I is for Invitation

Welcome to my Holiday ABC series! I enjoy the holidays and today I am going to share with you one way I make my own invitations for different events.  My holiday cookie exchange has become an annual tradition. Here’s a fun invitation I made that could also be used for birthdays or other parties by simply changing the DSP and stamped image.

Stampin Up Cookie Cutter Christmas card idea - Jeanie Stark StampinUp

This is a simple fun fold card. The card base measures 4 1/4 x 11 and is scored at 1 1/4 and 5 1/2. Fold the card in half then fold the top flap down. I adhered a 3 3/4 x 4  piece of DSP (from Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper) to the front and wrapped the Quilted Christmas Ribbon around the card and tied a bow. You don’t need any adhesive to keep the card closed…the ribbon holds it together.  (You could staple the flap on each side if you want and hide it under the ribbon but it really isn’t necessary.) I stamped the gingerbread man from the Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set in soft suede ink and punched him out with the coordinating Cookie Cutter Builder Punch. I added a bow tie I punched from DSP and a candy cane I fussy cut from DSP.  I adhered it to Layering Circles with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Stampin Up Cookie Cutter Christmas card idea - Jeanie Stark StampinUp

I typed my invitation on the computer and printed it on Whisper White cardstock.  I used my Stampin’ Trimmer to cut it to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 and adhered it to a 3 3/4 x 5 piece of Old Olive Cardstock.  It’s easy to slide in and pull out to read.

Stampin Up Cookie Cutter Christmas card idea - Jeanie Stark StampinUp

Here’s a couple of photos from last year’s cookie exchange. Looking at these yummy cookies is getting me thinking about what I will bake this year!  Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?

I hope you enjoyed today’s card. The DSP used on my invitation is part of the special Stampin’ Up promotion going on now through the end of October.  Buy 3, Get 1 Free!

DSP banner

Click HERE for the DSP sale flyer.

You can purchase any of the Stampin’ Up! products used to make today’s project from my online store. Click HERE to shop or click on the images below to order.

Today is my friend Susan’s birthday. We celebrated over the weekend with fellow demonstrators and team members. We call ourselves “Sisters of the Traveling Stamps”. We spent the weekend in Annapolis, Maryland at Ramsey’s and had so much fun sharing ideas (we each brought a shoebox swap), watching videos, learning new techniques, and stamping until the wee hours of the morning! Stampin’ Up! is so much more than just stamps and making cards…I love the friendships and spending time with “my people”.  Here’s a photo from our fun weekend!

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Have a wonderful day!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie

To get a FREE thank you gift from me, simply enter the host code below at checkout. *If you have an order over $150, DON’T USE THE HOST CODE, but get your Stampin’ Rewards AND the free thank you gifts from me!

Click HERE to Shop.

Current Host Code:  BHYQXWS2

*OCTOBER ONLINE ORDER SPECIAL…I am giving away the Merry Patterns Stamp Set for FREE to 1 lucky winner in October!  Anyone who places an online order using the host code will be entered in a drawing to win this stamp set. The winner will be announced November 1st after all October orders are complete!

Merry Patterns stamp set 
Product List

Gingerbread Christmas

Last week my friend Rachel and I took a road trip to Alexandria, Virginia to meet one of my favorite children’s book illustrator/author, Jan Brett.  Her detailed artwork is amazing!!!  I was thrilled to meet her and get an autographed copy of her newest book, Gingerbread Christmas!  I love books and reading as much as I love to stamp! I made these little treats for my students to go with this new Gingerbread story.

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Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper and Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp and Punch

I started with a piece of 2 x 7 1/2″ DSP from Candy Cane Lane.  I punched one end using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.  I scored the other end at 2 and 2 1/4. I folded on the score lines and secured each end with a glue dot at the top.  I cut the gingerbread house out from another piece of DSP using my Paper Snips and glued it to the front.  I stamped the gingerbread man using early espresso ink and punched him out with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch. The bow tie is stamped in real red ink.  I attached the bow tie and the gingerbread man with glue dots. I love the real red stitched ribbon and used that to thread through the top of the paper and around the candy cane. I used the Candy Cane Lane Baker’s Twine to tie a bow and keep it secure .  Jan Brett’s team was most generous and gave me extra buttons and booklets for each of my Pre-K students. They are going to love the story and their treats!

Rachel and I had a fun time (until we had to drive home 2 hours in FOG)!  Here’s some photos from our adventure.

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 Jan Brett Tour Bus in Alexandria, Virginia
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Author/Illustrator Jan Brett

Now I need your help! Jan Brett is giving away 10 books to the person who receives the most votes from Facebook voters.  Go to http://www.facebook.com/byjanbrett  and vote for my photo with the tour bus!  There’s only 1 week left in the contest and our school would love to win these books! Look for this silly photo of me.

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 Go to http://www.facebook.com/byjanbrett and vote to help me win the Grand Prize of a Jan Brett Library!

I love to give books as gifts and it is always fun to make something to go with it…a card or a treat (or both).  I have given Jan Brett’s book, The Mitten, to so many kids over the years and I would always include a pair of mittens. If you shop Kohl’s, they have a great program, Kohl’s Cares.  They sell great classic books with stuffed animal characters (for just $5 each) and 100% of the net profit from the sale support kid’s health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. Whenever a parent asks me what they can do to help their child in school, my first response is always READ!!!! It’s simple, rewarding, and so effective! (I’ll spare you all the research and experience which proves it!)

So, to sum up today’s post…buy a book, make a card or treat to go with it, read to a child, and vote for me on facebook!  LOL  (Oh, and feel free to shop my online store!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie

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R is for Real Red DSP

Welcome to the ABC’s with DSP!  This month I am featuring projects showcasing Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper. Today I am showcasing Real Red from the Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper. Red is one of my absolute favorite colors! I have touches of red in every room in my house (except my daughters “Paris” themed bedroom) and I won’t tell you how many different red tops I own!  I love how Stampin’ Up! paired Real Red with crumb cake , early espresso, and whisper white in these designs.

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Today’s card was sent to me from my new friend and fellow demonstrator, Ramsey. We got together last month for lunch and an afternoon of paper crafting and it was like we had known each other forever!  We had so much fun!  She sent me this adorable card and I have been waiting to showcase it.  (I am trying to convince Ramsey she should start a blog because if I can do it ANYONE can!  LOL)  She makes beautiful cards and projects and I felt honored to be on the receiving end of this cutie!

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Card Created By Ramsey Alexander    

These gingerbread men are so stinkin’ cute! And I love the way she punched the DSP for their bowties.  Ramsey is such an enabler…I had to add this Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set and Cookie Cutter Builder Punch to my last order ( I ordered it as a Bundle and saved 10%!).  I know my Pre-K students will love getting little treat bags with these guys as tags! I make gingerbread cookies every year for the kids to decorate and I think I will fill little bags with assorted candies for them to use on their cookies. How cute will that be with these guys on the bag?!

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Stampin’ Up! Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set and Cookie Cutter Builder Punch

If you are like me and just have to have this bundle (the sentiments in the stamp set are some keepers) you can Click HERE to shop my online store and add this bundle to your cart.  While you’re there you may want to take advantage of the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper Sale Oct. 1-31.  The Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper is part of the Special Offer from Stampin’ Up!  If you buy 3 packs of DSP you get 1 pack FREE! Please use the Hostess Code 7DB3CBKS when you check out.  I’ve added a visual below to show where to enter the code. I always send a thank you gift each month when you order from me.  I appreciate each and every order!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie

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