I finally held my big birthday celebration class a couple of weekends ago.  I celebrated 9 years with Stampin’Up! AND Stampin’Up!’s 10 years in Canada.

21 friends came to enjoy 5 birthday-themed projects and a whole lotta fun.

I featured the 5 projects a couple of weeks ago, but here are some photos of the actual event.  Please note the lighting in the rented room was terrible for photo-taking!

This photo shows the prizes for the evening.  A few were door prizes and then we had to have prizes for the games which were “Name that Stamp Set” and “What is the Stampin’Up! Color” – catalogues on the tables were a big help to some stampin’newbies!  lol

This mini cupcake box was filled with delicious chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow frosting.  Instructions to make the box  can be found in my Homemade Goody Packages Tutorial.

A blossom box filled with kisses – and it fits a lot of those tasty little guys!  The blossom box die is on the retiring accessory list and won’t be around much longer!

This little cutie is also carrying a bunch of kisses.  You can find the instructions to this purse at  Inking Idaho and is in Becky’s Tres Chic Handbags tutorial.  My friend who won this bag was so thrilled!! 

I prepared quite a birthday spread for my friends too.  I used colors from the Sweet Shop designer series pack to decorate the table and the cupcakes!  We also had red velvet birthday cake, mini banana split bites, ice cream sundaes, strawberry shortcake kabobs and 3 different punches.  No one went home hungry!!

A very special thank-you to all my friends who came to celebrate my anniversary with Stampin’Up!  I had a great time visiting with you one-on-one!!

TTFN!

Natasha

These precious little purses are made with a new die for the Big Shot and it’s called Petit Purses.  It’s available for the month of April only – until the new catalogue comes out in June. 

I made these 4 samples as the prizes for my monthly stamp club challenge, which in April, was to make a card using pastel colors.  I didn’t take photos of the samples my customers have made this month so I can’t share their brillance with you

Don’t miss out on this sneak peak product – the purse is so easy to put together and has such a wow factor!

TTFN!

Natasha

While previewing the new Summer Mini Catalogue last month, I was inspired by the new Designer Series Paper pack, Beyond the Garden, to create some beach themed items.  Beach bags immediately came to mind! 

I always seem to be collecting a new beach bag every year (mostly cause I can’t find the previous year’s one!)  and I love the fun bright colors they all have and of course, their capacity to hold lots of items for a day outdoors.  So, to stay true to the purpose of a real beach tote bag, I created these three replicas keeping space in mind.

All three totes are large and strong enough to be used as gift bags for that special summer or Hawaiian themed party:

*** Flower Rimmed Wild Wasabi tote  measures 8 1/2″ wide at the top, 7″tall excluding handle (11″with handle) and is 2″ deep

*** Daffodil Delight Nautical Striped tote measures 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ and is 2″ deep

*** Round Clutch Handle tote measures 7 1/2″ long, is 6″high and 1 1/2″ deep

Beach Tote Ensemble Tutorial includes:

15 pages of written instructions and measurements to complete all three projects

40 step by step photos to assist you in recreating the projects

$3.99 CAD

The tutorial will be emailed to you as a PDF file following your purchase through PayPal.

TTFN!

Natasha

It’s going to be quiet around here for most of this week, as I’m working on something a little bigger than usual for you.

Enjoy the photo teaser above and I hope to see you Thursday!

TTFN!

Natasha

All this week, I’ll be sharing projects that I’ve prepared for a special Occasions Mini class next month.  There are SO MANY amazing products in this mini catalogue, it just seemed fitting to use as many as I could for one class!

Because of the long weekend, I lost a day in my week, so I’ll be sharing 2 of the projects today:

You should know just how much I love this stamp set – Easter Blossoms- that’s why I showcased it first!   I also used Springtime Vintage DSP which pairs so well with the set. I loved Lisa Young’s card layout here, and made it my own for this class.

This is a fun little box created with the Petal Cone die.  Also from the mini, I used the Eat Chocolate stamp set.  Thanks to Kim Sinclair, one of my new stamping friends, for the idea!

See you tomorrow with another project!

TTFN!

Natasha

 You know the ones, you can decide how soft or hard you want each side of the mattress to be…

Well, I picked a number out of a hat last night as I was laying there…it felt like a good choice at the time…

…this morning, my lower back was screaming at me!!  I’ll choose a different number tonight and see how it goes…

…I’m just anxious to get back to my own bed with my memory foam top…

…moving on…

Here is a little something I made for Becky Roberts and Kim Sinclair, my leadership buddies this week (please excuse the bad hotel lighting for these photos):

I made them each a Trapezoid Purse and filled them with Coffee Crisp chocolate bars – they apparently don’t have these in the US.

Supplies used:

Stamps – Eat Chocolate

Paper and Ink – Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pawsitively Prints II DSP, Chocolate Chip

Accessories – Pear Pizzazz poly-stitched ribbon, 1 3/4″circle punch, Scallop Die #2 and Big Shot, 1/8″hole punch, dimensionals

TTFN!

Natasha

I’ve prepared these fun AND easy projects for a special class I’m offering in February. 

Here are some close-up photos of each project for you:

Two cute cards using the new set Valentine Defined, found in the new Occasions Mini Catalogue!  Notice the fun border on the second card?  That’s made with a new great embossing folder called Framed Tulips, also found in the Occasions Mini.

I had no idea this little purse was going to be as popular with you all, as it has been!  All those who register for the class, receive my Trapezoid Purse PDF tutorial as well (available for order by clicking on the photo on the right)!

And last but not least, these two fun projects –

- a 3×3 card and matching stamped envelope

- and a matchbox with tag, to hold the all-important Valentine’s themed chocolate!  This little box’s tag is made with another great set in the Occasions Mini catalogue called Eat Chocolate – check it out, it’s awesome!

If you happen to live in or near Calgary, here are some class details:

DATE:  Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

TIME:  6:30-9:00 p.m.

COST:  $20.00 for all supplies and project kits contents

TTFN!

Natasha

Precious little quilted Christmas bags!  I love this quilted look! 

Basically you cover a piece of white cardstock with square punched DSP and then run it through the Big Shot with the Top Note die.  I went the extra mile and embossed  the Top Notes with the Big Shot.  In card you’re wondering, the “bag”portion of this project is a small white gift bag found at any big box store, the top trimmed to be the same height as the Top Note.

Supplies used:

Stamp set – Season of Joy

Ink and Paper – Whisper White,  Garden Green, Candy Cane Christmas DSP, Real Red

Accessories – small oval punch, 1 1/4″ square punch, Big Shot, Top Note die, Victorian Wallpaper embossing folder, Real Red satin ribbon, silver brads

TTFN!

Natasha

I’m interupting my baking session today, to share with you a pleasant discovery I made yesterday. 

I wanted to package my giant pretzel rods in a special way to give away as teacher gifts this year.  I went into my work area to start measuring and designing. 

I looked over to my shelf and noticed my mini cupcake box from the Homemade Goody Box tutorial sitting there…

 and wondered if my rods would possibly fit in that.  I took it off the shelf, held my breath, laid in one pretzel rod and…

…did the dance of joy!!!  They fit perfectly!

I quickly made up a couple of boxes and they are ready to go – I love those serendipidous moments!

I used this card layout as inspiration for the top of my box.  The poinsettia flower at the top was created by layering 3 – 5 Petal Flower punches and 2 small flowers punched with Boho Blossoms punch.

Supplies used:

Stamps – Four the Holidays, Notably Ornate

Paper and Ink – Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP

accessories -5 Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch,  Scallop Edge punch, ticket corner punch, Big Shot and Little Leaves sizzlit, pearl accent

Now back to my baking!

TTFN!

Natasha

Here is a cute idea for you to package some really cute little items in.

It’s a purse shaped like a trapezoid – just like my real current one!  Once you fill it, it’s not gonna tip over, that’s for sure!

This is an open view .

When closed, the front flap and cover/lid are secured together with velcro or magnets – they both work well.  I left the front tabs unattached to the sides for ease of loading and unloading goodies and treats.

Same purse – different look

My tutorial for this trapezoid purse for gift giving is available today!

It includes 9 pages of instruction along with 26 photos to assist you in creating your own purses.

The tutorial is available starting today for $1.99 CAD.

I’m going to go make a dozen more and then figure out what fun and festive things to put inside.  Not that it matters because it’s all about the packaging, isn’t that what they say?

TTFN!

Natasha