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!

January Stamp Club with a Valentine Theme

Valentine's Day was the theme for our January Stamp Club.  Our cards this month feature the all new XOXO stamp set, Valentine's Defined,  and Love Impression Specialty Designer Series Paper found in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  We also used the Love Patterns DSP and Filled With Love stamp set, along with our free Bitty Buttons from the Valentine's Day Promotion. A touch of Red Glimmer Paper completd our cards.

Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Love Patterns DSP

Stamps:  Valentine Defined, Filled With Love

Ink:  Pretty in Pink

Misc:  Big Shot Movers and Shapers, Pinking Heart Border punch, Heart Small punch, Full Heart punch,  Basic Pearls, misc white ribbon

Earlier this fall we discovered that the Movers and Shapers pieces can be used to add a layer to several of the stamps and punches, perfect for an extra border! 

Paper:  Whisper White CS, Basic Grey CS, Real Red CS, Love Impressions DSP

Stamps:  Filled With Love, Valentine Defined

Ink:  Real Red

Misc:  Big Shot Movers and Shapers, Pinking Heart Border punch, Full Heart punch, Real Red Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Paper:  Basic Grey CS, Real Red CS, Pink Pirouette CS, Whisper White CS,

Love Impressions DSP, Red Glimmer

Stamps:  Filled With Love

Ink:  Real Red, Basic Grey, Versa Mark

Misc:  Love Impressions Rub-Ons, 1 3/8" Oval punch, 1 3/4" Oval punch, Heart to Heart punch, Heart Small punch, Heat and Stick Powder, Pink Glitter, Real Red Seam Binding, Basic Rhinestones

Paper:  Whisper White CS, Basic Black CS, Real Red CS, Love

Impressions DSP,Red Glimmer

Stamps:  Valentine Defined, Filled With Love

Ink:  Real Red, Garden Green

Misc:  Pinking Heart Border punch, Heart Small punch, Real Red Glitter Brad, black

 ribbon, misc. flower punch

Paper:  Very Vanilla CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Basic Black CS, Love Letter DSP, Red Glimmer

Stamps:  XOXO, Filled With Love

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Misc:  Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, Full Heart punch, Small Heart punch, 1 3/8" Oval punch, 1 3/4" Oval punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

Paper:  Real Red CS, Pretty in Pink CS, Whisper White CS, Patterns Love DSP, Red Glimmer

Stamps:  Filled With Love

Ink:  Real Red, Versa Mark

Misc:  Pinking Heart Border punch, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 3/4" Circle punch, Full Heart punch, Small Heart punch, Heart to Heart punch, Heat and Stick Powder, Pink Glitter

Paper:  Whisper White CS, Basic Grey CS, Pretty in Pink CS, Patterns Love DSP

Stamps:  Valentine Defined

Ink:  Pretty in Pink, White Craft

Misc:  White Embossing Powder, 1 3/8" Oval punch, 1 3/4" Oval punch, Eyelet Border punch, Curly Label punch, Basic Rhinestones, white ribbon

Paper:  Whisper White CS, Real Red CS, Pink Pirouette CS, Love Impressions DSP

Stamps:  XOXO

Ink:  Real Red

Misc:  Small Heart punch, Bitty Buttons, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scalloped Circle punch, 2 3/8" Circle punch, White Gel pen

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!

Boo! We're Back!

Five days to the craft fair and we're counting!  Here are a few more "crafty" items for Halloween!

We used the Texturized Spider Web embossing folder on the brown treat bags.  It embosses the pattern onto all 4 sides of the bag at one time!   You can also emboss paper napkins with the embossing folders too!  Give it a try!  Here's a close up of the detail on our treat bag.

Our treats bags are stuffed with candy--don't tell anyone! 

We hope you are enjoying all the "owl" art on the internet!   There are so many creative people out there.  Nanci saw a mini lunch sack on Stampin' Connection posted by Shauna O'Donnel with this image on it and couldn't resist turning it into one of the card projects for the September Stampin' Club.   Everyone at the club meeting enjoyed making this card.  Thanks for the inspiration Shauna! 

Haunted Handbags!

Check out these cute gift bags with coordinating cards! Stuff with purple or orange tissue paper and add some candy flavored chapsticks and you are ready to trick or treat your BFF!

These cute handbags were part of a Tres Chic Handbag tutorial that we purchased from the creator and designor, Becky Roberts!  Becky is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and she creates, designs, and sells her tutorials from her blog, Inking Idaho.

Want to really trick or treat your BFF?  Suprise her with a Craft Haven Retreat weekend at Lake View Lodge!  Our fall special, $199 per person, ends October 31, 2010.  Contact us for information at info@crafthavenretreats.com.

Project Recipe:

Papers: Wicked Fun Specialty DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Basic Black card stock

Stamp sets: Wicked Cool and Batty for You

Inks are Cajun Craze, Basic Black, and Rich Razzleberry

Punches: Scalloped Border Punch, Scalloped Cricle Punch, Oval Punch, Circle punch, Modern lable punch

Textured Spider Web Embossing Folder

Big Shot Original Blossom Party

Happy Crafting!

Boo!

Halloween is right around the corner!  We hope you are gearing up to "treat" your neighborhood visitors!  Stampin' Up!  has such a variety of crafting materials for the Halloween season!  Light a path to your door--take a look at these luminaries which we made with the Wicked Fun Specialty DSP!

Here is a close up of the black luminary! 

We embossed the vellum with the Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder!

Got Treats?

 
This stamp set is made to coordinate with the Mini Milk Carton Bigz L Die for the Big Shot!  Filled with your favorite candy--PUSH UP HERE . . . TO OPEN--and pour--we're sure they will be a hit at your home!

Nanci and I have been preparing for the 29th Annual Oktoberfest Arts & Crafts Show at Marion Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, IL.  The craft show will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010.   Craft Haven Retreats will have a display at the craft show and we will also be selling paper-crafted items.  Doors open at 10 AM and close at 4 PM.  We hope to meet you there!