Eek! I joined Stampin' Up!

I don't normally do things like this but after several catalog flip throughs, I did it.

I really like their products and their ink pads are killer.  No really.  I finally found an ink pad I *want* to use.  No more streaky images.  No more bleeding.

So I did it.  I signed up under someone I met at a retreat that I kind of co-host here in the southland.  I started off slow but I'm gearing up now.  I've hit my groove and I'm ready to inspire.  Its also helped me creatively.  I don't always have time for the layouts and mini's but I can stamp a quick something when I have a few minutes.

I've started selling all of my other ink pads on Ebay because I just don't use them.  I have this habit of buying every color of an ink pad because I like the color on the lid.  I don't however, like the finished image.  So all of my Jenni Bowlin and Studio Calico pads are for sale.  So are some of my SC Stamps from old kits.  Seller name is rascal1004 on Ebay if you're interested.

I've been having a blast with the Stamping' Up! products though.  There are ideas everywhere and its fun to try new things before branching out.  I've used some of their items to make things for the retreat goers and they love them!  So much fun to hear them talk about the idea and want to know how it was done.

My personal site is:

Stampin' With Erica

I'll be posting weekly updates here on the blog as I create things, sales or specials come up etc.  They usually post Weekly Deals which are marked down items that you can get at a discounted price.  I picked up a few of the Halloween Wreath kits from last season for less than $11!

Grab your kit here.

The annual holiday catalog is already out and can be viewed on my site as well.  LOTS of fun ideas posted in there.  These items are limited so you don't want to wait for those.

I'll be posting some ideas from this catalog next Monday so look for that!

October

Where did October go?  No, really.  Where did it go?

I thought I had a firm grip on things and then the next thing I knew my kid was dragging me through the dark streets of our neighborhood begging for treats.

And now Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  Ack!

Our move is looming as well.  Inspections are done. Checks are written.  Escrow papers signed.  Now... we wait.  Escrow is a long process and it sucks.  We do not have a date *yet* as to when we close but their goal is sometime right before Thanksgiving.  I would love to get the move over with because December is very busy for my company.  I work for Fedex and December is all about shipping.

I will be exhausted for most of the month but I managed to get the week off between Christmas and New Years so I will be enjoying some time off after the rush.  I'm looking forward to settling into the new place more during that week and maybe, just maybe, I'll have the scrapbook supplies unpacked and there will be a little time for that.

For now, here is a recap of October in (unedited) photos.

 Introducing, your newest Fedex employee.  One of the drivers at work got N this hat.  He's been playing Fedex man for 2 weeks now.

 Rascal turned 13!

 We had our 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party.

 N made the cupcakes.

 7 layer dip

 Spider dip

 Fall snack mix (popcorn, candy corn, M&M's, pretzels and Halloween marshmallows)

 Halloween punch with a zombie face.

 My dad was in charge of cleaning all pumpkins out.  I bought him the super scooper which is the best tool ever.

 Everyone hard at work.

 He completed his own this year and did an amazing job!

 The second one from the left is N's, the one with the sickle sticking out.

 N won the contest (of course!)

 My little skeleton.  He's growing up.  This year we transitioned from cute costume to scary one.

Trunk or treat at the school.

Stop, reverse that.......

I love that line from Willy Wonka.

To give myself a break from Christmas, I worked on the Halloween mini.  I had plans for the holidays. I had my cards ready early (before Thanksgiving), my holiday recipes planned, decorations ready to throw up.  I was ready.  I was going to get it all done early this year and then sit back and enjoy life a little.

Working OT, getting sick and having the holidays pretty much pass you by wasn't my intention.  I had kits made so I could pop out pages and projects.

This was one of them and it didn't get started until my day off last week.  N went back to school and I had two full days to myself to do whatever I wanted.  For the first time in over a month, I felt like being crafty.

And this is the result:

The album itself is one of the original mini's October Afternoon produced.  I've been holding on to them forever.  Paper line is all October Afternoon.  Ribbon is from The Stringery Shop.  Veneer stars are from Studio Calico.  I added black Stickles.

This book covers all of October.  Our first stop is always the Pumpkin Patch.  Each year, they put out a Groupon for a night of fun.  It includes rides, games and pumpkin discounts.  We usually hit the patch up at least twice every season but the first time is always the best!  I have a picture from the last five years with N in front of the 'How Tall This Fall?' sign.

We end the night by filling up a wagon with pumpkins.  All flair is from a {flair} for buttons.   Veneer leaves and apples are from Studio Calico.  I misted them and then added Glossy Accents.  

Our trip to Apple Country.

 Our second annual Halloween Party.

 The school party.

 My little 'gansta'.  Thats what he called himself.  When he talks, he sounds like he's from Boston.

I still have stuff for sale HERE.  Let me know if you're interested in anything.

Boo!

I'm such a bad blogger these days.  I have a stack of projects that I'm waiting to share with you but I need daylight.  My work hours increased and that means I'm rarely home.  I leave before the sun is up and I'm home way after its dark.  Its a good transition for me and one I didn't think would happen this quickly.  It did and now I'm dealing with being thrown into the fire.  My mind is racing most nights so I've been crafting more and more.  The 'insomnia' I suffer from is hard to deal with most days.  I want to sleep more but it just doesn't happen.  My mom said this was her first symptom of menopause.  Yay.

Here is a small project I've been working on.  More to come next week!

Its time for Halloween.  I love this time of year.  We have two Halloween parties this month and I'm knee deep  in projects for both.

Our home party will be early this year to accommodate my dad's travel schedule and the other will be on Halloween at N's school.  His class parties are always a blast and this year, I am the Room Mom.  I've got two other moms who love the party planning/crafty process as much as I do and we've got a great party planned.

In an effort to get everything done and not have it all piling up on me at the last minute, I've started crafting.  I have my Pinterest boards burning the midnight oil this week.

One of the crafts I've been working on are the goodie bags for the party.  I love these bags.  I have so much fun shopping, stuffing and decorating these bags for the various holidays.

I used some kraft window bags I found on Etsy, Echo Park Chillingsworth Manor, Halloween twine and flair.

Boo!

I finally finished them.  The Halloween Party Invites.

Echo Park Chillingsworth Manor.  I love this line like I love every one of their lines.

 The skeleton is one of the diecut stickers in the line but I used the Silhouette Print & Cut file and then sprayed him with new Glitter Dust from Therm-o-web.

 You can see the Glitter Dust in action here.

 Some Studio Calico veneer stars with black diamond stickles.

 The alpha sticker sheet in this collection comes with a bunch of words.  I used them to make the important words pop on the actual invite.

Finally, the envelopes.  These are leftover from another project and were purchased at Paper Source.  The address labels are one of the journaling cards cut from the 12x12 sheet.

Before I forget....

Halloween.  I never posted pictures.

The costume.  He was a bullrider from the Calgary Stampede.

  And thats his pumpkin.  We went easy this year for 2 reasons:

1. Time
2. Short attention span

Everyone asked what the significance of the number is.  403 is the area code in Calgary.  ;)

Our other pumpkins.....

 My lame excuse for decorations this year.  This is what you get when you just don't have time to plan anything cool.  Next year.

 Stay away from my candy mom!