Holly Fair

Yesterday my daughter and I went to the Northwood Holly Fair.  Our table did okay but more importantly, we met lots of new people in our new community.  There were so many kids from the school there with crafty creations and delicious treats.  Sitting next to us was a very creative Kindergartner who made lots of amazing goodies.  He had marshmallow shooters, chocolate covered Oreos, Santa hats and more.  He was a great little salesman and was probably the biggest seller of the day.  The best part for me was seeing how patient his parents were with him.  It reminds me that what matters during the holidays is spending time with our children.  It's time for me to go make a list of baking supplies so we can get to those cookies!  Our tree us up and decorated, the house is sparkling, the gifts, well...those have a ways to go, but I'll get it done! 

 

Sorry things are a bit fuzzy.  All I had was my camera phone.  My class schedule is up and ready for registrations.  Can't wait til the first of the year to get started with lots of new product!

Coming later this week will be a beautiful new album for sweet little Emma.  Don't forget to stop by!

Classroom Goodies

This past weekend I went to a Holiday Card Swap with about 20 other gals!  So much fun...good food, good company and some amazing cards.  Just a quick post today to show you my "country-style" creation and the goodies I brought.  Love the new treat bags that Stampin' Up! offers.  They are the perfect size to fill with candy cane sticks, twizzlers, skittles or M&M's.  Add a cute little topper and you've got an easy, enjoyable gift for the classroom or office. 

Click on my website to place your order today!

Vroom, Vroom...

I was asked to make an accordian album for a baby shower gift last week.  Great, right?  Cute, fun, sweet...these are the words that came to mind.  Well then I was thrown a curve ball.  The baby's room is being decorated in Harley Davidson colors...orange and black.  How on earth am I going to pull this off without screaming Halloween? 

Add a little Pacific Point, a few funky shapes and some cool embellishments and amazingly enough, it worked!  I've made a few of these albums for different events now and they are so much fun.  I really love how the pages can be touched and are not hiding behind plastic. I'd love to hear what you think! 

Sorry there are so many picts...they were too cute not to include.  I also did a matching card to go with it including the requested pinwheel. 

I now have another baby album as well as a black and white wedding album to make.  Can't wait to get back to my craft room!  I'll post those when they're finished! 

New Year's Resolution

Now, I know it's a little early but with my inspiration and commitment to my Stampin' Up! business rejuvenated, it seems like the right time.  It feels so good to have finally made the jump from a hobby demonstrator to a money-making business.  The Holiday Season has been good to me...one last craft fair coming this weekend and a few product orders to finish up.  (If only I could get my own shopping finished!)

There are lots of great things coming for the new year for A+ Stamping Solutions!  My new Etsy shop is just getting underway, project tutorials are being completed and the new class schedule is up.  Thanks for your support and following through the past year. The roller coaster has been crazy with more ups and downs than I care to remember but...the ride is slowing down and I couldn't be happier.

We have recently moved into a new home and I have an amazing new crafting space that I share with my daughter.  I can't wait to get paint on the walls, shelving and display space so that I can share it with all of you.

Only 3 weeks to go before Christmas!  Are you ready?  How about one last gift idea, so simple, so cute.

These lollies are so popular right now as are pennant banners so...why not combine the two!  The Spice Cake Designer Paper is the inspiration for much of my new house and this little cutie fits in perfectly.  Add a few pearls, scraps of ribbon and buttons here and there and you can't go wrong!  Later this week I'll post some holiday themed ones I'm finishing up for the craft fair...

Stay tuned!

Limited Time Only!...Online Extravaganza Sale

Oh the weather out side is frightful...well actually it's been pretty warm here in NH and I haven't really been in the Holiday mood. But all that changed this morning when I saw the very long list of sale items from Stampin' Up!  I already put my order in! 

And to add to the excitement, SU is offering two brand new items on sale for the first 24 hours only!  This is crazy! 

Visit my website to place your order right away!  www.amywest.stampinup.net

Spice Cake Shadowbox

October 1st has come and gone!  The leaves are starting to change color, the apples are ready for picking and it's time to buy those beautiful fall mums.  So that must mean that it's time to update my shadowbox from Sunny Fun to the gorgeous Spice Cake DSP. 

I love that this DSP has a little bit of Pool Party from the new In Colors.  It reminds me of that cool, crisp air that makes fall my favorite time of year in New England.  I did pull out one of my retired stamp sets...Basket Full of Fun to add the leaves and apples.  The were too cute not to add! 

Craft Fair items and Christmas Gifts have begun!  I like the smaller version (it was much easier to do!) for the craft fairs.  I'll also sell different inserts to go along with them. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

So much going on...

I keep telling my self that I'm going to actually schedule time to stamp...Right!  I seem to only find little snippets of time and feel all this pressure to create, that my creativity seems stunted.  (If only my weight seemed stunted!  Those stupid M&M's!!)  Anyway...
World Card Making Day was yesterday and we had a fun little celebration!  Thank you to those of you who left covered in glitter, glue and ink!  The end of the night brought a challenge for me from one of the members of our demonstrator group, Linda.  Apparently I am not posting enough inspiration!  Well, that must have set the creative wheels in motion because I had a super productive day...

First let me share the WCM Day goodies...

 These are the lovely ladies that joined the fun, and Pam, my Demonstrator Upline...

 Pam and I each created three cards with a fall-like theme.  At our last meeting, Terry went over a great technique that I've fallen in love with.  After you emboss a piece of cardstock using an embossing folder in the Big Shot (oh, remind me how you can get a FREE Big Shot:-), use an inked up brayer and roll on the ink.  Then I used heat & stick powder and some dazzling diamonds...The picture looks a bit flat but it is really sparkly and cute!

 Love doing a gate fold card with a belly band and Days of Gratitude is one of my favorite sets!  Very simple card, tone on tone and some sponging of Early Espresso around the edges.  This was my attempt at a semi-manly card.  (Did I mention I love glitter and sparkle?)

 Who doesn't love to color?  I certainly can't get enough and when you use the watercolor pencils with a blender pen, it looks like you can even paint!  Oh the magic...
Cherish Friendship with a sentiment from Three Little Words completes this card.  Very simple but versatile. 

 And now Pam's amazing goodies...
Gently Falling has to be one of the most popular SU sets out there right now.  Everywhere I go on my favorite blogs or websites, there it is!  Pam used the new Shaker Frames on this card with the Mica Flakes from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Did you know that you can use a SU Ink Refill and die the Mica Flakes?  Really beautiful!!

 A card with no stamps!  Some Big Shot accessories and Spice Cake Designer Series Paper is all this card needed.  After punching out the flower petals with the Daisies II die, we ran them through the Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  Just this little bit of texture made a big difference.

How sad.  I don't know the name of this stamp set (and I don't have my catalog handy) but it was perfect for the fall theme.  Isn't the dotted scalloped ribbon adorable?  Pam also used the Champagne Glass Glitter.  It's chunkier than the regular glitter and really makes a bold statement. 


Thanks, Pam for all of your hard work!


That's all for today but I did a few new projects and I can't wait to share them this week.  Stay tuned!

Oh, wait a minute, I told you to remind me about that FREE Big Shot!  Well...if you sign up to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator between October 1-31, not only do you get over $345 worth of project for just $175 but you'll also get a FREE Big Shot!  If only I could sign up again...I'd love another Big Shot!  (If by chance you already have a Big Shot and don't want a second, you are welcome to choose $100 worth of FREE Stampin' Up! Product!)  Contact me today for more information!