Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We started Christmas Eve by going to my Mom's house for dinner and fun with cousins.  The kids are always quite hyper thinking of waking up the next day to see if Santa came!

Here's the boys, just being boys!

The girls got in a few games!

We have a tradition of going to the Cemetery to light candles at my dad's grave.  The kids love going even though it's usually a cold experience.  Jake and I also took the kids over to Payson and put some candles at his dad's grave.  It's hard to have them both gone, especially around the holidays.

After the Cemetery, we headed home to open our Christmas P.J.'s.  The kids always know they're getting pajama's.  The fun part is finding out what they're going to look like!

Here's the kids after they opened most of their loot Christmas Morning!

Their Grandma Bonnie slept over so she could spend Christmas morning with us.

We had a late brunch at my mom's and let the kids open their cousin exchange gifts.  I never make 'real' breakfast, so we all look forward to a late breakfast Christmas morning.

The kids with Grandma Sorensen.

Grandma told us a fun story about Christ's birth using candy bars and then we each got to pick one!

After we wrapped things up at Grandma Sorensen's we headed over to Jake's mom's for dinner and more cousin gift exchanges.

One of Grandma Bonnie's traditions is to give each family a book and read it Christmas night.  We are getting a great collection.

We opened lots and lots of presents!  Justus took this wonderful picture of me and Jake!  We look all Christmased out!

We're grateful for this time of year to reflect on the Savior and his love for us.  We hope all of you had a nice Christmas and we wish you the very best for the NEW YEAR ahead!

Nursery Neccesities

Wow!  I took a little break from making cards, but it was fun getting back to it.  I needed to make a baby card for my monthly trade.  On this card I used Versamark and clear embossing powder for the stars and moon.  Then I used a dauber to rub White Craft pad ink on the stars.  On the 'welcome, little one' I stamped it first in Chocolate Chip ink on the Pink Pirouette paper then I inked the paper with Versamark and embossed it with the clear powder.  When it was dry I used my Word Window punch to punch it out and attached it with dimesionals.  There is supposed to be a border of pink around my polk-a-dot Bella Rose paper, but my scanner has a mind of it's own!  I just have to take what I get. :) 

Love You Much Promotion

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Funny Pix!

Adri couldn't wait to sink her teeth into a donut at Jake's National Guard party.  

It's amazing she didn't get very dirty with that huge powdered donut!

      Justus refused to be in the picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  I don't think Santa is going to be very happy with him.  He'll most likely get a lump of  coal!       

                      Lily is such a goofy dog.  She lays like this for hours.  WEIRD!                                     (please ignore the doo-doo)

The kids decided to get her in the Christmas spirit.  She didn't seem to mind.

Big On Christmas

Okay... use your imagination a little.  The green paper and ribbon are discontinued, but I stumbled across this card and wanted to share it with you.  I still love it.  I stamped the NOEL in Versamark and embossed with clear powder.  After it cooled I used a sponge dauber to rub on the red and green inks.  So simple, but a great look.  The Big On Christmas is still available as well as the Christmas Chatter wheel.

Retired Stamp Sets!!!

Click here to see the retired stamp sets and the discounted prices.

Party Hearty

I needed to come up with a birthday card for a monthly swap I'm in so this is what I came up with.  I absolutely love these colors together.  The Urban Garden pattern paper is awesome!  My sister had shown me a card a while back that had ric-rac made from the Scallop Edge punch.  It took me a minute to figure it out, but once I had it down I was able to whip 'em right out.   I went punch crazy as usual and stamped the 'Celebrate You' stamp 3 times in Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy.  Then I used the 3/4', 1 1/4' and Scallop Circle punches to punch out each section of the stamp.  I used dimesionals here and there and added the ribbon and my ric-rac.  So fun! 

Holiday Blitz

For this card I used the Bliss Blue designer paper from the Summer Picnic pack and embossed the snowflakes in white and then punched it out with the Scallop Circle punch.  Then on the white I first stamped the snowflake in Versamark and then in the Bliss Blue pad and stamped it on the white.  I repeated that process until I had a section of paper covered big enough for the Scallop Circle punch.  Then I embossed that with clear powder.  I've used the Ice Rhinestone Brads to attach the white ribbons and scallops.

Holiday Sale!

This sale only lasts until Monday December 1st. There are some great bundles and some are up to 50% off.   This would be a great time to get some Christmas gifts for yourself, friends or family.  Let me know ASAP if you'd like to order!  Click on the picture in the side bar to see the bundles.

Holiday Blitz

This is a pretty simple card.  I've embossed the little tree with Gold embossing powder and then used the Itty Bitty Background stamp to add some Old Olive speckles.  Then I used the small tag punch to punch it out.  I punched the larger Tag out of the Brushed Gold paper.  And also trimmed the front bottom of the card off a 1/4" or so and glued a strip of Brushed Gold paper on the inside bottom, so it's seen from the front when the card is closed.  The Olive designer paper is from the Summer Picnic pack.  I stamped the tree along the bottom of the Olive paper with Olive ink.  The tag is hung from the wide Red Grosgrain ribbon with string that I colored Olive.  I used my paper distressing tool to get the frayed look on the bottom of the Olive paper.

Holiday Extravaganza Sale!

Be sure and check in tomorrow and I'll have a list of the bundles that are available!  I'm excited to find out for myself what kind of deals Stampin' Up! will offer.  Order quickly if something catches your eye, I'm sure things will be going fast!

*The sale is a limited-time, 20 to 50 percent discount on select product bundles from November 26 through December 1, 2008. 

*Details on discounted product bundles will be announced when the sale begins November 26. 

*Quantities of discounted bundles are limited, so customers should place orders early.

Holiday Blitz

This card isn't too Christmasy, but it's fun!  The designer paper is Rainbow Sherbet.  I thought the designs looked like little snowflakes and would be cute with a snowman stamp.   The colors I've used are Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore and Apricot Appeal.  I know I've mentioned this before, but I just love the Scallop Edge punch.  I'm also really liking my Square Scallop punch.  If you look real close you can see that I added Dazzling Diamond glitter to the snowflakes around the snowmen.

Holiday Blitz

I saw this technique and LOVED it right away!  It's the same as emboss-resist, but you do it on pattern paper.  I've stamped the Candy Cane in Versamark on paper from the Bella Rose designer paper pack and then embossed it with clear powder.  Then I took a sponge and rubbed Chocolate Chip ink all over it.  Of course the embossed spots resist the ink.  Awesome look!  I then layered that piece of paper onto the same Bella Rose paper.  You can get a ton of different looks just by using different designer papers and solid stamps.

Season of Joy

Yey!  I finally got the Square Scallop Punch.  I'm so happy!!!  For this card I used the Baja Breeze paper and the Urban Garden pattern paper.  I used the White Craft pad for the words on the left side of the card and the Baja Breeze pad for the snowflake.  Simple, but cute card!

Season of Joy

This set was in the Holiday Mini last year and I'm so glad it made it into the catalog.  I just love it!  I used the Bella Rose pattern paper and a Build-a-Brad for the center of the poinsettia.  

Big On Christmas

I really like the colors in the Urban Garden paper. I've used Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze. After I stamped the NOEL in Stazon ink I used the 3/4" circle punch to punch out the ornament. How cute is that!?! Love it! I used an Aqua Painter and the Kiwi ink pad to color in the letters. The shiny Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon adds just the right touch. For the dotted background I used a white ink pad and the Background Basics stamp set.

Mr. Twigster

This cute little snowman guy has a lot going on - WOW! But hey! He's VERY MERRY! The colors I used are Ballet Blue, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red. I used paper from both the Bella Rose and Urban Garden paper packs. I used the Romantic Red glitter on the tree decorations and the White Gel Pen to add some color to the presents. The snowman is watercolored using the different ink pad colors. I finally broke out my new Button Bouquet buttons. They're so cute I mostly just look at them and can't bare to use them. I used the snowflake and greeting out of the Short and Sweet set.

Just Celebrate

I had to do at least one more fall card before I get into Christmas cards. I love how the acorns look embossed in gold. The Autumn Vine paper in the mini catalog is so pretty. The fall colors in it are great. The Just Celebrate has a stamp for every season and occasion. It's a great set to have on hand.

Card Class - Oh the fun we had!

Kellie and Joann are working on their Flight of the Butterfly Cards.

Here's Cristina and Debbie working on their Upsy Daisy Cards.  Debbie was working so hard she didn't have time to look up.  She finished her cards in record time!

This is Susan finishing up on her Lovely as a Tree cards.

Alisa enjoyed herself a little too much at the class!  Doesn't her face just show it all?  She's just getting started on her Party Hearty cards.

And last, but not least, we have Jerry Ann enjoying our almost yummy dessert.  It would have been much better if the cook had remembered the baking soda.  DUH!  When all the ingredients are added it is oh so yummy!  Here's the recipe so you can all make it right:

Apple Caramel Cake

Mix:   4 Cups shredded apples & 2 Cups sugar and let stand for 10 minutes.

Then add:   1 1/2 tsp. baking soda (don't forget!),   2 Cups flour,   2 tsp. cinnamon,   1 tsp. salt,  2 eggs,   1/2 Cup oil.

Bake:    at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.  Top with caramel & whipped cream.

Caramel

In a sauce pan combine:  1 cube butter,    1 can sweet and condensed milk,   1 Tbls. vanilla,   1 Cup Karo syrup,   2 Cups brown sugar.

Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute.

Thanks for coming girls!  It was oh so fun!!!

Wanted

I made this card for a card swap that I do monthly.  I never seem to tire of the Rolling Technique.  On this card I stamped the circle stamp from the Wanted set in Creamy Carmel and then rolled the outside edges in Bravo Burgundy.  I love the look it gives.  A very simple card.

YW Invite Idea

This is the invitation I made for our YW Evening in Excellence.  It's not actually supposed to be on the green paper, but my scanner has issues and won't scan right unless I do it like this.  The ribbon is discontinued now, but it goes great with the Value colors.  Our theme is "The Worth of A Sole".  Our Personal Progress leader found this great idea and we have some really fun things planned!  You're doing an awesome job Kellie.  I love all of your ideas.

A Few More Halloween Pix!

The Halloween day started as school.  Jake and I went to see the kids in their parade.  Tori danced her way through in her poodle skirt.

Adri came running through in her riding gear.

We trick-or-treated at Grandma's first.  She gives the best treats!

My sister-in-law took the kids trick-or-treating.  It's much funner to go in a group!

Justus went trick-or-treating (even though he's a little old).  He got lots of compliments on his homemade costume.  He went to a party after his trick-or-treating rampage and scared his friends with his master piece.  He's very upset that his ski mask (put in the costume for comfort) shows in this picture.  He wants everyone to know that it didn't show in the dark!

Another Halloween over!  Woohoo!!!