Another gift idea: Homemade crafters' scrub with MDS tag

In my quest to make Christmas gifts for friends and family this year, I came across an easy "recipe" for a Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub here. It's for use on your hands and body, and especially good to remove ink and glue and other stuff that gets on our crafty hands. It's 100 percent natural and edible. You can't beat that! I added a ripped strip of Spice Cake fabric around the jar, a cheap spoon (10 cents) from a thrift store, and a tag I designed using My Digital Studio. The back is printed too - I'll have to add a photo of that later!

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 cup + 1 Tblsp oil (Sunflower, Safflower, Vegetable - your choice)

Mix and put it into either 2 pint jars or 4 half-pint jars. These keep well in sealed, sanitized glass containers for months. Just keep them out of direct sunlight.

My card was one picked for Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge!

How cool is this? My Jolliest Time of Year card was picked on the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge blog as one of the team's top picks. I'd added my card to the Stampin' Up! demonstrator gallery on Stampin' Connection, and received a comment from a demo saying I should enter it on the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge, so I did!

Click here to read more about info on creating my winning card!

Christmas gift idea: Tile coasters with designer paper

This could quite possibly be the easiest Christmas gift you could ever make. And it's inexpensive. I picked up some tumbled marble tiles at Home Depot. These are 4" square. I used a foam brush to cover the top of the washed (these always seem to be covered with a fine powder) tile with Mod Podge, placed a 3-3/4" square piece of Spice Cake designer series paper on top, and then added another layer of Mod Podge to seal the paper on the tile. Give that at least 15-20 minutes to dry, then spray a Clear Acrylic Coat on top (you can select from matte and glossy. I like the matte.). There are felt "feet" under each corner of the tile. You can get these at a Dollar Store. Or you could add a felt or cork square to the underside, if you have either of those on hand. That's it! I plan on wrapping these up with a pretty bow and presenting it to a friend.

Just a few days left to get quality SU! product for up to 60% off!

There are some great stamp sets for 40% to 50% off: Every Little Bit, Winter Post, Perfect Punches, Many Merry Messages, Occasions Alphabet, and Flight of the Butterfly. Don't forget the Clearance Rack items too. You can view them all at http://www.stampinup.com. Remember that if you order through me (http://therubberroom.stampinup.net and then click SHOP NOW), you'll get the Preferred Pricing.

Punched owl party favor box for holiday goodies

I'm loving that this is only Saturday. I feel like this has been a restful break already, and I get more time to do more crafting! Bonus!!!

As I was cruising blogs one day, I came across a cute owl box by Julie Davidson. The body is Basic Black card stock that's been run through the Party Favor Box die for the Big Shot. The feathers are Sahara Sand strips of card stock that have been punched with the Scallop Border Punch and sponged on the scallops. The feet and beak are Tangerine Tango card stock strips that have been punched with the Petite Pennants Builder. The whites of my eyes are bigger than Julie's. I used a 1-1/4" punch with a 1/2" Basic Black circle for the eye. This is such a simple and cute box to make. My daughter helped make several of these for a holiday bazaar. And my club members got to make this as a bonus project this month. I think it makes a terrific stocking stuff, or you could put goodies in it for a gift for your neighbors. Whatever you do with it, enjoy! And have an awesome day.

Christmas Lodge for Monkey Challenge 84

I've been busy all day crafting with my daughter. I created home decor items while she painted things to hang on her newly redecorated walls in her room. So when it came time to create a card for Monkey Challenge #84: Anything Goes + Sketch, I opted to keep my card simple. And while I was at it, I thought this would be perfect for the inspiration challenge at http://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com.

The lodge stamp is from Christmas Lodge, and the sentiment is from Holiday Happiness. Both were stamped in Early Espresso. I added glitter to the lodge's snowy roof and ground with a 2-way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I added a strip of flowers with the Petals A Plenty embossing folder, and also rounded opposite corners on the layers and the card. I hope you like it!

Falling Leaves and a Thanksgiving to remember

Yesterday was the most relaxing Thanksgiving I can remember. Seriously, it was laid back and just... nice. Though I woke up early to put the turkey in the oven, my hubby had awakened a bit earlier and prepped it. I can't stand pulling those gizzard and neck parts out of the cavity. Blech. It makes me want to be a vegetarian every year! Anyway, I went back to bed for a couple more hours. It was heaven.

When I woke up the second time, I was able to lounge around in my pajamas and enjoy a couple cups of coffee while returning texts and emails of Thanksgiving greetings. I am grateful for all of you, my family and friends, my customers and downline, for all of our American soldiers serving our country and making sacrifices for us, and for good health and a warm home. By the time our guests arrived, everything was ready. I had caught a few minutes of "The Chew" (my newest favorite TV show) earlier in the week and saw how to carve a turkey. Those minutes paid off when I was able to carve our turkey perfectly! I wish I would've taken a photo of the drumsticks and meat on the platter. Yes, I am proud of myself! It took just minutes.

This photo cracks me up. Our cat, Frito, looked ready to pounce on Eric as Eric was sighting his rifle on the dining room floor yesterday evening. The cat never did pounce! Off in the corner, you can see cardboard boxes the kids have turned into a kitty condo for Frito.

Now for the stamping portion of the blog:

I made slight changes to this card I CASE'd from Heather Klump. The Woodgrain stamp was inked in Early Espresso and stamped on Pumpkin Pie card stock, with a knot of Early Espresso quilted ribbon and a scallop trim border-punched strip of Cherry Cobbler. Leaves from Falling Leaves were stamped in three colors and punched out and adhered with dimensionals.

Owl turned turkey for Thanksgiving favor

I think the owl punch is fabulous! You can use it to make an owl (of course!), a penguin, ghost, and now a turkey. I'm sure I missed a few other things this terrific punch can do... but we'll explore that at a later date. This adorable favor uses the Two Tags die for the Big Shot. I ran it through the Square Lattice embossing folder before adding 1-1/4" wide Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon with a knot of natural hemp around it. It's just big enough to hold a treat - in this case, a fun size Hershey's chocolate bar. Also, instead of stamping "Happy Thanksgiving" as you see here, you could easily write a person's name and use this for a placecard. The turkey's tailfeathers are two flowers punches from the 5-petal flower punch. The beak and snood (the red thing that hangs down on a turkey) was made with Pumpkin Pie and Real Red card stock punched from the little heart on the owl punch. I CASE'd this favor from another blogger.

Quick Polar Party card for 10-card class

I came up with this quick and easy Christmas card for a recent 10-card class. It uses the Polar Party stamps with Just Eat Cake dsp and Baja Breeze and Poppy Parade card stocks. I used markers to color the images.

Stampin' Up! is having a Holiday Extravaganza thru November 30. You can find great deals (20% to 60% off). Here's the link:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Online_X_flyer_US.pdf

Tips: Select me as your demonstrator for this preferred pricing. You may ONLY order these items ONLINE. My website is: http://therubberroom.stampinup.net, then you click on SHOP NOW at the top right of the screen under my info.

Please contact me if you need assistance or have any questions.

Order Online and Save 20% - TODAY ONLY!

* These are the prices if you don't have a demo. If you do, then the Simply Scored is only $23.96 and the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps are $13.56.

   

Remember,  you need to order these items ONLINE through my Stampin' Up! store - http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net - in order to save the 20 percent on the two items above TODAY.

Here are other Online Extravaganza deals:  http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Online_X_flyer_US.pdf

Highlights from the link above include:

• 20% off Candy Wrapper Die
• 25% off My Digital Studio Digital Downloads
• 30% off 1/2" Scallop Dot Ribbon Bundle, Glimmer Brads Bundle, and some Decor Elements
• 40% off some stamp sets/bundles and Digital Downloads
• 50% off some stamp sets (incl. a couple of Christmas sets!) and fabric
• 60% off Deck the Halls and Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric

Tri-fold French Foliage card for a Happy Thanksgiving

My club members made this tri-fold card using Spice Cake dsp, Early Espresso quilted ribbon, and French Foliage stamps. The most important tip for this card is to only punch through one layer of paper at a time with the 1-3/8" square punch.

When you open the top flap, you see two leaves and more dsp.

Then there's room for your message when the card is open all of the way. The sentiment used here is from Grateful Greetings.

Measurements:

• 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" card stock body (score at 3-1/2" and 7-1/8")
• 5-1/2" x 2" (cut 2) pieces of designer series paper
• 5-1/2" x 2-1/4" (cut 2) pieces of card stock
• 13" ribbon
• Scrap paper to stamp and punch with 1-1/4" square punch

Stamps: French Foliage, Grateful Greetings, Teeny Tiny Wishes;

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Most Mustard, Old Olive;

Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Early Espresso card stocks, Spice Cake dsp

Accessories: 1-3/8" square punch, 1-1/4" square punch, Early Espresso quilted ribbon, Modern Label Punch, dimensionals, Word Window Punch.

Gently Falling stamps used for Autumn card

Club members made this Autumn card, which I CASE'd from Heather Klump. It uses patterned paper from Frostwood Lodge, quilted Cherry Cobbler ribbon, and stamps from the Gently Falling set. The sentiment is from Grateful Greetings.

Jolliest Time of the Year for Monkey 83: All Holidays!

I pulled out the silver glimmer paper, clear rhinestone brads, and basic rhinestones for this week's A La Card Monkey Challenge 83: All Holidays + Sketch and Hand Stamped Sentiments. Lots of bling!

The monkey sketch shows three images across the front, but after cutting out one snowman from Jolliest Time of the Year, I opted for a couple of silver glimmer snowflakes! The buttons are from the Neutral and Brights packs, and the patterned paper on the front is from Timeless Portrait dsp. This was the first time I made an accordion rosette from silver glimmer paper. You can do it! It takes a little more persistence than the lighter-weight dsp, but it's worth it, I think.

I love the sketch this week at A La Card Monkey. It's very clean and simple and, well, CUTE!

 

Stamps: Jolliest Time of the Year, Merry Christmas;

Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Marina Mist, Soft Suede, and Pumpkin Pie markers;

Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Basic Black, silver glimmer, Timeless Portrait dsp;

Accessories: Northern Frost decorative strip die for the Big Shot, clear rhinestones, Neutrals buttons, Brights buttons, basic rhinestones, Neutral watercolor crayons, Simply Scored, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Liquid Adhesive.

Last batch of American Ink team swaps

By Barb





By Michelle

More team swaps and demos

In addition to swapping cards, I ask for volunteers in my American Ink group to demonstrate different techniques and card ideas. One technique is where you use a sponge to apply Shimmer White Frost (or other Shimmer color) to a card front or layer that's been run through an embossing folder. It really brings out the texture AND adds a lovely shimmer.

Michelle demonstrated how her swing card (shown below) went together and how to cut it. And Frankie demonstrated how to cut and put together a triangle card (not pictured).

By Mary Ann

By Kim

By Heather

By Michelle

By Puddin'

There's always room in our group for YOU! If you'd like to join us, please email me at ericandterry@comcast.net. You can be my guest at an upcoming team meeting. All it takes to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is purchasing a Starter Kit.

A handful of swaps and make & takes from our American Ink team event

We had our monthly American Ink team meeting last weekend, and there were some great swaps and make & takes. Lots of food goodies, too!

Our December event is our annual Christmas Party! I'm looking forward to it. We make handmade gifts, wrap them prettily, and choose numbers. We're having a brunch and holiday music too.



Frankie's swap

Mary Ann's make & take

Kim's make & take

Barb's winning entry uses Snow Much Fun

Happy Monday! For me, that means laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning. And I plan on having lunch with a friend, along with a little stamping.

I'd love to take credit for the card below, but it was made by my friend and downline, Barb. She entered this in my Merry Winter Spectacular Card Contest, taking home top honors. The jingle bells on the ribbon are adorable!

Here's what the card looks like closed. The sentiment is from the stamp set Many Merry Messages.

As you pull the ribbon to the right, the snowman panel on the left appears. Those Snow Much Fun stamps are so cute, and well-colored. It's definitely a "Wow" card.

Snow Much Fun and Timeless Portrait dsp

I broke open my pack of Timeless Portrait dsp so I could play with new colors for my Snow Much Fun Christmas card. This card is Island Indigo, which is a first for me. Using a sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, I made this card for my American Ink team meeting swap. The sentiment is from Short & Sweet.

How are you doing on your Christmas cards? I've got a 10-card class on Thursday at 6 p.m. if you need more. Email me by Tuesday at ericandterry@comcast.net. Thanks!

Welcome Home Christmas card for Monkey challenge

This week for the A La Card Monkey Challenge 82: Anything Goes, I decided to go with the Welcome Home stamp set and Mocha Morning Specialty Paper. The paper is so elegant. The top design is flocked, and very soft. The card base is Soft Suede, and I used Glimmer Basics brads. Though the sketch called for words above the ribbon, I put them inside the card.

Stamps: Welcome Home;
Ink: Jet Black StazOn;
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Basic Black, Mocha Morning Specialty Paper;
Accessories: Glimmer Basics brads, 1/8" Basic Black taffeta, 1-3/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, paper piercer and mat pack.

Terrific Christmas cards for swaps and contest

First, I'd like to thank everyone who has or is serving our country in the military! Happy Veterans Day. I know to many people it's a day off from work or school, but hopefully you'll take a moment to think of and thank those in the Armed Forces.

Now to stamping. The overall quality of the card swaps and Card Contest entries at my Merry Winter Spectacular was awesome! Enjoy them below. I have the creator's name under the photo if I have it. Thanks!

Linda's swap

Barb's swap

Linda's card contest entry

Beth's card contest entry

Heather's card contest entry

Mary Ann's card contest entry

Karen's swap

Marcia card contest entry