A Mile High Win!

I was a little nervous about Monday night's game, but guess I didn't need to be!!  We decided to stay at home and watch the game instead of joining fellow Pittsburgh fans at Big Al's last night.  I put on my new Bradshaw Jersey that Ashley gave me for my birthday and settled down in my easy chair.  The first half I was still a little worried.  The Steelers offense didn’t do much in the first half but was full throttle in the final 30 minutes. Rashard Mendenhall ran for 130 yards in the second half.  Ben Roethlisberger completed 15 of 20 for 184 yards in the second half.  The cherry on the top of all this was a five-minute, 74-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, which was capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward. This play was spectacular because as Ward caught the ball, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey was lined up to make a textbook tackle. Ward leaped over him and left Bailey grasping at air.

Wow, what an athlete!!  Ward then ran to the stands and tossed the ball to a guy wearing a No. 86 jersey which is par for the course for him.  I think they get fined for giving the ball away, but who cares?? 

The Steelers defense is back!! Troy Polamalu, who was injured early in the season, has been a major difference. He was flying all over the field last night.  The Steel Hurtin' defense rose up in the mile-high altitude in Denver to deliver a crushing victory last night, the team's fifth consecutive win.  The Steelers dominated the Broncos and won, 28-10. 

The victory lifted the Steelers' record to 6-2 and a tie with Cincinnati atop the AFC North Division.   The Bengals???  Are you kidding me?  What is this world coming to??

The Steelers are primed and ready for a showdown for first place in the AFC North with Cincinnati on Sunday at Heinz Field.  I'll be watching at Big Al's with Sonny and Ashley who will be in town!  If you are a Steeler fan and live in the area, won't you join us?

One Sheet Wonder Class

I am teaching a One Sheet Wonder class tomorrow night at my local stamp store.  I just love the card but the prep work for this class has been tremendous.  What was I thinking!!  But, it will be fun!  I have a full class tomorrow so we will be offering the class again December 1st.  Let me know if you are interested in signing up (if you live close to Mooresville).

Here are the samples:

The paper is by Bo Bunny.  We will make 2 of each card (5 different designs), 2 gift cards and a bag.  Probably in class we will only do one of each card depending on the time and you will finish the second card at home.

Snowflakes

I just love this card I made today -

It is a white card with a Bashful Blue layer (4" x 5 1/4") and a piece of DSP (SU Merry Moments) layer (5" x 3 3/4").  I used my Nestabilities to cut the Ovals and stamped "Peace, Love, Joy" (All Holidays - such a great versatile set!).  The snowflakes are also Nestabilities.  I ran them through the Big Shot and - keeping them in the stencil - using a sponge dauber, pounced Ranger Broken China on the white parts.  After doing that to all of them, I popped them out.  Then I ran Crystal Effects (could use a clear drying glue too) over the snowflakes and sprinkled Chunky Glitter all over them.  Let dry and put them together.  I took a piece of wire and ran it through the buttons and through the holes in the middle of the snowflakes and tied it off in the back.  Then I curled the wire and pulled it out on the side - hard to see it in the picture. (if you click on the card, you can enlarge it & you will see the curled wire)

Open House Make and Takes and Tags

Today the local stamp store in Mooresville had their annual Open House.  I met my sister over there and we did a couple of make and takes (see them below), had a "calorie-conscious" lunch (salad bar) and did some shopping.  I so enjoy spending time with my sister now that I live close.  That is something we have never been able to do unless I was here in NC visiting.  I left NC right after I got married and she was only about 13 at the time and I have been gone over 30 years!.  So, this is definitely a perk to living here now. 

The Make and Takes from today.

I also participated in a Tag Swap at the stamp store and received my tags back today.  There are some very talented ladies out there!!

These tags were made by my sister, Marianne (the Christmas village one) and by me (Christmas tree).

Double Embossed Christmas Card

Well, I've been on a roll lately with my card making.  I had a dry spell for a while and it seemed like every time I'd sit down to make a card, I'd end up turning around to the computer and "surfing" or playing games!  I have seen a lot of cards that did this technique where you can leave a blank space in the center using your embossing folders.  Well, after trying many different things tonight, I finally got it right.  In this card, I cut an oval out of 2 pieces of cardboard and taped them together.  Then, I put a piece of Glossy White paper in my Petals A'Plenty embossing folder and put the cardboard (w/oval cut out) on top of the folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  Voila! 

Holiday Entertainment Booklet .... Home Made Simple

I want to share some tips and inspirational ideas that I have received in a Holiday Entertaining Booklet, complete with time checkpoints and checklists. This is complements of Home Made Simple, a monthly newsletter I subscribe to.  You can print the pages out and fold it into a small booklet.  Anything to keep us organized and happy at this time of year.   Enjoy!!

Weight Challenge for the Holidays

With the holidays coming up, there will be many challenges to those of us who are TRYING to watch our weight and count those calories and points!!  Here are a few websites that may help you in your challenge:

• 16 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season" http://bit.ly/HealthyHoliday 
• "Keep Your Motivation Going Strong": http://bit.ly/KeepYourMotivation 
• "Have a Holiday Game Plan": http://bit.ly/HaveAPlan 
• "Have a Holiday Game Plan: Thinkng About Putting It Off?" http://bit.ly/PlanPuttingOff

And here are a couple of recipes to help also:

PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES
36 cookies @ 1 point each

1 box spice cake mix
1 can (16 oz) can pure pumpkin
36 pecan halves

Blend dry cake mix and pumpkin. Spoon by level tabls. onto an ungreased baking sheet. Press a peacon half into top of each cookie. 350 degrees 15 mins.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Makes 12 servings @ 1 pt each

2/3 cup powdered milk
1/3 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup flour
5 pkgs. artificial sweetener
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 egg substitute
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients. Stir in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Pour evenly into 12 muffin tins sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

Holiday Gift Guide Promotion from Stampin' Up

Dates: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010


Details: You'll love the convenience of our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! With gift ideas for kids, teens, neighbors, and more, it's your one-stop shop for all your holiday needs. When you spend $50 on products in the guide, you'll get a Décor Elements for FREE (up to a $16.95 value)!

Things to Remember:

There is no limit to the number of free Décor Elements a customer can earn. For every $50 purchased from the Gift-Giving Guide, you will receive a free Décor Element valued at $16.95 or less.

FAQs

Q: Can a customer earn more than one FREE Décor Element?

A: Yes! For every $50 a customer spends on products in the Gift-Giving Guide, she can choose a Décor Element valued up to $16.95.

Q: Does a customer have to spend $50 on products in the Gift-Giving Guide to qualify or can she spend $50 on any Stampin' Up! products?

A: In order to qualify for the free Décor Element, a customer must purchase $50 worth of products from the Gift-Giving Guide.

Q: If a product is shown in the Gift-Giving Guide, but is not listed, does that product qualify for the promotion?

A: No. Only products listed in the Gift-Giving Guide qualify for the promotion.

Check it out HERE!

Tag Box Instructions

I have had a few requests to share the pattern for the Tag Box and tags I made in yesterday's blog posting.  I actually got the instructions from another gal's blog.  Here is the link to her blog.  If you make one of these, send me pictures so I can post them here!!

Happy creating!

Gift Tag Holders

Hope you had a spooky but safe Halloween!!  We have friends in town and to celebrate Halloween and also Sonny's birthday, we went out to dinner at a great little restaurant in Lincolnton and then went to a Haunted House!!  I don't think I've ever been to a haunted house before.  It was fun!  We were definitely the oldest people there plus we stood in line for about an hour!!  It was done at an old mill in Vale, North Carolina and done pretty good with people jumping out at you and guys chasing us with chain saws!  Doesn't that sound great???

My daughter has been off all last week doing some serious house hunting in San Antonio.  She will close on her Bethesda condo November 9!  She narrowed her Texas houses down to about 8 on Saturday and went out with her realtor and good friend, Lisa, to make her final decision.  She made an offer last night so we are hoping it goes through and she will able to buy and get moved in before Christmas.  The house she is making an offer on actually has a swimming pool which will be great for the Texas heat, BUT .... the pool has the Texas A&M symbol in the tile on the bottom of the pool!  It will definitely make for a conversation piece.  If you know anything about Texas, you know that people there are divided in 2 camps - UT or A&M (kind of like NC State & UNC).)  Ashley went to Trinity and has friends from UT & A&M so it's no biggie to her!! 

At Christmas, we all need gift tags to attach to all those presents we spend too much money on!  I have made a couple of holders for gift tags.  These would make a nice little hostess gift.

This one is a little folder/card.  It is made similar to a gift card holder but it holds tags!

I used Kraft cardstock that I cut 5 x 8 1/2".   Score it at 2 1/2" and 5 1/2".  With the Word Window punch, punch 2 slots for your tags (side by side) at 1 1/2" up from folded edge.  Tape down and decorage.

This one is a little box that is shaped like a tag.  Below are the tags that go in the holder.