For more ideas and to order these and other supplies, go to http://shilohstamps.stampinup.net/
Coaster-Rama went very well the past couple nights. Here's a sampling of some of the coaster creations. Above is a coaster I made with the new Time Well Spent hostess set. This might be a birthday or Valentine's gift, I haven't decided yet.
Kim made this lovely set of coasters using a retired stamp set called Batik. She spent lots of time mapping out the design on paper, and then came up with a perfect coordinated and symmetrical finished product - lovely!
Amy made these coasters using a combination of Time Well Spent and a retired hostess set. I love how she stamped a flower behind the sentiment using a light yellow ink. It really ties the whole image together. All class attendees received some satin ribbon to tie up their coasters, since they make a lovely gift. Although this ribbon was available by the spool in December, the chocolate chip satin ribbon is still available as part of the Theater ribbon originals collection. 
I made this pirate coaster for Jon to commemorate his pirate birthday party we had last November. It uses a stamp set called Ahoy Matey.
I made this coaster tonight, as I was inspired by one of Tiffany King's designs. It uses one of my favorite stamp sets - Baroque Motifs.
$15 materials fee includes supplies to make 2 coasters and a $5 coupon towards stampin' supplies from Stampin' Up's new Spring-Summer Collection. Additional coaster supplies can be purchased for $1/coaster. RSVP to events@shilohstamps.com by January 16. Additionally, all Shiloh Stamps class attendees receive 10% off stampin' orders placed at classes. Remember to bring your Frequent Stamper Card!
Back in November, Super-Stamper Melanie Robson taught us PhillyInkers* how to stamp on 
marble tiles to make coasters. I absolutely loved this project, so I decided to make a whole bunch of coasters to sell at the Circle of Hope Art Shop in early December. After much success with the coasters at the Art Shop, I decided to make coasters for people on our Christmas list. After all, I had signed the Buy Handmade pledge, saying that I would give handmade gifts this year. 
If you are interested in purchasing some coasters or learning how to make your own coasters, please e-mail me at alison@shilohstamps.com.
* = The PhillyInkers are a fantabulous group of Stampin' Up
demonstrators based in the Philadelphia region. We are all part of Claire Lawrence's downline. Every month we get together to share business ideas and do some stamping together. You can find links to many PhillyInkers blogs in the Favorite Stampin' Links list at the right. Let me know if you would like to sit in on one of our meetings sometime. Our next meeting is January 14th, and it will be in NJ.
I made this little box of gift tags for our friends Steve and Julie. They hosted a party last week, after returning from several weeks in India. They had lots of people over to look at their pictures, sample some Chai and curry, and welcome them home. It was lots of fun hearing about their travels.
These tags use the frame from Holy Triptych, sentiments from Star-Studded Season, and Holiday Harmony designer series paper. I also used Purely Pomegranate and Chocolate Chip paper as backgrounds. The tags are tied with gold elastic cord. I love how the satin ribbon gives these tags an elegant touch. Although these stamp sets are no longer available, the ribbon is for sale Buy One Get One as part of the Wrapping Up the Holidays promotion, which has been extended until December 31.
Since I became an SU demonstrator in May, I have attended quite a few stamping classes - Philadelphia Regionals, Fall Fest with Tina's INKredible Impressions, and Kristin's Thankful Banner class. Not to mention, we PhillyInkers stamp every time we get together. The best part about attending a stamping class is that someone else has already purchased the supplies, designed the project, and cut all the paper in advance. If I choose, I can just assemble the project. Of course, I can always make changes and modifications, but someone has already given me a framework.
On November 29+30, I am offering a Trim-a-Tree class. We will make 4 ornaments together, and you will receive chipboard to make 20 ornaments. These ornaments are super-simple to make, and they would also make fabulous gifts or gift tags. We'll be using the On Board trimmings chipboard set (from the Holiday Mini catalog), Dazzling Diamonds glitter, designer series paper, and that fabulous new elastic cord. Here's a link to some fabulous samples of chipboard ornaments that use the On Board trimmings.
As a bonus, the first person to register and mention this Stampin' Classes blog post will receive 6 sheets of holiday Designer Series paper. Materials fee for this class is $20. Contact me at events@shilohstamps.com to register ASAP.
Note: The Thankful banner pictured above uses the On Board Garland chipboard and Apple Cider designer series paper from the Holiday Mini catalog. It also uses the Wild Wasabi twill tape from the Jersey ribbon orginals set.
This weekend, we visited our friends Jason and Susanne in Lancaster. They were having a House Concert/CD Release party for Jay's band Living Fables. You can download their CD through Musicblaster here.
Since we were staying overnight (and we flaked on Susanne's birthday earlier in the summer), I made her a set homemade notecards and a matching folder. 
Jason and Susanne have 2 precious little girls who are very creative, so I brought along the Stampin' Kids Tattoo Kit for them to play with. It was a big hit! They were covered head to toe in tattoos by the end of the evening. 
All the cool kids are carrying travel coffee mugs these days, did you know? Perhaps you've already joined the club of coffee-on-demand, but I've just recently caught on. See, I'm making a care package for my hubby's cousin who recently began studies at Georgia Tech, 777 miles away from his TX hometown. I thought a care package would be a nice gesture. So far, I have EasyMac, coffee, green tea, and a white board. I asked a college student friend what I should add to complete the package and she said a travel coffee mug. Apparently, the Nalgene bottle of my college days has been replaced by the travel coffee mug.
So I started hunting for a cool travel coffee mug. I found the perfect one at Starbucks (conveniently located in my local grocery store) - the Create Your Very Own tumbler. 
I just traced the provided template (at left) onto some patterned paper, stamped an oh-so-masculine vintage car on the page, and stuffed it back into the bottom of the tumbler. Super-easy!
Now my care package is complete, and I'd like to make some more of these as gifts. I'm going to hunt around online to see if I can find them cheaper anywhere else. I'll keep you posted on my hunt for cheap mugs.
Here's what I've found thus far:
Since the horrors of 9/11, I have struggled to find ways that I can make a difference in our country's tenuous global relationships. I have chosen to support peacemaking organizations and I have prayed for a resolution to the complex conflict around us. Several years ago, as we were discussing the Iraq War in a small group I led, we were spinning our intellectual wheels trying to figure out how our country can move forward in this new age of terror. As a group, we concluded the following:
Years later, I'm finally making good on that pledge, thanks to some stampers who would like to make a difference with the crafting skills. This Friday and next Monday, I'll be hosting a Shoebox Swap for Soldiers to benefit Angel Stampers for Soldiers. Each participant will bring card ingredients for 10 simple cards (about the size of a shoebox). We will make one another's cards and keep a sample of each card. Then we'll send the remaining cards to the Angel Stampers for Soldiers project. They send cards to troops overseas, and they've sent over 27,000 cards so far! I will be providing snacks, adhesives, envelopes for all the cards, and some fun door prizes. The covered box below is one of the prizes - fun!
Here's a message from a soldier who received some cards through Angel Stampers for Soldiers:
Dear Carol,
Thank you very much for the gifts you sent us. Words can't begin to express our gratitude. On be half of the men and women of the 41st Electronic Combat squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ currently serving in Uzbekistan. I would like to thank you for your outstanding support, generosity and thoughtfulness. Knowing that so many in our country have us close in their thoughts and prayers makes it easier for us to get through the challenges that we face each day. We know we are not alone. Life is hectic and fast-paced--and for you to have thought of us, and then to stop and take time from your personnel life to write--is an honor. I just want to say I really appreciate the thought and time you put into sending us something special. I'm so grateful for the support of many, many wonderful people in our country. Thank you, for making our Christmas a little brighter and letting us know there are people that appreciate us, I am proud to be serving the people of the greatest nation in the world. And once again, I thank you! May you be blessed each day, and may God bless America! Can you please past this message on to your other fellow stampers.
Sincerely, Ron Pollock
