Oh Boy! This card could potentially weigh 5lbs with all the goodies I laid on top of it.  Whoever receives this card, it may cost you SERIOUSLY.

Sometimes I just get crazy urges and cannot stop the insanity of adding products.  JEESH!! My goal tonight was to be in bed before midnight.  Umm… that didn't really work! It's now WAY after midnight and I just finished this card.  I just got involved and that is my final answer! This card is all about the Holiday Mini as we count down to one of the BEST Mini Catalogs that's about to debut.  The paper, the stamps and the accessories are just fantastic!  The project ideas that I keep thinking about are non stop.  My only problem is TIME.  UGH!

Anyways, let me share this crazy card and explain some of the fun stuff.

Are you as excited about Baja Breeze coming back as I am?  What a fun color.  I think it has a vintage feel to it and this snowman is my favorite image in this stamp set called Jolly Old Saint Nick. 

I started the card with Baja Breeze and stamped a snowflake image from a new set called Jolly Bingo Bits-another Holiday Mini fav of mine.  I added the Candy Cane Christmas DSP.  This DSP just makes me happy.  Maybe it's all about those cute birds or the vintage feel of the ornaments!  I dunno, but I do know I LoVe it!  Now, this is where the card building went haywire.  You see the Crumb Cake Scallop thing that is underneath the snowman?  That is actually a Mini Lunch Sack that I cut to fit my 3 x 3 card.  These will be available in the Holiday Mini.  I love them because they are already scalloped.  Basically this is a card with a card.  Almost a little surprise for the recipient. On top of the trimmed lunch sack I stamped my snowman in Basic Black ink and colored the image in using my Stampin' Pastels.  Again, a product that I see NOT used enough.  Love having Whisper White chalk and Very Vanilla chalk.  If you haven't tried Stampin' Up!'s pastels, you really should.  Every color at your fingertips for only 24.95 (#120962).  Or you can just get the New Color Kit with all the new colors we've added this year for only 14.95! STEAL! (#120963).  I added some button brads on the snowman's belly using the Vintage Trinkets.  I also added a banner and used a Safety Pin from the Trinkets to hold it in place.  There are a few layers of ribbon added…. I got a little carried away.  My
 3×3 card is pretty simple.  I only added more of the DSP and a beautiful BIG button. 

I think I can officially go to bed feeling satisfied.  Could be a different story when those sweet gems of mine wake me up bright and early.  Whoopsie! I can only blame myself for this crazy stamp addiction!

Have a GREAT Day!

A couple of days ago you will remember I showed you the treat holder I demonstrated at my workshop.  You can see it again HERE.  I promised a video and I have it ready for you.  There is a funny in it, as always.  Jeesh!

Instead of doing the same ole treat I switched it up and created a little treat for Halloween.  My poor kids are so confused with the holidays right now.  Alexis does NOT understand why I am creating for Halloween so soon.  Brandon thinks Christmas is next month!  So funny!

Okay, here it is…

Ready to create? Watch my video:

Materials List:

Stamps: Wicked Fun

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, DSP Wicked Fun Specialty #117400

Accessories: Decorative Label punch (Holiday Mini), Glimmer Brads (SO fun, coming in the Holiday Mini), Markers: Tangerine Tango, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Vintage Trinkets, 1 1/4 Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Border Scallop punch, Chocolates at Costco…

In other news, I am trying to get my kids ready for school.  You know the drill- haircuts, school clothes and school supplies.  Tonight as I put my boy to bed we had a deep chat.  More like another life lesson.  I have to admit that I love bedtime because it seems to be the time my kids really open up and chat.  Probably because they don't want to go to bed! Tonight's conversation was so sweet.  It was all about making new friends.  He's nervous and misses his friends in Colorado.  I wiped away little tears tonight and shed my big tears later.  Again, this will all be water under the bridge soon.  Friends will be made and we will laugh about all this soon. With our other moves the kids were smaller and meeting new friends was all relative.  Now that they're a little older this is a HUGE issue.  I'm excited for the school year to start so they can meet new buddies.  I think the first day of school will be memories like their first day of Kindergarten.  Bittersweet.  I'll be nervous for them myself. 

Enjoy the video and we'll meet up again in a few days-possibly tomorrow if I can get myself together. 

Tap, Tap, Tap! That's my foot on my floor as I wait for my new video to upload.  I wish I wasn't so impatient and so does my husband.  Sometimes it takes forever for videos to upload and even more so as I look at the clock and it reads a time I shouldn't even repeat.  Ack!

Tonight will be a quick post and something new.  My goal was to keep showing Summer Mini Products.  I can't lie…. I just needed to touch that new stuff.  It's so pretty and was calling for me to play with it. 

Can you scream for FABRIC???  I'm beyond excited that Stampin' Up! is offering a few pieces of fabric and I think you will too when you see just what you can do with it.  Don't think of of the traditional sewing machine.  If you are like me and have a sewing machine but only know a few stitches, well the fabric is still for you. It will be available on Sept 1st and it's going to be an adventure as I show you non traditional ways to use it.  Yippie.  Now, notice that cute little bag? It's also available on Sept 1st.  Wanna know the coolest thing?  It's already scalloped.  If you are a busy mom looking for FAST, FUN and SUPER cute goodie bags… Look no further.  Stampin' Up! is here to take care of you.  For me, time is precious and this saved me time just making this fast little bag. 

As I was playing with the Fabric, Alexis asked me to teach her to sew.  I had a feeling of, "oh no!" Where is my mom when I need her?  I really do not know how to sew.  Maybe a basic stitch or two but that is it.  In fact I have to get the instruction book out every time I need to thread the machine.  Seriously pathetic!  I couldn't let my little girl down and I couldn't embarrass myself so I sat with Alexis and taught her pretty much what I know about sewing.  She had a blast and it was GREAT bonding time for the two of us.  Tomorrow we are learning the ZIG ZAG stitch.  Don't laugh… this is HUGE for both of us. 

Here is my girl:

Isn't that sweet? Okay, so much for short…. the video is still not ready. I'm off to bed.  A video will be posted soon.  Hope your week is everything and FABULOUS!

I hope you don't mind me sharing about my first workshop I held last night in my new Stampin' Room.  One of the greatest gifts I get from being a demonstrator is forming new friendships while teaching the art and beauty of rubber stamping.  Many of you asked how in the world did I get this workshop so fast?  It's actually a little blessing from two great demonstrators.  Our stamping world really is a small world. Both demonstrators, Debbie Keane and Lisa Freeman referred them to me when the hostess had inquired about finding classes or a demonstrator and they lived about 4 hours away. Last night as we sat at the workshop I was demonstrating a 6 x 6 scrapbook page and showing them how great our albums are.  I opened one of my scrapbook albums and there was a few layouts of Lisa and I.  Completely unplanned, but funny with the way this whole story goes.   The hostess and I laughed and it proved what I've said so many times before…. Friendships are formed in this great craft we call "Rubber Stamping!"  Thanks to Debbie and Lisa I have 6 new friends that enjoyed a night of stamping in my house. We plan to have many more fun nights of stamping together! Hopefully Debbie and Lisa will get to come up and stamp in my room too!

Here we are playing with stamps…

It felt GREAT to teach again.  Ahhhh…. This is what I LOVE!

Let me show you what we made last night. 

I first demonstrated how great the Big Shot is.  Who doesn't love the BIG SHOT? Seriously, it's the BEST. I wanted to show how the Two Tags Die Cut is fabulous and versatile.  Remember the last card I showed to you?  Remember I said I created that card with something in mind? I wanted to show many ways to use this die cut.  I showed the card, Birthday/Christmas Tags and then this little cutie:

I will share how to make the project above tomorrow.  It's fast and easy and great for party favors. 

Then my workshop guests made these two projects:

I love the bright colors of this scrapbook page.  The inspiration for the colors came from my Color Coach that Stampin' Up! has.  This is such a GREAT tool that everyone should purchase. If you struggle with color combinations, Get the "COACH!" -120148

Lastly, we made a Christmas Card.  It's that time to get busy on your Christmas cards.  There are tons of great stamp sets to choose from and this one is a fun, simple set to use.  It's called Welcome Christmas- 120597

It was a fantastic night and I can't wait until the next workshop…. Yes, we will be meeting again.  WHOO HOO!!!!

The rest of my weekend has been filled with enjoying my family and more organizing.  Today I took Russ to IKEA.  He was in a state of confusion because he didn't "get" the store set up.  He probably couldn't concentrate either because I was singing the entire time we were in the store.  What can I say?  The store just makes me happy! I did get a few goodies for my stamp room.  I'll share soon.  LOL!

Enjoy your week. 

Busy busy here in my creative space.  I've been getting the last minute details together for the big night tomorrow.  Tonight I've been working on some Big Shot projects I can share this weekend. I love all of my die cuts and I sure know which ones I use more.  For instance, I love the Two Tags Die cut.  It's very versatile and can be used for more than just a tag.  Case in point…

I loved using this die cut as a piece to stamp my sentiment.  Here is the card a bit closer…

I used my Scallop Border Punch and added a double scalloped piece to this card.  Kinda fun and different.  Here is a side view.  I mean really, can we have too many views on a card?  My camera was being nice to me so I might as well blog about it. I do love this Favorite Thoughts stamp set from the Summer Mini.  Love the sentiments. 

Here are the supplies used for this card:

Stamps: Favorite Thoughts (120048), Cute by the Inch (Level 1 Hostess Set), Belle Wheel (121430)

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy and Vanilla

Accessories: Blueberry Crisp DSP (117392), Neutral Buttons (119743), Spritzer Tool (107066), Linen Thread (104199), Vanilla Taffeta (109071), Two Tags Sizzix Die Cut (115954), Scallop Border Punch

Okay, before I leave I want to clarify a few things from my video yesterday.  I've received a few questions about a couple things and I can't seem to keep up with all my email. <VERY SAD FACE!>  Well, I could answer you but my kids would be running around naked because of a back log of laundry.  YIKES! 

Here goes… The Scrapbooking Canvas on my wall, you can find a tutorial on Splitcoast.  You can also search on my blog for other close up views of different canvas that I've done. 

For those of you that are new to either Stampin' Up! or rubber stamping, please realize this stamp room is about 7 years in the making.  <smile>  7 years ago when I started my business and started stamping I worked in a very small room with ONE 6 ft table and made some U-G-L-Y cards in the beginning.  I can almost bet the recipients of my FIRST swap laughed and felt sorry for me. My point is that regardless of your space, if you keep it organized it can be your own little paradise.  I've collected a lot of great stampin' tools over the years and when they are out in the open and not in a drawer I use them.  The same with my embellishments… they are out to see and USE. 

Thank you so much for taking the tour and I will keep you posted on new changes that I make to it.  Believe it or not, I've already rearranged a shelf.  <sigh> 

I hope your weekend is spectacular.  I've got TONS of stamping to do.  I plan to turn my tunes up loudly, dance in my stamp room and STAMP, STAMP, STAMP!