Christmas Ornaments Stampin' Up! Style

Hello again!!  I am in full Christmas mode right now.  Started my Christmas shopping and I plan to be done by the end of November.  My goal is to not set foot in a mall if I don't have to for the month of December.  I like to use December to focus on baking, meal planning, wrapping and cozy nights at home with my family when I can.  

In my post yesterday I mentioned working my upline Denise's Moonlight and Mistletoe Retreat in Niagara Falls a few weeks ago.  I brought my Christmas tree along (first time I ever brought my own tree to a crop) and we decorated it with different ornaments made using Stampin' Up! products.  Our color theme was using Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, and Silver Glitter.   

The first three ornaments I made using components from the Christmas Banner Simply Created Kit.  I love banners but I do not have a place for one in my Christmas decor.  So why not use the components for other items such as Christmas Tree ornaments.  Here are three of the ornaments I made and I still have plenty of the kit pieces left over for other projects.  

This second ornament was a little difficult to photograph as it is 3D in nature.  Using the lattice die in our main catalogue I cut out six lattices per ornament out of our Silver Glimmer Paper.  I used Tombow to glue the Lattice die cuts together.  First I folded each one in half and adhered them together for a 3D snowflake effect.  I then used a piece of Whisper White 3/8" Taffefta Ribbon through the top to help hang the ornament on the tree.  I love Silver Glimmer in these ornaments, they catch the lights on the tree beautifully and you can never have to much glitter.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.  Comments and suggests are always welcome.  Enjoy your day!!

A Washi Kind of Christmas

Hello again.  It has been a busy time here in the Jenkins household.  I was away working my up line's Moonlight and Mistletoe retreat in Niagara falls the end of October. We are starting to plan for next year's retreat and I am having a more active role in planning Moonlight and Mistletoe 2014, so exciting.    We found a place for my mother and moved her out of the hospital (over a year in the hospital, that has to be some kind of record) the first weekend of November and things are starting to settle into a rhythm for her with a nurse coming by twice a day for her IV, another nurse for wound care of her abdominal area and of course Red Cross Support Workers coming by a few times a day to make sure she is eating (which in our family is not an issue, lol), and to help with personal care and light housework.  Our oldest Laura, has impacted wisdom teeth and she had her appointment with the oral surgeon a few weeks ago as well and her surgery is scheduled for December 23, so lots of mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of pain killers for her Christmas eve and day.  Unfortunately we will not be having our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Peking Duck and Nasi Goreng (Indonesian rice dish), which is Laura's favourite meal, rice and holes where her wisdom teeth use to be will not be a good combination.  I am going to have to get creative and think of something else for Christmas eve that everybody will like. 

And speaking of Christmas, it is coming up fast and you are probably planning your Christmas card list.  I am sure you are finding that everywhere you look Washi tape is being used in all kind of papercrafting and home decor projects.    For this time of year I am offering  a Washi Tape Christmas Card class.  In this class you will make four different cards using Washi tape.   Get a feel of how versatile and easy this product is to use in your various projects.  

DATES:  Thursday, November 28       7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
                 Sunday, December 1            1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
                 Tuesday, December 3            10:00 am - 12:00 pm

COST:      $10  includes everything needed to make four cards and envelopes included.  Or place a $30 order and attend for free!!!

Email me at riajenkins@rogers.com for location and payment of fees.  Looking forward to seeing you!!

Spooky Banner Class

Hello!!!  It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is this weekend.  Which means Halloween is just around the corner. I love Halloween, and in the current Holiday Catalogue we have our Build a Banner Simply Created Kit with stencils and pennants,  along with a Halloween Accessory Kit.   Please join me in a class featuring our Build a Banner Kit and Halloween Accessory Kit.  You will be given everything you need to complete the banner pictured above.  

Date:  Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Time:  6:30-9:30

Place:  My home

Cost: $30.00

Please RSVP with payment by Monday, October 14 so I can make sure all supplies needed will be available.  You can reach me via email riajenkins@rogers.com or my cell 519-577-1321

And if you love retreats, I will be teaching a Christmas Card Class at my upline’s Moonlight and Mistletoe Retreat later this month in Niagara Falls.  You can go to Denise’s blog for more information and registration at:  www.craftdbear.com .   Link is in the right column of her blog.  

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Discovery Day Craft

Hello again.   Hard to believe that September is coming to a close.  Our pool was closed the other day, the leaves are starting to change color and we have had a few nights of frost.  I love the change of seasons.  Fall is amazing, Thanksgiving is around the corner, then Halloween, which leads us right into Christmas, which is three months away from today.  And yes, I have started to plan Christmas already.  LOL

A few weeks ago I participated in a Demo Discovery with my uplines Denise and Jamilla.  It was a good day.  Lots of learning and crafting going on.  One project was the canvas below.  Jamilla taught this workshop.  Of course there wasn't enough time to finish, so I finished it here at home.  If you stopped by our booth at the St. George Applefest this past weekend you would have seen this on display.  

This is a basic canvas, 8 x 10 I believe,  that can be picked up at any craft supply store or dollar store.  What you do with it is up to your imagination.  

I followed Jamilla's basic template, except for the word "CREATE"  Jamilla stamped her word and colored it in with Stampin' Write markers.  I knew I would totally destroy the canvas if I did that.  Instead, I cut the letters for "CREATE" using our Coaster Board, cut with the Bigshot using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz die. And using sponge daubers I distressed the letters with Early Espresso Classic Ink and Gold Metallic Ink.

The rest of the project uses banners and stencils from our Build a Banner Simply Created Kit, and used sponge daubers to stencil the patterns on the canvas and pennant, the twine is included in the kit.   The bow was cut using our Gift Bow Bigz L Die (one of my top five favourites from the holiday catalogue) and flowers were punched with our Pansy punch. Behind the bows and flowers, which the picture doesn't show too well is a Tea Lace Doily.  Butterfly was punched with our Bitty Butterfly punch.   Stamp sets were Feels Good and Everything Eleanor.

Close up of the distressed "Create"

Close up of flowers and bow (love love the bow, I am going to have so much fun over the Christmas holidays with this bow die)

Laura's Birthday card

Happy Tuesday morning!!   Around here it is hot, hazy and humid.  We are going to be breaking some records around here.  It is suppose to be 35 degrees with a humidex of 44 degrees.  That is in Celsius.  In Fahrenheit for my American friends and family, that is 95 with a humidex of 114.  Yep a brisk Canadian September day around here.  Something tells me that air conditioning is making the list of what I am thankful for in my gratitude journal tonight.  LOL  I dropped Dalwhinnie off at the groomer this morning as well.  I think she is going to be very grateful to lose the excess fur for the next few days.  

I posted a pic of this card earlier on my Instagram, which was shared on Facebook and Twitter as well.  A couple of days before bringing Laura to University, she had her 18th birthday.  So hard to believe that my baby is 18 and away at University.

This card was simple, quick and easy.  Things were rather hectic around here the weeks leading up to her birthday so I needed to throw this card together quickly.  And thanks to co-ordinating products via Stampin' Up! mission was accomplished.  

Products used were as follows:

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Designer Series Paper:  Modern Medley

Stamp Set: Chalk Talk

Ink: VersaMark

Embossing Powder:  Black, White

Tools:  Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits

Embellishments:  3/8" Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon (discontinued)

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world. I think this afternoon you will find me poolside.

Halloween Fun

Happy Monday morning everyone.    We are into our second week of school here.  Daniel, my youngest, picked up a nasty cold last week, and spent the weekend sick as a dog and is home from school today.  And Laura starts her first day of classes at University today.  Sun is shining and it is suppose to get hot hazy and humid again.  Summer reminding us that even though kids are back to school, its not officially fall yet.  

Saturday, I spent the day at a Demonstrator Discovery Day hosted by my uplines Denise Donald and Jamilla Ivits.   It was a fun day learning new techniques, getting ideas for workshops and classes, seeing different projects, meeting some demonstrators from my area that I haven't met before, and of course some business tips.  There was a swap, and I had to participate.   I love swaps and getting different cards from various talented crafters.  More ideas to incorporate into my own crafting. 

I based my card for the swap on this birthday card.  I received this card during one of the swaps I participated in at Convention. This beautiful card was made by Mary Walker from Virginia.  

And here is my take on the card.  Halloween of course.  One of my favourite Holidays after Christmas of course.  

Supplies used are as follows:

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla

Inks:  Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Egglplant, and Black StazOn

Stamp Sets: Best of Halloween (part of our anniversary Best Of monthly releases), Toil & Trouble (from the Holiday catalogue)

Tools:  Modern Label punch, Stampin' Trimmer, Sponge Daubers

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Take care and enjoy your day.

Backyard Transformation (Warning: picture heavy)

Hi again!!!  This blog post has nothing to do with Stampin' Up! or crafting.  This is about our backyard and the massive transformation it has undergone over the last number of months.  After lots of delays and a few setbacks it was completed about a month ago.  And at the end of all of this we have nothing but high praise for Bromar Landscaping, JWS Woodworking and Design, SolarWave and Paradise Pools for what we now consider our backyard getaway.  The planning process and lining up who would do the work began last summer.  And my recommendation for a job like this is to get your tradespeople, plans drawn up etc, months in advance.  Especially if you want things done right.  If you wait until spring, you might be disappointed, these guys get booked up really fast once the snow melts.  

First are the "before" pictures.  These were taken a couple of days before they broke ground, the first week of April.  You can see the stakes marking what goes where.  And how cold and desolate everything looks.  Bye bye grass.  

During the process Mother Nature had other plans.  When they were digging the pool it snowed and snowed.  Then when the landscapers started excavating it rained and rained and rained.  We had a wicked freezing rain storm, and lots more rain.  I think we broke a few records in terms of how much rain we got.  And we expanded the job even more.  Since they were doing the walkway on the garage side of the house, why not re do our front steps and driveway as well.  I will have to post those pictures later.  The pool was filled with water and completed while I was in Salt Lake City, just in time for the hottest week of the year around here.  

And below is the completed project.  New gardens, that I will add on to as time goes on and I see how these current plants do where they are.  Next year we will get some container gardens set up. Maybe some hanging baskets etc.  And of course some decorative accessories.  Right now its a blank canvas, and I will use this coming off season to plan and figure out what I want.

First is our pool house.  The pump etc is behind it and inside is the breaker panel, a bench and storage shelves.  We will use this house to store toys and cushions when not in use, pool chemicals and gives people a space to change as well.

View from the back of the property.  The cabana off the house has a series of solar panels on top that we are using to heat the pool. And gives us shade since our backyard has all day sun.  We also had them dig the deep end a few feet deeper for safer diving.

Dave's skyshed works perfectly with added pool and patio elements.

The lounge area with the (now closed) cantilever umbrella for shade when needed.  I have spent a few days out there getting some sun while I was sick.

The fireplace. And you can tell by the towels etc., we getting lots of use of the patio.  Love the seating area here.

The BBQ/bar area under the cabana, we can now BBQ 12 months of the year hopefully.

 
View of the yard from the back door.  Ahhh paradise.

One of the setbacks occurred when we had to fire the original fencing company.  The chain link needed remeshing for the pool by-law code so it is no longer climbable.  And we decided to do a cedar privacy fence from the gate area to just past the hot tub.  The original company made promises and never showed up.  So we fired them.  We contacted JWS, who originally built our cabana, and they showed up within a few days and finished the job within the week.  And they did an amazing job, including custom lattice and archway.  

Hot tub area.

Fireplace is ready for some s'more making.  This has been getting used at least a few times per week so far.  And the nights have been unusually cold for this time of year.

Hot tub at night, the lights change color.  Kids love the lights.

The pool lighted at night.  Two spotlights in the pool itself and lights sunken into the patio around the pool.

We also had lights installed underneath the step going from the lower patio to the upper pool patio, can't have our guests tripping up the stairs at night.  And it makes a gorgeous statement.

And these are the solar panels.  So far they have kept our pool warm, anywhere from high 70's to mid 80's, depending on the sunlight we get during the day.   We haven't had to use the gas heater at all yet.  Which is a huge savings for us considering how big of a pool we have.

And that is our little piece of paradise in our own backyard.  We are more than happy with the end result.  Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.

What's in That Really Sweet Backpack

Hello everyone.  Its been awhile since I last posted.  I have very very sick.  Just finished a round of antibiotics for a kidney infection which was on top of a really bad flu bug that just didn't want to go away.   Saw my Doctor yesterday, things are looking better but I am to go back to the lab for some more tests on Monday just to make sure the antibiotics killed off all the bacteria and that my system is back to healthy and strong overall.  I haven't been this sick in a long time.  Dave and the kids have held down the fort quite nicely the last two weeks.  Everybody remained fed and had clean clothes.  House needs some work, my standards are little different than the rest of the family. lol.  But all in good time.   

Now I am getting back to the swing of things in my real world and it dawned on me this morning that our oldest, Laura, is moving out in 2 1/2 weeks.  Yep, time to push my first baby bird out the nest and watch her learn to fly on her own.  She is off to University to study Astronomy and Astrophysics.  And yes, I am one proud mama.   But she won't be completely alone at University, two of her cousins will be going to the same University and we are hoping she is in the same residence building as one of them. 

But I first want to post pictures of this gorgeous packback and all the goodies inside that I received from Stampin' Up! while at convention in Salt Lake City.  Believe me, this back pack is very full.  We received the cost of our registration fees back in just free product, probably more.  

First the backpack.  Gorgeous.   

Peek inside, I stole a silver streamer that was part of the closing celebrations on the Saturday.  We had fireworks, and silver streamers and confetti falling all over us.  Sooooo much fun.

We received a beautiful silver pen and a lanyard for our name tag.  These sweet tags are from my upline's upline, Jamilla.  My upline is Denise, and Denise's upline is Jamilla.  At the end of convention the entire team met up at the Olive Garden, arranged by Jamilla, and we ate and ate and drank to celebrate the end of a fabulous convention.  And Jamilla made for each of us a sweet little baggie full of Christmas tags.   Thank you so much Jamilla!!

And there was of course Prize patrol.  We each were given a wrist band that was a colour from our main catalogue.  I was Sahara Sand.  And my colour won this sweet prize from the Holiday Catalogue and Main Catalogue.  It is the Magnificent Maple stamp set, with a package of Muslin Bags, and our new 3/4" Chevron Ribbon in Crushed Curry.  I am thinking little treat bags for table settings during Thanksgiving.

This package is full of make n' takes that we could make at convention or at home.  I decided to make mine at home.  And nope, I haven't gotten around to them yet.  LOL  Its summer, and I have a new pool to enjoy.

Couple more make n' takes, a MDS card, and a muslin bag.  And nope, haven't done these up yet either.  LOL

We also were given copies of the new Holiday Catalogue, which went live August 1, of course the Main Catalogue, and some special offers for Convention attendees for some stamp sets and office supplies such as business cards etc.

Our book with convention details, bios on the presenters, and of course a space for note taking, and lots of notes were taken.

All these stamp sets were handed out throughout the convention.  Sweet!!!

Our new Real Red Goodie Gear Simply Created along with Oh, Goodie Stamp Set.  Hello Christmas!!!  My favourite time of year.

July's Paperpumpkin kit.  Ok, I confess, when it came to Paper Pumpkin, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around getting the subscription.  It just didn't appeal to me at first.  I was able to see some of the early kits, and I wasn't sold.  I knew lots of people who loved their kits, and thoroughly enjoyed getting their monthly subscription in the mail.  But I thought it just wasn't for me.  At convention, they offered us a free Paper Pumpkin kit if we could write down what we would use this kit for.  Well, I took one look and knew, this would be a sweet mini album to send with Laura to University.  So she won't forget us little people back home.  And one of the first things I did when I got home, was sign up for a monthly kit from Paper Pumpkin.  And they made it really easy with the Pumpkin Deal.  Just go to the Paper Pumpkin website HERE and enter the code PUMPKINDEAL, and get your first kit for $12.50 as opposed to the usual $24.95. Taxes and shipping included.  This amazing deal ends August 31.

A sampling of our new Undefined kit (make your own custom rubber stamps) as well as Seasons of Style Washi Tape and Witches Brew Washi Tape.

And this back pack and goodies inside is what made my luggage a little heavier going home.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.  Please, feel free to leave comments or questions.  I love hearing from you.

I'm Back From My Salt Lake City Adventure (picture heavy)

It has been quite a whirlwind of a summer so far.  Between birthdays, father's day, dance recital, dance exams etc.  And of course Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City.  I returned from convention late Sunday night, Monday was chill and unpack, Tuesday took my mom to the dentist, and I have been sick since Wednesday.  We are suppose to go to my in-laws for a big family get together tomorrow, but I just might be staying home.  Still feeling kind of crappy and I have a low grade fever.   

Now back to my Salt Lake City Adventure.  After a year full of incredible lows and highs I needed this get away.  I met two of my team mates, Natasha and Gail, at the Detroit Airport and we arrived in Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon.  At the airport we found welcome signs everywhere, including a special priced shuttle to the Hilton where we were staying.  

We had dinner at the Olive Garden and wandered around the city.  I found Salt Lake City to be a gorgeous city.  It is surrounded by mountains, and there is an overall feeling of contentment as I wandered the core area around the convention.  We noticed that there were Stampin' Up! flags attached to all the light posts.  It is Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary, and they were getting ready to throw an awesome party!!!

The convention centre.  This place is huge, and it had to be as there were about 6,000 of us attending convention this year.  

Wednesday I slept in, enjoyed room service breakfast and met up with everyone for a day of shopping at the City Creek Centre and dinner afterwards.

During convention many of us noted it was more than just a Stampin' Up! convention, it was also a ThirtyOne convention.  I swear there were almost as many Thirty One bags as there were attendees.   I of course brought my own as you can see below, it has my name one it.

View from my room at the Hilton.  Not bad.  LOL

Convention was amazing overall.  Information overload by the time it was over Saturday night.  But worth it.  And all the free stuff I took home.  WOW!!!  Stampin' Up! knows how to spoil their demonstrators!!!

Thursday we started our day with a tour of the head office in Riverton.  I volunteer to work there for paper crafting supplies.  What an amazing place!

The room where all our orders are processed, packed and shipped.  I should say a small corner of the room.  This place is huge!!!

Our statement of the heart at Stampin' Up!

A small part of the idea board where it appears a lot of brainstorming goes on to bring us all those new amazing stamp sets etc that we all love.

With a view like this I would work here in a heartbeat.  I am sure Dave won't mind the commute to Mississauga ;)

Inside the facility.   Why yes, I would enjoy my lunches in the atrium by the waterfall when I am at work.

Friday was a busy day of general sessions, expo, mini classes etc.  Here is a small group (emphasis on small) of demonstrators from all over the world waiting to get into the main stage for one of the general sessions.  Later on this view was wall to wall to wall people.

Friday night was awards night, and I got to cheer on a number of members of my team who won various awards.   What an amazing group of women I work with.

Afterwards was the party.  And Stampin' Up! knows how to throw a party.  There was a live band, dancers, walking tables (actually girls dressed up as tables), cupcakes, lemonade, and more.  And the highlight was two gymnasts doing routines from drapes hanging from the ceiling.  At first I thought there has to be some foam pads underneath them to break their fall if something should go wrong.  But nope, there was just the concrete floor.  Amazing.

Saturday was more in-depth classes, and two more general sessions.  Sunday I came home with my luggage weighing a lot more than it did going there.  Now to sort through all the ideas and concepts I learned while there.   

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.   I am off to have some tea and honey for my throat.  Take care