MDS-in' ...

It's been a little while since I've shared some MDS fun with y'all, so today's as good a day as any ...

I have been going to girl's camp for so many years I can't even begin to count them (it's totally TRUE!! I know I started going around the time my oldest turned 1 ... he is 24 ... and I know I have missed a summer, here and there, when I had my other babies or strange commitments, but it has been pretty consistent. I absolutely LOVE it!! See that MOOSE??? Seriously??? He was HUGE!! And right outside our tents!!! (These were the leaders' tents, and lucky for us, he showed up AFTER we were all OUT of the tents for breakfast!!)

Stamps: Natural Composition Overlays, Contempo Alphabet, Happy Camper Memories
Paper: Fan Fare DSP, Very Vanilla
Other: Get It Done Punch 1, Soft Blooms, Antique Brads, Taffeta Trimmings (Very Vanilla); Font - Bernard MT Condensed.

And here I am with my BESTIES at Convention this past summer ... what a MAGICAL week THAT was!! I felt like I was walking around in a DREAM (being picked as a member of Stampin' Up's Artisan Design Team was truly a dream come true! It STILL is!! This year, so far, has been WONDERFUL! And HUMBLING!!)!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Convention 2012
Other: Convention 2012 Large White Frame, Dahlias, Delicate Doilies Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Fan Fair Stitching; Font - 2Peas High Tide

I'm still working in OVERDRIVE on a HUGE project I can't tell ya about ... yet ... but I hope to be finished by this Friday ... but I STILL won't be able to tell ya about it until JANUARY!! Looks like this weekend will be Family Christmas Card Creation! I have NO IDEA where I'm gonna go with THAT!! Stay tuned ...

AND ....

TODAY is the LAST DAY of our Online Extravaganza Sale!! Don't miss out!!

Wednesday, November 28, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT)

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
7	118941	Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)	$66.95	$53.56
7	120279	Clear Block Storage Caddy	$16.95	$13.56
175	109127	Stack & Store Caddy	$34.95	$27.96

You can visit My Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

The Fine Print

• Discounts range between 20 and 50 percent--awesome!
• Discounted products are available on all order types (customer, demonstrator, workshop, and online).
• There's no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion. Sale on!
• For product bundles, you need to use the bundle item numbers provided. If you use individual item numbers, you won't get the discount--bummer.
• You can buy additional products from any of our current catalogs on the same order. 

Two by Two ...

I have the cutest nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in the world!! My little grandniece just turned two this past week, so I broke out and inked up my Two by Two stamp set (finally!)!

I haven't colored with my reinkers and blender pens for a looonnnnggg old time, either! It was really fun, actually ... I had kinda forgotten how much I love doing this! (And I was taught by the "master" ... Kittie Caracciolo herself!!

I have until FRIDAY to finish a BIG project I am working on ... it seems I work well under pressure 'cause I NEVER seem to be able to get things done "early"! YIKES!

Back to the grindstone after a long weekend ... but I got a LOT done! I got my Christmas decorations up, as well as my mom's, so I'm feeling pretty good. Hoping for another productive week ... or two ... how come Christmas seems to come around about twice a year??

Stamps: Two by Two, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Watercolor, International Bazaar DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Island Indigo
Accessories:  Rosette Bigz Die, 3" and 3 1/2" Bigz Circle Dies, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Fab Friday #7

Welcome to Fab Friday! It also happens to be Black Friday ... and I was out shopping until 1:00 (and plan to go back at at 5:30!). Once y'all are done with the shopping and decorating you can play along with us!

I have just NOT been ready to give up all my fall-lookin' supplies for wintry stuff just yet ... this card started out as a winter card (complete with Pool Party cardstock). I just was NOT feelin' it, so this is where I went instead!!

Stamps: French Foliage, Family Reunion
Paper: Early Espresso C'oredinations, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Orchard Harvest DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Ribbon Slider, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Word Window Punch, 1" Square Punch, Paper Piercing Essentials

Here is a graphic of the sketch we were working with this week:

Love it!!








AND, here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Jason Casper
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Eat-stamp-shop ... great way to spend your weekend!!

Gobble, Gobble, GOBBLE!!

This is gonna be a really super-quick post ... but I COULDN'T let today go by (Thanksgiving in the US of A) without giving thanks for all of YOU!! You have made me laugh, lifted me up, and been supportive through the good and the bad.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!! Gonna take this card to my aunt when we go feast at her house ... she always makes every Thanksgiving so wonderful ... grateful for her and my uncle and for them letting our family invade their house!

Hugs to all!

Stamps: Hello Doily, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Candlelit Christmas DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Blossom Petals Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Double Circle Punch (for eyes - retired), Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Jingle Freaks!!

Welcome to the Control Freaks Blog Tour ... Christmas Style!! I am sooo excited!! You should just have come from the ever-amazing Gretchen Barron's blog. She ALWAYS has something wonderful to share!! Our theme this month? Christmas!! Let's get started!!

First off ... I tried something new. I have seen iris fold cards before, but I've never tried one. Here is my first attempt at one. These are FUN!! And MUCH easier than they look!

Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Candlelit Christmas DSP, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Early Espresso, Real Red
Accessories: 3 1/2" Bigz Die, Northern Flurry Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die, 3/4" Circle Punch, Pearl Basics

Moving on to something a little simple ... this is a quick and easy card with just a little bit of bling goin' on ... I think I am totally in love with this Champagne Glimmer Paper!!

Stamps: Evergreen
Paper: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories: Gold Embossing Power, Decorative Label Punch, Finishing Touches Edgelits Die, Linen Thread

And last, but certainly not least ... here's a fun little Christmas stocking full of candy canes!! I have been resisting buying the Stocking Bigz Die since last year ... I FINALLY caved this year!! I had such a good time making this little stocking! Freakin' cute, right???

Stamps: NONE
Paper: NONE
Ink: NONE
Accessories: Stocking Bigz Die, Designer Fabric Essentials, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Brights (Red) Glimmer Brad, Old Olive Scalloped Polka Dot Ribbon, White Felt, Sewing Machine, Candy Canes

Next up?? My BFF, JanTink!! She is ALWAYS blowing my mind with her creativity!!

ONLNE EXTRAVAGANZA!! November 19-28!!!

Who DOESN'T love a sale?????

Dates: November 19-28, 2012

Details

The Online Extravaganza promotion is our biggest online sale of the year! During these 10 days only, you can get incredible discounts - up to 50 percent-on some of your favorite products!

In addition, there will be three products 20 percent off for 24-hours only on both the first day (TODAY!!) and last day (November 28) of Online Extravaganza - our very own doorbusters! Woot!

Monday, November 19, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT) - TODAY!!

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
181	125586	Simply Scored Diagonal Plate	$11.95	$9.56
186	113439	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine	$99.95	$79.96
186	113474	Big Shot Doctor's Bag	$69.95	$59.96

AND ....

Wednesday, November 28, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT)

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
7	118941	Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)	$66.95	$53.56
7	120279	Clear Block Storage Caddy	$16.95	$13.56
175	109127	Stack & Store Caddy	$34.95	$27.96

You can visit My Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

The Fine Print

• Discounts range between 20 and 50 percent--awesome!
• Discounted products are available on all order types (customer, demonstrator, workshop, and online).
• There's no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion. Sale on!
• For product bundles, you need to use the bundle item numbers provided. If you use individual item numbers, you won't get the discount--bummer.
• You can buy additional products from any of our current catalogs on the same order. 

So be sure to make your list, check it twice, and remember that even if you're naughty, you can still get NICE schtuff!

And be SURE to come back tomorrow evening (Tuesday, November 20) for the Control Freaks Blog Tour!!

Black & White & Read (Red?) All Over!

It was, once again, my turn to hostess the Free for All Challenge on SCS last Friday. I decided to incorporate one of my favorite designer series papers of ALL time ... First Edition!

The challenge was to create a card using newsprint of some sort (paper, stamped image, etc.). Remember the joke from when we were kids?? "What is black and white and read (red) all over?" I decided extra "points" would be earned for adding black, white and/or red ... there is a teeny bit of red in my poppies, so I covered all of my bases.

I have a CRAZY week ahead! Soooo much to do ... lots of work for my Artisan Design Team (more details to come on that LATER), 500+ wedding invites to address for my friend's wedding (inside AND outside envelopes!!), the Control Freaks Blog Tour (which will be posted late TUESDAY evening - November 20 ... a day later than usual!), Thanksgiving, Black Friday shopping, Christmas trees to put up and decorate ... I'll be SOOO happy if I survive!!

Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Beautiful Birthday
Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Polka Dot Parade DSP, First Edition DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Accessories: Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Effects

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for November - Part 3

Welcome back!! Here is my final Artisan Design Team project for November ... Santa Baby!!

This photo just makes me happy. It's a picture of my oldest "baby" (who is now 24!). Baby's First Christmas ... I remember standing by and watching this photo being taken ... and having my eyes tear up. It just gave me the "warm and fuzzy mama feeling" (and for those who know me, crying is kinda second nature ... even during soap commercials for cryin' out loud!!)

This photo started a Weixler Family Tradition, too!! There hasn't been a single Christmas since this one in 1988 that I haven't had a "Santa" photo taken of my kids. Even at the ages they are now, they KNOW that there will be the obligatory trip to Santa for a photo every year ... I keep telling them that it is their present to ME!! YAY!!

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Candlelit Christmas DSP, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Gold Stampin' Dazzle Marker
Accessories: Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Rhinestone Basics, Frame

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for November - Part 2

Project #2 ... this is (again) a "more is more" version of a card I did with my stamp club earlier this month (see photo below). I haven't done a "more is more" type of card thing for a very long time ... and have forgotten just how fun it can be!

When I saw the "fill-your-punched-image-with-ribbon" idea at Convention this past summer I was BLOWN AWAY!! What a BRILLIANT idea!! I wish I had thought of it!! It really is must faster and easier than you would think ... punch out your image, flip the cardstock over, apply adhesive around the hole, and then just lay little strips of ribbon next to each other over the hole. It goes very quickly and looks oh-so-CUTE!!

Here is the "simpler" version I did with my stampin' girl ... I think it looks cute in both sizes, don't you? So much fun!!

I have one more project to share with you this week, so tune back in on Friday!

Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Candlelit Christmas DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, White Singo Pen
Accessories: Holiday Ornaments Framlits, Large (Wide) Oval Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Early Espresso Baker's Twin, Linen Thread, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Victoria Lace Ribbon Trim, Chocolate Chip Scalloped Polka Dot Ribbon, Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Rhinestone Basics

Freezin' cold here ... but we're supposed to get back up to the 50's by this weekend! Put another log on the fire!

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for November - Part 1

It's official ... Christmas is on its way!! (And, I will admit, I've already started listening to Christmas music ... what can I say? I'm a fan!!)

Today I'm sharing an upgraded version of a card I did with my card club last month. I'd been seeing a lot of really pretty monochromatic cards done with these lovely holiday ornaments. But what I HADN'T seen was the cards done in darker tones. This is a Christmas Night sky ... I love the little bit of sparkly bling that the glimmer paper adds to this.

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Midnight Muse, Pool Party
Accessories: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Rhinestone Basics, Decorator Label Punch

And here is the card I used as inspiration for the above card ... same card, much different look!

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Rhinestone Basics, Decorator Label Punch

We've had about a 18" of snow here since Friday. I guess there's no doubt about it ... winter is HERE!! Brrrrr!!!

Fab Friday #6

Welcome to Fab Friday #6! This week we are doing a color challenge ... and I LOVE it!!

I think I have mentioned before that I really love creative "challenges" ... where you are given somewhere to start. Whether it be a sketch, a color combo, a theme ... I learned HOW to stamp by doing the challenges over on SCS, and I haven't looked back!

Stamps: World Treasures, Friendly Phrases
Paper: More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, Orchard Harvest DSP
Ink: More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Labels Collection Framelits, Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch (to make banner "flag"), Paper Piercing Template/Mat, Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Here is a graphic of the color combo:

Such a great color combination for fall, don'tcha think????






AND, here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Jason Casper
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Hope your Fab Friday turns into a Fab Weekend!!!

Stampin' Vortex ....

.... that's where I've been. In the Stampin' Vortex!!! Sooo much to do, so little time!

You see ... I am not only working on my four monthly Artisan projects (can't wait to share THOSE with you!), I am also working on ... wait for it ... 24 PROJECTS for Stampin' Up's Leadership Conference in January!! The only catch? I received my box of supplies just over a week ago, and I have to have them all completed and delivered to Stampin' Up's home office by November 30!!! STAMP-STAMP-STAMP!!! BUSY-BUSY-BUSY!!

So you see, I haven't forgotten y'all ... I've just been working on things ... MOST of which I won't be able to share with you until AFTER Leadership is over!! THEN you'll be in for a LOT of new things to see!!

In the meantime, I made this for my cousin's birthday. Come back tomorrow for Fab Friday ... something else fun to share then, too!!

Stamps: French Foliage, Friendly Phrases
Paper: Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Sewing Machine

2012 Artisan Facebook Friday #2

Welcome to another Artisan Facebook Friday. We are all sharing projects that we did for Stampin' Up's Facebook page for October ... which means FALL-FALL-FALL.

If you've been following this around, you just came from the incredible and amazing Sarah Sagert ... her "Thankful Book"??? Brilliant!!

I haven't done as much "traditional" scrapbooking since I started making cards (and since I have been playing with MDS). The leaves from the Autumn Accents die just called to me. They were BEGGING to be put on a scrapbook page!!

I had to coerce my daughter to come outside with me to take these pictures ... even with that, I love how they came out!! Fall is just such a beautiful time of year. And with such a beautiful daughter (I AM prejudiced!), I figured they were a perfect match!!

Stamps: Decorate a Daisy, Timber Stampin’ Around Wheel
Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Orchard Harvest DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Bird Building Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Brush Bronze Designer Buttons, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Window Frames Framelits, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Next?? On to one of my other friends North of the Border ... Amy Bollman!! Her card creation is FABULOUS!!