Cheers To You!

The Cheers To You stamp set is such a fun set to use. I wanted to make a special card/gift certificate and this set was the first one I thought of. The inspiration comes from MissNicki from www.splitcoaststampers.com with a little tweaking to make it my own. She used the masking technique to make it look like the glasses are being brought together in a 'cheers' movement. I outlined the foam with Dazzling Diamonds, filled the glasses with So Saffron marker and lined up the images on SU Designer Paper. Down below I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. Thank you, MissNicki!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry (hiccup) Christmas!

We spent Christmas in Illinois with Steve's family and while driving to the festivities we happened to notice this very unusual holiday light display on a tree. It is a martini glass with an olive and stirring stick! We had to back up and take a picture. Not sure what they were trying to say with this display, but it certainly drew attention and a smile from us!

Santa Punch Thank You Note

After Christmas it's fun to keep the holiday feeling going. I thought this little fella on a 3 1/2" x 5" thank you note fit that bill. I stole him (told you I was shameless) from my sister, Penny. You may not be able to tell from the picture, but his beard and hat are sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds. I used the 1 1/4" Circle punch on Blush Blossom card stock for his head. The Scallop Square,(cut in half), in Really Red for his hat, along with the Word Window for the brim. The Trio Flower punch makes his beard and finishes off his hat. The retired 1/4" Circle punch was used for his eyes and nose. The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and stamped on Old Olive card stock. He is sitting on Dimensionals and ready to melt the recipient's heart. Could he be any cuter? I don't think so!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU FROM ME!

Hope everyone who reads this post has a wonderful and safe Christmas holiday. AND I hope you have a chance to pull out your stamps and make something pretty.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Megan's Characters

Uh oh, someone has been in my house again.....

Pieces of Heart Stampers Christmas Cards

I feel I have very talented and special ladies in my Pieces of Heart Stampers downline. We got together recently for dinner and exchanged Christmas cards. I just have to show them off! Please forgive my amateur photography. My camera cannot do them justice. Thank you ladies for all that you do. You are the BEST!

Silver embossing powder makes these pretty ornaments pop! Theresa Tesson used the Delightful Decorations stamp set along with the Ornament punch to make this very pretty card. Although Theresa is not actually in my downline, we have fallen in love with her sparkle and adopted her as an honorary Pieces of Heart Stamper!
Dazzling Diamonds set off the snowflakes falling on this card by Becca Sadler. She used the Season of Friendship stamp set which is still one of my favorite sets.
Patty Schnell has made such a beautiful card using our Window sheets. She stamped the Snow Swirled tree first, then under the sheet, using Sponge daubers, outlined the image. The effect is soft and eye-catching.
I'm not sure if you can see the sparkle on this card, but trust me, it does! Judy Sumner made this one for us. Using the Petals-A-Plenty textured impressions folder from the Big Shot, she added shimmer paint to the raised flower and topped it off with a snowflake punch.
This pretty card was made by Jayne Singleton. She used the Merry Moments Designer Paper and the Hostess Level 1 stamp set Holiday Best. The Garden Green and Real Red colors are so pretty for Christmas.

Last Minute Gift

I attended my first stamp camp at my sister's house in Texas in 2005. One of the projects we made that day was the cutest Post-It Note holder. I still have it, and it makes me smile whenever I see it. It reminds me how that day changed my life! I decided to become a demonstrator right after that, and have been having a blast ever since! While surfing my favorite blogs recently, I saw one very similar and decided to reproduce it and offer it at my December Anything But A Card stamp camp. I wish I could give the blogger credit, but I have since misplaced her name. My apologies to whoever you are. I promise to be better about writing that important information down from now on.

If you need a quick gift, this is a perfect one that can be adapted to any occasion depending on your designer paper and stamps. Here is the recipe:

Real Red Card stock - 7 1/2" X 3 1/4"; on the 7 1/2" side, score @ 1 1/2", 1 3/4"; 4 3/4", and 5". Merry Moments Designer Paper 3" X 2 1/4". Garden Green card stock scrap for Scallop Circle Punch, Very Vanilla card stock scrap for 1 3/8" Circle Punch. Flower For All Seasons Stamp set. Real Red, Garden Green, Creamy Caramel Markers, and Basic Black Ink Pad. Top flap is attached with circle Velcro dot, and sticky note pad placed inside.

Bling Name Badge

One of my favorite people to chat with is Phyllis at the dry cleaners. She is always cheerful when she greets me every week. I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas and was having a hard time thinking of that perfect gift. Then I noticed her name tag. I looks like she wrapped masking tape over the tag and wrote her name in marker. That just won't do for someone with such a sparkling personality! I pulled out my much-coveted Bella Rose Designer Paper, (never a prettier paper made!), and stamped her name with my retired ABC Alphabet set in Rose Red, (another favorite). After cutting a rose from one of the sheets and sprinkling it with Dazzling Diamonds glitter, I placed it on a 2 1/4" X 3 1/2" piece of the designer paper and into a pin name badge. I wrapped it in Sticky Strip tape and pressed microbeads onto the edges. Now we're talking sparkling! I think she will like it!

Best Teacher in Texas!

My youngest daughter, Kim, is a third grade teacher in Katy, Texas. December 4th it snowed! She took her classroom outside to enjoy what never happens there! I know her students think she is the best teacher in Texas and so do I!

Artist in the family!

My oldest daughter, Megan, is in her last semester at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, getting her teaching certification in Art Education. She is talented in so many art forms, but we like her cartoon people the best. I always know when she has been in the house because she leaves little drawings on my message board. This is the latest. She was staying for dinner, think she is trying to tell me something?

My First Blog!

I always said I would never have a blog. Well, here's my blog! I love looking at other blogs and have finally decided it is something I want to do, too.

I am an unashamed thief! I love to CASE other stamper's work and tweak it to make it my own. I get my inspiration from the Stampin' Up! website, Splitcoast Stampers and my sister, Penny, (www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com) who I think is a genius!

Computers scare me. I am not one of those who can sit down and punch keys to figure something out. I need written directions, along with someone standing over me telling me what to do. I welcome your critiques and words of wisdom. Bear with me as I figure this out.