Topeka Big Shot

I've heard through the grapevine that some of you don't know what the Big Shot is and you're scared to come to the class! My jaw is on the floor! This machine has completely changed the way I create! I'll do my best to explain what I can about this incredible machine, but the best way to understand this machine is to use it! That's why you'll have a chance to see and use the machine yourself this Thursday, October 23rd at my mom's house in Topeka. If you're on her mailing list, you'll receive an email soon with specifics about the class.

In the meantime, click here to see the projects I did about a month ago with the Big Shot.


This is the machine itself. It is a lightweight manual die cutting machine (it requires no electricity). It is super easy to use and can help you create beautiful shapes and accents for your cards, scrapbook pages, and home decor items.


This is a picture of the SU! exclusive Top Note die. I apologize for the low quality picture--this is the best my camera would do. Basically these dies can cut through several layers of card stock at one time to make bulk projects a snap (think Christmas cards and thank you notes)! There are two types of dies: Steel Rule dies and Chemically-Etched dies. The Steel Rule dies can cut through 8-10 sheets of card stock at one time, or you can experiment with tons of other fun materials. Here is a list of 50 materials you can cut with Steel Rule dies and the Big Shot. The Chemically-Etched dies are smaller and can only cut through one sheet of card stock at a time.

If you'd like more information, feel free to contact me or register for the Topeka Big Shot class by Wednesday, October 22nd.

Here are the three projects we'll be creating at the class on Thursday:

Mini Album (with room for up to 6 pictures):



Greeting Card:



Cute Gift Filled with Candy (perfect for ANYONE!):



The registration fee is only $20, but spots are limited! Email Cori today (cori@tfmwireless.net) to reserve your spot! Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 22nd.

Happy Stamping!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

...uh oh. It's October and the holidays are right around the corner. I know that if I don't start my Christmas cards soon, I'll never finish them before Christmas. Things just get too crazy and overwhelming to try to finish them in December. As I was trying to get into the Christmas spirit, I went a little overboard and made a card with a whole bunch of fun techniques. Hopefully you'll learn something today!

Here's the front of the card:



I used the Big Shot die cutting machine (so cool!) and the Top Note die and cut the image out of a pop can (no joke--it's a pop can). Then I used the snowflake image from the Best Wishes & More stamp set and stamped with versamark and embossed with Whisper White embossing powder to make the white snowflakes.



I did my best to get all the extra white embossing powder off of the pop can before I used the heat gun, but some specks were left. I actually like the finished look because it makes it look like a light dusting of snow. It's very Christmas-y! :-) I found that embossing on the pop can and cutting out images with the Big Shot is actually very fun and it makes for really neat stuff! I'm sure I'll be sharing more with you in the coming weeks.

As if the front wasn't cool enough, here's the inside:



SO MUCH FUN! Here's a quick tutorial on how to make the spiral pop-up on the inside of your card:

Step 1: Cut a circle with the 1-3/8" circle punch. I think this technique works a lot better with the new 1-3/4" circle punch, but sadly I don't have that punch yet.

Step 2: Start cutting around the circle making a spiral toward the center:




Step 3: Attach the center of the swirl to the inside of the card with a mini glue dot. Attach a second mini glue dot to the other end of the swirl. Simply close the card and the swirl will attach itself to the other side. Cut out 5 snowflakes. Attach one snowflake over each end of the swirl to cover the ends, and attach the other 3 snowflakes to the swirl itself. Make sure that the card will still close and the swirl will still collapse correctly when you add the snowflakes. I used mini glue dots rolled into a cylinder to attach my snowflakes to the swirl, but you could also use the 2-way glue pen. Be sure to not use too much adhesive so that the snowflakes do not stick together.



So for the card itself, I used Not Quite Navy for the card base, then I layered Baja Breeze on top of Whisper White for the front of the card. I stamped the snowflake randomly with Baja Breeze ink on the Baja Breeze layer on the front. I stamped the sentiment on the front with versamark ink and then embossed with silver embossing powder. The silver stretchy cord is from the Holiday Mini catalog. I also lined the inside of the card with Baja Breeze card stock and stamped the snowflake image randomly with versamark ink.

Colors: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Best Wishes & More, Heard from the Heart

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Drumroll please....

...and the winner is...

Camilla Roberts! Congratulations! I'll be in contact with you to get you your prize!

In case you're wondering, I did a random number generator, and Camilla's post was the lucky winner! Thank you to everyone who submitted a holiday recipe for me to try. I'm really excited to try all of them! My favorite holiday recipe is listed at the bottom. I just made a batch yesterday, and I just can't eat enough!

My birthday yesterday was one of the best birthdays so far in my life :-) When I woke up, I found this beautifully made card from my husband:



along with two tickets to see "Chicago" the musical in Topeka in a couple weeks. Although I am really excited to see Chicago (it's my favorite musical), the hand-made card from my husband was probably the best part of my day :-)

He gave me permission to post it here for you all to enjoy. I'm not sure how late he was up making the card, but I know it was pretty late based on the story he told me of making the card :-) He knew he wanted to use the "All About U" stamp set to stamp the "love U" part, but that set is retired and it's one of the sets that I have for sale. All my stamp sets that are for sale I keep in a box in the closet. Unfortunately, Ben didn't know that the All About U set was one that I was selling. He said that after he spent quite a while looking through all of my stamp sets, he remembered about that box in the closet and had to go searching for the box. He's so great! Anyway, he ended up using 3 different stamp sets, AND he even found the matching ink for the paper he had chosen. I told him that for next time I'd show him my ribbon drawer so he could add even more :-)

After the beautiful card in the morning, when I got home from work, I found this beautiful vase full of 2 dozen roses. Aww...



Anyway, I had a great birthday and I thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes!

My favorite holiday recipe:

Pumpkin Bread
INGREDIENTS
* 3 cups canned pumpkin puree
* 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
* 4 cups white sugar
* 6 eggs
* 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, oil, sugar, and eggs. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; stir into the pumpkin mixture until well blended. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The top of the loaf should spring back when lightly pressed.

Happy Stamping (and baking)!

Polka Dots!

Wow! I never realized how much I like polka dots! A good friend of mine got married this past weekend, and she LOVES polka dots. I thought of her as soon as I saw this card over on Dawn's blog. I almost 100% CASE'd the card, but she used non-Stampin' Up! colors and images.



I just really liked the color combo on this card. I have a hard time (for some reason) using Very Vanilla. It's probably because I'm a little obsessive about matching things and I don't have any Very Vanilla envelopes (not kidding--I really have a hard time putting a Very Vanilla card in a Whisper White envelope...hmmm...maybe I need some stamping therapy??) Anyway, I just loved the Real Red ribbon on top of the black and cream. What a great card! I'm definitely going to add Dawn's blog to my list of favorites! I hope you enjoy this card as well!

**Don't forget! Thursday is my birthday and I'll be drawing for the winner of my blog candy! Add your comment now!**

Stamp Set: Best Yet
Colors: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Kraft, Real Red

Happy Stamping!

K Werner Color Challenge

So I've found yet another blog with amazing inspiration! Kristina has some wonderful color inspirations on her blog. I decided to step outside my comfort zone and find a color combo with a color of paper that I never use. This one stood out to me:



Bravo Burgundy (that color I never use), Rose Red, Regal Rose, and Bashful Blue. (Her color combo used Soft Sky instead of Bashful Blue, but since Soft Sky retired in August, I replaced it with Bashful Blue)

Here's the card I came up with:



Definitely not my favorite, but I think it looks better in real life. I purposefully made it with little embellishment because I'm helping my mom design some cards for a huge stamp camp she's holding for a friend. Since many of the ladies will be first-time stampers, I didn't want to overwhelm them with too many techniques and steps.

Anyway, I hope you take some time to visit Kristina's blog as she has some great ideas!

P.S. Don't forget about my birthday blog candy! Don't miss out on an opportunity for free stuff!

Stamp Set: Embrace Life
Colors: Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Happy Stamping!

Birthday Blog Candy!

It's my birthday!...almost...

Next Thursday is my birthday, and in celebration I thought I'd give away a little "blog candy." I LOVE the fall/winter holiday season. It is truly my most favorite time of the year! I know that once my birthday comes that all the holiday craziness is right around the corner.

Here's what you could win:

• Love & Happiness Rub-Ons (4 sheets: basic black, whisper white, chocolate chip, old olive)
• Unmounted (die cut) "Bitty Basics" stamp set (current hostess set)
• 5 hand stamped Birthday-themed cards
  

So how do you win this great package of Stampin' Up! stuff?? All you have to do is write a comment on this post and include your favorite holiday recipe (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). I know everyone has a favorite recipe! Next Thursday, October 16th (my birthday), I'll randomly choose a winner who will receive all this great stuff!

Now remember, my birthday is next Thursday, so don't hesitate to drop a nice hand-stamped birthday card in the mail ;-)

Happy Stamping! Remember to leave a post and have a chance to win some blog candy!