Merry Christmas!!

Good Morning and *+*MERRY CHRISTMAS*+*!! I hope you are all having a wonderful day and you can spend time with your loved ones and I hope Santa is really good to you!! *wink*

Santa left me some really really sweet gifts!! A set of Copic markers and glitter pens!! Woo-hoo!! I will have to tell you more later but I hope you have a really great Christmas Day!!!

Smiles!
Heidi

Secret Santa Card

This is a card I made for my Mom to give with her finally Secret Santa gift. I had a lot of fun with this card! Can you tell? Lots of BLING!! Here is a close up of the tree and presents. For the tree I used the Glorious Garlands stamp set and Green Galore CS with Glorious Green ink. Then I sponged the edges, added the silver trim, rhinestones and stickles. For the star I used a piece of chipboard from the SU On Board Blossoms & Basics, painted it white, added stickles and a rhinestone. For the edges of the card I stamped using versa mark and then embossed with silver EP. Also to give the edges a frosted look I inked them with versa mark & embossed.
When the ribbon is untied the front of the card opens to reveal a Secret Santa poem.

Click image to enlarge. ~Click image to enlarge and you can read the poem. ~

Click image to enlarge. This is the inside of the card. ~

Supplies~
Stamps~SU-Glorious Garland, Autumn Leaves-Flourishes
Paper~SU-Whisper White, Real Red, Green Galore, Glorious Green, The Christmas Stack-DP
Ink~SU-Versa Mark, Real Red, Glorious Green
Other~SU-On Board Blossoms & Basics, Ranger-Stickles, Jo-Ann's-Ribbon, Rhinestones, Trim

I don't know if I will get another chance to post before Christmas everything is so busy right now as I'm sure you all understand. *wink* We still have a little shopping to do, some goodies to make and tons of presents to wrap because you know Santa's elves are crazy like that with leaving the wrapping till the last few days!! LOL!

My hope and wish for you this holiday seasons is that you are able to spends time with family, friends and those you hold dear to your heart. Even though this is a really busy time of year let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas. *+*Peace*+*

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles!
Heidi

Last Christmas Card Club

I can't believe how fast the past few months have went by! I had so much fun doing the Christmas Club this year and I think all of the ladies had a good time as well. Here are the cards from our last get together.I was very happy with how this card turned out. The groovy guava, blush blossom and very vanilla all compliment each other. I added little touches of gold with the ribbon and gold twinkling H2O's.

Click to enlarge~
Supplies~
Paper~SU-Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla
Stamps~SU-Carte Postale, Holy Triptych
Ink~SU-Groovy Guava
Other~SU-Ticket Corner Punch, Sponges, LuminArte-Gold Twinkling H2o's, My Stash-Gold RibbonThis card makes me think of frosted juniper berries. Before my youngest was born I was a manager at a local floral shop and one of my favorite things to do with the winter floral arrangements was to frost or glitter them. They always looks so pretty with all of the sparkles.

Click to enlarge~Supplies~
Paper~SU-Blue Bayou, Bashful Blue, Vellum
Stamps~SU-Oh So Lovely (hostess), Holiday Wishes, Print Pattern
Ink~SU-Blue Bayou, Whisper White (craft ink), Black Stazon
Other~SU-Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aqua Painter, Distress Tool, 1/16 Circle Punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, Silver Brads, Sponges, My Stash-Silver Metallic Pen, RibbonI know this is non-traditional Christmas colors but I love the pink & green combo with all of the sparkle & bling.

Click to enlarge~
Supplies~
Paper~SU-Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Green Galore
Stamps~SU-Glorious Garlands
Ink~SU-Pretty In Pink, Green Galore, Basic Black
Other~SU-Ticket Corner Punch, Scalloped Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Sponges, Dimensionals, Stickles-Lime Green, Silver, Diamond, My Stash-Rhinestones, Pink Ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping by & looking!! I hope you have enjoyed the Christmas cards from club this year and maybe they have given you an idea or some inspiration. Good Luck with your Christmas cards--I'm still trying to finish up mine!

Just a side note~Thank you so much for you kind words and well wishes for our little guy!! He is doing really good but still has to get a lot of rest.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!!
Smiles!
Heidi

I haven't forgotten!! *wink*

Hello!! Did you think I might have forgotten about all of you? I just wanted to do a real quick post to let you know I am still here & hope to be back within the next day or two. Our youngest just had surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids and have tubes put in his years. The surgery went really good --he was such a trooper!! The doctor & nurses said he did such a great job!! Now we are just trying to keep as much fluid going as possible. Lots of popsicles & ice cream!!

To all of my SB3 Sisters thank you so much for stopping by and all of the wonderful comments!! I hope to catch up with you all of you very soon!!!

Thanks for stopping by!! So many winter storms have been passing through--if you live in those areas I hope you are staying safe & warm!! Have a great week--I'll be back as soon as I can!! *wink*

Smiles!
Heidi

Amethyst Wishes

Here is a card I made this past weekend using a tent topper style. I really like the different shapes these cards can have and they still fit inside a standard envelope. For the topper part I used two scalloped ovals that I cut out using the Wizard and Spellbinders Nestabilities-Large Classic Scalloped Ovals. But if you don't own the Wizard or the Nestabilities you could also use large punches, templates, shape cutters or cut out different shapes using your paper cutter.

On the smaller oval I stamped the flower image using black stazon ink, embossed the sentiment using versa mark and gold EP, then I used my watercolor crayons for the watercolor. You might notice some darker flecks in the watercolor, I wanted to give it a little more depth so I had my watercolor paper very wet while I was working on it, flipped it over and blotted on a clean piece of paper several times while working on it. Doing this will give it the fleck marks.

For the background piece I used a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and ran it through the Wizard. Then I lightly rubbed versa mark in over the entire piece and dusted it with perfect pearls.

For an embellishment I added a prima flower, a jewelry finding for some bling and a touch of stickles for the glitter.

Click to enlarge~
Here is a Tip* Instead of spending a ton on some new bling let your Girlfriends, Mom and Grandma know that you would love to recycle their jewelry, hit the thrift stores, estate sales, yard sales or the clearance sales and look for jewelry that you can take apart and use for some fun bling! You will be amazed at all the great finds and all the money you can save!! The little touch of bling on my card came from a necklace that my Mom had. Thanks Mom!! ;)

Supplies~

Paper~SU-Whisper White, Lavender Lace, Almost Amethyst, Watercolor
Stamps~SU-Oh So Lovely (hostess), Hugs & Wishes
Ink~SU-Versa Mark, Black Stazon
Other~SU-Watercolor Crayons (Bright & Bold), Gold EP, Aqua Painter, 1/8 in Circle Punch, Spellbinders-Wizard Die Cutting and Embossing Machine, Large Classic Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, Ranger-Perfect Pearls, Stickles-Diamond, Cuttlebug-Embossing Folder, Prima, My Stash-Metallic Gold Pen, White Sheer Ribbon & Jewelry Finding.

I think winter is here!! It has been so cold and snowing most of the day here. I had to cancel my stamping class tonight do to all of the blowing snow. :( Stay warm and if you are in some nice sunny or tropical place--lucky you--enjoy!! *wink* Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Smiles!
Heidi

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers

I joined a new group a couple of days ago called Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers. I am in Group #3 and I am very excited to meet all of the sisters! I happened to come across the SBS link on Flossie’s Blog and I thought it sounded like a lot of fun. I think this will be a great way to meet some new friends, see some amazing design work, leave comments & encourage each other in our creative journey. Thank you to all of the sisters stopping by!! I can’t wait to check out all of your blogs, see your design work and get to know each of you!!

Here’s a little bit about me~

My name is Heidi and I live in Southern MN with my wonderful and very supportive DH (Eric) and our two boys (Dusty and Evan) and in the summer my step-son (Chase) comes to stay with us. I guess you would say we have a blended family-yours, mine & ours. Eric & I have been together for almost nine years & married almost six years. I have lived most of my life right here in MN and Eric is originally from WV, but lived in FL for almost ten years before moving here.

I have always loved crafts for as far back as I can remember. Over the years, I have been introduced to several different crafts. I am a floral designer, a painter, a stamper, and I have made jewelry. I started painting when I was 12, my Mom asked me if I would like to take a painting class with her. I loved it & have been painting ever since. I am now 36 and I started stamping when I was 17, back in 1988. Man that sounds like another lifetime ago! *gasp* My Mom gave me some stamps and ink pads for Christmas that year. To be honest I thought they were really neat but I wasn’t sure what exactly I was going to do with them. Back then we didn’t have any stamping stores around here. I can remember making some stationary & stamping on envelopes (mail art—who knew!). I still have some of those first pieces and they are kind of fun to look back on at times. There have been so many changes with stamping over the years and I love stamping now more than ever! Before my youngest son was born I was a manager at one of the local floral shops. It has been sometime since I have worked with fresh flowers (other than from the garden) but I still do some silk arrangements every now & then and I still dabble with jewelry making too.

For the past few years I have been a SAHM and teaching stamping classes in my home. I have also taught classes at two LSS and for Community Ed. This January will be my two year anniversary as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Also in November I received one of the most exciting phone calls from Stacey Caron, President of Spellbinders Paper Arts. I was asked to join the Spellbinders 2008 Design Team!! I am so excited and honored to be given this opportunity!! I can’t wait until January when we will all get to meet in Phoenix, Arizona!!

Well I guess that’s me in a nutshell! Most of my time is spent with family, friends, teaching classes & stamping whenever I can! *wink*

Thanks so much to all of the sisters who have already visited my blog and all of your Wonderful comments--WOW!! I hope to check your blogs out very soon & catch up with all of you!!

Smiles!
Heidi

Time Well Spent

Don't you just love getting a Surprise in the mail? I know I sure do!! Recently I received a wonderful gift in the mail, it was a new stamp set from SU!! Gotta love that!! The stamp sets were a Appreciation gift from Shelli Gardner, Co-founder and CEO of SU. All of the SU demonstrators were given the Time Well Spent stamp set, it will be featured in the New Spring & Summer Catty as a Level 3 Hostess Set. Thank You Shelli & SU!!

Here are a couple of cards that I designed with the Time Well Spent stamp set. ~
Click to enlarge~
Click to enlarge~
Supplies~
Paper~SU-Blue Bayou, Whisper White, Vellum, DP-The Luxury Stack
Stamps~SU-Time Well Spent
Ink~SU- Blue Bayou, Versa Mark
Other~Carolace-Ivory Trim, SU-Crystal Effects, Silver EP, My Stash-Lg Deco Silver Brad, Rhinestones

Click to enlarge~Click to enlarge~
Supplies~
Paper~SU-Vellum, Barely Banana, Rose Red, Always Artichoke
Stamps~SU-Time Well Spent
Ink~SU-Versa Mark, Barely Banana, Markers--Rose Red, Regal Rose, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
Other~Spellbinders-Nestabilities Classic Lg Scalloped Oval, Wizard, SU-Gold EP, Gold Brads, Dew Drops-Pointsetta, My Stash-Green Velvet Ribbon, Gold Flower Brad

The NEW catty starts in January!! I can't wait to see all of the new stamp sets!!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are all having a great weekend! We are having our 1st Winter Storm here in the North--brrrr it's COLD!! A great time to stay inside and stamp! *wink*

Smiles!
Heidi