Sale-a-bration Sundays: Love Banner

Since this is the Sunday nearest Valentine's Day, I thought I would show you the banner designed by Lisa & Deb for our January demonstrator meeting. Isn't the Lovely Letters stamp set perfect for this? (I reach for it whenever I want to do a monogram effect.) And notice the little paper roses, made from scallop and circle punches.

Although we won't be making the banner itself in class on April 15, I will be demonstrating how to do the little flowers. What's more, I'll show you how to tie perfectly consistent mini bows every time using a dessert fork! Now how can you resist that?! -Kathy

Treat Package Remake - 1

You remember the elegant chocolate treat packages that Lori made up for our Holiday Open House in October? I liked them so well (both aesthetically and actively with my taste buds!) that I decided to do a re-make for Valentine's Day.

It just so happened that I had some scraps of paper left from the Holly Berry Bouquet paper I bought at Christmas. It's all sparkly and eye-catching, just begging to be released from scrap pocket jail! Here's a thrifty tip: When choosing your holiday colors or shopping the after-Christmas sales, red and white patterns such as stripes, checks, plaids and polka dots can extend into Valentines Day and (with the addition of a "true blue" patriotic picnic decor for the summer months.

For each chocolate bundle you'll need:

a cardstock base 1.75" x 2"
two strips of DSP 1" x 3"
two 1 3/4" scallop circle punches of contrasting DSP
about 14" of seam binding tape (the wider/stiffer the ribbon, the longer it needs to be)
Tombow Multi-Purpose glue, clear Scotch tape, and glue dots
two Hershey Nuggets, flavor of choice

1. Wrap the 1x3" strips around the belly of the nuggets and secure on the bottom with tape.
2. Position the scallop circle punches on the base with the side you want to show facing DOWN. Just under half the scallop circle overlaps the base. Secure with Tombow and allow a moment to set up.
3. Position glue dots on base as represented by white dots.
4. Press nuggets onto glue dots as you snuggle them onto the base.
5. Center ribbon/seam binding tape (in this case Cherry Cobbler) beneath base and slowly cinch sides together as you tie your bow.
6. Optional: Of course, if you want to add a little tag or sentiment, our baker's twine and Jewelry Tag punch would tie on perfectly!

They're cute alone, but twice as nice in pairs. Enjoy! -Kathy

Artistic Etchings

I Want It All Occasions Mini Share

You have probably looked through the Occasions Mini catalog by now and fallen in love with the products for yourself. But to help you get your hands on a "little bit of everything" I've put together a collection of lovely things that coordinate with the Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper (pictured lower left). There is coordinating card stock for card bases, ribbon and baker's twine, laser cut cards and envelopes, brads, hat pins, pearls, sparkly paper... even a sticky-back maze game that will make a truly unique card for a kid you know... no matter how old he or she may be!

If this looks like something you'd like to play with, just get in touch with me. It's $13.oo (tax and shipping included). I'll be happy to put a set together for you. -Kathy

Sale-a-bration Sundays: Kite Card

I am having so much fun with the Sale-a-bration products, I decided to preview a project with you each Sunday through the end of March to get you thinking about some of the things we'll be doing in the class I'm planning for my customers who place a qualifying order ($50) during this SU! promotion.

I'm starting with this adorable kite fold card, spotted on the web site of demo Brenda Quintana. We will definitely be making this one! It will lend itself so well to kid cards and a variety of uplifting themes. It pops open with space for a message inside, as you might imagine. Just think of the fun you could have embellishing the tail... -Kathy

Love You Truly Card Class

Here's a great basic card class to build your stash! We'll spend a relaxing couple of hours recreating four versatile designs; wedding, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, and “just because”. Two each of 4 card designs will equip you to say it often and well!

Saturday, February 11, 2-4pm. ($12)

Shoot me an e-mail if you'd like to participate! -Kathy

catalina_los_ojos@hotmail.com

Furry Folk Valentine

Have you got your Valentines made yet? If not, let me encourage you to consider a non-traditional stamp set! Little animals have cuteness-factor built right in, and when paired with a heart-felt sentiment, they make the perfect image for a variety of occasions!

Furry Folk has lots of little images. If you stamped each individually, it would be pretty involved. The way to speed up production of multiple cards like this is to set up more than one image on your stamp block (another very nice option with the new clear stamps). I paired the two animals, and on another block the flower and ladybug. The sentiment was already a unit. I chose three hearts from the new Fashionable Hearts Embosslit Die, popped them up on dimensionals, and drew the strings on with a Stampin' Write marker.

The card measures 4.25" square, with the panel a 3.75" square (also popped up on dimensionals). I'll hand out most of these personally, but if I need to mail a few, they'll fit in our standard sized envelopes easily. -Kathy