More Valentine's...

Hello!

Wow, where did this week go?! I meant to be back earlier to show you some more Valentine's cards and now it's Sunday night already! How did that happen?!

Anyway, here's a couple more Valentine's Day cards using stamps and accessories from the Occasions Mini. One is using the Sweet Treats cups and the other uses the Sweet Heart cups, which I LOVE just as much as I thought I would! So easy to use, especially with the coordinating stamps! Yippee!





The last card uses the stamp set Love Bandit. At first, I wasn't sure I would get a lot of use out of it, but wanted the raccoon anyway. :) Now I love it! I've used it quite a bit, and this is just one of my samples.




To order your supplies, click HERE.

Hope you had a great weekend, and we'll see you next week!

A

More Valentine's Decor...

Okay, can you tell I LOOOVE Valentine's Day?!

Here is some of the things I've been working on to decorate my studio for Valentine's...






I saw this ribbon garland at Michael's craft store (for $20!? WHAT!?) and thought, I can make a much cooler one than that! I used scraps of the Valentine's DSP from the Occasions Mini that I crimped and punched, SU ribbons and (oops) some contraband too - Dollar store ribbons and fabric scraps! I tied it all to a piece of jute twine. I can't wait to make other colour combinations!



I was VERY excited to get a super cool SNOW picture from my friend Dale at our downline Christmas gift exchange, and really didn't want to put it away with my Christmas decor... so, I made the back of it into a Valentine's picture! (Check out Dale's blog on my sidebar to see the original.) I used the Valentine's DSP again (I swear, I would wallpaper my house in this paper if my husband would let me! LOL) and cut the letters out with my Cricut (oops! More contraband! LOL). I tried the letters in vinyl, but actually liked them better in Very Vanilla cardstock because I could sponge the edges of the letters.



This is a great way to use up scraps of your favourite DSP (bet you can't guess which DSP is my current favourite!? LOL). I used the scallop square to punch out these squares and glued them on a masonite heart that I got from the Dollar Store (what did we ever do before the Dollar Store!?). I added the striped grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip and some of the new cordoroy buttons in Real Red to finish it off.

Hope you are inspired to deck your house out using SU! Click here to buy your supplies!

Have a "LOVE"-ly day!


A

OMG, Valentine's Tree!?

Okay, I am SOOO excited about this that I have to show you!

I made this card for my husband (I hope he doesn't check my blog in the next month and see it! LOL) for Valentine's Day, and it turned out SO good! I got the idea from Karen Burniston - check out her blog on the left for more pop-up ideas(thanks Karen!). This card uses the Christmas Tree pop-up die covered in punched out hearts! I LOOVE IT!!!!! I used the new DSP Valentine's paper from the Occasions Mini (LOVE THAT TOO!!!) and the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set. I added some bling to the front too!


This is the outside of the card...




And this is the inside!!!! How fabulous is this?!


I'll be back tomorrow to show you some more of my Valentine's creations. :)


Oh, one last thing! I'm having my Valentine's class AGAIN this week on Wednesday - a 6-page board book ready to assemble, 2 cards, and a package, all for $50, or FREE with a $65 order! Email me if you are interested! mpam96@rogers.com

Have a great day!

A

Valentine's Day Class!

Hello!

I am SUPER EXCITED about my upcoming Valentine's Day class!

I am torn on which date to have it on though... either Thursday the 14th or Wednesday the 20th... let me know what you think!

Anyway, enough indecisiveness, let's see the projects! :)

For the class fee of $50, you get a 6 page heart-shaped board book and all the supplies to decorate it, using all new designer papers, stamps and embellishments from the Occasions Mini (YUMMY!), two card designs (including one using HEART-SHAPED Sweet Treat Cups!!!) and a super-cute package too! If you place an order for $65 or more, you get the class for FREE!!! And because it's Sale-a-bration time, your $65 order will ALSO get you a FREE stamp set or punch or paper pack from the SAB catalogue! What a sweet deal! :)

Here are pics of the board book and one card design - you'll have to sign up for the class to see the other designs!






Email me at mpam96@rogers.com if you are interested in taking the class!

Have a great day!


A

It's Sale-a-bration time!!!

Yippee! Free stuff! :)

You may already know about this, but in case you don't, I'll fill you in:

From January 5th to March 31st, for EVERY $65 you spend with Stampin' Up, you get to pick a FREE stamp set (or even a paper set or punch this year!) from the Sale-a-bration catalogue!! How great is that?! If you host a party, you get even MORE FREE STUFF!!! If you host a party that is $395 in sales, you get a free Sale-a-bration stamp set too, and that's on top of your regular hostess benefits! Yippee!! If you ever thought about hosting a party, now is definitely the time to do it! Email me at mpam96@rogers.com if you would like to get in on the fun (and free stuff, of course!)

For today's post, I wanted to show you some of the cards I've been making with the new Sale-a-bration papers, and some stamps and paper from the Occasions Mini, which just started today too!



This card is using the Sweet Pea paper from the Occasions Mini (which I LOOOOVE!!) and the Sweet Pea stitched felt flowers too! Love how they coordinate - I can put it all together with no brain power at all! LOL



This card is using the Sale-a-bration paper pad, Welcome Neighbour. It has tonnes of different patterns, but lots of these house series in different colours. Great for a neighbour card, which I needed this week to thank our great neighbours! It's on Crushed Curry paper.



And lastly, this card is also using the Sweet Pea Paper, and the Fox and Friends stamp set, both from the Occasions Mini. It's a semi-case from my upline, Heather (thanks Heather!)and I used the Chit Chat rub-ons for the words in this card and the last card. All of us here are sick with a cold, so I guess I made this card for myself! Hope I feel better soon! LOL


Oops, I almost forgot - the Open House I had scheduled for this Saturday I have to reschedule for a later date - I double-booked myself! I'll let you know the rescheduled date soon.
Have a great day!

A

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello!

I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year's - ours was great, but busy! It seems like Christmas and Julian's 2nd birthday and New Year's has lasted for weeks! LOL

I'm finally back to post, and wanted to share some pics and some news with you!

FIRST, the Holiday Mini catalogue expires January 4th! If there was something you wanted to get from that catalogue, or that you used and LOVED over the holidays and want to stock up on before it's gone forever, click HERE to take you to my online ordering page. Click SHOP NOW at the bottom or top of the page to order your goodies.

SECOND, the new Sale-a-bration catalogue is coming out, as well as the new Occasions Mini! Starting January 5th, for any $65 you spend, you get to pick a FREE Sale-a-bration stamp set, or a great punch or paper pad from the catalogue! They are even offering over 50 stamp sets in the regular catalogue for the same deal! WHOOHOO!!! One of the super cute stamp sets is Fox and Friends from the Occasions Mini, shown in the card below. I originally ordered it figuring I would use it for kid's stuff, but the animals are so cute that I'll use it for lots of other stuff too! I've seen Valentine's, thank you and birthday cards made with it and can't wait to try my own!

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THIRD, I'm hosting an OPEN HOUSE to show off all the new and great stuff coming out in the new year on SATURDAY, JANUARY 9th from 1 -9pm. There will be snacks, a make and take, new class schedules and draws for free stuff! All as a thank you for being my great customers! If you are planning to come, please email me at mpam96@rogers.com to let me know, or post a comment below!

AND LASTLY, I promised I would post some pics of Christmas with the Powers boys, but got caught up in the Christmas whirlwind until today. So, it's a little late, but here they are!



Our Christmas breakfast centrepiece. Mom supplies the Creme Brule french toast, and I do everything else! It's a Christmas tradition!


The "Post Julian Christmas Massacre". LOL



Definitely the big hit of Peanut's Christmas - the bead runner! (Does it actually have a real name??)


Chowing down on his 2nd birthday cupcake. No birthday is complete without a cupcake (and this year it was accompanied by the lack of pants!)



A big Christmas kiss from Momma...


Happy 2010!

A

Some Christmas Cheer for You!

Yippee, yippee, yippee!

We're so close now, so in the midst of my baking and prep work, I thought I would show you a couple pics of some Christmas decor...




This is our Christmas tree, all decked out in blue and silver snowflakes. I don't know how much longer this tree will stay like this - Peanut is getting more and more interested in the tree, and I'm sure next year he'll want to help me 'decorate', LOL. Oh well, the tree will have to change as we go. :)



This is not decor for our house, but I made this wreath for my aunt and uncle, who own a pair of peacocks on their farm (how cool is that!?). I saw these colours and decided to create a "Peacock Wreath" for their front door. It looks so good, I almost don't want to part with it, LOL.

Anyway, hope you are totally jazzed for Christmas like I am! We are planning to see my family tonight, my husband's family on Christmas Day, friends on Boxing Day and then a big birthday dinner and presents back home on the 27th for Peanut's 2nd birthday! We're even going to go and see the Olympic Torch Run as it passes through our city on Julian's birthday - how cool is that?!

Have a fantastic day!

A

It's Almost Here!

Well, we're getting very close now. I must say, I'm pretty excited to celebrate Christmas with my boys, especially Peanut (Julian) who will be TWO on the 27th! (How did THAT happen already!?). Christmas is always more fun through a little one's eyes. :)

I just wanted to do a quick post today of some more of the Christmas cards I sent out this year. I had so many ideas I wanted to try that practically everyone got a different card this year!

Now the scary part is, I'm already thinking about Valentine's Day! Yippee! My Valentine's class is gonna be so much fun!




Anyway, as usual, if you need info on any of the cards, just write a comment or email me - mpam96@rogers.com . I hope all your Christmas errands are done (my husband is at Walmart right now - it's 11:30pm! LOL) and you can now relax and enjoy time with the ones you love. I'll post some pics of Christmas with the boys after the big day...

A

It's Almost Christmas!

Where has the time gone!?

I had all these plans of things to make and show you on my blog, and now it's 5 days away from Christmas, and I'm finally getting back to my blog (and typing with one hand, since I have a sleeping baby in the other arm!).

So, here are some of the Christmas cards I made and sent out last week - I meant to do numerous posts to showcase them all, but now it's a bit late! (LOL) If you want specific instructions or details on a specific card, just post a comment and I'll let you know. Some cards are done with non-SU papers (GASP! Contraband!), so don't be alarmed. And yes, I did case some designs, but honestly can't remember where anymore. :)


Using Christmas Cocoa DSP, Kraft cardstock, and a Sweet Treats cup, filled with water and glitter like a snow globe! (I think this one came from Roxy- thanks!)


Using hearts punched in Old Olive from the Heart to Heart punch. Card is Sahara Sand and White shimmer paint is the snowy hills.


Reindeer from large oval punch and 'Swirly' die from the Big Shot on Always Artichoke Top Note. (Cased, but I can't remember where!) Sparkling jumbo wheel is used in the background.


Two cards done in Sahara Sand and Taken With Teal, using the Holiday Lounge DSP. Patterned Pines is the stamp set on one, and Snow Buddies from the Holiday Mini in the shaker card!

Don't forget, you only have until JANUARY 4th to order from the Holiday Mini, and then it's gone!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW!

Enjoy! Only 4 more sleeps!

A

COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!

Hello!

So for today's post, I wanted to show you what I have been working on in between naptimes and watching The Wiggles with Peanut - cookies!

My cookies are Toffee Almond Sandies, which are pretty popular around here - I keep having to smack hands to keep them out of the cookie bin or else I won't have any left for Christmas gifts! Here's the recipe:

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
4 1/2 c. all-prupose flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 package of English Toffee chips
2 c. sliced almonds

Mix all your wet ingredients together, blending until smooth. Mix all your dry ingredients together (except the chips and nuts)and add slowly to the wet ingredients. Mix the chips and almonds in last. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Yields 9 dozen!


I've also been making etched glass cookie jars with vinyl snowflakes cut on the Big Shot to give away my cookies. I got some glass etching liquid at Michael's craft store and you just paint it on after you've put on the vinyl snowflakes (or the surrounding vinyl, if you want the snowflake in the frosted look, instead of the background)and then let it do its chemical thing. (Be really careful not to touch the liquid with your bare skin - it's every corrosive, obviously!)

The best part is peeling off the vinyl to see your creation! That and filling it with cookies and giving it to someone you love! Take a look at my two examples below:




Just one of the many things I've been crafting around here lately. This weekend I'm going to try my hand at making handmade soap (from a kit, LOL). Wish me luck, and I'll let you know how it goes!

A