Happy New Year!

Hope your New Year is a good one!  We are going to Marianne's home to celebrate 2015's arrival with friends and family.

2015 Calendar with My Digital Studio

As much as I loved the holidays and spending time with my family and friends - especially having Ashley here for almost two weeks not to mention Bogart for 4 months (!!), it was nice to get back to "normal" today.  Ashley was a sweetheart and helped Sonny and I take down the tree and all the house decorations before she left so I didn't have to bother with that.  Last night after taking her to rhe airport, I straightened up all the gift wrap paper, bags, ribbon, tags, gift card holders, tissue, etc. and put them away in the attic until next year.  So today was wide open for doing a little card making!  I have two swaps (Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration) due in two weeks plus a shoebox card to make for this Saturday so I knew I had to get busy.  It was great to do some stamping that wasn't in red and green or other Christmas colors!!  Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas but by New Year's I'm done with it!

As you can see, I changed my blog header to a simple one for now.  I'll probably work on a Valentine one later but this was good for now.  The pennants and dotted background piece is actually a sheet of Designer Paper that I just filled a rectangle punch with.  All was left was my text and I used an Alphabet Punch (Smitten) and paper filled it - easy, peasy!

I always make Ashley a calendar for Christmas and she does the same for me on My Digital Studio.  This year, with her being at Ft Belvoir, she wasn't able to get it done for Christmas.  So, on Sunday, she used my computer to create one and I should be receiving it in a week or two.  Here is the one I made for her this year (without the date pages).  They end up being like an album of our year.  I always keep mine to look back at the pictures.

JANUARY

APRIL - New Zealand road signs

MAY - New Zealand 

JUNE - still New Zealand

JULY - DC / Virginia in September

AUGUST - Pittsburgh October

Pittsburgh

OCTOBER - NYC

Don't forget the Stampin' Up Year End Sale.  You can shop by hitting "ORDER ONLINE" at the top of this post.  Please use my Hostess Code when ordering - N4KDHCAU

Hoping your Holidays were Good!

Hi friends!  I hope you have been enjoying the Holiday celebrations that this time of year brings.  I have been neglecting my blog but enjoying some nice relaxing time with my family.  I decided to  not worry about my blog  so I could enjoy Christmas and not stress out too much!  I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful time with your family and friends.  I did and am so thankful.

We went to Virginia / DC the week before Christmas to pick Ashley up after she had completed her course and took my mom.  We all had a good time.  We stopped at Monticello on our way to Ft Belvoir to tour Thomas Jefferson's home.  We visited DC taking the Metro and seeing the Christmas tree outside the White House.  It was really, really cold!!!!  We also went to the National Harbor and rode on the (climate controlled) ferris wheel.  I don't usually ride things that take me up in the air, but decided to be a sport.  It was really a lot of fun.  The view from the top was spectacular and it was a beautiful (cold) clear day.

National Harbor Christmas tree and Ferris Wheel

Selfie of Ashley and I at White House Christmas Tree

At Ashley's graduation ceremony - Ft Belvoir

The after-math of Christmas - Bogart is tired out!

Thanks for stopping by.  If you haven't already, stop by the Online Store and take a look at the year-end close outs.  There are a lot of good items as much as 80% off.

And beginning January 6, you can order from the New Spring Occasions Catalog and take advantage of the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.    During Sale-a--Bration, you can choose from a selection of great products FREE with every $50 you spend.   The Spring Catalog and SaleABration Catalog has already begun arriving in homes.  Let me know if you would like a copy.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

As of now, All Is Calm!!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even the CATS

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

Ashley and the cats are nestled all snug in the bed

While visions of sugar plums (or clothes, books, gift certificates, etc. etc. etc.) dance in her head.

Mamma in her nightie and Sonny in his flannel 

Had just settled down for a long winter's night (with cats laying on our feet!)

Hope all is calm at your house and you enjoy a wonderful Christmas!

Part of my mantle decorations.  My son made the wood Mary, Joseph and Jesus piece for us last year.

Ashley and I in front of tree - Christmas Eve

Sonny and Ashley

Trying to steal a kiss!  No mistletoe in sight though.

Looks like Santa has filled these stockings!

My son and his family.  Missing them!!

Clearance and Weekly Deals Plus Christmas Trivia!

It's Tuesday and that means new Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!  The Deals include one of my favorites - the Chalk Talk Framelits Die set.  Also, be sure to check out the YEAR END CLEARANCE items at my online store.  Items are only available while supplies last.





Here are some random Christmas facts that I got from someone!  Enjoy!

The Popular Poinsettia

Holiday Past
Poinsettias were first introduced into this country in 1828 by the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett.

Holiday Present
Poinsettias are now grown in all 50 states and represent over 85 percent of potted plant sales during the holidays. Over $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during holiday season!

Kisses in Color

Holiday Past
Hershey's started wrapping their Kisses in red, green, and silver foil for the first time in 1962. The success of the holiday-wrapped Kisses led Hershey's to dress up their little chocolates for the Easter, Valentine's Day, and Fall Harvest seasons.

Holiday Present
Hershey's now wraps up to 1,300 Hershey's Kisses a minute. That gives them the capacity to make approximately 33 million Hershey's Kisses a day, or more than 12 billion a year!

A Tree of Lights

Holiday Past
In 1949, the tree at Rockefeller Center was strung with 7,500 bulbs.

Holiday Present
Now more than 25,000 bulbs are strung on the tree - that's more than 5 miles of lights!

Artificial Trees

Holiday Past
Artificial Christmas trees were on the market by 1900. They were available by mail from Sears, Roebuck and Company, and cost 50 cents for 33 limbs, or a dollar for 55 limbs.

Holiday Present
Most artificial trees are now manufactured in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong and contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals. They usually range in price from $200 to $2,000.

Holiday Mail

Holiday Past
The first Christmas card, created by a London businessman, was printed in England in 1843. Three years later, the first commercial Christmas cards were available to the public. One thousand cards in all were produced and they were an instant success.

Holiday Present
The holiday season is now the busiest time of the year for the US Postal Service. Last year, over 20 billion cards, letters, and packages were sent, causing the USPS to hire nearly 40,000 temporary workers and put thousands of additional trucks, trains, and planes in service.

MDS Monday 95

Time for my MDS Monday challenge.  This is my last week as guest designer for MDS Monday.  But you can believe I will continue to submit scrapbook designs for MDS Monday on my own.

This time I used a picture taken when we were in London several years ago.  It was so cool to see the Changing of the Guard up close and in person!!

Here is the sketch we were to use:



Make sure to check out the other designs submitted by the crew at MDS Monday.

Off to finish up my Christmas shopping!!

Tag Swap

I participated in a Christmas tag swap with some of the regular customers at Stamper's Alley and got some beautiful tags.

The tag on the right I think is by my friend, Judy.  She gave me some goodies in the little box on the left which she decorated.

This is my tag.

Paper Craft Crew Challenge

Here is the card I made for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge this week.  (Yay!  I remembered to submit it AND to blog about it!!)

Here is the sketch:

Check out the other cards made by the Design Team HERE.

Sneak Peek Thinlet

I got my pre-ordered goodies from the Occasions Catalog and the Sale-A-Bration catalog on Monday and had a little bit of time to play around with them.  You will be able to start ordering from the Occasions Catalog January 6th.  I am sharing a sneak peek of one of the new 15% off Bundles that will be available called Crazy About You and Hello You Thinlets.  The stamp set has 33 stamps (2 flowers that coordinate with punches - one of them is new), one leaf and 30 nice size greetings!!) The Thinlets are four dies - hello, thanks, happy, you.

I kept the card really simple.  Ashley needed some masculine thank you cards so I thought this was spot on using the Under the Tree DSP from the Holiday Catalog (one of my favorite DSPs).

Inside using the piece that was cut out from the thinlit.

Holiday Lodge MDS Christmas Card

I spent a lot of time last week working on My Digital Studio finishing up some projects.  I have made calendars (several different ones), tags, journals, cards, etc.  This time of year is when MDS is a life saver for me.  I designed all my pages for MDS Monday so I won't have to worry about that the next couple of weeks.  I even made the cards for the rest of the month for Paper Craft Crew's blog.  I made my card last week but forgot to put it on the site!  Here is last week's card - better late than never!:

I love using the traditional red and green colors.  The house is a retired stamp called Holiday Lodge. It really is a pretty one.

Christmas Cats - MDS Monday

I have been super busy as I am sure everyone is at this time of year.  Last week I went to 4 parties where I had to take some kind of food and gift.  By Friday, I was worn out.  Maybe if I didn't wait till the last minute, this wouldn't happen every year, but where is the fun in that??!!  On top of it all, my sciatica has been acting up on top of really tight ham strings in my leg.  So, I scheduled time for a massage in the middle of all the craziness.  It really helped.  Now I continue on with finishing the shopping, wrapping, Christmas cards, ....... the list goes on and on, doesn't it?

This time of year is when My Digital Studio saves my butt!  Here is the page I designed for the MDS Monday Challenge as the Guest Designer this month.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team pages HERE..

These pictures were taken last year at Christmas.  When we were at Ashley's, we could not keep her cat, Bogart, out of the Christmas tree.  We ended up having to throw the tree (artificial) away after Christmas because he had broken so many of the branches.  Sonny and I were dreading going through that with him at our house this year.  Ashley helped us put the tree up when she was here at Thanksgiving (as well as decorate my house!!).  Bogart tried to climb it a couple of times while we were decorating but after that, he left it alone.  We were really surprised.  Well, guess we bragged on him a little too much.  A couple of nights ago while Sonny and I were watching TV, the tree started shaking.  Yep, Bogart decided to try to shimmy up it.  We took turns yelling at him and pulling him out of the tree.  So far, he has only tried to climb the tree that one night.  Not sure what is going to happen next week when we leave the two cats alone for a few days while we go out of town.  Maybe the tree will not tempt them if the lights are not on!!  (Who am I kidding??)

Here is a second page I made showing the two cats this year.  The picture at the bottom of both cats - they are in my lap.  They both love that blanket I throw over me while watching tv.  Sammie always sits in my lap at night.  Well, Bogart has to find his spot too.  Sammie tolerates him for a short while; then she hops down and gives Bogart space.  They are too funny! (You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

MDS Monday Challenge

Here is my page for this week's MDS (My Digital Studio) Monday.  I'm enjoying being a guest designer!!

I love these pictures that were taken at a vineyard in New Zealand.  It was New Year's Eve - our first full day in New Zealand.  We took a ferry from Auckand to Waiheke Island where we found a nice gentleman who drove us around the island for the day - dropping us off at different wineries and coming back to fetch us an hour or so later.  He was a retired school teacher and was really knowlegable about the island.  As it turns out, New Year's Eve is the busiest day for Waiheke Island but he was great about knowing back roads to get us where we wanted to be.  Ashley and Courtney hike up the hill with their wine and got this great view.

Snowman Gift Card Holder

I don't know why I don't do my Christmas cards, gift cards, hand made gifts, calendars, etc. earlier each year.  Instead I find myself trying to juggle it all to get everything done in time!  This week I have something going on almost every day - bridge on Monday, Stamp Club Tuesday and neighborhood Bunco Tuesday night, massage (yay!!) Wednesday, Southern Living Luncheon Thursday night and a trip to Concord Thursday night!  Whew!  I'll get it all done - I always do but I am wearing myself out!!  Not sure when I will be doing my Christmas shopping!!   Gift certificates sound good to me along with a little on-line shopping!!

I made this gift card holder a while ago and can't even remember how I made it.  I saw it on Pinterest and followed the trail for the directions.  But do you think I can find it now????  Nope!

It's easy to figure out though.  The snowman is punch art using Circle Punches for the snowman.  The gift card holder was made with the Envelope Punch Board.

We have been really surprised that Bogart (Ashley's cat) has left our Christmas tree alone!  He hasn't tried to climb up it once.  Guess he's more afraid of Sonny and I than Ashley!  She will be here in a couple of weeks.  We'll see if he minds her then.  We're entering our final few weeks with our visiting cat.  I know Sonny is really going to miss him although he sure won't admit it.

Year End Close Out and Welcome New Occasions Catalog!

Make sure you check out Stampin'  Up's Clearance Rack.  It's time for year end deals.  Discounts will be up to 80% plus they are adding Christmas items.  Just remember these items are only while supplies last.  When ordering on-line, please use HOSTESS CODE N4KDHCAU

One of the stamp sets that is on Clearance is Spread the Joy.  This set was never in the catalog but was a special stamp designed by an employee at Stampin' Up.  I just love this set!  Here is a card Ashley made using the set last week.

Here is the saying close up -

Last night I attended the SU Occasions and SALE-a-bration Reveal in south Charlotte.  Marianne and I drove to Charlotte when she got off work and met a group of SU demonstrators for dinner before heading over to the theatre for the big Reveal.

The catalogs are awesome - lots of flower stamps which are my weakness it seems!  I think you will like the new products that are being offered.

While we were standing in line waiting to go in the theater, I met several ladies who recognized me from my blog!  I was flattered.  (Hi! Vicky!!)  Guess it's a good thing I just recently updated my picture!

I have several events next week that I am trying to make little goodies to take for Christmas.  I'm afraid I am running out of time!!  I also have a few calendars to make as well as a few secret projects on My Digital Studio!  I need a few of Santa's elves to help me!

I am also trying to finish up a Christmas banner to hang above my fireplace.  I loved the Thanksgiving banner that I made.  I made it using the Banner Kit (that was just recently on sale).  I sponged the letters and the background.  The pom-poms are from the November Paper Pumpkin Kit. For my Christmas banner, I am spelling out PEACE and I just did the letters on the reverse side of the GRATEFUL banner.  I have that part all done - I just need to make something to go in between the letters - ribbon, banners, etc. .... haven't decided yet.