*Thank You Emily*

I had a great package waiting for me when I arrived home from Regina yesterday.... the blog candy I had won over at Emily's blog last month showed up! What a treat to open when I was done unpacking!

Thanks so much Emily!

*Just Checking In*

Hi Everyone... just wanted to take a few minutes to pop in and say "HI" to everyone who stops by. Nothing new to share with you unfortunately, as I have been at my Mom's for the last week and we've been doing no crafting at all. I did teach her how to use her new Cuttlebug with her Cuttlebug products, her new Nestabilities and some brass templates. Other than that, no crafting.

We've been having a good Christmas. We are here at Moms and we celebrated the big day with Mom, my sister and her two girls. My brother in law came over when he got off work (poor guy).

We all got spoiled rotten for Christmas.... the kids were thrilled with the gifts that were chosen for them. I was lucky enough to get some stamping stuff for Christmas this year.. My Mom got me the Copic Spica Glitter Markers as well as some of the Robin's Nest Dew Drops, and some Nestabilities. My husband remembered my hint from the last time we were at Costco together and I got the glitter stack of patterned papers that they had as well as another stack.

I was also spoiled with a Nintendo DS Lite just for me... the black and red one. I also received Brain Age 2 to go with it. I managed to get two "The Lakehouse" DVDs so Mom bought one off me (since she didn't get one) and I went out and bought myself Cooking Mama 2 for my DS. I've also been enjoying playing with Mario Party DS that the kids got for Christmas.

While here in Regina I have spent a little time with old friends as well. Coffee with two of my "peeps" from high school on the 26th, and last night drinks with 9 other people that I went to high school with. This was an intresting evening as these were not people I hung out with in school.... but people that I knew from being in classes together. We had a lot of laughs and caught each other up on what we knew about other classmates. We also started the process of planning our 20th Reunion for the summer of 2008. Can't believe it's been 20 freakin' years! I'm not sure I'm old enough to have been out of school for 20 years!

We are heading home on Sunday and will spend Sunday evening unpacking, doing laundry and putting away our new toys. I hope to get the house undecorated on Sunday or Monday. We have plans for New Years Eve and a few appointments here and there next week. Otherwise my plan is to have a week of taking it easy and hopefully doing some reading and crafting. I hope to be back sometime next week with some new cards to share.... of course, getting out of my Christmas mode may be difficult so be nice to me with the first few cards I post!

Don't forget about my blog candy.... it's in the post below this one.... you have until December 31st to enter!!

Cheers!

*100,000 Hits??!??!!*

I just took a look at my hit counter.... when I started typing this post, I was at 99,991 hits! WOW!!!!

So, to celebrate, let's get some blog candy going.... I will put together an awesome prize for one lucky winner.....

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what you have planned for New Years Eve. I will draw one name on January 1, 2008!!

***please be sure to include your email address for me to be able to contact you!***

Thanks to everyone who visits my Blog.... I love doing my blog and am so happy to have an audience!!

*Kelly's Blog Candy*

My good friend Kelly is offering up some Blog Candy.... go have a peek on her blog and enter for a chance to win!!

*Warmest Wishes!*

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful few days with family and friends... enjoying the company of those people who mean the most to you.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year... so magical and fun.... and worth every headache at the mall and grocery store.

As with last year, Christmas is also a little sad for us... this is our second Christmas without Dad and believe me, he is missed by us all. There are so many little things that I can remember from Christmas' past that remind me of my Dad. But the good news is, the pain isn't as deep nor as strong as it was a year ago. He is remembered with more smiles than tears this year.

This is the last Christmas card I created this year... another using that wonderful snowman image from when the Cal-Gals were over. I used my Blender Pen and some Purely Pomegranate re-inker to create a Purely Pomegranate marker. I added some Stickles to their hats for some sparkle... gotta have some sparkle!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Garden Green
*Images: High Hopes, Stampin' Up!
*Ink: Pallette Black; Stampin' Write Markers in Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie; Blender Pen and Purely Pomegranate reinker; Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate Classic Ink
*Tools: Cuttlebug and D'vine Swirl embossing folder; Marvy Mega Circle punch
*Embellishments: Stickles

This will be my last post for a few days.... I want to spend some time with my family.

See you soon!!!

*Plastic Snowflakes*

My second-to-last Christmas card for 2007. I'm really rather sad to be saying goodbye to my Christmas images again. I love them so much.

As I have said many times before, by far, my most favourite reason to stamp is Christmas.

This card started with me playing with another scrap of plastic (this was one from my Scor-Pal). I put it through my Cuttlebug with the Snowflake Embossing folder. It really makes such a wonderful impression on anything you put through the machine.

But once I got that done and put on to the Bashful Blue card, I really didn't know what I wanted to do with it. It sat on my table for several days before this came together.

Simple, but pretty.... at least in my opinion... especially with all the bling around the Pomegranate scallop!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Bashful Blue
*Images: Stampin' Up!
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate Classic
*Tools: Cuttlebug and Snowflakes Embossing Folder; Nestabilities
*Embellishments: silver brads; bling; Stampin' Up! double stitched ribbon

I hope you are all spending some time with family and friends this week.... and enjoying it!

*I Melt For You*

Just a few more sleeps until Santa comes! I sure hope everyone has been good this year.... I don't want to start reading about any lumps of coal in people's stockings!

I stamped up a bunch of this image when the Cal-Gals were here to stamp earlier this month. I just love the look of bliss on this couple's face.... so warm and loving. I believe the image is by High Hopes.

Have I told you that I love snowmen??

EDITED: Images are Gel-A-Tins and High Hopes

*Flashback Friday*

One last old Christmas card to share with you all today. I don't know what I will do next year as there are still Christmas cards to share, but nothing I really like. Who knows if I'll still be doing "Flashback Friday" by then!

This card doesn't look as good in a scan as it might have in a digital photo, but such is life.

The stamps that I used for the JOY are actually stamps I carved myself! I found a font I liked on the computer, printed them in a large size inversed and then used this transfer pen I got as a gift many moons ago to transfer the image onto a large white eraser. I then used the carving tools I got from Michaels to carve out the images.

Pretty easy, although time consuming as I can't go fast.

The pattern on the vellum was printed on it when I got it... sure wish I could find more!

Enjoy!

*Colourful Snowflakes*

I'm sorry for not blogging more regularly lately. As I'm sure most of you can agree, this is a very busy time of the year.... shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, activities.... added to the busy life of a family to four. I just haven't had a lot of time to create lately. I'm trying to still do Christmas cards, but honestly, that's getting tough. I have a couple more Christmas cards to share with you and then I'll have to dust off the non-Christmas stuff again.

I will warn you that there will only be a few posts over Christmas... we're just so busy with family stuff. I promise to pop in whenever I can.

This card is something a little different for me. I tend to do my Christmas cards more traditionally coloured than this. Well, I guess not so much lately, but this was still out of the box for me.

I bought this beautiful paper at Scrapbookers Paradise and just had to use it. I thought it would make a quick and easy card the night the "Cal-Gals" were over to play (thanks for the naming, Allison!).

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Pixie Pink
*Patterned Paper: Momenta
*Image: Gel-A-Tins
*Ink: Pearlescent Orchid Dew Drop
*Tools: Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug

*Yet Another Good Mail Day*

I sure do love going to my mailbox the week before Christmas! Always such wonderful goodies in there!!!!

Here are the cards I received today! Some are from members of CST, some are from friends who happen to stamp!

This was created by my friend Bonnie... her kids go to school with my kids and she used to be in my stampers group. I'm glad she's finding time to stamp with her new job! Thanks Bonnie!

This was created by Dianne....

Thanks to Sonya for this gate fold card....

Thanks Tammy... snowmen melt my heart!

Val, great card with Santa and the Cuttlebug snowflakes... did you stitch that felt yourself?

Thanks so much for making my Christmas Card Display a little more beautiful today!

*Ho Ho Ho*

Yup, only a few more sleeps until Santa comes to visit!! I can't believe how close it's getting!

The kids are excited for the last week of school. Alex is a little disappointed that the school he moved to this year doesn't do Activity Days the week leading up to Christmas. The Middle School he was at grades 4-6 (where Matthew is now (and will be until grade 9, where I work) does two days.... Wednesday and Thursday. They kids had options of things like skiing at Sunshine, skiing at COP (where Matthew was on Friday), dinner theatre at Stage West (only grades 4 and 5), two different leisure centres, an arts centre, bowling... so many choices!

I finished my Christmas shopping this weekend... unfortunately I will be back out today to pick up a gift that someone else asked me to pick up for someone on their wish list (don't know if she reads my blog so I can't say too much). Thankfully the place I need to go is close to home so I can pop there almost any day this week. I have a little bit of wrapping left to do... the presents to Bruce from the boyz (that I bought yesterday) and the little gifties for the dog. Done Done Done!

The only baking I had to do this year was the banana bread. My Mom and my sister are doing the rest of the work. Spoiled, I tell ya!

The card today was inspired by a non-handmade card that I received this year. The inspiration looks better than my creation, but it's still OK. My biggest complaint on my card is that there are little bits of dirty glue behind the clips that I can't get rid of. Probably from where the glue was sticking to my hands.

The inspiration card was a simple one layer... mine didn't look right that way so I added some more to it.

Not sure I'd send this one out en masse, but it's still OK.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Purely Pomegranate
*Alphabet: Cuttlebug Olivia
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Stitched Grosgrain in Purely Pomegranate, clips from Hodgepodge Hardware

*Another Proud Mom Moment*

A little back history before the video... Bruce and Alex tried downhill skiing in the winter/spring of 2005, right near the end of the season. They loved it and last year, they were skiing almost every weekend thanks to a pass we got at Canada Olympic Park here in Calgary.

We've wanted Matthew (who is 10.5) to try skiing, but Matthew is afraid to try new things and kept saying no. Bruce and I decided that we would get him out on the hill at Canada Olympic Park early in the season, get him some lessons and hope that it went well. That way, if he loved it, he could get more skiing in during the season.

Yesterday was the day.... Bruce signed Matthew up for a lesson on Friday afternoon, took the afternoon off work and went with him to the hill. Matthew started out OK. He wasn't thrilled about being there, but did say he'd try. Twenty minutes into his lesson he decided he was done. Sigh.

After a short break and a small snack, Bruce took him back over to the learning area and worked with him. By the end of the afternoon, Matthew was on the third of three beginner hills and had gone down dozens of times.

He told Bruce on the way home that he needs to change his Christmas Wish List to include skis, boots etc.

So, I thought I'd share one more proud Mom moment.... ignore the child on the snowboard in the foreground, Matthew is the one coming down the hill. This was his last run of the day, and his fastest.


Well done Matthew!!!!

*More Cards In The Mail*

My mailbox was full of cards today.... most were from members of the YahooGroup I own, called CST...

In no particular order....

From Tracy over at Tracy's Happy Place.... there's even more layers on the inside of this card

From Susan MacDonald

From Jacquie Surgenor... what you can't see is that the colours are on the back of a piece of acetate, the snowflakes stamped and embossed on the front

From Bonita Coons

From Agnes Bottomley

This one was a surprise... it's from a friend of mine that I grew up with, named Brenda... and I had no idea she stamped!!

Thanks so much ladies!!

*Flashback Friday*

One more week of work left... one more week of work left... one more week of school left... one more week of school left

And then, two full weeks of no alarm clocks!! WOO HOO!!

And next week at work will be noisy but not too awful since we all know what's coming.

In case you didn't know, I work 4 days a week at Matthew's school in the lunchroom program. Not a cook, just a supervisor. It's a fun job and I enjoy the kids most of the time. Sometimes they honestly drive me up the wall! The last week before Christmas is always nutty for the kids!

This is a card I made back in 2003, using a medallion stamp from Outlines Rubberstamps.

I stamped it on a few different shades of blue shimmer cardstock and cut out different areas of it on each colour and then layered it all together with foam tape. I put it all on a white background that I cut with my deckle edged scissors and trimmed the edges with a silver paint pen. It's then layered onto a tall navy blue card.

*Swirl Joy*

On Saturday when the girls were here to stamp, I showed the beginnings of this card to Allison. I had stamped the swirls and the snowflakes on the Bashful Blue cardstock but I really didn't know where I wanted to take the card.

Allison had these great clear stamps by Hero Arts, including the "joy" stamp with the swirls around it. We thought it would work well on the card.

The card started out as a single layer, but I decided it needed more, so it got layered onto white cardstock with a thin line of black ink around the blue.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Bashful Blue
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Whisper White Craft Ink; Sky Blue Iridescent Dew Drop; black marker
*Images: Rhonna Farrer Swirls; Stampin' Up! Snow Flurries; Hero Arts
*Embellishments: Iridescent Ice embossing powder; iridescent ribbon from Michaels

*Cards from Cindy*

I completely forgot to take photos of and share two cards that I've recently received from Cindy. Bad Bad Nancy!

First is this great change of address card. I really loved this design! It's a Z fold card and the little piece of Hodgepodge Hardware holds the front flap closed. Great idea!

And then is this wonderful Christmas Card! The Cuttlebugged piece is glossy and it looks so good having gone through the Cuttlebug. And have I told you that I love his SU set?

Thanks Cindy!

*More Tag*

I have been tagged again by Shannon and Renee....

The rules of the game:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Random Things about me:

1. I work only 8 hours a week outside the home. Some people laugh. That's OK. It doesn't always bother me. I work to get out of the house and for the social aspect of it. If I needed to work more hours, I'd work more hours. I am lucky.

2. My feet are almost always cold. I wear slippers all year round. I like to go to bed with my craft fair version of the Magic Bag to warm up my feet. If I don't have the heated bag, Bruce gets to warm them on his back LOL

3. I like to tease... and pester.... to the point of being mean sometimes. I don't mean for it to go so far, but it happens. I have a very strange sense of humour.

4. I am a total sap for snowman at Christmas.... on my tree, figurines, stuffed, on the walls... I think Bruce is sick of snowmen

5. I am truly the least smart person in my house... by this I mean book smart. My husband and oldest son are so amazingly intelligent. They have this wonderful capacity to learn. The other son has a mind that can hold on to any facts that are given to him. He loves facts. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less. I am people and life smart. The kids ask questions that are above me. I send them to their Dad. Did I mention that my kids are only 12 and 10?

6. I am not a morning person. Once I am up, I am OK, but I really hate getting out of bed. My bed is so comfy and cozy... and on weekday mornings the kitchen is bright and cold and the kids are there and annoying... not a good way to wake up LOL!

7. I love Christmas Cake.... yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... used to hate it. Don't really want a tonne of fruit in it, but it isn't bad either way. I also love my Mom's Christmas pudding (carrot pudding) with lemon sauce on it. Less than a week and I'll be enjoying it!!!

Most of the people I know have already been tagged..... hmmmmmm.... I guess I'll bow out of the tagging. If you really want to play, please make believe that I tagged you!!

*Holly Sparkle*

You know, some times, the hardest part of this blog is coming up with a good title for my posts. I like Fridays... they're all known as "Flashback Friday".

LOL

I have only one more Christmas card element on my desk and I hope to get that card made in the next week or so. And then I think I will be done with Christmas cards this year. It will be difficult, but I plan on getting back to some non-holiday stamping soon. I don't need any more Christmas cards. But I sure love making them! I still have a handful that are made that I will share with you over the next few days.

I created this card on the weekend when Allison, Shannon and Tracy came over to play. We did a lot of laughing, a little eating, and some crafting too!

I had the image of this card sitting on my desk waiting for inspiration for a card. I stamped the image and knew I wanted to use Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi to colour it. I really don't like that Stampin' Up! doesn't sell markers to go with their In Color releases. But thankfully I have some of the blender pens and I was able to soak up some of my re-inkers and use my blender pen as a marker.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White
*Ink: Black Palette; Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, Versamarker
*Image: DeNami Design
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate stitched ribbon; Iridescent Ice embossing powder
*Tools: Cuttlebug and Snowflakes Embossing Folder

*More Good Mail*

Today's mail brought two more handmade Christmas cards for my display...

This first card was made by my Mom (Bev Barnett). As you may recall, Mom is the person who got me started with stamping and card making 11 years ago. This card is so neat... the squares behind the trees are punched out... the trees each have slits in them and she's threaded the ribbon between the slits and has used the ribbons to suspend the trees in the cut outs. Such a cool idea, Mom! LOVE IT!

Unfortunately, Mom hasn't updated her blog in a while, but I hope to convince her to get back at it soon!

The second card is a neat idea from Susan deBree... not only is it a Christmas card, but it's a thank you for the work I do as the ListMom for CST. CST is a YahooGroup for Canadian Stampers and Paper Crafters (stands for Canadian Stamp Talk). I am the moderator/list owner for this group.

Thanks so much for thinking of my Susan!

*CASEing Dawn*

A big thanks to Dawn for the idea for this card. I think hers all look better than this, but what the heck! I had fun. I think hers are better because her images are taller than what I used on this card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
*Image: Hero Arts
*Ink: Black Palette; Stampin' Write Markers in Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
*Embellishments: clear ultrafine glitter on top of Terrific Tape

My apologies for the quality of the photo. My SW facing window where I usually take photos in the sunshine is pretty dark in the winter because of the angle of the sun. So I'm trying an idea I read somewhere to take the photos in the washroom. The good thing, I can take photos any time. The bad news, the pictures aren't as good.

I need a light tent...

Edit: Thanks to Allison, I think this photo looks better now. I have gone and lightened all of the photos I took yesterday using Picasa. Still not as good as taking the photo in a bright sunny window, but better than it was.

*EK Success Advisory Board*

Several months ago I put my name on a list with EK Success to be considered for their Advisory Board. A few days later, I had completely forgotten about it.

Fast forward to the end of November when there is a bubble envelope in the mail from EK Success. I couldn't imagine what it could be because I was pretty sure I hadn't ordered anything. I opened it up and inside was something I had never seen before.... although in my mind's eye, it looked a bit like a package of birth control pills LOL!

Anyway, inside the package with this contraption was a letter welcoming me to the 2008 EK Success Advisory Board. I will, on occasion, be sent products to test or questionnaires to fill out over the next 12 months. I was asked to test this new adhesive, log in to a special website and giv my opinion. They also asked me to share with my friends.

So, here I am sharing...

I got to test the Sticko Permanent Adhesive. Not that I had to change a cartridge, but apparently you just drop it in and go.

I will admit, I liked it. But I think that's more that I like the convenience of a tape dispenser like this since I am usually the one using the double sided tape from the Dollar Store and you have to have a few extra steps in your process to use that.

It has had good hold, was easy to use.

But, there wasn't much for "play" time with it as I had hoped from a crafting tape (no "play" time with my dollar store stuff either). I'd love a tape that wasn't too sticky for the first 30 seconds it's adhering your stuff so that you can move it if you put it in the wrong spot.

Would I buy this? Probably not. But that's because I use a lot of adhesive and it would become just too expensive.

It's cute though!

*Thank You Heather*

A big thanks to my sister Heather for the beautiful Christmas card that arrived today!

Heather used to stamp and make cards all the time... and then she stopped... but then she started scrapbooking a few years later.

While I miss sharing the card making with her, I am so very glad that she is crafty again.

Once a year she pulls out her card making supplies and I think she did an awesome job with her new Bella stamp!

Thanks Heather!

*Santa*

Last month I posted an old card on Flashback Friday and I told you about my most favourite Santa image ever.... and how I stupidly sold my Santa image because I wasn't using him, and then I wanted him back but the company who made him went out of business.

Well, one of my Blog Readers told me that you could now get this image in three different sizes from StampFrancisco!

So, of course I ordered him and VOILA... a brand new stamp of my favourite Santa image!

I find it difficult to create cards with Santa images on them. I don't know why. It doesn't matter what Santa, big or small... I just have trouble with it.

But I wanted to use this guy for my entry into the CST Holiday Card Contest. So I whipped out some patterned paper and some acetate and voila!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red; acetate from Staples (heat resistant overhead sheets)
*Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny
*Images: StampFrancisco; Stamp Barn
*Ink: Black Pallette; White StazOn
*Tools: Nestabilities; Crop-a-Dile
*Embellishments: Michaels Ribbon

*Proud Mom Moment*

My older son Alex (he will be 13 in the Spring) participated in his first piano concert today. He's been taking piano lessons for two years now and really enjoys it. Last year was the first year he could have played in the Christmas Recital, but his nerves got the better of him and he decided he'd rather not participate. This year, he decided that he could do it.

We just got back from the recital and Alex (and all of the 31 other students) did a fantastic job!

Here's Alex, playing "Angels We Have Heard On High"

*2008 Calendar Page*

I entered a Calendar Swap again this year.... and asked for a spring month. Most years I do December so I thought it would be a good idea to switch it up. You can see my December page from last year here (I totally LOVE that page still!)

This swap is a lot of fun to do... but a little daunting as well. As a card maker (not a scrapbooker) I find it difficult to put together an 8.5" X 11" page. To enter the swap, I had to agree to make 13 identical pages and have them to our swap host at the end of October, along with some money to pay for binding. She then put the pages together with the grid pages, got them coil bound at Michaels and returned them to us using the self-addressed stamped envelope we provided.

I started my page with a piece of black cardstock stamped with white Craft ink using the swirl from Baroque Motifs. I stamped some flowers (Stampin' Up! and A*Muse) in black and Purely Pomegranate on a slightly smaller than half sheet of white cardstock, then layered that onto a piece of Purely Pomegranate. I also stamped the swirl in white on Purely Pomegranate and punched it with my Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch. Then a Marvy Mega Scallop Circle Punch in black and a Prima Flower in the centre.

I hope that the other ladies in the swap are as pleased with this page as I was.

*Flashback Friday*

Two weeks from today is the last day of school before the Christmas Holidays! Two weeks???? OMG! There is still stuff to do! I need to find time to get to the mall and finish my shopping. Heck, before that, I need to find some ideas for the last few people on my list. I love giving gifts, but I sure hate coming up with the ideas... I put a lot of pressure on myself I think, to find the "perfect" gift.... I just don't want people to be disappointed with the gifts I've purchased for them. That's a lot of pressure!

But it's all good.... despite that pressure and stress, I still love Christmas... the sights, the sounds, the smells, the traditions.... ahhhhh

I love the card I am sharing with you today. It is festive and yet it showcases my twisted sense of humour just a bit.

I sent this card out to everyone on my Christmas Card list in 2004... the only problem was that the little bell didn't make it to every destination. Of course, that detail "made" the card and was one of the more difficult parts to pull off.

Unfortunately, I went to look at the stamp to see who makes it and the information is all rubbed off (well used stamp!). I can tell you that the patterned paper was part of a stack from Michaels, the colours are Whisper White, Real Red, Glorious Green and Chocolate Chip. The bell was attached with some gold ribbon from WalMart. I also used a gold gel pen on the bells around his neck as well as the stars in the background of the image.

*A Good Mail Day*

I had some nice looking stuff in my mailbox today!!!

I received this beautiful card, some images and the Rhonna Farrer bird stamp from Charly. This bird is pretty hard to come by here in Calgary. Thanks so much for the beautiful card and the treats!!!

This spectacular card came from Allison. What you can't really see is that the front of the card is a layer of acetate, adhered wtih the brads in the corners. Great card Allison!

Thanks so much ladies!!!

*Tracy's Challenge*

I am slowly running out of new things to post on my blog! I've been down to my stamp space a few times in the last week or so but haven't been at all productive. A few ideas, but they go nowhere. I will be down there again for sure on Saturday when Tracy, Allison and Shannon come over.... hopefully I'll be able to produce something worth sharing!

I created this star box as my entry into Tracy's November Happiness Challenge. Anyone who wanted to play emailed Tracy and she emailed you back with your assignment. I wasn't sure if I'd find time to play or not, but decided to give it a shot.

My challenge was to create a Star Box using the directions on the Scor-Pal Website.

To create my box I used some retired Stampin' Up! patterned paper and some Whisper White and Cranberry Crisp (retired) cardstock. I also added some stitched ribbon in True Thyme (also retired) and some gold marker as an edging around one of my scalloped layers (done with my Nestabilities). I also took some scraps of the patterned paper and cut them into very thin strips to create the "fill" for the inside of the box.

Thanks for the challenge Tracy!

*Baby, It's Cold Outside*

I'm so sorry for the small hiatus from my blog. I realized I didn't even post something for Flashback Friday! Matthew was off school from Thursday at noon because of Parent Teacher Interviews. I spent from Thursday until yesterday afternoon running around like a chicken with my head cut off.... parties, shopping, a craft fair to go to, decorating the tree and house, meeting with a teacher.

I topped the weekend off with a brand new cold that started making itself known on Saturday evening while we were at our friends' annual Christmas Party.

It is a cold one today.... currently -18C (0F).... feels like -27C (-17F) with the wind. Brrrrrr! They're telling us that this will be the coldest winter in most parts of Canada in the last 10 or so years. Lovely.

I started this card several weeks ago... I wanted to do this two triangle idea that I saw on Jen's Blog. I also knew I wanted to use this paper. I got the triangles on and nothing else worked!
I put it aside and came back to it several days later. It really took a while for me to make this card sing to me... but finally it worked!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black
*Patterned Paper: Momenta
*Images: Amuse; Hero Arts
*Inks: Stampin' Up! Real Red Classic; Stampin' Write Markers in Basful Blue, Certainly Celery, Real Red, Going Grey
*Embellishments: Liquid Applique; Iridescent Ice (over Versmark)

*Wanna See Some Christmas Cards?*

I have all of the entries up on a website for the 9th Annual CST Holiday Card Contest. You are all more than welcome to head over to see the cards, however only CST Members will be able to vote.

There are some great cards... please take a few minutes to pop over there and have a look!

*Enjoying the Quiet*

You know, this is truly my favourite part of the day. The only downside is that it is early in the morning. But it's right after the boys and Bruce have all left for the day. The house is quiet. There is no one needing me for anything. Yup, my favourite part of the day.

Even better when you add the fact that I don't have to go to work today!

I've been busy so far this morning... editing all of the entries for the Holiday Card Contest I hold each year on the YahooGroup email list I own. Once I have all of the cards posted for viewing, I'll let you know so you can have a peek too. You won't be able to vote, but you can at least go have a look at some of the fantastic creations.

This card turned out better than I had envisioned it would. I just love these little penguin stamps from The Angel Company.

Not sure if the photo shows it well, but I sent the patterned paper through my Cuttlebug as well as the white cardstock.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White
*Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! (retired)
*Images: The Angel Company Little Penguins; Gel-A-Tins
*Ink: Document Black Ink; Stampin' Write Markers in Going Grey, Certainly Celery, Real Red; Blue Ultimate Metallic ink (with Iridescent Ice embossing powder)
*Tools: Cuttlebug, Snowflakes embossing folder, Nestabilities scalloped circle; 1.25" circle punch

I am really hoping to get down to my stamp table today.... send me some good vibes that it actually happens!

*Something New to Check Out*

I found a new blog to check out yesterday and have already signed up to become a member. Once approved to Stamping Critique, you can post cards you've created so that others can give you some creative feedback on them. You know, those cards that just aren't quite right.

I just posted my first card there this morning....

*Blog Candy to Win!*

Not here... but head on over to Leslie's Blog!

*New Baby*

Insert shocked faces here!

It's the end of November and I'm posting something other than a Christmas Card!

But, not to worry... there are more Christmas Cards to be seen... but I thought I would throw this one in there to mix things up a little.

One of the teachers where I work, who was Alex's teacher last year, who is someone I think is a great person, had her last day of work earlier this month as her baby was due at the end of November. I gave her the crocheted blanket that I posted a few weeks ago. And of course, I needed a card to go with it!

Unfortunately, I don't have my notes on this card so I can't tell you everything about it.... the cardstock is Whisper White, BarelyBanana, Certainly Celery and Garden Green. The patterned paper is by Stampin' Up! So is the little greeting at the bottom.

In case you were wondering, they ended up with a baby girl last Thursday... done by C-Section.

*My Elf Name*

Your Elf Name Is...

Furry Hot Chocolate

What's Your Elf Name?

*Another Holiday Card*

I am very very pleased to report that I have made a total of 60 Christmas cards.... I might be done, although I might also make another 10 just in case. I like to have extras on hand. I have made a lot of different designs this year and I chose 6 that I really liked and made 10 of each of them. I spent yesterday afternoon finishing them off.

The best part of doing it this way is that I was able to spend more time on the cards. Instead of 60 simple design cards, I made a few designs that were simple and a few that required more work (lots of colouring).

I might make another 10 of a new design to send to those people who read my Blog so that they don't get something they've already seen.

The card today is a little "different" for me... not really my Christmas style this year. More traditional and grown-up than the others I have made.

I saw this set in The Angel Company catalogue and I had to have it. The swirls were so beautiful and the images all so elegant. Not sure what else I will do with the set yet.... will have to do some more playing.

Items Used:
*Images: The Angel Company Holiday Magic
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Ruby Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
*Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Fruitcake
*Ink: Document Black Ink; Stampin' Write Markers in Garden Green
*Embellishments: Sakura Quickie Glue Pen with red Ultra Fine glitter; Prima flowers; silver brads

So, now the question... when do I stop making Christmas Cards? As I've said before, Christmas is my favourite "reason" to make cards. I think I still have a few Christmas ideas left in me... not to mention a bunch of stamps that have never seen ink, patterned papers that have never been cut, and embellishments that are begging to be used!

*Flashback Friday*

Tonight marks the start of the holiday season for Bruce and I... we have our first Christmas party to go to. Seems a little early, but then again, I feel like I'm behind. Does that make sense?

Here is another older Christmas card. Not as far back in the past as others I've been posting. This one comes from the first winter after I started as a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! Not sure I love the colour combination, but I really like how it turned out. I used a Stampin' Around Wheel to create the background. Quick and easy!

The hardest part was figuring out where to use the punches to create the tabs!

*Thanks Heather -- Aloha RAK Club*

Look at the great card that was in my mailbox yesterday! A big THANK YOU to Heather who sent me this card and the stamped images for my November RAK for Jen's Aloha RAK Club.

I love how she used paper piecing to make the dress on the new Hanna Stamps girl.

Thanks so much Heather!!

*Another Snowman*

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers! I hope that you have a wonderful day with friends and family. How many of you have a plan of attack for shopping tomorrow???

I am very pleased to report that I have 30 of my Christmas cards ready to be signed and put in envelopes. I have chosen a few of my favourite designs from this year and am making 10 or 12 of each card. This will be the first time ever that I am not sending out the same card to everyone on my list. The task of making my Christmas cards feels a lot less daunting doing it this way.

This isn't one of the cards I've chosen. I like it, but I'm not in love with it. You know what I mean? This card uses a sketch I found a while back at Poetic Artistry.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red, Bashful Blue
*Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! (retired)
*Images: Great Impressions
*Ink: Black Document Ink; Stampin' Write! markers in Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Going Grey, Bashful Glue
*Tools: Marvy Mega and Giga Scallop Circle punches
*Embellishments: Liquid Pearls, silver Snowflake brad

*Chilly With a Dusting of Snow*

Not my card, but the weather. We are well below freezing and we got a surprise snowfall last night around rush hour. It's not a lot of snow, but it will probably stick around for a little bit. I wouldn't even say it's enough to really play in.

Another Christmas card for you to enjoy today. I just love these images from Big On Christmas! So cute and so versatile!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red
*Patterned Paper: Die Cuts With A View Christmas Glitter Stack
*Images: Stampin' Up! Big On Christmas
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Basic Black classic ink; Stampin' Write Markers in Real Red, Glorious Green, Summer Sun
*Embellishments: red ultrafine glitter

*Try This Challenge #3*

Another Monday means another Try This Challenge brought to you by Nancy and Cindy! A big HUGE thank you to those of you who have been playing along with us. I hope that a few more people will join in this week!

This week, you are challenged to show us your ideas for Gift Card Holders. It's getting close to Christmas and there are probably a few people on your gift buying list that you'll buy gift cards for... and it's always nice to give the gift cards in creative packaging.

The first gift card holders I created were using CD Tins. I made a bunch of these last year and just had to order more this year to make more
I used some Stampin' Up! retired decorative paper and some sheer and silver ribbon from Michaels to decorate the top of this tin. I created the paper bow following the directions found here.
For this tin, I used some decorative paper from the Die Cuts With a View Christmas Glitter Stack from Michaels. I stamped a swirl on to Regal Rose cardstock with white craft ink and embossed it with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and created the scalloped edges with my small corner rounder. The image is by Stamping Bella, coloured with Stampin' Up! Markers.
I found the directions for this neat gift card holder after Dawn sent me one a few months back. Cambria has a tutorial on her blog. Again, I used some retired Stampin' Up decorative paper, as well as a snowflake brad. The Merry Christmas sentiment is a Peel-Offs stocker.
And finally we have the gift card holder that Paris posted earlier this month. This one was a lot of fun to make and really a lot easier than I thought it might be. I used Real Red and Whisper White cardstocks, some patterned paper from the DCWV Christmas Glitter Stack and images from Amuse and Stamp City. I did my colouring with Stampin' Up! markers and added some Crystal Stickles to make the fur on Santa's hat sparkle.

So, now it's your turn! Create some gift card holders and share them with Cindy and I! You can post them on your blog or post them to Splitcoast Stampers (use TTC3 so we can find them!).

And remember to pop by Cindy's blog to see what she came up with.

I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

*Snowflake Circles in Squares*

I am having a tough time realizing that Christmas is coming so quickly! I think it's been the lack of snow and cold weather here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling up Mother Nature and saying "bring on the winter weather woman!", but it's making it harder for me to realize that it's mid November not October still! I think Christmas will be here before I know it!!

I still have so much to do! Shopping (I still need ideas for many on my list... still need information from siblings-in-law about whether or not we're doing a gift exchange) and card making.

I almost panic when I think about it. Well, panic is a strong word. But I sure start to worry!!

Anway, on to brighter things....

I created this card after simply stamping one of these beautiful snowflakes on a scrap of cardstock. I didn't know what to do with it, but I knew I had to do something. I threw out the scrap and stamped the image again in a better ink than black, did a few more and this is the card I came up with.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Silver; Shimmer Blue cardstock (unknown source)
*Images: Amuse; SandyLion
*Ink: Encore Metallic blue ink
*Embellishments: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder; snowflake brad; silver cord
*Tools: Marvy Mega and Giga Scallop Square Punches; 1/16" hold punch; small corner rounder