Christmas 2011

Good Wednesday morning everyone.  I`d like to share my scrapbook page that I made for Christmas this year.  My sister-in-law, Tracey, and I are hosting a Frame and banner Christmas class on December 4th and so we sat down last Saturday to prepare (brainstorm). We started off with a 9 x 9 shadow box that was purchased at IKEA (the least expensive model that we have found).  We each made our own style of pages using similar pieces, however the results were uniquely our own, which the girls in our class will be able to do as well.  I used the Letters to Santa designer series paper, accented with Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Old Olive and Whisper White.  I stamped images from the Pennant Parade, Holiday Happiness, Delightful Decorations, Warmest of Wishes, Dasher, Serene Snowflakes, Tags til Christmas and Punch Bunch (retired) stamp sets.  I used the Jewelry Tag, Owl Builder, Ornament, Decorative Petite Pennants Builder and the 2 1/2 inch circle punches.  I also used my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots and Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  To accent, I used LOTS of Rhinestones and Pearls; Dazzling Diamonds Stampin`Glitter, Mini Jingle Bells, a "paper clip" from the Clips Assortment cut in two (for the ornament), Riding Hood Red 3/8 inch Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread and Early espresso Baker`s Twine. 

I will also be taking orders for similar designs at the 32nd Annual Christmas Craft Fair at Princess Elizabeth Elementary School on November 26th, where I will be selling Christmas, Birthday, Thank-you, Welcome Baby, and Thinking of You cards, gift boxes, gift card holders and other projects for my very first craft fair.  

I will be sharing the Christmas banner that we made very soon, so be check to check back soon. 

Halloween

I am so excited to share my Halloween projects with you.  This is the first time that I have made so many decorations for Halloween.  I was inspired by three Stampin`Up! Artisan Award Winners from this year and want to Thank them all for their great ideas that helped me to make my own.  I check Heather Summers blog every morning while I am enjoying my coffee and am blown away by her amazing ideas; her Witch Leg Treat Holder inspired my lollies on both my SPOOKY banner and my Witches Hat.  Cheryl Lefore made a very adorable witch`s hat that was so adorable, that I had to make one of my own.   Last, but not least, is Sandra Farrell.  Her Trick or Treat subway art (I refer to it as an eye chart) was amazing and since she graciously indicated in her blog entry that we could download it if we liked it, I did!!  I printed it out on photo paper and framed it with little pieces of the Frightful Sight designer series paper.  Also, I adhered a décor element to a new paint can, that I picked up at the local hardware store, that I will put my candy in on Halloween to give out to the kids.  Thanks for looking and please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have. 

Thankful!

Thanksgiving is a big deal for my family, almost as big as Christmas.  I fell in love with the new Spice Cake designer series paper and material and just had to get them.  I wanted to stamp "Happy" on the first square and spell out "Thanksgiving" on the banner using the die letters, however it would have been too long for the buffet, so I decided to write Thankful instead.  I saw something similar on a Nikki Toll`s blog last year and thought that it was a wonderful idea.  please visit  http://stampinwithniki.blogspot.com/2010/11/thankful.html
to see my inspiration.  I used the Spice Cake material and made a liner for the bread-basket and stitched on a button available from the Holiday Mini catalogue .  I didn`t have a pattern, however I think that it turned out quite well, just the same. Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy your Thanksgiving with your family and friends!!

Happy Birthday Dad and Freshly Made Sketches challenge #4

I am giving the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/ another shot with this Birthday card for my father. Today he turns 6_years old... nope that wasn`t a mistake, he`d kick my butt for posting his age all over the net, lol!!  This is the design challenge, and this,

is my card.  I used one of my favourite stamp sets, The Open Sea (which I also used for his Father`s Day card) and the coordinating dsp, Nautical Expedition on my card as well as Early Espresso Baker`s Twine and a game spinner head to serve as the center for my compass.  I stamped the anchor image from the stamp set onto the Cherry Cobbler card-base using my Versamarker to add a little more depth to the card.  I think that I may have to invest in a new digital camera as my pictures are terrible!!  I hope that you like the cards that I made yesterday for World Cardmaking day.

Have a great week, April

Yesterday, my dear friend, Barbara, was ordained into the Priesthood of the Anglican Diocese of Québec.  I wanted to make her a beautiful card with a cross on it to celebrate this milestone in her life, however since I do not own any stamps with any religious symbols, I decided to use the beautiful butterfly from the Strength & Hope stamp set.  I used Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze as my colour palette and my Big Shot was put to good use.  I used both the Textured Impressions Stripes & Vintage Wallpaper folders, as well as the Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, some Very Vanilla ribbon and a button tied with linen thread.  I was inspired by a card made by Teneale Williams, who is a fellow SU! demonstrator from Australia who makes the most beautiful cards. Check out her blog... http://tenealewilliams.com.au/   you`ll be happy that you did!!

Mom`s bithday card... and Freshly Made Sketches challenge

I have loved this stamp set for a long time and have to admit that I bought it as it was retiring... big mistake!!  I really love the images in this set, they are very whimsical and fun to use.  I made this card for my Mom, for her birthday yesterday.  Also, I am entering it in the Freshly Made Sketches #3 challenge this week.... my first challenge!!  Although my card may be a bit busier than what the challenge team had in mind, I am very happy with the results.  Here is the link: http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com  wish me luck!

Pierre`s Birthday card and Pals Paper Arts challenge... a little late

Well, better late than never... I have never made a card for a challenge and although it was too late when I saw this design, I had to try anyway.  I tend to have a difficult time making cards for the men in my life and some time I need inspiration.  My brother-in-law, Pierre, celebrated his birthday last week and as he loves to play cards I wanted to use this designer series paper... so I put the challenge to the test and this is the card that I came up with. 

Thanks for looking and enjoy your week.

Thank you cards

Here is the Thank You card that I designed for Caitlin for her baby shower. I wanted to wait until she began sending them out before posting this picture, so that our family members wouldn`t see my post before receiving their card from Caitlin. My mom has already received hers, so I hope that I am not too early posting this!!  I used the same dsp and colour palette as I used for her gift and card.  As you can see, I included the image into the scrapbook page that I gave her, although I added some dazzling diamond glitter to the bottle for her shadow box.  I used two retired stamp sets that I have for both the main image and the bottle attached to the ribbon.  The main image is a pile of blankies in a basket, with diapers, a teddy bear, a baby bottle and some baby powder which appears to be wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow. I love this image and thought that it was perfect for baby shower Thank You cards.  I also stamped a baby bottle, key, rattle design using Baja Breeze ink onto Whisper White c.s. and used the Jewelry Tag punch (which I find kind of looks like a baby bottle itself). I then punched a hole at the top before threading some linen thread through to add a little more interest to a rather simple design.  I love the dsp that I used and wish that I had stocked up before it was retired in June!!  

Thanks for looking and I am sorry that my photography skills are so lacking... Tracey is the photographer in the family, not me, lol!!

Caitlin`s baby shower

 It`s the year of the baby in our family. We have two new babies on my Mom`s side of the family and we are awaiting our 4th on my father`s side.  This card I made for my cousin Caitlin`s baby shower last weekend.  She is expecting a boy very soon, her first child. I was completely inspired by Heather Summers and her card that she entered for Stampin`Up!`s annual Artisan Award.  Needless to say, once you look at her card, you will no doubt know why she won this most prestigious award.  Please visit Heather`s site to see what inspired me:  http://stampwithheather.typepad.com/stamp_with_heather/ the card is featured on day 9 of the blog hop.  Although my card is no where as amazing as the one that Heather made, I am very happy with the results.

Caitlin really liked the scrapbook page that I made for our cousin Kayla a few months ago and so I made her one as well.  Although I tried my best that they not be identical, I was working with my favourite (now retired) designer series paper and many of the same stamp sets. I wish that the picture was better...
thanks for visiting and I will post again very soon.

A gift for my god-parents

This is a phone book that I made for my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Miles for their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  I wanted to give them something home-made that they could use on a regular basis and think of me. I actually took the on board art journal (retired) apart, passed each paper through the printer (front and back) using a phone book layout that my Dad made for me in Corel Draw and when everything was completed, I re-assembled the book using my Zutter Bind-it-All. I used the Fabulous Florets stamp set from the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue, as well as the Beyond the Garden dsp and Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots Ribbon. The colours are Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  I used Crystal Effects on the two flowers that are raised using dimensionals and put pearls on one of them and rhinestones on the other.  I also punched out a 1/2 inch circle of the dsp and layered it with a clear button and tied them together with a piece of linen thread and adhered that to the front of the book.

For their card, I used the same cardstock colours, however I used the Awash with Flowers stamp set and the 1/8 inch Early Espresso ribbon. Of course I had to use my Big Shot and so I embossed a piece of Wild Wasabi c.s. using the Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots folder for both the book and the card.  In the center of the flower I attached 3 small Pearls and I punched out a piece of the dsp using the 1/4 inch circle and adhered it to a pewter build-a-brad (retired) and attached that to the front of the card. 

I also decorated the inside of the card.  Once again I used the Beyond the Garden dsp, Pacific Point c.s. and the scallop Trim Border punch and a verse from the A Word for You stamp set, stamped in Pacific Point ink.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

An amazing offer...

$119 Starter Kit

Friends, Fun, and Fabulous Products!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $119! This limited time Starter Kit--valued at $205--comes with the following high-quality products:
$119 Starter Kit

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad®
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Note Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive®
• Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit--a $50 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful--isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.
As an added bonus, first-time demonstrators can get two free months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) when they sign up during their first 21 days as a demonstrator. Subscribing to DBWS means having your own online store, blog, hostess portal, and much more!

Please contact me if you are interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!!

It`s almost time

Just a few more hours to go before we say "Goodbye" to some much loved stamp sets, designer series paper, ribbon, décor elements, etc. and "HELLO" to some amazing new products. I am so excited about the 2011/2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. It is truly amazing; it is filled with some very exciting new products that I cannot wait to share with you. 

Offer strength and hope to those dealing with breast cancer by purchasing the Strength & Hope stamp set.
Throughout the 2011 Summer Mini Catalogue sales period, Stampin’ Up! will donate $2 from the sale of each stamp set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). When you purchase the Strength and Hope package from us, there will also be a donation to The Canadian Breast Cancer Association. I will also donate all of my commissions from the sale of all Strength & Hope sets to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
My sister-in-law and I are offering a special kit with a stamp set and all of the pre-cut cardstock, ribbon and embellishments that you will need to make 6 beautiful all-occasion cards, plus a bookmark. All you need is your own adhesive and ink.
The kits will be $30 for the clear mount stamp set, or $35 for the wood mount stamp set. There will be an additional charge of $5 for postage if necessary. Anyone wishing to purchase the cards, without the stamp set can contact us and we will be happy to make the cards for you for only $20.
Please contact us today if you are interested. Thank you !

Redonnez force et espoir à celles qui souffrent du cancer du sein en achetant le kit d`estampe "Force et Espoir". Pour chaque jeu d`estampes Force et Espoir vendu durant la période de vente Minicatalogue d`été 2011, Stampin`Up! remettra $2 à The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Aussi, à l'achat d'un kit, il y aura un don à l'Association de Cancer du sein Canadienne!! Je m`engage aussi à remettre toutes mes commissions suite à la vente de ce kit à l'Association Canadienne du Cancer du Sein.
Ma belle-soeur, et moi offrons un kit special qui inclus un ensemble d'étampes, des cartes pré-coupées, le ruban et des garnitures dont vous aurez besoin pour fabriquer 6 magnifiques cartes ansi qu’un signet. Tout ce dont vous avez besoin est votre propre adhesif et encre.
Les kits seront 30$ pour l'ensemble d'étampes avec monture clair, ou 35$ pour l'ensemble d'étampes avec monture en bois. Il y aura un supplément de 5$ pour le postage si nécessaire. Si vous souhaitez acheter les cartes, sans l'ensemble d'étampes, vous pouvez nous contacter, il nous fera plaisir de vous les faire pour seulement 20$.
Contactez-nous des aujourd'hui si vous êtes intéressés. Merci !

April Buckland, Independant Stampin`Up! Demonstrator
home: (819) 868-0686 mobile: (819)674-3104
aprilbuckland@hotmail.com,

http://www.april-raedesigns.blogspot.com/

Tracey: www.photovidal.blogspot.com

Strength & Hope campaign

Throughout the 2011 Summer Mini Catalogue sales period, May 1st - August 31st, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from the sale of each Strength & Hope set.  This set is available in wood-mount or clear-mount and in English, French and Spanish versions.  Offer strength and hope to those dealing with breast cancer by purchasing the Strength & Hope stamp set.  I will also donate all of my commission from the sale of all Strength & Hope set to the Canadian Breast Cancer Association. 

My sister-in-law, Tracey and I will soon be offering a special package with the stamp set and all of the pre-cut card stock, ribbon and embellishments that you will need to make some beautiful cards.  All you need is your own adhesive and ink.  Anyone wishing to purchase the cards, without the stamp set can contact me and we will be happy to make the cards for you.  With the purchase of each Strength and Hope

package, there will also be a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Association.

Carryover items from the Occasions Mini Catalogue

This is a list of carryover items that Stampin`Up! has available from the Occasions Mini Catalogue.  Although most items in the catalogue will no longer be available after today, the items featured here can still be purchased.  Please contact me by phone or e-mail to place an order. 

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine!!

An early start to a great promotion

This morning before leaving for work, I went to the Stampin`Up! demonstrator web-site and saw that they are beginning National Scrapbooking Month early.  How exciting is this ?!? 

For those of you who wish to place a last minute order for items in the Occasions Mini Catalogue, which ends on Saturday, April 30th, and want to get a head start on the 30% discount for some really fantastic scrapbooking products (good for card making as well) please contact me as soon as possible to place an order.

Not to worry, however, you have until May 31st

to order your supplies available during National Scrapbooking Month.  As well, the new Summer Mini Catalogue begins on May 1st until August 31st.  It is FILLED with some amazing stamp sets, designer series paper and accessories that you are sure to love. 

The Summer Mini Catalogue will be available for on-line viewing at www.stampinup.ca beginning May 1st, or send me a message and I will mail a copy of it to you. 

If you are in Canada and wish to place an order, please contact me by phone at 819-868-0686 or by e-mail at aprilbuckland@hotmail.com to place an order for any of the amazing products that Stampin`Up! offers. 
Have a great weekend and happy stamping!!

A little fun

This is a card that I made for a friend at work.  His birthday is this week and he loves the Angry Red Bird game.  I hope that he likes the card half as much as he does his game-time during his breaks!!   

Easter projects

Just a quick post today, to share a few Easter projects.  The first was the card that we made at an Easter class a few weeks ago.  I made up a few extra for my family. 

 This is the card that I made for my parents.  I really wanted to use my new Bigz Fun Flower die for the Big Shot.  It also permitted me to try making a square card using the scallop square die. 

And last, but not least, is a carrot that I made using the Petal Cone die as an Easter decoration.  I threaded some ribbon through a button and so the carrot can be filled with goodies for the kids, young and old!  I saw this on Angie Kenedy Juda`s site: http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/chicnscratchlive/ and wanted to try it myself.  After I cut out the cone, I passed it through the big shot again, using the Distressed Impressions Pad from the Texture Plates kit #4.

I hope that you enjoyed your Easter with your loved ones.

Kayla`s baby shower

Hi, today I thought that I would share a card that I made for my cousin Kayla.  Her baby shower was yesterday.  As you can probably already guess, she is having a boy!!

I used a retired stamp set "Wild About You" for the card and the Nursery Suite dsp from the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalogue.  I wanted it to match her gift

which uses Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Daffodil Delight.  I also used Crumb Cake on the card. 

So, here is her gift, it is a   12 x 12 shadow box that contains 16, 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 squares that I decorated using different stamp sets (new and old), many punches and the Big Shot as well.  I saw this on Michelle Surette`s web-site and knew immediately that I had to make one of these.  If you`d like to see Michelle`s original version, please visit her site:

http://istampedthat.com/2011/02/26/i-promise-to-try-to-stay-away-from-the-owl-punch/

If you would like a list of the stamp sets, punches or Big Shot products that I used, please send me a message and I would be happy to tell you. 

I have a few favourite squares; the star and the moon on the bottom corner with the clouds that I made using the build-a-cupcake punch.  The clouds are actually the muffin tops that I adhered lots of glitter to. 

The simplicity of the onesie that came from the Baby Tees jumbo wheel.  I used the diamond pattern on the piece of Whisper White card stock under it, using the Texturz Backgrounds #1 plate. I also used it on the card that I made so that the card would match the gift.  Well, I could go on and on, so why don`t I let you tell me which squares you like instead!!
I will be back soon with a few Easter cards.  Have a great day. 

SU! Montréal Regional event

Finally, the day has arrived!!!  Today I am

going to a Stampin'Up! Regional event in Montréal.  I am sooo excited to meet other demonstrator`s, including my up-line, Grace.  We have only ever spoken on the phone and communicate by e-mail, so this is going to be a very exciting day all around.  This event is organized so that we can meet other demos, learn new techniques and share ideas. 

I made myself a notebook and a matching pen lastnight to go with

the cards that I made for our card swap.   

I made 3 different cards, using different pieces of designer series paper from the Suite Stitches dsp on my cards because I only decided on a model a few weeks ago

(see post dated March 17th).  I was having

a terrible time deciding what to do for my make-n-take cards until my Mom asked me to make a birthday card for her sister, Laura.  So, Thank you, Mom for inspiring my projects.

This first card is a little different. 

I stepped it up a bit to give to Grace.  I changed the ribbon, added a Sweet Stitches Fabric designer brad and added pearls onto the bottom of my card.

These are the cards that I am going to swap with other demos. 

 Except for the dsp being different, the cards are the same.  I guess that next time I will

have to start planning a little earlier and have more supplies on hand, LOL. 

Speaking of which, my sister-in-law, Tracey really saved me by giving me some cardstock.  I would have had to change the tempting turquoise for another colour and I would not have achieved the same result... so THANK YOU Tracey!!  Grace also mailed me a few sheets of wild wasabi so that I could make the 50 cards for the swap that I wanted to do. 

I really appreciate both of you very much for helping me out when I needed it. 

Thanks for looking and I hope that you like the cards and the notebook that I made as much as I do.

Easter class

Easter class
Here is the card and scrapbook page that we made
yesterday at Karine`s Easter class.  Each guest left with a card, an 8 x 8 inch scrapbook page and an Easter basket.
For the card, we used the "A Good Egg" stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalogue as well as the Nursery Suite designer series paper, Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Whisper White cardstock, Pear Pizzazz Stitched-poly Ribbon, Stampin`Pastels, Peach Parfait Stampin`Write marker, Dimensionals and the 1 inch circle, Word Window, Modern Label and Designer Label punches. 
For the scrapbook page, we once again used the "A Good Egg" stamp set and Nursery Suite designer series paper, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose and Whisper White cardstock.  We used the Stampin`Pastels and Peach Parfait Stampin`Write marker, the Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Dimensionals and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle and the 1 3/4 inch Circle Punches.
I will upload a picture of the Easter Basket in the next few days. 
Thanks for looking!!

Sew Suite...

As soon as I saw this stamp set, "Sew Suite"

from the Occasions Mini Catalogue, I knew that I HAD to have it!! 

Many of the women in my family sew; my grandmother taught me how

to make everything from a pin-cushion, to an apron to a quilt when I was still quite young.  That`s not to say

that I have nearly as much talent as she does.... 

This card was made for my Aunt Laura`s Birthday.  She is my Mom`s eldest sister and an amazing quilter. I used the "Sweet Stitches" designer series paper with the "Sweet Stitches" fabric brads, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo and Very Vanilla cardstock and some retired Tempting Turquoise 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon.  I stamped the mannequin using my Jet Black StazOn directly unto the dsp and cut out the body of the manaquin and popped them up using dimensionals.  I also stamped the spool of thread onto the Wild Wasabi c.s. using my VersaMark.  The ruler was coloured in using my Stampin`Pastels. 

I hope that you like this card as much as I do and I sincerely hope that my Aunt Laura does not see this post before her birthday card arrives in the mail!! 

Exploding Box... cont'd

Exploding Box!!!

This is a project that I came across on youtube. It was posted by  Lisa Irvine and it is called an Exploding Box.  I used Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Not Quite Navy cardstock with Urban Gardens designer series paper (retired) and lots of embellishments!! If you'd like to see Lisa's original version, please clic here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYCUdE_Rtcc&feature=related 

I still need to add some pictures and messages to mine and then it will be complete.