On November 14, my daughter hosted a baby shower for my daughter-in-law.  She did 99% of the work herself, but would ask me for input and ideas.  We both like making decorations ourselves vs. buying the cheezy stuff the stores sell.  The baby’s nursery is done is green and brown.  My son and daughter-in-law aren’t finding out the sex of the baby before it is born in early January.  So the colors for the shower were the same as the baby’s nursery. 

Sorry, but I didn’t get a formal invitation because my daughter ran short.  But the invitation was in the shape of a baby’s onsie–very cute.

The Sizzix Big Shot Flower Folds die cut got used for a lot of the decorations.  This was the sign on the front door.

This is the diaper cake.  You roll the diapers and secure with a rubber band.  The wide ribbon hides the rubber bands.  After the shower, the diaper cake can be taken apart and the diapers can be used.

I’ll be honest here.  This diaper baby freaked me out!  You roll diapers for the head, arms and legs.  Stuff the clothes with towels or blankets.  Add a hat, mittens and booties to cover the diapers.  A nuk in the mouth and we placed it in a doll carrier.  So many people attending the shower thought this was a real baby when they glanced at it.  It was only when they got close that we’d hear a gasp!

For the three table decorations, I used my wire card tree to feature two-sided baby pictures of my son and daughter-in-law.  I used the Sizzix Big Shot Scallop Square and Scallop Circle die cuts.  I stamped baby words and punched them out with the Modern Label punch.  Tied some ribbon at the base and it was done.  I love how these personalized the shower, gave people something to talk about and helped people visualize what the new baby may look like.

I made a 5"x5" baby card using the nursery colors.  This was easy using the Sizzix Big Shot Scallop Circle die cut, Swirly Sizzlits decorative strip die, Sizzix Texturz Plates Backgrounds I, Eyelet Border Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch and 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 5/16" chocolate chip jumbo brads and 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon.

These sugar cookies are so darn cute!  My daughter found the cookie cutter on Ebay.  She made the cookies from scratch and then made the homemade frosting.  It didn’t take her very long to decorate them.  Me?  I would never have attempted this complicated project.  Many people at the shower thought she bought these!  Now, that’s a compliment!

What do you do with your retired Stampin’ Up! ribbon?  My daughter decided to make a taggie blanket.  It was fun to see all the different colors, sizes and textures of the ribbon.  I know the new baby will love playing with this.

These are just a few of the personalized decorations at the baby shower!  Over 22 adults attended and 5 children.  It was a fun shower! 

Tags: Big Shot, Decorating, Gift Item, Stamping

One of my downline, Autumn, attended my recent Halloween class.  She changed one project from a Halloween theme to an autumn theme.  She used the Big Shot "Bag with Scallops" die cut to make the six bookmark look-a-like bases.  She used the Big Shot "Alphabet Simple Letters" to spell out her name.  The Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" punch and 1 1/4" punch and the Falling Leaves stamp set were also used.  Don’t you love the new In-Colors of cardstock, ribbon and ink:  Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango and Soft Suede?  Great job Autumn!

Tags: Big Shot, Scrapbooking, Stamping

Today was the first day of my Halloween classes.  Everyone got to choose which project sthey made and how many they wanted to make.

I’m also offering this class on Wednesday, October 21, from 6pm-9pm, and Thursday, October 22, from 6pm-9pm, at my townhouse.  You pay between $.50 and $2.00 for each of the various projects.  An RSVP is required to attend this class.

Tags: Big Shot, Halloween, Stamping

For World Card Making Day on October 3, 2009, the class featured 10 cards made using the One Sheet Wonder Technique.

Take a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" piece of either Whisper White or Very Vanilla cardstock.  Randomly stamp coordinating images all over it.  Then you lay the following pattern on top of the stamped sheet of cardstock.  Take your paper cutter and cut all the different shapes out found on the pattern.  You can get a bit creative and slightly change the shapes you cut out.  Cut the cardstock needed to make the rest of the cards.  This is quick and easy way to create 10 different cards.

Tags: Stamping

Tonight, the Stamping Saints group at my church will be making 100 patriotic thank you cards to give to veterans on Veteran’s Day.  I don’t have any patriotic stamp sets, so I knew who to call–my friend and downline, Sue A., whose two sons are in the military.  She had two retired Stampin’ Up! stamp sets for me to use "Independence Day" and "The Free & the Brave".  I had to design cards that are simple enough for children and non-stampers to make, which can be a challenge for me.  But I’m sure you’ll agree with me that these four designs will be easy for them to make.

Tags: Stamping