Shelli on the Today Show

Hi my friends!  Sorry I've been a blog slacker, but I've really been enjoying myself preparing for the holidays.  I had made a promise to myself that I was going to do that this year.  Not be so stressed with all the preparing, but to enjoy and really concentrate on the real meaning of the season.  I feel more relaxed this year than I ever have.  So I hope you'll forgive me for my lack of posts lately.

Shelli Gardner, CEO of Stampin'Up! will be appearing on the Today Show this morning at 9:23 am.  Watch it and then post back to this post to let me know you did and I'll have a little treat to give away.  Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. 

It's a blizzard here in the Thumb of Michigan today and most everything is closed.  Even Frank didn't go to work.  He hasn't done that in the 25 years we've been together so you know it's bad.  A good cookie baking day.

Blessings,
Renee

The Joy of Christmas

I had the chance to put this frame together last week, but just hadn't had the time to post.  Like everyone else this time of year I've been busy, but sometimes that Christmas busyness isn't always a good thing.  Sometimes that busyness can even make our JOY go away and that is definitely not a good thing.  I love Christmas and all the planning and such, but then the overwhelming, feeling sad kind of mood starts to creep in.  Is anyone with me on this?  I almost had it at my doorstep until I went to church yesterday and our pastor's sermon was just what I needed.  He said not everyone feels like celebrating Christmas, but if nothing else we should be celebrating the following:

1. God loves you

2. God is with you

3. God is for you

I don't know about you, but that gives me real JOY!!!  If for no other reason we can have JOY this time of the year and all year long because of those truths.  I hope if you are feeling a little down this Christmas season that you can at least find JOY in these reminders.  If you'd like to listen to the podcast from yesterday you can visit the website HERE and click on the latest sermon, Why Celebrate?  I know I don't often share things like this on my stamping blog, but really felt led to share this with you today.

Blessings,

Renee

EDITED TO GIVE CREDIT

I finally come across where I had gotten this idea from and wanted to give proper credit. Even though I did change mine up a bit.  The gals name is  Karen Leveille.  I found it on our demo only board and I don't know if she has a blog or not.  Thanks Karen for the inspiration.

Build a Snowman

Oh my!!! It's been a week since I've posted and I feel ashamed of myself.  I just haven't taken the time to make anything and post.  It's beens so busy and when I do have a spare moment I just want to lay on the couch and veg out a little.  Have you ever been there?  If you have, then you can so relate, I'm sure.  The good part of all this is I'm really ahead of my normal schedule for preparing for Christmas.  Got my tree up yesterday and I think the first of December is the earliest I've ever had that up.  So that is a good thing.  Right?

Anyway, my youngest daughter wants to give her friends in her Wednesday night classes a little treat.  Yes even in college.  Isn't that cool?  Her class only has 10 total so it's not a large class, but I'm excited to think my baby still wants/needs me to do school treats.  Oh the years that I enjoyed that.  Can't say it was always fun on the evening before the last day of school before winter break and I was frantically trying to get things done, but making homemade things and giving to others really makes me feel so good.  I think for me the pleasure comes from giving from the heart.  I love to make and give, rather than make and take. Get it?  Make and Take. (little play on words there) *wink*

So here is what I made this morning.

Won't these be cute filled with some candy treats?  I was inspired by this card HERE and I think she was inspired by someone else as well.  I guess follow the trail if you want to find the originator.  Sometimes people get so caught up in getting their due credit and credit should be given when you know or can remember, but for me it's the whole idea of sharing.  I changed mine up a bit from Rose's card and she changed it up a bit from whoever she got the idea and that's ok.  Why don't you try your hand at this and see what you come up with.  Rose gives the sizes of the punches she used to help you start.

I love snowmen and this one is no exception.  We did get a little dusting of snow here overnight so it is starting to feel like "snowman" weather.

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,

Renee