I'm back & Deal of the Week!

Hey Guys!

We returned from Quebec on Sunday evening, and then Ed headed right out to the grocery store before they closed to buy everything we needed for a fabulous Thanksgiving feast on Monday! And what a feast it was! My husband is an excellent cook, and he definitely lived up to his reputation. He makes the most amazing stuffing/dressing! It has apples, walnuts and dried cranberries in it along with the traditional ingredients like bread, onions and celery. It is to die for! And no Thanksgiving feast would be complete without a fabulous Pumpkin Pie. I make mine from scratch. It is awesome. It is from my most favorite Pastry Chef, Anna Olsen. On my birthday this year I get to go to a Wine & Dine event at the near by McNally Robinson Bookstore with Anna Olson! Too fun! Here is the link to Anna's Perfect Pumpkin pie recipe.

And now for this weeks, Deal of the Week. Sorry for the delay. If you have a Big Shot, or have been thinking about getting a Big Shot, this one is for you!

Flower Burst Embosslit Die

Regular Price- $15.95 on sale for only

$7.49!!
Pop Up Cake Die

Regular Price- $53.95 on sale for only

$34.95!!

Perfect Setting Die

Regular price- $57.95 on sale for only

$34.95!!

These items will only be this price until Monday, Oct. 19th. So contact me today to place your order. I have an order going in this weekend. Let me know as soon as you can.

I will post pictures of the trip as the week goes on, and come back later for a Sneak peak of one of this weeks Club projects and I am hoping to have Sunday's 6 Card class ready to show you. There are still a few spots left. Cost is $29 and includes 6 cards all made using Merry Moment Designer Paper and you get to keep the left over paper!

Cheers,

Technology glitches...... still in Quebec!

Hey everyone,

I am still in Quebec, but have not been able to share any pictures with you because although I brought the cables for the camera, I don't for the life of me know where the software is putting the photos. I know that sounds really dumb, and I am fairly computer literate and have tried everything I know of. The path that the pictures are supposed to be in is drawing a blank, yet I can view them in the software. I could go and save each of them a second time and direct them to a specific folder, but I just haven't had the time. So in the meantime I will share a really bad photo of me from Stampin'palooza that shows my name tag. And provide you with the instructions to make it. In case you didn't know, Caroline had a name tag contest at Palooza. This was my entry. I didn't win, but that's not surprising, you should have seen all the beautiful tags people made! Wow! You can look at all of them in the Palooza gallery that I linked to in the previous post.

1. Take a piece of Basic Black card stock & using the Scallop Circle die for the Big Shot cut one circle.
2. Turn the punched out circle on the die and run through a second time so that you get the "pointy" circle instead of the scallops.
3. Stamp the desired name using the "Schoolbook serif" stamp set with Versamark ink, one letter at a time using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.
4. Once you have stamped the letter, cover it with heat & stick powder, tap off the excess and heat with the heat gun.
5. Sprinkle the glitter of your choice, I was using the cosmo fine (pink) over the letter. Repeat with each of your letters.
6. Stamp the hive & 3 bees from the "Just Buzzin' By" set with Basic Black ink on Whisper White paper.
7. Colour them in using Stampin' Write Markers & cut them out with your Paper Snips.
8. Mount the Hive on the tag with Stampin' Dimensionals.
9. Mount the bees on wire and attach them to the back of the name tag with your adhesive of choice.
10. To attach the name tag to my clothes, I purchased some plastic name badge holders from a Dollar store and mounted it with snail.

We are having an awesome time on our vacation. The weather has been pretty good too! And the leaves are just stunning!! It is definitely peak for the leaves here in the Laurentians. I can't wait to share the pictures with you! Kieran learnt to horseback ride yesterday at a farm near by and is spending the whole day there today (it's a PA Day here in Quebec so the farm is running a full day program for the kids). Tonight we are going to visit with a friend of mine from work who lives just outside of Montreal. Looking forward to it. The other day we went in to Montreal briefly and I stopped into our Montreal office and got to put faces to a whole bunch of names with whom I have been working with for the last 10 years. It was a fun visit, but the baby was starting to make too much noise, so we had to leave.

I may or may not pop in one more time before we head home, but I promise to post pictures on Monday when we are back in Toronto, and still on vacation!!

Cheers,

On Vacation and the Urban Scrapyard in Leaside is closing and Stampinpalooza update!!

Hey everyone!

Greetings from St. Hippolyte, Quebec! My family and I are vacationing in the Laurentians for some much needed R&R. I will be posting throughout the week, but mostly pictures of our vacation. Hope you don't mind!

I got an email this morning that the Urban Scrapyard on Eglinton Ave in Leaside is closing! It's really too bad. It was a nice little store and the girls who owned it are very talented Scrapbookers. Urban Scrapbook customers need not fear however because I am able to bring you top of the line Scrapbooking supplies delivered to your door! And I am super close to Leaside too! Missing the wonderful classes offered by US? Don't worry, I have a fabulous class schedule lined up for this fall, and even a Scrapbooking Gifts class in October! Check out my events page for more info.

Stampinpalooza was this past weekend. I can't believe the event came and went! Visit this link for all the pictures! If you weren't able to attend this one, don't worry because Caroline is doing it again in Feb! So, think about joining if you can! I will be there! I would love for you to join me!

Cheers,

New Deals of the Week!!!

October already?????? It's a cold one here in Toronto today! But it doesn't have to be all bad, because Stampin' Up is doing the Deals of the Week again!! Each week (beginning today) Stampin' Up will list something on sale. You will only have until the following Monday to order, so you will want to stay ontop of this one!

So...... the question you want answered is "What is today's deal of the week??"

And my answer to you would be...................... PUNCHES!!! Not just any punches, but the Trio Flower punch & 5-Petal Flower for only $15.99 and the My Way punch for only $16.99! AWESOME! If you don't already have these punches contact me today to purchase them at this awesome price!!!

Here is a card made using the 5-Petal flower punch. It's an oldie, but a goodie, I love this use of the punch. For this card you punch out 6 of the flowers. You ink them all up using a sponge dauber and then you do the following:

1. Stack all 6 flowers and poke a hole through the centre using your paper piecer.

2. Leave 2 flowers intact and attach them together but alternately overlaped.

3. Cut the petals off the other 4 flowers by sniping up the middle of the flower on either side of the petals towards your hole.

4. Adhere the loose petals to the back of the 2 complete ones inbehind the open spaces.

5. Continue to adhere your individual petals following all the open spaces.

6. Punch out 2 ovals using the small oval punch, fold them in half and run them through your paper crimper!

Have a great day!

Cheers,

Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack!! Wow!

Ever wondered what happens to Stampin' Up product once it retires? The stamp sets are basically made to order, so once they are gone, they are gone for good, but accessories and stuff? In the past they had apparently gathered dust in the storerooms in Utah, but not for long. For the first time ever Stampin' Up! has launched a new section of the online store called THE CLEARANCE RACK!! How cool is that? Now you can get your hands on older SU stuff while supplies last! These purchase can only be made through my Online ordering system and not directly with me as availability changes frequently. But don't delay, check out the goods now, and check back often as this is now a regular feature of the online shop. Simply visit my online store (http://blairmoch.stampinup.net) and click on Shop now and then Clearance Rack (on the left handside of the page) to view the current products available. And the best part, the items will ship right to your door!!

Cheers,

Brown Paper packages....it's been a long time!

Once upon a time I started a feature called "Brown Paper Packages". The plan was that every Monday I would show you 5 projects that stood out for me as something special and worth sharing. There are so many creative people out there in blog land, some who even have stamp sets that I don't have! Shocking eh? It feel like I have millions!!! LOL But honestly, I do try and hold back sometimes!! :)

I would like to try and bring this feature back. So please give me your feedback. Oh, and just in case you are wondering why "Brown Paper Packages"? Come on, you know the song..... "Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things......"


Hope you enjoy this weeks picks. I don't have any specific method for choosing them, just stuff that catches my eye. I hope you like them as much as I do! And look forward to this feature every Monday morning!

clipped from understandblue.blogspot.com

clipped from www.stampinchic.com

clipped from www.kreativejewels.com

clipped from stampingaddict.blogspot.com

clipped from andreawalford.com

Cheers,

I'm back!!!! Miss me??

Sorry for the long absence, we have been going crazy around here! But my computer is fixed, and I am back!!

I thought I would finally post the pictures from September club projects! I have some what changed the format of my clubs and I am still looking for new members. Anyone who signs up to join my club (5 months remaining) will get a FREE classic ink pad of their choice! Let me know if you are interested. As always the monthly clubs are technique based and each month club members will make 2-3 projects and a technique card in a 6x6 page protector. It's sort of like making and collecting trading cards!! :)
Here is our first one. The technique is Rock n' Roll. If you click on the picture you will see that the decoration was stamped first in red and then the edges were rolled in chocolate chip to create a unique two toned image. FUN!

We made a Christmas card using this technique and the awesome Delightful Decorations set and the new Ornament punch from the Holiday Mini!

The card also uses some of the Merry Moments Designer Series paper. I love how this paper makes the ornaments look as though they are hanging in a Christmas tree!!
The ornaments were stamped using the Rock n' Roll technique and then punched out with the Ornament punch. They were then "suspended" by the new silver elastic cord also from the Mini. At only $6.95 this item really packs a punch. It comes in either silver or gold and you get 25 yards of it! All of my Xmas presents will have tags attached with this stuff!

The second card we made was a Thanksgiving card. We used Stampin' Write markers to colour the image in to achieve another multi-coloured look. The stamp is from the new Wandering Words set from, you guessed it, the Mini!!
The colour scheme for this card was inspired by the Autumn Traditions Designer Series paper and uses Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Ruby Red and Always Articoke. The More Mustard piece was dry embosed using the Texturz plate Perfect details and the Big Shot! This is a really simple card and the layout could be used for any type of card and any occasion. Just change up the stamp and the colours and voila! Infact you could do this for all the stamps in the Wandering words set! Oooooooh, I am going to have to try that!! :) I can picture them now! I want to go and play as soon as I am done this post!! LOL!

The last thing we made was a Halloween treat thingie (for lack of a better name) using the fabulous new Sweet Centres Stamp set and the Sweet Treat cups!

This set is awesome! And works for so many holidays! Halloween, Christmas, Valentines day, generic cards & it makes the sweet treat cup into a flower too! The cups themselves come 12 in a pack for only $3.95 and can be filled with almost anything! This same project could also be mounted on a lollipop stick! Cute eh?? LOVE it!

Hope you enjoyed these projects. If you did, why not concider joining one of my clubs? We always have a blast! And in one of the months, you get to be the hostess and earn a ton of free stuff!!

Speaking of Hostesses and the free stuff they can earn. Right now (until the end of November) all hostesses who's workshop totals $330 or more can choose any item from the Holiday Mini Catalogue for only $14! (excludes the digital studio software). It can be anything, Big Shot dies, stamp sets, the new Simply adorned customizable charms, ANYTHING!!! Contact me today to book your own private class and earn your wishlist for FREE!!

Cheers,

I am still here!!

Sorry guys,

It has been forever!! I have been so busy booking workshops etc, and then I have been having computer problems, hence why I haven't posted.

I think I will have the computer problems fixed tonight and I will post some stuff for you. Sorry for the delays!!!!

Hope you can forgive me.

Cheers,

Happy Anniversary to me!!

And to Ed of course as well!!! 4 years ago today Ed and I were married in a BEAUTIFUL outdoor ceremony!! It was the happiest day of my life! And the most perfect wedding ever! But then I am fairly certain that all brides say that. Anyhow, it was the day I married my best friend, the man of my dreams, my ED!

Happy Anniversary my sweet!!

And a celebration would not be a celebration without a DEAL!! So from today until Sept. 7th (Sunday) I will be offering FREE Shipping to anyone who places and order with me!!! Contact me directly to place your order. Orders online will not be eligible for the special.

Since it is our Anniversary, I of course made Ed a card.

This card uses the new "Sweet Centers" set but because I wanted the "I love you" in the centre I didn't use a treat cup. This set is amazingly versatile. For the clouds I simply punched out a scallop circle from some scraps and sponged them using my sponge daubers and my Bashful Blue & Tempting Turquoise ink. Love that effect!

Products used:
Stampin' Up "Sweet Centers" stamp set, "Teeny Tiny Wishes"
Stampin' Up Card stock- Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White.
Stampin' Up Ink- Bashful Blue, Real Red, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa.
Accessories:Scallop Circle punch (for cloud template), sponge daubers.

I am whisking my husband away to a beautiful B&B in Guelph, Ontario for the evening, therefore I will process any orders you send me upon my return! Have a great weekend!!

Cheers,

The Holiday Mini is here!!!!!

That's right! It's Holiday Mini Time! From now until January 4th, you can purchase items from this catalogue. Some of the highlights of the new catalogue are:

• 2 new hostess sets for qualifying workshops
• Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas & Valentine's day products
• NEW Build-a-Bear products- stamps, dies for the Big Shot & paper
• NEW Simply Adorned- create your own jewelry
• NEW Digital Studio software- Digital paper crafting at it's best!!

Click here to view the catalogue online. All of my customers should have received a copy in the mail by now, if you did not, contact me for your copy today!

I thought I would show you a card made with one of the very cool new sets/products available in the Mini. Sorry for the quality of the picture, I took it with my iPhone because I was too lazy to go and get my real camera. Anyhow, picture quality aside, how cool is this?? The set is called "Sweet Centers" and is designed to coordinate with the NEW Sweet Treat cups. They are self adhesive plastic dome cups. And they can be used for soooooo many things, snowglobes, treats, shakers, windows and more!! The best part is, that the "Sweet Centers" set has a little something for almost any occasion, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Christmas (ornament top), flower and Hot air balloon. I look forward to showing more things you can do with this set in the future. Demo's all over the place have been making all sorts of cool things! Contact me now to order yours! These make great party favours or gifts for the classroom. The possiblities are endless!!!


Cheers,

Back in the city!

I had an absolutely AMAZING weekend at camp!! The weather was horrible (cold & raining) but that didn't seem to matter. I was however VERY glad that I purchased a pair of rain boots at Canadian Tire on the way up!

Here are a few pictures of the weekend........ This first one is of me and some of my closest friends from camp. Left to Right, Me, Jenny, Kaaren & Katherine. Notice how wet we look!! Oh well, it was still so great to be there. We are standing on the porch of the main lodge. Jenny was visiting from Dublin, Ireland (she's originally from Toronto) and I hadn't seen her in over 5 years. Kaaren drove up from Rochester, NY (originally from Cleavland, OH). Katherine and I actually see each other quite a bit as we are both in the Toronto area, but it was so great to spend that time with them as a group. Jenny, Katherine and I were in the same cabin together since 1984! They are by far some of my oldest and dearest friends. For those of you who went to summer camp, you will know the joy of camp friends.

This next picture was taken at one of the meals, I think that this was our hillarious dinner. We couldn't stop laughing! From left to right, Kaaren, Me, Katherine, Cris & Leslie. Cris and Leslie were campers of mine and I had the absolute privilage of being on staff with them as well. It was sooo cool just hanging out and laughing with everyone. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a LONG time!

And the last picture I am going to share with you today is from the card workshop I did on Saturday afternoon. I had 20 women sign up for this workshop, and all of them had a blast!!! I love stamping, obviously, and it was so great to bring it to some of my camp friends. Oh and notice the wollen hat (or touque as us Canadian's call them). It was really that cold!!!

Hopefully I will get back to the creative stamping today. I will post some stuff again tomorrow.

I am missing camp already, thankful for all the wonderful people who I have met over the years, and glad for some new friends this weekend too! I can't wait for the 90th reunion in 5 years!!!

Cheers,

Off to Algonquin Park for the weekend

Hi Everyone,

I am just giving everyone a heads up that I will away in Algonquin Provincial Park for the weekend at my Camp reunion. I went to Camp Tanamakoon from the age of 8 until I was in my mid-twenties and that's the camp that my daughter Kieran goes to now. Well this year is the 85th Anniversary of the camp and the alumni like to celebrate by visiting the camp for a weekend of reminiscing and wishing we were kids at camp again. I am really excited because not only is my sister flying in from Newfoundland, Canada but I get to go with my two best friends from my camp days, one who lives in Ireland now. I can't wait! And I am getting the opportunity to do a workshop up there as well. So I get to go to my favorite place and share my favorite hobby! FUN! Needless to say however, I will not be posting this weekend as I will not have cell phone or computer access while I am there and I didn't get a chance to set up some postings before going as I have been packing tonight, and my sister arrives tomorrow night and she wants to visit some things in Toronto as she is only here for a short visit.

Tonight I want share with you a beautiful project using our Chipboard album and the Decor Stencils.

The great thing about our chipboard albums is that you can decorate them however you want! You can personalize them or make them suite any event or home decor.

Paper

• More Mustard card stock
• Rich Razzleberry card stock
• Very Vanilla card stock
• Thoroughly Modern Designer Series paper
• On Board 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" Album

Ink

• More Mustard Craft Stampin' Pad

Accessories & Tools

• Rich Razzleberry 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon
• Flourish Décor Stencil
• Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Beautiful Butterfly Bigz die
• Sponge daubers

I will be back next week with pictures of the projects I did with the camp girls, and I will share some pictures of my favorite place! Until then, don't forget that the Starter Kit special continues until August 31st. If you wish to sign up on my team visit my stampin' up website and click "Join". The password is Canadian. If you have any issues or questions feel free to call the Demonstrator support line for Stampin' Up! at 1-800-Stampup or contact me Sunday evening or on Monday. And remember that the first 5 people who sign up under the current promotion will get to choose a FREE stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalogue to be released Sept 1st. This offer is available only through me.

Click this link to view the Starter Kit specials.

Cheers,