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TraceAnn, please email me your mailing address!
Thanks so much for playing everyone and especially for all the kind comments...you all really made my day!
This was so fun that I will for sure be doing another stamp giveaway sometime in December!
So check back!
I have 5 sets of Kolette Hall clear stamps from Hampton Art.
These don't have the 'proof' sheet (the sheet showing the black outline of each image) and some have Staz-on ink staining. BUT...these have only been used once or twice. I have 2 sets of these designs and so one set needs to find a nice new home.
Here are the designs (these could be printed out and used as your proof sheets if you're the lucky winner!):
Here's the deal:
If you're interested in these clear stamps please post in the comments below and I will have one of my kiddos draw a winner Wednesday afternoon (November 29th) at 3:30, okay?
These are really great designs, super cute.
Good luck!
For two years now I have wanted to do something a little different with our advent calendar I bought at Pottery Barn Kids.
And for two years I have put it off saying I didn't have enough time, I'd do it later, etc.
And for the past two years I have been so disappointed that I didn't make the time.
As I was preparing my list for holiday projects for this holiday season it dawned on me that I could make all the excuses in the world and put this project off for yet another year but I would regret it.
I would regret not doing the special things I had planned.
I would regret not spending a few extra special moments each day with my kids who are growing up so fast.
I would regret letting my holidays control me instead of me enjoying each moment with my family.
So from our house to yours, here is a little bit of holiday project inspiration...my take on our advent calendar.
This year I printed up fun activities for our family to do together on 25 tags. Everything from reading holiday books and watching holiday classic movies, baking holiday goodies to reading the story of Jesus' birth from the bible. Each day is set aside for one specific activity. Will we read holiday books other nights besides the designated ones? absolutely. but that's okay. These are family fun time 'jump starters' if you will. Ideas designed to get our family enjoying the holiday season and spreading JOY.
Products I used to create these fun advent calendar tags:
I just adhered the tags to a sheet of printer paper and ran them right through my printer...then embellished.
I purposely made my tags 'kid friendly' with a more whimsical feel but don't be afraid to go more elegant or classic depending on the type of advent calender you have.
Please share if you have created or will create a similar project...I would love to see. Just link your project in the comment section below!
Happy Monday!!!!
Hope everyone had a terrific turkey day yesterday!
we had a wonderful lunch at my mom & dad's. nice, nice day. and everyone participated in the Thanksgiving Gratitude mini book! I am going to be printing photos and finishing the book this afternoon so look for scans later tonight or tomorrow morning.
I am a bit late with the holiday inspiration this week. I meant to post wednesday night but things have been a bit crazy and hectic here. my original project (an advent calendar one) is going to be pushed back to this coming monday. I could post but it is still needs a few finishing touches and I'd like to post the completed project all at once. sorry everyone.
This week's project is to alter an album cover for holiday layouts.
This can be an album for you and your family, a gift for the grandparents or a gift for someone else. For my album I chose an Art Warehouse canvas album (it's 12x12). It is so cool, with a black strap that velcros in the front. super neat and classy. I used rub-ons to embellish the canvas cover with a quote, added some ribbon and ta-da! a fast and fabulous gift.
Some ideas for the inside of your album?
Supply list:
If you alter a canvas album (or plan on altering one soon) please share scans of your work. I'd love to see!
Now, back to the kitchen! We are having Chad's side of the family over for an informal meal this evening (hamburger/hotdogs/potluck). I am making sugar cookies (YUM!!!!).
Have a great Friday everyone!
working on a few things this afternoon for a holiday gift exchange I'm involved in this holiday season. made some fun things today. can't divulge too much since some people may be peeking but I'm having such a ball hand crafting things for each gal!
made these gift tags with metal rim tags from the office supply store (I always have plenty of these on hand) and stamps (love!):
Here's the stamps I used:
I stamped 'joy' on the front of each tag in green, then the solid red circle on the back. Finished each by stamping the first initial of the recipients name on the stamped red circle. Then I just wrote their name around the letter. simple and fun!!!
I saw this book living artfully by sandra magsamen recommended on several blogs so I picked it up. good read. started it at the dr's office this afternoon. can't wait to read some more this evening.
*note to my sis in law, laura....get it. I know how you love a good inspirational book!*
and lastly...
just wanted to share my little dude all dressed up in his boy scouts uniform for the first time...
so proud of you, bubba!!!
check in later this evening for Holiday Inspiration #4...
Sorry this is so late today.
Was going to post earlier this evening and wouldn't you know it...my camera battery died. Had to recharge before photographing my project! urgh!
This week I wanted to concentrate on a Thanksgiving Project.
So often during this busy time of year it seems that this holiday can be brushed aside, forgotten. I am so guilty of this at times. I want to get my Christmas decorations put out so I can enjoy them (and I don't have Thanksgiving dinner at our house often so I don't decorate unless I do) that I miss out on Thanksgiving celebrations.
This is the holiday to count our blessings. One day a year specifically set aside to reflect on those things that are blessings to us, that fill our hearts with joy and gratitude.
I created a mini book to celebrate this year. A place for everyone at Thanksgiving dinner (at my mom's house this year) to jot a few notes about what they are grateful for. The new KI grateful line was my inspiration...so easy to use the coordinating papers and embellishments.
Here's a look at the front cover:
This first page reads:
Today is that one day a year where we get to really express what we are grateful for, the blessings in our life, the joy in our hearts. This little book will serve as a reminder of those things we hold dear in this moment - the blessings we never want to forget. Please take a few moments to reflect on this past year and share your blessings with us.
Each person get a 2 page spread. One page for listing what they are grateful for and the other I will add photos from Thanksgiving day or photos from the year. I am thinking on doing a photo collage, not just one photo. I will share my finished album Friday after I have everyone fill in their page and I add the photos.
I asked my family to fill in their pages early (today)...Chad, Brenden, Payton and I filled out our pages.
Example of an inside page (this one is chad's):
Mini Album Supplies & How to:
Have the book completely put together and stamped. Makes it much easier to just fill in each person's info and photos.
What I love:
The personality that each person's handwriting adds to the album. I can't wait to add my parents, my brother and my sister in law's entries (if you're reading mom and caitlin....think about your gratitude lists...and inform the guys they have to participate too!!!!)
I will be adding an album to the left here where you can see the album and it's entries.
My kid's entries are priceless. In their handwriting. Their thoughts.
Payton wrote:
family
wrd (aka world)
toys
brothers
crafting stuff (she asked my to spell some of these for her)
mome (aka mommy)
dade (aka daddy)
drenks (aka drinks)
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Brenden wrote:
I'm grateful for the Erth (aka Earth), the nice food we have, the resorses (aka resources) we have, our family and thanksgiving day.
If anyone has a similar album to share (or gets the itch to create one this week) I'd love to see it! Just leave a link in the comments section.
Good night!
