SAB is on the way!!

Its a new year and Stampin' Up! has tons of exciting new stamps and accessories for YOU! Check out my website to see the new stuff you can get for FREE! I am so darn excited about this new stuff!! Check back to see what I am making with my new goodies! Yes, as a demonstrator I got to order it early. A benefit I LOVE!!
Time to schedule a workshop! My house, your house, or online! No matter how you do it, you'll get great stuff! Contact me today!
www.beckiecarlson.stampinup.net

A brand new year. In the past I have made it a point to NOT make resolutions. I think it was basically because I don't like doing what every one else is doing. I'm not the kind to follow the crowd and do things simply because it is popular. This is also my excuse for being such a dorky outcast all through junior high and high school. Yeah, it was all part of my plan. Whatever.
This year, I think I may actually set a few goals. I have been very impressed by my son's diligence in keeping to a strict schedule. He almost always goes to bed before everyone else in the house and it up and out the door before I have hit the snooze button for the second time. He has a crazy busy schedule and serious goals in mind and has done extremely well so far. He has inspired me to try and get to bed on time. I have to admit a bit of hesitancy here because...I am quite a night owl. I always have been at my most creative in the middle of the night. Now, before you get any weird ideas about that statement, I am referring to doing last minute essays and other homework, finishing up 150 swaps for a Stampin' Up! event, or feverishly sewing the last bits of the Christmas projects I put off til Christmas Eve.
Looking back, I think what I may have considered "creative night owl syndrome" may really be more of a "conquistador of chaos" (thanks goes to Juli Morgenstern for that term). I wait until the last possible moment and then voila! I pull the proverbial rabbit out of my hat and it all works out. I don't know that I work well under pressure like that, but I don't quit til I'm done.
I am wondering what will happen if I actually start things in the morning. You know, that time BEFORE the kids are gone to school. That time of day when my crazy sister goes bike riding and working out and all those things that cause her to injure herself and look good while she does it. Maybe I would sleep better planning ahead for the next day instead of lying half awake hoping and praying I finished everything on time. I don't know...it is an idea. Besides....I keep hearing that "early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" run through my head. And seriously.....who couldn't use a little more health, wealth and wisdom? I'm 'up' for the challenge...first thing tomorrow. Cause I said so....

***this was meant for my 'other blog' ....sorry about that. If you liked it and would like to read more of my daily rantings, go to www.causeisaidso.wordpress.com. Thanks!

holiday yummies

   
See No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

pocket full of faces

I like to send Christmas cards that have a family picture each year. I also like to make super cute Christmas cards using Stampin' Up! products. This is an idea that has been around but is always cute. Make a simple pouch using cardstock. I scored my cardstock (using the simply scored) at 3 and 7-1/4 on the long side, and 5-1/2 on the short side. I cut off the extra at the bottom sides and folded the sides in to make the pouch. Clear as mud? Basically, fold your cardstock around the photo or inside that you want to have slide out. I stamped my pouch with the big Christmas Collage stamp. Old olive on Old olive. I positioned the stamp so that the circle with 25 in it was on the lower left. I used the Joy stamp from the Perfect Punches set and embossed it in gold on both Burgundy and Vanilla paper. I punched out the center of the vanilla and the scallop of the burgundy and layered it up on the front, right over the 25. The ribbon on here is what I like to call "wed weave wibbon" but is actually called the Quilted Satin ribbon from the holiday mini catalog. It is yummy!
The inside is just a pull out where you can put your family picture or a Christmas greeting. Lots of variations available for this idea. Enjoy!

perky tree

This is one of the cards I did at my workshops last week. I totally cased it from Araceli...in fact, this is her card! I used white seam binding instead of twine, current DSP from the mini catalog, and just stamped Merry at the bottom right on the card. The cuteness factor is in how she did the tree. This is the small pennant punch. Punch three scallop triangles and three straight ones. (i also used a stamp from the pennant set instead of the embossed paper). layer your triangles and fold them all in half. This is much easier if you use the simply scored tool to make a crease in the triangle. Then you simple snail the triangles together, leaving the back open so you can stick it to the card. It is a super cute 3-D tree when you are done. Clever girl...thanks for the idea Araceli!

bearly scored

I have been having a ball with my new Simply scored tool. I love how easy it is to use! I made quite a few little fan flowers using it but decided I wanted to try something bigger. I used 3 pieces of 12 x 4 DSP for this fan flower. Instead of scoring every 1/4 inch like I did for the smaller fans, I scored every 1/2 inch for this one. It is super cute and looks like fabric! I ended up spraying it with the smooch spray and sponging the edges to add to the rustic feel. I added a string of punched hearts that I had sewn together on the sewing machine. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but....it's cute!

Super Saturday!!

I am hosting a Super Craft Saturday on November 19th, from 10-2pm. Each item is sold individually. We decided to do bigger projects than I normally offer at a stamp camp. These are great gift ideas for others and for YOU! You can make as many as you wish of each project. Registrations are DUE by November 16th. Space is limited so do not delay! I am not requiring payment in advance, but if you sign up you are telling me you will buy the project! Be a dear and don't back out or I will have to have advance payment from now on. Thanks!

Prices: 12 x 12 Advent calendar in Frame $25
Star mini album: $15
Double swing out photo card: $6
Joy wall hanging: $8
Fabric ornament: $3
3 different gift card holders: $10

I don't know how to list the price under the picture it goes with so hopefully it is obvious. The card with the Brown ribbon and tree on the front is one of the gift holders. It pops up in the middle...super cute! There are two other designs not shown.

Please email me at ladystamper@earthlink.net
to register. Please send your name and the number of each project you want to make.
This is a come and go event so you can come when you can between 10-2pm. NOTE: If you are making a lot of items, please don't show up at 1:30 or 2. Each project takes approximately 1 hour to make. If you are making several of one item, it will be quicker because you can do them at the same time. There will be doorprizes through out the day and gifts to anyone that registers someone I don't know. I am doing this with my downline so if you see this through them, be sure to tell me your demonstrators name so I can keep everyone straight.
Can't wait to craft with you!!!
Questions: call me...480-361-8103
**If you cannot come and wish to order the supplies to make these projects at home,that is totally allowed. The price is the same but I will include adhesive (and possibly shipping if you are out of state) in the deal.