Gingerbread Cheer

I'm planning my Christmas baking. Well, mostly I'm imagining it in my mind. I've taken one concrete step: I ordered these gel food colors and meringue powder, two important ingredients for decorating beautiful sugar cookie cut-outs. Actually, in that picture, I didn't use the gel colors, so here's to hoping the photos I post in a couple weeks have even better looking frosting!

Well, since the cut-outs aren't cut out yet, I thought this cute card would make an acceptable substitute.

The stamp set "Scentsational Season" includes this image of the gingerbread man (obviously, I stamped two images here), as well as a cup of hot cocoa, a Christmas tree, and a candy cane...all the stamps you'd need to make a pile of holiday (paper) treats!

This card also uses Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card stock, Soft Suede classic ink, Designer Series Paper from the Festival of Prints paper stack in the Holiday Catalog, Basic Jewels - pearls (color them with a Sharpie!), and Adorning Accents Edgelits.

That's what I've got for tonight...oh, and in case you're wondering, tonight my husband is watching UFC Ultimate Fighter. Are you sensing a theme for when I retire to the craft studio to create or blog? ;)

Thanks for stopping!
Julie

Evergreen + Shimmer Paint

Every Tuesday, even though we now have DVR (hey, it just took us about ten years to join the party), my husband and I sit down to watch Sons of Anarchy. I love this show, I really do. The characters are deep and conflicted and interesting - just what any English lit major would want, right? But I can't watch most of it. It gets violent. I watched seasons of The Sopranos just fine, but Sons? I end up leaving the room to write a blog post, going back out to find out what happened at a commercial break (nevermind the DVR), and getting an eye roll from the hubs because I "should just stay and watch the show!"

Well, since I had to retire early from the viewing party, I thought I'd showcase this card I shared last month at our Stampin' Up! team gathering. I used the Evergreen stamp set from the Holiday Catalog; Certainly Celery, Almost Artichoke and Crumb Cake card stock; Almost Artichoke classic ink; a glimmer brad from the basics collection; the Woodgrain embossing folder; platinum shimmer paint and a sponge dauber.

The Evergreen set is a Two-Step Stampin' (c) set, which means it has base images and outline/overlay images. See in the photo below how the platinum shimmer paint, when daubed on the outline stamp, creates a subtle shimmer and dimension for the card? I love a little sparkle for the holidays!

I think Sons is over now, so I'm going to return the living room, get the update and eye roll, and try to steel my nerves for next week so maybe I can watch the entire hour.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

February Resolution

New Year's Resolutions? What? I've never been good at those. Since this is my first post of 2012, I could write about how I'm going to post more (and I mean to, really), but I also tell myself I'm going to do my bookkeeping every month, and I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

I don't often view the new year as the time to make a fresh start. I believe you should take the opportunity to improve yourself, your life, your situation, your anything...when the time is right. If that's January 1, good for you! If it's February, great! If it's June, go for it! So, I'm not writing that I'm going to post more as a new year's resolution. But, I will tell you I'm going to do better because I want to post more. I want to share more cards, crafts and scrapbook pages here, which means I have to spend more time being crafty in my craft room. So, here's to it!

This is a Valentine card I made for several family members this year. As an English major and PR professional, I love writing. I'm sure glad we don't use manual typewriters anymore, but I love the nostalgia of the typewriter. This set, "You're Just My Type," went on my "must purchase" list right away. I used black embossing powder with VersaMark ink to add texture and shine to the typewriter. The sprinkled hearts are from the "Confetti" set in the Idea Book & Catalog. I colored Basic Jewels - Rhinestones with a red Bic permanent marker. How cool is that?

Paper colors used are Pink Pirouette, Real Red, Very Vanilla. Classic ink in Real Red.

So, this is my first post in 2012. I'm back on the wagon! What are your February resolutions?

Color variation on a wedding card

A quick post tonight to show you another colorway with a card I showed back on October 2 - this one with Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Brushed Silver and White. A texturz plate, used with the Big Shot, gives a great fondant-like texture to the cake, and Basic Jewels - Pearls make beautiful decorations! I have to confess, the ribbon is 3/8" grosgain in retired Eggplant, but I just had to use it. All us Stampin' Up! demonstrators have a stash of those fave retired items, right?

This card was for my sister and her new husband. It was a lovely ceremony in mid-October. For some photos, check out the sample album on the photographer's Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping!
Julie

Gently Falling Trees

There's a beautiful stamp set in the Holiday Mini Catalog called Gently Falling (check it out to the right). It's a Two-Step Stampin' set, which means it has a background shape and an outline that work together to create dimensional images. Well, one of the images looks like a tree if you only do the first step! How quick and easy, and technically, half the work!

In the photo above, I used it to make evergreen-type trees in the fall color combo of More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy and Old Olive.

In this photo, I used Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler for a traditional Christmas card design. Clean and simple - my favorite kind. The beautiful ribbon is also new in the holiday mini catalog - it's quilted satin ribbon in Cherry Cobbler!

Thanks for reading! Have a great November!

Julie

Come to the Holiday Expo November 19!

Hi Everyone! Just a quick note to invite you all to the Zumbrota Holiday Expo at the VFW on November 19! More than 20 local vendors for all your holiday shopping needs (including gifts for yourself!).


See you there!

Julie

Best things come in twos!

Gently Falling is a beautiful new set from Stampin' Up! that features several different leaf shapes, and "Two-Step Stampin'!" The leaf below is actually done with two stamps - a general leaf shape that's the lighter orange (Tangerine Tango in SU! terms) and the darker rust color (Cajun Craze) is a line drawing that makes the outline on top of it.

I also used Early Espresso card stock, Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, linen thread and buttons from the designer buttons "brights" assortment. This card was inspired by page 16 in the Holiday Mini catalog (click icon to the right to check it all out!).

And the discussion of "two-step stamping" led me to share this photo, snapped about a week ago around 7:30 a.m. when we had a brief rain shower while it was still sunny out. Look at the beautiful double rainbow! (The second rainbow is to the right of the first one.)


Thanks for stopping! Let me know if you want to learn more about two-step stamping, either in a girls' night out workshop at your home (you can earn free stuff!) or in a class at my house.

Julie

Red Hats and a Wedding Card

Recently, my husband's cousin got hitched! It was a beautiful wedding, but what I'm sharing here is from the shower. All guests at this wedding shower got to choose a hat from Grandma's collection to wear for the festivities.


For the lovely couple, I made this wedding card, for which I've seen inspiration around the web. It's simple, using Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White card stock, cut into small rectangles with the corners rounded off. I used a texturz impressions plate to make the subtle pattern, and then used Basic Jewels - Pearls as accents. A little Real Red grosgrain ribbon "ties" it all together.


Card stock is Basic Black, Real Red and Brushed Silver. A tip when using the silver paper...it's kind of slick, so use a strong adhesive, like Stampin' Up!'s sticky strip, so the layers don't peel apart. (This is a lesson learned while making about 10 prototypes for my sister's wedding invitations...we used sticky strip in the end so that no one's invitation arrived in pieces!).

I'll show that wedding invitation after the wedding...which is is 13 days!

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie

Birthday Card(ed) in Vegas

Hey all! So, I'm trying to stick with the Wheel of Fortune "Before and After" theme. We'll see how long it goes/how clever I am. Today, I've got a birthday card to show you, and then a few pictures from Vegas...where yes, I was carded. But it was at the airport. For my boarding pass.

For the card-making part of the presentation, here's a summery greeting using some brand-new items in the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.

The stamp sets are Pennant Parade, from the Idea Book & Catalog, and Swirls & Curls Verses, the hostess set from the 2011 Summer Mini catalog (see the link on the right--only available through August 31!).

The colors are Calypso Coral and Wisteria Wonder--new 2011-2012 "In Colors"--and Certainly Celery and So Saffron from the core colors in the big book. Some designer series patterned paper, baker's twine and basic jewels-pearls round out the look. I made this at a recent workshop, and it was a hit! If you'd like to make something like this in your home with your friends, let me know!

And now...here's some of what my DH and I (okay, and my BFF and her hubs) call "The Vegas." I tagged along on a work trip for DH...all the fun of The Vegas and no work! What's not to love? Except the slot machines, most of which didn't love me, even though I kept going back for more!



Love the water show at Bellagio! I was playing with the "guide" mode on my Nikon D3100, which set itself to take "moving water" pictures. I think it did an awesome job!

Here is DH, looking all official on the phone. If you remember the post about winter activities, yes, this is the same man who smokes meat when it's below zero in Minnesota in the winter!

And a final, parting shot. Oh, The Vegas, I love you...even though you take all my money in slot machines and shopping!

Thanks for stopping,
Julie

PS: I was not compensated for mentioning the D3100...I just really love it!

Projects with My Husband

In my last post, I promised you a photo of the pizza I made the second night (leftover dough, remember?) with my DH. You'll see there's only half left because we dug in so quickly, I forgot to grab the camera.

My half, the right half, is made with the whole wheat pizza dough, sweet honey barbecue sauce, grilled chicken and red onions. The left half, DH's half, has some kind of hot wings sauce on it. Woo-wee! It was kind of on fire. He loved it. I'm always surprised at how fast homemade pizza can come together; it makes a great meal.

And to continue of the theme of linking food to a card sample, below is a card I made for my husband (mentioned above) to use.

This is a thank you card that I made for my husband to send out after his SURPRISE 35th birthday party (I should have blogged about THAT!). He requested I make some cards for this reason, I did not MAKE him send thank yous. What a guy!


Crumb Cake and Whisper White card stock, Medallion background stamp, Sincere Salutations stamp set, (retired) Night of Navy 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Night of Navy classic ink.

Simple, masculine and easy to mass-produce!

Thanks for reading,
Julie

Before and After: Chicken Pesto Pizza Card

This is Before and After, as in the Wheel of Fortune game where the word in the middle is shared by the word or phrase before and after, but it's two separate things. So this post is not about a Chicken Pesto Pizza Card, but rather, a chicken pesto pizza and a pizza card. Just check it out.

Kahla and I were stuck *all alone* (ok, her cute two-year-old daughter was with us, too) without our chef-husbands about two weeks ago. Really. Stuck. They do most of the cooking. And they're super fabulous at it. And they like to cook. They don't use recipes, and it's creative. All. The. Time.

We didn't really want to drive back into Rochester to go out, so look what we came up with! We were super proud of ourselves...a little whole wheat pizza dough (from a mix, not even just a frozen dough hunk), garlic scape pesto (homemade by Kahla and respective husband), shredded mozzarella, grilled chicken and fresh tomato (probably from a farmer's market; Kahla brought it). Look!

This photo alone makes me think I could be a food blogger. I'd just make this pizza every day, and photograph it like this, every day. Would you keep reading? Hmmm... Could I get endorsements?

Well, regardless, it was tasty. Tase-tee. Mmm. Tune in later this week, and I'll show you the barbecue version I made with my respective husband the next night. There was half the dough left. I *had* to have pizza two days in a row.

OK, now onto the "After" part of this game show: the pizza card!

I received a swap (cards Stampin' Up! demonstrators make to trade with each other at events, so we can have lots of samples and ideas without having to do them all ourselves) at Convention in July in Salt Lake City that used the new Pennant Builder punch to make a pizza slice! It was so creative. So, here's my take on it, using another new product, the Stampin' Up! stripes embossing folder. A demonstration at Convention showed us how to make gingham with the folder!


To make the gingham, use your ink pad to ink up the Stripes embossing folder and run it through the Big Shot. Carefully remove the paper, ink up the folder again, and put the same paper back in, turned 90 degrees. Run it through again. Voila! Gingham!

Let me know if you have any questions about this one! I love it.

Thanks for stopping!
Julie

Storms and Stamping

High winds and big rain today in southeast Minnesota. This is what I spent my afternoon doing instead of stamping. This is our backyard, already half-way cleaned up, after a big storm rushed through at 10:30 a.m.

It was mostly just big branches and a couple tree tops, but it sure made a big mess. Throughout our little town, there were trees in streets and the obligatory large branch through a parked car's window.

But, never fear. I have a card to share! This is one I love that I made back in April. The ribbon is retired (5/8" grosgrain), but you can get a similar effect with the 5/8" satin ribbon in white. It might look even more elegant!


If you're wondering about the shimmery background...it's Stampin' Up! Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz with a couple drops of Bashful Blue classic ink re-inker added! This is a way to get colored Smooch Spritz in 50 colors!

Well, I need to make a card for tomorrow...so off I go! I'll post that one later...don't want to spoil the surprise for the recipient.

Thanks for stopping,
Julie

Delicate Doilies peek-a-boo!

The weather is crazy here in southeast Minnesota! It's only 11 a.m. and we're fast-approaching 100* F with thick humidity. I'm an old farm girl...can't resist talking about the weather!

So, to keep cool, why don't you stay inside and stamp? I just returned from Stampin' Up!'s annual convention in Salt Lake City, UT, and I've got tons of ideas to share. Watch for them here in the coming days, and if you'd like to see more, get in touch to set up your own private class with some friends!

Here's a card I prepared with new products from the 2011 Idea Book and Catalog, which was release July 1. I love the peek-a-book quality. Check out the photo and scroll down to get the details!
Card stock: So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Delicate Doilies (new in the 2011 Idea Book and Catalog)
Stamp Set: Curly Cute (from the Summer Mini Catalog)
Tools: Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2 die, Doily Triple Layer Punch
Embellishments: Stampin' Dimensionals and a button from the Sale-a-bration pack, but you can substitute one from the Bold Brights button pack

To get the peek-a-boo effect, take the piece of So Saffron card stock and place it over Scallop Circles #2 die so you get all of the small circle and some of the larger one. Run it through the Big Shot, and you will have the "windows" in the card stock. Layer this piece over the Delicate Doilies designer paper, and voila! you have a peek-a-book layered look.

Give this quick project a try today...and stay cool!

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie

A Good Egg

I just love the name of this stamp set, "A Good Egg." I borrowed it from Heidi, and I kept saying, "I have to get A Good Egg from Heidi." My other friend looked at me and said, "Don't you have good eggs at home?" OK, so maybe it's only funny to me, but I think it's hilarious.

Here's a "treat sleeve" you can make up quick for a simple Easter gift. It's a half-sheet of Stampin' Up! card stock in Pretty in Pink (cut the 5.5" x 8.5" way), scored and folded at 4" and 8" (leaves a 1/2" tab that you use to adhere it together). The edge is trimmed with the eyelet border punch. A small piece of the Designer Series Paper stack in the subtles patterns is adhered to that, and then "A Good Egg" is used to stamp the chick, which is colored with Stampin' Write markers in Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie. A bit of ribbon and a cello bag slid inside finish it off. You can stick some candies inside. Yum!


We made this as the make-n-take at Tonya's workshop, where she had several friends over to learn about paper crafts, make a project and enjoy some treats that she so generously provided. If you'd like to host a workshop and earn free stamps (or paper or punches or buttons or...), just let me know!

Happy Easter, and thanks for reading!
Julie

Circles and Cupcakes

I know it's been a month since I've checked in here...with snow, melting, more snow, more melting, a 75 degree day in April (in Minnesota!)...I guess I just got confused by the weather? Well, it's as good of an excuse as any, which mostly means I have none.

Here are two of the other cards we made at Intro to Stamping card class back in March. Circle Circus stamp set is used in the one of the left with some fun spring colors. The Create a Cupcake stamp set and the Build a Cupcake punch are used in the one on the right. I like this one because it's not all pink and cupcakey...just something a little different.


The cupcake set and punch are available in the Occasions Mini Catalog, which is available through the end of this month. See the link to the right to check out the whole catalog.

Thanks for reading!
Julie

Upcoming "Intro to Stamping" class

The snow is flying here...again. This is headed to be the longest winter ever, I'm pretty sure. And it's at the point where snowmobiling season is over because the trails are rough, icy and melty, so the snow can really just go now. I'm ready for spring!

Here are two of the five cards we'll be making at my upcoming "Intro to Stamping" class on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at my home. They have a nice, spring-y look to them, don't you think?

This one is a simple outline stamp, colored in with Stampin' Up! markers and adorned with a single, shiny rhinestone. Clean and simple--you don't need a roomful of supplies to get started with card making!


This one is a CASE (copy and share everything!) from my upline Heidi. I love a cherry motif! We'll color right on the stamp with markers to get the green stem and the red cherry, all in one step. A great technique for getting more out of your markers!

Details of the class: $10 for 5 cards, each featuring a different "getting started" technique. If you're an experienced stamper, please join us! It's always great to get a refresher or pick up a new design idea. To sign up for the class, just e-mail me! Can't wait to see you here.

I'm headed off to a workshop this afternoon--love them! I have some cute projects to show from that, too...maybe tomorrow. Stay tuned. And with daylight savings tonight, we've got to be about ready to turn the corner into better weather, right? At least we'll get more daylight!

Thanks for reading,
Julie

Circus, Anyone?

Doesn't life just feel like a circus sometimes? I can't say it happens to me often, as I only have to try to keep track of myself and my husband (no kids, no pets), but every so often, things just seem to go a little crazy.

Maybe that's why I was drawn to the Stampin' Up! set, Circle Circus, recently for a couple different cards. The first was "commissioned" (ooh, doesn't that make me sound like a fancy artist?) by a coworker. It was for some special teenagers in her life, so I went for a trendy combo of colors, and well, just went a little crazy.


I used Marina Mist card stock for the card base, then layers of Early Espresso and Pumpkin Pie (scrumptious, almost). The green accents are Old Olive, and the Classic Ink colors are all coordinating with the paper.

The next one was just to say hello to a special little guy and his parents. I thought primary colors were cute for a little boy, so I dug into Pacific Point, Real Red and Daffodil Delight card stock. Again, the ink is all coordinating, and the ribbon is Real Red 1/4" grosgrain. The cute border is the Scallop Edge Border punch.


It's still Sale-A-Bration time at Stampin' Up!, which means for every $50 order, you get to choose a free, exclusive stamp set! Sale-A-Bration lasts through March 31, so you've got time to host a workshop or place an order. Contact me to learn more!

Have a great Sunday night!
Julie

Stage presence!

Hello! Back on February 12, I presented ON STAGE at the Stampin' Up! regional conference in Minneapolis. I submitted my animal-print background technique and was chosen to be part of the "Workshop Wow!" line up. It was super cool to share this with the 500 other demonstrators in attendance, and it came with cool perks like getting in the hall early to get front-row seats for the day and earning a free stamp set.

Above, I'm on stage. The camera was pointed at my work area, so my demonstration was shown on the big screen, but I was talking to the crowd.


These were all the samples I took with me to share, but I only showed the basics of the technique on stage. I didn't have to make all the cards. Another big accomplishment--I managed to stay just under my allotted five minutes!

Stay tuned this week for more on Stampin' Up!'s great promotion that's going on this month--Sale-A-Bration! For every $50 order, you can choose one free stamp set from an exclusive list! If you want to know more before I have a chance to write more, let me know!

Thanks for reading!
Julie

Happy New Year!

One thing it seems crafty people like nearly as much as crafting itself is how to organize their crafting supplies. I'm no different. Sometimes I'll waste an entire afternoon getting ready to make cards or sew something up.

So today, along with apparently half of the population of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, I trundled to IKEA. I got there within the first hour of the store opening, and I got the last one of the particular EXPEDIT shelving unit I wanted! It was like I won an eBay auction! Whew. (I have no affiliation with IKEA).

Here's what it looked like when I opened the two boxes. I wondered if this would be easy to put together, or a disaster.


I managed to put the whole thing together myself, except for getting DH to help align one panel. The directions even had these funny cartoons that showed you should have two people to do the work, not just one.

The finished product gives a fun, storage vibe. Hopefully it keeps me more organized in 2011! Or at least makes more space for the additional crafting supplies I'm sure I'll accumulate.


Of course, I didn't take a picture of the closet that's half torn apart while reorganizing...

Happy New Year!

Julie

Last-Minute Christmas Prep!

I'm pretty prepared for Christmas, but there is always just that "one more thing," isn't there? I made these tags for a workshop early in the month, but they would be a perfect last-minute touch for your gifts. Just get out your card stock scraps, some Stampin' Up! Designer Series (patterned) paper, some punches and ribbon, et voila!

These were inspired by (nearly "CASEd," which means Copy and Share Everything) by my friend and fellow local SE MN demonstrator Angie Bennett. The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and Always Artichoke. The Designer Series Paper (patterned) is Deck the Halls from the Holiday Mini Catalog (only available until Jan. 4!), and the ribbons are Very Vanilla satin, twill tape and Cherry Cobbler seam binding. The stamp set is Perfect Punches, and the punches used are Fancy Label Punch and Round Tab Punch.

Now, the food portion of the program! Since my husband's snowmobile broke down as we were on our way out of the neighborhood, we didn't ride on Saturday. I baked instead. Notice the Christmas Crappies in the lower left?

The sugar cookie recipe is from Real Simple and the Royal Icing from allrecipes.com. This icing worked better than the Martha recipe I tried last year. Just sayin'.


And these couldn't be simpler. I first got the recipe from Kahla years ago...it's so simple, I probably shouldn't tell you how easy it is! But here goes...buy a bag of mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Buy a tube of prepared chocolate chip cookie dough. Cut the dough in slices and then in quarters. Place one piece in each cup of a mini muffin tin. Bake five minutes at 350 degrees. Quickly place a PB cup in each half-baked cookie. Bake five more minutes. Yum.


Good luck with your last-minute activities? What do you still have to do? I haven't wrapped a single gift. Guess that's my answer!

Merry Christmas!
Julie