Christmas Cards for Halloween!

The Christmas cards for next weekend are finished! Okay, the cards themselves are finished, but the paper isn't cut yet. I'm working on that tonight. I know it's Haloween weekend and that seems like a strange time to be doing Christmas cards, but that's just how the 4th weekend fell this month. And if I had planned it for this past weekend, I would have had to cancel because they wouldn't have been ready!

Let me know if you want me to save you a seat. There will either be door prizes or table favors, depending on how much time I have this week. And most definitely, there will be fun times with friends! See you this weekend!

September Cards Sneak Peek

 Here is a sneak peek of the cards we're making this weekend.  I am loving that owl!  If you can't make it and want kits, please let me know and I'll get them ready for you as soon as I can.  Kits are stamped and ready to assemble with a picture to show you what the finished card will look like.   Cost is $25.

I hope to see you this weekend!

Some Personal News -- and a Card

Well, I have to tell you some things and then I will post a card or two from last months workshop.  As a lot of you know, I have been in "job limbo" since my position was eliminated last spring.  I sort of randomly filled out some job applications over the summer and had a couple of interviews, but nothing had worked out so I started the school year substitute teaching.  I was fine with that -- was actually enjoying it -- but I didn't feel "settled".  And then, a couple of weeks ago, I found out that someone had gotten a call asking for a reference for me.  Since I'm no dummy, I had listed people who would say awesome things about me -- without being paid -- and the result was a job offer at USI!

On September 26, I will be starting as a full time Administrative Assistant in the Travel Services department at USI!   I'm equally excited and frightened -- excited for the job and frightened that I won't be able to keep up with everything in the rest of my life!  I will be using my accounting background (that most people don't know I have) and I wilt l be back on the campus I love.  So life at my house is about to get even crazier!

That's enough of that -- now I'll show you a card . . .

Sunflower Card

This card is super-simple, but one of my favorites.  I used the Daisies Flower #2 and Daffodil Delight cardstock and layered 2 of the largest ones for the big sunflower and 2 of the medium ones for the smaller sunflower.  The center circles are punched using the 1 3/4" Circle punch and the 1-3/8 Circle punch embossed with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder.  The leaves and sentiment are stamped in Old Olive ink.

I'm going to try to get back to posting a card every couple of days, so give me some feedback to let me know you're looking!  Have a great Saturday!

July Cards

My cards for tonight are all ready -- and I still have a few hours to go! I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The get well card is something I CASEd from someone on SplitcoastStampers.com a couple of years ago. I have gotten so many comments on the sample that I decided to change the colors and do it again! I should have a few kits ready by next week if anyone wants one. Have a great weekend!

June Cards

Although I'm usually all over the map, I tried to keep with a summer theme this month. Of course there has to be one card for July 4th, just because. And flip-flops -- well who doesn't love flip-flops in the summer? The "hello" card is a sneak peak from the new catalog, which I will have available for purchase. (I'll order more if I run out!)

Overall, I am very happy with the way these cards turned out and I hope you are, too! Hope to see you this weekend and if not, I will have some kits available.

Cards from May Workshop

I owe a huge apology to one of my dear stamping friends! I told her the pictures of the cards were on my blog so she could assemble her kits. I didn't MEAN to lie to her, but they weren't here. So Cyndi, here is a picture for you. Please forgive me and thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Card Organizer Class June 11

This month I'm adding a card organizer class to calendar. The organizer is spiral-bound using the Bind-it-All binding system and contains 12 pocket pages for holding cards. Each page has a calendar to record birthdays, anniversaries and any other important date you need to remember to send a card for! There will be a variety of color choices.

The class will be June 11 at 12:30 at Noble Roman's on Washington Avenue. We're starting a little earlier than usual because someone else needs the room that evening. Cost is $15.

I do recommend that you bring liquid adhesive for this project, as we will be adhering cardstock to chipboard.

Let me know if you have any questions!

February Cards

I feel like I'm running further behind than usual this month, but here is a picture of the cards we're making this weekend at Noble Roman's. I wish I could say I came up with all of them, but that would be a downright lie! A couple are based on cards I've seen online, one is based on a sample in the Occasions Mini catalog and one is a shameless copy of a card a dear friend made at her workshop last week! (Thanks, Jeannie!)

There are additional sentiments for some of the cards so you can adapt them to whatever you need this month. For the baby card, you can make one of each or both the same color. Hope to see you all there this weekend! Thanks for looking.

January Cards

I'm ba-a-a-ck! The holidays and snow days are behind us (well, at least the holidays . . . ) and it's time to restock your card supply for the new year. Here's a picture of what we will be making at my monthly workshop in January at Noble Roman's on Washington Avenue. There is only one that made an "official" Valentine's Day card, but a couple of others could be adapted. I wanted to be flexible so everyone could get what they needed. Let me know -- I still have some spots left -- and come make some cards this weekend!

Here's the Picture!

I am really flying by the seat of my pants lately! But here is the picture I've been promising for the last 2 weeks. The brown scallop circle gift box has a ribbon bookmark and a gift card holder in the cello bag with some basket filler. So it can be given all together or separated for different people. The other projects are a clear "paint" can an altered composition notebook and a "Santa" notepad.

Thanks for looking!

I Didn't Mean to Lie!

I meant to post the picture before I sent the e-mail! But I forgot and sent the e-mail and then remembered that all of my stuff is still packed up from the weekend! So-o-o I will go look for the projects and if I can find all of them, I will post them! Have a great evening!

September Cards

Good Morning! What a crazy week (or month) it has been here at the Higgins house -- from broken bones to crashed cars -- we've been super busy! ( I know you're all shocked to hear that!)

Here are the cards for this weekend -- as of this moment. There is some chance that I will come up with one that is more Thanksgiving-y, but for now, this is what you're getting!

I also will have some door prizes this month and will not forget to give away a free worskshop to someone who eats at Noble Roman's. Hope to see you there!

My First Technique Class!

I'm so excited -- I have spent this morning preparing for my first technique class -- the shaving cream technique. The class will be this Friday night at Crossroads Christian Church and I am VERY excited!

During the class, which is at 6:30, we will be learning how to do the shaving cream technique and using our results to make a fall-themed box and card, as well as an instruction and example card. The cost for the class is $4! What a bargain!

Please let me know if you plan to come so I can be sure to have enough supplies on hand. See you Friday!

August Cards

It's only Tuesday and I have a picture of the cards we're making on Friday and Saturday! Yea Me! I'm actually going to start cutting paper today. It's amazing what I can do when I know I have to work the rest of the week and won't have much time!

The cards I made are all stamped with "happy birthday". I designed a variety to have something for everyone and, of course, you don't have to stamp "happy birthday" on all of them. I hope you like them and I'll see some of you this weekend! Have a great week!

Designer Series Paper Club

If you love Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper, this is the club for you! I'm going to give a quick overview of how the DSP Club works and if you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail.

The commitment is for 5 months, $30 each month. This is what you get each month:

2 packages of Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper
4 sheets each of 3 different 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
(12 sheets total)
3 yards of 5/8" satin ribbon
Some sampling of embellishments

In addition to I have listed for each month, you will also receive hostess benefits one of the 5 months. This consists of at least a level 1 hostess set and at least $15 in free merchandise! That can be increased by additional orders from you or your friends. And the best part is that you don't have to host a workshop unless you want to!

I have set up a list of which DSP packages I will order each month, but you can change them if you want something different, as long as you let me know before I place the order. It takes 5 people to make a club, so let me know if you are interested and I will let you know when I have a club ready to go!

Retired Stuff for Sale

Thanks to those of you who took some of my retired stuff off of my hands and out of my cabinets at my July workshop. For those of you who weren't able to make it, don't worry. . .there's still a lot left! In order to simplify the process and not overwhelm myself, I have priced everything at $5, $7 and $10. All sets are "as is", which could mean there is staining on the wood.

If you click on the name of the stamp set, it will take you to a picture with all of the stamp images form that set. Some of the pictures aren't great, but will at least show you what the stamp set looks like.

Big Flowers $10
A is for Adorable - $7
Fun With Shapes - $7
Seeing Spots - $7
Little Pieces - $5
Polka Dot Punches - (new unmounted ) - $7
It's a Date - $5
Sweet Shapes - $7
Picture This - clear new -- $10
Very Thankful -- clear new unmounted -- $10
Congrats -- new unmounted -- $7
Friendship Blooms -- $7
It's The Thought -- clear new unmounted -- $10


I also have ink pad, marker & ink refill bundles in the following colors for $5 each:

Almost Amethyst
Barely Banana
Mellow Moss

And individual ink pads $2.50 each:

Lovely Lilac
Purely Pomegranate
Cool Caribbean
Soft Sky
Blush Blossom
Glorious Green
Crushed Curry
Really Rust
Green Galore
Bermuda Bay

Let me know if you see something you can't live without and I will save it for you. Everything will be available for pickup at Noble Roman's at my August workshop or you can pick it up at my house if you want it sooner. Thanks a bunch!

Out With the Old -- Kissing the Bird Goodbye

For some reason, I have a hard time saying goodbye to retiring stamp sets. As a result I have WAY too many that are no longer in the catalog! But this year I acquired this beautiful bird in the Wings of Friendship hostess set -- and fell in love with it! But someone else loved it as much as I did, so I used it at my last two workshops of the Stampin' Up! year and then sold it to her so it wouldn't get stuck in a drawer.

I delivered the beautiful bird to his new home a few days ago and had to give him a kiss goodbye. (Cheri thought I was crazy!) I know he's in a good home and will be taken care of, but I'm still going to miss him.

And then there's the card. It's one of my favorites ever -- and everything on it's retiring! The colors are Brocade Blue and Barely Banana -- the colors of my kitchen. I'm getting over this new color transition and will have fun using the new colors in the next couple of weeks getting ready for my July workshop. But it's not easy saying goodbye to those who have been with me for so long!

New Catalog Pre-Order plus Coupon

It's almost time for the Stampin' Up! catalog! As many of you know, Stampin' Up! is retiring several old colors and replacing them with new colors. In addition, several of the In Colors from past years are going to gain a permanent place in the new color pallets! This is all in addition to the new clear stamps and all the new designs and accessories that we are all going to "need"!

In order to help you with your "needs", I am offering a catalog pre-order special. From now until June 17 you can pre-order and pre-pay for your catalog for just $5! In addition, your catalog will include a coupon for $5 off of your first $25 order! That makes your catalog FREE! I will notify everyone who has pre-ordered a catalog the day they arrive -- I probably won't know ahead of time -- and you can pick them up at my house or make arrangements for me to meet you somewhere. (If you live out of town, shipping charges will apply.)

Refilling Markers

I've been asked lately about Stampin' Up! markers drying out on the fine point end. I have to confess, most of mine don't work either, so I decided last night to try something that I had read about a long time ago -- refilling markers. And it worked!! Since so many of my markers are retiring anyway, I decided it wouldn't be a big deal if I tore one up trying, but the marker came out of the process just fine and now it works again.

Here's what you do:

Brush end -- using tweezers, gently pull from the base of the "brush" and the whole thing will come out very easily. There is a sort of wick on the other end that goes down into the barrel of the marker. Put a couple of drops of re-inker into the barrel and replace the tip firmly into the barrel.

Fine tip end -- do this end using the same concept, but I couldn't get my tweezers to work -- the tip was too slick. So I used my teeth! (I know, that may gross some of you out, but it worked. And it's okay Mom, I didn't hurt my teeth!) Anyway, a pair of small pliers would probably do the trick, too. Just put a couple of drops of re-inker into that end and replace the tip.

It will take a little while for the wick to absorb the ink and for the marker to write again, but be patient -- it should work! I also stored my markers fine tip down for a little while since that was the end I was having the most trouble with.

One Last Chance

The lists of retiring stamp sets and accessories are out! You only have until June 30 to order stamp sets and the accessories are available only while supplies last! Click here to see the retiring stamps list.

Don't miss out on accessories that you love -- once they are gone they're gone! Many of them are being offered at 25% and even 50% off of the catalog price. The list will be updated daily, but in order to be sure you are getting what you want, you may want to visit my Stampin' Up! website -- www.2scrappygirls.stampinup.net -- and place your order there. If you would rather call me, that's okay, too! Click here to see the retiring accessories list.

Be sure to get enough of your favorite retiring color before it's gone forever! And that stamp set you just love!