Sneak Peek

Introducing . . . the Create a Cupcake Punch from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. I punched out the pieces using the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack in Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight. There is also a cute stamp set that coordinates with this punch. The words stamped in Whisper White are from "Bring On the Cake" also from Occasions. One of the the choices in the Sale-a-Bration Mini that starts at the end of January is this cute ribbon and a package of matching buttons from the Ribbons & Button Pack.

Yuletide Yarn

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Here's an adorable picture from last Christmas of Jorden and Blake.The last of the projects. Holiday hats for the boys . . . . . . and matching pajamas and slippers for everyone (notice the little foot on the bottom left--I don't know where his other foot went).

The Stockings Were Hung ...

. . . by the chimney with care (and some sewing skills). Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Good Tidings!

I love this stamp from "Word Play" that I punched out with the Ornament Punch. I mounted Crumb Cake card stock (embossed with the Northern Flurry folder) on Whisper White, then on Marina Mist, and again on Whisper white. Last, I used three Basic Pearls and a 5/8" Satin Whisper White Ribbon.

Christmas Pillows

This is a collection of Christmas pillows I've cross-stitched over the years. I love taking them out of the box every year and displaying them across my fireplace. They also bring back fond memories of Christmases past.

To Be Jolly

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a little yuletide silliness. This picture was taken a few years ago after a shopping trip to Chicago. Upon arriving home, the kids decided they would be the presents.I think they are making sure that Santa knows which stocking is which. This was taken in 2006, Troy and Lindsey were newlyweds and Jorden was home from his first semester of college.

How Many Days?

Time is ticking away, and I'm almost ready for Christmas. The cards have been sent, most of the shopping is done, the projects need finishing touches, and I've even made some cookies, but I still have details to take care of. I think I've made my fourth "to do" list in the last two weeks. How about you?

This card was made from "Tags til Christmas". I stamped "dec. 25" with Cherry Cobbler, punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch, and popped it up with Dimensionals. The ribbon underneath is called Chantilly Crochet Trim. The card is made from Early Espresso and the polka dots were made with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. The strip of Certainly Celery is from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack.

Thirty Trees

Here's a Christmas tree quilt I made with lots of pieces and lots of love!

Seasons Greetings!

And yet, another Christmas card, this time in Riding Hood Red. After I stamped the ornaments with "Delightful Decorations" and the words with "Curly Cute" I ran the Very Vanilla background through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I stamped the "joy" ornament separately, punched it out with the Ornament Punch, and popped it up with Dimensionals. Then, I made a knot with the Riding Hood Red striped ribbon, taped the ends on the back, and adhered it to a piece of Riding Hood Red card stock. Thanks to Sarah for her inspiration on this card! The winner of the drawing was Marianne--you'll have to come to Arizona (it was 77 degrees today) and claim your prize--just kidding!

On Dasher

He's so cute! This is a 3"x3" card made with Chocolate Chip and Real Red. The Whisper White snowflakes are from "Sparkly & Bright", the reindeer from "Dasher", and the words from "Teeny Tiny Wishes".

'Tis the Season & Give Away

I stamped this image with Real Red from "Season of Joy" on Whisper White card stock and then punched it out with the Big Shot using the Top Note Die. Then, I stamped it again in Wild Wasabi on another piece of white and cut out "Deck the Halls", "&", and the snowflake and adhered it on top of the red. I also ran the Wild Wasabi background card stock through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. Last, the snowflake was stamped then punched out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. I added a Real Red brad, mounted it on a piece of Real Red punched from the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, and popped it up with Dimensionals. I am giving away this Hostess Set (clear mount) from the Holiday Mini catalog called "Peaceful Season". Just leave a comment on my blog between now and Saturday night and I will draw a name for the winner.

Just Guess!

Can you guess where I went last week? It's a HUGE warehouse and this is only a small part of it. The whole system was amazing, everything is computerized. If one item is missing from the box to be shipped, a sensor catches it. There's also a "showroom" with displays. They change the decor every six to twelve months. Even the cupcakes are made of paper.
Here's a party table all set up--again, everything is made of paper (well, not the table and chairs).

Wouldn't you like to work at a desk like this?

Okay, back outside. Here's the famous "rock" and that pretty much gives it away. I should have taken a picture of the building, but it was too cold to get out of the car, so this is from my window. I got a great private tour because I'm from out of state and the best thing was, it was only a 20 minute drive from my daughter's house. So, I'll be back again--but next time I'd like to get into some of those boxes being shipped out.

More Sewing

It seems like I've been sewing on cards a lot lately, but I really like the look. This one was made with "Contempo Christmas" using Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive. I zig-zagged one inch strips of DSP from Jolly Holiday. I also made some trim out of Cherry Cobbler card stock with the Scallop Edge Border Punch. Last, is a piece of Cherry Cobbler seam binding that I folded like a loop and tucked under the edge of the image.

Sparkly & Bright

You don't see a Christmas card in these colors everyday, but I thought it was cute and wanted to share it. The reindeer, snowflake, and words are from "Sparkly & Bright". Colors are Soft Suede, Whisper White, Ruby Red, and Mellow Moss stamped on a Sahara Sand card. I also used the Scallop Circle and Scallop Edge Border Punches.

Delightful Decorations

This card was made with Night of Navy card stock. I stamped the ornaments with "Delightful Decorations" on Whisper White card stock with silver ink. Then I heat embossed them with clear powder and punched them out with the Ornament Punch. I used silver cording and popped the ornaments up with Dimensionals. The background was made using silver ink and the coordinating "Sparkle & Shine" jumbo wheel.

Joy

This card was made with "Season of Joy". Colors used were Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, and So Saffron. I added a swirl on the background from this set and edged the Whisper White card stock with the Wild Wasabi ink pad.

O Christmas Tree

I zig-zagged around a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock on a Crumb Cake base. The polka dot strip is from the DSP called "Jolly Holiday" and the tree from "Holiday Hoopla" stamped on Very Vanilla and mounted on a piece of Old Olive. The words are from "Many Merry Messages" and the button is from the Bold Brights Assortment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This wall hanging is made from Moda's "Gobble Gobble" line. I used a charm pack (5" squares) even for the face and feathers. Wherever you are, may you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Cherry Cobbler

I just love this new color, Cherry Cobbler--it's so rich and makes a great Christmas color. The santa is from "Holiday Hoopla" and the words are from "Curly Cute". I ran the background through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder and cut out the Wild Wasabi square using the Scallop Squares Duo die. The 5/8" Whisper White grosgrain ribbon adds a little crispness.

Season of Joy

This is one of my favorite Christmas sets, "Season of Joy". It also has an adorable tree, a big swirl, two poinsettias, and a little star that says "hand stamped". On the background I stamped the snowflake in a circle from this set with Versamark. First, I stamped the block with the words in Certainly Celery and then colored a few images with a Real Red marker. I added 5/8" Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon and trimmed the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch. Michelle's name was drawn and wins the thank you gift pack set. Congrats!

Snow Swirled

Here's a softer card using Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, and Real Red. It was stamped using "Snow Swirled" including the background snowflakes and the words. The Whisper White strip has splashes of Bashful Blue that I created using the Spritzer Tool. Last, I added Bashful Blue brads and a 1/8" Real Red bow to finish it off.

Dasher

Isn't he cute? This is the single stamp "Dasher" stamped in Chocolate Chip and mounted on Real Red. The Whisper White background was run through the Big Shot using the Texture Plates Kit #4 (paisley). I used the Real Red Wide Polka Dot ribbon that I bought in the Clearance Rack online at SU a few weeks ago.

Glitter & Give Away

Here's another Santa card using "Holiday Hoopla". I used Dazzling Diamonds glitter on his beard and the background paper is from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack--Wild Wasabi. The words are from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" made with the Word Window and Modern Label punches. The bow is made out of 1/8" Real Red taffeta ribbon. Leave a comment between now and Friday night to be entered in a drawing to win a thank-you gift pack. It contains two stamps, mini cards, envelopes, an Old Olive Stampin' Spot, some buttons, and ribbon.

Tags Til Christmas

This set from the Holiday Mini catalog has nine different stamps that fit in SU punches. I used the Large and Extra Large Tag Punches and the Scallop Square Punch. The background was stamped in Baja Breeze with "Northern Hearts" on a piece of Whisper White card stock that I made with the Top Note die on my Big Shot. The narrow band of Baja Breeze was punched with Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch and the background paper is from Candy Cane Christmas. The Real Red rick rack was made using the Tasteful Trim die and the button is from the Candy Cane big designer buttons pack.

Got Merry?

This card was made from the set "Got Treats" which has several other stamps including: "Got Green", "Got Birthday", "Got Love", "Got Treats", and other words that coordinate with the Mini Milk Carton Die. I used Real Red and Chocolate Chip with a matching 5/8" satin ribbon and corduroy button.

Let it Snow

This card was made with the sets "Big on Christmas" and "Many Merry Messages". I used the non-traditional colors Bashful Blue and Basic Black. I colored the snowman and letters with a white crayon and then used a sponge dauber with Bashful Blue ink on it to fill in the background (crayon resist technique). Isn't he cute?

Ho Ho Ho

Here's another card from "Holiday Hoopla". I used Dazzling Diamonds glitter on Santa's beard to give it a little sparkle. Colors are Real Red (although it looks a little orange in this picture) and Old Olive. I ran the red card stock through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, added a piece of Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon, and a red button from the Candy Cane assortment in the Holiday Mini.

Thankful

Even though a couple of these colors are retired, I wanted to share this Thanksgiving card that was stamped with the current set "Falling Leaves". Colors used were Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Elegant Eggplant. I punched the little circles and hung them on the ribbon with a piece of Natural Hemp Twine. The background was run through my Big Shot with the Texturz Plates Backgrounds 1.

Stuffed Pumpkins

Did you really think I was going to post a recipe? Here's some decorative pumpkins I made using a roll of toilet paper wrapped with some batting, a fat quarter of fabric (pulled the corners up around and into the tube), a 6" long stick from the yard that fits snuggly inside the tube, and a wide ribbon tied into a bow around the stick. Yummy!

Grateful

This card from "Falling Leaves" uses both the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Sqaure Punches for a layered look. Colors are Old Olive, Summer Sun, Soft Suede, and Pumpkin Pie on a Crumb Cake card. I used the Mat Pack to poke the holes along the bottom and added a 5/8" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon.

Baja Breeze & Soft Suede

Do you ever have one of those moments where you discover two colors that work so well together? I love Baja Breeze and needed a new color to compliment it--enter Soft Suede. I love how this card looks a little fallish, but a little bluish. I used "Trendy Trees" on Very Vanilla card stock and background paper from the DSP Neutrals and Subtles Paper Stacks. I topped it off with a 1/8" Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon.

Be-Leaf

My October project is finally done! Here's a close up of three of the blocks (before they were put together and quilted) and then . . .

. . . the masterpiece! My autumnal teeny-tiny, itty-bitty, piecing party is complete. Click on it a few times to enlarge it and see the quilted swirls--love it!

Happy November!

Wow, it's November and pretty soon it will be full speed ahead into the holiday season. Before I post any more Christmas ideas, I thought I'd better finish fall. This card, made with "French Foliage", reminds me of the darker colors of the leaves still left on the trees--Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Old Olive. The words are from "A Word for You" and I couldn't resist adding an espresso button tied with a piece of hemp twine.

Happy Halloween!

Meet Jack! I made this wall hanging out of 5" orange and black squares (and some triangles). Then I machine appliqued the stem, eyes, nose, and mouth on. HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!