Shiny Things

Awhile back, I ordered Stampin' Up!'s brushed gold cardstock so I could show it to someone. I kind of fell in love with it. It looks so nice when dry embossed with our Northern Flurry embossing folder and the Big Shot, so I made this card.

The card also features the self-stick rhinestones that Stampin' Up! offers; cardstock in Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla; the Snow Swirled stamp set; and Bravo Burgundy ink.


And, if you're not into the brushed gold, here's a version using patterned paper from the Holiday Mini Catalog and Cherry Cobbler cardstock, and Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede ink. The rhinestone still made it in!


Thanks for reading,
Julie

JOY

Yesterday I set up shop at a holiday vendor fair in Zumbrota, my first! It was fun meeting new people from the community and getting in touch with other home party vendors. I'm considering doing another one in two weeks where part of the proceeds go to flood relief in our area...I'm mostly convinced, actually. I just have to commit.

Here's the wall hanging I made as a door prize at my table. A lucky lady from just up the street was the winner, but I haven't called her yet. That's on the list for later today.

This is using the OnBoard Long Board (chip board) from Stampin' Up!, along with Real Red grosgrain ribbon, the Candy Cane Designer Series Paper from the Holiday Mini catalog, and card stock in Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, and Real Red.

I think I'm going to have to make another, because I don't want to give this one away!

Stay warm and dry today...and don't travel if you don't have to! The ice storm just north of here sounds terrible.

Thanks for stopping,
Julie

Simply Amazing Promotion!

Would you like to save a bundle on great products and have the potential to start your own business...without any scary obligations? Well, Stampin' Up! is offering a promotion on the business starter kit that's never been available before: 50% off!

Today through Nov. 30, the starter kit is $87.50! Regular price is $175, and it contains $310 worth of stamping and business supplies. You can sign up online on my web site with the password julie6.

You know, I started doing this by accident. I signed up to get all the products in the kit, and then, well, I had one workshop and then another...and it's just a lot of fun!

Let me know if you have any questions...I'd love to have you join me!

Julie

Crafty holiday gift ideas on the cheap!

If you're looking for some quick, cute, handmade gifts this year, check out our team blog. Heidi and I hosted a gift-making event on October 10 called 10-10-10. Visit the team blog to see all the projects and learn more!

Just a quick one for tonight...more this week.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday night,

Julie

Paper Pumpkins

Last Saturday we attended the annual Anderson Family Chili Feed in our little cul de sac. Andersons make the chili, the guests supply potluck and drinks. (This is starting to sound like another food post, but it's not...mainly because I don't have pictures of my neighborhood-fave deviled eggs. Maybe another time.)

So, since I don't have photos of the food, we'll go back to calling this a craft blog. I made the little pumpkins below, one for me, one for Barb, our Chili Feed hostess-with-the-mostess.


I used eight strips of Peach Parfait cardstock, four from the In Color Series Paper Pack hostess item, and four from the regular cardstock. The strips from the paper pack have a subtle dot pattern to add interest, but you can't really see it in the photo.

The strips are 1.5" x 6", held together at top and bottom by a brad. The stem is five Old Olive buttons (retired) held together by mini glue dots and mini glue-dotted to top of the pumpkin. I also stamped the leaves from the retired Sage Advice stamp set (I don't have ANY leaf stamps or dies!!!), and cut them out by hand. I'm going to order something leafy soon, I promise!

I'm trying to think of what other shapes or items I could make using this technique. Christmas ornaments? What else? Any ideas?

Thanks for reading!
Julie

Pheasant Marsala

This is quickly becoming a food-and-crafting blog! I can't resist posting the superb supper DH Joe made for us tonight, so it's another food post.

He took Emeril's recipe for Chicken Marsala and turned it into Pheasant Marsala, using the bounty from his recent South Dakota hunt.


Since he couldn't find marsala wine in our little burg, he made his own with cooking sherry and brandy. After eating this marsala, I don't want him to find the real thing!



And yes, it's on a bed of my homemade egg noodles!

I just have to say, being married to a man who cooks like this is amazing!

Thanks for reading!
Julie

Other Creative Pursuits

As I mentioned in my Nov. 2 entry, I spent a weekend in Des Moines with Sarah in October. Not only did we attend a Stampin' Up! regional, but we also went to a pasta-making class at Prairieland Herbs!

Here we are with some of our delicious creations:


And here is the ravioli. Isn't it beautiful? This batch had squash and sweet potato filling.


Did you know that homemade pasta is easy? It's easier than making pie dough (which I've just never mastered, even though baking is one of my favorite past times). And, homemade pasta takes only 1-2 minutes to cook in boiling water. One of my DH's favorites, of course, is the ravioli. I've already made pasta once at home since the class...hope to continue!

Thanks for reading,
Julie

Magnetic Christmas

October flew by! I was busy with two stamping workshops, attending a regional meeting in Des Moines (where I had one of the workshops at my BFF Sarah's house), and a special 10-10-10 event. On 10-10-10 (October 10, 2010), Heidi and I hosted 15 of our fellow stampers at an event where everyone made 10 projects in under 10 minutes each for a $10 fee. It was a hit!

One of the projects (well, actually two) was this cute magnet and matchstick box.


The magnet uses the snowman image from Jolly Old St. Nick, which is a limited-edition set in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog. I stamped him on Whisper White cardstock, colored him with blender pens and Real Red and Basic Black ink, and then punched him out with a 1-inch circle punch. I put Stampin' Up!'s two-way glue on the back of a clear stone from a mega-pack from dollar store, then stuck the punched-out snowman on it. Then, a small magnet from the craft store is glued to the back of the paper. That glue is amazing! It holds up the stone and the magnet, no problem!

The little box is the matchstick box die used with the Big Shot die-cutting machine. I used Crumb Cake and Whisper White cardstock, then decorated it with Marina Mist ink the the snowflake background stamp, again from the Jolly Old St. Nick set.

I think I'm going to make a little pile of these for stocking stuffers. So...if you're expecting Christmas trinkets from me, pretend you didn't just read that!

I hope everyone got out and voted tonight! And if you're here in Minnesota, you have another hour to get 'er done. Get going!

Thanks for reading,
Julie