Happy 6 month 1/2 Birthday Abigale!

Today Abigale is exactly 6 months old.  So, of course, she wore a tutu in celebration!



Photo is by Meagan Goepferich

These photos are obviously by me and my lamo-camera.  ;)

Christmas in July

July 24th      11:00 am

Please join me for my Christmas in July Stamp Class. You will get ideas for gifts you can hand create now in time for Christmas! See how you can use papercrafting supplies for MORE than just paper, too!
All supplies will be pre-cut and ready to assemble; please bring your own adhesive. Class is $8. Please RSVP by July 21 so your kit can be created!.
I will also have retired stamp sets and supplies for sale along with ordering specials for NEW PRODUCTS from the Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book!   Class is at 11 am, but open house for product purchases is open from 11-2 pm.

Join us for a fun gathering with girlfriends old & new!

Location is private home on north side of Lakeland, FL.  Address will be emailed to those that RSVP. 

For more information or to host a similar class or FREE party in your home, please contact me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hair Flower Tutorial using Sizzix Big Shot

I have finally been able to get back into the swing of PaperCrafting things!  After getting together with my upline and friend, the awesome Beckie Kareck, when she was visiting this area, I was inspired to try this flowering hair accessory.

Here is my Stampin' Up Big Shot with the fabric already loaded and ready to cut.  I learned that you can cut 8 layers of cotton at a time!! To make this project, though, you have to use synthetic fabric like polyester or nylon. Also, notice the Melon Mambo paper..used as a shim, it makes the die cut perfectly through, no ravels.

I used the Scallops #2 to get these 2 different sized scallop circles.  I used shear fabric with glitter and sparkly black.  This was hair bling for a wedding but I have since because comfortable with wearing it all the time.  Sequins in the daytime is hip right now, don'tcha' know. ;)

Now you want to use a surface that won't melt and I thought the bottom of a pot would be perfect.  And you need something long and heat resistant to hold down the scallop cirlces..which led me to a wooden spoon. Now get your heat tool [normally used for embossing] and put it less than an inch from the fabric.  YES, an INCH, not the 7 inches we normally tell you so you don't scorch your paper.  The point is to melt the fabric to get the rustic rough edge.  As it melts, keep moving the fabric with the spoon so you can heat around each edge. It might smoke but that stops quickly.  As many times as Beckie has done them, she said she hasn't had any fabric catch on fire yet! ;) 

This is the circles after melting each of them.

These are the supplies used: Fabric, synthetic I did 5 layers to get 10 scallop circles, of which I used 7 or 8.  Clear Rhinestone Brads.  The Sizzix Big Shot and the Scallop Circle #2 die, as mentioned before.  I then attached the finished flower to a hair pin by sewing but easily could have adhered it to a pin.

Okay, flash makes a bad close-up.  But you get the idea.  This is the finished product.

Finished Project in action in my "un-done bun" on the way to the wedding..

I am including this as one of the projects we are doing at my upcoming Christmas in July Stamp Class and Retired StampStuff SALE on July 24th..  More to come about that...I am back to blogging slowly. thanks for reading..tell me what you think.  Directions good or clear as mud?

The reason for my 6 month hiatus

So this is why I have been on a 6 month hiatus of my blog.  I do apologize but life is much busier with 2 babies.  I know everyone said it would be, but somehow I was surprised by it..  ;)
Abigale Dearie had her first breath on January 20, 2010.  After being induced twice [yes 2 times, and ask me about my VBAC!], we were so glad to hold her!  Do to the swine flu outbreak, children were not allowed in the hospital so Jesse met his sister at Gigi & Grandma's and he has loved her dearly ever since!  They are so good together and he warms my heart daily at how he cherishes her.

Their first picture together

7 days old with Jesse, mommy & Abigale

This one is a collage of Jesse's first week shot and Abigale's... "For this child I prayed"1 Samuel 1:27

Easter Family Pic at our church April 2010 ~3 months old

About 4 months old in MY dress.

 Dedication with 4 Generations: Gigi, Me, Abigale, & Grandma
May 2010

Little Sister :)  July 2010 5 months

Sweet Sleeping Baby July 2010 5.5 months [another of my outfits]







Created by Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio.  :)

Anyway, thanks for the reprieve.  Now I am back [though probably a little slower for now ;) ]!

12 Days of Holiday Sales from Stampin' UP

Hello!  Just wanted to let all of you that have a cutting machine like Cuttlebug or Sizzix [for Dies] and the Cricut [for vinyl for wall art & home decor in awesome colors NOT available in stores!!] that Stampin' UP has a great sale on select dies & supplies.  Please see my website for all of the items under 12 Days of Holiday Sales.  In addition, from ME only, I am offering to refund your shipping costs for any items you purchase from this specific sale, so it is a win/win!  Sales & free shipping, you can't beat that!  Sale only runs through 12/22 so you better hurry!

Think of the gifts you can create with the dies or use that as the gift itself for your crafting friends!

Thanks for reading my shameless plug.  :)  Hope you are getting ready for a Merry Christmas!
Amy Dearie

3 More Craft Shows to go!

I promise I will rest after Tuesday night!  I SWEAR!
Here is the listing of the last of my shows for the season.  Stop by if you are in the area!

Saturday. December 12th  10-4 pm
Yia Yia's Beads & Gift Artisan Market 10am-3:30pm [corner of McDonald Street & Tennessee]  [postponed from 12/5 due to the weather]

Saturday, December 12th  6-9 pm

Bridgewater Holiday Open House  off R 33  http://www.williamryanhomes.com/bridgewater/application/community_overview.php

December 15th
MOPS @ the Mall's Crafty Mom's Christmas 10:30am-11:30 am  All are welcome to come up and shop during this time with the 20+ local vendors!   Located at FBC @ the Mall 1010 E Memorial Blvd.  Lakeland 33810.

Hello Still looking for that last minute gift? 

Wouldn't it be easy if the items you needed were delivered right to your home or office with No Shipping Fees in the Lakeland area, of course!  :)  

For my Out-of-Towner-Friends: Shipping is available!

I am happy to deliver your order and even offer gift wrapping, if needed. 

    As many of you know, I have been selling my HandStamped items in various craft & art shows around town and I wanted to extend my product line to my area friends for your shopping convenience. 

[If you click on the picture, it will blow it up for better browsing. And let me know if you need the pdf emailed to you to see even better.  Thanks!]

Thank you so much for your time, friendship & support!

Amy Dearie

Stocking Stuffer Stampin' Class December 7th

By popular demand, come learn to make some of the items I have been selling at local craft shows, just in time for the Holidays!  These are items you coudl easily duplicate for additional gifts.

Monday, December 7th 6:30 pm Panera Bread North Lakeland

5 projects for $10 dollars! We will make 2 Christmas note cards, a Jumbo PaperClip Bookmark, “Rudolph’s Repair Kit”, Covered Popcorn Gift, & a tile magnet. [3X3 note cards not pictured]

Everything is precut and ready to assemble. All you need to bring is a tube of E-6000 adhesive.
Registration required by December 4th so enough kits are created.

The fun part should be trying to emboss the magnet in a restaurant!  haha!  Luckily they have plugs on most walls for computers. 
As this is a “Ladies’ Night Out” class, it is adult’s only. Class can be duplicated in your home for your friends, as well. Contact me for available dates!

Build a Bear Creations

Whew!  I swore I was going to drown in Build a Bears as I worked on these in bulk!  The cut out Build a Bears were created using the Sizzix Big Shot and the 2 BAB dies from Stampin up for the body & outfits.
Stampin' Up! Bigz Dies

• Stampin' Up! Bear (117977) - The extra muzzle, mouth, nose, eyes, and heart are great for adding layers and colors to your bear.
• Stampin' Up! Beary Essentials (117978) - Pieces include skirt, shirt, cuffs, jacket (2 pieces), pants, and boy and girl shoes.

The  accessories were from:

Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Dies

• Stampin' Up! Beary Boy (117981) - Pieces include baseball cap, satchel, satchel strap, and star.
• Stampin' Up! Beary Girl (117982) - Pieces include purse, belt, hair bow, star, and flower.

It was fun to create each of them, like playing with paper dolls [which might be the next project!].
Here are some of the ways I used these cut out guys:

A Frame-able 8X10 Christmas Page, ready for you to plug your picture into, perfect gift for grandparents, and sold at my craft events for $5.

 

Covered/Stamped Notepad with added Bear and mini gel pen to match.  Sweet gift for that young girl in your life.  $5

I also have the coordinating stamp set for BAB projects:

• Beary Best Friends (118052) - Set of 6 line art images perfect for coloring. Boy bear and girl bear hold different items for various occasions (balloon, flower, gift bag, party hat)

And here is a few of the projects I created using the stamp set.

 

Another Covered/Stamped Notepad with Matching pen, perfect for a purse. $4

A fairly original creation of mine out of necessity since I am always forgetting to bring something for Jesse to do when we go out.  My mom would bring a ziploc bag with a folded coloring page but this was more compact and much cuter! haha  It contains 10 coloring sheets, double-sided with 3 crayons.  Ties up nicely and ready to go.  $5

If you need direction/dimensions, please let me know.  All products to create these projects are available in my Stampin' Up online store.

Thanks for looking! 

3-D Tree Ornament

Can you believe how fast November is going?  I can't!
Wanted to share this quick little ornament that has been selling well at my craft shows.  It is made using the SU Full Heart punch, coasters, Designer Series Paper [retired SU] and some stamping.  I stamped JOY in this one, others have Merry Christmas.  I punched 3 hearts from the Old Olive cardstock.  I actually stamped a Christmas tree over and over in the old oilve ink but you can't quite see it in this pic.  Though it might need some depth/design.  I also ripped a wee bit of Creamy Caramel paper and rubbed it in Chocolate Chip ink for character to make the tree trunk.  I scored down the middle of the tree to get a crisp fold and then glued them together.  The star is a brad with the brad part snipped off.  A button could easily be substituted.  I covered a paper coaster with the DSP, allowed to dry, then buffed off the edges. I also rolled the edges in Old Olive Craft ink to give a finished look.  After all the adhering and stamping, I covered the entire thing in Triple Thick Sealant to make sure the tree would stand up to time.  I then adhered the ribbon loop to the back with E-6000.

If you already have this punch, this is a great project with little cost other than time!

Upcoming Craft Fairs

[Display at a recent show]

I am so excited about the upcoming craft fairs & events where I can sell my hand-stamped PaperCrafting gifts!  If you are local, come out and say HELLO!

Saturday, November 7th
Sandpiper Golf & Country Club 9-1  North Lakeland off N. Socrum Loop Rd. near Plantation Publix.  [My mom is running my table at this location.]
Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club 9-2 Even-More-North Lakeland, off 98 N going towards Webster. [I will be there!]

Thursday, November 19th 6pm
FBC @ the Mall Women of Purpose Christmas Event [open to the public] $7 includes dinner, P & W time, and Shopping!  [contact me for ticket details]

Saturday, November 21st 9am -2 pm
Lakeland Harbor Mobile Home Park [on 33 [Northside] right across from  I-4 exit] next to car dealership

December 5th
Yia Yia's Beads & Gift Artisian Market 10am-3:30pm [corner of McDonald Street & Tennessee]

December 12th

Bridgewater Holiday Open House 6-9 pm http://www.williamryanhomes.com/bridgewater/application/community_overview.php

December 15th
MOPS @ the Mall's Crafty Mom's Christmas 10:30am-11:30 am  All are welcome to come up and shop during this time with the 20+ local vendors!   Located at FBC @ the Mall 1010 E Memorial Blvd.  Lakeland 33810.


If you hear of any others in the local area, please let me know!
Hope to see you at one of these this Christmas season!  Only 50 days left!  Yikes!  Better get to crafting!  :)

Holiday Dog Treats

Hello!  Anyone who knows us, knows we are crazy dog lovers.  So who better to do a treat bag for to sell at the craft fairs then dogs!?
Jack [9.5 YO Lymphoma Survior Max, 5 yo

To make the dog treat bags more special, I purchased Milk Bones then jazzed them up with "dog-safe" decorations.

I purchased white candy coating [lots of brands do it] from the baking aisle.  White "chocolate" actually contains no chocolate and is therefore safe for doggies since it doesn't contain the cacao that is bad for them.  In fact, you will find it will say "White Candy Coating" or White Chips" even though they sell them with the rest of the chocolate.  **Now if the dog had a sugar problem, these would not be for him, of course.

I grew up at Willy Wonka's, I always say, because my mom made chocolate and sold to area offices & other customers as a side biz for the different candy-coated holidays. So working with chocolate is second nature to me.  Definitely, warm in micro on low for small increments [like 50% power for 45 seconds at a time until it is melted and smooth,]
The sprinkles are also from the baking aisle for cupcakes.

I just laid the Milk Bones all out flat on sheet pan and drizzled them with the melted white coating back and forth then quickly sprinkled the confetti and placed the whole thing in the fridge to set up quickly.

If you live in a warm climate and the show was outside, you might have a prob but otherwise they should be just fine.  Definitively, don't leave them in the car ;). 

I actually got the treat bags from Target in the party/gift bag section and trimmed abotu 1.5 inches off the top.  Those were the perfect size for 4 small bones across.  They have the treat bags at Michael's, too, in the baking/Wilton aisle.

The topper actually utilized My Digital Studio.  I do not have this dog stamp set but it was included in MDS so I could print off the size I wanted [to fit the 1 3/8 punch].  The scallop punch utilized retired Christmas DSP from SU.  I also stamped dog paw prints on the back for a completed look.  For the greeting, I used the one that came with the set and stamped mini bones on it.  I  also did one for the holidays,  "Bark, Bark, Bark, [Happy Holidays!]".  I overlayed the text box with the holiday sentiment on the hydrant from MDS stamp set. 

I sold a ton of these at last week's fair at Christ UMC and hope to sell just as many or MORE at the fairs I have this weekend!