GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS...

As I prepare for the Christmas Tour of Homes, you're invited to visit my blog everyday between now and then to see how I'm getting ready for the event!  There's so much to do... Inside decorations, outside decorations, gift making, card sending and my favorite... planning my table settings!  My two married daughters decide on their menus first, but I don't care much about what we eat - as long as everything looks good!  (I'm serious.)

If you're newly married or someone who has not yet started your collection of china, linens and pretty things for Christmas, but you know you want to do that someday, you can live vicariously through me for the next month or so.  I love entertaining, and want to invite you to my blog-home for the holidays to share my treasures, both tangible and from my heart! 

 

 

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #114397 Compliments to the Chef; Stamp Pad #101179 Basic Black; Textured Card Stock #108697 Not Quite Navy; Card Stock #101650 Very Vanilla; Designer Series Paper #113974 Bella Blue; Big Shot #113468 Scallop Circle Bigz Die; Punch #107214 Ticket Corner; Ribbon #109026 1/4" Grosgrain Very Vanilla; Embellishments #112571 Designer Brads Circle, #105319 Eyelets Silver; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

Of course there's lots of card making and holiday stamping in between, so you're in for some sweet treats!  In fact, SWEET TREATS is what tomorrow's card has stamped on it!  It comes with edible chocolate too!  Leave a comment by clicking on Comments below, or on my Email button, top left.  Thanks so much for dropping by.

 

 
You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right.

CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES...

Scroll down to see daily new posts for the holidays...

Would you like to be part of the 2009 Christmas Tour of Homes?  Last year there were 965 homes!!  (I'm not kidding!)  Here's how to join the festivities...  1. Deck your halls (your house) for the holidays.  2. Take photos.  3. Post your pictures and your comments on your blog.  (My home tour will be posted on my This & That page.)  4. On December 14, 2009, link up with Mr. Linky at the Nester website listed below.  (Note:  Many hostesses also have a sweet treat pictured, along with a favorite recipe.)  If you have any questions, click on my Email button, left.

THIS CARD NEEDS A RE-DO...

Can you spot the stamping mistake on this card?  Well... The darkest tree should be in the foreground and the lighter trees in the background.  After I finished making this card, I realized my error but decided to use it as an object lesson... (It's the teacher in me!)

Here's how it should have been stamped... The closest tree should be the darkest.

1) Stamp the tree in the Always Artichoke Stamp Pad.  2) Using a Chocolate Chip Marker, color the tree trunk and base directly on the rubber.  3) Huff on the rubber stamp.  4) Stamp the center tree on your card stock.  5) Huff on the rubber stamp.  6) Stamp the second tree, pressing hard.  7) Huff again.  8) Stamp the third tree, pressing hard(er).

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Sets #115026 Lovely As a Tree, #116921 Four the Holidays; Stamp Pads #105219 Always Artichoke, #115658 Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Write Marker #100071 Chocolate Chip; Textured Card Stock #115719 Rich Razzleberry; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Ribbon #115613 Polka-Dot Grosgrain Rich Razzleberry; Adhesive #103683 Mini Glue Dots.

Do you have plans for the weekend?  Just hanging out?  If so, find my winning ticket number on this blog - and email it to me for a special emailed treat. 

COME BACK TOMORROW TO HEAR ABOUT THE 2009 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES!  This is amazing - and motivating - and lots of fun too!

 
You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store. Click on either of the round buttons, top right.

THE VERSATILITY OF STARS...

Do you love stars?  Stars of all sizes?  We have several in our Stampin' Up! repertoire.  This card displays three different star treatments.  By simply changing the Warm Words greeting, it may be used for an adult... for a child... for winter... for the holidays... or for a variety of other celebrations.  In fact, last Friday night, one of the stampers (Kristen), changed the greeting to say "Adorable" and turned it into a little boy card for a baby shower.

I cut the large star out of the Night of Navy paper with the Movers & Shapers Windows Star Die. There are Stampin' Dimensionals under the solid Bashful Blue paper, under the silver star and under the sparkle tag. Three layers give this card a little something extra.

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #115108 Warm Words; Stamp Pad #102283 VersaMark; Textured Card Stock #108693 Whisper White, #108695 Bashful Blue, #108696 Night of Navy; Card Stock #100712 Brushed Silver; Patterned Designer Series Paper #112151 Bashful Blue; Big Shot #114506 Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers, #115953 Stampin' Up! Punch Windows Star; Punches #110710 Large Star, #109045 Star, #116630 Modern Label; Ribbon #109866 Elastic Cord Silver; Texture #109131 Stampin' Embossing Powder Silver; Embellishment #105319 Eyelets Silver; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals. 

The Movers & Shapers is part of the BIG SHOT line.  Join my BIG SHOT CLUB - and you'll be a BIG SHOT.  Click on Classes & Clubs above and open the BIG SHOT CLUB document to learn more.

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right. 

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO OUR VETERANS!

Last Sunday morning we had a special Veteran's Day service at our church.  Boy Scout Color Guard Troop #393 presented the colors.  A Vietnam POW was our speaker. Thank you, Ken Wells from Ridgefield, Washington.  Over 24 retired military men and women were in the congregation.  We sang patriotic and Christian songs.  I am very thankful to be an American and to have a day set aside to honor our family members and friends serving in the military - both past and present.   We Sincerely Appreciate You!

 

After being so inspired, I went home after church and made the USA Gratitude card. 

I can always find an appropriate greeting for any special person or occasion in the Define Your Life Stamp Set.  It is versatile and timeless. 

  

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Set #114950 Define Your Life; Stamp Pad #102977 Night of Navy; Textured Card Stock #108696 Night of Navy, #108698 Real Red; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Punches #109045 Star, #104401 1-3/8" Circle, Big Shot #113450 Medium Sizzlits Dies Go Go Boots Alphabet; Embellishments #112580 Library Clips Assortment Silver, #105319 Eyelets Antique Brass; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

Order the Define Your Life Stamp Set from me and you'll be placed on my Preferred Customer List and receive my newsletter THE INSIDE SCOOP!

 

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right. 

FORTY FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING...

'Twas the night before Christmas... And all through the sky... The reindeer and Santa... Were all flying high...

Here's another version.  Let me know which one you like best by clicking on Comments below - or on the Email Me button, left - and I'll send you the Swirly Cloud Template. 

 

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Sets #116507 Wandering Words, #115026 Lovely As a Tree; Stamp Pad #102977 Night of Navy; Textured Card Stock #108696 Night of Navy, #106526 Bordering Blue; Card Stock #102630 Bordering Blue; Applicator #101610 Stamping Sponge; Ribbon #110714 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Real Red; Punch #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder; Embellishment #113144 Rhinestone Brads Clear; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.  2nd Card Extras:  Textured Card Stock #108698 Real Red, #108693 Whisper White; Ribbon #115608 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Real Red; Punch #109045 Star.

How are your Christmas plans coming?  There's still plenty of time to make handmade cards, personalized gifts and unique wrappings.  I'll be so glad to help.  Contact me with any questions you may have.

 
You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right. 

GIVING THANKS IN NOVEMBER...

The theme, colors and unique fold of this card have made it a stamper's favorite.

I made the washed-out look by using only one Watercolor Pencil and the Aqua Painter. If you haven't tried watercoloring yet, this is a great way to start - using just one color.

This is a standard size card... Chocolate Chip base is 5.5" x 4.25". 

  

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Set #116501 Gifts of the Earth; Stamp Pad #101406 StazOn Jet Black; Textured Card Stock #108695 Barely Banana, #108697 Really Rust and Chocolate Chip; Card Stock #101650 Very Vanilla; Color Coordination #101879 Watercolor Pencil; Applicator #103954 Aqua Painter; Embellishments #105319 Eyelets Antique Brass; Punch #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder.

You'll enjoy the variety of cards every day this week - covering three holidays!

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right.

I HAVE A BRAND NEW ARMOIRE!

Oh my goodness!  Do you love this card as much as I do?   If so, I've made a template for you..........

I include a cardboard template (for tracing) in the card box for stampers at my home workshops - and I've made one on letter size paper for you to download.  Click on the Demonstrators sidebar button (bottom left). This is a standard card size 8.5" x 5.5".

When card is cut and folded, use the Double Rectangle Punch to make the hinges.  Be sure to only punch half way in - so the slots (hinges) will be 1/4" wide when the card is unfolded.

 

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Set #115778 Circle Circus; Stamp Pad #103220 Creamy Caramel; Textured Card Stock #108697 Creamy Caramel; Applicators #101610 Stamping Sponges, #100663 Stylus; Embellishment #105319 Eyelets Copper; Punches #109046 1" Circle, #105088 Double Rectangle; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

When I first photographed this card, I had ribbons flowing out of the bottom drawer.  It looked adorable!  But I wanted you to see the whole armoire without ribbons covering any of it.  When you make YOUR armoire, you can put teddy bears or flowers or ballerina slippers or Christmas decorations or anything inside.  I'd love to see a picture of your armoire.

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right.   

SUGAR & SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE...

Sugar and spice... Polka dots and grosgrain... Reds and browns... Gingerbread and Christmas.  They all go together!

Seven layers are a few too many for me - because ALL my cards get used in workshops and I try to keep them a little more simple.  But this card is so sweet - like the season - and adding extra layers just seemed like the right thing to do.

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Sets #116471 Sweet Season Stamp Set; Stamp Pad #100908 Chocolate Chip; Textured Card Stock #108698 Real Red, #108697 Chocolate Chip, #108693 Whisper White; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Patterns Designer Series Paper #112164 Chocolate Chip; Ribbon #109052 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon Real Red; Punches #109046 1" Circle, #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder.

Tomorrow I have a totally unique card to show you. You will LOVE it!  (And you'll also be able to download the template.)

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right.

BOTH SIMPLE AND SUBLIME...

This card has a WOW factor, and oh so easy!

 
 

The black trim on the greeting is punched out of the Groom Specialty Paper to match the ornament, and elegantly ties the design all together. 

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Set #115370 Teeny Tiny Words; Stamp Pad #101179 Basic Black; Textured Card Stock #108693 Black; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White, #100712 Brushed Silver; Specialty Paper #116478 Groom; Tool #112530 Circle Scissor Plus; Punches #108340 Round Tab, #105090 Word Window, #116630 Modern Label, #107305 Large Oval, #114889 Scallop Oval, #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder; Ribbon #109866 Elastic Cord Silver; Embellishment #105319 Eyelets Silver; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

Yesterday, I spent many hours at the hospital, welcoming a new grandbaby (Kassidy Marie)... and just four floors up, saying goodbyes to our 96 year old Gram who had a heart attack over the weekend.  As I prepare for the holidays, knowing we'll have a new life with us, and a dear one missing, I'm giving extra thought of how to make Thanksgiving and Christmas even more meaningful for our family. It will be somewhere between simple and sublime.

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store.  Click on either of the round buttons, top right.