Party Hearty Birthday Card

I wanted to share with you this birthday card I made for my dad’s upcoming birthday on the 4th of January. I wanted to make something bright and fun to put a smile on his face. My dad will be turning 71, however he is very young in looks and still knows how to tease his daughters. This was made using Bold Bright papers and markers from Stampin’ Up!® using my favorite new birthday set, Party Hearty and a verse from the Hugs and Wishes set on the inside. I included a smaller preview of the inside view, too! So as you get ready to celebrate the New Year, think of this set as a great one to use for birthdays or New Year's cards.

P.S. My daughter Kai has her endoscopy tomorrow, so please pray for good results and progress in the New Year in finding a cure for EE and EGID, and for all those affected by it.

Country French Clipboard Calendar

Well, now that I have finished the Countdown to Christmas, I am anxiously counting down the days until the New Year begins! This is a clipboard calendar I made for my mom using Stampin’ Up!® products: chipboard clipboard, patterned papers, versamark ink, gold embossing powder, ivory tafetta & certainly celery ribbons, the full calendar and Mark the Date stamp sets along with So Saffron and Certainly Celery Inks to highlight the special days. This project appeared in my 12 Tips article in Scrap & Stamp Arts magazine, Dec. 2008 issue.

Christmas Day - what this season really is about

Today there will only be an inspirational post — a story I have to share that has summed up the spirit of the Christmas season for me. It begins with a part time job that I started at the mall. I was assisting customers and tried to make my way over to this man who had a question. I apologized for the delay and he commented that he knew how it goes this time of year in retail— he had just gotten off work at Walmart. He wanted to find this lotion for his wife that she requested for Christmas, but we were sold out of it. The only thing I had left in that scent was a gift basket with some body spray, body wash, a body buff and some minty scrub. It was the only one left in the store and on sale for 50% off...a bargain at around $16. The man stood there perplexed pondering the decision. I thought it would be a pretty easy choice and a great price. I went on to help other customers and hadn’t noticed where the young man disappeared to until I felt a tap on my shoulder as he was leaving the store. Beaming with a smile, he opened his shopping bag to show me the contents. He proudly commented on his way out, “I splurged!” My heart immediately swelled as did my eyes with tears. It was at that moment, that I realized what the true spirit of Christmas was really about...a selfless gift of love that was truly a sacrifice. For this man, it meant splurging his last dollars on a gift for someone he really cared about. For God, it was sending us his son on Christmas day knowing that he would give up his life for us. I wish you and your family a blessed and wonderful Christmas Day!

Day 1- Flurry of a Season

It seemed so appropriate to use this Flurry of a Season card as my post for the day before Christmas because at this time we are all in a flurry of assorted preparations for the big day. It may be baking goodies, grocery shopping for holiday meals, rushing to the mall for that one last gift you forgot to purchase or hurrying to another holiday event. It becomes a flurry of rushing here and there and not always getting to relax and enjoy the holidays. I hope that your Christmas Eve. is spent with family & friends and a little respite from the seasonal flurries!

Day 2 - Gettin’ Digi for Christmas

This tired little elf has to draw the line at how many handmade Christmas cards she can make. We have lived in too many places, made so many wonderful friends that how can we choose who would get cut from the Christmas card list. My solution...a Christmas E-Newsletter with pictures and a brief update. This way we can update our friends on all the latest events of the year and share some pictures of the highlights. Dan, my DH, took this amazing picture of our house lit up for the holidays, and I just had to include it in the card/newsletter. It also features pictures of Ashley & Kylie, my two girls, my niece Lauren, our sweetie Wheatie Bella, our family picture from my parent’s 50th anniversary party and a great group shot with my parents, my gang, my aunt, my cousins and their kids from our summer reunion in Orlando...always a fun time for all. All the digital goodies and papers are from Scrapgirls.com, my favorite digital scrapbooking site. 

I am happy to announce one great benefit of Kylie’s food allergies and our dietary changes has been meeting and exceeding my weight goal set in January. Yay, me! Also, some career changes have allowed me to spend more time with my girls which is priceless to me. Although 2008 has been filled with heartache over illness of family members, friends and my immediate family, we have all pulled through and are looking forward to happier times in 2009! I am ever grateful for the support of my family and friends who lifted me up when the going got tough. I just can't imagine a life not being close to one’s family, not having a closeness with God or not having friends to lean on. So if I count up those things that have graced my life this past year, I feel very well blessed! For all my blog friends who I have yet to get to know, may you have a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with many blessings, too!

Day 3- An Elegant Holiday Trifold Card

This is definitely not one of those cards that falls into the annual Christmas Card category, however, if you are looking to send a special card to a family member or friend with a special Christmas portrait, this is an elegant & impressive choice. Pictured you will see the outside, inside fold, total open view of the inside and the back view with the decorative band closure. It was done using some old Inque Boutique stamp sets with gold embossing and some hand cutting. I used Glue Arts Glue Ring Adhesive throughout, gold brads & red glitter as accent along with some crystal effects from Stampin’ Up!® to get the glitter to be 3-D on the poinsettias. Hope this inspires you to think creatively with your stamps and papers. Banded strips are always an excellent choice to hold multi-fold cards closed. The photo inside is an older one of Dan and I with our girls when we still lived in Shawnee, Kansas.

Day 4 - Pocket Full of Sweets

These treat pockets are fun and easy to make using patterned papers, some punches, ribbon and cardstock trimmed to 4-1/4" x 11" and scored at 5-1/2" and 9-1/2". You can make two of these from a single sheet of letter sized cardstock! For the side two pockets, I used the cheery, brightly colored patterned paper from Cosmo Circket’s Get Happy Collection, which match great with the brightly colored stick candy purchased at Cracker Barrel. I used a large circle punch to spotlight the embossed snowflake from Stampin’ Up’s Snow Swirled set and rimmed the edges using a stampin’ sponge and ink. On the middle snowflake, I embossed using clear embossing powder on white cardstock and swiped a baby wipe containing drops of ballet blue ink over top of the flake for a streaked effect. Again, I edged the circle with ink to make it pop. For the middle pocket, I used the blue patterned paper from the Frosty Days collection found in the Stampin’ Up Holiday mini catalog. These can also be filled with gift cards and a candy.

Assembly of these is a piece of cake. First fold pocket in half, then bend down the 1-1/2" flap and use corner rounder on ends. On the white cardstock, I rimmed the edges with ink and a sponge to add a little something extra. Next, flip the bottom panel down, run one strip down each side of the pocket using Glue Arts’ Permanent Adhesive and a Glue Glider Pro. Fold up to secure the sides, place one small strip of adhesive under the flap to secure and punch two 1/8" side-by-side holes through the right and left sides of the pocket. These will be used to attach the decorative side bows. Cut taffeta or satin ribbon for the large bows and thread points through the holes so the two points are front facing. NOTE: Before you tie the bow, place small piece of contrasting ribbon in the center. Make two bunny ear loops from the large ribbon and tie bow. Knot the contrasting ribbon over top of this and trim the ends of all ribbons. Decorate the pockets with stamping, stickers, whatever you like and have fun filling! These are perfect last minute appreciation gifts for teachers, the post man, neighbors, as classroom treats or for party favors. They also are a fun way to present a gift card, gift certificate or check. Ho, Ho, Ho!

Days 6 & 5 - A Double Gift - Gift Box and Shaker Card

O.K., call me a slacker. It is actually the contrary. I have been running on 6 hours or less sleep for multiple nights, plus work and Christmas stuff, so I have been totally exhausted. So here is the doubly delicious post that is a gift box with a NOEL double sided card with snowman shaker front panel. We did this last year as a make-n-take project in my Stamper’s club. I showed them the cute box that they could make on their own to store the card in. It is from Creative Imaginations. The alphabet stamps used on this have since retired (Headline Alphabet from Stampin’ Up!®), but you can substitute sticker letters or another alphabet. This tired little elf is off to beddy bye!

Day 7 - Something to Adore!

As a visitor to my blog, you have looked forward to the Christmas Countdown with a project a day. Today’s post is about something to Adore — the Adore 2097 Tour. I couldn’t help but post about the amazing concert we attended last night at our church. It was an evening of praise and worship that really highlighted this advent season. There was joy, tears and some amazingly talented performers, including Matt Maher, Josh Blakesley, Kelly Pease and Paul George. There were so many amazing songs, but the overall message that resounded in my mind afterwards was a real message of hope that all of us can use right about now...that all things are possible with God. This is what I will be reminding myself of daily as we enter into 2009. For our family, 2008 has been a year of challenge, health issues for family and friends, as well as a time of real change and adjustment. So as we are just a week away from Christmas, I wish to share that message of hope with all of you, too! Check back tomorrow for some new creative inspirations!

Day 8- Handmade Monogrammed Note Cards

This holiday gift idea was one featured in my "12 Tips" article in the Dec. issue of Scrap & Stamps Arts magazine. All you need is some patterned paper, a cool alphabet stamp set or letter stickers, other favorite stamps, a circle punch sized to show the full letter, some ribbon, ink and cardstock. A complete list of supplies used can be found in the article. So if you need a quick gift idea for Christmas, a birthday, a hostess gift or to just tell someone thanks, just make up a set of 4-5 monogrammed note cards with matching envelopes, drop in a gift bag or tie them with a bow and you are sure to have a well-loved, practical gift. An alternate idea is to give a gift set of all-occasion cards.

Day 9 - 80 Degrees, but posting about Snowflakes!

O.K., so this doesn’t seem very fitting. It is about 80 degrees in Florida today and I choose to post these snowflake cards. The only snowflakes I am viewing here are decorative ornaments hung from my window panes. Again, I used my favorite holiday set, Snow Swirled, and the gorgeous snowflakes from this set. I stuck with a winter color scheme of Whisper White, Baja Breeze and silver. I just love the wide grosgrain ribbon in Baja Breeze. I used it to create this faux stylized bow. To make the embossed snowflakes spotlighted, simply cut your strip of white cardstock, stamp the large flake in baja breeze ink, use a circle punch to create the windows, attach to the card front, then emboss the flakes inside the openings. Glue Arts’ ribbon adhesive works great for attaching the ribbon. I also used some micro adhesive squares from their product line to attach the loop around the ribbons. For the top card, I also used the scallop edge punch from Stampin’ Up!®. See my new tip of the month posting (in the side bar) for evenly spacing the circle openings!

Day 10 - Another Christmas Layout!

Here is a Christmas Layout I did using Glue Arts adhesives. It is being featured on FaveCrafts.com. This shows layering of flowers and buttons using Glue Arts adhesive squares and micro squares, ribbons using Crop & Glue Ribbon Adhesive, Frosted Chipboard letters, rhinestones and a fun holiday wreath "frame" made using a scallop circle punch. To check out the supplies and instructions, go to the Favecrafts link above. 

Another cool technique to try that I used on this layout is altering your photo to a monochrome or duotone photo to match your patterned papers. Speaking of papers, these were all super yummilicious papers from Karen Foster Design.

Day 11 - Same Card, New Twist!

If you visit my blog often, you then already know how I like to use the same layout and mix it up a bit by changing paper, ink colors or embellishments. Why reinvent the wheel when you can get on a good roll with one good idea, right? Today’s card, Amethyst Glitz, is a twist on yesterday’s Kiwi and Red Christmas card idea, only I made the wheeled pattern a bit stronger, used chalk pastels, sponge daubers and versamark ink to colorize the tree and snowflake. I cheated on ribbon useage by doing a smaller bow, added some scallops to the bottom of my framed panel and made the tree sparkle by randomly dotting 2-way glue and adding some lavender Cosmo glitter. The color combinations used are: Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Orchid Oppulence CS. The wheel is So Swirly and the stamp set is Snow Swirled, my Christmas favorite. For the verse, I used Orchid Oppulence Ink and Certainly Celery was used for wheeling. To add vibrant edging, I used Tempting Turquoise to make the white panel stand out and spattered Celery, Turqouise and Orchid markers over the white background using the Color Spritzer tool. All of these products are available on my Stampin’ Up!® website!

Day 12 - Never to Late for Christmas Cards!

Each year I vow to start my cards in August, but I never can seem to get into the Christmas mindset in the middle of summer. This hasn’t gotten any better since we moved to Florida. In fact, getting into the Christmas state of mind takes some real convincing until the reality of Thanksgiving sets in. This year I am being good to myself and have decided to not design a nightmare card that has me up all hours. Here is a peek at our card for this year. I went back to the traditional red and green color scheme with a twist, using the In Color Kiwi Kiss from Stampin’ Up!® with my favorite bright red cardstock, Real Red and the silky smooth Whisper White. I just loved the beautiful swirly tree from the Snow Swirled stamp set embossed in White on the red — it really pops! I will later post a cool poinsettia project using this same combination! So keep checking back on the blog for that project.

Other tools and supplies used: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, So Swirly wheel, Stampin’ Around jumbo handle, jumbo cartridge with Versamark ink refill, heat tool, white eyelets, Color Spritzer tool, Old Olive Marker and Kiwi Kiss Classic Ink. Adhesive: Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro and the easy-to-use cartridges make large cardmaking projects like this a breeze! They are easy to switch from temporary to permanent adhesive and you don’t have to fiddle with reloading new adhesive when you run out. Just pop in a new cartridge!

Hot Tip: For even spacing on the eyelets, I used the double circle punch from Stampin’ Up!

This is a really fast way to make sure the two eyelets are properly aligned on top of one another. Next use the Crop-A-Dile for quick and easy setting prior to mounting the red panel on card front.

Day 13 - Handmade Altered Ornament

This “Snowy Skies” Ornament was featured in the Dec. issue of Scrap Arts also in my 12 Tips to Make the Holidays Greener article. For this, I altered the plastic packaging from some brads I purchased. I filled the center with some snowy glitter, attached some snowflake brads from Eyeletoutlet.com to the background cardstock, and used Glue Art’s adhesive Ring to attach the embossed snowflakes to the top of the clear packaging. A frame of Mulberry Cardstock cut with Fiskars’ decorative edge scissors was added around the sides with some matching aqua wire and rhinestones to make this shaker ornament ready to hang!

So think a little greener this holiday season and give some consideration to altering or using some elements from some product packaging to create a fun gift or decor item.

No More Room 25!!!!

Today will be a double post day. Life has been a bit crazier than normal at the Wenger house, and it has nothing to do with the holidays...imagine that! Forget the to do lists and the half decorated tree, I have spent the last two nights at the ER with my youngest daughter, Kylie. Both nights, we landed in the same dreaded room...room 25. Not a very magic number for us this holiday season!!!

Kylie was diagnosed back in August with a condition called EE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis). It is a condition where she experiences swelling, difficulty swallowing foods and this sometimes is in response to a delayed allergic reaction to foods. She also has anaphylaxis to oats and some severe food allergies to many foods. These two trips to the ER shed no real light on what is going on presently, however Kai’s allergist reassured us today that her asthma is under control and these symptoms that she is experiencing seem related to EE and some muscle aches with another fancy name. She is back at school and hoping to have no repeat visits to room 25 this weekend.

I haven't really talked about this until now, but I think it is time to make others aware of this rising epidemic that many kids are being diagnosed with daily. EE is one of the Eosiniophilic Disorders that specifically effects the esophagus. For more info about EE & EGID, you can check out the APFED website which explains these conditions in greater detail. Our world was rocked 3 mos. ago when she was put on a highly restrictive diet along with medications to treat this condition. I joined a yahoo support group that is growing in new members daily. These parents are the most wonderfully supportive individuals and the stories are heartbreaking for the suffering that many of these kids are going through. 

Can you imagine not being able to tolerate food, to never indulge in your favorite treat again, to be on a super restrictive diet or rely on a feeding tube and nutritional supplements to survive? Think about what it is like for a child with restrictions to eat lunch at school, to hesitate to go to a friend’s birthday party because they know they can't eat cake, pizza or snacks, and how stressful a common holiday celebration can be for the whole family when you really have to consider everything on the menu. We have had to learn to read EVERY label for the ingredients, to wander aisles even in the nutritional food stores to only find one item that is o.k. to eat, to learn to cook using different ingredients, and to have to pack alternative foods when we go elsewhere to eat. My daughter and I have shed many tears together, picked one another up on those down days and have held hope for the future that she can maybe have some of the foods back one day, and not lose any others. We all work together to make life as “normal” as it can be.

There is a foundation called CURED, and if you are looking to make any year end donations, I encourage you to support this cause so that we can find a cure for our kids who are suffering from Eosinophilic Disorders. There are T-shirts and bracelets for sale, or you can do direct donations for as little as $1. Another organization that has been a great resource to Kylie is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis site for teens (FAANTEEN.ORG). And as you count your many blessings this year, don't overlook the most basic ones. As Kylie said to me the other day, “I will never ever take food for granted.” Continue to keep us in your prayers in the year ahead.

Day 14 - Snuggling up with Santa

I couldn’t resist scrapping this moment when I caught our irresistable Wheaton Terrier, Bella, snuggled up on this old stuffed Santa. It is an heirloom from my husband’s childhood and we put him on the couch each Christmas. I came out of my studio and saw that she had used him as a pillow. It was too sweet. I grabbed my camera knowing I would have to make a page layout from this. The stamped images are from Inque Boutique’s Arabesque set, the adhesives are from Glue Arts and the chipboard is K&Company Glittered Twinkle Type. The top and bottom border were a freeform design I cut from patterned paper.

Hope this puts you in the mood to scrap your photos on Santa’s Lap!  ho, ho, ho!

Day 15 - The Shellebrating Continues

Let the Holiday Shellebrations continue! Again, I have used the same basic layout, but have changed out some colors and the basic embellishments to make these two Christmas cards. The main cardstock is Taken with Teal from Stampin’ Up!®. I used markers and blender pens to colorize the bucket of shells from the Shellebrate stamp set. To add some sparkle, I dotted 2-way glue over top of the colored stamping and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds glitter to add shimmer to both the Buckets of Shellebrations & Beachy Shimmer card.

Day 16- Time to Shellabrate the Season!

Living in a coastal climate, I always love creative ways to make Christmas cards that fit that bring a touch of Florida into the design. In these two card examples that I demonstrated at my November Stampin’ Up!® workshop, I 

used the Sanded background stamp with a shell stamp from the Seaside set to create this simple and elegant card. The verse is appropriately from the Shellebrate stamp set which I used for the Surfin’ Snowman pull-up card. Tomorrow I will post another set of cards made with that cute set.

To recreate this:  Cut a piece of Naturals Ivory CS to 3-3/4" x 5". Stamp shell in versamark ink and use Gold Stampin’ emboss powder & heat tool to emboss the shell image. Ink Sanded background stamp with Versamark pad and colorize using chalk Stampin’ pastels in natural tones of mustard, cocoa, chocolate, carmel, moss and rust, or add others you like! The sponge daubers work great for this! Punch 1/16" hole in top right corner and insert mini gold brad. Mount layer onto More Mustard Cardstock. Tie chocolate chip taffeta ribbon around front panel and trim points. On a small scrap of chocolate chip cardstock, emboss verse in gold, tear bottom edge, drag over versamark pad and emboss edging in gold for a gilded effect. Bend top left corner down. Mount onto card front. Note: In the second card sample, I added some more colored pastels to the background, made a bow with ribbon, added embossing around edges of shell layer and adding more tearing to the verse. You can always use the same basic concept, change out ink colors, papers, ribbons, backgrounds to get a variety of looks, not only on this example, but on any project. Tip: The reason I embossed the shell first in gold was to avoid the gold embossing powder sticking to the versamark ink used with the pastels. So whenever you want to add embossing to a chalked background or stamped card, you have to plan to do the embossing first, unless you don't mind having some touches of embosssing in your background.

If you want to see the Stampin' Up! sets that will be retiring, click here to view. Order by Dec. 23rd and receive 10% off plus FREE shipping!!! You can order these directly from my website. They will no longer be available after Jan. 18th.

Day 17 - Handmade Garland

If it’s time to trim the tree and you’re tired of the same, store bought trimmings, think about using your scrap & stamp supplies to make your own garland or ornaments. Here is an example of handmade garland, from my 12 Tips article in the Dec. 2008 issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts Magazine. You can use wire, hemp, floss, fibers, ribbons and more. Add buttons, brads and other fun embellishments to make your tree Scraplicious! I used dollar stamps from Inque Boutique’s Holiday Spotlight collection along with favorite finding buttons, Glue Arts Adhesives and Karen Foster Design’s scrapper’s floss. Happy Decorating!!

Day 18 - Reusable Wish List

If you haven’t picked up your copy of the Dec. issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts, then you have missed this and some other fun projects featured in my 12 Tips to Make the Holidays “Greener” article. This is a reusable wish list featuring an acetate overlay. You can use permanent marker and replace the overlays for different shopping days or family members.

Day 19 - Surfin’ Snowman Gift Card Holder

What can I say, when you find a good idea, use it in as many different ways as you can. Here is yet another spin on the pull-up gift card holder, only this one folds to a single panel, with a pull-up area for a message or gift card. Folded dimensions are 2-1/4" x 4-14". Flat dimensions are 5" x 4-1/4" scored at 2-1/4" and 4-1/2" with a half inch wrap around seal. Inside panel is 2-1/8" x 4-1/2". For this gift card holder, I wanted something fun and Florida style...bright and sunny!!! I chose Real Red, Green Galore, Whisper White and So Saffron Cardstock. I edged the scallop circle “sun” in Only Orange and the hand colored surfer snowman in  Real Red ink. Blender pens and markers were used to hand color. I added touches of glitz by dotting 2-way glue over the finished art and sprinkling with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The ribbon is 1/4" red grosgrain and the stamp set is called Shellebrate, perfectly adorable for us coastal inhabitants. Have fun dressing up your gift card giving with this fun project!

Day 20 - All I Want for Christmas (Pull Up Card!)

If you enjoyed yesterday’s post, then you are really in for a treat today! This multi-panel card has a hidden, pull-up panel that is a perfect place to attach a special message with a gift card on the back panel. You can make (2) of these from a standard 8-1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock cut 4-1/4" x 8-1/2", folded in 2-1/4" increments. The last panel of the accordian fold is tucked back around and secured to the 3rd panel using a scored 1" x 4-1/4" strip of patterned paper. To hold this closed, I used a ribbon with a tied bow.

Here is a view of the 3 panels opened up, showing all but the pull-up message!

Close up view of panels 2 & 3...TO FIND A PERFECT TREE AND.... FOR MY LIGHTS TO STAY LIT! {he he he} That panel was inspired by my DH who obviously pissed off the goddess of lights at some point in his life. He has been doomed ever since and the lights do not make his holidays very happy! Sorry Dear! I know you lovingly do it for my sake, and we can only pray that whatever lights you put up will stay lit and problem-free in 2008!

Here is the hidden, pull-up panel. Since this isn't a close-up, the message reads...AND TO GIVE YOU THIS PRESENT! (This is where I would attach the gift card on the back side with temporary adhesive.

This shows the back view of the closed card/gift holder. I used the Mr. Twigster set along with the snowflake from the Snow Swirled set. Other supplies: Glue Arts adhesives, white and brown 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Frosty Day Designer Series Papers, Bashful Blue ink, Basic Brown Ink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White and Bashful Blue Cardstock, Stampin’ Write markers & blender pens, 1/8" hole punch and tab punch, all from Stampin’ Up!®. I will also post in my Stampin’ Up Gallery an alternate version of this card concept using different phrases on the panels. Be sure to check both of my galleries for newly posted card, gift & decor ideas.

Take Advantage of $5 shipping at Stone Creek Creations

Just had to let you know about the special holiday pricing on shipping at Stone Creek Creations...just $5*!!! Plus, if you order the Krafter’s Purse (my larger size tool caddy) along with the KP2 (that you see me bring to my workshops packed with stuff), you get the Karousel (turntable for the Krafter’s Purse) for FREE! But, you have to add the KP mini to your must have list. I love this tiny organizer that stays on my worktable and travels with me to my demos. It is small and has a built-in karousel on the bottom. Check these out on their website! By Purchasing the Passion Pink Krafter’s purse, you can help fight Breast Cancer.

*Orders must be placed by Dec. 31st. Only available on shipping in the U.S.

Day 21 - Twiggy Stocking Stuffer Card & Env.

Ready to make a cute matching card and envelope? This is a piece of cake with patterned papers! Here I used the Frosty Day Designer Papers from Stampin’ Up!® along with my favorite new snowman set, Mr. Twigster. Isn't he the cutest? For the stocking, I cut the shape from coordinating orange PP and added some liquid applique for the fur. (This puffs up when heated with embossing heat tool). I used Close To Cocoa ink and colored markers to add color to the snowman. I cut one of the star shapes and layered it over a 3/4 punched piece of paper that matches the stocking. To make the top layer pop, I added touches of sponged Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges. I glued matching PP on the envelope flap to finish off this coordinated card and envelope set. The coordinating solid cardstocks are Old Olive and Chocolate Chip from Stampin’ Up!®. Go to my Stampin’ Up! website to order these in time for the holidays! Check back tomorrow for a cool card idea with pull up gift card/message panel using Mr. Twigster and the Frosty Day papers. 

Day 22 (countdown)- Making Vintage Photo Angel Ornaments

Here is another craft idea to turn your child’s photo into a treasured ornament for your tree. Using my template I created, I stamped, embossed and distressed the paper pieces, assembled with Glue Arts Glue Ring Adhesive and Micro Adhesive squares. I cut an appropriate sized photo (leaving the hair and neck so I would have a way to attach this to the body). I created the halo from wire and two prima flowers glued back-to-back. The stamp set used is Joyeaux Noel from Inque Boutique/Darice. The NOEL message was attached using scored pieces of cardstock hung over knotted hemp. I attached it to the hands by wadding up a small piece of the adhesive square and attaching it to the back of the knot. The pretty layered, glitter flower is from Making Memories’ Noteworthy collection. If you are interested in the template, email me or leave me a comment along with your email so I can send it to you! Happy Holiday Crafting!!! Now I have to get busy on one for Ashley, my oldest daughter. This is our daughter, Kylie, 13.

Day 23 - Turkey Left Overs

More turkey left overs, but these aren’t the eatin’ kind! Here are some other Thanksgiving card ideas. I hand cut the paper pieces for the assembled turkey card and used the Stampin’ Up!® Doodle This set along with markers and the Aqua Painter brush to watercolor the flowers that I stamped in Basic Brown ink. I cut off two of the bottom pointed petals, stamped an additional pointed flower so that I would have enough feathers to layer. I also used the rounded flower to do the two side wings and the bottom made from a scallop circle punch sheet of Kiwi Kiss CS. Glue Ring Permanent adhesive was my choice for assembly. The Happy Thanksgiving sentiment I added was from the Occasions Collection hostess set—Earn this one by hostessing a workshop!!! Email me to book one. Can’t you just gobble up this card??? Very fun to make!

This card uses a simple one color stamped fern image from the Stampin’ Up!® Organic Grace hostess set to create the background with the stemmed design in brown. These accent the tiny turkey silhouette from the Occasions Collection hostess set. This simple concept can be used to highlight a phrase, image or photo for any them or occasion.

A Perfect Time to “Give Thanks”

I thought today was the perfect day for this special card. I am very grateful today for the many blessings that I have received and for how amazingly lucky I feel to be able to connect with so many wonderful, talented people and the amazing friendships that have grown since I have begun scrapping and stamping. I feel very blessed that God has filled me with so many ideas and words to share, and this blog has been the perfect place to do that. Thank you for visiting, posting comments, sharing your creativity and mostly for inspiring me to keep doing what I love and live to do...create. 

This “Give Thanks” card uses the Stampin’ Up!® level 3 hostess set, Happiness Always with the Sanded background stamp. The Really Rust Cardstock and raffia accent add to the rustic feel of this card. I used reinkers and a baby wipe to create the multi-colored swiped background behind the gold embossed leaf. (The colors can be bold or subdued based on the colors you choose to use.) Have fun trying this technique!

On the sanded background, I used autumn colored markers to give the stamp various shades and dragged Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke and Basic Brown pads over the edges & card front for colored distressing. The Thanks verse is from the Occasions Collection hostess set with a handwritten “Give” added with a Pumpkin Pie marker.

I interrupt this countdown... for some cool news!

I interrupt my Christmas Countdown for some really cool news... Scrapbooking.com magazine has notified me that I am the proud recipient of the blog of the week award. How cool is that! Go to their site and check out all the other amazing articles and project inspirations that they have featured there for additional ideas for holiday gifts, scrapbooking layouts and more. Be sure to check out my Cereal Box planner project featuring Glue Arts adhesives under the “Adhesives” section in the pulldown menu.

Day 26 (countdown) - Christmas Decorating

O.K., so yesterday we shopped until we dropped, now it is on to holiday decorating or what can also be known as Decking the Halls!!! I created this scrapbook layout from some of last year’s Christmas decor photos. So while you are decorating your house and trimming the tree, don’t forget to snap some pictures of your handiwork to add to your Christmas scrapbooking memories. It is fun to look back and see how your colors, style and taste changes over the years...or maybe not! ;D

Notes on the layout: Adhesives are from Glue Arts; Stamps and Embossing powders are from Inque Boutique/Darice, and I used a white gel pen for journaling and adding accents to the journaling box. Layering ribbons is easy with Glue Arts ribbon adhesive!

Black Friday Specials!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year. I love to shop and love sales even more!

Here are some great deals to tell you about. Glue arts is running a sale on their adhesives from now 'til Sunday...buy one item, get the second one FREE...and FREE shipping! Go to their website to order. Stock up on adhesives now. This is a great deal on their already great prices!!!

Stampin' Up!® just announced their Holiday Extravaganza sale. Check out this link to see what is on sale! Shop at my website or call me to place your orders.

Have a great day shopping! I am headed to shop with my girls.

Blessed with Wonderful Friends & Family

Oopsie...forgot to post this yesterday!!!
Today is a day of reflecting upon the things we are most grateful for. I would have to say that my family and friends top the list along with good health. In the various places we have lived, we have always been fortunate enough to be surrounded by so many wonderful people we now call friends. They have taken the Wenger family in and welcomed us into their homes and families when we were miles apart from ours. This year is no different. The wonderful Colton family has once again included us in their Thanksgiving celebration, and we can't wait to join everyone for a day of good food, blessings, fun and great company. May your day be blessed with wonderful friends and family members. Happy Thanksgiving!!! Here is a card I made for the Colton's. The inside says “The season of friendship lasts forever”, a verse from Stampin' Up!® set Season of Friendship. I used the hostess level 3 set, Happiness Always on the outside leaf.

Day 29 - You Put the Jolly into the Holly Days

These photos were taken last Thanksgiving day, poolside. As you can tell by the pictures, it was rather warm in Florida. This layout shows how you can combine stamps and an alphabet set to make a fun title. All the stamps are from Inque Boutique. Just love that frame my friend Susan designed and the other cool Christmas stamps, too! I did all the journaling on computer leaving more space between each line to add in some stamped stitched lines in red. I made the reverse scallop edge border using a circle punch held upside down, so I could line them up. The big white brads from Bazzill finish off the points. I used more faux stitching on the striped patterned accent paper. So while you are in the “thankful” frame of mind, make lists of all the things your kids do that you are thankful for or a list of how they put the “jolly” into your holidays! Check back tomorrow for another post!

30 Days ’til Christmas Countdown - free digi poem!

Well, Christmas is just 30 days away and in honor of this I created

a poem, based upon the ol’ Hickory, Dickory Dock rhyme.

Read it and enjoy...I created it as a digital png file so you can

use it on a digital layout or to make a digital card. Just leave 

me a comment or email me if you would like to receive this 

holiday FREEBIE from me as a thank you for checking out my blog!

I will be trying to post a project a day to keep you creatively 

inspired throughout the holiday season. So check back daily

and leave me comments. I always love reading them!

Dear Santa,

Remember the days when you wrote a letter to Santa with all of your Christmas wishes? For some of us, those days are so far past and we have long given up on wish lists. I propose “the return of the Wish List” for Christmas for all of us Big Kids, and I have made this process real simple for those of you who love Stampin’ Up!® products. Whether you live locally or across the nation, you can use my Wish List order form to make all of your stamping and scrapbooking Christmas wishes come true! Email me or leave me a comment with your email address to get this pdf form. 

You simply print it out, fill in your gift suggestions and hand off to a family member, friend or relative. They can call or mail it to me with the amounts filled in for the items they would like to purchase for you. It is that simple!!! Page 2 includes a section for choosing hostess sets and free merchandise, if the order qualifies for that. So ladies, make it easy for your DH or other family members to surprise you and put a smile on your face this Christmas morning. Credit cards and checks accepted on all orders and don't forget that I have Stampin’ Up!® gift certificates available, too, which can be redeemed through me!

Tis the Season to Decorate Your Table & Your Walls

Fall Candle Holder

Fall Wreath - new Wall Decor idea!

With Glue Arts’ new Wall Art Decor Adhesive, Deja Views Global Views Double Sided Papers, my QuicKutz® Silhouette™ Digital Craft Cutter & the ROBO Master software (that comes with it), I found some fun new ways to bring festiveness to my house! Just wanted to give you a sneak peek at these projects I did for Glue Arts Design Team. I will keep you posted about where you can find my step-by-step instructions for these projects. These can easily be adapted for any holiday decor!