Well, Here I Go...

Last night was fun.  I enjoyed working with both Doris and Shelby.  What great gals and so interested in learning all they could in our 1st sitting.  As promised, we did 5 cards and 1 3-D item.

This morning, I took photos and (pause...... long pause while I consider if this is going to work..... why be concerned Mary the roof isn't going to fall in)... so here they are (I hope).

Understand that these items are definitely using some retired SU products as well as the Cuttlebug (no, I've not bitten the bullet for the Big Shot yet, although I have started my die collection).

Because I've got this huge picture collection of ideas that I've gotten from so many sources, I need to first say that although I've done some switching/altering here and there, the projects that follow are certainly not original to me.  If I can't see something with my eyes, my brain simply doesn't kick into any kind of creative gear.  Mostly, if I like it, "I'm a gonna CASE (copy and stamp exactly) it".  I'll continue to thank those many bloggers who've posted and who've made it so much easier for me to feel productive AND I've now started to record their URLs so that I can pass on appropriate credit....... of course what I'm adding today, is simply credited to the INSPIRATIONAL 'COLS' (creative on-line stampers)

The first photo happens to be the last thing that we did.  It's a tea bag holder.  I knew time would be short as this was their 1st time stamping with me so I had the packaging done already and all that was left for them to do to cap off their stamping time, was to choose their preferred tea to include.

.... of course, I got the idea from someone else, and sure I've made a pattern..... if I was better organized and prepared for this posting, I'd have a reference for you...... oh well, there'll be additional opportunities for me to get this blogging thing down better....

Here are the cards that were done...

This card uses

• paper - bashful blue, whisper white, brilliant blue
• stamp set - Big on Christmas
• ink - Basic Black (CRAFT)
• punches - snow blossom, 1 1/4" circle
• other - Cuttlebug with Snowflakes folder, stampin' dimensionals, crop-a-dile, light blue Circle Ice Rhinestone brad

This card uses:

• paper - mellow moss, always artichoke, retired Designer Series Paper (Dashing), whisper white (scrap)
• stamp set - Season of Joy
• punches - scallop circle, retired Spring Bouquet Flower
• other - VersaMark ink pad, silver embossing powder, rhinestone brad (oops not SU, but from my Dollarama stash), SU silver stretchy cord

I used a scrap of whisper white card stock and pressed VersaMark onto it before spreading the silver embossing powder over the surface.  After heat embossing, I was able to punch out the silver flower centre.

This card uses:

• paper - glorious green, whisper white
• stamp sets - Season of Joy, Polka Dot (note: during our time together Shelby chose this stamp set for her background.  I liked her artistic change to what I'd done so much that I took my card apart and redid that layer to match hers.  Thanks Shelby!  You've got a great eye.)
• ribbon - taffeta, white
• other - stampin' dimensionals, VersaMark in pad, gold embossing powder

This card uses:

• paper - whisper white, real red
• stamp set - Season of Joy
• ink - real red
• punches - 1 3/8", 1 1/4"
• ribbon - 1/2" striped, real red grosgrain
• other - stampin' dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds

This card uses:

• paper - chocolate chip, whisper white, retired Designer Series Paper (Holiday Harmony), brushed gold
• stamp sets - Deer Friends and Heard from the Heart
• ink - chocolate chip
• punches - scallop circle, 1 3/8", 1 1/4" 
• ribbon - chocolate chip
• other... VersaMark ink pad, gold embossing powder

Well, that's all for today's post.

Now to actually publish and see just how proud Michelle and Vivian are of me.

No - I'm not dead.

I've just not had anything new to add as although I'm closer to deciding on my photo editing software, I've yet to bite the bullet and purchase.

I've had a request for some quick Christmas cards and so I'm doing a SHORT Stamp-a-stack this Friday, Sept. 19.  There are 5 cards with a 3-D item tossed in.  Cost is $10.

Doris and her granddaughter are coming at 4pm but they simply want to be done before supper and then have the evening for themselves.  

If you're interested and want to 'play', call or email me and let me know what time slot you'd like.  You can come as early as 4:00 p.m. or at any time after (up to 9:00 p.m. as I feel an early bedtime coming). I'll have your stack of cards prepped and ready for you.

Now that I've actually figured out how to add photos to the slide show widget that Vivian Swain placed on my blog, perhaps I'll try taking photos of the cards for this Stamp-a-stack and adding them without the additional 'editing capabilities' of special software.

"P.C. Party" (paper cropping party)

This is very much like a 'PMS' party (pizza, movie, stamping) or a scrapbooking crop.  You bring your stuff (card stock, stamps, adhesive, etc) out on the Friday night and set up at a table.  You then proceed to stamp and create whatever is on your 'to do' list.

You have access to my inks, punches, stamps, cutters, etc.... - the non consumables - along with my ideas and samples, FREE of charge.  You'd run a tab for anything else you need to pick up.

When you sign up you can let me know if there's anything special that you'd like to work on so I can have some ideas ready for you.

Cost: (for space either for yourself or for you and a friend or two who are willing to share the same table)

• $10.00 for a small table - 4' long
• $15.00 for a medium table - 6'-8' long
• $20.00 for the 10' table in my scrap room
• $30.00 for my dining room table upstairs - it easily sits 12 people for a meal

Food:

FRIDAY 

• evening - beverages and snack foods
  

SATURDAY 

• breakfast - beverages, fruit, freshly baked muffins
  
• lunch - beverages, cold plate, dessert
• supper - beverages, lasagna, salad, dessert

Time frame:

• Friday....... 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  
• Saturday... 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Since the number of participants I can comfortably accommodate is limited, the earlier you can reserve your spot, the better you chances of getting in.

Prizes: .... of course, what would a paper cropping party be without them?  Everyone who participates will receive a "Thank you for participating in this event." gift.  In addition, I'll have enough door prizes so everybody goes home with an additional 'something' from my basket.  Thanks to the Latenight Stampers post-convention WOW presentation activity, my top prize will be a "Define Your Life" stamp set (value $56.95).  If, by chance, you happen to have won this set during my August open House period, you can either take this and give it to a stamping friend as an awesome gift or select any other stamp set in the current catalogue.

I hope that you'll consider this event as a super opportunity to get a whole bunch of cards and perhaps a few 3-D projects completed.  It's bound to be a blast and I know that Donnie will certainly look forward to have stamping happening on both levels of our home!

Back-to-School: PROJECT DAY

Check out the counter at the bottom of the page to see how much time is left.

Do you have a child or relative who's heading back to school next month?  

Perhaps you're a teacher and you're leaving the comfort of summer holidays for the more regimented work day? 

• For the student: grab this opportunity to get ahead of the 'gift giving'.   If you figure that you're going to need a couple of teacher gifts, you can make the container and fill it later. Projects will be individually priced and will range from $2.00 through to $10.00.  If you know that you'll want to make enough treat containers for your whole class, I've got some nifty, quick projects that you can either do here or in your own home.  We'll also work out special pricing for multiple projects.

• For the teacher or administrator: take a bit of time now to make some quick cards that will surely be needed during this term.  You know that you've got very little of your own time left before meetings and the ordinary pressures of the school day force you to push aside those special handmade touches that can really make a difference in someone's day.  I have a large selection of cards that can be made in a short period of time and a technique that will allow you to alter the sentiment for a card in under 15 seconds.
  

Steps to Success:

Before contacting me:

• Have an idea of what you want (class/staff treat container, gift box, monogrammed note cards, thank you cards, birthday cards, sympathy cards, etc);
• Have a budgeted figure in mind so you won't get super excited about all of the possibilities you're going to see and then go over budget.

On August 23:

• My stamp room and work area will be open from 9:30 a.m. through to 9:30 p.m.;
• Check out my SCHOOL TREAT idea box or my QUICK CARDS display boards and choose something to work on or use the ideas as inspiration for your own personal creation;
• Decide how you want to proceed... we can make them together; you can get me to make them for you; you can order the materials to make them yourself; you can get me to put together a 'make-it-at-home' kit;
• You can spend all day if you like - just bring a bagged lunch - or just enough time to get done what you want.  I'll do beverages and dessert.

On August 24:

• Breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you've just completed one more thing that was going to be on your list of "Things I should get done";
• Put your finished projects in a spot you'll remember so that when the time comes you won't panic about not having something ready.

It would be super if you could see samples on line of various project/card ideas, but as of August 17th that's not possible. .... by the end of term one, when I offer a similar project day for term two, you'll definitely see cool photos....  At the time of posting this offer, I'm still in the 'newbie' stage as far as this medium is concerned.  If I get the whole "photography aspect" (camera, software, uploading, posting) figured out before the 23rd, I'll edit this post to add pictures.  Until then, just know that I do have a fairly extensive collection of projects and cards that would be perfect for classmates, teachers, administrators, and support staff.

I know that once this is posted it's available for everyone to see, but everyone can't come to my house on the 23rd.  I live just outside of Blenheim, Ontario, Canada and so this offer is going to be appropriate for anyone living within Chatham-Kent.

Please contact me through email (haden@ciaccess.com) if you have any questions or if you want to reserve your spot for Saturday, August 23rd.

Hi Michelle

Another fabuloso lady that I need to thank is Michelle Bowley who's currently (well probably not right now 'cause she's got her own stuff to do) working on my banner and copyright signature.  She's already sent me a draft and I like what I've seen.

I connected with both Michelle and Vivian during the Latenight Stampers' pre-convention activities and out of that connection has come this blog - another aspect of my stamping - which is bound to enrich my life and will hopefully enrich the lives of others in some way. 

At one point in my earlier studies, I read that once you reach the age of 25, you start losing thousands of brain cells each and every day.  As I began to add decades to my 25th year, I became more concerned that I'd eventually work my way down to zero and that the pathways along which the little electrical charges flowed would shrivel up.  

Since then I've found out that elderly individuals can create new pathways in the brain - all we need to do is to learn new things and to work through situations we've never before encountered.

I figure that in relation to blogging, there's a lot of NEW stuff ahead of me and so I'm expecting to be able to reverse the 'brain drain' that's been happening since I was 25.

Perhaps by August 2009, I will be able to report that I've balanced the outward flow of brain cells with an inward surge of new pathways through Stamping Connections.

Thanks to Vivian

Although I've been thinking of venturing into "blog land" as a participant, if it hadn't been for Vivian Swain, I'd still be BLURFING (blog surfing) & LURKING (landing on blogs, soaking up information, and occasionally posting a comment - typically when blog candy was being offered).   So thanks Vivian.  I know that I still have a huge amount to learn and I know that you'll still be supporting me for awhile, but I'm very excited to have you as my sidekick on this adventure.

Vivian, when you log back on to my site, you'll see that I figured out how to put a link to your site ---- how cool is that?