Getting into Shape for the Holidays

Jumping into the special creative challenge over at CCMC227 which is to make a shaped card...so taking my inspiration from a few other ideas, I turned the Grinch into an easel card and the saying says "Even the Naughty Deserve Something Nice". Appropriate for a guy whose "brain is full of spiders and (has) garlic in his soul", at least according to his theme song :)

Card Recipe (All from Stampin' Up!): Big Shot, Top Note Die, Perfect Pennant Die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and Tags for Christmas stamp set. Card stock/Ink: Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Early Espresso. Punches: Scallop Square, Stamp, Scallop Border, 1" and 1/2" circle

Luckily for Mr. Grinch, he discovered that Christmas doesn't come from a store: Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more! And they say that the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day!

Ahh...one of my favorite Christmas stories (that I can recite from memory) and even my adult kids will sit down to watch the video :) What is your favorite children's Christmas books? Share it in the comments below and I'll send my Grinch card to one of you!

Gather and Gobble

Hooray for Turkey Day! While I'll be going out to eat this Thanksgiving, I still wanted to share this idea for saving your spot at the table: This cute little gobbler uses the SU! Treat Cups (116802) and a few different punches to hold a tasty treat: Pull the slider and out they come so you can re-use it year after year!

I gave a talk in church a few weeks ago on Gratitude and the question I asked at the beginning of the talk was this:

I've been trying to be more specific in my prayers for those things I take for granted: Being able to breathe and smell, a hot water heater, contact lenses, chapstick, the internet, scissors, my local library, public school, etc. etc. The list is long, but think about what you are doing right now and what blessing you aren't even considering that allows you to do it? If you had to gather or hunt for your food every meal, you wouldn't be sitting here reading my blog! Gather to Gobble AND give Gratitude to God this Thanksgiving!

Online Extravaganza: Starts Today!

Online Extravaganza: Steal of a Deal!

You know how you scour the internet to find a coupon or a great deal? You won't find anything as awesome as the Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza which starts MONDAY, November 19th and lasts through Wednesday, November 28th!! Don't miss the two 24-Hour-Only Sales on the first and last days... here is an advance notice of some of the steals you can score!

So start your shopping early this Monday, November 19th by clicking here: And grab that MDS 2+ Steal of a Deal!!

Hang On to Your Hats! Texture Boutique & Talking Tags (and that's just the beginning)

Hang on to your hats because there are SO MANY new announcements from Stampin' Up! it might blow you away (I've been completely amazed many times the past few days!!) I've shared a few videos to tell you about these new products:

First, A LIMITED NUMBER of the Texture Boutique Embossing Machines are available while supplies last...


'Tis the season of giving, and the Texture Boutique makes a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to create their own elegant embossed art. To help you with your gift-giving needs, we're offering a special value bundle that saves you $5.90. If you prefer, you can also purchase the Texture Boutique alone. Looking for stocking stuffers? Pick up some additional embossing folders.

Texture Boutique Bundle
Item 132700
$39.95 (a $45.85 value)
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 Pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim
• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive
• Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
Item 132657
$29.95
Includes

•  Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim

***AND***

Talking Tags!!

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words!

How to Buy Talking Tags: Buy 'em by the sheet! You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723). How to record a voice message: Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google PlayT. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure you're ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message.
To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code.  Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE STAMPIN' UP! ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA BLOWOUT SALE!

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

 

When I saw these frames on sale at Shopko last week, I knew I had to do SOMETHING with them, so I pulled out my Festival of Prints DSP (126901), some Glimmer paper (Silver~124005 & Red~121790), the Big Shot and a few dies (Typeset Alphabet~127553 & Snow Flurry~127813) and of course, some stamps and ink :) 

Once you've created your frame-able art, take a Stampin' Spritzer (126185) filled with rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), shake it up well and spritz glitter all over the finished project...even on the frame!

Even more fun was that I got to share this with my Seasonal Sensations Stamp Club who each made one of their own last week and they loved it too!

Holiday Helper: 12 Days of Stamping!

The holidays are just around the corner, and I have a wonderful opportunity for you! I am going to be sending out 12 Days of Holiday Helper Projects that will not only put you in the holiday mood, but help you enjoy a handcrafted holiday season. With each mailing, you will receive not only a picture of the finished project, but you will also receive a complete supply list with a step-by-step tutorial that shows you exactly how to do the project.

This special newsletter begins on Monday, November 26 and runs through Friday, December 7th. Subscribing is FREE and painless and if for any reason if you wish to stop the Holiday Helper (or future newsletters) I have a link on every email page to unsubscribe. Why not click away?

Here is a sneak peek at just one of the 12 projects: 



If you are in the Utah County area, I'd also invite you to attend the Christmas Stamp Camp this Saturday in Spanish Fork: Register by Wednesday to reserve your spot!

I am looking forward to "Helping" you through the Holidays...and beyond :)

Gift of Reading

There is nothing better than a new book to give (or receive) at Christmastime! Aside from stamping, I've also worked in a bookstore may years (to support my OTHER happy habit) so as the holidays are coming up, I want to share a few of my favorite recommendations AND a coupon for your shopping pleasure :)

TO READ TO YOUR CHILDREN:

A beautifully illustrated story of a boy learning that to give is better than to receive (or keep), this book will become a treasured tradition for your family to read aloud for the holidays. You can also download the interactive App for your Ipad and while supplies last when you buy this at Deseret Book, you get a free CD of the book being read President Monson :)

BOOK MADE INTO A FAMILY MOVIE:

Christmas Oranges

A LESSON IN FORGIVENESS:

The true story of a man whose expectant wife and 2 of their 4 children were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk teenage driver. I wish I could give this to everyone I know: It made me think about how willing I am to follow God's will for me, rather than insist that I know better than Him and about how forgiving truly frees us to live a life of purpose.

A BOOK TO COOK WITH:

My go-to blog in a book format! I love that they divide it into 4 seasons and another fav feature: The Roll-Over Ingredients, an index directing you to other recipes that use up ingredients when you bought more than you needed. Genius! Not to mention that my family has loved ANYTHING I have made from their first cookbook.

A FUTURE CLASSIC:

When we moved, I purged a lot of books, but this is one that I'll be keeping because it beautifully defines what a glorious gift the ability to read truly is! It is based on the true story of Sang Ly who helps her husband collect trash on the largest municipal dump in Cambodia to keep their family alive. The reader journeys with Sang Ly as she discovers a secret about the grumpy old woman who collects her rent that will free both of them from the past. I read parts aloud to my husband and bawled out loud on the couch as I finished it. Click on the cover to see a video that tells you more! Seriously: Get this book now. One for you and one for your best friend.

There are many more I could recommend, but this post is getting too long as it is :)

So here's the coupon (good through November 30) and hope it helps you get your shopping started:

Two-for-One Challenge: Feeling Autumnal

Serendipity! I made this card yesterday for the Create with Connie and Mary color challenge and woke up to discover that it kind of fits the Clean & Simple sketch #216 scallop challenge too :) Since I haven't made nearly enough fall/autumn cards, I was very pleased with how it turned out and the champagne glimmer paper makes me so very warm inside:

I adore the Autumn Accents Die for the Big Shot to make my own leaves and I used the Simply Scored to give the leaves veins. The DSP is from the Comfort Cafe package.  

It was so fun to create last night, but here is what my desk looks like this morning:

And my kids think there should be food in the fridge, so I guess I'll be cleaning and shopping today instead of crafting :( As my Father-in-Law is fond of saying, "Just when you teach 'em to eat dirt, they up and die on you." No bueno!

Christmas Stamp Camp

Christmas Stamp Camp

Saturday, November 17th

1-4 p.m.

This adorable tote holds a chapstick and a candy "kiss": A thoughtful gift for anyone planning to spend a lot of time under the mistletoe this holiday season! And it is one of the 4 clever and crafty gift and home decor projects you'll create at my Christmas Stamp Camp next Saturday in Spanish Fork. I know you can't see it in this picture, but it's also covered in **sparkles** for the holidays! 

Here's the deal: You'll need to RSVP by WEDNESDAY to save your spot...and of course, stamping is always MERRIER when you bring a friend, so call your BFF and make it a girl's day!

Cost: $20. Bring SNAIL and Sticky Strip adhesive (order refills when registering, if necessary) along with your scissors. All other supplies will be provided.

BONUS: My retired stamps and supplies will be available to shop from...all 25-75% off!

A Split Second: Resized MDS2 Page

Have you got your FREE digital downloads this weekend?  

This is the Split Second layout you can get while Stampin' Up! is celebrating Digital Scrapbook Day all weekend long! I added the sun/moon image for the Eclipse theme. Granted, you get it as a 12x12 page spread and I may be the ONLY person on the planet who still does 8x11 pages (besides my sister Megan) so I am so excited that with My Digital Studio 2, you can RESIZE your projects:

If you haven't downloaded your FREE downloads, click below and get them before November 5th!!! And don't forget: You can download and try out My Digital Studio 2 for 30 days free in my store, too.

Ink-redible Opportunity

You'll love the new Stampin' Up! Firm-Foam stamp pads, and you'll love them even MORE when they are FREE! HOST a $450 party OR JOIN my stampin' family in from November 1st -December 16th and you can choose a whole set (10) of ink pads free.

Contact me to plan a party with your friends or to start your own stampin' store :) Here's to getting your fingers inky this month!