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!

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!

My Favorite Week of the Year {12 Weeks of Christmas}

I hope your Christmas was lovely and that this holiday season has been everything you'd hoped it would be.

I love how quiet this week is, after the fervor of my (always!) last-minute preparations.  I still have cards to send out (despite my well-intentioned Mise en Place posts)! I read somewhere that in the throes of a busy season of preparing for the holidays, to only hold on to what {really} matters to your enjoyment of the holidays. Caught in a time crunch this year (it's not like Easter and the date moves around), I had to let some things slide until after Christmas.

One of those things was posting.  I'm not too worried about it, though, as I've got lots of lovely things to share and you can pin them for next year or better, spend some quiet time making and tucking away things to be ahead of the game in '15!

Here's how it looks around here on this gorgeous, quiet morning:

The rain has abated a bit and the birds are chirping.  An Anna's Hummingbird just came to the feeder (I love living in the PNW)!

Our mantle:

Our tree, in a rare moment when the cats aren't in it (!)...

A mix of greens (blown down in a recent windstorm and rescued from the backyard), Christmasy potpourri and some glass balls (since nothing went in the tree this year, thanks to the cats):

Thanks for your patronage this year, Studio Visitors! I'll be starting 2015 with a major purge and re-working of my Studio, so stay tuned for lots of Mise en Place posts!

Product Focus: Gift Box Punch Board {12 Weeks of Christmas}

One of the undeniably most versatile pieces of equipment in my crafting arsenal is my Gift Box Punch Board, released by Stampin' Up! in this year's Holiday Catalog.  I love the variety of boxes I can make from card stock and DSP alike!

I wanted to capture these boxes surrounded by some rare Pacific Northwest snow.  Unfortunately, it wasn't until I uploaded them days later and that I saw that the afternoon light wasn't that great.  Please forgive the blueish tinge to the pictures!

Studio Suggestions:

• Dress up your box with a "belly band" and some ribbon.  Simple and sweet!

• Tie a bow with this scrumptious Cherry Cobbler 1-inch Sheer Linen Ribbon!

• These gorgeous tags are adorned with snowflakes made from Silver Glimmer Paper cut with the Snowflake Card Thinlits die! Not only can you make a super-cute card (see a post all about it {HERE}), but it comes with great pieces to use in all of your projects, including two sizes of snowflakes!

• Endless Christmas Wishes gives the tag below its sweet and whimsical sentiment.

Christmas Break begins for my Crazy3 today and we couldn't be more excited.  I've got to get a few last-minute things done for them before they're home, so I'm bustin' a move today.  Have you received your 2015 Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs in the mail yet?  If not, please contact me and I'll shoot one your way! 

New Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up! and a {12 Weeks of Christmas} Sneak Peek!

More deals to report! I'm definitely going to make good use of the DSPs and stamp sets available in this digital download for MDS...

12 Days of Christmas Digital Download MDS, #130985, originally $12.95, and on sale for $7.77!

Bermuda Bay Celebration Add-On Kit, #133432, originally $9.95, on sale for $7.46!

Bermuda Bay Striped Grosgrain, #134551, originally $8.95, on sale for $6.71!

Calypso Coral Celebration Add-On Kit, #133431, originally $9.95, on sale for $7.46!

Day of Celebration WOOD stamp set, #134099, originally $25.95, on sale for $19.46!

Wildflower Meadow TIEF, #129376, originally $7.95, on sale for $5.96!

That's the Ticket WOOD stamp set, #131946, originally $22.95, on sale for $17.21!

Vanilla Coaster Board, #129392, originally $5.95, on sale for $4.46!

And here's an icy close-up to one of the many gift boxes I'm making from Designer Series Paper using my Gift Box Punch Board. Be on the look-out for a new {12 Weeks of Christmas} post about this great tool!

I popped out in the afternoon to take this picture, but it was late and the winter sun was fast disappearing...  That tag is Whisper White!  :)

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: New Doorbusters for Online Extravaganza

The second set of Doorbusters for the annual Online Extravaganza from Stampin' Up! are here and believe it or not, the Blendabilities deal has already sold out (word has it that it happened within 30 minutes, at 12:30 AM, MST).  

Click {HERE} to shop these deals.  There are still lots of other discounts from 20 -- 50 percent off! 

Today's Doorbusters are available until the discounts run out or at 11:59 PM tonight (MST).  The rest of the Online Extravaganza savings end tomorrow at 11:59 (MST).

There are also great Weekly Deals this week (available through today).  Click {HERE} to shop those!

Happy December, Stampers!

Another Thank You for {12 Weeks of Christmas} & a Mojo Challenge (Did Someone Say 'Online Extravaganza?')

I run through Thank You notes pretty quickly at my house.  I created this one for a past Mojo Monday Challenge (MOJO370).  I'm loving the luscious Lost Lagoon in this year's In Color rollout.  

I also love the fun (and *EASY!*) sparkle that Silver Glimmer Paper brings.  You can punch it, use it as a stand-alone layer, dye it different colors, and run it through your Big Shot (I give it an extra go to be sure it's cut, as it's thicker than normal card stock). Future {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts will highlight this fun Stampin' Supply.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Another Thank You Photopolymer

Papers: Very Vanilla card stock and Silver Glimmer Paper

Inks:  Lost Lagoon Classic Ink

Artist's Flair:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon


Stay tuned as next week brings the annual Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza! There are going to be great deals on all sorts of Stampin' Up! products, so please click back here for more information!

Stampin' Up! Offers New Weekly Deals and a {12 Weeks of Christmas} Sneak Peek

Tuesday came (and went, unfortunately) and new Weekly Deals are here!  Shop {HERE} through Monday...

1/4-Inch Handheld Circle Punch, (134364) -- Originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Clear Oval Accent Bigz Die (127005) -- Originally $21.95, but on sale this week for $16.46!

Smoky Slate Stampin' Emboss Powder (129396) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Early Espresso Cut and Ready Card Bases (136656) -- Originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Silver Basic Metal Buttons (133319) -- Originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Deco Labels Framelits Dies (130102) -- Originally $24.95, but on sale this week for $18.71!

1-Inch Square Punch (124094) -- Originally $15.95, but on sale this week for $11.96!

Autumn Spice Digital Download MDS (122175) -- Originally $9.95, but on sale this week for $5.97!

So, Bargain Hunters, here are some lovely things at great prices to either round out your supplies or give as gifts!  Tomorrow's when we'll have another {12 Weeks of Christmas} post...  Here's a sneak peek: