Are you enjoying SALE-A-BRATION yet?  Well most of us are!!  Here's one more good reason to motivate you to take advantage of the benefits of SAB - its a lovely set of 6 expressions that cover a lot of ground for your cards now and in the future.  And paired with some pretty new papers...and you'll have a beautiful card to give to someone special - well, for those old enough to read! And if they can't - they're probably more interested in what else you have to give them, lol!

The stamp set is called WHIMSICAL WORDS and it can be yours for FREE  from our SAB catalogue if you purchase $65 worth of Stampin' Up! products ( regular IDEA Cataloque or our new Occasion Mini Cataloque), and for every additional $65 in your purchase - you may choose another FREE item from the SAB cataloque - so ok, that's that. Now let's look at the card...

First, we take some paper from the fabby "Sweet Pea" paper stack and our trusty TOP NOTE Big Shot Bigz Die. We're going to make a top note in the 'paper pieced' method, or sometimes known as 'paper quilted'.

Pick 4 patterns of the Sweet Pea papers, and cut them into small  2-1/2 x 2-1/2 squares and arrange them into a larger square in any order. Adhere this arrangement to a piece of larger white paper ( 5x5 inch). When you're done, place the sheet centered over the Top Note die. Line up the center lines in both direction to meet the "pointy" part of the Top Note - you're centered.  Run it through the Big Shot or your manual die-cutting machine. Set aside for the moment.

Next, grab a scrap of whisper white and stamp the expression - The more candles, the bigger the wish!  and  beside this stamp the 'cake' from the stamp set, "Happy Moments"  - one of the FREE stamp sets from the SAB cataloque. 

 Layer this over a slightly larger piece of cardstock, in my example, a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock - that very pretty pink. To rev it up, glue some pretty pink glitter over the little flowers of the cake!  PRETTY!

Now - take your prepared Top Note piece and top it with the greeting/cake piece. Together  they will decorate a card base { Melon Mambo with Whisper White layered on top} .... 

and, Voila!  A lovely, lovely card!

Here is some more on Sweet Pea .....you can choose to go digital by adding to your digital software, see My Digital Software by Stampin' Up!  - OR - you can choose to do it the traditional way with papers, stamps, and the cutsey felt pieces.   You can combine the two for the 'hybrid' technique {half traditional embellishments on a digital card or scrapbook page}............any way you slice it - its a refreshing set!  Especially since we are all a little lagged out from doing Christmas themes - c'mon admit it! :)

That is not to say that I don't have Christmas scrapbooking to do - stay tuned! LOL!

cheers!

Aren't these sweet?  The new CHIPBOARD 'ON BOARD' BOOKS {6.95 each}are fabulous!  Look at the one decorated and debuted at a Leaderhip Convention in the US - I love this!  Mini-albums are all the rage more than ever - and we have 3 NEW SHAPES!  

There is HEART Book (117236) SCALLOP CIRCLE Book (118306) and a fav of mine - BIRD Book (117238 )!!!

Each book comes in all natural, acid free chipboard and includes 8 die-cut shapes held together with a ball chain.  They are a good size too for decorating - ranging from 6 to 8 inches in width with the BIRD book slightly less than 4 inches at certain parts.

So go ahead and have fun making your own book and if you really want to pizzaz it up - try using the adorable SWEET PEA STITCHED FELT (117266) {see top image} and our designer papers - SWEET PEA  PAPER STACK (117161)  - yeah, we have a paper stack finally!    Or our just in time for Valentine Designer Series Paper - SENDING LOVE SPECIALTY (117153) shown in the second image above.

All of these are featured in the Occasions Mini-Cataloque - call me to order......and DON'T FORGET - SALE-A-BRATION IS ON!!!!   So if you order $65 in products - you'll be able to choose a stamp, punch or paper stack for FREE from our SAB Cataloque!    Hostesses - you can too if you hold a workshop with sales of $300!  And last but not least - especially - NEW RECRUITS - you will receive a 15% discount off of your Starter Kit (that's gooooood!) and a FREE stamp on top of your kit! 

Look - who wouldn't want to be a Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! when you can have a jammie party!

 We are going to have one locally too - in March I believe, so I must dig up some new cute ones!  My daughter will never agree to wear the same ones though - I bought us twin sweaters from the Gap with our own different coloured trims, but will she let us go out in them at the same time - noooooooo! Ha ha - why not I wonder :)

Cheers !

 I love it when I find the darling-est things and you have to admit even if you are a non-crafty person or even, dare I say it - a minimalist in the purest sense - that these are "cutesy" period.

So check out the talent I found today while surfing....you can learn how to make these 'bottlecap pincushions' at the blog of How About Orange... and also at Craft Pudding

And then, Hawaii is one of the best places I dream of moving to (seriously I do!)....and so one of their delightful talented crafters is here at Willy Nilly Waterlily and I just love, love her

" Bashful Blooming Cactus "  - wish I could post a pix of them but you can see on her blog - the trio of them on her banner.

MY TUTORIAL TO DECORATE A JAM JAR {decorate the lid!}

In my modest manner, I have used some fabric and a Big Shot Sizzlit Die of a flower to decorate the lid of a tiny jam jar - perfect for sorting and storing my buttons.

Begin with bare jar and Here is how I altered it:

a) cut a circle of fabric slightly larger than the lid and a circle of paper  the exact diameter of the top of the lid.

 b)cut a length of ribbon to wrap around the side of the lid - baste a row of thread to pull on and draw the ribbon edges snug around the lid...use some adhesive in spots before tying a knot in your threads to secure in place.

c) next wrap the fabric circle over the paper circle, baste the edges of the fabric circle like the step above for the ribbon, and snug the two together, secure and glue to the top of the lid - hiding the edges of the ribbon.

 

d) to decorate the top- I used my Big Shot and a small die from my Birds & Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack- I chose the larger single flower in  co-ordinating orange paper (use pumpkin pie, or only orange or dusty durango)

e) finally, I secured the paper flower with a smaller fabric flower and a flower brad. [see top photo]....and displayed it on my shelf!  I plan to do this to more of these tiny jars - neat way to recycle.

Well...off to surf some more! Cheers!

...actually try to make this - seriously!  I can't remember where or who made this, but I was searching for cupcake ideas when I received my Big Shot XL Perfect Setting Die....and well, as you can see its just too crazy and I am in the mood!.....So stayed tuned for that!

But speaking about the Perfect Setting XL Die  { #115961} which gives you a very pretty collar for cupcakes - and collars are now a popular item, when you see it in the baking section of Wilton - you know its made it! LOL!

 But - as perfect as this die is....Stampin' Up! introduced another XL Die in our recent Mini-Holiday Catalogue...its our ' TABLE SETTING ' XL Die {#116819} - and its great for us ladies who like to dress up our tables for dinner guests (even if that means just yourselves & why not!) because it includes a favourite item of mine - a place card! It also means you can make napkin rings and tags to dress up the aformentioned place card or rings - and some decorative elements to go a step further: a coil which you can fashion into pinecones or roses!  NOTE: the dies from the Mini-Holiday are still available for order - extended date for dies only!  Contact me if you would like to place an order. 

So TABLE SETTING will be in my collection - because I always, always try to make our table special even though its the two of us - because I feel we should celebrate our times together!  And I hope I am imparting a sense of importance - or - delight to my daughter so she in turn, will bring this same sensibility to her lifestyle and pass it on.  Let's not be blah- right? Right!

But BRIDES - there is another dimension in this for you because you are looking to dress up many tables and bring the sense of occasion that your wedding deserves - so take a good look at this....and SOON!  Why?  Because SALE-A-BRATION of course!

 By purchasing a XL Die from us - and a small item, to make the minimum $65 order to qualify for a FREE PRODUCT from the SAB catalogue!  Choose from the exciting products that you can use in other projects for  your wedding!  There are some exciting punches to embellish your invitations or decorations, a new embossing folder - polka dots!  Always sweet!  And an absolute must - our Embosslit Heart - well, there is so much!  Heart Treat Cups - make an exciting favor!  LOVE-ly stamps and papers, .....its not just Valentines!

So please - T-R-E-A-T  Y-O-U-R-S-E-L-F   to  SALE-A-BRATION  and maybe have some fun dreaming up luscious cupcakes!  Uhmmmmm! :)

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XL Dies Product Description - these  6 x 13-3/4 x 5/8 inch, steel-ruled dies  are constructed with a steel rule blade set in ABS plastic/CARB compliant wood cases, and topped with long-lasting ejection foam {like flocking}. Weight 1.54 lbs.  **Require Extended Cutting Pads {#113478}. Use with BIG SHOT DIE-CUTTING/EMBOSSING MACHINE {#113439}. * Compatible with other die-cutting machines.  Comes with a 3 year warranty - these are meant to last and cut through a large variety of materials! Many designs are exclusive to Stampin' Up!

Alright - I just have to throw in a couple of photos of my pampered pooch - because that is what he is. And I know how I sound - just like other people I used to hear going on about their pets - but - that's ok because I am a convert, so bear with me!

However, being new pet owners - I knew we had to include Pepper in our decor, so here is what I came up with - you don't need the holiday theme like I've used for one of the projects - just adjust it to suit your own surroundings!

First - I created a feature wall - and chose the only spot left which was in plain view, a corner by our livingroom window. But I balanced the pictures so it works really well - and I am keeping it sans the one holiday photo/frame which I am sure will be replaced soon with something new.

My first project was to create a homage to our lil guy!  So I put this collage together - inside a shadowbox style frame. It's based on a scrapbook page design I saw in the archives of SU's library - but I made it my own with all the details. {Sorry - hard to take pics of something inside glass!}  It's titled "U R Priceless " and you can see the lettering on the outside of the frame and inside. The coin with the X wire over top is meant to mean 'no amount of money' could replace a pet - they're priceless. Lots of glue dots and dimensionals used here to elevate embellishments, and using the wire is an old fav technique of mine - esp. combined with beading. The chocolate frame, the green background - all work towards blending with our decor. So I love this - its a bit fussy, but it's great - here is one project you can think up lots of tiny details and it all works well!

My next project was to make a photo frame. I know we can buy them - but here's a cheaper alternative {the ones at the photo place were $5 and up - mine cost $2.00 at most. I use one of our IN COLOR cardstocks for the frame, So Suede. I wanted a 'home-grown' comfy look - so I stitched the cardstock backing (solid piece of paper) to the front frame (using a hobby knife I cut out a rectangle to frame photo) with some crochet thread in red and green. Finally - the tree! This was fun - layer 2 pieces of green cardstock and cut 2 of a loppy christmas tree outline you sketch on the back of  the cardstock.  Use 1 of the trees to cut stained-glass style into 3 parts - toss one aside. Use white craft ink, powder the trees to look like they're frosted with snow. Now using dimensional glue dots - position the two parts over the full tree frame and decorate your tree. I decided to punch out a heart which I 'tucked' behind one of the tree layers. And that is also now a fav project of mine!

Well - there is more but I must go for now - its movie day!  But not before I sneak in another pic of our cutie!

Here he is enduring our 'attention' - and then with his new christmas toy - oh, I feel a scrapbook page coming on!   HAPPY NEW YEAR !   OXOX