Stamp Review Crew - Endless Wishes Edition

Hey, friends!!! Seasons have officially switched into full CHRISTMAS mode!! And the Stamp Review Crew is keeping step by showing off what they can do with Stampin' Up's Endless Wishes Photopolymer Set ...

There is a REASON this set COMPLETELY sold out last year when it first came out on a "limited run" availability ... and I'm SO very happy that it is now part of the "big catalog"! This set is FABULOUS!!

I have been gone ALL WEEK from blogging land. Our hearts are broken ... the daughter of a very good family friend was accidentally killed on November 23. She was only 12 years old ... beautiful and fun and vivacious and lovely ... I spent ALL last week doing a 36-page memory book for the funeral (which was on Saturday). Thank HEAVENS for MDS!!! And because I had received SO many photos from her friends/family, I also put together a slide show (which was shown at the viewing before the funeral). I feel SO incredibly blessed and humbled that the family asked me to help them out with this. And I KNOW that angels were on my shoulder helping me along (especially sweet little Addy!). NO WAY could I have EVER done a 36-page album in a day and a half withOUT her help!! MUCH love and support to the Robbins/Clinger family ...

Stamps: Endless Wishes
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Accessories: Ovals Framelits, On Point Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Whisper White Bakers Twine, Vintage Faceted Button, Rhinestone Basics, Whisper White Embossing Powder

SEE how LOVELY the images for this set are??? And the sentiments are WONDERFUL!!!






Clicking on the "previous blog" button below will take you back to the SUPERB Shana Gaff ... and the "next blog" button will take you to NIFTY Nancy Smith!! These ladies will blow your socks off!!

Monday Montage #33

What a GREAT way to start off our Thanksgiving week ... by sharing some creativity with the Monday Montage girls!! And while I am at it ... I am SO VERY GRATEFUL to be part of this group of amazingly-talented women. But more importantly, they are all kind, smart, funny and just lovely from the inside out. Blessed to have them in my life!!

Today I am sharing what I call a little "gratitude" tin. I made these with "my girls" (the youth group from church). What you CAN'T see is a bunch of ovals I punched out of just plain ol' printer paper (they are on the inside ... and NO I did NOT punch over 300 for every girl ... I did about 40 or so). The idea is to write down little things that you are grateful for ... or events that took place that make you happy ... on each of the ovals and place them back into the tin as the year goes by. (I just assumed that the girls would use up all the pieces I gave them and figure out something ELSE to write on as the year progresses.) At the end of the year (around next Thanksgiving), they can pull out all the little slips and read about how AMAZING their lives are. I also encouraged them to date each little slip of paper. They could write things as simple as "I love popcorn!" or "Went to the park with my family!" ... anything that made their day happy.

Stamps: Truly Grateful
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss, Very Vanilla, Color Me Autumn DSP
Ink:   Baked Brown Sugar
Accessories: Bitty Banners Framelits, Circle Framelits, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Baked Brown Sugar Ruffled Ribbon (retired), Autumn Wooden Elements, Linen Thread, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Tea Tin

Here are all of the girls' tins lined up all pretty and fancy ...

We had a GREAT time together decorating our little tins ... these girls but a smile on my face and love in my heart. More blessing for which I am truly grateful ...








Click "Back" to see Melissa Stout's fantastic creation, and/or the "Next" button to see something else to be grateful for from Amy O'Neill!

Fab Friday #55

Woot-WOOT!!! Not only is today FRIDAY ... it's FAB FRIDAY!!! I always LOVE what my fellow Fab friends have to share ... they come up with SO many creative ideas!

I seem to be addicted to the Burlap Ribbon ... and the Gold Sequin Trim ... but I was able to stop myself from using THAT on here as well (I wish that SU made ROLLS and ROLLS of different colors of sequin trim). I am thinking it is time for me to get busy and get my Christmas card figured out ... sigh ... the next month is gonna be BUSY!!

Stamps: Festival of Trees
Paper: Garden Green, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Trim the Tree DSP, Red a Glimmer Paper, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Gold Foil DSP
Ink: Garden Green, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Tree Punch, On Point Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (star punch), Bitty Banners Framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Gold 1/8" Ribbon, Real Red 3/8" Satin Woven Ribbon, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Sewing Machine

Love me a good sketch ...












I also used this as my sample for today's Free for All Challenge over on SCS ... I called it "Grab and Go!". The idea was to take the most recent thing you have purchased with which to be crafty AND have NOT used ... and to throw it in the mix. I used the Trim the Tree DSP, which I just got in the mail last Wednesday. I also used my Festival of Trees stamp set and tree punch ... I've had those for a while, but hadn't used THOSE yet either (I guess I have too much stuff ... REALLY??? ... Nah .....)!

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
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

This has been one of THOSE weeks ... and I'm going to be running like a chicken with my head cut off for at least the next two days. Why are some weeks like this???? I'm TOTALLY gonna enjoy me a NAP on Sunday afternoon, that's for SURE!

MDS Blog Hop - What I'm Working On - November

It's MDS Blog Hoppin' Time! This time around we are all sharing a little glimpse into what we are working on ... and this week I was compelled to make a layout of a photo I took of my kids when we were all together a couple of weeks ago for the Weixler Family Apple Pressing Day event!!! Such an AWESOME family tradition that my husband and his brothers have been doing since their dad got them started back when they were boys ...

Even though my oldest is making his "I'm-a-dork-and-I'm-gonna-ruin-your-photo" face, this photo still makes my heart happy. I have NO idea where the time has gone since these three were babies ... it seems that I blinked and they all grow up ... sigh ...

MDS Downloads:
Paper: Number One, Hello Perfection
Embellishment: A to Z Wordpress, Chevron Ribbon (recolored to Cherry Cobbler), Seriously Teen Washi Tape, Season of Style Washi Tape, Keep This Memory (stamp frame), More Candid Frames (square 3)
Stamps: Epic Overlays (splatter 2), Enjoy Every Moment (dotted circle), School Days (apple)
Fonts: LDJ Left Hand Jam, 2Peas Busy Babs

Check out what Monika Davis is working on by clicking on the link below ... more amazingness, as usual!!

Freakin' Jingle All the Way

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells ... Jingle All the Freakin' WAY!!! Welcome to some joyful and triumphant fun with the Control Freaks!!! Did you SEE what my fabulous friend, Barb Mullikin, created??? She is WONDERFUL!

As you can see, we are doing our best to get our holiday on and going. To be honest, I have FINALLY started to feel a little more "in the mood" for some Christmas! These are actually the very FIRST things I have created to start the season ...

I feel like I am EXTREMELY late to the dance using this set! I have been seeing a LOT of lovely things created with it (Ornamental Pine). I was initially really STUMPED as to what I was going to do with it that was not been there/done that ... I was inspired by so many things that I have seen. Tried to put my own little twists on it - I loved using the Under the Tree Specialty DSP on this one.

Stamps: Ornamental Pine, Good Greetings
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Under the Tree Specialty DSP
Ink: Whisper White, Old Olive Blendabilities, Skin Tone Assortment Blendabilties
Accessories: Circle Framelits, Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Button, Linen Thread, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Burlap Ribbon

Round Two ... a little more of the same, but different. I wanted to try and mess with the color scheme on this one. Like I did with my first sample, I stamped the images in white, embossed them with white and then colored them with my lovely Blendabilities markers. Just today I got a pad of Trim the Tree DSP ... I'm going to have SO much fun playing with that!

Stamps: Ornamental Pine, Good Greetings
Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Trim the Tree DSP
Ink: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Skin Tone Assortment Blendabilities
Accessories: Oval Framelits, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Chevron Neutral Ribbon

Up next??? The MARVELOUS Mindy Backes!!

Stamp Review Crew - Amazing Birthday Edition

Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop!! This week we are playing with "Amazing Birthday" ... I forgot how much I really like this set! It's super great because you can use it for ANY age group ... AND it works for dudes AND dudettes!!! So let's get started!!

Sometimes I have a very difficult time working with HUGE sentiment-y types of stamps ... this one, however, is one of my all-time faves!! I mean, what's NOT to love about it??? It's so dang HAPPY!!

Stamps: Amazing Birthday
Paper: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White, In Color, 2013-2015 Designer Series Paper Stack, Champagne Glimmer DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories: Large Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Burlap Ribbon, Natural Chevron Ribbon, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, What's Up Punch, Linen Thread, Venetian Crochet Trim

LOTS to love in this set, right???












Next up?? Ann Schach!!! She is FABULOUS!! (Clicking on the "previous blog" icon will take you to the equally-fabulous Adriana Benitez!)

Monday Montage #32

Happy Monday Montage!! We are already working our way into November (yeah-yeah ... we're actually WAY into it!)!! I have NO idea where the time has gone this year, but I swear each year seems to go by more quickly than the last ... This week I decided to combine a little bit of floral with a little bit of fall coloring ...

What a bizarre color combo I used!! I have NEVER used these colors together (or anything like them!)! I liked trying the leaves out of Sahara Sand and Mossy Meadow ... it really made them look like they belonged in November. (And I DO have a rosebush out in front of my house that has some roses left on it, so this IS possible!)!

My next-door neighbor be-decked his house with Christmas lights the other day (the same day I took down my Halloween and put up some Thanksgiving decor). I am SO not ready!!! His lights are playing with my head!!

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Wetlands
Paper:  Whisper White, Color Me Autumn DSP
Ink:   Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Oval Punch, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Mossy Meadow Stitched Satin Ribbon

I think I need to start trying to create something Christmas-y ... sigh ... I guess this means I can listen to Christmas music while I run now ... I DO love me some holiday tunes!!

Click "Back" to see Melissa Stout's MARVELOUSNESS, and/or the "Next" button to see some inspiration from Amy O'Neill - SO awesome!

Fab Friday #54

Happy November!! And Happy Fab Friday!! This week we are doing a color challenge ... and to squeeze the last bit out of fall, we have a GORGEOUS fall-ish color combo for you!!

I tried something I haven't done for quite a while ... I "double embossed" one of the elements on my card. Can you see it??? I used the Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on the Cajun Craze strip that's on the left-hand side of my card ... embossed the strip, rotated it 45 degrees, flipped it over (which I had to do so that stripes would run in the opposite diagonal direction - does that make sense??). It looks MUI-WAY-COOLER in person ... I need to try this again some time soon!!

Stamps: Dictionary, Amazing Birthday
Paper: Cajun Craze, Blackberry Bliss, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake
Accessories:Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Banner Framelits, Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Project Life Corner Rounder, Linen Thread, Burlap Ribbon, Gold Sequin Trim

Purdy colors, right???







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
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

We have a happy weekend ahead ... the Weixler Family Apple Pressing "event" is tomorrow ... LOVE it!!! I'll share some pictures for y'all to see what I mean some time next week ... and I still have an EPIC adventure to share with you in connection with Halloween and Disneyland, so stay tuned ...

MDS Blog Hop - What I'm Working On - Project Life!!

Project Life!! How do I love thee?? Let me COUNT the ways!!! Seriously??? Whether doing a "tactile" type of "memory keeping" project or a digital one (or a hybrid of BOTH), the elements in the Project Life products are simply FABULOUS!!! All the "hard" work is done FOR you! All you have to do is "drag and drop" ... LOVE it!!

It has been VERY tricky trying to get my sweet mom to go ANYwhere since Dad died five years ago ... but once I got her to Colorado Springs to visit my brother and his wife the old smile and sparkle were BACK!! I'm thinking my mom is thinking that traveling is FUN!! YAY!!

MDS Downloads: Happiness Is Project Life (Stamps and Embellishments)

SOOO excited to be able to direct you to the NEXT stop on our hop because we are welcoming a Guest Designer ... Monika Davis!! Wow!! Yeah ... I'm a fan!!

Stamp Review Crew - Kinda Eclectic Edition

It's time, once again (HOORAY!) for the Stamp Review Crew to strut their stuff!!! It's so much FUN to see all the different things that everyone one does with the same set ... I get SO inspired each and every time!!

I have seen a LOT of "spring-y" stuff done with this gorgeous set ... it was actually the very first number ONE set on my list as soon as I saw the new catalog this past year. And I was really GOOD an waited for Convention to roll around, as it was one of the sets we got if we attended. Let me tell ya, it was HARD for me to wait for this set, but it was WELL worth the wait!!!

My sewing machine has been getting a lot of mileage since I've been Halloween-ing for the past couple of weeks. So, of course, I had to use THAT while it was out!!

Stamps: Kinda Eclectic
Paper: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Vellum
Ink: Sahara Sandy, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey
Accessories: Circles Collection Framelits, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon, Natural Trim Ribbon (eeks!! This is RETIRED!! How did I miss THAT??), Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Sewing Machine

SEE how PRETTY all the images in this set are???? I {{{HEART}}} them all!!





Click on the "Next Blog" to check out what Tanya Boser has to dazzle us with, and the "Previous Blog" to see Cindy Beach's brilliance!!