farewell!

Good morning stampers! I'm sure you are wondering why the farewell post title. Well, today is the farewell blog hop for the three Sweet N Sassy Stamps design team members who are leaving the team at the end of their commitment.

In honor of them I have a card made with two Sweet N Sassy Stamp sets that are not new releases so hence are oldie but goodie sets (although how can they be old when SNSS just turned one? lol!). The sets are called Stylin' Shoes and Trendy Girl. I think the patterned paper is kinda funny as it says 'life is beautiful'. You have to agree with me that at times a good pair of shoes or a wonderful purse sure can make life beautiful!

If you'd like to follow along with the hop the information is below...have fun!

Farewell Blog Hop

Since we are saying farewell to 3 of our very talented DT members this month, we wanted to give them a day in the spotlight, so we are having a special one-day blog hop on December 31st featuring these three awesome ladies.

They will be sharing some sneak peeks of our January Release so don't miss the fun. Be sure to hop on by and share your appreciation for all they have done this past year!! They will be missed!

Start at Kathy's blog, then head to Michele's blog and end at Jessica's blog.

Happy Hopping!

So sorry that I have posted late. Just about the time I usually sit down to post last night my internet went down. Frustrating! Anyway, see you guys back tomorrow for my first card of the new release and don't forget to start the blog hop at the Sweet N Sassy Stamps Blog first tomorrow! (You'll have a chance to win a new release set at each blog you hop to so make sure you come along for the hop!)

calendar pages day two

Good morning! Here we are at day two of the calendar pages. I must say that one looks like a two year old did it and the other is much better (except the photo...sorry about that!).

Anyway, I finally got the pages out in the mail today. I really hope they get there quickly (sent priority but this time of year...who knows!) so the entire calendar can be finished.

Once again I just used some patterned paper that I have in the house for both of these. The October page has paper from SU! and the other is well...I don't recall...sorry. Again, the sentiments are from Sweet N Sassy Stamps and the letters/numbers for the dates are from PTI.

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I now have all my crafting done for the Sweet N Sassy Stamp Blog Hop and Release Party (see sidebar for details)! I received my final set today along with the paper I was wanting to use with it and bam...I'm done! Todd likes them all so that is saying something...lol!

I made a card with a Tilda image last night too that I like but don't love so I'm not sure I'll show it to you but the image itself is cute. Have you used them yet? I'd love to see some examples if you have. If not, you should go see my friend, Kristine's, blog...she does an absolutely AMAZING job with them! I think she is the Magnolia whisperer...LOL!

I have received over the last few months several awards from my wonderful blogger friends. I don't often post them as I don't want anyone to think that I am boasting (as I really have nothing to boast about) about receiving an award. Anyway, Ceal nominated me for an award that is new and I haven't seen plus you get to learn something new about me from it so here it is. Here is how this one works...ready?

1. Link to the blog of the person who gave you this award. You will find Ceal's blog HERE.

2. Name 5 things you are addicted to...
a. My desire to know Jesus more deeply.
b. My husband and boys.
c. Crafting.
d. Blogs and blogging.
e. Computers.
f. Ghiradelli Chocolate
g. Oh, wait...it was five, huh? I'm a little OCD sometimes! LOL!

3. Pass it on to 5 other bloggers that inspire you. Here is where it gets sticky for me. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and honestly, so many people inspire me so I'm just randomly listing 5 blogs...k?
a. Kristine
b. Sarah
c. Korin
d. Melissa
e. Kerry

So, there you have it. I hope you are all having a wonderful day! See you tomorrow everyone!

calendar pages

Good Monday morning everyone! Here we are starting our second full week of Christmas vacation. I'm hoping to get a movie in this week and maybe have a friend or two of Kyler's over to play with him. We'll see. (My boys hate it when I say that because they say it means no...lol!)

Today, and for the next couple of days, I thought I'd show you some 4" x 6" calendar pages that I'm making. You see, a couple from our church are missionaries now in Peru and the support group that they have out East makes a calendar for them. They ask friends, family, and supporters to make a page or two for them. This is the flip over type of calendar so these two pages are actually back to back. Anyway, I've used different patterned papers and embellishments but on all the pages you'll see Bible verses from Sweet N Sassy Stamps. I've also used (so far) PTI's Simple Alphabet for the date on all the pages. I have two more pages (so four total) to make and I'll finish those up tomorrow and get them off in the mail. I'm trying to make them not be too thick so that it won't cost so much to ship. It will be nice to have them finished. I hope they like them!

I'm almost done with my Sweet N Sassy Stamps projects for the new release...I'm so excited to show you guys everything! The new sets are fun, the challenges will be great, and you'll love all the projects you'll see when hopping from one blog to the next! Ack...I can hardly believe I'm involved in it!

Alright...I'll be back tomorrow with a couple of more calendars! See you then and have a super day!

page plans sketch and card

Good morning everyone! I hope your weekend has just been super productive. I think I'm actually doing okay with mine! Yay!

As I'm sure you all remember today is Page Plans sketch day. This week we were asked to use a winter theme. You can see the sketch below and I have to tell you...I had no idea what to do. I sat on this sketch for sometime thinking of different things to do and finally came down to this. I didn't have the sentiment that is shown here so I had to ask Chris (the illustrator of this set, Snowflakes) to help me out. Wish I would have thought ahead and had her stamp the sentiment in Baja Breeze but I still like this card. In addition to the Heidi Grace patterned paper (same as last weeks' sketch) in the snowflake print I turned it over to use the argyle type of pattern for one of the layers as well as Baja Breeze card stock. For embellishment I used some PTI ribbon, Spellbinders Labels 2, SU! felt snowflakes, and the Scribbles Swirls die for my Big Shot.

So...whatcha think you got for this sketch? I'd love it see if you decide to try it. In a couple of weeks there will be a fun challenge from Page Plans for us so I hope that you'll continue checking back on Sundays.

My creating is coming along well for the Sweet N Sassy Stamps blog hop (see side column for details). I really hope you are planning on joining us for the blog hop and the new release party...it is gonna be fun!

Have a super day everyone...see ya tomorrow!

whateva

Good morning friends! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! It was much fun to watch the kids' excitement as they opened their gifts and the shock when they opened the XBOX 360 we got as a family gift. We are very blessed at our house that is for sure!

I thought I'd throw a quick card out here for ya. This stamp is from Unity Stamp Co's December Kit of the Month. When I saw it I knew I needed to make a card with it for Todd. You see, we goof with each other and will say 'whatever' just in joking. As you may or may not remember yellow is his favorite color hence the yellow base. The papers are all from Crate Paper and is called Lemon Grass. You can find it on sale HERE! You know I love my sketches so you can find the sketch for this card HERE. This is an easy and fun sketch so you should check it out!

One of the things Todd got me for Christmas is a external hard drive for all of my pictures. It isn't hard to transfer pictures to the hard drive just time consuming so I'll definitely be on a mission to accomplish that over the next few weeks. I'm hoping I can just transfer entire folders but I'm not sure about that yet.

Anyway, I definitely have some more stamping to get done today so I'm off! Have a super day Make sure to check out the fabulous special that Tastefully Simple is has right now on my blog HERE!

Merry Christmas!

May the Lord’s Great Love
Bless You this Christmas


Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…
Ephesians 5:2 NIV

two great sales

Extra, extra, read all about them...

Stampin' Up...

Get ready for Valentine's Day with the exclusive Love You Much Bundle (item 115405). The Love You Much Bundle includes the following:

Love You Much stamp set $25.95

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Heart To Heart punch $15.95

Bundle Retail Value $51.85

Love You Much Bundle (20% off; item 115405) $41.48

Don't forget today is the last day for free shipping on your order over $70!

AND

Tastefully Simple

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available starting Monday, December 22!

The "Party in a Snap with Dip Chiller" collection (#100640) includes:
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• And Dip Chiller ($29.95 retail value!)

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Can anyone say...yum?! You can shop with me HERE!

Now, if you can't get excited about one of those two sales...check your pulse ladies! A link to my e-mail is in the left column if you have any questions or would like to order anything! Have a great day everyone!

page plans sunday

Good Sunday morning everyone! Can you believe it is only 4 days until Christmas....I AM SO EXCITED!!! This is the fun part for me...torturing the kids...telling them they aren't getting what they wanted. Yes, they know it is just fun but still!

Anyway, as you know today is Page Plans Sunday here on my blog. This week's sketch I thought would trip me up for sure but I think I did pretty well. Well, except for the fact that I literally just noticed I'm supposed to have a sentiment up at the top left hand corner.... Okay, so other than that...I think it is lovely and in real life has lots of sparkle! This card is made with SU!'s Lovely As A Tree stamp set, Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Heidi Grace Crystal Snow (aren't you surprised I know what it is called?) patterned paper. The sentiment is from PTI and a little taffeta ribbon attaches it. I used my white gel pen and stardust jelly roll pen to highlight and add the shimmer.

Late on Friday afternoon I was invited to a tea party along with some other wonderful women from Kyler's school on Saturday afternoon . Oh, my goodness girls...it was fantastic! It was held at another one of the parents' house and when I arrived the dining room table was completely set...beautiful china cups, plates, glasses and a tea pot for each individual person. We had a 4 course tea party starting with a palate cleansing mint sorbet type of thing (in these teeny tiny little tea cups) then zucchini pepper (red, yellow, and orange peppers so think sweet not spicy) soup, sandwiches, scones, and dessert cookies. We then were treated to yummy chocolate truffles and at the very end mints (After 8 mints...anyone else love them?). We had about 12 different teas to choose from and in honor of my paternal grandmother I chose peppermint. You see, when I was young my grandmother couldn't afford much for us for Christmas but each year I got a box of peppermint tea...you know the kind in the red and white box at Christmas time. Yum! Can I just say that I haven't stopped smiling since I left there this afternoon? Honestly...how many women get to attend a real tea party? It was so much fun!

Okay, thanks for listening to me gush and taking the time to read about the tea party! I just want you to know that I probably won't be around a lot this next week. I need to prepare for the Sweet N Sassy Stamps new release blog hop and party (over on SCS). You can learn more about it on my sidebar. Oh, did I tell you I get to giveaway a stamp set? Oh, yeah...it is going to be FUN!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!! See you all soon!

island paper challenge

Morning! Yeah, I know...I said I wasn't going to post today but this will just be really quick. Ready? Okay...

I saw on Paper Craft Planet an Inspiration Challenge given by Island Paperie. Now, I don't normally do inspiration challenges as I don't really feel that I do well with them but I have some paper that I got from my friend (Hi Pammella!) while I was in Honolulu and just had to use one of them. I'm hoping that the flower in the corner will make this card at least a little bit like the beautiful paper from Island Paperie.

The base is PTI White with some Riding Hood Red, the patterned paper is from Karen Foster. I cut the flower from the patterned paper and popped it up on dimensionals. The image and inside sentiment are from Stamp Oasis that I got from Rubbernecker Stamps. I thought maybe the bird/leaf Cuttlebug folder would go well with this and I do like it. I colored this beautiful hula girl with my COPIC markers, added some ribbon and I stopped there. Well, except for the inside which is pretty self explanatory.

I hope you like this and are having a fantastic Saturday!

can you stand another?

It's Friday...woohoo! This is the last day of school for my boys before school break! Kyler has a 1/2 day (and yep, I forgot the camera last night for his concert...bummer!) and Jon goes all day. I am looking forward to Christmas day...fun stuff!

Okay, onto one of the last Christmas gifties that I'll be showing you. I decided to make another of Jane's scalloped envelope boxes and fill it with candy for Kyler's PE/keyboarding teacher. This is a male teacher so I didn't want to make it girlie at all...I did good, huh? This is simply the Scallop Envelope Die through my Big Shot with some Tangerine Tango card stock, a piece of patterned paper from SU!'s Frosty Day Pack, a piece of Kiwi Kiss and some White card stock. Add an image from SU!'s Mr. Twigster set and a Merry Christmas sentiment and the box is complete. I just put some candy inside a cello bag, tied it with Kiwi Kiss ribbon and voila...done!

Alright, so I'm done with gifts for Kyler's school. Now to make some stuff for the SNSS blog hop and challenges AND to make some calendar's for the ladies in attendance at our party on Tuesday. It's gonna be a busy weekend!

I'll probably not be back tomorrow but I will for sure see you all on Sunday with my card for the Page Plans sketch! Have a super Friday and weekend!

notecards for the principal

Good morning everyone! I hope your Thursday has gotten off to a good start! Today is a fun day for us because Kyler has his first band concert tonight AND he and his schoolmates get to perform in the new music building at the college. It is a 600 seat theater..that should be really neat!! I must not forget my camera!

On to the stamped project. I am trying to get some more projects done and thought a desk set would be nice so I used another of Lauren's templates (only $5) and made this stationary set. There are 12 note cards (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") with envelopes in the box. While the photo stinks and you can't tell there is a cover made with a Clear Card Sheet from Cornish Heritage Farms. This is probably the absolute BEST acetate I have ever used! If I get the chance and the weather cooperates I'll retake the picture for you guys as this is really a nice set.

So, the main card stock is SU! Kraft, the patterned paper is ??? (sorry!), the red is Riding Hood Red, and the chipboard pieces are from KI Memories. I didn't do any actual stamping on this but the letters are from the Hippie Chick Alphabet ran through my Big Shot with textured Riding Hood Red card stock. I will most likely finish this with a big ribbon bow on the front and present the gift tomorrow. I hope the recipient likes it!

Tomorrow is Friday and really...that kinda finishes my time for getting projects done. Hopefully I can get just two or three more little things done today (LITTLE...had to say that to remind myself to not go crazy) and then I'll feel much better!

Have a super day everyone! Oh, and what do you think of my 3-column blog? I'm going to see if I can dress it up a little with a fun background of some sort so maybe you'll see something different the next time you come back...LOL! I'm off...catch ya all later!

Please be sure to check out THIS post and send a card to a family that needs some support right now.

belli challenge day!!

Oh, yay...it is Wednesday and I LOVE my project for the Belli Challenge this week! This week is Wrapping Paper! Make a card, alter an item, or make anything...like this stocking...with wrapping paper. This stocking is the presentation that I will place my son's teacher's gift in. It is also one of Lauren's FREE templates that you can download from PaperTrey Ink. Go HERE to see what I'm talking about.

So...what materials did I use for my stocking? I used SU! Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip cardstock and some of the wrapping paper that they sold last year. I stamped it with snowflakes from the SU! set Snowburst and added a Merry Christmas tag from PTI's 2008 Christmas Tags set.

Although I didn't get a picture of it this is a box (as is shown in the link above) and I will place candy and the gift card for the teacher in the box portion. Here is the fun part...I'm pretty sure I will be the only person with a gift presentation like this. So FUN!

So? What can you make with wrapping paper? I would seriously love to see! As a matter of fact...if you post your card to my blog AND Chrissy's and you end up being the winner at Chrissy's blog...I'll send you some SNSS images (my choice)!! So...link your projects here so I can see as well as at Chrissy's blog for a chance to win fun candy twice!

Would you like to see some inspiration? Go check out the following blogs...Holly, Chrissy, Danita, Christi, Shelly, Sarah, Courtney, Joan and Jennifer.

So, girls...that is it! Oh, wait...no it isn't. Did you see what I added to my sidebar...oh, yeah...the Blog Hop break down for the Sweet N Sassy Stamps new release. I hope you'll be able to join us! Let me know if you have any questions at all!

Okay...that is it! Have a super Wednesday!

created by courtney challenge...

Good morning everyone! It is another fun Created by Courtney Challenge day and today Courtney has challenged us with a sketch. I had no idea what I was going to do but I pulled out my new SU! sport sets and got to work.

What I came up with is this fun card to give to one of my four sport loving boys! Okay, three young men and one old man (teehee!). My middle son is in IBA and this might work well if they end up having a good season. This is pretty self explanatory too. The base of the card is PTI's Select White Cardstock, then a Riding Hood Red layer, topped with some My Mind's Eye patterned paper . Four punched circles with accompanying green layers and an all star sentiment finish the card. Very fun, very boy. Love it!

I got a good start on sending out our Christmas cards yesterday. Unfortunately I just don't think I'm going to get them out to everyone that I'd like. I'm not sure what my problem is this year as I usually have my cards out the first week of December.

Todd and I are busy planning for a Christmas party that we are having on the 23rd. I'll be making some Tastefully Simple foods along with mini quiches', yummy meatballs,and a veggie tray. We are anticipating lots of people so it should be fun!

Hope all your Christmas planning is going well! See you tomorrow for Belli Challenge day!

embrace life

Good Monday morning friends! This is the last week of school for the kiddos before break for Christmas so I really need to get a lot done. I don't even have my cards for family out yet so that is a today or tomorrow must do for me!

Anyway, I just thought I'd show the card I made for Todd's co-worker. His co-workers MIL died last weekend and while the office has a card and is sending a plant I just wanted to do something else. I know, from experience, that giving a plant is not the way to go. When my mom died we were overwhelmed with plants, flowers, and the like. We did give many of them away to the nursing home though. Anyway, now I much prefer to give to a charity or other organization in the name of the loved one that has died.

On to the card. The paper is from PTI and is their Vintage Cream color. I then cut a Nestability from a scrap piece of paper for the main image to make my reverse mask. I sponged with PTI's Spring Moss ink. The image is from SU!'s Embrace Life set with the sentiment being from PTI's Mixed Messages set. Finally I tied a knot in some Chocolate Satin ribbon from PTI and called it done (other than the sentiment inside of course).

Well, I'm off to get my day started. I've posted a new recipe on my Tastefully Simple blog so if you are interested you can see it HERE. Have a super day everyone!

page plans sunday

Good morning friends! I've missed posting for you all but I just really haven't been creating...well, not that I can show you right now at least.

As you know Sunday's are Page Plans day here on my blog. My card is an interesting take on the sketch this week. I'm not sure if I love it but I know the recipient I have in mind will love it.

The card is made with SNSS set called Jesus is Born. It is a new release and you can see it HERE (and it is on sale!). The patterned paper is from Holiday Harmony (?) from SU! (last year). The coloring is quite monochromatic but I think it works okay with the Always Artichoke in the background paper.

Not much more to say about this card but I do hope you'll play along...there is much you could do with this sketch. If you make something please be sure I get to see it, k?

Gotta run...have a great Sunday and go check out THIS blog candy!

love blog candy?

My goodness girls! You must go see and participate in THIS blog candy. I'd say good luck but I really want to win..LOL!

a little late

Good morning everyone! So sorry I'm a little late posting my Belli Challenge project for the day but I hope you'll think it is worth it!

Today Chrissy challenged us to make something Christmas. Easy schmesy, huh? The best part is that it works for the SNSS blog challenge too...woohoo!

Anyway the idea is to use things that you have laying around your craft room and well...I've had these skinny tins for some time and decided to make a gift certificate holder with it. I have seen this idea on other blogs and thought it was SO neat. I used paper from Imaginisce Snowy Jo Glitter Paper Pad and the cute little 3-d items you see are from the same paper pack. Very fun and very easy to put something adorable together. The photo on the right is the tin's top. This is what the recipient will see upon being presented with the gift. Inside I've placed the gift certificate on the bottom in a little pocket and added a little spot on top for a note to be written to the recipeient from the gift giver.

So...whatcha got laying around that you could make something Christmas out of? I bet it will be good do make sure I get to see. Need some inspiration? Check out the Belli Challenge Girls...

Holly
Ceal
Joan
Danita
Sarah
Jennifer
Courtney
Christi
and of course the Belli queen herself Chrissy! Be sure to upload your card to your favorite online showcase with the keyword CBC45, then link it back to Chrissy blog for a chance to win a prize!

So, go...have fun crafting on this Wednesday and if you haven't...stop over at my Tastefully Simple blog for the lastest news.

belli day

Just a note to let you know I'm a little behind on my Belli Challenge but it will be up soon!