From My Studio-Pam Duguay

2011-08-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

The summer is coming to and end and in our house that means birthday parties. Claire turned 10 yesterday and Nicole will celebrate her 13th birthday tonight with her friends. Her actual birthday is September 1st.

I am really trying to learn the My Digital Studio program this fall. I have had it for a while but haven't really giving it a good try. I discovered some great videos on My Digital Studio.net and have watched the beginner and intermediate videos. That helped me design the invitation to Nicole's party. In it we used the stamp set extreme elements. I love the results. I had never used girly colours with this stamp set. I had always thought of it more as a boys stamp set. For the words I just opened up a text box and typed. MDS comes with text fonts but also makes use of the fonts you already have.

The colours used in the invitation are Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron and Rich Razzleberry. We where a little stumped with the colours but new we wanted the Kiwi Kiss (green is Nicole's favourite colour) and I like Not Quite Navy with it so we went to My Create Ink and put in the colours and it gave us some choices to work with. Remember to click retired colours box if you would like to use them. A great website.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Yours in Stampin'

Pam

2011-02-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Just Getting ready for the crop on Saturday at the Salvation Army Church here in St. Thomas. This is my make'n take. People will make the cup cakes and stand out a punches and die cuts.

If you have never been to a crop before but are curious about what takes place you are welcome to stop in visit.

Christmas Tree

2010-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Don't you love this little tree. The idea came from a friend, Diana's, blog. I used the paper Jolly Holly from the Idea Book and Catalogue and the Glass Glitter from the mini catalogue. I love how the glitter shines.

A quick little card

2010-11-30T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a very quick and easy card I will be doing at the OEYC Tuesday night for Mom's Night out. The card uses Marina Mist card stock and ink as well as the Whisper White craft ink. It is embellished with the Rhinestone Jewels. Punches used are the large oval and the Designer Label. Don't they look great together? The greeting is from the stamp set Bells and Boughs from the mini catalogue. Oh, almost forgot the Snow Flurries embossing folder.

2010-11-29T06:50:00.000-08:00

I have a group of friends that I was scrapbook pages with and this is my swap for the Black and White themed page swap. For this swap you do not swap the background paper, just the elements. This page uses the retired Paper Night and Day from the mini catalogue from this time last year. The flower are from this years Idea Book and Catalogue. I have inked the center flowers with black craft in then embossed them in black embossing powder so they are glossy.

November Card Class-Stamp-a-Stack

2010-11-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

It is time for the November Card Class. This class will be a Stamp-a-stack class where you create 10 cards (two each of five designs). These cards are a little more along lines of a simple card. They have minimal embellishments on them making them a little flatter for mailing and easy to reproduce. Beautiful cards non the less.

The class will take place on Tuesday November 23 and Wednesday November 24 from 7-9 pm. You choose the day. It will be set up in stations so you are able to work at your own pace. The class is limited to 10 people total for the two days.

The cost of the class is $20 and due Monday November 22 by 5 pm.

Please RSVP by phone or email so that I can reserve your spot.

A new dog in town.

2010-08-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

We are luck to have met this little guy. His name is Eugene and he comes to us from All Breed Canine Rescue. If you are thinking of getting a dog please check out there website here. This page is made with MDS Stampin' Up!'s digital scrapbooking program. Check out the link at the side for more information.

2010-04-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs502.snc3/26385_384053616629_79041546629_4439093_5753438_n.jpg

Here they are ladies. This is what all the talk is about. The new colours for the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue. There will also be 5 more new Incolours coming in July.

March's Card Class--For the boys

2010-03-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

This months Card Class is for the boys. Complete 4 cards. Two for the younger boys and two for the older boys. We will be using embossing powders, sweet treat cups, punches, hemp and shimmer paints as they are and making them into a shimmer paint. The card with the Extreme Guitar Stamp using the shimmer paint and has to been seen.

The class with take place on Wednesday March 31 at 7 pm. The cost for this class is $15. Please RSVP with payment by March 26th.

Aprils card class with be sympathy cards.

I am back---well sort of!

2010-03-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Sorry it has been so long since I posted. I am really not good with change and this new computer has been a big change. New computer = new program to down load you photos and a new spot to try and find them in. I am still trying to figure out both. Hubby wanted to show me last night but I was still getting ready for my group so it did not happen. Hopefully we can take a minute to night and give it a try. Here is a sample for some of the cards from last months card class. It was a stamp-a-stack with each person making two cards.

I posted this photo because it includes my new "wow" card, you know that one that is so simple but takes your breath away. It is the one on the right. I will take another photo of just it so you can see the detail in it.

Yours in Stampin'
Pam

Extreme Scrapbooking.

2010-02-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favourite pages that i have created lately. It uses the stamp lets Extreme Elements (115181) and Extreme Skateboard (115179 or 120224 if you earn it free with Sale-a-bration). The skater just pops off the page. You could easily recreate this page using the other Extreme Stamp sets.

The Price of Postage--Who knew?

2010-02-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

This is taken from and email I recieved today. Hope you find it interesting. I sure did!

Yours in Stampin'

Pam

STILL MAILING YOUR PARCELS THRU AN IN STORE POSTAL OUTLET !?

Canada Post, from a random blog:

" I learned something over Christmas that I feel compelled to share with you.
This won't change your life dramatically or help you survive the apocalypse but it will save you some $$$.

I recently mailed two identical packages via Canada Post one week apart.
One would think that the postage should be exactly the same...well, let me tell you...

Pkg # 1 was mailed from an actual Canada Post Office. Postage came to $11.74. Since I knew a second identical package would be mailed in about a week's time, I bought sufficient postage for the second pkg while I was there.

When it came time to mail Pkg #2, I went to the post office in Shopper's Drug Mart. I handed the pkg to the clerk to be put in the outbound mail bag, I was informed that I did not have sufficient postage attached. The clerk proceeded to inform me that I needed to purchase and additional $6 worth of stamps. After explaining how I knew exactly what the postage should be, the clerk offered some lame excuse that Canada Post is unionized and they can say and do anything with impunity and if I wished to mail that pkg from Shopper's then I needed to purchase more stamps.

I told the clerk to stuff it and took back my package and headed to the "real" Canada Post Office, where I would raise hell...
Much to my surprise, the Canadian Postal Clerk took my package, weighed it and tossed it in the mail bag, and it was it's way...When I asked if the amount of Postage I had put on the parcel was right she shook her head and said "yup, no problem"...

The Truth comes out:

Canada Post Offices charge postage for packages at the published Canada Post rates.
Franchise locations such as Shoppers Drug Mart can charge whatever they like.
So remember if you regularly mail packages at franchise locations (ie Shoppers Drug Mart,) you are probably paying too much. Franchise locations are found in shopping malls, drug stores and private businesses everywhere. From now on, all of my mailing will be done from a real Canada Post location.
Still perplexed by what I was told by the girl in Shoppers, I fired off an email to Canada Post for clarification.
This is the reply I got from them:

Thank you for your message to Canada Post.

A postal outlet is not a federal government agency and is not owned or managed by Canada Post. For example if the postal outlet is within grocery store or pharmacy it would follow the stores working hours, therefore if the store must be closed, so will the postal outlet inside.
Only Canada Post Depots and Corporate Post Offices are obligated to follow the price of stamps and postal products that are legislated by Canada Post. Any commercial and private establishment may charge extra fees as a convenience to their customers. It is at their discretion to apply additional service fees to products that they sell. We suggest visiting a Corporate Post Office in order to avoid paying additional service charges that corner stores or other establishment may implement on their products.
Regards,
Veronika Strofski
Customer Service "

Sale-a-bration!

2010-02-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

I love Sale-a-Bration and here is why!

Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $65 purchase (before tax and shipping).

Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $395* in work

Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (valued up to $63.95) from the current catalogues when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+)!

February Class--Assembly Line Scrapbook

2010-02-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more samples from my Assembly Line Scrap booking class. You will amazed at how easily the album goes together. Here are the details.

Complete a 16 page Scrapbook Album in an afternoon working with a package of neutral card stock (white or vanilla) and one of Stampin' Up! versatile Simply Scrappin' Kits. You can work with the kit shown in the photo below, a retired kit called Summer Home or work with one from the current catalogue. Make an album for a baby gift using Moments and Milestones or get caught up on your child’s in one fell swoop. Need one for the man in your life, try using Tailor Made. The choice is yours.

This class will take place on Saturday Feb 27th or Sunday Feb. 28th from 1-5 in the afternoon. Class size is limited to 4 people as this project requires a little bit of spreading space.

Please note the album is not included in the cost of this class. If you would like to see the album prior to signing up please let me know as I have a sample here.

So here are the details.
When: Saturday Feb. 27th or Sunday Feb. 28th
Time: 1-5 pm
Cost: $50 using the kit Summer Home (available in limited number)
$55 using a Simply Stampin' Kit from the current Idea Book and Catalogue (pages 164-167
Payment Due: Monday February 8th.
Location: My home

If you have any question please feel free to contact me.

Scallop Square Rag Purse

2010-01-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

That is right. I have been working on a rag purse that is all the rage with crafters. On this purse I used the Scallop Square Big Shot Die (115950), a little retired groovy guava ribbon a pair of $.25 jeans from the BFM, batting and material from the fabric store. It was very easy. If you can sew a straight line you can do this. Because it has that ragged kind of look to it I didn't stress about how straight my stitched lines where. As a friends says "it is all good".

Now you know I don't come up with these ideas on my own, so check out this blog if you want to see the video instructions.

Of course, Nicole has already asked if she can have the purse. I might just make another.

Good night all!

Pam

Want to guess what I am making?

2010-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday night everyone. Right now I should be packing for the Let It Snow all day crop at the Salvation Army Church, but I am not. I have dragged my Big Shot and Scallop Square die out and am doing a little cutting. Anyone care to guess what I am making? Leave a comment if you can.

Did you know?

2010-01-21T11:12:00.001-08:00

So Shelli!

Did you know that Shelli the co-founder of Stampin' Up! has a blog. You can pop in and visit her any time. http://www.soshelli.com/

Masculine Card Class

2010-01-21T05:54:00.000-08:00

Here are three of the cards we will be doing on Wednesday Jan 27th. We are focusing on cards for men at this months card class. There will be the three cards shown plus a special valentines card. These masculine cards use glossy card stock, brayer, the Look Here pop-up die (don't let it scare you, it is much easier than the tree) with some great techniques.

This class must be prepaid by Monday January 25. Please send me an quick email if you would like me to save you a spot. Space is limited. Cost is $12

2010-01-17T13:37:00.000-08:00

This is a really quick post because the kids are up stairs waiting for some one to make dinner and because I am the only adult home it is going to have to be me.

We where invited out for a birthday party on the weekend and the theme was Michigan State Football so I did my best to whip up a card in this theme. I have to say I am very happy with the results. The card is Whisper White and Night of Navy card stock and it uses the Look Here die and Serif Essentials Die.

Happy 47th Birthday Steve!

Have a great evening.

Yours in Stampin'

Pam

Buyers Club--January

2010-01-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I just learn another lesson on using the computer. If you type it out in Blogger, Blogger saves as you go............Microsoft word does not.

It is getting to be a busy month. I am looking forward to the crop at the Salvation Army church next week. I am planning cards for my buyers group and Masculine Card Class on January 25th and 27th.

Here is a sneek peek at the project for the Buyers Group this month. The featured product this month is the Metal Edge Tags. With a $25 purchase you become part of the group. The hostess benefits are used to purchase the featured product and is divided between the group. You can of course buy more than one share. Email me if you would like more information on how the group works.

This card also uses the Sweet Pea DSP and the Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon (this months Ribbon Shares ribbon) from the Occasions Mini Catalogue. Did you notice the punched border? That is from the Sale-a-Bration Flyer. Purchase $65 worth of product from the Idea Book and Catalogue or the Occasions Mini Catalogue and you could receive it free. That's right Free.

Look at the side bar from more details.

Happy Friday!

Pam

Tonight Group!

2010-01-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

I have been playing a little this morning. I have a group in tonight and I have been working on some projects that use the Big Shot. We will be using the Three Tier Cake from the IB & C to make a very special birthday card. The cake is not nearly as hard to work with as the tree from the last mini catty. The die comes with candles to put on top of your cake or a little bride and groom.

We are also using the Sweet Pea Paper stack (117161) and the 5/8' satin ribbon. The ribbon is the months Ribbon Shares ribbon. You will receive two yards each of 9 different ribbon for $20 (taxes and shipping included). It is very beautiful ribbon. Let me know if you are interested in a share or two.

Yours in Stampin'

Pam

Salvation Army Crop-Sneak Peek

2010-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peak at the make n' take that I will be doing on January 23 for the Salvation Army's Let it Snow crop. It uses the new embosslits die Beautiful Wings, Sweet Pea Paper Stack and the Textured Impressions Folder Perfect Polka Dots.

Here is the info for the crop.

Includes: Light Breakfast, Lunch, Hot Supper, SnacksCricut available - you supply own paperDoor prizes and swap table(Do you have paper, embellishments, magazines, die cuts, etc ., you no longer need? Bring them to the table and swap for new treasurers.Contact Linda at lchapman@rogers.com or Charlotte at cmejdk@aol.com or here. or telephone Lori (Church Secretary) at 519-631-6202 8:30 to 1:30 Tuesday to Friday. The Cost is $40

Hope to see you there.

2010-01-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here is what one of my groups did last night. It's a very cute stationary box for 3x3 cards. The bottom of the "thanks so much" card uses the new "Pinking Hearts Punch", the Vintage Vogue stamp set and the Very Vintage jumbo wheel from the Occasions Mini catalogue.

The idea comes from the blog of Pennie McCallum. Here is the link for the instructions. You can keep your cards simple like we did list night or dress them up in black and white. They make a great hostess or teacher gift.

Yours in Stampin'

Pam

My humble beginnings!

2010-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed these two little cards in my studio sitting above my scrapbooking area? Ever wonder why they are there? These are the first two cards that I made after I received my Stampin' Up! order. It is amazing how much I have change. You don't see me using the fancy scissor any more or my chalks very much. I still like to layer though. The stamp set Fresh Flowers in long gone. I do still however have the Build-a Bug stamp set that I bought that first time.

I have a lot of people say to me, I can't do that when they see are card that I have made. I say it just takes a little practice.

Friends

2008-08-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have a visit with a friend today. Wan't planned, she just need to pick something up. It was a nice visit but it made me think of this poem

Are Your Friends Here for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?

Anonymous

Many of us are fortunate enough to have friends who are a consistent part of our lives throughout all our ups and downs. However, sometimes others we consider friends appear to enter, then depart from our lives for reasons we try to, but don't always, understand. This piece nicely explains the flow of people in and out of our lives.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a SEASON, b ecause your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Some days I feel lonely and thing about friends that I have had in the past and why or relations ships have changed an my part in it.

I have been on facebook for a while now. Can't even tell you when it started but it has been maybe 8 months or so. I have about eighty friends but lately I find myself connecting with childhood friends or what I find even stranger is the children of childhood friends or old friends. One of these days I will have to invite thier mom's to coffee. Alas, they are not on facebook.