Thumper

Where on EARTH has the year gone?? Could it possibly be that Christmas has ALREADY come and gone once again?? And here it is, New Year's Eve ...

I have to say that I am really proud of myself ... I set a goal for the year to send birthday/anniversary cards to everyone on the Weixler side of the family this year, and I did it!! That's over 100 cards!!! It's been so fun watching the reactions of those I love ... there hasn't been a single family gathering this year where I haven't been thanked (multiple times!) for the cards have been sending out all year ... and it's also very rewarding to know that I am actually DOING something with the things I create (not to mention that I have been creating with more of a "purpose" this year, as many of my cards have been made with someone specific that I love in mind).

Which brings me to Thumper ... I made this little card for my cute little cousin, Elisabeth. She turned 6 yesterday! I vaguely remember being 6 ...

It was wonderful having my brother and sister-in-law with us over Christmas. They went home on Thursday, and I have to say I miss them already. It's great having them here when they get the chance to come!

Happy New Year, my friends!! The Annual Family New Year's Party has been moved to MY house this year (thanks in part to my niece, Melissa, giving birth to her first baby on Tuesday ... welcome, welcome Baby Barrett!!)! Gotta get BUSY!

Stamps: Family Phrases
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Cricut Disney Classics, Bigz Scallop Square Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Houndstooth Textured Impressions Folder, Blushing Bride Ruffled Ribbon, Black Ribbon, 1 1/4" and 1" Circle Punches

Triple Treat Birthday

We had a wonderful holiday with family (and I have eaten WAY too much!)!! Spent half the day yesterday shopping (spent WAY too much!), and plan to spend the day with my brother and sister-in-law helping my mom take down her Christmas decorations and going to lunch! With all of us (including two of my three kids) we should have it all done in a jiffy!!

My OTHER sister-in-law is having a birthday today, so I pulled this card together this morning before I am going to get ready for my day. I really like how you can layer the stamped image on itself with all these nifty punches! Cool, eh??

I also used the Color Challenge over on SCS as inspiration to start (Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Whisper White), as well as this card by my good friend, Chat (nitestamper):

Chat's Triple Treat Flower

Too bad I hafta go back to reality and my job tomorrow ... sigh ...

Stamps: Triple Treat Flower, Create a Cupcake
Paper: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Regals Patterned Paper
Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Fancy Flower Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Folder, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics

Christmas Gift Card Holders

Merry Christmas, Friends!!! I have a couple of little gift card holders to share with you. I found myself in need of a couple of these on December 23. Soooo, despite the fact that I was running around like a proverbial chicken-with-my-head-cut-off, I was happy that I had a chance to sit down for a bit and create something.

And I am also really happy that this gave me an excuse to use my layered poinsettia die one more time (that's TWICE in the week since I got it!. I was a little hesitant to put gold smooch on these red leaves, but I really love how they turned out!!

I was able to squeeze two gift cards on the inside ...

Stamps: Petitie Pairs
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls DSP (retired)
Ink: Always Artichoke, Gold Smooch
Accessories: Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia Die, Martha Stewart Fir Branch Punch, Corner Rounder, Word Window Punch, Simply Scored, Pearl Basics, Velcro Dot



I have probably had this little Cuttlebug embossing/cut tree for at LEAST four years. And it has NEVER seen the light of day ... I KNEW when I got it that I was goon NEED It at some point, so I was very happy that I had it on hand!! PHEW!!! Instead of closing this gift card holder with a Velcro dot, I decided a belly band was in order ...

I didn't even ATTEMPT to try to match colors to this crazy-over-the-top-too-bright iTunes card for my nephew ... at least it's KINDA red ...

Stamps: Small Script
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Merry Moments DSP (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Cuttlebug Christmas Trees Die, Decorator Label Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Medium Oval Punch, Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Word Window Punch, Simply Scored

These gift card holders were created by using a 4.25" x 10" piece of cardstock scored along the 10" side at 3", 4", 5" and 8" ...

Here's wishing you the happiest of holidays. May your new year be blessed with continued love and time with family and friends!! Now, it's time to get up and see what Santa brought!!

Holly Berry Noel

In the hustle and bustle to get things done, I made this card with a new little background stamp/embossing folder I got yesterday ... It is so cool how the embossing folder outlines the images from the background stamp, don'tcha think?

I seriously need to get some sleep!! So many projects, so little time!! (Went to bed at 12:30 a.m. and woke up at 3:46 a.m. ... decided not to fight the wheels in my head and just got up to finish some things.) I finished some cookbooks for my kids (pretty sure they are not gonna read this, so I feel safe in posting it), made five pair of PJ pants, setup and loaded a Kindle for a friend, and did a couple of loads of laundry ... I think I need a nap!!

Soooo excited that my brother and sister-in-law are flying in late tonight ... hope I can get all my wrapping done before then!!

The elves are gonna be up late tonight!!

Stamps: Sizzix/Hero Arts Holly Background Stamp
Paper: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Gold
Ink: Sahara Sand, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Sizzix/Hero Arts Holly Textured Impressions Folder, Martha Stewart Holly Punch, Large and Small Oval Punches, Gold Elastic Cord, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Gold and Illuminate Smooch

910 Lucky Pennies!

It's that time of year again. I feel kinda like the Dunkin' Donuts man (some of you may remember the commercial where the guy who baked the Dunkin' Donuts had to get up at all hours of the night ... "Time to make the donuts!"). The Sunday before Christmas we have set aside to make the most yummy ginger cookies for our Christmas neighbor gifts. These cookies are also known as Lucky Pennies (I have posted this recipe for the past two years here, and the recipe is at the bottom of this post). They fill our house with the most WONDERFUL smells!! It takes 3-4 hours of rolling dough in sugar and baking, stacking and packaging our cookies to get the job done ... and lots of laughter and Christmas-movie-watching also takes place. Good times ...

53 bags with 17 cookies ... and we had about 9 left over. That makes 910, right?? That is a LOT of cookies ... SEE??? They are one of my all-time favorite cookies, and since my dad told me they were HIS all-time favorite Christmas treat a couple of years before he died, making them brings up all kinds of happy memories of my dad and family togetherness in years past. Truly a wonderful Christmas tradition!!

Stamps: Sweet Season
Paper: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Merry Moments DSP (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Two Tags Bigz Die, Wide (Extra Large) Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Decorator Label Punch, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Cello Bag, Snowflake Ornament

And for those of you who DON'T know about the Dunkin' Donuts man ...



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 out of the bowl, then roll it with your fingertips into balls that are about one-inch in diameter. 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.

Special note: This is a recipe that does NOT double/triple very well. If you want to make LOTS of them, you should make a separate batch of dough each time.

We are getting sooo close to Christmas and I have soooo much still to do (I'm sure most of you can relate). Putting the nose back to the grindstone ...

Sneaky Peeky Freaky Fun!!

Welcome, welcome to this month's Control Freaks Blog Tour where we are giving you a few sneak peeks at what is coming up in both the Occasions Mini AND Sale-a-Bration Catalog!! If you are following the Tour around, you should have just come from the blog of my BFF, JanTink! She blows me away pretty much All. The. Time!





As we still have several months of winter chill in this neck of the woods, I decided to make a fun little item that you can share with a friend ... the teacups in the new Tea Shoppe set just spoke to me ... stinkin' ADORABLE!! So, I decided to make a little hot chocolate kit!!

Wait for it ...


Wait for it ...




TA-DA!!! Lookie what is inside!! Not only some hot chocolate (which, I am sad to say, I only had samples of "generic" stuff that came in little packets ... all my yummy gourmet stuff comes in canisters!), but some mini marshmallows and peppermint bits t'boot!! (Thanks for the inspiration, Kim!) I had way too much fun making this!!

Stamps: Tea Shoppe
Paper: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Pear PIzzazz
Accessories: Simply Scored, Modern Label Punch, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pearl Basics, Pear Pizzazz Ruffled Ribbon, Test Tubes


Moving on ... I made this card for my aunt for her birthday. I haven't done any "painting" with reinkers and a blender pen in AGES!! I almost forgot how much FUN it is!! And I LOVELOVELOVE how we have a die, embossing folder AND stamped images that all coordinate together (I am saving the stamped image that goes with this lovely curvy edge for another day!). C'mon SPRING!!

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, Elementary Elegance
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Pear PIzzazz, Black Stazon
Accessories: Scallop Trim Corner Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Pear Pizzazz Ruffled Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Dimensionals

One more to share with ya ... I swore I wasn't gonna get this set ... but it kept calling me from the closed pages of my Occasions Mini ... "Wendy ... you KNOW you want to!! Just DO IT!!" So I did! And I also think I am kinda hooked on the ruffled ribbon ... SOOOO PURDY!!

Stamps: Love & Laughter
Paper: Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Blushing Bride, Pearl Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Blushing Bride Ruffled Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics

Now it's time to visiting one of my Freaky Friends who is brand new to the Blog Tour this month (although I've been swapping with her for YEARS and she is AWESOME!!). Yvette Ashe!!

Family Christmas Card & Wishes for Spencer

It is finally SAFE for me to post my Family Christmas Card (you notice I used "initial caps" when I typed that out?? I felt it deserved it since it took soooo stinkin' long to finish these!!)

I had envisioned making a quilt card quite a while ago (and to be honest, after having made THE pop-up Christmas tree a couple of years ago, I feel like everything that follows it up falls a bit short!). What I HADN'T envisioned was cutting/punching out 33 individual quilt pieces for each card ... not to mention the two mats, five pieces for the stocking, the punched corner, the twine, the bell, the ribbon and SEWING ... not to mention embossing!!). I actually enjoy making something that I know will go to all of my dear sweet friends and family ... lots of work, but there is love in every piece and my family and friends are WORTH it!!

Here is the inside. I decided to do our greeting auf Deutsch (in German) this year. Since my husband's family has such a rich German heritage (and since, let's face it, after making cards for so many years I was starting to get stale!), I decided German greetings would do very nicely. So there ya have it ...

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist, Pear PIzazz, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP, Letters to Santa DSP, Silver Glitter Paper
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: 3/4" Square Punch (sooo sad this is retired), Photo Corner Punch (sad that THIS is retired, too!), 3/4" Circle Punch, Build a Stocking Punch, Petals a Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribon, Jingle Bell, Sewing Machine


And this was our second year volunteering for Spencer's Wishes. My dear friends, Phil and Pam Roundy, organize this event every year in honor of their sweet little boy, Spencer, who passed away from brain cancer at the tender age of 10 just over 11 years ago. In keeping with a list of Christmas wishes that they found in Spencer's room after his passing, they try to "help Santa deliver presents to children" by sponsoring a wonderful event every December complete with pizza, music, a magician, SANTA, and a $100 shopping spree for each of the 100 children who are invited to attend (each child is nominated ... all of the children have had a tough year in one way or another, and this is to help them put some joy back into their lives). This is me with my new buddy, Zane (and Santa, of course!).



Last year, my daughter Amelia and I went. We had such an AMAZING experience that we convinced my two sons, Devan and Garrett, as well as Amelia's friend, Merin (one of my other daughters!) to join us. Smiles, laughter and love ruled the day ...



Here is Santa getting ready to count the crowd down to releasing our purple balloons to Spencer. Purple was his favorite color. It was also the favorite color of his best friend, Susie, who succumbed to leukemia prior to Spencer's passing. He had purposely released a purple balloon after having received a large bouquet of brightly-colored balloons. When his daddy asked him why he let it go he said, "Because purple is Susie's favorite color. I'm sending this to her in Heaven, where I am sure she will find it!" Chokes me up even TYPING that!!



And there they go .... "THANK YOU , SPENCER!!"

Birthday Poinsettia

Ohmygoodness!! Isn't this poinsettia die DELICIOUS??? Seriously, I would have to say that it is probably one of my all-time FAVORITE Spellbinders dies ... EVER!! (And that's sayin' a LOT because I was on their Design Team for nearly a year and a half and I accumulated mui-MANY dies during that time!).

It was once again my turn to serve as hostess for the Free for All Challenge over on Splitcoast today. I chose "Winter Flowers" as my theme. Basically, I wanted to be able to have something to perk me up out of the cold, gray doldrums ...



Bwahahahahaha!! This has got to be one of my all-time favorite movies!! And that dumb phrase has been rockin' my brain for DAYS!! "It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be gray, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life!!" If we could just get some SNOW to push this yucky, gray, chewable air outta here then it would be GREAT!!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Petite Pairs
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
Ink: Gold Encore
Accessories: Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia, Corner Rounder Punch, Pearl Basics, PTI Gold Ribbon

Mirror, Mirror ...

I haven't done the mirror/reflection technique in a looooonnnnnggg time!! And ya notice how this card mirrors/reflects my blog design?? I actually thought about doing this card long before I redid my blog "digs" ... finally got around to making it, thanks to VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) over on SCS (Splitcoaststampers).

I have been to four Christmas parties in four days!!! SOOOO much goodness to eat!! Here's where the fit of my pants starts to reflect the parties I have been to ... off to exercise this morning!!

Happy Wintry Monday!!

Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Lovely as a Tree, Many Merry Messages
Paper: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Northern Flurries Die, Rhinestone Basics, Pop-Up Glue Dots

It's the Most Wonderful Time ...

... of the year!! And as we are all hustling/bustling/running around I think it is all-too-easy to lose sight of what we are doing and why we are doing it! This year I feel a bit more reflective than usual ... I'm just grateful to have a healthy family close by, a warm house to live in (it has been sooooo cold in Salt Lake City this week!), and a pretty Christmas tree to look at ...

Made this card a while back and just never got around to posting it ... I have a WONDERFUL stash of new goodies that I got on my Occasions Mini/Sale-a-Bration preorder ... and I NEED to create some more stuff with it!! FINALLY finished my Christmas cards and got them in the mail on Thursday ... I will be posting a pic of that in a few days (gotta wait for the fam and friends to get 'em in the mail before they see them here!).

Shopping, wrapping, crafting, baking ... somehow or another it always gets done, so this year I've chosen not to stress about it!!

Stamps: Hello Doily, Always Elegant
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Very Vanilla
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Versamark
Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Pearl Stickers, Lace Trim, Clear Embossing Powder

Mothers and Daughters

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the holidays (have GOT to get my Christmas cards out the door!), I thought I'd share an MDS layout I did a couple of months ago ...

My dear, sweet mom has been struggling with health issues the past couple of years. We have made manyMANY trips to the doctor's office (several DIFFERENT doctors, actually) and the hospital. Darn heart wouldn't cooperate!! The wonderful doctors who have been caring for her were FINALLY able to get her heart in a happy place after placing a pacemaker about 6 weeks ago. HOORAY!! She has been doing soooo much better ... and just in time for the holidays!!!

While she was in having an ablation a couple of months ago, I made this layout ... I realized when my dad died a couple of years ago that I had hardly ANY pictures of the two of us together (at least any where I was over 10 years old!). I have made a concerted effort to take pictures of me and my mom together since then ... and this is one of my favorites, taken last Christmas Day. Doesn't she look beautiful and happy??? Love you, Mom ... so grateful to have you as part of my life!!

NOW ... back to the Christmas Card Pile ... I'm getting closer!!

Gnomeo, Gnomeo ... (aka Occasions Mini Sneak Peek!)

I have to admit that when I saw some of the new things in the upcoming Stampin' Up Occasions Mini Catalog that I was a little underwhelmed ... but I think I musta just blown through it too fast!! And the LAST thing on my "wish list" was the little Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set. So, what was on my preview order?? And what was the FIRST set I created something with??? The picture pretty much says it all ...

I made this card for my nephew's 18th birthday (Happy Birthday, Crayton!). The more I have looked at this little Gnomeo dudes, the more I am liking them!! (against my own better judgement, I might add!!). It's still hard for me to believe that people actually BUY these little gnome-y statues and put 'em in their gardens ...

I am getting really close on finishing up my Christmas cards. Hope to have them in the mail by Tuesday (and I'll be sharing them with you a few days after that ... I'd like for the recipients to actually see them in person first, before actually seeing them on my blog!! --- which is assuming that any of the recipients actually READ the darn thing!!)

Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome; Up, Up & Away
Paper: Early Espresso, Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Stazon Black
Accessories: Dotted Ribbon Border Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Linen Thread, Silver Brads, Large and Small Tag Punch, Dimensionals

Quick Little Tags

My sister-in-law asked me last night if I would do some tags for her holiday neighbor gifts. The scary part is that she already has her neighbor gifts DONE!! WHAT??!!??? It was only the first of December yesterday!! HOLYCOW!!!
So this is what I came up with ...


And here it is close up ....

These were pretty quick and easy ... now if only MY neighbor gifts could be even STARTED!!! Sheesh!!

Stamps: Season of Joy
Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red, Early Espresso, Frostwood Lodge DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Two Tags Bigz Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Snowflake Punch, Rhinestone Basics, Silver Cord