Stamp Some Smiles

I've been known to stamp on walls

It's true. I have been known to stamp on walls. My bathroom for instance, I stamped roses in a border. I have stamped on chests, (wooden kind for keeping things in, not the flesh kind, although I have stamped tatoos on kids arms and cheeks, never a chest.) boxes, cans, tiles, leather, glass, ornaments, I could go on and on....and I will...go on and on stamping many different things, I just won't bore you with a list right now! LOL Back to the walls. It is easy, quick, and dare I say FUN to stamp on walls. REALLY No kidding! What a great way to make wallpaper that is easy to cover over, with no peeling required. Check out this freehanded pattern: Isn't that pretty? At Convention they stamped on walls, they used the big shot to make stencils and painted stencils on the walls, they put up the new Decor Element decorations, they did all kinds of cool stuff. Do any of you have walls that are stamped on? email me a photo and I will post it here on my blog.

Family and Home Wall decor

Here is another example of our wall decore elements, a great way to put them around your house/apartment without actually putting them on the walls. I have a new one on my wall, want to see? Here it is: (Don't tell mom I posted a picture of us, but I wanted you to see it with the entire wall in the background.) Would you like THIS on your wall for Christmas: Email me to get more information, or check out the decorative elements catalog here on page 4. If you are going to place an order with me, Don't forget about the sale that ends Monday... SEE PREVIOUS POST FROM 11/28. I hear rumor that Stocking Stuffer and Curly Label are sold out now as well as the other two I had told you about. Have a great weekend!

THIS AWESOME SALE ENDS MONDAY!! Don't miss out - order soon! The All in the Family Bundle and the Mission Embossable Bundle are already sold out!! I have SO much to be thankful for this year. I'm especially thankful for each of you, my wonderful stamping friends...thank you for sharing my blogging journey this year.. it's been soooooooo fun for me! I hope to continue getting to know you and sharing my ideas and inspiration with you.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone enjoyed their day, I sure did enjoy mine. Family, food, and laughs...what could be better. The food was so good today, so very Very good. Stories of the "good old days" had us laughing and remembering the simple joys we shared. Looking at how much my Nieces have grown since I last saw them, and hearing how much my children have grown since our last get together, makes me realize how fast time is going by. There are eight years between my brother and I, and I have always loved him to pieces. When he was born it was like having a living baby doll of my own. Let's just say he filled my baby doll high chair, and my carriage, and I loved it. Blond curls, dimples and blue eyes, he was irresistible. I also started to think back on how good my boys were with their little sister, they loved her so very much and spoiled her! "Oh,Mommy...she can have it...we don't want her to cry...look how happy she is!" They would say as she walked in the middle of their match box car races and picked up two of the cars then toddled away. "she has to learn, you had them first...she shouldn't just walk up and take them..." I would insist. "Oh Mommy, Really...it's Okay...we want her to have them" She would be all grins. It was so cute how they fussed over her, protected her, and loved her. As much as the boys would bicker as they got older, they always caved when it came to Jill. How quickly time has passed. Bobby will be 21 on Monday, OMG I am so old! I have so many wonderful memories, and that has to be the best part of getting older...Sitting with my husband, with my children and my parents and my brother and his whole family and my sister-in-law and her husband...remembering when. What a wonderful day! Happy Thanksgiving.

Baby Gift

While at Convention this year, they had a room set up as a nursery. There were so many cute ideas in this room I almost wished.......ooooh, I won't say it. My kids are too big now to be wishing such a thing! But I must say I thought it would be fun to make some of the adorable items as gifts. Here is one that was so simple, you just Won't be able to resist whipping up a few for those little boys (or with a simple change in color, girls) in your life. Look how cute that blanket looks with that beautiful Stampin' Up! Ribbon around it and that fabulous and simple tag?! I bet you have these supplies in your craft space! Try making a few tags to give any gift that "made with love" feeling people appreciate.

Lori Stevenson Stampin' Up! Demonstrator stampsumsmiles@aol.com Holiday Extravaganza Sale- Up to 50% off- Quantities Limited so ACT FAST!! Don't miss these HUGE SAVINGS!! We are having a great sale starting today and ending Dec. 1- Since the quantities are limited you will want to order now so you don't miss out!! Think of your gift giving list for crafters of all kinds- and don't forget a little something special for yourself too! Holiday Sale Items Don't forget you can visit my Stampin'Up! Website Order directly online here! Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Today is a very important day. Stampin' Up! has a Holiday Extravaganza ONLINE ONLY sale November 26 - December 1 - yes, just 6 days, and it is so hush hush that we don't even know the details yet. There will be amazing prices (up to 50% I hear) on bundles of goodies so be sure to check out my Stampin' Up website and blog. Quantities are limited so shop early and shop fast. When they are gone they are gone. These are items to help you through your holiday season with holiday ideas for card making, gift giving, decorating, and gift wrapping. I am excited and plan to check it out very early! Don't forget ORDER ONLINE at my website and click on the SHOP NOW button at the top right under my name... With our current economic crunch many are giving handmade gifts this year and how special to be the recipient of something someone has poured their heart into.

More ideas for the readers in your life

Readers, so many of them in my family...books of all types too! Students, I have three of them. Teachers, too many to count with three kids in school! Office friends, mail delivery person, Church gifts, oh, and don't forget your UPS person...I LOVE mine! I saw so many wonderful ideas at Convention this year, and here are the bookmarkers that I know will make a perfect gift: Just using ribbon and some embelishments, or even rub-ons, you can create beautiful gifts like these in a snap! Personalize it to fit the person you are giving it to...use masculine stamps, cute kid stamps, holiday stamps, the sky is the limit! Pick your favorite type of ribbon, I am sure you have lots of colors on hand. Don't forget to make one for yourself, or maybe even TWO! Oh, and Speaking of Rub-ons....There are only a few days left .... don't miss the Rub-Ons Special! Stampin’ Up! is offering a GREAT special on rub-ons! ALL rub-ons in the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog and also those in the 2008 Holiday Mini are on sale - what can get better than that?? This is a great bonus for the upcoming holidays! Rub-ons are so versatile and can be used on cards, candles, glassware, ceramic, plastic and so many other materials. You can make quick, beautiful and inexpensive gifts with them! They’re only on sale through November 30th for 20% off the retail price ($8.76 per package; regularly $10.95) with a qualifying purchase of $20! Once the $20 minimum purchase has been reached, you may purchase as many discounted Rub-Ons as you like!

Advent Calendar

Here is another idea from Convention, this was on one of the beautiful displays at Riverton. It is a simple tradition that you can make now, and change to fit your family! For instance, you might have one of the tags say "stay up late" (making sure it lands on a friday) or "You choose dessert", or "four kisses for you" ... (Hersheys kisses that is). As your children get older you can change up the tags "no chores day" or "download your favorite new song". I really love this idea, and could have my three take turns pulling a tag, and have them all get the days treat. You could also make this be a great reflection tool...or a thankful calendar. on the first the number 1 tag could say "perform one random act of kindness today" as the numbers get higher it could be "name 12 things you are thankful for" you get the idea. So here it is:

Simple Christmas Gift ~ Stationary Set

This Christmas is going to be different. Rising prices are keeping me closer to home and weighing heavy on my purchasing decisions. Like many people I definitely see myself adjusting the way I shop this Christmas. This is the year to simplify. This is the year to cut back. This year I will focus on my kids, one big family gift and a few little goodies. This year I will try my best to be organized and create the handmade gifts we've always wanted to give. Join me as I plan and prepare for having a simple and meaningful Christmas. Here is a great idea for almost anyone in your life that loves to keep in touch with family and friends both far and near the old fashion way, through the mail. It would be a perfect gift for a work friend, someone special in your child's life, School or Church people you appreciate, and while you are at it make one for yourself: Isn't this a beautiful Stationary Set? "S" For Stevenson, not stationary...lol I saw this at convention and fell in love, I knew I wanted to make one for myself, and while I was at it ... a few extra for my family gifts. Wouldn't you appreciate getting a gift like this, made especially for you in your favorite colors? I love purple and green. This is so ME! If you need help, ideas, or supplies to make your gifts this Christmas, just drop me a line at stampsumsmiles@aol.com I would love to hear from you.

More from November's Stamp Camp

Hello again stampin' friends. I am here to show you more from our November Stamp Camp this past Saturday....Here is card three: Yup, another cardinal card, but this one is itty bitty adorable~Dont you think? Here is our project: My guests were able to choose the bird or the flower for their bookmarker. I Love the dove the best. Some white embossed their frames with winter white embossing powder, it looked like metal and was beautiful. We also made the deer card that is posted here: Deer It was such a fun day. Lots was shared at swap and share time and the swaps were the best ever! I am so glad the girls are enjoying this because I sure can't get enough, lol. Hope to hear from more of you, please join me for next months Stamp camp, email me for details.

Christmas cards from November Stamp Camp ... I'm Back

Okay, as you could probably tell from my last couple of posts, I wasn't really feeling well....I mean, when do I ever "talk" so little? UMMmmmm, Never! Those posts were short, and then followed by a long silence. That is because I had run myself down to the point where I ended up sick, Ugh. When will I ever learn? Hmmm, I don't know, I am pretty thick headed, maybe I won't. LOL Okay, on a brighter, happier note, I got lots of rest and I feel just like ME again! Which is a good thing...cause that means I am all done whining. tee hee I thought I would share a few things about my weekend. I will start with this pretty card: This is the cardinal we ended up making at Stamp Camp on Saturday. I think it was the favorite of most of the campers. Here is my favorite: It is so pretty "IRL" In Real Life....lots of sparkles where the ice and snow is...and I just love this paper. I will add the project tomorrow. It's good to be back!

Craft show

Here it is, my itty bitty table with my small amount of crafts. Six gift cans, bookmarks, towel angels, and four pot holder dish towel sets, and cards...that's it. All I had time for! I had a fun time and met some new people, two ladies from Church signed up for my next stamp camp, so that is good! What an extremely long couple of weeks. I need a vacation! LOL Tomorrow I will post some pics of my Stamp Camp this weekend. I hope you can join us next month, we are making gift cards, money cards,and a stocking stuffer. There will be Christmas music, and cookies, and hot and iced tea...I can't WAIT!

Pot holder Pockets with Towel and Tea Tag

Here are a few pot holder pockets with matching towels, I made little tea bag tags to go with them, you could also slip in a gift card for the ultimate hostess gift!
I know I would love to get this as a hostess gift, there is also a cute one with a ginger bread man on it, too sweet!

Gift Tag Container

Today I got one thing made, just one...or maybe four, depending on how you look at it. Three tags and a decorative container. I need to make more tags for inside of this can, but for now this is how far I have gotten. I have a container that I had decorated, and I love it! I use it to collect quarters in, and it is well over a hundrend dollars before it is full. Great for saving up for a treat. Here is how it looks so far, I am not sure if I will add more to it ... as far as decoration goes, just thought I would show you the work in progress.

I thought I would have a bit of time tomorrow, but I was asked, TODAY, to work...I can't skip out on the meeting with the Reverend, and I also can't miss my cleaning appointment at the Dentist, so I will be going in for the afternoon/evening shift. I hope I am not too tired to make at least one thing tomorrow, wish me luck!

Felt Snowflake ornaments

Well here are the Two snowflake ornaments I made today, that's it, just two. At this rate my table is going to be looking pretty empty! lol These were fun and easy to make. The snowflakes are so much thicker than I thought they would be, they are very nice! I will make more tomorrow, haven't added any glitter to these yet...not sure if I will, I like them this way. Hope you are having a good week. I will post again Tuesday night, hopefully with more than just two of the next item I will be making!

How to add stamping to craft projects

So there's a craft show I am in next Sunday. It is at Park Church at 11:00, I would LOVE to see your smile! Please stop in and see me. I am planning on making some great things, let's hope I have the time to get them done. Sure didn't get much done today...and this was my one day to accomplish the most....darn! I just seemed to be going in slow motion...so write this on your calendar, I am going to bed EARLY! Okay, normal time is 2 in the morning so don't get too excited, it is only 10! Here are a few photos of what I made today, this is one of six...I can never make too many of the same thing, drives me crazy...So now I am thinking of giving these as Sunday School teacher gifts instead of selling them, or making a couple more to sell, I still have supplies....to make a few,hmmmmmmm
I made a tag with a pretty saying on it and added it on.

Then I looked at it and thought, man oh man...I really want to add stamping to this. How? The tag is almost too big already...should I change it? Hmmm, how do you add stamping to any different types of craft projects. That is the million dollar question. I will be trying my hand at that over the next few days. I will be making different things, using all kinds of "bases", but I want to add my special love, my style, my stamping. So I touched up the tag a bit:

I love the way this came out! I have six of these angels in a basket and I will be touching up the tags of the others in the morning. It was the perfect touch, not too much, but special. It really finished it for me. On the schedule for tomorrow... in the morning before work I want to try to make a few snowflake ornaments using the felt snowflakes from the holiday mini, some dazzling diamonds, so "bling brads", some things from the pretties kit, and maybe I will throw in a few other things, we'll just have to see how it goes.

Scrapbook layout of our Sweet Wesley

This is my sweet nephew Wesley. I haven't met him yet. My arms long to hold him, I ache to kiss his soft baby cheeks. I will not give anyone else much time with him when he comes to visit at Christmas, I will hog him, I just know it. These are pics of him and his daddy at the beach. They live in Key West. My sister in law Alicia was our baby sitter when my kids were young. She is a wonderful mom. My husband and daughter went to visit them in May, so I have lots of pictures to play with. (this is an older photo, he is getting so big now!) This is from a scrap kit from our last catalog. I think it might have been the hostess level kit...the colors were perfect. It is set up on a cool new display board I have, and I put a card on with a clip...that isn't part of the page, I just liked the colors and the boat so I added it on.
A big hug and hello to our family in Florida reading this, we are looking forward to seeing you all.

Pick a CARDinal any CARDinal (A Christmas Cardinal card)

I am having fun making Christmas cards, here are a few cardinals I have made (well, one is a Blue Jay of sorts, but you get what I mean).

Here is the inside:

This is called "Stained Glass" it is a technique I will be teaching at one of my Stamp Camps. Much easier than I thought it would be, which is always great! I got this technique from SCS too! Here is another cardinal card:

Okay, let's hear it...Which one do you like? I am starting to feel like I am posting to myself (and Jan, HI JAN! She has signed up with my feed blitz and gets all of my updates...You should too! And Pat, I know Pat checks my blogs in the morning before work, HI PAT!!!! Anyone else? Bueller....Bueller....Bueller?)

Diorama using Winter Post

You all know about Splitcoaststampers right? My number one favorite place for ideas and patterns! Well here is a pattern that you have seen before, remember my froggie diorama? Here are the instructions

Here is the card I made using my new favorite Christmas Set "Winter Post" from the holiday mini.

So what do you think? Very old fashion, monochromatic, not what appeals to most people I'm sure, but ooooh I love it! I can almost hear those old Christmas Carols as I look at it, you know the ones by Perry Como? (I think that was his name)It makes me think of an old fashion Christmas, and skating on frozen ponds, and warming up by a fire with hot cocoa. All that ... from this! LOL I had fun making this and I hope you follow the directions and make one too using your favorite set! Don't forget to bring it with you to stamp camp to share!

November Stamp Camp card using Winter Post

Here is one of the cards we will make at my November Stamp camp. I love it! It is using Winter Post from the Holiday mini. I told you this was my new favorite style, I hope you love it too! I can't wait to show you the other things I made using this set! For now, you will just have to OOOooh and AAAaahhhh over this sweet card:

But wait, there's more! (don't you just love it when they say that on t.v., makes me laugh every time)
Here is the INSIDE:

OH My GOSH, don't you just love it?!

What? No...I didn't SEW! You know me, my husband and my son and my daughter do all of the sewing in this house. My husband can even make seats for his antique cars, no kidding. My daughter makes everything from blankets, toys, and clothes...and my middle guy (the one that can do anything he puts his mind to) has altered his clothes for quite a while now. This is faux stitching! I know, it looks real, but you know me better than that... this is just punched holes in paper with some marker stitching. Don't you Love this wide ribbon? What about that hardware, to die for ... right? You can purchase any of these products from me and get the help you need putting together your own holiday cards. Just email me today:
stampsumsmiles@aol.com and I will get back to you!

Tags

What do you think of these tags? I am in love with this old fashion style, I don't know how it happened but browns, naturals, vanillas and that old fashion weathered look seems to be my current favorite. I think it is fabulous and I just can't seem to get enough! I absolutely LOVE this tages, everything about them feels good to me. I would love to be given a gift of tags like these ... wouldn't you? I will be posting pictures of what I worked on this weekend...a couple of my cards have this same feel to them, surprizing huh? Keep your eyes peeled, I will be posting again soon!

Erica's Mini Stamp Camp

So did I mention that my stampin' friend Bette who has been coming to my Stamp Camps for a few months now introduced me to a awesome new stampi' friend named Erica? (((Hugs Bette!))) I got to go to Erica's house and boy is it fabulous! Log cabin, Stampin' Scrappin' room out of a magazine, ingenious ribbon holder she should sell on ebay (get going girl, I will post it on my blog!). She was as warm, friendly and funny as I though she would be, seeing as how she is friends with Bette and her daughter Kristy. She had her daughters and some friends and a neighbor over and wow did we have fun. Here is a card from the personalized pack of cards I gave her:
She will be setting up another class for this month and I am already looking forward to it. They are deciding between a boxes/bags/tags type class like the one I have shown (I believe that is what one of Erica's daughters mentioned wanting to do....can't remember which one at the moment, SORRY!) or a Photo Folio scrapbook, I am sure you remember seeing mine:
Most likely hers will be using designer paper that has a Christmas theme. If you are interested in hosting a Christmas theme class, for gift cards or boxes and bags or gifts like tumbled tile sets or scrapbooks, just email me and we will set up a date. I am so glad I met Erica, I had so much fun that day, I look forward to making new stampin' friends and helping you and your friends have a fun and sucessful class!

DRATS! Could it be the ghosts of Halloween?

DRATS! I hope it is just the ghosts of Halloween playing a TRICK on me, cause this sure isn't a treat! I don't know if drats is a word, but I need to try to be nice around my computer. It hasn't been the same since the problem with our cable not being grounded and the lightning zapping it out of commission, so the least little thing could send it over the edge. (that is if my hubby doesn't drop kick it out the back door first)Actually that last time I brought it in and paid over 150 bucks to get it fixed it still wasn't right. I think we may be getting a new computer for me in the very near future. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I stay hooked up long enough to send this message. I can't use aol at all, so I am just on the internet using explorer. Signing into that took three restarts, a total pull the plug and a reloading of windows, crossed fingers and waiting 1/2 hour for the page to load. Not an exageration. I will have photos of the projects I have been working on when the bugs are worked out or I get a new computer, whichever comes first. I will be doing lots of stamping when I get home from work tomorrow. I will be making my samples and starting my kits for stamp camp, making things for a craft fair I am going to be in at church, and figuring out what I am doing for the crop I have a demo table at next week. Sorry no pretty posts tonight, but I am working on it! Oh, and since things usually come in threes I should tell you that my car is having more problems than it's worth at the moment, so who knows where that will lead. I sure do wish there was a money tree bloomin' in my back yard! LOL