Saturday, November 29, 2014

Snowflake Flip Card …. and some Snow Day Fun!

Happy Saturday!!

You'll have to forgive me if their are more typos than usual this post … it appears I a wearing my "fashionable" glasses rather than my "functional" classes this morning.  Translation - I'm wearing the pretty turquoise blue ones not my standard brown progressives … translation … I can't read that I'm tying unless I hold my laptop 4 feet away from my nose … and that's hard to do a) while typing and b) while typing with a cu of coffee in my hand *lol*.  If only the dog knew how to fetch my other pair!

Never mind - I'll just look for words underlined in red … I can see colours … then I'll squint and/or zoom in on the screen until I can find the mistake!

Wow!  What a great week I had … and I can't believe how fast it flew by!!!  Yep - I'm definitely a "bring on December" kind of gal!!

Of course Monday was non-stop with phone calls, e-mails and text messages with everyone wanting in on the great promotions running.  Combine that with trying to clean up the aftermath of the fundraiser and I was busy all day!

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings I was helping out at the girls' school Book Fair.  I just love seeing all the kids with their ziplock full of quarters buying books!  Of course my heart was sad when a few times a wee one would step up with a $14 book .. and about $1.24 in their baggie and I had to tell them they didn't have enough money :(  They always take it well though .. I tell them to bring Mom or Dad in when they show up for Demonstration of Learning (something our school does that is similar to Parent/Teacher Interviews) and have them buy it then.

Tuesday I hit Costco .. yep .. needed more eggs.  Um hm  Those eggs cost about the same as the price of a new set of winter tires by the time I was done *lol*.  On the bright side I'm JUST about done Christmas shopping!  The kids are done … I just need a few more little things for Craig … and I have an on-line order going in to Lee Valley Tools next week .. then just a few more stocking stuffers as I stumble across them.  I still need to put my little fold up photo album for mom - but that won't take long … and I need to craft with Alicia to put Dad's ornament together … but nothing too stressful for sure!

Wednesday I got caught up on paperwork, Thursday … well … THAT was an interesting day!  We had a big snow storm start Thursday and the roads were horrible so Rebecca agreed to give pottery a miss … and Craig had a retirement dinner to go to so the girls and I just got to hang out.  No dinner stress (Kraft Dinner - woo hoo!) - we just hung out.  After dinner I went to my Craft Cave ready to work on one of the many projects I have on the go.  Did I get anything done?  Craft wise - no.  BUT - three hours later I had a CLEAN CRAFT ROOM!  I don't know WHAT came over me - I just started putzing around and before I knew it I had struck carpet!  WOW did that feel great!  Now I can walk in there without a hard hat and things falling on me every time I turn around!  It was GREAT!  

Yesterday was the best day of the week!  Craig had the day off … and I had PLANNED to have Alicia play hookie from school so we could spend the day together shopping and generally hanging out.  Things changed, though, as the 30-40 cm of snow fell all day Thursday and Thursday night.  It seemed silly to have Craig get up early just to shovel the driveway so I could take Rebecca to school … so I declared Friday a Snow Day!!!  We all slept in (yes, I slept until 6:00 am!!!!) and then just hung out!  Craig was on snow removal duty - I walked Doodles (a whole 5 blocks before he wimped out on me and we had to head home) and then the girls, the dog and I played in the snow.  Oh my GOODNESS did we have fun!!!  I can't REMEMBER the last time I made a snow angel!  … well … it didn't LOOK like an angel because as I was trying to make it Koda charged me, sprayed snow all over me and stole my mitten!  Chaos ensued as the girls tried to avenge me, chasing him around the yard … but at slow speed given that the snow was up to their knees!  It was just a lot of good, clean, wet, snowy fun.  I and a ball :)  A little crafting, a little cleaning and I officially deemed today the best snow day EVER!  I'm so very, very blessed to have been given such a lovely life and the health to enjoy it.  That's the BEST Christmas present really, isn't it?

OK … so!  How about a project???  Amidst all that cleaning I did Thursday I found the card I wanted to share … so I'll stop my "Life and Times" entry and get on with it already!

Ta Da!  What a great card, yes?  It has been drooled over for the last month or two whenever anyone sees it,  I can't take credit for it - I totally CASEd it from the holiday catalogue!  … and yes, I have promised my Gals that we will make in my December class … despite it being a high-maintenance card!  It's not a HARD card, but you DO need to use the Big Shot 5 TIMES to get all the pieces for it!  I used the Snowflake Framelit Dies to create it, along with the coordinating stamp set LetterpressWinter.  This combo is only available until January 2nd so get it while you can!!  (Ooooo - you could get it with your Starter Kit promo … only $93.75 f… for only 3 more days!).   used Soft Sky for the base.  When you run your paper through the die it cuts and scores it for you - all you have to do is fold it on the score lines and you're half way done!  then comes the fiddly part.  I stamped the snowflake on wiser white and you run it through with the BIG framelit … then you turn the snowflake and run it through again.  Check out my previous video post to help make more sense of that.  Find it here.  I then used the other frame its to punch out the two snowflakes, in Basic Grey and Lost Lagoon (don't forget to use wax paper between the card stock and framelit so you can get the paper out of the die!)

I used the All is Calm Washi Tape, the sentiment from Merry Everything (in the Holiday catty … in Lost Lagoon), added a button and some twine and Wa-Low!  An awesomely awesome Christmas card!

That's it for card sharing.  Today we are hibernating for most of the day - with a wind chill making it feel like -40 degrees we're going to give skiing a swerve this week!  Mom, the kids and I are going to dinner and then the theatre to see "A Christmas Story - the musical" later tonight.  We're all looking forward to THAT!

Wow - THAT was a long post!  Hope you had a large cup of coffee and a cat to pet whilst reading it!  Speaking of coffee I think I could use another one before I get on with a whole lot more of nuthin!

Whatever you get up to this weekend I hope you have fun and make some great memories!  I know we will.  Have a super stampy day My Friends!


Tam

Monday, November 24, 2014

WA-HOO!!

Happy Monday!

MAN am I having an awesome day!!!  Days like today I just LOVE my "job".  I say "job" because it seems silly that I actually make money doing what I do … it really is the BEST "job"!  Oh sure, when business is slow things don't look so great but when I get to stamp with 18 new friends, like I did yesterday at the fundraiser, … and when you get FIVE new ladies added to your team of stampers … and when you get on-line orders from a FABULOUS promotion, well … it just make my heart HAPPY!!!

Yes, the Flexpointe Fundraiser was a HUGE success and I'm thrilled to have been part of raising so much money for the girls to travel to Disney World for their competition.  In the weeks … and hours … leading UP to the event I was stressed and had to work my butt off but once I got there (as ALWAYS happens!) the magic kicks in and I can't help but have a great time and know that it was all worth it.  Thanks Melissa and Daisy for asking me to help.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

So today I had nothing on the calendar … on purpose!  I KNEW I'd be on my computer, laptop AND cell phone all day taking and placing orders and answering questions about the AMAZING promotions that started today.  Yes, so far five ladies have taken advantage of the Starer Kit deal … combining it with the Extravaganza that is going on and getting some GREAT deals.  I can't stress enough just how awesome this deal is!  You COULD walk away with over $300 worth of product for the flat charge of $93.75.  Insane.  If you are on my e-mail list you will have seen the following message - I just thought I'd post it here too so you can see what I think you just HAVE TO HAVE!

Holy COW Ladies!  The two promotions that started today have me SOOO freaking excited!!
 
Before NOON today I already have FIVE ladies take advantage of the Starter Kit Deal ... up to $310 in product for a FLAT $93.75!  If you scoop the sale items as part of your Starter Kit you can walk away a MAJOR winner!  You don't have to quit your day job and start selling stamp sets - you can just take the kit!  I don't get ANY commission for selling the kits - I just like my friends to get the most bang for their buck.  Who wants to spend more than they have to???
 
The On-Line Extravanagza is in full swing as well!  Today is the ONLY day you can get certain embossing folders for just $7 ... the Gift Box Punch Board for only $17.47 (!!!!) and the Card Kit Bundle at 30% off (You get 2 card kits - each one has EVERYTHING you need to make 20 different cards - EVERYTHING! ... with s/h/gst that comes to $50.04 to make 40 cards.  Hellooooooooooooo - can you say "Christmas Presents for my neices DONE!"?
 
I'm placing an order - CALL ME - I can bundle orders and save on the flat $9.95 shipping cost for orders under $100.
 
Or order on-line - but remember to use the Hostess Code 6D7TEPRE at checkout to make sure you get entered into the draw for the free hostess benefits!
 
Eek!  I just read that the 6" x 8" Album is already sold out!  SEE??  I TOLD you items were flying!
 
Get those orders in Ladies!
 
Here are "My top "You'd be CRAZY not to order these!!!" items:

Tag a Bag Accessory kit - HALF PRICE - now $4.98!
Fast Fuse Refills - HALF PRICE - now $4.98!
Silver and Gold Satin Ribbon - HALF PRICE - now $4.75 each!
Gold and ...
Silver Glimmer Paper - HALF PRICE - now $2.98 each!
Big Sot Magnetic Plate - 40% off - now $29.97!
In Color Markers - 40% off - now $11.97!!
Punches, ribbon, bundles Oh My!
 
Don't wait if you want in on the deals.  They are "only while supplies last"!  … and if you want the BEST deal around consider buying the Starter Kit  - and joining my team.  You won't regret it!  Even if you don't want to "do the business" it is a GREAT deal.  You have NOTHING to lose!  Contact me if you want more information. 

That's it.  I'm hitting the Craft Cave later to unpack from yesterday … and get back to creating.  Can't wait.  Did I mention I love my "job"?

Have a stampy day!


Tam

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Wonderous Wreath Joy

Happy Sunday!

Yes, today is the day.  Fundraiser Day!  I'm all packed and ready to roll.  SO much work … but it is always fun to stamp with new friends.  I'm really looking forward to it!

So today I'll show you the third card for our class last week (the first was the Marble Technique card, the second was yesterdays Gentle Peace card)  Here it is:
Love it!  I've been wanting to make a card with this "Joy" sentiment for ages now.  I finally made it happen!  It is part of the Wreath Framelits that coordinate with this Wonderous Wreath stamp set.  I just LOVE ow easy it is to get the elements of the wreath to line up PERFECTLY!  The base of the wreath was stamped in Pistachio Pudding.  The darker leaves are Garden Green.  The berries are Cherry Cobbler.  The "Joy" is in Cherry Cobbler as well.  I had planned to punch out the pretty ribbon shape that comes in this set but THAT much Cherry Cobbler was too much .. so after a LOT of playing around I stumbled on, and liked, making a bow with Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.  Perfect!  For a little bling I added 3 rhinestones … and the berries on the wreath are also blinged up.  I used some Dazzling Details, glitter glue topped with some Dazzling Diamonds glitter!  That step wasn't necessary but I was feeling the need for glitter *lol*

So that's it for today.  I better hit the shower and walk the Doodle before I go.  Pop in again soon.  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Saturday, November 22, 2014

ON-LINE EXTRAVAGANZA AND STARTER KIT PROMO!!!

Happy Saturday - again :)

Yes I KNOW I should be packing for the fundraiser … but I CAN'T!!!  I'm too busy printing off lists and promotional items for the BIG SALE that starts bright and early Monday morning!!1  I'm SURE you have all heard what's coming down the line but just in case you live in a bubble, or your internet has been down I thought I'd post the e-mail I sent out to everyone on my e-mail list yesterday.

When you combine the two deals the savings are INSANE!!!  you can get the starter kit to SAVE money, or to EARN money … or do what I did 9 years ago … buy the kit for the smokin' great deal … and then three years later build a business that turns into a part time job that you LOVE!  You seriously have NOTHING to lose!

Remember, I'm in Canada so any International friends reading this, my pricing is the Canadian pricing … the items o sale will be the same where you are, but the prices will be different.

Read on!  … then make your list … then Monday get shopping!!!

Have an awesome day!



Happy Friday!
 
OK - I'm just trying to get all my little duckies in a row for Monday morning.  Are you on my "Tamara's Paper Trail" Face Book page?  No?  Go there NOW and "Like" it ... then you'll be in the know first!
 
If you ARE on my FB page you will know two things:
 
1)  A super, crazy, AWESOME Starter Kit Promotion begins Monday (runs only 1 week - Nov 24 - Dec 2) and
2)  A super, crazy, AWESOME Online Extravaganza SALE ALSO begins Monday (running Nov 24 - Dec 2)
 
hmmmmm .... what if you COMBINE the two???  Oh no - I'm not sure my brain can handle THAT much awesomeness!!!  But yes!  As far as I know we CAN combine the two!!!
 
What does that mean???  That means low, low, low, LOW prices on EVERYTHING in the current catalogues and Clearance Rack!!!
 
So here's the deal:
 
The Starter Kit is on sale.  It is 25% off.  THAT means that ANYTHING you want in the Catalogue(s) or in the Clearance Rack is a total of 40% off!  BUT!  Since (I think) you can pick items from the upcoming Extravaganza Sale as items in your Starter kit you COULD get some stuff at even MORE than that!! 
 
For example - in the Starter Kit you can pick ANY items you want, up to a grand total of $155.  So what if you picked items that will be 50% OFF in the Extravaganza???!!!!  You could scoop $310 in product for a FLAT charge of only $93.75!!!  That's 70% OFF!!!! WHAAAAAAT?????  I KNOW!  My mind is absolutely BLOWN!
 
So!  Here's what you need to do.
  • Print off the attached List of Items going on Sale
  • Print off the attached Wish List
  • Fill in list #2 with items from List #1
  • When your list hits a total of $155 (not a penny more) you are ready to go to my website www.tamarabertram.stampinup.net and order your Starter Kit. 
    • You will click on "Join the Fun" and "Join Now" then you just start entering the items you want!
  • At check out you will be billed $93.75
  • Done!
Now. 
  • Yes, you WILL need to provide your SIN online.  There is no way around that.  It's a deal breaker.
  • Yes, you will technically be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if/when you buy the Starter Kit.  That's ok.  Don't panic!
    • There are no sales obligations
    • There are no pentalties if you never sell a thing
    • You are simply what I call a Stampin' Up! Associate ... you are just a little bit of a better customer to SU than you were 5 minutes earlier!
    • You don't HAVE to do what I do!  You can take the deal and run!
    • If you DO want to get more products at a great deal (i.e. be your own customer!) you will get 35% cash back on your first order of $200 or more placed in December! 
    • You CAN sell some things and make some money.  Don't let THAT freak you out!  You don't have to run a business the way I do!
      • You could get 4 or 5 friends together, everyone buys one of the ready-to-use kits and you all get together for a girls night and assemble them!
      • You could take in some quick cards to make with the gals at work once a month and collect a few dollars to cover the cost of your supplies
      • You could MAKE some cards and sell them to people at work - or to businesses you frequent
        • Sell birthday cards to your Social Committee at work
        • Sell Animal or Sypathy cards at the pet store
        • Sell Car "Congratulations" cards at the car dealership
        • Sell Christmas cards to your Mom
        • Sell "Congrtulations on your New Home" cards to Realtors
        • ... you don't have to "run a business" like I do.  Do what you want the WAY you want ... and earn free products while doing so.  That's exactly how I started out ... do it YOUR way!
OK!  So you don't want to buy the starter kit.  NO problem!  You can STILL get in on the Extravaganza Sale!  The Doorcrasher Specials are ONLY Available on the days indicated ... and those items are ONLY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!  So bright and early Monday morning log into my on-line store atwww.tamarabertram.stampinup.net and shop 'til you drop!  There is a $9.95 shipping charge but given how much you'll be saving on product it's still a GREAT deal!  OR ... if you "don't DO" on-line shopping e-mail me your order and I will place it at 7:00 pm SHARP (but I won't be able to tke credit cards - so you'll have to e-transfer me the money or pay me when you see me).  The only danger of this method is that by 7:00 pm items very well may be sold out.  It's a gamble!
 
IF YOU DO ORDER ONLINE, MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THE HOSTESS CODE 6D7TEPRE to be entered into the draw for ALL the hostess benefits!!!  If you don't enter the code you can't be entered so make sure you do!
 
I know this is a LOT of information to take in.  Call me!  It's easier to explain verbally than in type ... it really is a smoking great deal.
 
That's it for today.  Have a stampy weekend - I expect I'll be talking to many of you Monday!
 
 
 
Tamara

Snowflake Fun

Happy Saturday!

Here is a cute little Christmas Card I came up with last week.
I was playing around, trying to find a third card for Class..  Meh - I liked it but it didn't make the cut *lol*

Let's see .. I used Crumb Cake for the base and layer - Whisper White for the middle layer.  I used Dotty Angles, inked in white Craft Ink for the polka dotted background.  I used a doily, cut in half, and then a few snowflakes from … hmmm … what set did I use?  Endless Wishes?  No - not that one … Oh!  Letterpress Winter!  (That's the one that coordinates with the Snowflake framelit).  I made snowflakes using the Snowflake framelits in Early Espress and White, attached them with glue dots and added a few rhinestones.  I used some Erly Espresso Bakers Twine and the Merry & Bright sentiment from "Good Greetings".  Nice - but it didn't blow my hair back … so I moved on :)  Pop in again soon to see what I came up with instead.  Until then … have a stampy Saturday!


Tam

Friday, November 21, 2014

Gentle Peace

Happy Friday!

I TOLD you I would manage to procrastinate a little more on what I SHOULD be doing!  I know myself so well :)

Today I have a card we made at Technique Class last week, using the new('ish) "Gentle Peace" stamp set.  I just HAD to have this one for my religious Christmas cards this year!  Check it out!
I just LOVE this set!!!  I originally set out to colour it completely in a stained glass look … but quickly realized that would make for a rather long class as everyone waited for the Blendabilities.  So I decided "less is more".  I stamped the image with Versamark ink, covered it in Silver Embossing Powder, heat set it and then cut it out with my paper snips.  The base was run through the Big Shot with the Filigree Embossing Folder … but the folder was sideways …. thereby leaving some white space at the bottom of the card for stamping the sentiment (which is from the same set).  I  you use the folder in the "proper" orientation the entire front is embossed and you can't stamp on a flat surface.  I used my Rich Razzleberry ink (for the sentiment) and Blendabilities (the lightest and darkest).  I also used the lights Daffodil Delight Belndabilities marker … and a little Seam Binding to tie all the colours together.  Oh!  … and a single rhinestone in the centre of the sun at the top.  I like it!  Clean, simple, elegant!

That's it for today - now I'm off to label catalogues :)  Have a stampy day!


Tam

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Need for Speed for Dylan

Happy Thursday!

Another week has FLOWN by!  I had nothing pressing on the calendar but I have been go-go-go all week as I prep of 22 stampers at a Fundraiser I am helping out with on Sunday.  LOTS of work to put together all the elements for 75 Christmas cards!!  I'm ALMOST there … I should have all the paper cut by this afternoon.  After that it's just labelling catalogues, prepping marketing material and catching up on other odds an ends.  Short day for the kids today so I have a 10 minute window to share a QUICK project I made last week.

Remember I mentioned we bought a new vehicle 1 1/2 weeks ago?  Well I wanted to take some cads to Dylan, our FABULOUS salesman over at Ericksen Nissan.  I HIGHLY recommend this dealership.  We chose them because of the great customer service Craig has received with HIS Nissan and honestly, I will likely go to them if/when we ever need another car!!  ANYWAY … as a Thank You to Dylan I wanted to take him some "Congratulations" cards for him to give future customers.  Naturally I decided to do this 25 minutes before we were scheduled to go pick up my new Baby!  I had this design in mind so I managed to crack off 6 of them in 20 minutes.  Yay me!
I used our Note Cards and Envelopes for this - a full-sized card really isn't necessary - heck - that just leaves too much space to write things *lol*  These are a little smaller and perfect to hand to new customers.  I used a strip of black card stock, a piece of Basic Grey card stock, run through our Houndstooth embossing folder, and then stamped the car from the retired "Need for Speed" set in Tuxedo Memento Ink.  I grabbed my Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities and coloured them in no time flat. Seriously.  Sometimes the best cards come when you don't have time to over think things!  Case in point.  Dylan LOVED them and told me he has them locked in his desk as the other dealers are eyeing them up *lol*

That's it for now.  Pop in again soon - I still have four more projects to share.  I' sure I'll manage to post at least ONE of them whilst procrastinating on prepping for that fundraiser! *lol*  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Marble Technique Tutorial

Happy Tuesday!

As always I had a relaxing, productive Monday … and that means I had time to blog … and give you a picture tutorial of my new-found Marbling Technique.  Ready?  Great!  Here we go!

Let's start with the finished product, shall we?
I absolutely LOVE the look and feel of this card!  The marble piece at the bottom is made from paper, crystal effects, tissue paper, reindeers … and a window sheet.

Here is the same card photographed in my Craft Cave - different lighting but still a beautiful effect!
I just stumbled across this technique.  It started when I saw a video tutorial made by "Frenchie" - a very popular and much-loved US Demonstrator.  You can check her out at www.frenchiestamps.com .  Frenchie did a tutorial on what she called a "stained glass effect" - but mine turned out VERY differently than hers and mine looked more marbled - so I'm renaming it!  Thanks for the inspiration Frenchie!

The main difference in what Frenchie did and what I did is that she used white glue … I used Crystal Effects.  It makes a HUGE difference in how well your card lasts … I'll explain later …

So here is what I did.

I gathered my supplies - a piece of wax paper to protect my surface (this technique is kinda sticky!), a 1 1/2" x 5" piece of our Window Sheet (or other overhead projector acetate), our Crystal Effect lacquer, some thin tissue paper (thinner is better i.e. use the cheap stuff!), a 1 1/2" x 5" strip of Very Vanilla card stock, baby wipes (or a damp cloth) and some reinkers.  I used Sahara Sand and Crumb Cake ...
Apply a glob of Crystal Effects to your acetate strip:
Smudge it around with your finger to pulley cover the acetate.  Don't be stingy with it - more is better!
Apply drops of your first reinker - use your lighter colour first - this is the Sahara Sand:
Smudge it around with your finger ...
Apply a few drops of your second, darker colour (Baked Brown Sugar in m case) … and smudge around with your finger ..
Use your baby wipe or cloth to clean your finger!

Scrunch up then unscrunch (it's a word!!!) your tissue paper.  DON'T flatten it i.e. leave it fairly wrinkly … the more wrinkles the more marbled effect you get!
Lay the tissue paper over your goopy acetate ...
Gently press the tissue paper with your finger so that the tissue paper is all wet ...
Lay your Very Vanilla strip over the whole hot mess ...
Turn it over and trim away the excess tissue paper (in this picture you can see my vanilla strip was longer than needed - I trimmed it it the 1 1/2" x 5" needed)
The acetate  window sheet is now on top … smooth, shiny and (hopefully) sticky-free!  You then just attach it to your card base and Wa-low!  A work of marbled art!
Now … in the above card I had actually made it using white Elmer's glue, as Frenchie did.  What I discovered a few hours later, however, was that once the glue was totally dry the acetate started to lift, the more I handled the card.  Now this was cool and not cool.  What was cool was that when I lifted the acetate off the marbled piece was STILL shiny and smooth.  That was because of the shiny, dried glue. What WASN'T cool was that if I left the card without the shiny topping then, after mailing the card, the glue would very likely crack and flake … like dandruff!  Not the effect I want!  So for my Technique Class I used Crystal Effects adhesive.  That is a lacquer … and that acetate won't move "for love nor money" as my dad would say *lol*

So there you have it - a technique I hadn't seen before that I LOVE!  I can't WAIT to try this with different colours of reikers!  I'm picturing light and dark blues … maybe Soft Sky and Night of Navy … with Black Staz-On snowflakes stamped on top of the acetate.  Or how about Pink Pirouette and Cherry Cobbler??  The options are endless!

This technique and colour combination lends itself to a great masculine card.  I and a number of stampers change the sentiment to Happy Birthday for their guys.  Love it!

Oh - I finished my card off with some of the YUMMY new Gold Satin Ribbon and a few pearls.  So elegant!

Right!  That's it for today!  Pop in again soon - I have a few more posts in the works!  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Marble Technique

Happy Sunday!!!

Can someone tell me HOW it is that I didn't have any pressing items on my calendar all week yet STILL didn't manage to do my blogging???  MAN the hours just slip away, don't they???

I REALLY don't have time to being doing this - I have 9 women coming over in 2 hours to make Christmas Cards and I'm not finished setting up yet!!  Oh sure, I PLANNED to cut paper all day Friday … but then "life" happened … aGAIN … and I ended up playing hookie with my eldest, Rebecca!  I let her skip school and we hung out all day.  Nothing thrilling - we ran 5 errands (including a quick stop at Toys R Us for a few Christmas deals), walked the dog and so on … and then we played a board game.  Nothing terribly noteworthy - she just needed to spend some time with me … so I made the time to be with her.  Lovely as that was it put me WAY behind.  No worries - I moved my plan to Saturday - SATURDAY I would cut paper all day.  Oh - no - wait - the girls had skiing lessons in the morning … there goes the morning.  Then it was lunch, a few phone calls, a bit of business … yep - 3:00 pm before I even TOUCHED a piece of paper!  By 11:00 pm I was so tired I was dizzy … so I called it a day (a very loooooong day!).  Everything is cut and thrown on the tables … but I still need to dig out all the sentiments for the insides of the cards, make sure the inks are juice, set up the coffee and so on.  So do I have time to be rambling on like this … nope … but I still have one more sip of coffee left before I start moving so there is still enough time to post a PICTURE of my Technique Card from this week.  The tutorial will follow in a day or two (she said hopefully!).  Here it is!
Wa-low!  Fabulous, isn't it??  I could sit and stare at this or hours!  Alas … a few people might be mad if they put on makeup before 9:00 am on a Sunday morning with no cards to make so I better move on!

Thanks for popping in.  come back soon for the tutorial on this little beauty.  Until then - have a stampy Sunday!!


Tam

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Hello December Project Life® Card Collection by Stampin' Up!

Happy Wednesday!

Given that Monday and Tuesday were days off for the kids Wednesday is the new Monday … and that means a HOME DAY for me .. and THAT means I get to spend the day in my Sweet Legs leg gins, no makeup, cleaning, sorting, organizing and blogging!  Wa HOO!  My all time favourite kind of day!!

Stay tuned for a tutorial on my new-found Marbling Effect Technique … but until then here's another Project Life video.  Yes, I will also be spending part of my day today getting my pictures in my PL album - SO EXCITED!!!

That's it for now - pop in again soon to check out that tutorial.  Until then, have a stampy day!!


Tam

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Festival of Trees

Happy Sunday - yaaaaaaawwwwwwwwnnnnn …

I gotta say, these 4:00 am wakeup calls are starting to wear a LITTLE thin!  It's 5:41 am - I've been awake since 4:00 am and up since 5:00 am.  It's just wrong on ALL levels! It wouldn't be quite so bad if it was only every now and then but it's been fairly steady for MONTHS now … and I'm getting a little tired of it …. HAAAA - tired of it … that's funny! … yes, another sign I'm totally shattered - laughing in the dark at my own stupid jokes … there is a very good chance I'm totally losing it!

Oh well - maybe later I'll get to nap (**she said knowing better but still staying hopeful!)

On the list of things to do today is a) NOT get dressed … well - I won't be wandering naked but I won't be doing much more than wandering the house in my FABULOUS new Sweet Legs leggings and my old tatty sweater that looks like it's been around since my grandma was a kid … and b) CRAFTING!  Yes - the kids have a four day weekend and yesterday we had our first *real* snowfall so I just want to hibernate and play in my craft cave.  I haven't gone down and made a CARD for WEEKS.  I'm in withdrawal … and if I don't get some paper release soon someone COULD get hurt!  What am I planning to work on?  Well - I have an idea for a technique I want to try for class Tuesday … and  I also want to have a quick play to come up with a car-themed card.  Yesterday Craig bought me a brand-spanking new vehicle (a 2014 Nissan Rogue!!) and I thought it would be nice to take some hand made "congratulation" cards to the salesman to give out to his customers.  Stay tuned to see what I come up with on THAT front!

OK!  So today I am FINALLY getting around to posting four different cards that are all along the same theme and using the same stamp set - Festival of Trees.  Yes - these were made over a month ago … I just never found the time to post them.  (Apparently the best time for blog posting is at 5:41 am!!)

Last month when I was struggling to come up with "one more" Stamp-a-Stack card I decided I would use this little beauty:
 This card was designed by Tara Bazata over at www.inkandpapercafe.com.  It is a GREAT card that is crazy quick and easy and has gone absolutely viral on Pinterest and crafting sites.  Tara used the Festival of Trees set and punch and the All Is Calm Washi tape - the splotch from Gorgeous grunge, a few silver sequins from the Snowflake Sequins in the holiday catalogue and the sentiment from the exclusive hostess set "Good Greetings".  Yes, there is no denying it is a great card! …. so why couldn't I just leave it alone?  Nope - I made it and it just didn't sit right with me.  I felt it needed another colour … so I started to play … four HOURS later I ended up with this:
Bahahahah! See the resemblance?  No?  Me neither!  Hee hee - REALLY the only thing that ended up being the same is the stamp set *lol*.  My mind works in pretty messed up ways!

There WAS a progression to what I ended up with though.  Follow along!

First I just changed the colours and the Washi Tape ...
Yuck.

Then I used some inspiration from Connie Stewart over at www.simplysimplestamping.com, changed the wash tape for some Soft Sky card stock, added a few more trees, changed the sentiment and came up with this:
Getting better, getting better … I like it … but realized it was too many steps for a Stamp-a-Stack.  I tried again, taking away the card stock, adding a few splotches from the Work of Art set and a few more trees to get this:
… then realized that was just as much work as the previous version … tried again and came up with this:
Yes, STILL just about as much work but I decided I really liked the clan look of it and that's where I stopped.  Then I took a nap.  It's exhausting being me *lol*

Can you see all the elements on it?  The layer was run through the Big Shot with the triangle embossing folder (LOVE how it coordinates with the trees!).  The solid tree is punched out from Soft Sky card stock.  The other tree is stamped in Soft Sky and then punched out.  The solid tree is popped up with dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment from "Mingle All the Way" in Cherry Cobbler and punched it out with the 2" circle punch - it too is popped up with dimensionals.  I tied some white Baker's Twine around the layer but at my Stamp-a-Stack I ran out of white so had to use some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine … we all actually preferred the Cherry twine - it tied together the colours a little better (HA!  TIED together … hee hee - definitely a little punchy this morning!)  I added 3 glittery stars using the small star punch and attached them with glue dots (regular snail won't work!) … and yes, a mere 4 hours later I had my last SAS card.

Speaking of Stamp-a-Stack - my next Christmas session is next Sunday … perhaps I'll go cut the paper for it now.  Not much else to do at 6:07 on a snowy Sunday morning!  Thanks for popping in.  Stay warm and have a cozy, super stampy day!!


Tam

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Elf on the Shelf Fun!!

Happy Tuesday!
 
Ok!  At looooooooooooooooooooooooong last I can FINALLY share a project I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about!  I have had this in the planning stages for over a month ... and then once I got the product delivered LIFE got in the way and stalled production - argh!!!!  Never mind - it's done now and ready to roll!
 
I give you my ..... *drum roll please* ....
 
ELF ON THE SHELF ALBUM!  (yay!  Woo hoo!  The crowd goes wild!!!!)



Do you have an Elf on the Shelf?  If you have children aged 2 - 14 years old I would be surprised if you DON'T have an Elf on the Shelf!  These little elves have been the hot Christmas trend over the last few years and their popularity just keeps on growing!  (For those of you not up-to-speed on the Elf: in a nutshell - these little elves belong to your family and everynight the elf goes back to the North Pole to tell Santa if the children have been naughty or nice.  Each morning the elf returns and is in a differnt location.  Some elves are just that - elves in a different place on the shelf ... but those of us with WAY too much time on our hands find the elves in all sorts of places doing all sorts of things!)
 
If you DO have an elf, do you take pictures of their antics every day?  I do.  If you don't, you SHOULD!  Trust me!  The pictures make such awesome keepsakes/memories!  Anyone who follows me on FaceBook knows that my family has a slight obsession with Trixie, our beloved Elf on the Shelf.  Trixie gets up to all KINDS of trouble for 25 days every December - heck, she even follows us on holidays and photobombs us!  I'm not kidding when I say my kids LOVE the Elf on the Shelf photo album I put together last year.  Whenever we have guests over they haul it out and go through each and every picture reliving Trixies mischief!  It truly is a tradition that the girls can't WAIT for every year!
 
Last month Stampin' Up! came up with a GREAT little 6" x 8" album, divided page protectors and journaling cards specifically for the 25 Days of December.  Yes, it is part of the "Project Life" line of products.  That means super quick and super easy to get memories into books so you can get back to LIFE, not scrapbooking!  Stampin' Up! designed these products in order to help busy people document the fun that happens each and every day of December.  I am putting my own twist on things - I'm taking these products and putting them together in a way to help document the fantastic memories that are being made by these little elves and their families for the first 25 days of December.  My girls are already arguing over who gets the new album *lol*
 
So!  Here is what I am offering:
  • $42 for a Personalized Elf on the Shelf Album
    • Everything will come ready-to-use - all you have to do is print off your pictures, slide them into the album sleeves, jot down a few notes about what happened on the journaling cards and slide those in the sleeves next to the picture.  That's it!  Done!  You will have a great album keepsake in a matter of about an hour!
    • Put your album together on your own or come to my house Friday, January 30th and do it with me! 
      • What you get:
        • Personalized 6" x 8" Album (with the name of your elf on the front similar to the one shown above)
        • Variety Pack of 6" x 8: Photo Pocket Pages - 12 pages in total - 5 different designs.
          • This allows more than enough space to document 25 days of your elf's antics.  As seen above I often had 2 days of Trixie's fun on one page ...
        • Hello December Journaling Cards
          • Includes 40 cards - again, MORE than enough to documents/journal all about what happened.  Leftover cards can be used for future albums, other projects or handmade cards!
      • **  There is an option of purchasing coordinating embellishments for an additional $21.35 - email for further information on that


So there you have it - a quick, easy and fun way to document your Elf on the Shelf fun.  $42 and an hour of your time is all it takes!  Drop me an e-mail if you want me to hook you up!
 
Have a stampy night!
 
 
Tam

Monday, November 3, 2014

Upcoming Classes

Happy Monday All!
 
Hope you're having a fun, productive day like I am! 
 
Top on my list of things to do was to send my 2014 Class schedule!  A few have been asking, so I sent out an e-mail and figured I should post it here too.  I may add a few classes yet but as of now here is what we have:
 
TECHNIQUE CLASSES:
  • Tues, Nov 11th @ 6:30 pm
  • Fri, Nov 14th @ 7:00 pm
    • 3 cards with envelopes - everythingg provided
    • $15 for non-club members; $10 for current club members; free for you AND your friend if you bring a friend who has never stamped with me before
    • RSVP by Sunday, November 9th
CHRISTMAS STAMP-A-STACK (TAMARA'S DESIGNS)
    Sunday, November 16th - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm15, 20 or 25 cards with envelopes for $35, $45 or $55You bring adhesive, I supply everything else
  • Same 5 designs as my October SAS
  • RSVP by Wednesday November 12th ***ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT***
  • **  bottom left tree card has been replace with the Mingle All The Way card
ORIGAMI XMAS TREE CLASS
  • Tuesday, November 18th, 6:30 pm
    • Make 3 Christmas Trees (with stars) - (1) 12" tree, (1) 8" tree, (1) 4" tree
    • $25; $35 if you want a Fast Fuse Adhesive as well
      • (1) package of All is Calm DSP included
      • Full picture tutorial e-mailed to you (bring to class)
    • Bring your own adhesive (I recommend our Fast Fuse)
    • ** All 3 trees will be made with the All is Calm DSP and will all have stars on top - this picture just gives you an idea of the 3 sizes
    • **Last chance to register - RSVP deadline this Wednesday, Nov 5th at 7:00 pm as I need to order the supplies in advance!
 
CRAFT NIGHT
  • Friday, November 28th @ 6:30 pm
    • Come work on your Teacher Treats or Neighbour Gifts before the big pre-Christmas crunch starts!  Bring what you are working on or ask me for some ideas!
    • $10 for non-club members; $5 for club members IF you use my supplies - if you don't it's FREE Baby!  Just come, get away from the kids and craft with me :)  It's always more fun with friends!
TEACHER / NEIGHBOUR / COLLEAGUE GIFT CLASS
  • Friday, November 28th @ 6:30 pm
    • Yep - same date and time as craft night :)
    • Come and put together 5 Teacher Gifts in less than 2 hours - DONE! (you're welcome!)
      • $30 for 5 gifts (psssst - that's only $6 per gift - and I've done the shopping FOR you - you just have to decorate the bag & tag!!!!)
        • 5 "Delon Intense Moisturizing Body Butter" (I bought/tried these last year and LOVE them!)
        • 5 Petite Cafe Gift Bags
        • 5 Tags and embellishments to decorate the bags similar to these (designed by fellow demonstrator Krista Frattin)
      • RSVP by next Friday, November 14th so I can order and receive product in time! 
    • *** if you love the bags but want to fill them with your OWN gifts, come and make the bags and tags!
      • Supplies to make 10 BAGS AND 10 TAGS for only $20!!
CHRISTMAS STAMP-A-STACK (KIT DESIGNS)
  • Final Christmas Card session for the year - all new designs using the Watercolor Winter Kit
  • Wednesday, Dec 10th @ 6:30 pm
    • Payment is due no later than Nov 23rd and is non-refundable 
    • 20 cards for $40 - just $2 per card!!
    • I PROVIDE EVERYTHING, EVEN SNAIL ... just come and assemble!  5 each of 4 different layouts. 

TECHNIQUE CLASSES:
  • Tues, Dec 9th @ 6:30 pm
  • Fri, Dec 12th @ 7:00 pm
    • 3 cards with envelopes - everythingg provided
    • $15 for non-club members; $10 for current club members; free for you AND your friend if you bring a friend who has never stamped with me before
    • RSVP by Sunday, December 7th
OK!  That's it for classes for this year!  One more thing, though.  My friend Kerri-Anne has created these fabulous little Finger Dauber and Glitter Glue Holders.  I asked if I could offer them to my customers and she said yes!  So ....
 
Is anyone interested in purchasing either or both of them?  Kerri-Anne is selling them for $6 each or both for $10.  Let me know if you are interested!
  
Right.  That is one very time consuming e-mail!  BUT! ..... STAY TUNED FOR MY ELF ON THE SHELF OFFERING IN MY NEXT E-MAIL (coming in the next 24 hours!!!)
 
Please check your calendars and get back to me for any classes you would like to register for.  LOTS going on!  I hope to see many of you at at least one of them!  Until next time, have a stampy day!!
 
 
Tamara