For Foxy

I love dogs. Pretty much nothing about 'em I don't like (well, ok ... picking up dog poop and the remnants of once-loved shoes is NOT fun!). Something about having a dog as part of the family makes our home feel complete.

I made this card for my next-door neighbors, who lost their fur-baby, Foxy, a couple of weeks ago. She lived a long, full and happy life. She was loved. And she will be missed ...

Stamps: Come All Ye Faithful (Papertrey), D is for Dog (retired SU)
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Season of Style DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Banner Punch, Come All Ye Faithful Die Collection, Small Heart Punch, Paw Print Punch (unknown), Large Oval Punch, On Film Framelit, Linen Thread, Naturals Trim Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware (retired)

It will be nice to get back to a more "normal" schedule in a few days once we get through the New Years' celebrations. I plan to spend New Year's Day curled up with a good book in front of a toasty fire (hoping that we have "green" burn conditions so that a fire will be allowed!). I'm gonna read a book, anyway!!!

Christmas Cards, Elves and COOKIES!

As I am busily rushing around TRYING to do all of my last-minute Christmas-y things, I knew I was going to need to stop to wish you all there merriest of holidays! I appreciate all of the kind words, support, encouragement and inspiration that I get from you throughout the year ... you guys are the BEST!!

And without FURTHER adieu ... here is our family Christmas card this year. With that extra week "missing" in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I felt like I was running down to the wire in getting these done (ok ... I guess I actually WAS!)!! I have had a little gift card for the past several years that I have had tacked to my bulletin board ... it had a little pair of skates on it, and I have been THINKING about doing this idea for the past few Christmases. FINALLY got around to it!!

The skates and large snowflake are cut from images on the Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge. Lots of pieces, but I stinkin' LOVE 'em!!

I got the "Winter Wonderland" sheet music just by doing an internet search. This image was actually a little too "short", so I had to copy and paste and extra couple of lines at the bottom to make it the right size!

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (Yes, I HAD to sneak that one in there!)
Paper:  Early Espresso, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer
Ink:  Early Espresso (to sponge edges of skates)
Accessories:  Cricut Winter Woodland Cartridge, Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Burlap Ribbon, Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics, Script Texture Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)

Here is the inside of the card, done entire in MDS. I discovered this year that Costco will actually print 5"x5" photos!! That made my job MUCH easier!! I didn't have to print and cut all of them myself! YAY!!!

MDS: More Amore (Long Label); Let It Snow; Jolly Jingles (snowflakes); More Amore (DSP); Font - Cuckoo

Moving on ... every year on the Sunday before Christmas we have what we refer to as "Keebler Elf Sunday" at my house (many of you may recall that I have mentioned that here the past few years). Since we have been in the neighborhood for SO long, our "neighbor gift list" is kinda long ... so we end up baking, bagging and tagging about 1,000 cookies!! Sheesh!!! But, my kids will admit, that they kinda like Keebler Elf Sunday. It's a LOT of work, but it's a good time! LOTS of laughing, watching Christmas movies ... now that the kids are older and spend a lot of their time away at school I think that they appreciate this even more. Makes a mama happy ...

Accessories:  Cricut Very Merry Tags (made with Brilliant Blue and Whisper White cardstock), glittery snowflake ornament (purchased at Target), cello snowflake bag, Whisper White Baker's Twine

The tag on this year's bag of cookies was made using my Cricut and the Very Merry Tags cartridge. And YES ... that card stock IS Brilliant Blue (I seem to be a hoarder and can never get rid of ANYthing!)!! Was glad I had it, though, as it went perfectly with the snowflakes I bought on clearance at Target after Christmas a couple of years ago!!

And for those who are wondering, I AM going to share my "Lucky Penny" recipe with y'all once again this year. I promise if you try them that they will become a family FAVORITE ... and you will be FAMOUS amongst family and friends with whom you share them!!

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.


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Freakin' Occasion-ally GREAT!

Thanks for joining us for this month's Control Freak's Blog Tour as we venture into the Occasions Catalog (coming January 3, 2014!)!! LOTS of fun goodness in there!!! Did you just come from Justin's blog and see what HE did??? He is AWESOME SAUCE!!

This month I tried to keep it "simple". It seems I always try to use every "new" product I have on every stinkin' thing I make!! So, I tried to keep myself under control this time around (thus, the "Control" in "Control Freaks"!)!! I think the Polaroid framelit from the "On Film" set is DA BOMB, baby!!! SOOOOO much fun!

Stamps: Just Sayin', Peachy Keen
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB)
Ink: Basic Black, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: On Film Framelits Dies, Word Bubble Framelits Dies, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (SAB), Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics

And this one is even MORE simple ... I have always been a BIG fan of the "clean" white-on-white (or in the case, vanilla-on-vanilla) look! And the Chevon ribbon??? OHMYGOSH!! It's DA BOMB, TOO!!

Stamps: Peachy Keen
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Witches' Brew DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake
Accessories: Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon, Neutrals Candy Dots, Large Oval Punch

Next up? The incomparably-fabulous Connie Babbert!! Click on the "click here" icon below to see what SHE has done with her new stampin' goodies!

Monday Montage #9

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Monday Montage!! In the hustle and bustle of the season, the girls and I have come up with a few things to share with you this week. I am REALLY starting to feel the "lost" week that we are all experiencing here in the US of A due to the fact that Thanksgiving was a week later than "usual" this year ... PANIC-PANIC-PANIC!!

HOWEVER ... because my sister-in-law's birthday is today (well, December 15th, which is TOMORROW ... which is where the "Monday" in Monday Montage comes from ... but we post it the night before just to make sure it all works smoothly) ... I decided to make her a Cheshire Cat card because (a) the Cheshire Cat is her FAVE Disney character, and (b) she and I are leaving TOMORROW (Tuesday ... whatever ... see previous notes!) for DISNEYLAND!! WOOT!! WOOT!! I canNOT wait!!! Our husband's think we have taken the Train to Crazy ... they just don't "get" it! But WE do ... as does my OTHER bestie-Disney-buddy, Lisa (we're meeting her there!)!! I am STOKED!!

I found an SVG file for the Cheshire Cat free online ... so I just cut him out and added him to some of the new Stampin' Up goodies I got last week. I am IN LOVE with the "On Film" framelits dies. I this "Polaroid" frame is gonna be a staple-must-have for me ... FOREVER!!

Stamps: Just Sayin'
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Modern Medley ... and I had to dig DEEP to get some Cheshire Cat colors ... Orchid Opulence and Lovely Lilac ... both of which I SWORE I would never use again ... happy that I'm a paper hoarder and keep EVERYTHING!!
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: On Film Framelits, Word Bubbles Framelits, Bird Builder Punch, Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon, Essentials Hardware Clips, eCutter (Cricut ... guess who's getting a SILHOUETTE for Christmas???)

Click "Back" to see Melissa Stout's fabulousness, and/or the "Next" button to see Amy O'Neill's brilliance!!

Fab Friday #33

Fa-la-la-la-laaaaaa ... it's Fab Friday!!! With just a couple of weeks left until Christmas (Aaaaaaaack!!!), I'm still making Christmas cards. Quite LITERALLY!!! I haven't finished my own family Christmas card as of yet (things seem to be getting in the way!!) My plan is to have those buggers in the mail by Monday ...

BUT ... in the meantime, here is my card for this weeks Fab Friday. This week we're working with a sketch. I have to admit that I was a little stumped when I first started working on this card. I blame my TOTALLY addled, scatterbrained brain ... so much in there swimming around that I was having a time coming up with something! These stars can be easily created and cut out using MDS (My Digital Studio) and an eCutter. Kinda fun, aren't they??

Stamps: That's the Ticket
Paper:  Whisper White, Silver Glimmer DSP, Winter Frost DSP
Ink:  Island Indigo
Accessories:  My Digital Studio (Star Punch), eCutter (Cricut), Ticket Duo Punch, 2 3/8" Circle Punch, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon

Here's the sketch for this week's challenge ...









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
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Amy O'Neill
Marla Reed

Back to the workshop for me!! I can hear the clock ticking!!!

MDS & Christmas

Contrary to popular belief ... I have NOT fallen down any more holes and gotten irretrievably lost!!! Just caught up in the busy and crazy of the season!!! So today, I'm sharing a couple of Christmas-y-styled MDS (My Digital Studio) pages I did from Christmas past ...

This first one is one of my FAVES!!! Just me and my mama ...

MDS Ingredients: Paper - Candlelight Christmas, Number One, Soft Suede, Raspberry Ripple; Punches - 1.25" Square, Tasteful Trim, Snowflake Punch; Embellishments - Rhinestone Basics, Whisper White Simple Stitches (Line 11); Font - Lucida Grande.

And this one is of me and some of my MOST BESTEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!! These are some of my book group friends at our Christmas party last year ... I have been in this book group for over 22 years. Cannot even BEGIN to say how much I love these women!!

Ingredients: Stamps - Best Wishes & More (snowflake); Paper - Festival of Prints, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler; Punches - 1.25" Square punch, Heart Punches (small, medium, tall), Flag Punch; Embellishments - Candid Frames, Holly & Jolly Embellishments, Icicle Photo Card; Font - Beach.

And OH BABY, it's COLD outside!! We've been dropping down in to the SINGLE DIGITS kinda regularly this past week! Brrrrr!!!! Wish me luck as I brave the elements today!

Monday Montage #8

Welcome to another round of Monday Montage!!! I don't know about you guys, but I look forward to this every single time it rolls around (and for you newcomers, it's every other Monday!). My other Monday Montage friends always come up with the most BEAUTIFUL and CREATIVE things!!! I feel so privileged to be in this group!

So ... for those of you who made the paper curl Christmas wreaths this year ... what DID you do with all of your leftover strips??? And you KNOW you had leftovers ... and you KNOW that you didn't wanna thrown them out!!! (To be honest, mine have been sitting on my table since I finished the wreath, so I needed to do something and PRONTO!). Which is what led me to this week's project. I bought a foam ball at the local crafty store and just had at it. I had originally planned for this to be an ornament ... but it turned out kinda bigger than I had anticipated, so it looked more like a topiary to me!!

Here's a close up ... SUPER easy!! I'm pretty happy with how this turned out!!

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Season of Style DSP, Gold Foil DSP
Ink: Early Espresso (sponged onto wooden dowel)
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler 1" Stitched Edge Grosgrain Ribbon, Wooden Dowel, Vase, Gold Ornaments, Glass Frogs



Now it's time to check out what my "neighbors" have done ... click "Back" to see Melissa Stout's beautiful work, and/or the "Next" button to see Amy O'Neill's amazingness!!

Fab Friday #32

Welcome to Fab Friday on this Black Friday!! Hopefully, y'all have done all of your shopping ... and after a NAP you can play along with this week's challenge!!

I had a TOTALLY different idea in mind when I started this card ... and in the end it turned into something SUPER simple. It was actually MUCH more complex in my head. I always seem to struggle with "simple" ... so this card kinda made me happy!

Stamps: Snow Day
Paper: Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Ink: Gumball Green, Real Red
Accessories: Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Coastal Cabana Ruffled Ribbon, Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics, Season of Style Washi Tape, MDS (Old St. Nick - sled)

Here's the actual color palette we are playing with this week ...









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
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Amy O'Neill
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Have a happy weekend, my friends!!

A Day of Thanks ...

So ... as we are doing the busy-hustle-and-bustle get ready for the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast (at least here in the U S of A), I'm taking a quick "timeout" to come and wish a very happy day to you all ... and tell you how grateful I am for you and the kind comments and support that have been shared with me since I started this blog waaaayyy back in the day!! You have shared so much with me ... ranging from nice comments about things I have created, to prayers and support for me and my family when we have faced difficult times ... AND you have laughed with (AT??) me when I have told ridiculous stories about my life adventures ... you are all the BEST!!

I am sharing a card with you today that I made for my friend and her family. One of our Stampin' Up "family" members, Kimberly Van Diepen, has been at her husband's hospital bedside for over a week since he had some VERY unexpected strokes!! We have all been praying for the Van Diepen's and sending hugs their way ... I KNOW that this is so helpful to those on the receiving end, because I have been there myself (and y'all were there!!)!!! Isn't that what paper crafting and card making are about? To do something you love and share it with others in some form or another? Makes me happy!!

Stamps:  Off the Grid, Chalk Talk, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry
Accessories:  Chalk Talk Framelits, Season of Style Washi Tape, Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Burlap Ribbon, Essentials Hardware, Linen Thread, eCutter (Cricut)
MDS: Feathered Woodcuts

Have a WONDERFUL day, wherever you may be!!

A Joyful Weekend of Wreaths

Ohhhh what fun!!! Seriously!!! On Saturday I had some of my friends and family join me for a holiday wreath-making class. We had the BEST time!!! A VERY SPECIAL "shout out" and "THANKS" to my BFF, Bree Renwick (check out HER wreath making class blog post HERE!)!! If it hadn't been for HER, this class would NEVER have happened!! Thanks to lots of encouragement (AND some lovely photos she had already taken of her own gorgeous COMPLETED wreaths!), I was able to pull a class together ... and boy, am I glad I did!!! I made this wreath AFTER everyone went home for the evening ... well, I started it, anyway!! I got up early Sunday morning to finish it off!! Also, another big THANKS to our fabulous friend, Alanna Wharf ... it was because of HER lovely wreaths HERE that EITHER of us even got started on this to begin with!!

I realize many of you have probably already seen these wreaths floating around the web-o-sphere ... they are SUPER DUPER cute!! AND they are pretty darn easy to make as well (which is what made doing them with a crowd SO much fun!)!!!

I didn't get an actual "close-up" photo of the finished "Winter Frost" wreaths (which were all Bree and Alanna's idea!) ... but here is a picture of my darling little cousin, Skye ... she is a WIZARD with some adhesive!!!

Finally, I did a scrapbook page in MDS (My Digital Studio) to remember the event ... lots of laughing, some Christmas movies, good stories, delicious goodies and LOTS of hugs!!! I need to do something like this again SOON!! AND we skyped with Bree's group while they were doing their class at the SAME TIME up by Walla Walla, Washington. I am REALLY bummed that I forgot to take a screen shot of our Skype conversation ... it was so much fun seeing everyone (and, let's face it ... with ALL those women visiting and laughing at BOTH locations, it was a bit noisy!!)!! LOVED it all!!

Season of Style Wreath
Stamps: Festive Flurry
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Season of Style DSP, Gold Foil
Accessories: Festive Flurry Framelits Die, Gift Bow Bigz Die, 12" Foam Wreath, Pearl Basics, Gold Pen, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Bone Folder

Winter Frost Wreath
Stamps: NONE
Ink: Coastal Cabana
Paper: Winter Frost DSP
Accessories: Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Gift Bow Bigz Die, Frosted Finished Embellishments, Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, 12" Foam Wreath, Bone Folder

Freakin' Jolly Holiday!!

Welcome to the Control Freaks Blog Tour!!
This month the Control Freaks are celebrating Christmas in STYLE!! If you just come from the EVER-amazing Dawn Olchefske!! LOVED the little bit of bling she added to BOTH of her projects!!

BOTH of my creations are a "Holly Jolly" Christmas cards! (Didn't realize they BOTH said that until AFTER I had created them!! I love the old-time-y feel of the Naturals Composition DSP music sheet behind this one. I created the "banner" using MDS (because if I can't find what I need in my stamp cupboard, I SURELY can in my MDS library!)!

Stamps:  None!
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP, Red Glimmer DSP
Ink:  None!
Accessories:  1 3/8" Square Punch, Burlap Ribbon, Little Leaves Sizzlets Die, Itty Bitty Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine
MDS: Bright Christmas II (Holly Jolly Christmas)

Next up, a little bit of the same kinda color combo ... a little more "Holly Jolly" ... but with a little bit of red glimmery paper!! I'm started to actually get EXCITED about the upcoming holiday season, aren't you????

Stamps:  Tags 4 You, Notable Notions
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Red Glimmer DSP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Festive Flurry Framelits Die, Chalk Talk Framelits Die, Linen Thread, Victoria Lace Trim Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Next up? My BFF, Jan!! Her cards are GOJUS!!!