Change of Pace ...

While we are ALL recovering from the Christmas Day festivities, I decided to share a card with you that is a departure from all the holiday/winter-themed projects that have been showing themselves in ABUNDANCE for the past couple of months!

I was fortunate ... blessed ... enough to have been invited to a group meeting/Christmas get-together for Pam Morgan's downline (LOVE that woman!)! We had a grand ol' time stamping and swapping and EATING. The only "rules" for our shoebox swap was that they had to be using "current" SU products. Sooo ... since I had JUST received my new box of mini catalog preorder stuff, I decided to go with ... WHAT ELSE?? A butterfly!!

I haven't done "emboss resist" in AGES! This butterfly just ACHED to be done that way, so here she is!!! I used some Rose Red and Tangerine Tango for this particular butterfly ... one color just didn't seem to do it!!

I STILL have MILES and MILES of PILES and PILES in just about every stinkin' room in my house!! My goal for today is to see if I can get rid of at least HALF of them!! Wish me luck!!

Stamps: Swallowtail, Bloomin' Marvelous
Paper: Rose Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Rose Red, Tangerine Tango, Versamark
Accessories: Oval Punch, Rose Red Seam Binding, Clear Embossing Powder

Keebler Elf Sunday

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... that song has been going through my head a LOT the past few weeks!! (Whether I am doing something I enjoy, or feeling the frantic-hectic pace that this time of year brings!!) Yesterday we had our yearly Weixler Family Keebler Elf Sunday. We've been doing this for YEARS!!

This year, however, we went from making dough (which Amelia and I did in the morning before church - 10 batches of it!), to having all the neighbor gifts DELIVERED in less than 12 hours!! Sheesh!! It was GREAT having all the kids home and helping, though ... lots of talking and laughing (DESPITE how Amelia looks in this picture, they WERE having a great time! Somehow my kids find it funny to pull DORKY faces - hence, Devan's over-the-top look - can't hardly get them to be "normal" anymore!)!

And here is what they look like all finished!! Since I was making 54 tags, I decided to take the "easy" way out and use my Cricut (you can't see in the photo, but I embossed the white layer with polka dots ... they turned out cute and didn't take long at ALL!)!!

And I tradition I now have on my blog every year is sharing this most DELICIOUS cookie recipe with you!!

Lucky Pennies

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 C. (1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened)
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 large egg
granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough from the bowl and roll the cookies into about 1"-in-diameter balls. Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Makes about 8 dozen cookies.

Wishing you all the MERRIEST of HOLIDAYS ...

Paper: Gumball Green, Whisper White
Accessories: Cricut Very Merry Tags Cartridge, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Winter Fun with the Freaks!!

Welcome to some Winter Fun with the Freaks!! This month we are SMALL by MIGHTY!! Busy-busy-busy is happening all around us!! The nice thing about our theme - "Winter Fun" - is that it means you have no idea WHAT you're gonna get!! (Kinda like Forest Gump's box of chocolates!!) If you're following the Tour around, you should have just come from my BFF JanTink's blog (LOVELY Christmas cards going on over THERE!)!!

First off, I am finally sharing the "official" 2012 Weixler Family Christmas Card!! Oddly enough, this is probably one of the EASIEST cards I have ever done as a family Christmas card ... I tend to overextend myself with these, so I decided to go a little easy on myself.

I fell in love with this image from "Come to Bethlehem" LAST year. I'm glad I was able to figure out a way to incorporate it with the glittery snowflake. I'm pretty happy with the result!

Stamps: Come to Bethlehem
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Champagne Glimmer DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Accessories: Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Modern Label Punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Large Pearl Basics, Gold Embossing Powder

Here is the inside ... I decided to try doing the whole thing with MDS. LOVE how easy that is!!! This family photo almost DIDN'T happen ... it was almost literally at the "11th Hour" ... and the sun was going DOWN!!! So happy we were able to get 'er done!!

MDS Stamps: Home for the Holidays Stamp Brush Set
MDS Embellishments: Trim the Tree, Square Punch
MDS Paper: Christmas Cheer, Christmas Jingle

And I have one more little project to share. A gift tag! I am coming up on having to send my neighbor gifts out (somehow I can't seem to get OFF the 50-family list I am on!). I was thinking I was going to make these for my neighbor gifts, but I may rethink it a bit, as this took a bit longer than I had anticipated (and since we are gonna make about 1,000 cookies this weekend, I need to make it a little more simple!)! No matter ... I like how it turned out, and I'll figure out SOMEwhere to use it!!

Stamps: Scentsational Season, Pennant Parade
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Snow Festival DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Pennant Parade Bigz Die, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Holiday Collection Bigz Die, Pearl Basics, Silver Mini Brads, Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread

Next, hop on over to the blog of the MEGA-talented Mary Brown!! (I think I wanna be her when I grow up!!

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for December - Part 3

I am a few days behind in posting this ... caught myself a nasty headache which put me out for a few days (all is well now, though!)! I am finally feeling back on track ...

I am VERY excited to share with you this little mini photo album. I have made these before, but it has been about 4-5 years. They are REALLY fun to make! This one is an "ode" to my little toy poodle "Daisy" ... she owns EVERY single person in my family!!

Here is what it looks like with the "belly band" pulled off ...

When you open the album like a "book", this is what you see inside ...

After untying the little flaps, here is a peek inside (it just keeps getting BIGGER and BIGGER!)!

TA-DA!!!! This thing folds out QUITE large!!

If I flip the three photos on the left over (kinda like turning a page in a book), here are the photos on the back ...

And here is the same view on the right side ...

Now ... BEFORE you ASK ... I AM going to be doing a tutorial on this little beauty ... but NOT until after all the holiday craziness is OVER!! So, STAY TUNED!!


Also, because SOOO many of you have asked about my ribbon rack ... posted HERE ... here are the dimensions:
55" Tall
24" Wide
4 1/4" Shelf Height
3 3/4" Shelf Depth

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!! Come back tomorrow night/Thursday morning for a look at the December version of the Control Freaks Blog Tour!!

Stamps: Morning Post Alphabet, Simply Serif Alphabet
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist
Accessories: Simply Scored, Small Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, Blossom Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Punch, Itty Bitty Punch (Circle), Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Mini Silver Brads, Linen Thread

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for December - Part 2

Part of what we get to play with each month for the Artisan Design Team comes in the form of MDS downloads ... MOST EXCELLENT!! Sooo ... this month I wanted to be sure and take advantage of that and play with some of what we got ...

I have been making a concerted effort in the past few years to make sure that my hubby and I get pictures taken TOGETHER ... too often, one of us (usually ME!) is behind the camera. I realized when I went through some photos of my parents a few years ago that they didn't take enough photos together and want to make sure that I don't end up in the same boat ... so that is where this layout came from ... me and my bestest friend in the WORLD!!

Stamps: Natural Composition Overlays, Freehand Phrases, A Split Second (Splatter 1), Ink Splatter (Splatter 3), Greatest Moments II
Paper: Good Life DSP
Embellishments: More Candid Frames, Piece of Cake (Flags), Fan Fair (Stitching), Mis-Stitched

And SPEAKING of my hubby ... and how he is the BEST ... LOOKIE WHAT HE MADE ME!! (It is actually my Christmas present, but he finished it a little early and hung it up the other night!) Isn't it DIVINE and AMAZING!! OHMYGOSH!! I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how happy this has made me!! HAPPYDANCE!! I haven't finished organizing all of my ribbon in it yet (still sorting and deciding WHAT to keep).

I LOVELOVELOVE how the little dowel allows me to feed the end of my ribbon spool under it. I spent the longest time the morning after he hung it up just sitting and STARING at it after I got the ribbon put in ... this is the BEST EVER!! I guess that is because my hubby is the BEST EVER!! I am one lucky girl!!

And because SOOO many have asked ... I am amending this post to add the dimensions for this lovely ribbon rack:

55" Tall
24" Wide
4 1/4" Shelf Height
3 3/4" Shelf Depth

2012 Artisan Design Team Projects for December - Part 1

My brain is SOUP!! I have been running from one project to another for the last few weeks, and I frankly can't remember if I'm coming or GOING!! Sheesh!

I was able to take a bit of time this morning to play with some of the goodies that came in my latest shipment from Stampin' Up ... this really DID start out as a "dude" card ... but knowing how I struggle with those, it took a turn in the middle and came out kinda "girlie" ...

This Natural Composition DSP is GORGEOUS!! I have a hardly used it at ALL (Hoarder's Syndrome??) ... want to make sure that anything I use it for is "worth" cutting into it, know what I mean?? I think I'm gonna have to get over that ... someday!!

I am still frantically working on Christmas cards. We FINALLY got a family photo taken yesterday, so now I can't use that as an excuse to finish any more! I'm hoping to get through most of the rest of what I need to do with them tomorrow ... wish me luck!!

Have a happy Monday!!

Stamps: Morning Post Alphabet, Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Natural Composition DSP, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Large Scallop Border Edgelits Die, Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Fab Friday #8

Here we are again for another Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge ... except that it is SATURDAY!! With the onset of Facebook Friday for the Artisans yesterday, I had to postpone posting my Fab Friday card until today ...

This week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge was a color challenge. I struggle when I have to work with LOTS of colors at the same time, BUT I hafta admit that I LOVELOVELOVE this color combo!! Soooo fresh and fun!! And I also hafta admit that I used this over on SCS as the sample for my Free for All Challenge yesterday, which I called Springtime in December.

As this combo so EASILY could lend itself to a Christmas-y card (as you will see if you go and check the samples of my other Fab Friday friends), I had a GREAT time turning it into something Spring-y. AND I got to play with some of my new preorder and Sale-a-Bration stuff ... which was ALSO very fun!

Stamps: Madison Avenue, Bloomin' Marvelous
Paper: Real Red, Gumball Green, Pool Party, In Color DSP
Ink: Real Red, Gumball Green, Pool Party, Primrose Petals
Accessories: Small Butterfly Punch, Oval Punch, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Large Rhinestone Basics, Rhinestone Basics, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Without further adieu, 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
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Amy O'Neill
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman

I am headed off to a fun Christmas Party/Shoebox Swap Extravaganza with Pam Morgan and a bunch of her stampy friends!! Sooo happy I got invited to go!! It's gonna be a FUN day!!

2012 Artisan Facebook Friday #3

Hey, friends!! Welcome to another Stampin' Up 2012 Artisan Design Team "Facebook Friday!" OHMYGOSH!! Can I say that my doors were TOTALLY BLOWN OFF by all of the amazing things my Artisan friends created for this month!! Like Sarah Sagert (whose blog you just came from if you are following the hop around!)! Her card is GORGEOUS, don'tcha think?? LOVED the vintage-y feel of that!!

This month I wanted to make a "garland" ... primarily because my daughter is away at college and I wanted to give HER something to hang (and she LOVED it, by the way!)! This is a view of the overall thing ... (sorry I can't make the photo bigger ... Blogger won't LET me!! Click on the image to see it more "up close and personal"!)

And here is a closeup ... (I hafta admit the little square ornament with the gingerbread man is my favorite!!)

And another one ... I think the champagne glimmer paper is DA BOMB!!

And another one ... you get a better idea of how all the ornaments look in this one!

And ANOTHER one!! All the crazy ribbon and tulle!! I really LOVE how this turned out!!

Before you ask HOW I got the little "Scentsational Season" dudes in the little clear ornaments, let me just say that is was EASY-CHEESEY!! I just kinda rolled them in on themselves a little and STUFFED 'em down in the hole on the top of the ornament. There is a little piece of linen thread stuck to the top-back of each little image via a glue dot ... the glue dot/thread is then covered by a little punched 1/2" circle. I threaded the thread back through the metal finding at the top and tied it on. That's pretty much it! (And for those of you old enough to remember ... I kept hearing Mr. Bill's voice scream "Ooooohhhh nooooooo!" as I was stuffing the little gingerbread men in!! It made me giggle!).

The sad story that goes with this is that I originally started out with round GLASS ornaments ... hung them on my mantle with painter's tape (since it is what was handy AND I didn't want anything PERMANENT!). I went to go get a quick shower as it was late in the day and my hubby and I were headed out ... he came and knocked on the door and said, "Wendy ... there was a LOUD breaking glass kinda sound out in the front room just now!" "WHAT??!!??" All stinkin' day and TWO jars of champagne glass glitter ALL OVER THE PLACE!! As my hubby dragged out the vacuum and started to prepare to vacuum up the mess I shouted, "NO!! I NEED TO RESCUE MY GLITTER!!" And so, you guessed it!, I spent over an HOUR picking little glass ornament bits outta my glitter so I could use it again (since I had NO MORE GLITTER LEFT!)! The GOOD news is that the really fun and funky-shaped ornaments I ended up using (bought at a big box craft store named after a dude) are PLASTIC!! YEP!! PLASTIC!! And I love the little square one! You can't tell from the photo, but the one with the tree in it is actually kinda disk shaped!! AND, when they fall down they won't SHATTER!! YAY!!

Stamps: Scentsatinal Season
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Candlelit Christmas DSP, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Holiday Collection Framelits Dies, Delicate Doilies Sizzlets Die, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Dies, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Circle PUnch, Large Pearl Basic Jewels, Pearl Basics, Rhinestone Basics, Crumb Cake Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Early Espresso Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Champagne Glass Glitter, Linen Thread, Clear Plastic Ornaments and Hooks

Moving on to the oh-so-amazing Amy Bollman and her OVER-THE-TOP-WONDERFUL advent project. You are gonna LOVE it!

More Little Chocolate Cards ...

I occasionally take a bit of time and make some cards for our wonderful little neighborhood chocolate shop - Hatch's Family Chocolates!! That place has caused me some SERIOUS addiction issues! And since my son AND my nephew BOTH work there, I have to make a trip to "visit" them at least once or twice a week ... you know ... to be SUPPORTIVE!! And, OF COURSE, I have to let them keep working while I am there ... so I just HAFTA order something!! It's a hard-knock life ...

These are the latest versions of gifts cards I made for them to take them through the holidays. The "larger" ones are 3"x3". The smaller little "gift cards" are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". They don't take me TOO long to make, and it's fun "supporting" a local business!

Stamps: Button Buddies, Sweets for the Sweet, Snow Much Fun, Scentsational Season, Make a Mitten
Paper: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Shimmery White, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Midnight Muse, Night of Navy, Early Espresso, 2012 In Color Designer DSP, Lemonade Stand DSP, Watercolor Paper
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Black Stazon, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Snow Flurry Bigz Die, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Creative Memories Snowflake Duo Punch, Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Rhinestone Basics, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Ribbon, Real Red Dazzling Details, Clear Dazzling Details, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder