A Diversionary Tactic

Black Friday Specials

So did you head out to brave the crowds and find the deals this morning or sleep in and lounge around in your jammies today?  Adria went with a bunch of friends to the mall at 4am this morning but since I hosted the Turkey Feast, am dealing with a sick child AND I work tonight at the hospital, I choose to sleep an extra 2 hours this morning.  I will become productive later this morning, I hope!

So what great Black Friday special would you want to see from your Stampin' Up! demonstrator?  Since I usually do the Wacky Wednesdays for my mailing list subscribers in the month of December, I hesitated to include a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale.  But since I'm sitting here in my jammies, wondering if I'm missing out on all the deals, I figured I'd make us feel better with a little cooperative retail therapy and since SU has given us a GREAT Special to piggy back on, here's the scoop for your Black Friday/Cyber Monday specials.

• Cards & Cardfronts -  all orders receive a front or card.  Orders over $35 receive 5 cards or fronts and over $60 receive 10.
  

• Take advantage of the SU Extravaganza Sale with deals up to 60% off.  Check it out here

•  All orders over $150 will receive Hostess Benefits.

• All orders over $350 will receive an additional $35 in Hostess Benefits for a total of $100 to spend.
• Let's see....what other fun special can we think of....How about 25% off the largest item on your list.  
  

You can phone or email the orders  or even enter the orders in online yourself.  (Online - the 25% discount will be mailed in a form of a check).  All orders must be placed by 11:59pm CST on Monday, Nov 28th. 

So I best get going.  Got several bushels of apples to sauce, Stamps by Mail to send out and I need to whip up a few cards for upcoming classes.   Speaking of classes...don't forget Coffee, Cards and Biscotti on Nov 28th & 29th.  Here's one of the cards that we will be doing.

I've got room in all three sessions.

• Nov 28th @ 9:30am
• Nov 28th @ 6:30pm
• Nov 29th @ 9:30am

Email me to reserve YOUR spot.

 

Snowmen and Flakes Sample

Adria and I are back from a whirlwind weekend.  She had a Showcase Soccer Tournament in North Carolina, a gorgeous state with even better weather.  We had a chance to catch some of the Women's College Semifinal Soccer Games (UW-Milwaukee) at Duke University.   Wow, that campus is lovely!  I had big plans to share photos and samples all weekend, lugging the laptop and camera along.  As you can see, it didn't get done!!!!

So here's today's sample from the Christmas Card Stamp A Stack Class - Snowman and Flakes.  I have a session this morning and again tonight and there are openings in both!  Come at 9:30am this morning or anytime after 3pm this afternoon.  Doors will be closing at 9:30pm.  You will be making 12 cards (4 different designs)

It's much prettier in person.  We've used Serene Snowflakes and the Christmas Lodge stamp set.  A little Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.

 

 

 

 

Card #2:

• Stamps:  Snow Much Fun
• Inks:  Marina Mist, Real Red, Only Orange
• CS:  Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Real Red, Bashful Blue
• Misc:  Square Punches, Scallop Edge Punch, Northern Flurries Embossing Folder, Smooch,

Let me know if you want to come!

Christmas Mini Scrapbook Album

One of the Break Out classes at the recent Stamp Camp was this Adorable Christmas Mini Flip Flop Scrapbook Album.  The campers had as much fun putting it together as I did and it goes together very quickly!  The good news for you is.....that I have extra kits leftover!  Do you have anyone on your list that is difficult to buy for?  How about spending about 1 hour making them an album that they will cherish for ages to come.   To see how the album unfolds, click here.  It should take you to my You-Tube demo in the exact spot to see how this album unfolds!

This album and tutorial with step by step instuctions can be purchased in two different formats. 

Complete Kit - Color Printed Tutorial Directions, Cardstock from the Christmas Lane (all cut & scored), Sticky Strip, ribbon and 3 Sheets of  Self-Adhesive Die Cuts to complete the album.  Every thing you need but the 14- 4"x4" photos!  $25 plus shipping.

PDF Tutorial Directions - Complete PDF Directions for the album sent directly to your inbox.  $3.95

Remember vacations are coming up as well and this would make a great Holiday Keep the Kids Busy project or Snow Day Entertainment.   Order your Christmas Mini Scrapbook Album today!

Whatever Wednesday - Slab Apple Cake

I will be the very first to admit that my recipes are a mess.  I can NEVER find my favorites, like my receipe for the Raisin Bran Refrigerator Muffins or my Spinach Stuffed Crust Pizza. I did manage to locate the Mounds Bar recipe from a couple of years ago as Adria asked for.  Maybe I should make some more of those very fattening yummy treats.  So, I, for the sake of my recipe collection, am hoping for some snowy days where the kids can help me put them in order.  What usually happens in that I take them out of the binder to photocopy for a friend and then they never make it back to the house, they are lost in the chaos that is my office.

I'm going to whip up some applesause today and maybe tomorrow save a few out for Slab Apple Cake.  Pat K., one of my dear stampers, brought this to class earlier this year.  Oh man, is it GOOD!

Slab Apple Cake

Dough:

• 3 c. flour
• 1 t. salt
• 3 T sugar
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1 c. shortening (I used butter)
• 2 egg yolks, beaten
• 8 T. water

Filling:

• 16 med. Granny Smith Apples
• 2 T. flour
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. lemon juice

In a bowl mix flour, salt, sugar and baking powder.  Cut in shortening.  Add egg yolks (I know where you can get fabulous free range eggs!) and cold water.  Mix well and form into 2 balls

Roll out one ball to fit a jelly roll pan.  Place dough in pan. 

Peel and core and slice apples.  Add flour, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice to slice apples and mix.

Place apples in jelly roll pan.  Dot apples with butter.  Roll out second doubh ball to fit top of apples.  Place dough over apples and make several slits in top.  Bake at 375 for 60 minutes.  Cool.

Mix powdered sugar and water to make glaze.  Spread glaze over top of cooled cake.

Snowmen and Flakes

Shaping up to be one of the last nice days for a while.  Guys are here working on the barn this morning and once Ella wakes up, I suppose we should probably tuck the bees in for the winter and maybe a couple of flower beds too.  I wanted to get some cards designed for my upcoming classes but I think I'm going to wait until the rains hit later in the week.  I have to finish unpacking from the weekend today too.  We had an absolute blast at the Stamp In on Saturday and I will have to say it was one of our best ones yet!  I'll probably share a few more of those cards later too and share the registration link so that you can reserve your spot before it sells out!

I wanted to start "tempting" you with the Snowmen and Flakes Christmas Stamp A Stacks coming up later this month.  It's usually hugely popular and so I've added two additional sessions to the list.

• Monday, Nov 21st - 3pm - 6:30pm (New Session - 2 Seats Left)
• Monday, Nov 21st - 6:30pm (FULL)
• Tuesday, Nov 22nd - 9:30am (7 Spots Left)
• Tuesday, Nov 22nd - 6:30pm (New Session - 8 Seats Left)

Here's one of the cards that made the cut. At this class you will make 12 cards for $25 (or register for multiples of a class or two additional Stamp A Stacks and receive a class discount)  Confusing...I know.  Call me and I can explain it better!

• Stamps:  Holiday Line Up
• Inks:  Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party
• CS:  Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Silver Shimmer,
• Misc: Northern Flurries Die, Pool Party Ribbon

 

A Big Shot Halloween Costume

Here in Wisconsin, Halloween is not for the faint of heart.  Same concept applies to the frilly short sleeved Easter dresses....as we could very well have COLD and SNOW.  So at times like this, the philosophy of "don't fight the inevitable and work with what you are given" applies.  No cute bug costumes, princesses or belly dancers here....Incorporate the weather into the costume.  I wasn't sure what Ella's costume was going to be and I was feeling a little guilty as I have the reputation for fun, original and creative costumes (see the Butterfly Duct Tape Dress).....Inspiration and the Big Shot struck yesterday.

Behold, Miss Alaska.    We dressed Ella up in her Snow Suit and pink tiara, found the Stuffed Alaskan Malamute that she sleeps with (souvenir of the Stampin' Up! Alaskan Cruise this spring) and cut a sash from white fabric.  I ran some black cardstock through the Big Shot and  used the Serif Essentials Alphabet 113464 (Mind you, I got the letters 50% off with a $400 party!!!)  Then I just used Tacky Glue to glue them to the sash.  Quick, easy and weather appropriate.

Adria and her friends wanted to head out Trick or Treating as well.  Since they ARE highschoolers, I made the compromise that "Sure, they could go but they needed to take Ella so that they had a reason to be out".  The girls and their "trainer" were 80's Aerobics/Joggers.   Pathetic that the clothes we used to wear have now become Halloween costumes!  I'm NOT that old.  Oh, well off to collect my Candy Bar Tariff and console myself at my stamping desk. 

Perhaps I should think about using those 80's clothes for some exercise...oh wait, I don't have that body from the 80's and these aren't covering NEARLY enough of the 2011 body.  :)  So I'll just sit here and eat my candy bars.