Peaceful Season is one of my favorite Christmas sets.  It is a level 2 hostess set featured in the Holiday mini catalog.  Here's another beautiful sample from the monthly card swap I belong to.

 
all images copyright SU!
Simple and elegant, love it!  This was stamped by Emily Turner.   Here is what she used to make this beauty.

Stamps:  Peaceful Season
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper:  Bashful Blue and Whisper White
Big Shot:  Northern Flurry embossing folder
Extras:  Basic Pearls, Circle Scissors

Today is the last day to order from the Online Spectacular. 
When you place an order online with me  by 10:30 pm on  11/30.  I will enter your name into a drawing to win this set, Peaceful Season.  I will draw the lucky winner's name on 12/1!    If you have any questions about the special do not hesitate to call or email me. 

Today is also the last day to become a demonstrator at 50% of the kit!  It is an incredible deal and I would love to have you as part of my group.  Please feel free to call or email me!

 
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 
Have I got an Incredible sale to share with you!  You know what makes it truly great?  You do not have to go anywhere but to your computer to shop!  I won't tell if you shop in your pjs!

  
Click Here  to see all the fantastic deals!

I will enter your name in a drawing for the level 2 hostess set Peaceful Season when you place an online order with me from 11/22-11/30.  I will draw the winner's name on 12/1! 

While I am sharing Incredible Deals remember you still have time  for this one.

 
50% OFF the starter kit! 

Is crafting a big part of your life? Wouldn't you love to earn money while doing something you enjoy? How about the convenience of setting your own hours? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then Stampin' Up! is the perfect opportunity for you. Doing what I love, and sharing what I love with others are just a few of the benefits that made me decide to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I love sharing my passion for stamping with family and friends, meeting new people, and having the chance to build a great business doing so. I also get to set my own schedule and that is a definite plus! And, from November 15 through November 30, 2010, becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator has never been easier! You can get the Standard or Digital + Starter Kits for only $87.50—that is 50 percent off the regular price of $175 for over $310 worth of paper or digital crafting and business supplies!

If you're interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, follow these easy steps: Contact me to get a password. (Stamp Ladies is the password) Once you have your password, click on the Start Your Own Business and then Join Now, image on my website www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net.  Read, print, and sign the Independent Demonstrator Agreement. Purchase your Starter Kit—there are two options! The  traditional Starter Kit contains over $310 worth of stamping and business supplies! The Digital+ Starter Kit contains over $320 worth of stamping and business supplies, including the all-new My Digital Studio™ software.

So, are you thinking I have been watching too many late night infomercials?  Yes, it is another cheesy title post.  What can I say?  Coming up with a title for my blog post is way harder than coming up with the project!  

Today's project is a quick and easy one.  Don't ya just love that?  I purchased the "hi" embosslit (pg 215) a few months ago and it has been patiently sitting on my desk  just waiting to be used.   Embosslits are so cool because they emboss and cut with one roll through  the Big Shot-genius!  After I had the cut and embossed "hi" I wondered how it would look on the Tags til Christmas (Holiday mini catalog)  "25" stamped image.  I inked the stamp up in Soft Suede and stamped it on Whisper White cardstock.  I punched it out with the Decorative label punch.  Isn't it great that the stamp and the punch coordinate AND that the punch is a little bit bigger, looks like another layer.  I also punched 2 more labels out of Baja Breeze and pieced it on to add another layer to my label.  

Here's the finished card.

 
I colored the"hi" with a Soft Suede marker before adding the Dazzling Diamonds glitter.   Is that a good idea or what?  I am sure you can identify the rest of the products I used  but here's the list.

Paper:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Big Shot:  Hi embosslit, Elegant Lines embossing folder
Punches:  XL Decorative Label punch
Ribbon: Whisper White Organza
Extras: Soft Suede marker, Dazzling Diamonds, Basic Pearls

Embosslits would make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite stamper  or for yourself!  Call or email me and we will get those stocking stuffed in no time!

It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to hang out in my stamp room.   Today is the day. I have fresh batteries in my CD player and a good book to listen to.  It is  a perfect way to spend the day.  I have missed getting inky and working on things to share with you.    Sometimes even if everything is just right the ideas do not come.   What do you do when this happens?  I would love to hear what you do to get the ideas flowing.  Here is one of the things I try.  I pull out the leftover cards parts from projects I prepped for classes, clubs or workshops and just make those cards again.   I think just doing something familiar and getting involved in that opens up the mind to new ideas. 

Here is what I made from the leftovers from the topiary I made in this post.  I didn't stray too far from the original idea but it is a start.

 
Here is what you will need to make this card.

Paper:  Greenhouse Gala, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, and Cajun Craze
Big Shot:  Beautiful Wings embosslit and Perfectg Polka Dots embossing folder
Punches:  Round Tab punch
Extras:  Daffodil Delight ribbon , Basic Rhinestones

Hope you get to play in your stamp room soon!

 
Here it is straight from the SU website. ..

"What do you call it when you get over $310 in crafting and business supplies for only $87.50? You can call it an amazing deal, but we're calling it an amazing opportunity! From November 15-30, you can purchase either our Standard or Digital+ Starter Kits at 50 percent off the regular retail price of $175 (plus free shipping!), and enjoy these great benefits as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

• Earn additional income while sharing creativity.
• Make new and lasting friendships.
• Enjoy access to nearly unlimited creative ideas.
• Receive a free subscription to our exclusive monthly magazine.
• Receive free two-month subscription to your own business website.
• Opportunity to earn free products and incentive trips. 

Both the Standard Starter Kit and the Digital + Kit are available at this amazing price! The standard kit includes a variety of paper crafting products, and the Digital + Kit is a great option to showcase both traditional crafting products and our exciting digital design software, My Digital Studio."

If you have any questions,concerns or are ready to order your kit  please call or email me.  I would love to talk with you about being a demonstrator. 

Last month at SU's regional meeting I saw a great card made with the Circle Circus set (page 136).  I don't know who made it but I knew I needed to make one. and use it as a Christmas card.  I changed a few things but the "essence" belongs to someone else (thank you!)   This is one of the projects my hostess clubs made this month. 

 
Stamps:  Circus Circle and Curly Cute
Ink:  Old Olive and Real Red
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Cajun Craze, and Chocloate Chip (for the trunk)
Punches:  Round tab punch
Big Shot:  Merry Details and Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder
Extras:  Real Red Taffeta ribbon

The pot is made using the round tab punch. 
 
 
You can either trim the top of the pot or leave it rounded and cover it up with a bow.  Isn't this such a great simple card?    After making a topiary I started to think about making the circles into lanterns.

 
Stamps:  Circle Circus and Three Little Words
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler and Black
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Basic Black
Punches:  1 3/8" circle and 3/4" circle
Extras:  Crimper (stamped, punched and then ran the circles through the crimper to make it look more paper lanterny)

This  card uses up those little pieces of white and black card stock scrap that you have been holding on to.  It really is a quick card and I think you can use it for a lot of different occasions.  I have another idea running around in my head and if it turns out I will share it with you soon! If you want your own  Circle Circus set you can shop on my online store  thru my website or give me a call.

I will confess I did not LOVE this set at first glance.  I liked some of the images but not so much that I had to order it right away.  Slowly it has grown on  me.  I knew I was going to receive the stamp set when I went to the Portland Regional seminar in October and by then I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!  I have come to really like the stamp set and even had a class focused around  it!  I know it is hopeless to resist!

The main problem I had with the stamp set was that it looked like an Autumn set.  I wanted to show that it is in fact a very versatile set and can be used for all kinds of occasiona as well as in lots of different colors.

Here is a springy/summery looking card that we made in class.

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude and Curly Cute
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, and Old Olive
Inks:  Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive
Punches:  Scallop Edge border
Embellies:  Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Basic Rhinestones, Certainly Celery satin ribbon

This stamp set is  in the Holiday mini catalog which is available until January 3, 2011.  You know you want it so don't wait and order it now!

Hope you had a fun Halloween!  Did you get a lot of trick or treaters?   Whatever you did I hope it was a fun weekend!

We are starting out this week with a pretty gloomy and wet day.  It is a great day to be inside and stamping.   The card I am sharing with you today is a simple one and it uses a lot of my favorite things.   I think it hits all the major categories!   Can you name them all?

 
all images copyright Stampin'Up!

So,  did you see all the different things  I used? 
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder-kinda the little black dress of stamping
                       Tasteful Trim die
Wheels:    Jolly Jingle jumbo wheel
Stamps:    Tags til Christmas
Punches: Decorative Label
Colors:      In Colors Poppy Parade , Pear Pizzaz, and Whisper White
Glitter :    Silver Glass glitter

When I made this I didn't know that it would also be a great card to show off of one of the  Holiday Bundles in the promotion we are having right now.  Do you see which one?  Yes, it is the Decorative Label punch and the Tags til Christmas set.  You can get this dynamic duo for $38.32 (wood mounted set)  or $31.92 (clear mount option).   You can order online through my website www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net or contact me by phone or email.    Hope to stamp with you soon!