Beautiful Fall Afternoon

I was out in the backyard on my day off today and looked up into this beautiful blue sky behind the gorgeous yellow leaves of the Modesto Ash trees that shade the yard, and I decided I just had to share it with you. No connection to stamping or card-making except isn't the blue/gold contrast beautiful? Maybe Summer Sun and Bashful Blue?

Reindeer Family Moves In

Here are more of the towelling reindeer that I have for sale in the store. They're just so happy. Rudolph's nose really is red, even though it photographs orange, honest!

In the next week or so, we'll be setting up a new section of the store with lots of handmade small gift items, good for stocking stuffers, secret santa gifts, etc. Can't wait to show you!

Punch Buffet

When I was setting up for the cardmaking class, I had to figure out a way to display the punches so everyone could see them, while still "controlling" them and being able to carry them around. So I set up this little "buffet" and it worked pretty well!

Ellen's New "Man"

Here I am at "Enchanted Evening" in Old Town Clovis with my new "guy". He's a little flat, but very jolly! Get's you into the holiday spirit!

JOY at All of Me

"JOY" came to my store, "All of Me" with the help of snowflakes that Sharon sent me. They were die-cut with the snowflake die and the Big Shot out of white foam. They were just the right addition to my decorations. Now, I just have to get her to cut a few more! The letters are about 2 1/2 feet tall(from JoAnn) and painted white with sparkles on them.

Christmas Card Making Workshop

I recently held a Christmas Card Making workshop/event on a Saturday night at my shop. Everyone got a half kit of the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit and half a pack of Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper, with a few additional sheets of Card Stock.
We each made at least 10 cards at the workshop and then everyone took their extras home to continue creating cards. It was SO much fun. It's always fascinating to see how 6 women can create such a variety of cards, while starting out with the same supplies. I had a full buffet of punches and lots of ribbon and other embellishments to play with.

Thanksgiving Card

I made this Thanksgiving card for a swap, but it's perfect for this season. The pumpkins are make of Pumpkin Pie, punched with the large and small oval, the "leaves" from the Boho Blossoms Punch in Garden Green. I layered the pumpkins on Old Olive and Black. The sentiment is from the level 2 hostess set, Occasions Collection, stamped on More Mustard, punched with the Designer Label Punch, layered on an Old Olive Scallop Circle. The black is actually a rectangle I cut and used the corner rounder, then punched the ribbon opening with the horizontal slot punch and threaded More Mustard grosgrain ribbon through. Did the whole thing on Confetti Cream, stamped in More Mustard with Priceless.

Here comes Christmas, Kit Option

I've been making these towelling Reindeer for several years. A friend bought one at a craft fair, and we took it apart and figured it out. They're just so darned cute! and make a great hostess gift or Christmas present. I made several this year, but this one got "dressed" with that fabulous Riding Hood Red and Vanilla Striped ribbon from the Holiday Mini (I LOVE this ribbon, and am very stingy with it!) But, I thought it gave him a great holiday spirit.

I am offering these in kit form for $12, plus $4.80 for shipping. it will include everything you need except the two towels (so you can choose a color that works with your decor. You will need 1 bath towel and 1 wash cloth) and a glue gun. Ribbon choices will be the Riding Hood Red/Vanilla stripe, a Red/Gold or Burgundy/Gold and Blue/Silver. Easy to follow instructions will be included. Payment can be made through PayPal. You can email me direct at sellen57@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving

It seems that I have trouble getting things posted except for holidays. It's a good thing there are so many this time of year!

I loved those Peppermint Patty Spiders so much, I decided to try and make turkeys. I thought they turned out pretty cute, I could just "gobble" them up!

My sister Sharon sends me oodles of ideas that she's found on other posts, and though I'd like to do all of them, time keeps getting away from me.

I made these Pumpkin Placecards and have them for sale in my store. They're basically the same as the Halloween ornaments that Patty showed us at a group meeting last year, and I made them in both Pumpkin Pie and in More Mustard. Of course, they're cute just as a decoration as well.

Hope you enjoy them.

Dog Treats

Treats for your four legged kids. All of Me also has Halloween gifts for the sweet puppies in your life. Orange and Black dog bones in cello bags, topped with Halloween Top-Notes. Scary Spiders filled with Peppermint Patties cased from several sources! but very cute! Have a Spook-tacular Halloween.

Gift Center at All of Me

I've been setting up a new Gift Center at All of Me. Right now, it includes Halloween Cards, like Frankie & his friends, Scary Peppermint Patty Spiders and many candle holders, clocks, jars, etc with rub-on decorations. We also have the Old town Clovis Cookbook and handmade Tote-Bags for sale. Get that Christmas Shopping done early. Soon we will have Christmas gifts and cards for sale. Be on the lookout!

More World Cardmaking Day

As you may know, we had a small group of ladies at the store for World Cardmaking Day. It was loads of fun, and we each made 10 cards. Below are three of the four cards (I need to re-photograph the 4th) with some info about the process. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

I think this is my favorite of the cards we made. We used apricot appeal for the base card as well as the scallop punch flowers. Used DSP in Riding Hood Red for the flower middles, as well as to sponge the edges of the flowers. The leaves were made from Kiwi Kiss CS, and the background behind the flowers and under the ribbon were Kiwi Kiss DSP. We stamped "I'm Glad We're Friends" from another Hostess Set and then punched it out with the Curly Label Punch (my VERY favorite punch right now!), sponged the edges. Then added the new Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon (yummy).

I'm really happy with this card, one of the 4 we made for World Cardmaking Day. We used one of the new Level 1 hostess sets, so it could be used as a demo, and incentive. I just love the ferns (stamped in Old Olive on Confetti Cream CS) I tore Old Olive CS to fit around the flower, which I colored using markers-Really Rust and Summer Sun, and tied the twine around it. Also tore the Close to Cocoa as a backdrop, Versamarked with leaves.

You could use any sentiment you'd like, a couple of the ladies put birthday wishes and thank you's instead of Live Like You Mean It.

World Cardmaking Day Cards

This is one card that we made. I used Pacific Point, Blue Bayou and whisper white (and the top note die-love it!) We used the Doodle This stamp set. The different ribbons really give different looks. Used yellow grosgrain and the Blue Bayou

striped.

Luv2Stamp Group Meeting

About a week and a half ago, I went to the Bay Area to attend our Luv2Stamp group meeting in Concord. I also added a couple of days on either end to celebrate my sister Sharon's birthday. We spent a lot of time working on projects at her dining room table, but managed to get out and have some fun too! We both made presentations at the meeting, Sharon's was AWSOME! A couple of the cards I demonstrated are included. To the right, is a gift card holder. I'd be happy to share the instructions. Basically, with a piece of DSP cut to 5 1/2 x 11, scored at 3, 5 1/2, 8. and folded into a W. You put sticky strip along the sides and bottom of the inside of the W, and use either the curly label punch or word window punch along the upper edge, leaving a little over 3/4in on either end. Then, you take 2 pieces of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 and adhere one to the inside of the W. (really, it's easy, I'd be happy to send better photos and instructions, just email me)

Anyway, it fits into a regulat envelope!

Owl Punch Card

One of the cards I showed in my Presentation was this Owl card, made from Punches. I'd be happy to share how I made it, just email me and I'll forward the recipe. The second photo is a display of the components, helping to show how he was made. Enjoy

Luv2Stamp Group Meeting

World CardMaking Day

On Sunday, October 5, we held a stamp-a-stack workshop for World Cardmaking Day at my store, All of Me, in Clovis, CA. We all went home with 10 hand-made cards, and had a great time together. We plan to schedule another like this in the near future. Even my friend Cid ( a stamping novice) got over her stampaphobia and did a terrific job. Go, Cid!

More Cardmaking Day Photos

What's been up

Wow,
I can't believe a week's gone by without a post. And, it's been a busy one! I took the train up to the Bay Area on Saturday after work, and Sharon picked me up. On Sunday, we headed to Corte Madera for the 32nd Annual Family Picnic, and had a terrific time, visiting some of the family we only see once every year or so. It was a gorgeous day! and we really enjoyed ourselves. On the way home, we stopped in to see our friend, Patty, and managed to spend the rest of the day sitting and visiting and looking at all Patty's current and upcoming projects. This girl has a million ideas! Then back to Sharon's to work on a couple of new projects (I'll try and get pictures posted soon) that I'll be offering for classes. I'm really excited about these, and love working with the Simply Scrapping kits, with all the embellishments and beautiful papers! I came home on Monday afternoon, and managed to get a few things done at home, before bed, and heading off to work on Tuesday. My big project right now is planning for the Group Meeting on Sept 27. I am giving a presentation using punches, and am having a blast trying to come up with innovative ideas on how to use them. Also, I have a couple of classes coming up, at All of Me. See my DBWS at (demonstrator business website) stampinwithellen.stampinup.net, or give me a call for details.
Well, that's it for now. I'll try and get some pictures posted soon. More later

Making projects, with help

Back to work, and back to working on projects for an upcoming presentation involving punches. Obviously, I had help from my cat Buckwheat, who likes to bat at the edges of the paper, and knock the punches off the table. But, when he turns upside down, how can you not rub his tummy?

Making Projects for Presentation

Jillian's Big Day

We had a great visit with the McCarthy Clan when we went to Thousand Oaks last weekend for Jillian Cassidy McCarthy's Baptism. Jillian is a lovely, happy baby, as you can see, and with big brother Sean, completes Michael and Stephanie's family. After the service and a lovely dinner, we spent the evening with Mike (Patrick's brother) and Pat and watched the end of the Olympics. What a great 2 weeks that was, though I'm not sorry to say goodbye to staying up until midnight! We had breakfast with Stephanie, Sean and Jillian on Monday morning, then headed home.

Lots of family and cute kids

More Cards for the Weekend's Festivities

Heading South

This weekend, Pat & I are headed to Thousand Oaks to visit his family. We'll celebrate both his brother's and sister-in-law's birthdays, and attend and celebrate the Baptism of our grand-niece, Jillian, daughter of our nephew Mike and his wonderful wife Stephanie. Jillian is their second child, son Sean is 6 (or is it 7, oh my!) Anyway, I made these cards for the events. The gift card was basically following the instructions on Patty Bennett's blog (www.pattystamps.com) with a twist. I cut the cardstock at 5 1/2x11, still scored at 3", 5 1/2", and 8". Then, after I folded it in half, and folded the flaps back, I added a coordinating piece of cardstock (5 1/2 x 4 1/4). It makes a full sized card.
Okay, I also used all retired stamps, the Back Nine, It's Your Birthday. I added the printing off my computer, both for Mike's card and Jillian's Baptism card. For my sister-in-law Patricia's birthday card, I used retired DSP in her favorite colors, but it would be easy enough to do in current colors.
Anyway, I had a great time, hope you enjoy them as well.

Retired doesn't mean the end, right?

Barbara's, Jackie's, Ashley/Elva's, Cid's Books

Many Ladies, Many Designs

Saturday Night Workshop

We had a great time! Everyone used different DSP (Design Series Papers) to make their Card Organizers and it was amazing the different looks we got. Next workshop will be a Stamp-a-stack type card making class, to help fill up those organizers.