Friday, December 31, 2010

Cheers to 2011 and to YOU!

We don't ever make New Year's cards, but the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set has this "Happy New Year" stamp, so it was begging us to use it!  And, of course, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to toast all of you and wish you a happy and healthy 2011!  We look forward to sharing creativity with you in the New Year and beyond!  The clinking champagne glasses image is from the Cheers to You set.  And, YES, there are a bunch of rhinestones on this card!  More like "BLING in the New Year!!"  The scallop oval frame and DSP oval inside were cut with the Bigz die in the Big Shot.  Holes were punched around the oval with a 1/4" punch and then the rhinestones were placed inside, leaving a slight Peach Parfait border.  The champagne was colored using a Peach Parfait classic ink pad and blender pen.  However you choose to celebrate, have fun and be safe - HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Holiday Mini Catalog Ends Soon!

It's always bittersweet when our mini catalogs transition.  It's exciting because that means that FUN, NEW STUFF is going to be available in the next one (Occasions mini catalog starts 1/4/11); but it also means that our favorites in the current one will no longer be available.  The images (large and small paisley hearts) used in this card are from the Paisley Prints set, which we received at Convention this past summer, and we admit was not initially one of our favorites.  However, it has grown on us, and we were hoping to use the leaf and tree images during the holidays (but those came and went in a hurry), and now the hearts would be ideal for Valentine's Day, so we thought ahead, since this set is only available through January 3rd.  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  It's tough to think about Valentine's Day already amidst the lingering Christmas decorations, but it will be here before we know it and gone in a hurry, so plan ahead!  

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

She's Having a Baby!


Our niece, April, and her husband Justin are expecting a baby girl in January!  This card was made for them, and was based on a card originally designed by our friend Kevin.  The stamped images are from a few sets - the bottle is from Tag Alongs (our annual Ronald McDonald House set from which $2 from the sale of each one goes to RMHC), the letters are from Monogram Sweet, the inside sentiment (except for congratulations) is from Full of Life, and the rest are from Baby Bundle.  We are thrilled for them and wish them all the best!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Time for Thanks

These quick & easy thank you notes were made with left over 3 1/2" square Candy Cane Christmas DSP scraps.  The wavy DSP on the bottom was cut using the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die.  The sentiment if from the Occasional Quotes level 3 hostess set and then punched with the large oval punch. 

Monday, December 27, 2010

Customer Appreciation Event


Reception Table

Luanne, Brenda, Kathie, & Cheryl

Tasha, Diane, Merna, Carolyn, Randi, & Stacy

Tasha, Stacy, Randi, & Diane



Tiffany, Diana, Bobbi, & Nancy

Tiffany, Judy, & Scot
We hosted a customer appreciation night on Monday, December 13th (yes, it's been a while), but it was so much fun!  We truly wish that ALL of our WONDERFUL customers/friends could've attended!  The photos above are from that evening, and we hope they had as much fun as we did!  We are so grateful for our amazing customers and their friendship!  We look forward to making this an annual tradition!  

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Crittermas!

Although Christmas has officially come and gone (sniff, sniff), we wanted to share a couple of projects that were done using the Merry Crittermas stamp set, which is only available for a little more time in the Holiday mini catalog.  Kira made the treat holders above for the kids when we got together for our Christmas celebration last night.  The chocolates are wrapped with Celebrations DSP, and as you can see, the image on top is stamped with the Merry Crittermas set.   
The card shown above was sent to us from our friend Patty.  We think it would make a perfect Christmas thank you card, by just changing the sentiment.  The card is embossed with the Northern Flurry folder, the snowflakes are from the Northern Frost Decorative Strip die.  The rabbit image has a coating of glitter over the top of it.

We hope you and your families had an enjoyable and memorable Christmas!  We look forward to sharing ideas and creativity with you in the New Year!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas to All!

Scot reporting here...it is our tradition for my wife and I to host our families (those who are available) for Christmas Eve.  Well, last night, Kira presents me with this AMAZING gift!!!  The reason why it's so amazing is because it's the chorus from the song "Believe" by Josh Groban (from the movie Polar Express), and she knows that it is one of my favorites - I LOVE the message!  She used a cookie sheet that's painted black and adhered pieces of Jolly Holiday DSP to it.  The letters are die cut vinyl (that she had cut at the sign business where she works).  She has made so many wonderful holiday gifts for us that we cherish through the years.  I love, love, love it!  THANK YOU, Kira!!!

We wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of happiness, good health, and stamping good times with friends!!  And a SPECIAL THANK YOU to all of you who support us and share our love of stamping and crafting!!!

In case you can't read it in the photo, here are the words to the chorus of the song:

“Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that’s playing
There’s no time to waste
There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe”

Monday, December 20, 2010

Happy Birthday Pocket Portfolio

Happy Birthday to Kira's husband, Mark, today!  This is the pocket portfolio that she made for him using the Celebrations DSP and lots of other fun stuff!  This is the same design as one that was posted a couple of weeks ago using the Autumn Spice DSP.  The outside is decorated with the DSP cut using the Top Note die for the Sizzix Big Shot.  The scallop envelope die was used for the inside pockets and the Tasteful Trim die was also used for the scalloped accents above and below the envelopes.  A variety of stamp sets and puches were used for the greetings and star accents.  We wish Mark a very Happy Birthday, and MANY MORE!

We apologize for our absence lately, but hopefully we'll soon be posting some fresh projects as soon as the "holiday rush" has passed.  We wish all of you and your families Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!  And of course, happy stamping in the New Year too!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Ghiradelli Chocolate Holder

This idea came from Jill Hilliard, such an easy treat holder!  This was also a great use for our leftover scraps of Candy Cane DSP (which is unfortunately sold out).  As you can see, we tried a it a couple of different ways using each side of the paper, tilting the sentiment and spacing the ribbon holes differently.  The measurement is so easy and you can get 3 of them out of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock, and save time by scoring the full sheet first.  Cut the full sheet into 9" x 8", score along the 8" side at 3 7/8" and 4 1/8", then cut on the 9" side into three 3" pieces.  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Peace on Earth Card

This card is very similar to one that we recently posted; however, we used the embossed frame for the stamped image.  The "frame" was embossed using a thin wood oval frame and the Petals a Plenty embossing folder.  The pine tree is from the Lovely as a Tree set.  It was stamped in Wild Wasabi and then "thumped" with the Garden Green Stampin' Write marker.  The tree trunk was colored prior to stamping using an Early Espresso Stampin' Write marker.  We finished it off with a piece of 1/8" taffeta ribbon and a stamped sentiment from the Four the Holidays set inside.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Fancy Favor Christmas Boxes

Here's another Big Shot Club project we'll be doing in this week's workshop.  This month we are focusing mostly on the Sizzlits Decorative Strip dies, so we've decorated these fancy favor boxes with the Join In The Cheer Sizzlits Decorative Strip die (it wraps around the whole box).  We've added a couple stamped holly images from the Tags Til Christmas set .

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Big Shot Birthday

This is one of the cards that we'll be doing in Big Shot Club this week.  We used the Basic Birthday Sizzlits Decorative Strip die to create a "drop shadow" (Kira and her big graphic designer terms) with Pacific Point first and then Bashful Blue on top.  We thought it created a cool effect.  The Celebrations DSP at the bottom was cut using the Tasteful Trim die.  And how about the pinata, isn't a fun touch?!?!  This is an image from the Cumpleanos set, which is out of the Spanish Idea Book & Catalog. 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Save 20% on Great Holiday Bundles

This is another version of a card that was previously posted.  It includes the two items from the Contempo Christmas bundle, which can be purchased for 20% off during our ABC's of a Perfect Handmade Holiday promotion.  The two items are the Contempo Christmas stamp set and the Jolly Holiday designer series paper pack.  The card was cut out using the Movers & Shapers die and the elements on the front were done with the Tasteful Trim die, both for the Big Shot. 

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Treat Portfolio

Although Thanksgiving is past, I (Scot) had to share this wonderful treat portfolio that Kira made and brought to McCall and I as a Thanksgiving host gift.  It can easily be adapted for other holidays to include the same delicious Ghiradelli chocolate squares and Starbucks VIA coffee, or whatever treats you decide on!  The Day of Gratitude stamp set and Autumn Spice DSP were used as the primary elements, along with a variety of other stamps and accessories. 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Scallop Circle Gift Card Holder

This gift card holder starts with a 6" x 12" piece of cardstock, and is then folded and cut using the Bigz Scallop Circle die.  After it's cut, it was embossed using a folder.  The sentiment on the front is from the Grateful Greetings set and punched with the tag punch.  They are an easy way to personalize a gift card!

Snowflake Wishes Thank You Card

Everyone needs to say "thank you" during the holiday season. The Snowflake Wishes bundle makes it easy! The die-cut image creates ...