What's happening in September??

The kids are back in school - or will be soon - so here are some fun reasons to stamp in September! (thanks to Jane for this EXTENSIVE list!)

MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCES

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month

Baby Safety Month

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month

Better Breakfast Month

Cable TV Month

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

Children’s Good Manners Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Chili Peppers and Figs Month

Classical Music Month

College Savings Month

Ethnic Foods Month

Fall Hat Month

Fruits and Veggies More Matters Month

Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month

Great American Low-Cholesterol, Low-Fat Pizza Month

Gynecology Cancer Awareness Month

Happy Cat Month

Healthy Aging Month

International Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

International People Skills Month

International Self-Awareness Month

International Square Dancing Month

International Strategic Thinking Month

Jazz Month

Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month

Library Card Sign-Up Month

Marriage Health Month

Million Minute Family Challenge

Mold Awareness Month

National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

National Apple Month

National Backpack Safety Month

National Bed Check Month

National Blueberry Popsicle Month

National Chicken Month

National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

National Cholesterol Education Month

National Coupon Month

National Courtesy Month

National DNA, Geonomics, and Stem Cell Education Month

National Food Safety Education Month

National Fruit and Veggies Month

National Head Lice Prevention Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Honey Month

National Little League Month

National Menopause Awareness Month

National Mind Mapping Month

National Mushroom Month

National Organic Harvest Month

National Osteopathic Medicine Month

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

National Papaya Month

National Pediculosis Prevention Month

National Piano Month

National Preparedness Month

National Prime Beef Month

National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

National Rice Month

National School Success Month

National Sewing Month

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

National Skin Care Awareness Month

National Yoga Awareness Month

One-on-One Month

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Peas and Radishes Month

Pleasure Your Mate Month

Read-A-New-Book Month

Reunion Planning Month

Reyes Syndrome Awareness Month

Sea Cadet Month

Schoolhouse Triangle Project Month

Self-Improvement Month

Shameless Promotion Month

Sports and Home Eye Safety Month

Subliminal Communications Month

Update Your Resume Month

Whole Grains Month

Women of Achievement Month

Women’s Friendship Month

World Animal Remembrance Month

 

 

WEEK-LONG OBSERVANCES

1st Week

Child Injury Prevention Week

International Enthusiasm Week

Self University Week

 

2nd Week

International Housekeepers Week

National Payroll Week

National Suicide Prevention Week

National Waffle Week

Play Days

Popeye Week

 

3rd Week

Balance Awareness Week

Constitution Week

Line Dance Week

National Assisted Living Week

National Child Care Week

National Farm Animals Awareness Week

National Flower Week

National Singles Week

Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week

 

4th Week

American Massage Therapy Week

Build a Better Image Week

Deaf Awareness Week

Equal Parents' Week

JRR Tolkien Week

National Adult Immunization Week

National Clean Hands Week

National Dog Week

National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week

National Love Your Files Week

National Rehabilitations Week

National Roller Skating Week

National Singles Week

Pollution Prevention Week

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

Turn Off Your TV Week

 

5^th Week

Banned Books Week

Fall Astronomy Week

Great American Beer Week

National Chimney Safety Week

National Keep Kids Creative Week

Remember to Register to Vote Week

 

September 1st

Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day

Calendar Adjustment Day

Chicken Boy’s Day

Edgar Rice Burrough’s Birthday (1875)

Estee Lauder’s Birthday (1908)

Johann Pachelbel’s Birthday (1653)

Mary Had A Little Lamb Published (1830)

National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day

Padma Lakshmi’s Birthday (1970)

Rich Tips Test Day

Yvonne de Carlo’s Birthday (1922)

 

September 2nd

First ATM (1969)

Great Fire of London (1666)

National Beheading Day

National Blueberry Popsicle Day

National Lazy Mom’s Day

Salma Hayek’s Birthday (1966)

US Treasury Established (1789)

V-J Day

 

September 3rd

Bathtub Race Day

First Professional Football Game (1895)

Great Fire of London (1666)

Sarah Orne Jewett’s Birthday (1849)

Skyscraper Day

Treaty of Paris Signed (1783)

Waffle Day

 

September 4th

Great Fire of London (1666)

International Drive Your Studebaker Day

Island of Manhattan Discovered (1609)

Newspaper Carrier Day

Oatmeal Day

Paul Harvey’s Birthday (1918)

Peter Rabbit’s Birthday (1893)

Richard Wright’s Birthday (1908)

Syd Hoff’s Birthday (1912)

 

September 5th

Be Late for Something Day

Bob Newhart’s Birthday (1929)

Cathy Guisewite’s Birthday (1960)

1^st Continental Congress Assembled (1774)

Great Fire of London (1666)

Labor Day

National Cheese Pizza Day

 

September 6th

Another Look Unlimited Day

Do-It Day (Fight Procrastination)

Great Fire of London (1666)

Jane Curtain’s Birthday (1947)

Read a Book Day

 

September 7th

Al McGuire’s Birthday (1931)

Ann Beattie’s Birthday (1947)

Chrissie Hynde’s Birthday (1951)

Google Commemoration Day

Grandma Moses Day

International Angel Day

Julie Kavner’s Birthday (1951)

National Feel the Love Day

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day

Queen Elizabeth I’s Birthday (1533)

Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Salami Day

 

September 8th

Antonio Dvorak’s Birthday (1841)

Bald is Beautiful Day

International Literacy Day

Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday (1940)

King Richard I’s Birthday (1157)

National Date Nut Bread

Pardon Day

Patsy Cline’s Birthday (1932)

Potato Day

Prairie Day

Rosh Hashanah

Virgin Mary Day

World Physical Therapy Day

 

September 9th

Hugh Grant’s Birthday (1960)

Leo Tolstoy’s Birthday (1828)

Mario Batali’s Birthday (1960)

Stand Up to Cancer Day

Teddy Bear Day

United Colonies renamed United States (1776)

Wonderful Weirdos Day

 

September 10th

Bill O’Reilly’s Birthday (1949)

Chris Columbus’ Birthday (1958)

Colin Firth’s Birthday (1960)

Farmers’ Consumer Awareness Day

Karl Lagerfeld's Birthday (1938)

National Lacemaking Day

Sewing Machine Patented (1846)

Swap Ideas Day

T.V. Dinner Day

World Suicide Prevention Day

 

September 11th

Creation of the Internet (1969)

D.H. Lawrence’s Birthday (1885)

Harry Connick’s Birthday (1967)

Libraries Remember Day

Make Your Bed Day

National Grandparent’s Day

No News is Good News Day

O Henry’s Birthday (1862)

Patriot Day – World Trade Center Remembrance Day

Remember Freedom Day

Tenth Anniversary of 9/11

 

September 12th

Alfred A. Knopf’s Birthday (1892)

Harvest Moon

Maurice Chevalier’s Birthday (1888)

Mushroom Days

National Boss/Employee Exchange Day

National Chocolate Milk Shake Day

Popcorn Day

Video Games Day

 

September 13^th

Claudette Colbert’s Birthday (1903)

Defy Superstition Day

Else Minarik’s Birthday (1920)

Fortune Cookie Day

International Chocolate Day

Milton Hershey’s Birthday (1857)

National Celiac Awareness Day

National Peanut Day

National Urban Eden Day

Positive Thinking Day

Roald Dahl’s Birthday (1916)

Scooby Doo's Birthday (First cartoon debuted)

Stella McCartney's Birthday (1971)

Uncle Same Day

Walter Reed’s Birthday (1851)

 

September 14th

Clayton Moore's Birthday (1914)

First Department Store Opens (Opened in 1848 by Alexander Stewart)

Johann Michael Hayden (1737)

National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day

Robert McCloskey’s Birthday (1914)

Star-Spangled Banner Written (1814)

 

September 15th

Agatha Christie’s Birthday (1890)

America’s Day for Kids

Felt Hat Day

Greenpeace Day

James Fenimore Cooper’s Birthday (1789)

Make A Hat Day

National Hispanic Heritage Month (Begins September 15 and ends October 15)

National School Backpack Awareness Day

Penicillin Discovered by Alexander Fleming (1928)

Robert McCloskey’s Birthday (1914)

Tomie de Paola’s Birthday (1934)

Tommy Lee Jones’ Birthday (1946)

UN International Day of Democracy

 

September 16th

Anne Bradstreet Day

Beer Day

Collect Rocks Day

Constitution Day

H.A. Rey’s Birthday (1898)

John Knowles’ Birthday (1926)

Mayflower Day

National Play-Doh Day

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

National Stepfamily Day

National Working Parents Day

Robin Yount’s Birthday (1955)

Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day

Trail of Tears Commemoration Day

Women’s Friendship Day

 

September 17th

Anne Bancroft’s Birthday (1931)

Big Whopper Liar Day

Citizenship Day/Constitution Day

International Eat-An-Apple Day

International Coastal Cleanup Day

Ladies Auxiliary VFW Organized (1914)

John Ritter’s Birthday (1948)

National Apple Dumpling Day

National Women Road Warrior Day

Pledge Across America Day

William Carlos Williams’ Birthday (1883)

 

September 18th

Agnes de Mille’s Birthday (1905)

Air Force Birthday (1947)

Carter Oosterhouse’s Birthday (1976)

Chiropractor’s Day

First Edition of the New York Times Published (1851)

Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day

James Gandolfini’s Birthday (1961)

Jimmy Fallon’s Birthday (1974)

June Foray’s Birthday (1920)

Mushroom Picking Day

National Aging Awareness Day

National Cheeseburger Day

National Respect Day

National Seat Check Saturday

Puppy Mill Awareness Day

VFW Ladies Auxiliary Day

Wife Appreciation Day

World Water Monitoring Day

 

September 19th

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

National Butterscotch Pudding Day

National Dog Ownership Day

National Women’s Friendship Day

Oktoberfest Begins

 

September 20th

America’s Day for Kids

Carter Osterhouse’s Birthday (1976)

First Railroad Station Opened

International Women’s E Commerce Day

National Punch Day

National Women Road Warrior Day

Sophia Loren’s Birthday (1934)

Upton Sinclair’s Birthday (1878)

 

September 21st

Bill Murray’s Birthday (1950)

H.G. Wells’ Birthday (1866)

International Banana Festival

Miniature Golf Day

Rob Morrow’s Birthday (1962)

Tiffany’s Founded (1837)

Women’s Friendship Day

World Alzheimer’s Day

World Gratitude Day

 

September 22nd

American Business Women’s Day

Andrea Bocelli’s Birthday (1958)

Autumn Equinox

Band-Aid Invented (1920)

Dear Diary Day

Elephant Appreciation Day

Hobbit Day

Ice Cream Cone Invented (1903)

International Day of Peace

National Centenarian’s Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day

National White Chocolate Day

Tom Felton’s Birthday (1987)

U.S. Post Office Opened (1789)

 

September 23rd

Bruce Springsteen’s Birthday (1949)

Dogs in Politics Day

Checkers Day

Earth Over Shoot Day

Euripedes’ Birthday (480 BC)

Good Neighbor Day

Great American Pot Pie Day

Hug a Vegetarian Day

Love Note Day

Ray Charles’ Birthday (1930)

Restless Legs Awareness Day

 

 

September 24th

Beer Days

Boys and Girls Club for Kids Day

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birthday (1896)

Festival of Latest Novelties

First Toy Store Opened

Fish Amnesty Day

Jim Henson’s Birthday (1936)

National Cherries Jubilee Day

National Family Health & Fitness Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day

National Bluebird of Happiness Day

National Public Lands Day

National Punctuation Day

Native American Day

R.E.A.D. in America Day

 

September 25th

Aida Turturro’s Birthday (1962)

Gold Star Mother’s Day

Mary Poppins Debuted in 1964

National Comic Book Day

National Museum Day

National One-Hit Wonder Day

Shel Silverstein’s Birthday (1930)

William Faulkner’s Birthday (1897)

 

September 26th

Dog Scouts of America Day

Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children

George Gershwin’s Birthday (1898)

International Rabbit Day

Ivan Pavlov’s Birthday (1849)

Jane Smiley’s Birthday (1949)

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday (John Chapman born in 1774.)

National Pancake Day

Shamu the Whale Day

T.S. Eliot’s Birthday (1888)

World Maritime Day

 

September 27th

Ancestor Appreciation Day

Answering Machine Patented (1950)

Crush A Can Day

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Birthday (1972)

Meat Loaf’s Birthday (1947)

Samuel Adams’ Birthday (1722)

Thomas Nast’s Birthday (1840)

World Tourism Day

 

September 28th

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (Also called the Moon Festival)

Ed Sullivan’s Birthday (1901)

First Airport Opened

Fish Tank Floorshow Night

Michelangelo’s Birthday (1573)

National Good Neighbor Day

World Rabies Day

 

September 29th

Confucius Day

Feast of Michelmas

Greer Garson’s Birthday (1904)

Miguel de Cervantes’ Birthday (1547)

National Attend Your Grandchild’s Birth Day

National Coffee Day

National Women’s Health and Fitness Day

Poisoned Blackberries Day

Rosh Hashanah

Scotland Yard formed in London (1829)

U.S. Army Established (1789)

VFW Day

 

September 30th

Ask a Stupid Question Day

Barry Williams’ Birthday (1954)

Blasphemy Day

Deborah Kerr’s Birthday (1921)

Fran Drescher’s Birthday (1957)

Gold Star Mother’s Day

Johnny Mathis’ Birthday (1935)

National Mud Pack Day

Safety Pin Invented

Truman Capote‘s Birthday (1924)

World Heart Day

It's September 1st! That means Holiday Mini time!!!

Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us! Yes...I'm well aware that in Southern Ontario the kids are not even back to school yet, but time marches on and before you realize what's happened, it'll be December 1st and you'll be telling yourself (once again, I might add...) that NEXT year it's going to be different! NEXT year, you're going to prepare for the holidays well in advance and NEXT year, you'll enjoy the holidays because NEXT year everything will be done well in advance and you won't be stressed...

This is the exact same thing I hear from my clients EVERY year...so why not turn THIS year into NEXT year and get started right away!

The Holiday Mini is LIVE! You can shop from all it's glorious pages by clicking the Holiday Mini icon in my right hand sidebar. I'm out of town with my hubby celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary (time sure flies!), but you can bet that as soon as I get home, I'll be breaking into my box of new goodies from the Holiday Mini!

What's the BEST thing in there? THIS:

Stampin' UP! now has it's VERY own scoring tool called Simply Score...and let me tell you, you're going to LOVE IT!!! Scoring marks every 1/8" and MARKERS that can be moved around so that if you're making multiples, you don't have to keep counting lines. OH. MY. GOSH. Fabulous does not even BEGIN to describe it!

Now, to get YOU started on your way to a HAPPY, stress FREE Holiday, here's what I've got going on:

• September 17th is my 3-D through the holidays class. You can choose between a 10 a.m. start and 1 p.m. start. Early bird pricing (which I will extend until I return on Saturday) is just $25 and we'll be making AT LEAST 5 3-D projects. Five of the 16 spots are already filled for this, so don't wait too much longer!
• October 15th is a 10 card class. Same start times. Early bird pricing will be $30 up until October 1st.
• November 26th will be my 4 hour mini album course. You'll get the Simply Scrappin' Kit as well as the album plus four hours of instruction and a light lunch or dinner depending on the time slot you choose (10-2 or 3-7). Early bird pricing will be $75 and sign up will be available soon through Eventbrite and this will be much like Stamp-a-Rama which took place on August 20th.

I don't have a project to share with you today because I'm out of town.  I'll be returning tomorrow and have a VERY BUSY weekend as kids get ready to go back to school.  Look for regular posting to resume next Tuesday.

Happy Stampin'!

Flowers for Jack - Full Card and Stamping Queens Sketch Week 2

Yesterday I showed you the focal image for this card and today, you get the whole reveal! I was going to use today's post to tell you this amazing story about how my honey and I met, but I had to show you the rest of this card instead. This is the card I sent to Jack Layton's widow:

It seems so strange to say that, "Jack Layton's widow". I mean this man fought and BEAT prostate cancer! It was SO unfair that he was struck with a SECOND kind of cancer so soon after having beaten the first. Canada not only lost a great politician last week, we lost a wonderful man with great ideals. He was taken too soon.  But he knew...and he left us with this:

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

If you'd like to read his letter to Canadians in it's entirety, you can do so here.

Wishing you a wonderful and blessed day!

Happy Stampin'!

Flowers for Jack - Sneak Peek

Some of my American friends may not have heard, but Canada lost a great politician and an amazing man last week.  Because he was a Toronto resident, I felt compelled to send his wife a card.  This is the focal image and sort of a sneak peek:

Tomorrow is Week 2 in the Stamping Queens Sketch Challenge and that's when I'll reveal the whole card.

I was going to toot my own horn when I posted the card, but because of the nature of post, I've decided against it.  I'll just tell you that the image is watercoloured using our watercolour crayons and aqua painters.

I'm in Montreal this week with my honey! He has meetings during the day so I get to explore the city in which I grew up - SO many fun memories!! His evenings are mine though, which is good because tomorrow we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Yes...I KNOW I look WAY too young to have been married that long - LOL!

Happy Stampin'!

While the cat's away...

The mice will play!!!

Ok...so I'm the cat - LOL and while I will technically be away, I'll have my laptop, so I won't really be gone. Does that even make sense??

You, my readers, are the mice. Which means, you get to play!!!

Here's the deal:

• Place an order between $25 and $50 and receive a 5% discount off your order.
• Place an order between $50 and $100 and receive a 7% discount off your order.
• Place an order between $100 and $150 and receive a 10% discount off your order.
• Place an order OVER $200 and receive a 15% discount off your order as WELL as earn ALL the hostess dollars on your order.

Now, the fine print:

• You MUST contact me to place your order. The Stampin' UP! online ordering system will not recognize this discount because I am the ONLY one offering it. Once I have your order, I'll contact you for your payment information and place the order on your behalf.
• Shipping and taxes will be calculated on the PRE-DISCOUNT amount. Shipping will STILL be a minimum of $9.95 or 10% (whichever is greater). If you would like to PICK UP your order from me, your shipping cost will only be 10% as I will be combining orders together.
• This offer is only valid until 5 PM EST on August 31st. After that time, I'll be out celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary with my honey and will NOT be checking email.

A few IMPORTANT reminders!!!

• The Summer Mini expires on August 31st at 11:50 PM MST. August 31st is ALSO my 20th wedding anniversary, so PLEASE don't wait till 10 p.m. to email me with your order. It WON'T GO THROUGH!
• The Buy 3, get 1 FREE paper special ALSO expires at 11:50 PM MST on August 31st.

I'll be doing a little bit of blogging via ZAPD (a micro-blogging app) from Montreal. Hoping I can figure out how to get it to post here!

Happy Shopping!!

Stampin' UP! Triple Layer Punches

Shannon West shares her tips and tricks for getting perfect punches!!! And once you're hooked...you can click on "SHOP NOW" in my sidebar and order yours!

A Design Team? Me? REALLY?

A few weeks ago, my friend Cristena put out a design team call for her "Stampin' Queens". I've never been part of a design team before, so I wasn't sure if I should apply or not. I've always WANTED to be part of a design team (because I think it's pretty cool!), so I emailed Cristena and her response was, "HELLO! Of course!"

So...here is my first card for the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge:

The sketch we were given was square and while most of my design teammates opted for a larger square card (at least to me it looks like they did!), I decided to challenge myself even FURTHER and create a 3 x 3 card! I know...crazy, right?  LOL!

Here's the sketch itself:

Anyway, I had some 3 1/2" strips of Early Espresso left over from another project, so I cut it down to six inches and trimmed off the extra 1/2" creating my 3 x 3 card.  Then I cut some strips from the Early Espresso Designer Series Paper which can be found in the Neutrals Designer Paper Series Stack.

For my large circle, I punched out a piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock with my 1 3/4" punch. Then I used my Circle Scissor Plus to cut a circle slightly smaller and used the negative to put over my 1 3/4" punched piece and sponged inside that circle leaving a thin border with no colour. To stamp the leaves inside the circle, I used Soft Suede Ink and stamped off before stamping into the circle (with the mask still in place).

I stamped the sentiment in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla Cardstock and punched it out with my 1" circle punch. It was matted on a piece of 1 1/4" Early Espresso.

The finishing touch was stamping the large leaf from French Foliage on Very Vanilla and cutting it out.  I then covered it in Crystal Effects and let it dry before adhering it to the front of the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

What do you think?

STAMPS: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
INK: Soft Suede
PAPERS: Soft Suede and Very Vanilla Cardstock, Early Espresso DSP
ACCESSORIES: Very Vanilla Ribbon (retired), Punches, Sponges, Circle Scissor Plus, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

THANK YOU!!!

If you attended Stamp-a-Rama this past Saturday, you get this:

Well, you don't get JUST this (the picture), you get a REAL card sent to you with a real postage stamp and it will land in your REAL mailbox soon!

I want to thank everyone that attended my very first all day stamping event! If YOU missed it, here's some of what was said:

"Awesome Event!!! Well organized and lots of fun. I learned a lot and definitely would attend again. Way to go Christyne!!"

"I had a really great time! The cards looked wonderful and weren't too difficult to put together. The 3-D projects were cool and it was so helpful to have everything cut and scored before we started! I would love to come to another event!"


Mark your calendars NOW for my next BIG event!  We'll spend a 1/2 day together (choose between two start times - 10 a.m. or 3 p.m) creating an adorable Christmas/Holiday album using the Simply Scrappin' Kit and 6 X 6 Album from the Holiday Mini. You're going to LOVE IT!!!


Happy Stampin'!

Time to Say Goodbye!

In just TEN days the summer mini will be sailing away and now is your last chance to get some favourites you may not already have. This sentiment set, Happy Greetings, is a PERFECT example:

I've reached for it NUMEROUS times since I bought it back in April! It's easy to use and is sure to make someone's day when you add it to a card. My Stamp-a-Rama attendees enjoyed using it on Saturday!

You can order it from me directly from my online store. No need to leave the house!

Happy Stampin'!

Easy Elegance with Simply Sent

Elegant cards in an instant—thank-you cards or any-occasion cards. We’ve done all the work for you. Precut and color-coordinated—all you have to do is customize and send them off! Coordinating Everyday Wishes Set and ink sold separately.

Kit creates 8 total cards (4 each of 2 designs) and coordinates with Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, and Whisper White.

Kit Contents:
■ 8 printed, embossed, die-cut cards (5-1/2" x 4-1/4")
■ 16 self-adhesive tags (8 each of 2 designs)
■ 8 White envelopes (5-3/4" x 4-3/8")


These cards are perfect for the beginner stamper who wants to create a fabulous card with no fuss as well as the seasoned stamper who needs a quick card at a moments notice.


You can order these and everything else you need right from the comfort of your home by visiting my online store.


Happy Stampin'!

A new Blog Tour coming - don't miss out!!!

This post will remain at the top until the Blog Tour! Please scroll down to see what else I've been doing!

Did You Know?

With Definitely Decorative stamping, you can create custom interiors at a fraction of the cost. Customize your home décor by stamping walls, fabrics, and other furnishings to give them an entirely new look. You'll also love how easy it is to create hand-stamped, framed art. Use any stamp set and colour palette to create custom home accents for any season or occasion.

We have several stamp sets specifically designed to be used to create home décor; you'll find these sets designated with the Definitely Decorative logo.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

OK, really...you're NOT getting a chicken dinner - LOL!

But what you ARE getting is a prize!  Ten days ago, I posted this and asked you to tell me which technique you thought I used to colour the flowers. Clearly, I didn't use the correct language because what I REALLY wanted you to tell me was WHAT I used to colour the image.

Several of you guessed blender pens which is ONE of the tools I used, but I also used...ready? STAMPIN' PASTELS!!!

Since no one guessed EXACTLY what I used, I used random.org to select TWO winners who will each receive a little gift from me.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2	7	

Timestamp: 2011-08-09 20:10:11 UTC

So, Shirley (2nd comment) and Kehkshan (7th comment), please email me with your snail mail addresses and I'll have something in the mail for you!

Happy Stampin'!

A Baker's Dozen of Thank You!

Did you place your August order yet? Or am I hand delivering your July order this week? If so, LUCKY YOU!!!  You'll be getting one of these in your order or in your mailbox:

Thanks to inspiration from fellow demonstrator Ilina Crouse, I created these for my August Thank You cards.

I stamped all the leaves and flowers and HAND CUT (YES! That's how much I appreciate my clients!) each and every one of them. I used Lucky Limeade (one of the new in colours) and Melon Mambo (a perennial favourite). The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White.

Please excuse the quality of the photo. As you may have read on my blog earlier this week, I am without a camera. I had to use my iPhone. While the quality of the photo is ok, it certainly isn't up to my regular standards.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Array of Sunshine (hostess), Thank You Kindly
INK: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade
PAPERS: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade and Melon Mambo Cardstock; Lucky Limeade DSP from the In Colours Paper Stack
ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'

MDS Monday - ENJOY Every Moment

No, you haven't entered some kind of freaky time warp...it is indeed Wednesday. I was away on Monday, so didn't get a chance to post an MDS Monday and besides, this photo, which I swiped from my Dad, was only uploaded to Facebook yesterday!

However, since I (almost) always upload MDS projects on Mondays, I didn't want to mess with my post title - LOL!

At any rate, yesterday was a pretty crappy day and I wanted to work with something that would make me smile. The picture in this little 6 x 6 layout does just that.

I'm sure it'll make you smile too:

This is my GRAND Aunt Anne and her daughter Melodie. I know a lot of people say GREAT Aunt when referring to an Aunt of an older generation, the correct term is actually GRAND when referring to a sibling of your grand parent (in this case, Anne is my Grampy's sister). If I was talking about a sister of my GREAT grandparent, then she would be my Great Grand Aunt. Confusing enough for ya? LOL! Anyway, I still just call her Aunt Anne and I love her to pieces!

The photo was taken on Saturday evening during the 2011 Johnson Family Reunion dinner. The dinner was attended by at least 4 generations of Johnsons...there may have been five, but I haven't figured out the math - LOL!

You may have heard that our camera was left behind at the Ottawa airport yesterday, so I don't have any photos. It's beginning to look like our camera was NOT picked up by a good samaritan, so the only photos I'll have of the reunion are ones taken by others. This makes me VERY sad. Not that I took THAT many pictures, but it's the principle of the thing. What a horrible society in which we live. And it's not like it was a little point and shoot either...*sigh*

Anyway...for the layout I used the Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper. I just LOVE that nothing retires in MDS! All my embellishments, stamped images and text were done in Chocolate Chip with a few done Rose Red and Whisper White.

What do you think?

PAPERS: Springtime Vintage
ACCESSORIES: Buttons, Brads, Stitching
STAMPS: Enjoy Every Moment

Happy MDSin'!

P.S. I'm keeping the blog candy here open till Friday, so you still have a few more days to enter!

It's a sale! A PAPER SALE!!!

Have YOU checked it out yet???

It's all about the PAPER this month at Stampin' UP! Buy 3 packs of selected Designer Series Paper and get one FREE! Yep! FREE! No catches, no jumping through hoops, no gimmicks! Just buy three packs of selected DSP and get one free!

What will YOU create!