So excited to get back to Christmas with this week's 52 Christmas Card Throwdown January sketch!  It looks just like a present!
I decided this sketch left a nice open field for showing off some pretty paper - and I still have a few scraps of my beloved Under the Mistletoe DSP - LOVED the plaids in this pack!  To keep it a little calmer, I added strips of solid Real Red CS for my "ribbon," and finished with some details from Alpine Adventure - love the curvy sentiment from this set, too!
Alpine Adventure Stamp Set; Under the Mistletoe DSP; Whisper White, Real Red & Crumb Cake CS; Early Espresso, Old Olive & Real Red Inks; Alpine Sports Thinlits; Jumbo Rhinestones (retired); #52CCT1-19.

Birthdays Galore 2019!
I'm so excited to kick off our new Spring Occasions catalog with our annual Birthday Cards class!  We have so many fun new sets to play with!  This class will feature SIX cards and envelopes, all using stamps from our new Spring Mini and Sale-A-Bration catties!  There were just too many to choose from!  Come get a good start on having your birthday cards ready for the year!  All supplies provided, just bring your own snips and fave adhesive!  Class will be $25, and includes, drinks, snacks and a special gift from me!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is still on for Saturday January 12 at 3 PM.  RSVP today to make sure I have your supplies ready and waiting for you!

So glad I get to get in on Just Add Ink #438 - their last challenge of the year!  The challenge is for a gift box - yay!
The timing of this was perfect - I needed something quick and little for the neighbor kids, who came by to sing for us last night - these girls are so cute!  I think one of them has a little crush on hubby, too, shhh...  Anyway, I was able to whip up a mini milk carton for each of them (and Mom & Dad, lol)  and fill it with Rolo's - a quick little treat to keep the holiday spirit going!  I had just been going through my old dies and found this one - an oldie but goodie!  I even still have the stamp set that goes with, Got Treats!  Thanks for the carols, girls!
Got Treats Stamp Set (retired 2011); Under the Mistletoe DSP; Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Old Olive CS; Early Espresso & Real Red Stampin' Write Markers; Bigz L Mini Milk Carton Die (Retired); Layering Squares Framelits; 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon; Mini Clothespin; #JAI438.

Love this cute sketch from Paper Craft Crew #319 - they are rocking one last holiday hurrah!
So glad I get a chance to sneak yet another set that didn't get enough holiday love from me - Cookie Cutter Christmas!  I think my fave image in this one is the adorable reindeer, that I always color up like Rudolph, lol.  Today I stamped him on Crumb Cake, colored in his nose with my Blends marker, and made his antlers be all sparkly!  Such a fun sketch!
Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set; Under the Mistletoe DSP; Silver Glimmer Paper; Whisper White, Real Red & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red Blends Marker; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Christmas Greetings Thinlits (retired); Banner Triple, Small Star (retired) & Cookie Cutter Builder Punch; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; #PCC319.

I'm so happy to see that CAS on Friday #148 has another round of Christmas for us this week - jingle, jingle!
I was happy to have a chance to use my gorgeous Hearts Come Home set - I don't think I've gotten to ink it up at all this year - perfect timing!  I tried very hard to keep it as clean and simple as possible, though I did snip out my little houses so I could play with their arrangements a bit, lol.  Merry Christmas to all - many blessings!
Hearts Come Home Stamp Set; Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Mint Macaron, Petal Pink, Pool Party & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Basics Sequins; #CASOF148.

Awww, The Library Challenge #22 is all about the super sweet book The Snowman!  Perfect timing!
I decided to pick my other snowman set, 2015's Snow Place, and just dress my boy up all in green!  Not quite the right hat, but I like a dapper snowman, lol.  I love the sketched snow flakes that come in this set, too - don't they look cute in Pool Party?  I even added some sparkly ribbon - doin' the glitz!  Another fun walk down memory lane with TLC - so glad I found this challenge!
Snow Place Stamp Set (retired 2015); Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party & Old Olive Inks; Melon Mambo Blends Marker; Snow Friends Framelits; Pool Party Glitter Ribbon; TLC22.

What a fun inspiration at this week's Fusion "Christmas Eve Ride" challenge!  Love it!
I'll admit it - the very first thing I thought of when I saw the theme was this stamp!  I haven't used the scooter image yet from So Santa, and I I like to think of him buzzing around on his Vespa on Christmas Eve!  I had so much fun coloring everything here - Santa in his traditional red, but with a pair of shades, and his awesome Granny Apple Green scooter!  Perfect for a quick hand-delivery!
So Santa Stamp Set; Whisper White, Granny Apple Green & Real Red CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red, Granny Apple Green, Mango Melody, Black, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake & Blush Blends Markers; Stitched Shapes & Layering Squares Framelits; Polka Dots Basics EF; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #FusionChristmasEveRide.

So excited for SU Only #212's theme this week - anything Christmas!  It truly is the most wonderful time of year!
Another set I haven't used enough this season is the lovely Winter Woods - I love the realistic pines and woods images in this set.  And OF COURSE, there is a fantastic framelits set to go with it too - it's like Lovely As a Tree went to heaven and came back as Winter Woods, lol.  For today's card, I got to thinking about our searches for our Christmas tree - I love wandering around and squeezing in between all the gorgeous trees to see every last one!  So I made a little collection of greens, and just went to town.  I try not to be TOO choosy, buuuut....
Winter Woods Stamp Set; Whisper White CS; Mossy Meadow, Garden Green, Old Olive, Smoky Slate & Cherry Cobbler Inks; In The Woods & Stitched Shapes Framelits; Woven Cherry Cobbler Twine; Dk Gold Sequins; #SUO212.

Super excited that I finally found another Christmas challenge to play at!  52 Christmas Card Challenge Throwdown #47 asks that we pick any challenge from 2017 - a great look back for me!  I'm going with Oct 2017 - winter sports!
This theme OF COURSE led me straight to Alpine Adventure - love this set!  The thinlits are just as fun as the stamps - so glad to have that gorgeous sled die!  Today, though, I wanted to break out the snowshoes.  I actually tried snowshoes last time we were in Banff - it's surprisingly challenging!  But a very cool feeling to be ABOVE the snow - I think everyone should try it, lol.  It works most awesome when you have a lovely hot spring to soak in afterwards, too, lol...
Alpine Adventure Stamp Set; Under the Mistletoe DSP; Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Early Espresso, Real Red & Old Olive Inks; Alpine Sports Thinlits; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #52CCTD47.

Big Plans Planner Kit Class Dec 15!
So excited that we finally get to put together our planners for 2019!  The new Big Plans kit is gorgeous and easy to use, and has so many awesome new features over last year's - I know you're going to love it!  For class, we will assemble our planner kits together, and then make a set of 10 notecards and envelopes to go with from the coordinating Big Plans Memories & More Card Pack - woo!  There are two pricing options here: if you need the planner kit, your class is $40, and includes the full planner kit along with everything you need to make your 10 notecards (plus extra supplies!)  If you have your own kit to bring, class is $15 for the notecard supplies.  If you are only making the cards, the class can also be FREE with your order of $20 or more.  Class is still on for Saturday December 15, at 3 pm, and includes drinks, snacks and a special gift from me for BOTH class options!  RSVP today to save your spot - and see you there!

Retro Rubber #101 has a cute and fun holiday inspiration for us this week - yay!
Looking at that little guy and his cookie, I knew I needed to pull out my all-time fave snowman set - 2009's Snow Buddies!  I love the line-art images in this one, and these guys are such snazzy dressers, too!  I always have lots of fun coloring in their wardrobes, lol.  I added some chilly breezes, sparkly snow, and a sentiment borrowed from 2015's Snow Place - my second favorite snowman set - because it has framelits, lol.  I think these guys make for a great combo!
Snow Buddies (retired 2009) & Snow Place (retired 2015) Stamp Sets; Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper; Memento Tuxedo Black & Pool Party Inks; Mango Melody, Basic Black, Poppy Parade & Granny Apple Green Stampin' Write Markers; #RR101.

Big Plans Planner Kit Class Dec 15!
So excited that we finally get to put together our planners for 2019!  The new Big Plans kit is gorgeous and easy to use, and has so many awesome new features over last year's - I know you're going to love it!  For class, we will assemble our planner kits together, and then make a set of 10 notecards and envelopes to go with from the coordinating Big Plans Memories & More Card Pack - woo!  There are two pricing options here: if you need the planner kit, your class is $40, and includes the full planner kit along with everything you need to make your 10 notecards (plus extra supplies!)  If you have your own kit to bring, class is $15 for the notecard supplies.  If you are only making the cards, the class can also be FREE with your order of $20 or more.  Class is still on for Saturday December 15, at 3 pm, and includes drinks, snacks and a special gift from me for BOTH class options!  RSVP today to save your spot - and see you there!

Well, CAS on Friday #147 is talking my language  - make a Christmas card!
I looked over my Christmas sets for one I haven't used as much as others, and out jumped Beautiful Blizzard - I really haven't been giving it the attention it deserves!  Especially with that gorgeous Blizzard die to go with - love that die!  I combined Balmy Blue & Night of Navy today - stamped and stamped off layers of the Balmy, and all my details in Navy - love these two blues together!  I finished with some pretty silver snowflakes - beautiful bright details over the blues!
Beautiful Blizzard Stamp Set; Whisper White, Night of Navy & Silver Foil CS; Balmy Blue & Night of Navy Inks; Blizzard Thinlit; #CASOF147.

Big Plans Planner Kit Class Dec 13 & 15!
So excited that we finally get to put together our planners for 2019!  The new Big Plans kit is gorgeous and easy to use, and has so many awesome new features over last year's - I know you're going to love it!  For class, we will assemble our planner kits together, and then make a set of 10 notecards and envelopes to go with from the coordinating Big Plans Memories & More Card Pack - woo!  There are two pricing options here: if you need the planner kit, your class is $40, and includes the full planner kit along with everything you need to make your 10 notecards (plus extra supplies!)  If you have your own kit to bring, class is $15 for the notecard supplies.  If you are only making the cards, the class can also be FREE with your order of $20 or more.  Class is announced for Thursday, December 13 at 6 pm, or, Saturday December 15, at 3 pm, and includes drinks, snacks and a special gift from me for BOTH class options!  RSVP today to save your spot - and see you there!