Our New Craft Room at Lake View Lodge

We're so excited--we have our craft room set up for our Stampin' Up! demonstrations on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Lake View Lodge.  

Here's a sneak peak at a few projects we have planned for Saturday.  We'll supply all the tools, tips, and chocolate you'll need for a cozy winter afternoon and evening at the lake!  Creme Brulee French Toast is on the menu for Sunday brunch. 

Sweet Treats Valentine's Day Cards

These cupcakes look good enough to eat!  All three were cut with the Cricut Expression using the Sweet Treats cartridge with Stampin' Up! Sending Love DSP.   Stampin' Up! punches used; Word Window, Modern Lable, and Scalloped Trim Punch.  Real Red Ink stamped with sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes from Stampin' Up! coordinates with the cardstock and punches.  Ribbon and rhinestones from Michaels and Crystal Stickles complete the embellishments.  Thanks to Julie at  Paper Pleasing for the Easel card idea and she posted the Splitcoaststamper's tutorial to make Easel cards on her blog as well, so I will too!  Hope it inspires you to try this technique--it definitely inspired me!   Happy Valentine's Day!

Winter Fun at Lake View Lodge

Winterland Retreat at the Lodge

 It was a beautiful day for a walk along the frozen shore. 

Melannie and Lucy ventured out onto the lake, following a trail of snow mobile tracks!

Ice fishing was good today - or so we were told by this group of fisherman!

Snow mobilers kicked up the snow as they sped past us!

A make-shift ice house on the lake.

Inside, Chris and Brady enjoyed a toasty fire.

And some Valentine's Day card making complete the afternoon.

This card features the Cricut Expression and Love Struck 2010 cartridge.  Stampin' Up! DSP Sending Love was used along with Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Pretty In Pink card stock.  Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, Chocolate Chip ink, Word Window and Modern Label punches complete the sentiment. 

Love Bug and Sweet Treats

Another fun Valentine's card using the Love Bug Hostess Stamp set--so quick and easy--too cute!!  I love using the Stampin' Up! water color pencils to customize my stamped images.  I can change the colors to match my paper stock and inks.  The Bitty Box die is so easy.  Just run the paper through the Big Shot, glue, fold, and viola!  I punched the box top with the Heart to Heart punch and mounted a piece of transparency paper underneath which allows the treats inside to be seen!  Fill with candy and it's ready for Valentine's Day gift giving!  Stampin' Up! Products used are:

• Bigz XL die Stampin' Up! Bitty Box
• Stamps: Stampin' Up! Love Bug Hostess Stamp Set
• Papers: DSP Sending Love
• Punches: Scallop Circle,  Heart to Heart , Ticket Corner
• Ink: Real Red and Water Color Pencils
• Embellishments: Ribbon and Gemstones

Special Delivery

Our new Cricut Expression was delivered on Friday, so we brought it with us this weekend to Lake View Lodge!  We've been using a few of our new Cricut cartridges too!  This mailbox is from the Love Struck 2010 cartridge and is cut from Stampin' Up! cardstock Lovely Lilac accented with Chocolate Chip and paper from the DSP Sending Love.  The Scallop border punch and the Heart to Heart punch made light work of the final touches.  This "Special Delivery" is large enough to hold a small gift, candy, or a sweet sentiment.

. . . and more hearts!

I just received my Stampin' Up! order for this week with the Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers Curly Label which is sold exclusively through Stampin' Up!  I also received the Punch Windows Movers & Shapers (Set of 4 - Full Heart, Large Star, Scalloped Oval, and Modern Label).  These can be used with the die and also coordinates with the Stampin' Up! Punches of the same name.    To make this card I used the Movers & Shapers die with the Full Heart Punch Window.   The papers used were from the Sending Love DSP pack with Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and Pretty In Pink card stock and Chocolate Chip Classic ink.  The Pretty In Pink cardstock was put in the Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss Embossing Folder and punched out with the Full Heart Punch which fits inside the Full Heart Movers & Shapers Punch Window.  The heart shape can be moved anywhere on the card, so you can choose where you want it placed.  The bag is from the BIGZ XL BAG W/SCALLOPS die which is also another exclusive through Stampin' Up!  All items are available currently and can be ordered through my Stampin' Up! link.

Split Negative Heart Card

This card was created for a challenge offered on Splitcoaststampers.com.  If you've never visited their site, you should!  They offer tutorials and different daily challenges which allow you to try out new techniques.  You can post a picture of your product on their site and get feedback on it from other site visitors.

The Split Negative technique uses two different images of the same stamp.  Cut both completed images in half, and switch one half with the opposite image.  The effect is a completed image in two different color schemes.  It's a really awesome technique that we will be including in one of our future technique classes.