It is a chilly -38 with the wind chill today but that is not the only reason it is a little Frozen! I love the cool colours in this Frozen themed birthday banner.

In order to create more depth I used Pool Party ink to sponge dauber the edge of the Pool Party banner piece. I LOVE this simple technique because it is simple but effective.

In order to create a frost kissed look mixed frost white shimmer paint with rubbing alcohol and spritzed the Pool Party paper. It is difficult to capture how beautiful the paper shimmers but if you look closely you can see the sparkle in the bottom corner of the banner. 

To add a little more bling to the banner I attached sequin snowflakes with a rhinestone centre. 

Happy Stampin!

Yesterday evening we had some friends over for some holiday cheer....... which turns out is a perfect excuse to eat all the rich foods and yummy treats (and wine) you can before January 1st!! At some point in our conversation it came up how much he appreciated receiving our Christmas card in the mail as most of his Christmas wishes came via email or text message. Our card even made their mantel! 
It made me think about all the beautiful cards we received this year from friends and family and I thought that I would share the handmade ones we received with you!

Receiving a handmade card in the mail is very special. I have to admit that I make cards all the time but am not very consistent with sending them!!! I think that a great crafting new years resolution of mine will be to mail more cards! Would you like me to mail you a card? Send me a message through my contact tab on my website with your address.

Happy Stampin!

Like most years, my family decided to draw names for a Christmas gift exchange but we added the 'rule' no gift cards! I love gift cards but respected the fact that it is more exciting to open an actual gift over a gift card.......... or is it?

So many people enjoy picking their own gifts out theses days! Soo...... If you are going to gift a gift card you should make the packaging beautiful!

These two gift card pouches were made using components  from My Paper Pumpkin and the Watercolour winter simply created card kit. I Love Stampin' Up! kits because they are always beautifully designed projects that can be easily adapted to fit your crafting need. 

Happy Stampin'

This years family dinner was hosted by my parents. Their house is beautifully decorated everyday but at Christmas time it is over the top spectacular! I really wanted to take something off my mom's holiday preparation plate so I asked if I could decorate the dining table. 

It was quick and easy to come up with simple decorations using the Many Merry Stars Simply created kit (which is currently on the year end blow out sale!). The kit is designed to make 3D holiday star boxes but of course can be used for so much more. I used the star and die cut word components from the kit and clipped them onto chevon bags filled with Purdy's chocolates. Cute and yummy! 

I also scattered the small die cut gold glitter stars over the table. It was my way of making the joy of having the family dinner memory last a little longer as I am sure my parents are picking the little stars up off the floor still today! lol! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Stampin'

Christmas is getting closer and although I am not fully prepared for the holidays I have started to switch gears in my craft room! Love is in the air and with the newly released polymer stamp set, Snuggles and Smooches, it is easy to create sweet projects!

Stampin' Up! demonstrators were treated to a sneak peak of the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs and WOWZA they are both packed with amazing stamp sets and products. I can not wait to get creating (or CASEing lol) projects to share with you soo........ check out these adorable Valentine treat boxes!!

Happy Stampin!

One of my go to places to find creative inspiration is Stampin' Up! As a demonstrator you are granted special access to a demonstrator website packed with great ideas BUT the Stampin' Up! publications are also a great place to start when trying to get your creative juices flowing. 

After receiving the Holiday Supplement catalog in the mail my mom showed me which card she would like to make this year!! 'Tis the season!

What caught her eye was the sparkly shaker bling inside the star. The Frosted Sequins (135835) definitely add bling to your holiday projects. 

Our version of the card it almost an exact replica but we did make some changes. After completing a prototype for my mom to see I could sense her disappointment!!! What she loved about this card was the bling but when you stood the card up all the bling dropped to the bottom of the shaker frame. Glue dots to the rescue!

Instead of completing the card as a shaker frame we simply used glue dots to randomly attach the frosted sequins behind the embossed window sheet.

We also added a little extra sparkle by using Rhinestone Basic Jewels embellishments in the centre of the white snowflake sequins. I LOVE the finished look the rhinestone added.

Happy Stampin!

Don't forget to check Online Extravaganza deals!  Shopping has never been so much fun! 

Happy Shoppin!

I was nominated to participate in this Creative Blog hop by a wonderful friend and very talented SU demonstrator, Joyce Fowler. Thank you for your unwavering support, encouragement, friendship and of course this nomination. 

To be honest, I almost declined the nomination! Even though I have been a Stampin' Up demonstrator for over 9 years I still do not consider myself creative. WHAT?! It is true! I am a self admitted CASE-er (Case And Share Everything) so what would I be able to post that was a true Jamie creation. Secondly, I am brand new to this social media/blog movement. Actually, without the amazing computer teaching skills and patience of Joyce this blog wouldn't exist! 

True to form my project is slightly CASEd but I thought that you may enjoy seeing how I sometimes adapt CASEing into my own project. 

Banners are a fantastic way to add a custom creative touch to any occasion. They can be simple consisting of just paper or complex with many layers of card stock and accessories. I was recently asked to complete a Teddy Bear picnic banner for my daughter's preschool.  I found this image online and used it as a starting point.

Stampin' Up! doesn't have a giant bear die cut so I used the outline as a template for the base of each banner piece. I then used as many punches and dies as I could to make the little teddy come to life. Using punches and dies makes for easy, time efficient work and clean edges.

I used sponge daubers to apply ink to the edges of the card stock and used dimensionals to add texture to the project.

This Super Hero banner was also made using the same process. 
Step one: find the image online or create your own template.
Step two: use as many punches and dies in order to create clean edges and less work of course!
Step three: Add texture by inking the edges, layering and popping up pieces where possible. 

One last banner to share! One of my favourite moments when creating is the moment you step back and realize that what you created was exactly what you had pictured in your mind!! I made this for my friend's little guys monster truck themed birthday and could not have been happier with the finished project.

The green truck image was actually the invite prototype!!! I love when you can carry a party theme through from invite to loot bag.

Blog Hop Questions:
 1) What are you working on?
I am working on juggling the Christmas crafting crunch!! I am busy creating two custom made to order Birthday banners,  prepping for two upcoming custom Christmas classes, 100 ordered Christmas cards, my own personal Christmas cards and stock piling cards for my flower shops! 
YES, you can find my cards at the Funky Petals St. Albert and Fort Saskatchewan locations.   

2) How does your work differ from other in your genre?
I am not sure that my work differs from others in my genre but I do think that there is a spectrum from amazingly talented artisans to amazingly talented CASEers . I just falll closer to the CASEer's side!

3) Why do you create what you do?
I mostly create what I do based on customer demand or what I need for my own personal use. In my early years of being a SU demonstrator I was very active with classes and clubs but in the past 5 years my family expanded by 3 shifting my time priorities. Crafting is and has always been a healthy stress relieving escape for me. I love the feeling you get as you gaze upon your completed project. I also love the flexibility of Stampin' Up! and am excited that my schedule is finally clearing, allowing for a class here and there!

4) How does your creative process work?
Well, I think that we have established that I am a CASEer! Creating on my own is definitely a challenge that takes my completely outside my comfort zone (although it does happen on occasion). If I look back and reflect on why most of my projects are CASED I believe that it is because I joined SU on the very day I made my first ever card at my girlfriends SU home party. I was BRAND new and knew very little about any paper crafting products so I took advantage of attending my amazing upline, Lynsay Mahon, classes and clubs with the intention of simply CASEing the classes for my own friends and family. 
Generally my creative process consists of browsing Pinterest, checking out other talented crafters blogs and utilizing the resources on the Stampin'Up! demonstrator website. I simple find a project I love and work to recreate it or something similar to it.

One thing that I learnt very early in my crafting days is that crafters stick together! Even though I was super excited to participate in this creative blog hop I was very nervous about who I would then nominate as several demonstrators in my circle had already been nominated.  So.... I turned to social media, cause that is just what you do these days, and true to the crafters code two lovely ladies stepped up interested in being nominated.

Carolyn from Belleville, Ontario didn't hesitate to respond to my crafters request! Be sure to check out her blog Stamping.Cards & Scrapbooking Too! 

Debbie Gable was also excited to be able to share her creations and blog! Check out her blog The Frugal Scrapper. 

Thank you to these lovely ladies and be sure check out their Creative Blog Hop post on December 1st! 

Several of my Stampin' friends have also participated in this blog hop. Check out their posts too!
Sarah Sagert
Lynsay Mahon
Joyce Fowler
Krista Frattin
Jen Stagg
Alicia Hobbs
Christina Litschel



Happy Stampin'

Joining Stampin' up! was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. It has introduced me to some of the most important people in my life and lets be honest..... I have had a discount for over 9 years now!!! 

Join Stampin’ Up! This Week to Save and Earn!

Get a 25 percent discount on the Starter Kit when you join Stampin’ Up! between November 24  and December 2 . You’ll receive all the same great products AND get five percent cash back on all commissionable orders placed in December.

Trying to remember the last time we had a cash back offer? Here’s a tip: NEVER!

It’s a first-time-ever deal that you absolutely cannot miss!

Seriously!? What are you waiting for?

Happy Stampin'