Sweet Cake

Hello Friends,

I am loving the Occasions Mini and the fabulous products that are available.  With such an amazing Holiday Mini, I was loving all the products from that but now the Christmas season is over, it is time to get serious again :)

My good friend Heather from Ontario Canada made this fabulous creation.  It's always amazing to me how you can just look at what someone else has made and suddenly you want that set that you didn't think you 'wanted' :)

Sweet Cake Stamp Set

Heather said: The big stamp is actually one stamp, but I cut out a cupcake wrapper from the Soft Suede DSP, the top of the cupcake was cut from a stamped image in Calypso Coral, the cherry is a punched circle in Real Red with Crystal Effects all over it. The heart again, was cut from the Calypso Coral stamped image.  (It's hard to see in this photo, but the paper on the bottom is actually "puffy". The hearts are raised (embossed)

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Have a wonderful day!

Pals Blog Hop - Love is in the Air

Hello Friends,

Love is in the air as the Stampin' Pretty Pals share the love with cards and projects for today's Pals Blog Hop!

You've probably hopped over from Dawn Tidd at "My Stampin' Blog." I'm stop number 6 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for love themed paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up at the bottom of the post and you'll be back on track.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I want to share a fun project with you.  Shown above, is a wonderful idea for home decor.  I love the blocks that Stampin' Up! sells.  All you have to do is decorate them to your liking. 

I covered them with Poppy Parade and Very Vanilla Cardstock (2 in each color).  I then used the "Everyday Enchantment" Designer Series Paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog which begins January 24th.  I ran this paper through the Big Shot using the Scallop Square Duo Die.

I have always been a fan of the Serif Alphabet.  The set costs $149.95 - I have used this set over and over and over and over.  Well worth it for all your paper crafting needs. I cut out "LOVE" using Soft Suede Card Stock.

I only stamped ONE image on this project. I used the 'crown' from Artistic Etchings. 

I decorated the first block using the "Beautiful Wings" Embosslit Die. (This is the top of the block)

I hope you enjoyed my project.  I had fun creating it.  I love using the Big Shot along with dies and embosslits etc.  If you enjoy using the pearls - you MUST check out the pearls in the Occasions Mini.  They are much bigger and look great. 

Displayed as home decor already :)

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Check out the rest of the PALS creativity by 'hopping' from blog to blog.

1. Linda Fisher at Linda's Stampin Loft
2. Maggie Mata at MaggieMadeCards
3. Kim Luithle at Kim's Stampin Stuff
4. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
5. Dawn Tidd at My Stampin' Blog
6. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!
7. Susan Lankford at Stampin' Crafty Corner
8. Nina Dee at Deesigns by Nina Dee
9. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
10. Cindy Hall at Pretty Impact
11. Frenchiee Hum at Frenchiee's Spot.
12. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie's Crafty Corner
13. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog
14. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
15. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
16. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
17. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
18. Amanda Cramer at Mrs. C with Style!
19. Sandie Conner at Pretty Provisions
20. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space
21. Sue Bendinsky at My Color Creations
22. Leah O'Brien at Leah's Stampin' Corner
23. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
24. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
25. Emily Steggell at Em's Creations
26. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair!
27. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
28. Jessica Ying at YoYoStamping Studio
29. Leslie Davis at Ellalicious Elements
30. Joan Norris at My Creative Impressions
31. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki's Creative Corner

Have a wonderful day!

Blog Candy

Hello Friends,

Time for some Blog Candy!

Last year during Sale-A-Bration, "Punch Bunch" was our number 1 set.  With every $50 customers spend, they get to choose an item out of the Sale-A-Bration brochure for FREE.  No surprise this was the #1 favorite.  It coordinates with our punches and saves time cutting - and if you frequent my blog often, you will know I do NOT like to cut :)

Post  a comment and I will use randomgenerator to choose the winner.  Winner will be posted this FRIDAY.  If you don't win, I have 5 of these sets which I will be selling for $10. E-mail me at maxstamps@yahoo.com if you are interested in purchasing a set.

Good Luck!

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Have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Colton

Hello Friends,

It has been a while since I have been in my stamp room and when I went in today, I KNEW I had some work to do before I even sat down to create.  Seriously, a chef or a baker wouldn't dream of starting to make something if the kitchen area was a mess would they?  So I spent the entire afternoon clearing counter tops, desk, floor, boxes etc.  It looks like a dream !  I am determined (this time) to keep it this way.

A couple of weeks ago, I was called as a Primary Teacher in the ward (church) I belong to.  I get to teach the 9-10 year olds every week.  Actually they split the class as there are so many of them and I was so happy when I saw who was in my class. I love them all !!! 

Tomorrow is Colton's birthday.  He will be 10 and I wanted to make him a card (like I will all the kids when it is their birthdays) and wanted to make it personal.  He is such a sweet kid - very well mannered and seriously one that could move in with you tomorrow and you would love him like he was your own. 

Colton told me last week his favorite color is black.  I wanted to make something bright so didn't actually use his favorite color.  I get to teach him all year, so maybe he will get a black and white card before the year is out :) 

I chose Pacific Point as my base card and then went with the Big Top Designer Series Paper. The scalloped edge punch gives a great 'shop' effect. I used all the colors that co-ordinated with this paper - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait and Old Olive.  The Embossing Folders are a great idea for giving depth to the card, so I ran a piece of Pacific Point through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots folder. 

I stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from the Curly Cute Stamp Set using Pacific Point Classic Ink and then used the square punch to make a banner.

Pennant Parade was my choice of Stamp Set for the banners and then Sweet Shoppe Alphabet (upper case) to spell "Colton". I used the Petite Pennants Builder Punch - perfect for those, like me who don't enjoy cutting :) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLTON!

 

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Have a wonderful weekend!

The Occasions Mini Catalog is here

Hello Friends,

Now that Christmas and my fabulous family vacation is over, I am ready to get back to what I LOVE doing - creating projects using the best products around :) 

The Occasions Mini launched today!  Do you have your own copy?  If not, please e-mail me at maxstamps@yahoo.com to request yours.  If you own a BIG SHOT, you are going to love the new dies available in this mini catalog.  If you don't, it really is a wonderful investment.

Gift giving isn't just for Christmas.  How about making a special friend some special cookies?  Use our Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps to make adorable cookies. 

Click here to see the Occasions Mini Catalog

Save up to 80% on items in the Clearance Rack.  Final day to order today for this amount off- Click Here

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Have a wonderful day!

The end of a FABULOUS vacation

Hello Friends,

Our fabulous vacation came to an end.   This will be a Christmas we will never forget.  THANK YOU for your patience with me while I have spent time with the people I love the most.  I will be back to my regular posting starting tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures of our final moments together - Click here to read the full story if you haven't already :)

Seeing Mom off at the airport - We were struggling to keep back the tears!

So we pulled faces :)

First night together

Last night together

Exact same spot we surprised Mom - I love them sooooo much!

We saw our good friend "John Joseph" at the airport.  He was waiting for someone and it was perfect timing for him to be there as he is such a great laugh - he helped our emotional spirits :)  John is originally from England and has been a great "Sims" family friend for many years and continues to be a great "Conrad" family friend :) (When Jared had gone through security, I bawled like a baby and told John "This is brutal" and how wonderful it will be when "goodbye" is no longer necessary:)

At the airport for a Red Eye Flight!

My favorite youngest brother !

Jared and Kayleigh

Last picture of Jared as he goes through Security.  I was too emotional for any more pictures and must say I looked like I had done a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson by the time I headed out the airport :)

One day there will be no need for goodbyes and I look forward to that day!  I love my family so very much and thank God every day I was blessed with wonderful parents and siblings and have been blessed with a wonderful husband (who made this reunion possible) and wonderful children.

Have a great day my friends!

January Class - Box and Cards

Hello Friends,

Due to being so sick for the past couple of weeks, I haven't got any Christmas projects to show.  I am really looking forward to the new year and what it has in store.  I have lots of great ideas for classes and here is January's class.

You will make 5 cards (pictured here).  All of them have a Very Vanilla inlay which makes the card look elegant and makes writing in the card much easier.  The cards will be have matching envelopes and you will decorate the box (shown above.) 

If you are planning on coming to card classes throughout the year, this box will be great for storing your cards.

Be sure to RSVP BEFORE Jan 3 as I will need to order the boxes in time for our class. 

When:  Tuesday January 24th / Wednesday January 25th (Please specify which day works best for you!)

Where: My basement

Time: 6:30pm

Cost: $20 (Includes box and decor, 5 cards and envelopes)

Kit in the Mail - All items with directions will be mailed to you. (Please note - kits will not be mailed until after the New Year.)

Option 1 - $20 for pick up

Option 2 - $25 (includes shipping)

***********

Options

Option 1 $20.00 USD Option 2 $25.00 USD

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Have a wonderful day!

A Card from a friend

Hello Friends,

Today I am finally feeling much better.  What a dreadful 2 weeks of battling the flu.  I haven't been sick for the past 10 years so hopefully I can go the next 10 years now!  

I received a card from my friend Martha!  It sure brightened my day.

I look forward to getting back to my regular posting now - at last :)

THANK YOU to all who sent me kind wishes.  They sure were appreciated.

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Have a wonderful day!

Treasured Memories

Hello Friends,

I have not been well for over a week now and to be honest I am 'sick of being sick'.  I lost my voice completely and now I can 'only just speak'.  The kids have loved it - me not so much :) I don't often share personal stuff on my stampin' blog BUT -

I had one of the best experiences of my LIFE just last night.  I had kept a secret for so long and it was good to see it come to fruition. Let me set the scene:

My brother Jared lives in South Africa.  The last time my Mom (and I) saw him was at my Father's funeral back in 2009.  I wanted to give my Mom a Christmas present she would never forget......and believe me she won't :) I had arranged for Jared to come spend Christmas with us.  He arranged everything on his end, I paid for his ticket and then we just waited.....and waited....and waited.

Finally the day came!!!  I had wondered how we would 'surprise' Mom with her gift.  Our good friend Alan, came up with an idea.  I loved it and we went with it.  Believe me, we had a few to choose from - "Jared would come up to our table in a restaurant and ask if we were ready to order" - "I would give my Mom a $10 bill and have her give it to the homeless guy downtown, who would just happen to be Jared"- " Jared would be in the basement and my Mom would go downstairs to 'find him there'.  Here's what happened -

I went to the airport with John my son. We then drove to Temple Square and waited by the 'Christus'.  Lance drove my Mom and Olivia downtown and they came to the same place.  By this time Jared was 'hiding'.  I took my Mom by the hand and asked her to look out the window.  We could see the Salt Lake Temple all lit up and looking just beautiful.  I asked my Mom to close her eyes and make a wish.  She closed her eyes tightly and I could tell she was making a wish.  Jared and I switched places........I then said she could open her eyes.  I KNEW EXACTLY what she would wish for and when she opened her eyes - well I wish you could have been there to see her and hear her!!!  She sobbed and clung on to him for dear life.  It was so special and so surreal.  A memory so precious. 

Here are some pictures -

First spotting!  (Red jacket to the right coming out)

Waiting for luggage (that didn't arrive - a SIMS tradition:) We got it today!

John and Uncle Jared

This is the part where Jared and I 'switched out' - ready for the BIG moment!

Here it is!!! Lance didn't get a picture of my Mom's face but suffice it to say - there were tears and plenty of them !!!!!

This is the part where I said "Merry Christmas Mom" ;)

"Families are Forever"

Visitor's Center

Walking through Temple Square smiling and laughing

Now to surprise Kayleigh who just came home from College today - Jared was hiding in the trunk!  Kayleigh heard something so she got up to check. 

The emotion got to be 'too' much :)

And finally - Natalie got to see Uncle Jared :)

This has been such a memorable experience!!!!  The next 3 weeks are going to pass so quickly, so for now, we are going to enjoy every moment :)

Have a wonderful day!

I'm Sick :(

Hello Friends -

Just a quick note to let you know I am sick :(  I will get back to posting asap.

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Have a wonderful day!