good tidings...

Isn't that the best title for a Christmas Kit?  I thought it was great!  Heather, over at Scrapbook Bakery, asked me to work with the December Bakery Kit.  I think it's such a great kit - Christmas-y, but not traditional red and green.  Instead, there are pinks and yellows mixed with reds, greens and tans.  There are lots of "extras" too - a sweet little notebook/journal, some acetate tags, lots of brads and buttons, glittered letters, and so much more! 

Here are some of the projects I created with the kit:

A layout about the pineapples we gave as neighbor gifts one Christmas.

This layout started out as something totally different, but when I cut the circle die-cut paper, I just had to make a paper-pieced present!  These are pictures of the kids on Christmas morning.

I loved this little notebook and can't wait to use it for all of my to-dos this month.

Confession time:  I had planned on using these acetate tags on my layouts, but I guess when I laid them on the table I forgot about them...probably because they are clear and I couldn't see them.  I could have kicked myself.  But then I started thinking about how fun they would be tied to the top of a gift...so I turned this one into a gift tag for my SIL.  (Who also just happens to be the only person I am done shopping for!)  And, since I'm confessing...I'll also admit that I ran out of glitter thickers, so I added glitter to some plain white thickers I already had...that's why you can see specs of glitter on the tag.  The actual glitter letters that come in the kit are not messy like this.

And then I had lots more goodies left, so I made this little duo.

And there's still plenty more...I will definitely be using up those cute KI badge stickers - and the thickers - and everything else...soon.  very soon!

Be sure to stop by the BAKERY to check out the kit!

...Good tidings for Christmas, and a Happy New Year...

k'nex...

Yesterday afternoon, I received a fun package from Team Mom.  My boys were super excited when we opened it up to find these inside:

• a K'nex 400 piece tub
• a Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection - ice cream truck

Josh wasn't home yet, but the little boys couldn't wait to open up the Sesame Street toy. 

They worked together to open the packages:

 

and create this fun truck:

They were proud of their creation:

After they made the truck that was intended, they mixed and matched the blocks to create some other fun creations.  I think they spent over an hour playing with the one little set.  I loved seeing them put their creativity and imaginations to work!

After Josh got home, everyone started building with the big set.  Unfortunately, I had to leave, so I didn't get any pictures of their creations, but suffice it to say - they were a big hit!  I think Santa might have to add some k'nex to his goodie bag for the Anderson home!

[Also - if you're interested, K'nex is holding a fun contest.  You can make a video that showcases your child's k'nex building skills and features your chil building with select k'nex products...the ten best videos will be featured on Knex.com and one winning video will receive $1,000 worth of k'nex toys!  You can read the official rules on their site.  Good luck!]

december 1...

It's the first day of December.  I should have my Christmas tree up.  My house should be decorated for the holidays.  My Christmas cards should be addressed and ready to send out.  My shopping list should have most of the items crossed off.  I should have gifts wrapped.  My house should smell like cinnamon, pine, baked treats and/or vanilla. 

Guess what?  I haven't done any of it.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zippo.

The tree is still downstairs in storage, along with the decorations.  I haven't even thought about what I'm doing for my cards.  I haven't started making a list, let alone checking it twice!  I haven't even bought wrapping paper.  We're even in charge of a family christmas party in less than two weeks and I haven't sent invitations, made food assignments, or even decided what we're eating and doing. 

Man...how can it be December 1st already???

Seriously, you'd think with all of the Christmas music I've been listening to, I'd have a better grip on the season.

I am going to go pull the Christmas Book Basket out tonight so I can read a book to the kids before bed tonight. 

And tomorrow I might start making that list. 

Maybe.  

sigh...

thankful for them...

Yesterday was "one of those days."  This layout was therapy...and a reminder for myself.

Even on the hardest of days - I love each and every one of them and their unique personalities...

and I truly am thankful for them!

I thought the American Crafts Blue Skies line worked perfectly with the Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg line on this layout.

...and these are my new favorite thickers!

    

Patterned Paper

Chipboard stickers (buttons/arrow/title)

Letter Stickers

Ribbon

Flair

seventh...

Do you remember the pictures I shared of Meagan on the first day of school this year?

I used them, along with my fave CC line - nutmeg - and made this layout.

bakery discount...

I just wanted to pop in quickly tonight to let you know about a great online discount over at the Scrapbook Bakery.

 

If you enter the coupon code blackfriday09 ....you will receive 30% off your entire purchase! 

The coupon is good through tomorrow (monday) night.  Be sure to check out the latest kit - with lots of fun samples from my talented friend, Laura! :o)

a box of gratitude...

 

 

This is another little project I put together for O'Scrap.  The idea is to remove the strips of paper (you could do this throughout the month - or do it with the family on Thanksgiving Day) and write down something you are grateful for. 

After you've written on the strip, curl it up and return it to the box. 

Put it away and take it out later (maybe next year on Thanksgiving) to remember your blessings.

Die-Cut turkey and flower

Patterned Paper (rust, tan)

count your blessings...

...name them one by one.

Even though I'm completely obsessed with Christmas music, I assure you I am not forgetting about Thanksgiving. I am grateful for a special day set aside to truly count my blessings - every one of them.

I need to be better about remembering these blessings every single day -

maybe this fun little mini album will help me remember to do so...

Album: 6x6 cloth album, O'Scrap

Patterned Papers: Fall paper packet, O'Scrap

Stickers: Fall collection, build-a-sticker, O'Scrap

Tags: Fall tags, build-a-tag, O'Scrap

Cut-outs: Fall, Fall Leaves, Thanksgiving Day, Fall Borders - O'Scrap

Letter Stickers: White Rock-a-bye thickers, American Crafts

Pen: Black Precision Pen, American Crafts

Ribbon: Misc. Gingham ribbons

surprise boxes...

...are available again!

When I offered to make up some surprise boxes to sell last month, I was amazed at the response!  I sold more than I imagined - thank you to everyone who helped me share some of my stash.  Well, since that post, we have put our home on the market (again) and I've really been working hard to get everything spiffed up around here - and with the fun opportunity of being invited to join the CK Dream Team and all of the fun goodies I have been receiving due to that - I'm ready to part with even more of my "older" goodies from my stash.

Again, let me remind you that while most of the product is brand new, never been used, there are a few things, like sticker sheets, packages of brads, cards of buttons, etc. that have a few pieces missing - even so, there are plenty of good pieces to use!  There may be cardstock, patterned paper, specialty paper, buttons, brads, chipboard, stickers, stamps...and more - every box is different, but each box is filled to the brim (literally) with goodies!

I've had several people buy them for Christmas gifts - and I think you could easily split one box of goodies up into several little gifts/stocking stuffers/etc. 

Just like before, I'll sell them for $20 plus shipping.  I'm using the flat rate Priority Mail boxes which ship for $10.70 in the US.  And of course, if you're local, we'll just arrange a pick-up time. :)  There will be WAY more than $20 worth of product in each box.  WAY WAY more.

If you are interested, please e-mail me! 

I've already got several boxes packed up, taped, and ready to go...so as soon as I receive payment, I just need to add an address label and the box will be on it's way to it's new home!

fragile...

If you're anything like me, and your brain is quickly slipping into holiday mode, you just read my post title like this:  fraj.eeee.lay, ala A Christmas Story...you remember, right?  Please tell me I'm not the only one!

On Monday morning, my doorbell rang.  I peeked outside to see the FedEx truck parked in my driveway.  That alone sends shivers up my spine - in a GOOD way, of course!  I waited for a minute for him to go away (usually he just drops and runs) - but he wasn't leaving...so I answered the door...p.j.'s and all.  And that's when I saw it - this beautiful package which was clearly marked "FRAGILE!"   I signed my name on the little machine thingamajig, quickly forgetting all about my cut red thermal p.j.'s that no FedEx man should ever have to see me in, and quickly hurried inside to open this baby up (but not before snapping a quick picture or two - it's a sickness...).

My little package had traveled far - all the way from London...and I was SO SO SO excited!

It took a few minutes to get through all of that tape,

but I was finally able to cut through it all, and then I peeled off the cool silver packaging to reveal this:

More FRAGILE tape...and plenty of bubble wrap.

After getting through a few layers of bubble wrap, I found this:

 

And I am in love.  Completely, totally, 100 percent.  This is my very first CANVAS - but it surely won't be my last.  I ordered it from photo-canvas.com - and it came super super fast.  Want to know how fast?  I e-mailed this picture to them on Wednesday afternoon and the package with my super nice 16" x 20" wrapped canvas print arrived on my doorstep on Monday morning.  Did I mention it came from the  UK?  That is lightening fast, right?!? 

Seriously, you should check out their site HERE.  The customer service is incredible...and I just told you how quickly my canvas arrived - SO fast!  And it looks like they have a new special for the holidays - Buy 2, Get 1 Free!!  (gotta love that deal!)

If you're not in the market for a canvas (but seriously, if you're not, you totally should be)...you will want to check out their OTHER site: bags of love...to see lots of different items they can create with your photos. There are tons of ideas that would make super sweet personalized gifts for the holidays this year.

It's been three days and I still can't stop grinning every time I see it sitting on my mantle. 

Now I just need someone to help me figure out where to hang my new happy-maker!  :o)

a sneak peek...

Are you tired of me talking about this book yet? 

I hope not...but if you are, just skip this post. :)

As I mentioned before, I was lucky enough to be able to design a card for the "opener" of each chapter...and the chapters just happen to coincide with the months of the year.  So 12 months, 12 cards - all mine!  Would you like to take a peek?  If you go HERE, there's a fun sneak peek where you can see all 12 of my opener cards PLUS a few more.  You can get a feeling for what the book is like and see if it's something you would like to purchase.  The stylist/photographers did an amazing job photographing the cards - I think you'll agree, it's a beautiful book full of beautiful inspiration!