Ok...so, I’m gonna try to do better this week :)

I need to post 2 ideas a day I think to catch up....yikes!  So, I’m thinking I’ll post a stamping idea first each day for stampapalooza and then a home decor idea from last week each day.  Hope you enjoy!

This week, we’re celebrating Stampapalooza.....ya, we just made that up!! ha! We are down to our 3rd week in the Christmas Countdown and in case you haven’t seen the countdown clock on the front page...you have 10 days left!!!!  Yikes!!!!  So, there’s still a little time to make a few more small gifts.  Hero Arts releases it's sneak peak of new stamps this weekend and to celebrate we'll be stamping all week! You can check out their sneak peaks on their blog at www.heroarts.com.

So take a break this week from the bustle and hustle to stop by the City each day this week to make a free make-n-take card. Cards will be different every day including Saturday but there will only be a limited number available. 

And all this week - yes you guessed it - you save 25% off all stamps!

While you're in the store have a look at our classes for the new year - including a new stamping class.

Gift Idea #6 - Desktop Calendar

Love the look of those handmade calendars, but don’t want to ‘stamp’ all those dates?  Here’s a cheater’s shortcut for you!  Go to amuseartstamps.com to just print out these adorable 2010 calendars.  It just costs a couple dollars and you can print as many as you like...nice, huh?!  So, you will need:

1. •printed 2010 calendar on smooth cardstock
   

2. •solid color cardstock for backing
   

3. •a few sheets of patterned paper or use your scraps
   

4. •flip-top CD case
   

Its too easy to put this together.  Just cut out each month and back on coordinating cardstock.  Add a couple strips of patterned paper for decoration.  You may want to add a sticker of something else like we did.  Tie it all up in a ribbon when you’re done and voila!!

Gift Idea #7 - Christmas Home Decor Frames

One of our Design Team members, Debbie Hall, has the cutest idea for frames.  She turns them into nameplates for your children’s rooms!  She did a beautiful one for Thanksgiving in fall decor that said ‘thankful’ but I failed to get a picture of it before it sold!  For Christmas, she did these adorable frames of trees and gingerbread men.  Wouldn’t these be a great gift idea or even a teacher gift??!!  I just love them  Here is what you will need:

1. •frame of your choice (yep, we’ve got those too at the store!)
   

2. •background paper (you may have to piece it depending on the dimensions of your frame
   

3. •If you’re doing a nameplate you will need tags for each letter, the chipboard letters, ribbon
   

4. •then whatever embellishment you want to add - like buttons, chipboard, stickers, flowers, etc.
   

Just take apart your frame & use the glass to get your exact dimensions.  Then just decorate like a scrapbook page.  All the above ideas are out in the store too, thanks to Debbie.  So, you can stop by and see them.  The nameplates are too fun for that personalized gift!!!

Hope to see you in the store this week!