A Diversionary Tactic

Build A Bear Workshop

I have the most amazing opportunity to tell you about!  As most of you know, Stampin' Up! partnered with Build-A-Bear Workshop® in this past Holiday Mini.  Not only are the images and stamps simply adorable, the whole thing gets even better! Build-A-Bear Workshop® has two adorable friends that are limited to the holiday season...Holly & Hal™  

Now, last year, Build-A-Bear Workshop introduced Holly & Hal Moose^TM plush animals for the Holiday Season and they quickly became favorites.   This year, these two adorable animals get their own animated television special that will appear on ABC Family Television.  And, And...And guess what!  We've been chosen to be a Build-A-Workshop Hostesses.   You and Me!  I know, too cool.   Stampin' Up! has contacted 60 demonstrators in the United States to work with them and share all the fun.   Yippee.  So here's where it really gets oh so good!  I have been asked to host two Mommy and Me Parties!  We will watch the 45 minutes Holly and Hal movie, stamp some adorable projects for Moms and Kids with our Build-a-Bear line, do a little Christmas shopping from our catalog and just plain ol have fun as part of the deal is....the Mom and Me Hostess/child get to keep the movie!   Too cool, plus we've got great coupons and bookmarks for Build-A-Bear Workshop® with codes for a virtual Buildabearville.com© where they get their own virtual bear ANDa Holly and Hal book to give as a doorprize to your guests.  Are you excited?  I'm jazzed!

So if you know of any adorable child that would like to host a Mommy and Me Stampin' Up/Build-a-Bear Partythis next month, please let me know as I only have supplies for two lucky children and their best friends.  I know this is an extremely busy time of year, but trust me, this is the stuff memories are made of!  Here are the dates to pick, Thursday, Dec 11th, Friday, Dec 12th, Sunday the 13th or Monday the 14th.  Let's get your viewing party booked.  Hurry, supplies really are limited!

Shimmer Paint

Oh what a banner day!  I had my Shimmer Paint class and without a stitch of false pretense and modesty, I will have to say it ROCKED!  Ok, perhaps it was just as much the class participants as the cards but hey...who's blog is this anyway!   I have a customer from Illinois that has been a Kit by Mail type of girl and I was able to meet her in person yesterday and yes, Arline is WONDERFUL. I'm so glad that Barb has introduced us a while ago and now she's more than just a friendly voice.  See, it was a banner day!

So I suppose you want to see the card samples that you missed at class!  Here's one of my favorites.

Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes

We used the Frost White Shimmer paint and painted the cupcake liners, then we mixed the Frost White with Pretty in Pink and painted the frosting.  I don't think you can see the shimmer but we added 1/4 tsp of the Champagne Mist to a spritzer bottle of Rubbing Alcohol and misted the card.  I'm sold!  I get quivery every time I see this technique.  It's absolutely yummy.  I really tried to make this card without ribbons....can't, just can't do it.  I need ribbon intervention!

So then, I have my evening class and the girls in the evening class are just as awesome.  They tolerate an occasional "Ella visit" and most importantly, they think I walk on water!  I know, I ADORE the validation.  I really wish they all would move in here and explain to my family how cool I really am!    Love you guys too!

So I hate to tell them I can only walk on frozen water and I may not be all that and more.  The girls LOVED the tile we did with the Shimmer Paint mixed with reinkers.  In my extensive, Shimmer Paint research, Andrea Walford had an amazing tutorial on the tumbled tiles. 

Stamps:  Holy Triptych
 

So see..it's just frozen water. But the project was worth it, hey?  I do think I may stamp up the trio of these for Ella's preschool teacher gifts.  And if you think the tiles rock, you aught'ta see the Big Shot Class stuff for December, join us!
 

 

Hand-stamped Wedding Invitations

I've just spent the weekend working a booth at the Waukesha Bridal Expo and I'm thrilled by the prospect of helping brides stamp their wedding invitations or providing a custom hand-stamped invite for them.  It's so satisfying to hold something you've created yourself and then share it with those that are special in your life and I will be there to guide them and assist them in the process.

Here's just one of the custom invites that I had displayed.  I will be spending some time working up a portfolio with more samples and pricing for consideration.  Please contact me for more information.

Custom Complete Set:

Includes:  Invite, RSVP, Two Envelopes and Bellyband with Monogram

$5.50/invite Set

DIY Option:  $2.25/Invite Set

 

  

Veteran's Day Thank You

Freedom is not free.  Working at the Zablocki VA Medical Center here in Milwaukee, we can see this first hand, everyday.  So, I did want to take a moment and thank those who've served and are serving in our military.  And a special thankyou to the parents and spouses of our service men and women as well.  You've got a load to bear and our hearts are with you.

This was a card that we stamped this weekend at my downline Shoebox Swap.  This card was brought by Cheryl Lentz of Muskego.  Beautiful.

• Stampsets:  Hero, Courage, Service and Sacrifice

I had hoped to share this yesterday but I was scheduled for the midnight to 8am shift there at the VA for Veteran's Day and spent the rest of the day in my normal post-work stupor and then napped with Ella.  So again, thanks so much for your sacrifices, both past and present.

 

Christmas Card Class Nov 28th

I"M DONE!!!!  I've finished up the last of the samples for the Christmas Card Buffet Extravaganza on Saturday, Nov 28th but just like everything else I want to fuss and add some MORE.  But this is it, I swear.  And I'll put away any false pretense of modesty and say that I think they are adorable!  How ever are you going to pick your five favorites!?  Of course, I may be a bit biased but I really do think they are cute!

So remember here's how this Christmas Card Buffet works.  I run this buffet open house style on Saturday, Nov 28th.  You can come between 10am and 6pm to relax and stamp your Christmas Cards.  No stress, no worries, no cutting.  I have all of that done for you. 

You browse the card buffet and pick your favorites by Nov 25th.  You can choose to stamp between 10 and 50 cards (in multiples of 10) with up to 5 different card designs.  .The first set of 10 is $25.00 and each additional set of 10 is only $10.00!  10 cards for 10 bucks!  What a deal!  This is the easiest and the coolest way to get your Christmas Cards Cranked out this year.  I'm here to help you with everything but the list itself.  And I probably won't help you lick the postage stamps either but...

Here's the very last two that I designed for your buffet.  Enjoy.  Email me to register or print off the Christmas Card Buffet Registration.  I'll need the name of the card and the quantity (remember multiples of 10 for up to 5 cards and 5 different designs.)

• Stamps:  Dasher, Christmas Punches
• Inks:  Basic Black, White Craft, Bermuda Bay
• CS:  Black, Bermuda Bay, White
• Misc:  Large Oval Punch, Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

• Stamps:  Sweet Treats, Four the Holidays
• Inks:  Night of Navy,
• CS:  Vellum Envelope, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, White
• Misc:  Punches, Brads

So I hope you can join me on Saturday, Nov 28th.  Pick out your cards today! 

 

 

Fun Fold Technique

Oh man, it happened!  It was inevitable but I just didn't think it'd happen so soon.  No it's NOT what you're thinking...it wasn't a second blue line on a little white stick that indicates Pos or Neg.  It's that dreaded stamping disease, Christmascard-fed-upitis.  It's seriousness is second only to No-Mo-Mojo-itis, the kiss of death to a stamping women.  If you have contacted No-Mo-Mojo-itis, run, don't walk my stamping studio.  This is serious!  When you lose your stampin' Mojo, it's bad and the complications are even worse.  You must be seen by a professional to administer the nasal vaccine.  It requires a precise dose of Stampin' Mist fumes along with a strict diet of biscotti, chocolate and cute cards and should it become chronic, a monthly dose of new stamp sets.   Trust me, there's hope here at the Office.  You've got my number.

But Christmascard-fed-up-itis, while it's painful and annoying, the remedy is a little easier to tolerate.  You just stamp something besides Christmas Cards and eventually the painful ticks and rash fade on their own.  It happened to me yesterday.  I've been stamping up a snowstorm of Christmas Cards designs.  First for the Rubberstamp Expo and then for several classes, like the Christmas Card Buffet and Shimmer Paint one coming up next week.  I could feel it coming and I threw caution to the wind and stamped one more with my new stamp set,  Cold & Cuddly.  This card is for my Hostess Club that met yesterday and today. 

• Stamps:  COLD AND CUDDLY  116523   $27.95
   

While not exactly Christmas-y, it was the straw that broke it all.  I started feeling bad for all the Birthdays in December that get ripped off, the Get well and Sympathy cards I've not done or Thank You cards that just didn't get out!  All because of the all consuming need for Christmas Cards.  The trees, the snowflakes the Santas etc....I knew I had it.  Christmascard-fed-up-itis.  The rash, the ticks, the refusal to pick up a snowflake and cramping when using an Embossing Gun.

So I ran right over to the shelves and pulled out some non-Christmas, non-winter and not even FALL stamp sets.  Here's my second dose of antibiotic for Christmascard-fed-up-itis.  I think I feel better already.  It's a sassy little Fun Fold.  The top latte piece flaps over the bottom flap and just adorable!

Stamps:  PUN FUN  #115054   $32.95

Now, if you love these cards as much as I do, feel free to stop into the Hostess Club Open House today from 1pm-9pm.  My Hostess Club meets monthly and you are welcome to "try it before you buy it"  Meaning, you can stamp the three cards that the Hostess Club Members are working on today for only $5.00.  Come check us out and see if you'd like to join.  There is ABSOLUTELY no obligation to buy or join.  Just come and play and see what it's all about.

 

Shimmer Paint Class

Hooray, I shirked every household duty and spent the morning stamping.  Ella was at her happy place, more commonly known as preschool.  It's heaven for both of us!  I get three hours of "me time" and she gets three hours of nonstop stimulus.  What more could an active two year old want?

So here's just a quick share of one of the cards that we will be doing at my SHOUT OUT FOR SHIMMER PAINT class on Nov 17th.  I've got three more adorable cards waiting for you!  There is still room for you at class.  We will be stamping 4 cards for $12.00.  Email me to sign up.

• Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Sincere Salutations
• Inks: Platinum Shimmer Paint, Rich Razzleberry
• CS: Basic Gray, White, Silver, Rich Razzleberry

So now, fire off an email and tell me your are coming!  It's going to be loads of fun!
 

From the Crypt

It was almost a stamp-free weekend....Adria was supposed to be in St. Louis for a soccer tournament but the tournie was cancelled due to the heavy rain.  So the kids and I headed in the opposite direction and spent Friday at the Wilderness in the Wisconsin Dells.   Didn't even pack the stamps, just the suits.  We returned home just in time to get our costumes on for trick-or-treating and a party at one of the soccer parents.  Adria went as a snowman, Denver as an old man, Ella as the appropriate Energizer Bunny and myself...I ratted and ratted my hair, sprayed it black and went as your favorite train wreck, Amy Winehouse. 

If you are familiar with Amy, she's loaded with tattoes.  I shopped both Target and Walmart for temporary tattoos to no avail.  Slap me silly!  Hello, you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and you have shelves full of rubber stamps.  Pulled out a few, along with my favorite Amy Winehouse type stamp, From the Crypt and used the Basic Black ink and proceeded to trash my arms and chest.  I should have added a few more but I wasn't quite sure how temporary we are talking here.  Regardless of Amy's church choice, I needed to go Sunday morning and felt I should be skull-free before going.  (they came off quite easily, the black hair spray...not so.)

 

So the next time you need to hang out at a biker bar and are just looking to blend in, pull out your rubberstamps and tatoo yourself.  They work great!  So I was the only thing I stamped on this long Teacher's Convention weekend!  Ella and Denver are in my facebook album.  Click on the left hand side of the blog & become and fan!