December 31, 2019

A Year In Review

I must be in a reflective mood today because I decided to do a year in review. I picked my favorite card from each month.  

January

This Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series paper was always some of my paper. 

February

The Home to Roost stamp set saw a fair amount of ink the first few months of this year.

March

This card always reminded me of one of the bedrooms at my mom and dad's house so of course it had to make the year's favorite list.

April

Every time I look at this stamp set and see these daffodils, I am reminded of my niece, Sarah, who passed away on Easter morning     a year and a half ago . . .  not only because of the daffodils, but also the name of the set . . . she inspired so many people!!  So of course it had make the list!!

May

I picked this card because of the sentiment.  I have so many awesome friends and this card reminds me of all of them.

June

Stamp sets to make guy cards are kind of hard to come by and this one is just perfect so of course it had to make the list.

July

Technique Club is one of my favorite things to do and I love this particular technique . . . reverse masking . . . so of course it is a favorite.

August

This card made the favorite list for a couple of reasons.  It was a swap I took to Stamping School in Illinois and spent a great weekend stamping with friends.  It also reminds me of a co-worker who passed away several years ago . . . she was always using the phrase "Christmas Blessings".

September

Again, my favorite part of this card is the sentiment.  I also love the way coloring really changes the look of the designer series paper.

October

This card made the favorite list again because we made it at Technique/Stamp Club.  I have two different clubs and I love teaching and sharing and new techniques.

November

I had a hard time choosing just one card for November so there are two. The first is another one we made at technique Club and the second is one that a friend came over and made multiples of to send to people in our community who do not get out very often.

December

The Birds of a Feather stamp set is a big favorite of mine.  I had a hard time not choosing a card made with it for the last several months.

I hope you enjoyed the year in review.  I truly do love sharing and stamping cards.  I thank you for whatever part you have in my stamping world!!

Every day is a gift!!  Make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 30, 2019

Timeless Tulips

I have a feeling I maybe using this Timeless Tulips stamp set a lot.  I have always liked any set that has tulips in it!!

This is another one of the cards we made as a Make-N-Take in Las Vegas.

 

Stamps: Timeless Tulips

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White 

Ink: Rococo Rose, Old Olive

Accessories:  Tulip Builder Punch, Linen Thread, 

Stampin' Dimensionals

I worked for a while in my stamp room again yesterday and finally got my table cleared off and a place made for the second printer we now have.  I also got a place cleaned and arranged to house the new die cut machine that my family got me for Christmas.  The big accomlishment yesterday was getting ALL of my stamping bookwork done for the year.  I had been doing a good job of doing it month by month up until September and then the busy season hit and I hadn't done any since then.  I am now ready to take it all to the tax man when all of the other documents arrive in January!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 29, 2019

Forever Blossoms

Ready for another sneak peek?  This is another one of the Make-n-Takes from On Stage, this time using the Forever Blossoms stamp set.

I very rarely stamp directly onto designer series paper, but it works great on this card!!!

Stamps: Forever Blossoms

Cardstock: PoolParty, Whisper White, Vellum

Ink:  Basic Gray

Stampin' Blends:  PetalPink Combo, Old Olive Light

Designer Series Paper: Parisian Blossom Specialty

Accessories: Label Me Lovely Punch, Petal Pink Metallic Edge Ribbon, 

Champaign Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday was a pretty lazy day.  I did end up meeting my friend,  Luetta, in Kalona for lunch.  It had been forever since we had actually visited in person and for any length of time.  I came home and worked on cleaning up my stamp room for a little while. I vowed I was going to rest a lot over this Christmas break, so I set my timer for 45 minutes and when the timer went off, I retreated to my recliner and read for the rest of the day.

Other than going to lunch, today looks be a repeat of that with a little Hawkeye basketball thrown in!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 28, 2019

Lovely Lily Pad

Are you ready for another sneak peek at a new stamp set???  This card uses several Sale-a-Bration items that you can get for free with qualifying purchases!!

I have been so busy with Christmas and trying to get my stamp room in order that I will be relying on Stampin' Up! photos of their projects until I can get some of my own made.   Which may be a while!

Stamps: Lovely Lily Pad (SAB),

Cardstock: Garden  Green, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Lily Impressions (SAB)

Ink: Flirty Flamingo

Accessories: Lily Pad Dies (SAB), Stitched Shapes Dies,
Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,
Metallic Baker's Twine and Sequins Combo Pack,
Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday was a football watching kind of day capped off by a great Hawkeye win!  It was a good thing no one was trying to sleep at my house while the game was on because there was fair amount of cheering happening!!  A great end to a great season.  Can't wait until next year!! 

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 27, 2019

Painted Poppies

Although I know not everyone feels this way I fell in love with he Painted Poppies set the first time I saw it.  This was one of the sets I won in the Prize Patrol at On Stage in November.

And this is the card we made during Make and Takes there.  Very simple, but very cool.

Stamps: Painted Poppies, Peaceful Moments

Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Peaceful Poppies

Ink: Memento Black, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Whisper White 

We had another wonderful day yesterday.  Hanna, Jake, and I went to Iowa City to do a little after Christmas shopping, while John rested, and Julie and Jason had to work.  We were all together again for  a supper of left over appetizers, and a night of playing games.  We decided to add some people to our stack for one final picture!!

The house is now quiet again as Hanna and Jake and the two dogs just left.  I was thinking about being out and about but have decided to put my feet up and watch football all day today!!  

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 26, 2019

Christmas Blessings

I picked up my mail on Tuesday morning and this beautiful card was waiting for me.  I comes from my friend, Cindy.

I know that she really liked the wreath embossing folder, so was not surprised to seethe she had used it.

Hanna and Jake arrived late Christmas Eve.  We had a wonderful day yesterday.  Lots of laughs, good food, and memories made.  I hope you all had a wonderfully as well.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 24, 2019

Wrapped In Plaid

If you are in need of some quick treat holders I have just the thing for you!! This was a table favor that I received in Las Vegas.  At one time it held a Hershey Candy bar but that is long gone!!

Super quick and super easy, but still lets people know you are thinking of them!!

 

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Gold Foil

Designer Series Paper: Wrapped In Plaid

Accessories:  Pine Tree Punch, Shaded Spruce/Gold  3/8" Striped Ribbon, 

Tear and Tape, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Ready, ready, ready . . . that is what I am today.  Hanna and Jake will arrive sometime late this evening after their Christmas Eve service and Julie and Jason will also be over tonight as well as tomorrow.  The only thing on my to-do list today is to make a delivery to the waiting room at the SNICU for families of patients in that unit and also to deliver some food to the staff of the unit.  It is so hard to have someone in the hospital at any time but particularly at this time of yearend we thank all of those people that are away from their families taking care of other peoples' families.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 23, 2019

Snowman Season

I don't think we are going to see any of these cute guys in the near future and that is just fine with me!!  I doubt if they see many of these in Las Vegas either, which is where I got this guy in a swap I participated in!!

Luckily, Snowman Season will not be retiring at the end of the month so you have a little more time to get him for your very own

Stamps: Snowman Season

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Night f Navy, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Wrapped in Plaid

Ink: Memento Black, Night of Navy

Stampin' Blends:  Night of Navy Light, 

Pumpkin Pie Light, Crumb Cake Light

Accessories:  Stitched Shapes Dies, Layering Ovals Dies, 

Triple Banner Punch, Denim Trim, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday we ended up going to the Amanas to the see the Tannebaum Forest with all of the decorated Christmas trees.  They even had a real reindeer there.  I am not sure I have ever seen a reindeer in real life!!

They are much smaller than I expected them to be . . . no wonder it took so many to pull Santa's sleigh!!

Today I am off to the grocery store to get everything we will need for the next few days.  I am sure it will be very busy, but that just adds to the fun of the hustle and bustle!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 22, 2019

Still Scenes

This beautiful card was in the mail yesterday.  It comes from my friend, Dawn.  I will be sorry to see this beautiful Mercury Glass Designer Acetate paper retire at the end of the month.

What a great idea to cut things out of the paper . . . I had only used it as a whole piece of designer series paper!!

Stamps: Still Scenes

Cardstock: Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Mercury Glass Acetate

Ink: Blueberry Bushel

Accessories:  Swirly Scribbles Dies, (Clearance Rack), 

Swirls and Curls Embossing Folder, Silver 3/8" Metallic Edge Ribbon, 

Stampin' Dimensionals

I ended up going to Iowa City yesterday to get John some things for this project he is trying to finish.  It was such a beautiful day to be out and about. Today looks to be another one of those so I need to find somewhere to go or something to do!!!  I don't just sit well!!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 21, 2019

Merry Moose

I love this moose stamp set and apparently a lot of other people did as well since the moose punch sold out.  The good news is that it will be available again next year in September when the 2020 Holiday catalog comes out.

I received this card in the mail yesterday from my friend, Sandi.   

Stamps: Merry Moose

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Perfectly Plaid

Ink: Shaded Spruce, Real Red, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Stitched Shapes Dies. Moose Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

What a beautiful day this is going to be!!!  Who knew it would be this nice 4 days before Christmas!!  I really have no place to be or anywhere to go but I am feeling the need to soak up some of this sunshine and Vitamin D so I will think of somewhere to go!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 20, 2019

Timeless Tulips

Are you ready for a sneak peek at a new stamp set in the Spring Mini Catalog? I received this card from my friend, Susie, the other day.

And guess what . . . this stamp set comes with a punch!!!  Makes it so much easier to pop up the part of the tulip.

Stamps: Timeless Tulips

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Peaceful Poppies

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Accessories: Tulip Builder Punch, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Today is another one of those days where I really don't have anything to do and seem to be out of sync with time.  I started doing something this morning and totally forgot about a blog post . . . hence the late post!  I think John and I are going to Iowa City again this afternoon for him to get some more supplies for a project he is doing. I really don't need anything, but can certainly look around a craft store for quite while!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 19, 2019

Star of Light

Today's card is another one I picked up in my mail a couple of days ago.  It comes from my friend, Gail.  She used the Starlight Thinlet Dies that are on the Clearance Rack right now.

I love the silver embossing that she used!!  This Star of Light stamp set and the coordinating thinlits was always a favorite of mine.  I used it several years to make my own Christmas cards.

Stamps: Star of Light (retired)

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer

Accessories:  Starlight Thinlit Dies (clearance rack), Versamark, 

Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Too.

I am done!!!  There was enough Christmas hustle and bustle yesterday, but not so much that it was hard to complete my Christmas shopping.  Everything is now wrapped and under the tree.  The only thing that remains to get it is the food, which I will get early next week.

Today is going to be my baking day.  I am not doing much this year but am making several loaves of Grandma Burkhalter's nut bread.  I have even perfected a gluten free option for Hanna so she can still enjoy it!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 18, 2019

Merry Christmas

I have a love-hate relationship with my scraps . . . card and designer series paper scraps that is!!  I think I have found the perfect solution!!  I save them for my friend, Jeanie, who also happens to be my sister-in-law's mom.

She can take the tiniest scrap and make something out of it.  She used some larger ones in this Christmas card I received the other day.  I am so glad that she uses them . . . it makes both of us happy!!

I did stay home all day yesterday and did not leave the house, but I can't say I rested all day.  I actually got all of the purchased Christmas presents wrapped and put under the tree!!  Now I know what all else I need to buy!!

As soon as I am done posting this I am off to do more Christmas shopping and meeting a friend for lunch. 

I saw this on the Magnolia site yesterday . . . I am not sure I will ever reach this balance!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 17, 2019

Snowman Season

I love this time of year because when I go to my mailbox I have good mail instead of all advertisements and junk mail!!

I picked up this card yesterday from my friend, Lorna, who also happens to be my  friend, Luetta's mom.  I love what she did with the snowman's head!!!

Stamps: Snowman Season

Cardstock: Balmy Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink:  Memento Black, Real Red

Stampin' Blends:  Pumpkin Pie Light, Smoky Slate Light, 

Real Red Light, Old Olive Light, Balmy Blue Light 

Accessories:  Snowman Builder Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

As usual I did not manage to just sit all day!!  I am sure no one is surprised by that!!  I was trying to do some of my Christmas shopping on line, but when you find out a store in Washington has what you are looking for you take off and get it, rather than order on line and hope it gets here by Christmas!!  the upside to that was I just picked up something for supper on the way home so I did not have to cook!  A good trade off in my book!!

I am going to attempt the resting thing again today but I do want to at least make a start on taming my stamping room after my flurry of Christmas stamping!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 16, 2019

A Wish For Everything

When I was in Las Vegas I participated in an organized swap where we were to focus on birthdays, thank yous or Valentine's Day and use Annual Catalog stamp sets.  This is one of the cards I received from a demonstrator named Melissa Davies.

The key on here is actually a bottle opener that she purchased from Amazon. I thought they might be kind of pricey but looked them up and they are less than $.25 apiece!!  I think it makes a great accent on the card!!

Stamps: A Wish For Everything

Cardstock: Very Vanilla Thick, Pretty Peacock, Gold Foil

Designer Series Paper: Brightly Gleaming

Ink: Pretty Peacock

Accessories:  Stitched Be Mine Dies, Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, 

Scripty Embossing  Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Waco was a great decorating inspiration.  I saw this candle in a jar while we were there and decided that I wanted to make something Christmasy that resembled it.

After looking near and far for a jar that would work I found one at Joann's yesterday when we were there getting some supplies for a project John is working on.

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  I think my decorating is now complete!!

I did get another huge job accomplished yesterday . . . I got all of the Christmas cards addressed and ready to mail . . . all 125 of them!!!  So today I'm going to sit and enjoy Christmas music and the lights on the Christmas tree!!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!!

Happy Stamping!!

December 15, 2019

Beautiful Friendship

I have loved this Beautiful Friendship stamp set from the first time I saw it in the Annual Idea Book and Catalog.  I was glad to get several swaps in Las Vegas using this set!!  This is one of them.

This card would be absolutely awesome no matter what color combination you would use.  I love the way they have used the Birch background stamp.  I really need to use this more than at Christmas and in the fall.  

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship, Birch Background 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Rococo Rose, Very Vanilla

Ink: Crumb Cake, Rococo Rose, Old Olive

Accessories: Layering Circles Dies, Stitched Shapes Dies, 

Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Rococo Rose 1/2" Scalloped Linen Ribbon, 

Stampin' Dimensionals

So . . . I did a little decorating yesterday in the kitchen.  I knew the minute I saw this coffee mug rack at the Silos that I wanted to do it with mine!!

Last year after Christmas I ordered one and it usually holds all of my Starbucks Collector Coffee Mugs.

It took me a while but I finally got all of the mugs off of it and decorated for Christmas.

I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out especially since the only new thing I had to buy was the evergreen.  Today John and I are going to make a trip to Iowa City to go to Joann's Fabric's so I can complete the other project I have in mind!!

 Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!