Monday Montage #59

My brain cells have been destroyed ... pretty much mostly ... I think. Christmas was AMAZING and WONDERFUL and AWESOME this year ... had a good friend (Bree Renwick, a fellow Monday-Montage-r actually) remind me to make LOTS of memories this year. That hit me right in my heart ... and we made a TON of lovely memories (had family here from out of town, the kids all home and my mama was so happy to have all of us around. And THEN I got food poisoning ... lucky for me it was the day AFTER Christmas. Still feeling a bit wobbly, but I am happy to report that I did NOT die!

Also quite happy to report that I got enough energy this afternoon so that I could make a card to share with you and all of my Monday Montage friends! New stamp-y toys are SO much fun!!! (and how SAD is it that I haven't shared my Christmas card yet???? I was quite late getting them out, so I never got a chance to post them ... but I WILL do it in a couple of days!!)

Flowers are just happy ... and I am INLOVELOVELOVE with the vine-y framelit that comes in the Botanical Builder Framelits!! I think it is my NEW favorite!!

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Perfect Pairings (SAB)
Paper: Whisper White, Hello Honey, Calypso Coral, Lost Lagoon, Basic Black, Wildflower Fields DSP (Sale-a-Bration)
Ink: Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Botanical Builder Framelits, Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits, Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim, Baker's Twine Combo Pack (SAB)

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... their creations are just BEAUTIFUL!!

Freaky Occasions/SAB Peekin'!

Oh ... the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL but the FREAKS are SO delightful!!! And since it's a week from Christmas ... we are doing a Sneak Peek for some of the SUPER fun stuff becoming available in January from the new Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs!!! YAY!!!! Connie Babbert's "sweetheart" projects are ADORABLE, aren't they??? (If you've been touring around, her blog was just before mine!)

Ever since I was a little girl I have had a "thing" for teapots (which I think can be said of MANY little girls!)!  This little teapot diecut/stamp set combo is to DIE for!!! And I was absolutely CRUSHED when I went to make this card and realized that I had only ordered the DIES and NOT the stamp set!!! What the heck??? How on EARTH did I do THAT??? Gonna be time to reorder soon!

Stamps: Sunburst Sayings
Paper: Lost Lagoon, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Hello Honey, Wildflower Fields DSP
Ink: Lost Lagoon
Accessories: Cups and Kettle Framelits, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, White Organza Ribbon, Bloomin' Hearts Thinlits, Decorative Dots Texutred Impressions Embossing Folder, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits

Simple. Manly. Cards.  STRUGGLE. This is my life, my mantra ... sometimes the BANE of my EXISTENCE!!! SOOOO thrilled with the World Map "suite" of products coming out ... the stamps and embossing folder are FANTASTIC!!

Stamps: Going Global
Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Circles Framelits Dies, World Traveler Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Basics, Washi Punch, Natural Chevron Ribbon, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch

Next up??? Our Freak Mama!!! The amazingly-talented Lisa Martz!!! She has some DARLING "sheepish" creations you will LOVE!!

Monday Montage #58

'Tis the season to be JOLLY!!! I am NOT kidding!!! Welcome to Monday Montage! I have had a GREAT week!! I'll tell you about it in a minute ... first off, let's talk about what I made to share with you ...

It wasn't until AFTER I completed this card that I realized that the Project Life Holiday Cheer stamp set is actually RETIRED!! (Drat!!) I must confess that the reason I haven't made many holiday cards this season is that I didn't actually BUY much from the Holiday Catalog this year (GASP!!!)!!! Time was just getting away from me and I couldn't convince myself to buy something that wouldn't be in the "current" column for long (like, that's ever stopped me BEFORE???)! Anyway ... that's how I ended up with a retired set, I guess (but I really DID think it was still current!)!

Stamps:  Project Life Holiday Cheer (Retired)
Paper:  Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Petite Petals Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Gold 1/8" Ribbon, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Linen Thread, Burlap Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Gold Sequin Trim, Tags & Labels Framelits Dies, Mini Stapler

Now ... about my week ... aside from the craziness of shopping and making an ATTEMPT to get my Christmas cards underway, I had an AWESOME Christmas party with my book group friends! I have been in this very same book group for 25 years (and I'm only 27 ... go figure!)! We had breakfast for dinner and showed up in our jammies (well, SOME of us did, anyway!)! We also do a book exchange ... which, I have to admit, turned into a freakin' LAUGH FESTIVAL!! I haven't laughed that hard in a VERY long time!! Some of us (and I won't name names) may actually have SNORTED a time or two ... aren't best friends just the BEST!!! It's SO fabulous to have friends that still love you when you snort whilst laughing!

I'm hoping to have my Christmas cards in the mail by midweek, so I will share a photo once they have been successfully been delivered to their recipients!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... two ladies who are not only WICKEDLY talented ... but two ladies that I ALSO feel I could laugh until I snort with!!

Fab Friday #79

Ok ... sooo ... I am a California Girl at heart. I was born and raised there. I was used to having Christmas holidays that were cold (by California standards) at about 50 degrees. However, since having moved to Utah when I was but 15 years old I quickly became accustomed to White Christmases (or at least GRAY ones!)!!! Usually by December 11 we are f-f-f-freezing!!! It got up to about 50 degrees today!! And it RAINED!!! What in the HECK is going ON here??? (I'm NOT complaining, mind you ... my mind is just having a hard time wrapping itself around the current temperature!)! Maybe THIS is why I have been so SLOW in getting into the Christmas Spirit this year!!

Thank Heaven for Fab Friday!!! This week's color challenge DEFINITELY got my Christmas groove going!! (And the fact that I have about a GAZILLION Christmas cards to make ... and a LOT more shopping/wrapping to do!)!

Stamps: Happy Scenes
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Mossy Meadow
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Silver Sequin Trim, Beach House Washi Tape (Retired), All is Calm Washi Tape (Retired), Botanical Gardens Designer Washi Tape (coming next month in the Occasions Catalog!)

Nothing says Christmas like these colors, right????









Excited to see what all of our challenge players come up with!!

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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

How is it the weekend already??? (Not that I am complaining, mind you ... just don't know how the clock seems to speed up at this time of year!!!). I'm hoping to be VERY productive in the next few days ... UNLESS it snows ... then maybe I shall build a snowman inSTEAD of all the other things I have on my list!!!

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor ...

There's a VERY good chance that MANY of you will not even get the HUMOR in the title of this blog post! I am realizing more and more that I am *a-hem* older that a lot of people in my life ... and sometimes I am SUPER funny ... and they just don't GET it!!

The reason for the title is (hopefully obviously) that I'm taking a "time-out" from Christmas and holiday creating to play with my new preview goodies (coming in January in the form of goodness in the Occasions Catalog and the Sale-a-Bration event!! SOOOOO excited!!! This is the BIGGEST pre-order I have EVER allowed myself to make (not tellin' ... don't ask). SOOOOOOOOOOOO very much cute and beautiful stuff. I'm going to have to order MORE of it even!! Sigh ... anyone wanna help me rob a bank??? I will provide the masks ... but may need some help with the get-away car!!

I LOVE all things citrus-y!!! This little stamp set is a GEM!!! What's NOT to love about slices of sweet and tangy citrus??? Pretty much nothin' ...

Interesting story (or not) ... when I was pregnant with my firstborn many-a-moon ago, I had TERRIBLE morning sickness (dare I say it was ALL-DAY-AND-ALL-NIGHT sickness??). I had trouble eating ANYthing. However, citrus was my friend ... citrus was delicious ... citrus took a teeny TINY bit of the edge off for me. So, I ended up eating at LEAST three whole grapefruits every dang day!!! I was CERTAIN my son was going to come out all puckered up!! Lucky for me (and him???) that didn't happen!!!

Stamps: Apple of My Eye
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Season of Cheer DSP (SEE??? I DID put a little Christmas in there!)
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, White Jute Ribbon, Candy Dots (Sutbles, Brights)

I am now going to dive DEEP into making an effort to get my Christmas cards made (it may turn out that they are "Happy New Year" cards!)!! Wish me luck!! I'm gonna NEED it!!