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So in going thru stuff and having to scale back to "fit" into my new cozy crafting nook- I had this huge stack of paper- mostly Heidi Swapp papers- but also overlays and masks and sticker sheets etc- I crammed as much as I could into these Bazzill paper boxes- and I just stuck them on the etsy site- they are aproxx 3- 4 lbs of paper each. Price Includes shipping (sorry no international orders on this item) - so check them out here if u r interested! They will go fast!
i am SO excited about a NEW YEAR! you know, i LOVE a new, fresh start... and all ready there are SO MANY exciting things lined up in 2011... it's going to be a great year. REMARKABLE even!
One of those really exciting things ivolves me working with someone that i totally LOVE and adore, and constantly AMAZES me... Jessica Sprague. We have been working together to Create (ready for it... i love the title alone): "Mouse, Paper, Scissors... " ok, this has been so much fun to put together, that i can't talk about it without smiling! this is the ULTIMATE hybrid class... it's going to combine computer/digital/printing skills with actual "hands-on" paper, glue, scissors (mess) skills... you are going to LOVE IT! you must join us!! we are going to start slow.. and teach the basics of digital savvy-ness, and work up into some mad-digi skills that will turn your computer into your favorite scrapbooking tool!
now keep in mind, while i have really been working on my photoshop skills, i don't consider myself a "digital" scrapbooker... but, learning these skills has totally changed my creative perspective! i LOVE the resources that are available. it's a little scary- but SO worth it!!
this class is 4 weeks... and it includes a kit that will be shipped to you. (and yes, you internationals can play along too!) you need to grab Photo Shop Elements... (i think you can use a trial if you aren't sure about it yet). of course, we will be using House of 3 goodness, and really cool NEW stuff that will be available to you through the class. you will not want to miss out on this class.. it's going to be a blast.. and you will learn SO much! Jessica will be in charge of teaching the nuts and bolts of the digi stuff, in her step by step, easy to learn way... and i will be teaching some FUN put-it-all together projects! including my own tips and tricks to speed up that creative process! i can't wait!
SIGN UP NOW.. the class can be purchased right now for 20% off because of a sale on Jessica's site... so jump in now while you can get a sweet deal! you will LOVE this class... it's going to be so awesome!
Ok.. presents are wrapped. Hoping I can dial down the stress-o-meter, and enjoy-
Last night we CELEBRATED Eric’s big “4-oh”…. And it was quite a c e l e b r a t i o n!
I was racking my brain to come up with something that would be fun-for-the-whole-family and somehow fit into the season! The idea that I finally came up with fit perfectly! But finding ‘ice’ in the evening… anywhere… that isn’t for league or public skate.. that would be the trick! So when it worked out, that I found ice ON eric’s b-day, it had to be! I was so stoked… whipped up an invite….
The party was last night, and it was SO much fun. It was a little crazy, and I only wish that I had been able to capture the fabulous-ness of the event; but I was too busy having fuN!
A HUGE thank you to all that came and made it great. Cause really, a party is only as good as the cool people that come! And we had the coolest group of friends and family- and it certainly made us feel blessed and loved! How cool to look out on the ice and see it filled with all people we love! (breaking all the normal on-ice rules)
The rink was built to accommodate some of the Olympic events when SLC had the games in ’02- it’s a super nice venue. We set up goodies in the ‘party room’… thanks to Costco for Pumpin Pie (eric’s favorite), some cake and donuts. Then I set up a fairly extensive “Hot Chocolate Bar”… the party invitation had promised “bottomless Hot Chocolate.” And I TOTALLY overdid it by mixing up 10 gallons of Hot Chocolate! (we only downed 5 gallons)… you know- my good friend Elizabeth Banks? – the one w/ the Cook Book..(you can order it here) anyway… she always has the best ideas- and on New Years, she always does a “hot chocolate bar” for her kids and all their friends… and she goes all out- so I called her for some ideas.
Here is what I got:
Syrups: vanilla, caramel, hazelnut
Sauces: choc, white choc
Toppings: whip cream
Sprinkles: choc. Sprinkles, mini choc chips, pnut butter chips, crushed oreo, crushed candy cane, colored sugar, (forgot the cinnamon, would have been good)
And of course… a huge jar of marshmallows.
It was yum!
Turns out, if you put boiling hot choc in a 5 gal cooler- it stays pretty dang hot!
It was a crowd pleaser… and I LOVE Hot Chocolate!
Well, happy, happy bday to my Sweet Hubby! I love you!
Ok, so… I have to tell you what we did with the remaining 5 gallons of Hot Choc!
Woke up this morning and moved a table out to the corner and since I wasn’t sure what the weather would do- pulled the big patio umbrella out and helped Quincy and her friends turn a moving box into a sign : “ Yummy Hot Chocolate…” .25 per cup! Quincy and her friends were out there for hours and sold all 5 gallons!! How funny is that?
i feel like i am starting my week out feeling behind... which is never a good feeling for a monday! this is a big week... and not just because it's Christmas week... This week (tomorrow to be exact)... is our 16 year wedding anniversary! 16 years ago, Eric got his very best birthday present... as he woke up with ME! on the day after our wedding... yes- his birthday is the day after our anniversary! and just so happens, that this year is a biggie.. the big 4-OH! all the sudden, i am married to an old man! (wink... i am not far behind). Just ONE of those events would have me stepping it up, but topped off with Christmas...my head is boggled. and in addition, as i have mentioned... we are moving. yea- just a local move. by now, i should be able to do it in my sleep! (i am sure i will be 1/2 asleep!) SO, if it sounds like i am whining... well- i am!
over the weekend, i gathered together a bunch of stuff that i didn't want to haul off again, and sold it to a few locals! i was able to get rid of most of it... and the remaining, i consolidated it into a few things- and if you are interested... you can check it out:
i had a BUNCH of just random extra stuff...paper, stamps, inks, embellishments... some even full packages of stuff. i took it all and split it pretty evenly in 4 different boxes. they are full and heavy boxes- i didn't try to photograph everything... so it will be a "surprise box"... and as i said, there are only 4 available. i am charging $25+shipping. i can't figure out the shipping until i know where we are shipping to... so just know that we'll coordinate to get the shipping amount before we ship it. You can buy them HERE.
ok, i am not really sure where these came from- but i have this HUGE bag of ghost wings... i have no clue how many wings there are... but i don't have the patience to break it into smaller bags... so maybe someone wants to buy it, and do just that! i do love these wings.
ok, so i have taught a few classes with these stamps. - the set has some good stuff.. if you don't already have them! 2 alpha sets, wings, crowns, smile and play. when you buy this set, i will come in a flat rate envelope with some distress inks and cut and dry foam... $5.00 and there are like 9 to go around. SO.. that is about all i have left.
now i am going to be up all night finishing my Christmas Card! turned out CUTE! and, it's a little clever... i must admit.
Just posted some NEW flowers in the Blossom Couture store... over the weekend I made flowers for the kids’ teachers Christmas presents…and they turned out SO gorgeous that I decided to make them into a combo… introducing the Cranberry Twist:
I love all things Black and White, and so when I saw this Houndstooth fabric, I thought it would make a fabulous flower! It’s SUPER cute in a COMBO (especially for Christmas) – check out the “Classic Look blossom combo”… this one combines a large black with a small houndstooth flower and a small red flower… of course you don’t HAVE to wear all 3 at a time, you can only wear 2 at a time!
or also turned out really cute when I combined red fabric with the houndstooth fabric and a little sparkly tulle in one flower (I called it 5th ave).
and I added simple all-black flowers… “basic black”
I also love the Vanilla Crème combo…..this is another good ‘mix and match’ set… when you buy the combos- you get the best deal on the flowers…
So as I was creating the flowers, I made an extra small one, and I thought it would be such a cute ring… so I stuck it on a ring blank, and SHOOT they are cute! LOVE… unfortunately, I don’t have very many rings- but there are a few… so HURRY and grab one if you have someone on your list that would love this !!
If your order is for a Christmas Gift… the last day we can fill those holiday orders and get them to you by Christmas (domestic only)… is Monday Dec 20th. and just to make the deal a little sweeter... you can get 15% off by using the coupon code: DECKTHEHALLS (order by Sunday... the code is good until then!)
I love the anticipation of a new week. We just sat around the table as a family and went over all the activities of this coming week: dance performances, hockey games, last week of school before the holiday, Despicable Me comes out on DVD… all kinds of events! This week is going to need a plan. With my folks coming home next month, it’s also meant that we are looking at a move at the end of the month… so if the holidays isn’t enough…and piling on our 16th wedding anniversary, and Eric’s 40th Bday on top of that STILL isn’t overwhelming enough… then you can top it all off with an end-of-the-year MOVE. It’s local, but still: packing, moving, cleaning, organizing. Whew. Big couple weeks.
GOOD NEWS… (for 3 of you!) TONIGHT, we announced the WINNERS of our YUDU giveaway… and since we got over 1600 comments, Provo Craft agreed to donate and giveaway 3 YUDU machines, and House of 3 matched that (kinda) by also giving each winner a $100 Gift Certificate! The WINNERS have been announced in detail on the House of 3 blog.
Of course, not everyone can win… sad but true, we decided that to THANK YOU all for your awesome support…you can use a special code of : 121310 now through the 18th to get $5 off your order of $9.99 at the House of 3.
ENJOY! And have a great MONDAY!
ps... for those of you NEW to House of 3... be sure to sign up for the Newsletter so you don't miss out on awesome Deals!
Thursdays are a ‘re-grouping’ day for me… got the house pulled together- including mopping the floors. around lunch time, I gave in and took a little nap, that was just supposed to be a little ½ hour rest… I guess it turned into a full on 2 hour crash-out nap… I was so sacked out, that my kids didn’t even wake me up when they came home from school. I guess I was T I R E D!! I think that it was the stocking-making!
So I just checked… and GUESS WHAT? We have over 1200 comments on the House of 3 ‘design district’ blog… so we get to give away 2 YUDU machines!! Both those winners will also score $100 Gift Certificate from House of 3!! …. HELP US get to 1500 comments, and we can give away another YUDU!! Go HERE to leave a comment!
How is the Christmas shopping goin’?
I wanted to share a few idea that my boys love… we get this magazine called “think geek” have you seen it… they have some awesome stuff that i think make clever gifts... there is still time to order stuff!
ok, this totally rocks! they have these t-shirts that really PLAY music! keyboard, guitar and drums (29.99)
both Cory and Colton were into these brain teaser puzzles... they have a bunch of different ones- and they are classified for difficulty- Cory got one, and it kept him quiet for like a whole evening! he needs a harder one... (makes for a potential nap for mom on Christmas morning!)
of course.. nearing the top of list for my kids are iTunes cards... and they don't get super impressed with my home-made "santa" gift card holders... but THIS might keep them interested! - you have to solve the puzzle to get it open...
Cory has this circled.. it's pen that flips open...(click)
i love this... a PEN video camera.. really COOL 'spy gear'... they have a WHOLE LINE of spy cams.
now... just a couple other winners from think geek... this will keep your hot cocoa stirred!
i am diggin this too... a little stand for your iphone that fits in your wallet... great for watching hulu while you craft! (only $3.99)
these are pretty funny... saw these in the Paper Source catalog...this set is $14.99..histerical
(this was cory and his friend for Halloween)
also in the Paper Source catalog... do you remember this? i got a set like this when i was little... and i LOVED it... i think Q would dig it..
and .. i think this would be a hit on Christmas morning... LOL
early to bed tonight!
you can view tonight's show below... thanks to all my helpers: Capri, Aspen, Quincy and Katie...oh, and you too, Eric! thanks to YOU!!! thanks to Persnickity Prints who got me my BIG huge 16x24" Santa Print (you can see it in the green frame behind me!) and who ALSO printed the invites for Eric's 40th in 2 weeks! and a HUGE thank you to Shannon, and Provo Craft for all the amazing products to play with as well as the GENEROUS giveaway! BE SURE to head over to the house of 3 blog and enter to win the YUDU!! the winner will not only score a YUDU, but also $100 gift certificate at the House of 3!! now check this out...if we get to 1200 comments, then we are giving away 2 YUDU's... and if we get to 1500 comments... we are giving away 3 Yudus- as well as 3 $100 H of 3 Gift Certificates! Sooooo, spread the word! and let us know what you would want to use it for! Comments will close SUNDAY night at 10pm and winner will be announced!
just to recap some important info:
1. this was the last show of 2010! we'll be back the first Wednesday of 2011 (that sounds weird)
2. Here is the link to the House of 3 Blog...
3. Sign up to be in the Cricut Circle by going to Cricut.com ... Cricut Circle is kinda like a private club of creative people that get tons of insider info, private classes, tutorials, free stuff, previews, sneaks, private blog, and message board...and 4 exclusive Cricut cartridges per year! it's a paid membership- but sounds like it's worth it!
to the Circle girls: don't miss your OWN chance to win a YUDU here
4. From now until Dec. 15, get 20% off at Creativexpress.com by typing in the code: blog20% - you fill find all Provo Craft supplies as well as other manufacturers.
5. if you "like" Jinger Adams (Provo Craft spokesperson) on Facebook... you can also have another chance at a Yudu giveaway!
6. tonight we featured a few fabulous kits from the House of 3 that you will definately want to pick up!:
7. Sign up for Creative Escape at www.creativeescapeaz.com ... working on a really cool YUDU project for CE this year! you will LOVE it!
8. when it comes to finishing touches on packages and gifts.. add a colorful bell by painting and glittering normal (boring) silver bells...
ok, good night all!
ps... tomorrow i'll be back with some BOY ideas, and stocking stuffers you can't go wrong with!!
Tonight is the last webshow of 2010... and we are going out with a BANG!!
i am sharing a fun "kids craft" with the help of Capri... (my 4 year old), and my niece...as well as giving one of my favorite demos- creating custom candles!
and then i am sharing my newest creations... Holiday Stockings, and catch this: after i screen printed on all the fabric using my trusty Yudu with paints, flocking and FOIL (my favorite)... i sewed them! like- i used a pattern and everything! you will LOVE what you can do w/ a Yudu!!
to CELEBRATE the cool techniques and all the FUN ways you can create amazing holiday gifts... thanks to Provo Craft, we have a YUDU to give away!! so head on over to the House of 3 blog, and enter to WIN!! In addition to the YUDU.. the Winner will recieve a $100 gift certificate to spend at the House of 3!
***just to keep it interesting, if we get up to 1200 comments, we get to give away a SECOND YUDU!!*** comments will close, and winner will be selected at 10pm (utah time) Sunday night...
