Sledding!

Happy Monday to you! I know it's even colder in some areas, but it was 10* when I dropped my kiddo off at school this morning, and that is the coldest it's been for her to be out, this season. Sure wish there was snow in the forecast...

Anyway, I have been getting some scrapping done this month! Even more than I hoped to, which is always a good things. Especially since I am again getting comments about all sorts of things still not scrapped...! (thank you facebook memories that remind me of things that need done...!) So here is a long-overdue event, finally in my son's book!

Supplies:

Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Whimsical Numbers (long retired)

Ink: Lost Lagoon
Paper: Basic White, All is Calm DP (long retired)

Journaling Font: Cinnamon Cake

Snowy Day!

Here is the final layout from my scrapbook class last week! Can't do a "winter" scrapbooking class and not have at least one layout involve snow!
Last winter the snow just dumped for a full day and well into the next morning. It was wet, heavy snow that knocked power out, which is why school was cancelled - the day before Christmas break began! Of course all the kids got bundled up to play outside, and of course I had to get pictures of the deep snow too! I haven't come up with a title yet, because it wasn't "record" snow, but it was a LOT!

Supplies:

Stamps: Delightful Decorations (falling snow), Welcome Christmas

Ink: Versamark, Not Quite Navy

Paper: Whisper White & Not Quite Navy

Accessories: White embossing powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals (to pop up square of sledding kids image)

More Old & New!

I have to say, it's been fun clearing long-retired items out of my stash and making some fun Christmas cards at the same time! This is basically the very same design as one of the cards in my class this year, but with different colors and DP, oh and I added the ribbon. I like this one better, lol....

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Heard From The Heart
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla & Early Espresso card stock, retired DP
Accessories: Espresso Quilted Ribbon

The Christmas Scramble

It feels like I haven't had any time for crafts lately. But then I look at this blog and my posting really hasn't slacked off much more than usual! haha!
I got a "real" job that has kept me busy between training and then working.
The week of Thanksgiving we rearranged half the house...we split the office (craft room!) around the house and gave the kids their own bedrooms. That was a huge project and it eliminated my easy crafting space. That's really just fine, I hadn't spent a lot of time in that room for the past year...but it was so handy all in one spot.
Thanksgiving itself took some time, we spent a few days away from home enjoying lots of family. And now getting everything ready for Christmas...! Of course the holiday season is always busy, no matter how simple I try to make it. and I'm a really simple kinda girl. hee hee! But last night I discovered that I need to make 41 more Christmas cards.... whoa! So I started by making 8 of this card....

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Occasional Quotes (retired)
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Whisper White & Night of Navy card stock, misc unknown super old DP
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

December!!

I can hardly believe it is already December! of course the weather isn't helping...the wind is unusually crazy, the leaves are still falling and the sky has been mostly blue today. And right now there is no snow on the ground, which only helps the disbelief that it could be December...
I have wanted to post this project for a few weeks now, but I only got it finished tonight, which is later than it should be! LOL! I found a really great idea HERE and absolutely loved it! I thought it would be tons of fun to do with the kids too. I wanted to surprise my husband with his (he knew about the kids getting this) and he just might choose to read this blog the day I announce a surprise for him...hee hee

So, here you have it, three Christmas Countdowns! (husband's hanging over our bed, kids' hanging near the front door. and now you know why it took me til tonight to complete it........LOL!)

Here it is, as a work in progress, plus a closeup on the stamped images. I tried to use a variety!

This project could have been made simpler with say, single-sided DP folded in half instead of stamped card stock notes, but this was the cheapest way I could think to make it. I used non-SU 12x12 card stock that came from random scrapbooking kits and who knows where, but it was stuff I wasn't intending to use in my scrapbooks, so that's handy. And with stamped images, I didn't use up other product! Then I bought the wide holiday ribbon and clothespins at walmart.
Some notes held a surprise such as a family activity for that day (special movie, drive to see the lights, baking treats, game night, etc), lots were little love notes full of praise and thanks. I think it will make for a fun December and keep the excitement of the holidays going!

Welcome Christmas!

December is almost here! Are you ready?? I'm sure not... I have a lot to do still!
Here are three cards from my Christmas card class that I have not yet shared. They all come from the same stamp set. Its always nice to show how much you can create out of one stamp set. I really love the vintage, silhouette images found in this set.
This sledding children image must always be done with blue to show the cold, happy feeling, LOL! And the new quilted ribbon? Love!

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Early Espresso
Accessories: Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon

These new Holly Berry buttons are fun. I love new buttons!

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas (wreath), Come to Bethlehem (words)
Ink: Always Artichoke, Real Red Marker
Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke
Accessories: 1/8 inch Red Taffeta Ribbon, Holly Berry button, Glue Dots

This card is not my favorite. I liked the idea of this old-fashioned style DP*, but I think it overwhelmed the sweet stamp image - which I LOVE by the way. And I had my class attendees use a darker ink for the words than I used.
*want to hear something funny? I didn't love the Christmas DP Stampin' Up! offered this year so I didn't get it. But I used several other types of DP in my Christmas cards!

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla card stock, Timeless Portrait DP

Still going...

These cards use current focal images but retired DP. But here's a few more ideas if you're like me and still working on cards!

Christmas Cards Sneak Peek!

I finally got some stamp time in! I put together my plans for the Christmas Card Class, so here's a little sneaky-peek! Two others are more or less already on here on the blog, and oh...I'll show you the others soon! tee hee! This one uses a few things from the Holiday Mini! So fun!

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas
Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Old Olive & Very Vanilla card stocks, Deck the Halls DP
Accessories: Glimmer Brads Brights

A Challenging Challenge...

Saturday night there was an online virtual scrapbook night that I wanted to participate in. It was a family day, so I had to wait until my kids were in bed, and then I was tired and didn't get very much done. The only challenge I participated in was a sketch challenge. Its the kind where the challenge is very specific and you are supposed to follow it, right? Sooo this is my page:

and HERE's what is missing!

Goodness. And the really silly thing is, I had to work hard to get that thick ribbon on there and cut (with the lousy scissors I could find) and then had to use mini glue dots to attach the photos over the ribbon because it was so thick. ....niiice...

made me laugh. Oh well, it didn't qualify for the challenge, but I have one more page done! LOL! So yeay for that!

Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Old Olive, Sahara Sand & Real Red card stocks, retired DP
Accessories: Spiral Punch, retired brads, retired ribbon

Variations on Cards

In September I had 4 card events in a 15 day period. I am pretty sure that is a record for me and my little buisness! I loved it, but that meant I needed to use the same (or at least similar) ideas over and over. Some of these events were up in the air as far as attendance. That's a challenge in an of itself. I needed to provide 'enough' but not too many of each sample. Consequently, I have a nice stack of card kits ready to go!

While trying to tidy up my crafting space I decided to use those kits but differently than the original. Here's my first set! What do you think?

Original:

Variations:

Christmas Card Class

Yep, its a liiiittle early for a Christmas Card class, but this is for church, what can I say? I have designed and and am teaching a bundle of five Christmas cards. What do you think? This one is my favorite. I adore these silhouette images. So perfect for the holidays! (yes I KNOW the ribbon and the DP on the red card are retired....but I'm clearing out my stash)