Ringin' in the New Year!

Welcome to 2019!! It's a beautiful, bright, clear and VERY cold New Year's Day here in Salt Lake City. We enjoyed having some family/friends over to ring in 2019 last night ... ate a LOT ... played games ... and went to bed at about 1:30am! I've been sitting around in my fuzzy slippers with some leggings and a big warm sweater. I plan to spend the day watching dumb movies and stamping ... and eating some more, of course (aren't leftovers GREAT??!?)!

THIS is the Christmas card I almost started making two years ago. I was just finishing a super-clean in my craft room and had all my cardstock/stamps laid out on my table ... only to discover that I had stepped into a very wet spot on the carpet! Upon further examination, a FLOOD ensued ... and my craft room/basement was turned into a war zone!!!

2017 was also very busy ... what with plumbing and sheet rocking and painting that had to be done to clean up the mess AND my daughter's wedding on top of all that, my craft room didn't get back to a more "normal" until Super Bowl Weekend 2018!!! Holy COW!!! That was a HUGE mess ... and a LONG time with no workable craft space. So happy that this year I was able to get my cards done (FINALLY!) ... even though they didn't get in the mail until December 23!!! I'm feeling VERY accomplished!! That's a good way to start the year, isn't it??

So ... this Detailed Santa Thinlits Die is SOOOO cute. And SOOOO retired ... that's what happens when everything gets buried underneath mounds of rubble!!! Since I already had all the cardstock and such to make this, I decided it was still good enough to use!! I added a silver "Ho Ho Ho" sentiment using my trusty Cricut.

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Silver Foil, Red Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer
Ink: Poppy Parade (sponge dauber-ed onto Santa's cheeks)
Accessories: Detailed Santa Thinlits Die, Layering Squares Framelits Dies, 5/8" Striped Burlap Trim, Silver Glitter Glue

The inside I created with NEW family photos and My Memories Suite (the upgrade version of Stampin' Up's retired My Digital Studio). We had SOOO many pix that turned out SOOOO good. It was hard to pick a FAVORITE, so I just used one of the many that I liked a lot!

And here is a pic of this year's "neighbor gift". On what we call "Keebler Elf Sunday" at my house, we all get together and make over 1,000 of these yummy ginger cookies. I am responsible for bagging/tagging them to give away to our friends. We try to split up delivery duties so that it won't take TOO much of forever! I also used my Cricut to make the little tags on these.

As I have done the last several years, here is the recipe I use to make these cookies. Once you've had them, they will become a family favorite!

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 spoon to scoop the dough out of the bowl, then roll it with your fingertips into balls that are about one-inch in diameter (I think we actually go up to 1.5" 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.

I may actually take a NAP today!! Gonna be a good year!!

Monday Montage #82

Snap!!! And JUST like THAT two weeks have flown by!!! Welcome to Monday Montage, my friends!!! I've been UBER-SUPER busy the last couple of weeks ... more on that in a few paragraphs ... but for now, it's time to share!

Stitched Shapes Framelits???? Why, YES INDEED-Y!!! These are the caYOOTEST things EVER!!! I challenged myself by trying to make a grown-up "dude" kinda card (you know how THAT is)!! I'm pretty happy with the results, but have to admit that it was VERY hard not adding flowers or a butterfly or something!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Dapper Denim, Neutrals DSP
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Large Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits (for sentiment)

So .... I decided to start ANOTHER "new business" for myself (I'm always looking for ways to earn extra income by doing something FUN (but I hate to admit that I am my own best SU customer!). I launched my own LuLaRoe clothing page on Facebook last night (which is why my darn post is so darn late!)!!! I had bought so many of the clothes myself that I figured it wouldn't hurt to try to sell some (sound familiar with stamps and paper???). AND I went to Disneyland (again!) this week to run the Captain America 5K with some of my friends. It was a REALLY good time!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Bree Renwick ... so very lucky to be "linked" to these friends!

Monday Montage #57

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Hol-ly ... FA-LA-LA-LA-LA LA-LA-LA-LAAAAAA!! What comes after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and putting up ALL the Christmas decorations???? A WEEK-LONG NAP!!! Hahaha!! Don't I WISH??!!??? BUT ... Monday Montage DOES come after all those things!!

I now need to clean my CraftCave so that I can make all my Christmas cards (the rest of my house is not too bad at the moment, actually!)!!! But this card came together much more quickly than I had anticipated!! I LOVE looking in my Google images search or on Pinterest for inspiration, don't you??? Sometimes it's just a color scheme or a layout that just gets my gears rolling ... and the fact that I FINALLY got a new package of Blackberry Bliss cardstock (LOVE this color!)!

I was feeling SO in the mood for a Christmas tree (since I have decorated TWO of them already since Friday!)!! These little trees were MUCH quicker and easier, though. I feel a little like Bob Ross ... aren't these just "happy trees"???? I think so!


Stamps: Festival of Trees
Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Crumb Cake, Gold Foil DSP, Vellum
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Banner Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack (Star), Tree Builder Punch, Gold 1/8" Ribbon

If I can actually get some time to make my family Christmas cards I will be excited!! I have one designed ... just need to see how feasible it is to "mass produce" ... I always seem to go overboard when it comes to making them!!

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

Fab Friday #78 ... AKA Black Friday!

How can it be BLACK FRIDAY already again???? And it also happens to be Fab Friday!! HOORAY!!

To be honest, I have been a most SERIOUS Black Friday shopper for about 20 years ... no joke!! (For those of you not from the US, Black Friday is an INSANE excuse for retailers to get people to act like complete lunatics by waiting in line in the dark and cold, and then pushing past THRONGS of people to squeeze through the doors, and then RACING like a maniac to try to find that "special" item that you saw in the retailer's ad that was "on sale" for the "first-come/first-served" people). I have actually been very successful doing these for a great many years ...

HOWEVER ... it is really turned into a kind of UGLY thing! And I finally decided THIS year that I was going to forego the trek to any store at Zero Dark Thirty ... and I have been doing all my Black Friday shopping ONLINE!!! IN MY PAJAMAS!!! YAY ME!!

On to my card for this week's challenge ... there is a local florist shop that has the most GORGEOUS poinsettias I have EVER laid eyes on ... and I have been tempted MANY a year to buy one. Alas, we all know the life expectancy on a poinsettia is very limited ... and I can't seem to justify the $50+ it costs to buy one ... so I MADE one! And YES ... they DO look like this!!

Stamps: Among the Branches, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Gold Foil
Ink: Crumb Cake, Really Red
Accessories: Softy Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Festive Flower Builder Punch, White Accents (Colored with gold Sharpie), Gold Sequin Trim, Circle Framelits, Burlap Ribbon

This is a really great and really simple layout ... LOTS of room for interpretation!






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

Tomorrow is the Annual Weixler Family Apple Pressing Day!!! Food, laughter, hugs, work ... and close to 500 GALLONS of apple juice are gonna happen!!! Best.Family.Tradition.EVER!!

It's Freakin' Christmas!! (ALMOST!)

As the temperatures drop it is getting inevitable that our thoughts turn to the holidays!! Good thing the Freaks are ALL OVER THAT!! Did you see the wonderful things that Dawn Olchefske made??? She is AWESOME!!

To be honest, I am sitting in the same-day surgery waiting room ... it is 6:02 PM ... and my daughter is having a little surgery to remove some scar tissue from an ACL reconstruction that was done six months ago!! They call it a Cyclops Lesion ... and least it SOUNDS cool!! Good thing(??) our maximum out-of-pocket expenditures have been met for her this year (what??)! I'm so grateful for modern medicine and their ability to "fix" things ...

So, it IS beginning to feel a bit lit Christmas (my crazy neighbors put Christmas lights on their house the day AFTER Halloween ... not EVEN kidding!)!!! It's taken me a while to get in the swing, but these cards sure helped!!!

Stamps: Peaceful Pines
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer DSP, Season of Cheer DSP
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Perfect Pines Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, Mini Treat Bag Framelits, Rhinestone Basics

And I know that this stamp set/edgelits die combo has been used a LOT since it came out (because, well ... it's GORGEOUS!) ... but I finally got a chance to play with it a little ... it's super FUN!!

I am actually enjoying the cooler temperatures (which is funny for me because I get cold SO easily). Since I have been getting seriously into running I have a whole different outlook for coldness!!

Stamps: Jingle All the Way
Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer DSP, Vellum
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Perfect Pines Framelits,, Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Sleigh Ride Edgelits, Lucky Stars Textured Impression Embossing Folder

Next up??? My running/stamping/online shopping/vertically-challenge partner in crime, Mindy Backes!!! Her "style" will AMAZE ya!

Monday Montage #56

Today I am feeling so totally grateful ... had a WONDERFUL day yesterday with our extended family doing the Annual Weixler Apple Pressing Day in Alpine. Couple of WEIRD things happened that could have had such TERRIBLE outcomes ... but didn't!!! Everyone is safe, happy and had a great time together. Amazing how easily we can take things for granted. Needless to say, I want to hug EVERYone today!!! (So consider yourself HUGGED if you are reading this!!)

Grateful to be part of this amazing group of women for the Monday Montage Blog Hop. They are sweet, kind, funny and WICKEDLY talented. A true blessing in my life, to be sure!! And after all of this crazy WARM AND MUSHY stuff on gratitude I have ... a CHRISTMAS card to share!!

This is one of the cards I made last weekend with my stamp club girls. I think I am TOTALLY addicted to the Mini Treat Bag Framelits Dies ... all the little accessories are so stinkin' CUTE!!! I have been using them a LOT lately!!

Stamps:  Cup of Cheer, Your Presents
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Gold Foil, Season of Cheer DSP
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories:  Gold 1/8" Ribbon, Mini Treat Bag Framelits, Oval Framelits, Occasions Paper Piercing Template, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat

How can we be back to Monday ALREADY???!!! So additionally grateful this week that I only have to go to work two days out of five!!! And I have started my marathon training in EARNEST ... what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger, right???

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... super friends, amazing talent!! And an extra special "shout out" to Amy this week ... she just found out this past weekend that she will be a member of Stampin' Up's 2016 Artisan Design Team!!! You GO, girl!!

Fab Friday #77

Here we are back to another Fab Friday ... and I am ALMOST back to a "normal" schedule. My sister-in-law took over for me at work while I was doing a TON of globetrotting last month (okay ... I guess I was only actually "countrytrotting") ... and then she went out of town for a bit to celebrate her birthday with her daughter in NYC ... which means that I have been working a LOT of extra time ever since I got back from all my crazy running around!!

I was THRILLED when I headed down to the Craft Cave yesterday to create for this challenge ... and GUESS WHAT??!!??? It was actually CLEAN!!! The table was all cleared off and ready for me PLAY!!! That almost NEVER happens!!!

Stamps: Vintage Leaves, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Very Vanilla, Typeset DSP
Ink: Cajun Craze, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey
Accessories: Greetings Thinlits, Leaflets Framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Woodlands Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, White Perfect Accents, Happy Haunting Designer Washi Tape

Lookie at all the purdy fall colors!!!









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

Tomorrow is the Annual Weixler Family Apple Pressing Day!!! Food, laughter, hugs, work ... and close to 500 GALLONS of apple juice are gonna happen!!! Best.Family.Tradition.EVER!!

Fab Friday #72

Yaaaaawwwwnnnnnnn!!! Yep ... I'm ZAPPED!!! But welcome to Fab Friday (and sorry I am so late with my post ...more on that in a minute!)!

I had an AWESOME week last week!!! I spent three days with my sister-in-law, Diann, and my bestie, Cheryl, in Disneyland (yeah-yeah-yeah ... I went AGAIN!)! We played and ate and ran around and ate some more. All in all, it was a GREAT way to spend my big 5-0 birthday week!!

On Friday, my actual birthday, I had to go to work (like most of us do!! BOO!)!! Then I ended up taking a drive up to Logan with my husband to pick up my daughter and bring her back down to Salt Lake for the weekend (wanted to have the whole fam together for my unofficial "birthday dinner"). So grateful my kids are far enough "away" from home that they feel some sort of independence, but close enough I can jump in a car and ride to their rescue, when needed ...

Stamps: Acorny Thank You
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Tangelo Twist, Early Espresso, Happy Haunting DSP Typeset Specialty DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Tangelo Twist
Accessories: Bitty Greetings Thinlits, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits (for the strip with the holes cut out ... that's a NEW FAVE for me!), Acorn Building Punch, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla Thick Bakers Twine, White Accents (Colored with gold Sharpie)

Which brings me to the reason I am SO wiped out (and probably will be for a couple of days) ... see this pile of bags??? They are FULL of clothing ... ALL of my daughter's clothing ... every last STITCH of it. We spent most of yesterday running it all through commercial-laundromat-type dryers. WHY??? Because my daughter's "new" apartment (into which she just moved last week) has too many unWANTED roommates (aka BEDBUGS!!!)!!! I now have to WASH every article of clothing in these bags (figure I am safe from infestation since they have all be zapped in the dryer!)!! And we steam-cleaned shoes and dresser drawers and such ... now if someone would just come and help ME clean up MY house (luckily, I don't have a bug infestation!!)!!

Cute layout ... and I had to work HARD to come up with something that was NOT a doily (because my out-of-the-box brain would NOT let me use one ... too easy!)!!! I made this little accordion-fold flower (kinda miss my Bigz die that did this for me ... need to dig it OUT next time!)!








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

I need a NAP today ... I may actually TAKE one for a few minutes at some point!! Sleep tight ... and don't let the bedbugs bite (ok, THAT was too easy ... and kinda YUCKY!!)

Playin' with the Freaks!

Ohhhh ... ALL the goodness!!! Holy COW!!! I have FINALLY had a chance to play with my new Holiday Catalog "preview" goodies!!! To be honest, I am having a HARD time wrapping my brain around doing any sort of "fall" creations. But, since it it is my absoLUTE favorite time of the year, it really didn't take me too long to get into the groove. And I am happy to report that my BFF Jan Tinklenberg has joined the ranks of the Control Freaks once again!!! (Did you SEE what she MADE???) Choirs of angels sing (or at least I DO!) to have her back amongst us once again!

I hate to even ADMIT that I have felt a TEENY-TINY bit of fall in the air ... not very much, mind you, but the evenings HAVE been cooler (as well as the mornings) by at least a few degrees!!! I cannot WAIT for the seasons to change, though ... running through the canyon in the cool temperatures with the colors and SMELLS of fall??? Just about as close to a slice of HEAVEN as you can GET!

Stamps: Acorny Thank You, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Mini Treat Bag Thinlits (for Mossy Meadow border), Bitty Banners Thinlits, Acorn Builder Punch, Natural Chevron Ribbon, Venetian Crochet Trim, Very Vanilla Thick Bakers Twine, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Mini Stapler

OHMYHALLOWEEN!!! Y'all KNOW it just so happens to be my very most FAVORITIST time of year. (I have a handful of homemade costumes that I've made over the years for MYSELF to prove it! And enough Halloween decor to decorate my house - inside and out - a couple of times over!!)

So this is actually a CARD and not a TREAT bag! Just pull on the little ribbon at the top and the card inside is blank except for the skelly face (that's what my daughter calls skeletons ... and it has kind of grown on me!)! The little bones are attached to the outside front of the "treat bag" .. stinkin' cute, right???

Stamps: Howl-o-ween Treat
Paper: Happy Haunting DSP, Whisper White, Black Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Mini Treat Bag Framelits, Happy Haunting Designer Washi Tape, Into the Woods 3/8" Cotton Ribbon, Boo to You Framelits

Next up?? The delightful Debbie Henderson! It is even super fun for ME to see what my fellow freaky friends come up with ... they NEVER cease to AMAZE me!!

Stamp Review Crew - Awesomely Artistic Edition

The Stamp Review Crew is at it again!!! This week we are "reviewing" Stampin' Up's Awesomely Artistic set.  I have already used this thing SO much!!! The images are ALL just GORGEOUS!

I did the background bricks with a technique I learned long ago and far away ... I inked up the embossing folder with some Whisper White ink (actually on the "negative" side so that the bricks would turn white and not the "grout" between the bricks ... hope that makes sense!).  I ran a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock through my Big Shot with the inked up embossing folder. Then, I sprinkled some Whisper White embossing powder on the ink and heat set it.  Ta-DAAAA!!

(This is similar to what I did with the Woodland embossing folder a couple of posts ago ... everyone keeps asking how I did it ... I just tapped the ink pad on the embossing folder and added a little bit of accent color with a sponge dauber.)

Stamps: Awesomely Artistic
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Accessories: Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Hearth and Home Thinlits Dies, Project Life Card & Labels Framelits Dies, Project Life Moments Like These Accessories (small paper clip), Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Whisper White Embossing Powder, White Perfect Accents (colored with gold sharpie), Small Oval Punch (retired)

Yeah ... this is the SAME card ... I decided after I took the photo of my first version that the flowers might benefit from a little bit more color ... so I added a little splash of Soft Sky to the flower petals.  I still can't decide which version I like better ... what do you think??

Stamps: Awesomely Artistic
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Soft Sky
Accessories: Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Hearth and Home Thinlits Dies, Project Life Card & Labels Framelits Dies, Project Life Moments Like These Accessories (small paper clip), Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Whisper White Embossing Powder, White Perfect Accents (colored with gold sharpie), Small Oval Punch (retired)

You KNOW you want one of these sets, don't you???!!??









The "previous" button with take you to Stampin' Seasons with Linda Callahan ... and the "next" button with show you what Jen Timko created on her Stampin' on the Fly blog!!!