Happy New Year!

Ok, let's try this again! Maybe this year I can dedicate more time to blogging consistently than I have in the past - but I'm going to feel good about once a week and not aim for the daily blog. I gotta have a life in order to have something to post, right?

I hope you all had a healthy holiday season and spent many relaxing hours in the company of your loved ones! Our family enjoyed a "staycation" as my husband calls it, and slept in every day! We only did what we felt like doing. I even allowed my children to gorge themselves on the new PS3 without time restrictions - unheard of in our house!


The only stress in my life over the holidays was the church Christmas pageant. Unfortunately it fell to me to plan and execute this year and I had many ulcers over it. But it amazes me how things all come together in the end - the kids were fabulous! And I have to thank my friends that stepped in and helped with rehearsals (they overlapped with Bell choir rehearsals which I'm in) and costume coordination. So, ultimately it ended up being a team effort and I worried for nothing.

It did give me a reason to stamp, though and that is always a good thing! I thought these cute stockings weren't cute enough on their own, so I made a box with some paper I had left over from last year and filled them with candy as a gift to the kids. They turned out really cute - and of course I used my Big Shot to make them really quick and easy! They also had a book mark with the legend of the candy cane on it.


















I also made these darling gift card holders for my nieces and nephews. When you live such a distance from each other it's difficult to send gifts that they will really like, so I've opted to send shopping opportunities instead. That way they can pick out what they want! But it doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve special packaging - even the stores know that! Have you seen these gift cards - some have motion, or 3-D effects- they are amazing
So I like to dress up the packaging by putting them in these unique holders.






















My favorite cards this year were the ones that I made for my Christmas card class at my church. I had a bunch of new stampers, so I tried to showcase several techniques, without overwhelming them.


The "Holly Jolly" card uses a simple fold technique that is one of my favorites for any occasion. You simply fold the half of the front of the card back on itself and decorate it. It allows you to have a layered look without using as much paper. The center card uses the Ornament punch by Stampin UP! - a must have! I punched the ornament several times, folded it in half and adhered them together to create a 3-D ornament that folds flat for your envelope and then pops up when opened. Very easy, but a nice touch. The ornament card on the right was done by punching a large circle out and using it to mask the paper before stamping the images, then decorating it to look like an ornament. Again, these techniques are easy - but if you would like a class to learn them, or to re-learn them, or just to have fun, then give me a call!

I'm working on my Valentine class right now. Planning to have it on Jan. 30 from 1-3pm. If you're free and you'd like to attend, please call me to register. I will be posting samples of the class when I return from my trip (did I mention I got a trip to CA for Christmas and going out to see my sister?). With all the new products that Stampin UP! just released, it should be a really fun class and there will be lots of things for me to demonstrate as well! Please take a moment to look at the mini catalog by clicking on the brochure link on the side panel.

Welcome to 2010! A new decade of stamping!

Susan