Final Exchange Gifts

Final day of our gift exchange - hope you like all the project ideas you saw.  So first i am sharing the packaging from Diane - this paper has been so popular-as has the ribbon.  And why not -they are beautiful.

And here is the card she made for her - using this month's Paper Pumpkin kit - with her own twist on it!

And Virginia was the recipient in our gift exchange - Diane made her this adorable little light up Christmas tree with last month's Paper Pumpkin kit and an extra decorated tealight to go with it.

And now time for an apology - here is Virginia's gift - and Heidi was the recipient.  Heidi had to leave early - so I was supposed to give the gift to her and take a picture.  Yes - I gave the gift to her - did I get a picture - nooooooo!!!  I am so sorry Virginia.  If I can get a picture next time I see her I will do so - but it was a lovely antique picture holder - just Heidi's style!

See you all soon - we'll end the gift-giving here on Christmas eve.  Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas day full of blessings.  ~Maureen

Angels .... we made angels

At our Downline Holiday Party this year we made the beautful little angels you have seen all over the net.  They are so cute, and easy and look lovely on the tree. I used leftover printed cardstock from the Thanksgiving kit - I think it looks really elegant.  Here's the chart we used for punching.

You can see the little angel completed and hanging in the frame below.  I made up several and they look lovely on my tree.

The next pictures are of some of the Crazy Stamping Ladies making their angels and enjoying our party.

 

 

Nothing brings a smile to the face like playing with punches :)  Stop back soon!  ~Maureen

CSL gifts - Final Installment

Okay - so here are the final gifts from our CSL party -

So here is my tree up close - it is wrapped newsprint and glitter paper to make this beautiful tree - with spritz and gems for decorations - I love it!!

Here I am with my lovely Christmas tree from my daughter, Heidi - I can't believe she was my Secret Sis all year long - and I didn't even know it!  Makes me wonder what else she is being sneaky about :)

Here's Maureen S's exchange gift from Kathy W.

Sandy with her little Christmas tree and Ornament set in a handmade package from Secret Sis Virginia!

And Virginia with her adorable Handmade Christmas tree and card from Secret Sis Sandy - they had each other :)

CSL gifts - Part V

Few more fun gifts...

Here's Laura modeling the beautiful hand-made necklace she received from Anita.

Lois with her Christmas Bulb Christmas tree with medallion tree skirt made by yours truly.

Maria with her "Christmas Story" ornament and dimensionals from Darlene.

Tomorrow is our final gift reveal.  ~Maureen

CSL gifts - Part IV

Another round of great gifts -

Here are the beautiful hand-stamped coasters that Kathy B received in the gift exchange from Laura.  Kathy had to leave early so was not in the picture!

Kathy S got this beautiful tea set and hand stamped card and bag from Elaine.

Here is Kathy W. with her decorated coffee thermal mug and beautiful hand-made package and card from Kathy B.

See you tomorrow  ~Maureen

CSL gifts - Part III

Here we go with another round of gifts ~Maureen

Here is Elaine's with her adorable tissue holder from Christel, using our Storytime paper.

Heidi's is a Secret Sister gift so a bit more - Julie made her this great apron in a jar using our SU fabrics - how cute is that!

Here is Karen's great Secret Sister gift from Lois - it's a pot with paperwhite bulbs in it for the holidays - and a set of our adorable SU ornaments from Convention.  Karen was not able to make it, so wasn't able to be in the picture.

CSL gifts Part II

Here are some more of our great exchange gifts from our party -

Here is Darlene modeling her beautiful scarf from Delores.

And Delores with her decorated card box from Diane.

And Diane with her lovely apothecary jar from Kathy S.

 Tomorrow - a few more :)   ~Maureen

Crazy Stamping Lady gifts....

Over the next several days I'll be sharing all of the wonderful gifts the CSLs made for our gift exchange at our Christmas Party last weekend.  These are amazing - enjoy!!!

This is Ana's gift from Annette - Ana needed to leave early, so didn't get in the picture.  It is a lovely cinnamon stick candle and a great little NOEL banner.

Here is Anita with the handcrafted Christmas box from Maureen S.  Inside -

This beautiful bracelet!

Here is Annette with her lovely scarf from Ana.  The exchange was anonymous, but Annette and Ana ended up getting each other's gifts :)

Stop back tomorrow for some more ~Maureen

Rudolph Group Project

So at our Holiday Party last weekend we made this adorable little Rudolph using punches and our Top Note die - how cute is that!!  I pretty much CASE'd the reindeer from Kristy Brown but I didn't have the die she used for the antlers.  Then I remembered seeing our Oak Leaf die cut in half somewhere and used as antlers - so that's what I did and instant Rudolph :)  I actually cut two oak leaves, as they are not perfectly symmetrical and then cut them both in half and used the same sides on the deer and kept the others for another deer.  The muzzle with the nose taped to it; and the eyelids are popped up on dimensionals - and his nose of course is our SU glitter paper. You could sponge him a bit for even more dimension.

Here is the template with the different punches we used to create this little cutie -

It's hard to see the 2 white large ovals but they are there; and the writing under the oak leaf is in glare - but I explained that above in this post.  Then we took a strip of cardstock 10 3/4" x 2 3/4" and scored it horizontally at 4" and 6 3/4" and then vertically at 1/2" and 2 1/4" to allow a 1/2" on the sides to attach tape.  Notch the little triangles as shown to help it fold better.  Then this was all just folded (see picture below) and then taped to the top note die cut-outs.  I placed it inside of the little dotted line on the top note, and then cut a little off the middle peak of the top note die on the bottom, so the box would sit flat.

And another view of our finished product.

I wish I would have taken a picture of everyone's, as when I walked around the room they all had their own personalities.  Some had crooked smiles, some had their antlers tilted more to the side, some left the eyelids off and had wide open eyes - but all soooooo cute and easy.  Hope you enjoyed!  ~Maureen

Downline Christmas Party!!!

Last Saturday was our Downline Christmas party for my Crazy Stamping Ladies - it was a great day with a group of wonderful friends.  We started with recognitions and awards, then did a small project, had an amazing potluck lunch, played a game, and did a gift exchange.  The setting was perfect, as my downline Lois hosted us at her Club House.  Even the rain and drizzle outside didn't dampen our spirits.  Just look at all this yummy food!!

And here are my ladies - group 1 -

 and group 2 -

and to think that not even half of the CSL's could make it.  Check back tomorrow for the cute little project that we made and then over the next several days I'll be sharing all the wonderful gifts from the gift exchange.  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - Part 4

Here we go with some more great gifts from our Secret Sister Exchange  - first I want to share my gift from Virginia - she downloaded one of my favorite pictures from facebook.  It's a picture of me and my six grandkids the day we made gingerbread houses.  Then she mounted it on this decorated platform and gave it to me with a wooden easel to display it on. 

Me and my gift!

Making Gingerbread houses with the kiddos is one of my favorite days each year - and this is a great way to display that memory for me every day.  Thanks Virginia!!

Close-up of me and my true loves :)

Next I want to share this package that arrived for Maria from Bobbie.  Here is the outside packaging - adorable!

Cute "Maria" pennant!

Unfortunately Maria was under the weather the day of our party and didn't make it- but I know she loved this gift when it got to her.  Here is what was inside - this amazing bulletin board for Maria's craft area.

"CREATE" bulletin board. Note the cute button push pins.

 These gifts were great - but we're not done yet - check back soon for some MORE Secret Sister gifts!  -Maureen

Secret Sister Exchange - Part 3

So here we go with a few more great Secret Sister gifts.  First is Kathy with her gift from Lois - a crocheted washcloth, decorated Starbucks mug, and yummy Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate!

Lois and Kathy with Kathy's goodies.

Close up of Kathy's yummy gift.

 Next I want to share a great tip that Kathy shared with the group.  You can make a medallion in the lid of our embellishment cases (you know the ones for brads, buttons, etc.).  You take your 1" strip of DSP fold it back and forth to make the medallion and then punch out a circle of CS or DSP for each side of medallion.  Put it in the lid of the case in this order - circle, adhesive, medallion, adhesive, circle.  It all fits in there perfectly and holds it together making it easier to handle as you put it together, and as your adhesive sets. I've got to try this.

Here's the medallion in the case lid that Kathy showed us. 

Finally for today, here is Lois with her exchange gift from Diane - a telescoping snowman card; decorated tin; and cute little Christmas ornament. 

Lois with her goodies

 

 

 

 

Close up of her card, tin and sparkly ornament.

Hope you enjoyed these gifts - check back soon as there are still more to come!!  -Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - Part I

Long week - so glad it is Friday (actually almost Saturday :)  I'm finally getting around to sharing our Secret Sister gifts from last week's downline party.  I have to apologize up front for the blurriness of this first picture.  These cards were clean, simple and LOVELY.  Wish I were a better photographer.

Annette's Gift from Kathy B.

Cards, A lovely calendar and a smile from Annette!

 Next was this great Fall Family picture frame that Diane received!

Diane with her frame and beautiful card from Elaine.

A closer look at the card!

Stop by tomorrow for more SSS gifts from our exchange. We had a great time - and we have such a talented group of stampers.