{Merry}

This is Tui's swap from last month. I wanted to show it here, not only because I love it, but because it features a wonderful little word set from the Spring mini catalogue. These are only available until the end of December . . .

She's done multiple layers on here using background stamps and the Cuttlebug folders. Also a great use of those oval punches.

Beautiful work, Tui!!

{My Little Slaves}

What a good support system I have! Here is my husband doing faux stitching and my eldest daughter doing the final assembly on this month's swap cards. Why do I always put it off until the last minute? It's not actually that I put it off, I just have other, more pressing things . . . one emergency to the other sometimes!

Isn't he a good husband? :) And little Madeleine will be taking over the business any day now . . .

{Card Tote - Teacher Appreciation Gift}

What a great project this was! This little tote goes together without a template and lickity-split. I stepped it up a bit, but of course you can make it a more simple and quick design if you have a number to make.

I slotted this as a teacher appreciation gift because it's that time of year and I bet many teachers don't want another box of chocolates. How cool to give them something like this? Especially if your child helps put it together? (if you have the patience of a saint).

I am just showing one card here, but we made four to go inside, all a little different, but coordinating. It's easy to make up a little template for a matching envelope to fit any size card when you use the Stampin Up 5-in-1 envelope template. I love seeing my students' finished projects - all adding their own touches.

{A Gift for Me}

This was really a special gift from my dear friend, Janine. I don't get a lot of hand-crafted gifts, and it means a lot when someone does make me one. I love how she's used our newest products (a sneak peak of what's coming in the new catalogue in December) and how she's coordinated two class projects. This hand-stamped candle fits inside the tin! I believe the candle is one from the Warehouse and the tin is a pineapple one, in case you want to replicate this cool idea. How fun for a recipient to find a matching, hand-made candle and a personalized card inside a sealed tin!! Thanks, Janine, you're a gem.

{Peaceful Wishes in Creamy Caramel}

This card was Case'd off of Michelle Fischer, one of my most favorite artists. It's very simple, subtle, yet still effective. And I wanted to make use of all the stamps in the beautiful Peaceful Wishes set in class this week.

This one has a few steps to it, but goes together very quickly. And, of course, it can be done in other colors, but I liked the effect of the gold and the Creamy Caramel - very sophisticated.

Peaceful Wishes set of five for 54.95.

{Christmas Thyme}

I Love this card! This was inspired by another card made with the same layout, but slightly different stamps and different colors and papers. I've used the Peaceful Wishes set here and then the Warm Words for the sentiment. We don't often think of stamping on patterned paper, but it's quite a cool effect, especially when done with an opaque ink like Stampin Up's Whisper White and then embossed. I've embossed with white detail and glitter here, so the pine boughs are subtly shimmering.

The papers are from Stampin Up's Holiday Thyme collection, available only until Dec 15th and at 15% off retail at that. They are double sided and so gorgeous! What do you think?

It's always fun for me to get out the patterned papers and see all the different creations my students come up with, using this card as a base inspiration. Tui always distresses and changes up the colors, others tend to go more monochromatic, Anabel always adds a truckload of glitter, and Janine always leans towards a more masculine feel. I am so blessed to have such inspiring ladies around me. And blessed to have ladies who put up with me and my crazy ideas!!

{The Magic of Stamping on Candles}

A very, very simple and quick project. I've used Solemn Stillness here. The tag is actually quite nice, but I see the flash removed my efforts from the picture. This is a fabulous way to really jazz up and personalize a few items from the $2 shop - candles and cello wrap. Last year I had my four, six, and eight year old daughters make candles with no problem.