Very Busy Today, but Thankful

I've been pretty busy since first thing this morning.  Went with my aunt to the doctor so that I could be there to hear what the doctor had to say and what he wants her to do.  The aging process is not only hard on those who are up there in years, but it's also hard on those who love them very dearly.  It's sad to see those who have taken care of you at one time, not be able to take care of themselves.  Then I had other errands to run and am now home and trying to accomplish some things since dinner is here at my house tomorrow.  But first I had to destress and make something.  I subscribe to Linda Heller's blog and saw this POST and had to give it a try.  Very cool indeed!  You just need to remember not to push hard.  A very light touch with the brayer and you can add ink until you're satisfied with the results.

I used the Petals A Plenty embossing folder.  The snowman was stamped and punched out with the 1 3/4" circle punch and layered on the 2 3/8" scalloped circle punch.  I omitted the to/from on this stamp by covering the words with scotch tape, inking up the stamp and then removing the tape before stamping on my cardstock.  I added some Wide Stripped Grosgrain Basic Black Ribbon and stamped the Merry Christmas greeting from the Teen Tiny Wishes stamp set and punched out with the Word Window Punch and layered on the Modern Label Punch.  Oh and I added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter using the 2 way glue.  All these items can be ordered through me or my Stampin'Up! Store www.reneeond.stampinup.net and while you're at it check out the awesome Holiday Spectacular and the Holiday Bundles that are being offered right now.

Blessings

Renee 

Holiday Spectacular



Black Friday Stampin'Up! Specials Start Today

 For your shopping convenience, you can take advantage of these awesome "Black Friday" specials from Stampin' Up starting today, Monday, November 22nd, through Nov, 30th, 2010. You can get these prices any way you please--order online, or call me and I'll hook you up--but if you order online, you will also get free shipping on any order of $150 or more--and don't forget, you'll earn hostess benefits and free stamps at $150, too! So have yourself a little party, or grab a friend and combine your orders--or email me--it's all good! But hurry! http://www.reneeond.stampinup.net/  Online Spectacular!!!

Look at what's on sale! STAMPS of course, but also Big Shot dies, the Christmas fabric line, Decor Elements, Hodgepodge Hardware, even punches!

Cute Christmas Trees

Here is another make and take from Joni's party the other night.  A little more contemporary feel to it, but it was fun to use very untraditional Christmas colors.  Concord Crush and Pretty in Pink with some metallic silver as well.  And of course we had to have bling.  See the rhinestones?  I just love them and if you read yesterdays post you will see that some of the ladies at class really loved them as well. *grin*

Now here is basically the same layout and stamp set with just a few minor changes.  I used the silver waffle paper for my silver layer.  You can either scrunch that waffle paper up or flatten it out.  So many uses for that paper.  All supplies are Stampin'Up! and you can purchase any of them through me.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed Sunday!
Renee

Album Class

Well my Tri Fold Shutter Album classes were sure a lot of fun.  I had 6 ladies Friday night and 4 ladies on Saturday morning.  Here are the Friday night girls all displaying their books so proudly..

A couple of them got a little carried away with the paper piercing tool though.

I wonder what their husbands thought?  LOL!  I forgot to get pictures of the gals today.  Sorry about that girls.

All in all I think everyone had a pretty good time and I really enjoyed teaching this class.  Thanks ladies!

Blessings,

Renee

A Total Dasher Case

Well almost total.  I used Baja Breeze and I think Sharon used Marina Mist.  Yes this was a case from fellow demo Sharon Rogers.  I'm not sure if I mentioned that the other night at the workshop since there is always a lot of conversation going on with my ladies.  Thanks Sharon for the inspiration.  I just love this card.  Maybe I'll have to frame one for a Christmas decoration. 

Well I better scoot.  I'm having a Tri Shutter Album class here tonight and tomorrow and I need to get the cookies made or my ladies may get a little rowdy if they aren't made when they arrive.  LOL!

Blessings,
Renee

Glittery Snowflake Tutorial

I've had a request for how I made the glittery snowflakes I used on the little frames I had made for my hostesses and that is what I'm going to share with you today along with a card I made using them as well.
I'm not real good at this stuff, but here goes.

This is my Marina Mist Cardstock and the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets.  They are 12 x 12 and you get 12 of them in a package for $14.95. (120805)  This is just a scrap piece I'm showing above.

Now I've taken the strip I cut and attached it to the sticky side of the sheet.  Those two pieces with the wording are what you peal off so you can adhere it.

Now this is the sandwich I made with my strip from above. From the bottom up---
1. White Decorative Strip Spacer Platform
2. Decorative Strip Cutting Pad
3. Northern Frost Decorative Strip
4. Cardstock with the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet attached and laid cardstock side down
5. Decorative Strip Cutting Pad
6. A Shim made from the cardboard that comes in the DSP

Now here is the strip with a couple of the snowflakes peeled off.

Here they are with all the little pieces pushed out of them.  I use my paper piercing tool to push those little buggers out.  It can be a little time consuming if you are doing a lot at one time, but in the end they are so worth it..

Then I put them in my Powder Pal tray.(102197 $19.95 for 2) and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on them (102023 $4.50)

Here they are all covered with their glitter finery.  The great thing is when the glitter is attached it doesn't rub off and really stays put.

Aren't they purrrty?  I would love to show you the finished card, but I guess that will have to wait until later.  Blogger is giving me fits.  It's taken me an hour and a half to get this far and I can't upload the last finished card picture.  Very frustrating to say the least!  Come back later today or tomorrow and I'll do my best to upload it.  Hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and as always you can order any of these products from me, either from me direct or from my Stampin'Up! store.

Blessings,
Renee


Ok I was finally able to get back on here and upload the final picture of the card I made.

Enjoy!

Best laid plans of mice and men

Well I had every intention of posting every day this month and I had told you so, but life has gotten in the way.  That's all I can say and I hope you will forgive my failure to do so.  I know there are some of you that look forward to my postings and I'm sorry to have disappointed you.

I have a workshop tonight for a very good friend and long time hostess and she's expecting around 13 people so I'm sure it will be a fun and busy night.  Here is the hostess gift I'm giving her.

Hopefully she doesn't see it before tonight.  She's working so I'm sure she's not on line. *wink*  This is similar to the one I did for my friend Vicki last week in that it's the same frame, but completely different stamps and ribbon.  I hope she likes it.  Well I'm all packed and almost ready to go.  Need to go get showered and dressed.  Have an enjoyable evening and I know I'll be seeing some of you tonight.

Blessings,

Renee

Oh, come let us adore Him

This is the make and take from my friend Vicki's party last night.  I loved the simplicity of it, but yet to me it seems elegant.  I had viewed on someones blog I believe the idea of using the white on white so I embossed a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of white cardstock and then layered onto a 4 1/4" x  5 1/2" white folded card.  The blue is Marina Mist.  I also showed them how to punch 2  blue Modern labels out of the center of the blue piece and then layer the stamped piece over it.  You don't see it and one is none the wiser.  I then used the Modern Label punched pieces to layer behind the white stamped Modern label.

Blessings,

Renee

I'm Trying.........

I'm trying so hard to post something every day this month.  If you remember I did this back in April and I think a lot of people enjoyed it so I thought I'd make a real effort to do so again instead of just a couple times a week.  Besides I really want to be an inspiration and encouragement to you all out there who stop by my blog often.

I'm headed in just a few minutes to a workshop for one of my BFF's and I want to share with you her hostess gift.

You wouldn't believe how fast I put this together so I'm not even going to tell you, but I had fun doing it.  I used the new Sizzix adhesive sheets from the Holiday Mini to make my snowflakes glittery.  They were cut out using the new snowflake strip die.  Colors are Marina Mist with a little Bashful Blue.  Cute huh?

Well I better get going.  Looking forward to seeing a lot of my groupies tonight. *Ü*
Blessings,
Renee

Happy Anniversary to Us

Well today we celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary and believe it or not that's us.  When I see anniversary pictures posted in our local paper and they show the couple on their wedding day and then on the anniversary they are celebrating, such as 25, 35, 40 or even 50 years I get a little sad.  You look at the young couple and you can usually see in their eyes all the hopes and dreams they had on that day way back then and then you see the current picture and it makes me wonder have they lived those hopes and dreams?  I'm sure some have lived them and many more and I'm sure some have lived hurts and heartaches along the way as well.  Some more than others, but as the song says, "I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance."  Our wedding invitations said, “This day I will marry my friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, love.”  So regardless of whether we've had good days or bad days, happy days, sad days, joyous days or just ok days, I'm glad I can still say that those words are still true.  I have the best hubby a girl could ask for and I love him with all my heart.  Here's to another 24 years together!  Oh and BTW to our two beautiful daughters a 25th wedding anniversary party next year would be great.  I'd even stamp the invites for ya.  LOL!!!

Hopefully I'll be back with a stamping project for you tomorrow.

Blessings,

Renee

Santa Hat Box

Isn't this just too cute?  I found this idea on the web somewhere and I'm sorry I don't remember where.  If it's yours please let me know so I can give you credit.  This is the old triangle boxes that we've all probably made many times.  I know there for awhle I did them as make and takes at parties.  Well this one has a new little spin to it.  It's embossed with the Perfect Petals embossing folder and then I rubbed some shimmer paint on it using a sponge dauber.  (I love sponge daubers)  For the trim I used the new Big Shot Tasteful Trim die available in the Holiday Mini.  Added the Decorative Label Punch and the matching stamp set which is part of the New Holiday Bundles.  I added chunky white glitter to the hat bim.  Tied the top of the box off with some organza statin ribbon.  You could put all sorts of little gifts in this box or they would look cute hanging on your Christmas tree.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Blessings,

Renee

Remember When

Remember when?  This time of the year I get very nastalgic about the day we said I DO.  This weekend Frank and I have gone away to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary.  When the girls were small be really made it a priority to go away each year for our anniversary and over the last few years we've made it less of a priority.  Why?  Not really sure, I guess we just get caught up in all the things that need to be done and really we should be able to stay home and relax because the girls are definitely at the age where they aren't any work and in fact are seldom even home between their work schedules and college..  The only problem with that is when you are at home you see all the things that need to or should be done and our fur babies are still there demanding attention.  KWIM?  So it is nice to get away, relax and reconnect without the daily demands of life,  The place we choose is beautiful and so relaxing.  Had always wanted to come here, but just never felt justified in doing so.  A little pricier than most, but so worth the extras.  I'm loving it  Here is a link to their website SpringBrook Inn.  So peaceful and they are so friendly.  A nice B&B, but without the feel that you are staying in someone's spare bedroom.  They have a restaurant downstairs and a hot breakfast is served to your room in the morning.  A quick knock on the door let us know that the tray had arrived this morning.  Now a girl could get use to this. *grin*  Frank is out taking a walk and I'm just relaxing in my jammies, but will be getting ready shortly so we can go to Arnie's.  A most awesome craft store.  Time with my honey, a relaxing B& B and a craft store,  What more could a girl want??

So that's it.  Thanks for allowing me a little stroll down memory lane and hope you enjoyed my card.  Want to know how I made the mittens?  Come back next week and I'll show you how.  The paper used is again the Love Letters.  I'm telling you, you need this paper.

Blessings and have a great Saturday,

Renee

Gift Card Holder

Well it's Friday and Frank and I are headed away for the weekend for our 24th anniversary.  Something I realized this morning is that I've been married almost half my life.  Wow, that just seemed like an eye opener.  How did I possibly get that old?  LOL!



Well onto what I want to share with you today.  This is a little gift card holder.  Very simple, quick and easy to make.  I'll give you a few quick measurements.  The red piece is 10" x  3" and is scored at 1 1/2" and 6".  On the inside that is a piece measuring 1" x 4" and just glued on around the edges so your pocket is open to hold a gift card.  I made the bellyband out of a piece 1 3/8" x 6 3/4" Pawsitively Prints DSP.  Punched out some 5 petal flower punches to cooridnate with the paper and added a glitter brad (glitter brads are HERE)  I was hesitant about these brads because I thought they might look cheap, but ordered them anyway.  I'm so glad I did.  Stampin'Up! always steps their products up a notch.  They really add that little bit of sparkle.  I had used them in the mini album I posted yesterday as well.  That's it!  Give one a try.  As always all supplies are Stampin'Up! and can be purchased from my online store 24/7.

Blessings,

Renee

A Re-purposed Item

Well if you've visted my blog very much, you know one of my favorite things to do is re-purpose or make-over unusual items.  When I saw this video the other day, I just knew I had to make one.  After all I've been saving toilet paper tubes again.  Lost all my make-over items in our house fire so I figured I'd start again, but maybe a little more conservative this time since I don't want it to get out of hand.  If I learned anything from all that, it's not to save too much stuff and I think I'm doing a pretty good job.  And if you save it, then you need to use it.  So that's what I did.

Edited to add:  This is not my video.  It is Dee Slater's.   As I stated above, I watched her video and then I wanted to try one.  You can find her website HERE.  Sorry for any misunderstanding.





Now here pictures of the one I created.  I hope you enjoy them.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  My only problem now is to figure out if I want to put pictures in the pull outs or maybe favorite Christmas recipes.  What do you think?

Blessings,

Renee

A Little Coffee Filter Anyone?

Or should I say pumpkin?  You see this pumpkin is made from a coffee filter.  Now how cool is that?  This was a WOW presentation idea at a SU regional event. I found the tutorial on how to make this HERE. 

Now do I want to tackle these for table decorations for our church's harvest dinner?  I'll have to think about that one, but I'm thinking they would be really cute.

Blessings,

Renee

Sew Glad We're Friends

This is the special month of thankfulness, not that we aren't thankful other times, but it really brings it home with it being the month of Thanksgiving.  One thing I'm thankful for today are my friends.  I have some pretty special ones, if I do say so myself.  Friends that are always there even if it's just on the other end of the phone.  Friends that I'm happy to say "sew glad we're friends"  I'm so loving the vintage stuff (as if you can't tell) and love this old fashioned sewing machine from Puns from the Past.  See the tiny half backed adhesive back pearls on each side?  Just what was needed to set this card off.

Here's another view of the last three cards I've posted.  I'll try and see if I can post something tomorrow and not use Cherry Cobbler, but there is no guarantee. *wink*

Blessings,
Renee

Always Artichoke Christmas Greeting

I am so glad that I purchased the Bells & Boughs set even though I got it before the Holiday Bundle special, but you can get it now for 20% off and it includes the Deck the Halls DSP.  This is a great traditional set that I'm sure won't go out of style.  Had to throw in a little Cherry Cobbler to finish it off.  Very easy card and would be very easy to mass produce.  You can purchase all the items to make this directly from me or visit my 24/7 Stampin' Store to order anytime.

I had to share a couple of Halloween photos of my baby.  No Brooke didn't go trick or treating, she's a little old for that, but she likes to dress up for work on Halloween and besides that she is pretty cute.  *wink*

Inside she's saying, "oh mom, please, I have to get to work", but she cooperated fairly well to please her picture crazy mom.

Blessings and have a great Monday!
Renee