Thanksgiving Centerpiece

How will you set your Thanksgiving table? I found these two ideas on HGTV and Better Homes and Gardens. They're so earthy, so rustic, so bountiful…. They're so thanksgiving.

Heidi Ferguson was also thinking about her Thanksgiving table. She created a Thanksgiving tree as a centerpiece. It's such an organic piece and very striking on a table.

To recreate, load your PSA Stamper with the outer ring "Happy Holidays" from Smirk Happy Holidays. Use different stamps from PSA Rosettas Peel & Stick and various 2-color ink cartridges. (Do you remember how to change out your ink cartridge? Watch me show you here: (http://youtu.be/2zNFU0DHBks) Stamp onto white paper and adhere colorful cardstock that's been punched out with a scalloped punch. You will need a tiny hole in the top, thread, and tie onto branches. I like the idea of using thread, not twine, because it will look lighter.

Share your ideas for your thanksgiving table with us! Leave a comment letting us know what you are doing, or better yet – link up a blog post!

Thanksgiving Placemat

Here's a wonderful, crafty idea for those that have kids coming to dinner this Thanksgiving. If you fear they'll mess up a good table cloth, replicate this place mat idea. Heidi Ferguson has decorated a brown paper bag and sewed it to a piece of burlap to make it sturdy. Against the brown paper bag, she's stamped using PSA Essentials Rosettas Peel & Stick stamps in espresso and orange inks. The Rosettas create such visual interest and a great pattern. Notice how even the stamp images are – that's from the PSA Essentials stamper!

Check this out: There's a pocket sewn in specifically for silverware – use silverware or plastic for the kids!

With pen and ink, she's scribbed "Give thanks" to remind the diner what it's all about.

What a great idea for your Thanksgiving kids table!

Hello Kitty Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hello Kitty Blog Hop!   You have likely arrived from Candace , but if not you can start at the beginning with Emily.    

PSA Essentials is so proud to license Hello Kitty designs for our Peel & Stick stamps.   If you aren’t familiar with PSA Essentials, we manufacture self-inking personalized stamps (think return address labels without the icky sticker.)  We have patent-pending Peel & Stick technology that allows you to interchange your designs, thousands of times, with thousands of designs!    Our Peel & Stick stamps work just like any other clear stamp – you can use them with an acrylic block or with your PSA Essentials stamper to give crisp & clean impressions every time. Here are some of my favorite Hello Kitty stamps we carry!

Aren’t they adorable?  You’ve PSA Essentials is proud to be sponsoring this hop and giving away the grand prize! We are giving away 1 PSA Essentials stamper, 1 Hello Kitty Peel & Stick pack, 1 ink of the winner's choice and 1 alignment tool – it’s a $75 value.     To win, you must be a follower of the PSA Stamp Camp blog and be sure to hop around leaving comments on all the blogs participating.

If you are interested in buying PSA Essentials Hello Kitty Peel & Stick stamps, they are 25% until 11/21 at Pineapple Cove Designs.   You can also receive a free alignment tool with custom stamp purchase! (A $15 value.)   If you’ve always wanted a custom stamp – perhaps one for your 2011 holiday cards to make addressing easy, or maybe you’d like a custom stamp with your blog address, or “handmade by” to stamp the back of your handmade cards – now is a great time to buy.    Our Peel & Stick stamp sets are normally $15, but with your 25% off, you will get them for $11.25.   Head on over to http://pineapplecovedesigns.com/shop/index.php?cPath=21_125_126 to get this awesome offer!

Here’s one of my favorite cards by Carly Robertson using PSA Hello Kitty Peel & Stick stamps. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this hop and learning more about PSA Essentials today,  thanks for stopping by! In case you are lost, here’s the hop lineup:

Emily: http://www.createserendipity.net/
Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
Lisa : http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Jessica-Creative : http://thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com/
Crafty Homemade : http://craftyhomemade.blogspot.com/
Tammy : http://thepurplemuse.blogspot.com/
Jearise : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/
Ashley : http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
Lisa: http://prettypaperprettyribbons.blogspot.com/
Jenny: http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
Bryan (SCRAPGUY) http://www.scrapguy.blogspot.com/
Lynne - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
Anita http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com/
Theresa ~ www.thescrapbookingqueen.com
Candace - http://scrappin2littleprincesses.blogspot.com/
Libby: http://psastampcamp.blogspot.com/

Design Team Call

Design Team Call. It's that time – we are looking for the most talented, craftiest bunch out there! Interested in being on our team? Here are all the details!



Why be on our Design Team?

• Receive our entire line of stamps, inks, tools: a retail value of $1,800
  
• Receive new Peel & Stick packs as they are released throughout the year
  
• Receive $50 per project that is printed in magazine, $250 if you land the cover
  
• Occasionally receive free product from our cross promotional partners
  
• A crafting resume builder
  
• Gain real attention of your work
  

Requirements for Design Team: As a design team member, you are showing our customers how to use Peel & Stick stamps in the most clever, unique and creative ways possible.

• 1 year term: December 1^st, 2011 to November 31^st, 2012
  
• Create 3 projects per month, photograph them and mail them to us
  
• Occasionally participate in blog hops, or cross-promotional opportunities as they arise
  

Who we are looking for? We are expanding our team and are looking for specific people who can fill these roles:

• Clean & Simple Card Designers
  
• Scrapbookers
  
• Non-card making, DIY, crafty types!
  
• Mommy's who create fun, educational, or inspirational activities for their wee-ones
  
• Crafters who do things on a budget
  
• Crafters who are into green living
  
• A gift wrapper extraordinaire
  

Do you match one of the descriptions below, want all the perks and agree to the terms? Applying is easy. Send 3 examples of your work, a very brief introduction to yourself and your blog address to libby@psaessentials.com by November 31^st, 2011. Please put: 2011-2012 DESIGN TEAM CALL APPLICATION in the subject matter. Our new team will be chosen and announced by December 3^rd, 2011. Good luck!


 

Pretty packaging

Dress up and ordinary box and create an interesting package – it makes the gift really special. Here's an idea by our talented Mae Armstrong. I just love her tutorials! 

Follow this step-by-step to achieve the same look. Here's what you will need: 

1. PSA Essentials "Rosettas" Peel and Stick Stamp Set
   
2. PSA Essentials Stamp Tool
   
3. PSA Essentials Stamp Setter
   
4. PSA Essentials Black Stamp Pad
   
5. 1-3/8 " Circle Puncher
   
6. Crochet Yarn
   
7. Small Crochet Hook (for easy threading)
   
8. 5x7 (A7) Gift Box
   
9. Card Stock Paper

Step 1: Stamp a variety of Rosettas on the gray card stock paper. (Mae chose grey to match the gift that she was giving.)

Step 2: Use the 1-3/8" circle punch to cut out the Rosettas. Use the tag puncher and add holes on each side.

Step 3: Use the small crochet hook and thread the yarn through the punched circles. Distribute the flowers while wrapping the yarn over the box. Repeat several times until you reach the desired style/look. After wrapping a few times secure design and tie both ends.

Step 4: Now wrap around the box! 

Enjoy fun and interesting packaging – and save on the wrap!   This was posted to House of Hepworths

And to Cherished Bliss, Craft and Tell.  

Lunch Box Notes

It's so hard for me to believe that my daughter started school a few months ago. She's enrolled in the 2-year old program at May River Montessori in Bluffton. From a conversation with her about school, she's told me that she fed the classroom bunny some salad (I am guessing lettuce), played with Allie (a new friend), ate Pretzels, washed her hands, made a pizza, and played in a house. I snapped this picture in the carpool line the other day. Her teacher Ms. Bea is walking her out to meet me. So cute!

I can't wait to start including lunch box notes as she gets older. A simple "have a great day" is a real boost to kids at lunch time and lets them know that Mom is thinking about them. Don't you think? Our designer Kim Moreno made these simple flat cards to include in her kids lunch box. Molly's a bit too young to understand or appreciate this right now, but one day she will and you can count on me to make them.

Kim used the "love" heart stamp from PSA Bouquet Toss and chose 3 different inks to stamp with. She stamped using the die and an acrylic block – so here's proof positive that our PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamps work without the stamper, and just like any other clear stamp. Kim's added a few gems to the hearts to jazz them up more.

I love this idea!

Personal Stationery & Cards

I bet many readers have a box of personal stationery sitting on their desk. But how many create stationery or personal note cards? For that extra special occasion or sentimental letter, try these ideas by Jennifer Holmes. I know I will. They're a great way to get personal without getting personalized and stay handmade. These unique personalized notes make the letter itself even more special, the reader surely knows you took a lot of time to create it. 


Up first is a modern one. Jennifer stamped the "j" and "h" from PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps. Here she's played with circles by stamping the outer ring of PSA Cupcake Peel & Stick stamps on the orange, and stamping her personalized Maegen stamp on the yellow. The orange, black and yellow are a lively color combination.

She went in a whimsical direction for this card. She stamped the "H" from our Gigi Monogram Peel & Stick collection. 

This is a great seasonal card, too. Perfect for Halloween and Fall notes to friends and family.

It's great to see cards with personal touches to them. It is way more chic and special than pre-printed personal stationery, so if you have the time – go for it! And when all else fails, reach for your trusty stationery box. Either way, the recipient is sure to be happy.