I'm sitting in the middle of an enormous snowstorm (again) and we are expecting a second this weekend. No school for my freshman daughter, Caroline. Everything in Madison, WI, is at a halt . . . and I'm smiling. This is my favorite kind of day for stamping and "nesting." We are nearly guaranteed a White Christmas!
My marathon of stamp and accessory sneak peeks for you will begin later today, starting with a new hostess set from the Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer 2009 Catalog (available Jan. 19). Echoes of Kindness. Love it.
I mentioned in a previous post that my family doesn't do a big holiday gift exchange. This year it's a simple book exchange to one family member (the book needs to be age and interest appropriate . . . extra points for humor). However, we are going nutso on a formal Christmas six-course dinner (this Sunday) at my sister's home. I was assigned placecards and dinner mints (plus potatoes and veggies for 17 hungry friends and relatives).
Knowing that the candlelit tables will be stunning with ivory and gold china, polished sterling silver, "real" napkins and more . . . I decided to combine my requirement for placecards and dinner mints.
My monogrammed embossed pillow boxes (approx. 2 1/8" x 3 3/4" when assembled) hold three Hershey's mints (dark, white and milk chocolate mini bars). TIP: It's a perfect fit when placed vertically! Very Vanilla card stock took a trip through my Big Shot Die-Cut Machine with the Pillow Box Bigz Die (18 times . . . I always plan for an extra). I'm amazed how quick and easy the process was.
I next randomly stamped the Scandinavian Season snowflake in VersaMark. Gold Embossing powder added a rich and raised finish. The Brushed Gold card stock band (which slides on and off to open) is 1 1/4" x 5.5". TIP: Have the ends meet at the front (use plenty of adhesive to glue ends together) and cover with a Curly Label Punch of matching Gold Brushed Card Stock. Hooray! No visible seams.
I added gold embossed monograms from Stampin' Up!'s Lovely Letters alphabet stamps to the punched labels. TIP: However, here's a cute design (also Lovely Letters with the holly stamp from Holiday Trinkets, 111650) that you can use if you want to do them all the same. Perfect for wedding or party favors. The labels are attached to the band with Stampin' Dimensionals.
STAY TUNED FOR SNEAK PEEKS FROM THE SPRING/SUMMER CATALOG LATER TODAY :)
FINAL DAYS of the Stampin' Up'! Free Shipping Offer. Ends Dec. 23!
To Place an On-Line Order for Stampin' Up! Products 24/7, CLICK HERE.
Stamp Sets: Scandinavian Season (111774), Lovely Letters (111099)
Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Brush Gold (102935)
Ink: VersaMark (102283)
Cool Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Curly Label Punch (112966), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Pillow Box Bigz Die (113466)
The Perfect Touch: Gold Embossing Powder (109129), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
