More on Lois' Tree

I wanted to share a bit more today on how I made this Christmas Bulb Tree for my Secret Sister Lois.  I found a picture of something similar on Pinterest and had to try it.  You purchase different sizes of coordinating bulbs and then put them on a knitting needle - yes you heard correctly :) - to make the tree.  I used an empty ribbon spool as my base - I put the needle through it and glue gunned it to hold it in place - then glue gunned that entire base to the center of my red charger.

Then after putting all the bulbs on the way I wanted - I created a tree skirt using our medallion die and some coordinating paper.  I put the skirt around the bottom of the tree and glued it in place. 

Then I used a stencil and traced and cut out two of the glitter stars for the top of the tree.  I used glue dots to secure each of the points together - then slid it down over the top of the knitting needle.  It was my first attempt, and not perfect - but I was happy with it and I hope Lois liked it.  A special gift for a special friend.  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Part IV

So today you get to see Virginia's great Secret Sister gift.  First the great Halloween card to go with it.  Love it - I am soooo into fall and Halloween colors.

Next is this beautiful "Trick or Treat" box - just look at those great flowers with gems for the centers and great wire springy things :)  Love it too!!

And inside - YUMMY M&Ms!!  How great is that.  Stop back tomorrow to see what I got from my Secret Sis!  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gift - Part III

Okay - so today I get to share what I got from my AWESOME Secret Sis - look at this adorable framed print.  This is a SU download for MDS through Stampin' Up!  If you want more info on our Digital Program - check it out here and you can get a FREE 30 day trial!  Anyway - I LOVE THIS!!  Can't wait to put it on display with all my Halloween goodies.  I'll be sure to post when I do.

Thank you Secret Sis!  You're the best!! ~Maureen

Secret Sister - Part II

Today I'm sharing Lois' gift from her Secret Sis - it is another lovely decorated candle.  But with a BooBoo - when Lois was opening it, somehow the jar broke :( Sorry secret sis!!  Hopefully she can still use it.  Fortunately she didn't get cut - so that was good.

 

See you tomorrow!  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - September

I'm going to share some of our Secret Sister gifts over the next few days.  The first is from Heidi's Secret Sis - see the cute bag - it's stitched across the top to close it.  Such a great fall feel to it.

Here's what was inside - a beautiful Fall candle all decorated for the fall holidays.  Love it!!

See you tomorrow!  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts

Last Saturday was my First Downline Appreciation lunch.  It wasn't our regular secret sister month - so I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple gifts had been delivered to my front porch.  The first one was for Karen from her Secret Sis - this adorable recipe box filled with stamped recipe cards, and divider tabs.  The picture did not come out that great because it was still in the plastic.  But so cute.

 Second was this cute bag and card for Lois from her Secret Sis -

 Inside was this cute magnet board with button magnets.  Just look how happy it is :) 

  See you all soon for some more stamping fun!! ~Maureen

Secret Sisters - III

Today I'm sharing the great gift Heidi got from her Secret Sister.  Look at this adorable pin-cushion in a frame - and it's make with our Stampin' Up!! Fabric.  How great is that!!  I've seen several pin-cushions made similar to this on the web - but I've got to say this is my fav.  Note the cute red/white stick pins, and the adorable little fabric flower at the bottom. 

Several Secret Sister gifts didn't make it to the meeting this month (such a busy time of year) but as people drop them off I'll be sure to share them with you.  Stop back soon!!  ~Maureen

Secret Sisters - II

Okay - today I'm sharing Julie's Secret Sister gift, and again I'm apologizing for the blurry picture.  This was taken the same day as the other bad ones, when I had my camera on the wrong setting.  Julie got a bunch of great goodies from her Secret Sis, and I hope you can see them all - the bright butterfly card, a cute patriotic necklace, a couple different post-it notes and the adorable red shoe tape dispenser.  Very cute!!  

Hopefully that is my last bad picture for awhile, but I'm making no promises!  See you all soon. ~Maureen

Secret Sisters - I

So at our Quarterly Meetings we exchange Secret Sister gifts - so I'll be sharing a few of those over the next days - the first one is MINE - woo hoo!! I received this lovely gift.  My Secret Sister certainly knows me -

I am a coffee-holic and that's putting it mildly :)  I received the amazing MUG planter - it is huge and filled with a beautiful begonia plant.  You can get an idea of the size when you compare it to the handle on the mug to the right of the picture.  It came in this adorable stamped bag.  I love the way she mimicked the polk-dots on the cup and used the spotlighting technique on the bag - really adorable.  Thank you so very much Secret Sis!!!
~Maureen

Downline Meeting Challenge and SSS

Our card challenge for last week was your best Spring card using the Subtles color group from Stampin' Up! and the winner was this beauty from Julie - how pretty is that!!You can see more of her work at www.SimiStamper.blogspot.com -

While we were in our meeting a little Easter Bunny - in the form of a Secret Sister dropped off these goodies for Karen!  Pretty sneaky little bunny!!

See you all soon! ~Maureen

Last couple SSS gifts this month

Today I want to share the last two Secret Sister gifts - this first one was from Virginia's Secret Sister - an absolutely adorable magnetic message board.

Here's a close up of the flowers and the cute little button magnets.

Finally - here are the beautiful cards that Kathy B received from her not-so-secret sister, Theresa.  The two of them decided they could not commit to SSS for the year, but would exchange cards with each other as time permitted - so nice!!

Thanks for checking out these great gifts.  Stop back soon! ~Maureen

More Adorable SSS gifts

Here are some more of the great items from our talented group of stampers - first is Karen's gift from her Secret Sister - an assortment of cards and gift cards in an adorable box.

Next is Lois's gift - another adorable gift box!

filled with more cards -

 And finally Sandy with her beautiful cards from her Secret Sis -

 And here's a view of the finished insides.

More to come - so stop back soon.  Happy Stamping!!! ~Maureen

Secret Sister gifts -

Today I'm going to share a couple more of our March secret Sister gifts.  First is the one Heidi got - this adorable "You're So Sweet" box filled with her favorite - yummy caramels.  

Next I have a whole bunch of pictures of what Julie got from her secret sis.  It was Julie's birthday and her SU anniversary and here Secret Sis really honored her - here are her cards.

A beautiful journal (the pages look stamped) -

 A cute little box of 3x3" gift cards -

 And finally this glass candy dish filled with candy -

Secret Sis is so fun - I can't wait till our quarterly meetings - just to see what everyone gets.  My downline is sooooo talented.  Fun!!  Stop back soon.  ~Maureen

Random Acts of Kindness

Today I wanted to share a beautiful RAK I received a while back from my downline Lisa.  She knew I was going through a tough time and in the midst of it I got this lovely card in the mail.  It made my day.  

Also, I received this great gift around the same time from my Secret Sister Virginia - it came in the mail when least expected something.  How fun is that .  These yellow picture holders came in these adorable heart packages.  Thank you Virginia.

 

My very favorite thing about stamping is the friendships you make and the people who will support you and that you can support.  There is nothing better than receiving something homemade from a friend.  Stamp something today for a friend of yours!  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gift

Some of you remember that at our Secret Sister reveal in December some of my ladies could not make it due to some family stuff going on.  So Julie brought Lyn's gift to this year's first meeting.  Here is what she made her - this amazing coin purse made with SU's Spice Cake fabric.  Man I wished I knew how to sew.  Isn't this great?!?!  She did say it was a lot of work and that she was never going to make another - so I guess Lyn has a one of a kind :)

 She also decoupaged this "L" for Lyn, and the elastic around it with the butterfly, flower and ribbon, can be removed and used as a book mark - so clever!

Finally - she made her this adorable lanyard that she can use for her work swipe card.  It is very similar to the ones Julie made us last year for our convention gifts.  What a great set of gifts - and Lyn was thrilled to get them.

Hope you enjoyed - my downline is so amazingly creative!  ~Maureen

Secret Sister - Part 8

Hi All - Gonna share another Secret Sister gift today.  This one came in a little late from Maria as she was ill the day of our party - but it was worth the WAIT!  Her gift was for Lisa - and Lisa opened it this week so I can share it now.  First is the adorable card she made her -

Next is this amazing advent centerpiece - how cute is that!!!  What fun to fill each little drawer with a treat!

Here's a close-up of Santa's face - that is all CARDSTOCK - seriously - isn't it adorable.

And here's a close-up of the drawers - what a cute gift!

Bye for now!  -Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - Part 7

So today I want to share what I gave my Secret Sister - first here is the package all wrapped up and ready to go. 

 A close up of the tag -

But the real trick was that my Secret Sister was my daughter Heidi.  All year long I had to try and keep it a secret and it was tough. She says she knew from the style - but I'm not really sure she did :)

Here Heidi is with her gift from Santa Mom!

A close up of the magnet board.

A close up a tool Lazy Susan for her scissors, stylus', bone folders and more!  I use one of these and LOVE it!            Hope she likes it too!

All of the gifts I gave Heidi this year coordinated - you can see the other items here -
http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/2011/06/secret-sister-june-2011-part-ii.html
and here -
http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-secret-sister-gifts-part-ii.html

Thanks for stopping by - I have another great gift item to show you tomorrow - so stop back  ~Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - Part 6

A couple more Secret Sister gifts to share with you today.  The first was from Theresa to Julie.  Unfortunately Julie could not be with us - but I am sure when she got her gift -she loved it.  It was this beautiful cake stand, mix and look at that cute cupcake kit!

Theresa with her gift for Julie.

 Next I have the gift that WOWED us all for the day.  This beautiful Christmas tree that Heidi made for Sandy. It is made out of squares of SU's newsprint DSP.  She modeled it after a tree she had seen at Anthropology.  It was even more amazing in person. 

Sandy with her Christmas tree.

 She also made Sandy this giant Christmas Cracker using one of our Decor Elements tubes as the base.  I think it was filled with chocolates.  Very, very adorable!

Sandy and Theresa.

But we're not done yet - be sure to stop back tomorrow for more ideas!! -Maureen

Secret Sister Gifts - Part 5

More gifts - more gifts - how great is this - first today I want to share the gifts that Karen gave to her Secret Sis Virginia -

Adorable little container for brushes, markers, stamping tools!

Karen couldn't join us due to a family commitment, but she faithfully dropped off her gift for Virginia ahead of time -

Beautiful Christmas angel ornament.

Virginia looks happy with her goodies -

And Virginia with her LOVELY snowflake coaster set!

Next I want to share Bobbies great gift from Sandy -

Beautiful box and hand crocheted doily.

Here is a close up of some of the detail of both the flowers and the doily.  It is amazing. We're not done yet - stop back tomorrow!

Close  up of detail.