Christmas Thank You's

Quick and easy note cards for the boys to write thank you notes. These are just card fronts.

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Holiday Tradition DSP

Stamp Set: A Flower For All Seasons

Accessories: Stamp Pads and Blender Pens, Stampin' Write Markers, Top Note Die Cut, Big Shot, Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/8" Hole Punch

Christmas Activities

It's been a pretty busy few days here!

I made more Milk Carton Containers for a few neighbors. These use the Holiday Lineup set again.Then a few little candy jars for other neighbors. The jars are from IKEA, the last of my final pilgrimage trip before we left California. I used the star punch and the 3/4" square for the topiary jars. They are filled with Hershey Nuggets wrapped in DSP.


Christmas Morning


All Nicholas wanted for Christmas was a big TV for his room. No other gifts, although he got some...man, was that kid happy with Santa!

Benjamin was thrilled with his Piccolo from Santa. He already plays flute and piano and I fear this is just one of his many instruments to come.
Then there was the gift that didn't go over so well. My Benjamin loves $100 bills because there is a Benjamin on them, so I found this shirt for him. He said he will NEVER wear it and it's silly...hmmmph.... kids!!

Under the tree.
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A couple days before Christmas Nicholas earned highlights in his hair for reaching his reading goal. some kids want money...Nicholas wants highlights! OK then!
I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas with your family!

OK, I am officially done with Holiday projects, Ski Slope Designer Series Paper and Holiday Lineup! Aren't you thrilled???

Holiday Tag Tin

I found this idea from Nicole Heady at Capture the Moment. She is one of my very favorites and I stalk her regularly ;) You can find the directions and product ordering information on her site here.

I had Nicholas cut dowels for me and glue these little end caps on them for the ribbons. I attached the ribbon with a mini glue dot and secured it with a 1/2" straight pin. Each container holds 6 tags on the right and 4 card tags on the left.
And they keep coming in....

Marlene Ackley did these for her children and grandchildren.
Dannie Graves of http://DanniesDesigns.typepad.com made hers into a Hot Chocolate Gift set.

How clever that she punched windows in them to see the hot chocolate!

This one is from Sharon at http://inkiefinger.blogspot.com/

Great job ladies, thank you for sharing!

Tiny Paint Cans

These tiny paint cans are just 3 1/2" tall and about 2 3/4" across. I got them at Craft Warehouse. They hold 4 Ferrero candies and some shreds. I used Jolliest Time of the Year stamp set and Ski Slope DSP for the paper bow.

And for my nasty sista, I attached a Sexy Motherpucker Lip Gloss to the handle! Oh,she is gonna love it!

Another Milk Carton Container ...this one is from Tammy Beaver. Is she really getting ready for Valentine's Day already???? You can check out her creations here.

Mini Pocket Book Tutorial Now Available

Mini Pocket Book

Tutorial now available on the sidebar.

$3.95

Perfect for gift cards and photos, this tutorial contains 15 pages of step by step photos and instructions to create this adorable Mini Pocket Book as a Christmas gift but can be easily changed to any occasion. The book itself is made from one piece of 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper. You need only a paper cutter with scoring blade to complete the book. The pages and inserts can be changed to accomodate whatever punches and embellishments you want to use.

If you have a Pay Pal account, you can use it, and if you do not, there is an option to just make a regular credit card purchase. Shortly after the transaction, I will send the Mini Pocket Book Tutorial Adobe instruction file directly to your inbox. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher installed on your computer to open the file. Most computers have this program already installed on them, but if you don't have it, you can download it for free by going here: http://www.download.com/3000-2378-10000062.html

Top Note Santa Tags

I found this idea from Andrea Walford to make tags from the Top Note Die Cut. They are big but so adorable! These use Jolliest Time of the Year, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla Cardstocks, Riding Hood Red DSP and the new Rope Twine from the Holiday Mini Catalog.
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More Milk Cartons...isn't this fun to see what others are doing with this idea??

Carol Faubert, one of my fellow Diva sisters created this one using the Big On Christmas set. Check out here blog here: http://cardsmore.blogspot.com/
Caroline from Australia made this one. Check out her blog here: http://cardscreatedbycaroline.blogspot.com/

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Tonight I will be releasing my newest tutorial on the Mini Pocket Book. I think you are going to like it :)

Fall-Winter Retired List is Here!!

Fall-Winter Retired List

View list here

Fall-Winter 2008 retiring stamp sets are available for purchase December 9, 2008 – January 18, 2009. Buy your favorites today before they’re gone!

Plus, now through December 23, you can get 10% OFF all retiring stamp sets and FREE SHIPPING on orders over $70.

Don’t wait to take advantage of this limited-time offer!

Shop with me on line here.

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Look what Jennifer Thomas made. Three of them...woo-hoo!

Busy Weekend!

What a fun and busy weekend!

Friday night the boys had their Christmas Piano Recital. Since Benjamin is still under the weather recovering from his tonsillectomy, Nicholas performed alone. He was fabulous and loved getting all the attention to himself! He was getting one more practice in before we left.

He played Joy to The World perfectly Ü

I always try to get a few pictures of each occasion, especially when they are dressed up. However goof ball here, is sometimes just too cool for the photo session and doesn't have time to hold still so mom can do her 'mom thing'!! This folks...is the REAL Nicholas!

Festival of Trees Tea Party

Saturday I attended the Festival of Trees Tea Luncheon. I drove 2 hours, picked up my big sister Cindy, and we drove 2 more hours to my little sister Kerry, and the tea party. We had such a fun day looking at all the beautiful trees, wreaths and Gingerbread houses. It was sponsored by the hospital Kerry works at (and I used to work at when we lived there 15 years ago) in Pocatello. The top photo is a look down onto the tea tables as they were being set up for the luncheon. Absolutely gorgeous!!!! Each one was sponsored by a business or individual.

We sat at the purple and silver table. This was our centerpiece and place settings.

This photo unfortunately has too much light coming in from the window to see how cool it was. I wanted this tree BAD but it was already sold! It had the most darling decorations and real lighted lamps in it!! Instead I was the winning bidder on a lighted wreath that was decorated with Bath & Body Works little lotions and candies and is super cute. My sister has to pick it up tomorrow for me since I am home now and 4 hours away. She will probably keep it instead of shipping it to me because that is what little sisters do!

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More Milk Cartons!

My downline and friend Rhonda Kelly is going to town on these things! Here are two more.

Mini Pocket Book

This Mini Pocket Book is made from one piece of Holiday Tradition DSP. I haven't decided what to put on the cover yet but the pages are so cute! I thought I would slip in a gift card and some pictures for a Christmas gift.

A tutorial on this little project is coming soon Ü

Top Note Die Cut Box

This is so fun and easy!! These little boxes have been created by several stampers. There are different measurements all over blogs and Splitcoast Stampers.

Yeah, I know, I should have covered the nuggets with paper...I was in a hurry to take the picture Ü

Start with cardstock cut to 9 1/2" x 8 1/2". Score the 8 1/2" side at 3" and 5 1/2". Rotate cardstock to the 9 1/2" side and score at 3 1/2" and 6 1/2". As you fold this into the box bottom, you will see that some of the edges need to be trimmed for easy folding...especially if you are going to add a window like I did. Just cut them off to a manageable size, you can figure it out, it's pretty self explanatory.

Lid cardstock is 3 5/8" x 4 5/8". Score at 1/2" on all sides.

I put little slits in my box to hold a ribbon, you don't need it, it's just for decoration. Have fun, try one today !!