Donna Schafer's Stamping Station

Cute snowman candy holder

Isn't this cute?  It's made using the SU!-exclusive Top Note Sizzix die.  Someone gave this to me as a gift when I went on my trip to PA a couple of weeks ago.  Adorable!

Christmas cards from my sisters

Here are cards I received from two of my four sisters.  Don't they do gorgeous work?

 

Flower card from oval punches

I cased this from Splitcoast (detailmama's gallery - see her original card here), except I added the stamped words on the petals.  Those words fit perfectly on the small oval, don't they?  That's the Warm Words set and it's on the retiring list, so get it while you can and make some beautiful flower cards yourself!

To make the petals, punch out several (as many as you want for petals) large ovals from our vellum cardstock (not the regular vellum, it's too thin).  NOTE:  Some of my customers found it easier to stamp the words first (before punching) and then center their punch over them. Next, punch the small oval out of red cardstock.  Center your large oval punch around the hole made by the small oval and punch again to get the red "frame".  I used two-way glue pen to glue the frames to the vellum.

To make the leaves, I punched the large oval once and then re-inserted it into the punch, a little off-center, and punched again so it would have a pointy tip.  TIP for punching the oval twice:  Use a long, thin piece of scrap cardstock and, using temporary adhesive, stick your oval to the end of the scrap.  Slide it into the punch and position as needed to make the leaf shape.  Pretty clever, huh?  Thought that one up myself!

 

Enjoy!

A lovely gift from my "Secret Elf"

I received this Post-It note holder as one of the gifts in a Secret Elf swap I participated in by mail.  Oh, I got such goodies in that box!  It was so much fun to open!

 

Here's the inside view.

Details of Valentines Bundle Special!

WOO HOO!  I just found out that I am allowed to share this special with you now.

It's called the "Love You Much" Promotion.  This special starts on Tuesday, December 23rd (overlapping the free shipping on orders of $70 or more by just one day!).    Click here for a closer view of the flyer.

Don't you just LOVE that three-heart punch?!  Notice how it matches the three-heart stamp.  And how about that gorgeous patterned paper?  "Candy Lane" is a great name, don't you think?

This bundle is a 20% savings when compared to the cost of each item if purchased individually.  Combined with the free shipping offer (ends Dec. 23rd, the same day this special begins), it's a deal you don't want to miss out on.  Call your friends and combine orders to get the free shipping.

Contact me anytime at [email protected] to place an order.

Christmas cards from my customers

Woo Hoo!  I LOVE getting all these beautiful cards from my wonderful customers.   Thank you so much everyone!   Merry Christmas!

 

(If you sent me one and you don't see it, it means I haven't received it yet.  I plan to post pics of all the handmade cards I receive). 

Don't forget - 10% off retired sets through Dec. 23 (Tuesday) and free shipping on orders of $70 or more!

I know how busy we all are at this time of year, so I wanted to send another reminder about these fantastic deals. 

- Retired sets are 10% off through December 23rd.

- Free shipping on orders of $70 or more through December 23rd.

Click here to view the retired list in page number order.

Click here to view the retired list in alphabetical order by stamp set name.

Click here to view all of the current SU! specials  ... Such as 20% off any set in the Catalog Sampler Brochure when you spend $20.  (Click on the picture of the Sampler in the left-hand column to view).

Check back here on Monday for yet another wonderful special (not allowed to post it here yet, but if you're on my e-mail list you'll be getting something in your inbox with more details tonight or tomorrow...)  It's a GREAT deal, especially with the free shipping (which ends that very day, so don't forget to check back on the 23rd!)

A few of my favorite (Christmas) things...

OK, so these pictures have nothing to do with stamping, but I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite Christmas decorations around my house.

  Don't you just love that snowman made out of a hollowed-out gourd?

  See the ceramic book in the back?  My sister made that in her ceramics class!  The picture doesn't do it justice, of course, but it is gorgeous and is by far one of my very favorite Christmas decorations.  Here is a closer look:

  It looks like the horse is trotting right into the book! 

  She also made these carolers, another one of my favorites.

  This is the annual White House Historial Society Christmas ornament.  (The picture does not do it justice at all.  See the link below and click on "ornaments" for a much better look.)  I've been collecting these since the 1980's.  Every year the ornament is more gorgeous than the year before!  Each one has a story behind it about one of the Presidents and (sometimes) what Christmas at the White House was like during his presidency.  You can find these at www.whitehousehistory.org.

I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into my home during Christmas.  Next post, back to stamping!

How to make a box from the Sizzix Big Scallop Circle

Here are three pictures showing how to put the box together that was shown in yesterday's post.  It is so easy to do with that scallop circle - just count off the scallops and score - no need to measure!

You can purchase the Sizzix big scallop circle from me anytime via e-mail or by going to my SU! website:  www.donnas.stampinup.net and clicking on "Shop Now". 

Enjoy!

   

Pinecone from Scallop Circle Punch

 

I learned how to make this cute pinecone from the SU! scallop circle punch when I was at my upline's house in PA last week for four FABULOUS days of stampin', scrappin' and pamperin'.  Thanks Jan!  Thanks to demonstrator Kathy W. for teaching us all how to make these.

Naturally, I had to show my club members how to make them at our meeting yesterday, so I designed the card (the box is what we made at my upline's house, and it uses the Sizzix scallop circle).  Does the card look at all familiar?  Look at the cover of your SU! catalog to see where I got my inspiration.

You'll need three punched scallop circles for the pinecone.  Basically, you just cut the scallop into various sized cone-shaped pieces, the center of the scallop being where all the tips meet (like cutting a pie).  You'll need one with two scallops, two with three scallops, two with four scallops and three with five scallops.  Sponge the edges of each layer with white craft ink, assemble the pinecone as shown in the above pictures (layer the sections close together) and then put glitter on the edge of each layer.

Have fun!  I'd love to see pictures of your pinecone creations!  What can you come up with?