November SOTM Blog Hop!

WELCOME to my blog and thank you for joining us for our November Stamp of the Month blog hop!! If you've just joined me from Michelle's Blog, then you are the right path!

Today I'm sharing a simple standard-size birthday card that uses the Elemental papers X7141B and the Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge. Colors I've used include Cocoa, Colonial White, Creme Brulee, Desert Sand, and Sorbet. The cupcake images were cut at 4.25" and the scallop-topped tag (tag3) was cut at 2.5." I will be giving this card to my sweet daughter Wendy whose 9th birthday is coming up on January 15th!

Here is a view of all of the images included
in this month's stamp set "Cherish the Day" S1111.
(Remember you can click on this image to see it larger!)

Now you can continue on with the rest of our Blog Hop to see more beautiful artwork using the "Cherish the Day" stamp set by visiting Lori's Blog next! Enjoy!!

Happy Halloween!!

I just thought you might enjoy seeing my kids in their costumes today!
Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween!!
  

Juan Steven, age 4 - Thomas the Train
(photo taken at tot-time pre-school last week)

Wendy, age 8 - a Fallen Angel

(all her idea, don't know where it came from, lol).

Isabelle, age 11 - a Hogwart's Student
(yes, we are still obsessed with all-things Harry Potter.
Belle just finished reading all the books recently AGAIN!)

Jose Jr, age 13 - a Nerd
Great face Jose! (such a character, lol)!

Emily, age 14 - Waldo (as in "Where's Waldo?")

Emily will turn 15 in just 3 more days!

"Christmas Card Buffet" cards for October!

This card (above) features the NEW stamp set Glory to God D1483
shown on page 83 of the current Idea Book!

(the inside of the card above reads "...that puts Christmas in the air.")

These are the Christmas Cards I'm offering for you to create with me during October (on the 20th, 21st, and 27th) while supplies last for just $1 each!! Scroll down to the post just before this one for my full list of October dates and times. You may recognize some of these card designs as ones I've already offered at workshops in the past (and most of the papers and stamp sets used are now retired). I'm offering them up again now because I still have quite a few left-over pre-cut kits that I'd love to use up and keep from going to waste. I am also working on designing 8 more all-NEW Christmas Cards for you to create with me on Saturday, November 12th (4pm-10pm) and a few other play dates that I will be offering in November! I will be posting photos of the NEW cards here soon also! So you can get a head-start now by making a few of these Christmas cards with me in October (shown above) and then plan to join me again in November for even more Christmas cards using all-NEW stamps, papers, and embellishments!

October Events (and $5 Creative Class artwork!!)

I've had to change my usual class schedule quite a bit this month due to all of the family commitments that I have coming up every Saturday in October (it is such an exceptionally busy month for us)! This coming Saturday 10/8, we will need to start later than usual (7pm) due to having kids involved in the Marching Band/Field Show Tournament at Barstow High that afternoon and evening.

...and for those of you who have been asking, I have been working on designing a brand-new Christmas Card Workshop that will start on November 11th and 12th, so you can mark your calendar for that now too if you're interested (photos and more details to come soon)!!

Thurs. 10/6 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Friday 10/7 (6pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE

Sat. 10/8 (7pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE (notice the 7pm start time!!)

Thurs. 10/13 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Sat. 10/15 (10am-2pm) - Christmas Card Buffet @ LDS church ($1 per card)

Thurs. 10/20 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

Friday 10/21 (6pm-10pm) - Evening PLAYDATE

Thurs. 10/27 (9am-11am) - Morning PLAYDATE

You will also notice that I am now using the term "PLAYDATE" to describe my events, so let me explain why. Instead of scheduling certain classes on specific dates, I have decided to be more flexible by offering you more time to come "PLAY" with me in my stamp room and you get to choose what exactly you will be creating and when. Here are all of your options this month:

$5 Creative Class: 

Make 3 items - two cards and a pocket-tag treat-holder for Halloween (shown below!) Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

$5 Card Buffet: 

Choose and make any 3 cards from my stash of left-over pre-cut card kits from previous classes I've offered. Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

Event Calendar Workshop: 

Finish the Event Calendar(s) you may have already started with me on 9/24 OR it's not too late to begin one or more of them now (I have 9 available kits left to sell)! Click here for photos of the project and details about pricing. Price does not include adhesive (so bring your own or purchase from me as needed).

Workshops on the Go kits (as shown in the Idea Book):
For around $20, you can make two beautiful two-page 12x12 layouts (4 pages), or for $29.95 (plus tax and s/h) you can create these same layouts and get to keep the matching C-size stamp set you've used to make them! Create any of the WOTG layouts with or without the bonus projects shown in the Idea Book when you pre-order your supplies at least a week before you plan to join me at a "playdate". I do have some of the more in demand kits already "in stock" for you to choose from while supplies last on a first come, first serve basis. I currently have ONE Roxie kit (p. 25), ONE Elemental kit (p. 31), TWO Sonoma kits (p. 43), ONE Believe kit (p. 55), and ONE Wonderland kit (p. 61) on hand available for purchase.

FREE Open Crop time:

Bring any supplies you already have to use to come and create to your heart's delight! You are welcome to use any of my stamps, inks, and tools as needed so you can get done whatever projects you want to finish! I also have a variety of cardstock and patterned papers available for you to purchase individually by the sheet to use as you create. You will want plenty of paper to use with my NEW Cricut machine and our AWESOME Art Philosophy cartridge if you you'd like to try it out (I would love to show you how)!!

PLEASE e-mail me, Facebook message me, or call/text my cell phone (760-220-0683) to RSVP at least a day before you plan to join us. Space is limited and I need to know ahead of time how many people to be prepared for on each date! THANKS so much for your rsvp's and I will look forward to seeing you at one or more of my upcoming events soon!!

$5 Creative Class Projects for October:

3.5" x 8" card (above) featuring the October SOTM - Holiday Magic S1110
with the Roxie papers X7140B

Pocket-tag Treat-holder for Halloween featuring the Captured Moments stamp set C1423 and Mischief papers X7114B (shown above and below) inspired by my friend, Nikka Geers. You can click on this link to Nikka's blog for her instructions how to make this using the "pillow box" cut from our Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (I cut my pillow box at 5.5" and the tag is cut from Olive cardstock at 4.5").

Standard size card (below) inspired by Wishes - Simple Expression (p. 40)
featuring the Remarkable Wreath stamp set C1473, Dreamin' paper pack X7142B,
and Glitz Bronze Glitter Gel Z1483.

"Sentiment-ally Yours" Heart to Heart Challenge!

The Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog issued a fun challenge this week - to create something using only a sentiment stamp!! We can use any papers and embellishments we want to BUT no stamps unless it is a sentiment. So here is my card that fits those requirements:

This standard size card is inspired by Originals - Upper Level Focus (p. 42). It uses the now retired Aspen papers with two different stamp sets to stamp the sentiment, Holiday Jingle C1371 and Peace on Earth D1243 (also both retired). Ink colors I used are Outdoor Denim and Twilight. To achieve the fun pattern on the "Joy" stamp, I used the "dirty kiss and twist" technique. Now, I know what you're thinking, that technique doesn't sound like it should be done in public, but I promise it's not as bad as it sounds, lol. I simply inked a patterned stamp (from Argyle Backgrounds D1325) with Outdoor Denim ink and laid it on my work surface stamp-side up. Then I inked the "Joy" stamp with Twilight ink and stamped it on top of the background stamp "kissing them together and twisting about 1/4 turn" before carefully lifting the stamp straight up and stamping it on my Colonial White cardstock. (Ooops, I just now realized that I did in fact use one additional stamp other than the sentiments, so I guess this challenge was tougher for me than I thought and I hope that doesn't disqualify this card completely, lol).
Remember, you can click on my photo to see it larger if you want to see the fun detail that results when using this technique!

This card is just one of the many different cards I will be offering for you to make with me at my "Christmas Card Buffet" coming up on Saturday, October 15th (10am to 2pm) during our Relief Society Super Saturday Craft Day!! (This event will be held at my church where non-members are always welcome to join us! It will be a purely "fun and social" meeting, so there will be no "religious" pressure to be concerned about!) Those who attend can "snack a little" by creating just a few of the simple Christmas cards I will be offering this day or "feast a lot" and create as many as you want to for just $1 per card! I will share more of the cards I will be offering here on my blog soon, but you can RSVP now if you want to!