On to Valentines....

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!! Christmas is over so I'm moving on to the next holiday!! All my Christmas decorations & the tree are all put away.....so I'm ready.....I'm ready.....I'm ready (I watch way too much Spongebob)




I don't think I've ever used this cutie from High Hopes! The image is called Overwhelming Love & is available at 7 Kids College Fund *HERE* .....Funny thing about this card......when I cut the image....I was looking at the possum, rather than the whole image itself. I finished the card, took the picture, & didn't realize until I was editing that it was sooooo crooked! The mailbox looked like a snowplow drove into it a few times. So....luckily I had attached that layer with just foam dots....I peeled it off & placed it at an angle.....VOILA!!! Now it's straight, lol!!!! The papers are SU's Chocolate Chip & Basic Grey Bittersweet.....finished it with a few flowers....some ribbon & a heart charm.




A close up of the now straight-but-not image....





I used thick embossing powder on the mailbox.....so even though it's been hit by the plow, it still has retained its perfect shine!!

Well I'm off to get ready to have lunch with a friend today that I haven't seen in many many years. We are going to Chili's....can you believe I've *never* been to a Chili's?? Then back home for pizza & Wii with my kids!! Michael even went back to bed this morning after breakfast to store up some sleep, so he can last until midnight! Hmmm...maybe I should do that!!

Have a happy & safe New Years!!!!

All mixed up!

That's me....confused! I don't know what the heck month or season it is, lol! I'm still making Christmas cards....& now today I made a fall card!




Actually, I just received this Standing Fall Tilda from 7 Kids College Fund, & my rule is to never put rubber away uninked. Otherwise, it may *never* see ink! I colored her with my Prismas & gamsol & cut her out with my Oval Nesties. The papers are SU's Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango (I had never used that color before!) & Basic Grey Nook & Pantry. The scallop border was done with the Fiskars Threading Water border punch, & the flowers were punched from the same Basic Grey paper using various flower & hole punches. I added some brown tulle, some Diamond Stickles on her wings & 3 Dew Drops in the corner.





A close up of Miss Tilda. I hadn't planned on cutting her out, but I never learned to color correctly & went outside the lines!! Oops!!

I hope you're having a great week....we're trying to fit lots of fun stuff in before everybody has to go back to school & work. Are you doing anything exciting for New Year's Eve?? It's never been a big night in my life, even before we had kids. And now, well my kids are able to stay up much later than I am, lol, so I usually tell them I'll watch a movie with them.....but before you know it I'm asleep on the couch!!! It stinks getting old, lol!!!!

Just hangin' around

Can ya stand one more Christmas card?? I was going through my High Hopes stamps the other day & realized there were so many holiday ones I meant to use this year, but didn't get around to. So I picked one of my very favorites & made yet one more Christmas card!



This bundle of cuteness is called Callie Christmas Kitty & was drawn by my good friend Crissy Armstrong. I always knew I was blessed to be part of the High Hopes team....but now that Crissy is no longer drawing for them I am extra thankful to have gotten to know Crissy....& to have in my possession so many of the wonderful stamps she created!!

Back to the card! I used my Copics to color Callie....& added lots of glitter to the ornaments. The papers are SU's Riding Hood Red (boy will I be sad when I run out of this!), Always Artichoke, & Basic Grey Figgy. The sentiment is the same one I used on my Penny Black card from a few days ago.....it's from a Studio G clear set from Michael's....cut out with my oval Nesties. I added some Poinsettias & leaves.....some stitching....& some red half pearls. Oh, can't forget the Clear Glaze added to the candy canes!!





Those candy canes took me forever to color!! Not only do I have a hard time *photographing* reds, but apparently I also have a hard time *coloring* with them! And Valentine's Day is next......don't think I'll get a break from the red any time soon!!

I hope you all had a splendid Christmas!! We went to my mom's both days & oh my gosh, am I stuffed!! Soooo much food.....I barely ate anything today, lol!! I'm *still* full! But tomorrow I am going to go over there & get some leftovers.....heehee.....it was so good we're going to have a repeat tomorrow night!!! Any night I don't have to cook is a joyful night for me!!

Finally....the 12th day of Christmas!!!!

And what a discount to celebrate today!!!! 7 Kids College Fund has the most special special for this 12th day of Christmas........an additional 8% off all COPIC products!!!!! You may not think 8% is very much, but Tab already sells these products at 25% less than retail.....so this is an AMAZING discount!!!!! Here is the code to use at checkout....

Twelfth Day of Christmas: Save an additional 8% on all in-stock
COPIC PRODUCTS!!!

Code: XMASDAY12
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 24)

And more good news.....7 Kids is now going to be carrying more Copic refills!! Tab is now ordering direct from the manufacturer, so she's no longer limited in ordering. She will be carrying many more colors .....she is placing an order this week so be on the lookout for those!!!!

Well I hope you are all ready for Christmas.....I ran my butt off the last couple of days, shopping & baking & wrapping...but it's done....so I'm going to enjoy the next couple of days!! I thank you all for your friendship & support this year.....& wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! Stay safe!!!

11th day of Christmas...

Whew! We're almost there!! Quick post just to let you know that today's discount at 7 Kids College Fund is 20% off everything in the CLEARANCE section!! That's right....everything that is already discounted gets an additional 20% off!!!! Wow!! Can't beat that!!! Here's the code to use at checkout!!

Eleventh Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY11
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 23)

Check back tomorrow for Day 12's special deal!!!

Tab has something special planned for tomorrow so be sure to check back!! I am off to finish my baking, while unfortunately waiting for the service guy to come look at our water softener. I'm sure we'll need a new one, we're never lucky enough to just need a little something done to it!! Merry Christmas to us....sigh...

Christmas spirit....

Sure.....NOW I feel like making Christmas cards!! Where was all this Christmas energy a few months ago, when I *really* needed to make them?? Now I'm just adding to my stash for next year, lol!!! **A note to all my friends**....I did NOT send out Christmas cards this year!!! No handmade cards....no store bought cards....no cards at all....I *know*....sigh....I just wasn't feelin' it...lol...




This adorable penguin image is called Penguin & Tree, & it's from Gillian Roberts for Stampavie. I got it at 7 Kids College Fund but she clearanced them out a few days ago & they were snatched up! No wonder why.....he's just the cutest!! I colored him with Prismas & gamsol, & added glitter to the ornaments & snow, Cotton Candy Stickles to the star, & Cotton Ball white Fun Flock to his hat. I used my Nesties Labels 3 dies to cut & matte the image. The papers are SU's Cranberry Crisp & Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. The snowflake in the corner was made with my Spellbinders & I used my Martha Stewart branch punch & doily lace border punch. Added silver cord.....& 3 faux Dew Drops.....which are just the cheapie clear baubles from Michael's.





Can you see his fun Fun Flock....lol....




A close up of the baubles from Michael's....I used my 1/4" hole punch to make the Cranberry dots.....then adhered them with Stickles to make them glittery....


Well I'm off to make cookies. The boys have friends over so they are out of my hair for a while....lol....

10th day of Christmas, & HUGE blog candy!!

Good morning! 10th day of Christmas......are you kidding?? I actually have to go back out today because the stupid grocery store I went to yesterday didn't have anything I needed!! And of course, it's snowing, & is supposed to continue......& continue.....& continue....falalalala........

Today's special at 7 Kids College Fund is 10% off all SPELLBINDER products!!!! Tab already has great prices on these, so run to the store & get them while they're even less!!!! Today's code to enter when you check out is.......

Tenth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY10
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 22)

Click HERE to check out all the fun Spellbinders products in the store......10% off!! What a deal!!




Also.....Tab is having THE most amazing prize drawing ever!!! She is a huge supporter of Singleton Moms, an organization that helps single moms fighting cancer. In exchange for your donation to this wonderful group, Tab will enter your name into a drawing to win over $400 in prizes!!!!!! Pictured below is the amazing array of stuff you can win.......go to Tab's blog post HERE to get more details on how you can enter!!!!!

Only 2 more days to go.....that means just 2 more days of specials!!! Check back tomorrow for the 11th day of Christmas special!!

My kids have a 1/2 day today, then they are done for the holiday!! Which means I'd better enjoy the few hours of peace & quiet I have left.......lol.....

9th day of Christmas

Already??? That means Christmas is in just 3 days?!?!?!? Eeeeeekkkkkk.......*running out to Target to finish shopping*.......

Well the 9th day of Christmas for you means another special today at 7 Kids College Fund! Today's discount is 15% off all ZVA CREATIVE products! These are new to the store....don't they look fabulous?? These are amazingly affordable gemstones, pearls & flowers of SUPER quality! Click HERE to see all the fun products included in this special!!




Here is your code to use at checkout.....

Ninth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY9
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 21)

Now I'm off to finish my shopping!! Seriously!! I know all of you who did your shopping back in July are now laughing at me.....but it'll get done....with plenty of time to spare :)

Come back tomorrow to see what the 10th day of Christmas special is!!!!

Christmas stocking

OK, I will definitely be retaking these pics tomorrow! Sometimes I like my homemade light box....sometimes....not so much. I've played around with the colors in PSP & I just can't get them to look right. So I'll try again tomorrow in the light of day!!





But I wanted to get this Xmas card posted before........well, before Christmas is over, lol!! This is another new stamp that I got from 7 Kids College Fund called Christmas Stocking by Gillian Roberts. And guess what?? This stamp is now on clearance in the store!! More on that later.....

This card started out well....I decided to stamp the image onto SU's Very Vanilla for a bit of a change. Colored it with my Prismas (not so much of a change) .....then I added TONS of glitter....to the flame....the ornament.....the cap....then it happened. I was testing different flowers to see which would look best, when I dragged my hand across the entire card. Not just a little bit....oh no....when I mess something up I mess it up BIG. So......I had a huge glittery mess.....but since I'd worked so hard on the coloring I was determined to fix it!! I think I did ok....just don't look too closely....notice my close up pic below is angled just so....lol..

The papers are Bazzill Bling & surprise!!! Not Basic Grey but Cosmo Cricket!! I forgot I had purchased a sheet....yes, just one sheet....at my LSS about a month ago. I used my Nestabilities Labels 1 to cut out the image & green matte....then hand cut the red layer, which is SU's Riding Hood Red. Don't look too closely at that either, lol!!! I finished it off with a strip of RHR punched with my Martha Stewart Lattice border punch....some cream colored organdy ribbon.....3 half pearls....& the dreaded Primas that got me into so much glittery trouble!!





So back to the clearance at 7 Kids College Fund......click HERE to see everything that has been clearanced out! This stamp, plus a ton of other Christmas items, have been reduced from already low prices (I sound like an appliance commercial lol).....also Gel-A-Tins embossing powders, some Spellbinders items, some retired Stampavie stamps....too much to list here so go check it out!!!!

Tab also has the brand new Basic Grey papers & accessories......Sugar Rush & Origins! You know how I feel about my Basic Grey....lol...a huge necessity in my life!!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see what the 9th day of Christmas special is!!!

8th day of Christmas

brings a 10% discount on all High Hopes stamps at 7 Kids College Fund!!!!! Here is the code to enter when you checkout.....

Eighth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY8
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 20)

As you all know, I've done a card or two with High Hopes stamps :) Click HERE to see everything I've made........click HERE to check out all the High Hopes stamps in the store!!!





Tab is taking special orders for High Hopes starting TODAY so check out THIS LINK for instructions on how to place an order (today's discount does not apply to special orders). She will take special orders until Sunday, December 27th.

Also, Tab is looking for design team members & just put an official call out on her blog. Check out her blog post HERE if you are interested!!!

Have a great Sunday.....& check back tomorrow for the 9th day of Christmas special!!

Here comes Christmas......

Another quick post then I'm off for the day.....I'm taking the boys to my mom's for a few hours, then I need to go shopping for a birthday present for one of Michael's friends who's having a party tomorrow. I was out all day yesterday & forgot about it. Well, I remembered, but then I forgot, so now I actually have to go to a store on the Saturday before Xmas!! Ugh!! So unfun!!





As I said before, I still have a couple of Christmas stamps from my last order from 7 Kids College Fund that I haven't used, & I'm determined to use them ALL!! This one is one of the new Slapstick stamps from Penny Black......they are red rubber mounted on EZ mount, then stamped with the image. This one is called Here Comes Christmas. I think it should be called Here Comes Christmas, Ready or Not!! LOL!! I colored the image with my Copics, & used lots of Diamond Stickles on all the snow, flakes & the moon. I sponged the sky with Broken China & Faded Jeans Distress Inks. The papers are all Basic Grey Mistletoe & Pear, a limited edition line from last Christmas (oh, how I wish I had bought them ALL)....& the sentiment is from a dollar Studio G set from Michael's. Please don't look at my crooked bow.....I *really* need to invest in the Bow Easy!! I've heard good things about it!!






Change of subject.....does anyone know if the Christmas Magnolia Ink magazine is still available?? Seems most of the sites I've checked have sold out, except for the Magnolia store in Sweden but it's $10 to ship!! I really don't enjoy paying that much for one thing, especially when the magazine itself is only $10!! Let me know if you know of anyone still carrying this! I see many places where you can sign up for a subscription, but it doesn't include this issue & I would really like to have this one!!

Thanks for visiting, & have a great weekend!!

7th day of Christmas....

& I finally started my Christmas shopping!! I've been in denial for so long.....but I couldn't put it off any longer.....Christmas is coming whether I'm ready or not!!

Today's special at 7 Kids College Fund is 15% off new-to-the-store LADYBUG & FRIENDS STAMPS!!!! Click HERE to see all the fun new stamps from Elisabeth Bell & Joan Elliott!!!

Here's the code you need to enter when ordering.....

Seventh Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY7
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 19)

I did start a card 2 days ago that I hope to get finished tomorrow. I'm totally ready to move on from Christmas (I've been ready to move on from Christmas since the season started, lol! Bah humbug!!!!)......but I haven't used all my new stamps yet so darn it, I will continue making them until they have all seen ink!! Fair is fair!! I wouldn't want any uninked rubber to feel jealous!!

6th day of Christmas

Today's special at 7 Kids College Fund is 15% off on all FLOWER SOFT!!!! I'm excited about this because I recently purchased my very first jar & I love it!!! I must have ALL the colors!! It's super easy to use & adds so much to your project!!!!

Here is the code to use when you check out....

Sixth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY6
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 18)

And here is the card I made with my brand spankin' new Flower Soft!!!!





We are now halfway through the 12 days of Christmas!!! Come back tomorrow to see what the 7th day brings!!!!

5th day of Christmas....

is my favorite day so far!!!!! Today's special is MAGNOLIA stamps!! You know how much I *heart* my Magnolias, so I'm super happy to share today's sale with you......

10% off all in-stock Magnolia stamps....Tab has a GREAT selection & GREAT prices already....so go take advantage of this awesome extra discount!!!!

Fifth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY5
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 17)

I haven't had time to make any new cards with my beloved Magnolias.....but here are a few from the archives!!! You can see all my Magnolia creations HERE!






Thanks so much for visiting....& be sure to come back tomorrow to find out what the 6th day of Christmas brings!!

4th day of Christmas

Ok, these days of Christmas are going much too quickly, lol!! We are already on the 4th day!! Eek!!


Today's special at 7 Kids College Fund is 15% off all in-stock CUTTLEBUG products!!! Here is the code to use at checkout.....

Fourth Day of Christmas:

Code: XMASDAY4
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 16)

Be sure to visit tomorrow to find out the special for the 5th day of Christmas!!!!

3rd day of Christmas

And the celebration continues at 7 Kids College Fund! Today's special is 15% off all Pink Cat Studio stamps & unmounted stamp supplies!! Here is what you need to enter when you order....

Third Day of Christmas:
Code: XMASDAY3
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 15)

And I just happen to have a card made with one of the images from the Itty Bitty Christmas set! This is my very first Pink Cat Studio set & I only wish I had ordered it sooner!!!




As I was rummaging through my papers, I came across my Cryogen shimmer white paper that I haven't used in ages!! I stamped the image onto this lovely, shimmery paper & colored it with my Prismas & gamsol....added glitter here & there....& cut it out with my circle Nesties. Papers are SU's Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke & Basic Grey Wassail (which is on clearance at 7 Kids right now!!). Used some various punches....snowflake, branch, loop....& my snowflake Nesties....& the finishing touch was the 3 red half pearls at the bottom.






Now I'll have to get *all* the Itty Bitty sets, lol!!


Well I'm off to finish a ton of stuff before bed. I'm loving working again....regular hours....no 5:30 am phone calls....but wow I'm falling behind on everything!! Don't even TALK to me about Christmas shopping!! I'm usually done by now. But because I've been such a Scrooge I put it off....& off .....& off.....I've never been a last minute shopper but you may just find me at Target on Christmas Eve this year!!!!

Have a great week!!

2nd day of Christmas....

The 12 days of Christmas continues at 7 Kids College Fund! Today is the 2nd day of Christmas, & the discount is 15% off of everything in the DOODLEBUG & EMBELLISHMENTS categories! Be sure to check out both the links.....lots of fun stuff to be had.....brads, flowers, charms, Stickles, Fun Flock.....& so much more!!!! Here is the code to use when you check out:

Second Day of Christmas:
Code: XMASDAY2
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 14)

Again, this is for today only!! Check back tomorrow for the 3rd day of Christmas discount!!!

Baking season has officially begun....

I may be a Scrooge this year when it comes to everything else Christmas.....but I *love* to bake & look forward to making tons of cookies each year! I always start with my very favorite, the ones my grandma & I used to make together each year......SPRITZ cookies!!!!! I made 3 batches today....that should last a few days, lol!!





I posted the recipe here on my blog last year, & many people wrote telling me how yummy they were. So......here it is again!!!


SPRITZ COOKIES

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, ALL sifted together
1 tsp almond extract

Cream butter, add sugar & egg, then dry ingredients. Add food coloring if you wish. Use cookie press to make different shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes 6 dozen.


If I make nothing else, I am happy!! But I do plan on making lots more.....I always make fudge (trying a new recipe this year...I will post it if it turns out, lol), peanut blossoms, sugar cookies, Rolo wreaths, & this year I'm going to try something new.....they involved cherries....I'm not a huge fan of cherries but I think my kids will love them. What am I saying.....they are cookies....of COURSE they will love them!!!

12 Days of Christmas

Good Sunday morning to ya!! Just a quick post to let you know that 7 Kids College Fund is having a 12 Days of Christmas sale!! Each day from now until Christmas there will be something different on sale! Today's sale is........15% off all Stampavie stamps!!!! All lines of Stampavie are 15% off when you order today & enter the code!! This includes Gillian Roberts, Sarah Kay, Rachelle Anne Miller.....ALL of them!!! Here's the info you need when you order:

First Day of Christmas: Save 15% on all Stampavie
Code: XMASDAY1
Good TODAY ONLY (DECEMBER 13)

Also be sure to check out the clearance section of the store!! Great deals there, including Leere Aldrich & Lelo Design stamps from Stampavie.....that means extra savings with today's discount!

My first Whiff of Joy

Happy Saturday everyone!! I'm working vigorously to get caught up from this past week....including finishing that card I started last weekend!! Doesn't seem like it should have taken me a week....it's not all that grand....lol....but it did!!

Here is.......my very first Whiff of Joy!!!!



Yes, you read that right....this is my very first Whiff of Joy stamp!!! When I last ordered from 7 Kids College Fund, the new Christmas Henry stamps had just come out so I had to get at least one! I wanted ALL of them, but somehow restrained myself! I colored him with my Copics, which as you know is rare!! I figured I couldn't mess up a mouse too badly, lol! After searching for over an hour for my Liquid Applique, I *finally* found it over by my cat's bed....hmmm....wonder how it got over there. It was so frustrating because I just needed 2 little dollops to put on the marshmallows, but the card just would not have been complete without it! I used Fun Flock on the hat, & Angel Wings Shimmerz on the steam. The papers are SU's Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. I added some tulle & silver cord, along with a snowflake charm (& yes, I meant to shread the ends of the cord, lol). Stitched around the edges.....& added a snowflake that I just found while I was looking for the Liquid Applique. I forgot I had bought a package at Michael's last Christmas. The flakes are white felt with silver glitter....I sponged it using Riding Hood Red ink.....& plopped it on top of some punched leaves.




Close up of Henry....he's got to be the cutest mouse I've ever seen!!





I'm adding this close up pic of the marshmallows, since I went through so much to add that LA!! LOL!!





Not sure what happened to my colors in this picture....they're way off....but I just wanted to show you the inside all dolled up :)

Well I'm off to finish some laundry & cleaning. I was hoping to bake some cookies today, but it looks like it will have to wait until tomorrow. The day just flies when we actually have power!! LOL!!