Art of the Possible

Make a Wish--Let Me Help You With the Gift Registry

Help them help you--rely on the Holiday Registry to give that gentle nudge and to make it easy for those who love you to get you just what you want.

How does it work?

Download the Holiday Registry form here:  Christmas Registry File

Sit down with your catalog or our online collection and select items that you would love to have.

Fill out the names and contact info for anyone who you would like to benefit from this service.

Return the form to me.  I will use the contact information only to contact them about your wish list.  The gifts can be delivered to them or to you--whatever is easiest for them.  It's all about making it easy for them.  And I'll keep the list so there won't be duplicates.  Easy peasy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. 

Remember, too, I offer gift certificates, which can be used for merchandise, hand crafted items or class fees.  Contact me for details.

Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1999-2007

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!  I made this fun wall hanging using our double sided designer paper, the Carved and Candlelight stamp set and some embellishments all applied to bar coasters.  I think I'm going to make one of these that is Thanksgiving/Christmas so all I'll have to do is flip it over on Thanksgiving day to signal the onset of the Advent season--cool beans.

Remember to sign up for my e-mail news list so you can take advantage of the remaining 8 projects of my 12 weeks of Christmas mailers.

Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up!  1999-2007.  Design by Jennifer C. Einolf.

Moonlit Ride Card

Forget what I said yesterday--I'm so ready for Autumn I could scream!  How about a ride across a harvest moon? 

The black detail is a scrap that took on new life when I started playing with it.  At first, I had it butted tight agains the orange piece, but I decided I needed a white element in the design to balance the moon, so I gapped the two pieces and attached a white scrap on the back.  Notice that every other point comes to the front of the design--this creates an interesting rhythm and suggests bat wings--a particularly appropriate reference, I think.

To make the moon, I used the 3/4" circle punch to make a scrap circle that I held in place while I sponged on the pumpkin pie ink everywhere else on a sheet of whisper white cardstock. 

Are you ready for Halloween?  I know that it is a month an a half away, but now is the time to order your stamps and supplies so that you will have time to make your decorations, goodie bags, candy wrappers and cards.  Check out the online catalogs HERE then contact me.

Ingredients:  basic black, whisper white, pumpkin pie and apricot cardstock; basic black and pumpkin pie classic ink; Home is Where the Haunt Is stamp set; 3/4" circle punch

All stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1999-2007

Halloween is Coming! Really.

Check out the cool promotion that Stampin' Up! is offering this month:  Click here to see the flier.  This is a great sale and it's just in time for Fall stamping.  I am turning my stamps towards Fall and towards Halloween.  Can you believe it?  Stay tuned for some cute home decor items I'm working on.  Just to whet your whistle, here's a project from last year:

 

Fourth of July

I am going to do an image free post today because I want the attention on the Holiday for today only.  One of the things that I really love about my job is that I can mold the kind of life that I want and today, I want a life that centers on family.   We are renovating our kitchen floor and our main bathroom, so the first part of today will be about pulling up old, icky vinyl flooring.  The second part of today will be about getting together with good friends to enjoy a cook out and some local fireworks (and some Wii play--they have one and we haven't tried it yet.  My son is very excited about that.)

And today is about the beautiful, inspiring 231 year history of our beloved country.  We are here because of dreams and ideas and sacrifice and vigilance.  We are here despite mistakes and shameful lapses.  We enjoy the fragile joy of freedom even when we don't notice it in our daily lives.  I thank God that we have this amazing place to call home.  So here's to Old Glory--long may she wave.

Father's Day Card/Gift

My son and I made two of these cute little books for the Dads in our life.  The back page of this one featured a note from me to my husband.  The back page of the one for my Father in Law was inscribed by my Husband (I didn't tell him he had that job until after we had presented him with his.

I punched a round hole and then postitioned my son's two school photos so that they peeked through on each side--very cute.  The stamp set that I used is called Double Line Doodle and it will be in the new Fall/Winter Collection Catalog that will premiere on July 1.  Make sure you check out my Events Page to see details about my July 14 New Catalog Open House. 

All Stamped Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1999-2007

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day.  This card was featured as a Stamp Club project in January 2006.  The soft, pretty effect is achieved using the popping pastels technique.  The image is stamped in versamark--a clear, sticky ink.  Then chalk pastel is daubed over the surface and like magic, the areas with the ink take more of the pigment and darken.  I think anyone would be charmed to receive a card like this.

An Army of Little Gifts

The first gifts I made this year were forty little candy wrappers to wish the teachers and staff at my husband's school a happy winter break.  Each of these little triangle packages cradles a small, chunky chocolate and bears a tag to convey our wishes.  These were fun to make and they look really impressive on a tray!

 

A Bevy of Gifts

I had the best time making gifts this year for Christmas.  Pictured here is one example (the one that I gave my Mom) of the desk sets that I made.  To make it fun for me, I used the same template but stamped different designs and used different color schemes. 

As I've said before, once you figure out something that works, do it in multiples.  Each of these gifts was created using one 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of neutral cardstock (whisper white or very vanilla).  After stamping the motifs all over the sheet in random patterns, I cut the pieces for the following items:

A blank all occasion card.  The patterned piece is cut short and layered over a torn piece of cardstock.  I used a palette of three colors of cardstock for each present, even if I used more colors of ink in my design.  This allowed the items to mix and match while providing visual interest.

A second card.  The patterned piece is the bulk of the cover design.  These two cards were placed in the pack of my "box" back to back with the two envelopes sandwhiched between.

A matching pen:  Next, I nestled in a pen that had a matching piece inserted inside.

A bookmark.  I free cut the ends of this bookmark but you could use a punch to make it fancy.  This was also a chance to use a ribbon in the project and insert another shot of color in a different texture.

A stick note holder.  This is the cover of a wrap that enclosed a pad of stick notes.  I even used a velcro closure to give it polish.  And when your gift recipient uses up the pad, he or she can tape in another one.

Mini note pad.  I got scads of these inexpensive pads from an online supply house.  They make great little thank you gifts.  Keep your eyes open when browsing online or at craft and dollar stores--many inexpensive items benefit from a stamped makeover.

Thumbtacks.  Another dollar store find--flat clear glass marbles.  Punch 1/2" circles from your sheet, adhere to a marble with crystal effects, put on another dot of CE and then attach a flat topped thumbtack.  Let dry.  I put a covered piece of corregated cardboard inside a wrap package and pushed the tacks into that.

Each of these gifts took about 30 minutes to complete and cost less than $3.00 each.  (Oh, now I'm busted.  I hope that no one I gave one of these to sees this!)  But the results were very pretty, very useful and very appreciated.  Gifts don't have to be elaborate or expensive!

Holiday Gift Ideas- Sweet Little Somethings

There are many people in our life who deserve a small token at least once a year--they deserve more, really. But it's a start. Here are some ideas to help with your Holiday planning.

Teachers appreciate gift cards (ask my Dear Husband!). So why not dress up a gift card with a special package. A movie rental card packed up with a bag of microwave popcorn is thoughtful. A book mark makes the perfect partner for a bookstore card. You get the idea. Themed packaging with a bonus.

Or you could try giving them something to use in the classroom. A special door sign, personalized notes to send home to parents, sheets of hand stamped stickers for grading papers. A pocket calendar with a hand stamped cover is pretty and useful. Covered notebooks, post it note holders or other personalized accessories are a cheerful addition to the teacher's desk.

What about the other gift recipients in your life? Try a hand stamped tin of cookies for the mailman. Give the newspaper carrier her tip in a hand stamped card.

Gift certificates are more personal when they are wrapped in hand stamped love. Any small gift is that much better when you add your custom stamping.

Please e-mail me your ideas and I'll post them on my website. I'd love to hear how you are stamping for the Holidays.