Simple Seasonal Snowman coaster tile blog candy

Isn't he adorable??? I never thought I'd find another snowman who could take the place of my beloved Frosty but this snowman is the closest I have come so far. Stick with me to the end to find out how you can win one of these cute coaster tiles for yourself!

This guy looks huge in person...and he is pretty good sized! He's in the current Holiday Mini and the set is called Simple Seasonal Thanks....the image comes with a kid's thank you note included in the middle of his tummy but I carved it right out when I mounted the image so I can use it when I want it but easily omit it if I don't. Much easier than trying to avoid inking it up, don't you think?

Anyway, stamping this big guy on cardstock is a bit challenging because he pretty much takes up the whole card and if you miss you could end up with a headless snowman...or an amputee if you miss on the other end? But since the tile in only 4"x4" there is no way the whole image is going to fit so I stamped just the top portion of him. Instead of trying to place the stamp on the tile and position it well, I turned the snowman rubber side facing up and inked it with Black StazOn ink then took the tile and pressed it onto the image so he would be placed approximately where I wanted him. He might be listing a bit to one side...that's Navy talk for leaning...sorry, the Navy terminology sometimes slips out, what can I say? I'm retired Navy, you know!

After I stamped him in black, I colored him in with craft inks and a blender pen which worked out just great....the coaster has to be heat set to be permanent but that's easy enough. His empty belly looked a bit ...well, hungry? Definitely empty! So I created a set of buttons which match his hat and scarf to fill in the space.... looks much better than coal, doesn't it?

So, this particular coaster is all gussied up in a cello bag with a ribbon and gift tag because I donated four of these coasters for a Scott Air Force Base spouses' group fundraiser auction last week called the annual "Make It, Bake It or Fake It" luncheon. Members bring items that are handmade, home baked OR cute and/or tasty store bought items and put them out for the "auction". Hopefully all of my little snowmen went to a good home but just in case they were all wrapped up ready to use as a cute gift for coworkers or friends.

I will be making some more of these coasters to sell at a craft fair coming up on December 5th at the YMCA in O'Fallon, IL....so if you are in the area, please come by the Y for the event and stop and say hi. Of course, if you want to make some of these great little coasters for yourself don't wait too long as the Simple Seasonal Thanks stamp set in the Holiday Mini is only guaranteed to be available thru Jan 4th. I am crossing my fingers that he will show up in the next catalogue but you just never know!

And now the blog candy info! Please leave me a comment here on my blog about why you like snowmen and I will choose one of the entries to go to a loving home on December 1st. This will not be a random draw, I will actually be reading these! If you don't want to take a chance on missing out on the snowman, why not visit my Stampin' UP! storefront at http://www.janhoyt.stampinup.net/ and tuck this little snowman into your shopping cart, don't forget to check out the amazing Holiday Extravaganza sale (up to 50% off many bundles of SU product! I picked up some great corduroy buttons for half price and some of the beautiful striped grosgrain at a great price as well) and the Clearance Rack tomorrow while you are waiting for your Thanksgiving turkey to bake. I will even e-mail "coaster stampin' instruction sheet" as a thank you gift for all online orders placed between now and the end of the Holiday Mini if you just drop me a note and request it.

Hope that you all have a very happy Thanksgiving and a little free time to stamp over the week-end! Jan