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

Christmas Scrapbooking Class!

Hello there!

It's a busy week around here - I'm crafting my butt off to get things ready for Christmas (I was up 'til 3am last night making stuff! I must be crazy! Or used to being up all night with the baby! LOL). And to boot, we woke up to our first snow here in London. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Time to put up my tree! :)

Here are some samples of two of the three scrapbook pages we'll be making for next week's Christmas Scrapbook class:




Just a reminder that the class is Wednesday night, December 9th, from 7-10pm. You will make three pages total, including one double-page layout. Cost for the class is a $35 order (which can include your Christmas scrapbook kit to make the projects, and then leave you with TONS of supplies left over!).

Please email me at mpam96@rogers.com to let me know you are interested in the class before TUESDAY, DEC. 8th so I can prep your project supplies. If you have an order at that time, I can also take that.

Thanks for stopping by!

A

LAST DAY FOR THE BIG SALE!!!

Hello all!

Don't forget to check out the Online Extravaganza sale that ends today! Lots of stuff on for 30-50% off! Send someone you love to the website to shop for you and make their life easier! LOL

Click here to take you there:
www.andrea-peanutparade.stampinup.net

When you get to my webpage, click on SHOP NOW to go to the sales page. Look for "Online Extravaganza" to find the big deals. :)

Here's a super fancy Christmas card to entertain you in the meantime:




I used the ornament punch to cover the front with DSP ornaments. I also stamped some ornaments in the background on the paper.



On the inside is the Christmas Tree pop-up die with the Medallion stamped in the middle as a tree skirt, and DSP on the edges. I distressed the Chocolate Chip paper to look more like earth too.

Be back tomorrow with details about next week's scrapbook class!


A

Christmas time is coming...

Hello!

Things are starting to feel a little bit more Christmas-y around here - the weather is a little bit more crisp, and I'm spending lots of money! LOL

Aside from knocking things off my Christmas gift list, I'm getting those Christmas cards done! Here's a few examples to show you:



These cards are made with the Christmas Cocoa DSP, and the stamps are Patterned Pines Hostess set (which I looove!) and the Serene Snowflakes. I also used the Petals-a-Plenty texture plate!


These cards are using similar stuff, but different designs/colours. Patterned Pines is done in Old Olive (love it!) and I played up the colours in the Christmas Cocoa DSP with the Snow Swirled stamp set, stamped in Shimmer Paint and Real Red ink.



These last two cards are done with the ornament punch (It is so versatile! And to think, I was on the fence about ordering it! Duh!) and Christmas Cocoa DSP and Holiday Lounge DSP. (Another one I was on the fence about! I must be crazy!)

Anyways, that's it for today. I'll be back later to post some pics of the scrapbook pages I've made for my Christmas Scrapbooking class coming up on the 9th!

Have a great day!

A

WHOA!!! BIG SALE!

I looove a good sale! And this one is right up there!

Check out my Stampin Up online shopping page to take advantage of the sales!
CLICK HERE: http://andrea-peanutparade.stampinup.net

When you get to the page, click on SHOP NOW to get to the super fun list of deals! Stuff is 30-50% off!

There's SOO much on sale, I don't even want to waste your time making you read it here! Go to the website now and check it out - you won't be disappointed!

Happy shopping!

A

Saturday Night "Drink and Stamp!"

Yippee!

One of my good friends has decided to have a stamping party tomorrow in the spirit of one of our other Christmas traditions - the "Drink and Bake". For years, my girls and I have been getting together for a night of shared Christmas baking (with a little wine mixed in...). :) So, we're attempting, for the first time, a "Drink and Stamp" tomorrow night... we'll see how it turns out! We better make the cards early or else who knows what they'll look like after a few glasses of wine!

Here are the cards we are planning to make - a REALLY FUN shaker card using Holiday Lounge DSP and the Snow Buddies hostess stamp set, and another funky card using Melon Mambo and Night + Day DSP with the Serene Snowflakes stamp set.




I'll have more Christmas stuff to show you next week - I've been crafting up a storm!

Have a great weekend, and I'll let you know how the "Drink and Stamp" turns out!

A

Christmas class next week!

Hello!

Can you believe it's November already?! Crazy.

Speaking of November, my Christmas class is coming up next week - Wednesday, November 11th! I'm very excited about making cards and packages with my stampin' girls, and I am SUPER excited to show them the scrapbook page in a box! So fun!

If you want to join in on the fun, the class is $40 or FREE with a $65 order. Email me at mpam96@rogers.com by Tuesday, November 10th to let me know you're coming. There will be Christmas treats to snack on, and Santa might even stop by! Yippee!

Here's a pic of some of the projects we'll be making:




I am still designing the last Christmas card and package, so they are not included in the picture, but you'll get to see them if you come to the class!

That's it for today! Have a great day!

A

Two new Halloween projects!

Hello hello!

We are gearing up for Halloween around here! Yippee! I have the candy, the kids' costumes, and even my crafting done! Here's some stuff I've been working on...

HALLOWEEN ADVENT CALENDAR:

In our Stampin' Up demonstrator magazine, there was a picture of a Halloween advent calendar, and I just had to make my own! It took FOREVER (be warned - if you start it, you'll be a little obsessed - I was working on it the night I went into labour and it was the first thing I wanted to finish when I got home from the hospital and had some spare minutes! LOL), but turned out SO fabulous! It's made with scalloped envelopes from the Big Shot die and put on black foam core (some covered in fabric). Each envelope is decorated with various stamps, embellishments, etc. and can hold a little treat for your Halloweeners!





SPOOKY TILES:

I love the 'From the Crypt' stamp set and wanted to make something permanent to bring out every year with my Halloween decor - hence the Spooky Tile was born! I stamped the image in Staz-On black and tied kraft ribbon around the tile, as well as added black sparkles to the edge of the tile with Crystal Effects. LOVE IT! They've even become Halloween gifts!



Hope you are inspired to craft it up this Halloween, and just to give you a smile, here's a pic of the kids in their Halloween costumes - Peanut is a beaver (considering how much he bit me earlier this year, I figured it was appropriate!) and baby Dominic is Franken-baby. Enjoy!



A

Upcoming Christmas classes!

Hello all!

Hope you are keeping warm wherever you are - summer left us here in London in a flash, so we are trying to adjust to blustery temperatures all the sudden!

Speaking of cooling off, that got me thinking about how fast Christmas is coming! And with Christmas comes my Christmas class and my upline Heather's annual fundraiser for GI cancer! I posted awhile ago about Heather's fundraiser, but figured I would remind you in case you were interested but thought way back when that it was too early to start thinking about Christmas yet!
Here's the details:

Heather's Christmas Fundraiser for GI Cancer Research

WHEN:Saturday, October 24th, two sessions to pick from - 9:30-12pm or 1-3:30pm.
WHERE: Both sessions will be held at King's College in London,
WHAT DO I GET: The stamp set 'Four the Holidays', and 10 (!) projects precut and ready to go - 6 Christmas cards (2 of each design), 2 gift tags and 2 cool packages. Also includes refreshments and a TONNE of door prizes and raffles!
HOW MUCH: $40 Out of the cost, $10 goes directly to GI cancer research, and Heather's goal it to hit $10,000 raised in the last 5 years. :)




My Christmas Class #1 - Cards a Plenty!

WHEN: Wednesday, November 4th, 7-10pm
WHERE: My house
WHAT DO I GET: 2 Christmas cards, 2 packages (one includes 4 mini cards) and a "scrapbook page in a box"!
HOW MUCH: $40 or FREE with a $65 order




My Christmas Class #2 - Scrapbooking

WHEN: Wednesday, December 9th, 7-10pm
WHERE: My house
WHAT DO I GET: 3 scrapbook pages using the Christmas Simply Scrappin' Kit. You get to take home the rest of the kit to create even MORE fabulous stuff!
HOW MUCH: $35 order (includes your Simply Scrappin' kit).

If you are interested in attending, please email me at mpam96@rogers.com and I'll set you up. For Heather's fundraiser, please let me know by MONDAY, OCTOBER 19th if you are interested in attending.

Oh, and one last thing - I'm placing an order this weekend, so if there is something that you MUST have ASAP and want to include it in my order to save yourself some shipping costs, please email me before Sunday night. Thanks!

Have a great day and stay warm!

A