Techie Tuesday!

Hey there!  How's everyone today?  I'm a little late getting this up today b/c I've got a sick little Aubrie.  Of course, we also have Will's school Christmas Program tonight.....which is great luck.  We'll be flipping the coin later to see who gets to stay home with the munchkin!  Momma's kinda sad about that.  I don't want any of us to have to miss it.

Anyway....let's talk a bit about creating calendar's in mds2 shall we?

I've been trying to get a calendar created FOR.EVAH.

And it just doesn't happen.  Why?

Well....the daunting task of trying to get the numbers into the grid was aggravating!  After a very brief search on http://mydigitalstudio.net however, I was relieved AND disgusted with myself.  The solution has been there this whole time, and I've been oblivious to it.

So....here are the deets:

Go into mds and open a calendar in the size you want.

Over on the right hand side - aka - Design Center, there is a drop down for Calendar.

You can fill your page with whatever month you are needing to fill it with.

You can opt for numbers, months, to have lines or no lines, etc.

You can also resize the image to fill your page, or to just take up a small portion.  Easy, peasy!

Watch this brief video on how parts of the Calendar Settings work:

You'll notice in my photo above that I've used a pair of mittens.  Those mittens are from Tag It - embellishments, and they started off RED!

Using this quick tutorial, I changed the color (using the Color Match option) to match parts of Aubrie's coat. And it was so easy!

I did the same with the washi tape on the actual calendar portion!

You can still download this amazing software on a trial basis (although it's limited!).  You'll quickly figure out that you NEED the full version!!  Go to my website to learn more!

December Stamp of the Month Kit

Stamp Set of the Month Kits

Join this FUN, monthly club!  There are NO meetings, NO driving and no time out of your busy schedule!

Each month, you'll receive a package in the mail with a NEW stamp set, plus a kit, complete with embellishments to make your own projects just like my samples!!!  Directions (with photos) will be included as well as a supply list, complete with cutting directions so that you can make many more!  Kits will not include punches, dies or other stamps that I may use in my samples.

Here are the details:

• Each month you will pay $26(US) for Clear Mount or $35 for Wood Mount (price includes shipping!) by the 20th of the month. Orders received after the 20th will receive the following month's kit.
• Each month you'll receive a brand new stamp set priced  between $14.95 - $21.95, a project kit with directions to complete your own cards, PLUS a bonus sheet of ideas for more projects!
• If you already own the Stamp of the Month, you can purchase JUST the project kit.
• They will be shipped to you in the mail by the end of the month, giving you something to look forward to instead of BILLS!
• ANYONE can join - no matter where you live! (US Residents only) It's all via the mail!
• You are not committed to participate every month.  However, when you participate for 5 consecutive months, you will get the 6th month free.  If you participate for 3 consecutive months, you will receive a Free Gift from me.
• Choose wood mount or clear mount, OR just the project kit.
• Everyone that joins my Stamp Set of the Month Club will receive 2 Stamped Silly Rewards faces just for joining!

December Stamp Set - Wonderful Winterland

This is such an adorable little set, and I can't help but think of all of the things you could use this for.  I love that it's not defined as a Christmas set, but Winter, and you can use it all Winter long.

Here are the projects that come in your kit:

This month you'll receive a kit to make 2 cards and a gift bag.  You'll also receive a half sheet of cardstock with some sentiments I created to go along with the set.  There are 4 sentiments, and 5 of each one.  Your kit contains all of the paper and embellishments to create these projects, plus an instruction sheet for each one, and a bonus sheet with ideas for 3 more cards!  You will not receive punches, dies or die cuts, or other stamps that have been used.

Already have this Stamp Set?  No problem - you can purchase the project kit by itself.  Just select that option from the drop down box below!

Stamp Kit Options

Clear Mount Set $26.00 USD Wood Mount Set $35.00 USD Kit Only $12.00 USD

The Paper Players #124 - Snowman Challenge!

                                         

This week at the Paper Players we are all about Snowmen!  Although, it's too warm here in Iowa for snowmen, I would really enjoy some snow to make snowmen with.

Today I used Frosty Friends to make my card.  This little group of snowmen just make me happy.  I especially like the little bunny peeking out from behind the snowman on the end.

I stamped that fun little group of friends on a piece of Shimmery White cardstock using Stazon, Jet Black.  Then I colored them using watercolor pencils.

Don't mind my still wet glue popping out of the buttons.....  For the base of the card, I embossed it with my Northern Flurry EF, then used some Frost White Shimmer Paint and a sponge dauber to go over the top of the snowflakes and around the edges too.

Hope you've enjoyed this week's card - now be sure to check out what the other fabulous designers came up with, then go create your own snowman fun and link it up!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy White

Dawn Easton

Helen Heil

Jen Arkfeld 

Gift card tins!

Last week I received my copy of the NEW Spring Catalog from Stampin' Up!  It's to die for.  I was especially taken by a project on the cover of the catalog, and drew inspiration from it to create this gift card tin:

I really like to create these tins, as they can be used over and over and over!  I feel like this one is a bit out of my style element....it's got a lotta stuff on it!  Not my typical clean and simple version.  Guess what tho.....I like it!  I just kept adding bits and pieces until I could say....okay.  Stop.  But I even decked out the inside:

I listed this over on my Etsy Shop if you are interested.  I'm trying to get more things listed over there....so keep watching!

Check back tomorrow for a new Stamp of the Month Kit!

Watch Me Wednesday & a GIVEAWAY!

I look at this little gingerbread man and find myself saying, "As fast as fast can be, you'll never catch me!"  These little place cards are perfect for your holiday table.  They would also be great if you are having a buffet style dinner - you could set them up so that everyone knows what the yummy goodness is all about.

Watch how simple it is to create these:

For the tree, I used a marker to color the "bulbs" and then used a little bit of Crystal Effects over them to give them some dimension.  Super easy.

So....I mentioned in my title that I was having a giveaway!  It's easy.  I'm going to giving someone a variety pack of 15 of these place cards.  You can enter several ways:

1) Leave a comment for me.
2) Follow me on Facebook - the link is to the right over there! Come back and leave a comment that you are now following me on Facebook.
3) Follow me on Pinterest - the link is to the right!  Come back and leave a comment that you are now following me on Pinterest.
4) Refer a friend to my blog.  Have your friend mention that YOU sent her here.  You will both be entered.

I will choose a winner on Saturday, December 1st!

Don't forget that today is the LAST day for the Online Extravaganza.  TODAY ONLY - these items are specially priced:

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
7	118941	Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)	$66.95	$53.56
7	120279	Clear Block Storage Caddy	$16.95	$13.56
175	109127	Stack & Store Caddy	$34.95	$27.96

You can visit the Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

If you received an email from me on Monday, you will notice that I've got some special bonuses that I'm giving away also!  If you didn't receive that email - then you need to be sure that you sign up for my mailing list!!!  The link is on the right, clear up at the top!

Free Downloadable tag!!!

We have a FREE download for you today (Free for You from Us Designer Template). Once you download it, share it with your "naughty" friends.

After that, buy some more of this week's holiday downloads (PDF). Start with the trendy chalkboard-style tags that coordinate with the free download, move on to the cool reindeer décor piece, get the clever Christmas card turned ornament designer template, and top it off with a must-have holiday/winter kit.

And don't forget: December 6  is the last day to order your print products to get them by December 24 (unless you want to pay for Second-Day or Next-Day Air).

Have you upgraded your My Digital Studio program to mds2 or mds2+ yet?  If not, you really should, and you really should do it by tomorrow!  It's on sale for 50% off!!!  This is probably the easiest, most versatile program on the market.  And don't worry....it's not all about scrapbooking!  There are so many things that you can create with mds2, it's unreal. 

Cards

Gift tags

Home decor

Photobooks

With new downloads offered every week....what's not to like?  I haven't even mentioned yet that the program is compatible with your digital cutter - Silhouette, Cricut, eClips.  

And, you've got a design helper included with the program - me!  

So what are you waiting for?  Go get your copy today!

Last Minute Card Making Party!

PLEASE NOTE: This is my second post of the day.  If you are looking for my Paper Players Card, please scroll down, or CLICK HERE.

Don't have your Christmas Cards made yet?  Have no fear!!!  I'm hosting a Last Minute Card Making Party!

These cards are quick and easy to make.  Tell me which card (or cards) you would like to make.  I will cut a stack of ten of them, and you come to the party.  There you will stamp and assemble.  In about 30 - 45 minutes you will have 10 cards made, ready to write your greeting and mail.  And if you pick two cards to make, you could have 20 cards made in an hour - hour and a half!

Card #1 Ornament Tag

Card #2 Snowy Tree

Card #3 Ornament Cutout

Card #4 Hang them on the Tree

Card #5 Treetops Glisten

Card #6 Merry lil' Tree

Want a little bonus?

Those who come to the party, will also get to create a gift bag and 5 tags too!

When: December 1st, 9 am - 1pm (work at your own pace)

Where: Denison Municipal Utilities Building

Fee: $15/card stack

Can't come to the event, but would like the kits anyway.  No problem!   Email me your selections, I'll cut and mail them to you - there will be an extra $5 charge for shipping.  And guess what?  I have a little bonus for you too.....I'll include an extra embellishment goodie bag in your package!  It's a win-win for everyone!

EMAIL ME your selections by Friday November 30th at noon CST.

Would you rather create your card using MY DIGITAL STUDIO?  Yep....I can help with that too!  Come the the Last Minute Card Making Party on December 1st with your laptop, loaded with My Digital Studio, and I'll help you create a fabulous card.  Don't forget, you can make awesome tri-fold cards and those are great for using multiple pictures.  Here are a couple of great downloads that you can get from my website to get you started! 

 

There are so many fun things that you can create with My Digital Studio, and I'll be there Saturday to show you how.  You can have your cards all done in a jiffy.  There are some print deadlines in order to receive your projects in time for Christmas:

December 6th - regular shipping
December 10th - 2nd day air
December 11th - overnight

These are all US.

Have you upgraded to mds2 yet?  What???  You should!  Wait....you don't even have the program?  Oh dear!  Don't get your tinsel in a tangle....it's HALF OFF RIGHT NOW!!!!  GO to my website and order it NOW!

If you have any questions at all, please contact me!

Paper Players #123 - Jaydee's Sketch

Good Morning all!

Were you able to get your Christmas shopping all done this weekend?  When I heard all about the grumblings that went on in the Omaha shopping malls, I was definitely glad that I wasn't one of those Black Friday Shoppers!  For those not in our area, not one, but TWO of the malls in Omaha were evacuated because of large fights - on one account, a metal trash can lid was tossed across the floor, and to others, sounded like guns shots.  Sure made me feel glad that I stay all snug and cozy in my jammies on Black Friday and shopped from the comfort of my couch!!!  

The rest of the weekend was spent.....eating!  We have one more Thanksgiving today, at my Mom's house with my Grandma and my Great Aunt.  It will be a quieter Thanksgiving Feast.  The only little kids will be my own.  Although, as I think about that.....it might not be so quiet.  No other kids to play with.....that might be trouble.  I joke here at home that I can set my watch by what time the boys start to wrestle.  5:25pm, daily.  It's like their internal clock goes off and the WWE mat emerges from our living room floor. UGH!  BOYS....

So.....enough of my rambling right - you wanna see something card related???

Jaydee's created a great sketch for us to work with this week.  It's SO versatile - one that needs to stay in your sketch book for future use.

I stayed pretty clean with mine this week.  It's definitely a 10 minute card (or less, really!)  I punched my mittens, flipped one over, then lined them up and stamped the knit image with versamark and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder.

The sentiment is heat embossed with Cherry Cobbler EP.  I like how the color really makes an impact when you heat emboss it.

The side scallops are die cut and embossed with Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folders.  I love that Stampin' Up! makes it that easy for us!  Die cut. Emboss. Cool.

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  Be sure to come back later today and see what specials I'll have for tomorrow's Cyber Monday!

In the meantime - go check out some fabulous inspiration from our Design Team:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy White

Dawn Easton

Helen Heil

Jen Arkfeld 

Guest Blogger!

Hi, I’m Cindy and I am honored to be a guest blogger here today on Jen’s Stamped Silly BlogSpot.  I have been stamping with Jen for several years now and joined her Stamped Silly team of demonstrators about 16 months ago.  I love Stampin’ Up and am excited for the opportunity to blog and share with you today.

The project I have made to share with you is one that my Stamp Club “Creative Queens” made at our recent quarterly club meeting.  It is a 4 x 6 acrylic frame turned into a desktop post-it-note holder and decorated for the holiday season.  We simply cut a piece of the “Be of Good Cheer” DSP into a 4 x 6 piece, border punched 2 pieces of coordinating colored cardstock, attached them to the DSP, and slid it into the frame.  We embellished the front with a pair of embossed mittens from the “Make a Mitten” stamp set and added a piece of Whisper White Sweater Trim to them, and popped them up with dimensionals.  We stuck on the 3 x 3 post-it-note pad and wah-lah, our project was done!  This project was super simple and my Creative Queens loved it for that reason and because it would be a quick, inexpensive gift item (these frames are only $1 at the discount stores!).  And everyone always has that last minute office gift exchange or forgotten teacher that they need something for!

      

As the group talked about this project, we decided it would also be fun to make these up for different seasons or occasions … change it out with a lacy heart for Valentine’s Day, a decorated egg for Easter, flowers for spring, leaves for fall, etc.  How cool would it be to make it a gift set with everything done, so all the recipient would have to do is change out the decorated 4 x 6” DSP and the front embellishment and have a post-it-note holder for their desk for year round?  I love this idea and I think this just might be what my co-workers get for Christmas this year!  I sure hope they don’t see this blog post!

Thankful!

There are so many things that I am thankful for.  Too many to count.  I try and thank God daily for the gifts and talents he has provided me.  I may not have a lot of wonderful possessions, but it's about so much more than that.  God has granted me with a wonderful family, good health, and the opportunity to have a career in a field I absolutely love!  ( I could sit in my craft room 24-7 if I didn't have anything else to do!!!)  I've also been blessed with truly amazing customers, who inspire me all the time.  To each one of you, I say a huge THANKS!  You've been with me on this wonderful journey, and you are the reason I do this!  I also have a fabulous downline - such creative people you are!  What awesome people I've met along the way....

I'm thankful for all of you that come to read my blog.  I hope that I can give back by inspiring you!  Creating brings me such joy and satisfaction.  Even if I just copy someone else's creation, just to sit down and make something satisfies me!  So, please feel free to "copy"!  It'll still be your creation!!!

For instance.  I saw this card on the cover of Cards Magazine:

And I thought - you know, I can do that.  But I can make it my own!  So, here you have it:

My tulle might be a little out of control and a little big.  But it's still a great card, none-the-less.  See what I mean.  If you can't come up with it on your own,  copy it - but make it your own.  Change out the paper, some of the elements.  Basically for this one, I just followed the sketch.  I could have used a paper flower instead of  tulle.  I could have used a different greeting.    I'll probably use this layout several times.  It was so quick and easy!

I hope all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy your families and friends, and be thankful for all of the little things too!

Sending Many Thanks Card:

Pool Party CS Very Vanilla CS Comfort Cafe DSP Petite Pairs Early Espresso Ink Early Espresso Tulle Brushed Bronze Buttons Midnight Muse Satin Ribbon

InLinkz.com

Quick & Easy Cards! +video!

Good Morning folks!  I'm here today to show you a super quick, easy AND one layer card!  One layer cards are great for mailing because they don't cost extra postage.

If you've ordered from my website this month, don't be surprised to find this card in your mailbox! I appreciate all of my customers, and now, those that order from my website will receive little bonus' in their mail!  To make it even better, these cards will be re-usable!  (You'll understand when you get yours in the mail!)

This card is simply about stamping and one little rock and roll technique. I wanted to go with a little more trendy color scheme - something other than your traditional fall colors.  So, I pulled out the Color Coach, and came up with these mix of colors:

Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Summer Starfruit, Basic Gray

Want to see how easy it is to make - watch my video!

Stampin’ Up!® is offering not just one, but two ways for you to get FREE ink!*
NOV. 1–DEC. 16, 2012
*Neutrals Collection not eligible
Host a $450 party!
Not only will you be able to choose a FREE ink collection, you’ll also get $65 in hostess dollars and a 50%-off item!
Join the Stampin’ Up! family!
A free collection of ink pads is a great incentive, but so is a 20% product discount, a demonstrator only magazine, stamping events, and access to an exclusive website with thousands of project ideas!

Contact me TODAY to find out more!