Yummy Chocolate Turtles

Completed Mini Pizza Box Mini Pizza Box Group

Inside the Box!

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I am in several swaps on SCS, this particular one is for chocolate lovers! We are to make cute chocolate give aways, and I have have signed up for 4 spots, meaning I have to mail out to 20 other chocolate lovers, but a few are in the same sign on spots as me, so can be shipped together. Anyhow, this is the one I have finsihed for my first group. My intention was, once I got the bright idea, to put a large "Pecan Turtle" in each mini pizza box....great idea, but, I couldn't find the big Turtles anywhere! So I had to settle for the Fannie Mae Pixies (same kind of thing, just a different name). I made the mini pizza box and stamped it to look like DS paper, then decorated the top using my new Cricut cartridge called "A Walk In The Garden"....do you think they will like them????? Shhhhhhhhhhhh...don't tell!

I will have my other Chocolate "swap" items on future posts...............they are great....hint..woof..woof!!

Butterfly Shadow Frame

Click on the photo to see all the butterfly detail and verse!

I made this butterfly shadow frame for my Mom for Christmas, she is 81 and sooooooooo hard to buy for, usually just get her stamps, grocery gift cards, that sort of thing, so this was a "fun" present. Her house colors are mostly pink, blue and yellow, it really does look so much more detailed "in person"!

Full Size Coffee Swap Cards

I joined several swaps on SCS. This is the one I did for the coffee card swap for full size cards, I also have to finish my other 3 x 3 cards today for the second coffee~tea swap! These were made with my new Flourishes Stamp set...this is my one and only Flourishes set I have, and I have to say, they stamped beautifully and I will be purchsing more from them! I used all SU paper and MS ribbon I purchased last year for Valentines Day! We lost our power yesterday for about 6 hours, so I stamped trying to keep occupied! I paper pieced the mugs, cutting the mug handles was tricky, but I like how they turned out!

Christmas Peace To All

Just wanted to wish ALL a Very Merry and Peaceful Christmas and thank ALL that have visited my blog in the past year! I can hardly wait for the "NEW YEAR" to start with all my new creations and put Christmas to "rest" for this year.

Today my hubby and I are spending the day alone..I have a smoked ham and cheesie potato's in the oven, and green beans with bacon...yum! No dessert for us, we have had too many baked goodies and my jeans are feeling "tighter"...so we are laying off the good stuff :( !

I had some nice surprises from "Santa" this morning...my "Carl" cutter, 4 of the new MS punches I have been wanting, an Ott light and a Cricut cartridge "A Walk In The Garden", which is a perfect one for me, as I am inthe process of scrapbooking my garden. I had other things as well, but that is the "crafty stuff" I received....oh Nellie got me a Golden Doodle calendar....I LOVE it! Well, off to load that new cartridge while dinner is cooking.........tomorrow is a whole new day, you will find me at Walmart at 6:am.....looking for the MS Christmas punches and glitter on sale (I hope)!!!

Merry Christmas From The Cabin

Our very snowy pines.

Kitty Witty in the snow!

Everyone wants to see pictures of the cabin, so here ya go! It is much bigger then the photo seems to show. The family~living room, kitchen and master BR are quite large! Kitty Witty was with me as I was taking pictures, so I had to add her, too!

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Greg...This One Is For YOU!!

I knew you would appreciate seeing this....hahahaha!!!!!

Girls Just Want To Have Fun...Wait...So Do Boys!

Ally and Mariah in their new LONG coats! More fun!

Brenton and Dylan being "silly"!

We bought Ally and Mariah new coats for Christmas...they are participating in some "pagent" visits during the winter, so I had the bright idea to buy them longer, dress coats to wear over their dresses...they had great laughs at the "longer" coats! Also, I don't know how they did it, but the girls talked Mariah's brother Dylan and their cousin Brenton into putting the coats on for my "photo shoot"!!! We all had some good laughs!

Christmas Doll Clothes

The handmade doll clothes

The little suitcases for the clothes.

Stella opening her presents.

Kendall opening her doll (that's Nyla in the background!)

I haven't had any time to make my paper crafts, but have been busy shopping, wrapping, baking and sewing for our family Christmas we had yesterday! I did not get all my gifts made and it upsets me that I did not allow enough time! I spent all day Friday, from 6:30 am until 4:15 pm, just wrapping. We only did gifts for the grandkids this year, 13 of the little "buggers". I did manage to make some doll clothes for the 2 almost 3 year olds, Stella and Kendall. I made them very simple so they could easily get them on and off. I found the cutest little "suitcases" at Hobbylobby for them to put the clothes in. These are the kind of presents I LOVE to give...homemade from the heart! I will be sharing several of my kiddo's photos until I get more paper items done! I am working on some Valentine projects now and a few "swap" pieces!

Blizzard In Michigan....Over a Foot of Snow

This is outside our back door, going up the steps to the garage.

This is the top of our patio table outside our bedroom window!

We had our family Christmas yesterday during a Michigan blizzard. It is still snowing now, though much lighter. I haven't ventured outside yet, but took these photos from inside the house! We had high winds, lots of white outs with the blowing snow. On our freeway I94 there was a 100 car pile up due to the blowing snow and slippery roads, the Indiana Toll Road had a fatal accident............so sad for the familys involved....I am glad my family made it home safe!

The bad news is, we are to get several more inches more tomorrow night and then ice on Christmas Eve....it was 3 degrees yesterday with 30 below with the wind chill...they are predicting 50 for the next weekend...crazy!

Go To All These Great Places To Enter For Blog Candy

Such a pretty blog here http://jillsscrappydaze.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-40th-birthday-blog-candy.html and she has yummy "candy"!

Also here is another beautiful blog...some great creations here http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/ and more yummy candy!

Also here, and be sure to look at her wonderful creations...very nice http://charmedcrafts.blogspot.com/

Paper Star Ornament

Finished ornament

Ornament when folded...not finished yet!

I saw this cute star ornament on http://www.soshelli.com/ blog and knew I had to try one! I actually made a couple of them, but will share this one for now...I really haven't finished it totally, but was so excited by it, I just had to post it! I took it to my sister's and in minutes we made one there, too. My brother-inlaw wanted to know "Is this all you ever do?"...I only had to give a second's thought before before my reply was "Pretty much!"!!!

A Sad Time In Our Stamping World

One of our fellow stampers "Joanne" has passed away of a massive heart attack. She will be missed and my heart goes out to her family and friends. Please visit her blog and leave a message for her family http://stamps4sanity.blogspot.com/ :(

Sunday Night Line Up!

This is how our nights usually look at the cabin...taken over by the animals! I call it the "Sunday Night Line Up"! Cloe and Tess are in the front, Bubba is in the back. We have 6 cats, 3 in, 3 out. All of our cats are "products" of "drop-offs". We could probably travel Europe on the money we have spent on spayings, shots, food and litter! But I think the word is out, free food and shelter at the "H's"! Bubba has been here 12 years, she was born here, yep, you guessed it, from a "drop off"! The other 2 are from a litter of 6,born in the upstairs of our barn in an old wood barrel, I placed all in homes but these 2, they are now permanent residents.

We now have a "new" drop off. We tried to shoo it away, but it was 7 degree's out and the poor thing was frozen and hungry, so it is now residing in the garage with the other cat......ahhhh .....life at the cabin!

Secret Elf Swap

I did a Secret Elf Swap on SCS and thought I would share what I sent to "Mona" in California....she was very pleased. It was my first swap of this nature and I think I might of gone a little overboard! We were to spend $20, I think before shipping I spent about $25...but it was so fun gathering it up. I purchased some gorgeous DS paper, ribbons, brads, chipboard book, Dew Drop ink, Stickles, rub on's, stamp sets, and more! Then I altered a tin and filled it with chocolate, altered a notepad, and gathered some of my own brads, prima's, cut lots of die's from my Quickutz, cutllebug and Big Shot! I also stamped lots of images, sent more chipboard pieces and lots more! I also sent her one of my little baskets and blooms baskets I made.....it was a stuffed full box! I am doing a "naked Mail" swap, it ships out tomorrow, but I think for private reasons of my own this is the last swap of this nature I will do. Click on the photo's for a better view...I am planning on doing some blog candy at some point, maybe after Xmas or my blog anniversary at the end of Feb....I just have to "recoup" from doing these...LOL!!!

Black and White Floral

This card reminds of the old joke, "What's black and white and red (read)all over?" A newspaper! Don't mind me, its just my wierd way of thinking sometimes...LOL!

Anyhow I did a challenge from http://michellerodgers.blogspot.com/2008/12/nativity-sddc3.html to use gray, black and white with a splash of color. It's hard to see but I used a tiny bit of red glitter on the roses....I stamped this image about a year ago when I was playing with this stamp and various colors. The stamp is a SU background stamp called "Floral". This has to be one of my most favorite stamps and they are retiring it in Januuary. If you would like to purchase this stamp, please contact me, and I would be glad to order it for you!

You can see all the other cards for this challenge on Split Coast Stampers in the gallery under SDDC3...take a look, there are some nice ones!!!

Chocolates Box~Baglet~ 3rd Posting Today!!!!

I made this little what I am calling a "box~baglet, (I am calling it this, as the bottom is like a box, the top like a bag) using a template from a little gift I received some bath salts in....I cut a few pieces off and kind of did my own thing! I covered some Hershey nuggets with DS paper (SU, of course), added some little peppermint kisses to fill it out. This is for a swap I am doing next week! The window at the bottom is using the SU Curly Label Punch, I added acetate behind it. A hint for acetate.....you know those items you get in that annoying plastic, that is so hard to open, that they now sell special slicers to to open them??? Well, I save all the flat pieces (I trim them flat)and they are perfect for small projects like these, plus you can cut them with your Big Shot!!!! Be sure to scroll om down and look at my other two new posts for today!

Make and Take Tag Night!

Last night I hosted a make and take tag night. I charged $5 to use my supplies and make all the tags you wanted while you were here...if you brought a munchie to pass, then it was only $4. We had lots of fun and I have girls that want to come back and make more tags next week (thats you, Lori and Heather)! I made a couple of Pamperd Chef Chicken wreaths, brownies with chocolate chunks, a cheese dip, a Ham and Mushroom Quiche.....we also had another yummy dip, crackers and some "to die for" fudge that was donated...thanks girls! We had a great group, but dumb me, I forgot I was going to take photo's of it for my blog!!! I did get a few photo's this morning of my own tags I mangaged to make.

Michigan Weather~Beautiful Monday Morning!

I am late and behind in posting, but it has been a super busy week here at the cabin! Last weekend we had about 8" of additional snow. We went to a Christmas parade in a nearby town on Friday night and it was about 7 degrees out...brrrrrrrrr!!! It snowed all weekend, good for shopping...bad for driving! On Monday morning, this is what we awoke to, a beautiful sunrise!

There's A Party!

Want a chance for some fantastic blog candy??? Go to Rainy Day Creations http://rainy.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/12/07/blog-candy-and-a-gift-card-holder-challenge-stamp-simply-celebrates-day-7/ and join in the fun.....! Tell her Nellies Nest sent you!!!

MORE Blog Candy

Go HERE for some more great blog candy!!! Isn't it jsut great how everyone is sharing.

Sketch Challenge For Blog Candy!

If you go to Cat's Creation's and read her instructions, you can sign up for some fantastic blog candy. She is offering a great stamp set! I made this card for the sketch challenge. Now I have been in the "Stickles" mood these last few days, maybe its because I have it on my Christmas List and have high hopes of getting more! I did get rather carried away with the black stickles on my letters, though, a little too much presssure...some days are better "Stickles" days then others. My little Christmas ornaments are not showing the top silver piece very well, I tried numerous pictures and they just kept reflecting the red! This entire card was almost all made from scraps...I LOVE it when that happens...so what do you think??? The snow picture is of a tree outside my kitchen slider, its still snowing...we are suspose to go to a Christmas Parade tonight, but the high today is only 21 degrees! I think we might have to pass on the parade!

Go here for some GREAT Blog Candy

Visit here and sign up for some blog candy...be sure and visit her other posts while there and good luck!

Stickles Cards

Front of card with a belly band.

Inside of first layer of card. The background colors are a paint sample strip.

Last layer of inside of card. With a few "alterations", this card would make an easy money gift card!

I went a little crazy using my Stickles...but, oh I LOVE that stuff! First card is one I made using a Firecracker Stamp set I won on Vicki's blog. The set is called Gifts of Love.....this is one I had wanted and feel so honored I won it! I tried to make the coat look like a vintage wool, using my chalks and blender pen. The Stickles, well, you can see I got carried away with that!

Second card I had admired the technique on another blog, I also got rather carried away with my Stickles, as Rudolph (SU Moose You set) has a BIG red Stickles nose! I also used the Stickles on my trees (SU Mr. Twigster set). I am in the process of making another card with this technique, which I will post once I am done.

Another Granddaughter "Stolen" Photo

Sorry, I couldn't help myself, but I "stole" another photo from my daughters blog http://www.loridianephotography.blogspot.com/ ! This is Kendall in her "Christmas" Finery! It is really a bright red, and I am hoping "Lori" will post a few of those on her blog, too. I was at her home yesterday and she showed me lots more of the photo's she took, and they were outstanding! I just wish I could of stayed longer and got to see them all, but Christmas shopping got in the way! Hop on over to Lori's blog and check out her other "Kendall" photos'''.....darling! Also she has a new web site for her photography that is really nice, you might want to "visit" there, too!

Inkadinkadoo Reindeer

These are the reindeer cards I made for a swap I sent to "Lana" in Canada. I love the Inkadinkadoo stamp sets that are made like this reindeer...I have several of the sets and hope to "own" more of them! I am signed up for several more swaps and will post some of them as I get them done...after they have been recieved, as I like mine to be a surprise!

I used the SU Heat & Stick powder with MS fine glitter, the Heat & Stick really works great to hold the glitter in place.....the poinsetta flower is from the SU set Spotlight On Christmas...I have been using this set over and over again. I love it as it uses so many of the SU punches with it, and they have come out with another set (hostess) in the new catty, I won't "tell", but lets just say it is going to be as great a set as this one!