Flowerbug's Inkspot

Cookie Exchange

We met last week for our annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. We always visit and enjoy a few of our treats along with hot cider.  This is a glimpse of my new stamping area in our new house.  I'll show more photos later since I am still settling in!    

This cookie exchange is easy because we only have to make 1/2 dozen per person. We had 12 people participate so each had 6 dozen assorted cookies for our holiday events.  And we really have some fabulous bakers that do this each year too.  

I forgot to take a close-up of the cookies, but here is one table full before we divided them up.  Some bring theirs in tins or paper plates or even homemade boxes.

I made 'stamped' cookies of course!  I used a great recipe called 'Grandma's Shorbread Cookies'.  

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

Combine the dry ingredients and blend in the butter.  I did use a mixer but the recipe says not to overmix.  Shape into 1 1/2" balls.  Place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and use the cookie press to stamp the design in the dough.  Bake at 300 for 15 minutes or just until the edges start to brown.   

And here is how I packaged them up.  I added 6 stamped cookies in a large clear cello bag and tied it closed with ribbon.  I then added stamped, punched tags that say 'made just for you'.  This stamp is in the Creatively Yours set.

Here are the Holiday Sweet Pressed cookie stamps I used for my cookies.  IThey're an add-on to the Holiday mini catalog.  But guess what!  It's also in the upcoming Occasions mini catalog and there is a new set of 3 stamps for Spring too!  

 

 

Sparkling Winter Wreath & Trees

A few weeks ago, some of my friends and I got together to make winter trees.  I knew I wouldn't have much table display space so I made mine into a wreath for the wall in my studio.  

We used flower punches and any Sizzix dies we had to cut out white, shimmer white and Silver glimmer flowers and snowflakes.  I curled mine with a bone folder to add dimension. Then we layered and stacked them together. I used dimensionals on mine.  Next they were adhered to either styrofoam cones or a wreath like mine.  

These are just gorgeous in person! 

Here's a close-up of a few flowers & snowflakes on my wreath.  I bunched up some white tulle to poke in empty spaces between flowers.  This idea would be perfect for winter weddings.

I will tell you that cutting & punching out all of these flowers and forming our trees & wreath did take us many hours.  But now we have something beautiful to keep up after Christmas!   

These are my friend Pat's trees.  I hope to take more pictures of the other ones that were made to share with you later.  

More items added to the Clearance Rack!

I hope you had a great Christmas weekend. We traveled to our daughter's new home in Fargo and had a wonderful time.  

Now that Christmas has come and gone, have your thoughts turned to after-Christmas shopping special deals?  If so, I wanted to remind you of several reasons to shop  Stampin' Up! Products this week!

Stampin' Up has  refreshed the offering on their already amazing Clearance Rack. If you have some Christmas cash to spend, it will go a lot further when you take advantage of the many great products now on the Clearance Rack.

You can shop online at my website or if you're local, send me your order and I will place it for you.  This will save you a bit on the shipping costs if your order is small.

Below you'll see some of the items available.  

****Click here or on the 'RED HOT DEALS' icon above to see them all.

PAWSITIVELY PRINTS II DESIGNER SERIES PAPER  Price: $3.99	PAWSITIVELY STAMPIN' UP! EMBOSSLITS DIE  Price: $4.79	PENNANT STAMPIN' UP! BIGZ XL DIE  Price: $15.99	PIG TAILS RIBBON ORIGINALS  Price: $4.99
PINK PIROUETTE 1-1/4 INCH GROSGRAIN RIBBON  Price: $2.99	PLAY DATE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER  Price: $1.99	PLAY DATE FILE FOLDERS  Price: $2.19	PLAY DATE GUSSETED ENVELOPES  Price: $2.39
PLAY DATE QUICK ACCENTS  Price: $1.79	PRESTO PATTERNS SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER  Price: $4.79	PUMPKIN PIE CORDUROY BUTTONS  Price: $2.99	REAL RED 5/8 INCH GROSGRAIN RIBBON  Price: $3.19

 

SWEET HELLO SIMPLY SENT KIT  Price: $4.79	SWEET STITCHES 8X8 INCH DESIGNER PRINTED ALBUM  Price: $5.99	SWEET STITCHES BIG DESIGNER BUTTONS  Price: $3.59	SWEET STITCHES DESIGNER FABRIC BRADS  Price: $2.79
SWEET STITCHES DESIGNER SERIES PAPER  Price: $3.99	SWEET STITCHES RUB-ONS  Price: $1.59	TABLE SETTING STAMPIN' UP! BIGZ XL DIE  Price: $17.19	TAG PUNCH  Price: $9.59

BOHO BLOSSOMS PUNCH Price: $9.59

BOTANICAL GAZETTE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER  Price: $3.99

BRIGHT DELIGHTS RUB-ONS  Price: $4.79

BUTTERFLY PUNCH  Price: $9.59

1-3/4 INCH CIRCLE PUNCH Price: $9.59	1-3/4 INCH CIRCLE PUNCH Price: $9.59	1-3/8 INCH CIRCLE PUNCH Price: $9.59	1-3/8 INCH CIRCLE PUNCH Price: $9.59
3/16 INCH CORNER PUNCH  Price: $4.19	3/4 INCH CIRCLE PUNCH  Price: $6.59	3-D BALL POP-UP BIGZ XL DIE  Price: $15.99	5 PETAL FLOWER PUNCH  Price: $9.59

 

Name Frames

Here is the last item we made at my Gift Class.  Name frames.  So easy yet a wonderful gift for someone who may have 'everything'.  Instead of just last names, you could also spell out 'Welcome' or 'Family'.   

I picked up the frames at a local discount store; they cost just $3.00 each and are about 12" X 6" in size.  

• I cut out my last name using the large Serif Essentials Alphabet dies and Vanilla card stock.  Then I ran the letters through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder using my Big Shot.  It's hard to see in the photo, but I used a sponge and Crumb Cake Classic ink to sponge over the highlights on the raised embossed letters.  
• Surrounding the black card stock layer is a Vanilla border made of punched strips using the Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch.  
• The background paper is from our Mocha Morning designer series paper with a bit of Vanilla satin ribbon on the sides.  

Here's one that Laura made at Class; so pretty.  I wish I would have taken more pictures of the others.  The background paper here is also part of the Mocha Morning designer series paper.  

Merry Christmas everyone!  

Snowman Gift Card

We made these at my December Clubs.  I received one like it in a swap made by my friend Kelly Acheson.   

Isn't the snowman just adorable?  I love this Snow Much Fun set!  The same stamp set for this month's Class to Go kit.   

Measurements of the Pool Party main card are 5 ½” X 8 ½” scored at 2 ½ and 5 ½”.

Here's what you see when you open it up and lift up the top flap.  The Island Indigo trim on the top is the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. 

The Seasons Greetings stamp is from the set called Curly Cute.   

Inside is an A2 envelope that has been trimmed by 1/4" on each side, sealed and folded in half to create two pockets.  It holds two pieces of card stock measuring 2 1/2 X 4" in each pocket.  One is a greeting like you see and the other has a gift card adhered to it.  The Round Tab punch is perfect to create these Island Indigo tabs.   

If you're interested in joining my Cyber Card Club so you get the stamped supplies for cards like this one sent to you FREE, you can see the details below.

What does the Cyber Card Club entail?

1. Just commit to placing a $25 (minimum) online order by the 10th of each month.  
2. I'll send you the pre-cut card supplies so you can make every card we make for the next 6 months!  Shipping is free!
3. We always make 2 cards - one fun or fancy-fold card plus another gorgeous (above average) card each month.  
4. You'll assemble them in your own home at your leisure.
5. At the end of the 6 months you'll get a choice of many of my extra hostess or Sale a Bration stamp sets - FREE.
6. Contact me to get on the list at    lagreff at gmail.com 

 

Stocking Builder punch

I cannot believe it but Stampin' Up! has just announced that the Stocking Builder punch will not be carried over in any of the next catalogs.   

If you haven't gotten it yet and thought you could get it later, you may want to order it now before it's gone!  They say that once the current supply is depleted it will not be available for purchase.  Go here to order it online.    

It makes me wonder if the Stitched Stockings stamp set will be discontinued too.  

Here's a card that was included in my Stitched Stockings class to go last month.  So easy yet everyone loved it.  

The colors are Baja Breeze with White and a bit of our Silver Glimmer card stock. The stocking image was embossed on Baja Breeze cardstock using White embossing powder before it was punched out.  

Snow Much Fun Class to Go

For December the Class to Go features the Snow Much Fun stamp set. 

The images in it are so adorable and I have really enjoyed using it in the last few months.  I think it will make wonderful Thank You cards too.

Here are three of the cards included in the Class to Go this month:

Love this card!  The color combination of Wisteria Wonder and Pear Pizzazz along with the textured/punched window make it pretty cute.  

Here's another window-type card.  Real Red, Black, White and Pool Party are the colors.  I used the Postage Punch for the windows.  

And of course I am including this popular scalloped circle card I received in a swap in the class too.

How does the Class to Go work??

Basically you are making your own set of cards using the stamp set, embellishments and supplies I cut out & send you.  You'll use your own new stamp set plus a basic supply of ink or markers, other stamps and a few common tools along with your own adhesive. I will texture and die-cut the card stock for you when needed. I like to call these cards 'Set samplers'.  You'll have 5 great ideas finished and ready to use right away or to copy later.   

When you order the Snow Much Fun stamp set in clear or wood mount you'll receive all of the supplies needed to make the 5 cards shipped to you for just a few extra dollars included in the class price.  Plus you'll receive the photos & step by step directions with measurements sent via e-mail. 

Clear Mount

• Local cost - $26.00
• Priority shipping - $32

Wood Mount

• Local cost - $35
• Priority Shipping - $41

If you'd like to order the Snow Much Fun stamp set from me & get the Class to Go cards kit please contact me at lagreff at gmail dot com by Wednesday, December 28th & I'll send you a PayPal invoice.  Or contact me with your credit card information.

The stamp sets will be ordered on or after Wednesday, Decmber 29th and the Class to go sent out in early January.

 

 

Christmas Gifts and 3d projects

Here is one more thing we made at my gifts class last weekend; a great Recipe Box. 

I just added a bit of card stock to embellish the front and inside panels.  It could be given as is, without a single thing added to it.  

And the best part is this cute box is on the Clearance Rack for just $9.99!

Remember this one?  This chunky white frame is also on the Clearance Rack for just $7.99.  If you want to make this adorable frame, you may want to order the items needed before the Holiday Mini catalog is gone - January 3rd is the last day to order from it.  Stitched Felt, Peek-a-Boo die and the 25 days and Counting stamp set are some of the main items I used.  

This white house and the clear tinsel are both on the Clearance Rack; the house is just $2.39.

Even the die to make this 3d tree is on sale.  It's just $17.19 instead of it's original price of $42.95.

Check out all of the deals here.  

Clearance Rack Blitz!

SU has added over 200 new items to the Clearance Rack! 

Here are all the details...

Dates: December 15, 2011-January 5, 2012

Details: Nearly 200 new Clearance Rack items have been added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail--only while supplies last!

Things to Remember:

• Only online orders qualify for this promotion.  Shop here.
• Orders can include non-Clearance Rack items from the Holiday mini or the Idea Book & Catalog as well.
• The Clearance Rack Blitz includes the black old-body style punches!
• There is no minimum purchase required.
• Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin' Rewards.  So if your order is over $150 you get $25 free merchandise!
• Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last. There are no refunds or exchanges on Clearance Rack items.
• You may view Clearance Rack Blitz items in my ONLINE STORE
• Deadline: Thursday, January 5, 2012; 11:50 PM (MT)

Online Store Viewing Tip:  To view all Clearance Rack items at once...look on the right where is says "Show: 8", click the drop down arrow and select ALL.

Here are just a few of my personal favorites on the list:

• Fresh Cut Notes - $3.59
• Green Leaves, Red polka dot or Houndstooth 12 X 12" albums - $7.99
• Jolly Holiday dsp - $3.99
• Ribbon Keepers in all 3 sizes!!!
• Narrow Taffeta ribbons in many colors - just $2.39
• Photo Corners punch $6.99
• They have the new color kits for the Pastels & Watercolor Crayons if you missed those in the last catalog! 
• Simply Sent cards kit - the fast & easy way to make your own cards or a wonderful gift to give someone who doesn't stamp. 
• Punches, Punches - lots of Punches!!  Check them all out.