Delight in the unexpected

Happy Friday! The boys go back to school next week. sniff.... sniff.... It has been a wonderful little vacation with Christmas. We will be taking down our decorations and our tree this weekend. Always sad to take it all down, however just means in 11 months we get to put it all back up. :0) DH went back to work on Tuesday, I think he was ready to go back after 6 straight days at home with us. He gets 4 days off with New Years! hee hee Gotta love it.

Over on the Flourishes Blog today we are focusing on tins. They make great little gifts for friends and not a lot of cost for something unexpected. Here is my tin that I decorated. A few weeks ago I made a matching card for the tin that I will show you below also. The paper is from Kaiser Krafts Miss Nelly pack, very feminine and girlie feeling. I stamped out the sentiment from Life Lines set on the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three and popped it up on Dimensionals.For the flower shadow on the sentiment I used the single flower in Lace and trim. Some white lace trim around the hinged lid, then for a bit of flair I added some prima swirls and pearls to the back panel.
Here is the card that I made to match. The details on the card are found on this post.

Be sure to check out the creations the Design Team made with tins today:
Christine
Cindy
Julie
Dawn
Danielle
Barbara
Tammy
Sharon

From the heart

Christmas is over can you believe it? Seems to go by faster and faster every year. Hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends. We had a wonderful time and the dinner was excellent. I say that because we tried all new recipes for the Christmas dinner this year. Yep we risked having either a great one or a questionable one and luckily it turned out YUMO!
Made this Christmas card last week using Poinsettia and Boxwood from Flourishes. The petals are layered up a few times as I did with the pink gift tier set I made last month. You can see that HERE if you are a Fan Club Member on SCS. These center pearls are actually Prima's Crystals that are really cool. A few silver cord loops finish this off. The person this was for LOVED it thankfully. ;0)

Flourishes is having a Christmas Sale! So, if you have Christmas money to spend, we’ve got a great deal you won’t want to miss! From now through Friday, everything in the store is 25% off. Even the goodies on our sale page that have already been reduced for quick sale are 25% off the sale price!
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SALE….. Simply use XMAS11 in the coupon code box at the time of checkout.
Be sure to hit the recalculate button on the page so that your total adjusts to the sale price. Keep in mind, there are no rain checks or back orders. Once some of these items are gone, they will be gone for good! So, shop early for the best selection!

Christmas Competition

You girls that are on Facebook can you do me a favor? DH is in a friendly competition with a friend on their FaceBook page. DH posted a very COOL photo that is of a 2 soliders and it says HONOR at the bottom. It is the 3rd photo down. Can you LIKE his photo for me? Read the photo and actually look at it because it will make you proud and cry, well I did but you know I am sappy. ha!
BUT you can't like the Ralphy photo. That is his friends, but you can look at it. hee hee
Search under FB pages for practical edge shooting That is where the page is.
Off to finish my baking and cleaning for tonight.

Merry Christmas!

Sharing Warm Thoughts

Squeel!!!! Christmas is just 2 days away I am so excited. I think I am worse than the kids. Ha! We have been enjoying the time with family and I don't want it to end. I have some pictures of the kids and cousins that I will post later. Today is a free for all over on Flourishes Blog.

We just wrapped up our December release so I thought I would show you another creation I made with Snow Wonderful. The release bundle ends today with the extra discount don't forget to get the savings while you can. This is a bit country and cozy with the rustic colors I thought. My sentiment panel with the new Tailor Made Classic Keyhole die is popped up on dimensionals and a few pearls added below. Easy peasy but oh so pretty don't you think? Be sure to check out the creations from the DT today:
Christine
Julie
Dawn
Danielle
Barbara
Tammy
Sharon

Poinsettia Wreath

Now doesn't this look like a wonderful wreath? I know its oval but hey it works. Ha! This little poinsettia is from the set Holiday Nutcracker. They are all cut out and popped up on dimensionals. The textured background is a sizzix folder and a bit of sparkle and pearls finish this off.
Clear Dollar Stamps is having a wonderful Christmas sale through December 24th. Be sure to check it out.

Kids are home on Christmas break and DH even has the next 6 days off. Whohoo We have a few things planned with family and friends. I can't believe that Christmas is Sunday. YIPPEE!!!! Okay need to get some groceries and errands done today. See you back here Friday for Flourishes Free for All. Merry Christmas!

Friends Warm the Heart and Soul

Merry Christmas! House Mouse and Friends blog challenge is running the Warm and Coxy challenge all month long. Here is another one of the challenge. Tea and friends warm the heart and soul don't they? This is the adorable Chamomile Tea from House Mouse Designs. Very simple as this is going in the mail and I did not want it to be really bulky. I paid a lot of extra postage this year with my Christmas cards because of the bulkyness. Hope you get a chance to stamp this week! Have a wonderful day!

White as Snow Blog Hop

Merry Christmas! If you just arrived from Lori's Blog you are in the right place. Today is Clear Dollar Stamps Monthly Blog hop White as Snow!The prize this month is $25 Clear Dollar Stamps gift certificate for digital images!

I used the Stamp of the Month Christmas Deer for my card today. The snowflake background is using a sizzix folder and I added sparkles to snowflakes but you can't see it in the photo very well. The frame is using the Elegant Accents Die. Some ribbon and silver cord to tie it off with my button. Easy Peasy! Now head on over to your next stop Jerusha's Blog! Have a wonderful day!

Flourishes 1,2,3 Create Kits

Since I had a the December 25th kit and needed another Christmas card I created with that today. This is about as masculine as I can get on a Christmas card. This wreath is still one of my all time favorite Flourishes sets. Unfortunately it is retired, sorry! I know teasing and tempting you with a retired set! Several copic collections were used to color this. Added a bit of sparkle at the very end.


Be sure to check out the creations from the Design Team:
Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
Heather Jensen
Release Reminders:
**10% savings when you purchase the New Release Bundle.
**Mystery Blogger. Comment on each Design Team members Blog post for the day you could be our Mystery Blogger and win the set of the day.
**Pre-Release Challenge Feminine Flair, your chance to win our entire release

Pears anyone?

Welcome to day 2 of Flourishes December release. Today we are going to show you another fabulous new fruit set called Pears! I am very excited to see a pears set. This is a simple summer feeling creation today and with the fridged cold weather I have I could use it. I colored the pears with copic collections Sunflower and Spring Greens. Finished it off with a little bit of yellow gingham ribbon and a button twine combo. Easy Peasy!
Be sure to check out the creations from the Design Team:
Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
Heather Jensen
Beate Johns
Jan Marie

Release Reminders:
**10% savings when you purchase the New Release Bundle.
**Mystery Blogger. Comment on each Design Team members Blog post for the day you could be our Mystery Blogger and win the set of the day.
**Head on over to Flourishes Blog at NOON for the noon challenge and your chance to win the entire release.
**Pre-Release Challenge Feminine Flair, your chance to win our entire release

Snow Wonderful

Today is day 1 of Flourishes December release with the new set called Snow Wonderful. The creations with this set are outstanding! Another fabulous set that goes perfectly with our Tailor-Made Classic Keyhole die from Spellbinders. My creation is cozy and sweet today. The birds were calling out to me for this card and some felt snowflakes. The copic collections I used for coloring are the Sky Collection, Creamy Collection, and Fields Collection. My ribbon has some white lace trim along with the soft blue wrinkled ribbon tied off with some felt snowflakes. There is glitter on the snowflakes and the pine needles, however hard to see in the photo.

Be sure to check out the creations from the Design Team:

Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
Heather Jensen
Beate Johns

Release Reminders:
**10% savings when you purchase the New Release Bundle.
**Mystery Blogger. Comment on each Design Team members Blog post for the day you could be our Mystery Blogger and win the set of the day.
**Head on over to Flourishes Blog at NOON for the noon challenge and your chance to win the entire release.
**Pre-Release Challenge Feminine Flair, your chance to win our entire release!

Secret Bench

 Files: I am unable to add the PDF files you need to this post. If you email me at Twinshappy1@yahoo.com and put the subject line Secret Bench, I will email you the files. I have a PDF version, Silhouette version and a SVG file version.

Supplies

Card stock, small decorative metal die, scissors, desired sentiment and adhesive.

Step 1

Take the back of the bench piece and in the middle score 1/2 inch up and 3/4 the way up. I only have one score mark shown, however please make the second score mark for ease later. Set this piece to the side for a moment.

Step 2

Add adhesive to the bench sides. Pre-fold the sides once adhesive is on, now add these to the back of the bench. 

Step 3

This is what it will look like with one side panel attached. Attach the panels to the back so you don't see the seam from the front. Stand your bench up and fold in a little bit to form the shape. It will be a little loose till we add the bench seat section. 

Step 4

Take the bench drawer and score at 1/2 inch on just three sides. Pre-fold and add your adhesive to those three sides as shown. If you would like to decorate the lid of your bench now is the time to add your papers or stamped images.

Step 5

Lay the bench on the back side and place one edge of the bench drawer in the corner lining it up with the bottom score mark. If you have one side attached it should look like this. Now pull the other side of the bench over and adhere the other side to the scored mark corner. 

Step 6

Turn bench up right and take the bench lid and add adhesive to the back 1/2 inch scored flap. This is going to go on the back part of the bench to secure.

Step 7

I am showing you the lid not attached but laying on the bench drawer. Your lid should lay flat and the back should match up with the last scored line on the back. Once it is lined up, secure to the back of the bench.

Step 8 

Add your secret goodies inside the drawer and finish decorating as desired.

Step 9

I added a pillow to my bench using the sentiment from In God's hands. The pillow is made using the same chocolates that are inside the bench. Enjoy your new Secret Bench. 

Feminine Flair Challenge

Happy Friday! Can you believe we are already into December 9 days? Holy smokes this month sure is going fast. Flourishes is getting ready for the December release and today is your chance to win our entire release by playing in our Feminine Flair Challenge. Head on over to the FLLC Blog to see all the details and linking your creations!

I went super feminine and girlie with my pearls, pink, and lace. This card has a matching little gift tin that I will be showing you later this month. My card is using the beautiful feminine Lace and Trim set. I have cut it out and then cut around the edges to make it look like actual lace. The sentiment is from Tag Lines stamped out on Spellbinders tag and popped up on dimensionals. I hope you get a chance to play along with us! Be sure to check out the creations from the Design Team:
Julie
Dawn
Danielle
Barbara
Tammy
Sharon

Invites for Christmas Party

This year we are hosting a Christmas party at our house for the group at my husbands work. Here is what the invites look like. Now the sparkle does nto show up much and its really too bad as they are gorgeous with the sparkle. I used the Gelly Roll Stardust Pen around the Spellbinders frame, on mistletoe in the sentiment from Meet Me Under The Mistletoe stamp set and all over the holly leaves. Really does look cool IRL. All the panels are up on dimensionals to really add to the invites. Several mentioned how cool it was that I made the invites and they looked awesome. Makes me feel good and I know that hubby appreciates the compliments for me. hee hee We have our menu figured out, house cleaned and all the food bought. Now to relax and enjoy the party. Hope you have a wonderful day!

TS Monday White Christmas

Happy Monday! Today on the Totally Stampalicious Monday challenge its a White Christmas. Let's see some snow on your creations. This adorable Winter Bird Snowman was perfect for the challenge. The snowman has sparkle all around his frame and then on the ground, hard to see in my photo. Added the sentiment using an oval punch and tied it off with some silver cord. Easy Peasy today. Hope you get a chance to play along with us. Don't forget:
Stampalicious Dessert Menu
Level 1 - Vanilla Ice Cream - Buy 5 Get 1 Free
Level 2 - Strawberry Shortcake - Buy 8 Get 2 Free
Level 3 - Triple Layer Chocolate Cake - Buy 11 Get 3 Free

Flourishes Free for all Friday

Happy Friday! It is December 2nd if you can believe it. How are you on your Christmas cards? Got mine just about finished, next is to address and mail them all out. Oh boy that will require a cup of hot cocoa and an hour to fill out. ha! Today is Flourishes free for all Friday. We are focusing on the 2012 calendar download that we are offering for $2 this year. It makes wonderful little gifts. This is for a coworker of DH's that has a cubical and not much desk space. I took our new Tailor-Made Classic Keyhole die and I punched out the center of the top and added the paper in between the two for a nice little hanger. The mittens are from Warm Winter Wishes set, with a bit of super fine flower soft added to the tops. Be sure to check out what the girls created today with the calendar download:
Christine
Cindy
Julie
Dawn
Danielle
Barbara
Tammy
Sharon

Ho Ho Ho... Merry Christmas

Happy December! Yes I am still alive everyone just overly busy at the moment. Recovering the dining room chairs for a week although it is gorgeous, I sure do have a lot of things to catch up on. Kids have half days of school so that throws a wrench into all my to do lists also. I do promise to get around to bloggin again very soon.
Right now it is Flourishes Christmas Spirit Challenge 20, Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas. Create a christmas card with Santa in mind. Use St. Nicholas image, presents anything he would bring Christmas eve. Be sure to link your creations back over at the Flourishes Blog!

This is the best Santa image ever, I am telling you. This is Santa, I Believe and finally found out how to stamp him in brown and have it look right. I am thrilled with this card. Pulled out my Stampin Up chalks from ages ago and colored in the cheeks, holly and his eyes. Added some super fine flower soft to the hat and a bit of Gelly Roll Stardust pen to the wire rimmed glasses. For a last minute touch added the sentiment from the set Christmas Sentiments. Be sure to check out Sharon's Blog today as she made a card for the Christmas challenge also. Have a great day!

Sending Sunshine and Black Friday Deals

Hello Flourishes Shoppers! Before stores even opened on Friday morning, the “elves” behind the scenes at Flourishes were busy adding new items to the store’s sale page. EVERYTHING today and tomorrow is 25% off, which means anything on the sale page is being offered up at an additional discount for even bigger savings! Keep in mind, this sale is only 48 hours long – so shop early for the best selection! All you need to do is use the code BLACKFRI11 to get 25% off your entire order!

I made a card in the craziness of the week using Sweet Nature for you. A vibrant and cheerful looking card. This Spellbinders Picot Edges circles is awesome and in white even more so. There is some stickles on the flowers for a bit of sparkle yet its hard to see in the photo. The copic collections I used today for coloring are Poppy Collection and Evergreen. Hope you have a wonderful day creating and shopping!

New Dining Set.... Sorta

I promised I would post pictures of my latest project and here it is. DH's uncle bought some gorgeous material in Egypt for me a few years ago for my dining room chairs. And I am just now getting around to re-upholstering them, right before a major holiday I know crazy. However it only took me a week. This is what the chairs looked like before. See Ranger peeking out of the corner? hee hee
Below is a picture of the chairs with the panels removed. The material is stapled along the sides, top and bottom. Material is cut and wrapped around front and back of the back panel, and on the top of the seat. We counted about 250 staples per chair. EEK! When I said my hands hurt I was not kidding. These staples were really hard to take out. I had a baby ice pick to dig up under it, then a small screw driver to loosen it more then needle nose pliers to pull it out. I started that all on Monday, by Saturday morning when my mom showed up I had one panel left to do.
We started at 8 am with the first panel. Trying to figure out a routine and how you want to add this new material was a little tricky. We took a gamble on not cutting the material down the sides and instead wrapping it around (still stapling it) just not cutting and it paid off. Lot less cutting and seem to go a bit faster. Now the silly staple gun we rented was not the best however it worked and we got done with everything that evening. The only thing left to do was redrill holes for the seat and attach it back to the bottom. I had new cushions cut at the local foam shop, what a GREAT idea as now you don't sink down like you are sitting in a hole. ha ha Early Christmas present to me. My mom was awesome help and did all the stapling since I took them out. Thanks mom, and please don't edit my grammer. Yep she read my blog again and said I need to edit my posts better. Ha....

Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving