Winter Wishes

Well, it doesn't quite feel like Winter here in Iowa.  We've been having temps in the 40's and 50's which is about 20-30 degrees above normal.  I'm okay with the temp - I'm not okay with the lack of snow....that's right - those of you who know me well, know that I like my snow.  My boys are on Christmas break, and we haven't even been ablt to go sledding....one word.....boooorrrrinnngggg!!!

Today, I'm sharing with you some cocoa packets that I made for a couple of recent craft fairs.  These were a popular item.  This one that I'm showing today was made with some retired DSP and a non-SU stamp set. (I had to pay for that stamp set somehow...so put it to use!)

 I stamped the belly band with images from Winter Post (one of my all time fav stamp sets).  The belly band slips off to reveal a card of cocoa!  I found the template over on Debbie Olson's blog.

Pretty darn cute - huh??  My Stamp Club gals had fun making these also....just a different version.

Okie doke - I probably won't be back until New Years Day!  We've got a football party to go to tonight and Christmas (the last of 6) to go to tomorrow....But, I swear, I'm gonna start the year off right by making a darn good attempt to blog (almost) daily.  Back me up here peeps - I wanna hear some comments from all of you!!!

Have a great New Years - see you in 2012!

Well...I told you I'd be back with some goodies I created with the new DSP out of the Sale-A-Bration catalog that will soon be live.  Here is one of those said goodies!  Oh - I just am in love with the DSP - it's called Everyday Enchantment - and let me tell you, lately, I've been enchanted with it everyday!  It sets on top of my desk, and I'm about to embark on my second package of it already!  :) 

 These are cute little notepads I created to sell at some craft fairs before the holiday.   I have been infatuated with a stamp set by another company that is geared towards notes.  Well, I kind of recreated that stamp set in My Digital Studio, and have printed a couple of sheets out in a couple of different colors.  I'm crossing my fingers that Stampin' Up! will release a similar set soon.  Until then, MDS will fit the bill!

That little bit of organza ribbon that you see - it too is a Sale-A-Bration item.  It comes with 10 yards of Lucky Limeade, 10 yards of Calypso Coral, AND some rocking cool printed brads.  I'm currently hoarding the brads - I just drool on them and put them back on my shelf.  I can't bring myself to use them!!!  :) 

Wanna know something really cool?  During Sale-A-Bration (Jan. 24th - March 31st) if you hold a qualifying workshop, you automatically get the DSP, Ribbon and Brad bundle and a matching stamp set free!  That's in addition to the other benefits that you get anyway!!!  If you'd like to earn tons of free stuff, contact me today and we'll get a workshop for you on my calendar.

That's all for today folks!

Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch Challenge

Hi-dee HO folks!  I know I've been pretty skittish on the ol' blog.  I am planning to resolve that here in the near future.  I've got quite a few new things planned for the New Year, and I'm including "scheduling" some time in each day to blog.  I feel like I've been letting a lot of you down by not being here consistently, and I don't want to feel that way.  So, blogging is making it onto my New Year's Resolutions List!  My hope is to inspire YOU more in the coming year.  I just need to MAKE time to be here.

One of the other things that I would like to accomplish more in the coming year is to participate more regularly in sketch challenges.  I'm starting out this week with a sketch from Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch Challenge:

This is what I've created:

I don't know that it's completely "my style" but I don't dread it - it's just a bit frilly (?) for my taste.  There are a few things I might change if I were to re-do however - this card is dripping with great new products that you will soon be able to get your hands on!  The DSP - a new line called Twitterpated!  The cute little buttons - also from the Twitterpated too.  The focal stamp set - it's a freebie from the upcoming Sale-A-Bration!  There are some AWESOME new products in the Sale-A-Bration catalog - including some paper that I'm currently infatuated with!  Don't worry - I told you my goal (and NY's Resolution) was to blog much more....you'll soon be seeing some great projects made with this paper!

Alrighty - that's all for now.....more to come!

What I've been up to...

I have been BUSY!  To say the least!  Seems like one rollercoaster ride after another these days.  As soon as I feel like things are non-chaotic, they blow up again.  I know we all feel that way, especially this time of year.  I thought the holiday season would be much calmer when I made the move to stay home with the kids a couple of years ago....but really, they aren't! 

Anyway...let's move on.  One of the projects I had to tackle a couple of weeks ago was for a photographer in a nearby town.  She wanted me to "play" with a couple of her pictures and make some cards out of them.  I fell in love with this winter scene  from the town of Woodbine, IA - where she resides.  In these parts Woodbine in known for it's brick main street.  Well, and cowboys and camo too.  The photographer is working to open up Artisan Studio in Woodbine.  It's a co-op of sorts for artists and such.  I will start teaching classes there once a month starting at the end of January.  And I'm super excited about the opportunity!!! 

So, back to this picture.  She had an pre-open house event at the beginning of December and wanted as many cards with this picture as I could do.  The bad part about that was, we met on a Tuesday afternoon, and I had a craft fair coming up on Saturday that I really needed all of my free time for to create for that.  BUT, I pushed that aside and told myself that I would take ONE DAY to create as many cards as I could.  These are three of the 8 designs I did.  Guess how many cards I can make in one day???  (without going bonkers?)  41.  That's right 41 cards in less than 24 hours, using 8 different designs (which were all very similar to each other)  That first one above, I made 20 of it.  I knew because I incorporated 'from Woodbine, IA' on it, it would be a mover and a shaker.

 This one was very popular too.  I simply die cut the holiday from sticky pages and stuck it on the project and glittered it up.  Oh - I did outline the word before I peeled the red liner off and glittered.  It needed that.  Otherwise it was far too blah!

This one I heat embossed the "be still" in Cherry Cobbler EP and die cut the Peace from the Silver glimmer paper. Very striking in person.

So, this was one project that kept me busy for - will a mere 24 hours.

Now, I need to go and design my class for her.

FYI - for those that are local - the photographer is Bracinda Blum.  You can contact her at bracindablum@gmail.com if you would like.  Her Artisan Studio is set to open Jan. 1.  I can't wait~!~!

Scrap Club page

Hiya!  Guess what?  Today I'm sharing a scrapbook page.  Yeah.  You heard me.  A scrapbook page!  I know, I know.  I don't usually post these.  Primarily b/c they are hard for me to photograph; as you'll see in the poorly produced photos below.  But also because I rarely put pics on my pages.  That reason....b/c I rarely print my pics!!!  They sit stuck on my computer for.ev.ah!  It'll be my goal in 2012.  I really kinda like the pages I come up with, I just need to add some pictures to them.  Here's the deal - I typically only scrapbook (if you'll call it that) when I need to come up with pages for my Scrapbook Club.  Seriously.  And you know what.  When I'm done with those pages, I'm usually really proud of the outcome.  So, it's not that I don't like to scrap, it's just that I'm not terribly comfortable with it.  Isn't that funny.  I can create a card in a jiffy.  I may not always love the results, but I feel like I'm not out a lot.  When I create a scrap page, I feel like I better do the process justice or I've wasted a ton - of paper, of time, etc.  Yet, I'm usually really happy with my end result.  So, I just need to do it more.

Anyhow....here's one of the pages we created at Scrapbook Club in Sept.

 Again - so for the poorly photographed page.  It's hard to get my lighting right on these bigger pages.  Hopefully you get the jist tho.

I LOVE these leaves.  Simply die cut with Leaves #2, inked with the Woodgrain stamp and then crumple the $%!& out of them.  They turn out lifelike everytime.

What do you think?  Love it.  Just so-so???  I'd really like to know.  Please comment....Puh-lease!

Last day Christmas Stamp A Stack options + details!

Okie Dokie ---  Here are the last two cards in Round One of my Christmas Stamp A Stack.

Card #7 - Snowflakes of Noel

 Another clean card, but with lots of texture.  I like how the houndstooth texture works to warm up the card - like a scarf, or a sweater (what I wouldn't do for a cable knit embossing folder!) 

 The snowflakes are edged in glitter to add some pizzazz. 

Don't they just sparkle beautifully???  We had a touch of snow the other day.....ALMOST wish it would have stuck around...ALMOST! 


Card #8 - From Our House to Yours

 Alright - first off.....I couldn't help it.  I pulled out a retired set for this card.  It's one of my fave sets, and it just worked so perfectly with this card.  So, sorry - but I HAD to do it.  So, that being said, many of you have asked for a card that can include family photos.  This is it! 

 Here is the card completely closed - it's got a lip there, and is a tri-fold card.

 Here's what you see when you open the first flap.  I went over the top of the flourishes with some Smooch - they aren't blurry, it just didn't photograph well.

 Here it is partially opened.  Again, the glimmer in the smooch is just reflecting oddly.

And fully opened.  Here you have three spots where you can attach photos.  Don't have that many photos - not a problem, I'll show you how to fill in the blanks!!  That's the joy of having ME as your teacher and guide!

So there you have it  - the first round of cards for the 2011 Christmas Card Stamp A Stack.  Now the nitty gritty!

Of these eight cards, you pick the cards you'd like to make.  I cut you 10 of that card and put them in a "stack" for you to stamp and assemble!  It's a great and quick way to get cards made - I'll do half of the work for you!!!  In the time allotted, you can complete 2 "stacks" and some of you could easily complete 3 stacks.  You will work at your own pace, these cards will be set up in stations.  Can't decide?  Split a stack with a friend! 

When: November 19th; 9am - 1pm
Where: Denison Municipal Utilities Bldg, Broadway and 7th St
Fee: $20/stack - all supplies are included - you just bring your adhesive!

Can't make the class?  Not a problem, I will do all the same as above, and mail you the unassembled supplies.  The fee is the same, plus the cost of shipping.
Please register and prepay by November 12th.  You can call me (712-269-2714) or email me ( thearkfelds at fmctc dot com ) with your options.  Let me know if you have questions!

Day 3 - Christmas Stamp A Stack options...

SO.....I'm back again....see!  Have faith in me....I can blog!  I really can!  It's all about taking photos of my work and getting them on this computer.  That's the key.  Take the pics. I can tye during commercials of Revenge (my new fav show btw!)

Task at hand.....Christmas Stamp A Stack  Day 3.  Here are two more cards that you can make if your heart desires. 

Card #5 - Sparkly Ornament

Of the cards in my line up - this one is probably about the easiest to assemble.  The colors are a little on the modern side, but I think that makes this one a little bit quirky.  and bright.  In fact, I'm kinda smitten with this card! 

 When laying closed, it shows off more of the scalloped edging, and the use of three different greens.  I like that monotone look with the punch of color.  and the glitter, and one single rhinstone.  It just says "Ka-chow"! 


Card #6 - Skating on Ice!

When I asked Will, who is five, what he thought about this card, he said that it looks like the skaters are cold!  It does have a wintery look, that's for sure!  This card involves some heat embossing and sponging  - the emboss resist technique.  One of my favorites!  It's like magic. 

I think the strip of glitter sets this card off.  It really needs that bit of glitz. 

Alright - I'll be back tomorrow with the last two cards in the offering for Round One Christmas Stamp A Stack.  I'll have all of the details for you as well.  Round Two will shortly follow.  It will include these cards plus 6 completely new cards!  Stay tuned for deets!!!

See ya all tomorrow.

More Stamp-A-Stack options...

Heidi Ho!  I told you I'd be back...

I'm popping in with some more card options for my Christmas Card Stamp-A-Stack, so let's jump right in shall we?

Card #3 - Dashing Dasher

 This card is a bit masculine, a bit lodgey (newly found word) and yet has some shine to it too.  See that quilted ribbon!  Bee-U-ti-Ful!  This is probably my favorite card that I've got in the line up so far.  (Granted - I'm still waiting for stamp sets to show up in the mail....I have things up my sleeve....but I may have to have Round 2 of the Christmas Stamp-A-Stack just so my ideas get put to use if those stamps don't show up SOON!)

 Ol' Dasher is quite dashing when done up with Cherry Cobbler Embossing powder.  I have a thing for heat embossing this year!  I'm just warnin' ya!  This one too is quite easy to put together, and is so striking in person!


Card #4 - Musical Stockings

I'm going to throw this out there right away - this card might be a bit trying for some of you!  :)  First off, the music notes are done with a wheel.  I know how some of you feel about that!  The polka dots are stamped multiple times, so require some lining up - but that's not all that difficult - for real!  Threading the jingle bells might actually be the hardest part about this card!!  But they are so worth it....cuz - hello - they are so stinkin' cute!

Anyway - it's not  a terribly hard card - but just requires some patience! 

So, there you have it - the next two cards in the line-up.  I'm still waiting to here what you'd like to see in a Christmas Card.  What are you thinking of these designs??  What would you change?  Please leave me a comment or two - I really need some input here folks!!  It's simple - just click that comment tab below!

Hello Friends!  I know, it's been awhile.  I know, I know, I know!!!  I've been a bad blogger - and I'm terribly sorry for that.  It's just life.  Life gets in the way sometimes and unfortunately it's the blog that takes a back seat.  So....let's get after it, shall we? 

I've been working feverishly on some Christmas Cards for my annual Christmas Stamp A Stack.  This is where I need YOUR help.  I honestly need to know what you think of these cards.  I have been feeling as tho I'm in a creative slump, and it seems like no matter what I come up with they just aren't screaming - THIS IS IT! at me!  So, please tell me what you think of my first couple of creations.....

Card #1 - Christmas News

This card might have a clean and simple look to it, but the inside holds a whole lot more.  Many times I'm asked to create a Christmas Card that can accomodate a newsletter.  Well, I actually spotted this card on Kristina Werner's blog a year ago, and held it in my memory bank for this year.  I've transformed it to a Stampin' Up! card, and I'm okay with the final product.  And it's definitely mass producable.  The sentiment is heat embossed with White EP, and the rest is a matter of folding and adhering paper.  Pretty quick and simple.

Card #2 - Peaceful Dove

This card again is pretty clean.  And, also very easily mass produced. The image is heat embossed with some faint accents of watercoloring.  There is nothing difficult about this card at all.

On this last pic, you can see a little better that this card is on Shimmery White Cardstock.  Oh, it adds sooooo much to a card. 

Alright - these cards will be in my Christmas Stamp A Stack lineup.  This event will be held on November 19th at 9am - 1pm.  You will have plenty of time to complete 2 "stacks".  I will be posting more details shortly.  I will also continue to post more cards this week ( I have about 15 cards done) and would like feedback on them.   So, your turn.  Leave me a comment about what you like, what you'd change, what you don't like.  And please, be very honest.  I can handle constructive critisism - I'm not afraid!!!  I'd also like to hear what YOU'D like to see in a Christmas Card. 

Thanks all!

On Opportunity to DIE for!!!

***Edited to add - I am going to keep this post at the top of the blog for a while.  Be sure to scroll down to see new posts!***

Wow! If I wasn't a Demonstrator, I 'd be signing up to get one. If you already got one, no worries, how about $100.00 of free stuff?

Check out more information here.

If you've been looking for an opportunity to do what I do, while getting a 20% discount on your favorite products, now is the perfect time! During October, you'll get a FREE Big Shot when you join my awesome Stampin' Up! family as a Demonstrator. Use the Big Shot die-cutting machine and Stampin' Up!'s exclusive dies (dies are sold separately) to create uniquely beautiful projects in a flash. In addition, the new-demonstrator Starter Kit--a steal at just $175--contains over $345 worth of stamp sets, card stock, ink, accessories, and business supplies-everything you need to start your new business.

There are so many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, including

•A 20 percent product discount!
•A free monthly issue of Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator-only magazine, Stampin' Success!
•Sneak peeks at brand-new products!
•Invitations to exclusive Stampin' Up! events!
•Regular get-togethers to stamp!

•Free access to an online community of 30,000+ crafters/stampers and creative artists, as well as 160,000+ project samples!

•Plus, access to an exclusive video and training for your new Big Shot!

Don't miss this BIG deal! Contact me today to learn how you can take advantage of this great opportunity and get your FREE Big Shot! I would love to answer any questions you might have.

Don't forget about your free stamp set as a Welcome gift from me for joining my team (free stamp set is an incentive from me only and not Stampin' Up!)

Joining is easy and can be done on-line and you can begin placing orders right away!

I'm back!!!

So....I've been missing for a while, yeah, yeah, yeah....I know!  What else is new???  I was on a roll there blogging every day....and the last time I blogged, I mentioned a headache that i'd had for a week.  Well, it lasted another week after that.  I'm actually finally beginning to feel human again.  For me, having a headache for two weeks, was like being near dead.  I don't ever get headaches - unless self inflicted.  So, to have one for that long was killing me.  Nothing touched them, not ibuprofen, not Excedrin Migraine, not Tylenol.  For a few days I thought it was my coffee, so I quit using sugar in it.  That didn't work.  I gave up the coffee.  That didn't work.  Then one day.  Poof!  It was gone!  It was like the skies opened up and all was well again.  Now my little sister has had this headache.  Apparently it's a virus that is going around.  And it's icky!  If you get a headache and it just doesn't go away....good luck!!

Having told you that story...there hasn't been a whole lot of crafting in the last couple of weeks at my house.  :(    Hopefully I can get something accomplished this week.....yet I"ve got a few things in my bag of tricks for you.....

 Here's a card that I haven't shared yet - I need to play some more with this set.  I just think it's so stinkin' cute.  I love the bright cheerful colors of the DSP, the cuteness of that little seal...

I hope this brightens your day!

Sweetness...

Just popping in quick with a card that got denied in a publishing call.  The call was for creative uses with baker's twine.  SOOO, on this card, I wrapped the twine in a circle onto a sticky strip circle, then overly sprayed it with Smooch Spray - Vanilla Shimmer.  FYI - most of the paper is from a non-SU company and the stamps are from a MS set I had bought a long time ago to make some ornaments for Alex's Gingerbread Man Christmas Tree.

That's it from me today....I've gotta go tend to this week long headache of mine....hoping for a new relief treatment tonight!

We're doing it again...!!!

If you would like to join us for a fun filled day of papercrafting and shopping - let me know.  I'm taking table reservations now!!!!  And let me tell you, I've been getting some great donations for our goodie bags - from A Walk Down Memory Lane, OCTOBER AFTERNOON, Moxxie, HERO ARTS, Paper Crafts Magazine and more to come!!!  Be sure to get signed up - we have door prizes too - possibly a Big Shot and maybe even a Cricut!!!  You don't want to miss out on this event - CONTACT ME NOW!

This is WHY I do what I do....

Once in a while, someone will ask me why I am involved with Stampin' Up!.  There are multiple reasons, but mainly, it's because of them.  Those 3 sweet little faces. 

I started Stampin' Up! almost 5 years ago when Will wasn't quite one.  I really wanted to scrapbook all of his cute little memories.  You see, I've always been a creative person.  It's something I have to have in my life.  Before Will was born, I was doing a lot of sewing and painted crafts - think snowman, painted signs, etc.  Once he came along I packed all of it up and put it in the closet.  Then I became miserable.  Just ask my husband.  One day, I flipped my lid and blew up.  I closed myself in my craft room and made some curtains that day.  It fulfilled me.  It gave me some self worth, a sense of accomplishment.  It wasn't long after that that I took a card class at the local junior college with a then  co-worker. Let me tell you, in a matter of minutes, my bucket was filled!  Not long after that I was invited to a Stampin' Up! workshop.  Wow!  There were all of these really great things in a catalog - and those items could be delivered to my door.  We didn't have a scrapbook shop in our town, and the stores that did happen to sell scrapping supplies had dated items that weren't of great quality.   It took me a month - I did some research, discovered some blogs, and was hooked.  I called the demonstrator and signed up.  I wanted those high quality products at a discount.  At the time I was working full time, but knew I really wanted to be home with Will.  I was missing so much of him growing up while I was at work.  So, with a bit of work, I continued to grow my business, and today, I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home with those 3 cuties!

With a little more work, I'm going to earn a trip for my husband and me to:

That's Fiji folks!  It's gorgeous - and Stampin' Up! wants to send us there - FREE!!!  Seriously!   Want to come with me???  It's possible -  and I'm really not exaggerating.  This is a trip that is easily accomplished with some work.  I can guide you and show you how to get there.  You just need to make that first step - CONTACT ME! 

More Quilting!

Here is another card that we made at my August Stamp Clubs....

This was a super simple card.  Seriously simple.  Take 6 squares of DSP, attach 5 to a piece of cardstock - 4 in the outer corners (leaving some border) and one in the center.  Take the sixth square and cut it in half across the diagonal.  Then cut those triangles in half again so that you have 4 triangles.  Adhere those in the empty spots and then run thru the Big Shot with the Lattice EF.  Seriously that simple!!!

I think the EF really enhances this quilt look and makes it really look like fabric.  I added the snowflake punch and button to break up the quiltiness (new cool word there for you!)

Go ahead, tell me what you think....I dare you!

Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Snow Swirled

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Letters to Santa DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Snowflake Punch, buttons