Merry Christmas Everyone!

Yesterday, I was able to get all of my Christmas projects done. Hooray! I'm usually very last-minute (like with my mom's present last week!), so it felt good to get them done. Of course, I did put off wrapping everything today, but nobody's perfect, right?

I feel pretty safe posting this gift for my SIL because I don't think she reads my blog. This frame started life in the dollar spot at Target (see photo below). Quite a difference! I decided to use the Apple Cider designer paper because I wanted something masculine to go with the photo of my nephews, and also because Loretta's favorite color is green so I knew Wild Wasabi would be perfect. I measured the frame and then cut the two pieces of paper. To cut out the inside part of the paper, here's a great tip that I got from Emily Giovanni's tutorial on SCS: Take out the paper and glass from the frame opening. Then lay the frame upside down over the paper and trace the opening to make the perfect template for you to cut. I used sticky strip to adhere the Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon.

To all of you who are so faithful to read my blog, thank you! I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I'll be back in a couple of days to show some more projects I've gotten done.

I've got talented friends and family

Here are 3 Christmas cards I recently received. The card on the left is from my mom, Pat. (Hi, Mama!) Love the chipboard star! The middle card is from my friend and fellow demonstrator Carol. She is scgustaf on SCS and has great things in her gallery there! Her card came with a loaf of homemade cinnamon bread; can't wait to dig into that. The card on the right is from my friend Rhonda. The berries are glittery!

It's a good thing they are stamping, because I am not! I spent tonight poring over my NEW catalog. I went through it twice to make up for the fact that I've hardly had a chance to look at since it arrived on Tuesday. I can't have it feeling neglected!

Stamping class tonight!

Tonight was Sandi's monthly stamp class. She always has the prettiest projects! Tonight's set was Heartspeak, which is retiring after this month. We did a lot of coloring! The bird card was stamped on watercolor paper with Black StazOn and colored in with watercolor pencils. That was tough for me. The amethyst card was stamped with Basic Brown and colored in with markers. It's hard to see in the photo, but the photo corners and the strip of brown cardstock were stamped with En Francais also. I really like the green card! The image was stamped with Timber Brown StazOn and colored in with ink and blender pen. That one worked the best for me.

Instead of a stamp set, I decided to get the neutrals markers and Build-a Brads. Can't wait to play with those; they look way cool!

Well, I've been a very good girl tonight. I got my mom's Christmas presents ready to mail AND HAVEN'T EVEN OPENED MY NEW CATALOG!!!! It came today, and I'm off to check it out now. Happy stamping!

Look what Rhonda gave me!

It's called a vertical album, and it holds a scrapbook page. Isn't it cool?? We both saw it on Sharon Harnist's blog here: http://paperfections.typepad.com/paperfections/2007/09/desk-calendar.html . Clever Rhonda got her husband to help her make some! Now all I have to do is figure out what to put in it... That'll definitely be a post-holiday project.

Sorry, I haven't been stamping. I got my Christmas cards finished. Now I have to get them in the mail. If only they would mail themselves! I do have several projects to complete for Christmas giving. I'll only be able to show a few as some of the recipients read my blog. Hope your projects are going well!

Monochromatic Z Fold Card

Today's challenge on SCS was a monochromatic card. I automatically thought of Basic Gray since it's my FAVORITE! I decided to do a Z fold card. Basically, you just fold the card front back on itself. I also used my new set from the upcoming Spring/Summer catalog, A Beautiful thing. I stamped the solid flower in silver and embossed with clear EP. Then I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the outline in Black StazOn. (The EP was slippery, so the images smeared a bit. I'll try to do better next time.) I wanted to add my taffeta ribbon, but I couldn't figure out where to put it. Let me know if you have a suggestion on where it should go.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: A Beautiful Thing; Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray (both regular and textured), Charbon; Ink: silver, Black Stazon; Accessories: clear embossing powder, ticket corner punch

Stampin' Up has mailed our free catalogs, and some lucky demonstrators in Canada have already gotten theirs! You can catch a glimpse here: http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/12/nothing-like-a.html

Also, I've gotten a look at the upcoming Sale-a-bration sets, and THEY ROCK! There's a set for the scallop circle punch, and there's also a set of rub-ons IN 4 COLORS!!!

It's a Beautiful Thing!

Getting new stuff, that is. Whoohoo! My preorder came yesterday. I was VERY good, though. I didn't get hardly anything. I just love the new stamp set called A Beautiful Thing. I made the border using one stamp that has 4 flowers in a row. The centers are 4 in a row too. I got the color combo from the new Bali Breeze paper. It's not one I would come up with on my own, but I like it! I'm looking forward to playing more, so stay tuned...

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: A Beautiful Thing, Celebrate Everything; Paper: Confetti White, Old Olive, Bali Breeze ds paper; Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal; Accessories: ticket corner punch, Always Artichoke narrow grosgrain ribbon, cutter kit

The Last of the Christmas Cards

Here's the last of my cards from the Simply Scrappin' Kit. I really like the one in the upper left corner. I made it a gatefold card and cut the snowflake sticker in half.
Tomorrow, I get my pre-order from the new catty!! So I should have some purty new stuff to post soon.
Also, the retiring accessories list is being released tomorrow. Out with the old, in with the new!