Chrysalis Community Center 3rd Annual Ladies Spring Fling!

Craft Haven Retreats - Chrysalis Community Center 3rd Annual Ladies Spring Fling!

Craft Haven Retreats is going to attend the Chrysalis Community Center 3rd Annual Ladies Spring Fling event this year on Saturday, April 6, 2013.  This worthy fundraiser will held in Country Club Hills, IL at St. John's Lutheran Church from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Click HERE for more details about the event and a list of participating vendors!

Shhhhh!  Here is a tiny sneak peek of our inventory.  Don't tell Nanci that I posted it! :)

 

We saw this purse on Pinterst and had to make them.  A lovely Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Deb Lehigh shared a tutorial link from Demonstrator, Chiaki Haverstick with us.  Thank you so much Deb!  Click here to see Chiaki's tutorial. 

 

Are you still amused by the Dude, You're Welcome stamp kit that Stampin' Up! introduced earlier this spring?  I hope so!  Here is a new video that they shared recently--The Manly Stamper!  Remember, if you are viewing this post in an e-mail, click here to visit our blog and view the video!

 

 

 

Happy Stampin'!

 

Melannie

 

Soft Suede Valentines

Craft Haven Retreats - Soft Suede Valentines

Today's Valentine's Day cards feature a clean, crisp look using a Soft Suede and Midnight Muse color combination.  Quick hearts were cut from Comfort Cafe DSP using the Hearts Collection Framelits.  A little paper piercing, and a few quick accents made these Valentine's Day cards come together in no time!

All of today's cards use Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze and Soft Suede CS, Comfort Cafe DSP, and Soft Suede and Midnight Muse ink.

Whale You Be Mine?

Stamps :  Oh, Whale! Tools:  Happy Whale Clearlits Die,  Paper Piercing Occasions Pack



Be Mine



Stamps:  Mixed Medley (Holiday Mini Hostess)
Tools:  Paper Piercing Occassions Pack, 3/4" Circle Punch,
1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch,
 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 3/4 " Scallop Circle Punch



Sweet Friend



Stamps:  You Are Loved
Tools:  Paper Piercing Packs Occasions and Essentials,
 Beautiful Wings Embosslits
 Adorning Accents Embossing Folder





Happy Stampin'!









Artisan Valentines

Craft Haven Retreats - Artisan Valentines

With Valentine's Day upon us, Love is in the air!  And, what better time of year for card making. With Stampin' Up!'s newest stamp sets, Designer Series Paper and embellishments, Valentine's Day card making couldn't be easier.  From romantic to whimsical, there's something for everyone!  This week at Craft Haven Retreats we'll be sharing with you some of our favorite Valentine's Day creations.

Today's card series feature some of the beautiful embellishments from the Artisan Embellishments Kit found the the Spring Catalog.  This wonderful kits come with gorgeous lace in 3 designs, seam binding, lacy doilies, paper flowers, buttons, resin flowers, and designer ticket stubs and tags!  When paired with Crumb Cake and Primrose Petals, this kit is perfect for a romantic style.

For all of today's cards we used Natural Ivory and Crumb Cake card stock, Primrose Petals and Crumb Cake inks, elements from the Artisan Embellishments Kit, and a touch of Print Poetry designer series paper.

Artisan Amour



Stamps: En Francais, Bliss (retired), Artistic Etchings, Affection Collection

Artisan Forever and Always

Stamps:  En Francais, Loving Thoughts

Artisan Happy Valentine's Day

Stamps:  En Francais, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Artisan Love

Stamps:  En Francais, Tiny Tags

Happy Stampin'!

Faithful Friend

Craft Haven Retreats - Faithful Friend

Today's card features Stampin' Up!'s International Bazaar product suite.  This georgeous peacock is truly a treasure! When paired with the coordinating paper's bold colors and patterns, this beauty makes an exotic statement!

Stamps:

World Treasure (126765 w 126767 c)

Ink:

Pacific Point (126951)

Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Lucky Limeade Stampin Markers

Paper:

Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade card stock

International Bazaar DSP (126920)

Tools:

Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003)

2 New Stampin' Up! Deals - now through January 21st only!  Order yours today - just in time for all of your Valentine's Day card making.

 

Happy Stampin'!

Introducing My Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!

Craft Haven Retreats

Introducing My Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!

Have you heard the news?  Stampin' Up! has started a monthly kit club!





Starting Monday, January 14, 2013 you can subscribe at www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click on Get It!  
Beginning in March, kits will be shipped to your door monthly!  Kits are 19.95 + tax.  Shipping is included!  Everything you need to make the projects is measured, pre-cut, color-coordinated and included in the kit with the exception of adhesive.  What a deal!

To our customers: When asked to choose a demonstrator, please select Nanci Siegrist from Matteson, Illinois or Melannie Elder from Lansing, Illinois.  Thank you so much!

Time to 




Happy Stampin'!

Final Holiday Mini Post 2011

We had a few cards that Nanci did this fall that we did not get around to sharing with you!  Hope you enjoy them!   

You cannot go wrong with the Top Note die!

I love this combination - Natural White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso card stock with Cherry Cobbler accents!  It's absolutely gorgeous!

Punches add dimension and whimsy to your cards and they are quick and easy!

A vintage Christmas combo!

These cards and matching envelope were part of  a free class we offered with the Simply Scored Scoring Tool!  Have you tried the water color paper from Stampin' Up? 

 We will post pictures from our retreat last weekend soon!  Our guests created a scrapbook layout for each month of the year complete with photos and embellishments!  

It was unseasonably warm last weekend in Michigan.  Nanci spotted some Pansies blooming in the flower bed at the front entrance to Lake View Lodge.  

Yes, pansies in January, in Michigan!  Last Monday we had a snowstorm and this Sunday we have pansies! Even odder  . . . here is a photo of the same flowers with some of the leftover snow!  A little bit of spring in winter!

Stamp Club Road Trip!

Nanci and I had planned an overnight special at Lake View Lodge for February 19th.  Several members of Nanci's Stamp Club signed up, so we decided to have the February Club meeting at Lake View Lodge!  We had a blast!  We had planned to make this delicious cupcake card, but we forgot the Create a Cupcake stamp set!   

 

 What do you do when you are 125 miles from your sentiment?  You improvise! 

 

 Terry, the newest member of the Stamp Club, is modeling the re-design  with an extra cherry on her cheek!  We love the Red Glimmer paper--it makes the cherries on the cupcakes sparkle!  The Elegant Lines embossing folder really adds depth and swirl to the cupcake icing!  Nanci and I went to a Stampin' event at Carol Nee's home and she actually had the cutest cupcake stand and cupcakes that looked just like the one's on Nanci's card!  They were delicious too!

From cupcakes, we switched over to Ice Cream Parlor DSP from the sale-a-bration catalog!

The colors of this DSP are fun and fresh.  The Sew Suite stamp set is great!  I wish they had done sentiments to go with them!  Nanci and I want to suggest; Sew nice to meet you, Sew Sweet, Miss you sew much.  The possibilities are endless!  Share your sentiment ideas with us--leave us a comment at the end of this post!

 Puns from the Past stamp set does include--sew glad we're friends--I recently purchased that stamp set just because it had that sentiment in it! :)

 

The Sweet Stiches DSP paper and Pattern Pieces stamp are great too!  We used the coordinating fabric and buttons with a little bit of crochet trim to embellish our card.  Another great card using Sweet Stiches DSP and Designer Fabric! 

 Once we finished our club projects, we jumped right into full throttle crafting mode!  Michelle and Jessice were swapping pictures and the stories behind them!

 Have you ever made a diaper cake for a baby shower?  Becky's turned out so cute!

  Making sure that the stamp is inked thoroughly!

 Terry's very first scrapbook page!

A whole lot of scrapbooking is going on!

 Chris made her first Squash Book and has plans for a second one already!

These ladies are serious crafters!  Almost everyone was crafting until 2:30 AM, but I heard the first person head back to the craft room around 7:30 AM! 

 Jessica took several photos of our group before everyone left Sunday afternoon!  These two are my favorites. 

Which do you prefer the black and white or the color photo?  Please e-mail us at info@crafthavenretreats.com, if you would like to bring your group to Lake View Lodge for a crafting retreat!  We are running a Crazy 8 Special right now.  Bring your group of eight crafters and we will give you an additional $200 off our Spring 2011 Special of $199 per person!  Happy crafting!

Jolly Holiday Revisited and $99 Overnight Retreat Special

Oops!  I forgot to post these cards the other day with our Have a Jolly Holiday DSP post.  If you need a few quick and easy card ideas these are very simple.  We made them at our beginner's card class at our Ladies Night Out Retreat.

 We ran the Very Vanilla card stock through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  Our wreath stamp came from the Northern Hearts set stamped with Old Olive.  Our sentiment is from Many Merry Messages stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  We've adorned our wreath with red crystal stickles!

 The idea for this card came from DOStamping with Dawn (Olchefske)'s blog.  She used the French Foilage stamp set to create a holiday wreath with the "stamping off " technique which she explains in the same post.  We loved her card, but wanted to give it our own look.  Our sentiment is from the Scenic Season stampset.  We inked the stamp with VersaMark and Cherry Cobbler inks and heat set it with clear embossing powder.

 This card uses the Scallop Edge Border, 5-Petal Flower, and Two-step bird punches and Holly Jolly DSP to create a fast and easy card!  Our sentiment is from the Bright Christmas stamp set inked with Cherry Cobbler.

We have 6 spaces left for our $99 Overnight Retreat Special February 19, 2011.  Check-in will begin at 11:00 AM on Saturday.  Your overnight will include:

*Lodging at Lake View Lodge on Saturday Night

*Free Make n' Take

*Full use of our Craft Room and Tools

*Saturday Lunch & Dinner

*Sunday Brunch

*All Beverages and Snacks

Check out is at 12:00 PM on Sunday!  Located on Dewey Lake, the address for Lake View Lodge is:

50650 Garret Road

Dowagiac, MI 49047

Space is limited!  Place your reservation today!  E-mail us at info@crafthavenretreats.com, for additional information or check out our Facebook page.  Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting!

$99 Overnight Special and Tags Till Christmas!

Nanci and I have decided to offer a $99 Overnight Special for Saturday, February 19, 2011 with check-in at 11:00 AM through Sunday, February 20th at 12:00 PM.  Your overnight will include Saturday night lodging, make n'take, full use of our craft room and tools, Saturday lunch, dinner, snacks, and beverages, and Sunday brunch!  

We hope you will be able to join us at Lake View Lodge located on Dewey Lake in Dowagiac, Michigan for our mini-retreat!  It will be cold and snowy outside, but the lodge will be warm and toasty! Space is limited for our $99 Overnight, so make your reservation today! 

When we were preparing for our craft shows this fall, we decided to make Christmas gift tags to coordinate with the three holiday designer series paper packs;  

Jolly Holiday DSP

Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP

and Deck The Halls DSP

We loved the Top Note packaging that we designed for them, but it definitely did not show off the tags to their full advantage!  So we took some photos of the contents before they were packaged!

Aren't they cute!  The Tags till Christmas stamp set coordinates so well with the Stampin' Up punches--they are a snap to stamp, punch, and assemble.  We added some white and gold gel pen accents!  

Unfortunately, the gift tags for Jolly Holiday were already packaged at this point, but all three designs were very similar!   

Farewell to Candy Cane Christmas DSP

We were saddened to learn that Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP is no longer available.  We have really enjoyed the projects that we made with this paper.  We hope you enjoy them too!

Gift Card Holders with the Scalloped Envelope die cut altered to fit regular size gift card. Click here for a link to Tara Bazata's video tutorial!  It's fast and fun! We used velcro to close our gift card holders and a few quick punches and a brad to decorate the envelope!

We cased this gift card holder by Vicki Burdick from Late Night Stampers!  It was so cute!  We made it at our November Stamp Club and at our last retreat at Lake View Lodge!  It's a gift before you open it to get your gift card!

We did not pick the gift card our to match the paper--it was a happy accident!

A Baker's dozen gift tags made with the Tags till Christmas stamp set.

We loved the matching Candy Cane Christmas fabric that Stampin' Up! put out to match this paper.  We used it in place of ribbon to compliment these chocolate bars wrapped in the Candy Cane Specialty DSP.

Fabric ribbon and some fancy penguin punch art adorn these mini milk cartons!  These quirky birds are concealing chocolate treats and their true "owl" identities!

We designed these cards for our Christmas Stamp-a-stack, but we also used them at last weekend's retreat  for a beginner's card class with fantastic results!

Everyone at our retreat loved the dazzling diamonds!  A little "bling" goes a long way!

What would scallops be without a little Crystal Stickles?  Remember to give the stickles some time to dry!

So long Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP!  We will miss you!