Christmas Crud

I've been sick all week and haven't gotten ANY decorating done as planned!  I went to "doc in a box" on Sunday because I had a really bad sore throat and figured it was a sinus infection.  They gave me a Z Pack which I finished today, but my throat still hurts!!  I've also got a cold, I believe.  I've been blowing my nose so much, I look like Rudolph!! 

Tomorrow is my Mahjong Christmas party and I hope to be able to go.  We are supposed to take a dish (luckily, I still have bourbon balls and pizzelles I can take!) and a present for the Chinese auction.  Here is what I am taking -

My daughter, Ashley, made this necklace for me.  She made several for me to give as gifts.  I picked out the piece and she put it together with beads, etc.  It's really quite pretty in real life!!

This is a set of note cards I made using Inspired by Nature and the Curly Punch set.  I love these colors together - kraft, kiwi, and Baja Breeze with some designer paper.

A close-up of one of the cards -

And of course, one of my calendars:

Everything will go into this box which is gorgeous on it's own.  I didn't make it - bought it last year at Home Goods.

12 days of Christmas

This one's for my sister, Marianne. This is what she wants for Christmas (a heat gun!!)


(12 Days of Christmas)

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
12 rubber stamps,
11 handmade papers,
10 embossing powders,
9 duel tip markers,
8 paper edger's,
7 assorted ink pads,
6 funky stickers,
5 exotic glitters,
4 brass stencils,
3 craft punches,
2 paper crimpers,
and a brand new embossing heat tool.

A Rubber Wonderland

Rubber Wonderland(sing to tune of Winter Wonderland)

Rubber calls . are you listening?
Glitter falls . bright and glistening.
We're happy tonight,
Our stamping's so bright . . .
Wading through a Rubber Wonderland.
In the craft room we can stamp a snow card,
send it on its way to a friend.
They'll say did you make it?
You'll say "Yeah, man . and you can stamp one too, yes you can!"
Later on, we'll conspire, as we sit, by the fire,
to face unafraid the mess that we made .
wading through our Rubber Wonderland

Grandma got run over ......

Grandma Got Run Over by a Brown Truck
(Written by: Denise Wenzloff)

Grandma got run over by a brown truck
Going to a stamp camp Christmas Eve
You can't understand why she's addicted
But she buys more darn supplies than you'll believe

She'd been cutting all her paper
all her inkpads were just so
She packed it all inside her caddy
And she left with all her things to earn her dough

When they found her Christmas morning
The brown truck had not come back
There were tire marks on her forehead
And a ups symbol on her back

Grandma got run over by a brown truck
Going to a stamp camp Christmas Eve
You can't understand why she's addicted
But she buys more darn supplies than you'll believe

Now were all so proud of Grandpa
He's got all her things to sell
Little beads and all her punches
Some cutting thing and some stamp says wishing well

All the boxes still come to Grandma
filled with tons of her cardstock
If UPS wont stop those orders
We'll be forced to make those cards around the clock

Grandma got run over by a brown truck
Going to a stamp camp Christmas Eve
You can't understand why she's addicted
But she buys more darn supplies than
you'll believe

Now the glitter is on the table
Right beside her big RED hat
I bet she really really needs them
Cause she can't get them where she's at

I've called all her friends and stampers
Better watch out for that man
They should never give a license
To a guy who never stamps and drives a van

Grandma got run over by a brown truck
Going to a stamp camp Christmas Eve
You can't understand why she's addicted
But she buys more darn supplies than you'll believe

Christmas Buckets

My sister, Marianne, has been a busy beaver!  She has a full schedule anyway - 2 teenage boys with active soccer schedules plus she works full time.  But she has been an angel in making me these Christmas buckets to send to my step-granddaughters.  I am going to fill each one with goodies that I have collected.

I bought Marianne one of these buckets last May at a stamp store in Shallotte, NC and she has been reproducing them like crazy.  They are great for holding your crafting supplies and have pockets all around the outside and on the inside.  She has sold a bunch of them.  I think she charges $20 for the bucket & insert, but she will just sell you the insert if you want to buy your own bucket.  She gets plastic buckets & metal paint buckets at a local hardware store.  So if you are interested, let me know!

This one uses Wall-E material and is for Cassidy who is 9.

This one is for Torri who is the oldest - 14.  Her room is decorated in a jungle theme so thought this would be cool for a teenager.  It is actually our favorite!!

This is for Kennedy, who is almost 11.  As you can see, it is Tinkerbell.  These gals love Disney!

And here is my bucket - stuffed!!

SU Specials

20% Savings on Fall-Winter Sampler & Free Shipping

In celebration of Stampin' Up!'s twentieth anniversary, spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! product from December 1-January 18 and get 20 percent off any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler--no limit! Choose from any of the stamp sets below

Flight of the Butterfly
Vuelo de la mariposa (Spanish Flight of the Butterfly)
Puns from the Past
Just Jawing
Dreams du Juor
Thank You Kindly
Wow Flowers
Flores llamativas (Spanish Wow Flowers)
Bella's Bloom

As an extra bonus, free shipping until December 23rd on all orders over $70.

View FLIER

finally ... precious time to post

Sorry - I've been rather sporadic with my posts!  It's that time of year plus being a procrastinator doesn't help!!  Sonny & I offered to volunteer a few months ago with the Red Cross so we've been having to do training.  A few weeks ago, we took a CPR and First Aid class and last week we went to a Disaster training session.  Sonny also offered his services with their transportation so he has to do 20 hours of training for that!  Last Friday & today, he has had to go to the Red Cross in Charlotte to ride along with a guy there.  He should complete that training next Friday & then I guess he'll be on his own.  They really believe in training!!

On Monday, I went to my bridge Christmas party.  We played a little bridge and then had lunch.  Someone brought the most delicious pineapple casserole.  I think they said it was a Paula Deen recipe.  I am going to make it tonight to take to a party.  Here is the recipe if you are interested in trying it.

• 2 (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained
• ¾ cup sugar (or Splenda)
• 6 Tbsp. juice from pineapple
• 6 Tbsp. flour
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed

Mix sugar and flour. Add pineapple, pineapple, juice, butter, and cheese. Mix well. *Place in 2qt casserole dish. Top with crushed crackers. Bake at 350 F for about 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 8        *Note: rectangular casserole dish is best

After all the good food, we exchanged gifts via the Chinese Auction style (you can steal a gift from someone two times, etc.).  So, I have been working hard on my gift for this as well as for gifts for my Bunco Christmas party which was on Tuesday night and my Mahjong party which is next week!  Here are a few of the things I made for these:

This is a set of cards using my Nesties and my favorite SU Cardinal.

This is a box I made to hold some tags (seen below)

Set of tags using a clear stamp set and Deer Friends and my wonderful Big Note Die.

I also included in each basket one of the Season's Calendars shown on THIS post.

Let it Snow!

Think it will snow???? I'd love a white Christmas. Ashley called us yesterday morning from New Orleans. Seems she was looking out her window - 35th floor of the Marriott - and could barely see the street for the snow!! Whoda thunk it would snow in New Orleans???? Think I heard it was the first time in 7 years!! She is a snow freak so was really excited. Meanwhile, it has been in the 60's here and raining like crazy. I heard an old wives tale last week that if you have thunderstorms in December, you'll have snow in 7-10 days. Maybe ...... a white Christmas! In the meantime, you can sing this song while working on your Christmas presents -


(Let it Snow)

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the inks look so delightful
So while the winter is cold and damp
Let us stamp! Let us stamp! Let us stamp!
It doesn't take much convincing
And I've brought a tool for crimping
Choose some paper, turn up the lamp
Let us stamp! Let us stamp! Let us stamp!
When we carefully press just right
How we smile as the image unfolds
Add some color, so bold, so bright
The result is a sight to behold.
Our projects are quickly drying
And there's new techniques for trying
So until we get finger cramps
Let us stamp! Let us stamp! Let us stamp!

Jingle Bells

(Jingle Bells I )

Dashing through the snow
To the hostess house we go.
O'er the streets we pass
Anxious to spend cash.
Stamps are everywhere
Making spirits bright.
Oh what fun it is to sing,
The stamping song tonight!
Stampin' Up!, Stampin' Up!,
Stampin' all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to stamp
In the good old fashion way!S
tampin' Up!, Stampin' Up!,
Stampin's here to stay!
Oh, what fun it is to stamp
All the gifts you give today!

Winter Wonderland - stampin' style!

Here's a Christmas Carol for you today! Hum this is your head all day!

(Winter Wonderland)

Brayers roll....are you listening.
On the card... ink is glistening.
A beautiful sight... we're happy tonight, Stamping in a winter wonderland.
In the kitchen we can build a snowman.
Then add color to his carrot nose.
You'll say: Are you finished?
I'll say: No ma'am, I need to add some glitter to the snow.
When we stamp... ain't it thrilling.
Even when... the powders spilling.
We'll create and we'll play...the art stamper way,
Stamping in a winter wonderland.