Tis the Season . . .

I made my first Christmas card of the season . . . and it was 100 degrees outside.  I am shocked it's almost Halloween . . . and completely unprepared for the Christmas trees and Santas that will soon take over the aisles of Target and Safeway.  Tis the season . . . yes, indeed.  I call this the season to start thinking about the season.  It's the time of the year when you start to thinking it would be nice to sip some eggnog and actually feel like toasting your toes by the fire.

Right now it's just hot outside and the thought of a pumpkin spice latte or even a hot chocolate is a little too much to comprehend.  And yet, the season will be here!

So, to get in the mood, I pulled out my embossing gun (it was very dusty) and of course, I thought Santa and his reindeer would look mighty festive in some gold embossing.  I even added some fun flock to Santa's hat and coat!  What is fun flock, you say?  It's this amazing stuff that makes your artwork have fuzz.  It looks great on a sheep or a snowman too!  Using a light weight glue, like the CTMH Bonding Memories Pen Z553, color the area you want flocked.  Then add some of the flock (it's like shredded up felt) Z263 . . . let it dry for a few minutes and then tap the excess off.  It really adds bedazzle to any artwork or project.

Stamps not shown at actual size.

For the Santa card I used the stamp of the Month for October, Share the Magic.  The set is only available through October 31st.  For more information, please visit my website: http://stampedbyme.myctmh.com

If you are interested in fun flocking or embossing, you can purchase it, as well as the cute stamp set above, on my website at http://stampedbyme.myctmh.com . . . just a few dollars can get you on the track to some flocking good fun!  The season though, well, can't it just take a while longer to arrive?  :-)

Just a few things I made . . .

Today is Friday (whew!)  and, believe it or not, October 1st.  This means we are approaching that season of giving.  I am not even going to torture myself by counting the days until Christmas!!! It will be here before we know it!!!  Have you started your shopping yet?  Don't worry, you still have time!

One of the few things we need to remember is ourselves during this hectic season of party and gift giving. I recently treated myself to a stamp and crop retreat in beautiful Lake Tahoe. It was the best weekend, full of friends laughing and stamping into the night.  I just thought I'd share a few of the wonderful things I made.  I think every one of them would be well received by my friends and family.  However, I can't part with my own, so I better get busy and make some more, right?  ;-)

My favorite: this cute mini wallet photo album:  This sweet little album measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" when it is closed.  The monster is attached to a band of paper that slips off the album . . . when it opens it holds between 3 and 6 photos (4" x 3"). See photo below.

Let me know if you are interested in attending a class and we can whip up some for teacher gifts and your favorite neighbors or friends.  Not only is it easy to make . . . it's super cheap!

Another fun thing to make . . . bookmarks!  Add it to a favorite book or magazine or, if you aren't sure what your bookworm friend has read, why not a gift card to Borders!?  Always fun!

Note, I made several bookmarks at the crop, but believe it or not I have either given them away or lost them in my Stamp Studio!  They are SO easy to make though.  The base is 7" x 2" not including the bow or ribbon on the top.




Another fun gift to give is a box or packet of note or gift cards.  Tie 5 cards and their envelopes together with some ribbon or raffia . . . don't forget to include some postage stamps.  Nothing says love like a homemade card.  My favorite cards have all been featuring my new peacock stamp.  Maybe I'll do him in orange and brown and we can pretend he's a turkey? 

This card is a standard size card.  I used the new Magnifique paper pack from Close To My Heart.  Of course he has sparkles and some glitter.  Very pretty!

Last, but not least, my favorite gift to give is a hand decorated picture frame! This 8"x8" wood frame is from Michaels (only $1) . . . we first painted it black (using acrylic paint) . . . then we used squares of Hooligans paper from Close To My Heart and adhered it to the frame with Mod Podge.  So fun!  Now I just have to decide which is my favorite picture to include in the frame! (The idea is from my good friend, Mary Thompson.)

As Jeanette, the founder of Close to My Heart, always says . . . make it from your heart!