Noel for Mojo Monday

I'm feeling at a loss for words today - for no particular reason. I just couldn't come up with an angle for today's post. I needed a design for my newsletter tutorial and I was very happy with the results, but I can't think of anything entertaining to chat about. Maybe world events lately have made my little creative efforts seem inconsequential. There is so much pain in the world, and here in Canada, we are so relatively comfortable. I wouldn't want to give that up if I was honest, but I feel guilty about it. Really, I want everyone to have the same kind of life that I have had. But so many people in the world are intent on destruction and power. Where does that come from?

Anyway, I suppose any attempt to bring some beauty to the world is worthwhile, even though it might be small and unimportant. The more people that are inspired to leave this earth more beautiful than it was when they came, the better off we will all be.

This design is the subject of a Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial, one of two that subscribers to my newsletters will be getting for free this month. It's quite a mix of stamp sets old and new, but I really like the way they all worked so well together.

I loosely followed the Mojo Monday sketch for this week for my layout and fell back on my favourite colour scheme this winter: Gold, Black and White.

Can you name all the stamp sets I used in creating this card?

• I won't be giving much of card recipe here, as I will have all the step-by-step instructions along with photos, measurements and a list of products used in my newsletter for free this next month. To sign up for my newsletter, just enter your email address in the space below and hit enter. You may unsubscribe easily at any time.

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• The stamp sets I used making this card are Everything Eleanor, Jolly Christmas and Antique Tags, a Hostess set.

Along with the card tutorial, there will be a tutorial for some Christmas decor, which I will show you tomorrow.

 

Just a reminder that the Online Extravaganza is still on until Monday, with savings of up to 50%. There are sooo many good deals, that you will find it hard to pick only a few. Tell your friends and family about it, too. In fact, print off the Sale Brochure, highlight what you would like to get and pass it on to your family and friends along with my contact information. That's the way to get exactly what you want for Christmas!!

And you can get double the Papercraft Cat Loyalty Reward points until Monday. Make sure your orders are a minimum of $30 to take advantage of this!

Delicate Ornament Ornament

My heart is heavy today. We found out that dear friends of ours lost their 36 year old son. He just died suddenly and unexpectedly. We spent part of the day with them yesterday, hoping to be of some comfort. There are no words to speak, just pain to share. It is the news every parent dreads to hear. As I wrote this post last night, I felt too emotionally drained to write or share much. There are practical things we can do in the days ahead to relieve the burden, but no one can lift the pain of bereavement. You can only be with the bereaved, pray for them and share their grief, hoping that will give them a bit of a ledge to stand on when they feel they are drowning in the sorrow.

I am working on two tutorials for my newsletter at the moment. For the next couple of months leading up to Christmas, I am planning on including 2 photo tutorials - one for a card and one for some holiday decor or wrapping ideas. If you are a subscriber to my newsletter, you will get these free.

• This is a three dimensional ornament, made from Glimmer Paper, die cut with the Delicate Ornament dies. It isn't difficult at all, but it is kind of fiddly to get it exact with all the sides matching up. I will give you some ideas about how to accomplish that.
• You could make a few of these of different designs for your Christmas tree. There are several colours of Glimmer Paper that you could choose from: Red, Dazzling Diamonds, Gold and Silver, and even Black. You can also colour the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper any colour you want!

If you want this tutorial, and you are not on my mailing list, simply subscribe here:

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I will not list the supplies used here. You can find them on the step-by-step tutorial which also includes measurements and photo-illustrated instruction.

Have a great week, and give your kids an extra hug or a phone call today! Hold your family close!

A Creative Weekend Escape

I'm baaack! I was just away for the weekend at my annual spring Creative Escape Weekend Retreat put on by my upline, Desiree Spenst!  So I have lots to share with you as it was a very productive time.  We were here:

This is the AP Guest Ranch and yes, that is a real log cabin. I stayed in the Buffalo Bill room and learned a lot about William Cody (aka Buffalo Bill) in the process! The grounds and horses were lovely and Susan, the host, prepared some amazing meals for us! The downside was that it was rather dark for crafting so I'm glad I brought my LED desk lamp, and the second thing was that internet was down for the weekend. There was also no cell phone service! That was good and bad. It was bad because many of us had planned projects needing computer access, but good because we could disengage with the internet and just craft all weekend. I actually rather enjoyed it and I got a lot done which I will share with you over the next couple of weeks. However, I was planning on sending out my newsletter on Friday night but was unable to because I had no Internet access.  I mailed it out last night, though so you should have it now. My apologies to all.

The card I would like to share with you was the last one I made at the retreat and I made it for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #245 this week. I had to guess at the sketch which I had seen previously, because I couldn't access it on line, so I was hoping I got it right.

What do you think?

• One of the best thing about stamping retreats is that you have access to stamp sets and tools that you don't own yourself. While I have a lot of stamps and accessories, I didn't own this set and it didn't really ping my radar at all when I saw it in the Annual Catalogue, but it seemed the ideal solution to this problem of 5 shapes in a line at the bottom of the card. It's called Birthday Surprise and I really like the sketchy style and the variety of birthday images.
• I took one last look at Best Year Ever, the Sale-A-Bration DSP that is available today and tomorrow only as Sale-A-Bration comes to an end! Did you get some? There's still time! I'm really going to miss it because I love the colours and designs.
• The colour scheme includes some of the colour in the Best Year Ever DSP - Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry! Let's hear it for the 6 Cs! Yay! The ribbon and button are from the Sale-A-Bration reward, Best Year Ever Accessory Pack, including ribbon and buttons in those same 6 C colours. Get it now or forever hold your peace!
• The 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch created the little scalloped backing for the button and some Crushed Curry Baker's Twine.

In other news, Sale-A-Bration ends TOMORROW!

I have given you lots of warning, so you can't say you didn't know! If you still want something from the Sale-A-Bration rewards, make sure you get a hold of me with your $60 or more order by tomorrow afternoon. The order will be going in at 5:00 pm. It's your very last chance to pick up some of those amazing items like: The Lotus Blossom stamp set, the Irresistibly Yours (just as I finally learn how to spell it??!) Specialty Designer Series Paper, the Sheer Perfection Vellum, the Big Day stamp set and so many more. Give me a call or email me with your order!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the Stampin' Up! products used to make this card today!

Product List

Birthday Surprise Clear-Mount Stamp Set [134120]	Birthday Surprise Wood-Mount Stamp Set [134117]	Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper [138633]	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]
Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131199]	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad [131175]	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [126983]	Best Year Ever Accessory Pack [138634]	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173]
Crushed Curry Baker's Twine [134586]	7/8" Circle Scallop Punch [129404]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Glue Dots [103683]	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332]

An Illuminated Easel Card for 9 Weeks of Christmas

How was your weekend? Mine was lovely.  I managed to find some time for some shopping and lunch out with my hubby.  Then we went to see the movie, The Hundred Foot Journey.

Such a charming and heart-warming story!  If you haven't seen it yet, you must!  Other than that, I had some fun down in the Craft Cave creating an illuminated easel card for my series of Christmas newsletters. I call it the 9 Weeks of Christmas.  It should have been the 12 Weeks of Christmas, but I couldn't get it together soon enough!

The Nine Weeks of Christmas Newsletter

I collaborated on it with my up line and sidelines and so there is a nice variety of projects, including cards, gift boxes, bows, gifts and Christmas decor.  Let me give you a sneak peak at one of the projects:

When you see it like this, it looks like an ordinary card, yes?  The only unusual thing about it is the hole with the embossed vellum covering it.  But when you open it up and bend it a bit, you get a bit of home decor that could sit on a table or a shelf with a little electric tea light (votive candle) behind it! (NOTE: Do NOT use a real wax tea light! lol)

I used two stamp sets for this card.  One is Mingle All the Way (don't you just love that title?) and the other is Endless Wishes.

And to learn more, you must sign up to be on my email list!  It's FREE and it's fun! The first issue of 9 Weeks of Christmas goes out tomorrow, so you'll want to act right away!

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In other and bigger news, today is the first day you can order from the new Holiday Supplement.

Beginning this morning , you will be able to start ordering from Stampin’ Up!’s Holiday Supplement. This pamphlet contains a small selection of supplies meant to supplement this year’s Holiday Catalog. It contains some exciting kits, new Project Life products and some really cute stamps. All items will be sold “while supplies last” so you won’t want to miss out.

To access the catalogue, please call or email me and I will get one to you, or click on the cover photo above to get the on-line pdf.