Even if you don't decorate for Halloween, you have to admit that Stampin' Up! products make it easy to decorate your home for any special occasion!

Notice here that instead of hanging my banner, I've nestled it around this ceramic Jack-O-Lantern piece in my kitchen window. I'm planning a fall banner to carry through Thanksgiving and choosing papers for this year's Christmas banner!

 Do you use your paper crafting supplies for home decor? table settings? party favors?
Share with us here in the comment section by noon on Thursday, November 3, 2011, and I will conduct a random drawing.  The WINNER will receive a sampling of products from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog and will be announced on Friday here on the ink and inspirations blog!

JUST ANNOUNCED!

The BIG SHOT promotion has been extended until November 11, 2011!
Start your own stamping/paper crafting business
and become a member of my
ink and inspirations Team and receive a FREE Big Shot
or up to $100 in Stampin' Up! product!

Contact me today for more information!

E-mail me or call 409-719-2853.

In praise and thanksgiving for the wonder of it all...

Celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day with Stampin' Up! for a four-day online event!

Digital Scrapbooking Day is November 5, but we'll keep the celebration going from November 4-7! The event will include free downloads, blog posts with exciting project ideas all weekend long at MyDigitalStudio.net, and the announcement of the 2011 My Digital Studio Contest winners.

Mark your calendars with Stampin' Up!'s four-day online celebration of Digital Scrapbooking  Day.

Here are the digital images that will be available as a FREE digital download during the event!

Join us online for this special Stampin' Up! event, November 4-7, 2011, at www.MyDigitalStudio.net!

OK, announcing the last Halloween project post of the season...maybe something a little spooky on Monday!

This is another super easy treat holder using some of the last pieces of my pack of Frightful Sight Designer Paper and that adorable Out on a Limb set (clear, wood) from the Holiday Mini. 

Although, I've used it here for Halloween, you could customize for any occassion.

Check out the video for the details and visit my Online Store for Stampin' Up! goodies! 

Just a few more days to join Stampin' Up! and start your own business!  If you've been considering this opportunity, I urge you to take a look at what Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Join Stampin' Up! and my ink and inspirations Team
by October 31st November 11th,
and get a FREE Big Shot OR up to $100 in FREE additional product.

Join my ink and inspirations Team of demonstrators and enjoy sharing Stampin' Up! with others! Why Join My Team?...Read about it HERE. 

Want more information? E-mail me...

or call me, 409-719-2853.

The Stampin' Up! opportunity and the Big Shot...a winning combination!

I am rushing out the door to Group Groove Fitness this morning, but I wanted to share this easy Stampin' Up! Halloween treat and video.

These are something you could mass produce fairly easily, assembly line style, and your kids could join in on the fun!

Let me know if you have questions...Enjoy!

Supplies used are:

Frightful Sight DSP-122351

Batty for You-116576

Out on a Limb (clear) 123824, (wood)-123822

So sweet!  That's a perfect description for Stampin' Up! Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps!

The easy-to-use cookie stamp has a solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images: a heart, a jack-o-lantern, and a snowflake.

Just make your favorite shortbread cookie dough (or one of the two included recipes) and stamp away! Create beautiful, hand-stamped cookies in a flash. The stamp images are completely food-safe and child-friendly.

Use the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps and add this personal, crafty touch to your cookies.. easy it is to use--no ink required!

Watch the video to learn more!

Inklings:

•  You can also try stamping the cookies right after coming out of the oven!
• Order your Cookie Stamps now!  Click HERE!

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps

Stampin' Up! Mocha Morning Specialty Paper is a beautiful collection.  It's combination of papers with flocking, subdued metallics, and fun prints. It's as versatile as it is beautiful.
On this card, I've combined three of the prints on this card made for a special couple.  The medallion is created with Stampin' Up!'s great tool...Simply Scored Scoring Tool and the sentiment is straight from one of my go-to sets, Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Basic Jewel Pearls are strategically placed on the background print and the Very Vanilla Designer Velvet Ribbon wraps it all up.

You can get this beautiful Stampin' Up! Designer Paper collection in the Online Store. You'll love it!

Mocha Morning Specialty Paper

Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Basic Pearls

Very Vanilla Designer Velvet Ribbon

Creativity is inventing, experimenting,
growing, taking risks, breaking rules,
making mistakes, and having fun.

Mary Lou Cook

What a surprise, right?!  Another Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio page!  I decided to get a head start on preserving the memory of our family tradition...carving the pumpkin!
Now, I realize there are no pumpkins on this page, but I decided to insert some of my Halloween projects as "place holders" until the actual event takes place and I can insert the actual photos. This way, I am "ahead of the game"! (insert smile here!)

I started with a blank, "design your own", page and added a solid background of Peach Parfait to coordinate with the Pick Your Poison Embellishments 125614 (digital download).  Buttons and bows in Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black add accent to the border strips.
Adding an eerie look to the page are two of the Vintage Overlays 121061 from the brush stamp set. Super cool! 
Choose from these and many, many other digital downloads in the Online Store!

Inklings:

   * My Digital Studio downloads easily install in your My Digital Studio program or may be used in any program that supports .jpg and .png files & layers such as: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro (PSP), Microsoft Digital Image Pro (DIP), Ulead Photo Impact (PI), Corel Draw.
   * For scrapbooking and digital crafting tips every week, sign up for my Digital Crafting Mailing List. Receive tips and ideas for scrapbooking in your inbox every week for one year...FREE!

Just in time for Halloween, I've created another decorative banner using my Stampin' Up! goodies...

Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper 122351, my new Simply Scored Scoring Tool 122334, Alphabet Simple Letters Bigz Die 115960, Fine Supernova Glitter 114287, hot glue gun, and I'm ready to roll!
If you've followed my blog for anytime at all, you know that I love to create these decorative banners.  When a new season, holiday, or special occasion rolls around, I'll get in banner mode and the creating begins! 
The Black Waffle Paper ruffle is a discontinued color but I could just have easily use Silver or Gold. 120984

Getting ready to hang this on my front door wreath!

If you have a decorative item on your front door, share with us here in the comments section!

Featured items in this project:

Frightful Sight DSP

Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Supernova Fine Glitter 

I love the challenge of creating a masculine themed card while incorporating different Stampin' Up! embellishments from my stash.  Sometimes a bit of ribbon is just what's needed to add the wow to these cards.
Stampin' Up! Well Worn Designer Series Paper lends an elegant flair to this masculine card with images from Established Elegance (wood, clear).  A touch of Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon and Baker's Twine complement the images and designer paper.

I offer an online class that focuses on masculine themed cards but also includes tips and techniques that can be used in any of your card making or scrapbooking projects. 

Each month, you'll receive a a step by step video tutorial to create a masculine card then two weeks later you'll receive another short video with a different take on the previous card. 
These are exclusive cards found only in this online class
...and for only $4.95 a month! Click the link below to find out more!

Click Here for Details --> Mainly Manly Cards

Well Worn Designer Series Paper

Well Worn Designer Series Paper- digital download

Established Elegance

(wood, clear, digital brush set)

Fun to make, fun to give, fun to receive...Stampin' Up! makes it fun and easy for Halloween!  These little Cellophane Bags are the perfect size for treats---here filled with peanut butter filled pieces. 

The images are from the oldie-but-goodie Batty for You.  I added a little interest with the Peek-A-Boo Frames Bigz L Die...really cute and versatile. Love how it actually makes the treat interactive...well, in a small way. :)  Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper makes a great background!

You can get all of these great products in the Online Store!

Batty For You

Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper

Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die

Have some stampin' fun with my holiday stamps again! With the first really good cold snap coming our way this week, I decided a few chilly snowflakes were in order!

In this Stampin' Up! Christmas Card idea, Winter Post joins Pool Party and Island Indigo for a cool holiday card!

Be sure to check out this video for a tutorial with a twist on using the Scallop Circle Punch as seen here. Check out the video below for some other tips on this card and holiday cards in general.

Let me know if you have questions!  You can find the supplies to make this card in the Online Store.

It's about time for a Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio share, don't you agree?  Love the changing colors of fall and I've preserved this beautiful transformation with this page created with My Digital Studio and some elements that are available for purchase as digital downloads. 
This 8.5 x 11 page features the French Foliage digital stamp brush set and the Vintage Overlays collection. Using the Color Picker feature within the program, I was able to match my background and stamps with ease.  Love that!

If you haven't tried digital crafting...it's time!  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE working with paper, but the ease of the My Digital Studio Program makes preserving memories and creating customized print projects so much fun!

My Digital Studio- 118108 Full DVD software with over $500 worth of content, $79.95
My Digital Studio Express- 124483- Downloadable software- $50 worth of content, $39.95 (Available as an online order only.)
Mac and Windows compatible.

This video from Stampin' Up! explains these products in more detail...

Get yours here and get started today!