One of the delights of this time of year is receiving hand stamped Christmas cards from my friends.  Here are some of the hand made cards I've received this year that feature Stampin' Up!® products:

From Jennifer C.  What a peaceful combination of colors.

From Kathy A.  How festive!  And loads of details!

From Jennifer E. – Delightful, subtle coloring.   I loved this stamp set the moment I laid eyes on it; wonder why I never got around to buying it?

I think that's all I have taken pictures of so far, although I have received several more in the past couple days.  Will have to catch those in another round later……  

Here are a few more Christmas cards from my Christmas Card Design Studio participants.

This was the first year my Mom (and Dad) made their own Christmas cards, and the card on the left was their pretty card.  They used Night of Navy and Silver cardstocks, and Iridescent Ice embossing powder (over Whisper White Craft ink).  The pinecone stamp is from "Lovely as a Tree", as is the main trees image – while the verse is from a retired stamp set.  We decided that tearing the lower edge seemed to soften some of the squareness, and provided a perfect touch.

"Lovely as a Tree" seems to be a perennial favorite at Christmastime, and Joyce B. selected it for her cards this year as well - interestingly in the same colors as Mom's cards.  But Joyce reversed the colors (using blue ink on white cardstock), and cut her top background layer with the Top Note die and Big Shot die cutting machine.  A snowflake and rhinestone brad lend some extra dimension and provide just the right balance.

   And as long as I seem to be showcasing "Lovely as a Tree", I might as well toss my own Christmas card in here, too – since I used it on my design as well.  I was going for a bit of a vintage look, so went totally monochromatic with Kraft cardstock and Bravo Burgundy (Craft) ink and ribbon, with just a touch of metallic gold on the edges of the burgundy middle layer.  Other stamp sets included the Canvas background stamp, Winter Post, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and Many Merry Messages.  And hours and hours and HOURS of sponging!

Hey!  Did anyone catch that little detail that I actually MADE Christmas cards this year?!?  Now, to get them addressed and mailed yet…..

And finally, this is Carolyn S.'s card.  Now Carolyn didn't actually stamp her card here in my presence, so I was a little surprised when I saw the completed result; it wasn't even *close* to what we'd designed for her!  But I think it's totally charming anyway, and I love the dual-image thing she did with her layering!  And maybe she'll save her original design for Christmas 2009! 

Please read all the way through this posting, including the UPDATE at the end….

Ooh La La!  Stampin' Up! has just released a Sneak Peek bundle of charming goodies from the upcoming Spring/Summer catalog, and they're available to order beginning today!  So you might wonder why should you bother to order Valentine's-related things just 2 days before Christmas?!?  Well, because Stampin' Up!'s free shipping (on orders over $70) continues through today only!  And when you purchase this darling bundle, you'll be halfway there towards qualifying for that free shipping offer anyway; just combine your order with a friend and that'll do it!

Here's what you'll get in your specially-priced bundle:

Click here to place your order online – quick and easy!  And perhaps best of all, when you order directly online, it'll be shipped straight to you and you won't have to worry about when we'll finally be able to navigate my street again!  (Fingers still crossed for a melt-away by the weekend so I can deliver those Stamp Club orders being held captive here.)

I'll be featuring this bundle at my January stampin' events, of course, but this is your chance to get yours now AND take advantage of the free shipping on it, too!  But remember that's TODAY only – and Stampin' Up!® is on Mountain Time so don't wait until the last minute!  (If you'd prefer that *I* place your order for you, please have your order turned in to me by 7:00 pm Pacific time tonight.)

Editted to UPDATE only minutes after I originally posted this: 

Uh-oh!  I have just received word that Stampin' Up!® has already run out of the Designer Series Paper included in this bundle!  (WOW!  THAT was fast!)  They will get more, of course, but in the meantime, anytime something is on backorder status it cannot be ordered through the online ordering system.  BUT *I* can still order your bundle for you (and the DSP will just be on backorder for a while). So my updated recommendation is to call or email me with your order – and remember I'll need it before 7:00 pm (Pacific time) TONIGHT in order to qualify for the free shipping offer!  Sorry 'bout that online ordering snafu!

Well, I've been TRYING to stamp a little this past week or so, but just can't seem to keep my focus and stay in my chair.  I just have to keep running outside to the porch to either shoot some more pictures or just stand there and marvel.   I'm amazed at the breathtaking beauty of the view from here!  Well, both amazed AND amused – for a while, anyway.  Until the realization comes creeping back in that it's looking more and more like our traditional December 25th family get-together will be held by teleconference, lol! 

But who knows?  Maybe there's a weather miracle in there somewhere.  Afterall, it IS the season of miracles!

Four days ago I thought this was a really dramatic picture.  Until this morning's shot (below).  At first I was amused at how the lanterns on the brick wall were up to their shoulders in snow, and wore darling little snow-caps.  And there was this pretty layer of white gently tracing the branches of the vine maple that shelters the porch……

But THIS morning, there ARE no lanterns and hardly any brick wall at all.  And that poor vine maple can barely support the weight it's burdened with.  (I know, I know, I should go knock off the snow while I still can.  But I had to get this picture first!) 

I think the bluish cast in the picture is a result of the "not too long past dawn" thing. 

Oh, and those foot prints that begin half-way down the walk and disappear around the corner of the garage?  Those are *my* tracks – actually made this morning with my bedroom slippers!  Um…Don't ask!  Ok, maybe those of you who join me at my January stampin' events WILL get to hear the story – if you promise not to laugh too hard.  On second thought, maybe that'll be a great reason to make SURE you come!   

Ok, so this obsession of stepping out onto the porch at least hourly seems to worsen after dark, and I find myself out there several times an hour as the night grows deeper.  But at least that's what allowed me to capture THIS picture last night at roughly midnight.  You shoulda heard me squeal when I saw the results!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  And stay WARM and SAFE out there!

Just a quick update to let you know that due to technical difficulties, this weekend's "Mystery Hostess Workshop You're Probably too Busy to Attend" has been extended through Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 4:00 pm (Pacific)!  Same start time (Saturday, at 4:00), and same special offers (10% off retiring stamp sets, and FREE SHIPPING on your entire order!), but now you have a couple extra days to shop. 

But don't wait TOO long; you don't want to run the risk of forgetting!  Click here for participation details.

The "To Be Retired" stamp set list has been published for the Fall/Winter Catalog, and it includes a never-before-offered 10% discount on 'em through December 23rd!  Choose your favorite format for viewing this list; numerical (by page number), or alphabetical (by stamp set name).

AND here's something else fun:  Stampin' Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $70 – from now through December 23rd! So how's this for a cool offer? – Save 10% on your favorite retiring stamps, and get free shipping on 'em, too!  (With a $70 order, that is.)

And if you place your order during my 24-hour "Mystery Hostess Workshop that You're Probably too Busy too Attend" this weekend, you might win yourself some Mystery Hostess benefits, too!  It's actually a catalog party, so no, you don't have to interrupt your busy schedule to show up. In fact, please don't, as I'll be busy, too, lol!   Just call or email me with your order between 4 pm on Saturday and 4 pm on Sunday, and you'll get 1 entry into my drawing for Mystery Hostess benefits with every $25 in product you order!  (Please note that while I usually urge you to order online if you'd like to, I can only extend Hostess Benefits for this Mystery Hostess event for orders that are phoned in or emailed.)

So have fun picking out the stamps you just can't live without! 

Update as of 12/13:  Due to technical difficulties, I have extended this event to 72-hours!  So you have through Tuesday at 4:00 pm (Pacific) to participate.  You'll still get the 10% discount on retiring stamp sets, and free shipping on your entire order, since this will be submitted as a workshop, thereby qualifying ALL orders for the free shipping offer!

Here are a couple more Christmas Cards, designed for and made by participants in my Christmas Card Design Studio this year.  Neither of these ladies have had much experience stamping, and yet I think they both turned out BEAUTIFUL artwork!

This first sample (left) is Jane's Christmas card.  It's a modified copy of one I received from a friend a year or two ago. Jane was particularly charmed by its "texture" – which, unfortunately, doesn't really show in the photo, since I shot it straight on.  But it does have several wonderful layers of texture and dimension.  The stamp set, Peaceful Wishes, is now retired, but it still remains one of my favorites.  Main colors are Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke.  With all the layers involved in this card, I thought this was a pretty ambitious effort for someone without a lot of stamping experience!  But by beginning way back in early October, Jane's cards were all finished (including envelopes addressed) sometime in mid-November.

And coincidentally, Amy chose the very same main colors for her card, but we added some gold and some black for punch.  Amy told me she has not stamped before, but you'd never know it by how this lovely card turned out!  This stamp set, A Cardinal Christmas, is from the 2008 Holiday Mini Catalog.  Amy watercolored the cardinal and leaves with an Aquapainter and various Classic inks, and then added highlights back in on the berries with the white gel pen.  We had originally planned to stamp the bird with black Stazon ink, but found we got a better stamped image on the Naturals cardstock by using Basic Black Craft ink.  So we just let that dry for a long, long time (like about a week!) and then I heat set it to make sure it was good and dry before Amy watercolored over it.

Holiday Extravaganza Sale Update – (11/29)

The following bundles are apparently sold out via online ordering, but items may still be available individually.  But if you had your heart really set on one of these bundles, ask me whether I may be able to order it for you.  No promises, but I can *try*:

• Mission Embossible Bundle

• All in the Family Bundle

• Curly Label Punch Bundle

Today's the long-awaited day – and the secret's finally out!  Beginning today, and running through Monday, Dec. 1, Stampin' Up! is offering a smorgasbord of product bundles at savings from 20% – up to 50% off the regular price!   To view the details so you can grab your share of the Holiday Extravaganza savings, either Click Here for a PDF flyer, OR ………. to view pictures of the product bundles and/or shop conveniently right online, go here instead, and then click the SHOP NOW button in the upper right corner.  

Remember though – this sale only runs through Monday, December 1, and supplies are limited.  So the earlier you jump in, the better your chances of scoring the best deals!

But I can't tell you what it is, because even *I* don't know, lol!

All I can tell you is that something really special will be happening over the Thanksgiving weekend, and I encourage you to check back right here at this website - and also look all over THIS one, too, beginning (perhaps late) on Wednesday, the 26th!  Whatever "it" is, it will continue through December 1st – so mark your calendars now so you don't forget on that busy Thanksgiving weekend!

Now how's THAT for a cryptic message?!?