Monthly Archive: December 2014

The Plaid Poodles, Maggie and Sox, had a visit to the groomer yesterday.  Our dog groomer, Tammy, is wonderful to take whatever mess the dogs show up in and transform them into pretty little poodle like fancy!  And they smell terrific – for dogs!   I would post a photo if they would sit or stand still long enough to do so.

Because this was the Christmas visit I wanted to gift Tammy for her great service all year long.  I decided to create a gussied up envelope to tuck her tip in.  It turned out really cute and is perfect to tuck cash or gift cards into.  The envelope was so quick and easy to make that I created several for other hard-to-buy-for family (can someone say teenage nieces and nephews?).  Here’s the video tutorial with all the details:

Christmas is just twelve days away – gulp!  I am not ready.  I like to say, “Christmas comes ready or not”!  Sure we all want a perfect “Norman Rockwell” holiday but who defines what that is?  Define your own “perfect”.  Don’t kill yourself creating what you imagine a perfect Christmas to be.  Choose what’s important to you and go with that.  Let’s not stress over all the trappings of Christmas and remember the real reason we celebrate. Time is slipping by and Christmases spent together will become fewer and fewer so make the most of it.  Enjoy your family, dysfunction and all!  We won’t remember gifts given or received but we will remember with fondness the sweet times spent enjoying time with our loved ones.  Love each other and laugh together.

Talking about perfection . . . my Twelve Weeks of Christmas have not posted perfectly.  Technical difficulties, scheduling conflicts, blah, blah, blah.  In all honesty, I did not realize the challenge that this was going to become.  Thank you for sticking with me.  It is important to me that I follow through with my commitments and I plan on fulfilling my promise.  It may not have happened as I had planned or you expected but I hope you have enjoyed the series.  Your feedback would be most welcome!  Check back next week as I complete the Twelve Weeks of Christmas with Weeks 10, 11 and 12!

But first, let’s visit Week 9!  I am beginning to gift wrap the Christmas presents purchased thus far.  I created these simple little tags to top each gift.  They coordinate perfectly with the Stampin’ Up! Festive Designer Kraft Paper Rolls that I’m using for  my gift wrapping this year.  I kept it simple using the Tag Topper Scallop Punch.  The sweet little Joy Peace Love sentiment came from the Christmas Tagables photopolymer stamp set.

 

Product List

• Christmas Tagables Photopolymer Stamp Set [134623]
• Crumb Cake 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [120953]
• Red Glimmer Paper [121790]
• Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad [126949]
• Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324]
• Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack [133787]
• Real Red 3/8″ Satin Woven Ribbon [135840]
• Linen Thread [104199]

Tag-a-Bag Gift Bag Gift Card Holder

By now most of us have the Christmas decorations up and have started purchasing presents for our friends and loved ones.  If you are anything like me you will be purchasing your fair share of gift cards.  Why not make the presentation of those gift cards a present in itself!  This gift card fits the bill.  It’s not only adorable but so simple to make using the Stampin’ Up! Polka Dot Tag-a-Bag Gift Bag.  The inspiration for it came from fellow Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Krista Frattin.  I love the use of dainty accessories like the Tea Lace Paper Doily and Gold Sequin Trim paired with the practical paper bag and newsprint paper.  Very girlie girl and artisan!

The gift card holder is made by simply folding the Tag-a-Bag Gift Bag in half and adhering embellishments.  View my video tutorial for complete instructions:

 

Product List

• Polka Dot Tag A Bag Gift Bags [135503]
• Tea Lace Paper Doilies [129399]
• Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper [133704]
• Gold Glimmer Paper [133719]
• Natural 5/8″ Chevron Ribbon [132982]
• Gold Sequin Trim [132983]
• Gold Baker’s Twine [132975]
• Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100730]
• Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324]
• Endless Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set [136829]
• Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad [101406]
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Pad [126966]
• Sticky Strip [104294]
• Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430]
• Mini Metallic Clothespins [133320]
• Glue Dots [103683]

Invitations to eat, drink and be merry at the December Stampin’ Style Card Class were sent out and yesterday was the big day!  I wanted to celebrate all the special people who attend my classes all thru the year so we included a soup and salad lunch and turned December’s class into a party!  I tried a new soup recipe and it was a hit.  Several ladies requested the recipe so I thought I would share it here in case you might want to try it.  The recipe makes a larger quantity and is a snap to make.  I made it in the morning and kept it warm in my slow cooker until the party.

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 pkg. Uncle Ben’s Original Long Grain & Wild Rice
1 pkg. Lipton’s Chicken Noodle Soup
1/4 c chopped onion
1/4 c chopped celery
1 carrot, chopped
3 cans low-sodium (or heart healthy) cream of chicken soup
1 large can chicken (I used rotisserie chicken)

Bring 8 cups of water to boil.  Add rice with seasonings, noodle soup, onion, celery and carrot.  Cook for 10 minutes or until rice is tender.  Stir in cream of chicken soup and chicken  and warm thoroughly.

 

 Party Favors

You can’t have a party without party favors so I whipped up cute little candy cane holders and placed one on the table at each guest’s place setting.  The inspiration for the candy cane holders came from fellow Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Sam Donald.   And although I could never repay the blessing that my customers turned friends have become to me, I wanted them to have a small token of my appreciation so I made packages of mini Christmas note cards to take home.

 

 

 

Photos from A Very Special Card Class

Love these awesome women!  So great to take a few hours each month for ourselves and laugh, solve world problems (lol) and of course STAMP!  If you are in the Kansas City area we would invite you to join us.  Check my Stampin’ Up! website under Events for future dates HERE.