We held our February stamp club session on Saturday as the Olympics are just around the corner (February 12 for the Opening Ceremonies)  and rather than having to navigate through the traffic in the city during the Olympics to come here, we had an early session.  Alannah and Amber are volunteering at the Olympics so they will be very busy starting next week.

Alannah's venue is the Richmond Olympic Oval where speed skating, etc. will be taking place, and Amber will be at Canada Hockey Place (GM Place, home of the Vancouver Canucks) where, what else, but hockey will be taking place - how exciting is that!!

You can feel the excitement and buzz in the air and here in Surrey, we received information on when the torch will be going through our community coming up later this week and of course all the chatter is about who will be lighting the Olympic cauldron on opening night.

But on to our fun stamping day.  Some of the club members come on Saturday and the others on Sunday but as it turned out, we were all able to get together on Saturday.  I've been reorganizing the craft room with some new storage units so we were able to accommodate 8 people comfortably.

We were quite ambitious as we made a 3-D item as well as a couple of cards.  The 3-D project was this four drawer chest that can be used as a jewellery box or to hold other small items.  We used the Matchbox Bigz XL die (p. 201, #114990, $57.95) and Top Note die (p. 198, #113463, $29.95) for this project.

  
After our club sessions, the hostess of the month brings goodies and we gather around and catch up with the latest news.  You recall that gorgeous cake that Kathleen brought a couple of month's ago when she was hostess?  This month was Ulla's, and she brought that yummy Asiagio and Artichoke dip, a Garlic and Hummus dip, crackers, mini cream puffs (double yum!), chocolate cake and lemon cake - we will never go hungry!!

Here's the group with their completed projects.

And they wanted to have a fun picture  -  Kelly, Amber and Joy balanced their projects on the top of their heads.

Since our beverage of choice is always tea and a good steeped cup of tea is enjoyed best in English Bone China it was time we used the English Bone China tea cups and saucers that just sit in the buffet.  We usually have our tea in English Bone China mugs but it was a treat to bring out the cups and saucers.

To order any of the products used for this project, you can shop online at www.dayanna.stampinup.net, click on the Shop Now button or email me with your order.  With a purchase of $65 (excluding taxes etc), you can also choose a free Sale-A-Bration item.

If you would like to join my Stampers Club, please email me as we will be starting a new session in a few months.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

Did I say I like making easel cards?  Yes, they are so addicting so I had to try them out as a note card and made a pizza box to hold them.

The little notes are 3" x 3" and are so cute!!   I cut 4 Tempting Turquoise 3" x 6" pieces and folded them in half for 3" x 3".  I folded one of the 3" sections in half so that it measures 1 1/2" x 3" to make the easel stand.

The fronts are matted with Whisper White card stock 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" and then the DSP cut to 2 3/4" x  2 3/4".  The image is the tree and bird from Branch Out which is retired.  I wish it hadn't retired because its such a versatile set.

I will move on to other sketches and techniques other than easel cards LOL - but I just had to make these little ones because they are so adorable!

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

I'm pleased to share with you some cards that Jenafor made over the weekend. She was inspired by the sample in the Occasions Mini on page 19.  The sample in the mini is made with the Hugs Love Notes (p. 19, #118778, $6.95) that fit very nicely into the Rectangle Glassine Envelopes (p. 19, #117227, $7.95).  Jen's version is a full A2 card.

Her card stock colors are Soft Suede, Whisper White, Rose Red and Garden Green.  She used the large dot Texturz plate for the bird card stock before cutting it with the Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch (p. 10, #117191, $22.95)  She scalloped the edges of the Whisper White and Rose Red card stock with the Scallop Trim Border punch featured in the SAB Mini - it could be yours at no charge with a $65 purchase.

The Real Red Epoxy Brad (p. 13, #117270, $6.95) and sentiment from Well Scripted (p. 19, #117072, WM, $26.95) or #118601, CM, $19.95) complete the card.    Hmmm, wonder if this will be my Mother's Day card from her.

Jen cased the envelope of flowers card that I posted on the weekend.  Her version is made with Basic Black card stock and Bride DSP.  The butterflies cut from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit are Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo and the ribbon is Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment is from the SAB set Vintage Labels. 

This card is Pretty in Pink matted with Sending Love DSP.  The butterflies are positioned on a Love Note.

These are beautiful samples using many of the items in the Occasions Mini.  You can purchase these products at www.dayanna.stampinup.net and click on Shop Now or email me with your order.

Thanks for stopping by this beautiful day and happy stamping!

Still playing with the Vintage Vogue set (p.8, #117690, Wood Mount, $31.95, #118598, $23.95).  Don't you just love the choice that Stampin' Up! offers regarding wood mount or clear mount stamps?  All the stamp sets in the Occasions Mini are offered in both wood and clear mount -  Beautiful!

The Bella Bleu DSP reminds me of a vintage look so I made this first one using the DSP paired with Night of Navy and Very Vanilla card stock.  I punched one side of the Night of Navy mat with the Scallop Border Punch and added a few butterflies from the Beautiful Wings embosslit and sponged the wings with Night of Navy.

For this card I had to use the Sending Love DSP - can't get enough of it!  Chocolate Chip is the main card stock matted with pieces from Sending Love.  The Friend image is stamped with Pretty in Pink and I stamped another piece and cut out the "F" and popped it up with dimensionals.  The "a always" stamp is from the Always stamp set (p. 54, IBC, #113620, $38.95) and is stamped with Pretty in Pink on Very Vanilla card stock twice.  I punched the centre with the 1" circle punch from one piece and popped it up with dimensionals on the other piece and placed them on a Chocolate Chip Scallop Circle.

Thanks for stopping by today and happy stamping!

If you don't have this Beautiful Wings Embosslit that's in the new Occasions Mini you really want to order it - you can use up scraps and create beautiful butterflies that are embossed.

I started this card with the focus to be on the large flowers from the Pretties Kit.  After a couple of failed starts, at least the card that I wanted wasn't talking to me, I came up with this card that just said - Yes!

While the flowers are still the focal point, all the extra added pieces, particularly the yellow butterflies just made the card pop. 

How its made:

• Cut Rich Razzleberry card stock 4 1/4" x 11" and score at 5 1/2"
• Cut Bride Specialty paper 4" x 5 1/4"
• Use Corner Rounder punch on Razzleberry card stock and Bride paper on all four corners and mat Bride DSP onto Rich Razzleberry cardstock
• Cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and run it through the Big Shot using the Scallop Envelope Die.  My sandwich (bottom up) was:  Cutting Board, two shims, die, crease pad
• Fold 3 of the large flowers from the Pretties Kit in half and then over again and place them in to the envelope with SNAIL
• Cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot grosgrain 5" to wrap over the front of the envelope and secure in the back with SNAIL
• Cut another piece of the ribbon 4 1/2" long to make a faux bow
• Stamp the sentiment "for you" from All Holidays (p. 43, #144916, $46.95) on a piece of Whisper White using Rich Razzleberry classic ink
• Punch sentiment with Small Oval Punch
• Punch a piece of Rich Razzleberry using the Scallop Oval Punch and mat the sentiment on top
• Adhere the matted sentiment to the front of the card with dimensionals
• Cut a piece of YoYo Yellow card stock 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" and place in Beautiful Wings Embosslits die (p. 24, Occasions Mini, #118138, $15.95) and run through the Big Shot
• Place butterflies on card with glue dots or a small bit of Tombow
• You're done!

You can order any of the items used to make this card at www.dayanna.stampinup.net or email me with your order.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

We've all seen the devastating pictures from Haiti when they were first hit with the massive earthquake over a week ago and the after shocks that they've experienced during the past week.

I'm proud to say that Stampin' Up! is joining in all the efforts to provide relief to the citizens of Haiti.  They have purchased supplies for 5,000 hygiene kits and have also received supplies for the kits donated by their vendors.  The employees of SU in Utah assembled the kits in one day! and they have now been shipped off to Haiti working with a well established organization that is recognized for their work in relief efforts.

In addition to the foregoing, Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set you sell will be donated to the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development Fund from now until February 28, 2010.

Product Name	Item #	Price
I {Heart} Hearts - clear-mount  (block D recommended)	118571	$24.95
I {Heart} Hearts - wood-mount	117010	$35.95

This is a fantastic set that can be used not only for Valentines but for birthdays, weddings and "Just Because".

You can order this set at www.dayanna.stampinup.net and click on Shop Now or you can email me with your order.

Here's a sweet heart of a treat for you.

If you like the Sweet Treat Cups, you're sure to love these adorable Heart Treat Cups (#120435, $3.95) to be used with the Full Heart Punch (p. 187 in the IBC, #113693, $22.95).  There are 12 cups in each package and can be mailed in the padded envelopes (p. 21 in the Occasions Mini, #116911, $3.95 for 3 envelopes).

The measurements of the card are 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used the Sending Love DSP and added two Pretty in Pink scallop edges to the top and bottom of the DSP.  The sentiment is from Love You Much (p. 44, #113756 in the IBC, $34.95).  It is stamped on white card stock with Real Red classic ink and I stamped another image and cut out the centre with the 1 1/4" circle punch and popped it up with dimensionals. The whole sentiment is also popped up with dimensionals.

Be sure to watch the Canada for Haiti telethon tonight that will be broadcast simultaneously on CBC, CTV, Global, MTV, MuchMusic and the National Geographic Channel.  So many Canadian celebrities will be volunteering their time on this telethon - Nelly Furtado, Michael J. Fox, Golden Globe winning director, James Cameron, Wayne Gretzky, Celine Dion, Ryan Reynolds, Joshua Jackson plus many more.  The broadcast is at 7:00 p.m. PST and precedes the Hope for Haiti telethon that is being organized by George Clooney with a line-up of huge American celebrities on the major American networks starting at 8:00 p.m. PST.

Thanks for stopping by this beautiful day - just 3 weeks from the 2010 Olympics here in our neighbourhood! - and happy stamping!

Did I say that easel cards are addicting?  Yes, they are!  I can't seem to stop making them.  Yesterday I played with some of the new products from the Occasions Mini and while I didn't intend to make an easel card, this is what I ended up with.

I also used it with a technique called Black Magic.  Going through my techniques binder, there was a technique I taught a couple of years ago called Pencil Over and this is very similar to it.

Black Magic is a technique that is generally used with dark card stock, i.e., Basic Black, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip etc.   I always like using Basic Gray so I thought I'd use that for this card.  You stamp your image with White Craft ink and if you're impatient like me, use your heat tool to run over your image to ensure that the ink is dry before adding color.  When the ink has dried, color is applied to the image with Stampin' Pastels (p. 154, #105542, $25.95) using sponge daubers or Watercolor Pencils (p. 154, #101879, $28.95).   For this card, I used the Watercolor Pencils.

The card stock is cut 5" x 10" to make a 5" square card.  The front is matted with a piece of 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" Pretty in Pink card stock and stamped with the floral stamp using Versamark giving it a water mark background.

The front Basic Gray panel is cut 4" x 4" and the floral border is stamped with White Craft ink.  I colored in the flowers and leaves with a pink and green Watercolor Pencil.  The Friend stamp is stamped on a piece of Basic Gray measuring 1 7/8" x 2" and matted onto a Pretty in Pink piece measuring 2 1/8" x 2 1/4" and placed over the length of Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon with dimensionals.  The "F" has been colored with the pink pencil.

Here is a picture of the inside of the card.

The little border looks so pretty that I thought I'd use the Stamp-a-ma-Jig (p. 191, #101049, $16.95) to stamp a frame on the inside panel.  A filigree brad (p. 179, #112577, $8.50) with a pink Soft Subtles brad (p. 179, #106594, $11.95) in the middle is used for the "stopper" when you open up the card.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!