All the Sneaky Freaky Things!

The Control Freaks are taking this opportunity to take control of your holidays and show you a little bit of what is coming your way from Stampin' Up in the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs!! Aren't you EXCITED??!?? Can you even STAND it??? I know when I got a view of some of the lovely things coming that I could barely contain my excitement!!! Did you SEE the AMAZING things that my good friend, Dawn Olchefske made for you to see??? That woman!!! ALWAYS creative and fresh!

Soda pop ... soda pop ... soda pop!! I KNEW that these adorable little soda pop bottles would HAVE to be MINE!!! I was SOOOOOO excited when we were able to PREORDER them!!! Aaaaack!!! How can one possibly RESIST these???? Obviously, I have NO idea!!

Stamps: Bubble Over
Paper: Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories: Layering Ovals Framelits Dies, Bottles & Bubbles Framelits Dies, Silver Ribbon, Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes

I won this adorable little stamp set as part of the "Prize Patrol" at our most recent OnStage event in November. Oh. My. Goodness!!! Can you just say caaaaaYOOOOT??!?? I didn't even have to stamp a sentiment!! There are so many cute images in this set that I had to limit myself to FOUR of them!!

Stamps: Heart Happiness
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral
Accessories: 3/8" Burlap Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Next up???  ... lovely LeeAnn Greff!! Can't even COUNT how many of her creations have inspired me over the years!!

Monday Montage #106

Deck the halls and all that jazz!!! Can you believe we are only a WEEK away from CHRISTMAS???? WOWZA!!! Seriously not sure HOW that happened already!!! And at this point I figure I am as close to ready as I'm gonna get (except for wrapping ... and stocking stuffers!)! Lucky for me I am just finishing up with my neighbor gifts ... just in time to share them with y'all and my Monday Montage friends!!

The "cheat" about this is that it was created with my Cricut. In my favor, all the ribbon and the paper is Stampin' Up, so I guess I can claim that I am still using Stampin' Up goodies to make my neighbor goodies, right??? When you have a family tradition known as "Keebler Elf Sunday" (even though we made all the cookies on SATURDAY this year), you gotta just squeeze in the projects you can when you can!! And we honest bake about 1,000 cookies ... NOT kidding. But they are delicious, and it goes pretty quickly, so at least that part is happy!

Supplies: Circut "Very Merry Tags"
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Retired Real Red Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics Jewels

Each of these little bags contains 15 "lucky pennies". They stay soft FOREVER!!! And they are a TOTAL favorite of my family (and also of many of my friends at this point!)! Sweet side note ... I didn't even know that these were my dad's most FAVORITE cookies EVER until about two Christmases before he passed. He used to steal some of the ones that I had set aside for some friends that HE was supposed to deliver to!! I never knew that until he told me! So I made sure he had his very own batch after that!! So these cookies remind me of him and make me smile!

And before y'all ask ... here's my recipe!!! This has become an annual tradition here on my blog ... to share this recipe. The only "hint" I can give you is that you should NOT "double" this recipe ... each batch has to be it's own thing, or they won't turn out as well. Believe me, I've tried!!! And considering we have probably made about 10,000 of these cookies, I feel somewhat of an expert on the subject!

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.

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... their projects are joyful AND triumphant!!

Fab Friday #127

I am relived to say, as I typed this, that my Christmas tree is not only UP, but it is decorated, as are my fireplace mantel, piano, and my dining room. It seemed to take me FOREVER to get into the groove to get it done. And, to be honest, I turned into a mound of mushy tears as I unpacked ornaments ... thinking of those who gave me each one ... marveling on the beautiful faces of my babies in their "first Christmas" ornaments ... and remembering all the love and joy that came with each and every one. I don't think I have EVER cried so much whilst decorating my tree!!! Not sad tears, mind you. These were tears of joy, gratitude and amazement for the very beautiful life I have been blessed with. On top of it all, I had actually finished my Fab Friday card EARLY (as in DAYS ago ... I know, I know ... don't faint!). It's lovely to be on top of things every once in a while!

This card is reminiscent of clean, sparkly winter snow ... and even though it wasn't my intention, I feel it evocative of snow sledding as a child on those great old Flexible Flyer sleds! Scary and exhilarating!!! I think I have actually caught the Spirit of the Season!

Stamps:  Snowflake Sentiments
Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Soft Sky
Accessories:  Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies, Rhinestone Basics Jewels, Corner Rounder Punch

What inspires YOU this season ... it's a Free-for-All!!






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
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

More house cleaning, more shopping, more running hither and yon. All with a heart full of love and gratitude for the blessings of life that make my life as wonderful as can be!

Monday Montage #105

Can I just say I am STUFFED??? STILL??? Thanksgiving was last Thursday, and I haven't been hungry since!! We made another feast on Sunday (mostly so that we could have leftovers), so now my fridge is full of leftovers and happy ... and I am FULL and happy, too!! So, on to Monday Montage!

What a crazy week!!! Even when I SWEAR I am going to do ALL my Black Friday shopping online, I STILL end up in some sort of mall or store. It was fun to spend some time hanging out with my daughter and getting some things checked off of our list. If only I had my Christmas tree up!! At least this card got decorated, right???

Stamps: Merry Patterns
Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Gold 1/8" Ribbon, Classic Label Punch

My goal by the end of this week is to have most of my Christmas shopping completed, and to have my Christmas decor all up (as well as my mama's!)!! Wish my luck! I am going to NEED it!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... BEST projects EVER!

Mon

Fab Friday #126

Not only is today Black Friday (for all you shopping enthusiasts!) ... it is also FAB FRIDAY!!! And my friends on the Fab Friday Design Team have cooked up some REALLY good projects to share! (Cooking ... yeah ... I've done a LOT of that in the past few days for Thanksgiving ... as I am SURE is true for many of you!! BEST thing about Thanksgiving is the LEFTOVERS, baby!)

For any of y'all who have been hanging out with me here from time to time, you KNOW how I struggle with "simple and easy" cards. I just don't know where to STOP most of the time ... and just keep going and going. NOT this week. This card was quick and easy ... and I hafta admit that I actually kinda LIKE it!!

Stamps:  Snowflake Sentiments, Acrylic Block for Rectangles
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist, Emerald Envy
Accessories:  Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies, Rhinestone Basics Jewels

Even though I went "Christmas-y" with this color combo, you could go a LOT of directions with this. I'm thinking cards for little boys!!






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
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

I need to get busy with some Black Friday shopping (all online, of course!!)! It's so nice to be able to shop from the comforts of home ... in my jammies ... with NO crowds!!!

Happy Holidays from Happy Freaks!!!

After a bit of a hiatus, I am THRILLED to announce that the Control Freaks are Blog Tourin' again!!! Oh how i have missed playing with these fantastically creative women!!! Did you just come from the incredible blog of the ever-amazing LeeAnn Greff?? LOVE her whimsical and beautiful creativity!!

It snowed here in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Snow definitely helps my brain make the transition into the holiday season. I wasn't even feeling excitement about making Christmas-y cards until last week. NOW I am getting REALLY into it. I love the charm of the new Hometown Greetings Edgelits Dies ... they are SOOOOO adorable!! Equally as charming are the sentiments that come in the coordinating Hearts Comes Home stamp set!!! Couldn't resist making a bit of a starry night on this card!

Stamps: Hearts Come Home
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Hometown Greetings Edgelits Dies, 7/8" Striped Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Something else that gets me into the holiday spirit??? MUSIC!!! And I held out for as long as I could NOT listening to any Christmas-y music ... and finally caved this past week. What can I say??? I have been collecting tunes since I first got married. I have a VERY large collection, and need more than 3-4 weeks to really listen to it all!!

Stamps: Sheet Music, Hearts Come Home, Merry Patterns
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Garden Green
Accessories: Pinewood Planks Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Hometown Greetings Edgelits Dies (for the tiny heart) Foil Snowflakes, 3/8" Burlap Ribbon

Next up???  ... the ever-incomparable Mary Brown!! Can't even COUNT how many of her creations have inspired me over the years!!

Monday Montage #104

I'm not quite sure I have EVER had a week more magical than this past one ... I spent Monday through Wednesday at the Happiest Place on Earth (my home away from home aka Disneyland!). Then, I spent Thursday through Saturday hanging out with some of my VERY bestest friendies on the planet Earth ... my Stampin' Up peeps!! What a GREAT week!!! Now it's time for Monday Montage!

You have NO idea how hard it was for me to NOT use any of the "new" stampy goodness I acquired whilst at Stampin' Up's OnStage event this past week ... we are sworn to SECRECY until 1:00pm MST November 13. And there are SOOOOO many things I want out of the Occasions Catalog ... y'all are gonna D.I.E.!!!! But I got to play with these Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits, which was almost just as fun!!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: NONE
Accessories: Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies, Island Indigo Ombre Ribbon, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Silver Thread, Corner Rounder Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

I LOVED hugging all of my friends ... and laughing and eating ... and of COURSE, STAMPING!!! What a super fun week!!! This week is gonna feel quite dull in comparison. But I guess "normal" this close to the holidays is a good thing, right???

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... WONDERFUL!!

Mon

Monday Montage #103

It's Monday Montage time again!!! I took a little break from working on my Halloween costume (cannot WAIT for it to be done!) so that I could do some paper crafting ... Who else needs more days in their weekend??? I know I do!!

This is the time where I am going to ENABLE you. As I have (still) be cleaning and reorganizing my craft room, I keep coming across bits and daps of things that I LOVE!!! And they are "retired" ... like, WHY does that MATTER even???? I have FOREVER stopped myself from using things that are "old". NO IDEA why I do this ... new things are FUN, but old things are ALSO fun!!! So I am giving you permission to use ANY old crafty bits, bobs, stamps or ANYthing!!! There ... I said it!

Stamps: Mediterranean Moments, Post Script
Paper: Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso
Accessories: Layering Circle Framelits, Layering Squares Framelits, Paper Daisies (retired), Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Venetian Crochet Trim (retired), Pearl Basics

The Mediterranean Moments stamp set was designed by NONE OTHER than our own fellow Monday Montage-r, Kaitlyn Zumbach!!! Make me SOOOO very happy to use it, know that all of her love and talent were poured into this set!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... they will inspire you!

Mon

Fab Friday #123

Woot! Woot!! for Fab Friday!! This has been a very looooonnnngg week!!! TGIF, baby!!! And tomorrow is SATURDAY!!! I have been needing me a Saturday for a while now!!! Playing with some paper was a good way for me to start off my weekend!

I never intentionally start off making something with the idea that I'm NOT gonna use ANY stamps!! Sometimes, it just happens! As is the case with this card ... I had a lot of stamps in mind that I was GONNA use, but it just didn't end up turning out that way!!

Stamps: None!
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Powder Pink, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper
Ink: None!!!
Accessories:  Eastern Medallions Thinlits Dies, Sunshine Wishes Thinlets Dies, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 7/8" Striped Ribbon, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Rhinestone Basics

I LOVE how simple this is ... and how many different directions you can take it!!








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
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

Is there any way I can get an extra weekend in my weekend? I need to PLAN to have an entire WEEK where I have NOWHERE to go, and NOTHING to do except stay home and work on some of my homebody projects ... my house could use some SERIOUS spring/deep/Swedish death cleaning!!

Monday Montage #102

This week has been QUITE the adventure!! And the colors of autumn are in full swing ... they are absolutely STUNNING and GORGEOUS!!!! So happy I had some new fall-themed "toys" to create with this week for Monday Montage!

Purple leaves??? Why YES!!! I am NOT kidding when I say I have seen just about EVERY color of leaf this past week on my outdoor adventures ... and also some SNOW!! But I'll get to that in a minute ...

Stamps: Colorful Season
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Berry Bliss, Sahara Sand, Wood Texture DSP
Ink: Sahara Sand, Berry Bliss, Early Espresso
Accessories: Layering Circle Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Polka Dot Basics Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon

My hubby and I and a couple of our friends flew to Leadville, Colorado on Thursday. What in the HECK is in Leadville, Colorado, you ask??? It just so happens that the airport with the highest elevation of any airport in the US is there ... and when you are friends with and married to Airplane Geeks ... well, sometimes stuff like this just happens. Weather was cold but BEAUTIFUL when we landed. We went to breakfast at a great little small-town cafe. When we went back to the airport we were SURROUNDED by clouds and it started to SNOW!! What the HECK??? It's only the first week of OCTOBER!!! So, we were stranded over night until the weather cleared. It was a VERY chilly 26 degrees when we took off. The views of the mountains were spectacular ... and as we got closer to Salt Lake City the mountains were COVERED in an amazing display of autumnal magic!!! I'm getting up early tomorrow to go for a run. I LOVE the sights and smells of fall!

Click "Back" for Kaitlyn Zumbach and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... BEAUTIFUL projects by both of these ladies!

Mon

Fab Friday #122

Welcome to another Fab Friday Challenge! I always really enjoy it when someone ELSE gives me an idea of where to start on a project ... and this week's color challenge is a GOOD one!!

Stamps: Eastern Beauty
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Tranquil Tide, Very Vanilla
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Tranquil Tide, Cajun Craze
Accessories:  Soft Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Eastern Medallions Thinlits Dies, White Perfect Accents

So RICH and BEAUTIFUL, don't you think??









I am FINALLY starting to wrap my head around the changing of the seasons ... about 10 days ago it was over 90 degrees here in Salt Lake City ... then we dropped as low as the 30's, with highs in the 40's and 50's during the day. My mind/body are VERY confused. But this color challenge is helping me get in the mood for Fall!

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
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

Up for one of my very last challenges for this year's running season. Tomorrow morning I'm doing the Red Bull 400. What is the Red Bull 400, you ask?? Well, it's where a bunch of semi-crazy people pay MONEY to have the opportunity to run UP from the bottom of an Olympic Nordic Ski Jump ... and make it to the top within 15 minutes!! Hoping I survive!! As long as I don't fall off, I'll call that a WIN for ME! And I guess I'd like to FINISH in the time allotted so that they don't have to pull me off for being too slow!!

Monday Montage #101

It's raining, it's POURING ... and summer just SLAMMED straight into fall here in Utah!! Holy COW!!! It was 90 degrees last week and today it is in the 40's ... and it's been raining for two days straight. I LOVE rain! But I think my body/mind are in shock! Welcome to another episode of Monday Montage. I got some NEW goodies to play with, so I really enjoyed creating!

I totally love sunflowers!! I think sunflowers and daisies are my favorite flowers ... and like Meg Ryan says in "You've Got Mail" ... "don't you think daisies are the happiest flower?" I DO!!! And sunflowers are right up there in HappyLand with them!

Stamps: Painted Harvest, Eastern Medallions (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Berry Bliss, Tranquil Tide, Wood Texture DSP
Ink: Sahara Sand, Berry Bliss, Early Espresso
Accessories: Classic Label Punch, Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon

I guess now I don't have any excuse to complain about how HOT it is for outside running ... I actually LOVE running in cooler temps ... but I do NOT love running in the RAIN!!! What's a girl to do???? I DO love the fall, though ... hopefully we won't get any snow in our yard this week ... there has been a TON in the mountains just east of us, so I'm crossing my fingers it STAYS there!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... I wanna be BOTH of them when I grow up!

Mon