Christmas Wishes

This Christmas is especially important to our family as we are struggling with how to make this Christmas as special as we can for my MIL. We found out yesterday after yet another surgery, her cancer is very aggressive.....since her first surgery 8 weeks ago the 50-60 "sand" size tumors are now the size of marbles-golf balls. These are now causing major problems and pain...Our goal is to bring her home before Christmas so we can cherish what time we have left. My heart breaks as I write this....we need to remember how precious life is!! Enjoy every moment with our children, parents and grandparents, we never know when we have to say Goodbye. (I did post a link for those of you interested to my MIL caringbridge blog and our dear friend Dave, who is also struggling with stomach cancer. They were diagnoised one week apart, go to the same church and their kids grew up together....)

I have been struggling to keep my life together in all this craziness as you can see I haven't posted much....I have new catalog stamps still haven't left the box. (So unlike me, especially ones this cute) I know I need to keep the focus on our families. Thank you for everyone for all your wonderful support and kind words, your e-mails mean a lot!

I am happy to say I did get Ashton's Composition books covered for her class.....it took me four hours and lots of tape, but they are done! All the paper I purchased at Hobby Lobby. (Sorry) Since I had to make 20, I wanted to do them as cheap as possible! Ashton will be giving these to her classmates along with a matching pen and goodie bag. I hope they are enjoyed by all!

Christmas with Sesame Street

After getting snowed in today I thought I could "Finally" get the kids school Christmas gifts done....I've been putting it off and putting it off. Things have been crazy here!!! (MIL just started Chemo and all the other craziness that comes with the holidays) I have hardly had time to stamp let alone get my Christmas shopping done!!! Anyway, I bought these cute Sesame Street coloring books and thought I would cover crayon boxes to go with them for Aiden and Adison's preschool class. It was a fun afternoon project, the kids got a kick out of it!! The look on Adison's face when they were done was priceless. (Now onto Ashton's class) I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday Season!!

Holiday Treasures

Project Supplies: Best Yet and Punch Pals Stamp Set, Holiday Treasures Designer Paper, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Chocolate Ribbon, Various Punches, Dimensionals and Glue Dots.

Getting In the Christmas Spirit

With the holiday fast approaching I thought I would play around with some of my Christmas papers and stamp sets, trying to get inspired. (As you can tell I was having a hard time) There is so much going on in our lives it is hard to find that Christmas Spirit. I'm going to have the kids help me put together fun little tree ornaments like the one I posted to share with their classmates.

Project Supplies: Punches Three Hostess Set, Holiday Treasures Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Old Olive and Riding Hood Red Cardstock. SU Ribbon, Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip & Old Olive Ink.

Christmas Ornament

Project Supplies: Perfect Presentation Stamp Set (Retired), Holiday Treasures Designer Paper, SU Ribbon, Star and Circle Punch.

Bundle of Joy

Project Supplies: Punches Three Hostess Stamp Set, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Ribbon, Rhinstone Brads, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Scallop, Ticket & Large Oval Punch, Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss Emboss Folder.

Sweet Birthday Blessings

Tomorrow is my MIL birthday, she is still in the hospital recovering from two major surgeries. It is hard to believe she has been in the hospital now for 3 weeks.....our lives have been totally turned upside down when we found out she has stage 4 stomach cancer. This was so unexpected and a very emotional time for everyone. I really wanted to make a scrapbook for her, I got as far as picking out pictures...I just don't have the time to compete it right now, but hope to for Christmas! (My goal anyway) I did get her a card made tonight, along with a cute Thanksgiving "Turkey" card I've been wanting to make since I saw them in our monthly Stampin' Up Magazine. Hope you enjoy!

Project Supplies: Upsy Daisy Stamp Set, Cuttlebug Dotted Emboss Folder, Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black and Creamy Carmel, SU Ribbon and Basic Black Ink.

Project Supplies: Fancy Flexible Phrases (Retired), Various SU Punches and Ribbon, 2-Way Glue, Sticky Strip and Glue Dots.

On a Roll...

Once you start you just can't stop I guess....I'm on a roll! I thought I was done stamping tonight, then Ashton (My oldest daughter) came down with the flu. So, I thought since I'm sitting up with her, I may as well keep playing with my new stamp sets. This Under the Stars Card was a very fun card to make, plus it made me drag out some of my old sets. Something I love to do! I added glitter to the snowflakes, which is hard to see in the photo but really pops in person. I did a few techniques with this card...Masking, Chalking, Inking Stamps with Markers and yes I finally used my jumbo wheel. I hope you enjoy!

Project Supplies: Happy Camper, Festive Favorites Stamp Set, Plaid Background Stamp & Natures Hike Wheel (Retired), Under the Stars Stamp Set, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Whisper White and Close to Coco Cardstock, SU Chalks, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Going Grey, Real Red and Chocolate Chip Markers, Wheel, Stazon Brown (Retired), Always Artichoke Ink Pad, 2-Way Glue, Brads, Dimensionals and Glitter.