Party Wishes for a Friend

My son is going to his best friend's 7th birthday party in a matter of minutes.  With the gift wrapped all that was needed was a card to go with it.

And because it's me....it has to be handmade....

My son is always incredibly excited when I let him use "my stuff".  Probably because I'm so strict about them not touching it.  EVER.

They have their own stamping bin....but this is a special friend....so I pulled out my BRAND NEW "Party Wishes" set.

SO. MUCH. FUN.

Party Wishes for a Friend

My son stamping candles

The glue isn't quite dry here....but I wanted to show you the fun little candles that he punched out and the cool balloon Washi Tape!

I love this suite of products and I can't wait to feature them at my Birthday Card Stamp Camp (see "Upcoming Events" for more details).  It is such a versatile suite and easy to use.....clearly....my son is only 6!

Happy Stampin'!

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Hello to Sale-a-bration

Hello!  Welcome to Sale-a-bration 2016!

Sale-a-bration is, hand's down, my FAVOURITE Stampin' Up! promotion!  Before I was a demonstrator I used to save up my purchases until this time so I could get more for my money....who am I kidding....I still do!   Some of my favourite Stampin' Up! stamp sets are Sale-a-bration sets!

Here's one of the best of this year's Sale-a-bration sets...."Hello":

There are so many possibilities!   Here is one design that I used for 2 different cards:

Hello Birthday Day Girl!

Hello My Friend!

 I heat-embossed the "Hello" image using White Emboss Powder and then, using my AquaPainters, watercoloured over top of it.  Then I used paper from the "It's My Party" DSP package (which is HUGE by the way....48 sheets!) for the background.   There is a good mix of really "Birthday-ish" themes and more neutral ones.

Using the "flip" side of the DSP allowed me to make 2 cards, with different messages, really quickly!

Want in on the fun?   Here's how:

Purchase $60 in Stampin' Up! product from the Annual or Occasions Catalogue and you can earn the "Hello" stamp set FREE!   If you purchased the "It's My Party" DSP pack, the Aqua Painters, and some cardstock, you'll have $60 and will be all set to go.

But HURRY....because this set is ONLY available until February 15th!

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Happy Stampin'!

Welcome Words

Happy New Year!  I hope that all of you reading this have had a wonderful holiday season and that 2016 holds many blessings for you!

With a new year come new beginnings.  In the Stampin' Up! world that means a new Occasions Catalogue launching on January 5th.   I had the good fortune of being able to participate in Stampin' Up!'s "OnStage Local" event in November and got a look at this catalogue early.  One of the first sets to catch my eye was the "Welcome Words" set.

Here's why....I have a friend who is a travel consultant and she has been looking for a "Welcome Home" or "Welcome Back" stamp for a number of years now.   Every time a new catalogue comes out we scour it for one....and this time it was there!  Yay!

I ordered it in the demonstrator "pre-order"....another great perk of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.....and had fun playing around with it last night.

Here's the one I like the best:

I also used another new stamp set, "Timeless Textures".....SO great!

Check out my Stampin' Up! website, http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net, on January 5th to see the new catalogue and SALE-A-BRATION catalogue.

Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards: Day Three

Tonight's post is actually not Christmas cards, but a Christmas gift (or anytime gift) idea.

I really like to give handmade cards as a gift.  I have lots of people in my life, as I'm sure you do too,  that enjoy giving handmade cards but don't make them themselves.  So, I like to provide them cards as gifts.

But actually MAKING a bunch of cards to give as a gift is sometimes a challenge for me.

Life is busy....work, kids, housework, church commitments, Stampin' Up! commitments.....

....procrastinating!

So THIS year I decided to try out some of Stampin' Up!'s kits for Christmas gifts.

I. AM. BRILLIANT!

Well, okay.....Stampin' Up! is brilliant!

I chose the "Cottage Greetings Card Kits"  to give as a gift to each of my children's teachers:

There are enough supplies in the kit for 15 cards.

FIFTEEN!!!

I normally can only get around to making 6 or so!

I made all 15 in one kit in less than an hour tonight, in front of the television!!

AND....it cost $19.95!  When you include tax and shipping, that's what I would spend on them if I was buying a gift!!!!

Awesome!!!

So instead of scrambling teacher-gifts together this year.  I'll be done before the end of November!

AWESOME!!!!!

Right now, I'm offering 15% off this kit, stamp set, and one ink pad when you place your order with me (online orders do not qualify) by December 1st.

Here's what you'll get for $40 plus tax and shipping (one kit, one stamp set, one ink pad)

One kit alone is $16.95 plus tax and shipping:

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Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards 2015: Day 2

Today I've got another uber-simple card for you to make.  I'm currently all about simplifying and cutting down the clutter in my house and I'm finding my cards are also reflecting that for the most part.

Start with mono-chromatic layers then add a couple of "pops" of colour and "bam" you've got a card (thanks to Rich Jutkins at Stampin' Up! head office for the card-making sound effects!)

Create the snowflake with Whisper White craft ink or by embossing

See what I mean?!

This card will come together in seconds if you use the Whisper White craft ink.  Or "step-it-up" a little by embossing with White Embossing powder and adding some glitter or rhinestones.

Again, I've used one retired stamp set but you can create this card with the following products:

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Happy Stampin'!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards 2015: Day One

For those of you looking for this on the 12th, my apologies.  I was knee-deep in exam marking, report cards and hosting out-of-town family.   I should have looked at my calendar before I made my announcement :/

I spent yesterday with my dear friend, Julia, at Stampin' Up's first OnStage event!  It was SO much fun.  I met with old friends and new friends and got to stamp with BRAND NEW product from the 2016 Occasions Catalogue!

You are going to LOVE it!

But for now, because I'm not allowed to show you anything yet, I'll be showcasing some of the work I've been doing in preparation for Christmas with new stamps, retired stamps, kits and My Paper Pumpkin in my second annual "Twelve Days of Christmas Cards" blog posts.

Be sure to check back every day or two to see what's new and to be inspired.  

I've been planning towards my latest class, a Stamp-a-Stack of 16 cards, and have been working on some simple Christmas cards to include.

Here's one that I'm really liking:

Use a small snowflake to create a wreath

Isn't it pretty?  I stamped the wreath using Pool Party, Island Indigo, and Silver ink.  To create the "fourth" colour I simply stamped again in the Island Indigo before re-inking.

Super simple!

Here's a closer look at the wreath:

Use coordinating colours or stamp a few times before re-inking to create this look.

I realize that I've used mainly retired products to create this card; the "Endless Wishes" photopolymer stamp set, the "Good Greetings" hostess stamp set and a retired TIEF that I can't remember the name of.  

Don't have any of these products?

Have no fear!

You, too, can create this card.   Consider using these products to create a similar look;

Flurry of Wishes

Holly Jolly Greetings

Woodland TIEF

You can purchase any of these products from my website at  http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net  or by clicking on any of the images.

If you'd like to attend my Stamp-a-Stack of cards on December 1st, please contact me for more information.

Happy Stampin'!

Back in the saddle again....

Well, true to form, I've neglected my online presence for a little too long.  No.  Far too long.

 If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I stamp in fits and starts and therefore post that way too :)   Thank you for sticking with me!

In truth, my crafting space has been collecting dust since the spring and I've finally gotten back at it.

One of the reasons for this neglect is because I started back to work this fall.  I am a public high school teacher but had been on an extended parental leave for the past 6 1/2 years.  Returning to the classroom part-time this fall has certainly been an adjustment.....but not an unwelcome one.  While I enjoyed my time at home with my children (and was blessed to have an employer who would let me do it), I have been wonderfully surprised at how much I'm LOVING being back in the work world.

I feel like myself again!

Now that I've gotten into more of a routine and things are starting to settle, I sat down to do some stamping!   Two words...

Paper.

Pumpkin.

Wow!  What a wonderful little treat every month.  My October kit had enough materials to make 9 cards....and a little more!   And I did NOT have to design them myself!

Or cut anything!

It was all done for me!  Yay!

Once they were put together....this was the end result:

AND I got 13 stamps with the kit!

I'm looking forward to using them again soon!

If you haven't already tried Paper Pumpkin out or you want to try it out again, click HERE to link to my Paper Pumpkin website.   It's really worth trying out or giving as a gift to someone who is crafty.
I've been receiving my Paper Pumpkin monthly for over a year and have LOVED what I've seen!

Happy Stampin'!