Visions of Sugar Plums Day Two + Paper Haus

So glad you are visiting today!  We've got lots of Christmas goodies, so let's get right to it!

First let's announce Day 1 winners!

Christine Kiehl - $10 to Paper Sweeties

Karon - $20 to Nicecrane Designs

Misteejay - Set of choice from Spring Hill Graphics

Creative M - set of choice from Moonlighting by Mary

Leslie - Christmas pin-back Buttons

Winners:  Be sure to email me (email in side bar) and I'll forward your info to our wonderful companies providing such awesome gifts!  And Leslie, I'll need your address so I can put your buttons in the mail.  Thank you!

The Cutting Cafe has gillions of cut files.  You could get lost for a day or two just looking at all the fun stuff!  I think this Trio Butterfly box is just wonderful - can't you see a gillion possibilities just for it?

I also used the butterfly cut files to make some butterfly+snowflake ornaments.  Everything goes together super easy.

I started with a long lead and sewed right down the middle of the largest butterfly on each ornament.  It worked perfectly for the hanger!  

Giveaway #1

Regina from The Cutting Cafe is offering one lucky commenter 3 sets of your choice!  Just say you want to win in your comment!

You  may have seen a couple of the Hershey Kiss Countdowns I did earlier.  This one is topped by a darling vintage image Santa from Vintage Bella.  You can find all the directions for the Hershey Kiss Countdown here.  

The only changes I made were:  set it up horizontal and use a petal envelope cut file from Silhouette sized down to 1" for the doors.  Tip:  Use sturdy paper.  I used 110 lb and printed patterned paper on both sides.  These are a big hit!

Giveaway #2

Vintage Bella is giving one commenter one digital set of your choice!  Just say you want to win in your comment.

Today is the also the second day of the Paper Sweeties December Release!  I've made a fun pop card with the darling snowgirl and snowflakes from Thanks Snow Much stamp set.  There are tiny dies for the snowflakes - isn't that cool?

You don't have to have a fancy die to make a pop up card.  I should know!  When I taught first grade we made Oklahoma books and each book had 10 pop up pages.  10 X 28 students - you can bet I was tired of cutting pop ups!  (Of course, I have to thank my mom she made many of them for me over the years!)    

This popup stands about 1 1/4"  and is about 1 1/2" inches wide.  That seems about right for most things.  I  make a little cheat rectangle.  Just to make sure I don't make any mistakes!

  

Match the center dots on the cheat and on the card base. Draw two lines - one on each side of the cheat rectangle.Then make just two cuts through both thicknesses at the fold.

Pull it forward until it folds inside.

That is it!  Super easy.  Here's the finished card from the side and back.

It looks kind of bad to have an open hole, so wrap the back side of the card base with decorative paper.  Visit the Paper Sweeties blog to see more ideas for the December stamps!

Giveaway #3

Debbie from Paper Sweeties of giving away a $10 certificate!  Just say you want to win in your comment!

Giveaway #4
Nicecrane Designs has a $20 certificate just waiting for one lucky reader!

Giveaway #5
Moonlighting by Mary is giving away a set of her gorgeous images!

Welcome to Paper Haus Magazine Winter Frolic!

The new Paper Haus Magazine has been released!  It is filled with beautiful holiday projects.

Click here to see the Winter edition of Paper Haus.  I have a card in the Card Haus section featuring vintage Christmas seals.  Do you remember those?  Here is another card made with 1963 (the year I was born!) seals:

and a folded bag gift card holder with 1969 seals:

Aren't they fun?  Check out my third Christmas seals card in the magazine above.  The Paper Haus blog hop continues through the week and there are giveaways there as well.   Your next stop for the Wnter Frolic is Viva Las VegaStamps.

Lori's Big All-Week-Long Giveaway

My Big All-Week-Long Giveaway will grow each day.  One lucky reader will get everything in all five of the photos I will post over the week.  Winner will be announced on Saturday.  Picture #2:

Vintage Christmas Seals, 20 mini Christmas bags, red buttons, kraft circle tags, and two muslin drawstring bags - all added to yesterday's items!

Important:  You get your name entered for the day's giveaways every time you leave a comment.  So visit each blog and leave a comment on each one.  I'll check out the comments every day, so if you comment on 5 blogs, you have your name put in the drawing five times for that day.  I keep a record over the whole week so if you comment each day on 5 blogs, you have your name in my BIG All-Week-Long giveaway 25 times.  

Have fun visiting these blogs (and don't forget to comment):

Debbie 

Maria 

Regina 

Ignacio

Mitra 

Ira 

Visions of Sugarplums 2013 Day One

So glad you're here!  Join us all week for the third annual Visions of Sugarplums - we have lots of Christmas ideas and giveaways every day!  VOSP has grown a lot this year.  I can't wait to see all the visions of Christmas.  Get your favorite beverage (hot tea for me!), settle back and enjoy all we have to offer (this is a long post)...

First up are these darling reindeer images from Spring Hill Graphics.  You can get an idea of the oh, so cute things you will find in Shelley's store.  The reindeer set comes with several different reindeer and sleighs, too.  I just had to have them!  

I've seen red hots as spare Rudolph noses, but I saw Cherry Sours when I went shopping and thought those would be fun!  (Yes, you will notice I can't spell Rudolph - well I've got that fixed!)

I wanted the reindeer food to be edible (and easy) - I discovered that M&Ms offers three different snack mixes.  Couldn't be easier than that!

Giveaway #1

Shelley from Spring Hill Graphics is offering 1 free set of your choice!

All you have to do is comment on this post and let me know that you would like to win.

Freebie

If you would like a copy of the reindeer food and noses circles click here.

This week is also the Paper Sweeties December Stamp Release. I'm in love with the little snowflakes and pretty sentiments.  Look at the cute stocking!  This release is just full of wonderful Christmas-y things.  ( The snowflakes and stocking are from Thanks Snow Much and the sentiment is from Have a Holly Jolly Holiday.)  The slash pocket and bow are cutting sets from The Cutting Cafe.  The pocket makes a perfect gift card holder. Visit the Paper Sweeties Blog to see more projects using the new stamps.

Giveaway #2

Our next giveaway is a $10 gift certificate from Debbie at Paper Sweeties.  You will find the sweetest doll stamps with different outfits and lots of other stamps, too!  All you have to do is comment on this post that you would like to win. 

Have you ever made a shadowbox card?  Nicecrane Designs has a lot of images that would work perfectly!  This image is from Kittens and Puppies Christmas Pack. The frame for this card came from Silhouette, but you could use dies as well.

Hint:  Use sturdy cardstock - I used 110 lb.   Pour glitter on top of the image after you glue the open frames on top - it doesn't take a lot.  When you add the top, make sure you have glue all the way around the image - you don't want the glitter falling out.   To finish, simply attach a card base.  So very fun and glittery!

Giveaway #3

Ignacio from Nicecrane Designs is giving away a $20 certificate!  You can get a lot of fun images with that!   Just comment on this post  that you would like to win.

I promised yesterday that I would show what was inside the Christmas packaging. It's snowflakes! 

These are made just like the leaf ornaments - if you would like a tutorial.   The bottom two have embossed snowflakes from Paper Sweeties Thanks Snow Much.

Giveaway #4

Moonlighting by Mary is giving away one set of your choice.  Mary has a wonderful collection of vintage images. I will be showcasing Moonlighting by Mary later in the week.  Leave a comment on this post telling me you would like to win.

You can probably tell that I love CUTE.  I made these pin back buttons with images from The Vintage Remix - awww, aren't they sweet?  You'll see some more cutie pie images from Laura later in the week.  

Giveaway #5

I'm going to send these Christmas buttons to one lucky commenter.  If you don't want the pin back, just pop it out.  You can use a pop dot to attach it to a card.  Just let me know that you would like to win in your comment.  

Lori's Big All-Week-Long Giveaway

My Big All-Week-Long Giveaway will grow each day.  One lucky reader will get everything in all five of the photos I will post over the week.  Winner will be announced on Saturday.  Picture #1:

Set of 10 Stampin' Write Markers, Hero Arts Stamps, Christmas Clothespins, Christmas tags, Papertrey Ink Border Die.  Come back tomorrow for Pic #2.

Important:  You get your name entered for the day's giveaways every time you leave a comment.  So visit each blog and leave a comment on each one.  I'll check out the comments every day, so if you comment on 5 blogs, you have your name put in the drawing five times for that day.  I keep a record over the whole week so if you comment each day on 5 blogs, you have your name in my BIG All-Week-Long giveaway 25 times.  

Have fun visiting these blogs (and don't forget to comment):

Debbie 

Maria 

Sandy 

Regina 

Jane 

Vivian

Ignacio

Shelly 

See you tomorrow for more Visions of Sugarplums!

Paper Sweeties December Challenge

Join us for the Paper Sweeties December Color Challenge!  Here are the colors:

Okay, I have to admit, when I first saw these colors I thought, "I'm not sure I can do this!"  They're just not my go-to colors.  Then I got to thinking about all the cool retro papers and images from Graphics Market (who will be joining us for Visions of Sugarplums) and then I thought, "Oh, yeah!  I can do this!"

 I stamped these oh, so sweet snowflakes from the new stamp set Thanks Snow Much.  I love the size of the snowflakes and they have little tiny dies!  Look at the pretty script and ornamental divider from Noel and Vintage Holiday Postcards - all new sets for December.

What's inside the pretty packaging to deck the halls?  Little tiny snowflake ornaments that I will be showing on the first day of Visions of Sugarplums.  

Paper Sweeties Big News

Paper Sweeties is hosting a GIVE BACK CONTEST.  Visit the Paper Sweeties Blog during the month of December and comment on the blog posts.  One lucky commenter will win a $100 SHOPPING SPREE! Share the GIVE BACK CONTEST with your friends - when they comment letting us know they heard about Paper Sweeties from YOU, you will earn an extra chance to win!  Enter as many times as you want - the more you visit and comment, the more chances you have to win big!  Winner will be announced January 1, 2014.  Good luck!

You will want to see all the color challenge inspiration!  Visit the following blogs:

 Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Paper Sweeties

  Jeanne Jachna

 Kristi Schurr

 Maria Patrick

 Michelle Bala

Pattie Goldman

                                                        Tammy Hobbs

Come back Monday for Visions of Sugarplums - awesome Christmas ideas and giveaways every day!  You don't want to miss it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is almost here!  We picked up our fresh turkey last night and started the dry brine.  Tomorrow the kitchen will be buzzing and the house will smell so yummy!  Fresh rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie...

We've done all the cleaning and have all the rooms ready.  Now they just need to be filled with people!

I am so blessed with my wonderful family - so thrilled that we'll all be together.  Dennis and I pour all our love into cooking and creating a wonderful Thanksgiving for all of us to enjoy.

These cuties are my place cards for this year.  I have the originals of both of these and I am so glad I found them!

Isn't this acorn box fun?   I just love it and it went together beautifully.  You can find it at SVGCuts.  Also from SVGCuts is this cute s'more box:

You may be like Dennis and are wondering what a porcupine has to do with a s'more. 

 It's just one of those things, I told him.  I have a cute box and I have a cute porcupine and besides something has to hold the sign!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and come right back here on Monday!  Monday is the first day of Visions of Sugarplums!  Oh, boy do we have some fabulous Christmas ideas and the giveaways are spectacular!  See you then!

Lil' Turkey

I just love finding cute images!  Stumbled across this little turkey when I was looking for something else.  

Isn't is perfect for a kid's thanksgiving card?  I think it would be darling as a place card on a kids' Thanksgiving table, too.

The cute turkey and the circle sentiment are from Spring Hill Graphics.  Oh, does she have some VERY CUTE things!  

Spring Hill Graphics will be joining us for Visions of Sugarplums - you might win a cute set from the store for yourself!  I'll be showcasing another cute image of hers during VOSP.  If you would like to get an early entry for the grand prize giveaway check out the Visions of Sugarplums post here.  It all starts on  Monday, December 2nd - don't miss it!

Thanksgiving Silverware Bag

Thanksgiving brings out the tradition in us.  Vintage plates, linens that aren't quite vintage (but have been around for some time), dishes that we serve every year.  You would think it would be boring, but I look forward to it every year!   I do change the placecard holders (I'll be showing those later) and maybe the decorations on the table.

Here is another idea - how about a Thanksgiving Silverware Bag?  Nicecrane Designs has some gorgeous images to help you create for Thanksgiving.  The kids carving pumpkins is one of my favorites. 

A Little Tip

 You'll notice that the lace is added to the bottom of the muslin bag.  I have a little tip to make it easier to sew.  It's so hard to get  to the (almost) bottom of the bag with a needle.

Just stick a piece of cardstock in the bag!  

That way when you are sewing on the lace and buttons you won't pick up the back of the bag.

Aren't the leaves pretty?  They arrived the other day from Speckled Egg.  

Here's a look at the Vintage Thanksgiving Greeting Vol 3 from Nicecrane Designs.

Until November 20th all the Christmas Balls at Nicecrane Designs are 50% off!  Use code:  CHRISTMAS2013

I used a couple of the Christmas Ball images on my snowflakes which you can see here.

Visions of Sugarplums will arrive on December 2nd.  Check out this post to see how to get an early entry for the grand prize.  Nicecrane Designs is one of the sponsors of Visions of Sugarplums -  thank you, Ignacio!