Christmas Extravaganza 2010

This year's Christmas Card Extravaganza was another success!

Thirty-six participants made a total of 12 beautiful cards each as they rotated between 7 different consultants.

Everyone had the opportunity to try out the new papers, stamp sets, embellishments and other new supplies recently released this September.

Door prizes and give-a-ways peppered the room with the exciting possibilities of the new products and creative ideas.

A great day with plenty of opportunities to meet new people on the venture too.

The first 6 cards were made in the morning session before lunch break.

Around noon everyone stopped to enjoy a lunch break with food supplied by the consultants and then it was back for the 2nd half of the day to make the remaining 6 cards.

If you didn't make it to this year's Extravaganza, you'll want to mark your calendar for next year so you too can get in on all the creative fun!

Join us next September to make your very own stash of Christmas cards.

You'll get some great ideas and have a head start on those special cards for those extra special people in your life.

Look at all the smiles on everyone -- you know it was a great day!

Be sure to visit my website at stampmyart.myctmh.com to check out the new Idea Book for all the great new products!

Time to Laugh at me or cry with me - top this (please) and tell me your story!

So.... have you ever thought you did what you needed to do -- and then it turns out you didn't, only you find out the hard way after it's all done and too late to fix????

Well, that'd be what I did this past weekend.  I guess it was just bound to be one of those days.  You know, the one everyone has...where it seems nothing goes the way it's supposed to go -- as if anything is ever actually "supposed" to go any specific way (LOL).  I mean do we really think we are in control of the way things are "supposed" to be?? hahahaa.... It's one of those days where you just have to accept that sometimes life has a different plan.

Soooooo, my Saturday started off fine; really it did.  I was doing good for time, no rush.  Well, at least it didn't start out that way.  I head out towards my destination, supplies packed and ready to go.

I placed a large 5 gallon container of icy Lemonade in the back of our Land Cruiser, it didn't fit in the front -- or maybe I just didn't try hard enough. Anyway, I placed a small soft sided crate next to it and a blanket pushed up against the other side. The last 2 sides were cushioned by the Land Cruiser -- against the side wall and tailgate area.  Sounds like a good plan right?  Nope! I made it 5 miles when I realized I forgot something at home -- so, I turned around and headed back home.  I should have left the forgotten items. Now, I'm making myself late and ....then, when I least expect it, a sound I didn't want to hear....crash, mpop, sloosh, slosh, kushh...more kushhhing as the ice continues to purge forward along with the remaining 5 gallons of liquid.  It's one of those moments where you  cringe as you realize what just occurred and there's not a thing you can do about it.  If I continue to slow down so I can stop, I know the liquid will continue its journey forward, if i don't stop -- same result since I'm headed down a hill.

I am now in the process of cleaning 5 gallons of lemonade from the entire back middle and front of our Landcruiser.  Yup, that's FIVE gallons of liquid with sugar!

When we opened the door liquid came pouring out....and that's after the carpet absorbed a lot.

 This is the front -- it came from alllllll the way in the back of the vehicle to the very front.


***Update -- Land Cruiser torn all apart, scrubbed furiously and now all back together again. Yay!  On the positive side, it did get an inside detail, hahahaha.

Old World St. Nicholas Card

Today is our Christmas Card Extravaganza.  We will be having an all day card workshop where participants will be making cards all day, have lunch, get free gifts and door prizes.  It's sure to be a fun day for all!  I will post pictures of the event and cards created in the next few days.

To create an old world feel on the above card -- I used chalks to color in the image, which I stamped using Cocoa Ink for the Santa image.  I also used the edge distresser on the New England Ivy to further enhance the feel.

Basic Supplies Needed

Colonial White CS (1388)

New England Ivy CS (1282)

Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Pack (X7130B)

Colonial White Ric-rac (Z1126)

Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad (Z2116)

Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad (X2114)

Watercolor Pencils (3509)

Exclusive Inks Markers – variety of colors

Fun Flock (Z263)

Edge Distresser (Z1297)

Corner Rounder (Z1311)

St. Nick Stamp Set (B1356)

Sponge (Z697)

Chalks & Pine Branch Punch

Adhesive (wet & dry versions) -- wet works best for the ricrac

You can Download full directions via the Google Docs link: Old World St. Nicholas

Altered Art - Mini Notebook

Split Coast Stampers DSS Challenge: "create something with a traditional school supply".  My secret sister likes pink so I pulled out some Close to My Heart Day Dream Backgrounds and Textures papers I have in my stash to make her this Altered Mini-notebook.

Supplies
CTMH paper packet Day Dream
CTMH stamp set from the Triple Play bonus pack (available thru September 2010) - see my CTMH website: Stampmyart - for more information

Cricut Cartridge (my new favorite of the moment): Wall Décor and More
CTMH White Daisy Ric rac and Blush Ric rac
CTMH arrow embellishment
Decorative gems in pink and flower
Binder Clip
Stickles Glitter Glue Distress Stickles: Worn Lipstick and Broken China
ATG and adhesive
Xyron

1. Measure and cut papers to fit the notebook and attached them with ATG or strong adhesive.
2. Apply Stickles to the binder clip so it can dry.  Apply the two different colors one at a time letting them dry in between.
3. Stamp images in desired locations
4. Cut the butterfly (page 29).
5. Now for some fun....put the butterfly through the Xyron 2 times.  Once on the front and once on the back.  Remove the protective backing from the side used as the front. Pour glitter all over.  Then, gently rub in the glitter -- it sticks like a charm! :)
6. Remove the backing and place the butterfly into desired position.
7. Add embellishments.
8. When binder clip is dry tie some blush and white ric rac in a knot, trim and then put binder on notebook to hold closed.

A Star Power-ed Happy Birthday!

Another year another birthday.  It's not mine, but it always makes me feel older none the less, LOL.  It's my daughter's 19th Birthday.  So, off to PSU we head to celebrate with the traditional Birthday dinner.  Enjoy today's card, it's pretty simple to make, and even though it looks like a lot of materials it's not -- it's just a lot of colors.  See you soon!

Supplies

CTMH Colonial White CS

CTMH Moonstruck CS

Ribbon (some pretty colorful stuff I received from a Secret Sister)

CTMH Exclusive Inks: Créme Brûlée, Goldrush, Amethyst, Moonstruck, Watermelon (retired 2010) & Autumn Terracotta

CTMH Stamp sets: Star Power (D1403), It's Your Day (D1352), A Little of Everything (D1408 -- SOTM March 2010)

Fiskars Laced Apron Decorative Border Punch

Corner Rounder

1. Cut your Colonial White CS to 4.25" x 11.

2. Use the Laced Apron on one end. Stamp star design on bottom edge (opposite from the punched edge.

3. Fold card to make the stars show -- slightly less than 6". Sponge edges with Moonstruck.

4. Stamp "Have a Happy Birthday" with Moonstruck off to one side.

5. Wrap ribbon around card near bottom of front portion -- I put the ends on the FRONT (they are hidden by the layered CS and that way the inside is finished with no edges).

6. Cut a piece of Moonstruck CS at 4 3/8" x 2 5/8" and a piece of Colonial white at 4" x 2 1/4".

7. Stamp the Birthday cake in the multiple colors.  Stamp You're a Star with Moonstruck.

8. Use the corner rounder on the Colonial White piece then sponge edges with the Moonstruck.

9. Attach to the Moonstruck CS and then attach set in place on the card base.

New Idea Book Released -- retiring items

I'm excited to announce the release of the new Idea Book. I know you will find some great ideas and love the new colors. It's filled with many new papers, stamps inks and paper crafting tools.

I just love the new blues in the Magnifique and I'm also in love with the purples and other colors of the Hooligans which is such a cute Halloween paper. If you're in the mood for fall, check out the Olivia papers, great autumn colors and patterns, it's sure to make some great family memories come alive with the feel of fall. To finish of the year we have the Mistletoe papers -- I'm loving the musical page...woo-hoo! Music always fills our house and Christmas is full of so many music choices this is perfect!

As you browse the new Idea book, you will find over 30 new stamps along with so many new ideas, you're bound to find a project to create and give as a gift.

Stay fresh with the new colors of the summer palette: Gypsy, Pacifica, Sunset, Cotton Candy, Lagoon, Pear, Sky, and Smoothie.

There are so many new things coming out that there had to be sacrifices made and this has resulted in a list of items retiring at the end of this year. You can find the list retiring items on my CTMH website. Occasionally due to popularity some may be going out-of-stock quick.

If you have any papers or embellishments on your wish list, you may want to go to the list to see what's there so you can get your items before they go. You know when things end up on a list of soon to be gone -- they go fast. So avoid disappointment, get them today!

Don't have your new Idea Book yet? Call me to see how you can get yours free! ♥