Christmas Pajamas

Each year, beginning about three years ago, I've ordered new pajamas for my family to wear for Christmas Eve. I believe I got the idea while watching Rosie O'Donnell. It was either when she had her talk show orfrom when she was on the View. She mentioned how wearing the same pj's could really help with scrapbooking. So I decided to give it a try and she was right. It has made a huge difference with my scrapbooking. Here is a photo of us from Christmas morning. I will try to scrapbook a couple of pages tonight of us to share.

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season with your family. We are enjoying lots of lazt days until I go back to work on the 5th of January.

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More Cute Tags and Such!

Here are several more of the cute tags I stamped at Gail's Cookies and Tags class. She is my second level upline. Each year she offers this wonderful class. When time allows I join in on the festivities and am always so very happy that I did. Maybe one year I'll actually start giving them away. For now, I have a little collection going. One of the great parts about attending other people's classes, along with getting new ideas, inspiration and such, is getting to use stamp sets that I don't own! I get to see first hand whether or not it is something I would like to add to my collection...and usually it is:-)






This tag is stamped on both sides and features the Winter Post stamp set from the Holiday mini catalog. The coloring was done using the Watercolor Wonder crayons along with blender pens. We did a lot of sponging to create an aged look. I really like how this turned out.



















This very cute little tag was created using the Fresh-Cut Notes, the 5 Petal punch, and Filigree Designer brads. We stamped the card with the Tres Chic background stamp.


















For this fun gift card holder we used a retired stamp set. I'll have to look a bit and add the name later. We also used some of the ski slope designer series paper to create a cute belly band. I love what they add to a card and they are so easy to do!












This last one for today is probably my most favorite of them all. I really like the many layers, the bold colors, and the so very cute penguin from the Punch Pals stamp set. The striped ribbon adds a nice final touch. This tag gives me lots of ideas for a nice winter card.





Well, I still have decorating and wrapping to do so I've gotta go! I'll post pictures of our progress soon!


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Holiday Happenings

Life has been very busy in my household between family duties and work responsibilities. Although I could describe it as a stressful time I will instead describe it all as being blessed abundantly! With happy, healthy kids and a husband who does so much to help me keep it all together I really can't complain. December is probably the most busiest month for me that I have found little to no time for being crafty.

A few weeks ago I did get the opportunity to get a little stamping done at a Cookies and Tags class that I attended. Here are some pics of the fun things we stamped. All stamped items shown below were created by my second level upline, Gail.

I'll start with the molasses cookies that I made for the Cookies and Tags class. All attendees baked a dozen cookies and brought them along with enough recipes to share with everyone. There were so many yummy cookies! I skipped dinner just to have enough room to try LOTS of cookies and I was successful.


Enjoy! I will add details soon and hopefully some more fun stuff soon!





































































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Stampin' at Gail's

Gail is my second level upline. She hosts meetings for all of her downline and I am always an eager participant. It has been a little while since she has last hosted a meeting, so it was very nice to get together and stamp with friends that I have missed seeing. We had a wonderful time seeing her fabulous new stamp studio...It is amazing...I am pretty sure I heard, "hallelujah," playing in the background as I walked in...Yes, it really is a space any stamper would drool over. I told her I want to be her when I grow up:-)

Here are two of the projects we stamped. We stamped one more, but it was one that I prepared and well...you've already seen it:-)

I am also showing the cute bookmark that Gail gave me for bringing a project to share with everyone.This was a very nice and unexpected treat!











This special bagged gift contains 3 "cookmarks!" Cookmarks are just like bookmarks but are placed in a cookbook to keep the place of a special recipe. There is also a space on it where you might add your special ingredients, substitutions, or additions to a favorite recipe. They fold over the page and stay in place through the use of a magnet. These are so cute and would make the perfect hostess gift for a stamping event or a holiday party.

Notice the topper: I got to use the Big Shot for the first time. It was too much fun and super easy! I think I know just what I want for Christmas:-)










This is my special gift. A magnetic bookmark! The top portion is embossed in chocolate chip and reads I heart SU! This picture does not do it justice! It is gorgeous!

It is basically using the same concept as the cookmarks with the fold over and the magnets at the bottom. Notice the beautiful designer series paper. I just LOVE IT!


























This beautiful card was designed and prepared by Dee. She is a super creative stamper in our group. Several other creative ladies in our group shared ideas and projects with us. I will try to post some of them very soon. I love coming to these meetings. I feel that I always walk away full of stamping excitement and so many amazing ideas. These are great woman to be around. I am so glad they are in my life.













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A Super Easy Countdown to Christmas!

Each year my kids get so excited as we begin the 25 day countdown to Christmas. We have an Advent chest that begin on December 1st. Each day the children take turns opening the drawers and pulling out the holiday candy and special gifts. As a new add on this year, my good friend, Sam introduced "Christmas rings," a fun new excitement builder for my kids. Sam is so sweet, she cut out the strips of green and red construction paper needed for this activity. The kids used glue dots to connect 24 paper rings. Each night before bed they will tear off a new ring until Christmas Eve when they tear off the last ring before going to bed. The kids had so much fun gluing their rings and thinking about where in their rooms they wanted to hang them.









First, you need strips of construction paper or SU! cardstock cut at 1" X 6" in red and green or another holiday color of choice.
















Next, get your glue dots and let the kids create a string of connected rings. Glue dots work really well and attach better than a regular glue stick. Less messy too..in fact no mess at all. I would suggest supervising the use of the glue dots. We all know how quickly they can become unraveled.










The last and most fun step is having your child identify that special spot to attach their Christmas rings. Both children chose high spots. As the length shortens we will have to pick new locations. We will cross that bridge when we get to it. My kids enjoyed posing with their rings.


This was a great "Black Friday," activity for the kids. It was quick, easy, and lots of fun. My 2 year old slept while the older two made their rings. We will help my little one create his tomorrow. Thanks Sam for this wonderful new tradition!

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It's A Birthday!

Yesterday my step-son, Jason turned 15! He is with us on weekends only, so we didn't get to celebrated him until today. It is hard for me to wrap my hands around the fact that it has been 12 years and 10 months since I first met him. It was my second date with his father (my husband). We were on our way to a family party for a friend of my then new boyfriend. We stopped off to pick up his son. I was thinking...WOW... he wants me to meet his son already? He came back to the car with the cutest little boy who had the brightest eyes and a perfect smile! One of the major reasons that I fell in love with my husband was due to how attentive and affectionate he was with his son. I found it to be a big plus on my mental "future husband," checklist.



So, today, before my husband returned home from picking up Jason, my 7 year old daughter and four year old son helped me stamp a quick card for the birthday boy. I used one of my most recent and favorite layouts....one designed by Beate If I need a card in a hurry...this is the one I am pulling out of my little bag of "cases". I used a piece of the wrapping paper for the print paper piece. It is from Sally Foster. I bought it last year from a fundraiser through my work. I just love Sally Foster wrapping paper! All other materials and supplies are from Stampin' Up!.

Card Recipe:
Stamp sets: Wanted, Warmest Regards
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: linen ribbon

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More Holiday Cards

I have a few more holiday cards that I wanted to share with you from previous stamping events.






This first card comes from a stamper, Sharon L. Johnson, over at No Time To Stamp. She has great ideas and boxed gifts over there. Go check out her work. This card features Ski Slope Designer series paper, old olive, Whisper White, and Real Red cardstock. It uses the snowman from the Merry & Bright stamp set and red grosgrain ribbon.
















This next card comes from a stamper, Amy Kennedy. I came across her work while surfing for card ideas. This card uses whisper white cardstock, Ski Slope designer series paper along with riding hood red striped ribbon and basic black ink. I used a blender pen coupled with various inks and markers to color in the image from the Holiday Lineup stamp set.


















My third card uses chocolate chip, Real Red, Whisper White, and Baja Breeze cardstock as well as a sheet from the Ski Slope designer series paper. I really like this paper. I used the chocolate grosgrain ribbon and the Punch Pals stamp set.

















This last card follows one of my previous layouts. You might call this layout a favorite of mine or one to fall back on when in the constraints of time. This card uses the Holiday Treasures designer series paper, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock along with vanilla grosgrain ribbon and the snowman from the Punch Pals stamp set.




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