I'm Surfacing!

Please, please pardon the lack of posting. I don't know what it was. I just didn't feel creative and I was even having a hard time getting into my office to stamp. What's up with that? I think it was the massive cleaning spree I went on that kind of took it out of me. My office is still in need of some weeding and organization, but I need to get on the ball for workshops this coming Saturday (in only a couple of days ). I am going to make it though, thanks to Stacy who is helping me create this month. If you're coming to card workshops then you're in for a treat. I have some other cards that Stacy has made that I'll share with you later :0)

For now, here's a sneak peek at a couple of projects. The snowmen are from a set called "Snow Friends" which is the stamp of the month. I pretty much took the design from the example in the book for the front. I used a blending pen and the stamp pads (vineyard berry and ocean) to color the snowmen. I also used grey wool with a blending pen to create the shadow look. You probably can't see it in the photo, but there's fun flock there for snow. The inside is kind of fun with a peek-a-boo window. One of these days I'll blog it for a tutorial.

The second one is made from elements from that day that Stacy and I stamped with not much success (see this post). I had actually made the base of the card that day too, but forgot to photograph it. While talking on the phone (to Stacy of course) I absent-mindedly laid her tag on my card. It was perfect! I added the words on the tag tonight with an inside message ("Joy to the World Jesus is the reason for the season") and it was done just like that. UGH! I hate it when cards take so long! This one took almost three weeks! It's made with the Everlasting paper pack and the words come from two different sets..."No Greater Love" and Christmas Scripts". The flourish is from a set called "Legendary Moments" which has nothing to do with Christmas. I love being able to use my stamps for lots of things.

So now for BLOG CANDY since you all have been so faithful and have hit this blog over 5000 times! I have a brand new "Magical Season" valued at $22.95 that I will give away to a random poster. I'll try and get a picture of it tomorrow. If you want to see some of the images from the set check out this post. To win this set you need to post the most treasured Christmas present you ever received. I received one last year from my husband. He had a bracelet made with the birthstones of our kids...all five of them. The reason it was so special was because we were in the middle of adopting the two youngest ones. It got me. I cried. My family is so precious to me!

You are Close to My Heart,

Yvonne

p.s. I will draw for a winner on Monday December 3rd. I want to get it out as quick as possible so the recipient can use it for Christmas! Consultants, you are welcome to post your most treasured gift ever received but I ask that someone who is not a consultant wins this :0) Thank you for understanding.

Creativity Has Returned--At Least for Stacy!

I knew Stacy would go home the other day and keep working until she got some cards cranked out and boy are they cute! She's been a stamping queen! I on the other hand, have still done diddly. I just need to get going again. Stacy was sure an inspiration. Take a look! Wow!

I have been crazy, busy and will post a blog candy soon. You all are so awesome to come and visit. Stay tuned.

You are Close to My Heart,

Yvonne

One of Those Days

Well, in case you're one of those that thinks I'm always soooo creative, here's proof that I'm not. Stacy and I stamped for close to three hours and we didn't have diddly squat to show for it. My table is 9 1/2 feet long so you can see what a mess we made. Seriously, we each worked on one card apiece. Neither card was working. At one point we even traded to see if the other could get it. No luck there. They ended up in the trash. Here's ALL that we have to show for our afternoon. It was just one of those days, but you know what? It was fun anyway. It was fun being with my sistah and fun laughing at each other. It was definitely worth the time. Tomorrow is another day and I'll bet the creative juices will be flowing again. We will not be discouraged!

You are Close to My Heart,
Yvonne

I Got Mail!

I received the prettiest card in the mail yesterday from Christi Milliken. She was sending me a thank you card for the cutting tool she won for my give away last time. This card is just beautiful especially in person! Thank you Christi! I'm sure that I will be using it as a pattern for more cards in the future.

I've added a new link on the left side if you're interested in the Wickenkamp grand adventures. We sure have a lot of fun around here. Stop on by and I'm sure that in no time you'll feel like you know us so well! If you tried the link earlier I fixed it so now it works.

It's almost blog candy time again. When the hit counter at the bottom says 5,000 I will post another chance for you to win some goodies! I so much appreciate all those that take the time to stop by. Don't forget to tell Christi what an awesome card this is!

You are Close to My Heart,
Yvonne

p.s. Sorry for the repeated notifications (if you subscribe). I was trying to get the Wickenkamp Grand Adventures link to work!

A Quick Card Tonight

I snuck into my office this evening to try this card that I had seen on the Palmtrees and Pogosticks blog. I would have never thought to put snowflakes in red and green, but it's cute in a whimsical sort of way. These snowflakes are from "New-fallen Snow" and the message is from "Christmas Scripts". I added a bit of cranberry ribbon and it was done. There weren't many layers and there was absolutely no sponging which was a bit of a change for me.

Remember how I said I had snuck into my office? It wasn't long before Angie was at my left elbow wanting to make a card too. When I took my picture, she wanted hers photographed as well. She's definitely a stamp lady wannabe. It's fun that we have stamping and making cards as one of our common interests. Oh, by the way, I WAS going to try glittering this card, but in light of my stamping helper I decided to forgo it. Wonder why?

You are Close to My Heart,
Yvonne

I Got to Play Today!

My office/closet has been a pit since I "picked up" from my last workshop. I wasn't ready to put everything away since I had some unused packets and they were all Christmas cards. What better way to get a little start on the season! Stacy came over and we made up the rest of the cards. We're pretty much covered in glitter from a snowflake card (I didn't show it because it's similar to the ornament a few posts back.)

The card on the left I'm pretty sure I saw someplace and I did a little bit to make it my own. If it's yours, let me know so I can give proper credit. The card on the right says, "is your friendship" on the inside. Both are made using the October Stamp of the Month. The small plaid paper is from the Everlasting paper pack and I pulled the big plaid from Route 66. The colors are Cranberry and Ponderosa Pine. I hope you're getting a good start on the holiday!

You are Close to My Heart,

Yvonne

Now, That's a LOT of Stamps

Ok, no artwork tonight. Circle around. It's story time. I am a lunch clerk at our high school. I am in charge of taking money and making the deposits. It's a job I really love. I was sitting there doing my thing and a co-worker to my boss ichats me to tell me that I need to call Kim the finance lady. That would have anyone wondering for sure, so I finish up with first lunch and give her a quick call on my cell. She's very distraught. She had received a notice from the IRS to garnish my wages because of back taxes owed from 2004. But, here's the kicker. The Social Security number is mine, but the name is definitely not. Ok, would you be worried? Yeah, me too. All she would say is that the IRS wants a LOT of money.

I found out just how much money they wanted when I went over after work. The IRS wants (are you ready for this? Sitting down?) $76,216.72. No, that's not a typo. I had started getting a good headache at work just thinking about how my social security number got out there and how in the world this would get fixed. That number gave me a migraine.

She gave me all the paperwork and so for the rest of the afternoon Jim and I chased around trying to get things straightened out. First stop was to the Social Security office where you sit for quite some time. Plus (and I'm not trying to put people down) there were some rather "interesting" characters there. I am afraid I'm scarred for life. I happen to glance in one direction as a large man was getting out of his chair. The word "plumber" comes to mind. AUGH!

Ok, there they check and the only record of jobs on that social number...MY social number...are of jobs that I've held which is a good sign. From there we split up. I had another errand to run so Jim ran to the IRS office where he's not met with the most friendliness. He had my driver's license and SS card in hand so the lady just assumed that he was just trying to get out of paying that astronomical figure. When she figured it out she lightened up a lot. It turns out that someone else is going to have a VERY bad day soon. Whoever had typed my number in for this person had transposed two numbers. We have a letter to turn in to central office and all is well that ends well. Can you EVEN imagine owing that much money? Now that's a LOT of stamps!

You are Close to My Heart,
Yvonne