Pick of the Patch

Last fall when I attended Scrapfest at Mall of America in Minneapolis, I noticed a lot of pumpkin pictures being scrap booked. That's when I started thinking about this title and was surprised no one had used it. I had thought of asking my youngest sister to take a picture of their little boy sitting with pumpkins, but I forgot.

The other day I was looking at some of the pictures my sister had taken and there he was sitting among all the pumpkins. I felt like I was being told to follow through with my idea. After seeing his picture, I decided to alter a picture frame that I had bought for half price at Target after Halloween. 

I water-colored  the leaves with my aqua painter, cut them out and mounted them with glue dots; they are from the "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set. The swirls are from the "Priceless" stamp set and are stamped with Stazon ink. The letters are from "Naturally Serif" Sizzix die cuts. The pumpkins were also water-colored; they are from "Autumn Harvest". While the paper was still somewhat damp, I turned the pumpkins over and rubbed on them to stretch the paper and give them a rounded appearance. They are mounted with double thick dimensionals.

We are so thankful for this precious little life that God has blessed our family with. He is the pick of the patch!

Stamp-A-Stack of Wishes on Sat. Nov. 22 '08

Drum roll please - Ta dum dum dum!

It's been a while since my last Stamp-A-Stack (SAS) class. Even though it's a busy season coming up, I delighted to have requests for another. So grab your pen & mark your calendars on Sat. Nov. 22nd, 

1-4 pm. 

These cards will be in keeping with the theme of the season: fall, Christmas, and the soon approaching winter, but still versible enough to use for birthdays, thinking of you, or as sympathy cards. The class fee will be $10 for a set of 8 cards; 2 each of 4 designs. When you call/email to RSVP let me know how many sets you would like to make.

Star of Wonder ornament

Even though I haven't had time to teach classes, I have done some stamping during the past few months. One of the things I'm rather excited and proud about is the new ornament that I've created out of paper. I showed it to my up-upline Patsy Waggoner and she encouraged me to submit it to Stampin' Up! I have wrote up step by step instructions with pictures. I'm so excited about it. Yes, yes I am. Oh dear, I'm being such a tease - he he! If it makes you feel better I will be having it as one of the projects in my upcoming classes, and then you'll be able to make your very own. Or give me a call if you can't make it to class; we can set a time that you can come over to my place and bring a couple of friends to make one.  I promise this will be an ornament you'll be proud to say "I made it myself".

Update: My "Star of Wonder" ornament has been posted in Stampin' Up!s training area for demonstrators. Woo who!

Sis is probably right . . .

My little sister jokingly says she's afraid that if I lived closer, she'd have to beat me off her doorstep and she's probably right - they are lucky I live across the state. It's going to be difficult not to spoil this little guy.

Isn't he just precious and so strong too! He's only 7 weeks old in this picture!

Extra Extra - Did you hear about it?

This past year there have been many changes at Stampin' Up! and I have been continually amazed thinking this is the best thing they have ever done. Have you been reading the announcements on their website? You are able to place individual orders directly online from my Stampin' Up! website using your credit card.

Stampin' Up!s spectacular new catalog has 297 stamp sets and 175 - that's over half of the sets are less than $25.  But wait it gets even better - all the new sets are also die cut - woo who!

There are so many wonderful new stamps and paper in the new Fall & Winter Idea Book & Catalog. I'm excited about all these new products and want them right now so you - okay so that I can have a chance to play with them, but I love sharing so come on over! I am going to have to pace myself. Check out this month's specials, and there's more coming in October, November, and in December too!

Pretty darn spiffy looking

What do you think about my right hand column? I was tired of my plain old blog and finally figured out how the other stamping blogs used pictures for links. Pretty darn spiffy looking, right?

On a roll, or should I say roller

Since I had my painting hand warmed up, I also helped my daughter and her hubby do some painting in their new place. However like the saying goes about the shoemaker's family going without shoes; it true that I still need to paint several rooms in my own home, oh well.

Why I haven't posted anything for a while

It's been awhile since my last post and I feel bad that I haven't posted anything all summer, but the truth be told I've been rather busy. Okay for those of you that don't know me and are looking at that precious little vision of peace -  you are wrong and jumping to conclusions. You need to read that info "About Me". I'm an empty-nester. That adorable little face is not my baby, but it IS a picture of what a miracle looks like. I was helping my youngest sister this spring, because she was having trouble with her first pregnancy. She was told to slow down or they would put her on bed rest. It was her final quarter of school and her internship hours were usually around 10 hours a day. That did not leave much time for fixing up and painting to get their house ready to sell. Then there was the all packing, and the move from Duluth to Minneapolis. And finally graduation - yeah! They both have been blessed to get wonderful jobs and are now proud parents of this adorable little boy. 

This spring and summer has been a whirlwind of activities including 4 weddings and 5 showers. So now you know why I 

haven't posted for awhile. I hope you are having an enjoyable 

summer.

Stamp-A-Stack of Blessings Sat. March 8th

The above items are a sample of what you will be able to make at my next Stamp-A-Stack class, card clip not included. To be more precise this class is a 'Stamp Camp" because you will be making more than just a stack of cards. The bask-o-lope is a basket that is made from an envelope! Check my website, located in the right hand column, for more information on the class and current Stampin' Up! promotions.

Occasions Mini Collection starts March 1st

Wild Wasabi cardstock special starts March 1st

Sale-A-Bration promotion ends March 17th

You may view the mini catalogs by clicking on the links in the right hand column under "Stampin' Up! Information". Check back March 1st for more information on the new specials.

Stamp-A-Stack of Love

This is a preview of some of the items (card clips not included) that will be made in my SAS - make & take class.These favors would also be perfect in Easter baskets, as wedding favors, or personalize with a name for your dinner guests. Check my website for more information on the class and current Stampin’ Up! promotions. 

Sale-A-Bration starts Feb. 1st. 

You may view the mini catalog by clicking on the link in the right hand column under "Stampin' Up! Information"

Cost effective stamping

I want to offer you the chance to experience the joy of making your own cards and paper crafts. After all, creating cards, scrapbook pages, and gift items is more than just stamps and ink—it’s about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love.

I offer several cost effective options where you can experience the joy of stamping and paper crafting; you can attend classes, host your own workshop, or join the Berry Pine Stamping Club. Below is a comparison of the different benefits. You may attend any or all the events, whatever works best for you.

However if you would like to attend one of my events, you need to RSVP by the specified dates, this allows me time to pre-cut all the paper that you will need to make your wonderful cards. Then when you arrive, all you will need to do is have fun stamping, and taping your pieces together. 

Attending one of my classes, you'll "make and take". This means you get an opportunity to make a variety of cards and projects to take home without needing to invest in card stock, ink pads, markers, and stamp sets. Classes have a supply fee which vary depending on the projects that you will be making.

Hosting your own workshop allows you the flexibility to have it at a time of your convenience, in your own home or at my Berry Pine Stamping Pad. You are responsible to invite your guests, and it is optional to provide a light snack. You will receive a free current Idea Book & Catalog and you receive hostess credit* without having a commitment to anyone.

In the Berry Pine Stamping Club you earn free product from Stampin' Up! without the work of planning a party, cleaning your house, or calling and sending out invites to your friends. You'll have a minimum commitment to the others in the club, this guarantees that everyone will receive the free Hostess stamp set and credit. You provide a light snack during your turn to receive hostess credit. However if you love cleaning and having people into your home, you have that option to have the club members meet at your house. All club members receive free Idea Book & Catalog.

* Hostesses receive a free stamp set and merchandise credit based upon the workshop's sales. A minimum of $150 (not including shipping and tax) in workshop sales qualifies you for hostess credit, and your own order counts in the total. 

Leaving your mark:

Be it a stick drawing in the sand or a crayon on the wall: it is an activity that most children share when they realize that the object in their hand leaves a mark on another object. My buffet still displays the 5 pointed stars that my DD happily showed me that she had learned how to draw (even though it was more like scratch). 

This desire to leave your mark starts at an early age and continues on throughout our life. Christmas letters, cards and pictures are one of the many ways we mark down memories and share with our family and friends. 

Back when I was a child, it was popular to cut circles from these Christmas cards and pictures to create ornaments. In my examples as an alternative to hand cutting twenty circles, I used the Stampin' Up scalloped circle to make the job quick and easy.  This year rather than throwing out your cards when you get ready to put away your Christmas decorations, try creating a memory ornament! 

I pray the Christmas season blessed you with wonderful memories and the loving peace from Christ.