Technique Junkie 1 on 1 for December

On such a cold day here in Indy, I got this lovely card from my partner Beth this month from our monthy card swap. She did the Textured Plate Smoosh from the Dec/Jan 2010/2011 TJN. I just love clowns dpn't you?  Here is Beth's lovely card.

Filled with Love Promotion-Free Bitty Buttons with each order

To order any of the items or bundles, email me at jackielwatson2009@hotmail.com.

Come and join Stampin for Diva's Color Challenge

Come and join us and have some fun inbetween Christmas Shopping, wrapping, and if you are like me making tons of Christmas Cookies.

This is my personal invitation to visit my Challenge Blog (well mine and members of the design team).
http://stampinforfundivas.blogspot.com/

Each month we post a challenge to our friends and this month we are opening it to other fellow stampers. One month it will be an Inspiration Challenge (we provide a picture and you use the colors in the picture to create a card or scrapbook page), or a Color Challenge (we provide the colors, you provide the creativity), or a Sketch Challenge (we provide the sketch; you recreate the sketch using colors, papers and accessories of your choice).

Here is a sneak peak of the inspiration picture:

What do you have to do?

Look at the challenge blog for inspiration and begin creating a card, scrapbook page, tags, or even a 3-D project -- let your creativity run wild.


Once you have made your project, take a picture or scan it an save it to your blog. If you don’t have a blog and want to join in just email one of the design team and we will upload it for you.

Then upload it to our blog via the inlinkz button at the bottom of the challenge post. It's easy to follow and easy to use.

I would love for you to participate in our challenge this month and look forward to seeing what you have created. If you have any questions, e-mail me and I'll be happy to help you.

I hope all of you can play this month and If you have new items from the Occasions Mini, please share your ideas and creativity. We all need samples.


Here is my sample:

Did you know that December 9th is Christmas Card Day

Are you Christmas Card made?  In the Mail?  Mine are made and I am working on the mailing today.

Just a reminder ladies, go fix a cup of coco, coffee or tea and enjoy the day.

Every Christmas Tree Has A Story

As I was doing the usual having my son and grandson carry in all the Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree from the garage  I was overwhelmed with all the boxes and what I have collected over the years.

While putting together my tree and fluffing the branches something I have done for over 50 years between my helping my mother to doing my own.  Wow, 50 years that is allot of Christmas trees, since Thanksgiving I have sorted through the boxes and carefully took out each Santa Claus, Angel to make sure nothing is broken. I moved between Halloween and Thanksgiving so things were everywhere.

 So this Sunday, I put on my favorite Christmas CD, mixed up my favorite Cinnamon Nut Cake and put it in the oven. To put me in the mood, and oh my did it ever put me in the mood, the smell of cinnamon is soothing. I have found each ornament has a special meaning to me like; my daughters, sons and grandchildren first ornaments to the ones I find every year.  Every mother and grandmother knows how special these are. Over the years my mother lost  all the glass ornaments she cherished, so I  have none so I have searched garage sales, craft fairs and flee markets to see if I can find any of the older glass ornaments. I have found some over the years, but not many. Over the years I started my own collection of glass ornaments some of them are Santa Claus's, Snowmen and Angels. I started a few years ago my tradition of giving my daughters and close friends on Thanksgiving a ornament to put on their own Christmas tree.When my granddaughter was born  I added her  into this tradition.  One year a very good friend gave me a set of Norah Ark ornaments so my grandchildren could have something to put on the tree when we gather to decorate it. They are stars and balls with animals on them, so cute. Homemade ornaments from ex-sister-in-law that are gorgeous. The love and time she spent meant allot to me. I think that is what a Christmas tree really is love, memories of our families.  Maybe it is my age this year decorating filled me with allot of love, tears and thoughts of the people that has touched my life over the years. My only sorrow this year is that  I was trying to open one of my glass boxes and dropped it and all of the ornaments broke.

This is a picture of my tree before I started: Please excuse all the white. I just moved into my home and I am not done unpacking or decorating the house.

 Here is some of my Santa's and one of my Winter paintings.

 I had to add this one, Pearl my son's dog is on Santa Patrol.

 Here is a picture of my tree half way done. Just found out another box of Christmas stuff is at my daughter's. More goodies coming. Maybe the lost cookie jar.

Here are some more Winter scenes along with my Large Santa.

I must close out for today and I hope you enjoy coming along with me decorating my tree. I would love to hear about Christmas tree story.

The Hives 12 Days of Christmas Give Aways-Check Out What You Can WIn!

The Hive's 12 Days of Christmas

Thanks to the generosity of our amazing sponsors, we have a fun filled and exciting 12 days of gift giving!! Each and every day has something wonderful that you will want to have. Good luck winning... be sure to visit the rules on entering....



Day 1 - Steampunk Snowflake Ornament, Donated by Samantha Star - Paper Candy

- $25 Gift Certificate, Donated by Mallory Lipert of Made by Malcakes.

Day 2 - Mystery Art Grab Bag, Donated by Alyice Edrich Of Alyice Edrich Creatives.
- Fused Dichroic Glass Snowflake Pendant, Donated by KC Eddy - Distracted by Something Shiny

Day 3 - Snowman Ornament, Donated by Marie Patterson - Marie Patterson studios.

- Angel Pin, Donated by Erin Grant - Erin's Jewelry Creations.

Day 4 - Autographed Knit knitavian Style Book, Donated by Margaret Nock.
- Handmade Gift Bows, Donated by Shannon H - Faded Leaves

Day 5 - Skating Polar Bear Print, Donated by Valerie Hart.

- Clear & Wood Mount Stamp Sets, Donated by Glenda Trexler, Independent Stampin'Up! Demonstrator.

Day 6 - Star Ornament, Donated by Marie Patterson - Marie Patterson Studio
- Gemstone and Silver Earrings, donated by Quentin Eckman - Lunar Skies Jewelry
- Decorative Cuff Bracelt, donated by Gen Voss - The Diversified Crafter

Day 7 - Quilt Ladies books (set of 3), Donated by Beth Strub - The Quilt Ladies

- Art Charm, Donated by Susan Faye
- Handmade "Pocket Person" by Rita Ross - The Pocket People

Day 8 - Handpainted Wooden Keepsake Box, Donated by Karen Brady - Brady Bears Studio
- Personalized Necklace, Donated by Joe Koecheler - Joseph Allen Designs

Day 9 - Snow Girl Ornaments (Set of3), Donated by Marie Patterson - Marie Patterson Studios
Holly Jolly Bracelet, Donated by Rana Wilson - Definitive Designs

- Hand Crocheted Ring, Donated by Corinna Cambanes- Crafty's Creations

Day 10 - Scrap'n Tote Pink Organizer, Donated by Marlo Letterle - Contain Ya Crafts

- $25 Gift Card & 2 Christmas Sets, Donated by mygrafico.
- Sparkle n Sprinkle, Donated by Barbara Bruder, Sparkle N Sprinkle Design Team Member.

Day 11 - Hand Painted Face Hive Boxes (King of Mice), Donated by Carolee Clark - King of Mice Studios.
- $10 Gift Certificate for Two Crafty mules, $25% off any purchase at Two Crafty mules, our lady o f Mount Carmel handmade wooden crucifix pendant and Christmas Bauble Bracelet, Donated by Wanda Eash - Two Crafty Mules

Day 12 - One of a kind, hand poured Daisy Charm, Donated by Tiffany Windsor - Cool2Craft

- Roque Digital clipart and papers (5 sets), Donated by Mel - Mels' Brushes.
- A combo pack of PhotoShop classes and a Doodle Portrait class, Donated by Rebecca Parsons - Creative Compass


GRAND PRIZE:

- 1 months free Hive ad (40,000 impressions - $300 value) - Win free advertising for your business or favorite charity.
- $100 Michaels gift card - from TheHive
-Joni Nickrent's Pop Art Minis basket
-Make your own Christmas ornaments kit, Donated by Susan at Photo Making Jewelry
- Cupcake Soap, Donated by Michelle Rhoades - Mossy Creek Soaps

Watch daily for full descriptions and photos of that day's giveaway items.  For more information, visit our TheHive's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway - THE RULES

Happy National Cookie Day

Isn't wonderful that National Cookie Day comes in middle of me baking cookies for Christmas. Here is a scapbook page of my families favorite cookie, Pumpkin Cookies. I get a request every year for them, so I thought why not share my recipe with everyone today.

Two Pink Scotch Adhesive Dispensers

Awesome Giveaway from Obsessed with Scrapbooking she is giving away Two Pink Scotch ATG Adhesive Dispensers. What a fantastic giveaway for everyone.

TWO LUCKY PEOPLE will win!

http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/

Let me tell you why this will revolutionize the way you paper craft:

1) This tape dispenser NEVER jams and the tape NEVER breaks. Have you ever bought some of those disposable adhesives and before you know it, the tape breaks or jams and you can't fix it? So irritating! That will not happen with this device and this tape!


2) All you need to do is go to http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com and leave a comment. Visit them and find out how you can earn more chances to win!

Winners announced next Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Winners have two weeks to claim their prize.