NANCY MORGAN'S PAPER SMILES GRAND OPENING CHALLENGE PSG111

This altered gift set was inspired by Nancy Morgan's Time To Celebrate Grand Opening Challenge (PSG111 on SCS). Nancy's challenge was to make something other than a card with Stampin' Up! Designer Paper as the major component, and give it away as a Random Act of Kindness (RAK). One more twist to the challenge: you couldn't post the item(s) until you gave them away! I just returned from giving this set to my friend and neighbor, Tammy. She's having an ugly few weeks at her job, and needed a pick-me-up!

This gift set includes an altered clear paint can ( I won this paint can in a blog candy give-away on Gena Contor's blog, My Stampin' Garden), an altered votive holder and candle, an altered jumbo paper clip, and altered Hershey's Nuggets. (I had included some other non-altered items in the paint can for Tammy, but they cluttered up the photograph!) All items were altered using Stampin' Up!'s Fall Flowers DP. Which reminds me .... don't forget Stampin' Up!'s November Paper Party Promotion! Purchase three packs of any DP, get one FREE!
RECIPE
Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts (Paint Can Medallion), Fundamental Phrases (Votive Candle)
Paper: Fall Flowers DP, Soft Sky, Really Rust, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Really Rust
Embellishments: Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Silver Elastic Cord, Silver Eyelets, Old Olive Button, Really Rust Embroidery Floss, Old Olive Brad
Tools: Slit Punch (for scallop border on paint can), Scallop Punch, Various Circle Punches and Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template for Paint Can Medallion, non-SU Circle Cutter for Paint Can Lid, Oval Punches and Crop-A-Dile for Votive Holder, Cuttlebug and Dies for Altered Jumbo Clip.
Supplies: Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, E6000 Glue for Altered Jumbo Clip

CASE OF A CASE

What do you call it when someone CASEs you, you like their CASE even better than your original, and you CASE their CASE? Unless someone comments telling me an "official" term for this, for now I'm calling it a "CASEBACK". That is exactly what happened between Nancy Morgan and myself! I originally made THIS CARD, Nancy Morgan CASEd me with THIS CARD, I liked her version even better than my original, and I CASEd her back! The only differences between Nancy Morgan's CASE and my CASEBACK: a) I used silver brads, and Nancy used Pink Rhinestone Brads, b) ignore looking at my ribbon! (Nancy's is so much better!) ... I'm working on that!This is the card I provided as a Make 'n Take project at our very first weSTAMP Demonstrator Group meeting Tuesday night. My friend and SU Sideline, Lorri Heiling and I have combined our creative teams for monthly demonstrator support meetings and swaps. What a GREAT group of ladies we have in our group! We had a wonderful time, and I can't wait for our next get-together! Lorri came up with the name for our group which ties in with the name of my blog. I LOVE it!

RECIPE
Stamps: In The Spotlight (Level 2 Hostess), Priceless (pg. 117), Perfect Presentation (Level 2 Hostess)
Paper: Holiday Harmony DP (Holiday Mini 2007), Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White CS, and Mirror CS (non-SU)
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On and Purely Pomegranate Classic
Embellishments: Silver Brads, Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon (Holiday Mini 2007)
Tools: Slit Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals/Foam Tape
Technique: Paper Piercing

ANOTHER DOTTIE K RAK

I received ANOTHER beautiful RAK from my stampin' cyberspace friend, Dorothy Kinnear, aka Dottie K, with the nicest note inside! LUCKY ME!!!!

STAMPIN' UP! NOVEMBER PROMO, PAPER PARTY

If you're at all familiar with my stampin' style, you KNOW I use tons of Stampin' Up! Designer Papers! I call it my "crutch", rarely making a card or project without it! That's why I'm so excited to share with you Stampin' Up!'s November Promotion, Paper Party!

From November 1-30, purchase three packs of Designer Series papers, and receive one pack FREE! You can find the Stampin' Up! Designer Series papers on pages 170-173 of the Fall-Winter Collection 2007. This promotion also includes any Designer Series papers found in the 2007 Holiday Mini Collection too! Best of all, there are no limits as to the number of free packs you can earn!

To view the Fall-Winter Collection 2007 online, click HERE.
To view the 2007 Holiday Mini Collection online, click HERE.

STAMPIN' UP! SPECIAL OFFER, WISHING YOU CHEER

From now until November 3, order the stamp set, Wishing You Cheer, 20% off! Wishing You Cheer can be found on page 33 of the 2007 Fall-Winter Collection.

ALTERED HALLOWEEN DIXIE CUPS

My daughter is the Co-Section Leader of the Clarinet Section of her AWESOME Marching Band, and I always like to send treats with her on the holidays for the 20 girls and 1 boy in their section. I "thought" I would just whip these up yesterday .... "whip" is a relative term! Took me way longer than I thought they would even though they are very very simple! (I know what you're thinking ... "her daughter's in high school, and she's still sending treats to school with her?" ..... hey!, the kids love it!)

Speaking of Marching Band .... the kids had a FANTASTIC day competing in Tucson yesterday! They received a SUPERIOR rating and four captions! WOOHOO!!! One of the judges they had last week was also there yesterday, and said he couldn't believe how one band could improve that much in one week! I am so happy for that incredible group of kids! They work so hard, and put in so many hours .... yesterday's rating defenitely fired them up for the State Competition in two weeks!

These treat holders are 5 oz. Dixie Cups, covered in Creepy Crawly DP. To create a pattern, use an exacto knife to cut the bottom out of one cup, the cut down the seam. I also cut off the top lip for a more accurate pattern. Use this "torn apart" Dixie Cup as your pattern to trace onto the DP and cut out with scissors. When I cut the DP, I cut about 1/4" wider than the pattern so the DP will overlap when adhered to the cup.

Don't forget the KEY ingredient: STICKY STRIP. Because the DP is curving around the cup, regular tape won't hold!

The handle is Basic Black CS measuring 5/8" x 7", attached on the outside of the cup with a More Mustard Brad, surrounded by a 1/2" Basic Black CS Circle and a 3/4" Pumpkin Pie Circle.

The front of the cup is a simple medallion using the stamp set, Batty For You. Had to make these simple since there were 21 of them (would have liked to have embossed them) ... so the Batty For You images are stamped in Jet Black Staz-On on Whisper White twice. Punch the center image (without the surrounding words) out with the 1" Circle Punch, then the entire image with words is punched with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. Really Rust or More Mustard CS punched with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch and Pumpkin Pie CS punched with the Scallop Circle Punch are used behind the stamped image. Adhere the entire medallion to the front of the Dixie Cup with Sticky Strip.

Now, we just need to fill with treats!

RECIPE
Stamps: Batty For You
Paper: Creepy Crawly DP, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, and Really Rust CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: More Mustard Brads
Tools: 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and Scallop Circle Punches
Supplies: Sticky Strip, 5 oz. Dixie Cups

NITESTAMPER CASE

Two of my most favorite stamping artsits on SCS have BRAND NEW BLOGS! I have been so very inspired by these talented stampers, I just HAD to let you all know about them!

The first is Nancy Morgan, aka ncmorgan on SCS. My favorites file is FILLED with her artwork! Her cards ALWAYS catch my eye when browsing the gallery!

ncmorgan's SCS Gallery: HERE

ncmorgan's new blog, Paper Smiles: HERE

The second is Chat Wszelaki, aka nitestamper on SCS. If you've spent ANY time on SCS, you've seen Chat's work! Not only is her work over-the-top gorgeous, unique and creative but she does every single SCS challenge ... every day, in addition to her full-time, night shift nursing job!

nitestamper's SCS Gallery: HERE

nitestamper's new blog, Me, My Stamps, and I: HERE

This card is a CASE of nitestamper's card found HERE. The only changes I made include: a) changed the colors and DP, b) some different bling on the tree, and c) I used the Word Window Punch for the slot in the Old Olive layer that the DP strip goes through, instead of the oval punch.

I had my card all put together with the intention of stamping the "Merry Christmas" sentiment in Very Vanilla Craft Ink as my last step. Well ... this was my very first time using my new Very Vanilla Craft Ink Pad .... let's just say, I think it was defective so I opted for Black Classic. Stampin' Up! is so great about that kind of thing though ... just called them up and they are replacing the defective pad!

The Perfect Presentation tree is stamped twice with the second raised on Stampin' Dimensionals. There is a Red Rhinestone Brad through the starburst of the tree. The circle tag is also stamped twice with the center "Dec. 25" raised on a dimensional.

RECIPE
Stamps: Perfect Presentation (Level Two Hostess), All Holidays, Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel
Paper: River Rock, Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla CS, Dashing DP
Ink: Old Olive and Basic Black Classic
Embellishments: Gold Brads, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Red Rhinestone Brad, Gold Elastic Cord
Tools: Word Window Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

FRAN'S STUDIO

My friend, Fran Sabad just posted photos of her incredible Stamp Room this afternoon. You've GOT to see it to believe it! CLICK HERE! I asked her if I could move in, but haven't heard her response yet ... LOL!

SCS ULAS CHALLENGE WINTER BRIGHT

This week, Diane Gilbert (djluvs2stamp on SCS) is hosting the UP LATE AND STAMPING (ULAS) CHALLENGE on SCS. For details, visit Diane's blog, My Little Stampin' Spot.

The challenge was to alter anything. Just when I swore I'd never alter another lunchbox tin, I got the fever again last night! I've really been enjoying using the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit, and thought it would work well for a tin. I kept the tin generic without dividers so the recipient could use it for whatever she wanted. (I'm keeping the recipient of this gift set a secret so she's surprised ... she reads my blog!)

I was inspired by my upline, Barbara Welch's coaster frame that she made as a door prize for the Portland SU Regionals. See Barbara's coaster frame and gift set on Cambria Turnbow's blog, Stamp A Little Love, Baby, HERE. Wallet size photos can be clipped on to the frame. The clips are by Making Memories and match the Winter Bright colors perfectly! (found at Michael's).
RECIPE
Paper: Winter Bright Simply Scrappin Kit
Ink: Bashful Blue Classic (for inking the edges of the coasters)
Embellishments: On Board Garland Greetings Chipboard Snowflakes (pg. 9 Holiday Mini 2007), Real Red Buttons, Red Gingham and Blue Gingham Ribbon, Pretty In Pink and Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Making Memories Clips
Tools: Spiral Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Corner Rounder, 1 1/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Sticky Strip

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

I’ve been tagged by DAWN EASTON, TREASURE OILER DESINZ!

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. You can see DAWN EASTON'S inspiring blog here: http://treasureoilerdesignz.blogspot.com/

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I'm left-handed in MOST situations but do many things right-handed. I tie ribbon like a left-hander which is probably why I'm never happy with the way my ribbon looks. My penmanship, I'm told, is very good, and looks like a right-hander's, but I do it with my left hand! I don't curl my left hand around to write like most left-handers.

2. After living in Arizona for 20 years, my blood is very very thin! I get chilled so easily! My family is constantly rolling theirs eyes at me about it! I bring a jacket with me whenever I go to a public place (especially restaurants and movie theaters), even in the dead of Phoenix summer 110 heat (air conditioning is cold, you know!).

3. I love licorice ... red OR black. Favs include Red Vines, Red Rope, and Nibs.

4. I was a sorority girl in my college days (Alpha Xi Delta). My sorority sisters are STILL some of my most favorite people. Even though we hardly ever see each other .. when we talk via phone or e-mail, it's like going back in time 20 years! Go AZ's!!!!

5. I'm a home-body. Home is always my favorite place to be (probably because there's always so many things to do for dear 'ol Mom!) I find that the older I get, the more anxiety I experience when away from home for long periods of time.

6. I have an eight year old Beagle named Millie. She's very unusual looking ... she has the Beagle face, her body is all white, and she has a crooked tail. I've always told the kids that it'll be easy to draw a picture of her for a "lost dog poster" if ever needed! She's overweight, as Beagles' worlds revolve around food, and she's scared to death of anything in the sky. In the Fall and Spring, we have alot of hot air balloons that hover low to the ground near our home. Hot air balloons are very loud when fired up, and the noise scares Millie. So anything Millie sees in the sky, she's afraid of ... hand gliders, airplanes, sometimes even the moon!

7. Here's a quirky thing about me ... stamping related. I can't stand the sound of my ink pads clanking against the countertop when I ink my stamps so I have several squares of rubbery shelving liner at my workspace that I set my ink pads on when in use. I also have one for my double stick tape dispenser so it doesn't slide around when I use it.

Tag going out to:
Tammy, Creative Juices!
Lorri, Confessions of a Stamping Addict
Fran, Franticstampers
Diane, My Little Stampin' Spot
Lindsey, Stampin' With Linz
Pam, The Stamping Addict
Nancy, Paper Smiles