Time to take a break....

Hi! I hope and pray you had a blessed Christmas! We did; what a wonderful day it was.

However, my December has been packed with things unforseen, and I'm feeling the need for a little break. (See?!?! I'm going a little nuts....:D)

I won't be breaking from STAMPING this week, just from posting. I need to focus - and start getting my new toys inked for the Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration, which BOTH start January 5!!!

I'm just going to take the upcoming week off. :) I'll see you in 2010 - enjoy your NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS!

It's Christmas Eve!!!

We've had a wonderful visit with my wonderful sister so far, and the men are all out getting our traditional foods for the next 24 hours, then they'll go finish their shopping this afternoon - and so our traditions continue. :)

Let me share a quick wrapping idea with you, in case you've waited until the last minute.... :D This is from our GIFTS FROM THE HEART, too, so no specifics - but you'll probably be able to figure it out pretty easily.

I LOVE our treat boxes!! They're a GREAT deal, very economical, and can be dressed up quite easily - or used as-is. :)

I WILL be here tomorrow with my Christmas card for y'all; the Twelve Weeks for the last one will be only delivered via email.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace, goodwill toward men."

Now, go stamp something! Quick! :D

Happy Christmas Eve Eve! :D

Yeah, we do that in our family - at least my baby sister and me. :D I can't wait to see her - she'll be here any time!!!! :D

So, for today, I'm going to give you a quick gift idea. :)

SUPER easy!!!!! This was from the class GIFTS IN A FLASH. It's a 4x6 clear acrylic frame - you can get these at any big store. We cut a piece of card stock the size of the frame, ran it through the Big Shot - there's NOTHING like the Big Shot for fast, easy gifts!!!! - and highlighted the embossing with ink. Tie a ribbon around it, and stick on a post-it note. DONE. :D

See how easy? You could make them for any occasion, any color combo - you can stamp the post-its if you have time, to personalize the gift. Your imagination is the limit!:D

OK, I'm gonna run. ENJOY YOUR DAY - and take the time to STAMP something! :) Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Are you relaxing yet? :D

No, me either.:D But I'm definitely at the point where I start saying, "Yeah, I still need to do this thing on my list, but those four can not happen and life won't end...." :D

Don't forget - today is the LAST DAY of the 12 Days of Christmas Sale! Click on the sidebar image to go shop now! :) (And, dear Santa, if you're listening, I REALLY, REALLY want that Timeless Type Alpha Die Set for my Big Shot!!!!!!!!!!!!! AUGH!!!!!!!!)

Today, I'm sharing a fun project I did for a cookie swap - first the group shot, then one closer-in. Remember you can always click on the photo to get it the full size I uploaded it! :)



This was a project we did at the Gifts From the Heart class, as well - just in a different color. See?

You'll need the Fancy Favor die and your Big Shot to make these. Here's a clue: there are TWO of the Fancy Favor box/bag pieces put together to make this!

On both, we used Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Still available in the Holiday Mini, until January 4! I LOVE THIS DSP!!). I just love the way they came out; I also gave one of the originals to my UPS delivery guy yesterday, to thank him for all the deliveries he's made here this year. :D

The card you see attached to the cookie swap packages is the recipe; I used a fancy font, so the card had to be BIG. As a dear friend tells me, I like "loopy" fonts. :D So, I just made it so it matched, and attached it to the package. :D

I LOVE to hear people OOOOH and AAAAAH over things I've made. :D Corrine helped me make the ones for the cookie exchange while she was here; it was a fun way to introduce her to stamping, and get some help, AND get the boxes made in advance. :D

OK, I'm off to do some more Christmas things. :) My sister and BIL get here tomorrow! Yea! I hope and pray that you're taking time now to BREATHE, and to enjoy the beauty surrounding you. Count your blessings, especially the small ones. They add up so quickly - we just need to take the time to SEE them. :)

BE BLESSED - and please, take the time to STAMP something! :)

A Christmas present....

Happy MONDAY, December 21!!! Only four more days until Christmas! I bet preparations are at a fever pitch at YOUR house, too. :) Try and take some time to ENJOY the lights, the scents, and the moments that will become your cherished memories, too! :)

I'm giving you this video tutorial as a Christmas gift; I have hopes of perhaps doing one more this week, but finding time when it's quiet is a little difficult. I also realize that little bits of this are off-screen - when you're shooting where you can't see the image, it's difficult!! So, if you have questions on something you can't see, please don't hesitate to ask me. :)

Merry Christmas!

WEEK ELEVEN of the 12 Weeks of Christmas!

Gracious! Seven days from today is Christmas!!!

Be sure and open your email today to see what's in the box! This was a LOT of fun to design; I hope you enjoy it. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Have a wonderful weekend, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP SOMETHING!!!!

Here it is, Thursday! ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!

My sister and brother-in-law will be here Wednesday! Christmas Eve is Thursday! CHRISTMAS IS ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!! Are you looking forward to it???? :D I can't wait to get a big hug from my sister! :)

OK. Have you noticed that this week's posts have all been things other than cards? :) Today's no exception! It's from our HEARTH & HOME class once again!

This uses the Decor Stencil Vintage Ornaments 1 (item #117580). It's a GREAT stencil set, and easy to work with!

The ornament's done with Chocolate Chip craft ink; we dried it, then sprayed it with a fixative. The top stencil's embossed. The ribbon is from last year's Holiday Mini, but I LOVE it - watch for more satin ribbon in the OCCASIONS MINI, which goes live January 5!!!! Of course, the tag is from CHRISTMAS PUNCH, a level 2 hostess-only set. With Sale-a-Bration coming up - and for the longest period of time EVER!!! - you could so easily earn this stamp set, plus a LOT of other great things, if you are a hostess!! CALL OR EMAIL ME to get on my calendar!!!!!

OK, I'm off - I really need to decide on my class schedule for the first two months of the year. :D Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP SOMETHING!!!!

Is it just me? Seriously??

Time is FLYING around here - my sister and brother-in-law will be here a week from today, and Christmas Eve is a week from tomorrow!!!!! I still have so much to do! :::sigh:::

Oh, well. :) Here's another Decor Elements gift idea - SUPER simple, but really something IRL. I'm not sure how well this scan shows it off, but you'll get the idea! :)


This is a project from our HOME & HEARTH class last month. It's one of my favorite classes - and the one I usually stress over the most. :D I really want the attendees to have heirloom-quality pieces that they can pass on if they wish.

This project uses HOLY FAMILY (stamp set) and HOLIDAY MIX CHOCOLATE (Decor Element) from the Holiday Mini; you can still get your hands on these until January 4! The colors are Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White - with some Encore Gold Ink in there, too. I got the frame at Walmart. It's a CHEAP frame, but it works OK when it sits up. :)

OK, I'm off - probably to procrastinate some more. :D Have a wonderful day, and PLEASE. TAKE THE TIME TO STAMP SOMETHING! :D

Gift idea - super fast and simple!

Good morning! How are you today?? I hope you're having a great week, getting all revved up for Christmas. What a joy it is to spend time with friends and family! Keeping secrets, listening to favorite carols, looking at ALL the lights - is it me, or are there more homes decorated this year? YEA!! - baking favorite recipes; I love this time of year!

Speaking of baking: today's sample is from the GIFTS FROM THE HEART class we did this year for the first time; a class of this type will definitely be on the schedule again next November. It was SO much fun! This is a box we did, and actually did the two little brownie balls inside to take home!SUPER simple! I'll give you the "ingredients", but not the recipe - since it was a class. :) You can probably figure it out REALLY easily!

Card stock: Whisper White, Real Red

Accessories: Red gingham ribbon, snowflake punch, wide oval punch, window sheets, Big Shot (SEE?!??! It make gift-giving SO easy!), box #2 die

Seriously. Want to make quick, easy gifts? You want a Big Shot and some dies! Today is the LAST DAY to order and get your things in time for Christmas!!! If someone's still wanting ideas, send them to my business site, and tell them to click on SHOP NOW. Or have them call or email me!!

OK, I'm off to go visit a dear friend for lunch! I can't wait to see her! And spend the day with Kenn - we don't actually DO this much. LOL!!! Have a wonderful day, and be CERTAIN to take the time to STAMP something!! :)

Happy Monday!

Did YOUR weekend fly by??? I know mine did - how on earth can it be Monday again?!?!? :D

Today's sample is from our Christmas stamp camp, super easy. I found the cobalt glass cylinders at Walmart for $3 each. We used the Big Shot - YES! I LOVE MY BIG SHOT, AND I'M PROUD OF IT! :D - and the snowflake dies to cut Stampin' Up!'s white vinyl sheets up; each cylinder has two large snowflakes and two small ones. We just placed them on the cylinder, and voila! A beautiful vase, or candy holder - or candle holder, as I've used mine. :)

And right now, the vinyl sheets are on special!!! Take a look at this awesome special!

Item	Page #	Description	Regular Price	Discounted Price
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
114516	195	Cherry Blossom Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115957	195	Thanks Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
114513	195	Sweetest Stem Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115952	195	Hi Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115951	197	Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits die	$74.95	$59.96
113446	197	Build a Flower #2 Set Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$19.95	$16.96
114509	197	Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$21.95	$18.66
113448	197	Hearts Set Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$19.95	$16.96
113457	198	Tulipe Bigz die	$21.95	$16.46
115954	198	Two Tags Bigz die	$21.95	$18.66
114524	199	Fringed Flower Bigz die	$19.95	$15.96
114523	199	Decorative Accents Bigz die	$19.95	$15.96
114534	199	Flower Bigz Clear die	$19.95	$15.96
113473	199	5-Point 3D Star Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113472	199	Circle 3D Ornament Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113470	199	Flower Layers w/Leaf Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113465	199	Bird w/Leaves and Flower Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$32.21
113483	200	Pennant Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
113484	200	Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die	$39.95	$31.96
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
116759	201	Pop-Up 3D Ball Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
114890	201	Matchbox Bigz XL die	$42.95	$36.51
113458	202	Flower Layers Originals die	$15.95	$13.56
114336	158	Kraft Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114334	158	Dark Gray Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114337	158	Chocolate Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114335	158	White Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
118797	n/a	So Saffron Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118798	n/a	Rose Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118799	n/a	Taken With Teal Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118800	n/a	Pretty In Pink Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118801	n/a	Bashful Blue Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118802	n/a	Real Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118803	n/a	Old Olive Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118804	n/a	Black Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118805	n/a	Night of Navy Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118806	n/a	Certainly Celery Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118807	n/a	Tempting Turquoise Décor Elements Sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118808	n/a	Clear Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118809	n/a	Pumpkin Pie Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118810	n/a	Pixie Pink Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118812	n/a	Sahara Sand Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118813	n/a	Gable Green Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118814	n/a	Basic Gray Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118815	n/a	Chalkboard Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$14.95	$11.21

You can either go to my business site and click on SHOP NOW to place your order, or call or email me - my contact information is on the right side of your screen. :) There are BRAND-NEW things on this special that you can't purchase any other way yet!!! I'm SO excited! :D

OK, off to work on other things today. Phew, what a month it's been! :D Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!! :D

Week 10 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas!

Good morning! I'm a little late with this today; I lost a day somewhere this week, and was thinking yesterday that I still had another day to work with. Imagine my chagrin when I woke up to Friday morning! :D

ANYWAY. Here is this week's idea; I hope you enjoy it! Only TWO WEEKS until Christmas, ladies and gentlemen!!!!!! EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd better get busy! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day! And please, take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thursday! :)

Good morning! (It's still before 12 Central, so I can still say that! :D)

Today's show-n-tell is the IT'S IN THE BAG samples I made. We had a FANTASTIC time at this class this year; last year, we did a couple of these in the IT'S A WRAP class, but this year, I wanted a whole class on bags. There are SO many you can make! :D

The small one is one of our small cello bags with reindeer food in it; it's topped with a Top Note cut from Merry Moments DSP, and "garnished" with Dasher. :D

The next one up is the Fancy Favors die, with a simple topper on it.

The next size is a super-simple bag, the perfect size for gifting some of your beautiful cards and envelopes!

The largest is a bag that's 8"x10"; it takes a bit of doing to get the understanding of it down, but it's really a simple bag!

Be watching for my January schedule - you'll know it as soon as I do. :D

I'm off - lots to do to try to catch up today! Have a WONDERFUL day - and be sure to take the time to STAMP SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!

SO, SO sorry!!

Yesterday was a VERY busy day, and I wasn't able to be online more than 5 minutes!!! So, let me show you all the projects from our last class - you've already seen the tags, but this is every project we did in one photo! :)

Now, then. The little wreath is a great package tie-on or ornament; it's made by folding designer series paper! And THERE IS NO ADHESIVE on it!

Ernie the Elf is an AWESOME project I got from Gretchen Barron; she is an AMAZINGLY talented demonstrator who gives lots of tutorials away, and also sells them as kits or just the tutorials. This is one I purchased from her, and it's both VERY reasonably priced AND incredibly detailed. You won't be sorry if you get ANYTHING from Gretchen!

He's actually made to go on the front of a Fancy Favors bag, but we used him to connect to a candy cane - wouldn't a bunch of these be fun under or ON the tree???

The bow is SO fun - you can make a bow to coordinate with almost any color you want, with any of our designer series papers!

I'll be sending out December's newsletter, with January's class schedule, SOON, I hope - with the flood, and the open house, and company, it's not been the December I had thought I'd have! :D All that to say, if you'd like to receive my class schedule, please let me know! :)

OK, I'm off! Our friends go home to Oregon today. :( We've made some wonderful memories, and I will cherish them for a very, very long time. :)

We even STAMPED together! :D Have YOU taken the time to STAMP something??? :) See you tomorrow!

Where is the time flying?!?

Shew, what a BUSY weekend! Those of you who managed to make it to the Open House, THANK YOU for coming - I hope you enjoyed coming as much as we enjoyed hosting you! :)

On with the show!

Do you LOVE our holiday-themed Decor Elements, but don't want to use them for one season, then have to destroy them? Try this!

I LOVE this "Dasher" Decor Element - a level 2 hostess benefti - but I didn't want to have to take him off wherever I put him and have to throw him away!

So, I purchased a cheap poster frame just big enough for him - and I wish I'd kept my eye out for one during garage sale season! :D I threw away the frame part, and we drilled two small holes for the ribbon to feed through.

I cleaned off the acrylic piece and put down the DE. I cut a piece of Polka Dotted Real Red Grosgrain ribbon to hang it with, and tied the knots on the back to hold it in. Then, I tied a pretty bow and cut the ends on the diagonal, and stuck it on Dasher with a pop-up glue dot.

SUPER easy, and I just LOVE him!!!!! Now, he can last until the acrylic breaks into pieces. :D

OK, I'm off to ICE at Gaylord Opryland - the theme is Charlie Brown this year, and I can't wait to see it! :D Lee and Corrine are with us until Wednesday morning, and I plan to enjoy each moment. :)

Have a WONDERFUL day - and don't forget to MAKE the time to stamp SOMEthing - we did! :D

HA! I skipped the Eighth Week - so this is the NINTH Week of Christmas!

Boy, oh boy. I psyched myself out on that one.... :D So here is the project that the Ninth Week of Christmas email is going to tell you all about!

Isn't it about the cutest thing?? :D Would it ever make a GREAT party favor!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend - and if you're in the area, Sunday from 3-5 is our Open House! Just come and ENJOY!!!! I hope I'll get to see you then! :)

Now, go STAMP SOMETHING!!!!! 'Tis the season to be jolly - Christ came so you could have LIFE, and have it more ABUNDANTLY!!!

Happy Thursday!

This week is all messed up. Today feels like Wednesday - where did my lost day go?!?!

Oh, well. :D Today's share is a card we made at the last Christmas card class trio - and IF I get them done, it's the basis of my personal design. :)

Card stock: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Brushed Silver

Ink: Encore silver metallic

Stamp sets: Christ is Born, Holy Family and Many Merry Messages(inside, see below)

Accessories: Big Shot (YES!!!!!!!! I love that thing! :D), Petals-a-Plenty texturz folder, sponge dauber, embossing buddy, heat tool, silver embossing powder



And this is the inside - I had to show it off, because I impressed myself with it. :D

The Holy Family stamp set is just beautiful - and I enjoyed all three stamps in it! Remember, if you still want anything from the Holiday Mini, you have until bright and early January 4 to make sure you get it!!!

Also, did you know I can offer your family a gift certificate or gift card for either merchandise OR class fees? I'd love to help them out with their gift shopping - just have them call or email me!

OK, I'm off. Our dearest friends from Oregon are here for a week, and we're gonna enjoy every moment! Of course, I may have to drag Corrine into stampin' something with me - so YOU stamp, too! :D PLEASE let me know what you think of this card, and/or if I can be of ANY assistance to you!

Only 22 more days until Christmas! DECK THE HALLS - and REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Sorry for the late post!

I didn't prep all of this week's blog postings like I have the last two weeks, and of course things exploded yesterday! We have major water damage to two room of the house plus the garage, so things like internet routers, etc., have had to be relocated, and boxes packed, and plans made, and and and! :D

But ON WITH THE SHOW! The show MUST go on... :D Today's is the set of tags we did at our last class, IT'S A WRAP!


I got some of the ideas from another demonstrator, AND my customers paid for the class, so no details today. :) You can probably figure it out, for the most part. This class was a BLAST, and the tags are simply adorable.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! Now, I'm off to clean our room for our friends who are coming to town! :D Be SURE to take the time to stamp something - I did, today, and can't wait to show it to you Friday!

December is here! :D

Only 24 days until Christmas! The excitement's building - I started my Advent calendar this morning. How is it around your house???

Today's share is an easy card, from our last Holiday Quick Card Class!

Card stock: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue

Ink: Brilliant Blue

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations (only available through the end of the year), Many Merry Messages (Inside)

Accessories: Ornament stamp punch (ONLY available through the end of the year!), silver elastic cord (again, ONLY available through the end of the year), Petals-a-Plenty Texturz folder (yup, you guessed it - ONLY available through the end of the year!), dimensionals

Simple but elegant, I think this was probably the favorite from the class. You could dress it up even more with Dazzling Diamonds glitter, or clear rhinestone brads.

OK, I'm off. It's not started out as the best day, so I'm taking this morning and doing what I want - which MAY include stamping. :D I hope you have a WONDERFUL December 1 - and take the time to stamp something, too!