Merry Christmas To You!

Merry Christmas, from my family to you!

This is the card we sent out (late...) to 80 people. I created it in MDS, so I still used my stamping supplies!

These are the treats we delivered to friends and neighbors, along with a stamped card already shared somewhere on this blog. Recipes can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.
(caramel popcorn, solid peanut butter cup, candy cane fudge, gingerbread cookie bars, pumpkin cheesecake cookies)

This is our beautiful, decorated-by-excited children tree, along with lights that burned out and the kind that was purchased doesn't match the kind we had, haha!

And possibly my favorite Christmas video, which I have shared before and still love:
 I truly hope you have a lovely Christmas day filled with the spirit of Christ!
Merry Christmas!

November & December Pages

It's Christmas Eve! Today should be a beautiful day- all the last minute baking, wrapping, and Christmas movies on all day long! What are your favorite holiday movies? We love the cartoon classics- Charlie Brown Christmas, the animated Grinch, Mickey's Christmas Carol, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman... but also we love White Christmas, Polar Express and my husband loves the Christmas Carol with George C Scott. We usually have a nice Christmas Eve dinner, which we're all looking forward to. AND my husband has the whole day off so I'm excited about that!

This is the end of the 2019 Calendars! (they even say 2019 on them this time, haha!) I love the November pages. The photos are all from the same day- both pages. We did family pictures with my family so the page for my inlaws is just our little family, and the page for my family are the pics we took in between and after!

And the December pages feature last years' Christmas.

And that was that. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Not stamping....

This month has been jam packed with Christmas prep and activities and a whole lot of sick time at our house... sigh. There has not been a lot of stamping time, unless you count me stamping a greeting inside cards to give out.

However, earlier this month I put together a fun project! I saw it on facebook a month or so ago, pinned it, thought about it, and finally put it together one of these December Saturdays. The original idea is found HERE.

It didn't cost very much at all. I bought two boxes of "wide mouth canning rings and lids" (and the lids and extra rings will definitely be used in future canning days). I bought one container of small ornaments from Walmart and used all but two. The ribbon at the bottom was saved off a gift from a previous Christmas. I hot glued my rings together, and tied the ornaments using some Gold Twine from I think the 2016 Holiday Mini, because I pretty much didn't play with anything I ordered that year, and the roll was pretty much untouched, haha....

I was waiting to share it here, but it won't make it on the front door this year and that's okay. Our door frame is too snug to use the hanger I have, which is already quite thin. My husband had an idea of how to hang it, but as I said we keep being sick! But that's okay, there are many more years to come, haha!

Anyway, I think this would make a cute gift, and you could use any colors you like! I even like the silver rings with the gold ornaments.

Last Year's Paper Pumpkin!

Last week when I pulled out my newest Paper Pumpkin kit, I brought up the two boxes of the previous years' kits too. Last year's kit was never even shared here! I discovered I made one complete card, even tho I'd stamped the panels and folded the bases...and then I quit?! Maybe that's because we did a photo card last year so I just didn't bother? I really don't know.

I will say, we're doing a photo card again this year, because when you have kids that seems to be the best part- seeing how they've grown. So, I decided to give out completed stamped cards with neighbor goody plates. We live in a brand new area and there are still lots of people I don't know very well, so I figure that's a great use of the cards PLUS advertising! :)

So here's some of that kit for some Christmas card making inspiration for you! Here's what I did put together last year...

And that was all! So last week, within about an hour, I completed the kit...

...including a bit more! I cut some of those card bases to stretch the cute paper, and made just a couple alternate ideas using the punched out part of the ornaments.

Let's try a close up of that first alternate... see the star sequins?

And! This is what is still left over to play with another time!

Isn't that awesome?!

Just a few similar stamps and you can easily recreate a similar card yourself.

And, if you're looking for a last minute Christmas gift, a Paper Pumpkin subscription really is a great idea! It's so easy to love and everything is ready for you! And if you don't love the designed kit, you can always find more ideas on Pinterest and elsewhere! Just click the Pumpkin button on my sidebar to sign up for yourself or someone else!

Missed pages...

When I started sharing these pages I only had one calendar done, so here are the pages I would have shared if the second one was done too!

January:

 February:

March:

 April:

Paper Pumpkin for Christmas!

The title sounds a bit like something I wasn't intending, however! Paper Pumpkin really IS a great Christmas gift! You can pre-pay for a subscription for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or even 12 months!
The November kits have always been some of my favorites. They always design cute Christmas cards that can be mixed up to make even more projects! I've done scrapbook pages and tags with my kits.

Today I'm just sharing one of each design the kit came with, because I've been sick for a few days and didn't feel like gathering up any extra supplies. But I pinned a bunch of alternate ideas and I have other ideas of my own too. Hopefully I'll get some stamping time another day and can share more of this kit with you then. In the meantime, here you go!

My wreath kind of turned out a mess, flailing about everywhere. But I put the glue dots on so once you set it down, it is set, lol! I thought if I did it like a clock, placing one at 12 and then at 6 and then 3 and then 9, going around, would be best. I don't think it is, haha. Lesson? Fiddle first, then glue. You're welcome!

 And this one is just so easy and pretty!

The kit is designed to make ten cards- five of each. But we'll see what I end up doing.

And here's the unboxing video for you, so you don't miss any of the details! Like the vellum that you might not notice on the photos of the cards!

September & October Pages

Another day for calendar pages! Which are completely done, btw, and they're even on their way in the mail!!
I happen to love how both September pages came out, even tho they are completely different.

I also really like the October pages!

How about you? Are you ready for Christmas yet??

July & August Pages

Stamping is just going to be a little fewer and farther between for the rest of the year...! I'm sure you, like me, are busy with all the Christmas gifts and projects. I also had to clear my stamp stuff off my counter so that helps make things a little more difficult, lol. But I wanted to keep featuring calendar pages on Mondays, so here's a few more!
(The calendars, btw, are complete! I got them done before it was actually December and I am super excited about that little fact!)

July:

And August:

What kinds of things are you busy making? Honestly, I've got cookies in the oven right now and that counts as "making" too! hee hee!

We Create Christmas Blog Hop

Hooray for December!! I am one who loooves the music, the decorations, the lights, the events, the shopping, the wrapping, the baking.... ALL the Christmas things! I really just love Christmastime! So I am excited about this blog hop!

For my projects, I picked the Making Christmas Bright bundle. It's this fun Christmas lights stamp set, and a punch perfect for punching out the light bulbs. I love it! 

First, I wanted to use a non-traditional color scheme. I needed bright colors for this card, and apparently this is the first time I stamped the light bulbs instead of punching them! I used the latest Freshly Made sketch for the layout, and added some more bright bling with Silver Glimmer paper for the screw part (does it have a name??) and some silver sequins. The Take Your Pick tool definitely helps with the sequins!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Making Christmas Bright

Ink: Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo

Paper: Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo & Whisper White card stock, Silver Glimmer DP

Accessories: Christmas Bulb Builder Punch, Metallic sequins, Take Your Pick Tool, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

And then, I wanted to use more traditional colors for another idea. I loved the sponged bulbs I saw on THIS Artisan blog hop card and I've been anxious to give it a try! My light bulbs didn't turn out quite like hers, but I'm still very happy with them! For this card I used the latest Fall to Layout, and some of this beautiful bokeh print DP! And of the two, this is definitely my favorite card!  

Supplies:

Stamps: Making Christmas Bright

Ink: Real Red, Shaded Spruce

Paper: Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Whisper White card stocks, All is Bright DP, Gold Glimmer DP

Accessories: Christmas Bulb Builder Punch, Gold Thread, Dimensionals

Now click the "Next" button to hop on over and see what Cheryl has created to inspire your Christmas season! Then hop thru everyone's blogs, and be sure and leave us your thoughts- everyone loves feedback! And Happy December! I hope you have a month filled with happiness and peace!  

June Pages

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend, and survived all the travel and sales and storms! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day, did a little shopping after the big, crazy hours, and traveled again to a family event on Sunday. It was a really nice weekend, even tho I am still kind of exhausted from it, haha... And then all the catch up on Monday and other big projects on Tuesday and I'm only getting around to crafting today!

I was trying to post these pages each Monday morning, but I've been in a fight with the long retired software so it took most of today to get three pages recreated a third time, sigh. I only have two pages left to make and then they'll be completely done! Considering it isn't even yet December, I am extremely excited about this! Hoping for no more stubborn battles with the software.......!

So first my inlaws June page...

And then my parents June page! These pictures were from all over the year, tho the one of my own little family was taken in June, haha!

What kind of crafting are you doing for Christmas? Have you ever made a photo calendar? They're kind of a hit....!

Birthday for a girl

I have a good friend who I have known for 30 years now (seriously, that is a freaky thing to realize...!). She was my best friend all our growing up years. She now has four children, two are special needs and one of those two is medically fragile. So nevermind the 90 min drive between us, it is incredibly difficult to ever get together. I do mail her cards maybe once a month or so, hoping that getting something that isn't a bill in the mail helps the hard days.

Recently she mentioned that her little girl loves my cards, is amazed that I can make them, and even "borrows" the cards, keeping them in her room because she loves them so much. That melted my heart! Later she mentioned her daughter's birthday was coming up, so I thought I would make her very own birthday card to keep! The only hint her mom had was that I did ask what her favorite color is...

Then I tried to think of the most little-girly set I owned! The stamps, DP and ribbon I used are all retired, but the colors are current! I used the TGIF sketch from last week, and this might be the busiest card I have ever made, but. I think she's going to love it! It should arrive today.

Supplies:
Stamps: Magical Day (retired)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Berry Burst, Coastal Cabana, Powder Pink, Stazon
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Powder Pink, Whisper White card stocks, Myths & Magic DP (retired)
Accessories: Wink of Stella, Blender Pens, Circle Dies, Big Shot, White Glitter Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

The paper was printed with glitter all over the unicorns bodies. I added Wink of Stella to the mermaid's tail and scales, and hair, and then to the sparkles on the pink circle, and to the bubbles on the blue circles. And the ribbon, that is almost hidden, is glittery too. Maybe you can see some glitter in this picture?

Anyway, I think these are the best kinds of surprises. I've been mailing out a number of cards lately and I hope each of them were a fun little surprise in the mail box full of bills!

Last from my Class

I'm all done with card classes for 2018- I decided I'd better try to spend the month of Christmas with my family. So today I'm showing off the last card for my classes this year.

The Farmhouse Christmas bundle is so wonderful. The die-cut fence is a huge hit, the house is perfect for coloring (and the truck is too), and the paper it coordinates with is trying to be my favorite pack! haha! So that's what I used for the class.

Supplies:
Stamps: Farmhouse Christmas
Ink: Memento Black, Mossy Meadow, Stampin' Blends: Dark Cherry Cobbler, Dark Daffodil Delight, Bronze
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Festive Farmhouse DP, Wood Textures DP
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler stitched ribbon, Big Shot, Farmhouse Framelits Dies, Dimensionals 

How are your Christmas cards coming along? I've made 12 so far this season, but I have a little box holding several more. More crafting to get done...! haha!

May Pages

Happy Monday to you!
I finally got started on the second calendar, and am nine pages in! And it's not quite Thanksgiving yet! Our photo cards have been printed and I have a good stack of stamped Christmas cards to mail out as well. I'm excited to be a little ahead of myself this year instead of cramming it all at the last second. Hooray!!! Very little shopping done, but this is a good start!

So here's the first May page...

And here's the second May page.

If you've been here before, you know that my mom likes me to include as many of us as possible on every page. The adults are harder to show every time- I take more pics of kids, haha. But that's okay, the grandkids are the priority for sure. Who doesn't want to see themselves repeatedly on Grandma's wall??
*Bonus- since the calendar features my parents entire family, my siblings get a copy of the calendar for their gift too. Five gifts for the effort of one! bam!

How are your holiday plans going? Are you making any gifts this year?

Christmas Wreath Options!

Really, it's all the same card, I just tried out three different plaids to see what I liked best, and then had to get an opinion before offering it to my class!
It looks an awful lot like the last time I used this set, but this time I picked a sketch off Splitcoaststampers.com.

Supplies:
Stamps: Buffalo Check, Wishing You Well
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizazz
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizazz & Real Red card stocks
Accessories: Circle Dies, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Supplies:
Stamps: Buffalo Check, Wishing You Well
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizazz, Mossy Meadow
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizazz & Cherry Cobbler card stocks
Accessories: Circle Dies, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Supplies:
Stamps: Buffalo Check, Wishing You Well
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizazz
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizazz & Cherry Cobbler card stocks
Accessories: Circle Dies, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Do you have a favorite of these?

April Page 1

And now it's mid-November, so yesterday we woke up to an unexpected (for me...) sight:

and I have my in-laws calendar completely done! Hooray!!

Here's the April page if you're looking for some scrapping inspiration.

Supplies:
MDS- long retired!

I've got a big stack of actual photographs coming in the mail and can't wait to scrap an actual page soon...! Of course the second calendar is first on the list but really, I've got to finish prepping for my Christmas Card Class tomorrow! Are you coming?

Christmas Star

I've had so many different ideas with this set and I haven't gotten to use it nearly enough! So, even tho we used this at my Christmas in July card class, we're using it again at my November Christmas Card Class!
This time we're using it in red. I am not a gold person, but I love the red and gold for Christmas.

Supplies:
Stamps: Star of Light
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red & Whisper White card stocks, Gold Foil DP
Accessories: Real Red ribbon, Metallic Sequins, Starlight Thinlits, Big Shot, Take Your Pick tool, Glue Dots

Mail those cards!

Since I intend to mail out a lot of cards in the next few weeks, I figure I'll need to add to my stash.  Also, I wanted to break up all the Christmas cards since it is still early November... you're welcome? So I picked these stamp sets (looove this combo!) and thought I'd go for autumn. Um, I missed the fall part, haha, but, I still love the card, so here you go.
The card is based off the Fab Friday sketch, but I used my new circle dies instead of squares...

Supplies:
Stamps: Buffalo Check, Wishing You Well
Ink: Mint Macaron, Flirty Flamingo
Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo & Mint Macaron card stocks
Accessories: White Bakers Twine, Circle Dies, Big Shot

However, this card isn't going in my stash, it has a home to go to. Are you mailing any thank you cards this month? How much would it brighten someone's day?

Shiny Christmas!

Today I have a card that looks impressive, but is really simple to put together. This card is totally inspired by THIS stunning card, but really not all that much like it, haha.... The whole thing works because of beautiful paper.

Supplies:
Stamps: Making Christmas Bright
Ink: Shaded Spruce
Paper: Whisper White card stock, All is Bright DP, Gold Glimmer DP, Gold Foil DP
Accessories: Christmas Bulb Punches, Gold Thread, Dimensionals

And another angle so you can see the gold foil isn't just blah brown.

Do you love this card as much as I do? Well, you're in luck- it's part of my classes next week! haha!

Limited Time Snowflake Sets!

Every once in a while, Stampin' Up! offers something for a very limited time, and this is a fun one!
I got to pre-order the velveteen paper and this is the first project I used it on:

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Woods
Ink: Tranquil Tide, Crumb Cake
Paper: Mint Macaron, Tranquil Tide & Whisper White card stocks, White Velveteen Paper
Accessories: In The Woods framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals

So the snowbank is velvet! Can you see the texture in this second picture? And! YOU can make this same card at my upcoming Christmas Card Class!

Check out the video to see how everything works together, then let me know which ones you want to order!

 

Snow is Glistening photopolymer stamp set: $21.00

Happiness Surrounds photopolymer stamp set: $17.00

Snowfall Thinlit Dies: $39.00

Snowflake Trinkets: $8.00

White Velveteen DP: $5.00

You can check out THIS blog hop and see lots of projects using these supplies! This is a great little selection you won't want to miss out on!