Here's our Christmas card this year. I didn't send out too many so I thought I'd post it here and if you didn't get one personally, please accept this as our greeting to you. The time and energy just got away from me this year. It's been a different year indeed and I'm trying to just accept it as such. I'm the "it has to be perfect" kind of Christmas person and this year.........well let's just say I've let some of that go. Life is too short to worry about everything being perfect. We are thankful for so many things this year. Just to name a few...... to be back into our house, we are thankful that Frank is healthy and won't have to see the doctor for another 3 months yet, thankful that we were all spared in our house fire and most of all we are thankful that the Lord loves us and that He will take care of us no matter what. Maybe not always in the way we would choose, but we know His ways are always best. May we wish you and yours a very Blessed Christmas and may we all keep forefront in our hearts what the season is all about, the celebration of Jesus' birth so that He could give us life everlasting, the greatest gift ever.

Merry Christmas!
Renee and family

Sweet Treats

Just thought I'd share today a few of the things that have kept me so busy lately. Unfortunately it's not stamping, but the income it brings in sure helps this time of year. This was just a small wedding cake and it included a sheet cake as well. I was probably a little partial since this was our wedding colors as well. Thanks for stopping.

Blessings,

Renee

Quick gift card holder

I had to get a Stampin'Up! gift certificate in the mail yesterday morning and I always like to do something cute with them instead of just putting the certificate in an envelope. I made this real quick using Sahara Sand card stock and some of the Holiday Lounge DSP and the border punch I used will be available in the new Occasions Mini Catalog debuting Jan.5. Isn't it just the cutest? I used a small piece of Velcro to keep the holder closed. That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs!

Renee

Busy, busy, busy...............

I love this time of year, but sometimes the business just, well gets to be too much. Sorry I haven't posted in several days again. So much going on as I'm sure you can all relate. I had a workshop last week and the hostess reminded me today that I hadn't posted the pics from her party that I'd promised. Thanks for the reminder Vicki or was it the guilt trip? LOL Anyhow here is Jim, Vicki's uncle. He is officially my first male to attend one of my parties and be a participant. You did a great job Jim.

And here is the whole group and their flip fold albums. They all had a great time or at least they said they did. *wink*

Want to learn to make the flip fold album? I would love to show you how. Call me and we'll set up a date for your party.

Until next time.....................

Renee

Card Class

Do you want to see what you missed by not attending my card class? Well regardless I'm going to show you. LOL These cards were fairly simple to make and my class attendees (only 2, sniff, sniff) enjoyed them.

This first one was made using the hostess set Patterned Pines. This set is located in the Holiday Mini Catalog and is only available as a hostess choice until January 4. To qualify for this set you only need $150 in sales before tax and shipping. The colors used were Ruby Red and Bermuda Bay. The Peace on Earth is from Four the Holidays set in the Holiday Mini as well and sells for only $13.95.

We made this card using the Movers and Shapers Big Shot die. This die cuts and scores your card for you. Yes including the cute little window. And did I mention you can get other shapes to use in this die? It comes with the Curly Label and there are two other sets of 4 you can purchase separately. Oh and the set used was Winter Post. One of my most favorite ever stamp sets.

And last, but not least this card was made using our awesome Big Shot and dies as well. The Top Note and Lattice dies. Oh how I love my Big Shot. The ornament is from the Delightful Decorations stamp set and was stamped in Encore Gold and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing powder. It's hard to tell in the photo, but it's very glitzy. This set along with the DSP that was used are both in the Holiday Mini. Not to mention we used the Ornament punch to punch the ornament out. No hand cutting. How easy is that?

Well I hope you enjoyed these cards today and remember it's not too late to order any of these items. You can order direct from me or through my SU website. When you visit my website don't' forget to view the awesome 12 day sale going on now for select Big Shot dies and SU vinyl. SU has just added 18 exclusive SU colors to our Decor bulk vinyl.

As always please feel free to contact me with any questions on anything you've viewed here.

Have a blessed day!

Renee

Late Post Today

I've had a busy day of cleaning, laundry, fire insurance stuff, etc. and I'm a little late in getting a post up, but I do have a couple of things to share with you. Not really stamping, but still using Stampin'Up! supplies. So for those of you who say you don't stamp or stamp much Stampin'Up! has some great things that don't even involve stamping at all.

Is this picture not the cutest? Every time I look at it I get teary eyed because it's so sweet. These are twins Skylar and Sadie and their mom and dad are friends of ours. They will be 2 in January and they are just the cutest little dollies you ever saw. I just knew this one belonged in a frame and I mounted it on a piece of Soft Suede card stock and then added some chocolate stripped grosgrain ribbon and a chocolate corduroy brad.

This next picture is of my DD Brooke's laptop. As many of you know she is a big turtle fan so why not have a turtle on her laptop. T is for turtle and Toshiba I guess. LOL This is one of SU's awesome Decor Elements. These things are so easy to apply, you would not believe it. You really need to order one and see. What are you waiting for? You can order direct through me or on my Stampin'Up! website

Well I hope you enjoyed these ideas. Maybe I was late in posting because of the turtle? LOL

Blessings,

Renee

Dasher, Dasher

Isn't this just the cutest? I've wanted to do something with this adorable Decor Element the minute I got it, but wasn't quite sure what since it is pretty good size. I had looked for a glass picture frame, but nothing I really liked in that department without spending a fortune so when I saw the idea that fellow demonstrator Janet Wakeland had posted to our faith based demonstrator group, I knew instantly that was it. And besides I had the wreath stand to boot and I had just taken down my fall wreath and really didn't have a Christmas wreath to replace it with (that fire thing again) So this worked out fantabulous, if I do say so myself. I bought a artist canvas at Walmart, painted it with some white acrylic paint and added some dry brush brown colors to make it look aged. Applied the Dasher Decor Element (Level 2 hostess item) and some rhinestone brads in the snowflakes and a red rhinestone brad for the nose. The the glitter on the bottom (sprinkled on while paint was wet) and then outlined with the Monomulti adhesive a few of the swirls and added glitter there as well. I still thought it needed something else and so did Brooke when she looked at it. She said, "mom it needs some word." So taking her artistic thought along with mine I added the NOEL from the Decor Elements Holiday Mix in the Holiday Mini Catalog. Tied Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (did I say that this ribbon is wonderful an so soft?) and the added the Chocolate corduroy buttons to attach the ribbon. Oh and Frank drilled the holes in the top of the canvas for me. I'm just lovin' it. It actually looks like it could have been bought in a high end store. IMO of course. Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Jan for the idea.

Blessings,
Renee