The Stampin' Grounds

Thanksgiving Table Setting

I realize that many of my blog followers are in the US, so for those of you, this is a bit of a peek at the beginning of your holiday season.  In Canada, our Thanksgiving happens in the beginning of October, and this year, my family from the states came up and stayed with us!  Usually it's the other way around, so this was kind of a neat change. 

I had recently purchased the Stampin' Up! Placesetting die, and wanted to give it a go for Thanksgiving Dinner, and so I put together some fun tablesettings for each of my family members.  Had I a bit more time, I would probably have done even more (and finished setting the table before taking pics!), but here's a pic at least of the beginning stages.  Oh, and YES, everything on the table is made from that one die, using the Fall paper in the mini catalog!

 
First off, here's a mini-example of a placesetting, sans salad plate, silverware, etc.  I tagged the wine glasses using a leaf (thought it was appropriate, given the season).  There is a spiral in the diecut which makes you either a rose or a pinecone (I chose pinecone), or even just a fun spiral shape (which Ryan insisted upon making for several plates! LOL).

Each place also had a tag on the napkin, which inside read: "today, I am thankful for..." and each person was to fill it out before we ate.  We all shared what we were thankful for, and it was so neat to hear everyone's thoughts!

 

Yep - my kids' nickname for my dad is 'Big Papa'.  That's because Papa is a traditional name for 'special grampa' in our family, and he's 6'5"! :)  LOL

Deb's Christmas Countdown

I love to feature projects that YOU do!  One of the coolest projects I have seen lately is one by one my most awesomely talented club members: Deb Dunham! 

SO CUTE, eh?!  Here's what she did:

1) Applied the Christmas Countdown Decor Elements to the glass on a large picture frame.

2) On the background paper, she stamped the Holiday Lineup elves across the bottom (yes, you can line all the images up that way in that set!).  She coloured them here and there to add pop

3) She applied the numbers in the Decor Elements to cards so that they can be changed out as the season counts down.

What a great idea, eh?!  I believe she made this as a gift for someone - I love it! 

In thanks for sharing this beautiful project with me, I am giving Deb a new pack of blender pens - thanks Deb! 

Do YOU have an awesome card or project using Stampin' Up! products you would like to share with me?  Email it to me and if it gets featured on my blog, I'll give you a gift as well!! :)

Founders Circle MDS Pg 2

In the ongoing series of scrapbook pages from my Founders Circle Trip, this is page two that I created with MDS!  I'll keep showcasing these, and watch for my soon-to-be released tutorials as well! 

Founders Circle 2009 My Digital Studio Album!

Wow, I've been playing with the scrapbook options I have with My Digital Studio, and the first thing I have started is my HUGE scrapbook of Founders Circle 2009!  Oh yes, I mean HUGE!  First off, I have more than 200 photos to scrap of my various activities.  LUCKILY, there is an 'auto-fill' function that takes all the pictures I choose and comes up with a suggested layout for me, which I can then mess with all I want! (Oh yes, if you know me, I LOVE to mess with it!) 

This is the front cover - I'll share my pages with you as I finish them - I'm hoping to send it off to print this week, so I can show you in person what it ends up like!  I'm SO excited!

Now, if you haven't picked up this awesome paper crafting program yet, you are going to want to get in on my Digital Studio special!  Every purchase of this Digital Software Program through me will receive FOUR FREE MDS courses in my studio, teaching you in depth, real-time on how to craft cards, scrapbooks, calendars and multimedia projects!  That's a value of $80!!!!  Order NOW on my website, or email me and I'll get it sent to you right away!

Stage 4 - Cocoon slowly awakening...

And then order started to re-appear from the chaos.... boxes disappeared, ordered stacks appeared, and the general furniture layout completed...

 
 

I know - this is a total teaser - So much to show you, but I think I'll wait to show you the 'final layout' - hopefully in a few days!!!

Just a Reminder for BigShot Clubbers

Just a reminder to those of you who are BigShot Clubbers to RSVP if you are planning to attend tomorrow night's meeting!  In order to cut down on wastage, I prep make n' takes for everyone who is RSVPd only, as it is an optional event. 

SOOOoo, please RSVP NOW if you are coming! :)

Stage 3 - Chrysalis

Uh, what was in, must come... out?

Yeah, this was the hard part.  Everything that was in my studio, had to come OUT.  Not a pretty sight, and since we had company, it had to be contained IN my studio.  Now, to be fair, I have been living with a fair bit of chaos for the past month (awaiting the cabinets in the first place), so this was just a smidge worse.  Ok, maybe more than a smidge, but still, the vision was so close - I persevered...

Note the test cabinet in the corner, and the 'wall-print' of where my old cabinets hung. 

This was in between moving everything back INTO my studio... If you know Tom, you know that he likes it neat - and this ain't it!  It was stressful for everyone!

No worries though - my vision kept everyone happy, and the whole family was looking forward to seeing the results!

Officially getting worse before it got better!

 
 
 
Good bye old 'light' - I use the term 'light' loosely, as you mostly provided a very faded glow to the room, but not much working light for a crafter!

It's weird looking at this - makes me feel like I should be holding a funeral for my 'old' studio!

Sooo... we got all the cabinets in then, and had to stack everything in the middle of the floor.  UGH. 

Hmm - now I'm giving away a bit of the punchline!  Better save some for tomorrow!!!  ;)

My Digital Studio is HERE!

I have been delinquent, my friends - with my absence from blogging and general awesome news-spreading, I didn't tell you that YES, My Digital Studio is NOW AVAILABLE!  And WOW, it is phenominal!  You can make everything from calendars to cards, flyers, special programs and more!  AND, of course, it SCRAPBOOKS like nothing you've seen!  In fact, you can make a scrapbook page and email it to your family even!!!

SO, I decided that I am going to offer you a special on this puppy.  I'm having such an incredible time playing with it, that I want to reward you too!  For the month of October, every purchase of My Digital Studio will also receive from me an $80 gift package of 4 FREE My Digital Studio courses, to get you to the top of your game!  That's almost doubling your money!  We will go in depth and deep with this puppy so you have LOTS of tools at your fingerstips through 4, 2-hour courses teaching you everything from beginner tips to advanced creating! 

The classes will meet monthly for the next four months, and you can even bring your laptop with you (if you have one) so you can create alongside me - that way you will get HANDS ON experience with it!  All courses will be projected onto a big screen so everyone can see easily, and will be instructed class-room style (i.e. no backs to the screen).  Click on the pic below to learn more about this AMAZING product!!

This is proving to be an amazingly HOT program, and I can't wait to share it with you!  You can order your copy here (item #118108, $106.95) and have it sent directly to you, or email me with your order and I'll call you when it's in.  

For those of you who have already purchased this awesome studio, there is a whole new array of Digital Downloads available to you now!  Check it out!:

 

 

 

 

In summary:

Cast a Spell Designer Series Paper - Digital Download: 118114, $6.95

Night & Day Designer Series Paper - Digital Download: 118115, $6.95

Medallion Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download, 118124, $2.95

Circle Circus Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download, 118126, $13.25

School Days II Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download, 118116, $13.25

Great Moments II Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download - $13.25

Pumpkin Patch Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download - $7.95

order now  to get in on those free classes!

Register now for the October Christmas Card Class!

That's right - the next Christmas Stamp-a-Stack of Cards is THIS MONDAY, Oct. 26th from 7-10pm!  By popular demand, we will be making your three favourite cards, as voted on by the last September Stamp-a-Stack, and workshop guests.  The two in the back are part of the awesome stash of cards I received at Founders Circle this year, and the one in front is one I got to make as a Demonstrator at our annual Convention this year - gosh I love being a demo!

Here's the blurb about it:

Come get the season started by making 12 Christmas Cards with matching stamped envelopes - 4 cards each of 3 designs!  Won't you be happy when your Christmas cards are all stamped and ready to send?!  RSVP early - this class fills quickly!

$25 Class Fee, 2.5 Hour class.
MONDAY, Oct. 26th, 7-10pm
My Studio: East Vancouver, BC

RSVP HERE NOW!!!

This event is half-full already, so RSVP now!

PS: I will have a special you will definately want to know about for participants of this class ONLY -You'll have to come to take advantage of it!

Deal of the Week (Oct. 19-26th)

WOO HOO!  Stampin' Up! has announced a new Deal of the Week for this week!  Check it out!!

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
114348	179	Basic Jumbo grommets	$9.50	$6.49
109857	179	Mini Library clips	$18.95	$12.99
112571	179	Circle Designer brads	$8.50	$5.49
112581	179	1/2" Library clips	$9.75	$5.49

I am placing an order in the next couple of days to get everyone cheaper shipping, so be sure to email me with your order!  OR, order now through my online store here!

Here's a pic of each of these images - some of my FAVES are here!!

Basic Jumbo Grommets:

Mini Library Clips - I LOVE these!!!!!!

 

1/2" Library Clips - ALSO faves of mine!!

 

Cicle Designer Brads