Online Extravaganza with Stampin' Up! {12 Weeks of Christmas}

Hooray!  It's here!  Click {HERE} to get the list of specials...  Click {HERE TO SHOP}!  There are two 24-hour Flash Sales (November 23 and November 30). The trick is (and you know how I love this), there is a limited amount of discounted product.  Order early if something's been on your Wish List...  Check back to see if items are no longer available (I assume the red-lined items are out-of-stock).

And now for the apology part of today's post.  I'd intended to post a weekly 12 Weeks of Christmas post (the projects, in large part, are done). The trick is, we had an unexpected illness at our house that meant a hospital stay, etc. The good news is that she's on the mend and I'll work to catch up and post what I can.  The bad news is that it won't be as planned out and regular as I'd hoped.  Our little patient is working hard to recover, but it'll be January before things are somewhat back-to-normal here, so I'll post what and when I can. I'm grateful that my Stampin' Up! business can still work in the background while I am busy with my family.

If you've ordered recently and haven't heard from me, I apologize.  I will be touching base with you soon!

Thanks for your patience and get shopping! There are some great bargains to be had!

Festive Fireplace for a Mojo Monday Challenge {12 Weeks of Christmas} Week 2

I'm at the tail end of a great weekend retreat, away with like-minded crafting friends and this is one of the projects I completed.  I didn't bring my usual photo-taking accoutrements with me, so it won't be until I am home that I can take proper pictures of this fancy fold card with a belly band.

Here's a quick look; I need to post it on the Mojo Monday blog, as I won't be home to do so by 7:00 PM (the deadline). Please check back for an updated post with the supplies I used, as well as alternative views at the parts and how it folds.  This was a fun card to make and I enjoyed playing with my new Festive Fireplace stamp set and Festive Fireside Framelits.

Busy End of October

2015 Halloween:  Albert Einstein and Mary Poppins...  "Practically perfect in every way..."

I had big plans this year to have a weekly {12 Weeks of Christmas} post for you, but I'm afraid the craziness of Halloween and a lot of substitute teaching put a crimp in that plan. 

My youngest wanted to be Mary Poppins and I found the sweetest pattern for an overcoat just like Mary would wear.  It was a Vogue pattern, so it was a little fussy, but we're both excited that she'll have a cozy coat to wear for church and special occasions. I also managed to crank out the scarf (I knit while I wait at dance, soccer, in line for school pick-up, etc). 

Now that the craziness of Halloween has subsided, the house is quasi-put-back-together and the laundry is almost caught up, it's time to get back on schedule.  I look forward to catching you up on my 2015 edition of the {12 Weeks of Christmas}!

*Reminder* 15% Stamp Sale Ends TODAY

Happy FriYAY, Stampers! It's been a busy week of substitute teaching for me, but I've almost got my order finalized. I just wanted to remind you that today's the final day of Stampin' Up!'s 15% Off Stamp Sale. Click {HERE} to shop and {here} to read my earlier post that includes fine print about the sale.

Be on the look-out for the next installment of my {12 Weeks of Christmas} series.  Oh, and I'm thinking about putting up a Periscope video soon.  I'll be honest -- I'm a little nervous! Would you be interested? Please leave me a comment below or shoot me an email about what you'd like to see on a Periscope...

Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up! Sale! 15% off Stamps!

Click {HERE} to shop!

Pretty much says it all...  The fine print is that Host Benefit sets, rotary stamps, bundles, and sets on the Clearance Rack are not included.  Fire up those Wish Lists!

There is *NO MINIMUM ORDER* and no limit!

Festival of Trees -- 12 Weeks of Christmas 2015, Week 1

Welcome to my first post in the 2015 Edition of the 12 Weeks of Christmas!  I created two projects for this post.  First, a card for the Mojo Monday challenge, MOJO418, based upon this sketch:

Using the Festival of Trees stamp set and coordinating Tree punch (save $$ with this *bundle*), this card was quick and easy to make. 

I used the Decorative Dots TIEF to replicate the circles found in the stamp image I used and created the circle shape with one of the Framelits from the Circles Collection.

The Metallic Gold Baker's Twine is vanilla in color, so I made the card body and circle with Very Vanilla card stock and used the 2014-16 In Colors Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow for my color palette.

 Finally, Rhinestone Basic Jewels fit perfectly in the little circles on the tree, so to add some glimmer and shine, I've placed some throughout the tree.

In this second project, I've used the same elements, but added the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I reach for that set *all of the time*. The line of dots in this image was an extra bonus! 

 Want more Stampin' Rewards?

From now until November 9, spend $300+ on merchandise (before shipping and tax) to earn an extra 3% in Stampin' Rewards! 

It's about to Begin -- 2015 12 Weeks of Christmas!

So I am definitely among the people who find it highly irritating when Christmas music is playing before we've settled on our Halloween costumes around here.  At my local grocery store, Halloween decorations and costumes hit the shelves at the same time as an entire aisle of twinkly lights! ACH!

I do love a good countdown and I love to plan and think about how we will celebrate the Christmas season.  Let me say that while I will be focusing on Christmas, as that is what my family celebrates, a lot of the ideas shared here over the next 12 weeks applies to any of the winter holidays.  If you don't celebrate Christmas, please don't feel left out here!

This is just fair warning that my plan is to publish my 12 Weeks of Christmas posts on Fridays. If you're like me, work weeks are busy with work and school obligations and weekends are when I can steal away to the Studio. I thought I'd stick with a designated day this year so that you can know when to look for it.

For this year's 12 Weeks of Christmas, I've got cards, gifts, decorations, packaging for gifts, etc.  There will be videos and I'm even going to try Periscope for a couple of Friday posts! 

Stampin' Up! usually gives us a couple of good promotions this time of the year and there's a good one on now...  I'll post a picture here and tell you all about it tomorrow...  Hope your week ends well!

The Holiday Catalog is *LIVE*!

I am such a sucker for Thanksgiving and Christmas that I almost look forward to the unveiling of the Holiday Catalog than I do the Annual Catalog (GASP!).  Truth...

What follows is my Must Have List from this catalog.  I didn't order a month ago when demonstrators could preorder, as I knew I would be busy with back-to-school and cramming in as much summer fun as I could, so I wouldn't be in the Studio much.  With the kids starting back to school tomorrow, the time is *NOW*!

You'll notice that my order is heavy on Christmas and the reason is I don't have a lot of time to make/send Halloween greetings.  We're usually in the thick of soccer, school and between having a Halloween birthday in the family and the fact that I make the kids' costumes (fewer now, sniff), I don't send out much, if anything, for Halloween.  What I like is that Stampin' Up! offers sets and dies for all of the months between now and the end of the year, so I can get something I can continue to use after October is over.  That's why Among the Branches and its Bundlemate, the Woodland TIEF are at the top of my list.  To be honest, that TIEF was going to top the list because it's gorgeous and I can use it for all of the men in my life.

Among the Branches & Woodland TIEF Bundle (140872)

Halloween, fall, Christmas and winter, all in one bundle!

While we're on the topic of bundles, I need to be honest and say I'd order the entire lot if I could. However, here are the ones I am purchasing now...

Festive Fireplace Bundle (140860)
Happy Scenes & Hearth & Home Bundle (140853)

Stampin' Up! released a video showcasing how these two bundles can be used together and it sold me.  So much fun (and the good news is that Happy Scenes includes sweet images in case I find time to use them for Halloween!)!

Here's the fab video:

More bundles...

Peaceful Pines Bundle (140850)

Holly Jolly Greetings Bundle (C140865, W140864)

Sparkly Seasons Bundle (140863)

Here's the rest of my list:

 

Archival Basic Black (140931) and Archival Basic Gray (140932)

 

Gold Cording Trim (139618) Silver Cording Trim (139620)

Red Foil Sheets (139607)

Joyful Season (139770)

Square Pillow Thinlits Die (139657)

Fine-Tip Glue Pen (138309)

Spider Web Doilies (139622)

Into the Woods DSP (139586)

Oh What Fun Tag Project Kit (139602) and Oh, What Fun stamp set (140386)

Whew!  Quite a list! Can't wait to play! To see the Holiday Catalog, click {HERE} or go to the picture of the catalog in the upper right corner of this page. Want your own copy? Drop me a line!

Returning from a Summer Hiatus

Imagine a cobweb in the corner of this blog...  I've been away for the summer and have been enjoying this fleeting and precious time with my family. With a newly-minted high schooler, middle schooler and intermediate student, it's apparent just how soon these summers of traveling and adventuring (and okay, lolling about) together will be gone. 

Over the course of the summer, I've been happy to assist customers with ordering, answering questions, and mailing out the gorgeous new Holiday Catalog.  It goes live tomorrow, by the way, so stay tuned for my Must Have Items...

Here's a glimpse of my office this summer:

Arches NP, Utah

Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado

Home Sweet Home:

So there you have it! I have a lot of projects brewing and there'll be a number of changes you'll see on the blog.  They're time-consuming and take a lot of thought and concentration for me, so they're on my list to do while the house is quiet during school hours. 

Check out the new Holiday Catalog tomorrow!

Hot July Bonus Deals from Stampin' Up!

This month, Stampin' Up! has increased the number of items offered as Weekly Deals *AND* the items are discounted up to 30%! In addition, there are more items in the Clearance Rack and they are on sale for up to 60% off! 

*The trick is, there are only a limited number of items at the heightened discount, so once they're all sold, the discount disappears, too.* If there is an item on your list that is a Bonus Deal this week, JUMP! Shop {HERE}...

Here are this week's Bonus/Weekly Deals:

Confetti Hearts Border Punch:

Crumb Cake Stitched Satin Ribbon:

Floral Frames Collection Framelits:

Hamburger Box Bigz Die:

Kraft Tag a Bag Gift Bags:

Merry Moments Card Stock Assortment:

Mossy Meadow Striped Cotton Ribbon:

Night of Navy Seam Binding Ribbon:

Ornate Tag Topper Punch:

Timeless Elegance Card Stock Assortment:

Whisper White Stitched Satin Ribbon:

Click {HERE} to shop!

I hope your July has gotten off to a good start! Stay tuned for new Bonus Deals each week!