Giving Cards....

That was the challenge this week over on the Hero Arts Blog. Since it was a two week challenge, I had some time to play. I love giving cards with a little extra something so this was a perfect challenge for me.

The first one is my favorite and actually isn't a card. I created this gift tag to hold some YUMMY Jelly Bellys. The have a flavor called "top banana" which I thought would work well for this project. :)

A detail shot of the memorabilia pocket used to hold the candies. I attached it to the card using Tim Holtz's tiny attacher stapler (LOVE THAT THING!)

I love to give pictures with cards. Printing mini pictures is a perfect gift with any card:

Here is a detail shot of when the picture is removed...

I also made one that holds mini chocolate chip cookies. yum.
I used UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) to heat emboss the cookies to give them a faux epoxy look and to add some shine...

And last but not least, my favorite card that is a "giving card" which you can see HERE. (I've already shared this before but want to share again for any new blog readers)

Alright, off to watch Dexter...getting my husband hooked. Night!

Merry Christmas...

to my sweet blog readers. I love you all and I apologize for being MIA lately. This year, Christmas hasn't been what I was hoping for....

-This morning, Alex woke us not with eagerly wanting to open presents but telling us he is sick and had been "getting sick" all morning. Sigh.

-Yesterday, I had lots of Christmas presents still to buy so I braved the outside world only to see when I got home that someone had hit my car on the driver's side door. I now have a dent and a scratch, but no note from the driver who hit me. :(

-On Tuesday, Ted and I came back from a nice lunch to find ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS CARDS THAT I SENT RETURNED ON MY FRONT PORCH (which was WET from the rain that day). Ready to cry, I found the note that said that there was not enough postage. Sigh. I already went to the post office where they assured me that two stamps were enough. So I went back, stood in line for an hour for the lady to tell me that it was enough and to send them again. I told her she was crazy to think that I was going to resend them....so she postmarked them and said she would talk to someone and assured me they would be okay. On Wednesday, seven of them came back. Luckily, they were people I would see so no worries. But if you didn't receive a card from me. PLEASE know that I tried! It has been such an ordeal to send Christmas cards! lol

-I have been fighting a sinus infection/cold for a week. I just got over it to give it to my husband, who is now upstairs coughing. :(

To be honest, with so much going on it hasn't felt like Christmas. But I keep reminding myself that He is the reason for the season and it is not about the presents or the parties, but Jesus. It is the one thing that I am focusing on today that is making me smile. :)

So from my family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I pray that your Christmas is going smoothly and you are enjoying the day.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy....

Got the sweetest comment from Mrs. Vincent the other day from her post HERE. She was so sweet to pass on a blog award to me! So a big thank you goes to her, my new blogging friend. :)

To accept her award, I have to list 10 things that make me happy. Here we go in no particular order....

1. Ted. I've been married to this man for five years and there is not one day that passes that I do not thank God for him or that my heart doesn't race when I see him.....

2. Alex. If you would have told me ten years ago that I would be a step mom to a teenager now, I would have thought you were crazy. lol But he is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I've never known anyone with a bigger heart than his (except his dad, he gets it from him). He teaches me so much every single day, isn't it supposed to be the other way around?...lol. I love him so much and I couldn't imagine a day without him in it. He is such a great kid. I am so proud of him.

(Alex and I on Christmas morning last year...still in our p.j.'s and our beagles who are always by our side, little stinkers. lol)

Speaking of Alex....

3. Alex's music. You can view his band's myspace page HERE. It brings me such joy to see him play. Alex is a pretty shy kid and it's an unbelievable feeling to see your child just let it all go and live their passion. I'm always amazed at his talent.

4. Friends and Family. I have the best friends and family. Wonderful parents, great siblings, and a great group of scrappin' friends that get together at least once a month....I am so blessed.

5. Rob Pattinson. No explanation needed. :) hee.

6. Receiving Cards. I love making cards and sending them but when I receive them, I'm giddy. I love seeing them in my mailbox because they seem to make the bills disappear. lol With Christmas right around the corner, I'm seeing more and more. (Already got Jana and Jennifer's Christmas cards...simply gorgeous. thanks girls!)

7. Technology. Because of technology, I have a website, I've met WONDERFUL friends through my blog (like Carla!) and I get to be part of great communities like the Hero Arts Flickr group to just name a few! (the ladies in this group are AMAZING-extremely supportive and encouraging which is so nice to see in this industry.)

Speaking of Hero Arts.....

8. Hero Arts. I think I am transforming into a stamper. I'm purchasing more stamps than I am embellishments lately and the company I just can't get enough of is Hero Arts. Creating with their stamps make me happy. (BTW-THIS makes me happy too!)

9. So You Think You Can Dance. I love this show. Just brings a smile to my face and I can't wait to see who gets the title this season. (I am lovin' Jakob and Ashleigh)

10. Starbucks Hot Chocolate. It has been SO cold and windy here and this is the only thing that can warm me up while running errands. Yum!

So just some random thoughts for today. What makes you happy?

AC Holiday Cards & Gift Week Challenge...

I am lovin' the cute Merrymint line from American Crafts. I purchased a 8x8 pad of it recently and started playing. I'm also lovin' making swivel cards lately, so here is a set I made as a gift using this fun line...

Here is a close up shot of how the cards swivel open (to make them swing open, place a small brad in one of the corners of the card) ....

I left them blank inside so they can be used for a Christmas Card or a Christmas Gift Tag.

Thanks for looking...I'll be back posting again tomorrow.

Thank you Tim Holtz...

for creating such yummy distress ink colors. I played with some sticky back canvas, hero arts stamps, and distress ink to create some holiday gift tags....

To create the tags, I cut some sticky back canvas and stamped the snowflake in VersaMark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Then I went over top the embossed ink with different distress inks. Added a pearl to the center, stamped the sentiment, tied a bow on top and then stamped the inside....

and now they are ready for a present! Just a quick idea that I wanted to share since the holidays are approaching quickly.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have more to share soon....

Good Tidings Kit

Happy to be back blogging and wanted to share the new Kit of the Month. It is called Good Tidings. You can find the ingredient list HERE. I was inspired by the KI Memories Badges that are included in the kit. I love the colors and I used that as a jumping off point.

Wendy Sue Anderson was the guest designer for this month. Check out her gorgeous work....I am in love with her little details:

How adorable is this holiday mini book? I may have to copy her idea to use for my never ending shopping lists for the season...

I love her details on the nametag...

The specialty paper in the kit (yellow gold circle) has holes that you can punch out. Wendy used her extra shapes to create a flower to frame the red flower. Great Idea!....

Wendy was so clever to use the kit ingredients to create a present. LOVE this LO...

Oh, to have Wendy's handwriting! ....

Loving the glitter thicker stickers! Happy Shopping and thanks for stopping by! Be back soon...

Stay Tuned....

The December Kit of the Month is debuting very soon. I'm just super behind on everything! I'm having a party this weekend and house projects are taking over.....but I promise the kit will be up soon. I just got Wendy's images and they are amazing! Be back soon. Thanks for stopping by!