Final posting for Stampin’ UP! Tea House Wedding Shower:

The morning arrived and to bless our gathering the power went out at 7 a.m.! (It didn’t return until 1:30 p.m.) You can only imagine my angst.  We really didn’t miss a beat though, thanks to the artful help of my niece Jessica and good friend Renee’ who prepared the food.

They used the pancake griddle on the gas cook stove to toast the crostini and warm the quiches under a tent of tinfoil.  That was the only two items that needed finishing up that morning.

Our guests enjoyed:  Baby Shrimp topped cucumber rounds, Caprese Skewers with Fresh Basil,  Mini Bacon & Crimini Mushroom Quiche, Ham Salad on Crostini, Mascarpone stuffed strawberries, Granny Pritchard’s Lemon Bars with Raspberry Puree, Cheesecake & Blueberry Shots, Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chocolate Ganache.  Suffice it to say that no one left hungry!

Guests were greeted with fresh flowers, lovely tea sets, and Stampin’ UP! Tea Shoppe favor bags.

The Favor bags were fun to put together.  They included 2 Tazo Rest Herbal Infusion Tea bags.  A scrumptious tea blend of lemon balm, Rose petals, Honeybush, orange peel, lemon myrtle, lavender, that brews up the most heavenly calming cup of tea.  Two Godiva Chocolate Truffles, and a sweet little Stampin’ UP! Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper notebook for your purse.

I know this is getting quite lengthy, so I will end with a thank you for letting me share the happiness of this wonderful event with you.  I hope it will inspire you to consider the possibilities of entertaining and allowing the wonderful Stampin’ UP! products to help make your event a success!

Almost forgot…here is our sweet bride with the mother of the groom on the left, me, and her mom Beth on the right.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week!

Katherine

What a lovely way to welcome the bride to be:

Though the Stampin’ UP! Big Shot Bigz XL Pennant die is retired,  it’s one I reach for on these special occasions.  Add a bit of antique lace, mini clothespins, and let the FUN begin!

What makes a good banner better?  . . . It’s all about the little touches.  Like the pansy duo image from the Stampin’ UP! Tea Shoppe Stamp Set.  A beautiful whopping 10 piece set that was introduced with the 2012 Occasions Mini and has managed to make it into the 2012-2013 Annual Catalog.  You can see another post using the tea cup trio image here.

Other elements used in making the banner:

Big Shot Sticky Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds, Big Shot Scallop Circle Die, Big Shot Serif Essentials Alphabet, Large Sizzlits Die Paper Doily, 1/4″ Hole Punch.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Stampin’ UP! Tea House Wedding Shower.

I selected the Stampin’ UP! Tea Shoppe as the focal point of the invitation and for the event, a mid morning tea wedding shower.  Lots of elements and dimension make the invitation warm and inviting.  The Stampin’ UP! exclusive Framelits Label die element is stamped with Versa Mark Ink using the En Francais’ text background stamp for interest.  The Stampin’ UP! Big Shot Vintage Wallpaper embossed panel is distressed with the Stampin’ UP! Distressing Kit Tea Stain ink.

A cinched ribbon banner anchors the left side.

I used a sucker stick to tighten the scroll end and the small square punch to easily create the flag.

The tea cup image was colored with Q-tips and then I added some Dazzling Diamonds for sparkle!

Credit goes to fellow SU Demo Julie Edmonds whose original card is here!

Thanks for stopping by and Hope you have a fantastic week!

Katherine

 55 New items have been added to the STAMPIN’ UP! Clearance Sale Rack over at the Stampin’ UP! Online Store!

It’s easy to shop at your leisure, when it’s convenient for your schedule because you have 24/7 access!

Anyone placing a $25.00, on-line order between now & midnight Sunday April 15th, identifying me as your demonstrator will be entered in a drawing for a FREE A La Carte Stamp from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!  Winner will be notified by email.

There’s some great bargains so Happy Shopping!!

Thanks for dropping by…and ‘May the odds be ever in your favor’

I will surely be the saddest paper crafter of all IF… Stampin’ UP! discontinues their First Edition Specialty Designer Series paper  when the 2012-2013 Idea Book & Catalog is launched June 1. (I’m keeping my fingers crossed though that it is carried over)

And here once again, I have taken the liberty of C.A.S.E. ing a lovely card previously seen on Andrea Walford’s website and ‘marrying’ it with another from the same website…does that mean it’s almost an original???hmmm….have to think about that one!  I don’t care, I just love the result!

The color in the First Edition flower was created by sponging the Island Floral Big Shot Die Cuts  with Stampin’ UP! Classic Ink in Melon Mambo and then overlaying it with Pumpkin Pie.  A final spritz of Gold Glow Smooch Spritz gives it added depth. Background leaves were sponged with Old Olive followed by a light smudge of Pacific Point.  The flower was assembled using a Stampin’ UP! Glimmer Brad.

A bit of Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon and Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly Ribbon give the finishing touches to this project.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have enjoyed a very blessed Easter weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead!

Katheine

I was so ‘right on’ getting my family’s Stampin’ UP! Easter Cards out EARLY this year! Yeah, that’s right!! Woohoo and Thank you! I’ve been feeling pretty darned satisfied with myself…then too I created AND mailed (with help from a dear friend) 33 Stampin’ UP! Wedding Shower Invitations for next month’s shower (post coming at a later date so watch for it!)…I really hadn’t figured on doing an office treat for our employees UNTIL that is, I saw a darling classroom favor created out of colorful pencils tied with ribbon & tagged.

The marvelous colors of Easter lend themselves naturally to a whimsical treat tag with our 2000 Stampin’ UP! Gifts of Spring plump prickly little chick. that’s not a typo either!  That’s precisely why I hold onto my collection of Stampin’ UP! Stamp Sets.  The images of this twelve year old stamp set are just as clear and sharp as they were when I received it.

The Happy Easter is from the Stampin’ UP! Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set in the current 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  Colors used for this project were Tempting Turquoise Cardstock and Classic Stampin’ Ink, Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Ink, Daffodil Delight Striped Ribbon, and Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine.

Other elements used were Scallop Circle Punch and 1 3/8 Round Punch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

A little basket for the staff lunchroom and it’s already for the Easter Bunny to leave tomorrow!

I hope you and your family and loved ones will have a blessed Easter weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Easter,

Katherine

This weekend’s guests at My Bluebonnet Cottage found a plate of these lovelies waiting for them at check-in!

I had a couple Scallop envelopes leftover, from last month’s basket of similar ones with a Valentine Theme for my DH’s team of fantastic ladies , so I got busy this morning and cranked out these Ghiradelli  Chocolate Truffles Treats for the group of quilters who are cozily tucked in for the weekend.

Exclusive Stampin’ UP! products used in this project are:

Big Shot Scallop Die, Big Shot Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Perfect Polka Dots

Stamp Set: Tiny Tags

Embellishments:  Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread, Brilliant Blue 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon (Retired)

The next time you need some quick treats for a party, Sunday School class, or office co-workers these cute little dressed-up envelopes are just the answer!

Thanks for stopping by,

Katheirne

Using the Stampin’ UP! Big Shot Petite Pocket Die makes a great gift card holder!

I used the 2011-2012 Stampin’ UP! In Color Markers to stack the small tea cup images down the front of the Petite Pocket making a wonderfully cheery presentation.

The  Petite Pocket is just perfectly sized for most gift cards which is really sweet!

You can argue whether the beautiful Calypso Coral is more Salmon, or Coral, but whatever your opinion might be it’s ever so perfect when paired with the brilliant smooth Whisper White card stock.

The exclusive Stampin’ UP! Tea Shoppe Stamp Set is available for a limited time only.  It’s one of the many great products in the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog and is a great bargain for only $27.95 (Clear mount price).  You can shop online 24-7 at Katherine Pritchard; or if you prefer give me a call at 254-848-5173!

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Stamping!

Katherine

Using the Stampin’ UP! Sale-A-Bration exclusive Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper cut into varying widths and using Stampin’ UP! Snail Adhesive to hold them in place makes for a soft lovely background for the Stampin’ UP! Sizzix Big Shot Serif Essentials Alphabet to spell out one, simple very powerful word. FAITH.

Many times during the course of a day, the week, or a month, or even a lifetime we are called upon to exhibit our Faith.  I need this reminder that will help keep me focused and to always trying to act with Faith.

I expect I’ll be making several more of these so I think I’ll run and pick-up more of my handy frames.

Thanks for stopping by today, and let Faith guide you through your walk!

Don’t be intimidated by the thought of scrapbooking. It’s easy when you start small.  This scrapbooking technique is called ‘Build-A’Page’, or Scrapbooking 1-2-3, but whatever you call it, it’s a lot of fun, easy, and certainly very doable!

Part of our Christmas Vacation this year included a trip to our home-away-from-home in Durango Colorado with most of the boys, and Jack’s sweet wife Emily.   Since it was Emily’s first trip to Durango  I wanted to do some scrapbooking for family heritage memories.

Step 1: 6 x 6  page

I began with a 6 x 6  piece of Night of Navy.  Used the Starburst Jumbo wheel on a strip of Bashful Blue, a 1/4″ sliver of our Silver Glimmer Paper and created a focal point in the lower right corner with the Polka Dot Big Shot Embossing folder, circle punches and the snowflake punch to build a cute little snowman.  The photo is mounted on Whisper White and Basic Grey.  A trio of snowflakes from the Northern Frost Big Shot Decorative Strip hangs in the upper left corner to balance the page.

Step 2: 8 1/2 x 11 page

I  used an 8 1/2  x 11  sheet of Stampin’ UP!  Bashful Blue for this next step.  For texture I added a torn strip of Whisper White, curled on the torn edge, then added some Stampin’ UP! Dazzling Diamonds for sparkle.  Another element that was introduced with Step 2 was to add punched Basic Grey circles under another of the snowflakes from the Northern Frost Decorative Die Strip.  I wanted to extend my original 6 x 6  base by adding  a  6″ Night of Navy ribbon that is half of the Stampin’ UP! Lace Ribbon Border Punch.  It nicely mimics the snowflakes on the rest of the page.  A final addition for this step was a Mini Jingle Bell trio tied to a silver bow on the new picture that was framed like the previous one.

Any one of these steps are complete in itself.  You can make a lovely 6 x 6 album or if you prefer an 8 1/2 x 11.  You decide which best fits the occasion and your need.  You will be surprised at how easy it is to step-up your scrapbook pages with this technique.

Step 3:  12 x 12

I decided to bump the 8 1/2 x 11 page over to the left and add a matching second strip of white to it’s right side.  This leaves plenty of room for a journaling strip  and a couple of additional embellishments.

The same great Stampin’ UP! supplies you use in your card making are a perfect match for beautiful scrapbooking projects.

The 6 x 6 page was just one of the make & takes for my Stampin’ FUN class last week. We meet once a month, usually on the Third Tuesday, (it had to be moved this month because of the Stampin’ UP! Leadership Conference I attended)..    The class is offered at 9:30 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. and then repeated at 6:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.  If you’d like to give us a try just call or email and I can get you further details.

I’ll post the second make & take from class on Monday, so be sure to checkback, Until then Happy Stampin!

Katherine