ABC's of the Perfect Handmade Holiday

Hi Everyone,

One of the things I love best about the Holiday Season is the chance to create my own handmade cards and gifts for my family and friends. Whether it is something vintage and classic in style or more of modern and whimsical theme, I know that I can find what I am looking for from Stampin' Up! to meet my Holiday needs.
Plus, Stampin' Up! has this amazing special called the ABC Holiday Bundle Special Offer to help us save 20% on select Stampin' Up! products, available now through to December 16th. 
These bundles include wonderful Holiday Stamp Sets (in either traditional wood mount or the new Clear mount option), Holiday theme Designer Series Paper (Perfect for Cards, Scrap Book pages and Gift ideas), Coordinating Punches (for quick and easy cards and tags), Simply Adorned jewelry (great for a personalized gift) and Definitely Decorative Home Decor products.
To view the great Holiday Promotion Bundles Click Here to download the Flyer.
Please note: the Tags Til Christmas 2 Bundle is currently unavailable to order due to the Ornament Punch currently being unavailable.
You can place your order through my Stampin' Up! Online Store here  from the comfort of your home or feel free to contact me to place your order. Let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to help you.
I will be sharing some of my Holiday Cards and Gifts to help get you in the Holiday Spirit over the next few weeks, so please feel free to subscribe to my blog to receive the latest updates.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Say Hello to Stampin' Up!'s New Color Collections

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all having a great week. The weather is fine and hot here in Denver, Colorado, a big change from the big chill we had a week ago.
Today I wanted to share with you a video that Stampin' Up has just released, with wonderful details on the new Color Collections that were launched July 1st as part of the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog.
Just click the video to view (if you are receiving this as an email update please visit my blog to view the video)

I love the new possibilities that the new Color Collections provide and the wonderful combinations available to bring your projects alive. Currently I am working with the new Cherry Cobbler (such a yummy sounding color isn't it?) and how beautifully it works with Old Olive and Very Vanilla for traditional Christmas cards. With the holidays just a few months away, it is not too earlier to get a jump start on your holiday cards and projects.
Contact me today if you would like to learn more about Stampin' Up!'s New Color Collections or the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog.
Want to place an order? Please visit my Online Store here and click Shop Now or contact me to place your order.
Hope you all have an inspiring day.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

P.S. Don't forget, Stampin' Up! has some fantastic new Color Kits that make it even easier and affordable to add these new colors to your collection. Click here for details.

A Little Something for Someone Special

Yesterday I shared with you the Letter that I decorated for my Valentine's swap partner. Today I am going to share with you the other little goodies I added to her package to help her feel special for the big heart holiday.

I got the idea for the bookmark after visiting Madeline Morcelo's blog and viewing her tutorial for creating this cute corner bookmark here. In keeping with the Letter theme, I created a monogram for the bookmark using the Letter C from Stampin' Up's Jayne's Type Alphabet and gold embossing powder. The background was created using the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel from the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I taught this bookmark at a class in January and it is one of my favorite projects to teach.

Now everyone knows that chocolate is as much a part of Valentine's Day as hearts and flowers are. So I created a simple little topper for a ziplock snack bag to give it a little taste of Valentines.

The topper is made from the Top Note die cut with the Big Shot from Real Red Cardstock.  It is decorated with hearts stamped with a stamp from the I (Heart) Hearts Stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog using Pretty in Pink Classic ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I then  punched the hearts out using the coordinating Heart to Heart punch.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Whimsical Words, which is one of the free Sale-a-bration sets available with a $50 purchase. It is stamped in Pretty in Pink Classic ink on a piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock punched with the Curly Label Punch.  Fill the bag with chocolate and you have a pretty way to dress up a zip lock bag!

Last but by no means least, I created a Valentine's Card to send a short note to my partner.

I got the idea for this card from a wonderful demonstrator by the name of Dawn Griffith. The border is created using the new Pinking Hearts Border Punch on a scrap piece of cardstock to create a stencil. Using this technique you create the border for the top and bottom of the card by applying ink with a sponge dauber in Real Red Classic ink.  The hearts from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set, were stamped with Pretty in Pink and Real Red ink, slightly off center to allow space for the sentiment, which is from the Whimsical Words stamp set stamped in Basic Black Classic ink.

So there you have it. Three pretty Valentine's gifts created from a few simple supplies that were a lot of fun to make.  The great thing is, anyone can make them and with a few simple changes of color, you can customize these gifts to suit anyone for any occasion. Contact me today and I will be happy to help you design your projects to suit your needs.

Until Next Time,

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets:

I (Heart) Hearts (found in the Occasions Mini Catalog)

Wood Mount #117010 $26.95   Clear Mount #118571 $18.95

Whimsical Words (Sale-a-bration free set)

Wood Mount #118386    Clear Mount #119119

Jayne's Type Alphabet #114401  $43.95

Circle Circus #115778  $28.95

Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel  #117693 $8.50
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot, Sizzix Top Note Die, Sizzix Petal Card die, Trio Flower Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Curly Label Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Heat Gun, Gold Embossing Powder.

Order Online 24/7 Here Just click Shop Now 

Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought I would share a card that reflects how thankful I am for the many blessings I have in my life.  As the holidays approach it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to be thankful for all the good things that we have in our lives. 

I love the warm colors of Fall.  They remind me of the warmth and love of family, especially during the holidays. I am thankful to have a wonderful husband and four beautiful children who make my life complete as well the family members who live far away but are always in our hearts.
This past weekend I had a wonderful time with some very special friends.  We stamped, created cards and gifts and most importantly, we spent time laughing and talking, catching up on what we have been doing in our busy lives. I am so thankful to be blessed with such wonderful friends and the chance to enjoy their company.

This card was created using one of my favorite techniques: heat embossing.  I just love the way the images appear like magic as the heat gun melts the embossing powder to create a beautiful, glossy sheen to the stamped image. Once again, I used my favorite in colors of Dusty Durango and Soft Suede for the cardstock as they are perfect for Thanksgiving. The background leaves are from the stamp set "Autumn Splendor" which can be found in the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog and the jumbo wheel "Bright Blessings" and they are stamped with versamark ink.  I used the clear embossing powder to create an understated tone on tone look to the card design. Heat the embossing powder with your heat gun to achieve that wonderful raised, shiny look to your stamped images. And there you have it. A quick and simple card to brighten someone's Thanksgiving.
I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed day.

Stamping Hugs,
Tricia

Stamps Used:  Stampin' Up Autumn Days, Jumbo Wheel Bright Blessings
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Dusty Durango and Soft Suede Cardstock
Accessories: Versamark ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Click "Shop Now"