New Release - Give Thanks!

Happy New Release Tuesday!

We're getting ahead of the holidays and have this GREAT Fall/Give Thanks Image that is perfect for Thanksgiving (OR any holiday you want to give thanks for those in your life)!

I love this great image - what fun to color!  :)

Perfect for Livy's little note box!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Give Thanks 6

Papers - Doodlebug Design prints, Bazzill Cardstock & Kraft Paper

Extra STUFF - Glossy Accents & Dimensionals

Be sure to visit The Bug Blog and see what our other designers created with this fun image AND then, be sure to head over to The Bugaboo Stamps Store and check out all the new releases (including this one!)

Thanks so much for stoppin' by today!

Hugs & Happy Days!

Anything But A Card @ The Bug Blog

Happy New Year!

Been a bit since I've been here between the Holidays, my father in law having knee replacement surgery, lots of traveling to see family, New Years, cleaning up after the holidays and going back to work after three weeks off/working from home, it's taking a bit to get into the 'swing' of things if you will in the new year.

I think we're STILL putting holiday china away in it's storage containers!  

Today is an Anything But a Card Monday, so I thought I'd share with you how perfectly a Bugaboo Stamps digi works outside of your standard card.

For Thanksgiving, we had a pot luck at work.  Everyone signed up, brought a dish - it was a pretty big pot luck (about 80 people participated)....The biggest I think I've been part of.

Well, we needed to make sure we didn't have 80 pies or 80 different green bean casseroles.

So, this super cute Autumn Owl, was a perfect fit for our Sign Up sheet!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Autumn Owl

Created digitally, colored via GIMP, printed on 11x17 sheet of paper

Visit The Bug Blog today and see what other outside the box kind of things we're doing that include The Bugaboo Stamps!

Thanks so much for stoppin' by today - be sure to check back on Saturday - 

Hugs & Happy Days!

A Late Turkey Day....

Happy Oldie But Goodie Thursday @ The Bug Blog!

We're a bit behind on the holidays and sharing creations - hence today's creation....

Livy's Turkey Day Card.  :)

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Bobblehead Thanksgiving Turkey

Papers - Doodlebug Design (older Fall stack), PTI cardstock & kraft

Tools - EK Success Border Punch, Cuttlebug & Nesties

Extra STUFF - Ribbon, Bling, Dimensionals, Googley Eyes, Stickles Glossy Accents, Studio G sentiment stamp & Stazon Jet Black Ink

Of course, you can pick up this image and LOTS more over at The Bugaboo Stamps Store...

Jodie has a Black Friday & Christmas Sale going on now until the end of the year - a GREAT time to stock up on those digis on your wish list!

Hugs & Happy Days!

Catch The Bug - FOOD Challenge

We LOVE Food at our house!  So of course, I had to join in on today's challenge over at The Bug Blog!

So, every year for Thanksgiving we host our 'Turkey Day After Dinner' the Saturday after Turkey day.  Because we have family that comes in from out of town, Turkey Day After is perfect!  

This year it will definitely be a bit different with our little Jelly Bean in the house, but we'll ALL be Gobblin' till we're Wobblin!  :)

So, here's my FOOD creation for today - our annual Turkey Day Invite!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Jar - Autumn

Papers - Kraft, PTI Cardstock and Doodlebug Design on the backside of this invite

Tooks - EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Computer Generated invite, Dimensionals (the jar is popped up on dots) and Doodling

So, head on over to The Bug Blog and join the FOODY Fun!

Thanks so much for stoppin' by today!

Hugs & Happy Days!

Anything Goes Challenge @ Bugaboo Stamps

It's an Anything Goes Challenge over at The Bug Blog and today, we're breakin' out the Munchkin Turkey Day card for our little Jelly Beans special card box. 

We can hardly believe she's 7 weeks old already - it seems like time is just flying!!!

I'm not sure if it's the sleepless nights - though we can't complain, she's a really good baby and gives us 3-5 hour sleep blocks at night most nights and a good 3-4 hour nappy block during the day (yes, we are LUCKY!!!).  Or just that we should be sleeping when she's sleeping, but she's just such an amazing gift neither one of us can help but stare at her as she sleeps peacefully!

So here's the Turkey Day card for our little Munchkin - 

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Thanksgiving Girl

Papers - Doodlebug Design prints, Kraft & Bazzill Cardstock

Tools - Cuttlebug, Nesties & EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Doodling & Computer generated sentiment

Head over to The Bug Blog and join the Anything Goes Challenge!

You never know, you could be our winner this week and add some amazing new images to your Bugaboo collection.

Hugs & Happy Days! 

Belated Turkey Day!

So, because of my OCD and need to be EARLY or at least ON TIME, there are very few things we celebrate LATE in our family.  However, Turkey Day is an exception.

Why do I tell you about celebrating Turkey Day AFTER Turkey Day and my weird OCD on time issue?

Because today's Oldie But Goodie is a cute Turkey Day Card for our nephew I had to share.  Evan and his mama & daddy joined us for our After Turkey Day Dinner.

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Brat - Autumn Pumpkin

Papers - Doodlebug Design Print & Bazzill Cardstock

Coloring - Copics

Extra STUFF - Doodling & Dimensionals

Visit The Bug Blog and see what the other girls have whipped up for today's Oldie But Goodie Day!

Hugs & Happy Holidays!

Challenge Submission:

7 kids challenge blog - Anything Goes

Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Photo Challenge

It's a Photo Challenge at The Bug Blog today - Wanna play along??

Of course, this inspired me to whip up your After Turkey Day Dinner invites for family & friends!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Halloween Pumpkin

Papers - Doodlebug Design

Extra STUFF - Dimensionals

So, head on over to The Bug Blog and join the Photo Challenge this week

Hugs & Happy Days!

A Sock Monkey kind of Turkey Day!

I'm a few days behind, but wanted to share with you the First of many Turkey Day cards I know I'll be making for my new nephew.

Image - Bugaboo Stamps "Sock Monkey - Thanksgiving"

Papers - Miscellaneous from my scrappy stash

Coloring - Copics

Tools - EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Dimensionals, Doodling & Computer Generated sentiment

Hugs & Happy Turkey Day!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Now Let's get BASTED!!  =)

Because some of our family and friends are from out of town, we celebrate our Turkey Day AFTER Turkey Day.

Today, hubby and I will watch some football (did you know Kid Rock is doing the 1/2 time how for the Detroit Lions football game?)

Then we'll do some getting ready for our Turkey Day After Dinner.

We've got some seriously yummy stuff on our menu for Saturday - 

Beef Tenderloin, Turkey, Our Yummy Loaded Mashed Taters, Basa & Kraut, Rolled Onions, Pierogies and Wine - LOTS of WINE (you'd understand if you ever attended one of our holiday dinners!!  =)

The boys spend several hours in the backyard over the deep fryer and we eat until we're so full we could nap for days.

Every year though - there's always lots of 'tovers as we call them headed out the door with family.

You can NEVER go wrong with a Polish Thanksgiving Meal at the Kaymin Kantina!!

I thought I'd share with you our invites for this year.

Image - Whimsie Doodles (I've been waiting nearly a YEAR to use this image!!)

Papers - Miscellaneous from my scrappy bin

Coloring - Copics

Tools - Cuttlebug & Nesties

Extra STUFF - Raffia, Dimensionals, Studio G Sentiment and Stazon Jet Black Ink

Happy Thanksgiving - Blessings to you all and your family!

I know we'll be counting our blessings - there are so many things to be thankful for.

Hugs & Happy Days!

Challenge Submission:

Whimsie Doodles - Holidays Celebration

You're invited....

To Gobble Till You Wobble for our After Turkey Day Dinner!!

Yep, it's the Annual Kantina Turkey Day and with that comes an invite.

I saw this Margaret Calendar Month - Thanksgiving image and KNEW it was going to grace this years Turkey Day Invite!

Even better yet, it's an OLDIE BUT GOODIE day at Bugaboo Stamps/Catch The Bug and THIS is a PERFECT FIT!! =)

A little Sneak Peek of the inside too

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Margaret Calendar Months - Thanksgiving

Paper - Kraft, Bazzill &amp

Tools - Cuttlebug, Nesties & MS Punch

Extra STUFF - Raffia, Dimensionals and Computer Generated Sentiments

The poem on the left side of the invite just makes me laugh!!

For more Oldie Inspiration, be sure to visit The Bug Blog and see what other Oldies were unearthed for today!  I know there's a few I'll be addin' to my collection!! =)

Hugs & Happy Days!

This old girl has been entered into the following challenges -

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 2W - (2nd week) Thank you OR Thanksgiven (ends 22nd Nov)

CCEE Stampers - 1E, JFF - 2 Diecuts OR 2 Punches

Crafty Purple Frog - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Use Orange (ends 23rd Nov)

Meljens Designs - SIO - Fall

Rainbow Lady's - 2E - Thanksgiven

Sisterhood of Crafters  - 2W, 3E - Giving thanks (2nd wk)

The Paper Variety - 1E - #60 thanks

Whimsical Wednesdays - Thanksgiving (2nd wk)

Die Cuttin' Divas - must include a Die-cut - #41 What Time Is It? It's Turkey Time!

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - Thanksgiving

Jen's Digi Stamps - 2W, SIO - #8 Autumn/Fall 2nd Week

The last of the Turkeys. . . .

And JUST in time for Turkey Day!!  I put together a few of these for our family.

It was a perfect card for Cheryl's challenge at Scrap-Friendzy - Use the scraps from your last layout.  Because my layouts have been few and far between lately, all my layout scraps were still within reach! 

I thought this image was just too funny!  The Sentiment seemed appropriate as every year after Thanksgiving I remember my mom 'soaking' what was left over of the turkey and making Turkey Soup.  Ah, the holiday memories!  : )

Image - Dustin Pike Freebie

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - Left over Scraps from a layout I did for Colin's Album 

Sentiment - Computer Generated - LDJ Noodge (Scrap N Fonts)

Miscellaneous - Doodling, Googley Eyes, Dimensionals for Turkey's feet & beak & Stickles!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families & find some fabulous Black Friday Deals!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Short Week.....

and progress to boot! 

We had yesterday off from work to celebrate Veterans Day.  Go figure, even though Veterans Day was this past Wednesday, the company I work for celebrates it after the fact - it is called 'Deer Hunting Day'.  We still celebrate Veterans Day at our house on the actual day as both of our dad's were in the service and we are so thankful for our Veterans AND our Soldiers!!!

Okay, so on that 'Deer Hunting Day' thought - Let me attempt to paint a picture for you - I grew up in a small town that actually has what they call a 'Buck Pole' at the local sporting goods store (a little town sporting good store).  All the locals on the first day of rifle hunting season that have gone out hunting and 'bagged a buck' brings their deer to the 'sporting goods store' and they all admire who got the biggest one......hmmmmm, sounds like a guy thing, doesn't it? 

Please let me remind you, we don't hunt, we feed bambi, we don't eat him (not that there is anything wrong with hunting if you do and use the meat).  I grew up in Hicksville USA, and this event each year made the front page of our local weekly paper.  It is BIG news, every year!  My dad used to go 'hunting' though it was more hanging out with his buddies, playing cards and drinking......just ask my mom about the year she packed his extra socks in his gun case and he never found them........

I digress.....be prepared for another one. . . . . right about NOW!  So, we both had the day off and a list of things we wanted to check off - we're getting ready for two Thanksgiving dinners next week, so a trip to Costco was a given yesterday.  I usually go, run in, get what we need and run out.  Well, yesterday we spent 2 1/2 hours wandering through.  It was time well spent, we got what we needed and a few 'extras'.  Believe it or not, there is a crafty reason I'm telling you about our Costco trip :) I have some new 'lighting' news to share. 

My studio is in our finished basement.  No natural light.  Several years ago, before I got back into scrapbooking and was cross stitching till my eyes crossed, my folks got me an Ott-light for Christmas one year.  I love the light it gives off.  Anyway, in my studio, I have three can lights in the ceiling and up until this point, I've been using your standard light bulbs.  Yep, the ones that kind of give off the yellow kind of hue.  Well, in our wandering at Costco, we found a 6 pack of the 'daylight' light bulbs (energy savers too).  Can I just tell you HOLY COW, what a difference?!  Even Glen was completely blown away by just the difference in lighting!  You know you're getting 'old' when you get excited about lightbulbs!  HA HA! :oD

I can't wait to get back into my studio tonight!!

Okay, now that I've blah blah blahed your ear off, I want to share with you a little quickie I put together last night for my nephew for Thanksgiving (with my new lights).  I love making cards for my nephew Colin.  From the stories I hear from his mom, he always gets a kick out of 'reading' them (he's 4).  Anyway, when I saw this Turkey on a Scooter, it seemed like a perfect 4 year old Turkey card!

I used the Scrap-Friendzy "Thanksgiving Recipe Challenge."  We had a list of items we could use and we had to pick 5.  I used:  Twine, Patterned Paper, Buttons, Embossing & Distressing.

 

Materials:

Papers:  Leaf print - Hobby Lobby, Brown, Rust & Green from my scrap stash

Image:  High Hopes Stamps (I stamped him and then enlarged him)

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Cuttlebug:  Argyle Embossing Folder

Miscellaneous:  Stickles - Diamond & Silver, Twine, Colorbox Olive Ink, Buttons from the button box

Thanks so much for stopping by and being patient with my yakkin' today!

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Little Turkey Day Invite

Every year we host our annual "After Turkey Day Dinner" for our parents, my cousins and Glen's brother.  Because we have some 'out-of-towners', we always do it the Saturday after Turkey Day when everyone can make it into town.

Even though it's only family, I always enjoy sending out invitations.  This year is no different.  It's been ages since I've done a long card and I really like how this turned out.  Simple.  I've never made bows like this either, but love the way they turned out.

Embossed Pumpkins are from a stamp set from Joann

Versamark & Orange Embossing Powder

Paper - Rust Cardstock, Little Yellow Bicycle printed paper

Ribbon - Chocolate Brown from Michaels

Invite - Computer Generated - Ld Chicken Scratch Font from Scrapnfonts.com

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a look!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

How Was Your Turkey Day?

I hope this finds everyone getting into the holiday spirit! We had such a nice holiday this past weekend! Thursday Glen and I spent the day tinkering around the house, getting Christmas lights finished, our snow village put together and smelling the yummy turkey dinner cooking.

This is the Christmas Village Glen always does such a fabulous job organizing. Isn't it awesome? We've both decided that we're going to need a bigger fireplace topper for next year as our village is turning into a little town!

We usually do our 'Turkey Day After' Dinner the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Everyone comes to our house for dinner - my folks, Glen's mom & dad, brother Rick and my cousin Eric & John. We eat, eat, eat, drink and are merry! Glen and his brother each year fry our turkey and we have a plethora of yummy 'extras'. This year was no exception - we hardly had any 'tovers!
I hope you all were able to enjoy your family and friends like we did!

My apologies for being such a blog slacker! I can't believe it's been two and a half weeks since I've blogged!
I don't know about you, but it never ceases to amaze me with just HOW busy everything gets this time of the year! Whew!

This weekend, we have our annual Cookie Exchange Party (Sunday), so this week will be spent finalizing the menu for brunch and then the cookie making starts Friday. I'll be sure to take photos of all the wonderful cookies we end up with! This is one of my favorite parties because we have the chance to share all these wonderful treats with friends and family that aren't bakers or are too far away to join us.
Creativity has been scarce these past few weeks - I've been so busy working on Christmas Gifts (of course, I can't post them b/c then they wouldn't be a surprise to those who are getting them......

But, I was able to work on a few cards on Sunday. Tonight I plan to finish our Christmas Cards and finish our Christmas Eve Dinner invitations. Sure need to get those in the mail!
Happy Crafting! Min