Last night was our annual weSTAMP Demonstrator Group Christmas Party, an event we look forward to all year long! Besides delicious food and a fun homemade gift exchange, we gathered to make a festive project together. This year, Lorri asked me to design a holiday shadow box collage for our group. This was incredibly fun to design, and we made it super easy for everyone to complete that night by having almost everything cut, scored, punched, etc.
SUPPLY LIST for CHRISTMAS SHADOW BOX COLLAGE
(all supplies are Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Tags til Christmas, Dasher, Pennant Parade
Paper: Holly Berry Bouquet, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Read Red, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Dies: Stocking Accents
Embossing Folders: Snow Burst, Perfect Polka Dots, Petals-a-Plenty, Houndstooth
Punches: Stocking Builder Punch, Bird Builder, Petite Pennants Builder, Ornament, Boho Blossom, 5-Petal Flower, Snowflake, 1 3/4” Scallop Circle, 1” Circle Punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer, Lg. Star Punch, Sm. Star Punch
Embellishments: Mini Jingle Bells, Wild Wasabi Glimmer Brad, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Basic Pearls Jewels
Ribbon: Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon, Real Red 1/8” Taffeta, Very Vanilla 1/8” Taffeta, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine
Supplies: Sponge, Hot Glue Gun, Simply Scored, Big Shot, Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scissors, Tape/Adhesive
To order 24/7, click HERE.
Edited to Add: The shadow box frame measures 8 x 10, and each square inside the frame measures 2" x 2".
Yes!...you are seeing a post on my blog other than an iPICKS post! I've been a bad blogger, friends! But there's nothing like a day of stamping with good stamping friends to motivate me to share! On Saturday, Peggy Powers hosted a shoebox swap and luncheon in her home for Pam Wood and me. It was a fun, relaxing day with delicious food and creative holiday projects! This Petal Cone Die Santa project was provided by our hostess, Peggy Powers ... 
This next project is a Holiday Stocking Die gift certificate holder by Pam Wood. I love how she used Glossy White Paper for the stocking cuff, heel, and toe! ...
This is the project I provided which I CASEd with a couple of variations from Carrie Rhoades here.
RECIPE
Stamps: Pines & Poinsettias, Tiny Tags
Paper: Prints Always Artichoke DSP (retired), Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, and Certainly Celery
Embellishments: Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon
Tools: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch
Supplies: Hot Glue Gun (non-SU), Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Snail Adhesive
Here are some gifts I made this Christmas. The first photo shows some glass jar canisters with the Stampin' Up! Decor Elements Oval Chalkboard Labels. I copied this idea from my friend, Lorri Heling, as Lorri had given me the same gift this summer. I have used the jars over and over again. I have filled them with Halloween candy and written "Trick", "or", "Treat". I've also used them individually by filling one with candy, and written the word "yum" on the chalkboard label. I even used one in my library at school .... I am selling wristbands in the school colors with the school name .... filled the large jar with the wristbands and wrote the price in the oval label. Endless possibilities and great gifts! 
This next handmade gift is a case from Heidi at Blue Eyed Blessings. She has a wonderful, detailed tutorial HERE. These were seriously so easy to make ... I made six of them in very little time .... under an hour. The Jingle All the Way Decor Elements were applied to the glass of the shadow box frame (easy peasy!), applied designer paper to the back panel of the shadow box frame, added the jingle bells and Stampin' Up! Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.
Things are movin' and shakin' at the Riley house! Winter break has begun for Drew and me ... finally! I feel like I've been living at my job, and need to be home doing Christmas things. I have a little bit of shopping left to do, and haven't begun wrapping. Seems like every time I turn around, the kids or I have a celebration of some sort to attend, and the kids' and John's work schedules are insane! The coolest thing going on here is that my mom arrived in Phoenix yesterday! Her sister flew with her to make sure she got here safely and then flew back home the same day .... what an angel! I am very much looking forward to spending Christmas, and my mom's Christmas Day birthday with her, my kids & hubby, and my foster sister & her family! (I spent last Christmas in Omaha with my Mom in a blizzard away from my kids and hubby.) We are going to have so much fun!About the above photo .... I picked up these jars at Ikea a few weeks ago, stamped one of my favorite images on it (Merry & Bright, retired), colored it, punched it out, tied a ribbon around the neck of the jar, then filled it with candies, and gave them to some of my co-workers last week. I got such a kick out of some of them ..... "them" as in "non-crafty people". Although I've seen these little jars over and over again on stamping blogs throughout the years, these simple little jars were spectacular in the eyes of their non-crafting recipients. What I considered a quick and simple project became a wonderful reminder of how much joy our crafting can bring to others!I have some catching up to do on my blog reading so iPICKS may be a day or two late. :(
As I mentioned in this post, we had our annual weSTAMP demonstrator group Christmas party last week. In addition to delicious food, wonderful & talented friends, and an out-of-this-world, over-the-top gift exchange, we made these festive holiday houses designed by the incredibly talented Rachele Sanclemente. Rachele is a weSTAMPer that makes everyone's jaw drop with each and every one of her creations! Rachele spent an enormous amount of hours tweaking this project and gathering and preparing supplies for 20+ stampers. This above photo shows the three sample houses Rachele made for us. Each of us made one of the large houses. THANK YOU, RACHELE !!!
Karen Giron has created another challenging sketch this week with Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #46! Notice how I can't seem to play by the rules and flipped mine? I also couldn't bear placing my circle to the left of the large panel either ... just had to center it! When I first started playing along with sketches years ago, I felt like I had to take the sketch so literally, but eventually learned that a sketch is something to be inspired by and to use as a guide or starting point.
I'd love to see how this sketch inspires you! For more inspiration, visit the Sweet Sunday Stampers:
Jen Tapler, Karen Motz, Laura Fredrickson, Lynn Put, Sarah-Jane Kale', and Vicki Burdick.
RECIPE
Images: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit
Paper: Designer Paper and Textured Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock from Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit
Embellishments: Red Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Self-Adhesive Die Cuts from Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit
Tools: Circle Cutter
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
When I saw Donna Centamore use only the head of the Simple Seasonal Thanks snowman image in this card, I knew I had to try! Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #45 was the perfect opportunity! You're invited to play along with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch! Be sure to link your creation back to Karen's SSSC45 post! Find more sketch inspiration from the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers ...
Jennifer Tapler, Karen Motz, Lynn Put,
Sarah-Jane Kale', Vicki Burdick, Laura Fredrickson
RECIPE
Stamps: Simple Seasonal Thanks and Four the Holidays ('09 Holiday Mini Catalog)
Paper: Holiday Lounge DP, Ruby Red and Whisper White CS
Ink: Taken With Teal, Ruby Red, and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, Ruby Red Classic Ink Pad, Jet Black Staz-On
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Circle Cutter
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Here I go taking the easy way out again by using a Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' Kit! I've used contents from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #44.Won't you play along with this fantastic sketch?! Be sure to link your creation back to Karen's SSSC44 post! Find more sketch inspiration from the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers ...
Jennifer Tapler, Karen Motz, Lynn Put,
Sarah-Jane Kale',
Vicki Burdick, Laura Fredrickson
RECIPE
Images: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit
Paper: DP and Chocolate Chip Textured CS from Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit, Slivers of Old Olive and Real Red CS for button "thread"
Embellishments: Real Red and Old Olive Playground Designer Buttons, Old Olive Mistletoe 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Circle Cutter
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals
My favorite time of the week! ... Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #38! I followed Sandi MacIver's instructions for making the Christmas trees with the Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, and Horizontal Slot Punch. Super easy and adorable too!
I love the new Sleigh Bells Cotton Ribbon from the new Holiday Mini Catalog! It coordinates so well with the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit which is where all the designer paper and textured cardstock for this card came from. The Chocolate Chip "Season's Greetings" sentiment is from Chit Chat Rub-Ons, and the Real Red button is from Playground Designer Buttons. I used a sliver of Old Olive Cardstock to "thread" the ribbon.Be sure to link your sketch card to Karen's post so everyone can see your creation! Here's more sketch inspiration from the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers ...Jennifer TaplerKaren MotzLaura FredricksonLynn PutSarah-Jane Kale'Vicki Burdick
RECIPE
Sentiment: Chit Chat Rub-Ons
Paper: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit (Designer Paper and Textured Cardstock - Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla), a sliver of Old Olive CS for "threading" the button
Embellishments: Sleigh Bells 5/8" Cotton Ribbon ('09 Holiday Mini Catalog), Real Red Playground Designer Paper
Tools: Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Pop-Up Glue DotTo order any of the Stampin' Up! supplies used in this project, simply click HERE to begin 
shopping.
Here's another little card I put together over my three-day weekend. I used Cindy Haffner's Crazy 4 Challenges Sketch #1 and my new Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit.
* The scallop circle Dasher image and the sentiment are self-adhesive die cuts from the Christmas Jingle SSK, and the designer paper and textured cardstock are also from the kit.
* The beautiful Old Olive 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon can be found in the Mistletoe Ribbon Originals in the new '09 Holiday Mini Catalog.* The overall card measures 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". The "tent" portion of the card measures 4 1/4" x 6", and is scored at 3".
* It's difficult to see in the photograph, but there are dots of metallic glitter glue (made for papercrafting) added to antlers of the Dasher image.
RECIPE
Images: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit
Paper: Christmas Jingle Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Textured CS from Christmas Jingle SSK
Embellishments: Old Olive 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon from Mistletoe Ribbon Originals ('09 Holiday Mini)
Tools: Circle Cutter
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Glitter Glue for papercrafting (non-SU)
As you know, I've gone back to full-time work after a stamping-filled summer ... new position, new school, same school district. I love my new position and school! I just haven't found that balance between work, home and stamping ... YET. I'm working on it though! Not only have I gone back to work, but Drew started high school, and Allie started college. Hopefully, once everyone is more settled in their routines, I'll find more stamping time! ... (I miss it terribly!)
I stamped this afternoon for the first time in weeks, and started off slow with this simple little card for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #33. I adore the Dasher image ... reminds me of the reindeer decor you can find at Pier One during the holidays. I paired the Dasher image with the new Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Paper from the '09 Holiday Mini Catalog (Sept. 1 - Jan. 4).
RECIPE
Stamps: Dasher
Paper: Christmas Cocoa Specialty DP ('09 Holiday Mini), Real Red, Soft Suede, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Soft Suede
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Circle Cutter
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, X-Mas Red Stickles (non-SU)
SUPPLY LIST for CHRISTMAS SHADOW BOX COLLAGE
