Presents for All!

Oh, the month of December kicked my butt royally this year. I just didn't see it coming. One day I was ahead of the game (it was a day in November, I'm sure of it), and the next thing you know, it's December 20th! No matter, maybe I can get you caught up. Here are the gifts I made for my co-workers. I found super-cute mugs at Starbucks, and they were on sale for $14.39 for a four pack. LOVE THAT! Filled them up with an orange (I had to fill the bottom somehow, and I hate getting baskets with balled up paper towel sheets in the bottom, don't you?), then a See's Candy Santa, and best of all, this delicious dessert tea from a local Italian import shop. Even opening the box to get them out smelled good! Made a tag with my Marvy punches and Amuse stamp, and I was good to go!

This is Better Than Christmas!

OMG!!! Today was like Christmas for me! So, let me backtrack: During World Cardmaking Day, I participated in a bunch of contests. One of them was with one of my favorite bloggers, Jenn Shurkus. The girl is my idol. She's an Amuse instructor and she works at a scrapbooking store in Massachusetts. How cool is that!
Anyway, I won her contest, and my prize arrived today! I opened my package up to reveal a scalloped rectangle punch (one I've been coveting for months), AND a handmade card by Jenn herself! Amazing! It was better than Christmas! I was so happy, I literally started jumping up and down, and I had to burn off some excitement by doing dishes. Now I'm trying to come up with my first design using my new treat. Stay tuned to see what I come up with! Thanks again Jenn!!!

ATCs!

The ATCs are finished! After a slight mix-up with the due date, I was up until 1:30am finishing them. Nonetheless, I think they turned out all right. I did two swaps this time for the first time, which I think also threw me off. Nonetheless, I like how they both turned out.













This first one was for the Cat's Pajamas swap group. I used my fabulous new Spica pens on the sword, and copper brads down the side. This ATC took me forever to design, mostly because I couldn't decide on the layout. I had the phrase "Ahoy there, matey!" also by the Cat's Pajamas, but I couldn't figure out how to fit it or how to stamp it onto the black patterned paper. On the other hand, I know I'll have lots of ways to stamp the two together on a card front. Oh, I can't wait until I have time to stamp some more cards!


















This next card was for my Amuse swap group. The images are from Amuse's Party Time clear set. The utensils were really what sold me on the set, and I've used them a ton so far. I used my Spica silver pen to color in the utensils. The background plaid is actually a sticker I got from a Mrs. Grossman's sale. I have to say, living so close to Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory definitely has its perks. I got a whole roll of those stickers (in an even bigger size) for $3. Love those!

Now I'm down to one more assignment. My Secret Sister on Amuse Addicts is desperately in need of some treats. Once I finish that, I'm on to holiday craftiness!

The Holidays Are Here

Well, not here as in my house, but here in general. (Our decorations have yet to go up--oops!). Anyway, I've been in a holiday mood. I've pulled out my Christmas albums, uploaded them to iTunes, and I'm even playing them in my car. Bring on the holidays!
This year, I'm actually not that worried. I've got a few crucial gifts already out of the way, but the elusive significant other gift is still stumping me. Why are guys so darn hard to shop for!
Anyway, I've already done my first holiday tradition. My LSS does a tag swap every year, and I've been doing it for about three years now. You make 25 tags and get 25 different ones back. It's fun and it's easy. Well, the envelope went to the Post Office tonight, so that can be crossed off the holiday list. You wanna see them?














The reindeer was a freebie I got from Amuse at their anniversary party. For some reason, I'm smitten with him! Anyway, he's accented with Stickles, and the To: From: is from a set by Hero Arts. Very simple, but I think it's cute nonetheless. Now, I'm off to finish my two ATCs for Tracy's swap. Wish me luck!

To the Cards I Make and Never Send

I'm sorry. Really, I am. Somehow, I feel so accomplished in creating you that I forget that there's still that pesky step that involves addressing and affixing postage to you. The next thing I know, the event is over.

Namely, I apologize to this Thanksgiving card:














which was intended for my relatives on the East Coast, but I was still staring at it on November 21st, cringing. I guess there's always next year, right?

I also managed to make this card:













But, this one I think managed to make its way to the recipient in time to celebrate a birthday tomorrow. We'll see!

I Cut My Hair!

Oh yes I did. I cut ten inches off of it and donated it to Locks for Love. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, in fact Jeff my hairstylist did it so quick I didn't even know it was coming. He put it into a ponytail and then snip! snip! it was gone!

Last weekend flew by. Friday night we went to see Tainted Love, this rockin' 80s cover band that played in San Francisco, and on Saturday, I went to a wedding (where my haircut picture was taken). A super fun and super-quick weekend.

Bad Blogger!

Okay, so I really stink at blogging. How about I make it up to you with one amazing post? (You gotta start somewhere, right?) So, between October 12th and now, I bet you're wondering what I was doing. Let's start at the beginning, shall we?














Right after I disappeared, Phil and I hosted a kickass pumpkin carving party, complete with decorations (see above). We also did deviled egg eyeballs, complete with olive pupils:


















Although they looked completely gross, they were actually delicious!


















We then went down to our local pumpkin patch and got very lost in their corn maze. Man, I never knew how hard those things were to get out of!


















Anyway, after the maze we picked out pumpkins. Here's Phil lugging around his ginormous pumpkin. It was so hard to pick just one!













Then we came back to the house and carved 'em up!

After the pumpkin carving party, I got to work on Halloween treats for my friends. I wrapped some candy bars (a la Martha Stewart), which turned out like this:













And of course, I had to make some broomsticks. (The tag sticking out says, "Have a FRIGHTFULLY Happy Halloween!") These ones were made with paper bags and weighed down with candy corn. Yum!



















To finish out October, I got down to some card-making. I had a couple of birthdays, which I approached in two different ways:


















This one was for my friend Teri, who's fun and bright. And the next one was for my friend Pete, whose family celebrates every occasion with fondue:














We for our part had to celebrate Pete's birthday in our own way, so we made the trek into San Francisco to go to dinner at the House of Prime Rib. Let me tell you, that prime rib was AMAZING. The dessert was pretty good too though:













Lately, I've been making birthday cards, with more to come. Here are a couple I did quickly over the weekend:



































Lastly, I did one more crazy thing while on hiatus from the blog.
Before:

















And the after picture is coming soon! Can you guess what I did?