sweetstamper.com

So my blog changeover is official and complete.  You can now find me at sweetstamper.com.  To access this blog, the one you are at right now with its 18 months of posts, go to sweetstamper.blogspot.com.

Still waiting...so hop on over!

I'm still awaiting my quick and easy changeover for you to easily get to my new blog.  In the meantime, I've posted there.  You can hop on over by clicking on sweetstamper.typepad.com.  See you there!

New Blog Platform

I'm in the process of switching to a different blogging platform.  What does that mean for you?  It means that to access this blog, you must type in sweetstamper.blogspot.com.  My new blog, sweetstamper.com, should be mapped and ready by tomorrow--at least I'm hoping for it to happen that quickly.  See you in my new format!

Thoughtful Crafters Gift

Do you need a thoughtful, practical gift for a crafter in your life?   We "crafty" people love to be inspired.  Sometimes "writer's block" hits us like a ton of bricks.  Part of the nature of crafting and art is the continual need for fresh ideas, inspiration, new color combinations, and different ways of looking at something.

I have the perfect gift for you to give:  my Card of the Day program.  It's a daily dose of creativity, delivered to your inbox (or the inbox of your choice) for just $4.95 per month.  A photo of one of my cards is sent each day, every day, along with a full list of supplies.  Not only is this the perfect gift for crafters, you don't have to leave home to do your shopping!  I have 3 ways for you to purchase Card of the Day:

• Monthly subscription:  a monthly charge of just $4.95
• 3-Month subscription:  purchase 3 months all at once for just $14.85
• 6-Month subscription:  purchase 6 months all at once for just $29.70

I've provided convenient paypal buttons for you below.  If you prefer to pay by check, you may purchase the 3-month and 6-month option by mailing your check along with the recipient's inbox info to:

Candy Rattray

13246 Trentwood

San Antonio, TX  78231

If this is a gift, I will be happy to supply you with a hand-stamped card with the "gift certificate" inside for Card of the Day. Simply email your request to candy@sweetstamper.com or click the Email Candy button to your right.  Easy shopping.  Appreciated gift!

Monthly subscription:

3-Month Subscription:

6-Month Subscription:

Christmas Card Class!

It's the last card class of 2010 and it's a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack!  You won't want to miss this wonderful creative session with Christmas music, spiced cider and 6 designs for you to make.  That's right--6 designs, 2 cards of each design for loads of creative fun!  Whether a veteran card-maker or a beginner, you will enjoy this Christmas card class with hands-on instruction and a group of ladies that will encourage you in your creative journey.

Friday, November 12th

6:30-9:00 PM

Make 12 custom-designed, unique cards, 2 each of 6 designs
$35 covers all supplies* and envelopes 

Hands-on instruction during class
Friday, November 12th, 6:30-9:00
Cash, checks and credit cards accepted (paypal button below)

RSVP with payment by November 9th

Last Christmas Card Class of 2010!

In less than 2 weeks, I will have my LAST Christmas Card Class of 2010.  Can you believe it?  I began a monthly class in July, but we are in November, and the holidays are quickly approaching.  You still have time to make it extra special:  make it handmade.  Whether giving gifts and/or cards, or wrapping and packaging, you can make it handmade and heartfelt.  I'll help you get there. 

This month we are doing a Stamp-a-Stack.  We will make a whole stack of cards--12 to be exact.  You will make 2 each of 6 designs with Christmas music playing, spiced cider brewing, and creative fun squeezed into every minute!  Join us for the last hurrah of 2010.  But hurry!  There are only 10 places, and those that sign up first get them.  Once this is filled, that's it.  So reserve your place now.  Your payment reserves your place.  You may send me a check or use the convenient paypal button below. This month's class is a little different, so look carefully at the specifics.

Friday, November 12th

6:30-9:00 PM

Make 12 custom-designed, unique cards, 2 each of 6 designs
$35 covers all supplies* and envelopes 

Hands-on instruction during class
Friday, November 12th, 6:30-9:00
Cash, checks and credit cards accepted (paypal button below)
RSVP with payment by November 9th

*Please observe normal class protocol and bring your own basic (SNAIL or Anywhere Glue Stick) adhesive.

12 Weeks of Christmas Inspirational Sunday Post

We are well into my series of Inspirational Sunday Posts with a Christmas theme.  I hope you are enjoying them!  I am:)  I love sharing some of the reasons behind the many traditions of this important holiday.  Sometimes, Christmas images and symbols are used and not explained for the generations that are coming up.  And some of us never understood them from our own childhood.  But the Christmas season and celebrations are rich in symbolic images, words, messages, songs, people, lands, colors and more.  Added to that are the many individual family traditions and cultural distinctions that surround this special time.  Although Christmas is an actual holiday (derived from holy day), there is too much to fit into a single day--we now have an entire season!  I don't believe that this is due to unnecessary commercialization of this special time.  I believe it is so that we can savor, enjoy, and prolong--for as long as possible--the magic of Christmas.

For today's Inspirational Sunday Post, I want to focus on the candy cane.  This very cute card was designed by my very talented daughter Tiffany.  It uses the Holiday Mini Catalog stamp set A Cute Christmas and puts the candy canes at front and center.  Everything else on the card supports the candy canes.

Candy canes have an interesting history and association with Christmas dating back to Germany in 1670.  According to legend, the choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral handed out sugar sticks bent into the shape of a shepherd's staff to children during the rather lengthy living creche (nativity) services. The children loved them!  The shepherd's staff totally tied in to the pageant and was a great reminder to the children of the shepherds who first heard the good news of Christmas, the "good tidings of great joy."  They were also a powerful reminder of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd.  The sugar canes became very popular, and the practice of handing them out at creche services spread throughout Europe.

Candy canes made their way to American Christmas trees by the 1800s, but they were plain white.  It was not until the early 20th century that the sugar canes received their now-familiar red stripes.  Many additional meanings have been ascribed to the candy cane going well beyond the original shepherd's staff.  Many say that the candy is hard as a rock, symbolizing the rock of Christ (I Corinthians 10:4) as well as the rock solid foundation of the Church.  The peppermint flavor is similar to that of hyssop, another plant of the same family, used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice.  The white is thought by some to symbolize the purity of Jesus Christ, who knew no sin.  The bold red stripe is said to symbolize God the Father's bold love for His children.  Traditional candy canes also have three small stripes, said to symbolize the trinity:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Some ascribe the symbolism of the beatings of Jesus to the same stripes:
 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
(1Pe 2:24 MKJV) emphasis mine

As you can see, candy canes are rich in history and symbolism in addition to being a wonderful Christmas sweet.  The next time you have a candy cane and a child nearby, bring the child to your lap and tell him/her the wonders of the candy cane.  You can share much of the true story of Christmas with this simple treat as your visual aid.  Then show him/her how to hang one on the tree to add beauty as well as bringing a powerful reminder of what the Christmas season is all about.

Saturday Sample

For today's sample, I wanted to share something of Halloween (which is my birthday!).  This cute treat bag--which I received in a swap--uses the Fancy Favor die.  Notice how you can also put your Designer Series Paper on the Fancy Favor Die and cut it to fit your treat bag with a perfect mat.  Add a few punched shapes, stamped images, and ribbon, and you have a treat bag sure to please boys and girls of any age.

As my Halloween gift to you, I'm giving away $5 gift certificates for any online orders placed between now and midnight tomorrow (Halloween).  So place your order here at my online store and I'll email the gift certificate to you.  No need to email me as I will be notified when your order is placed.  Just sit back and enjoy the $5 gift!  Happy Halloween!

Stamps:
Twick or Tweat
Ink:  Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Paper:  Basic Black Card Stock, Cast-a-Spell Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window, Scallop Circle, and 1-3/4" Circle Punches, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals

Halloween Scrapbooking

This great scrapbook page was created by one of my club members, Sara G, using My Digital Studio.  Sara is a working mom with a young child and loves the ease, speed, and style that My Digital Studio affords her when scrapping.  Sara is very busy, so time is at a premium in her life.  She can just go into her computer when she has a few moments, create a few pages or use one of the templates.  Then she just "drops" her photos, from her computer, onto the pages and voila!  In a very short period of time, she has been able to scrap some of her family's special moments...and there is no mess to clean up.  Are the pictures above cute and scrappable, or what?!

In addition to the ease and speed My Digital Studio affords, there are new downloads available every month.  Although My Digital Studio comes with hundreds of images and all the Stampin' Up! colors (retired and current!), as new stamp sets, papers, punches, and more are released, your My Digital Studio can be expanded however you wish.  For instance, when the newish 2-Step Bird Punch was added to the My Digital Studio downloads, you could just go over to my website, pay the $.95 for the punch, and download it into your system.  You add the images YOU want, the ones that you love best.

Would you like more information about My Digital Studio?  I am certified in My Digital Studio and would love to answer any questions you may have.  Call me at 210-355-5729 or email me by simply clicking on the Email Candy button to your right.

Price Reduction!

My Digital Studio professional print products  have been REDUCED in price, just in time for your holiday projects!  Nearly all the print services are 15-60% off the regular retail price.  Want to know the best part about this money-saving holiday gift? It never ends!

Beat the December rush and start creating your holiday photo album books, calendars, and cards today!  Give a gift of the heart this year at Christmas--made by your hands, warmed by your heart, produced on your computer!  They will be beautiful, stylish, AND cost-effective. Now that's a great way to make everyone happy on your gift list AND stay on budget! 

Sweet Centers

Is this the perfect card for a kid, or what?  A card with a Sweet Center!  When you can add candy right into a card and even incorporate it in the design, you have a winning combination that is sure to please.

And this is not just for kids.  At this month's hostess club meetings (click here for hostess club info), we were making treat bags filled with candy corn.  I discovered that candy corn seems to be one of those candies that everyone loves, no matter their age.  They are one of those timeless treats of fall, and much less messy than caramel apples! LOL  To make us feel better while eating them, we can console ourselves with the fact that they are fat free:)  So while we were making our treat bags during club, we were nibbling on candy corn, too!

The card shown uses the Sweet Centers (116521, $29.95) stamp set, a great all-occasion set (shown below).

You can see that it covers Halloween, Valentine's Day (which will be here in no time!), and general designs as well.  The petal and leaves enable you to create a flower around the Sweet Treat Cups (116802, 12 for $2.95).  You can then fill those cups with sunflower seeds, candies, buttons, you name it!  The ornament hanger allows you to create a beautiful Christmas ornament with the same Sweet Treat Cups or even just a punched circle.   The hot air balloon basket, of course, enables you to create a hot air balloon filled with your choice of treats.  There is such versatility in this stamp set!  Click here to visit my online store (candystamps.stampinup.net) and get your Sweet Centers and Sweet Treat Cups today.

Sample, Order, Shop!

It's here!  Help has arrived!  I have an awesome shopping opportunity coming to your rescue.  It's my second annual SOS:  Sample Order Shop!    Come by today to see me along with 5 other women business owners.  We have lots of goodies for you.

Tuesday, October 26th

4:30-9:00

2600 Fairfield Bend, 78231

map

• Susan Mata of TeaZing will be brewing samples for you and offering teas and accoutrements for sale.
• I'll have lots of cute, affordable gifts for sale, all handmade using Stampin' Up! products--the best on the market for crafting!
• Deb Berger of Pampered Chef will have appetizers in the oven for you as well as lots of cool kitchen things to show and sell.
• Joyce Doctor will be sampling BioCe skincare as well as nergy drink and energy bar samples.
• Renita Stephen will be booking appointments and doing 15-minute mini facials on site!
• Suzanne LePori will be showing and selling Cynthia Bloom's amazing handmade jewelry, inspired by Czech artisans and incorporating rare antique glass beads, crystals, and more.
• Maria Gerfers of Avon has donated a stunning door prize valued at $53.

Come and stay a while!  I can't wait to show you all we have in store for you:)

Inspiration...delivered daily!

Do you like to be inspired?  I do.  Even if I'm not lacking inspiration, I can always use more:)  For me, the more ideas, the better!  Would you like to have some inspiration delivered to your inbox daily?  Then subscribe to my Card of the Day program.

You will never again lack inspiration.  Each day, every day, you will have a card delivered to your inbox with a full list of supplies.  The card styles vary from clean and simple to elegant to masculine to vintage to shabby chic...there is great variety!  Card of the Day makes your card-making simpler, easier, with fresh inspiration at your fingertips every day.  And it's only $4.95 per month.  Card of the Day is just pennies a day.  The inspiration provided:  priceless!


For monthly subscription:

 For 6-months:

Inspirational Sunday Post

We are on Week 4 of my 12 Weeks of Inspirational Sunday Posts, my 12-week series of inspirational Sunday posts with a Christmas theme.  For this post, I'm sharing a card that I remade several times, intending to use it for a Christmas card class.  In the end, I had lots of other designs and never used it.   The card is all about texture with the use two different embossing folders and the double stitched grosgrain ribbon contrasting with the smooth Brushed Silver Card Stock, bringing several different textures to this card .  But all the texture is background to the wonderful greeting:  "Tidings of Comfort & Joy" (from the Perfect Punches stamp set).  "Tidings of comfort and joy" is the very heart of Christmas.

As the Christmas story unfolds, there are shepherds, simple, humble people who love God and are going about their daily work when...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luk 2:9-14 KJV)

Good tidings means good news.  The Christmas story, the coming of Christ Jesus, is all about good news!  The eagerly-anticipated, long-awaited event of the ages arrived!  The Savior is come.  The One who will save us, heal us, reconcile us to God, deliver us, befriend us, bring us peace and joy and give us victory:  Jesus.  Good tidings of great joy, indeed!

Saturday Sample

For today's Saturday Sample, I'm showing a card we made in my card clubs this month.  This should get everyone into the mood for fall!  This makes a great notecard or thank you card.

In addition, I'm beefing up this sample by making it into a free project.  I'm giving you the list of supplies for the card PLUS instructions to create it.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Stamps:  Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel
Ink:  Old Olive, Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper:  Old Olive, So Saffron, Cajun Craze Card Stocks, Regals Prints Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories:  Big Shot, Leaves #2 Die, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stamping Sponges,SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

To make card:
1.  Take 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece of Old Olive card stock (1/2 sheet).  Ink up Bright Blessings wheel with Old Olive and roll along one edge (5-1/2" side).  Fold in half and crease with bone folder to create card base.  Set aside.
2.  Take scraps of Cajun Craze and So Saffron card stock.  Run through Big Shot with Leaves # 2 die.  Now run your leaves through the impressions folder.  Sponge leaves with Cajun Craze ink.  Set aside.
3.  Take 5-1/4" x 1" piece of Cajun Craze card stock and punch with Scallop Trim Border Punch.  Attach to 5-1/4" x 2" piece of More Mustard paper from Regals Paper Stack with SNAIL.  Take 5-3/4" piece of Old Olive ribbon.  Place Mini Glue dot on center front of DSP and stick center of ribbon down.  Now place Mini Glue Dots on each end of ribbon and stick down to back of DSP.
4.  Attach entire piece of decorated  DSP to left side of card using SNAIL.  Put dimensionals on back of both leaves.  Position as shown.  Take small piece of Old Olive ribbon and tie a single knot.  Attach to leaf stems with Mini Glue Dot.

Retired Sale!

Sweet Stamper Retired Stamps and Supplies Sale

• Retired stamps and supplies priced to sell.
• Some are brand new, never used.  All need new homes!
• Free Make and Take!
• Checks and cash accepted
• Saturday, October 23rd, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
• My Studio-13246 Trentwood 

One More Bundle of Savings!

Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Handmade Holiday bundles are providing us with 20% savings.  One of those bundles includes the new Decorative Label Punch (in the Holiday Mini Catalog).  That punch has been so popular that it is on back order!  As a result, Stampin' Up! has added an EXTRA bundle to the mix.  Thanks, Stampin' Up! for giving us the best products available AND fantastic savings for our holiday projects.  Click here to download the entire list of bundles--all at 20% off.

Autumn Days

These beautiful pages are my daughter Tiffany's creations.  They were for a recent scrapbooking class, and they are so much fun to make.  Again, we employed the Broadsheet Alphabet, such a great alphabet for scrapbooking.  Running card stock through the Big Shot to create the leaves and then again to emboss them--well, they created touchable, gorgeous autumn leaves!  This layout is 8-1/2 x 8-1/2, but I'll show you next week how to change it up a bit for a 12 x 12.

To find out how you can make beautiful pages like this on a monthly basis, check out my club info here.  To find out how you can make beautiful pages like this on a monthly basis, check out my club info here. 

Scrap Supplies:

Stamps:  Broadsheet Alphabet

Ink:  Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad

Paper:  Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories:  Big Shot, Leaves #2 Die, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Folder, Kraft Ribbon (retired), Earth Elements Brads (retired)

Women's Small Business Month

October is Women's Small Business Month.  What is a women's small business?  It's a small business whose majority owner(s) are women.  Did you know that in 2009 three trillion dollars in sales were generated by women's small businesses (according to the Washington Post)?  That's a pretty impressive number!

More than 8 million businesses are majority female-owned, and you could be the next woman to own her own business.  Join my team of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, the Southern Sweet Stampers, and let me help you dream big dreams and then make them happen.  As a women's small business owner, you can set your own hours, set your own goals, and make your own dreams happen.  There is no middle management to get in your way when you are the business owner!  And you can make your work life fit around your home life rather than the other way around.

Sound interesting?  Would you like more information?  Why don't you think about it and then call me at 210-355-5729 or join me at my next Demonstrator Information Night, November 18th, at 7:30 p.m.  Email me at candy@sweetstamper.com by November 11th to let me know you are coming, and I'll have a great meeting prepared for you.  Or click here to get more information right now.

Groupon-Style Class!

You will make 2 each of these great Stainless Steel Travel Mugs and embossed metal sheet Christmas Cards for the ultimate in holiday glamor gifts!  They are not hard to make when you have the right materials and instruction.  I will have everything ready for you and we will have an evening of crafting fun!  You will leave with 2 unique, handmade, and fabulous gifts plus 2 coordinating cards.


You will get:

• All materials needed to complete
•    2 Stainless Steel Mugs
•    2 Embossed Metal Cards and envelopes
• Sanding Block
• Paper Stump
• Hands-on instruction to complete your projects
• Written instructions so you can reproduce these fabulous projects!
  Dinner    
•  

This class is being offered at a 25% discount for 2 days only.  That's right.  In the next 48 hours, we have to fill this class for it to make.  There are 10 spaces, and you have until 3:00 Friday to sign up.   When the class "makes," I will send you the paypal link (You can also send a check, but you must do so quickly!).  If it doesn't make,  I'll let you know, and it just doesn't happen.  Tell your friends about it so we can make it happen!  I'll give you an update 1/2 way through to let you know how many spaces still need to be filled.  Click here to sign up.

Tuesday, November 30th
6:30-9:00
My Studio (13246 Trentwood)
Come straight from work!
$65.00
"groupon" price:  $48.75
 Sign up here!