October Stamp of the Month

Are you ready to start thinking about Christmas yet? I find it hard to focus on it until after Halloween most years. However, Christmas and papercrafting are ALWAYS a good combination. And the new CTMH Christmas line, Mistletoe, is too gorgeous to ignore!

I had fun with this paper set for my quality swap group. When I completed this card, I wasn’t sure I was happy with it. It seemed too plain. However, I have learned over the years to walk away from a project I am not happy with for a few hours and come back to it later, and I often find I actually like it as is. Once again, this proved true. When I came back and looked at this card the following day, it had a vintage (50s?) look to it to me. This snowman from the October SOTM is just too cute!!

 

You can also see used on this card the new Licorice Opaques (pearls) Z1335, the decorative brad is form the Mistletoe Level 2 embellishment pack Z1330 (which is GORGEOUS!), and the colored Sparkles Z1326. The sentiment is from the set Father Christmas D1449.

What happens when you have a snow & ice storm and your computer crashes in the middle of it?

And it's less than 2 weeks until Christmas????

No blogging for almost a month!!!! But I'm back now..........yay! No snow or ice and a computer that runs much better--I am a happy camper!!

Here are some pictures of our "fun" weather in December:

Our backyard--notice the ice glazed branches in the foreground! And this was in the middle of it all. We got even more snow than this!!!


Emily absolutely LOVED the snow. She went out in it every chance she could. Luckily, I had found a cute snowsuit& mittens that matched the new coat I had gotten her for Christmas. Needless to say, she got these gifts early!


And here is our next-door neighbor's car. Unbelievable!! We got even more snow after this!!! This will definitely be a winter to remember!!!

A Productive Weekend & Christmas Cards

Wow, did I have a productive weekend! Mel went up to the Husky game, and Em and I stayed home. She decided she wanted to have a "Pajama Day", so we stayed in our jammies almost all day on Saturday.

She is such an amazing little girl, and growing up so quickly........she wanted to work on a mini-album kit I had bought her, but her workspace was a MESS (like mother, like daughter)! I told her she had to clean in up before we could get anything else out. In the past this would have set off a bout of whining and pouting--it's too hard, I can't do it by myself, etc.

Well, not this time. She got right in a started cleaning up and putting things away. I decided to go ahead and help her, kind of as a reward for doing such a good job, and partly to make sure things got put in the correct places (though she was doing pretty well herself). When she finished, we both got to work creating.

While she crafted, I crafted and we had fun talking. I was able to work on a project I have had in mind to submit to a contest, and am quite happy with how it is turning out. I will be able to share it sometime next month.

Later on we got a call from her best friend, Mandi, to come play for a while in the afternoon. I was able to work on a bunch of school papers while she was gone. I also got part of the laundry done and a few things straightened up and put away around the house. Let me say it again--PRODUCTIVE! Yay!!

Since I can't share what I actually worked on this weekend quite yet, I decided it would be a good time to post this year's Christmas cards. These were designed for my 2nd annual Christmas Card Workshop that I held on November 1st. Of course, I didn't get my own cards made that day..........

(I will update with supplies later today--I forgot I hadn't posted this entry yet!)

More November Workshop Projects

Okay, it took me quite a bit longer than I expected to get back to this. Funny how life just gets in the way sometimes. At least life is good!

Here are the other two projects we'll be making on Thursday night!


Peace on Earth card supplies (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
*Aspen Level 2 paper pack
*December Word Puzzle stamp set
*Christmas Melodies stamp set
*Believe uppercase alphabet stamp set
*Jingle Borders stamp set
*Clear Sparkles (clear)
*photo hangers
*9"x9" matte page protector
*Bamboo Bigger Brads (previous Connection Club reward)
*white satin and sheer ribbon (other)
*scallop punch (Martha Stewart)
*white gel pen (other)


colors:
Outdoor Denim, Twilight, Bamboo, Desert Sand, Creme Brulee, White

dimensions: finished hanging layout is 9" x 10"

idea from: my original design


Round tin ornament supplies (all CTMH):
*Aspen Level 2 paper pack
*Designer Ribbon Rounds--Twilight
*Color Ready Alphabet--Bold
*Sparkles (clear)
*Rub-Ons--Nature's Ambiance
*Hemp--white
*Craft Buttons--Holiday

colors:
Outdoor Denim, Twilight, White

dimensions: finished ornament is approximately 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

idea from: my original design

November Workshop--Finally!

Wow--was I sick last week. Flu yuck took over my body and I had all the symptoms--fever, aches, fatigue...then a sore throat...and finally it all went to my sinuses. I was miserable! I ended up missing 2 days of work, went back a day and then missed another day. I HATE being gone from work--there is so much to catch up on...and I missed 2 days of testing with my kiddoes. Oh well, we'll get it done somehow!

On to a more pleasant topic now--SCRAPBOOKING!!! I finally finished my November Workshop projects this weekend. Here they are for your enjoyment:

Peace on Earth card supplies (all CTMH):
*Aspen Level 2 paper pack
*November Stamp of the Month--All Decked Out
*Say it in Style stamp set (previous SOTM)
*Clear Sparkles (clear)
*Twilight Corduroy brads (Winter Mini-Medley)
*Prisma glitter

colors:
Outdoor Denim, Twilight, Bamboo, Creme Brulee

dimensions: finished card is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

idea from: a fellow CTMH Consultant--unfortunately I have misplaced her name!
**EDITED TO ADD**--original card design by Bren Yule!! Thanks Bren!

**********************************************

Sorry to partiaI post and run, but.......today is my birthday and we are heading out to dinner to celebrate. ClaimJumper--YUM!! I'm having Lemon Bar Brulee for dessert!!!

I will post the other 2 projects tonight or tomorrow!