Has it really been a week?

Is your summer going as quickly as mine seems to be? Sure was a warm week... I was really happy to have a cooler day today!

I took up a new challenge this week - cake decorating! I registered for a series of 6 classes and my first class was on this past Monday night... We spent the entire 4 hours making flowers from Royal Icing! Phew! We made apple blossoms (mine were cute but looked nothing like an apple blossom!), daisies (apparently an easy flower to make... not my experience with them though!), violets (really little flowers that required a lot of concentration but turned out fairly well), pansies (these were my favourite - I did well with them!), and primroses (these worked well for me also). At the next class, we are actually decorating a cake... to look like basket weaving! I'll be making 25 pansies to decorate my cake - it's been a long time since I've had to do "homework" but this is the first time that my homework involves icing! : ) If my cake turns out okay, I'll post a picture!

Okay, onto the card... this was one of my favourite cards from the last Stamp-A-Stack. I designed it myself and was quite pleased. I had been wanting to try an idea I had using the woodgrain Texturz plate... It's done with Kraft card stock. After running it through the Big Shot, I used a sponge in Chocolate Chip ink to rub colour onto the card stock. It gives it a nice colour and looks like real wood. Some of the stampers at the Stamp-A-Stack actually ran the card stock right over the ink pad and it gave it a different finish which was also really nice. The stamp set on this card is Wanted along with It's Your Birthday for the greeting.

I'm looking forward to the long weekend... lots of fun things in our plans! Hope you enjoy the weekend!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

A peek at a couple of Stamp-A-Stack cards...

I'm so pleased with the cards for this weekend's Stamp-A-Stack that I'm having a hard time deciding which ones to post tonight! This one uses the new Melon Mambo card stock and ink... It's such a simple card. I've used the new Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on Vellum Card Stock. I added some Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon to the top. The greeting comes from the All Holidays stamp set.

This next card uses the new For All You Do stamp set. I really like the layout on this card. The colours used are Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Elegant Eggplant. I think I will be using this stamp set a lot - it's such a nice set!

I'll share a few more of the cards over the next few days...

Have a great weekend and happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Lots of Bots... by Sonia

I've just finished stamping the last card for this weekend's Stamp-A-Stack... I'm really excited about this batch of cards and can't wait for everyone to see them! I'll post a couple tomorrow night...

Here's a fun swap card that I received from my friend, Sonia. I love the colours that Sonia used on this card - it's the new Bermuda Bay with Certainly Celery, Basic Black and Whisper White. Wouldn't this be a fun card for a little boy? I think I might end up breaking down and buying this set... I don't have many good sets for boys so this might be the right addition to my collection!

I do still have a couple of seats available for the Stamp-A-Stack on Saturday morning if you are interesting in coming out to join in the fun!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

Deal of the Week!

It's funny that I posted Corrina's card on the weekend with the Hodgepodge Hardware frame because this week's "Deal of the Week" is the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit! It's a fantastic little box of goodies that are fun to use. And, the best news is that it's on sale this week (only until Sunday evening) for 35% off the regular price. This little tin is full of cool embellishments - 200 in total! They include brads in various designs and five different hardware frames. Once you've used all the hardware you can use the tin to store other items or decorate it and give it away with some matching cards.

Item #112454 Page 178 Regular Price $41.95 SALE $26.99

If you'd like to order yours, please email me at bevennis@shaw.ca.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

From Corrina

Here's a swap card that I received from Corrina. It's stamped with the new Hostess stamp set called Kind and Caring Thoughts. Corrina used the new Soft Suede ink and card stock along with Old Olive, Bashful Blue and Very Vanilla. I sure to love the new polka-dot ribbon! And, of course, the exciting piece is the metal frame from the Hodgepodge Hardware Kit. Thanks for the great card, Corrina!

I've had a busy day stamping! It was so much fun getting to use lots of new goodies! I have 8 cards ready for next weekend's Stamp-A-Stack and can't wait to show them to everyone. I might be able to post a couple this week... Speaking of the Stamp-A-Stack, I now have one seat available for Friday night and there's still plenty of space for Saturday morning - just email me if you'd like to reserve a seat for yourself!

Remember that a new "Deal of the Week" will be posted tomorrow morning at 9:00 am - check here to see what the special item is this week!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

(All images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!)

The last June card contest entry...

Here I am catching up! I had posted the first 3 cards I had received for the June card contest here. This card was submitted by Heather. This is a graduation card that she made for her nephew. I love the colour combination and the "dream big" message that features so prominently on the card front.

I'm sorry to be so delayed in posting the results from this contest... I'm not sure where the time has gone! I feel like it should be sometime in May still!!

Okay, let's get to the "draw" for the winner. As always, I used the list randomizer and here's the result:

There were 4 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Jamie
2. Elinor
3. Elinor
4. Heather

Congratulations, Jamie! You'll be able to select any $20 worth of stamping supplies from the current catalogue plus one of the following previous hostess stamp sets: Best Yet, Warmest Regards or Darling Dots.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in the stamping contests over the past few months. It's been great to be receiving your entries! I'll start the stamping contests up again in September.

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

Where has Bev gone...?

Hi stampin' friends! Thanks for dropping in... thought you might be starting to wonder where the heck I am. All is good, but I do have a bit of a summer cold which is zapping the energy right out of me. On top of that, I'm super busy at my "real job" so it doesn't leave me as much time for my "fun job". I'm going to try to post a couple of new cards here this evening and I know I still have to finish off the June card contest - I had received one more entry and I need to post the winner. I also have a few orders here that I need to get out to some of you... I'll be contacting you tonight (by email) to make arrangements! Okay, must run, but hope you have a great day and I'll be back tonight!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.

PS - check over here to see what the "Deal of the Week" is... rhinestone brads - fun!!

PPS - update on the upcoming Stamp-A-Stack - Friday night is full with a waiting list already, but there are still seats available on Saturday morning, July 25th.

Deal of the Week... every week in July!

This is going to be fun... Every week during the month of July, Stampin' Up! will offer one discounted product as a "Deal of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required!

The first special is the Scalloped Edge Punch (#112091) at 30% off! The discounted price is $15.99 but this will only be available until Monday, July 6th... All orders must be received by 7:00 am on July 6th to get this special price.

Here is the schedule for when they will announce the deals each week:

• Deal #1: Wednesday, July 1, 2009
  
• Deal #2: Monday, July 6, 2009
• Deal #3: Monday, July 13, 2009
• Deal #4: Monday, July 20, 2009
• Deal #5: Monday, July 27, 2009
  

I'll announce each of the deals on my blog as soon as I can each week, but you can also see them here on my Stampin' Up! website at 9:00 am each Monday morning.

It's time!

Stampin' Up!'s new Idea Book & Catalogue is here!! There's lots to be excited about! If you don't already have your own copy, you can order one from me for $10 (including shipping and taxes) or you can look at it online soon... You'll be able to download it here. It should be available later today.

So, I have my wish list all ready and I'll be placing my first order at 11:00 am today... I can hardly wait for the online ordering to open so I can get my new goodies here as soon as possible! Some of the items that will be on my first order:

from page 55, Herb Expressions - I love the greetings in this set and the images are different than what I have in my stamp collection already

from page 67, Glorious & Free and Service & Sacrifice - I'm planning to make some cards for our men and women who are serving overseas, some of whom are friends and coworkers of mine, and these sets will be perfect! Plus it seems fitting to order them on Canada Day!

from page 72, Happy Together - aren't those little quail adorable?

from page 104, Dream Gardens - love this set! And, I already have a great idea that I can't wait to make with the teapot in this set!

from page 118, For All You Do - I liked this set the moment I saw it and I think it will be lots of fun to use. I'm also contemplating the Pendant Park set on this same page - that big tree is sure catching my eye!

from page 187, the new Jumbo Snowflake and Butterfly punches... I can never have too many punches! I already have the new Modern Label punch and love it!

and then there are so many things that I want to get for my Big Shot... The "Hi" and "Thanks" Embosslits on page 195, the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder also on page 195, the Bigz Lattice die on page 198, the Bigz Clear Scallop Square on page 199... Oh, and I'm anxious to try the Texture Cuts on page 158 - wood sheets that can be used to cut out shapes with the Big Shot dies.

Well, my list is much longer than this... (don't tell my husband!). I just know that these are some of the first things that I'll be ordering in about half an hour!

I should also mention that there's a new Definitely Decorative brochure which you will also be able to download here. It has all the great new Decor Elements products as well as the Decor Stencils line.

I hope that you enjoying Canada Day, and finding a way to celebrate our great country. I love this day... not just because it's nice to have a day off, but mostly because I am so proud to be a Canadian living in the best country in the world. We have so much to be proud of and so much to be grateful for and, for me, today is really a time to stop and think about all of this. I'll be enjoying our traditional Canada Day fireworks with friends tonight... Have a great day!

Happy stampin'!

Bev.