Mocha Memories

December is Here

Can you believe that it is December 1st?  ONLY 24 MORE DAYS TO BLOG ABOUT ALL THE FUN CRAFTS THAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU!!!!!!!

Yes, I was yelling that last line.  I have so many things that I want to share with you before 'the big day' gets here.  So.... we will get started tomorrow with these wonderful boxes that can be made without measuring anything! Now that is my kind of box.

I am off to the first of many 'end of the semester' activities for my children, but I will be back with directions and more pictures tomorrow.

Be Inspired by Life,

P.S.  Want to make sure that you receive a Sale-a-bration catalog and Occasions Mini catalog?  Send me an email and I will get in touch with you about getting them out to you.

Cyber Monday Meets My Digital Studio

So here is another amazing special in honor of another crazy shopping day.....

Do you have My Digital Studio?  Would you love a copy for yourself or to give one as a gift?

For every $50 in merchandise that you purchase through me (Shelley Hopps) from now until 10 pm EST on Tuesday, November 30th, you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE copy of My Digital Studio ($79.95 value).

I will be drawing a winner after every 10 entries!!  That gives you a great opportunity to win!

You will love this program as you play around with all of the pre-designed cards, scrapbook pages, postcards, or create your own.  With all of the options, you can also easily create calendars for Christmas giving in no time.

Still needing inspiration, Stampin' Up! has an entire on-line community dedicated to this amazing new tool.  Find this amazing community HERE.  Click on 'Forums' to find an answer to a question, 'Samples' to find some inspiration, and 'Video' for step by step instructions.

Still not enough inspiration?  Keep checking back over the next couple of weeks for wall hangings, ornaments and cards designed with My Digital Studio.

Be Inspired by Life,

 

 

Stampin' Up! and Mocha Memories - Black Friday Specials

Well just as I promised, here it is....

Stampin' Up! has some AMAZING items marked off up to 50% AND they are offering FREE shipping on any order over $150, but I would love to sweetin the deal even more.

Through Mocha Memories (Shelley Hopps) only, you can receive FREE shipping on any order over $50**.

Make sure that you read below about how to get your free shipping.

----------AND----------

Any order placed from November 26th until November 28th qualifies you for a chance to win some bags to make the shopping even easier. (You will be entered into the drawing for each $25 of merchandise purchased.)  One of the bags is one of the popular square scallop rag bags but in festive Christmas colors and the other bag is one of Stampin' Up!'s reusable shopping bags so that you can hide those presents that you just picked up.  (I will have another special in honor of Cyber Monday starting November 29th)

** To receive FREE shipping, you must live in the United States and call me (859-539-8010) or email me (Shelley@ShelleyStamps.com) with your order and address.  I will calculate what your total is with the appropriate tax for your area and email or call you back.  At that time, I will request a credit card number (Visa, MC or Discover) or I can send you an invoice through Paypal.

Happy shopping,

Happy Thanksgiving from My House to Yours

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope each one of you has a wonderful day surrounded with family and friends.  It is one of the few days of the year that we as a society finally slow down (much to the chagrin of our teenage children) and enjoy time for there is always tomorrow.........

THE CRAZIEST SHOPPING DAY OF THE YEAR!

Check back tomorrow at 9 am EST for MY Black Friday Special!

(I made sure to make it after ALL of the in store deals will already be gone - LOL)

This will be in ADDITION to the incredible on-line special that Stampin' Up! has going on right now.

_________________________________________________________

A VERY important note to anyone interested in the Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Paper:

Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Paper (#120809)

Stampin' Up! has notified all demonstrators that they are on schedule to deplete their supply of this items some time next week.  So make sure you get your order in early for this amazingly cute paper.

 

Until tomorrow,

Clearance Rack Craziness

If you have not visited the Clearance Rack on Stampin' Up!'s On-line Store, NOW is the time.  They have added over 200 new items with some of them up to 80% off.  Imagine Watercolor Wonder Crayons for $7.99, Textured Card Stock for $3.99, Bigz Dies for $7.99, Corduroy Buttons for $3.99 and Stitched Ribbon for $2.99.  I could go on and on, but you need to see go check it out for yourself.  All of these items are available only until they sale their discontinued supply.

Go HERE and you will then see a list of available merchandise categories on the left of the screen.  Pick 'Clearance Rack' and GO CRAZY!!!

Until tomorrow!

Files Galore

I have been having so much fun creating for the holidays that I just didn't want to stop.  BUT - I did take a break the other day and spend some time playing with the Distressing Essentials Kit (118762).  Creating vintage pieces for the holidays, whether it be cards or gifts, could be a real possibility with the help of this kit.

Stampin' Up! has been missing some key components of this kit for awhile.  The Sanding Blocks had been available as long as I could remember, but with the introduction of chipboard accents and letters several years ago, other sanding options were needed.  Being OCD, I just couldn't cover my chipboard with paper and not be able to sand it to fit perfectly. TRUST ME, the sanding blocks were not any where close to making that possible.

There are three precision files included the Distressing Essentials Kit that now make sanding in any tight space possible.  I have close up pictures of each of the three files along with the shape of the file displayed in green.  Each file is also beveled to the tip so that even the smallest corners are reachable.  Each file has its own specific purpose.  For example, the square file would be used where two flat edges meet and the circular file would be used on a nice inner round edge.  The best file, in my opinion, is the 'half-circle' file.  This is perfect on areas where a flat edge meets a rounded edge (i.e. the inside of the 'e' chipboard).

In addition to the precision files, the kit includes a sanding block and emory board.  On one side, the sanding block is much wider than our traditional white Sanding Blocks.  This allows you to sand a larger area at a time, as you would with a covered composition notebook.

Now all of these items can be used to smooth edges of adhered card stock, but they are also perfect for distressing card stock.  If you hold the file or sanding block perpendicular to the surface that you are sanding you will create a nice smooth edge.  The more that you slant the file or block toward the card stock that you are sanding, the more distressed the edge will look.

So far I am in love with this kit.  Next time I will go over the vinatage inks that are included and the type of effects that you can get with them.

Want to try these out for yourself? Order yours today and take the stress out of distressing!

Be Inspired by Life,

Order HERE - Distressing Essentials Kit (118762)

 

Twelve Weeks of Christmas - Are You Ready?

It all starts in 48 hours!

Starting Wednesday, October 6th, my mailing list subscribers will receive a weekly project idea for holiday cards, gift items and more.  In addition, you will receive a bonus - step-by-step instructions to my extremely popular Clearly Christmas card.   If you'd like to see more, be sure to get on my mailing list by using the sign-up box in the upper right corner of this blog page.  Facebook fans can also sign up using the Newsletter tab on my Home page.  I hope you enjoy this and join me for more to come!

Be Inspired by Life,

Vintage Bookmark

I do not read as much as I used to and I had decided that it was time that I slow down, relax and get back to that loved activity.  I completely had this in mind as I was trying to come up with one of my make'n'takes at my recent Open House.  I had been wanting to try my hand at some very popular bookmarks and this seemed to fit in perfectly with my desire to start reading again.  What could be better than to read and show off your handiwork at the same time?

The tutorial for these little gems are HERE on Splitcoaststampers.  The only difference in the tutorial and my rendition is the size of the front piece of cardstock.  Instead of only using a triangle, I cut my cardstock to be matted by the shape of the bookmark.  Easy, really. But if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

The inspiration for my bookmark?  Look at the top of page 124 of your Stampin' Up! 2010 Idea Book and Catalog. (Don't have your own catalog? Email me and I will call you about getting one out to you - FREE!)  Recognize the tag on the glass bottle? YEP - Inspired, CASED and DONE!  Do not miss the inspiration that you can draw from anytime you are in a 'creative funk' - your SU! IDEA BOOK and Catalog.

As you can see from that page, Stampin' Up! has added a whole new line of vintage stamps and accessories. I really wanted to give my customers a chance to play with this new style and the book mark gave them the perfect opportunity to play with a range of products.  We also 'played' extensively with the Distressing Essentials Kit.  Next time I will go over what it includes, how it can be used and my personal opinion of the kit. Until then....

Be Inspired by Life,

Supplies:

• Stamps: Artistic Etchings (118517)
• Ink: Basic Black (101179), Cherry Cobbler (119669)
• Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler (119685), Very Vanilla (101650), Newsprint Designer Series Paper (117166)
• Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Distressing Essentials Kit (118762), Bigz XL Matchbox Die (114890), Big Shot (113439), Victoria Crochet Trim (118481), Basic Rhinestones (119246)

Taking Time

I finally took some time to create with the Curly Labels Chalkboard Décor Elements (Item #118876).  I knew that I wanted to show them off at my Stampin' Up! 2010 New Catalog Open House, but I thought that I would use only one.  Well once I got started, I couldn't stop.  I used the WHOLE package in no time and that is quite a feat for a hoarder like me.  These were fun, inexpensive and SO easy to use!

My Open House attendees were greated with a fun little 'Welcome' sign created with the largest Curly Label Element, a wooden dowel and some cardstock.

A real welcome is never complete without chocolate. I simply covered some chocolates with stamped and brayered address labels and filled another glass jar.  Of course it was calling for a Curly Label Element also. The medium sized chalkboard piece fit perfectly.

I decided to use the last small chalkboard label on a smaller glass jar also filled with chocolate.  This made the perfect addition to my door prizes.

As you can tell my door prizes and bookmark make'n'take had a fun 'vintage' theme.  Next time I will give you a more in depth look at the bookmark fun we had.

Congratulations to my Door Prize winners, Jody H and Kim S, and as always thank you to all of my clients for making this another fun and exciting year.

Be Inspired by Life,

HELPFUL HINT: Chalk works well on the chalkboard elements, but has a muted look.  If you would like the lettering to be bold and crisp, I would suggest using 'chalk' markers as I did on the 'Welcome' sign and candy jar above.  You should be able to find 'chalk' markers at office supply stores or some craft stores.

Narrate your Walls

I know that we all love pictures and our homes are filled with those of our family and/or special moments. BUT.... do you ever fill like your pictures need a little side note, comment or general narration?

Don't be afraid to use words AND pictures together to create a decor element that really describes you and your family.

I decided to do just that in our guest bathroom.  I had a large wall that just begged for a mural of pictures.  Instead I decided to put up just a few pictures of moments that really define my family for me. I then added the Stampin' Up! Life Milestones Medium Décor Element in chocolate as the perfect narration.

How hard was it to get the lettering on the wall?  The process is not hard at all. You just need to take it slow and have patience.  As you pull the adhesive backing away from the lettering and the wall, watch the vinyl.  If the vinyl appears to pull with the backing instead of staying on the wall, just lay the backing back on the wall and rub it again.  I have mildly textured walls (old home) and I had no problem getting the vinyl to adhere to the walls.

Stampin' Up! has provided a wonderful video that walks you through the entire process HERE.  Have more questions?  Feel free to email me and I will answer them.

Try creating your own narrated pictures somewhere unexpected and leave me a comment with pictures of your wonderful new decor.

Be Inspired by Life,