One last card for 2007 and Happy New Year!

We've got a birthday party at 10:30 in the morning for one of Clark's little buddies. What a good excuse to use my CTMH Nursery Bash set! I started with Di Hickman's December #4 sketch, then colored the giraffe with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. He's on so many pop-dots the scan looks wonky. That strip of paper is Basic Grey Color Me Silly. I thought the card was way too simple, but my husband assured me it is just perfect. (He's a sweet dh most of the time *wink*).

I read Maria's blog yesterday and started making my list of crafty goals for 2008. Many of mine were alot like hers: using blogger's sketches at least weekly, scrapbook one LO a week, etc. But honestly after I made this super simple card tonight, my clean table looks like a bomb went off. Did I tell you I got distracted and started labelling all my Palette Ink Cubes??? Anyway...I narrowed it down and have only ONE crafty goal for 2008. That is to Clean Up In Between Each Project! Now you just have to hold me to it! LOL

More cards to display

Thought I'd share a shot of the door between the kitchen and the dining room. This is where all the handmade Christmas cards are hanging. The one farthest to the left is from Addison's 6-yr old penpal. All the cards are just great. I'm so lucky to have so many talented friends!!

Card Display for Instant Inspiration

I cleared the piles off my scrap table last night. What a shame that all these handmade cards were sitting amongst all the scrap papers and ribbon. I found these tiny clothespins at M's a week or so ago....with the idea in mind to hang the cards up over my desk. I used some thumbtacks to string up some ribbon. I'm so excited to finally be displaying these because they are all so special to me.

Forgot to show you my last-minute gifts

Not sure why they were last-minute. I had them in my head for a long time before I actually got around to making them.

The first is an altered picture frame using this year's Christmas photo. The frame is from M's. Everything else is from the December kit at Scrap Treasures. I think there are still a few kits available if you want to grab one.












The other is last year's idea from Ali Edwards. That's how far behind I get on projects. Just too many fun things to do, and not enough time. I really like how this turned out. It's decorative, but not "clutter-ish". KWIM? I actually didn't have to go out and buy anything for this one. The frames were picked up on clearance at M's several months ago. And what a better way to use all those 2" paper scraps!! Although I'm not sure I'll ever finish using up the BG Blitzen paper. LOL

One last card to share

I went into mass production for this card totally CASE'd from Gabby. When I saw hers, I knew I just had to replicate it! Stamps are Papertrey Ink and CTMH, and I drew the ornament hook with my silver Sharpie.

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!!

We took the kids to see Santa last night. I was able to pick up another gift while we were at the mall. I think I only have 3 gifts to buy now and maybe a few more stocking stuffers.


















This afternoon we decorated a gingerbread house.













Although I think Clark did more un-decorating as evidenced by the finger swipes on the roof and the icing on his mouth.

Photo Christmas Card

I wimped out (or wised up --- not sure which) this year and sent most people a photo card from Walmart. But I did make a handful of Christmas cards with a photo of the kids. There just wasn't enough time to make the 60-80 I've done in the past. I think they all should have arrived now so I don't think I'll be spoiling anyone's surprise by posting this. I was determined to use up my obscene stash of Basic Grey Blitzen with various Christmas projects. It's still not complete obliterated, but it has been reduced to a small pile of scraps. And I started with this design from Sweet Miss Daisy. I'm really happy with this card. So much that I might use the same design with a 5x7 photo for a scrapbook page.

Winner of Blog Candy!

Here is what Random.org told me:

Lucky number 7!

The 7th person to comment was Carolkm. Congrats Carol...you win the $15 coupon at the Scrap Treasures store!!

There will be a delay

Sorry for not posting the blog candy winner yet. It has been absolutely nutty the past 24 hours ---- my parents arrived for Christmas, getting more shopping done and prep for the kindergarten party today. We'll pick the winner tonight.

Birthday Blog Candy!!!

A really quick post since I'm at work, but today is my birthday!! Don't even ask how many years....but, yes, I woke up feeling each of those 16,436 days (when you count leap years) in my aching body. But the advil has kicked in now, and I'm looking for an excuse to throw a party! I haven't offered any blog candy lately so why not today???

Up for grabs is a $15 gift certificate to the Scrap Treasures store. Quite honestly, I'm tired of shopping and trying to find the perfect gift. So I'd rather let you pick out what YOU want! (and this way I don't have to force myself to go stand in line at the post office **wink-wink**)! All you need to do is post a comment telling me anything birthday related. Do you have any birthday traditions? A favorite gift you received? Some kind of food you love to have on your birthday? Anything!

Leave your comment before 6PM CST on Wednesday, Dec 19th, and we'll draw a winner shortly thereafter. I'll email the winner a coupon code worth $15 for ANYTHING in the Scrap Treasures store.....I know some of you have your eye on one of those yummy December kits.

Now....to share my tradition. Actually it's my dad's tradition, but I'm so happy he still does this. I've now been out of my parent's house for ummm.....28 years I guess. And every year on my birthday, the phone rings at 5:30AM. You see I was born at 6:30AM on the East Coast. Now I live in the Central Time Zone, but my 83-year-old father always calls me at 6:30 Eastern Time. I think 2005 was the only year he missed. Clark was 10 weeks old at the time, and my mom convinced him not to interrupt my sleep since I probably hadn't had much of it anyway with a newborn. LOL But that is why I never set my alarm clock the night before my birthday.

Angel's Monday Sketch #3

WOW! A whole week without a post. And it's only going to get crazier from the looks of my lists!!

But I loved Angel's idea of "recycling" the circle element. And one of those aforementioned lists is for the 50 cards that are still unmade, so I decided to give her sketch a go. I recycled a card from a friend who occasionally reads my blog. Maybe she'll recognize it and leave a comment!

Mojo Monday #13

Sometimes you push the deadlines far enough, and you're bound not to make it. It's been a busy day here. But we got the trees decorated (one is very tiny) AND did a photo shoot for our annual Christmas card photo. I got some pretty good shots...now it's just a matter of deciding which one to go with.


So I'm a tad late posting this card for Julie's Mojo Monday #13. I needed a card to send to a co-worker who has a brand new baby boy. This sketch was perfect for finally christening with ink my CTMH Nursery Bash set. :)

Down to the deadline for Moralia's Monday sketch!!

I always want to get the sketch challenges done before the next week's is posted. I don't always make it, but that is my goal.

I finished this card yesterday before we headed out to a party for a 6-year old. I thought the Autumn Leaves Astroboy stamps I got from the Scrap Treasures store were perfect for a boy! The space suit is heat embossed with gold EP. The arms, legs, etc are colored with Prismacolor pencils blended with OMS. The paper is from Paper Salon. Thanks for the sketch Carla!!


















Speaking of Scrap Treasures, don't forget our 12 Days of Christmas celebration. Day #2 challenge has been posted, and we're definitely getting in the Christmas spirit. Hope you'll come join us. :)

Altered File Folder - Christmas Planner

I haven't heard from everyone yet, but I hope all three from THIS POST have received their PIF RAKs. Since I saw Taylor's file folder a few months ago, this project has been on my list. This is such a great idea for either an organizational tool or a very cool mini-album.




Altering a file folder is our first project for the Scrap Treasures 12 Days of Christmas Celebration. Upload yours to the Scrap Treasures gallery by December 12 to get your name in the drawing for some Cosmo Cricket Oh Joy chipboard alphabets. Join us each day for a new project to get those creative juices flowing and get those Christmas projects finished!