My Paper Crafting Passion

Well, I've been sick with the flu since the last post.  Doctor confirmed it on Friday. I'm really, really sick of being sick and hope tomorrow is another day. Hope all of YOU are well and are staying safe and warm this New Year's eve! See you all next year! :-) skm

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day yesterday.  I know I sure did.  It is such fun to have everyone here together.  Family is what makes my life worth living!  We had brunch here and I tried to make Eggs Benedict for the first time.  Turned out fairly good, but would change a couple things if I were to do it again......which I probably won't because Lee didn't care for the Hollandaise sauce. We ate, then opened gifts.  Colton (who is 4) had waited LONG enough, so we did the dishes etc. later.  Everyone did very well.  I guess they had ALL been very good all year!  ;-) Our daughter, Megan (who is expecting her first baby in March) and her hubby Jay came ALL decked out for the holiday......... Aren't they just cuter than cute!!??!! And here are some photos of what, to me, makes the holidays so special:     FAMILY!!!!     Here is a photo of the money holders that held a few bucks for the kids.  I whipped these up last minute!  They were

I'm finally back to post some additional photos of our tree-making class.  These trees turned out so stinkin' cute!  Everyone put their own little twist on it and it was so fun to see all the different ideas. This first photo is Esther with her creation. This second photo is a shot to show how much fun we have when we host these ladies.  They have all become friends, not just customers. That is Barb in the red, Dencey in the yellow, and yours truly in the blue. Here is a FOREST of trees! Aren't they stunning!!!! I don't have a photo of them, but Rochelle later made a set of 3 trees, tall, medium and tiny, as her gift for our Mile High Stampers Pirate Gift Exchange.  That tiny one was so sweet I will have to make one! That's it for now.  I have to take a few photos of Tami and my cards for our December class here and then I can post some photos of that group. Bye for now! skm

Has it really been this long since I posted?!?!  My apologies!  I get so tied up in the daily doings around here I forget about this.  However, I do have SEVERAL things to post about.  I have some time today because I'm staying home to try to rest up for Stamp -a-Stack south tonight.  I'm fighting a bad cold and have zero energy! First of all I want to post a few photos from the Christmas Tree Class that Rochelle and I held in November.  We had SUCH fun making these trees and they all turned out so beautiful! This is Barb's tree.  We all loved her STAR.  The way she offset the layers made it so special! This actually Mickie's tree with Dencey in the background scolding me because I'd taken too many photos with her in them! That's it for now.  I have to locate my camera that has the rest of the photos on it! Bye bye! skm

for the 24 hour big shot sale!  If you need a Big Shot machine...now is the time to buy it. This whole extravaganza is so fun.  LOVE being able to shop from home for things I want instead of fighting the crowds in the stores!  AND, being a demo I get an additional discount when my order in placed. The sign-up to be a demo is awesome right now.  Along with all the wonderful items included in the starter kit, which is TOTALLY customizable, you also get an entire family of ink pads!  That's right, 10 new-style ink pads in the family of your choice, TOTALLY FREE!  Amazing! Contact me before December 16th if you want to take advantage of that special. Also exciting is the news that MDS downloads can now be included with workshop orders!  That is huge for helping hostesses meet the workshop total needed to get hostess bennies! Well, off to have lunch with my daughter, take a walk around Clement Lake and get groceries for our turkey day feast! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Here is the card that I did for our November South Stamp-a-Stack last week.   and the inside:   Paper - Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse and Whisper White Ink - Midnight Muse and Whisper White Stamps - Snowflake Soiree, Greetings of the Season and Snow Swirled The whole thing was then spritzed with my home-made shimmer mist made with our Champagne Mist shimmer paint and 70% alcohol in a fine mist bottle. The ribbon is Midnight muse and a non-SU white lace that I had in my cupboard. Just finishing up packing up supplies for tomorrow's West Stamp Camp.  Will be posting some of those cards in the coming days. Thanks for stopping by! Bye for now, skm  

Stampin' Up! is having their own version of Black Friday.  It's going to last for several days though. Dates: November 19-28, 2012 Details The Online Extravaganza promotion is our biggest online sale of the year! So, during these 10 days only, you can get incredible discounts-up to 50 percent-on some of your favorite products! In addition, there will be three products 20 percent off for 24-hours only on both the first and last days of Online Extravaganza-our very own doorbusters! Woot!  Those are: Monday, November 19, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT) Page Item Description Retail Price 24-Hour Sale Price 181 125586 Simply Scored Diagonal Plate $11.95 $9.56 186 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95 $79.96 186 113474 Big Shot Doctor's Bag $69.95 $55.96 Wednesday, November 28, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT) Page Item Description Retail Price 24-Hour Sale Price 7 118941 Clear Block

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words! How to send a voice message: Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobil, iTunes® or Google PlayT. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure your ready!). You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message. To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code. Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over. How to Buy Talking

Before I post Tami's cards from our November class I just have to mention that the SAB brochure and the Spring mini were posted for demonstrators only on the SU website yesterday.  Let me just say that I am in SOOOOOO much trouble!  Especially with the Spring Mini.  My gosh, SO many cool new things.  I need to win the lottery!  Now, non demonstrators will not be able to see this until January, but those of us who are demos will get to pre-order items from these publications on December 1, I believe!  Just ANOTHER great reason to sign up between now and December 16th.  Another great reason is that if you do, you get AN ENTIRE family of ink pads along with ALL the other stuff that is included in the starter kit.  This is just an amazing deal for $99.00!!!!!!  Contact me if you want to join my team.  We have SOOOO much fun! Now....on to Tami's cards.  Are they not BEAUTIFUL!!  Since my photo-taking ability is sadly lacking, you really can't see all the wonderful shi

We had a great time in our classes Friday and Saturday.  We celebrated Pam's birthday on Saturday with an absolutely sinfully delicious chocolate cake made by Richard!  mmmmm  Someone should have a birthday every month!!!!! My cards this month were not SU stamps.  I fell in love with a Snowman set at the recent Expo that was here in town and just had to use it. (anyone who knows me well, knows I'm a snowman collector).  I CASE'd a card from the company's website and just changed it up a bit.  Isn't this guy just adorable! All paper and ink are Stampin Up!  Flower Soft was used on the scarf and hat band. This one used some of our silver glimmer paper behind the star cut-outs that were done with an "anywhere" punch. The deer and the houses were also a die.  The snowbanks were glittered with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  It all sparkled so nicely! I'll post Tami's projects hopefully tomorrow! Bye for now, skm

Sorry about the absence, but last week was pretty hectic around here.  I was trying to get some things ready for our bazaar at the church, as well as get ready for a "private party" at Michelle's.  Now that they are done I feel like I can breathe again and am back to getting ready for our usual card class here next weekend. I promised more photos of the gals with their turkeys.  Not everyone participated in the photo op (grin), but here are the ladies that did! First off is my stampin' up! "mom", Connie.   Then Zoe,   Margret   Nancy:     And last, but FAR from least:   Dencey:   We had such fun making the birds.  I had five kits left over and made them up to sell at the bazaar. I sold 3 of the 5 and the other two will go to my kids.  I also made up some Winter Spice Mochaccino Mix in decorated jars (the snowflake decoration came off and was an ornament you could hang on the tree).  I've never done anyt

Stampin' Up! is having a sale on nearly all Stamp Sets!  This is a ONE DAY ONLY event.  Tomorrow, Monday, October 29th!!!!  You can use this link to order from my on-line store.....OR, better yet e-mail me your order and I can place them all together!!!!  Previously discounted bundles, hostess sets, and digital stamp sets are NOT included in the 15% off. I'm excited for this sale!!!!  I will be placing my order by 10:00 PM Mountain Time tomorrow!!! bye for now, skm

We had SO much fun creating the turkeys from the pattern I got at the local craft store.  All of them were beautiful.  We had two classes, Saturday at Rochelle's and Tuesday here at my house. Our Saturday group shot: Aren't they stunning! Here is Janet with her bird: Amy with her bird: Cheri's bird (Cheri declined to have her photo taken) Cheri was the first to add multi-colored "feathers".  It was a look we all liked. It was fun to get everyone's suggestions on how to make the turkey even better! Our Stampin' Up! Bigz Die "Designer Rosette" made cutting and scoring these a breeze! Tomorrow I'll share the Tuesday group. Bye for now, skm Oh wait, I agreed to put MY photo up here since I coerced the others to let me put theirs up. Here is me with my bird:  

Here are Tami's two projects from our October class.   Isn't it pretty!  The inside is just as nice.   Second project:   Again, the inside was nice too! That's all I have for today.  I'm busy putting final touches on the class that Rochelle and I are doing here tomorrow.  We are making the turkey centerpieces.  We had a smaller class at Rochelle's on Saturday and it was so fun seeing the beautiful turkeys the ladies made.  More on that later! Bye for now. skm  

Sorry it's been so long, but it is easy to NOT find the time to come here and update you all on what I'm doing, because what I'm doing is taking all my time!  We had a great October class here at the house.  I will show you the projects in a moment, but first I wanted to show you the little treats we gave to all our attendees. Aren't they cute!  I had purchased a bunch of these tiny little bags when Stampin' Up! had them on the clearance rack.  I wish now that I'd gotten more of them!  They were filled, of course, with yummy treats.  I used a black marker and left-over Easter bling, colored with an orange sharpee, on the tiny wooden clothes pins to add a little sparkle! Here is a fall card we made.  At the class we changed how we stamped the front image because we had trouble with the ink smearing on the glossy paper.  We used Stazon ink instead of the Elegant Eggplant ink like I did on this sample.  I got the layout idea from this card (not signed and

Here is what I woke up to today....I mean, seriously, already?   But, at least it's all sunny now.  Snow won't last long.     I've been working on our class projects for next week.  I can't show them to you yet, but one is Halloween and one is fall.  I'm using the shaving cream technique on the fall one.  Also using the faux metal/fossil technique as well.  I pre-made the shaving cream backgrounds to save having an unholy mess in my kitchen, but I will be demonstrating how I did it so everyone can try it themselves AT HOME if they want to.     Each person will get to try the faux metal technique though.    Hope everyone has a great day today.  I am going to a movie with my daughter.  Love spending time with her!   Ta Ta for now, skm    

The times and dates have been set now for the first "Gift and Gab" class.  Rochelle Hart and I are collaborating on this class as I mentioned in a previous post. Here are the dates and details for the first class.  We will be making the cute turkey centerpiece for the fall season.  We will need to have RSVP's as soon as possible so we can get the materials ordered, cut, etc.  Prepayment is required to hold your spot as space is limited in our homes.  Thanks!!! Who - Rochelle and Sharon What - Turkey Centerpiece - cost is $15.00 When - First class is being held at Rochelle's home on Saturday October 20th - 10:00 AM              Second Opportunity will be at my home in Littleton - Tuesday October 23rd - 10:00 AM Lunch is Pot-Luck Hope to see many of you there! Bye for now, skm

I've spent today completing the halloween offering for the October classes on the 12th and 13th.  Here is a photo of all the kits ready to package up.  Samples are made.  Now, time to figure out what else I'm going to do.  I'm thinking a fall/autumn/Thanksgiving card.  LOVE working with the fall colors and papers! Until next time..... skm 

I've been working on some projects, but nothing I can post just yet.  They are gifts for all the wonderful people who come to the classes as my home.  Just a little "sumptin" for the Halloween Holiday, to show my appreciation for their participation. Also working on a project for a new class option.  Rochelle Hart and I are collaborating on a giftable item class.  We are calling it "Gift and Gab".  Our first class/s will be held in October....dates to be determined.  I got the pattern for this class at a local craft store.  It caught my eye right away!  The cost of the class will be $15.00.  I will update with the dates as soon as we have them!  If the classes are held during the week they will be at my home.  However, if we need to add a weekend date then that class will either be held at Rochelle's home up in Paradise Hills, or at some yet-to-be-determined location.  Leave a comment if you are interested in getting on the class list for these (realising

Saturday was a busy day.  First off we had Colton's first Karate tournament.  Grandpa and I were running late and got there JUST in time to see Colton's performance.  He had a little stage fright, so didn't do as well as he could have, but was cute as could be anyway.  First through third places in each group got a trophy.  Lucky for Colton there were only 3 in his group!       Proud!!   Afterwards I met my friend Mickie at Archiver's for a little Halloween class.  I don't normally take classes there but I thought the project was so cute.  Here is a photo of what we made.  The cards are little 3 x 3 cards.  I can't wait to adapt them to Stampin' Up! products.     I think the owl and the ghost are my favorites!       Sunday was spent working on a little project for my class attendees in October.  Oh, and watching the Broncos get beat! :(   Hope you all had a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.   Bye for now.

I had set up the last two posts to publish while I was gone to my brother-in-laws funeral.  I'm back now and I saw that they were NOT posted, but sitting in draft mode but showing the schedule time.  Sorry, just another glitch due to my lack of knowledge on blogging..... I'm trying to get caught up with e-mails, etc. today.  I also need to get going on designing my cards for next months classes.  I'm looking forward to that because I love the holiday season.  Starting with Halloween on through Christmas.  I have decorated my home for fall, and soon plan to add in the Halloween items.  It's a lot of work to take down and put up the new items (especially Christmas since I have so much), but I love how festive it looks and my family enjoys the changing scene. My BFF, Janet, surprised me with a little "sumptin'" today....just because, she said.  I LOVE THEM!!! Here's a photo of it/them.  The tallest one is about 5" high.   Aren't the

One last photo from Regionals.  I only had my new I-phone to take photos and it really didn't like taking shots from the big screens.  The zoom feature was something I didn't know how to use until a bit later when I texted my daughter for instructions!  My wonderful upline, Connie Ingram, was one of the presenters.  She did SUCH a marvelous job.  I am so impressed by her calmness when on stage!  I would have been so nervous that I wouldn't have been able to TALK.  Those of you who know me, know that that is VERY nervous!!!! Connie actually scared the dibble out of me three days prior to the event.  She called and told me she HAD signed me up to do an on-stage presentation!  I was so shocked and panicked!  I don't remember what I said, but I know I was blabbering....blubbering!!!!  Finally she told me I had a choice and I answered with a resounding NO THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!  She laughed and then told me she was going to call and tell Crystal the same thing!  I'

I wanted to share a few photos from Regionals.  I'm a lousy photographer, so they aren't all great shots.  But, they are shots of great people! Bev  Connie and Crystal  Emmy, Sherry P., oh no!!! name escapes me,Sandy and her sister, Carrie Jolene and Kathy Marta, Lisa, Amy, Gloria, Rosemary         

Here are Tami's cards from our September class.  I LOVE the easel card and the elephant is just stinkin' cute!         I am leaving early in the morning for South Dakota again.  My Brother-In-Law, Jerry Veflin, has lost his courageous battle with cancer.  His suffering is over and now hopefully his family can begin to heal.  I will only be gone 3 days and our son, Travis, is accompanying me since Lee is unable to get away at this time.  It will be good to have some time with Travis.   Hope you all had a good weekend.  I sure did!   Till next time..... skm