Have we started a countdown yet?

Is it too early to be thinking Christmas? It is only 97 days away!

Well, I have been busy thinking about it with all the planning I have been doing with my classes. This card is going to be one of the cards we will be doing at my Delightful Decorations Product Based Class on Wed Oct 28th. I was so pleased when I created this card. I love the ease of using the ornament punch along with the coordinating stamp set. It makes creating cards like this a really quick and easy process.

The class is going to consist of making 3 cards with matching envelopes and 10 gift tags along with a cute little box to store the tags in. The reason I call this a product based class is because it revolves around one stamp set - Delightful Decorations and the matching Ornament Punch. You have an opportunity to purchase these products in advance of the class and receive a significant discount in the cost of the class. If you would like to take part in this class here are your three options to choose from:

1. Come, stamp, have fun and go home with the 14 projects for just $20.00

2. Come, stamp, have fun and go home with 14 projects and the Delightful Decoration stamp set for just $45.00.

3. Come, stamp, have fun and go home with 14 projects, stamp set and the ornament punch for just $70.00.

Call me today to register! To order product in advance of the class, please RSVP by Tues 13 Oct.

Have a great day!

Changing Colours of the Season

I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. I love the beautiful sunny days, the cooler temperatures and the changing of the leaves. This card that I am sharing with you today is actually one of the cards we are making on Monday at my Falling Leaves class. What a great response I have had with registrations to all of my fall classes. Mondays class is full and my other classes are quite close to that as well, so if you were thinking of attending some classes, please contact me right away so we can get your name on the list. I am creating waiting lists as well and if I have enough interest, I will run the class again on another evening.

The stamp set used here is Thoughts and Prayers. I just love this tree and if I can find a place on one of my walls, I would be applying the matching Decor Element of this tree! If you haven't seen our Decor Elements line of products, please check out the Definitely Decorative Brochure link in the right column of the blog.

Have a great weekend!

Live With Passion....

Today's post is a fun gift bag that I enjoyed making for a special someone in my life. Friends are wonderful aren't they! Well, this friend helped me out quite a bit this summer, watching my house, my kids and my dog on many different occasions. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy my summer as much I did without her. Thank you V!

I took a basic white gift sack and decorated only the front of the bag to get this result. Here is exactly how I did it:

- Bermuda Bay Card Stock 7 7/8" x 8 1/2", Grass from the Inspired by Nature was stamped on the bottom using Versamark ink

- The flowers were then stamped using Whisper White Craft Ink

- A 7 7/8" x 2" piece of the Bermuda Bay Prints Pattern Designer Series Paper was then attached to the top of the card stock overlapping 1/2"

- A 10" piece of 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain was then adhered over the seam of the two papers

- the ends of a 7" piece of the same ribbon were then stuck together to create a loop and then a 3" piece of ribbon was wrapped around the middle of the loop to create a faux bow and this was then attached to the front of the bag using sticky strip.

- The Bermuda Bay Card Stock was then adhered to the front of the bag with sticky strip. I love sticky strip because it is so sticky that you can be assured your project is not going to fall apart.

The note card was created with a 3" x 6" piece of Whisper White Card Stock. To attach to the bag I punched a 3/16" hole in top of the left corner using the Crop-a-dile and then cut a slit between the hole and top of card using my scissors. Then the note card just slide right over the handle of the bag. There you have it!!!

Have a wonderful Friday and don't forget.......LIVE with Passion!!

Wonderful Winter Wedding!

I have been quite busy lately helping a couple of friends design and make their wedding invitations. Here is what we came up with for Angela's wedding in Dec.

I had a great time designing this along with Angela and Lisa and I especially had a fantastic time working together to get them all stamped and ready to send. Lots of hours, but lots of fun with friends.

If you ever need invitations for any sort of event, please free to contact me. We could have a one on one consultation and I can help you create that special project for your special event.

I hope everyone is doing well with the whole back to school routine! Things are busy around here, but happy to be back into a routine. Had a crazy day today with the battery of the van dying! Not the greatest thing to happen when you a ton of errands to do!

Stay tuned for some sneek peek pics of upcoming classes. I have been working hard at getting these classes ready for you! First one is coming up on Monday 21 Sept from 6:30 - 9:30pm at my place. Details are coming out in an e-mail as well as my website calendar is currently being updated.

In the meantime.... Have a fantastic rest of the week!

Fantastic Hostess Promotion On Now until 30 Nov!

What a great time to host a workshop!

Sweet Rewards hostess promotion!

Earn even more free products with our limited-time hostess offer!

From September 1-November 30, host a $330 Stampin' Up! workshop, and choose any one item* from the Holiday 2009 Mini Catalogue for just $14!

Choose from our award-winning stamps, beautiful new Simply Adorned jewelry, exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop products, or latest dies for the Sizzix Big Shot. With so much to choose from, you'll feel like a kid in a candy shop!

Make plans today to host your own Stampin' Up! workshop and enjoy this sweet reward.

Contact me today to schedule your workshop - cathmsand@cogeco.ca

*Offer does not include My Digital Studio or hostess sets

The Holiday Mini is Finally HERE!!

What an exciting day!!! The holiday mini catalogue is officially launched and the product inside is absolutely phenomenal! I love it all. I was able to pre-order the products on 1 Aug and let me tell you, I had a tough time showing any restraint. This is the best and biggest Holiday Mini that Stampin' Up! has ever produced! It is jam-packed with wonderful new stamp sets, papers, ribbons and embellishments for Halloween, Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other Winter Holidays. Also included is a fabulous new Build-A-Bear Line of products and a preview of My Digital Studio - the revolutionary new digital scrapbooking and crafting software package that will be available beginning October 1st! I got to order mine today......I just can't wait to use it and share it with all of you!

You can view and download the Holiday Mini Catalogue by clicking HERE.

You can view and download the Stampin' Supply list for all the projects in the Holiday MIni by clicking HERE.

If you don't already have your own personal copy of the Holiday MIni Catalogue and would like one in your hands to enjoy with your feet up and a nice cup of tea, e-mail me and I will be happy to drop one in the mail to you.

You can order anytime by phoning me, e-mailing me or even right here directly through my website link at the top right hand corner of my blog.

Better yet...why don't you host a workshop and receive some of the fantastic hostess benefits we have to offer. From now until 30 Nov, if you host a workshop totalling $330 or more, you will be able to choose any one item from the Holiday Mini Catalogue for only $14. This is excluding the Digital Studio, but once it is released you will be able to purchase it at a 50% discount just by being a hostess of a workshop totalling $525 in sales. Call me today to set a date!

I will be back soon with a little note card to share......have a fantastic day!

A Little Note of Thanks

Note Cards are so cute and small and easy to create. They make great thank-you cards or even a gift tag/card for a gift bag.

You start off with a 3" x 6" piece of Card Stock and fold it in half. I like this simple layout of using some designer paper along the bottom, divided with some ribbon and my sentiment on top. I create an embellishment with my punches. Here I used my In Colour markers to ink up the stamp and then punched out the shapes with my various circle punches. I added some final details with my white gel pen and some glitter in the middle of the flower. Hope you enjoy the simplicity!

Some of you are probably wondering when my classes for the fall will be starting up..........it will be very soon. Please stay tuned for more information. I am just finalizing dates, room bookings and the order of classes I would like to run. There are so many and so little time to get them all in before the holidays!

Have a great day!