Wicked Halloween

I've had such a busy weekend full of to-do list and chores. Mom and I went to the farmers' market this morning and ran some errands. It was nice to spend time with her. I was able to steal a little bit of time late last night to put together this Halloween card to share with you.

I want to let everyone know that Stampin' Up! is having a one day Stamps Sale tomorrow, October 29th, 2012. All the stamp sets are 15% off - tomorrow only. You can order them by going to My Store. All the prices of the eligible stamp sets are going to be adjusted tomorrow only to reflect 15% discount. Look at your wish list...this is a great time to place an order.

I used Black Craft ink on the boots and hat and heat tool.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Wicked Cool (Wood 118738 Clear 120600)
Paper: Basic Black, More Mustard, Perfect Plum and Whisper White card stocks
Ink: Basic Black and Perfect Plum Stampin' pads and Black Craft Ink, Stampin' Write markets
Accessories: Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (109130), Spider Web Embossing Folder, Perfect Plum Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Large Oval punch (119855), 1 3/8" Circle (119860) and 1 3/4" Circle (119850) punches, 3/16" Corner punch, Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Glue Dots (103683), Heat tool (129053)

Well, that's all I have for today. Have a safe and fun Halloween 2012. Thank you for stopping by.

Holiday Stocking Stuffers

It's kind of a dreary day, which is making me move a little slower than usual. Even my coffee didn't seem to help me much. I am in a lazy Sunday mood and plan not to get out of my pajamas. I want to share with you a couple of Holiday Stocking Stuffers we made in class a week ago. I have made Halloween versions of these two projects and they turned out just as cute.

Christmas Tree embossed with the Sugar & Spice Scented Embossing Powder

Peppermint Tea and Ghirardelli Peppermint Chocolate Bar

Hershey Nuggets Goodies

Well, since I just declared today to be a Lazy Sunday, I will make it a really short post and go back to the couch to watch my recorded Survivors Philippines. Happy Lazy Sunday, everyone!

Retired BNF Friday #15

It seems like it has been ages since I posted a Retired BNF (But Not Forgotten) Friday entry. My Fridays have been pretty insane as of late, but I managed to put together some Hershey Nuggets Halloween treats to give away and I thought I'd share them with you. They all turned out really cute.

A Batty Boo from Me to You!

I love making projects like these because I am able to use my stash of retired scraps. I just hate throwing those pretty DSP (Designer Series Papers). The stamp set I used is called Tricky Treats from early 2000. They are one of my favorite Halloween stamps and know will never part with. I love how I can color on the images. I was able to play with my Copic markers. I experimented with different shades of yellows, oranges and grays.

It's going to be a hectic weekend. My mom and her dog Bama have completely and finally moved here in town with us. A big hug of gratitude to my younger sister for flying to Alabama in order to drive mom and Bama back to California. That's all for now, have a great weekend, everybody!

Christmas Around the Corner

I had such an amazing Christmas Cards class yesterday. It was a lot of work preparing everything and sometimes even torture to come up with fresh layouts and ideas, but it always pays off. It brings me such joy. I am so thankful that part of my perks as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator includes full access to Stampin' Connection Site. It helps me to be able to draw inspiration from my fellow demonstrators. I am happiest when I am creating and sharing my passion for Stampin' Up! with others. Having just typed all that, I would like to share with you the cards we made in class yesterday. Please note that the products with asterisk (*) next to it means that they are in the Holiday Catalog and very limited, only available until the end of 2012.

You can always order 24/7 via My Online Store. Your order will be directly shipped to you. You cannot pass up the very adorable Make a Mitten and Mitten Builder punch. They are so cute and timeless, just like the Stitched Stockings Stamp Set and Punch from last year's Holiday Catalog.

Make a Mitten Stamp Set and Mitten Builder Punch, GOTTA HAVE THEM!

 Stamp Set(s): Make a Mitten* (Wood 127940 Clear 127943), More Merry Messages (Wood 126400 Clear 126402), Snow Swirled (Wood 111690 Clear 127799)
Paper: Midnight Muse (126843) and Summer Starfruit (126839) card stocks, Be of Good Cheer DSP (126896)
Ink: Midnight Muse (126860), Summer Starfruit (126991), Cherry Cobbler (126966)
Accessories & Tools: Mitten Builder Punch* (127824), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Northern Flurry Embossing Folder (120902), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (126847), Bakers Twine in Cherry Cobbler (123125), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesives (104332)

Stamp Set(s): Snow Much Fun (Wood 122560 Clear 122562)
Paper: Gumball Green (126840) and Cherry Cobbler (119685) card stocks, Be of Good Cheer DSP (126896)
Ink: Basic Black (126980), Stampin' Write markers
Accessories & Tools: Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (126845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesives (104332), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425).

Cased from Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Catalog (Page 14)

Stamp Set(s): Greeting Cards Kids (Wood 119887 Clear 120633), More Merry Messages (Wood 126400 Clear 126402)
Paper: Real Red (102482), Pool Party (122924) and Lucky Limeade (122926) card stocks, Shimmery White Paper (101910)
Ink: Basic Black (126980), Stampin' Write markers
Accessories & Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Northern Flurry Embossing Folder (120902), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesives (104332)

Stamp Set(s): Delightful Decorations (Wood 116517 Clear 127787), More Merry Messages (Wood 126400 Clear 126402)
Paper: Shimmery White Paper (101910), Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP* (126901)
Ink: Basic Black (126980), Stampin' Write markers
Accessories & Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Sponge Daubers (102892), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesives (104332), Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon (retired)

The Ribbons Slides are a must have from the Holiday Catalog.

Stamp Set(s): Beautiful Season (Wood 122680 Clear 122682)
Paper: Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP* (126901), Old Olive card stock (100702), Watercolor paper
Ink: Early Espresso (126974)
Accessories & Tools: Extra Large Oval Punch (119859), Designer Ribbon Slides* (127834), Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Top Note Bigz Die (113463), Seam Binding Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (120992), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesives (104332)


Well, that's it for now. I am sure loving the cool weather, but there's a forecast of warmer days in the week to come. I hope it doesn't get too hot. Thank you for stopping by!

Celebrating Mom

I've had such a hectic few weeks, I apologize that I have been away. We celebrated mom's 60th birthday two weekends ago. It was Christmas last year when we were all reunited as a family and it was a very nice treat to be with everybody again. I took mom to my hair stylist as a birthday gift. My mother is the most generous woman I know, and yet refuses to spend anything on herself. So, I introduced her to my hair colorist, so she knew that they don't come in boxes from the drug store. Hahaha. I watched my mom sitting on the other side of the salon when I suddenly remembered sort of a similar event twenty-six years ago when she brought me to the beauty parlor to get my makeup and hair done for the prom. I remember how it made me feel like a grown-up sitting there with older women, getting pampered. It made me feel good that I can now return the love.

I will always remember my mother as a beautiful (still is), very classy and stylish woman in her much younger years. It made me a little bit sad to realize that she and I seem to have gotten older in a flash. Seems to me like only a few days ago I was this very difficult teenager fighting with her every chance I got. And now I am a mom with a son in college and my very own daughter who fights with me "every chance she gets", and she is a grandmother five times. We are both entering the next stage of our lives...I am heading to my mid years and my mom on to the afternoon of her life.

Since my step dad passed away in July, I have been my mom's bookkeeper and adviser. Our reversal of roles tug at my heart with fear that if time follows the natural order of life, my sisters and I will one day face the painful reality of burying our mother. It breaks my heart to even picture a world without her. To not hear her voice or her laugh...it's agony. Oh well, the best remedy is to celebrate each and every day and cherish our moments together now.

I want to share with you the birthday card I made for my mom. I just love the new In Colors. I am also learning to love the new stamp pads. The new embossing folders are so beautiful.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Bordering Romance (Wood 125480, Clear 125482), Loved Ones (retired)
Paper: Card stocks in Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green and Whisper White.
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' pad (126980), Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' pad (126860), Stampin' Write markers
Accessories: Embossing Folders in Framed Tulips (121809) and Fancy Fan (127751), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Scallop Oval punch (119855), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Blender Pens (102845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Summer Starfruit (126846).

Have a wonderful week, everyone. Fall is definitely in the air...and it brings me joy to wake-up every morning and feel the crisp cool air in my bones.