25 Cards of Christmas - December 25th

My final installment is for those cardmakers who just didn't get their Christmas cards done on time! Send a Happy New Year card instead!!!!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 24th

Remember the Reflection Technique card featuring Lovely As A Tree? Well, the transparency I used for that card will be featured in today's card. I didn't restamp it at all - just reused it as the focal point.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 23rd

Sorry for the late posts - but after scurrying around prior to Christmas, and then enjoying Christmas with my family, my back decided to go out. Ouch...I am still recouperating, but will finish up my 25 Cards of Christmas.

Here is my 23rd card:

This card has a faux denim background and features many SU punches. This could easily be transformed into a birthday card by changing the "noel" phrase!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 22nd

I have been using the new set Snow Swirled all season. I just love this set!

Here's a card showing an example of a poinsettia made with punches (the 5 flower punch and the 1/4" circle punch). I also used the long scallop punch for the bottom of the tree piece. There's a brad on top inside the "star".

25 Cards of Christmas - December 21st

Today's card is a gift certificate holder. I won't tell who it is for so I don't wreck the surprise! I used the new holly wheel! I embossed the saying in white ep on the coordinating tag. Mellow Moss, Riding Hood Red, and Always Artichoke are a great color combo!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 20th

Today's card is an example of Reverse Poppin' Pastels. This card uses Snow Swirled and To You and Yours.
Reverse Poppin' Pastels is such an easy technique. All you need is dark colored cardstock and lighter pastels. I use a QTip or a cotton ball and spread the pastel (in this case I used white) all over the piece of cardstock. Then ink your image with Versamark and stamp onto the pastel piece. The Versamark takes off the pastel to leave the image.

Enjoy!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 19th

The kids had off today - we had a total of about 12 inches of snow since 1:00 am last night. This was the third snow day in a month! I usually adore snow days, but today I had really wanted to get some Christmas wrapping done. Very hard to be sneaky when kids are coming in and out with wet gloves etc.

For today's card, I used Big on Christmas. A very simple card, but it shows a faux button - made with the 2-hole circle punch and then punched out with the 3/4" circle punch. Tie a knot with a piece of hemp or ribbon and pop it up with mini glue dots.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 18th

Where does the time go in the day? As it gets closer to Christmas, my to-do list is only getting longer, not shorter!

Here is my card to December 18th - it features Cardinal Christmas - one of my favorite sets from the Holiday Mini.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 17th

My second stair step card features Jolliest Time of the Year. Here it is!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 16th

For December 16th and December 17th, I will be showcasing a card format called the stair step card. I learned this technique online from a fellow blogger (thanks, Gretchen!). This card was tweaked from her example. The Holy Triptych stamp set is perfect for this format!

I taught my stampers this technique/format at my latest Technique Tuesday class. Here were the instructions I gave them:

STAIR STEP TECHNIQUE

Supplies
Holy Triptych/Many Merry Messages Stamp Set
Snow Swirled Stamp Set (for Star)
Confetti White/Night of Navy CS
VersaMark/Gold Glory EP/Emb Buddy/Heat Gun
AquaPainter/Various Inkpads
Scoring Blade/Pencil/SU Grid Paper

Cardbase
5 ½” x 11 piece of CW CS
Score as follows:
1 ½”; 3”; 5”; 7”; 9”
Fold on the score lines like an accordion.
5 ½” x 4 ¼” piece of CW CS for back base.
Attach back base to front of last “mountain”.

Stamp images in Stazon.
Cut out images (leave off star on Holy Family image).
Color in images with AquaPainters and inkpads.
Let dry.
Emboss star to center of large Night of Navy piece.
Emboss phrase on right end of small Night of Navy piece.
Adhere pieces.
Wise men on left, Holy Family in Center, Angel on right.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 15th

It was a chilly day around here today...and I luckily got to do some stamping. This card is a shaker card featuring the Santa from Jolliest Time of the Year.

I used some tiny gold star confetti and Christmas cookie decorations for inside the shaker. I hope you like this one!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 14th

Today's post includes one of my favorite stamp sets and one of my favorite techniques.




Lovely as a Tree is just one of those sets I hope never retires. I use it for almost every occasion (and see I don't even have a greeting on this card - just in case I need it!). The technique I used is called polished stone - I used Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, and Silver Encore refills for the background.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 13th

Ok, so it is not really December 13th when I am posting this. Sorry, but I just couldn't fit this in on Saturday.

Here is my card using Holiday Lineups and Sincere Greetings:

I used the Big Shot Top Note die and the Button die. I have used the direct-to-paper technique for the background and embossed the snowman on the Top Note. I just love these snowmen!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 12th

Today's card is really a gift card holder. This time of year there are plenty of gift cards floating around - why not dress it up a bit with a stamped gift card holder? This gift card holder is actually an envelope. We made this at my Christmas Gifts Stamp Camp last month.

Here are the instructions.

Happy Holidays Gift Card Instructions

1. Fold envelope in half
2. At midsection, cut to top of envelope
3. Punch holes for ribbon and insert ribbon through holes
4. Seal left side of envelope
5. Using marker, ink up phrase from Loads of Love and stamp on scrap piece of Whisper White. Punch out with oval punch
6. Punch out Always Artichoke Wide Oval tag. Adhere to envelope with only one Stampin’ Dimensional on left side
7. Stamp Happy Holidays image in Stazon on Whisper White cardstock. Color words, tree, and star with markers
8. Add glitter to star using 2-Way Glue and Dazzling Diamonds
9. Adhere all pieces and tie ribbon in bow

I hope this inspires all of you to go buy gift cards!!!!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 11th

Today's card is a bit "out of the box" as you may not think of this stamp set when making Christmas cards. I used the Wow Flowers stamp set along with Heard from the Heart.

The flowers look quite like snowflakes when embossed in white. Here it is!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 10th

The card I am featuring today uses Holy Triptych, Sincere Salutations, and Baroque Motifs. I love the large stamp from Baroque Motifs as a background. The color combination uses Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, and Naturals White with silver accents (Silver EP and Silver Mini Library Clip).

I love the softness yet richness these colors invoke. Enjoy!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 9th

The kids were home from school as we had 9 inches of snow at least since last night. I am just as happy (I think even happier) when the kids have off of school.

Today's card is a very simple card - with limited coloring on purpose. I was trying to go for the look that you oftentimes see in artwork -you know - the bright red cardinal in a snowy birch forest. The stamp set is Home for Christmas from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

I like the simple look of this card - hope you do too!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 8th

For today's card, I chose one that uses a technique that I have always been scared of. I know this sounds silly, but although I have been stamping since I was 15 years old (I'm closing in on my mid-40s right now), there are just a few techniques that intimidate me.

The reflection technique used to incorporate using the Stamp-a-ma-jig. I have owned one ever since I became a demo...but honestly, I've never used it. Shame on me.

I learned a different way to do the reflection technique using an acetate sheet (much like the SAMJ, I know). However, all you had to do is stamp the image with Stazon on the top of the base piece and then once on the acetate and then flip the acetate and smoosh it down at the bottom of the base piece. Voila! OMG! I was giddy with excitement when I tried it the first time and it worked!!!!!! My Technique Tuesday class loved learning this easy method!

To be honest, I didn't have too many stamps that I immediately thought of when I wanted to try out the technique EXCEPT Lovely As A Tree. That stamp set is the PERFECT choice for this technique...and I am crossing my fingers and toes that it is not one of those on the chopping block tomorrow morning when the 2008 Fall Winter Stamp Set retirement list comes out.

Ok, enough talking and typing....here is my card!

What technique(s) intimidate you?????

25 Cards of Christmas - December 7th

For today's card I used Punch Pals. This set was perfect for a mug template card - which you can insert a package of hot cocoa! That little penguin is just soo cute. I added the tag with the three snowballs on the bottom. The sparkly glitter adds a nice touch too! I should use this set more often - I am glad it is on my stamping table as tomorrow I have some time to stamp!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 6th

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas! Today's card features the stamp set Holy Triptych. This is actually a ZFold card. The main image is created by stamping in Stazon and coloring in with WCCrayons and an Aquapainter.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 5th

Well, we are at Day 5 - here is my card using the To You and Yours stamp set. Sadly, you cannot see the lovely swirl dry embossing on the bottom. I used the swirl from the Priceless Brass Template. This was one of my Technique Tuesday cards last month. Dry embossing isn't something I do often, but when I do I just love the look. Dry embossing always steps up a card!

The Ski Slope Designer Series Paper and Felt Flurries were also highlighted on this card. Enjoy!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 4th

Today's card features the Big on Christmas stamp set. Paint chips are great to use as a canvas for your stamping! The only trick to using them is they can be a bit slippery so I don't usually use my Classic inkpads. I use my Stazon pad or emboss on them to have the best effect.

The jeweled brad adds a nice touch too!

In my neck of the woods, we have had about 10 inches of snow this week...my boys love it (they even had off of school on Monday). My yard looks like a race track with all the snowmobile tracks! They are so happy when they get to ride!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 3rd

Don't you love the different color combinations of the holidays? I would have to admit I am not a Glorious Green and Real Red gal for the holidays...my color palette centers around deeper, richer colors like Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, and Bravo Burgundy. My other favorite color combination celebrates the blue theme. This is my card for December 3rd using Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, and Brushed Silver:

I demonstrated this flip card at my Snow Swirled Stamp Camp. I love the look of Brushed Silver Paper when it is embossed with Silver!

Hope you like it!

25 Cards of Christmas - December 2nd

Tonight I held my December Technique Tuesday class. I adore these ladies - they are the core of my business and are fabulous and fun to be around.

One of the techniques I taught tonight was Faux Quilting. This is a great technique to use with bits and pieces of your Designer Series Paper. Many samples I found online used the larger square punches. For the card below, I actually used the 3/4" square punch. It made a smaller quilt, but it was easier to plan a card around this size. Here it is:

To make the quilt - punch out 6 squares. Take one square and cut in half diagonally and then cut each of those again diagonally. The Old Olive piece is 2.5" x 2.5" for the 3/4" punch quilt. Start and ahdere one full square, and then use one of the squares as your spacer. Get the four corners done this way (using the spacer square really helps line it up). Then use those four cut pieces in between the full squares. Finally adhere the spacer square in the middle. It is hard to see, but there is some paper piercing on the upper right and lower left of the More Mustard piece.

25 Cards of Christmas - December 1st

Hello everyone!

Today I am starting a new event on my blog - 25 Cards of Christmas. I will be posting a new Christmas card every day for 25 days!

Here is my first one - using the To You and Yours stamp set.

The colors on this card are Pacific Point and Baja Breeze. Love these new in colors! For the dove piece, I used the bleach brushing technique to whiten (or in this case "vanillan") the Baja Breeze cardstock. I love using bleach with stamping! The little variances of cardstock can really change what results when you use bleach. My scanner didn't pick up the ribbon color too well or the base card (both are Vanilla).

Happy December 1st!

Holiday Gifts Stamp Camp Cardinal Pin

Last night I held my annual Holiday Gifts Stamp Camp. We had lots of fun and made 5 projects. One of the projects we made was this one:

This project came together late one night...thanks to my husband who painted various wood pieces in the garage in his pajamas before heading to bed!

My customers could make them into magnets or into pins. Some of the wood pieces were thin enough to even use the CropADile and loop a ribbon through to make an ornament! This cardinal from A Cardinal Christmas in the Holiday Mini Catalog is so pretty and detailed. All we had to do is stamp using black StazOn, let dry, and attach the magnet or the pinback with Crystal effects used as glue - and my customers joked about renting out my husband for their painting projects (in his pajamas no less).

Thanks to my husband for coming to my rescue!

November Card Kit - Big on Christmas

My November Card Kit will feature the new Big on Christmas stamp set. You could also substitute the Holiday Lineups stamp set!

The card kit includes all pre-cut cardstock, embellishments, and instructions to make 12 cards for only $15.00. Each card kit will be featuring a specific stamp set, but of course, you can substitute another stamp set you own. The featured stamp set will be available to purchase, usually at a discount. Additional items/tools will also be available to purchase including an option for additional cards (this year’s Christmas Card-Making marathon will be a breeze!)

I will be taking orders for this card kit until NOVEMBER 14th.

Why did I want to create card kits? I LOVE having my customers come to my home for stamp camps and events, but I know there are several stampers who just can't make it to my events. This is an easy way for them to keep their creative juices flowing and their card stash filled.

Have any questions? Want to order my November Card Kit? Just send me an email! You can view the card kit information here - mailto:stampwithjane@charter.net

http://www.stampwithjane.com/zzblogcardkit-aaakit3november.html

Happy Stamping!

Spooky Spider Treat Jar

I created this treat jar using Stampin' Up!'s new Decor Elements. The jar is from Target. I put those darling little mint spiders inside! The inside was lined with DSP - I think it helped the spooky spider stand out. I was thrilled with how easy it was to put this together (well, the filled jar of spiders took a while).

I can't wait to use more of the Decor Elements! Happy Halloween!

Stamper's 8 Group Project-Just Jawing Tote & Spider

This is the project my Stamper's 8 Group did last week. It is an adorable tote, and it held one of the cutest spider treats! (See below)

Project Materials-Tote
brown or white bag (size is up to you) I used a 4" wide bag (smaller than a lunchbag)
Just Jawing/Eat, Drink, and Be Scary Stamp Sets
Basic Black/Old Olive/Glossy White (see sizes below)
Whisper White cardstock
VersaMark Pad
Spritzer Tool
Basic Black Marker
Going Gray inkpad
Old Olive inkpad
Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
Crystal Effects
Rubber Brayer
Black Hemp
Word Window Punch
Sticky Strip
Tag Punches
1/8" Punch
paper towel

Stamp skull on 4" x 4" piece of glossy cardstock with VersaMark. Set aside to dry.

Stamp tag on Whisper White and punch out with small tag punch. Punch out Old Olive large tag. Mount pieces, punch hole, and run hemp through hole. Set aside.

Ink brayer with Going Gray. Brayer over skull. Once it is colored to your liking, take paper towel and rub off excess ink from skull. This step really helps make the image POP!

Using Spritzer tool and Basic Black marker, spritz over skull piece to the desired look. Set aside to dry - the marker stays wet on the glossy cardstock for a bit!

To make the bag - my bags were 4" wide
Cut 2 pieces of 5.5" x 4.5" Basic Black cardstock
4" wide white bag - cut top off for a 4.5" tall bag
Put sticky strip on bag front and back
Peel off redline tape and mount to back cardstock and then attach front piece to bag.
Punch Word Window punch on top for handle
Attach skull piece to front of bag

Insert spider goody!

Tie with ribbon and attach a spider if you have one with Crystal Effects and the tag

Project Materials-Spider Goody

2 Punched out Basic Black Scallop Circles

2 Punched out 1/2" Whisper White Circles

2 Punched out 1/4" Basic Black Circles

1 Punched out 1/4" Real Red Circles

4 Punched out Basic Black Photo Corners (large)

4 Punched out Old Olive Photo Corners (small)

York Peppermint Patty-Patty goes in between scallop circles

Photo corners should be mounted inside front and inside back scallops.

Stamper's 8 Group

This month's Stamper's 8 Group met this week. Here is the hostess goody bag I created...it mimicked the project we did. My hostess, Lisa, had several requests and wanted me to show a resist technique, use Crystal Effects, and use the spritzer tool. For the project, we used smaller bags and also created the little York mint spider that is sweeping the web! (No pun intended but hopefully appreciated!) For the project, I also had mini plastic spiders my customers glued on the ribbon with Crystal Effects! We also used the spritzer all over the skull from Just Jawing. I love this spider tag too!

World Card-Making Day Specials

Stampin' Up! is excited to celebrate this holiday with you the week of October 4-11. During this week, Stampin' Up! is offering 20% off Simply Sent Card Kits and Simply Sent Card Elements. Both of these kits make it easy as pie to create fabulous cards in a jiffy! Really and truly - I used the Flower Power Simply Sent Card Element Kit and made 9 cards in about 10 minutes! Plus, there is still some extra pieces left to make other cards!

Want to see the cards? Here they are!

BONUS - JANE'S WORLD CARD-MAKING SPECIAL (OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH OCTOBER 11TH)
When you purchase any one of the Simply Sent Card Elements Kits, you will also receive a 10% discount on the coordinating stamp set when you make the purchase through me!

Rock Star Card Elements - ($15.95) SALE $12.76 Starring You Stamp Set ($13.95) SALE $12.56
Flower Power Card Elements ($15.95) SALE $12.76 Wow Flowers Stamp Set ($12.95) SALE $11.66
Handmade Holiday Card Elements ($17.95) SALE $14.36 To You & Yours Stamp Set ($18.95) SALE $17.06

Contact me by noon on Friday, October 10th to place your order!

September 2008 Card Kit - Upsy Daisy

Many of my wonderful customers are not able to attend my stamp camps and classes I hold in my home. I wanted to find a way to keep their stamped card stash filled, so I created my first Card Kit last month. Several stampers took advantage of this kit, and by the response so far, they have been extremely pleased!

I made a few extra September Card Kits so I thought I would post them for sale on my blog. The September Card Kit featured the new Upsy Daisy stamp set (which is still on sale until September 30th). It also featured one of the techniques I taught this year during my Technique Tuesday classes - faux linen. Here is the card:

Contact me to order my September 2008 Upsy Daisy Card Kit. Each kit will provide the supplies to make 12 cards including all the pre-cut card stock, embellishments, envelopes, and step-by-step instructions. The monthly card kit is $15. Shipping is $5.00.

Items you will need to complete the card kit:

• Upsy Daisy Stamp Set


• Chocolate Chip & So Saffron inkpads


• Brayer with Rubber Attachment


• 1/16" Handheld Punch

Email me at stampwithjane@charter.net if you would like to order this kit! Fellow Demonstrators - you can purchase the kit instructions without the supplies for only $5.00!

Template Example - Upsy Daisy Card

Ok, here is my example of the template I posted. I love this new Upsy Daisy stamp set. I used the new Kiwi Ribbon and spotlighted one of the daisies with some Silver Hodgepodge Hardware. Isn't the new Tangerine Tango In Color gorgeous?

Template Design

I am jumping on the bandwagon and creating templates from some of my favorite cards. Here is my first template! I will post an example of this template as a finished sample this afternoon.
What will you come up with?

Another Just Jawing

I've already decorated the inside of my home for the autumn season. So I am ready to start sharing some of my stamped seasonal creations!

I love the new Just Jawing stamp set. My boys think it is a pretty cool set too. I've been busy creating samples for this set, and one of my new favorite card templates is the tent card. Here is one I made with the Just Jawing set:

I embossed the skull (and cut it out without the crossbones). I used the new Ghostly Greetings DSP and the Chills & Thrills rub ons. Happy Spook Night!

All-American Cherry Card

Cherry pie is one of my all-time favorites - and my Grandma Rice made the best! Mmmm-I loved her handmade piecrust, and she'd always put on a dollop of ice cream! Makes me want to take a quick trip to Door County (a favorite family vacation area) and the Seaquist Orchards! They have the best cherry items in the state - including my favorite Cherry Jalapeno Salsa! http://www.seaquistorchards.com/cherries.php

When I was playing around with my new Just Jawing stamp set, I had to make a card with just the cherries. Here it is:

The cherries on the side are embossed. The main image is colored with markers. I love the double ribbon (5/8" old olive grosgrain and 1/4" red grosgrain. Anyone want some pie?

Just Punchy Card

I love Stampin' Up!'s punches. They are so fun to use when making cards, scrapbook pages, and gift projects. I have hosted two Just Punchy stamp camps - where I always feature some "out of the box" ideas for our punches. My customers love these! When I plan a card or item for my Just Punchy stamp camps, they have to meet the 4-punch criteria or they are not used.

I uploaded my Just Punchy stamp camp on my card gallery website last weekend. One of the cards that I showed my guests for inspiration was this card:

This one certainly uses more than 4 punches! I loved the Just Celebrate stamp set from the Spring Mini Catalog - The "whoo! hoo!" actually was on the owl image, but it reminded me of when my boys played trains when they were younger.

If you want to check out my other stamp camp projects including my Just Punchy stamp camps, here is the link -http://www.stampwithjane.com/

2008-2009 New Catalog Ponderings

Yesterday was the first day to order from our brand-new catalog!  I was at the ready at my computer at exactly 1:00 pm CST to place a few orders!  I cannot wait to get my goodies!  What am I most excited about this year?  In past years, it has been about the accessories for me, and this year that is still somewhat true.  However, I am so excited about the new stamp sets-plus Stampin' Up! had a special with several of my must-have new catalog sets!  Here are some of my purchases:

Snow Swirled
Under the Stars and Skeeter Wheel
Just Jawing and Scary Skulls Wheel
Owl Together Now
Upsy Daisy
Only Ovals
Say It With Scallops

Trust me, the new accessories (especially the new styled brads and ribbons) have me nearly swooning!  I love using both of these in my projects.  The new designer papers and simply scrappin' kits are knock-out gorgeous!  I think the more "manly" versions of the DSP will go over very well too - as it can be difficult to "dress up" masculine cards.

I've already put together my Wow Flowers Card Elements Kit (this was a demo preorder item).  I think this is a perfect kit for those card-makers who don't have a lot of time, but still want to send something with a personal touch. 

The new rub-on collection has such a variety!  I think these will become a staple in every stamper's craft room!

Although demos have seen sneak peeks of the new punches, they are still fabulous to see in the catalog!  My stamping table always seems to have two or three punches on it!

I have been busy creating samples with my demo preorder stamp sets.  These will soon be scanned in my card gallery website.  I spent much of Sunday preparing my card gallery website for new additions and moving the newly retired stamp sets to the retired gallery.

Hope you get a chance to stamp today!

Sock Monkey Birthday Card

I do love this sock monkey set - hopefully, my customers will too! Here is Sammy my Sock Monkey (don't you think he should be christened with a name?) getting ready for a birthday party!

Catalog Coupon Club Pick-Up Party

Thanks to all of my loyal Catalog Coupon Club who stopped by and picked up their catalogs last night. It was a fun night, and I truly appreciate your business!

First off, here is my coupon book this year - I think it is adorable!

I used Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze colors. What a fantastic color combo! Hopefully, my customers will enjoy their own little sock monkey this year!

It was a whirlwind evening - with lots of food and a new drink! However, my customers were more concentrated on the new catalog than the food. It is a fabulous catalog - with lots of beautiful and fun stamp sets - the Under the Stars stamp set with Skeeter wheel was a big hit. Hmm, maybe that should be on my first order! I love the new punches - the wider oval and the new label punch will be favorites for me. Plus the new papers - WOW!!! I will be planning lots of stamp camps around these gorgeous designs!

I made a delicious Asti punch - it was taken from an online recipe - but I never make things EXACTLY like it says on recipe cards. Here is my punch recipe:

Jane's Asti Sangria

1 bottle Asti Spumante (does not have to be expensive!), chilled
3 c. Ginger Ale, chilled
2 c. Lemonade (not concentrate), chilled
1 c. Frozen Peaches
1 Lemon, sliced in wedges

Mix together in a glass pitcher - and serve cold and on ice. You can add strawberry slices or lime slices too!

It was delicious!

Another crowd pleaser was my Strawberry Lemon Trifle. I bought a trifle bowl at a Pampered Chef party this year - this is a great item! Well, it holds a lot too - so I am actually revising the recipe I had to make it fill up the bowl more completely. Here is my revised recipe:

Jane's Strawberry Lemon Trifle

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
2 cups lemon yogurt (I used Yoplait Original)
4 cups skim milk
2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant lemon pudding mix
4 teaspoons grated lemon peel (optional)
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries, divided
2 (9 inch) prepared angel food cake

DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and yogurt. Add the milk, pudding mix and lemon peel; beat until smooth. Tear cake into 1-in. cubes; place a fourth in a Pampered Chef trifle bowl. Top with a fourth of the pudding mixture and a fourth of the remaining strawberries. Repeat twice. Top with remaining cake and pudding mixture and add whole or sliced strawberries on top. Cover with trifle bowl lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

You could certainly add or improvise with different fruits - a blueberry lemon trifle would be unbelievable!

Oh, I forgot to mention this - I had this party planned for about 2 months...and thankfully, my UPS man came about Noon on Thursday with my catalogs! I was panicking wondering what I would do if I had to tell my customers their catalogs were not in yet!!!!

Can't wait to spend time with my new stamps and play!

Christmas in July Stamp Camp

Last night I held my annual Christmas in July Stamp Camp which featured retiring stamp sets. My stamp campers made four cards. This one was my personal favorite.

I love the Peaceful Wishes stamp set; however, instead of using the berry stamp, I used the top of a pencil so I had more freedom of placement. I also liked how I used the Hodgepodge Hardware with the ribbon. The bottom phrase is embossed. I will miss the Purely Pomegranate color when it retires in August. This was a 5.25x5.25 card - it was the crowd favorite too!

To get my stampers in the mood, I played Christmas music and made Christmas cookies. My family's favorite cookie - peanut blossoms (peanut butter cookies with a Hershey's Kiss) was also a big hit. My husband thinks I make the best ones - they do always turn out perfect!

Thanks to my customers who attended last night!

My New SU Items Just Arrived

I am so excited - I could just burst! The UPS man just rang my bell and delivered my new Stampin' Up! items. As a demo, I could preorder from a selected group of new items (we haven't seen the new catalog yet - this is just a sneak peek)!

Here are the stamp sets I ordered:

This one is called Dreams du Jour

Here is Sock Monkey!

This is Heard from the Heart

This is WOW Flowers

Remember - these are all die cut!!!! Now, all I have to wait for is my husband to seal my blocks!

The new 2008 In Colors (from left to right) - Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, and Pink Pirouette:

New Designer Series Paper - LOVE IT!!!

New Scallop Punch

New Buttons!

New Simply Sent Kit

Can't wait to show my customers who are coming to my Christmas in July Stamp Camp tomorrow!