HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I cannot believe this will be my very last blog post of the year! I always feel like time flies, and this past year has been no exception. While we were out and about today my son said, "I've had a pretty good year"! Well, he is not the most positive person and I would have to say that 99% of the time he feels his glass is half empty. I am constantly picking out all the good stuff in his life and, as he says, cramming it down his throat. You have to love those teenagers (yep, mostly because nobody else will ;o). Okay, back to my point... After recovering from the shock of his remark, I started thinking about what kind of year I had experienced. I am happy to report that I, too, had a pretty good year! I made lots of new friends, learned lots about stamping, experienced lots of growth in my classes and business and even put lots of technology to use.

I invite all of you to take a few moments as this year comes to a close and look back on this past year and decide what kind of year you experienced. I hope it was "pretty good"!

If you find that you need to make yourself feel a bit more special and pampered, I urge you to check out my calendar and find a class (or two) you might enjoy, RSVP and then treat yourself to an evening (or morning) in the Rubber Room. Classes, workshops and clubs are always lots of fun, inexpensive, great social times and best of all, you get to let your creativity show. I always feel so good about myself when I make something that puts a smile on my face (and sometimes, whenever I can part with a card or gift) and somebody else's face. Little homemade goodies are always great to make and even more awesome to receive; that makes it the "double whammy": 1) It feels great to make it AND 2) It feels great to give it away and watch it put a smile on someone's face!! Thus, my motto for 2009 is: "Let The Smiles Shine in '09", which basically means I will be sending more cards, giving more gifts and spreading more cheer in the Rubber Room.

I hope whatever kind of year you have had, you have enjoyed every moment of it! I wish that your new year will be a happy and healthy one for all of you, your families and your friends! Stay safe and "ink it up" this New Year's Eve!

MINI MAGAZINE HOLDER FOR 3D CLASS!

Becky Roberts made this really cool mini magazine holder, and provided the design for it. Thank you, Becky, I love it!! I think this is just the cutest idea to hold little 3x3 cards. On January 15, 2009 this will be one of the projects we make at my first 3D Thursday class. Be sure to check my calendar for all the class details and RSVP early! The little cards and box are made with materials from the Love You Much bundle promotion.

LOVE YOU MUCH CANDY BOX!

I had seen lots of these little boxes made with the scallop envelope die, so I had to try it. I am really liking the Love You Much bundle with the stamp set and the punches that fit it so perfectly, and this seemed like a good way to try the box and show off the stamp set. You make the box with four scallop envelopes, so it takes lots of cardstock, but it is so adorable!

GORGEOUS SNOWFLAKES AGLOW!

Rose made this awesome candle holder for me. She stamped the snowflakes all over it with a "glue" stamp pad, and then added glitter to them. This is so pretty in real life! I am not sure I can make myself actually light the candle, since it is so beautiful just the way it is, but I know I will have to try it just to see if it can really get any prettier. I was not familiar with a "glue" pad, and now I'm certainly going to have to get my hands on one and try it for myself.

Thank you so much, Rose!

A BLAST FROM MY PAST!

When I was growing up, I always loved making rock candy with my mom! I have not done it many, many years, and I did not even realize how much I missed it. Laverne brought me this beautifully decorated jar filled with rock candy she made. Alas, the jar is empty; but you can't tell it from the picture! It was totally delishee oh sooooo.....

Thank you so much, Laverne! I loved it, and hips show it!

SANTA'S PANTS!

How adorable is this? Laura made Santa's Pants for me, AND she filled them with kisses too! I had to take a photo quickly, as the kisses did not last long, and they were just empty pants :o(

Thank you so much, Laura!

RUBBER ROOM TOWELS!

Here is another awesome gift I received for the holidays. They are great towels!

As the Rubber Room was being "created" the bathroom was the last thing to be made; and my customers surely appreciate not having to trek all the way upstairs to find one now. My dear friend and downline, Michelle, made me these wonderful towels that not only say "The Rubber Room", but the color of embroidery thread matches my paint perfectly. "The Rubber Room" is starting to get a little more class, and doesn't seem so much like a basement with the added amenities!

Thank you so much, Michelle, I love them!

HOLIDAY GIFT!

Christmas is literally hours away, and I thought it would be a good time to start sharing some of the awesome gifts I have received. I am lucky enough to have many talented and creative customers and friends, and over the next week or so I will share with you some of the truly inspired gifts I received during the holidays from them.

This is a toilet seat cover that was put over my toilet during my last hostess club of the year. Long after all my customers and friends had braved the snow for their drive home, I was cleaning up and getting ready for my next event (the next morning), when I walked into the bathroom and wondered "what the heck is that on my toilet??" I put the lid down and cracked up. The real laugh, however, began when I pushed the little button at the top and all the bulbs and snowflakes started to blink. Okay, you know how you feel when you get an email that makes you laugh out loud when you're sitting there all by yourself? Well, here I was, standing in the bathroom all alone and cracking up!!

Thank you so much, Mitzi; not only for thinking of me, but for putting a huge grin on my face.

WHERE IN THE HECK DID SHE GO??

As I am sure most of you have noticed, I have not been posting too often to my Blog lately. It has been a very crazy holiday season for me, and this simply has not been my priority. Although, I must admit that I have missed being creative and sharing it with all of you. I am going to be getting back on track very soon, so don't give up on me! I have lots of things to share, and you will be sad if you don't keep checking back to catch up.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I want to wish all you the happiest and healthiest of holidays. I hope you will be sharing some very special times with family and friends! Here in Michigan we will definitely be enjoying a very white and chili holiday :o)

LOVE YOU MUCH!

Stampin' Up! is offering another great promotion. This is your opportunity to be the first person on your block to own a stamp set from the new catalog before it is released! Save 20% on this exclusive bundle offer. You will receive the Love You Much Stamp Set, a package of Candy Lane Designer Series Paper and the new Heart to Heart punch. This bundle package has a retail value of $51.85. Order from December 23rd to January 31, 2009 and recive 20% off. That is correct, you get all these goodies for only $41.48. Click the promotion block on the left column of the blog to see pictures and details, then contact me to place your order. I hope to be sharing some creations made with this bundle soon! I am really excited about the punch. It has three hearts and matches one of the stamps in the set perfectly.

RETIREMENT LIST IS HERE!

Can you believe it is almost time for a new catalog? I get so excited about new catalogs because they are always chuck full of new products and ideas. However, it is always so sad for me to see what is being retired. Stampin' Up! is making it so easy for all of us to fit the purchase of retired items into our budget this holiday season. When you order retiring stamps from December 9th through December 23rd, you get 10% off your purchase AND when you order a minimum of $70, you get FREE SHIPPING too. How awesome is that?

Use the link on the left-hand side bar to see a complete list of what will be retiring and then contact me to place your order!