Cards - boy did I get cards!!

I got an amazing amount of cards this year - what a wonderful feeling to get cards and catch up on news. I filled this string, the front of my china hutch and an entire basket on my counter - LOVE IT!!So I'm going to share the hand-stamped ones that I received - I took these pictures with the wrong setting on my camera so they are a little blurry - but I think you can see how pretty they are.

Carole

Heidi


Jeri

Jeri

Julie

Karen

Kathy B

Maria

Pat

Sandy B

Sandy M

Sandy M

Theresa

Thank you all for thinking of me! Happy New Year everyone - be safe out there tonight!!

This Year's Christmas Cards

So today I thought I'd share some of the cards I made to send out. I love making cards - but once I make over 5 of one I get bored. But I actually did 20 of each of these, and then also sent out many miscellaneous others I had made. I hope everyone who received them enjoyed them. Peace, Love, Joy
Season's Greetings From Our House to Yours

Family Pictures 2010

Each year we do a family picture around the holidays. It's usually crazy with all the little ones - but this year went perfectly. We all did our pictures, all went to dinner, and then all came back to pick up the pictures -- and no one cried, or fussed or fought - it was wonderful :)

Here a picture of my honey and me - it's our 36th Christmas together - and I love him as much as ever - maybe more! Don't know what that little spot is on his forehead, I think it was from the scan. I'm going to have to scan that picture again and get rid of it.

This picture I love - it's all six grandkids and to even have them facing the same direction is a miracle. It's Prince, Kamili, Zamarah, Zavian, Makai and Paisley - how terrific are they?!?! And this is my favorite picture - me surrounded by the entire crew - Heidi's family to the left of the picture, Jenee's family to the right, and Paul and I in the middle. Makes my heart warm just to look at it. Thanks for bearing with me as I share the loves of my life.

And the winner is.......

So my drawing is totally low tech - I printed the information for every comment, new subscriber, new follower, etc., out on a slip of paper, and then jumbled them all up over and over and threw out on the table and picked one from the pile.And here's the winner. Peggyj2945 please contact me at mrauchfuss@aol.com with your full name and mailing information and I'll get the package of goodies right out to you. Be sure to email me a picture of what you make with them :) and I'll post. I need to hear from you by 8:00 AM (PST) on Thursday or I will pick another name from the pile, per the rules. Thanks so much to everyone who played along - please check out the comments and links at the end of the Blog Candy post for some other great stamping ideas from those who played - http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-candy-sorry-for-delay.html

BLOG CANDY - sorry for the delay!

THIS BLOG CANDY CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!! CHECK BACK OFTEN AND PLAY ALONG NEXT TIME :)

I know I promised Blog Candy two days ago - but life got in the way - can you believe it :) Please forgive. But better late than never - so here's what you have a chance to WIN -


If you win you get a full package of Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper, a spool of Tiny Silver Tinsel Trim, a Cherry Cobbler Stamp pad and a Northern Hearts Hostess set (wood mount) - these are ALL current Stampin' Up! products - now who wouldn't want those???Here's a close up of the tinsel.And a close up of the stamp set - so CUTE!!

It's all to get you an early start on next year's Christmas projects and cards - which is my New Year's Resolution. I figure if I do 8 cards a month beginning in January, I'll have all my cards ready by October - let's see if I can do it :) Then I can spend November concentrating on gift items. To enter just do one (or more - for more entries) of the following -
Four ways to win -
1) Just leave me a comment here with your favorite stamped item you gave or received for Christmas (or any other December holiday :)! Please link me to a picture if you have one. Or - let me know your Stamping New Year's Resolution. One comment per day will count in the drawing.
2) Subscribe to this blog feed if you have not already done so (by providing your email to the right of this screen - where it say get email updates.)

3) Refer this blog to a friend and have them subscribe, and you'll both get an entry (they just need to let me know you referred them in a comment.) As many friends as you want can do this.

4) Post a link to my blog candy give-away on your blog, and let me know so I can check it out.

I'll do a random draw on Sunday, December 26th at 8:00 PM (PST) so be sure to enter by then!! Then check back on Monday to see who the winner is. You'll need to contact me within 72 hours of when I post, with your mailing address to get the goodies - or I'll draw another name.

Good luck to you all!! -Maureen

Gingerbread houses and a tutorial

Last weekend we did our annual gingerbread house making day. It's become a tradition with the grandkids and I hope we continue for many years as I love it! and I think they do to. We actually make mini-gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I prepare the houses before the kiddos come, and then they decorate. So I thought I'd share how I make the houses. Step 1 - I melt about 1 cup of granulated sugar in a heavy duty frying pan. Stir gently till completely melted over medium high heat - will be dark brown and liquid. Turn down to low heat. Step 2 - take 1 square of graham cracker and dip in the melted sugar and immediately adhere to another square as in picture. NOTE: be careful with dripping sugar as it is very, very hot - I have a scar on the top of my hand where some dripped last year. You only have to hold the peices for a second or two and the sugar cools, and they are set.Step 3 - repeat with another square and place as in picture below.

Step 4 - Dip the two open ends of the structure above, in the sugar, and attach to another square to form the base of the house as shown below. Step 5 - Using a serrated knife, cut one of the squares of graham cracker on the diagnal to form two triangles.Step 6 - Dip the bottoms of the triangles in the sugar and attach them as shown below.Step 7 - Dip one side of the triangles (by picking up the entire base you've made so far, and attach a square of cracker to one side of the roof. Then dip again as show below and attach a square to that side.Step 8 - here are the finished little houses. I hope that was clear enough directions for you to do them. So here's a picture of the table as we were starting - there are tubs of frosting, plastic knives and a ton of candy. Here are Paisley, Jenee, and Prince with their finished creations!Kamili, Heidi and Makai with their little houses! And Gramma with her six little kiddos at the end of a gingerbread house making day!! What fun!! Can't wait till next year when Zamarah and Zavian will get to do one - maybe :)

Merry Christmas!!

"Away in a manger - no crib for a bed.

The Little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky - look down where He lay.

The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay."

May your Christmas be blessed with the knowledge of the gift that God brought to earth in the birth of His son Jesus! Wishing Christmas blessings to you and yours! Love, Maureen

Gift for my Club Members

So before Christmas I want to share one more little gift item - the is what I sent to the members of my Stamp Club. I found these nice two year planners - they are kind of plain on the outside - but inside they have beautiful inspirational poems and sayings on each month. Here's a close up of one.So I stamped these pretty outsides for the calendars for them. This design is a near CASE of a calendar I got as a 3D swap at convention. Sorry I don't have the name of the swapper - but if it was you - let me know and I'll be happy to give you credit. I think it is lovely!

Here's a close up - it's dark, but I think you can see the detail.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Holiday Open House

A week ago Heidi and I hosted our annual Holiday Open House - I don't know why but I always have good intentions of taking pictures of the event and then time gets away from me, but we had 23 women attend and I think a good time was had by all. We had a discontinued product sale, a little mini boutique, ordering opportunities, and four little make and takes that I did get a picture of and wanted to share.First was this adorable little Reindeer tag designed by Heidi - perfect to hang on your gift!

Second we made this gift card holder - everyone needs at least one gift card holder for the holidays :)

Our third make and take was this cute little MandM tube with a snowman gift tag attached.

And finally - to start the New Year right - we made this little magnetic refrigerator calendar with a great saying to start each day!

Hope you enjoyed.

Stop back tomorrow for my Blog Candy give-away to celebrate 10,000 posts!

Filled With Love Promotion and Stamp Camp

From NOW through January 24, 2011, receive a FREE package of Bitty Buttons (a $4.95 value) when you purchase a Stampin' Up! Filled with Love Bundle. The Filled with Love Bundle contains the Filled with Love Stamp Set (in wood-mount or clear-mount) and the exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack. And when combined with the FREE set of Bitty Buttons you'll get, you'll be able to make beautiful Valentines!

And as a special bonus - our January Cards, Cards, Cards Stamp Camp - Tuesday, January 11 from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM at my home will feature ALL cards made with this bundle and the buttons! Purchase your bundle online here - http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx?email=MRAUCHFUSS%40AOL.COM&phone=805%2f581-6209 or by emailing me at mrauchfuss@aol.com. Then sign up to come to our Cards, Cards, Cards stamp camp - and find great ways to use what you purchased - you'll be set to make ALL your Valentine's - Feminine, Masculine and Children's. (See "Upcoming Stamping Events" at the top of this blog - right under the header, for full details). Be ready to SPREAD THE LOVE!