Election Day!!! (and some pretty projects too!!)

Today is election day...did you vote??
I did...my husband and I ran out today after lunch and was glad (surprised really) to see that there wasn't a line!
I look forward to the next four years...hoping for a better country. May the best man win! I am also looking forward to no more commercials and ads!! Yikes...is it me or was it really bad this year??

Over the weekend I had a Workshop at my hostess/friend Gloria's home...it was so much fun! It was a small group (we had 6 people including myself). I think smaller groups are more intimate and we enjoyed a nice lunch. It was funny~we had taken a break for lunch and drinks (it's never too early for a glass of wine)and while we were just sitting there...with drinks in hand, her hubby Norman walked into the room....BUSTED!! It was cute~ he thought we were stamping...or supposed to be but nope!!

For a hostess "thank-you" gift~ I made another 'etched' glass vase. I used the leave image from the new die in the Holiday Catalog. I had thought about ordering this die...but then decided not to because I had the retired Leaves #2 die...very similar...but I LOVE this one more and the acorn??
So cute!!! Thank God my downline Beth had ordered it and let me borrow it (thanks Beth!). I filled with some decorate grassy stuff (not sure what it's called) and placed some acorns on top. Didn't think flowers would travel well in the car! Click here for a video tutorial I did on etched glass.

Here is a close-up:

We made 2 cards and a set of 4 coasters. The holidays are upon us~ crazy!!! But it's never too early to start thinking of gift giving...this one you might want to add to your fav's!

Here are the coasters:

Here is a close-up:
(front)

(back)

Directions: dust off tiles, stamp image that you plan on using with Staz-On ink and heat set the tile in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and apply cork backing.

Here is the coolest part~ I bought the tiles from a home center store. They are tumbled marble tiles that come 9 to a box for less then $4.00 for the box! You can't get anything better than that for a beautiful handmade gift! You have to look through them to see which ones would be best for stamping on~ since it's tumbled marble...there are a few that have more imperfections than others and certain ones that are just...too pitted to stamp on.

Here is the card that we made to accompany the gift~

Close up:

It's prettier in person...because I added shimmer!! Hee hee...of course I did!! You just can't tell from this photo :(
Supplies:
Stamp Set: Sunflower (123606 W, 123608 C)
Card Stock: River Rock, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
Ink: Early Espresso, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, River Rock, More Mustard
Access: stamping sponges (101610), Color Spritzer tool (107066), Early Espresso marker, Pool Party Seam binding ribbon (125582), Brushed Bronze Designer buttons (127833), Champagne Mist Shimmer paint (mixed with rubbing alcohol) (116806)

This next card was so easy~ no stamping!! It was inspired (practically CASED) by the ever so wonderful Shelli Gardner (Stampin' Up! CEO) . If you have not checked out her blog www.soshelli.com then make that a top priority...she has some beautiful projects posted!! Click here for the link to her beauty.

Supplies:
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, First Edition Specialty DSP (121878), Champagne Glimmer Paper (127885)
Access: Big Shot (113439), Autumn Accents Bigz die (127812), linen thread (104199), Square Lattice folder (119976)

See?? Not many materials needed and it can be for any occasion! Make something similar but smaller for place setting/name tags. Perfecto!

That's it for me today~ feels good to be a little caught up at home. I took down the Halloween decorations (sad, sad, sad) and put out the Thanksgiving ones...I even have bins in the attic for good ol' turkey day!! I think I need a bigger attic~yikes!!

 I was tempted to put up the tree...since we have two artificial trees what does it matter?? But I held back and gladly~ we are hosting Thanksgiving this year and it feels good to have a little change of scenery around the house...wanna a sneak peek?

Check out my mice~

Take care and happy stampin'~ let me know if you have any question, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Erin

Glass Etching Tutorial

As promised, here is a quick video tutorial on how I made the vase shown here.
Here is the finished product~ the possibilities are endless!!

Love it!!  For the snowflake image I used the new Snow Flurry Bigz Die (127813). Shown on pg. 14 in the Holiday Catalog. 


Here is the lid~

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Petite Pairs (122497 C), Christmas Lodge (123769 C)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Access: Big Shot (113439), Snow Flurry Bigz die (127813), linen thread (104199), Champagne glimmer paper (127885), 3" circle die (122125), scallop #2 die (retired), Designer Natural buttons (127554), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), Always Artichoke 1/2" seam binding ribbon (121000)
Check out the video and let me know what you think!

Let me know if you have any questions!!

Here is another Christmas card that we will be making at my next Holiday Stamp-a-Stack. If you are in the area and would like to attend~ make sure you RSVP (space is limited!!)

This card was inspired by these gift tags shown on SCS.

It's hard to tell from the photo~ I used the sponge dauber to apply the Frost White Shimmer paint to the 'swirly' image from the Everything Eleanor stamp set. It's so pretty IRL (in real life).
Here is a close-up of the tag~ I just cut off the right side of the framelit.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Snowflake Soiree (127925 C), Everything Eleanor (124164 C)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla
Ink: Island Indigo,Primrose Petals, Pool Party
Access: linen thread (104199), Big Shot (113439), Apothecary Accents framelits (127003), Stampin' dimensionals (104430), vintage faceted buttons (127555), glue dots (103683), sponge daubers (102892), Frost White Shimmer Paint (116854), vanilla shimmer smooch spritz (118772),  silver glass glitter (120995), 2-way glue pen (100425)

Stampin' hugs,
Erin

Shop Online 24/7 (even in your P.J.'s)
www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net
email: stampingwitherin@yahoo.com

Sunfowers + Etching Cream= AMAZEMENT!

Don't you just LOVE sunflowers?? This time of the year can be just breathtaking~ the leaves here have not begun their transformation...but soon! Other fall colors are beginning to emerge and I love it! Yesterday we had a icky day..heavy rain began overnight and it lasted throughout the day (what a nasty feeling!) I was thankful that I had nowhere to go...just sat in my P.J.'s and stamped!

I did try to make some bread (as I noted in my previous post)...FAIL! I will try again with a different recipe but that won't be until tomorrow. I am expecting my Aunt and Uncle later today and the plan is to order out (that's easy!!)

So today...the sun is shining~ Ahhhhh! my oldest girl Cinder (my weimaraner who is 12 1/2 years old) is basking in the sunlight...as it shines through different windows of the house she follows it..smart girl! I ventured out today to Costco..who always seem to carry BEAUTIFUL sunflowers...needed them for a friend of mine who has been in the hospital since Sunday with MRSA...I know scary!! She is doing much better know, and we are all hoping she continues to make a speedy recovery...I made her this card:

Here is a close-up:

I wrapped the linen thread around the bottom a couple of times then used a tiny sliver of More Mustard CS to secure it and curled the ends.

Inside: (I know...boring~ but that's where I will write my 'Get Well Wishes')

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Loving Thoughts (125845 C), Sunflower (123608 C)
Card Stock: Early Espresso, Whisper White, More Mustard, Island Indigo
Ink: Early Espresso, Island Indigo, More Mustard Marker
Access: linen thread (104199), Naturals Designer Buttons (127554), Color Spritzer tool (107066), Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (retired)

Inspired by this card here:

the one above is made by Diane Sisneros (another SU! Demonstrator and it's just stunning!! (Thanks Diane! )

I thought I would try something' new' for the vase I bought...glass etching?? Have you tried it?? It's AMAZING and I can see how this will become another addiction...man this girl needs help!!

I bought the etching cream from our local craft store and used contact paper along with the Sizzix Big Shot to create my letter 'R'. I used Stampin' Up!'s retired Serif Essentials die. Let me know if you are curious about trying it out yourself...I am happy to make a video tutorial!! Just leave me a comment!

Again let me know if you have any questions, hope you all have a very 'sunny' day!!
-Erin

Shop Online 24/7 (even in your P.J.'s)
www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net
email: stampingwitherin@yahoo.com