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Happy Friday everyone. Aren't these little coin purses adorable. If you are interested in them head on over to http://www.sandyshandbags.miche.com or sandyshandbags@gmail.com.

Do you have any special way you celebrate birthdays in your house? We do breakfasts in bed. Since the nights can be busy during the school year with other commitments, we have found that breakfast in bed is a great way to start the day and the celebration. My daughter doesn't look too happy with the situation but actually she was thrilled. She is just what you might call "not a morning person". She went happily off to school after she woke up that morning. Do you see how precise the rhinestones are lined up? It is so easy to do in My Digital Studio. You just select each of the items you want to line up, select one, and hold down the control key, select the rest of the items, right click and align, then select which way you want them aligned, up down, spaced, etc. I could never be that precise with the real deal.  Try MDS for FREE for 30 days. Try it and you might just like it. Sandy

What do you do with some not very good photos but still want to scrapbook the occasion? Make a cute page. With the bright colors and all the different embellishments and verticals it heavily distracts from the lack of quality photos. Let me know if you would love to learn more about My Digital Studio and scrapbooking. Did you know you can play with MDS FREE for 30 days? Contact me for more information.

Another page done this weekend at the weekend stampin diva retreat. Yeah! Don't laugh when you look at the date ;-) or do. This is why I have mostly switched to digital scrapbooking. It is easier. Only need my laptop, no box after box of supplies. I can do it anywhere. It is easy. It is inexpensive. I can resize my pictures to any sizek and it costs the same. I can print multiples of the same page. It is easy. Did you know you can get My Digital Studio for FREE!!!! There is a free 30 day trial. Get started now.

I was blessed to have a weekend retreat at my Stampin' Up! upline Sue's cabin this weekend. I got one big project, which I will share later on (its a gift), another project in the works, and some scrapping time. And lots of talking, giggling, and eating (mostly hummus). Foiled is one of the old set of pictures I am working on getting caught up scrapbooking. I have old pictures (obviously) on my laptop. I just started with the oldest dated photos in file. I am going to work forward, and backward, and eventually I will reach the middle, which means I am caught up, right?

Using the same faux metal technique from the two previous posts here is Beth's awesome faux silver metal frame. What a great use for that embossing folder.

Tanya's tech card. She was smart and used heavy duty foil. Using such a graphic and clean embossing folder really gives it a faux look.

For our last Tuesdays Tech meeting my tech card was using the faux metal technique. It is a simple tech but I do have some tips. For what ever shape you punch, cut or die make sure to use cardstock as your base. Use heavy duty foil. I didn't and the image would have had crisper edges and been easier to work with it. When adhering the foil to the cardstock, best to use a full thin layer of glue applied to the cardstock. Mono adhesive is fine but ridges can show. Glue cardstock to foil, wrap foil edges around backside of object, run through your embossing folder. To give an antique look use black Stayzon and a sponge dauber. For a frosted look (great for winter) use white Stayzon and a dauber. I will post pictures of a few of the swaps I got. For my card I tried a different layout. The white piece does pull out and you could write a message or attach a picture. Just thought that might be interesting for Christmas when so many of us send pictures. I do have to shout out a...

It really is fun and easy.

Halloween Treat Box Part 2 – the rosette pick Monster Munchies stamp set 127907 StayzOn black ink 101406 DSP Howlstooth & Herringbone 126906 1 ¼” x 12 Basic Black cardstock 121045 Whisper White cardstock 100730 Tangerine Tango CS 111349 Googlies (eyes) 127539 Clear Block B 117147 Scallop Circle punch 119854 1 ¼” circle punch 119861 1 3/8” circle punch 119860 2 ½” circle punch 120906 Sticky Rounds 127852 Simply Scored 122334 SNAIL   104332 Sticky Strip 104294 Dimensionals 104430 Wooden skewers In video I forgot the googlie eyes and I recommend attaching the skewer last, as I usually do. It is homemade afterall and I am not a professional actor, but rather a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator with only one take videos.

Supply list: Big Shot Big Shot Fancy Favor die 115965 Labels Collection Framelits 125598 Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP 126906 Monster Munchies (C) stamps 127907 Googlies 127539 First Edition DSP 121878 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" Tangerine Tango Scallop Dots Ribbon 124144 Crumb Cake 12 x 12 cardstock 124274 Dimensionals 104430 Snail Did I forget anything? Have fun. I will post your creations if you email them to me. Sticky Strip 104294

I have been attending a Stampin tech class on Tuesdays for a year now. We learn a few techniques and the next meeting we have the option to swap a card using one of the techniques. Our June meeting technique was a shadow box card. Our next meeting in August I swapped this card. I like the idea of a shadow box card for Christmas as those are the cards that are frequently on display. You need: two 1/4 sheets cardstock scored at 1/2, 1, 4 1/2, 5 inches using the Simply Scored tool along the length. Punch out a shape on top layer - I did a circle here but many would work. Stamp and place images on bottom layer so they show thru window. Decorate outside of card. Adhere layers together with red sticky strip tape. Regular mono adhesive may eventually pull apart. If you keep embellishments fairly flat you could mail this card. You could even pop a picture in it. Happy Stampin, sandy

What is your favorite gift to give or receive? I love going for coffee with myself or friends anytime (especially Caribou Coffee). This cute little jar contains some organic bean goodness. I added a cute rosette style topper. Who wouldn't be thrilled to receive this whether you like coffee or not.

I had planned on posting two more videos before school started on Tuesday. That did not happen - obviously. With a few last licks of fun the family got in before the end of Summer and getting kids ready for school time passed by quickly. Both kids are getting settled in and off to a successful start. I am very grateful for that. I am adjusting back to, and hopefully permanently a 5:05 am wake up time. Brutal at first but should be a good thing. I am not a morning person but really need to be right now. Be patient. I have so many cool things to share in the coming months. In the meantime, subscribe to my YouTube channel NeedsARibbon or tweets at @NeedsARibbon. Message me to subscribe to my monthly newsletter ScrapHeap and get my blog on your blog daily digest. That is your to do list and I have my own. And if you get a chance visit My Digital Studio to learn more about the great digital products. See ya real soon. Sandy