Mini Candy Topper

Here is a super easy way to make a 'topper' for individually wrapped candy. It can be adapted for any occasion. How cute for a baby or wedding shower favor!
I used the Curly Label Punch, #112208, Shimmery White Card Stock, #101910, Real Red Card Stock, #102482, Heart to Heart Punch, #119694, White Signo Gel Pen, #105021, and the Tiny Tags stamp set, #118592.
I just folded the punched piece in half and adhered to the cellophane of the candy.
I think they pack a big punch even though they are so small. (Inspired by my good friends, Josh and Carrie! Thanks, guys!)

Little Artist Thank You

To all you generous, kind people. This is for you from Megan, Steve and me.
'Nuff said.

Clean and Simple

Someone once called me the "Queen of Clean & Simple". I took that as a compliment, (at least I hope she meant it as a compliment). That is the style I am particularly drawn to. Sometimes it's fun to pile the embellishments, glitter and paper on a card. But basically a clean card makes me happy. This one is a sympathy card using the Close as a Memory stamp set. I 'borrowed' the popped up tone-on-tone idea from my sister, Penny, another Queen! Please check out her blog, www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com. You will see why I always steal from her. She has to let me, I am older!

Delightful Dates Calendar

This cute little calendar was offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I had a workshop today where we put it together along with the magnetic box. Just thought I would put it on my blog because it is so cute. Love the little Mini Library Clips.

I CASED the magnet box idea from one of my favorite blog sites, Trinity Designs - Robin Merriman. Love the ribbon and Hodgepodge Hardware embellishments. No wrapping paper needed with this little box.

My Stampin' Pal, Diane

Woo-Hoo! Goodies in the mail for me! I am part of a group of stampers called the TOPICS, and monthly we exchange 3-D stamped items. My Stampin' Pal is Diane Burns who lives in Katy, Texas. I was so tickled to open the envelope and see what she sent me. She put chocolate hearts into a nugget box she made and embellished with little punched hearts. I'm in love with the Scallop Trim Border!

That's not all! She made me the cutest bookmark THAT STAYS IN PLACE with magnets. You just wrap it over the top of the page and the two magnets grab. LOVE IT! Isn't that Sweet Pea paper adorable? I have to confess, Diane, that I saw this on your blog and did pirouettes of joy when I saw the initial 'P'! I was hoping it would make it's way up here! Thank you so much, I love them!

By the way, the book is 'Julie & Julia - My year of Cooking Dangerously'. I haven't seen the movie yet. I like to read the book first. So far it is hilarious.

I'm Extremely Excited!

How would you like to have this sitting on your front porch waiting for you? Sale-a-bration is such a exciting time at Stampin' Up! Getting FREE merchandise is always exciting! The warning on the top of the box is so true. My wonderful Mr. Brown knows how happy I get when he brings me one of these big boxes. To get yours, go get your catalog and place an order today! Don't have a catalog? Call me and I'll get one to you. Find out how you can get free stuff, plus one of these fantastic boxes of your very own!

New Toys!

Mr. Brown brought me some new toys from the Occasions Mini Catalog and I just love them. Honestly, everything in this mini is delicious!

I started out with a 3" x 6" piece of Very Vanilla card stock (101650), folded in half to make it 3" x 3". I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649) on the bottom. Then placed a 1/2" x 3" piece of Pretty In Pink Card Stock to show off the pretty edge. The Scallop Circle Punch (109043) was used on Chocolate Chip card stock (102128). I put a tiny detail around it using the 1/16" Handheld Punch (101227). I love the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch (117191) and used it three times to make the body of the bird in Pretty In Pink, the wing (Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper 117153), and the branch on Mellow Moss (102898). He needed to see where he was going, so I added a dot for his eye with the Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker (100071). I traced the flap of the envelope with the Sending Love DP and adhered it with the 2-Way Glue Pen (100425) for a little bit of a surprise when you turn it over. A couple of hearts found their way on the front from the Heart To Heart Punch (113694). The whole thing is just so soft and pretty. Makes me happy!

If you would like to have the current Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog, please let me know, and I will make sure you get one!

Voila' - It's What's For Dinner!

One of my favorite blogs to visit is Inking Idaho, with Becky Roberts. She is so talented and her projects always catch my eye. So, of course, I have to steal from her!

On her post of October 11, she used the chef from the Voila' (115102) stamp set to make a cute recipe card holder. I have always liked that little guy, but he is kind of hard to use. Becky's idea fit him to a tee! I used designer paper for his chef outfit (hey, I'm a girl, it's an outfit!) and attached him to a jumbo binder clip with Stampin' Dimensionals (104430). His platter was stamped on Brushed Silver card stock (100712). His cheeks are flushed because he has been working so hard in the kitchen for me (Blush Blossom Ink pad 102080 and marker 100037). When I placed a recipe in the binder clip, it kept slipping and falling. So I grabbed my Dotto (love that Dotto! 103305) and ran it over the metal a couple of times and now the recipe stays where I want it. Wouldn't this be a cute hostess gift? I can just hear him singing "O Sole Mio"! Thanks, Becky! I am a loyal groupie!

My Best Guy

This is Steve, who I love with all my heart! He is the only one on earth who can 'handle me' and believe me, I am a handful at times. He just takes it in stride while giving me that loving smile. After all these years, I still melt.

Paula Deen Where Are You?

Our original vacation plan was to fly the kids back home after our family cruise and Steve and I could park ourselves on a nice warm beach in Florida somewhere and read, read, and read. But Old Man Winter had other plans. Turns out the week we chose to do this is the same week the entire country is blanketed with a record-breaking cold front. So we went to plan B...oops we don't have a plan B! I know, let's go up to pretty Savannah, Georgia and look around. And while there, we can stop by Paula Deen's 'Lady & Sons' restaurant for lunch. We are foot-loose and fancy-free! We don't need a plan, we can just go wherever we want. Sounds fun.

Paula has a STORE too! After a nice lunch in her restaurant I can shop! I am all over shopping in Paula Deen's store!

Oh no! The one week I can visit with Paula, she is nowhere to be found! I learned that I do best with a plan, and maybe even a plan B. Oh well, we will go back someday to Savannah. It is a pretty little town. Someday when it is WARM!

Just Like the Commercial, But Without the Bikini!

We were very lucky recently, to take our little family on a cruise to the Bahamas. One of the stops was Nassau, where we took an excursion to the Atlantis resort! It is huge and just 'over the top' beautiful. The weather did not fully cooperate, however. It was quite windy and cool. So we checked out the awesome aquarium and sights throughout the grounds. It's kinda fun to see the commercial on TV. We were there! And no, that is not me in the first photo, although I considered it! Easy to say now, huh?

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.