Document the holidays - HELLO DECEMBER

I am beyond excited to share with you a creative way to document the holiday season! If you love to scrapbook or if you have never put a picture in an album before - you will love this simple yet stunning project!

Project Life Hello December is all about helping you document those special moments, traditions, and fun activities you enjoy with family and friends during the month of December. Almost everyone takes photos on camera phones these days, and for me it has become natural to capture a moment using my phone. Hello December provides an accessible, fun approach to documenting and sharing your December photos and memories in one simple album.

Project Life is not meant to be overwhelming or stressful. The whole idea is to spend time making memories, not documenting them. Hello December helps you quickly and easily capture the 25 days leading up to December 25—all of those stories of December—from the treats and the decorations to the traditions and every day life.

Your goal is to tell one story each day. That might mean one picture or several. That might include a few lines of journaling or a lot of journaling. Most of the layouts will feature Christmas. However, they don’t have to, as sometimes the everyday events that keep us busy in December are the stories we really want to remember.

Speaking from experience (and many who have taken part in Hello December during past years would agree) the key to keeping the process simple is to set up the album structure before December. 

Below I have included a few ways to help you with that - including a list of suggested products, a few bundles of suggested products and a night for you to come out and put your album together. 

To get started you need the Emerald Envy 6" x 8" Project Life Album (142009), Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (Variety Pack 135297 or Variety Pack 2 142010), the Hello December 2016 Project Life Card Collection (142004), the Hello December 2016 Project Life Accessory Pack (142693). 

(Please note: you will most likely require more than one pack of pocket pages.)

Better yet, you can purchase the Project Life Hello December 2016 bundle from me and receive a bonus pack of assorted die cuts and embellishments! 

Hello December Starter Kit | Cost $60 + tax | Includes two of the 6"x8" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (you decide which packs), the Hello December Card Collection and the Hello December Accessory Pack. PLUS Bonus Die Cuts and Embellishments

Hello December Full Kit | Cost $75 + tax | Includes the Emerald Envy 6" x 8" Project Life Album, two of the 6"x8" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (you decide which packs), the Hello December Card Collection and the Hello December Accessory Pack. PLUS Bonus Die Cuts and Embellishments

PLUS if you purchase the starter kit or the full kit you have FREE access to the CROP NIGHT on Friday, November 25th. You can come anytime between 6pm and 9pm and use my assorted stamps, adhesive and papers to put together your album.

If you would like to purchase your own supplies or just some of the supplies and put together your own kit - you are more than welcome to still join us for the CROP NIGHT - the cost is $15 or FREE with a $25 order. 

Please sign up by November 5th to make sure your bundle/products arrive on time!

For more details or to order your kit/supplies please contact me at

amy.grendel@gmail.com or 613-888-0589.

I will be back later in the week with more information about what to include in the album 

and a look at past albums I've put together.

For now I will leave you with a Stampin' Up! video that shows you whats included in this years Hello December card collection and accessory pack. 

TABLE IS SET & THE DESSERTS ARE YUMMY!

Putting on the finishing touches of everything before the holiday weekend begins and wanted to share with you a few sweet treats...

A favourite dessert of mine and my families is the mini chocolate cheesecakes I bake in short mason jars. It really is simple. You can really use any cheesecake recipe - just know that approx. one brick (8oz) of cream cheese will make 4 jars.

We love the Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake

1 cup - chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4 cup - butter (melted)
caramel topping
2 pkg cream cheese
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 lg. eggs
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (melted)

Heat oven to 350F
Mix Crumbs and butter and press into the bottom of each jar. Bake for 10 mins. Pour caramel sauce over crust once out of the oven and let cool.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.
Add eggs one at a time and then stir in melted chocolate.
Add filling to each jar and bake for 25 mins and then check every 5mins until set.
Chill overnight.
Top with your favourite garnishes.




Another dessert I am serving tomorrow is my mom's Pumpkin Pie

1 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cup white sugar
3 tsps vanilla
1 1/2 tsps nutmeg
1 tsp salt

Mix together the above and then add
1 1/2 cups warmed milk
3 eggs.

Pour mixture over prepared pie dough. Bake at 425F for 20 mins then 350F for at least 30mins or more. You can tell its done when you can dip a knife in and it comes out almost clean and is almost set in the centre.




Ok enough of the recipes - another sweet treat I wanted to share with you...
a few fun videos from Stampin' Up!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday - see you back next week!

BROCKVILLE CLASSES & OPEN HOUSE

I'm so excited to announce a few changes to our Brockville classes and a NEW event...

My lovely mother will be our host (772 Tupper St., Brockville) on Sunday, October 30th from 2-4pm. And we want to make sure that you all know that everyone is welcome - whether you are new to crafting, have been crafting for years or have no idea what Stampin' Up! is.

I will be showcasing new products from both the Annual Catalogue and the Holiday Catalogue, details and examples for 3 new classes (see below for more details & NEW dates), several creative ideas for the holidays, and of course there will be yummy goodies to enjoy as you look. There is also some chances to win FREE stuff and create your own card using Stampin' Up! products!

If you have any questions you can contact me via email or phone.

amy.grendel@gmail.com | 613-888-0589

I have finally updated my EVENTS TAB - so if you are interested in knowing more about these classes you can click on the events tab and go through the October, November and December calendars. 

PLUS - I'm excited to say I have added a NEW class I will be offering in November in Kingston. Have you heard of December Daily albums?

December Daily® is a December photo/story centred project, first created by Ali Edwards, that documents the 25 days leading up to Christmas. The simple goal is to capture the spirit of December via one story/picture per day all in one album. That being said many people have altered this project to fit their needs/styles.

I will be offering a kit and class with the December Daily theme. Stay tuned for more details next week. I look forward to sharing this holiday tradition with you! 

THANKSGIVING PREP #2

Happy hump day! We are half way through the weekend and because of the holiday week many of us get a shorter work week next! Woohoo!

So I wanted to share with you quickly what I did with the September Paper Pumpkin kit for my upcoming Thanksgiving dinner guests. It was so easy and quick it took me 15 mins (or less) to put these cuties together and I still have lots leftover! I filled each with some festive candy corn. In their example they have used mints. You could also use M&M's or other small treats.

Here is a quick video showing you what was in the September kit and how easy it is to make these cute treat holders!

There are so many ideas out there on different ways to use these guys as well - including giving away spices with a thank you gift (add a tub of cinnamon with a loaf pan a fresh apples as a cute hostess gift) or put in some bath salts or loose tea or sprinkles...the list goes on and on. To see more ideas just go to youtube.com and google Paper Pumpkin Sept 2016 alternatives - so many suggestions!.

And don't forget now is the time to sign up for Paper Pumpkin - as the BOGO deal will soon end (October 10th) so you will pay $26.95 for October and then get a free kit in November. You can count on some cute stamps, a new stamp block, ink spots and lots of supplies to create some fun items.

Click here to check out the site and find out more. Don't forget to use the coupon code BOGO when you check out.

THANKSGIVING PREP - PART #1

Its hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this coming weekend! I wanted to share a few projects I put together tonight to help decorate my table and give ideas if you are attending a get together and need a hostess gift.

So for the table - I have a few fall decorations already that sit on my table and will work for our family dinner, but I always like to add a little something special for each of the guests. And when I was looking on Pinterest for some ideas - I thought these utensil pockets were really cute.

So I put together this... with the help of some digital paper printed on my home computer and some cute leaves and pumpkins cut with the help of my silhouette.

If you are wanting to do something like this - Stampin' Up! Had several fall and Christmas products to help you. 

I also thought it would be cute with just the tag and leaves. And even add the name of the guest...

And then using those same products I put together a tag to go on a bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider (my favourite!). Again very simple - a large tag folded and a circle cut with a circle punch. 

Other hostess gifts could include a lovely fall scented candle (my favourite is Leaves from Bath & Body Works - smells like fresh apple cider) or fresh flowers for the centre of the table. 

It might be too close to this holiday to make a few projects - but there is a lot of time to plan for Christmas. Grab a paper pack, a set of stamps, a punch or die set and have fun creating! 

Have a look through the holiday catalogue for lots of ideas!

One last note - there is still time to place an order and take advantage of some great deals!

Email me (amy.grendel@gmail.com) by 8pm on Oct 5th to add your items to my order and save on shipping. 

And check out the great deal on paper!

If you don't need three packs - maybe you and a friend could share!

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OH HAPPY DAY!

Oh happy day - a Stampin' Up! order is due to arrive today, which means if you placed an order at the Open House it will be soon in your hands woohoo!!! I will keep you each posted as to when it will be delivered :)

FREE MAGAZINE | 
Another happy thing to share today is the FREE (yep its FREE!) Scrapbook & Cards magazine that is available to download! Have you heard of this? I LOVE this magazine. It has some amazing contributors including Ali Edwards, Cathy Zielske, Jennifer McGuire and more. And they cover a variety of topics - from card making to scrapbooking to home decor. Click here to go their website and download a copy!

Inside this quarterly issue you will find some great ideas for your next scrapbook layouts, pocket pages, mini albums and cards. They include card sketches (page 31, 32, ), scrapbook page sketches (page 29, 30) and technique how-to's (page 19, 23, 25, 39). Plus they offer a lot of bonus downloadable items online as well. Be sure to check out their website for all sorts of inspiration!

THANKSGIVING PREP WEEK | 

And if you can believe it - Thanksgiving is just around the corner - next weekend to be exact! Are you hosting or attending any get togethers? This year we have the privilege of doing both - my family is coming here and we are going to another family dinner the next day! So there is lots of planning and creating and baking happening in our house this week. And I will be sharing with you the things I will making to pretty up the table, give to the hostess as a thank you and the yummy goodies my family will be enjoying :) 

DON'T MISS OUT ON SALES | 

And I just wanted to remind you that I will be placing an order on October 5th to take advantage of all the great World Card Making Day specials. If you want to add something to that order and save on shipping please email or call - amy.grendel@gmail.com or 613-888-0589. 

DESIGNER TIN OF CARDS |

If you are interested in purchasing the Designer Tin of Cards Project Kit (on sale until Oct 5th) I will have the stamp set and inks needed to complete the project available at the Crop Night - Friday, November 11th -7-9pm. Let me know if you are interested in joining. The cost of the crop is $15 or FREE with a  $25 order (which would be covered if you order the Designer Tin of cards - what a deal!). 

I hope you are having a lovely day and I would love to hear from you if you are 

planning on making or creating anything for Thanksgiving! 

PUMPKINS, SALES, KITS AND MORE!

Have you seen the new PaperPumpkin website! It has a sleek new design, simpler navigation, and a greater focus on our amazing kits! The FAQ has been removed, but they have implemented the information into the new How It Works page. They made some small changes to the sign up process, but the steps to subscribe and manage your account remain the same. (Yay, you don’t have to learn a new process!) 

Don’t forget—if they use promo code “BOGO” by October 10, you’ll get the October kit for $26.95 CA and the November kit for FREE! You don't want to miss out on that great day! 

For more details click here.

CLEARANCE RACK DEALS

Have you checked out the clearance rack lately on the Stampin' Up! Online store. There are some great deals there including:

• Photopolymer Stamp sets 

• Project Life kits

• Punches

• Embossing folders

and more. 

Check out all the great deals by clicking here and going to SHOP NOW. Click on the Clearance Rack tab on the left hand side. Don't wait too long as supplies are limited. Plus you could save on shipping if you add your order on to mine...see details below. 

Designer Tin of Cards Project Kit sale 

So I mentioned yesterday that one of the World Card Making Day sale items is the Designer Tin of Cards. From Oct 1-5 you save 25%. It was $36 and for a limited time it is $27.

Who says organization has to be boring? This fun printed tin gives you plenty of room to store the cards that you make from this kit, plus room for more. Kit includes tin and enough card bases, accents, and envelopes for 16 cards, 4 each of 4 designs. Coordinates with Designer Tin of Cards Stamp Set (item 141739). Stamps, ink, and adhesive sold separately.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this great price - we can plan a night where you can use the stamp set and inks not included to put this Tin of Cards together for a cost of $10. Or you can purchase those items as well and create the kit at home. I know I will be purchasing a few sets to give away as gifts. Need more information - contact me at amy.grendel@gmail.com or 613-888-0589. 

Here is a video from Stampin' Up! about this kit.

Don't forget about the other great promotions on right now - check out the list of items on sale for World Card Making Day by clicking here.

And I mentioned this during my Open House weekend - Designer Series Paper Sale

During the entire month of October, you can buy three packages of Designer Series Paper and get one FREE! That’s great news since everyone can use more Designer Series Paper. Check out the full details and resources, and don’t let anyone miss this great opportunity to save.

I will be placing an order on Oct 5th - so email me if you would like to add to that order and save on shipping (only 10%)

And here is another template and card idea for how to use DSP and get your ready for World Card Making Day - have fun creating!

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