Margie's Moments: 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

White Christmas

It will be a white Christmas here in Ontario, Canada.

It has been snowing everyday since we came back from the sunny Caribbean.

Wishing you all a very, Merry Christmas.

I just returned from a Carnival Cruise that departed from San Juan. I love to travel which connects perfectly with my love of scrapbooking. We visited St. Thomas (shopping), Dominica (white water river tubing), Barbados (Shipwrech Snorkel & Pirate Party Cruise), Antigua (Beach), St. Lucia (Ziplining in the rain forest) & St. Kitts (island tour). Barbados had the most disappointing port (a shipping yard) and St. Kitts was my favourite island. It was warm & sunny everywhere.
I would not travel Carnival again simply because you could not enjoy the pools with the large numbers of children. Carnival apparently sells off open rooms cheaply to the people at the embarkment port (in this case Puerto Rico). They can then afford to travel with their entire families - not what I imagined a cruise to be.

St. Kitts

The rocks behind me were made when lava from a volcano met the ocean.

St. Thomas

This is me on the ship in the port of St. Thomas. It is mainly known for the shopping.

Ziplining in St. Lucia

Here I am ziplining in the rain forest in St. Lucia. I was scared to death the first time but it was alot of fun. We did 11 ziplines in total.

We survived

Here is me and my hubby after the ziplining adventure. We survived :)

Check out the tree behind us. It is a ficus tree and it was huge.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Water Lily Napkin Folding

I think this would look great with a Christmas cracker. Hmmm.

Table Decorating

With the holiday season coming, I have been thinking about how I will decorate this year including setting my table. That put me on a mission to search for some new ideas to compliment my new dishes. I have included a few ideas below and will continue to add things as I find them.

Fan Napkin Folding

I always wondered how to create beautiful napkins for the table. Now I have the steps and you do too.

Tower Napkin Folding

Here are the steps for a unique way to fold your napkins that will add interest to your table.

Stocking Gift Box Template

http://www.papertreyink.com/timeless_templates_download_here.html

This link is for a great website that has a free template for a wonderful stocking gift box to be made out of paper.

Do I hear Designer Series paper calling me?

Place Setting #1

Place Setting #2

Place Setting #3

Place Setting Instructions

The place settings shown above are examples of different projects you can make to decorate your holiday table for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years. The projects were made with Stampin' Up's new Big Shot Die Cutting machine and paper.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamp Sets: Cute & Curly Punch Label bundle, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Holiday Blitz, Simple Serif Mini Alphabet & Numbers Wild West Alphabet
Stampin' Pads: Baja Breeze Classic, Chocolate Chip Classic, Old Olive Classic, Real Red Classic
Card Stock/Paper: Ski Slope Designer Series paper, Baja Breeze card stock, Chocolate Chip card stock, Naturals White card stock, Old Olive card stock, Real Red card stock
Accessories Dies: Big Shot die cutting machine, Pillow Box die, Scallop Circle #2 die, Top Note Bigz die
Accents: Pretties Kit, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Adhesives: Anywhere Glue Stick, Stampin' Dimensionals, Two-Way Glue Pen
Punches: 1/16 Circle punch, 3/4 Circle punch, Horizontal Slot punch
Ribbon/Cord/Thread: vAlpine Ribbon Originals, Baja Breeze 5/8 striped grosgrain ribbon, Linen thread, Silver elastic cord
Other: Acetate (from office supply store; thick) Bone folder, Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

INSTRUCTIONS
Napkin ring
Make card stock note using Top Note Bigz die. Adhere Designer Series paper on card stock, stamp (on New Year's napkin ring), fold, and smooth folds using bone folder. Stamp label image, punch out and/or cut, and adhere to napkin ring. Punch out slots and tie together with ribbon (Note: New Year's napkin ring is tied together with Silver elastic cord). Accent as shown.

Name plate
Make card stock note using Top Note Bigz die; stamp (on New Year's name plate), fold in half, and smooth fold with bone folder. Adhere Designer Series paper on card stock (Note: layer paper on Old Olive card stock first for Christmas name plate). Accent as shown.

Favor
Make favor box using Pillow Box die, and fill with treats. Create belly band out of Designer Series paper (Note: layer paper for New Year's favor), and adhere to favor. Stamp label image, and punch out. Adhere label and accent as shown.

Confetti
Make several large and small scallop circles out of Designer Series paper. Stamp and cut out/punch smaller images (acorns for Thanksgiving, trees for Christmas, and snowflakes for New Year's) as shown. Glue glitter on snowflakes.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Snow Swirled

This card starts with the silver embossed Christmas Tree and Snowflake from the SNOW SWIRLED stamp set. Circle punches, MUIRFIELD Designer Series paper and a FILIGREE Designer Brad were also used. I like the combination of Pacific Point with Certainly Celery.

EMBOSSING TIP:

The secret to clean, crisp embossing images is to rub an EMBOSSING BUDDY (Pg. 190) over the paper before you stamp. This reduces static and other interferances that may attract the emboss powder to unwanted areas of your project. Then, I tap off the excess powder, blow on it lightly and heat. It will save you time and money from having to repeat your embossing projects.

Buckle Card

This buckle card features the SEASON OF SIMPLE GRACE stamp set and SKI SLOPE Designer Series Paper. The edges of the paper are sponged and the star and the sentiment are made with Gold emboss powder. The buckle strap connects into a slot made with the WORD WINDOW punch.

TIP: I cut my Stampin' Up Sponges (Pg. 193) into four 'pie' shaped pieces. Then 1 package gives me 12 sponges and I can have one for every colour of ink so that they can be reused without fear of blending colours.

Another Stampin' Success entry.

Say it with Scallops

A Thank You card made with the SAY IT WITH SCALLOPS Stamp set. This was one of my Stampin' Success contest entries.

To make the scallop border, I punched the paper with the SCALLOP EDGE punch first and then stamped with the ALL SCALLOPS stamp. The new SCALLOP SQUARE punch was also used.

TIP: To get an even "V" tail on your ribbon, fold it in half and then make a diagonal cut from the outside edge down to the fold.

Friday, November 07, 2008

AC/DC Black Ice Concert

Tonight I attended the AC/DC Black Ice concert in Toronto. What a show! The concert has an amazing intro that involves a 'Runaway Train' with sound that is so vivid that you can feel it in your stomach. It was my first time to see AC/DC live and my first concert in many, many years. I had a blast. I didn't realize that Angus is such a 'character' on stage. Great music and a wonderful evening. I am still a little deaf from the ending.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Kind Thanks

See Instructions Below

Stampin' Supplies

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:
THANK YOU KINDLY STAMP SET
Paper:
FRESH CUT NOTES
DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN

Ink:
CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD NOT QUITE NAVY
Accessories:
ACCENTS & ELEMENTS BUTTON BOUQUET

Instructions
1. Remove petals from Fresh-Cut Note. Adhere petals to Urban Garden Designer Series paper, and cut out. Adhere Designer Series paper petals to inside front cover of card.
2. Adhere Urban Garden Designer Series paper (4' x 4') to inside front cover of card.
3. Stamp “Kind thanks” in Not Quite Navy ink on front of card.
4. Adhere Baja Breeze button to card."

Bright & Happy Card

See Instructions below

Stampin' Supplies

Stampin' Supplies:

Bright & Happy card (5'x 5')
Paper:
CARD STOCK TEXTURED BOLD BRIGHTS 12 X 12
SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' PIÑA COLADA

Accessories:
STAMPIN DIMENSIONALS
RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN

Instructions
1. Apply dotted and “Wishing you a bright and happy birthday!” Rub-Ons to bottom of Riding Hood Red textured card using stick included in packaging.
2. Adhere Whisper White flourish die cuts to card.
3. Adhere So Saffron circle die cut to Old Olive flower die cut; adhere Old Olive flower to Tangerine Tango dotted flower die cut. Adhere Tangerine Tango flower to large So Saffron flower die cut. Adhere layered flower to card, and trim left edge to match edge of card.
4. Adhere So Saffron circle die cut to Tangerine Tango circle die cut; adhere circle to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
5. Adhere small Riding Hood Red circle die cut to small Tangerine Tango flower die cut. Adhere Tangerine Tango flower to So Saffron flower die cut. Adhere layered flower to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
6. Adhere small So Saffron circle die cut to Old Olive dotted flower die cut. Adhere Old Olive flower to Riding Hood Red flower die cut. Adhere layered flower to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals."

November Promotion

Rub-Ons Promotion

Stampin' Up! - Rub-Ons Promotion:

Dates: November 10-30, 2008

Promotion Details:
Spend $20 and qualify to purchase any Rub-Ons assortment at 20 percent off ($10.36 per package; regularly $12.95):

Item # Page # Rub-Ons Description
111416 178 Chateau Bella
111417 178 Word Flurries
111414 178 Hidden Garden
112735 178 *Jardin secret en fleur
111277 178 A Perfect Day
110283 179 Take Note
111806 179 Chills & Thrills
111804 179 Chit Chat
111415 179 Greatest Moments
111805 179 School Days
110282 179 Anchored
112844 11 ** Old Saint Nick
112843 17 ** Season of Cheer

*From Livre d'Idées & Catalogue automne-hiver 2008
**From Holiday 2008 Mini Catalogue"

Season's Greetings

The background paper and the main image were made with the SNOW SWIRLED Stamp Set. White embossing powder creates a solid snowflake look. Photo corners are added for drama then white grosgrain ribbon and a clip for embellishment.

Paper: Baja Breeze from the In Colour collection & Not Quite Navy.

Snow Swirled

A Christmas card featuring the SNOW SWIRLED Stamp Set and SKI SLOPE Designer Series Paper. Just add Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads for Holiday Bling. Paper piercing and Stampin' Dimensionals add dimension.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Funny Pumpkins

Maybe I have a twisted sense of humour but I love these pumpkins.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Guadalajara

I mentioned earlier that I had a business trip to Mexico. So here are some more photos.

This photo is for Lorie. It's a picture of my HAM friend, Brad. He is normally a die hard Buckeyes fan but for this night, he changed his shirt. OK, the colours are the same but he became a honorary Canadian in Mexico. Brad is a good friend, a supporter of those who are lucky to cross his path, the man with a true heart and the guy that makes sure that everyone is having a good time.

Brad is moving on to a new position which will mean that we won't see him as regularly, so this is my 'toast' to him. What more can I say ... Brad you are the best!

Mexico

The funny thing about this photo is that I don't drink beer ... wine, rum, vodka (no yellow parrots, but that is a long story from a pleasure trip to Playa de Carmen, Mexico that started out a good time and ended with a day of rest ... :) and not beer. So how do I explain this? It was someone else's beer (not buying that, huh) well, when in Rome do as the Romans do ... when in Mexico, drink Corona.
Nice hat, eh?