New Occasions Mini products featured on thank-you cards

I love receiving cards in the mail. That's part of why we do what we do, right? Anyway, this week I received a couple of thank-you cards from my downline that use lots of great products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

Do you see what's new? There's a Labels Collection framelit, Mixed Bunch stamp set, and the Blossom Punch. There are also a couple of items from the upcoming Sale-a-Bration Mini, including the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack.

Secret Stampin' Sister program kicks off

This card was sent by a Secret Stampin' Sister (SSS). I started the 6-week program for my American Ink downline this week. I think it's a great way to motivate people to use their stamps to create cards for their SSS, as well as a way to learn about a fellow stamper. From what I've heard, participants eagerly anticipate receiving cards! It's a good thing... and good mail.

My handmade gift: A stamp lamp with ruffled Spice Cake shade

I love Pinterest.com ideas for mason jars and ruffled lamp shade.

I purchased the lighting unit at Lowe's. I glued Spice Cake fabric to the lid (this particular lamp was a Christmas present for my friend Kim, who loves blues and browns, not to mention Spice Cake anything).

Here's the finished stamp lamp. I like the strings popping out from the ruffles. You can always finish the material edges if you don't. I basted down the middle of several 2-inch strips of Spice Cake fabric and tugged on the end strings to make the ruffles. Then, starting at the bottom, I used a hot glue gun to adhere the ruffles, making sure the seams didn't all line up for a more natural look.

I have a ton of retired Stampin' Up! sets in my studio, so I grabbed a couple of them to fill this quart-sized canning jar. You can always unscrew the lid if you want to use one of the stamps in the jar! lol I hope you like it! I still need to make one for myself.

Precious Butterflies on Beau Chateau

This is the last of the five cards from a recent Thank You 10-card class. It features Precious Butterflies (a hostess set), stamped in Crumb Cake and Regal Rose (stamped off once). The edges of the Very Vanilla and polka-dotted Beau Chateau paper were distressed with the Cutter Kit and sponged with Crumb Cake ink.

Sending many thanks with Every Little Bit

I was looking at the 12" x 12" Letters to Santa paper I still have and thought I'd use it for something other than Christmas cards, such as this thank-you card. I started with a Marina Mist card (the front's been run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder), then added a square piece of the striped paper on top. I picked four images from the Every Little Bit stamp set, stamped them in four colors with matching Postage Stamp Punched squares, added a 1/8" taffeta bow and adhered each layered square with dimensionals.

Kidoodles thanks a bunch card

Kidoodles is a great stamp set that gives you six images and sentiments. This is a quick and easy card that uses Just Eat Cake dsp, 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta, the Scallop Trim Border Punch, and aqua painters with ink pads - Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight and a little Blush Blossom for inside the ears.

Not So Seriously thank you

Not So Seriously is a fun stamp set with crazy phrases like the one on this card. Inside the card, it says, "... It's a log bigger than my heart!" This card uses Domestic Goddess dsp, a Designer In Color Brad, and Calypso Coral ink and card stock.

Pursuit of Happiness with Timeless Portrait dsp

It's always nice to have thank-you cards on hand... especially after Christmas. For the card above, I used a sentiment from the Pursuit of Happiness stamp set, layered on a Houndstooth-embossed black circle. The patterned paper is from the Timeless Portrait pack, and has both white and vanilla in it. I used the Ticket Corner Punch, along with 1/8" Basic Black taffeta.

P.S. I Love You gets me all Twitterpated for Monkey Challenge 89

I love how this P.S. I Love You stamp set looks with the Twitterpated dsp. Both products are from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog. I used the sketch from the A La Card Monkey Challenge #89: A Fresh Start + Sketch. I went with "a new love" theme. Actually, this card will be perfect for my hubby for Valentine's Day - that's why I held off on any bling! lol

Ink up your stamps and submit a card at http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com. I'm offering BLOG CANDY this week!

Stamps: P.S. I Love You;

Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red;

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Twitterpated dsp;

Accessories: 1/8" Baja Breeze taffeta, Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, both sizes scallop circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals.

More handmade Christmas gifts by American Ink team members

I've been sharing photos of handmade items by my American Ink team. Here's another batch:

Kathy H's shadow box using upcoming Occasions Mini products

Heather's glass block lamp with Spice Cake dsp

Decorated box with covered coasters by Cindy M.

Spice Cake dsp origami ornament (Japanese Kusudama) by Barb.

There are so many great items you can make with Stampin' Up! products. If you have something you want to share, email me!

Team ornaments, treats, stationery and other handmade goodies

Here are more photos of handmade gifts using primarily Stampin' Up! products from our American Ink Christmas party.

Pearl's box is as cute as the gift.

One of three ornaments Pearl made.

Mary Ann's embossed vellum votive.

Linda's stationery and dvd notepad holder.

Frankie's angel ornament, top note purse and Polar Party treat.

Cindy W.'s Polar Party treat and embossed foil tree.

More handmade American Ink gifts - flowers and more!

Heather created an etched glass block using the MDS Christmas Lodge image.

Kathy M. made this paper flower centerpiece.

Kim's workshop tote (opened by Cindy W.). You can slip in different pieces of fabric or card stock in the plastic sides. The bag is large enough to carry totes of supplies for a workshop.

Michelle's fluffy balls of fabric

Santa and reindeer stocking stuffers; order Stocking Builder Punch now

It's nice to have little things to tuck into stockings, or to give cashiers, your favorite baristas, or anybody else. I went to a stocking stuffer class by my friend and downline, Barb, a couple of weeks ago. We made two each of four different items, along with a box that could be used for anything from cards to goodies. I only have a couple items left that lasted long enough to take photos of. Above, the From Santa single stamp decorates a folded piece of Real Red card stock that uses the retired slit punch to hold in a roll of Lifesavers.

Here's the inside view. We used the Scallop Trim Border Punch both for decoration and to loop the 1/8" Real Red taffeta ribbon through so we could close it.

This reindeer head is made with the Holiday Stocking die for the Big Shot. We used the color spritzer on the head, the red nose is textured with polka dots, and the antlers are made with the Lattice die. We used the Medium Jewelry Punch and Tiny Tags set. This makes a great cover for a candy cane. My kids loved theirs!

Stocking Builder Punch (item 124095 for $16.95) will not carry on to the next Idea Book & Catalog, so if you'd like to get one, order it before January 3. You can do that through my online store here.

Merry Christmas to all!

I feel so blessed with my stampin' friends, customers and downline. Stampin' Up! has brought so many wonderful people into my life. Some of you have been with me for years and are my best friends. I just want to take a minute today to express how grateful I am for each and every one of you. Thank you!

I'm sharing some Christmas cards I've received using SU! products (excuse the tape on them - I tape them to the trim in our livingroom and dining room).

Frostwood Lodge by Cheryl

Heard from the Heart by Beth

Snow Much Fun by Sherry

Snow Swirled card by Tracy



I wish you and your family a very blessed day!

Elephant Elebration stamp for Monkey Challenge #88

Wisteria Wonder is a wonderful color! And now we have little purple hearts on brads. Well, we will in the new Occasions Mini that goes "live" in a couple of weeks. There are four designs of brads in the Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads.

Now that I've made plenty of Christmas cards, I saw this little elephant begging to be inked. It's a single stamp called Elebration. The polka-dotted Wisteria Wonder paper is from the Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper, also in the Occasions Mini. This particular pattern feels thicker with embossed dots.

I followed the sketch at A La Card Monkey:

Is that baby monkey adorable or what?

Stamps: Elebration;

Ink: Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery;

Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Sweet Shop Specialty DSP;

Accessories: Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, aqua painter, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Handmade Christmas gift ideas, Stampin' Up! style

For years now, my American Ink team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators has had a Christmas party where it exchanges handmade gifts.

A shadowbox similar to this one was created by Kathy H., a newer demo to our team. This is one she made for herself. You can see some upcoming Occasions Mini items used here - the Labels Collection framelit die, Paper Doily large Sizzlits die, and Designer Rosette Bigz XL die.

Sherry made an edible bouquet using snowflake decor elements on the vase, stitched felt, 1-1/4" grosgrain, the Perfect Pennants die for the Big Shot, a variety of punches (Snowflake, Ornament, circles), and the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set. There's a piece of candy on every "stem" behind the decoration.

I'll share more homemade gifts later! Enjoy your day.

Something for Christmas card colored with markers

Yet another quick card to pull together is this one made with the single stamp, Something for Christmas. I used this for a 10-card class. It uses the patterned paper from the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit in the Holiday Mini Catalog. It'll only be available to order thru January 3, 2012, so if you need some help with your Christmas scrapbooking, you'll want to order this! I used 4-1/4" of ruffled Lucky Limeade ribbon, and Cherry Cobbler/Early Espresso/Lucky Limeade markers to ink up the rubber.

Welcome Christmas blue and brown card

After looking at this photo, I realized how "off" the left side of the layers were! So please ignore that. I was in a rush and trying to get photos and didn't have the time for a re-take. I love browns and blues together. This card is Early Espresso and Bashful Blue, and uses the Welcome Christmas stamp set. The sentiment is from Four the Holidays, and the patterned paper is from the Letters to Santa pack. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Jolly Bingo Bits quick Christmas card

Whisper White card stock and a handful of ink pads make this card fun to make with the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set. This is design 4 of 5 used for last week's 10-card Christmas class. I ran a square piece of white through the Snow Burst embossing folder and attached it to the card front with dimensionals. The sentiment - inside and out - is from the Christmas Greetings stamp set. The images were stamped and punched out with the 1" circle punch, and layered on 1-1/4" circles.

Snowflakes and Christmas Lodge quick cards

Here are two more of the designs I used for my 10-card class last week. This Christmas Lodge card was made for an A La Card Monkey challenge November 25 (you can see the post by looking under that date on my blog). It's simple and pretty, with some embossing from the Petals a Plenty folder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and a white satin ribbon.

I CASE'd this idea from Diana Gibbs. I hadn't used the Serene Snowflakes set since last year, so it was time to ink it up. The colors are Real Red, Pool Party and Island Indigo, with a few sparkly rhinestones on snowflakes.