Congrats to Sylvia - Blog Candy Winner!

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Sylvia - the StampinJewels Blog Candy Winner. Sylvia - I'll deliver your Blog Candy next week! THANKS everyone for playing along!

Hope you all are enjoying the 12 Days of Christmas!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

StampinJules

Christmas Blog Candy!

Apparently I don't know how to give away Blog Candy properly - as the first and second winners from my Birthday Blog Candy never responded! Yikes! Soooooo..... I'll try again... My Christmas Gift to those of you who read my blog (THANKS for sharing my life and my stamping!)

Only THIS time, when you leave your comment on this post - please leave your email address too, so I may contact you when you are the lucky winner! Please leave your fondest Christmas/Holiday memory as your comment, along with your email.

I'll choose a winner on Dec. 28th - A Blessed & Merry Christmas to you and your family from me and mine.

Winter Thank You

This was one of my ideas for the teacher TY gifts posted earlier, that did not make the final cut. He's bright and cute though - so I thought I'd share him with you. Stamps: Soon to be Retired - All About U, Cold Play & Headline Alphabet (contact me before 12/31/07 to order these sets before they're gone!) Colrs: Ballet Blue, Pixie Pink, Brilliant Blue, Only Orange, Basic Gray & Whisper White. Enjoy!

Serene Sunflower Belated Birthday

I received this lovely card from my m-i-l. She had it for my birthday, but kpet forgetting to give it to me! lol It was worth the wait - don't you think? She used the retired set Serene Sunflower - don't you love the detail? I especially like the layering on the leaves and sunflower. The scan didn't pick this up very well, but she did a Faux Suede technique with Chocolate Chip Classik Ink on the same color layer, by using a piece of plastic wrap bunched up, then dabbed on teh ink pad, then onto the cardstock. She used the following colors of ink and card stock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Marigold Morning (retired In Color), So Saffron & Old Olive. She also used Dimensionals, Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon and the Antique Brass HodgePodge Hardware Kit. Thanks Mom!

Teacher Christmas Gifts

Nice gifts, eh? It's too bad they may not receive them until after Christmas now! I have all three kids home sick today - the last day before Christmas break. Two got sick in the middle of the night, and one just about 30 minutes ago (good thing I made him stay home on the thinking that he'd been well exposed to the other two.) I think I got to bed about 2:00am and didn't sleep well at all, then dh's alarm clock at 5:00am, then ds getting up for school at 6:30am only to be told to go back to bed becuz he wasn't going, then listened to him cry on and off for the next 40 minutes. The kids "tried" to let me 'sleep in' - they were all up by 7:00am. So for the next 3 hours, I dozed in bed, but a 7, 5 & 2 yr old cannot keep quiet very easily, and Mom Radar doesn't shut off unless I am completely exhausted, and even then.... So - there's my sleep deprived ramble - THANKS for putting up with me!

I made these designs for my kids' teachers for their Christmas gifts. The first card uses the Stamp Sets Punch Pals & Much Appreciated. For some reason, Gable Green doesn't scan well with my scanner, and it appears much more yellow, but I trust you all have this color in your stash. I love this bright and cheery color combo - Gable Green, Ballet Blue & Pixie Pink, accented with Very Vanilla. The Snowflake image is stamped in Green Galore on the Gable Green for a bolder background look. I used the following punches: Scallop, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circles. As well as the 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon. The friendly Penguin image & the Thank You are stamped in Brilliant blue, and the two circle layers the Penguin is on are on a Dimensional. I also applied Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the Penguins scarf with the Two Way Glue Pen.

The second card uses the Much Appreciated Stamp Set as well as the retired stamp set called Merry. This one uses Bordering Blue, Sage Shadow & Confetti Cream Card Stock, with accents of Handsome Hunter sponged on the Confetti Cream and Sage Shadow. The "Thank you" image is also stamped in Handsome Hunter. The Snowflake images were stamped tone on tone for each color. I added Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the Bordering Blue Snowflakes. I used the Craft Ink Stampin' Spot in Bordering Blue to stamp and heat emboss the Mitten image in Clear Embossing Powder. I LOVE the Craft Stampin' Spots for heat Embossing in COLOR, and bought each Color Family specifically for this purpose. I prefer the Classic Ink for my general stamping, but since SU! began to offer Chipboard Accents, I use the Craft Ink for coloring those. The Craft Ink stays wet just long enough to sprinkle on the Embossing Powder and hold on to it until I get to it with the Heat Tool. I also used the Ticket Corner Punch to accent my Mitten focal image. ENJOY! Merry Christmas!

Simple Christmas Card

I received this beautiful design of wonderful simplicity from fellow Sudsoler demo Kathy Kinney. She used the Holiday Mini Catalog Stamp Set - Season fo Joy. She also used the Dashing Double-Sided Designer Paper and the 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Square Punches. Card Stock: Whisper White, Old Olive & Real Red. Ink: Classic Real Red & Versamark. Accessories: White Mulberry Paper, Natural Hemp Twine, White Emobssing Powder & Dimensionals. Darn cute! Thanks Kathy!

Birthday Bouquet

After yesterday (12/14), I couldn't wait to try out the Miss Muffet Ultrafine Transparent Glitter - and I needed a Birthday card to day for my m-i-l - sooo....(don't you just LOVE self-justification) For this Z-Fold design, I used the Valentine and Swirls Sets. I stamped the Swirl image tone on tone, then traced over it with the Two Way Glue Pen to adhere the Glitter. All other supplies, except the Glitter, are Stampin' Up!. Card Stock: Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink & Whisper White. Classic Ink: Basic Gray & Mellow Moss. Stampin' Write Markers in Mellow Moss & Pretty in Pink. Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon with a Mini Glue Dot to hold on the bow. FUN, Fun, fun! ENJOY!

More CreativePlayStamps FUN!

Okay - I had so much FUN playing with my CreativePlayStamps.com Stamps this afternoon - especially this Ultrafine Glitter! I tried out my SU! Heat & Stick Powder with the Blackberry Ultrafine Opaque Glitter which just shouted out SNOWFLAKES! It's hard to see the Snowflakes I stamped in Versamark on the Night of Navy around the Glitter Snowflakes. Of course, a scan *never* does justice to glitter either! I think this would make a nice Happy New Year design too. Stamps: Snowflakes & Valentine Circle. All other supplies are from Stampin' Up! Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy & Naturals White. Night of Navy Classic Ink; Versamark Ink; Heat & Stick Powder; Heat Tool; Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Silver Narrow Organdy Ribbon(SU! retired).

Did you notice I listed the SU! Scallop Punch? Yep - I learned a new technique for it from fellow SU! demo Dannie Graves. After punching out the Scallop Circle, attach it to a computer paper scrap. Then insert the already punched scallop back into the punch only slightly turned so you'll be punching in the middle of the scallops. The result is this adorable star burst punch! Thanks Dannie!

ENJOY!

CreativePlayStamps Valentine

Whew - I needed a break from housecleaning and Christmas card stamping (remember those Holy Triptych triptychs? Still stamping.....I feel like the enrgizer stamper with these. next year, I swear I will choose a simpler design! yeah, riiiiiiiight!) Our FAB cousins Art & Laura over at CreativePlayStamps.com have been so generous with the Design Team - I've been feeling guilty about not being able to stamp more with their AWESOME stamps! So - here is a Valentine that uses their two holiday sets: Valentine and Valentine Circle. My favorite idea here was using the arrow image from the Valentine set as the flower stem! I also love how I could use the small Valentine circle as a sun for my heart flowers. The Valentine Circle set has a large circle like this - would be great for refrigerator picture magnets & chipboard ornaments(cuz it looks like a snowflake with hearts!) I also used their Valentine Ultrafine Opaque Glitter on the heart images. This glitter is awesome! Ultrafine gives excellent coverage. All other supplies are SU!: Card Stock in Real Red, Lovely Lilac & Whisper White; Classic Ink in Real Red, Lovely Lilac, Yo Yo Yellow & Garden Green; Red Gingham Ribbon, Mini glue Dots, Two Way Glue Pen. Enjoy!

Smith Family 2007

These FABULOUS photos were taken by a Sudsol Stampin' Sister Elizabeth Sloman. In September, we were talking via email about blogs, and she asked me to take a look at her then new photography blog. I did and shared a dream of mine to have a family candid photo shoot session (well, with some posed shots of course!) I knew she had some family in IL so asked her to let me know when she might be here visiting and maybe we could do a photo shoot. Well - wouldn't you know she was coming for a friend's wedding in October - only a month away at the time - and actually had some free time between her arrival and all the wedding festivities! WOOHOO! So I got to meet my Stampin' Sister for the second time while she made a long time dream of mine come true! These are just a couple of the many photos that were the result of this fun day at a local park...THANKS Elizabeth!

Holy Triptych Angel PIN?!

I received this beautiful RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from my Stampin' Sudsol Sister Kay Mespelt. She used Vintage Violet (and In Color from 2006/07), Almost Amethyst & Shimmery White Card Stock, along with the just retired set Holy Triptych Stamp Set, as well as Baroque Motifs (LOVE that swirl!). She Heat Embossed in Silver - and sponged with Vintage Violet. There is a little magnet attached to the back of the angel, and little washer-looking thing (technical term!) inside the card. This is so lovely Kay - THANK YOU! You made my day with this - as it came right around my birthday two weeks ago. Enjoy!

NEW Blog Candy Winner!

I never heard from the first picked winner for the Birthday Blog Candy Party - so I chose a NEW Winner. Congrats Amy! Please contact me at footbag10@att.net with your info so I may mail off your Blog Candy!

Snowflake Thank You

This is a quick design I made today for Thank You's for the coordinators of our school's Annual Silent Auction & Dinner Dance coming next Spring. They needed a few to use now for donations they have already begun gathering. Our school colors are royal blue and white, so I thought I would use the Dynamic Duo (from the SU! Color Coach) of Brilliant Blue & Bashful Blue - along with the Whisper White and the Ballet Blue I brought in for one of the snowflakes. The Bashful Blue snowflakes are the largest ones, but they didn't show up on the scan very well! The sentiment is stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink - I love how it has a bluish tint because of the Brilliant Blue underneath it - perfect for my color combo! This layout is an old standard for me, and many others because it is so simple and fast and versatile. ENJOY!

Worldwide Marriage Encounter - Making Good Marriages BETTER!

HI All! I know it has been a long time, before today, since I've posted. Hubby and I presented our first Marriage Encounter Weekend this past Weekend in Rockford, IL. We have been working on the talks for this for the last six months - and though that was um, a loooong and interesting process - we are now ready to do it all over again! So many prayers and so much love were sent our way and we felt it so strongly all weekend. It was especially evident in that neither Steve nor I were nervous when it was our turn to sit at the table and give our talk/presentation! Watching the transformation of the married couples on the Weekend can only be summed up in one word - AMAZING! We were so grateful to be a part of each couple's transformation - thus why we'll go through the next talk writing process again!

If you have never heard of Marriage Encounter, or if you have and have never been on a Weekend with your spouse - PLEASE DO SO! A Marriage Encounter Weekend would make the perfect Christmas gift, New Year's Resolution or Valentine's Day gift for your spouse. You can check it out at http://www.wwme.org/ and look for Weekends in your area and your faith preference(though usually any faith is welcome at most Weekends - at least it is at ours and we are Catholic.)

Don't delay - do it TODAY! Marriage Encounter Motto - After the Weekend experience, if you don't like your new relationship, you can have your old one back! (Please note: I fyou are having serious marital problems, please look for a Retrouvaille Weekend in your area - I believe the link may be found through the above WWME website.)

December StampinJewels Newsletter

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Subject: December StampinJewels Newsletter
Hello Happy Stampers & Scrappers!

From the Smith Family to yours, may you have a Blessed, Peaceful Advent Season as we await the birth of our Savior and the darkness of Advent breaks forth into the Light and Joy of Christmas!

I have enjoyed stamping with you, and just plain meeting you this year. The biggest gift my SU! business has brought me is the wonderful people I have met - YOU! I appreciate your business, but even more so your sharing fo your creativity. Thank You for seeing God's creative gifts in yourself, and sharing them with others!I am happy to be able to a part of the happiness you share by helping to supply your rubber stamping and scrapbooking needs.

December StampinJewels Special
Last call for Christmas Project Supplies and Gift orders.....To help you with this, I am offering:
$50 orders - 10% off your highest priced item
$100 orders - 20% off your highest priced item AND 10% off your second highest priced item!!
$150 orders also earn earn Hostess benefits - so remember to choose the appropriate Host Only Stamp Set(last chance on these sets!) and Product Credit Amount (as shown on Host Benefit Charts pg. 16 Fall/winter Collection 2007)


Retiring List - Fall/Winter Collection 2007
I have attached the Retiring List or you can view and print it at:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_Retired_List_PGNUM_1207.pdf

WRAPPING UP THE HOLIDAYS - NEW SPECIALS!! Nov. 23 - Dec. 15th (while supplies last!)

Holiday Tag Bundle (item 112409) A new item just for this promotion! This bundle includes several pre-cut pieces from the Holiday Glitz kit and makes 15 quick and easy toppers for gift giving. $4.95 each
Note: The Holiday Tag Bundle includes 15 of each of the following pieces:
-Whisper White card stock-Real Red textured card stock-Soft Sky Prints Designer Series Paper (Dotted Diamond pattern)-Real Red twill tape
The pieces for this bundle make 15 cellophane bag toppers that are perfect for neighbor or teacher gifts.

Empty Accents and Elements Tin-3 Pack (item 112410) A new item chosen just for this promotion! $9.95 each

Tags for All Stamp Set* (item 110380) (pg. 7 Holiday Mini) 20% off = $24.76

Hand Selected Accents & Elements (item 110228) (pg. 12 Holiday Mini) 25% off = $8.21

Designer Gift Cards* (item 110264) (pg. 14 Holiday Mini) 30% off = $4.55

Purely Pomegranate (item109863) and Chocolate Chip (item 109862) Satin Ribbon (pg. 22 Holiday Mini) * Buy 1, get 1 free!*

**(NOTE: 2007 Holiday MIni products that are part of this special, are the only Holiday Mini items that will still be available after November - and only while supplies last.)**

GIFT CERTIFICATES
Gift certificates in any amount are also available.

STAMPINJEWELS RETIRING LIST SPECIAL
My other gift to you - 10% OFF Retiring List Stamp Sets Only (Retiring Set orders cannot be combined with December Special Discounts - in other words, one discount per set!)

ORDER DEADLINES
I suggest having all orders, with payment, to me by Fri., Dec. 7th.Otherwise, the latest to order will be Dec. 12th for receipt by Christmas. SU! is awesome about picking and shipping, but please be aware that with a Retiring List there are more orders than usual at this time of year, as well as the general increase in packages shipping at this time of year.If you don't need your order for Christmas gift-giving - I will accept your order, with payment, anytime.
ALL ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO YOU.

Spring/Summer Collection 2008!!
We are just around the corner from a new catalog - WOOHOO! I've seen the Preview Mini - many of you should be receiving it in the mail soon. Make sure you check out the Custoemr & Hostess Specials shown in Shelli Gardner's letter on pg. 2 of the Preview Mini! For example - January Hosts with party totals of $350 or more will get to choose One FREE Stamp Set from the Preview Mini - how cool is that?! :)

Sale-A-Bration Reminder
What's this you ask? It is all of our favorite time of the Stampin' Up! year - renamed! (Used to be Sell-a-bration) With changing to the two catalogs per year system, SU! changed the dates of Sale-A-Bration (SAB) to Feb. 1 - March 17th but it will be the same great deal - for every $50 in orders, Customers choose a FREE SAB Only Stamp Set. There is a Host Special, as well as a New Recruit Special should you take the plunge and join the SU! & StampinJewels Family too. More information will follow.

Stampin' Chats
Stampin' Chats will hopefully return in January. I was so hoping to be able to get together at least once - I certainly could use the time for all teh Christmas projects I've got on my plate right now - and that doesn't include decorating my home and baking cookies! :) Please know I am missing you all this month!!

Tip of the Month
ENJOY the Christmas Season both now and through the Epiphany (when we celebrate the visit by the Three Wisemen) the first weekend in January.
Make the decision to scale back a little bit on your projects, and let go of whatever doesn't get done. YOU DESERVE to enjoy this magical and joyous time of the year! Here's a new "To Do" list for you: Donate to your Church's Christmas Giving Programs - not just money but your time helping as well. Snow? Build a snowman and/or make a Snow Angel. Not enough snow for that? Catch snowflakes on your tongue. Drive around your city one night a week looking at the Christmas lights. Spend a quiet hour with our Lord sitting before the altar or tabernacle at your Church. Enjoy a time of silence every day in your home (and I don't mean when you are sleeping! heehee)