Merry Christmas!

As we prepare to shut off for a couple days and spend time with family, I wanted to wish you a merry Christmas, from my family to yours!

MDS Elements: Year End Review, Adventure Awaits, Travel Log, Days to Remember DSP; Font: Arial Narrow, CK Alis Hand, CK KOTM1.

In the St. Nick of Time

'Twas the night before the last day of school...  Thank goodness for a well-stocked craft room, so I can whip together teacher/friend/co-worker gifts the day before they are needed.

This cute little snowman was modeled off a sample by fellow demo Connie Pillsbury.  The hats are cut off fingers from (really fuzzy) dollar store gloves.  I think my snowman is dressed to survive winter in Moskow.

Have you finished up all your holiday preparations?

Stamps: Simply Snowflake Paper Pumpkin kit; Paper: Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black; Ink: Soft Sky, Basic Black marker; Accessories: Owl punch, Dollar Store Gloves, Pretzel Plastic Sleeves.

More items have been added to the Year-End Closeout list, including stamp sets and holiday products.  Up to 80% off on fabulous products, including Christmas items!  Check out the Year-End Closeouts to see what's on sale!

Details:

• Promotion Dates: 5 December 2014 - 5 January 2014.
• No minimum purchase required.
• No refunds or exchanges on Year-End Closeout items.
• Items offered during the Year-End Closeouts are while supplies last.
• Orders must be placed online or as demonstrator orders.
• Deadlines:
  • Phone orders: January 5, 2015 6:50 pm (MT)
  • OEX/Online orders: January 5, 2015; 11:50 PM (MT)

If you place an order under $150, please use hostess code PS37HEDV.

And here are this week's Weekly Deals -

A Fitting Occasion Wood Stamp Set Price: $37.95 $28.46	Be The Star Wood-Mount Stamp Set Price: $28.95 $21.71	Blushing Bride Baker's Twine Price: $2.95 $2.21	Chalk Talk Framelits Die Price: $24.95 $18.71
Chocolate Chip 3/4" Chevron Ribbon Price: $8.95 $6.71	Midnight Cheer Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97	Oh My Goodies Wood-Mount Stamp Set Price: $24.95 $18.71	Squares Collection Framelits Die Price: $26.95 $20.21

MDSM95 Splash!

This week Yapha's bringing us the MDS Monday sketch.  A suggested focus would be a group photo, maybe from recent family gatherings.  Due to the holidays, this challenge will run for two weeks.

I stuck with mostly the Anchors Away kit for my page.

MDS Elements: Anchors Away, Hello Sailor, Gold Sequins; Font: Stencil, Traveling_Typewriter.

FM190 Happy New Baby

It's Holly's turn at the Friday Mashup challenge.  She's thinking two layers and a grungy element.  Due to the holidays, this challenge will run for two weeks.

I was in need of a baby card, and I had to think, think about how to add a grungy element to such a project.  All I could think of was poop.  Ok, nevermind.  Searching for ideas, I came across rain drops for a baby shower card.  I got to work creating a rain drop stencil with my e-cutter.  The embossing paste, applied through the stencil, was dyed with Soft Sky reinker.  The stamp set is from the upcoming Occasions catalog called One Tag Fits All, an all-occasions set.

This week's Mashup Challenge is -

• Create a project using the "Sketch". 
• Create a "2 Layer card with a grungy element in the background". 
• or Mash it Up! and create a project "using the sketch that's 2 layers only".

Stamps: One Tag Fits All; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Acetate sheet; Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Sky reinker, Daffodil Delight & Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities; Accessories: Coastal Cabana thick baker's twine, Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Beach House washi tape, Scallop Tag Topper punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, embossing paste, e-cutter, Dimensionals.

And make sure you check out this week's Weekly Deals -

Birthday Surprise Wood-Mount Stamp Set Price: $24.95 $18.71	Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $8.95 $6.71	Jingle And Joy Kit - Digital Download Price: $11.95 $7.17	Metallic Gold Encore Pad Price: $9.95 $7.46
Pear Pizzazz 3/4" Chevron Ribbon Price: $8.95 $6.71	Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate Price: $14.95 $11.21	Ticket Duo Builder Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96	Vintage Faceted Buttons Price: $5.95 $4.46

All Shook Up

Little Missy and I put our December Paper Pumpkin kit to good use last night.

This month's kit, called All Shook Up, comes with nine shaker cards with "thank you", "happy birthday", and "hello" sentiments, plus bonus sentiment stamps!

Speaking of which, need a last-minute gift idea?  Give the gift of creativity!

Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscriptions are the perfect gift this holiday season-for friends, family, and yourself!  A fully designed project kit will arrive each month with stamps, ink, and paper so anyone can skip to the fun.  It's the gift that keeps on giving!  And giving . . .

Item	Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscription	Price (Shipping Included)
137858	1 month	$19.95
137859	3 month	$59.85
137860	6 month	$113.70 -- save $1 per month
137861	12 month	$215.40 -- save $2 per month

• A prepaid subscription can be placed on any order type (workshop, online).
• We will send a redemption code and printable gift card via e-mail when a prepaid subscription is purchased. Then you can print the gift card, fill in the code, and give it to the recipient. Easy!  
• The prepaid subscription is redeemed by entering the code in the My Paper Pumpkin website.

MDSM94 Smile

Hi Everyone!  It's my turn to bring the MDS Monday challenge sketch.

I turned to pinterest for some layout inspiration.  I found one I liked, moved elements around a bit, and here's the resulting layout -

For the background, I really wanted a speckled kraft/cardboard kind of layer.  Lacking an idea on how to make this happen in MDS, I turned to the internet for a quick and easy download.  Have you tried to use an internet download in MDS?  I suggest you give it a try.  It is fun and easy and really opens up the flexibility with My Digital Studio.

MDS Elements: Bring on the Cake, Sprinkled Expressions, Walk in the Park II, Holiday Blitz, So Typefelt, Hello There, Love This, Anchors Away, Flirtatious, Scallop edge punch, Sending Love epoxy brad, Simple Stitches zigzag, non-SU kraft digital paper download.

The Stamp Review Crew: Mixed Bunch

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  This time we are hopping along with the fun flower set, Mixed Bunch, which also has a matching punch.  If you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Adriana Benitez's blog.  She creates such beautiful, clean projects!

I have to admit I haven't used this set as much as I should, so this is a good opportunity to pull it out again.  I was thinking Christmas, poinsettia with this one, so imagine if you will a Christmas sentiment on it.

I was just giving a flower a try.  I added a few details, such as score lines, leaves, Crystal Effects, and voila, a card is born.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Four You; Paper: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Hello Honey, Whisper White, Trim the Tree DSP; Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey; Accessories: White baker's twine, Crystal Effects, Blossom punch, Stylus, Stylish Stripes EF, Flower Frenzy die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

I've had snowflakes on the brain for this set, but I always like to check out some Splitcoaststampers challenges to see if I can somehow work one of them in.  I came across the Ways to Use It Challenge #495, Autumn Leaves.  This one spoke to me.  Our early season Thanksgiving snow has melted, and I got another chance to go on a frosty, leafy mountain bike ride in the woods.  The temperature was in the 30's, but felt like 20's, and my water bottle was quite slushy.  I stopped to take pictures of the frost heaves on the ground.

Cool, eh?  From this came my frosty leaves card.

I sponged and stamped through the Autumn Accents die-cut, using PPA sketch #229.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Walk in the Park II (MDS); Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, All is Calm DSP, Silver Glimmer; Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo; Accessories: In Color sequins, Frosted Sequins, Sponge, Autumn Accents die, Big Shot, e-cutter, Dimensionals.

I didn't feel I was done with this line of thought, so I tried another card.

I'm sorry; one retired item, shimmer paint, snuck in there.  Still, I could resist sharing the card.  Feels like a Frozen card.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, A Dozen Thoughts; Paper: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Whisper White; Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Island Indigo marker; Accessories: White baker's twine, All is Calm washi tape, White Frost Shimmer Paint, Stylus, Aquapainter, Sponges, Autumn Accents die, Big Shot.

Now make sure you check out the next stop to see what projects Kerry Willard Bray has put together with Mixed Bunch.