Donna Schafer's Stamping Station

My dear customers and blog followers . . .

I know I have been absent for a while, and I wanted to explain.  My mother was taken to the hospital on Thanksgiving Day with pneumonia.  Being 81 years old and having COPD, it was very serious.  After a long stay in the hospital, with most of that time being on a ventilator, my mom passed away yesterday, Monday, December 21.  My heart is aching and I will miss her terribly, but she is no longer suffering and she is, as my 11-year-old daughter said "with the angels now." 

Thank you for your patience, your thoughts and your prayers during this difficult time.  I hope to be back into "demonstrator mode" soon, which is what my mother, an avid stamper herself (and even a demonstrator for a few years), would want.

12 Days of Christmas Specials from Stampin' Up!

These might be the most exciting 12 days of December with select Big Shot dies and vinyl sheets for the Big Shot on sale! The 12 Days of Holiday Sales began December 11 and runs through December 22.  You'll find great deals on Big Shot dies and select Big Shot supplies.

Some of the items introduced in this sale are new colors of Décor Elements vinyl sheets. There are 18 new colors to choose from, and they make great projects when you use them with Big Shot dies. Consider pairing the Clear Décor Elements vinyl sheets with the Tulipe Bigz die to create an etched-like design on a vase. Or use the Decorative Accent Bigz dies with the Old Olive Décor Element vinyl sheets to enhance a frame. The combination of Big Shot dies and Décor Elements vinyl sheets is sure to take your creativity to a new level!

Check out all the great deals for the 12 Days of Christmas Specials HERE.

(P.S. My apologies for not posting this notice as soon as the sale started.  I have been at the bedside of my ailing 81-year-old mother for the past several days.  My heartfelt thanks for any prayers.  Thank you, and thank you for your patience).

Another Gorgeous "Dasher" Sample

OK, if you haven't guessed by now, I really love this Dasher stamp!  Again, I can't take credit for this card.  It was on the demonstrator side of the SU! site today.  Another one I just had to share because it's so gorgeous!

 
 
 
 

A Little Christmas Cheer Video

Well worth spending 3 1/2 minutes to watch!  I may have posted this last year, but it's worth repeating.  One of my favorites.  Gorgeous voices, and funny to boot!  I hope you enjoy it too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Stampin' Up! Co-Founder Shelli Gardner to Appear on Today Show Tomorrow!

I am so excited to share that Shelli Gardner, the co-founder of Stampin' Up! is going to be on the Today Show this Friday, December 4th!

The Today Show has an annual toy drive and Stampin’ Up! is being featured Friday because of their involvement in the Today Show's annual Toy Drive for the past several years.  This is just one of the reasons I am so proud to be a part of Stampin' Up!  It is truly a generous company.

 
 

Check out the boxes that will be shipped out for the toy drive. They are full of discontinued Stampin’ Up! product—lots of product! I bet whoever opens those boxes will be pretty happy!

    
 
I know that some Stampin' Up! demonstrators are going to the Today Show Plaza to cheer Shelli on.  Lucky them!  As for me, I can't wait to tune in tomorrow.  I hope you'll tune in, too.  Shelli is a wonderful, generous person, and I'm sure it'll be a treat to watch her on the show. 

Dormant Stamp Sets To Be Discontinued January 4

The following stamp sets from the Dormant List (not shown in the catalog) will be discontinued on January 4th.  If any of these sets are on your wishlist, make sure to purchase them before they're gone for good! 

You can view the Dormant List (including pictures of the stamp sets) HERE.

 Item Number Stamp Set
 113407  Back Woods
 114492  Beautiful Baby
 114486  Birthday Wish
 113200  Branch Out
 114496  Celebrations
 113732  Central Park
 113206  Classic Sketches
 113226  Classy & Fabulous
 114498  Flowers in Silhouette
 113405  Font of You
 113216  For the Bride
 114494  Forever
 109425  Friend by Definition
 114488  Fun Flowers
 113716  Garden Greetings
 114490  Glad Friends
 111580  Grand Soiree
 113242   Hit the Road
 113710   Lexicon of Leaves
 113236   Man's Best Friend
 114423   Ocean Commotion
 113728   Playful Petals
 109276    Polka Dot
 111544    Putt Putt
 113240    Quilt Quips
 113754    Really Retro
 113403    Sip by Sip
 113726    Sweet Stems
 113250    That's Funny
 113688    Wonderful Watercolors
 114028    Para la novia
 114032    Acuarelas Maravillosas

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Merry Christmas Box

Here is one of the projects we'll be making at my Christmas Gifts & Packaging class on Friday.  I just love making little boxes and other 3D items, and it's so much fun trying to decide what to put inside for the recipient!

Stamps:  Warm Words, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold

Inks:  Gold, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Very Vanilla Ribbon, Gold Elastic Cord, Wide Oval Punch, Curly Label Punch, Small Star Punch

Red & Silver Christmas Snowflake Card

Isn't this beautiful?  I saw it on the SU! site this morning and knew I had to share it with you. 

Stamp sets:  Christmas Punch Hostess Set (in french), Serene Snowflakes set (holiday mini catalog).

Accessories:  Big Shot die cutting machine, Scallop Envelope die, Big Snowflake die, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, paper piercing tool, silver cord, brad. 

Inks & cardstock:  Real Red ink, either silver ink or platinum shimmer paint, Real Red cardstock, Silver cardstock & vellum.