Warm winter wishes {multiplied by 80}

Today I'm delivering on the largest custom card order I've had so far, and this is the cutie holiday card I made ... times 80! 

I'm pleasantly surprised by how easily the assembly line came together once I figured out the best way to get it set up. One evening I cut out all of the mugs and candy canes (both dies from Papertrey Ink), and then stamped each one. 

While those were drying, I cut and scored the cards. Next, I started the process of gluing everything together. After a few days, I was all done. Whew!

Now I'm working on a large holiday tag order I received from a local boutique. I am loving all of this holiday goodness!

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog today. I really appreciate it!

Small Business Saturday {Nov. 26}

Shop Small. It's going to be HUGE!

When I saw this, I knew I needed to step up and make the pledge. I sure do hope you'll join me!

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now there is Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26^th, a day dedicated to supporting the small businesses that fuel local economies and invigorate our communities.

Show your local pride and help fuel the economy when you support the businesses that mean the most this holiday season. When you pledge to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26 you'll have the chance to win one of 100 $25 American Express^® Shop Small Gift Cards.*

Join the movement: vocalpoint.com/SmallBizSat

*No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, 18 years of age or older as of the last day of the month prior to the date of entry. Void where prohibited. Ends 11:59:59 PM ET on 11/14/11. See Official Rules, which govern, for details.

Sketchy Thursdays {kindergarten}

Happy Thursday! Here is my latest page for Sketchy Thursdays. The sketch I made is up and ready to go for you to play along with us.

This week we are sponsored by the cute-as-a-button Etsy shop,
Bananafishstudio. Make sure to stop by to see all of the details about the sketch and the prize for the week.

I made this page using the Harvest Festival November kit from Scrapbook Circle. Such a fabulous Fall kit. I love the colors and all of the patterns are amazing! Just when I think scrapbook paper couldn't get any better—wham!—it does!

I finally had the chance to scrap the last of the pictures from the first day of Kindergarten. These are from the Parents' Day. It's hard to believe that he is already so self-sufficient when it comes to getting to and from school all by himself. 

He's already so attached to his a.m. bus driver, too. She was on vacation for a few days, and he thought the whole school was closed. (LOL!) When she came back, he was so happy that when he got on the bus he screamed her name with a huge grin on his face. Makes me feel good that he's having such a great experience so far.

Thanks for stopping by to see my layout. I hope you'll have a chance to play along with us at Sketchy Thursdays!

Holiday crafting {on pinterest}

I am making quite a crazy large board for holiday goodness at Pinterest. I began to think about what I will actually be able to make, use, give, etc. Here are some of my favorites that I really want to find time for.

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Before I get to into the Christmas decor, I want to get some jars like this for the table in the kitchen. I think they match my style well and will add a nice look to that space.

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HAVE to make these with Nate. I know he'll love them! They even seemed fairly easy using pieces of toilet paper rolls for the bodies.

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These are adorable! And I have so many wooden spools hanging around from my crafty scrounging at the craft/antique shops. 

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I'm gonna do it! I'm going to make some of my own bows this year. Yep ... let's see how it goes. :)

Hopefully I've inspired you with some holiday goodness. Or possibly (and more likely) sent you into a full panic about how little time we have left to create for the holidays. Follow my Pinterest boards for more inspiration, and I'd love to follow you, too! 

Sponsoring Miracles

My little Etsy shop is sponsoring the Scrapping Everyday Miracles Challenge #10.


CHALLENGE #10: Nothing speaks of God's miracles and blessing more than nature. God created a world full of wonders and they are all around us. In the Bible Jesus says that if the people stop singing God's praises even the rocks will cry out… Luke 19:40 (NIV) "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Your challenge is to find His miracles in the natural world and what they mean to you. It could be through a beautiful landscape or the amazing intricacy of a flower. Open your eyes and camera to the created world around us. You may be surprised at what you find!

Scrap Twist – Re-purpose something to use as part of your layout. It could be a piece of vintage ephemera or an ad from your junk-mail. Or parts of packaging  or other "non-scrapbooking" supplies. Get creative!


Please create a layout or project that deals with nature and uses the scrapping twist of re-purposed stuff. Link your project on their website by November 25th for a chance to win the $10 Gift Certificate to my Etsy Shop or a guest DT spot!  

Here's a digi page I whipped up as a sample. Obviously I'm not playing for the prize, but I wanted to show my support and play along.

The quote in the journal spot says, "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. —Henry David Thoreau" Isn't that just so true?!


I hope if you have some time you'll be able to play along. 


(Digital Sources: Jessica Sprague downloads, Aimee Harrison Design Studios, Sassy Designs, Michelle Underwood for Two Peas in a Bucket)

Snowman tag

Hello! I had a few moments to myself this weekend, so I whipped up this cutie snowman tag to play along with a few challenges.

The tag is for the Scrapfit Workout #55: Tis the Season. They are looking for holiday tags to help us all get into the holiday spirit.

The other challenge is at CropStop's blog, #44 Create a Snowman. So I did—I made a snowman. :) Isn't he adorable?! 

I used some of my Papertrey Ink goodies on this. The snowman die and the stamps. The "To:" and "From:" are from last year's Papertrey Ink holiday fillables stamps that go with the jar die.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my snowman. He's doing a good job of getting me in the holiday spirit. 

Attitude of Gratitude {GDT Challenge}

This month for the GDT Challenge at Sketchy Thursdays, we are celebrating an Attitude of Gratitude run by our very own DT member, Tessa Buys on her blog. 

In addition to using this month's challenge sketch, you are also asked to make a page that reflects what you are grateful for, thankful for ... you get the idea.

Make sure to stop by the Sketchy Thursdays site to see all of the details. You have until Nov. 19th to play along to be considered for the December GDT spot as well as the shop credit from Precocious Paper.

My page reflects how thankful I am for the one-on-one time I get to spend with my son. I know we are bummed that Daddy works such a crazy schedule, but we definitely make the best of the time we have together that is just the two of us.

And this time of year is perfect. We love the festivals and the family-friendly activities that are in our area for the fall season. It really is something I am extremely grateful for.

My page is also digital. Which is great because today is National Digital Scrapbooking Day. If you are a digi scrapper, there should be some great download deals out there today, so go huntin'! I know I will.

I hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays playing along.

Digital sources: Sir Scrap A Lot, Sassy Designs

Sketchy Thursdays {Halloween}

Hi there! I'm here to share another Sketchy Thursdays page with you. My sketch is ready for you to play along with over on the blog. And this week's prize from Paper Issues is fabulous. It's a little bit chilly. And snowy. :) You have to stop by and check it out!

I made this page using mostly my Hallow's Eve kit from Scrapbook Circle. Now that you've taken those Halloween pictures, you know you are gonna want one of these kits for your pages!

That adorable little girl with Nate is the most fabulous Madison, who I know I have mentioned here before. Nate and Madison are becoming quite the couple. I'll go ahead and say she's his first girlfriend since they have gone on so many dates already. :)

These pictures are from when we went trick or treating in the mall on the Saturday before Halloween. We met up with Madison, her mommy, baby Luke and his mommy, and had a fun little afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by to see my page today. And hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays for your chance to win the Paper Issues prize!

Polkadot Door {November challenge}

Welcome to the November hop and challenge for the Polkadot Door! I am happy to be joining Rebecca, Sarah and the rest of the ladies for this month's challenge.

Here is this month's inspirational photo. Perfect for November, right?! Such a great time of year to stop when given the opportunity to and reflect on the past year and all we are grateful for.

Here is what I made for this month's challenge. I was drawn to the word "grateful" and the food aspect in the images, as well as the colors in the tag in the bottom corner. 

I hope I've given  you some ideas for what you could make to play along with us at Polkadot Door. You can hop along to the other ladies, too, and see what they made.

Lindsay

DeeDee

Amanda

Debby 

Lisa

Aki

Nicole

Smitha

Joanne

Diana (you are here!)

Erin

Ujjwal

Nita

This month's challenge is sponsored by:

 Abbey and Ellie is giving away a prize package of their gorgeous items to the bloghop winner. 

 Hydrangehippo is providing a HUGE give-away for the featured designer of $50 to their etsy shop! This Etsy shop has lots of fun scrapbooking embellishments and kits.

Scrap Eco Chic, who will be providing the prize for the Challenge winner which is a $10 Gift Certificate to their Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by to see my blog post today. I hope to see a few of you play along with the Polkadot Door. Have a fabulous rest of the week!