Getting Old, Jeff Reed and Monday Mailer .... all in one!

I've decided that I don't like getting OLD!!  But I guess it beats the alternative until someone finds a fountain of youth SOON!!  Last night, I noticed a spot floating around in front of my right eye.  I got pretty scared after my eye problems from a few years ago.  For those who don't know, a couple of years ago, I woke up one morning and the vision in my right eye just wasn't right.  I went to my opthamologist who examined me and eventually referred me to a specialist who examined me, did some tests and referred me to another specialist.  This took about 3-4 weeks.  The final Retina Specialist determined that I had suffered a small Retina Artery Occlusion (or retina stroke).  A portion of my center vision was lost.  It really bothered me quite a bit at first but over the years, I've gotten used to it.  So, first thing this morning, I called my eye doctor and begged to me squeezed in to his appointments today.  After dilating my eyes and examining me, he told me it was called a Vitreous Detachment.  These clumps occur when the vitreous gel begins to liquefy or shrink, usually with aging, and detaches from the retina.  A couple of friends have told me that they also have these and eventually, I will get used to them and not notice them.  So, along with not having central vision, I now have a floating spot! 

Ashley returned from her cruise today.  She was cruising to sunny, warm Cozumel!  She said the temperature highs were maybe 50 degrees and it was windy, cold and rainy!  But, she still had a good time.  She has taken this cruise for 4 years.  It is called the Rock Boat Cruise and is hosted by Sister Hazel (a band).  A bunch of other bands are on board and I believe it is a virtual rockfest!  She was hoarse when I spoke with her this afternoon so I believe a good time was had by all.  And to top it off, she called me again tonight and was UBER EXCITED!  She and her friends were having dinner in Tampa and Jeff Reed .... the Pittsburgh Steelers KICKER was sitting at the table next to her!  Well, folks, she is as big a fan of the Steelers as anyone!  She went over and told him she was a super fan and could she have a picture please!  I can't wait to see the picture!  The only thing better would have been to have Big Ben sitting there too with Hines Ward!

OK - I do have a card to share with you.  I received this Valentine card last week from my Monday Mailer partner.  Yes, our program has started up for January.  Our theme this month is Hearts and Flowers.  I'm hoping to get some good ideas for some heart cards.   I really like this card and I don't have this flower but I have always admired it.  (NO .... I don't need more flower stamps!!)

Tomorrow I am expecting a delivery from Stampin' Up.  Unfortunately, I have a busy day and may not get time to play with my new goodies!  I have a mammogram in the a.m.; then taking my Mom to lunch.  Then we are going to hear a program put on my Newcomers group from a Cardiologist.  And tomorrow night, I have Bunco!  I'm making up for lost time!!

Scrunchy Flowers and Family Christmas

I finally had time … and felt a little better …. to make a few cards.  This is one of them.  (all items by Stampin’ Up)

The card is made with SU Red cardstock.  I ran the white piece through my Big Shot using the Finial Press Embossing Folder.  I cut the red and black piece out using the Top Note and ran the black piece through the Big Shot using the Elegant Bouquet folder.   I used the Filigree Brads on the side and SU Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (turned over to the solid side).  The “scrunchy flower”  is 5 pieces of pieces of DSP (Night and Day from Holiday Mini) punched out with the Scallop Circle Punch and scrunched up.  Then I poked a hole in the middle for a brad and put a Red Corduroy Button on with Dimensional Tape. 
I was going to send this card to my Secret Sister, but then I realized the Night & Day DSP is retired now!  Her loss!! 
I’ll be making some more of these “scrunchy flowers.”  They’re pretty cool!

I’m feeling much better today and finally was able to sleep good last night.  Friday night I slept downstairs in my chair wrapped up in Sonny’s Snugglie and my Steeler blanket!   And Saturday, I felt about the worse I’d felt all week.  I thought my cold was coming back for a second round, but guess it was just giving me it’s last hurrah.  Today, Sonny has been sneezing and blowing.  I sure hope he hasn’t caught my cold …. you know what babies men are when they are sick!  I have been really careful and have been washing my hand much more than usual.  But, I’m sure after being cooped up in the car with me for two days, those germs were having a field day.

Today we celebrated Christmas at my Mom’s.  She actually kept her Christmas tree up which is a big deal for her!  She is usually pretty superstitious about not having the tree up when the New Year arrives.  All my life, she’s told me that was bad luck.  We all had a nice visit and my brother even came with his two kids (without his wife, of course but that’s another story).  My sister, Marianne and her family and me & Sonny & Ashley all chipped in and bought Mom and Angela (my sister who lives with Mom) a Wii!   Every time we get together Marianne brings her Wii over to my house or if we’re at her house, Mom & Angela play with her Wii.  And Mom has been wanting to buy it for Angela (who’s she kidding?)  We thought this would be a good way to get them both up and moving.  Now they have to pool their money to buy the Wii Fit.

Let's Burn That Fat Away!

Here is a little info that may be helpful as we try to cut back on the calories for 2010.  I don't know about you, but I have quite a few pounds I need to shed before putting on my bathing suit this summer!!

These are some food items that basically help your BODY to burn fat more efficiently.

GREEN TEA - A crucial compound in green tea is EGCG which has been shown to speed up metabolism. The caffeine content helps with that as well. Green tea contains about five times the amount of fat-fighting EGCG as black tea, BTW. And get this... Green tea specifically targets visceral fat, a.k.a. belly fat.

FAT FREE AND LOW FAT DAIRY -  Protein and calcium are the power-duo in this equation. These two nutrients help keep your body's muscle mass intact while promoting weight loss. Studies have shown that people on lower-calorie diets that included dairy lost more weight than people who ate the same amount of calories without dairy. Plus, research suggests probiotics found in some low-fat dairy can help your body fight fat. 

BEANS - Beans have the double-whammy of protein plus fiber. Consuming protein is a great way to help your body burn fat -- it gives your metabolism a boost and keeps you feeling full and energized. And dietary fiber, among other things, can help regulate your appetite. One type of bean in particular worth trying is soybeans. They contain helpful compounds that assist in keeping the cells in your body from accumulating fat and also break down fatty deposits.

WHOLE GRAINS - Munching on whole grains adds fiber and complex carbohydrates (much better than refined, white carbs) to your diet. When the carbs are complex, they break down more slowly, keeping them in your system longer. Since your body processes them slowly, you don't crash. This also keeps your insulin levels steady -- a good thing, since insulin spikes tell your body to hold onto fat.

SALMON AND TUNA - These fish contain omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to being good for your heart, hair, nails, etc., those omegas can help control the amount of leptin in your body. Leptin, a protein hormone, is linked to appetite and metabolism.

Here are some additional tips to help with the weight loss:

DRINK WATER - When you're drinking water, you're NOT drinking soda, juice, or another calorie-packed beverage. And here's a fun fact: In one study (albeit it a small one), researchers found that the metabolic rates of study participants went up about 25% after drinking a couple cups of water. 

SPICE IT UP - Just 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon added to your food can help prevent insulin spikes (which, as you just read, are BAD). The capsaicin in chilies gives your heart rate a boost and jump-starts your metabolism, so try some cayenne or chili powder. Ginger expands your blood vessels, which helps to  increase the metabolism.

EAT YOUR FRUIT -  Research has found that people with low levels of Vitamin C in their systems burn fat less efficiently. So eat citrus fruit! Grapefruit, a super source of vitamin C, also has fiber and not too many calories.


(from Hungry Girl website)

Home Sweet Home

I'm finally HOME!!  I had a great time in Texas but, you know, it's always nice to get home and sleep in your own bed which I did last night.  We left San Antonio Monday and took a little different route home but still Sonny had the "petal to the metal" and was hell bound for home.  I picked up a bad cold as we were leaving Texas and slept for two days straight in the car.  I woke up long enough to say "pull over - I gotta go to the bathroom" or "pull over, I want something to eat."  If not, I don't know that we would have stopped much!!  We pulled into our driveway about 7:30 pm Wednesday night.  Believe you me, I'll be flying on my next trip!!  It was cold the whole way home and has not gotten any warmer since we arrived.  The forecast for here tonight is snow flurries and cold for the next week or so. 

I'm hoping to spend a little time tomorrow in my craft room making something!!  I've been missing making cards.  But, I've gotten great at making calendars!  Here's a coaster calendar I finished today for my hair dresser.  I've got to go get my hair cut next week and I always give my hair dresser a calendar for her work station.  Since I didn't make it to get my hair cut before I left, it'll be a late Christmas gift.

Texas Armoire

The whole time we were at Ashley's house, we were shopping off and on for furniture for her huge den and trying to find bath items to match her 3 bathrooms.  I can't begin to tell you how many sets of towels, rugs, etc. we bought and returned to Bed, Bath & Beyond and to Ross!!  I think we finally found a match though yesterday.  On New Year's Eve we had gone to the San Marcos outlet stores and visited a Rustic Furniture store.  There we found the perfect piece for her den.  So, Saturday she & her dad rented a U Haul and drove back to San Marcos to pick it up.  It really makes her den come together and looks great!  Now I can go home and know her house is a home!

Of course, we were watching Sunday Night Football.  She is going to get a larger TV and mount it on the wall in the center of that cut out.

On another note, my Steelers played a hard fought game on Sunday against Miami and won.  BUT, because of the other teams that also won on Sunday, we were knocked out of the play offs.  Hopefully, we'll come back even stronger next year.  It's hard for me to believe that watching my Steelers on Sunday will have to wait until the fall!  Boo Hoo...

Calendar - February

Here's more calendar pages to share - February this time.

Apache Blessing for you

I received this from a friend and wanted to share it -

May the sun bring you new energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you by night,

May the rain wash away your worries,

May the breeze blow new strength into your being,

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

(Apache blessing for the New Year)

Calendars for 2010

I'm still in Texas!  Ashley had a little housewarming party tonight and a few of her friends came over.  We grilled chicken outside on her new BBQ grill that we gave her for Christmas.  Tomorrow we'll be finding a place to watch the Steelers ... hopefully WIN!  We will be leaving here on Monday headed home and will hopefully take a slower route back to NC!  We are thinking about going up to Dallas and seeing some of our friends before hauling a*s*s back to NC.  Just have to get home by the weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family there.

I've made several calendars this year for family and friends.  Sonny made a calendar stand for them.  Here are a couple of the January calendars that I gave to Melinda and Katrina.

Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration Catalog

There has been a delay mailing out the Sale-A-Bration brochures and Occasions Mini Catalogs from Stampin' Up. All of the Sale-A-Bration brochures have now mailed, and the rest of the Occasions Mini Catalogs should mail by the end of this week.   Because of this delay, you are able to view the catalogs NOW at the Stampin' Up Customer site HERE.

Start making your list and give me a call!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope you are enjoying your New Year's Eve celebration! We drove to Austin today, stopping in New Braunfels first at the Outlet Malls! Sonny was a good sport - he took his book and sat in the car and read while Ashley and I popped in and out of a few stores. Surprisingly, we only bought a couple of things. But, Ashley did find a great TV armoire piece that she will probably go back and buy. I just love spending other people's money!! I think I would be a great personal shopper.

Tonight we went to a Draft House movie theatre and saw Sherlock Holmes. Sonny and Ashley loved it. It was ok to me .... just not my type of movie. The theatre was neat though. Each row of seats has a table in front of it. Menus, order cards and pencils are placed on the table. A waiter will come by to take your order (beer, hamburger, appetizers, wine, etc.) Throughout the film you can order food and drinks. About 30 minutes prior to the film ending the server will come by and do “last call”, at which point they will find out if you would like any final items before closing your tab out.

So now we are waiting for the ball to drop on Times Square! Ashley called it "Old Fogey New Years!"

However you celebrate, enjoy and be safe!!

Celebrate with SALE-A-BRATION!

SALE-A-BRATION 2010!!

Available January 5-March 31, 2010!

Customers:   Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping).

Hostesses:   Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $300 in workshop sales, in addition to our regular hostess benefits.

Recruits:   Choose any retail stamp set (valued up to $47.95) from the current catalogs when signing up during the promotion.   Plus, get 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+)!

All Sale-A-Bration products (except the Scallop Trim Border punch) are exclusive to this promotion and will never be offered again. The Scallop Trim Border punch will be available for sale in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog, but now is your chance to get it free!
 S

Inking a folder and going to the movies!

Here's a video  from Gina K. on inking a Cuttlebug folder.  I sometimes have to review these techniques so I thought you might like to also!

It's been raining all day and cold!!  I don't think it got about 45 degrees today.  And, I heard it snowed again in Dallas - none here in San Antonio though!  But tomorrow is supposed to get up to 60 and Thursday to 70!!  Gotta love it!

We took advantage of the dreary day and went to the movies when Ashley got off work.  We saw It's Complicated.  It was just good entertainment.  Sonny went with us and had a few laughs although, truthfully, it was more of a chick flick!  With Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in a romantic triangle, you really don't know who Streep will end up with in the end.  Alec Baldwin has a "full moon" scene that is hilarious!!

Christmas on the Riverwalk

We got a lot of work done today on getting Ashley's house organized!  She and I started in her office / craft room.  Sonny put up shelves in her closet yesterday so we were able to put all the stuff that was sitting around the room on the shelves.  I lined her stamps up in a loose alpha order as she rolled her eyes at me!  Then I took each set (about 50) and stamped them out on copy paper to put in a notebook so she will know what she has.  Again, another eye roll!  I guess I forget that she is young and probably doesn't forget what she has like I do!!  After getting that room organized, we headed to her den.  We took down the Christmas tree and stored away all the Christmas stuff.  Now, to find a place for that tub.  Then we unpacked a large box of treasures she hadn't unpacked yet.  What treasures we found!  She is a big Beatles fan as well as Curious George.  Every year she get something related to either the Beatles or Curious ... usually from her Aunt Marianne who is able to find the most unique gifts!  In her den, she has one whole wall that has shelving with a window seat in the middle.  I filled 3 of the shelves with Beatles stuff.  Every time I thought I had it all arranged, I'd find something else.  Hopefully, tomorrow we'll finish with the den and the rest of the shelves and I can share a nice neat picture!

We went out to dinner and met up with a friend and colleague of Ashley's and her family.  It was yummy .... Mi Tierra Market Place and Restaurant near the Riverwalk.  The restaurant looked so festive with all the lights and Christmas trees. 

After dinner, we walked around the Riverwalk and had a couple of drinks at Durty Nelly's Sing A Long Irish Pub.  The Riverwalk looked beautiful all lit up also.  It was hard to get good pictures of it though.  Here is a shot of the Alamo with the Christmas tree in front of it.  It was pretty awesome!

Designer Box

Too late to wrap this year's Christmas presents, but you can use this Designer Box to wrap presents all year.  Here's a good solution to making gift boxes for all those odd shaped gifts.

DESIGNER GIFT BOX

Just click in the top left corner to download the instructions.  You have the option to open the file or save the file.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ME TO YOU!

I hope you had a fun filled joyful day today.  Ours was quiet and peaceful.  We just ate, opened presents, ate, watched TV, ate .... you get the picture!  We brought our Christmas tree to Ashley and it looked really nice in her new house!  Here are a few of the special ornaments that are on our tree:

from the National Cathedral in DC

This one is my "most favorite" ornament and always has a special place on my tree. It is a picture of my son when he was in pre-school. I didn't know it when I sent him to school that morning, but he was sick and the picture really shows it! My kids have always kidded me and said I made them go to school even when they were sick and this picture just proves it! Since I don't get to see him often ever, I really love this ornament.

Last night we drove to Austin and had Christmas dinner with my niece and her family, my nephew and his fiance, and my brother in law and his mother.  It was nice to share the time with family that I don't get to see very often.  We gave Melinda's boys the gifts we brought for them and it was so fun to watch them open their presents and get so excited about Santa coming!!  It has been a long time since I have been around young children at Christmas since I don't get to see my grandchildren.  I knitted both the boys scarfs and hats.  Zach wanted orange and Jake wanted red so that's what I did.  We also gave them some Legos and a set of Fisher Price Trio Blocks which were a big hit!  Here are a few pictures I took last night.

Zach with his orange knitted hat and scarf on.

Jake looked like a little elf with his hat and scarf on!

The boys with my nephew, Jack and his fiance, Katrina.

Ashley trying to construct the tower like Zach saw in the picture.

Of course, I had to get on the floor and play with the blocks!

Here are the boys in their Christmas pajamas just after they left the milk and cookies on the hearth for Santa even though Zach said Santa had his own special key to come in the door to leave the presents!

Crafters Twas the Night Before Christmas

*Twas the night before Christmas, I’m glued to the tree.


I’m wondering what Santa brought just for me.

Could it be cardstock or inkpads or lace?

Or some stamps, I said, with a smile on my face.

And that’s when I heard him……

“Hi Santa, ” I said

He replied, “You know….good girls should be in their beds”.

“I know I should Santa,and now I’ve been caught.

But I was just so excited to see what you brought.”

“Well, let’s take a look in this room where you work”.

He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk.

I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.

“You’ve got enough crap,

I’ll see you next year!”*

Who Knew?

If you stack one million US $1 bills, it would be 110m (361 ft) high and weigh exactly 1 ton.
[ Actually, for the nick-pickers it would be 109.22m (358.3 ft) high, and weigh over 2,200 pounds)
Of the more than $50 billion worth of diet products sold every year, almost $20 billion are spent on imitation fats and sugar substitutes.

In 1932, when a shortage of cash occurred in Tenino, Washington, USA, notes were made out of wood for a brief period. The wood notes came in $1, $5 and $10 values.

In 1955 the richest woman in the world was Mrs. Hetty Green Wilks, who left an estate of $95 million in a will that was found in a tin box with four pieces of soap. [According to the New York Times, she died February 5, 1951 at the age of 80. According to Time, her will only left $5,000 to her closest relative and the rest to charities and schools. 

Resource: ~~Who Knew? by David Hoffman

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,
"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

We Made It!

We made it all the way to Texas ... in two days!!  So much for taking our time and stopping along the way!  We probably drive about 10 hour on Thursday to arrive at Ashley's house about 8:30.  We have been busy ever since we have been here.  I've been unpacking boxes (pretty much all done!) and finding homes for her stuff while Sonny has been Mr Fix-it.  And, we've made various trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target, etc.  Yesterday my niece and her two little boys, my nephew and fiancee, and my brother in law came down from Austin to help.  My niece, Melinda, is a whirlwind.  She finished decorating our Christmas tree, had us all moving furniture, cleaning mirrors, arranging, etc.  My head was spinning!  But, I have to admit, we got a lot done in just a few hours.  While we were doing all that all the guys worked on putting in a vent in the guest bathroom which involved my nephew (who is about 6'5") climbing up in the attic and positioning the vent while the bigger guys (girth .... not height!) worked from the inside of the bathroom!  Today I am going to tackle her study/craft room and try to get it organized while Sonny installs some shelves in the closet.  We're getting there!!

We were able to watch a little bit of the Steeler game yesterday.  My sister, Marianne, kept me up to date on my cell phone during the first half.  Then we found a Steeler bar (they're everywhere!) to watch the second half.  And believe it or not, our team WON!!  It was in the final second but they're famous for that as evidenced by last year's Super Bowl!  It was nice to have a win again after so many losses!

Well, gotta get to work!  Maybe I'll even get a chance to make a card today and post it for you tomorrow.

Published!!

I had another card published!  My upline, Carol, called me from Washington Sunday to tell me.  She said she was thumbing through Stampers Sampler at Michaels and saw my name.  So, she had to buy the magazine.  I haven't bought the magazine yet but it is on page 9 I think she said.  I haven't sent any cards to them!  I sent a bunch to Take Ten last spring or summer.  Since they are owned by the same company, I guess they share cards sent to them.  They are supposed to send you a free magazine when they publish your work, but I've been published about 4 times and only received a freebie once!  I don't usually buy Stampers Sampler Magazine because it is not really my style - it's a little too "artsy" for me.  So, if Carol hadn't called me, I wouldn't have know.

Go check it out!!

Punchy snowman

I made this snowman card using the circle Nestability and embossed him with snowflakes.  The card is also snowflake embossed and stickled.

I love snowmen!

On the Road Again ....

Well, I'm "On the Road Again" .... can't say "Can't Wait to Get On the Road Again" though!  It was a long day.  We had breakfast at Waffle House in Lincolnton about 9:30 and then headed south.  We made it to Mobile, Alabama where we are staying tonight in a comfy (I hope) motel!  I had figured we'd stop in Montgomery but Sonny wanted to keep on getting it.  He really wanted to go as far as New Orleans!!  But I believe his good sense got the best of him.  Or, maybe it was me saying we were going to stop somewhere to eat dinner before heading any further!!  I have a feeling we'll be bypassing New Orleans and heading on to Texas tomorrow.  What is it with men?  When they get in the car, there is only Point A and Point B .... no stopping and sight seeing along the way!  When Ashley and I made this trip last summer, we stopped at every Welcome Center and stopped and had meals along the way .... not at gas stations for coke and peanuts! 

Well, the hotel lobby is closing so I'm headed to the showers! 

Just Punchy

Isn't this the cutest tag?  I just love it!  I got my inspiration from a few I saw on Splitcoast and just had to make one.  The circle is a Nestabilities Circle and the reindeer is from punches - oval; 5 flower punch for ears; snowflake for antlers; Boho Blossom for his hair!  See what you can come up with using your punches!

Votive Candles ... my way!

I stamped some votive candles this week and they turned out soooo cute!  It was super easy too.  After I did the candles, I made a little box to put them in.   Here they are:

Here's what you do:

• Choose any stamp you like and stamp on TISSUE paper.
• Punch out your image with a circle punch (3/4" worked for me) that is close to the size of your candle.  (easiest to sandwich your tissue paper between copy paper to punch)
• Punch a small hole in the middle of your design...then thread the wick of the candle through the hole.
• Your image should be resting on the top of your tea light.
• Simply heat the tea light with your heat gun until the wax melts over top of your stamped image. While the wax is still melted, sprinkle on a bit of glitter if you want it glittered.

CLICK Here for the box pattern.

Here's a close up of each one I made.

We are leaving in the morning to start our trek to Texas for the holidays so you might not hear from me for a few days!  We are driving and expect to make it in about 3 days.  I'm so excited!!

Holiday Lineup

A quick share for you.  More Christmas cards but this time I used Holiday Line Up .... such a stinkin' cute set!!

And talk about cute .... check out this post about my grandson!!  What a doll but like his daddy, a sneaky one!

Snow Swirled Christmas Cards

I borrowed the Snow Swirled stamp set from my daughter several months ago and have just gotten around to making some Christmas cards with it .... before I have to return it next week!! 

I finally have all my Christmas cards made, addressed and stamped.  They will be going in the mail tomorrow!  Since I haven't put up any Christmas decorations this year, I've been able to get my other little Christmas chores down in time!  We'll be leaving in a few days to drive to Texas!! 

Gift Giving Guide

 Click HERE to see a gift giving guide from Stampin' Up.  If you would like to order any of these items, please let me know!!

12 Days of Holiday Sales

Order by Dec. 15th to arrive before Christmas!

Were there some Sizzix dies or accessories that you know you want–or you know your friend wants? Now’s your chance! There are special deals from now until shortly before Christmas on Stampin’ Up! exclusive dies and other accessories for your Sizzix Big Shot and also select Decor Elements.

The 12 Days of Holiday Sales begins today and runs through December 22. Some of the items introduced in this sale are new colors of Décor Elements vinyl sheets. There are 18 new colors to choose from, and they make great projects when you use them with Big Shot dies. Consider pairing the Clear Décor Elements vinyl sheets with the Tulipe Bigz die to create an etched-like design on a vase. Or use the Decorative Accent Bigz dies with the Old Olive Décor Element vinyl sheets to enhance a frame. The combination of Big Shot dies and Décor Elements vinyl sheets is sure to take your creativity to a new level!

Check it out HERE and call me if you want to place an order

Holiday Cookbook

Click on THIS link to download a great holiday cookbook from Stamp TV!!

Now - get to baking!!  Christmas will be here before you know it!

Clear Mount SU Stamps

I want to share a video from Angie Juda about the clear mount stamps that you might be interested in.

Check it out HERE.