Merry Christmas - I hope that you are enjoying the holidays doing things that relax you!  I’m spending this Christmas here in Ottawa with my family and I’m going to take a couple weeks off from blogging… My DH has some time off from work and I want to take full advantage to spend lots of good family time :)  Here’s a photo of my kids with Santa.  My son wasn’t so sure about it - he thinks he’s too old, but in the end we got a great photo that I love.

I’ll be back in the new year with new projects to share with you!  Wishing you and your family all the best for 2009!

Marlayne

ps - thanks to everyone who send me LOVELY stamped Christmas cards!  Going to the mailbox has been so much fun

The last few years, my Mom has sent the kids Reindeer food so that on Christmas Eve, we all go to the front lawn while the kids spread the food everywhere so that Santa’s reindeer can have a little snack while the man in red is busy at work :)  We just received our package yesterday and there was a package of reindeer food and a card for both Matthew and Katie.  I thought they were cute and wanted to post so you could see too!

The cards she made using the Big Shot Top Note Die (fold your cardstock and then put it through the Big Shot below the top cut line).  I love these cute little cards.  Even my husband commented when he saw them "Those are cute cards your mom sent!".  Big praise from someone who doesn’t always notice these things :)   The XO’s around the outside edge are done with our white gel pen - nice touch.

The Reindeer food also used the Top Note Die - it’s just cut and folded over the ziploc bag.   If you are making your own reindeer food - you just need some oats and cake sprinkles (be sure not to use glitter, since apparently birds can choke on it).

Now we’re (almost) ready for Santa to arrive! 

This is the project we did at my SparkleDaisy Christmas party last week.  Even though we had a winter storm warning and the threat of freezing rain, we still had some brave souls show up ready to stamp! (You gotta love stampers!).  There were even 3 ladies who drove all the way from Hawkesbury to be there!!!  I had such a nice time and everyone seemed to enjoy the make and take.

I used the Silver Skinny tin that Stampin’ Up! was selling during the Holiday Extravaganza sale. (You can still order it - the order number is 108333 and they cost $2.50 per tin).  We used the stamp set Flower Fancy (on page 104 of the catalogue, item #111578) and we embossed the outline flower on the front of the tin with Clear Embossing Powder.  The tin does get quite hot, so watch your hands, but the effect is subtle but lovely!  Silver Embossing Powder would also be nice, but I really liked the look of the clear.  The belly band is made with the Maine Blueberry Designer Paper, Bashful blue cardstock, felt flowers and the filligree designer brads.

 For each tin we made three scallop cards.  I used the Big Shot Scallop die to cut the cards and they are just so cute!!!  Take a look at the three cards below

The stamp set above with the butterfly and the flower is from a new stamp set that will be coming out in the new catalogue in January called A Simple Friendship.  We received this set at Founder’s Circle in September and I know it will be a popular one!

Below is the tin open so you can see the inside :)  Wouldn’t these be a great gift for someone special!

For those of you who have been following my blog - you’ll know that I showed a version of the Origami Christmas tree card last year that my friend Paula made for me. I wanted to do this technique with my stampers group this year, so I created my own version with Clear embossing powder in the background and chunky glitter on the tree….  Take a look and see what you think.  Click to this blog here to see how the Origami tree is made :)  You can use 5 squares - 31/2", 3", 2 1/2" 2" & 1 1/2" and fold each square exactly the same.  Love it!

Note: I used the Big Shot Top Note Die with the Holiday Treasures Designer Paper for behind the tree! I LOVE that Big Shot Die!!!

Every Christmas our SparkleDaisy Stampers group have a Christmas party.  I provide a make and take for everyone (and I really try to make it special, since this is my gift to them).  We always do a cookie exchange and we bake cookies and stamp a recipe card so everyone has the recipe

For my card I used the Bella’s Border Wheel (112476), swirls from Priceless (109260), and to be honest - I can’t find the set where I found the Enjoy stamp from!  Does anyone know the name of this set???  I think I’m rushing because I can’t find it in the catalogue right now (in my defense, I’m rushing trying to get ready for our party tonight lol!) I got this recipe from one of my Bunco friends Tracey - they are SUPER easy and delicious!

The retired list has just become available & Stampin Up! is offering a 10% sale on all retiring stamp sets from Dec 9 to Dec 23. These stamp sets will be available until the new catalogue comes out on January 18 but the free shipping only lasts until December 23.  Click HERE to see what sets are retiring! 

As well - Stampin’ Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100!  Take advantage of this opportunity to check out our on-line ordering system and  click HERE to get your order started!  With Free Shipping its hard to resist! 

Just a reminder as well I have gift certificates available if you have stampers or scrapbookers on your Christmas list:)

For the last 3 years I have organized a Children’s christmas craft day for my church.  There are anywhere from 30 - 50 kids in attendance and I have arranged between 5-7 crafts for them to make.  My kids look forward to this event every year - I think for them its the beginning of the Christmas season.  The kids are always so cute and I love watching them craft.  They throw themselves into the projects and they don’t have that self-criticism of their work that so many of us adults carry around with us  

This was one if the crafts we did at the event yesterday. I used the Sissix Bigz Pennant Die for the Santa Hat (Real Red), the Scallop Bigz die for the face (Blush Blossom Cardstock), Our 1" circle punch for the nose and 1/2" circle punch for the eyes.  I did use the scallop punch for the beard using white cardstock.  If I had had more time, I would have liked to use the small scallop die with White Fun foam, but I just ran out of time to get that done.  I saw this idea at the Stampin’ Up! convention in Utah this summer - Shelli Gardner the CEO of SU showed this cute project to us.  The photo doesn’t show it, but we punched a small hole in the top and strung ribbon through, so the kids can hang Santa on their Christmas tree.

Here are a few of the projects from the AChannel this morning - thought you might like to see them up close :)  The jar below is made with the red ornaments from our Decor Elements Vinyl Art Applications.  So easy to do and very fun to have around during the holidays!

Here is the ornament I demonstrated. I love these photo ornaments using the Country Living kit!

Here are a couple of gift tags made with the Country Living Holiday Bundle. So cute!!  (Don’t you LOVE that Red striped Ribbon!!!)

                        Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008

Here is a simple Christmas card - great if you are making a lot of cards at once.  The Merry Christmas is from our curly label punch bundle and is on sale right now for $27.97 (regular price is$39.95)!!  The sale is only on until Dec 1, so don’t wait!)  I was inspired this card HERE.

Wouldn’t  this be a LOVELY hostess gift?  The tag can double as an ornament and I’ve included wine charms here too!  These were all made with the Country Living Holiday Bundle - and so quick and easy!!  Thanks to Heather Summers for the idea!

I’ve been asked to go on AChannel morning show again tomorrow morning, Friday at 8:20.  I’m excited to do this again and I’ll be showing our Decor Elements Christmas Vinyl Applications, and a tag from our Country Living Holiday kit. If you see the show - leave me a comment on my blog and let me know what you think!

I have totally fallen in love with the Country Living Holiday kit.  There are so many great quick and simple ornaments and tags in there!  Anyone can do these!  And it comes with absolutely EVERYTHING you need! For more information on this kit, click HERE. If you’d like to order one for yourself, the item number is  -  114447 - just email me to order it for you or click HERE to order it online yourself!

Stampin’ Up! has finally announced their sale and you’re going to like it!  There are some wonderful bundles at GREAT PRICES!!  I’m off to do Rice Krispie Day at my daughter’s school right now, but I wanted to share before I went!  Click HERE for the Flyer with details!!