MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

While I hope everyone is spending time with family and friends today, I didn't want to post these past Christmas Day so I'm posting them here on Christmas Day - while I'm on my way to Green Bay.

Three simple cards (two were loosely based around the Mojo Monday 170 sketch from Dec 20.

Two of the cards used up some of my rubons that are collecting dust. Note to self: use these up - some are getting impossible to actually rub on!

With any luck, I'll have some pics from the Packers vs. Giants game to share in the evening on the 26th...down with the Giants...

GO PACKERS!

Merry Christmas Eve!

As I'm sure is the case with everyone, it's been a total gong show around here. I'd blame my week of vacationing at the end of November, but I really just did let time get away from me this year.

Anyways, I've been spending most evenings working on a project for a Christmas gift for Chelsey and it's finally finished - and she's got it, so I can share with you!

She's always wanted one of the Taylored Expressions Calendar Stands - so I got it - and decorated/provided a year's worth of calendar!

Finally, the finished product (with my crazy 3 year old work poinsettia in the background - I can't grow ANYTHING, but I can't seem to kill this thing off, so it's a good compromise for some office greenery!)

I also finished up three last minute Christmas cards, but I've set those to post tomorrow while I'm flying on my way to Green Bay. Fingers crossed for a safe & speedy flight!

Have a lovely Christmas Eve, my friends!

Finally

Well I've been holding off but I can't do it any longer. I LOVE these cards. They're my absolute favorite. They're non-traditional colors, plus they're my awesome new PTI!

I suppose I've had the stocking stamps for a year, but the die was new from Laural and I loved these cards that I made for some very special friends.

These cards hold a special place in my heart since the first one I created was for the super friend who gave me the die =) and the second was for a non-traditional color master friend! Unfortunately, I'm not sure when they'll actually make it to their recipients, but I did want to show what can be done with completely non-traditional colors. I mean, really - Basic Gray, Basic Black, Crumb Cake & Elegant Eggplant? How much farther from a traditional Christmas can you get?

No matter what, I love 'em and I hope you'll give this beautiful color combo a try, too! It's great for any occasion! Afterall, this was a color combo from the Curtain Call Challenge Act 58 = but I didn't have Concord Crush, so I replaced it with Eggplant!

What do you think? Win??!!

No matter what, my day was a win. Shelly & I delivered Santa's Anonymous presents, made an Edmonton Humane Society drop off from the treat exchange gifts and still had time to have productive evenings (MrP & I hosted two other pairs of friends!) A fabulous day by all accounts!

Treat - for the horses of course!

Finally getting around to posting pics of my little treat bags that I made for the barn girls. I used my fabulous new PTI set Big & Bold Holiday Wishes. I just love this set - it's so versatile and stamps crystal clear every time. On the back, I had "to: , from:" stamped and then I just had to write in each girl & their horse's name.

The top die is perfect for these toppers and a little sponging around the edges gave some added 'oomph'.

Perfectly easy, quick and affordable to give to multiple people (8 in my case). While I'd planned to include some of my copycat Levain Bakery cookies for the people, I didn't get time. The good thing about horse people? Give them something for their horse and they're happy! So these bags are filled with peppermint & apple flavored horse treats from a local equine shop that I fear may get a whole lot more of my money in the upcoming year!

CAS Christmas

Having only once inked up this Ornamental Christmas set previously, I thought I'd give it another try. After completing the card, I sparkled it up with some pearl spritz...which didn't photograph really well so you can see a couple 'blobs', but oh well!

I had intended to post the pics of my little packages I gave the barn girls, but I didn't get around to uploading the pics last night after my last lesson of the year. Such a great time and Candid was a real trooper - only one 3' jump that we took out at the end! I can't wait for lessons in the new year =)

Some Christmas Wishes

This card is on it's way to some family now, but I was having some fun on the weekend with crafting and made this card using Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #103 as the basis. Her sketch was actually square, but I just adjusted so I could fit in a traditional envelope.

I should've added some shimmer to the embossed chocolate chip layer and some bling beside the sentiment, but it's already on it's way East, so too bad for me =)

I had a fabulous weekend with some Christmas celebration, some volunteering, some crafting and some time with MrP. I was up ridiculously early this morning (3:30), so I finished the treat bags I wanted to make for the girls at my barn, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be needing a nap when I get home from work!

Seam Binding Bows = Lovely to work with!

That's my two cents for the day. Seam Binding really makes bowx so easy to work with that I suspect I might just forgo non-sheer ribbon altogether =)

This is the second card I created for the Stamp a Stack that Chelsey & I will do on Sunday. Pretty simple, but I really wanted to use this Verve set, O Christmas Tree, and the new SU paper behind it that has the words to the song O Christmas Tree!

I'm not feeling the panel the ribbon is on so I might have to add some texture to it before Sunday.

Last night, I made four batches of my copycat Levain Bakery Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie dough and got them all ball'd up so I can bake them fresh on Tuesday for my treat exchange. One more batch to make and hopefully, even on a smaller scale, everyone can appreciate a little Levain love like I did in NYC! Hope you have a fabulous Saturday!

 

CASE'd Cranberry Elegance

I saw THIS card by Frances Martin on Splitcoast and I knew it had to be my Christmas card this year. Clean and simple, easy for mailing, but incredibly elegant, so I CASE'd it. In case you're looking for yet another stunning bunch of creations to check out, visit Frenchie Stamps! Stampin' Up was what first got me into card making, so I remember when I started checking out stamping blogs, I always loved the SU ones because I knew I could get the stamps. Now I'm all over the place with my rubber/acrylic & ink love.

In a backhanded sort of compliment, MrP told me it was the most beautiful card I'd made. Yes, I suppose I technically made it, but I sure didn't have the idea.....I guess I'll take my compliments where I can get them (and I fell in love with the card, so it's no wonder he did, too)

Anyways, I created this for the Stamp A Stack that Chelsey & I will be doing on Sunday....come back tomorrow to see another of our soon to be Christmas cards =)