that next New Years Eve you read what you wrote about but I'm thinking that if you are ever having a really bad day that would be a good time to read the happy thoughts.  Thanks to Carol Grove for the picture.