a little treat

Someone was having a rough day yesterday and I thought I would make this tiny little treat as a pick me up. I used the new stamp set that will be available starting January 4th called Eat Chocolate. It's such a cute set. I made a little milk carton using the milk carton Big Shot Die. (did you know that there are many dies that work exclusively on the big shot, as other die cutting machines are not wide enough or long enough?)

I filled the milk carton with some chocolate covered blueberries.

Christmas cards

I really appreciated all the different Christmas cards I received this year. I fear sometimes that people are afraid to send me cards if they haven't made them. Here's the truth: I am not offended to receive store bought cards. I appreciate any time and sentiment that someone has put into giving me a card. I know many people did the e-mail greetings this year and I know it doesn't seem terribly environmental to write loads of Christmas cards but I still love receiving cards. Just for a little eye candy, here's the handmade cards I received this year.

You are Invited!

I am getting super excited about my upcoming Sale-a-bration sneak peek. You will hold in your hands the new occasions mini catalogue and the freebie sale-a-bration catalogue. You will make your own projects using new product and will have fun learning new things. In addition there will be the opportunity to win great door prizes!

Please come and feel free to bring a friend.

Date: January 16th 2:00pm

Cost: Free

Please RSVP no later than Jan. 14th but earlier is better in case this class fills up.

Cute and Colourful

My neice organized a stamp a stack for her school friends as a fun holiday get together. She said that her friends enjoy cute and colourful things. Here's a couple of cards I made for her stack.

The top card is using the birthday bakery level 1 hostess set. It really is cute and pairing it with the pink pirouette paper makes it even more girlish.

I picked up the funky four bundle during the online extravaganza as I had been eyeing that set for a while. I think the mushrooms are so cute and funny. The colours are pumpkin pie, real red, tempting turquoise and wild wasabi.

Holiday Crafting TV segment

I was a little out of sorts for this segment because it's the first time they had me set up during the show while they were interviewing someone on the couch. In the past, I had plenty of time to set up before the start of the show. I was trying to quietly and quickly set up before it was my turn. (hence my glue dots never made it onto the counter)

Anyway, my favourite part is just how excited Jeff was about stamping. I think this is the first time he's actually stamped. (It's usually Jacquline). I get to see this kind of excitment all the time in workshops. Anyone can make something beautiful with just some stamps, paper and ink.

Goggle girl (NSR)

My daughter has the privlege of being born in the middle of two brothers. So, sometimes I like to do girl things with her to encourage her since she sometimes feels left out in all the boy play in the house.

This past weekend I promised her that with school over, I would have a "sleepover" with her. (Which basically meant that I would sleep in her room (she has a trundle bed pullout under her bed) I also decided to take her out for dinner "just the girls" She was so excited to get ready to go out for dinner she ran to the back door and got her coat and boots on and then put on swimming goggles over her eyes! When questioned about the goggles, she said she needed them to protect her eyes because it was so cold outside. I found it so hilarious. I took pictures.

Christmas gifts and decorations

Just thought I would share how easy it is to make homemade gifts for Christmas.

I thought I would give the decor frame a shot. I"m really happy with how it turned out. The icicles are so cool. If you want to learn how to do this, make sure you ask me next time you talk to me. It's fairly easy and gives such a wintery effect. I figure the person I give it to can decide if they want to keep the frame as a decoration or take out the image and put in a family photo.

The decor blocks are fun to use to decorate for Christmas. Then, when Christmas is over, turn it around and you're ready for Valentine's day!

I have to say, making gifts for Christmas sure saves a lot of stress at the mall. I went only twice this season and I couldn't believe how busy it was. So much time wasted looking for parking!

Every Little Bit

Okay, I don't know if this happens to you but no matter how much I "study" the catalogue/idea book, I always find something new that I never noticed before. Someone just purchased a set called Every Little Bit because she was looking for something that would be good for kids. I was helping her mount the set and I realized this set is amazing. It has everything!!! It's like the teeny tiny wishes set that I use all the time but in pictoral format.

Here's something quick I made with it.

Just thought I would share my excitement about this set that I've never noticed before!

Feeling Better

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have not been the nicest fixture in the household lately and I know I need to be more gracious to my husband. Fortunately, it's easier for me to get some perspective in the quietness of crafting. I feel a lot better and decided to use some of the leftover elements from the love birds simply scrappin kit to make a card for him. Here's what the inside says:

Here's what the card front looks like:

I shouldn't forget that there are so many things to be thankful for and when I really think about it, I wouldn't want things any other way. I believe that being a mother (even to cranky, sick kids) is my God-given calling at this stage of my life as is being a loving wife. I feel sorry that it's so easy for me to forget...but am glad for quiet moments to remember.

Here's another quick card I made with the left over elements. It could turn into a baby card, thank you card, wedding card...

If your name is Ann, don't read this post

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you just feel crummy? I think that's me right now. The two younger kids have been sick since Thursday and I thought we were on the mend but while the youngest was bouncing off the walls happy yesterday, today the fever is back and he is miserable. Being at home with sick children is not my idea of a good time. In fact, it is a complete interruption of what I had planned to do with my life. I have to go to work, I have Stampin' Up! events, I want to address and mail Christmas cards, I need to buy more stamps, I need to go and get groceries, I need to sleep, and I need to make and wrap Christmas gifts. etc etc. Whenever MY plans are interrupted like this, I inevitably get grumpy. A grumpy wife and mother is not a pleasant household fixture!

Okay, I feel better getting that rant off my chest! One of my home made Christmas gift plans this year is to make a scrapbook for my friend Ann. Ann and I used to scrapbook together all the time but since she had her daughter and has gone back to work full time, there isn't much time in her life for scrapbooking. So, I thought it would be nice if I could make a scrapbook for her so that she could just crop and drop her photos into this pre-made album. I worried a bit that it would take me forever to make the album for her but I got it all done this afternoon when I shoved the kids into their rooms for a rest. I'm telling you, just quiet crafting time, making something meaningful for my friend was so therapeutic. I can't post all the pictures from the album but here's a sampling. This post is going to have a part 2 since I won't be able to show all the pictures on this post. The next post will show a couple of things I made with the leftover pieces from the kit.

I used the Love Birds Simply Scrappin Kit. It never ceases to amaze me all the things that come in the kit. It's not just for scrapbooking. You can use it for card making and home decor ideas too. The new 8X8 scrapbook size is just perfect for gifts. Not too big and not too small.

Cute Punch Pals

When I'm getting ready for different events, I like to take into account what my audience might enjoy. I recognize that not everybody has the same affinity toward swirly flourishes and flowers as I do!

It's fun to play with some of my "cute" sets. Here's a easy card using the punch pals set. A very simple card that really pops when coloured with markers.

One technique: three different cards

Just thought I'd share a technique I showed my club girls last week. I was playing with this technique and wound up with three different card designs.

This technique involves an embossing folder (in this case finial press) and cherry cobbler ink and frost white shimmer paint. It's so nice to have bling and shine on holiday cards. Actually, who's kidding who? Women love shine anytime of year!

Want to come and play stamps with me while learning new techniques and get hostess freebies? Joining stampers club is for you! Talk to me to join so I can include you in the new club season starting in the new year.

Easy Gift Bag

I have so many things to share with you but no time to upload everything. If I have time tonight I wil upload more.

I love it when friends and customers share their creations and ideas with me. People say that I inspire them but I feel that you all inspire me!

Friend and club member Stephanie, sent me this link after our recent club meeting where we used fabric on our cards. She remembered that I have a great fear of sewing. This link shows how to make fabric flowers.

I couldn't help but try it since it looked so easy and didn't involve sewing. The beautiful flower needed to embellish something so I put it onto a kraft gift bag. I stamped the bag with garden green ink using the snowflake from the Snow Swirled stamp set. I then put some real red grosgrain ribbon across the bag. I cut out a snowflake using brushed silver paper and the snowflake die for the sizzix big shot and then glued on the fabric flower. Voila! A handmade gift bag that anyone would love. Wouldn't it be great to cover a jam jar with matching fabric and fill the jar with some yummy treats and then include some handmade cards in co-ordinating colour?

Crafting is easy with Stampin' Up!'s co-ordinating products!

Using Fabric--without sewing

It's no secret that I don't like sewing. I've tried very hard to like sewing. Before I discovered papercrafting, I did a lot of sewing with pathetic results and a lot of stress. I bought the SU fabric because I couldn't resist buying co-ordinating product. I loved the candy cane dsp so I figured I would like the fabric as well. It took me a long time to figure out how to use it while avoiding sewing. I talked to my downline Esther who informed me she uses the fabric all the time. She said: just use it like ribbon. She ties it around her cards and everything, just like ribbon.

Here's some projects made with the fabric. I really like the added interest and texture provided by the fabric. (isn't the cheep talk stamp funny? It's a partridge in a pear tree!)

The circles for my daughters headband was cut out using the big shot circles #2 die. I just used hot glue gun to stick it all together.

If you're liking the fabric look, stay tuned for the occasions mini coming out in January. Oh my! Beautiful fabric, paper and accessories!

Brights Hello

My friend asked for some help to design a birthday invitation for her daughter. Here's a super easy layout that I've used in the past. The circle punches are so fast and easy to use. Some paper piercing at the bottom adds a little extra interest. That's it! So easy. Try this layout with subtles colours and make a baby card. Try it with regals colours and it can be a manly card. This card uses tempting turquoise, melon mambo, daffodil delight and rich razzleberry. The butterfly is from the hello again stamp set.

My neice is hosting a stamp a stack with her friends in a few weeks and I think I might do this as one of the make n takes. The bright colours make it so fun.

Calendar Christmas

For the past month I have been saying that I'm going to make calendars for family members with the kids pictures. I realized that it is now December and I had better get on it if they are going to get here in time for Christmas! I finished it in one afternoon. It's a fast job and I know I could change things here and there but I'm happy because it's a unique, created by Genevieve project. Here's a couple of samples.


This is the cover:

Here is a sample of one of the pages:

And here is a sample of the calender page:

Pretty neat eh? I am loving how My Digital Studio can do so much and that the program just keeps getting new upgrades. On my latest check on updates, I noticed that there is now a journal option. You can create your own customized journal cover and when you order it, a beautiful lined journal will be delivered to your door. Isn't that cool?

Christmas presents for the grandparents? Check! Thanks to My Digital Studio!

10,000 in 2010

Did you know that Stampin' Up! had a goal to have 10,000 new demonstrators join the Stampin' Up! family in 2010? This goal was specific to the United States but the recent promotion was available for both the U.S. and Canada.
Shelli (CEO and co-founder) was giving updates throughout the two week promotion on how the numbers were going. Everyone was excited to meet the goal.
By the end of the promotion, they had exceeded their goal: it's over 14,000 now, I think.
However, they were so excited when they reached their goal, that Shelli decided to fly out and present the demonstrator kit to the new recruit personally.
Here's the you tube video. It's a hoot!
I love how Stampin' Up! never fails to add the personal touch. It means a lot to me as a demonstrator that the business is not just about profit. It's also about people and relationships.
That's what I love best about stamping. If you are even a tiny bit curious about the Stampin' Up! family, please come to my family night on Dec. 10th at 7:30. We're going to stamp and eat and talk about what it means to be a part of the Stampin' Up! family and answer your questions. Please e-mail me if you can attend. genevieve.ko@sympatico.ca

Never say Never

So I've decided that I'm doing it. I'm going to Stampin' Up!'s leadership conference in Nashville Tennesee. I always figured there was No Way I would ever go to these conferences because they're always in the U.S. and I figured that I would rather use my Stampin' Up! funds for..well...more stamps instead of airfare. Here is a picture of the ultra deluxe hotel and conference centre that we will be at.
I've learned I should never say never; especially with regards to my Stampin' Up! business. After having such a great time at the Hamilton Regionals, I knew that I would probably love going to a bigger event. I decided on the leadership conference because the focus is on teaching leadership skills and I know I could grow in this area. I never thought I would have a team of demonstrators to train but once again: never say never. I've learned that having a team means more people that I can have fun talking Stampin' with.
One of my downlines is keen to go to convention in Utah in the summer and is encouraging me to join her. It sounds like loads of fun. Frankly where else can you play in-colour twister with a bunch of other women and still keep your dignity?
Grin.