Christmas Stamp a Stack

My Christmas Stamp a Stack is this Saturday and the following Monday evening.  If you live in the area and are interested in joining us, please call me or email me.  I will have door prizes and lots of fun is in store!!

This card uses Festive Flurry stamp in two different shades of green.

The cardinal is North Carolina's state bird so it is only fitting that we include him on a Christmas card!

Die cut the "J" and "Y" and use the Ornament die for the "o" - add a little washi tape and bakers twine and you have a JOYful card!

Salute to our troops on Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all those who are serving our country or who have served our country with their service. 

I read this article in Sunday's Parade Magazine and thought it worth sharing today.  Perhaps there is something in the list that you can do to show your appreciation for our veterans and those still in uniform.

• Upgrade a soldier's helmet
  For $35, you can provide a service member cushioning helmet pads to help protect against traumatic brain injury.
  operation-helmet.org
• Foster a companion animal
  Pets for Vets pairs shelter dogs with veterans in an effort to ease the emotional wounds of war. Volunteers are needed to offer foster care for rescues, as are professional trainers to prepare the dogs for their new roles.
  pets-for-vets.com
• Help throw a baby shower
  Celebrate an expectant mom whose husband is deployed or injured by sending a gift or volunteering in person at a party hosted by Operation Shower.
  operationshower.org
• Mail a care package
  Look up specific requests for reading material, DVDs, games, and relief supplies from service members in all five branches of the military; pack the items with a letter of thanks and ship them off.
  booksforsoldiers.com
• Tune in to Tim McGraw
  As part of his initiative with Chase and Operation Homefront to provide mortgage-free homes for vets and service members in need, the country star is performing a concert tonight for military families, to air on the Pentagon channel and on his website (8:45 p.m. ET).
  timmcgraw.com
• Support a Mission Continues fellow
  The Mission Continues fellowship program allows post-9/11 veterans to continue serving at home by volunteering for 26 weeks with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross. Your donation can help vets finds ways to channel their skills as they transition back to the civilian world.
  Missioncontinues.org
• Share your points
  Transfer your hotel rewards points to Fisher House Foundation’s “Hotels for Heroes” program, which provides accommodations to the families of military service members who are undergoing medical treatment.
  Fisherhouse.org
• Offer a vet a ride
  Join the VA’s Volunteer Transportation Network and you can drive veterans to and from their appointments for services.
  Volunteer.va.gov
• Donate gifts for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan
  Operation Give collects toys and school and art supplies that our troops can then distribute to to local children in the areas where they are serving.
  Operationgive.org
• Share your expertise
  Sign up to teach a class or be a mentor to wounded veterans interested in exploring business opportunities after they leave the hospital.
  100entproject.org
• Send a holiday card
  To date, amillionthanks.org has delivered more than six million letters to service members and veterans. This holiday season, express your appreciation for our troops with a festive card containing a personal message or prayer, postmarked by December 1.    http://www.amillionthanks.org/

Ashley with her cousin's son - the day before she left for Iraq

Jeff when he was in the Army

Fall Wreath

Hopefully this week has gotten you inspired to start creating with MDS.  I know there were quite a few of you that missed out on some of the Daily Deals, so as one last final surprise to end Digital Scrapbooking Days, the My Digital Studio team has decided to put all of the Daily Deals back on sale for 24 hours!
Get your orders in between November 8 at midnight and November 9 at midnight 
Here are the downloads that will be on sale at 50% off:

• Amped Up Ampersands Kit (item 134844)
• Hello There Kit (item 133374)
• All Time Fave Photobook Template (item 132915)
• Modern Medley Overlays Kit (item 134839)
• Be Brave Pocket Cards (item 134840)
• Nobody’s Business Photobook Template (item 132812)
• Autumn Traditions Kit (item 127600)
• Afternoon Daydream Kit (item 130861)

Ashley made it back safe and sound Friday from Seoul, Korea.  There was such a huge time difference.  I talked to her around 4-5:00 Friday afternoon while she was waiting to go through Customs in Dallas.  She said she had left Korea around 6 pm Friday - it wasn't even 6 pm here yet so she lost a whole day .... I think!  Hopefully she has not got a full schedule this weekend so she can rest and get readjusted to the Central Time Zone.  She has a three day weekend since Monday is Veterans Day and she is off.  Here she is with the other docs that she was with in Seoul.  Just wish that sign wasn't in front of her!!  She says she's not short but looking at this picture, I'm not so sure!!

I made a wreath for my front door on Wednesday.  I had seen a picture of a nice wreath in Women's Day magazine and they just used a box of potpourri.  So I picked up a twig wreath and a box of potpourri at Hobby Lobby along with some discounted fall leaves and got my trusty hot glue gun out and went to work.  The whole project probably only cost about $20 or less and took me about an hour to make.  Everything was on sale except the box of potpourri and I used my coupon to buy it.

Step 1 - gluing on the leaves - with a little help from Sammie, my supervisor!!

I had a roll of wide burlap that I stuck in along with that plaid burlap ribbon that I bought at H.L.



I already had the little Welcome Friends sign hanging on the wreath hook.



I love how it looks!  And the glass at the top of the door reflects the fall leaves in the trees in my front yard.

Have a great weekend!

Fall Colors

I love the colors of fall.  I think fall is my favorite time of the year - beautiful colors, crisp cool weather, my favorite juicy Honey Crisp apples, my birthday, Sonny's birthday, beautiful cards ....  love it all!!



These are the trees at our neighborhood entrance - beautiful colors!

 Here are the hand made birthday cards that I received:


from Margaret

Margaret sent to Sonny

Marianne's card to Sonny

from my upline, Carol - an actual photograph that she stamped on - gorgeous!

from Judy

A shaped card from Marianne

from NC Demos

from Sharon R (girlfriend)

the card I made for Sonny using Gorgeous Grunge

More Cruisin' Photos

I've got a few more cruise photos to share.



Alabama and a few of their fans drinking a shot of Cabo Tequila! - Day 1!

Day 1 - showing our true colors!

Can you find us?  I've circled us!!  Probably need to click on picture to make it larger!!

Vow Renewal - Sonny even dressed up a bit!!

Vow Renewal - a little cheesy!

Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch #66

I haven't participated in the Paper Crew Sketch Challenges in a couple of weeks because I was on my cruise.  But this week I was able to get my card done in time.  I really like the sketch this week.  It's a good one for you to try!

 

Of course, I made my card with the help of My Digital Studio.  I love the burlap download!!

 

 

Check out the rest of the design team's cards HERE.

 

Sonny has gone on a shooting trip with the guys for a few days and I am "batching" it.  It's been a long time since I have done this.  I don't have to fix dinner (not that I do that so much anyway!) and can stay in my craft room all night and play till my hearts content!  Which is what I did yesterday.  I got a lot done!  Our friends from Texas were supposed to come this week.  Graham was going with Sonny and Margaret and I were going to hang out crafting but they had to cancel this weekend because they were sick.  We were both disappointed but what are ya gonna do?!!

 



 

Gift Cards

In this day and age, it seems like it is so easy to give gift cards to family and friends for birthdays and Christmas or any occasions.  That way the recipient can purchase what he or she wants.  I have thought in the past that gift cards were just too impersonal.  But the older I get, the better gift cards seem to me!  I like getting them and I like giving them.  I usually keep a list on my personal Amazon site of things I want, books I'd like to read, etc. so anyone who wanted to give me a gift could check out that site and either give me a gift card or find the item I have listed somewhere and buy it for me.  I try to keep it up to date.  I think that would be a good idea for everyone to make shopping easy.   But buying gift cards sure eliminates the hustle and bustle at Christmas time - fighting the crowds in the mall and resisting the temptation to buy something for yourself as well as for that special someone you are shopping for!!  Don't get me wrong - I enjoy shopping as well as the next person and it really gets me in a festive mood at Christmas time but there are some people that are just impossible to buy for because they seem to have everything they need or you don't see them enough to know what their likes and dislikes are - that is when gift cards come in handy.  So ..... I have made a few gift card holders to make those impersonal gift cards much more personal!

Using the Bow die and Square Sizzix Die

Gift Card open

Perfect Blend - perfect for that Starbucks gift card!

Uses Card Base Pop N Cuts



Pop N Cuts Gift Card - open

Festive Flurry Stamp and Framelit (Holiday Mini)

If you would like to make these gift cards, I will be doing a class for them at Hobby Lobby next Tuesday at 6 pm.  The price is $15 to make all three.  I will be supplying all the materials using Stampin' Up products - you just need to bring scissors and adhesive.  Contact me if you are interested!


ALSO - don't forget the new Weekly Deals starting today!

Weekly Deals!

A new round of weekly deals has started. Make sure you head on over to get great product at a discount!

	Adorning Accents Textured Embossing Folder Item # 125601 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$10.95 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$8.21 CAN
	Autumn Accents Die Item # 127812 Regular Price: $21.95 US/$26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon Item # 132135 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$12.50 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$9.37 CAN
	Cupcake Punch Item # 121807 Regular Price: $16.95 US/$22.95 CAN Discounted Price: $12.71 US/$17.21 CAN
	Day in the Life Kit MDS Download Item # 128876 Regular Price: $14.95 US/$16.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.97 US/$9.90 CAN
	Dress Form Pop N Cuts Item # 130100 Regular Price: $21.95 US/ $26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Simply Created Goody Gear Pumpkin Pie Item # 132792 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.95 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$5.21 CAN
	Rhinestones Large Item # 129324 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.50 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$4.87 CAN

Amped Up Ampersands

Don't forget to check all this week for the specials and samples Stampin' Up has in store for us for My Digital Studio.  These are the specials that will be on sale.  It's all happening at MyDigitalStudio.net.

11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit

11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set

11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template

11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit

11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards

11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template

11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit

11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

They are also offering 30% off  print services for the projects you create with MDS.  

Have you wanted to try MDS?  You can Try it FREE for 30 days!!

I purchased the Amped Up Ampersands Kit on Friday and here is a page I made of Alabama's concert on the first day of our cruise.

Ashley went to Seoul, Korea Saturday to teach a class this week.  Isn't that crazy?  By the time her body gets used to the time change, she'll be back home.  That life is definitely only for the young!  It is a 14 hour time difference!  She sent me a quick email this morning to let me know she arrived safe and sound.  She said she was going to bed - trying to convince her body it was bed time and not 6 a.m.!!

FREE Moments Ago

It's official-Digital Scrapbooking Day 2013 has arrived! And with a bang we might add.  One of Stampin' Up's talented concept artists, Jen Campbell, created the FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set and today she's sharing some project ideas. Plus, we have more guest bloggers to highlight our daily deal, the Hello There Kit- a fan favorite!



Here's a quick page I did on MDS using the FREE set above.



My grandson doing his best Dracula face!

Best of and MDS News

It's Digital Scrapbooking Day  TODAY - Saturday, November 2, 2013. But one day just isn't enough, so we're celebrating for eight days, November 1-8, 2013!

Here's what we have lined up:

• Guest bloggers: A talented group of demonstrators, customers, and designers from around the industry will share project inspiration on the blog.

• FREE download: Be sure to check in on Saturday, November 2 to get your freebie.

• Videos: We'll share some more ideas with training videos to help you get started.

• Daily deals: Every day, we'll feature a new download for 50% off!

• Challenges: Use the daily deal download to create a project for your chance to win free downloads. (Upload your samples to the gallery with the matching tag to enter.) 

Here's the list of the 50% off daily deal downloads:

• 11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit
• 11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set
• 11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template
• 11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit
• 11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards
• 11/6 Nobody's Business Photobook Template
• 11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit
• 11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

So, head on over to the MDS Blog and check it all out.

****************************************************************


And in other good news - the Best Of 25 Years stamp set was announced.  I just love these little hedge hogs!!




To order this set, go to my Online Store (see link at top) or contact me and I will put the order in for you.     Best of Snow 134387 - $14.95

Use the hostess code please when ordering - KYR7ZKH9